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…
______________________________________
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!
Sitting here so heavy hearted and yet happy for two little lives that have changed. What a family!
it’s a good thing i work in an office all by myself – that was a tearjerker from the start!! hope you are having safe travels 🙂 love ya’!
I am just BLOWN AWAY! Wow you are an amazing and inspirational family beyond words can say. Who can watch that and not be totally moved and inspired? I am teary eyed but moved wtih incredible sense of admiration and total awe in what you have done, the fact that have taken two innocent lives and completely changed them forever. And what I love is that you didn’t just change THEIR lives you have enriched you and your childrens so far beyond anything else could. I love waht you said about them rescuing you way more than you could have them….that is so beautiful and really sums up who you are and how you look at this experience. You are a beautiful family and I wish you a lifetime of happiness, love, smiles and endless laughter. Thank you for sharing this……..I will certainly be sharing it.
Wow, this is such an inspiring story. What a beautiful family you have.
What a beautiful story! God is SO good! Thanks so much for sharing. I love adoption stories, and I’m hoping to have my own some day.
Omgoodness!!! What a beautiful story and video! I loved watching it (also, nice for this GA-moved-to-IA girl to see bits of Atlanta again). Just one thing to put as a warning to viewers: Mascara alert!
Congratulations to the Owens and to the many beautiful families out there!
Beautiful story had me in tears and so grateful people like this family exist. Thank you for sharing their story.
I was so glad to be able to show my 2 girls your story – I had tears streaming down my face and they were asking if we could adopt! (we are foster carers in Australia and they do not encourage adoption here).
I love that you saw a need and did not ignore the urging in your hearts from God. If we all did something, even just a little something, we could help eradicate so much heartache in this world and shine God’s light into souls who need his unconditional love. Thank you for sharing your story.
What a lovely, beautiful story. My husband and I feel that God has called us to adopt a child (or two!) someday. I was blessed a lot by this story 🙂
Tears are flowing!!! How beautiful!! Oh it is how our world should work 🙂
That is the sweetest thing ever!
It’s heartbreaking to realise that children live in such conditions but so heartwarming to know that there are families like the Owens that are willing to open their homes and hearts to them. Their video touched my heart and made me cry.
I am so moved by this story and the video. God bless those who are willing to go help those children who by no means of their own are in those situations. Thank you so much for sharing.
Crying…..a lot. God bless that beautiful family, Amen!!!!
Beautiful beautiful video. I cried like a baby.
thank you for sharing. I could not stop crying at such a beautiful depiction of His redeeming love–even for the smallest of His children.
This phrase is what would give me pause: “…we couldn’t imagine what kind of emotional or behavioral issues they might bring into our home…” Yet in faith you obeyed. What a wonderful example of living in the grace of Christ.
So beautiful. There are times that words fail us. What a beautiful family.
wow beautiful story! that pure love touched my soul and brought tears to my eyes! god bless them! your story will be just as precious and im praying for Gods perfect plan for your dreams as well! thats so cool that they video taped it through out the day!
Wow!!! God is good….all the time! Tears are still rolling down my face.
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing how the Lord is doing amazing things .
How deep is the grace of God that he can touch unwanted, and forgotten children out in the middle of nowhere! It’s a reminder that we are ALL His children no matter where we come from, where we live, and where we are going. It’s ministries like the Owens that stir my heart and makes me what to be a part of the bigger picture. God bless them and the children.
Cold chills. During the whole story and still have them. Wow.
So touching and so sweet. Tears of joy for all of you and the little lives you touch every day. My 2 small children watched this with me and they were even moved by the spirrt of this video. Thank you. Thank you for showing us that in this world there are still people that inspire and are good. What a wonderful lesson to start the day!
Great video! Tears in my eyes on an early Friday morning… but great tears! Y’all are doing a wonderful thing for wonderful innocent people!
I’m balling! What an incredible story…I love team Owens!!! Yay Owens Yay! 🙂
I’ve watched this at least 20 times in 2 days. It’s incredible. Thank you for sharing!
Just beautiful! I love their smiling faces when they are tucking the kids in for the night. I can’t imagine what would be going through those kids minds being in a childs prison then a safe and loving home. Amazing. God bless this family!!
You guys take me to a happy place and inspire me daily with your posts and this one brought happy tears. Thank you both for everything you do and best wishes for your own adoption process.
There really are no words–except, God bless them, and please pass the Kleenex!!
Just amazing.! An amazing ‘hope’ story. God bless your journey as your family grows. Thank you Layla.
So beautiful. Thank you Jesus!
such a great story! I was totally unaware of this, thanks for letting us know and god bless you and your family for adopting these sweet kids.
What an amazing video! I cried throughout at the pureness of the emotions! Thank you for sharing your story.
Absolutely beautiful.. God bless you..
How beautiful that this family has found it in their hearts to love these 2 children! What a heartwrming story… such an inspiration to others to see beyond our own world. Much love and blessings to you, Layla and Kevin, now that this path is one you too have chosen! May God continue to bless you and guide you as you journey on this similar path for a better world. You will surely be blessed, I just know it!
What a great story! I teared up watching the video!
You are all beautiful people with such warm hearts. Thank you for sharing. God bless you!
Wow, what a special family!
Through my tears I want to express the gratitude of my heart. Thank you for sharing this. Today, I felt like giving up, after almost 8 years of raising my 3 grandsons (now 7, 10 7 13). Today was the day I was going to have my nervous breakdown and loose my mind. Instead, my teenaged grandson and I read the article, and we were both filled with appreciation. God works in many mysterious ways!
What a lovely story. The video brought tears to my eyes. God bless the Owens team, they have been blessed with loving hearts.
Thank you Layla for sharing their story.
I cried so much watching the video. What an amazing gift these parents gave to these children. God Bless them!
Mat 25:37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?
Mat 25:38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?
Mat 25:39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
Mat 25:40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
This scripture passage came to life for me when I read your story and saw your video..God Bless you for your love and your ministry.
In a gentle way, you can shake the world. ~ Mohandas Gandhi
You given us all a reminder about what’s really important…your family is amazing!
Layla, thank you for posting this.
To the Owens – God bless you. The difference in the eyes of the children is how the positive effects of this can be seen. Amazing.
Thank you for sharing. I have sent the link to several of my friends and family. God is working mighty wonders even through the internet!
What a beautiful story! I am so thankful for people who care about others so deeply. I would love to adopt a child one day. Good luck to you, Kevin and Layla, as you work to bring your own little ones home with you!
May God continue to bless these families!
I was crying before I watched the video… after, streaming tears of thankfulness for such a beautiful family and their love!
what an amazing story! layla – thanks for sharing, for opening yourself up. 🙂
Wiping tears from my face. Oh my, what a wonderful gift adoption is. My children and now grown but there is still something in me that wants to reach out and adopt several children. God bless!