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Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Why did we adopt?????

It's a frequent question, Why did we adopt? My parents already had ten children, Why did they continue to adopt seven more? I started this blog awhile ago, mostly because I was bored, but once I was no longer bored, I neglected to blog. So why have I decided out of the blue to write again? 
Cynthia Elizabeth, adopted from the Philippines,  1987
I was inspired because of a question, "Why would you want seventeen children?" It's because of this question,  rather then continue to respond to person after person,  I will clarify in this post why my family decided to adopt. There are of course our family beliefs. We are Christians who believe we are called to look after orphans.  If your not a believer, there are reasons besides our beliefs that have called us to expand our family.



Alyiah Faith, Adopted locally, 2011


     It is estimated that there are between 143 million to 210 million orphans worldwide (recent UNICEF report). The current population of the U.S is just a little over 300 million, to give you an idea of the immensity of these numbers. Every day, 5,760 children become orphans. Ever 2.2 seconds another orphan ages out of the system, (becomes an adult) and is kicked out with no family and no place to call home.  10% to 15% of children orphaned commit suicide before they reach 18. 60% of girls become prostitutes and 70% of boys become hardened criminals. an estimated 1.2 million orphans are trafficked every year. (studies by CCAI) 

Haley Mercia, adopted locally, 2011

Aidan Joseph, adopted locally, 2012

This is why, I believe, my parents adopted and why I, albeit sometimes reluctantly, choose to support them. I'm not trying to guilt anyone into adopting. Not everyone is called to adopt.  This is to explain why, even though we had a full house already, we made room for more. This is to convince you to perhaps be supportive of those who choose to spend countless hours and thousands of dollars to bring home children that are not theirs yet and why we open our hearts to children who may not stay. To adopt is to rescue. Famous people such as Steve Jobs, Faith Hill,  and Gerald Ford, were all adopted as children. Where would they be if their families hadn't chosen adoption.    
Carissa Rose, adopted locally, 2012



Jessica Noel, adopted locally, 2012
    "Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it. "Well why don't you ask him?" "Because I'm afraid He would ask me the same question." -Anonymous. 
Shu-Ting "Tina" (Center) Adopted from China, 2013
Our latest adoption, Skyler Genevie, "Skye" Adopted from the Philippines, 2014 

     Some adoptive parents have suffered scrutiny from strangers. Looks of confusion when the skin of their child is darker than their own, a blond among a family of redheads, or a face that doesn't resemble mom or dad's. No matter how a child came to their family, their union should be handled with compassion and love. To quote countless sources, " Adoption is love, selfless love. "








Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Journey to the Center of the House


There’s one thing that almost everyone at one point has needed, Privacy. Sometimes you just need to be alone without interruptions. There are times when I need to be alone, but it just is not possible with my family. Take today, for instance. Being behind in my school subjects is not fun, especially if it is math.  I need all my concentration to do math, since it is my least favorite subject. I started Math in my room, which is in the corner of upstairs.

 Quiet.  But then came the hurricane, otherwise known as my sister. She likes to play music in our room while she does school, but she also likes to play it LOUD! I then left my room for the sake of my ears and decided to do math in the dining room downstairs. 
Finally, quiet. But then came the tornado, otherwise known as my brother. He also has a thing for music, only he plays his in the kitchen, which is next to the dining room. So much for quiet. My next quiet place was my little sister's room. It is in another corner of the house upstairs and my little sisters were outside. I sprawled my stuff on Jessica’s bed and had quiet for about thirty seconds. 


Haley and our neighbor Alana came to play in Haley’s room. I was running out of options. So I tried our front porch. It was quiet and the wind was blowing just enough to keep me from getting hot. 

Then I heard the sound of a dart gun and then something whizzes over my head.
“ Good job, Ty you missed.”
Aidan was playing with our other neighbor, Ty.
They like to shoot me, unfortunately.
And with that I had one option left, the bathroom!

If you ask my siblings, they will tell you I take hours in the bathroom. There is a reason. I sat in the bathtub and finished my math.  

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Snow Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


A snow day in Alabama is almost a holiday.  In Alabama, we might have one day a year when we receive actual snow. A snow day on a Tuesday is the best snow day ever.  You might wonder how a snow day means so much to a home-schooled student.  I may be a home-schooler but I still take classes. Tuesdays just so happen to be my least favorite day of the week. I have to get up and get myself ready, along with having my French Horn, my music, all my math stuff, lunch and my library books and be ready to leave by 8:00. Not to mention on Tuesdays comes the dreaded math class.  Do not get me wrong, I love my teacher. Mrs. Tinker is amazing and the best teacher.   The people in my class are great, too, but math is my least favorite subject and I will not even mention my grades. As you can see, when I woke up and started to get ready and my mom told me school was canceled, I literally ran back and hugged my bed.
Snow before we played in it

Snow!!!

Snow Angels with neighbors

  Meanwhile, my mom had to find snow outfits for eight children who were bursting with impatience.  After twenty minutes, all of them had some kind of snow outfit containing boots, gloves, hats and a jacket. I went out before the children to take pictures of this winter wonderland before it would be destroyed. Soon our yard was filled with fourteen children, including three from next door.  I love how beautiful snow is, I just wish it could be warm while it snowed. I braved the cold to take pictures so I can say all the pictures in this post are taken by me. I have been waiting all year for snow, so I visited my favorite places on our property. Walking in snow, to me, is exhilarating.  I love the feeling of walking through snow in warm boots.  I can feel the snow but I can't feel the cold.  Meanwhile, a few snow ball fights were started.  I do not think my family can have a occasion without some kind of fight.
Tina and Carissa

Then we made snowman.
Hi! I'm Olaf and I like warm hugs 
                                     
Do you wanna build a snowman?

Then, the best part, we went sledding. 
                                           






 While the kids where busy playing, my sister, Rebekah, was busy making art in the form of an igloo.  With the assistance of Jeremy and our neighbor,Alex, they started making progress.

Rebekah getting more snow


Alex, our awesome neighbor, and her brother, Liam



They have not finished it yet, but they are close. As I was saying earlier, I went out before my siblings destroyed the snow. This is what it looks like now


If someone creates something my siblings can not destroy,they should get a prize.
 That's all for now, I'm going to go play in the snow.





Wednesday, January 8, 2014

New photos explained

When I started this blog ( which I did not have help with even though I asked) I did not know how to upload photos. I did know, however, how to upload videos, which is why I did the slideshow. I recently learned how to upload photos and when I looked back at my old posts, they looked boring without photos.  I have gone back and added photos to my old posts.

Monday, January 6, 2014

Why I love the Holidays

The Christmas Decorations are down, The new presents are broken in and the holiday season is pretty much over but I have to say I had a great holiday. My family's Christmas is awesome. Some people would use a different word maybe, but I love it. Sure it is crazy with ten kids under the age of twelve all trying to sit quietly while one kid opens their present and by the end no one knows whose turn it  is and it is a free for all with wrapping paper everywhere, but I love it that way.


Carissa opening her stocking



I had a lot of fun with my older siblings. Karl took some of us to see the Hobbit and there's nothing like watching a prequel to the best movie of all time and arguing over how they changed too much. If you don't know already, some of the Sorrells are nerds.  We are Star trek/Star wars fans and also fans of Lord of the Rings so much so that we can quote whole scenes, or at least Daniel and Paul can. Daniel and I got into a game called Munchkins. We played about three times and I was beaten.... badly but I blame the rules.  Yes, let's go with that.... Now my older brothers are back at their homes or college but it was fun/annoying having them around.

Karl opening his stocking very eagerly

As for the Sorrells' girls, aka Genny, Rebekah, Tina and I, let's say some days we are best friends and other days we are sisters. But 'Im glad that Tinas first Christmas was with us and that Genny got to be here to stay. 



Tina and Genny getting their first presents from us.





As I was babysitting for another family, I happened to notice how small their table looked with only four chairs.  I don't know what Christmas is like for people with smaller families but I love our holidays because of the excitement, the energy and the fact that when I am opening my present surrounded by my sixteen siblings and other family I love it because I feel surrounded by God's love surrounded by miracles from around the world. I feel doubly blessed because God has given me a triple-portion of family and I will always be surround by plenty of it. I feel like I have the best family in the world and it is what I imagine heaven will be like surrounded by the love of thousands who I call my family and that's why I love the holidays. 



Wednesday, January 1, 2014

2013


A New Year and it is starting great. When I look back at all that has happened, my head starts spinning.  In 2013, my Grandma died unexpectedly, I was in my first car wreck, one sister had open heart surgery and another was placed in the hospital for a week. However, on a brighter note, here are some of the great things that happened in 2013.

1:  I got a new sister, Tina.

After eight months of paperwork, we finally brought Tina home in March.
I now share a room with this Amazing, Panda-Loving, Older sister.

2: My mom  moved all of us into different bedrooms so I got an amazing new bedroom with Tina.

3: I learned how to cook more recipes.

This is me making chicken stir- fry.
I spent 20 minutes cutting up chicken,  carrots and onions

Tina helped.
Then
 Ta-da!
 
 
Four: I went to Pennsylvania

Dad, Tina, Rebekah and I got to travel to Pennsylvania, ROADTRIP!!!!!


 There was Snow!!!!
 
 
 
 And Coffee!!!!( or hot chocolate)
 
 
 
The reason for going to Pennsylvania was to get another new sister Genevie( Genny). This adoption was a lot faster and unexpected. We might have been hesitant at first but I don't think I could ever regret getting Genny so...
5: I got another new sister who I also share a room with.
Meeting Genny
 
 
 My older sisters
 
 
 
From China and the Philippians, my sisters from
around the world.
 
 
Family photo( except Nicholas) along with Grandparents, Uncle Paul, Aunt Kymberlee, Cousin Evie and Daniel's friend, Elizabeth
 
It was a great year and I can't wait to see what God has in store for me in this new one.
 Happy New Year from The Sorrells.
 
 

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Holiday Happenings

My posts have been scarce lately, I know, but with the holidays coming up my schedule has been packed with christmas concerts, basketball games, christmas parades and usual holiday craziness. In our house that means twice as much as usual. On Thanksgiving, for example, we have two turkeys. We also have two huge pans of potatoes, three bags of stuffing, and so on. Even so, I love the craziness... most of the time. 
Christmas time is here!!!


In other news, we finally get to meet Genny! I am having so many mixed feelings: excitement, suspense, anxiety and maybe a little bit of jealousy. The thought of having another girl near my age is weird. It's even stranger since she's older than me. But I am determined that no matter what, I am going to try my best to make her part of my family.

Right now I am writing this at my Aunt and Uncle's house in Nashville. I drove up here with my older brother Daniel and his "friend" *cough, cough* Elizabeth.
Daniel and Elizabeth


 I was the designated chaperone. So far I have had a great time. We had a special filipino dinner cooked by Elizabeth and Daniel. I am always so shocked at how quiet dinners are at people's houses who have one child; its so relaxing and *sigh* quiet.

Anyway, I decided to include a piece about Daniel in this post. 
Daniel!!!!!



Daniel is my eighteen-year-old brother whose only bad trait is that he has no humility. I guess I can understand his pride because he is good at everything, and I'm not kidding. He was the captain of his high school soccer and basketball teams, debate head coach, an amazing trombone player, has great humor, got a full tuition scholarship to UAH, and basically anything he wants to be good at, he is good at.

Daniel, I would say for me and some of our younger siblings, can be the biggest supporter. However, he can also be your biggest critic. Whenever Daniel is around, I end up laughing my head off. 
Typical Daniel


On such example is the time I walked into the kitchen and Daniel was hosting an impromptu dance party with our little siblings. Daniel has extremely flexible hips and was moving them in a large circle to loud music. Because he was doing it, all the kids joined in. When Mom walked in, they were all shaking their hips. Everyone stopped when they saw her just long enough to say "Hey, Mom!" Mom stopped, stared, and left without a word. As soon as she was gone, we resumed dancing. That's normal for my family, sadly.

Well, that's all I can think of for now. Ciao!