ADOPTION PARTY . . . APRIL 8, 2011
Noah, Menorah, Daniel, and Janiah
(This is their story written in letter form to our Heavenly Father, Tuesday, July 12, 2011 @ 6:42 p.m.)
Hello Father,
Well, on April 8th, You did it again! And I sound like the court official responding to our lawyer. When our lawyer said that she was there representing the Walkers for an adoption, the court official exclaimed, “Again?” Yes, again! One more time, we finalized the adoption on 4 more little Walkers! One more time, we get to be called mama & daddy forever. One more time, four more children get the security of knowing that someone loves them enough to say I love you forever -- Adoption! Such a precious word backed up by an eternity of Love! Abba, thank You for giving us Your heart about adoption. At 53, adopting a sibling group of four little ones, ages 3, 8, 10, & 11, [plus planning to adopt their baby brother, age 18 months, as soon as paperwork is completed] definitely wasn’t on my agenda for my life, but I’m so glad that is was on Yours!
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| Noah, Menorah, & Janiah |
So October 2008 there I am teaching Worshipping Warriors (children’s church) and in walk these two adorable little boys, Noah (8) and Daniel (6) who had just been placed in foster care for the 2nd time. My heart went out to these two little fellas, and I began to shower them with love. But even I did not know that You had just introduced me to two of my new sons!
In December, the boys were returned to the biological parents. I missed them, was mad at the system that would return helpless children to such an environment, but resigned myself that there was nothing I could do. Then the first week in January, they were back in foster care and attending church again. Or at least they were sort of back! It took me the whole class period to coax just a partial smile out of Daniel. Both the boys were extremely traumatized, and I wanted to choke the bureaucratic monster that allowed precious children to be so repeatedly mistreated! Billy not having any idea what had been going on asked, “What is it?” I blurted out, “I want those boys!” Then I explained how hurt and damaged they were, and I couldn’t stop crying. Noah and Daniel already had issues and behavioral struggles previously, but now everything was compounded several times over!
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| Menorah Christina Isabella Walker |
Well, in March 2009, You added another piece to the puzzle. Older sister, sweet Menorah (9), was also placed in foster care and she too became very attached to me. I loved them so much, but still didn’t know what You had planned.
The boys continued to struggle emotionally. I didn’t find out until later that Noah’s biggest problem was going to parental visits, sitting in a room, roughly 8 x 10 foot in size, with the man that used to beat him sitting in the same room! Father, I just don’t get it! No one would make an adult repeatedly stay in that close proximity with their abuser, yet our system requires it of a innocent child! Something is wrong with that equation! Something is very wrong!
Summer came and VBS arrived. One day while we were playing games outside, Menorah came over and sat with me. She looked at me and said, “ I wish I could live at your house!” Even this I down played, assuring her that she probably wouldn’t like it because my kids have to work. She replied, “I’ll work!” It still hadn’t hit me, even then, what You were up to, Father. But I’m so thankful that Holy Spirit didn’t stop talking!
In September of 2009, after class Noah walked up to me, wrapped his arms around my waist, looked up in my face and said, “I wish you were my mama!” My heart skipped a beat! Lord, what are You doing? By October, there was talk of removing Noah from the foster home and placing him in a children’s group home. His behavior was progressively deteriorating. I immediately asked Billy could we get him, so at least he’d be close to his other siblings and get to see them at church. I called DFCS and put in our request. We began to get the usual runaround. Are you licensed? No, you have too many children under the age of 16, and the list went on and on. I was not deterred! I had went around, over, and through that bureaucratic mountain on more than one occasion. I have seen You work so many amazing miracles on behalf of children, no red tape was going to stop me from saving that precious little boy!
Well, the devil ain’t no dummy. He saw Noah was about to be rescued, and he reared his ugly head. The next day, Noah had a melt down at school. He got upset and pitched a fit. Now, Lord, I know something needed doing, but I strongly disagree with what was done. The school called the police or DFCS. I’ve never been clear on who called whom, but the result was that an nine year old, terrified little boy was put in the back seat of a police car, and taken to DFCS! DFCS called the foster mom to bring his things, and he was immediately transported to a children’s group home one and a half hours away! He wasn’t even allowed to say goodbye to his siblings!
You talk about a mad mama tiger, but I was furious and determined! I called DFCS the next morning and told them we’d do whatever it took to get Noah. Everyone was saying that it couldn’t be done! I wrote in my journal to You, “Show them what You can do!“ I cried, prayed, and could hardly sleep. I was calling everyone from here to the governor’s mansion, and the whole time I kept seeing Noah’s precious little face, afraid and crying.
Three days later, I had my word from You and confirmation! You let me know that You were on the way to help. Then you gave me Isaiah 54:2-4 again, telling me to “enlarge my tent.” With Joshua 3:5, You said, “Sanctify yourselves. Tomorrow God will work miracle-wonders among you.“ Then You shared this revelation about Noah and his siblings that God had given during prayer. Noah in the Bible built an ark (a Refuge) for the saving of not just himself but his family. And that my Noah would pave the way for the other siblings to come to the Ark here - Refuge Ranch!
Immediately, I put in to go visit Noah, but here again red tape moving at a snail’s pace blocked my path. A frightened little boy was locked away with total strangers, in unfamiliar settings, not hearing one familiar voice nor seeing one familiar face for 2 ½ weeks, and I couldn’t get to him! Father, here again, to an adult that would be horrifying! To a child? I can not even imagine!
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| Daniel Silas Walker with his adoption puppy! |
You’d been telling me that You were about to do a new thing ( Isaiah 43: 18-19). Well, November 5, 2009, You did! At 11:00 a.m., I received a call from DFCS. The head guy had given permission for me to go see Noah. I said, “That’s great!” Then the worker said that they had also given permission for us to adopt Noah. I replied something like, “He did? That’s wonderful.” Then they replied that there’s just one hitch. I asked, “What is that?” The answer was, “It’s a package deal. You’ll have to take all five.” (The birth mom was pregnant and they were anticipating having to remove that infant as well.) I didn’t even hesitate! My immediate response was, “Okay!” I’ve often wondered did they offer us all 5 to get me to shut up and quit bugging them. I am nothing if not persistent when one of my children are not safe. It didn’t matter to me what their reasons. I was ecstatic! I cried, squealed, laughed and shook my head at Your amazing ways!
Two days later, Noah’s CASA workers would take me and his siblings to see him! Hallelujah!
When we arrived, Noah’s face was priceless! So many mixed emotions . . . relief, joy, fear, hope, doubt . . . all filtered across his little face as tears filled his eyes. I held him and hugged him so tight, fighting tears myself. But the worst was yet to come! We played and shared gifts that we’d brought, laughed and talked. He shared the horrors of bathing while the older boys in the cottage would put bars of soap in socks and hit him through the shower curtain. He told of the nights of crying, of being so afraid. He was the youngest in the cottage and most of the others were teens with really rough records already. Fear was his constant companion!
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| Noah Elisha Walker on Adoption Day! SO HAPPY!!! |
Then came the part that I didn’t think I’d live through. . . the leaving! Noah latched on to me and started begging me not to leave him, to take him with me. Then he looked up at me and said, “You’ve adopted all those other kids. Adopt me, please?“ DFCS had not given me permission to let the kids know yet what was going on, so all I could do was holler for the CASA worker, who tactfully changed the subject.
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| Precious Janiah Melina Walker |
I thought that leaving Noah would kill me! But Your grace was sufficient again.
Pregnancies are wearying at times even in the best circumstances. Being pregnant with 5 and waiting for delivery. . . well, let’s just say it’s a long wait! But as with natural pregnancies, spiritual pregnancies don’t last forever either. The Monday after Christmas, the delivery began! The DFCS worker called and said, “I have a little bit of good news. Are you ready for Noah to come home?” Yes, oh Yes! I started getting everything ready. As she was on her way to the children’s home to get Noah’s stuff, she called me back with another question. She wanted to know did I have a crib. I
answered, “Oh yeah. Are you going to let me use my crib?” She said that the baby would be coming that week, because a c-section was scheduled for the next morning. I jumped up and down, squealing with joy. I was so excited and so overcome with Your awesomeness. You had said “a suddenly”, and it definitely was!
Late that afternoon, I went to McRae to pick up Noah! The worker handed me a sack. Puzzled I asked, “What’s this?“ Those were Noah’s meds was what she replied. I knew he was medicated, until then I had know idea just how medicated! Oh well, the Lord would deal with that. I was getting to take my son home at last. It felt so good to say, “Noah, let’s go home!” As I lay down that night, I was tired but almost euphoric with happiness.
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| Sweet Baby Elijah Jedidiah Walker |
On January 19th, 2010, the other 3 siblings came home: Menorah (10), Daniel (who turned 7 the next day), and Janiah (2). At last, they were all together. I was so ecstatic, but I rapidly became walking exhaustion for about three months! You had warned me in November 2009, with Isaiah 43: 1-7, “Don’t be afraid. . . When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. . . “ Most days I definitely felt over my head, but You are always faithful! My doctor had also admonished me to stop trying to do everything myself and to let the teenage girls help. So I did, and I began to get more rest. Billy also had began to do something that I still can’t hardly believe. He started cooking! Who ever said that about ’ole dogs and new tricks’ wasn’t talking about my sweet hubby. His culinary skills have been a huge blessing.
God has worked so many miracles in these children’s lives. Noah & Daniel are not taking any medications at all! Praise God! Menorah is so peaceful to have her family complete with a mama and daddy! Janiah is blossoming out of her extreme shyness! And Elijah, for whom life with us is all he’s ever known, is the apple of everyone’s eye. A few weeks ago, a lady, who had heard about us and just wanted to meet me, came for a visit. She works with foster children everyday at her job. After visiting with us for a while, she said that she didn’t mean it taking anything away from me and the work I do, but ‘THIS IS GOD’ ! My spirit rejoiced! That’s exactly what I want people to see and say! You are to be glorified Lord, just You! I am desperate to do Your will! Lead on my Lord! Lead on!
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| Happy Menorah! |
Your willing daughter,
Bonnie
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