Bells, Water Play, and Dancin' with Momma

Glasses and Plumbers Crack

Smart with Chocolate

Trouble Makers

Banana Babies

Room For One More

Tonight I'm laying in my new King Size bed that the kind folks of Nebraska Furniture Mart delivered today. Overindulgence? More out of necessity really. In a few weeks our little Ukrainian orphan, Aiden Joseph will be in our arms and most likely in our bed for awhile. Of course that means that Elia, will want to get in on the action as well, and rightfully so. I find myself still hugging the same 8 inches however, knowing that I might as well not get use to a lot of new sleeping space. I have asked Trace to lay sideways and kick me in the head a few times and elbow me real good so I get used to sleeping through the pain. I remember when Nick (our 16 year old) was all we had. He went through a phase where he would come into our room lay on the floor next to my side of the bed and make me hold his hand while he slept. Funny how that seems just like yesterday.

Anyway, it's amazing how small a queen size bed looks once you have a king. Tay has our former bed now, and looking at him in it makes me wonder how Trace and I ever managed. So if I still hold on to my 8 inches of space, I figure we can get 2 (maybe 3) little ones in here with us, which brings me to the main reason I am posting this entry tonight.

Tonight as I post this entry, my brother Derek is on his was home from Ukraine with his 3 boys. He and his wife Renee are bringing these little ones into a life that they could have never dreamed even existed. These little guys had never had solid food to eat, had never been outside of the orphanage, and have not known the consolation of human touch when they are uspset.

If you were to walk through this orphanage (the same one where Aiden is waiting for us), you would see children playing with very few toys, some boys dressed in girls clothes and vica versa; and you would most likley see cribs holding sometimes up to 11 children in just one. This just seems so outrageous to me and I can't wrap my mind around this reality, so it got me thinking a few weeks ago about trying to save just one more.

I mentioned this to Trace, and we both agreed to pray about this and if God provided the extra $4,680 we would need to bring another child home we will. Isabelle keeps having dreams about another orphan. Although we are exhausted from this whole process, this is heavy on our hearts.

Guys, I have spent most of my life over-indulging in so many things that I am ashamed of. My past struggles and addictions hold on to my belt loop with both hands digging in trying desperately not to let go. The fact of the matter is that at 39, I'm changing and the things I use to think were so important just are not- stuff like making it in music , recording an album and being in ministry or being in any kind of leadership position again. Tonight I lay on this huge bed with Elia and we laughed ourselves silly. We told each other secrets and rolled around like 2 crazy people. Tonight I did one of the few things I know in this life that actually counts. I loved my kids and I loved 'em real good.

So though my heart is heavy that I can't rescue all of the children in that Ukrainian orphanage I figure I can rescue just one more. I think Aiden knows we are coming. My mom got to hold him and play with him this week. If I know her, I am sure she whispered in his ear at some point, "Hang on little buddy your Momma and Poppa are coming for you real soon."

Please pray with us about bringing another little one home while we are in the Ukraine. The costs are significantly less to bringing home 2. Though it makes things tighter for us in this kings size bed, our home, our vehicle, as well as our wallet, the little pressure we may feel does not even compare to the pressure these little ones are experiencing. I figure if I ever make a mistake in over-indulging this is a good one to make.

Here's Derek with Aiden a few weeks ago.

Bringing Aiden Home

I am writing to you to make you aware of a very urgent situation that has come up in our family. The little boy you see on this blog entry is named Aiden. Aiden is an orphan with down syndrome and a heart condition that lives in Eastern Europe. Aiden needs to be adopted into a family before he turns 4 years old or he will be institutionalized- this means he will pretty much be placed in a crib with iron bars , feed once a day and left alone. When he turns 16 he will be released into society to fend for himself. The tragic reality is that many of the orphans released when they are 16 end up being a victim of human trafficking. My wife and children and I have committed to bringing Aiden into our home and raising him as our son .

I remember the day I first saw a picture of him. I was in the prayer room and Tracie (my wife) called me in tears and told me that she had found the little boy that we were to adopt. We had adopted our daughter Elia just 19 month's earlier making her number four for us. We knew we would adopt again, but figured it would be in another year or two. Funny how things don't happen as you had planned. I rushed home and before she even pulled Aiden's picture up I knew I would be in trouble and that there would be no going back. That is exactly what happened. As soon I saw his precious little face, their was an ache in my heart for him that I can not even put into words. I have never felt so much emotion so quickly. Right then and there he was my son.

To be honest it scared me and it still does. I found myself "cutting deals" with God in my spirit. "Oh God please provide a way for us to get this little boy..." I promise I will do "this" or won't do "that" anymore etc.. The affection I have felt is both great and terrible. Great because I feel like he has been my son since he was born, and I will do anything for him. Terrible in the sense that if we somehow lose him, I don't know if I will survive. My heart is in this 150%. To be honest, I find much offense in my heart building towards God. I have found my inner man raising his fist and shouting "You did this to me, now you had better come through or I will never venture down this road again and you and I just may be done for good!" Scary huh? Sounds like someone needs to be "rooted and grounded in love " just a little more. So I'm learning to trust ..again. I have seen God come through on so many adoptions. My wife Tracie has been helping couples adopt over the last year and has seen many children placed in Christian homes, and we have seen God provide for every single one of them.

I know His heart is for this. So this big, mushy puddle of a daddy is asking friends, family and strangers to partner with us and help bring Aiden home. It's gonna cost around $20,000 - $25,000 by the time it's all said and done. God has brought in everything we have needed so far, and I am leaning into Him and trusting Him for the rest. I am now doing my part by making our need known and asking that you help us bring our son, Aiden home.

Please pass this blog along to family, friends or anyone who you think could help via prayer, financialy contributing or both.

Here is how you can donate:

PAYPAL:
1.Go to Tracie's BLOG
2.Donate through our PayPal Link (this is not tax deductible, but helps with our immediate financial obligations to the agency)

GIVE THROUGH REECES RAINBOW (this is tax deductible)
1. Go to the Reeces Rainbow Link

GIVE THROUGH OUR IHOP ACCOUNT (also tax deductible)
Checks Payable to IHOP-KC (not w/ our name anywhere on the check)
mail to:
John and Tracie Loux
12312 Askew Street
Grandview MO 64030

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