May 2010
Richard no longer wants to be called "Jimmy" which was his birth name. At his adoption, Richard chose his new name because he said he wanted to "start a new life with a new name." I keep making the mistake of calling him Jimmy, and Richard patiently corrects me every time. He reminds me, each and every time, that the teachers and students at school are "handling" his name change better than I am!

Richard has been working several times a week with our new music teacher, Mark Van Heerden. Mark comes from South Africa where he is known for being part of the world famous band "Wickhead." While Mark's band is taking a break after years of touring he is spending a couple of days a week working with the boys. Richard is especially excited about forming a band with his brothers. The boys have created there own original song where they not only sing but also play the instruments. Richard is hopeful that the band will be ready to record their first song very soon.

September 2009
Jimmy had a wonderful summer. He participated in many of the activities that the local Braille Institute had to offer teenagers. He took Judo classes, participated in the summer reading program, and also went paddling weekly. Jimmy did attend summer school but was disappointed that he was placed in a class with "low functioning" students. Once I discussed his concern with the classroom teacher a more tailored program was developed for Jimmy. Jimmy was satisfied with the changes. Jimmy also attended two sleep-over camps and came home with tales of new girlfriends after each camp. What a 13-year-old Casanova! Jimmy's adoption finalization should be happening real soon!

April 2009
Richard James "Jimmy" officially joined our family in late January but unofficially was living with us since mid-December. Jimmy was previously living in a large facility in Los Angeles. He had been in and out of foster care since he was a toddler. While he had always wanted to reunite with his birth family in another state, it became obvious that that plan was not going to work out. I met Jimmy through a social worker who had placed with my family before. She was very pleased with the positive growth the "her" children had made. I was able to visit with Jimmy almost every weekend for several months before he was officially matched with our family.

Jimmy is a great kid who has had to put up with a lot in his short life. While he is very happy about being adopted, we are also having to deal with the complicated behaviors of a teenager who has multiple placements in the foster care system. Jimmy can be very sweet and thoughtful but he can also be extremely rude and noncompliant as well. The good news in he is doing great at school. Most of his behavioral challenges are related to living with a family, the idea of adoption, and the sense of loss he suffers from being separated from his birth family. We are working through these issues with individual and family counseling. Despite these challenges, Jimmy has a lot going for him. He is fiercely independent and despite his blindness he is able to get around our home and in the community using his cane with only limited support. Jimmy is also very talented musically. Jimmy takes guitar and voice lessons weekly. He even spent some time in the recording studio singing some songs on the new family CD. Jimmy also is in an acting class in Los Angeles every Saturday. Additionally Jimmy enjoys swimming, shopping, and using his brailler. Jimmy and I am looking forward to finalizing his adoption this summer.

Younger Pictures