Today I want to tell you about Chet and Amanda Nachtmann . They are adopting these precious BLIND twins from India. The girls are 18 months old. They do not have a specific diagnosis other than blindness but I think one or both of the girls maybe missing an eye (it's called anophthalmia and that is what Sarah has on the left side) They may also have microphthalmia ( smaller than normal eyes/eyes that is what Sam has on the left side and actually the right eye also is smaller) But it could be how the picture was taken....it is HARD to take a picture of a blind child! I should know LOL!
Anyhow this crazy wonderful family is so excited to adopt these beautiful little princesses and I know we all want to help!!!!!!! Take a look at these sweet girls, can you imagine them left alone, in an orphanage, bullied by other kids....no future.....that is what will happen if we do not get behind them and help them!
When Chet and Amanda married they discussed adoption because Amanda had read a book in Junior High School called "19 Steps Up the Mountain" It was about a family who adopted 19 special needs kids back in the 70's. So they became foster parents and waited for a placement, it didn't happen so they thought about pursing international adoption. They were drawn to blind kids. Amanda actually works as an aid to a visually impaired child and that inspired them to adopt a blind child.....but as they started that adoption in Ukraine, they were drawn not to one but TWO blind girls ages 7 and 9!!!!!
So they brought them home and have enjoyed being their parents. The love they have for their girls, and the knowledge they've gleamed has prepared them to adopt these little ones! One thing with their older girls that they regret is that they are fighting the years of neglect and lack of intervention. I so understand that feeling! Having Sam as a biological child, we got services for him as soon as he came home from the hospital. In fact I look back and wonder if I didn't overwhelm him at times BUT his skill level is so much higher than Sarah who had no therapies or interventions. This time the Holmes family will be able to do that with these girls they are still so young.
Here is their blog header from
Go there and read their blog...it tells the story of their life now and the journey to their girls.
I love the story on April 2013 http://www.theresoneless.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-we-went-for-1-child-and-ended-up.html of how they went for one girl and ended up with two.....read that!
So again you all have a chance to bless a family and to bless two little girls!!!! Please reach down and help out...I get an average of 2500 hits a day on my blog ( I do not understand WHY LOL) if everyone would send us a check for $5 that would be $12,500! Can you imagine????? I'd love to be able to give a family a check that size!!!! WOW!
So please remember whatever you can give will help out!
You know my heart is towards any adoption whether the child is special needs or not but for a blind child I have such a soft spot. I know the vulnerability of a child who is blind... they are special little ones who do need more help in so many ways. Orphanage life is hard, when I think of a child like Sam or Sarah in an orphanage it breaks my heart. They are vulnerable in ways other children are not. Please think about helping this family to quickly raise the money. They have a lot of money to raise but God is faithful to the orphan...we have seen that to be true.
So please pray that this family will be able to raise the funds quickly! Pray for safety for these little ones and that God will prepare their hearts for a family.
Please send a check to Grace Church 7060 Berry Road, Zephyrhills Fl 3350!!!! Mark it adoption fund!
You can also give to their fund at ajholmes21@aol.com They will be setting up a Family Sponsership page on Grace Haven Ministries soon also .
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To give an update on the families you all have given to thus far....
The Kacirek family is home with their son and daughter.... http://kacirek.blogspot.com/
she also put out a darling video of their son dancing
it is amazing to see this little guy moving like this. He has spinal bifida and was basically in a bed for 15 years. We spent time with him at the girls' institution. Listen to him picking up English!!!
The Burman family have their paperwork in to their children's country.
The Monier family has their homestudy scheduled.
I have directed you all to several other families over the past year or so but I can't remember all of them. The Burman family and Monier family are the families that we have given to through our specific fund. We had planned on giving to Selah's sister's family but they were at the end of their adoption and things were a bit unclear. Still waiting for an update from them...
It's such a blessing to be involved in families who are adopting. Thank you all for being a part too!
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Everything is going good at home. Selah remains stable, no issues other than a little bit more secretions. We are thinking now it is just a reaction to the new drug. She has had some really good days lately!
Sarah is really working on walking. She was mad when her therapist left yesterday and hopped over (she really doesn't know how to crawl) and got her walker and walked across the living room!!! She is just amazing. We are going to take her walker out with us this weekend and give us a chance to use it other places. I love how determined she is !!!
I have read 19 steps up the mountain as well. Quite inspirational.
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