Depraved Indifference

This is a short film by Eric Ludy hammering home the truth that we all have a calling to be a father to the fatherless.  This film is so moving.  We hope you enjoy it, and that it stirs your heart to consider being God's hands and feet rushing to rescue a child in need somewhere...

And Lori Makes 8

We are coming up on Lori's 6 month mark of being a Lancaster.  She has adjusted amazingly well and it's like she's always been here. 

For our faithful blog followers - I know we've taken several weeks off - but it's been a busy summer.  As school starts back - I promise to post more often!

One Leg and 2 Fingers

Have you ever been put in your place?  Well, we had one of those moments tonight.  We went to St Louis Children's Hospital for a Parent Consultation visit with part of the Cochlear Implant team.  The purpose of the meeting was to pick out all the components of Lori's implant. 
As we were walking out of the hospital, we noticed a lady in a wheelchair and (we assume) her dad walking toward their car.  We felt sorry for the poor women and probably should have offered to help.  She only had 1 leg and 2 fingers - missing her entire left leg, her left forearm, and part of her right forearm and hand - with only 2 fingers attached to her elbow area - she was pushing herself backwards in a wheelchair with her only "normal" limb.  Our first thought is that she was a patient - but she was obviously  past the age of 21 and more like our same age.  As we neared the elevator - they did, too.  We quickly found ourselves boarding the tiny box toghether - making a great opportunity for quick chit-chat.  Long story short - after quite an extensive conversation in the parking garage - We found out that she is married with 10 children.  She has 2 birth children and 8 adopted kiddos.  One from Haiti is a patient at Children's having hip reconstruction surgery after laying for an extended time in a crib.  She also has a child who is both deaf and blind and another with Down Syndrome.  She recently adopted 4 at one time from Haiti.  She praised the technology of Cochlear Implants - saying it made a huge impact on her daughter's life.  She mentioned that God is good and we asked if she was a believer.  She gave a hearty "Yes" and said she'd have to either be a drinker or a Beliver to have 10 kids!
We left and walked to our car completely humbled.  We both said "Just when you think you've actually done something good - you meet someone like her!"  We were definately knocked down a few notches and asked ourselves - what's stopping us from opening our home for another child or 2 or 3.  I know it's crazy - but the whole message of the Gospel can sound a little (and a lot!) crazy at times.  Only God knows what our future holds - but if she can see past her circumstances and find a place in her home and her heart to be a mother to 10 kids - then why can't we?  Why can't you?  Really - it's a question worth asking. 

BTW - Lori's surgery is set for Aug 19 pending insurance approval.  Jax broke his arm 2 weeks ago and hopefully will not have to have surgery.  Jay's dear Mimi went home to her Savior on July 4 - a fitting day to find freedom from this life.  It's been a busy few weeks - sorry we haven't blogged lately. 

Songs to Jam

We're waiting - and have been all weekend.  For that phone call to let us know that our dear, sweet Mimi has breathed her last breathe on this side of Heaven.  She has been such a blessing to us - her fiesty personality and her love for our children - including the one who looks like she spit her right out! are traits only someone like her could posess.  Jay has always said she's his favorite and I think she may feel the same about him.  They share a special bond and she will be missed.  But we know that she has brighter days in her future and have no doubt that soon she'll be walking with Our Lord. 

For some reason - these last few days have brought up several memories stored in the back of my mind from years gone by.  I'm usually not sentimental - almost to a fault.  I've even teared up a bit today - not over Mimi - these last 2 years have been horrible for her - so I'm glad she's made it to the end of her journey and rejoice with her that she has faithfully run her race.  But over other things - small moments in time - days long gone that can never be re-created.

I found a picture of my firstborn - taken around her 1st birthday with a big red bow in her curly locks - now in a few short weeks, she'll be entering High School.

I sat and talked with a precious, precicous friend as she battles Stage 4 Cancer talking about what could have been and what is.

I listened to an old CD entitled Songs to Jam - only a few out there will recognize that titled written in Black Sharpie around 10 years ago about this time of year.  A group of crazy guys who thought they could throw together a band to play for a bunch of camp kids.  Soulfire - sure do miss those days - more than I ever thought I would.  That was such a turning point in our spiritual life.....Grubby - You Rock!! and you made a permanent dent in ole' Jay Lancaster.  A deep heartfelt thank you.

I've thought about some upcoming events in the life of one near and dear - ones that might sting a bit - and I'm sorry for what isn't and for what might be. 

Maybe too much thinking - sometimes that's what happens on lazy holidays when work is forgotten and families get remembered.

"For everything there is a season......"

A Day in the Life of the Lancasters

Wednesday night, we went to St Louis and Pricelined a hotel room because we had to be at St. Louis Children's hospital by 8:30 am Thursday.  With all these trips to St Louis, I've become quite a Priceline junkie.  We typically like to stay at hotels we are familiar with - so Priceline definately takes us out of our comfort zone and each trip is a little adventure.

Now, most kids who live near St. L grow up with grand childhood memories of visiting the zoo, Six Flags, the Magic House - with the addition of Lori - I think our kids are going to treasure memories of St L  Children's Hospital.  It's such a neat place and they have gone above and beyond to make it family friendly.    While Lori was evaluated by members of the Cochlear Implant team (looks like her surgery will be mid-August if all goes well) - the other kiddos played in the Rooftop Garden and the ever-popular Sibling Playroom.  They also marveled at the Saltwater aquariums (who wouldn't!) that dot the landscape.  Eye Candy is everywhere!  Even the Parking Garage contains hidden treasures.

After we left the hospital, we needed a little pick-me-up and decided to search for a Starbucks.  Thanks to our handy-dandy GPS app - we discovered one super close.  Problem is - it's not such a great idea to manuver a Suburban through the swanky little area near the  hospital.  So, we circled the same block at least 4-5 times to find a parking spot big enough.  Brought flashbacks of the classic European Vacation movie where Chevy Chase gets stuck in the London round a bout and repeatedly points out  - "There's Big Ben, Kids, and Parliament".  Finally Jay just pulled up and I jumped out to go in.  He circled yet again to pick me up.

Our adventure continued as we searched out the local Social Security Office.  Our insurance had insisted that we submit Lori's social security number by close of day on June 23.  Guess what - it's June 23 and her number was applied for on June 22.  Not our fault - by the way.  That's just the way it happened.  To get her SS number, she had to have a birth cert.  To get a birth cert - we had to process the adoption through the Missouri court system.  To do that - we had to have a court date.  To get a court date - we had to have  a lawyer draw up the papers.  Etc.  You get the picture - there were quite a few hoops to jump through and even after overnighting some necessary paperwork - here we were on the very last day.  

As we neared the SS office - the neighbor hood "changed".  One of those "lock the doors" moments.   However, Jay jumped out and got the number without any issues - although he did have to check his trusty pocket knife at the door.   As we were leaving, we spotted a Hair shop - you know the ones with bars on the windows and grafitti on the wall that sells hair extensions, fake nails, and cheap jewelry.  I wanted to stop in and see if they had any toupee tape.  Lori's hearing aids don't fit well - and we use toupee tape to stick them behind her ears.  Jay pulled in and I jumped out.  I walked in to find the store owners were Asian.  I explained what I needed and through broken English and hand gestures - they figured out that they did indeed have the tape.  I struck up a conversation with the lady checking me out and asked if they were by any chance from China.  Now, pay attention, this was some interesting info she gave me....

She said they were from Korea - and that most Koreans operate Hair stores, then she broke it down even further.  According to her - Koreans sell hair products, Vietnamese do nails, Chinese open restaurants, and immigrants from India have gas stations and Dunkin' Donuts. 

So, there you have it.  A day in the life of the Lancasters.

Sleepy and Cranky at VBS

This week is VBS at our church...and Camille and I are both active in different stations...Camille in crafts and me outside doing recreation...tonight, Matt was gone for work, and right before the first group came to us, Maddie brought me Lori.  She was cranky and sleepy and mad, and Camille told Maddie to bring her to me...So she stayed by me, crying and screaming, while I talked with the first group...we muddled through it with the help of Miss Sherrie who took Lori to the kitchen for a snack.  While the kids from the first group were still playing, I caught up with Lori and Miss Sherrie in the kitchen and carried Lori outside, where we sat down to watch the kids play.  I held her close and rocked while sitting in the grass, as she threw a little fit.  After a few minutes of rocking, though, she got still and quiet...she was OUT!

We knew she was tired.  And I got her asleep...but now what???...we have another group of kids coming soon...I couldn't take her to some room in the church...if she woke up by herself in a strange room, she would freak out...so I asked someone closeby to grab a crib mattress I saw in a spare sunday school classroom.

I was able to move her to the mattress,  as it laid in the grass close to our games...and she slept there outside with me all night until VBS was over.  One nice thing about having a child with hearing loss is that the kids can be playing loudly all around her, and she can sleep perfectly.

It was funny to watch the kids and adults walk outside for our recreation station to see a 2 year old asleep outside on the crib mattress sitting on the grass.  I guess its something you just don't see everyday!

It's Official...again!

(from Jay)

This morning, we started off the day at the County Courthouse. We sat down before court began with the Judge, our attorney, the guardian ad-litem, and a couple court clerks. Camille and I and Lori all attended, and Camille and I went through a number of official questions that we had to answer under oath. It was interesting, almost surreal, going through the details of our adoption of Lori…Do you love this child? Do you plan to care for and educate this child? Will this child be an heir along with your biological children? Did you go to China an officially adopt this child of your own will? It was like we were reliving the process of the last year and a half. It was a great time. And before we were dismissed, Camille jumped on the opportunity to share our story regarding Lori to those in attendance…and honestly, I think they were completely listening and taking note of every detail of Camille’s story-telling. It was great.

But everything passed and our ‘adoption of a child from a foreign country’ was officially recognized by the county and the state of Missouri. This now allows us to get Lori a birth certificate from the State of Missouri, and the birth certificate will allow us to get her a Social Security number and card…and then…well…we’re done! She’s official! She’s a US Citizen. She’s a Missouri Resident. She will have a birth certificate and a social security card. She’s our daughter. She has the same rights as our other five (biological) children. She has had her name officially changed from Wu Hao Yu to Lori Faith Lancaster.

Wow.

That’s worth a moment of silence.

But then, as we traveled home this morning, my mind drifted to think about a young Chinese couple…living somewhere in Hebei Province…that loved their daughter enough not to abort her…that loved her enough to study when and where to leave her, and left her with a note and with clean clothes, a warm blanket, and some personal items…a couple that lie down in bed at night and wonder what happened to their daughter that they left in that cardboard box at about six weeks old…maybe because she was their 2nd child…and if found, she could have been killed…

I wish that we could send them a letter or call them and let them know that she’s doing great! That their plan worked! That she is living in the land of the free with a family that loves her and cares for her! That she has brothers and sisters that she plays and fights with. That she could be getting cochlear implants soon, and that by Christmas, she may be able to hear us sing Christmas carols about the newborn king. Oh MAN how I wish I could reassure them and put them at ease. I pray that God will let them know for us in His own sovereign way.