We’re heading to P-Dub’s place today, so while we’re easin’ on down the road to Osage, I’d like to share with you a guest post written by my new e-friend, Shelly. She and her hubby blog at GoodToBeCrazy.com, and their adoption story video is one of my all-time favs.
Take it away Shelly…
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Hi everyone! We’re Team Owens – Dan, Shelly, Madeline, Davis, Hannah, Joseph and Charlotte. In the blog world, some know us as the “Crazy Crew.” And it’s true – we tend to march to the beat of a different drummer!
We’re a homeschooling, multi-racial family of seven. We love our God, we’re passionate about orphan causes, and we’re committed to our ministry in Eastern Africa, called SixtyFeet. But life wasn’t always this way. Five years ago, we were an average American family — just a Daddy, a Mommy, a little girl and a baby boy.
Then, in early 2010, Dan and I learned about a facility in the East African country of Uganda, called “M.”
M is a prison for children.
Yes, you read that correctly. A prison for children.
Fewer than 5% of all children in the main M facility are true delinquents. For the most part, their crime is this- they’re simply unwanted. They’re street beggars who have been rounded up by the police because they “make the city unsightly with all their begging”. They’re handicapped and mentally disabled orphans who no one wants and no orphanage will accept. They’re step-children who have been dropped off by a new step-parent, eager to rid their home of “ old blood. They’re refugees who have fled war-torn countries in Africa.
This was something we just could not ignore. We felt that we had to take action, and within weeks of that decision, several Atlanta families rallied with us and we formed the ministry of SixtyFeet — an organization working to bring hope and restoration to the imprisoned children of Africa.
A few months after we created SixtyFeet, Dan and I forged a special relationship with two young children living in M. We learned they had been in the facility for over a year, abandoned by their parents and dropped off by the police on several occasions.
We had no family or health history on either child. Hannah & Joseph had been living in such a horrible place that we couldn’t imagine what kind of emotional or behavioral issues they might bring into our home. But at the end of the day, we knew we just couldn’t leave them there. God sets the lonely in families “ and God works through people. So that was that. We took steps to begin the adoption process in July of 2010 and never looked back.
(Dan with Joseph and Hannah)
In December (2010), we brought them home, to be our son and daughter, forever.
It’s a decision we have never, ever regretted. Hannah & Joseph have blessed our family IMMENSLEY and they’ve rescued us way more than we could have ever rescued them.
Click the play button below to view our (5 minute) adoption video, Home At Last…
(Film by Michael Lines ; Photography by Griffin Gibson ; Music: All Things New by BrettYounker.com)
Team Owens is just one little family, and we know we can’t change the whole world, but by God’s grace, we believe we can help to change one little corner of it!
(Hannah, Davis, Shelly, Charlotte, Dan, Joseph and Madeline)
For more information about SixtyFeet.org, click here, and to read Shelly’s blog, click here!
What an amazing story! As someone who is seriously considering international adoption right now, I silently sobbed through the whole video. I love hearing about others’ adoption journeys. God bless their family and thanks for sharing!!
LOVE this post. I’m in Savannah GA both my pastor and associate pastors have adopted kids.. and a new associative pastor and his family are in the process of a very very tricky one. God reigns.
How wonderful. I can’t wait to adopt myself!! Looking to foster in the next year or so.
First off all, Shelly is awesome because we have the same name. Duh.
Secondly I spent over an hour and a half last night reading through all the posts since the adoption and a few before and loved getting to know the Owen family.
One post said Hannah is insanely beautiful and it’s funny because at that very moment, I had turned to my husband and said, “Wow, that little girl is stunning”
All of your children are beautiful but it’s not just because they look like it on the outside, but because when you feel love, and strength from within, you glow and everyone around you FEELS how beautiful you are, they don’t see it.
Thanks for sharing, and for allowing the Owen’s to gain support for their organization and family by putting a true Christ centered family on the front line here on TLC.
Thank you Layla and Kevin!
I am so blessed by your story. Like so many others I sat and wept tears of joy. To know that two children who may never have heard about the Lord will now have his love displayed for them in such a real way is amazing. Thank you for your obedience to God and your willingness to live the truly abundant life that he has for you.
This has to be one of the most incredible videos I have ever watched. I cried like a baby just thinking of the blessing and hope this family has given those beautiful children!
I am selfishly hoping this video will be yet another seed planted in my husband’s heart to yearn for the same hope I have: to bring home God’s children from all over the world into our forever family.
Your movie instantly brought tears of joy to my eyes:) I am so thrilled to see God’s love displayed in your lives in such vivid ways!
I wrote about your post and linked to it on my blog today…hope thats ok!
here is the link
http://fruitfulhomejournal.blogspot.com/2011/08/fresh-perspective.html
God bless you all as you continue to serve him!!
sincerely,
Adriane@ fruitfulhomejournal.blogspot.com
Crying as I watch your beautiful video…both of our kids are grown, happy, and educated. I’m feeling like we have more to offer…but we’re both 50. Wishing we weren’t too old to adopt.
What a touching story!! I cried and then I showed my mom this story and she cried (with me crying again)! Then I showed a client at my work and she cried! So Beautiful and the song in that video rang true!
hi layla! i’m so glad that shelly sent me the link here saying that you featured them. i love that i call shelly and dan friends after being bonded through ugandan adoption, a love for the kids at M and the pursuit of Him. they have been such a blessing and encouragement to our family.
i love your blog. i adore homes and interior design. my husband builds homes so we build a new home every couple years to kept our model home current. i love what i’ve peeked around and seen here!
Layla and Kevin,
Here is a touching story about a family in our community and their efforts to help orphans in Haiti and around the world. Beautiful family and story.
http://www.thetitustask.com/about-the-tugwell-family.html
You have very generous hearts. You inspire me to be better. Thank you.
Your precious story has truly touched my heart as it has done many other. May we all be inspired by your genuine generousity
Oh, geez. I’m sitting here weeping – not what I expected to be doing this morning. Thank you for sharing this family’s story; I’ll be carrying it through my day and week.
This is an amazing story & beautiful video ~ thank you so much for sharing….you made my day 🙂
BEAUTIFUL story! I have an adopted son and love to see others stories! A child does not have to grow in your womb to be loved..some love grows in the heart alone….
I just stumbled upon this post. What an amazing story! I am sitting in front of my computer wiping tears from my face. So inspiring.
absolutely beautiful
LOVELY , I’m crying I’m so happy for them!!!! I’m inspired
Just wanted to say I read your sweet blog and love your hearts. Show Hope is another way in which people can apply for adoption grants and help. just wanted to let you know… Check out our work sometime… god is good. God Bless,
Mary Beth Chapman
President and Founder, Show Hope
As I watched your film, my eyes were full of tears. Good tears. The Lord has surely blessed you, and your children. Blessings to you all
Typing through tears. Just lovely. God bless.
God bless this family. I am crying thinking about the blessing bestowed upon this family. I remember the day we brought my own two bundles home from that airport.
Such an amazing act of love. So blessed just to hear your story.
I love your blog and your design. I was curious if you are still planning to adopt. 🙂
This is a beautiful, inspiring story;) Thank you for sharing!
Amazing ~ beautiful video! I smiled the whole time! God bless you and your precious family! I hope more children are adopted because of your sharing your heart <3