Manegait

After many years of praying and pleading with God for a child, Zachariah was born! His birthmother placed him in our arms and asked us to name him Zachariah. His name means “Remembered by God”. I had no idea, in that moment, the ways God would show favor on him.  Zachariah has the opposite stereotype of many children with disabilities. On the outside he looks like your typical, all-American boy; however, his special needs are vast and complicated.  We first noticed a delay when most of his peers began to talk and babble at an early age. Zachariah began to talk in 1 or 2 word phrases at about age 3.  We began early childhood intervention with Zachariah very early. He struggles both verbally with language and also cognitively with understanding academics at school.  Very early, his peers began to taunt him and make fun of him because of his small size and because he did not understand the material being taught at school. His self-confidence and self-esteem began to wilt at a very young age.

Midway through his first grade year, a friend told me about ManeGait Therapeutic Horsemanship.  As I began to research this therapy. I was most intrigued with the ‘Gaitway to the Brain’ program they offer. Through music therapy, cross body movements, building hand-eye coordination, and eye training, Zachariah could improve verbal output, self-regulation, his ability to self-calm, and his ability to focus! I went to visit and take a tour and met Robin, the director. She explained to me how everything Zachariah has been taught is in his brain, but the pathways in his brain were not connecting.  She further offered the hope that the techniques and therapies she offered at Manegait could change that.

Zachariah began riding at Manegait very shortly after I had an opportunity to share his story with Priscilla Darling, co-founder of Manegait.  Walking the grounds that very first time, I recalled the promise made at Zach’s birth that he would be “Remembered by God”, and I knew that this opportunity was God’s way of showing us that He had not forgotten my son.

Manegait offers a safe place for children with disabilities. They are loved, they are cherished, and they are given an opportunity like no other. 

Within a few short weeks, Zachariah’s confidence grew in a way I had never seen before. He was proud of himself up on that horse! He was able to do something amazing that his friends were not able to do. He was able to ride a horse! He was able to control a 1,000 pound animal.

Manegait has given Zach something to look forward to every week. He loves the horses. He loves his teacher and especially Mrs. Robin and Mrs. Erin. The staff and volunteers love Zachariah. They want the best for him. They are patient and they encourage him.  Manegait has changed his life. Manegait has changed MY life as his mom. 

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, Plans to prosper you, to give you a future and a hope.”  I believe Manegait is God’s gift to us as He offers this promise to Zachariah!

Dear Birthmother

Dear Birthmother,

Thank you for giving me a gift that no one else could. Thank you for taking care of my precious baby for the time he was growing in your womb. Thank you for making me a mother by selflessly handing over your child into the arms of a stranger. I will never forget the day we walked side by side out of the hospital and you placed the baby you carried for so long into our car to go home with me. You didn’t know me well, but you trusted me with a precious gift. I will forever love and honor you for your strength, your courage, your love for Zachariah.

I have always had the heart to adopt even before our infertility struggles and the loss of our first two children. I had in my mind a sweet blonde girl from Russia. Friends today still laugh at how determined I was to adopt a child from Russia “just because” I wanted too. About 2 years before our adoption journey begun…I was boarding a flight in Atlanta when my cousin thrust a book into my hands and said “here’s something for you to read on the plane” The book Dear Birthmother literally changed my life and began my adoption journey even though I didn’t realize it at the time. First let me say, that I could not read the book on the plane because I was literally sobbing after just reading the first chapter of this book. The first chapter outlines the 4 myths of birthmothers.

Myth 1 “The birthmother obviously doesn’t care about her child or she wouldn’t have given him away.”

Myth 2 “Secrecy in every phase of the adoption process is necessary to protect all parties”

Myth 3 “Both the birthmother and birthfather will forget about their unwanted child”

Myth 4 “If the adoptee really loved his adoptive family, he would not have to search for his birthparents”

Reading this book and analyzing these myth’s really changed my heart about open adoption in particular and literally paved the pathway of my heart to be able to have the type of relationship I have today with Zachariah’s birthmother.

It has been my JOY to have a relationship with Zachariah’s birthmother..and her family.

If you are contemplating open adoption, I urge you to read this book and seek God’s will as you read. Before I read this book, I was so closed minded to any other type of adoption other than the one I had my mind set on. God used this book to prepare me for the great blessing He had in store for me!

In closing, I realize that I am using the words I and me. I am not blogging about how God worked in my husband’s heart and mind because that is His story to tell. It wasn’t until about 6 weeks before Zachariah was born that God revealed to us that we both had the same heart…..finally:)

Celebrating Our Adoption

My heart is full tonight. Today, Inheritance Adoptions, the wonderful adoption agency that helped us adopt Zachariah held a celebration for all the families in the DFW area that have adopted children.

It was so much fun to mingle and share stories with other adoptive moms. It was especially fun to meet “in real life” a blog friend……Corrie Long from http://longingforone.blogspot.com/.

November is national Adoption Awareness month…so I thought I would spend a few “blog sessions” on sharing my heart on adoption and a little bit of Zachariah’s story.

I will start with his name. Zachariah’s birthmother ask to name him….and she gave him the beautiful name Zachariah. The name Zachariah means “Remembered by God.”

I have also heard adopted children called “chosen children” However; I feel that I was the one chosen. I sometimes stand in awe to think that God chose me to be Zachariah’s mom out of all the other moms in the world…it is a very humbling thought..and I take the responsibility very seriously.

I remember the first Christmas we celebrated with Zachariah…and as I watched friends and family shower him with gifts…my mind wandered to “what could have been” and I knelt down and thanked God for remembering him.

Today, 4 1/2 years later. There is something about Zachariah that endears him to everyone around him. He is playing soccer for the first time this year…and the coach’s wife pulled me aside one day and told me how much her older son “loves” Zachariah and feels like he has to be at the practices and games to support Zachariah! (not his own younger brother!)

Mrs. Vicki loves Zachariah and is always emailing with a specific verse she has prayed for Zachariah for the day or week. We covet Mrs.Vicki’s prayers!

Tonight at church one of Zachariah’s friends “Jack’s mom” came up and told Zachariah that Jack (on far right) prays for him every night. This touched my heart so much!

God remembered Zachariah!

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So Thankful

Tonight, Zachariah went to Awanas. Awanas is a national club designed to Reach Children with the Gospel, Teach children how to have a relationship with Christ, and Train them to Study God's Word and Hide it in Their Heart. (all in fun fun ways) This is the first time Zachariah has been in an organized "club". Every week he will recite his Bible Verses to a teacher and earn a patch for his vest. And as I watched him tonight...so excited to go to class, and so excited to wear his vest....I couldn't help but bow my head and thank God for remembering him and bringing him into our family. Interestingly enough, His birthmother named him...but I know God put the name on her heart. His name means "Remembered by God"..I am so very excited to see how God will use this young man! When I picked him up, he was happy and excited. He ran up and hugged his teachers goodbye and ran into the arms of his 2 year old Sunday School teacher as we were leaving.I am so grateful to be part of such a wonderful church...and to think of the life Zachariah could have had if God had not remembered him 3 years ago...but He did! Thank you Jesus for choosing us to be Zachariah's parents.