Jonathan's Big Day

Our little Star Fish (Jonathan Allan Bates) front and center
with his parents, Allan and Hannah and little brother, Timothy, at his baptism this April

Jonathan with his Bishop on the day of his Baptism.
Ironically this great man is also the attorney who fought for Jonathan to be with his eternal family.

This is not the best picture of Rich....sorry hon.
But what is important is Jonathan. And really what a miracle this is with him standing in between us on his baptism day.
Jonathan came to us as a foster baby at 6 months of age. We fell in love with him and then fought 4 long years for him to be with a good family. Many special and sacred miracles surrounded his life to get him to his earthly parents and to be reunited with his little brother.
In the first picture I called him our "Starfish." Which comes from the story by the same name.

The Starfish
There is an old man walking along the shore when he sees up ahead a little boy picking up and throwing starfish into the sea. As he gets closer he realizes the little boy is doing this all along the shore and there are thousands of starfish which lie ahead of him. The old man comes close to the boy and says.."There are thousands of starfish you will never ever be able to get them back safely to the sea. You can not possibly make a difference. In the same moment the little boy gently picks up the starfish in front of him and lovingly cast it out to the waves and says..."I made a difference with that one."

There were several foster babies and little ones who came and went. Often it felt hopeless and overwhelming and we often questioned ourselves just like the old man did with the little boy.
With the help of an elderly CASA worker, Lilly, (court appointed advocate for foster children). We were able to have Jonathan's mother's parental rights dissloved so he could be free to be adopted. The day this happened Lilly gave us a card with the story of the Starfish and signed the card with;
"You made the difference in little Jonathan's life."
What a blessing it has to see him grow up in the church and a joy it will be the day he is sealed to his parents!
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