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!
This is just an *awesome* story – God Bless this family.
And thank you, Layla, for sharing it!
Beautiful, I´m glad for you all.
crying as i read this! beautiful! we are in the process of adopting from ethiopia, so it hits close to home. can’t wait to check out their blog!
Wow! That video was so beautiful!
Awwww, such a beautiful story. I hope I’m not the only one getting all teary eyed over here. Thank you for sharing.
Layla- thank you so much for sharing this! What an incredible family and an incredible ministry!
Wow! What a beautiful story and an amazing video. I just put on my makeup for the day and now it’s ruined! Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful story and I’m sure like most it brought tears to my eyes. We are doing a Unit Study on Africa right now. I have been torn about how much to teach the children on what is going on. This is not the first “nudge” I have gotten to share mor with my kids. THANK YOU and God Bless.
God bless this precious family!! Thank you for sharing the video. It made my day!
I am beyond teary-eyed and openly sobbing. Thank you for sharing their story.
The joy of this video moved me so much.
I thank God for hearts like the Owens’ – this is love like God loves.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Beauty for ashes – love.
🙂
I can’t stop crying looking at thier eyes in that first photo. They are so beautiful and innocent. It’s so unfair. I’m truly happy that you shared this story with us today. What a wonderful organization. Blessings to you all.
that video had me in tears! so amazing! 🙂 i hope one day to adopt. it would be incredible.
What a beautiful story and family! I cried when I read the post, then more when I watched the video! :o)
Oh my gosh I just cried through the whole video! BeautifuL 🙂
was that video supposed to elicit so many tears!?! happy tears 🙂 wow!!! what a beautiful story of a loving, God-centered family! thank you, thank you for sharing!!
This video brought me to tears, what an amazing gift God gave these precious kids (and the Owens family)! Their smiles show it all. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Layla and Kev for sharing this and to the Owen’s family for their beautiful ministry. The video had me in tears! As did learning about ‘M.’ I won’t be going to sleep tonight the same person I was when I woke up this morning. God Bless you all!
That video… it has me in a heap of tears. May God bless the Owens family. And may those two little ones find happiness in a family that loves them endlessly.
You inspire me :o)
You will, I am sure, receive countless comments today of people telling you how much they were moved by this video. I am no exception. I currently am doing the very attractive hiccupy sob. 🙂
As someone who grew up in foster care and was never adopted, it always warms my heart SO much when I hear that an older child adoption had taken place. YAHOOOOOO! These children are all the more precious given their circumstance. Yes, yes indeed may the Good To Be Crazy Crew be blessed 1000 times over.
As you continue on your own adoption journey perhaps you will consider an older child adoption. Be blessed.
Very beautiful!! They are world changers!!!!
A touching story..you are all fortunate to have each other!
so amazing!:)
WOW!! Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story- a story that did not start out as so. We may not be able to change the world to a place it SHOULD be- but with the love of a family like the Owens’- a mark of love will be left- by changing the lives of those two gorgeous., precious children, they may be able to leave their mark on this world. Thank you Layla and thank the Owens family for sharing this awesome story- it has profoudly affected me in so many ways.
This was so touching. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you for sharing their story! My husband had the privilege of building their website and he was so happy when I told him you had highlighted this wonderful organization!
LOVE LOVE LOVE!! What a great video! Tears of happiness and hope!!
Beautiful
thank you for sharing layla. the tears and chills are still coming as i watch the video. so excited for your future and the family you will soon have!
Amazing! What a blessing that family is as I am holding back my tears at work! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for posting this video. My heart is filled with the love that the Owens are giving to their children. This is very touching.
What a fantastic and inspiring story. It warms my heart when children of a less fortunate life are rescued and brought into a loving and safe environment that will allow them to grow and blossom. I cried tears of joy watching your video, bless your family.
This took me completely off guard today. I wasn’t expecting to cry in my cubicle just now, but wow. What an amazing story. Thank you for all you are doing for those children. I don’t even know what else to say. Just wonderful and may God continue to bless you and your endeavors.
Thank you for sharing this, Layla! Like the others, I’m also without a dry eye. What an incredible reminder of OUR adoption as children of God! It was so inspiring and encouraging to see Christ’s love so clearly lived out in the Owen’s lives!
This is such an amazing story! All of the children are precious but that little Charlotte reminds me of a little Cindy Loo Who!
I want to crawl through this screen right now and have a dance party with that crazy crew. (I hope you’ll join us, El.) 🙂
Thank you for sharing your story, Shelly! God’s redemption stretches wider than I can comprehend. The journey of just starting to love like He loves has been the gift of a lifetime and I love seeing it in you.
I’m not a christian, but tolerant of others’ religious-or non religious- choices. I love the work that you do, and that video moved me to tears. As a SpEd teacher, well…I have a soft spot for kids who have the odds stacked against them through no fault of their own. A donation is on it’s way-namaste.
WOW! What a story…and a beautiful new family
I’m so glad there are people like you in the world! Beautiful story those are all very lucky children!
Susan
Unspeakably moving and amazing. Thank you for letting us meet your beautiful family. Many, many blessings to you.
🙂
shaunna
wow, that is so, so good. i cried all the way through that video. yes, He does set the lonely in families. praying for your children to be placed in your arms at just the right time.
blessings,
sara
Just watched the video….
What is this salty discharge coming from my eyes?
Well, that´s really wonderful !
Lovely people !
Love&Bless,
Claudia
My what a wonderful family!! God is great. Thanks for sharing and I pray for you on your adoption journey.
Wow! What an incredible story. Your video brought tears to my eyes. Such joy and hope in their hearts. I wish you and yours an amazing, love-filled life.
Such incredible people. This is an amazing story and it is so sad that any child would ever be subjected to those conditions.
Smiling and crying! What a beautiful family. Many prayers and blessings. Stay strong and tight!
What a precious testimony to the beauty God brings from ashes again and again and again. This family is beautiful as they reflect the love of God. I love what they said about not being able to save the world… but changing a little corner of it. If every family felt that way… if every person felt that way… our world would look very much different and be much brighter. I just returned from Uganda. I have just held and loved some of these children. And God has made me a voice for them. We are also hosting a child right now from Latvia… and God has just called his forever family. THANK YOU for posting this. I love checking in on your decorating talent from time to time… but THIS is what our life is really about and I am so very thankful you shared. It sadly won’t generate over 1000 comments like a contest… but you have no idea how God will use it! :0)