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Monday, May 22, 2023

The Challenge

 This weekend was a watershed moment for us.

Our two boys graduated from high school.

That may not seem like an amazing feat since hundreds of thousands and more will be graduating from high school this year just like hundreds of thousands and more have graduated and will graduate in the years to come.

 It's just a right of passage. One of those milestones. An expected part of growing up.

A yawn. A get through the ceremony. A look to the future.

But for my boys - my boys - it is so much more.

For this one all I can do is weep realizing that but for the Grace of God he would still be sitting in a shed with his mind crippled from years of disuse.

He was thrown away - deemed severely physically and mentally disabled.

Uneducable. Useless. Not fit to live out in society. A child to be hidden away behind the walls of an institute that was closed and still is closed to the outside world. 

But for the Grace of God he would still be there. Instead he has graduated from high school. 

And this one - eleven years in an orphanage. Not quite in such a horrific place but he would never have been given a ticket out. His disability disqualifying him for life. 

Another Grace of God story. How he even came to be part of our family. A blessing we weren't looking for.

He came out at 11 years old barely reading, emotionally a baby, screaming for attention.

But God.... 

He has come so far - matured into an amazing young man!

Both lost so much in their early lives.

Both had huge mountains to climb.

Both so far behind academically. 

We had to place them in school where they belonged instead of what their age dictated. Thankfully, their school allowed us to do that.

It gave them time to breath and catch up.

It gave them time to mature.

But, by the time they hit 8th grade they were three years behind their peers and graduating from high school looked far far away.

Staying in school until they were 21 was just not going to be in their best interest.

So we made a decision.

We moved them up to 10th grade in one fell swoop and set them on a course to graduate in 3 years.

Three years for two boys who came from such hard places.

It meant they had to take extra classes in the mornings. All three years.

They took the challenge!

They got up early early every single school day for three years and studied at home before going to school. 

They went to school all day and then spent many many many afternoons and into the evening doing school work. It was not unusual for them to be working on the weekends.

They had to study harder than the average to get by and they did.

They rarely complained and they kept their eye on the prize. Graduating. 

Their learning styles and needs were so vastly different. We had to constantly adjust, adapt, work to meet their individual needs. 

They were so blessed to go to a school where they were well cared for.

They had wonderful teachers - wonderful staff.

They had a wonderful aide for the last two years who came alongside them coaching them through. We would not have done it without our Bri!! 

Their granddad has been one of their biggest cheerleaders! He has picked them up from school each day, tutored them, listened to them and loved them! I don't know what we would have done without him!

Their campus pastor has stood by them all their years at school - encouraging them and teaching them what is the most important of all! 

We love you, Pastor Gary!!

It's a been a tough three years and a wonderful three years.

They are not academically gifted or intellectually advanced. They are average students who took the challenge and worked hard to reach their goal.

And we are their proud parents!

Go John! Go Aaron!!

They are not done. 

They have great plans for the future... but that's for another blogpost!!


22 comments:

  1. Congratulations John and Aaron on this wonderful accomplishment. You are both so strong to exhibit such dedication and determination. You will be a challenge to your future. ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป

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  2. Madeline EckenrodeMay 22, 2023 at 7:59 PM

    Congratulations to Aaron and John!!! Congratulations as well to their amazing family, and to all who stood behind them helping them to attain their goal of graduating from high school. With the abundance of love and support these young men have, the sky is the limit!!! ❤️❤️❤️

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  3. Wow. I have no other words right now.... Just wow. Congratulations boys and congratulations mom, dad and granddad too. I understand what a huge accomplishment that is and have an idea of all the blood, sweat and tears that must have gone into that on everyone's part. Wow and Congratulations indeed! ๐ŸŽ‰

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  4. p.s. Can't wait to hear what the future has in store for these incredible young men!!

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  5. Wow! Congratulations! Good for them!! Would I be able to share this as an adoption advocacy post on my blog, https://clarahridings.wordpress.com/

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  6. Congratulations guys!! Great job! Lots of hard work has paid off and we join the family in celebrating your achievements!! Woohoo!!

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  7. This made me shout with joy! All praise to our living God who calls EACH of us by name. Thank you for your devotion to these boys, you are such and inspiration, as are they!! LOVE LOVE LOVE

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  8. Congratulations!! You must be so proud of them. Love to see hard work and perseverance pay off!

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  9. I was so happy to see an update on your blog! Those boys have become handsome, happy-looking young men. Congratulations to you, and to them. I'd like to know how Mary is doing. xoxoxox in New Mexico.

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  10. Thank you so much for sharing this! I have been following your blog since the time you adopted Aaron. I just shed some of my own happy tears. Congratulations to Aaron and John! Congratulations to you and all of your proud family!

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  11. Dear Julia, I'm so glad you still post occasionally in this time when few others are keeping blogs. I always love to hear what you and your family are up to. Congratulations to John and Aaron!! A true milestone for both of them! I can't wait to hear about what they do next. You and Rob have been an inspiration to our family for years. When I thought I was too old to adopt another child, I looked to your family and believed that we could do it too. thanks for the encouragement and please keep posting! blessings to all of you from MayLynne (a fellow mom in Canada)

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  12. Congrats to all!! I have followed your blog since before Aaron came home. Please keep updating us on all your children. It has been such a pleasure watching them grow up!

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  13. Congratulations to both of you! As a teacher and an adoptive parent the "gift of time for school " also got my daughter through some tough years. I'm so happy that both of you studied extra hard and graduated! Go luck going forward in your future. Never give up your dreams!

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  14. What a wonderful post! I am so happy for you!!!

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  15. Hi, have been an avid follower for many years. Just wanted to say how proud I am of your boys (and you, your older boys, and your husband), they are true testaments of resilience and love! Way to go fellas. I can’t wait to see what’s next for them.
    -Alexandra

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  16. Congratulations to Aaron and John! Your accomplishment is inspirational. I will think of your courage, determination and perseverance the next time I face a dream that will be hard- won. I wish you the best and hope you truly enjoy all God’s blessings on the fruit of your labor.
    Sharing your joy, Kelly Messimer

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  17. I am so thankful to see a post from you again!! I check often and was getting worried! Congratulations to your boys, and all of you. What an amazing accomplishment for both of them.

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  18. Belated congratulations to Aaron and John! What great achievements - they have come far and will go even further! Thanks for providing the roadmap as well as the road and all the provisions for their journey.

    Best wishes from Susan B. in Kentucky

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  19. Wow, this is a great milestone. Congratulations! I' ve been following your blog since Arons adoption. Love your boys and precious girl! Thank you for this update!

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  20. Congratulations! I am happy for them. I am glad they went to a great school and had nice staff working with them.

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  21. Huge congratulations to Aaron and John and their parents and the village that helped make this happen. As a longtime follower, I check in every once in a while to see if there's a new post, and I am so happy to read this one!

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  22. Congratulations to Aaron and John!! I've followed your blog since you were in Ukraine to fetch Aaron. What a joy to see them both graduate from high school!!

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Loving words from kind people make our hearts glad!