It has been one year since Ian Benjamin and Ellia have been adopted. They arrived to the US in October 2010. It has been 2 years since Nicholas Oksana and Noah have been home. They arrived Sept 11, 2009 a day that means so much to all of us and for the USA. I remember bringing Nicholas, Oksana and Noah through customs/immigration office at the airport. They had sent us to a big room where many people were waiting to be cleared before passing through customs. The officer there called each child by name. "Nicholas Josiah Brown?" yes I said, he is in this car seat. "Nicholas, congratulations you are now an American Citizen" he said with a smile as he stamped Nicholas' passport. He then called Oksana and Noah who were in a stroller and did the same thing. How special this was. How I will never forget the feeling of the entire experience to bring them home the work, the travel, the tears, the wait and now the final opening of the embassy files for each of our children who were once left in an orphanage and forgotten. I wish you could have been there as this officer's eyes gleamed with feelings, he took it very seriously to be able to look at these children one by one and say those words. What would these words mean? It meant new hopes and dreams, a new life of opportunities. A promise and an acceptance of a country to accept and believe that even a child with down syndrome or other disabilities make our nation a wonderful place. I believe just as many people have changed and helped our children reach new strides such as their doctors, teachers so have our children touched them and others every day. Our children and other children with disabilities remind all of us that human life is precious and that we should all realize how much joy we can get from helping each other succeed. Each one of us have abilities even our citizens with special needs to lift others from the down times in our lives. These down times can be due to physical, emotional or even spiritual ruts. Think of when you have walked in a store or hospital and seen someone struggling to walk...how did it make you feel? Didn't you for that 2 seconds feel a sudden standstill? I hope this all makes sense. Our children have been wonderful citizens and I know that given the right tools, and opportunities they will touch many lives. They did not know what the officer meant at that time, but I did and I am grateful for them.
