PowerPoint Presentation

The ShominsChanged Forever

Changed Forever

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Wow! It is hard to believe that nearly two years have passed since that horrific earthquake shook Haiti, causing so much devastation and loss of human life. Yet it is ironic that within this tragedy we found love, gratitude and relief. Nearly four years of torment was erased and replaced with a new sense of fear. A fear for our daughter the we had only held for a few moments. A fear for the orphanage that had so lovingly taken care of our child. A child searching for a family. And a family that had finally found her. We have no idea what thoughts raced through her mind, but the thoughts of her never left ours.

The days following the earthquake were wrought with worry and despair. But once our arms wrapped around her, our lives changed forever and our family suddenly grew. Changed Forever

Blessed

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So two years have passed and our family has blossomed. A family of four plus one has become a family of five. The life of our family evolved. She slowly lost the title of being adopted and became a Shomin. No longer does her story dominate her life, but it has become just a footnote. An interesting beginning to our new lives and our quickly expanded family. She is still that little girl that we love to hold. Yet she has also become a little sister. That annoying little sibling whose curiosity interferes with the older brothers games causing occasional angst and frustration. But it is beautiful. Those are the moments that she is no longer the adopted sister, but simply the little sister. That part of family life that many of us have experienced. Those fights and arguments that for generations have defined siblings and brought life to families. Times, when we as parents, often feel a moment of failure only to turn and watch our children laugh together, play together and for that moment in time remind us how blessed we are to be a family. Sincerely,Todd, Kelly, Kade, Isaac and Josie ShominChanged Forever

If youd like to talk about helping Gods Littlest Angels, please contact Laurie Bickel at 719-638-4348 or lorlor@glahaiti.org or Tom Vanderwell at (616) 884-8901 or tom@glahaiti.org. Thank you!