Thorburn Family

Though Benjamin has been “ours” since he arrived home on May 31, 2008.. our adoption finalization was not signed till yesterday in Claremont District Court, family division.  Yay!   He is now officially, to all on earth, “Benjamin Samuel Thorburn,” and his birth certificate will read as though we gave birth to him.   We’re so glad that the day finally came!  Benjamin was given a special stuffed bear and a beautiful quilt by his permanency worker, Darcy.   We were a little sad that Lydia could not join us for this special appointment b/c she is in TX right now, but we did our real celebrations months ago, and she’s with us in spirit.   These pics didn’t transfer to the blog very clearly, but you’ll get the jist. 

Last Saturday, Lydia left for Houston, TX!  She’s going to help out w/her 2 yr old cousin, Danielle — the daughter of my brother, Dan and his wife Kerilyn b/c of a medical emergency in the extended family.   She could be there about six weeks!   We  miss her already, but are thankful for cell phones, email, and facebook!

What a momentous day!   I watched the inauguration online and was unexpectedly moved by the significance of this day.  I’ll tell you right off the bat that I didn’t have to think twice about the decision to not vote Obama, though I find him to be charismatic, inspiring, and as presidents go, he’s not bad looking either  ;-).   I am thankful to live in this country where we have the right to vote for the man or woman whose policies most closely line up with our own values, and I did that on election day.   The nation has spoken and ultimately, God himself has placed Mr. Obama in the position of our new president (Psalm 75:5-7; Daniel 2:20-21; Daniel 4:17; Proverbs 21:1) for His own good purposes.  We’ll happily honor and respect him as our president, and pray for him, his family, and his presidency.

Since adopting Benjamin who, like Mr. Obama, is half-African American and half “white,” the matter of race and race relations has taken on a new light for us.   I never expected it to be something we thought about much because a lot of people assume Benjamin is Latino and “he’s not that dark,” but we still find ourselves tuned-in to racism and the history of black Americans in our country.   In some areas, being of mixed race is even worse.   Friends of ours who have AA children through adoption have been assaulted by blacks and whites alike!   Sometimes when I hear little racist comments by others, especially under the guise of a twisted version of “Christianity,” I have to struggle to keep my “Mama Bear” in check.  I was watching Ben sleep in his nap a few minutes ago — he is incredibly beautiful!   He doesn’t even notice race at this point, though I know that will change eventually.   It amazes me that, based only on the color of his skin or the biological heritage he has been given by his Creator, someone could hate him or think he was less than another person of a different race.   This story is as old as the world, of course… African Americans are not the only group of people who have been segregated and limited in a society based on the color of their skin.  Still, they are the ones our country has discriminated against the most in recent history.

So, the Thorburns are rejoicing this Inauguration Day that our country seems to have come a little bit farther in one area at least, and that is of race relations. I think what this day must mean for all the elderly soldiers of African descent who fought for our country but were never acknowledged, who were treated better in a German prisoner of war camp than they were when they finally made it home.   I think of the mothers who had to explain to their little children why they could not attend college or even ride in the front of the bus, but who can dream of bigger things for their grandchildren. It was good to see a brown hand on the Bible today and know that when my son memorizes the presidents someday, it will include one guy with skin similar to his own.  It hits us much more deeply than we anticipated.

God knows what He is doing with this country of ours and our duties remain the same as they were yesterday. Our confidence rests in Him alone, regardless of who is in the White House.   There are two things we wanted to include in this post.   First a prayer for our new president, so beautifully written by Al Mohler:   http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=3113

Second, a plug for the book One Blood — The Biblical Answer To Racism  by Ken Ham.

Micah 6:8  ”He has shown you, oh man, what is good and what the Lord requires of thee:   but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” 

May God bless America! 

 :-) 

Today we got a fun “Happy Birthday” email from Ken Mick, whose kidney used to live in Rich.  So, it’s really an adoption anniversary (appropriate, since that is a recurring theme in this household :)).   One year ago today Rich and Ken were in surgery.  We even have a video of it for proof!   We are so thankful for the way God providentially made Rich a match for Ken, for the finances coming in for both families to pull the recovery time off, and for all He taught us through it.  We are happy to report that Mr. Kidney is doing great, and that Ken and Rich are both living normal and healthful lives.

We know at least two people who need a kidney right now.   The other day I was at the doctor’s office, and the nurse shared with me that her sister recently died waiting for a kidney.   Most of her family would not even agree to be match tested! So let me take advantage of a successful kidney transplant anniversary today and give a little plug.   While any surgery is a serious matter (and painful), donation and living with one kidney is amazingly safer and more successful that most people seem to understand.   We have been surprised w/the questions Rich has gotten at times, and his standard response is, “I don’t even walk lopsided.. it’s amazing!”   :^) The only “side effect” that Rich has from giving a kidney is that he will not use Ibuprofen/NSAIDS ever again b/c it is nephrotoxic (the nephrologist told us that in his opinion, NObody should touch Ibuprofen b/c of its effects on healthy kidneys). Other than that, he lives 100% normally, and still works at his heavy physical work daily.  It’s always a serious matter to consider subjecting a healthy body to a surgery in order to help someone else, but if you have someone in your life that needs one, consider doing a little research before passing up the opportunity to help.  <3

Well, what else could it be when the Duggar and Maxwell families get together?   It makes me want to go rearrange the teabags, just thinking about it!!!     The two planets did merge for a moment, and you can see that at the link in this email.

Many of you know what a great tool Teri Maxwell’s Managers Of Their Homes book/system can be in a quest to live intentionally & wisely during this particular season of life.   That’s been a help here for years.   Last year, our family implemented for the first time their Managers Of Their Chores system and chore packs using the online Choreware program that the Maxwells have developed.   Just about the only thing I enjoy about waking up at 5 AM is seeing Ben whizzing through the house with his chore pack pinned to his shirt, all excited!  

We’ve only seen a couple Duggar shows, but I’d spotted their MOTH schedule on the wall in the background of an interview.   Intriguing! We appreciate that the Duggars very clearly give God the glory for all things.  I appreciate most of all that both Michelle Duggar and Teri Maxwell have put themselves out there, openly sharing their struggles and “from whence they came,” as well as generously sharing what they have learned.  They put themselves in a position where they will be regularly criticized (sometimes ruthlessly!), and overly-examined by Christians and non-Christians alike, all to show the worth of the gospel in daily life, and to help other women like me.

Here’s the link to a Maxwell Family Blog post I read today, featuring pictures of their visit to the Duggar home and pics of the Duggar chorepacks hanging in a row.. LOL  Love it! 

http://www.titus2.com/blog/index.php/2009/01/16/fellowship-on-the-road/   (you’ll probably have to copy and paste this address into your browser)

 A perfect little book for the boys!   My friend Betty kindly thinks of us when she comes across excellent materials, and she sent along this little book at Christmastime this year.  

The back of the book says, “Ben is a young boy full of energy — and lots of questions!  He is growing up in a Christian home, so he knows a lot about God, but when he gets to know Pastor Mike, disobeys his mom, and eventually spends time talking with his grandfather and his dad, Ben learns the true meaning of the gospel.”  

We appreciated the way the gospel message was clearly presented in a context that speaks to situations in our own boys’ lives.   Super duper little gem.  Note: We have not read the subsequent books in the series, but plan to check them out soon. 

 I couldn’t resist posting this for all our western NY state friends.  I miss the old stomping ground, though I couldn’t wait to get out of there when I was there!   It’s been at least 12 years since we lived in the “Rochester area,” but this list brought back incredible memories.. I don’t miss the weather, though. We actually have it a tad (a TAD) better weather-wise here in NH, due to your lake effect nonsense in that region. The potholes are the same here, tho..   
1. “Waking up with the Wease” doesn’t mean that you have a respiratory infection.
2. The thought of eating a “garbage plate” makes your mouth water.
3. The only thing at the annual May Lilac Festival is snow.
4. The worst four-letter word you could say is “Fuji”.
5. You can’t swim at the beach.
6. You thought that you had figured out that alternate-parking thing, but wind up with a ticket anyway.
7. Toronto is about 70 miles away, but it takes four hours to get there.
8. The name “Greater Rochester International Airport” is bigger than the airport itself.
9. There’s an 800 number to report a pothole in the road.
10. You know that a “Can of Worms” is not something that you take fishing.
11. Your baby’s first word is “Wegmans”.
12. You ask lifetime residents where the George Eastman House is, but they don’t know either.
13. In a city where it snows at least 90 inches a year, they build a new sports stadium with no roof on it.
14. It can be 70 degrees one day, below freezing the next, and you think nothing of it.
15. Your mother is buying outfits to wear to Wegmans.
16. Your low-fat diet is never low enough to exclude an Abbott’s custard.
17. You order a white hot and a pop, and the counterman knows what you’re talking about.
18. You can travel from Egypt to Greece in about a half-hour by car.
19. D&C is a newspaper, not a medical procedure.
20. You know who Vinnie and Angelo are.
21. You can go to any mall on a Saturday and see at least 5 people you either work with, went to school with or dated.
22. Your year has two seasons: Winter and Construction.
23. You awaken from a deep sleep, look at the clock and see that it’s 6:00, but you have no idea whether it’s AM or PM.
24. When 12+ inches of snow falls overnight, but you never thought of NOT going to work.
25. You are perplexed when friends from other cities come to visit and want to “see the sights”
26. A flagpole strung with white lights seems like an acceptable alternative to a municipal Christmas tree.
27. In winter if the temperature hits 45 degrees and the sun comes out, people walk around downtown wearing shades and no jackets.
28. There are places at the poles that seem to get more sunlight during the winter months than we do.
29. Wegmans is somewhere to go on a Friday night, for entertainment.
30. Half the change in your pocket is Canadian, eh.
31. You define summer as three months of bad sledding.
32. You think that people from Pennsylvania have an accent.
33. Halloween is snowed out with great regularity.
34. You have experienced frostbite and sunburn in the same week.
35. Your idea of a seven-course meal is a six pack of Genny and a bucket of Buffalo wings.
36. You believe that “down south” means Maryland.
37. You can compare Nick Tahoe’s garbage plate to at least 3 other knock-offs in competing restaurants.
38. You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Rochester, NY.