Adoptions

I'm trying to keep up with posting on this blog but that is very difficult being a mother of 20!

Last year I started working together with an adoption agency called Nightlight Christian adoptions to try to give some of my children a better future. Some children in my house have no possibility of returning to the village and having adopted two children of my own I know how much joy, blessings and love adoption brings.
The children in my house definitely do not have a bad live living with me but having a family of their own with lot's of attention and love would be something they all deserve. After lot's of prayers, preparation and waiting Tikondane and Caleb were adopted by two families from America last week. Last month has been difficult for me. I'm so incredible thankful and happy that they have a family of their own now but after taking care for them for more than a year it is not easy to see them going. Lot's of tears rolled down my face thinking about them leaving me. Both of them are adopted by amazing families and I could not have asked for anything more. But the truth is it hurts when two children who called you mama for so long are gone. There are times I start doubting if it was the right thing to do to refer them to the adoption agency. But as a mother of so many children I see they want more love and attention as what I'm able to give them. Deep in my heart I know it is better for them to grow up in their own families and it would be selfish from me to keep them all in my house.   
Both families promised lot's of updates and I'm eagerly waiting to see how they will adapt to their new lives and new families. 
Adoption is an emotional process but definitely worth it. It opens a world of opportunities and chances for these two precious boys.
I can't thank God enough for guiding and leading me through these new steps in my life.





My prayer for Tikodane and Caleb is that they will be loved and cared for by their new families. That they will grow up knowing their biological family and country of origin. That they will receive unconditional blessings and love from their new parents and brothers and sisters.
That they will grow up knowing Christ and understanding why they were referred for adoption. That they will have the opportunity to return in the future to visit their home country. 

Tikondane and Caleb will always have a special place in my heart.


Love,
Nicole

Highlights of 2017.

Today is the start of a new year, a year full of new opportunities.

2017 was a busy year. A year with difficult times, but mostly a year full of joy and laughter from my kids. I can’t explain how much I love my children, they are very precious to me.

I started 2017 admitted in the hospital with 4+ malaria. I was pretty sick but luckily recovered well.

Mid January Shakira and Shyreen joined my family. Two very malnourished and sick babies. Challenging weeks followed with difficult times in different hospitals and lot’s of prayers. The girls are now 1 year old and doing great. Shakira and Shyreen will return back to their home village November 2018. The grandmother will care for them.

Beginning of 2017 we moved to our new house. We are enjoying the house so much. We have much more space and no fights for the bathroom anymore! Incredible thankful for this enormous gift.

Also beginning of 2017, three children who stayed with me for about 18 months, went back to family members in the villages. I’m still supporting the children with food and other basic needs. Most important is that they are all doing fine and enjoying to be back with their family.

We gained more new children in 2017. In June Tikondane joined after his aunt was murdered in the village. (The mother of Tikondane died during childbirth). In July Elijah joined after his mother passed away and in August Caleb joined after his mother died during delivery. In October Happines and Vanessa joined after their mother passed away due to HIV. In November Madalitso joined after his mother passed away a month after delivery.

    

With the increasing number of children I explored options for adoption. At the moment there are 4 children in the process of adoption. Difficult but exciting. Some of the children have stayed with me for a long time so it will be difficult to see them going but I’m very thankful there are families willing to care for them and give them more love and attention than that I can offer them.

Jonas is still the child I worry about most. He is often sick and they are not managing to get his HIV under control. He got admitted in the hospital almost every month in 2017. Please pray with me that there will be a family who is willing to adopt him and his 6 years old sister soon.

Katie is doing very well at her boarding school and in November during sports day she became best athlete of her school! Katie is working very hard and I'm very proud of her she is realizing at young age how important school is. Katie lived on the streets for many years and never had anybody caring for her however she is turning into a beautiful, intelligent young lady and I feel honored I'm a part of her life. 

My own girls, Maria and Diana, both turned 5 years old. They are growing up so fast I wish sometimes I could stop the time. I enjoy having them around and they are absolute the greatest blessing I have ever received. Maria is a lovely girl who loves school and singing. She enjoys typical girl things like braiding her hair and playing with dolls. Diana is completely different. Her best friend in school is a boy, she loves to climb in trees and is always full of energy.
 

Beside all happenings in my house I also help 200 children in the villages. On a daily base they come to my house with questions, issues and problems. It is a huge amount of time and energy to help all these people but on the same time I’m so thankful that I’m able to help them.
Also I’m incredible thankful for the 9 babysitters who work for me. They spend many hours of walking around with crying and sick children but never complain. Especially this last year we have had many critically sick babies, without the help of my babysitter they would have never been as healthy as they are today.

I would like to say thank you to everyone who prayed for me and my children, donated to my project, came to visit or helped in any other way. I love meeting so many people who have the same calling and I’m looking forward to make many more friends all over the world this coming year!

Love,
Nicole