Prayer Requests for Joshua

We handed out prayer cards for Joshua at his adoption ceremony. We would be so grateful if you would also join us in praying for him!

Joshua Shen Cryer
Adopted: July 21, 2008


Please pray he would know that…
~God fearfully and wonderfully made him.
~God loves him.
~God has and will take care of him.
~God has a plan for him.
~God will never leave him.
~God is faithful.
~God delights in him.
~God’s word is true.
~God is with him.

~He would one day understand and receive his eternal adoption as God’s son.
~From then on he would seek God’s heart.
~He would know that he is loved.
~He would feel normal and know he belongs.
~He would have a healthy self-esteem and identity in Christ.
~He would embrace his story and allow it to be used for God’s glory.
~He would receive healing from any brokenness caused by his abandonment.
~He would bond and attach to us, his family and would be secure about his place in our hearts.
~ God would give us wisdom as we raise Joshua.

Our Commitments to Joshua

The following are the commitments Rusty and I made to Joshua during his adoption ceremony:

Joshua Shen Cryer
Adopted into our family forever on July 21, 2008


1. Just as we were predestined by God to be adopted as His sons before the creation of the world, we believe that you were predestined by God to be adopted into our family before you were even born. And, not only did God choose you for us, we also chose you to be our son. You are not our "Plan B" for adding to our family. We did not decide to adopt you because we could not have biological children. We pursued your adoption because God's love for you compelled us.

2. Just as our adoption by God made us full heirs as sons of God, so too our adoption of you makes you a full heir in our family. There is no difference or distinction between you and any of the other children God has already given us or will give us in the future. You are our son born not of our body, but of our hearts.

3. Just as God did not expect perfection of us before our spiritual adoption, so we do not expect perfection of you. And as we rely on His grace to forgive us for our failures as His children, we commit to parent you with grace.

4. Just as God disciplines those he loves, we commit to discipline you in love, seeking wisdom from God and counsel from others as we strive to train you up in the way you should go.

5. Just as God's love for us as his children is unconditional, we commit to love you unconditionally.

6. Just as our adoption by God is final, secure and unable to be lost, our adoption of you is final and secure. Nothing you could do will ever change our commitment to you.


We love you, Joshua!!!

Shriners in Chicago

Joshua and I recently made a trip out to Chicago for an evaluation at Shriner's hospital. They specialize in caring for issues related to cleft lip and palate. We were anticipating this trip for two reasons. First, we were anxious to hear from experts what they thought Joshua would still need in the way of repair and restructure. Second, we were hoping and praying that they would accept him as one of their patients. When God led us to consider a child with this "special need," we believed that He would also provide the resources it would require. Soon after we decided to adopt Joshua we started hearing about Shriners. As a Shriner's patient, all of his medical needs... surgeries, braces, therapy is covered until he is 18 years old. Not only this, put our gas, airline tickets, taxi rides and hotels are also covered. (Rusty said, "Makes me wish I had spent a little more money at their circus!"

After seeing nine or ten different specialists, they agreed to take him on. They also do not think he will require any more surgery until he is about eight or nine. At that time they will do a bone graft to repair the missing areas of his gum ridge. He will also need braces and possibly some cosmetic teeth implants, but it's too early to know. Until then, he will require a lot of speech therapy, and probably a hearing aid in one of his ears while his speech develops.

All the waiting to see the specialists was not too fun, but their park was a hit with Joshua.

This look of sheer delight is a consistent facial expression of his. He's such a happy little guy.

He's also a dare devil and does not have a healthy respect for heights. We're working on that, but I fear a few nasty tumbles are in his future. We also think he's pretty athletic. He's not going to be the tallest in the family, but he's definitely going to be able to hold his own!

Out-patient Surgery

Joshua had a few minor procedures (well if you're asking a guy about one of the procedures, "minor" might not be the word they use) done recently at an outpatient surgery center, including having a tube placed in his ear and the hole in his other ear patched. He did great and recovered quickly!

"You're going to do what to my what?!?"

"I feel so silly in this dress!"