I wanted to start a blog because I now live in a new world. It's a world where we… well, went in blind.  You see we felt led to adopt a 12 year old girl who truly is, completely blind.We knew nearly nothing about blindness before we adopted her. We met a lot of opposition during this pursuit. It's not been a piece of cake but we WOULD easily do it all again. Our only regret is that we didn't meet her earlier. She is our daughter, a regular girl who is smart… only she's never had vision. She make's A's, can memorize things faster then I can, has 8 swimming GOLD medals, who loves to joke around… she is amazing. A lot of times people don't even realize she is blind and when I lead her "sighted guide" people won't get out of her way to let us though (because they don't realize). If she has a cane the waters part! :)
So, I hope to bring a little insight to our "new world", whomever this reaches-- and teach you blindness is not scary.

I also start this blog with a heavy heart. I have been contacted a lot since adopting J (our daughter). People wanting me to advocate. I've noticed even when I do advocate people are uncertain and a lot of people say it's not something they are comfortable with. I want to share with you what a couple of different people wrote:

I'm getting sad and frustrated that none of my blind children are getting matched for adoption!
Will you be praying for X, in particular, that a family will fall in love with her photo and commit to adopting her? Do you guys find that a lot of people are scared of the needs that blind children have? So many other kids X's age and older (with different special needs) are getting matched with families.... but she still waits (as do many others who are blind) and not a single person has shown any interest.

Another group says: We had another child who is blind age out ... with heavy hearts we let him leave... that child's world just turned bleak. Is there any way you can let people know these kids are here?

They said they find families for the kids who have down syndrome, deformity, deafness, AIDS, missing limbs, fingers, etc. but blindness is so hard to place.

Another company talked about the kids who were blind not being chosen for hosts.

Since J came home, I have wondered why blindness is so difficult for people to open up to? I've thought and prayed about this a lot and I feel, it's true, many are scared of the needs a blind child will have. I know it took God a long time to wake me up and help me realize this path is one I need to travel. I hope you'll follow along and maybe you too will take the path less traveled. It's been a beautiful and fun journey for us. Maybe you will be one who doesn't turn a blind eye. Will you see them, not overlook them? I do realize we each have our abilities/talents so if your reading this and it really isn't your ability, I do understand. Adoption in general isn't for everyone. But I do believe we can all do SOMETHING! Maybe you can share this information with others?

I know of a few boys who weren't chosen to be hosted this year, I would love for them to be hosted next year. I know of several kids who are orphans, they wait for a family. If one less ages out,  if I can show you that adopting a child or hosting a child who is blind is worthwhile, even if just one of these kids can find a family, then that is what I want to do. Please let me know if you need more information on kids who are blind and need families. I'd love to point you toward someone who can help you further.