1. Changed Forever

2. Changed Forever


3. Changed Forever

 Wow! It is hard to believe that nearly two years have passed
since that horrific earthquake shook Haiti, causing so much
devastation and loss of human life. Yet it is ironic that within
this tragedy we found love, gratitude and relief. Nearly four
years of torment was erased and replaced with a new sense of
fear. A fear for our daughter the we had only held for a few
moments. A fear for the orphanage that had so lovingly taken
care of our child. A child searching for a family. And a family
that had finally found her. We have no idea what thoughts
raced through her mind, but the thoughts of her never left
ours.
 The days following the earthquake were wrought with worry
and despair. But once our arms wrapped around her, our lives
changed forever and our family suddenly grew.

4. Blessed

 (Immediately below this there is a very brief video
that records the meeting of Todd and Kelly and their
daughter Josie in Miami. It’s well worth watching!)

5. Changed Forever

So two years have passed and our family has blossomed. A family of four plus
one has become a family of five. The life of our family evolved. She slowly
lost the title of being adopted and became a Shomin. No longer does her story
dominate her life, but it has become just a footnote. An interesting beginning
to our new lives and our quickly expanded family. She is still that little girl
that we love to hold. Yet she has also become a little sister. That annoying little
sibling whose curiosity interferes with the older brothers games causing
occasional angst and frustration. But it is beautiful. Those are the moments
that she is no longer the adopted sister, but simply the little sister. That part
of family life that many of us have experienced. Those fights and arguments
that for generations have defined siblings and brought life to families. Times,
when we as parents, often feel a moment of failure only to turn and watch our
children laugh together, play together and for that moment in time remind us
how blessed we are to be a family.
Sincerely,
Todd, Kelly, Kade, Isaac and Josie Shomin

6. If you’d like to talk about helping God’s Littlest Angels, please contact
Laurie Bickel at 719-638-4348 or lorlor@glahaiti.org or Tom Vanderwell
at (616) 884-8901 or tom@glahaiti.org. Thank you!