So today I purchased the new website name and started creating the website from scratch. It still has a lot of work we need to do on it (like some pages are still blank, others have bad fonts, etc.) but it's a start.
Check it out! http://www.destinyscrossing.com/
We still need tons of manpower help too. Pretty much if you have a skill and an interest in helping special needs orphans, I need you! So let me know what you can do and I'll see if there's a fit for your specific skill set.
Some specific suggestions:
Director for the SHOES project (http://www.destinyscrossing.com/shoes.html)
Someone to write grants
A person to create a blog for the SHOES project
Someone to coordinate manpower (to keep track of who is doing what)
I also am needing people who work for companies to consider talking to your company about how they might donate supplies or money.
OK ... that's enough for one update. Back to updating the website! Thanks for joining me on this project
Dec 15, 2009
Dec 8, 2009
Why Do I Continue To Be Surprised??
OK ... so after the HORRIBLE meeting with the Psychologist yesterday, I was fully prepared to go in loaded for bear. I had copies of the law, copies of his past records, etc etc. I had so much documentation and ammunition that I felt prepared. Yet I felt so anxious and nervous. (I actually have pulmonary hypertension - not related to high blood pressure but where the artery between the heart and lungs ... if you have PH you are not getting enough oxygen to your heart. Yesterday, I started having some MAJOR symptoms.)
Late last night, I asked my mother (A PhD Licensed School Psychologist) to come with me for moral support - if nothing else, she could serve as a witness to what happened.
Today, I felt the need to just pray, praise and generally beg for H E L P before our meeting.
10:30, Mom, Dan and I walked into the school. 10:42, we're still sitting in the front office waiting to be invited to the back. (Power play). Even Mom was feeling a bit uneasy at this point. Then the Psychologist walks in and I whisper, "there she is" and mom says, "Hey Leah, it's Sunny". Leah and Mom know each other ... Mom was her boss on a job this summer!! LOL (Yesterday she was making fun of my "so called expert" and today, she had to acknowledge my expert does indeed know more than she does! haaaa haaaa)
So as we walk to the meeting, they're chattin' it up, chummin' in up. Dan and I are walking in back and I giggle and whisper "I think we don't need to talk in this meeting."
Then the meeting opens (it's run by the psychologist) and she has a completely different tune.
It became clear to everyone in the room that everyone in that room (except the two teachers) was completely "on board"! The Vice principal, for example, cut through all the proverbial cr*p and was able to articulate the need, stand up for Jacob, etc etc. It was awesome. I wanted to give her a standing ovation. (There were even times she was rolling her eyes at the two teachers when they would make comments which showed just how little the understand about modifications, accommodations, asperger's, autism, the 504/IEP process, etc And it was clear how misunderstood Jacob is by those teachers.)
During the meeting, we were told the Psychologist had given Jacob's letter to all of them and they had read it. This VP said, "It almost made me cry." She was offended that a child at HER school could perceive his school that way. And she was determined to make sure this turned around. SHE will hold those teachers accountable!
We got an official 504 started with an understanding that we would draft up an IEP as well. (ahhhhh).
Bottom line - I got EVERYTHING that I wanted and then some. I never needed to take out one shred of evidence, cite one law, etc. They even started asking ME how to handle some things. They also asked Mom on some of the School Psychology things and said they would use her as a resource if needed. Cool beans.
Before this meeting, I was saying I wasn't sure what all had to happen before I could feel like I could safely send him back to school. But it happened. I feel a peace. Not all the issues are fixed.... it's all about implementation ... but I feel we have all the pieces in place FINALLY! And if things aren't working I can go to all those people in that room who were on our side - the Special Ed teacher, the Psychologist, the Guidance Counselor, the Vice Principal. They all "get it".
So God went before us, cleared the way, parted the seas and we walked in on dry ground.
When I left for the meeting today, I posted that I want God to get all the glory for this. So THIS is why I'm writing this miraculous outcome. GOD did this. HE is the hero.
Beth
Late last night, I asked my mother (A PhD Licensed School Psychologist) to come with me for moral support - if nothing else, she could serve as a witness to what happened.
Today, I felt the need to just pray, praise and generally beg for H E L P before our meeting.
10:30, Mom, Dan and I walked into the school. 10:42, we're still sitting in the front office waiting to be invited to the back. (Power play). Even Mom was feeling a bit uneasy at this point. Then the Psychologist walks in and I whisper, "there she is" and mom says, "Hey Leah, it's Sunny". Leah and Mom know each other ... Mom was her boss on a job this summer!! LOL (Yesterday she was making fun of my "so called expert" and today, she had to acknowledge my expert does indeed know more than she does! haaaa haaaa)
So as we walk to the meeting, they're chattin' it up, chummin' in up. Dan and I are walking in back and I giggle and whisper "I think we don't need to talk in this meeting."
Then the meeting opens (it's run by the psychologist) and she has a completely different tune.
It became clear to everyone in the room that everyone in that room (except the two teachers) was completely "on board"! The Vice principal, for example, cut through all the proverbial cr*p and was able to articulate the need, stand up for Jacob, etc etc. It was awesome. I wanted to give her a standing ovation. (There were even times she was rolling her eyes at the two teachers when they would make comments which showed just how little the understand about modifications, accommodations, asperger's, autism, the 504/IEP process, etc And it was clear how misunderstood Jacob is by those teachers.)
During the meeting, we were told the Psychologist had given Jacob's letter to all of them and they had read it. This VP said, "It almost made me cry." She was offended that a child at HER school could perceive his school that way. And she was determined to make sure this turned around. SHE will hold those teachers accountable!
We got an official 504 started with an understanding that we would draft up an IEP as well. (ahhhhh).
Bottom line - I got EVERYTHING that I wanted and then some. I never needed to take out one shred of evidence, cite one law, etc. They even started asking ME how to handle some things. They also asked Mom on some of the School Psychology things and said they would use her as a resource if needed. Cool beans.
Before this meeting, I was saying I wasn't sure what all had to happen before I could feel like I could safely send him back to school. But it happened. I feel a peace. Not all the issues are fixed.... it's all about implementation ... but I feel we have all the pieces in place FINALLY! And if things aren't working I can go to all those people in that room who were on our side - the Special Ed teacher, the Psychologist, the Guidance Counselor, the Vice Principal. They all "get it".
So God went before us, cleared the way, parted the seas and we walked in on dry ground.
When I left for the meeting today, I posted that I want God to get all the glory for this. So THIS is why I'm writing this miraculous outcome. GOD did this. HE is the hero.
Beth
Nov 29, 2009
Spinning plates: AKA 4 new projects
We're back from China.
We got back Wednesday. Thursday was Thanksgiving at my house. Friday through Sunday was camping with our church.
Tonight, I got the first chance to put a few ideas down about what we'll be doing in China in the upcoming days, weeks, months and years.
Basically, I think we've come away with 4 projects. I'm really hoping I can find a Director for each program to take over, run every detail, etc and I will oversee all 4 projects.
1) Upgrading a school so the 200 special needs orphans in that village can attend school for the first time.
2) Educational center for babies and toddlers (preschool, physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc)
3) A group foster home for medically fragile babies (and then fast-track them for adoption)
4) A shoe project for one family.
For a few more details about each of these, check out the website. destinyshouse.com/projects.html
Hope many, many of you feel inspired and want to jump in with both feet!
Beth
We got back Wednesday. Thursday was Thanksgiving at my house. Friday through Sunday was camping with our church.
Tonight, I got the first chance to put a few ideas down about what we'll be doing in China in the upcoming days, weeks, months and years.
Basically, I think we've come away with 4 projects. I'm really hoping I can find a Director for each program to take over, run every detail, etc and I will oversee all 4 projects.
1) Upgrading a school so the 200 special needs orphans in that village can attend school for the first time.
2) Educational center for babies and toddlers (preschool, physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc)
3) A group foster home for medically fragile babies (and then fast-track them for adoption)
4) A shoe project for one family.
For a few more details about each of these, check out the website. destinyshouse.com/projects.html
Hope many, many of you feel inspired and want to jump in with both feet!
Beth
Nov 13, 2009
News From Beth
Beth has made it safely to China and she is working hard and discovering that the need is very large! She asked me to post here and let everyone know she is unable to access this blog.
You can find updates from Beth and follow her trip at
Destiny's House
You can find updates from Beth and follow her trip at
Destiny's House
Nov 9, 2009
All my bags are packed ...
... but I'm not quite ready to go. Lots of last minute things to do. It's amazing how many things have to get done for 5 kids - one that's going with me and 4 staying here. It's taking an army to take care of the 4 while I'm gone. Daddy, My Mother, my Father, my sister, church friends, etc. (A job I do alone usually I might add LOL.)
Yesterday was Kaley's 10th birthday party. Her actual birthday is 11/11 but alas I will be in Beijing on that day so we did the party early. She had a tinkerbell theme ... appropriate as she is so tiny. Kaley is so amazingly small it's precious. She's perfectly proportionate, just tiny. The only thing that upsets her about being small is that she still only weighs 46-47 pounds and you're supposed to stay in a 5 point harness until 50 pounds. She cannot believe that she's 10 and still has to sit in a baby chair.
Today, I'm going to her school and surprise her by eating lunch with her. I think she should really enjoy that!
Then some last minute details, last minute laundry and packing and then homework. Put the kids to bed (there WILL be tears - especially from Kaley who desperately wants to go with me). Then last minute preparations. Hope to get in bed some time before it's time to get up. Head out the door at 3:50, get to the airport. Plane leaves at 6am for Chicago.
We'll be in Chicago for a few hours waiting for Aunt Shari to arrive from Denver. Then we'll hit that plane and get to Beijing - arriving at 4:25pm Beijing time on Nov 11. (3:25am Tampa time if I've done my conversions correctly). Eat, shower, crash.
Then the real adventure begins. I'm so overwhelmed with the details of trying to get there and the details of trying to keep my kids and hubby safe here that I've not had a whole lot of time to invest in the details of the new orphanage home. (Probably a good thing because every time I do, I get the feeling that I am soooooo in over my head.)
I'll be trying to blog feelings here. If it's not blocked. My friend Sherri will also be trying to post for me if I can't. I'll also be putting some things up on the regular website of destinyshouse.com/bethgore.html ... there will be a link there to the pages.
Thanks for all the prayers and the support! This truly needs to be a team effort!
Love to all, Beth
Then some last minute details, last minute laundry and packing and then homework. Put the kids to bed (there WILL be tears - especially from Kaley who desperately wants to go with me). Then last minute preparations. Hope to get in bed some time before it's time to get up. Head out the door at 3:50
We'll be in Chicago for a few hours waiting for Aunt Shari to arrive from Denver. Then we'll hit that plane and get to Beijing - arriving at 4:25pm Beijing time on Nov 11. (3:25am Tampa time if I've done my conversions correctly). Eat, shower, crash.
Then the real adventure begins. I'm so overwhelmed with the details of trying to get there and the details of trying to keep my kids and hubby safe here that I've not had a whole lot of time to invest in the details of the new orphanage home. (Probably a good thing because every time I do, I get the feeling that I am soooooo in over my head.)
I'll be trying to blog feelings here. If it's not blocked. My friend Sherri will also be trying to post for me if I can't. I'll also be putting some things up on the regular website of destinyshouse.com/bethgore.html ... there will be a link there to the pages.
Thanks for all the prayers and the support! This truly needs to be a team effort!
Love to all, Beth
Nov 3, 2009
One week from today ...
But the one thing most on my mind today is ... we get to see Zoe's foster mother. We were told we'd never get to meet her, never know her name. Well, by a miracle, I got to meet her in March. There wasn't a dry eye in the place! Even the most stoic of men cried tears as they saw this moment.
2 women who both love the same child.
I know what it's like. I was a foster parent. And I HATED HATED it when people would tell me "I could never be a foster parent, my heart is too big." I wanted to slap them and say, "Thanks for saying that I have a tiny heart but YOU'RE the one with a small heart. I loved this child enough to give him/her a good start in life. I loved them enough to share all the love in my heart with them. And when they left, my heart broke into a million little pieces. Some of the pieces still aren't together yet."
but I digress ...
I know what it's like to love and lose a child. To wonder what she's doing now. To wonder if she's happy. To wonder, "Did I do enough?"
And this foster mother knows the pain all too well. So we sat there, hugging each other, crying. We didn't need many words. There are no words for times like this. And in a blink, it was over. She was gone and it was so surreal it was almost as if it hadn't happened.This time - Zoe gets to go. We are going to get to spend most of the day with her this time. And I'm wondering ... what can I do to honor the love she showed Zoe? What questions should I ask her? How will Zoe be feeling during all this? Will it bring a peace and some closure or will it re-open a wound? What about the foster mother? Is this good for her or is it going to be very painful to see how much Zoe has grown and changed? (She's even had surgery and looks different on top of the typical growth.)
I guess I'm just doing what Mama's do ... we put things in our heart and ponder them.
Zoe is making her some drawings. We've put together a photo album for her of Zoe's years with us so far. And I wonder ... what does she need from us? What will make her feel how deeply we love and respect her.
And yes, there will be pictures. There will be video. I will share.
Adoption isn't for wimps!
Nov 2, 2009
Coming down to the wire
I don't know about you ... but I find that God likes cliff-hangers! (I, on the other hand, do not.) I'm a planner. I think I find security, comfort in knowing at list the gist of what is coming so I feel I can be prepared. (I'm SURE I'm not alone on this.)
But God, He has other purposes. He wants me to be attached to Him. He wants me to rely on Him. And I can say I do ... but when it comes down to it, I often feel like I'm hanging on until 11:59 and then He swoops in and saves the day.
Now the trick would be for me not to worry until 11:59 has passed. I used to worry by 10 pm. Then my faith grew and I could postpone the worry until 11 pm. I think I'm up to about 11:30 before worry sets in now. So I'm getting better.
As I see it, it's 11:25 right now. I am not worried YET. But I also see my pending worry about to set it.
What to worry about? All the details and plans for the China trip have not come together yet. (Even the money is not quite all in ... close, but not quite. But He's provided the rest, I'm sure that will be available too in no time.)
The front half of the trip is all nicely tied up. From November 10-18 we're all set. We have a place to stay, places to eat, translators, transportation, etc. ahhhhh.
November 19-24 is a bit scattered still. So much so that I cannot get flights yet, no hotel yet, no driver. Now that can all come together pretty quickly since I have done the research and I just push the buttons. But I'm not even sure why we're supposed to be there all those days.
We're to meet the Director on November 19 - which means we'll leave New Day, to go Beijing airport, fly to Taiyuan and meet him somewhere that day. (Not at the orphanage I was just told today since all foreigners are forbidden to go due to H1N1.) Then November 20 we're to meet with Zoe's foster family. Where? When? That will fall in place too I'm sure. I just want it to be special and meaningful. Last time, it was a quick 30 minutes and we were outta there.
November 21? Nov 22? Beats the heck out of me. I think those days are about doing our Children's Home business around the province. No problem. But the person we're meeting with has to go back on Nov 22. We'll be in Taiyuan with no English speaking person for that whole day. Why? Originally I had tried to get the flight back home on that day and it was a NO-GO, already booked. So I know we'll be there for a reason... but what? And more importantly, it is in Taiyuan or are we supposed to go back to Beijing and have our divine appointment there??? And until I know this, I cannot book flights or hotels.
So ... that's what I mean by ... down to the wire. I leave in a week. This has to be decided before I go.
tick. tick. tick.
But God, He has other purposes. He wants me to be attached to Him. He wants me to rely on Him. And I can say I do ... but when it comes down to it, I often feel like I'm hanging on until 11:59 and then He swoops in and saves the day.
Now the trick would be for me not to worry until 11:59 has passed. I used to worry by 10 pm. Then my faith grew and I could postpone the worry until 11 pm. I think I'm up to about 11:30 before worry sets in now. So I'm getting better.
As I see it, it's 11:25 right now. I am not worried YET. But I also see my pending worry about to set it.
What to worry about? All the details and plans for the China trip have not come together yet. (Even the money is not quite all in ... close, but not quite. But He's provided the rest, I'm sure that will be available too in no time.)
The front half of the trip is all nicely tied up. From November 10-18 we're all set. We have a place to stay, places to eat, translators, transportation, etc. ahhhhh.
November 19-24 is a bit scattered still. So much so that I cannot get flights yet, no hotel yet, no driver. Now that can all come together pretty quickly since I have done the research and I just push the buttons. But I'm not even sure why we're supposed to be there all those days.
We're to meet the Director on November 19 - which means we'll leave New Day, to go Beijing airport, fly to Taiyuan and meet him somewhere that day. (Not at the orphanage I was just told today since all foreigners are forbidden to go due to H1N1.) Then November 20 we're to meet with Zoe's foster family. Where? When? That will fall in place too I'm sure. I just want it to be special and meaningful. Last time, it was a quick 30 minutes and we were outta there.
November 21? Nov 22? Beats the heck out of me. I think those days are about doing our Children's Home business around the province. No problem. But the person we're meeting with has to go back on Nov 22. We'll be in Taiyuan with no English speaking person for that whole day. Why? Originally I had tried to get the flight back home on that day and it was a NO-GO, already booked. So I know we'll be there for a reason... but what? And more importantly, it is in Taiyuan or are we supposed to go back to Beijing and have our divine appointment there??? And until I know this, I cannot book flights or hotels.
So ... that's what I mean by ... down to the wire. I leave in a week. This has to be decided before I go.
tick. tick. tick.
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