JonandLaurieIrons

From time to time there will be blog posts sharing about Adoption stories from the perspective of both parents and children. If you feel you have a story to share, please email me or send me a comment and I will be glad to invite to you share your story in a series of blog posts. What does a parent, such as a Father go through when a wife has a pregnancy? I can tell you from experience, I don't know. But what parents go through to adopt children is a whole different story. And what the Children who are being adopted are going through at the time is something I have always wondered. I have asked other adoptive parents and adoptive children to share their feelings, frustrations, and experiences on this blog so other adoptive children and parents can 'hear' what the other has to say. I hope this will be a place of insight and healing for those who read this. International Adoption during the year of 2001 was a challenge for me. If it wasn't for numerous emails from

One of the students told me that besides getting little sleep these past two weeks since being in Texas and the United States, for the first time, he has had a difficult time venturing out to other places to eat besides the University Cafeteria, He says he is getting tired of eating at McDonalds. I totally agreed with him. I have the awesome privilege to be able to have conversations in English with University of Texas-Dallas graduate students very close by.  We meet in a home close to the University Campus in Dallas each Friday morning and discuss Culture Shock type issues, learn how to order a Subway Sandwich at the local deli, have a successful job interview, learn about American customs and Holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, etc.   In preparing the next generation of International Leaders, we offer them to also get to know Jesus as well.

I just finished working with a group of International students from several different nations. All with the purpose of knowing God more and making Him known to others. We laughed with them over the good times and cried with them over the bad times. God planted them here so we could feed them and watch them grow more closer to a better understanding relationship with God. Many of them are headed home to their own countries as this being written and published. Half of them will return to continue their discipleship and build their trust in Him.  Be in prayer for these future International Leaders.

In learning a new language there are some days I just can't understand what my teacher is saying due to my lack of concentration. Yes, there are times in my life where I get distracted with other thoughts and ideas. I am currently working along side students from Benin, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Haiti, South Korea, China, and the USA. French, Spanish, Portuguese, Creole, Korean, Chinese and English. How do we all get along? By preferring one another, and seeking the highest good in the other person, we are able to co-exist with one another. 

Every weekday morning, when I woke up to breakfast, my father would be sitting at the kitchen table reading the morning newspaper, tinkering his spoon into his cereal bowl to get the last spoonful of milk into his mouth, or munching on a piece of toast. He was usually already dressed and ready to go to work by the time I had decided to wake up. My mother would be usually dressed in her robe, pouring hot water into her tea cup and glancing at me as I yawned and rubbed my eyes. I would usually see what cereal my dad had already brought to the table and pour that into my waiting bowl as I tried to read the headlines of a article from the back my dad's newspaper. Being informed of the latest news from the local paper was a ritual in our house. The morning radio talk show would also be on playing quietly in the background so my mother could hear what the weather was going to be for my sister and I, due to the fact, we usually walked to our school bus stop each school morning. Tod

The bright flash lit up my darkened bedroom, enough for me to see the shadows of the window frames across the floor, then followed by brief darkness once again to only be jolted by the large clap of thunder that proceeded to startle me to conciseness. Another bright flash, followed again be the sound of thunder now had me wide awake and sitting up in my bed. The flashes continued along with loud crashes of thunder.  I could no longer sleep. For fear had gripped my mind and I had to find comfort somewhere. As my feet touched the cold wooden floor, I left my room in haste as I hurried towards my parents bedroom. "Mom?", I whispered. "Dad?"  Before waiting for them to answer, "I'm scared! Can I stay in your bed tonight?" "Climb in, I remember my mother saying".  And to my surprise, my younger sister had already arrived a few minutes before me. So I proceeded to squeeze in between my sister and my Dad.  I don't remember him saying anything

Having an early Lunch with friends at a Mediterranean Restaurant in Dallas  Some of my work involves listening as well as sharing about my life with others. I may not have all the answers, so I usually just listen then choose my words slowly and communicate truth and wisdom. If I start too quickly or speak out of emotion, then my wisdom comes from me. ( 1 cor. 2:5 ) We can learn so much about each other if we just take the time to also listen to other share about themselves.