1 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:04,840 Speaker 1: Banna's tube fed. 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:08,960 Speaker 2: She's an infant at seventeen, right, she's full care, but 3 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:13,200 Speaker 2: she's also full of joy. And you asked, but you 4 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,160 Speaker 2: asked why. I mean, I guess some people may ask 5 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 2: why does God allow things like this to happen? 6 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: Anyway? 7 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:24,120 Speaker 2: But when I look at Anna, she reminds me that 8 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 2: every single one of us is made in the image 9 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 2: of God, and every single life has dignity and worth. 10 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:36,199 Speaker 2: And we put so much of our value on the 11 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 2: wrong things right, like our work, our ability to do 12 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 2: this or that, and Anna can't do any of that. 13 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 2: But I have a feeling that all day long she's 14 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:49,840 Speaker 2: communing with God, and maybe she's sad. 15 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 3: For the rest of us, she's the happiest child we have. 16 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 4: Welcome to an army of normal folks. So I'm Bill Courtney. 17 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 4: I'm a normal guy. I'm a husband, I'm a father, 18 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 4: I'm an entrepreneur, and I'm a football coach. 19 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:09,040 Speaker 5: In inner City Memphis. 20 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 4: And that last part somehow led to an oscar for 21 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:15,680 Speaker 4: the film about one of my teams. That movie is 22 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 4: called Undefeated. I believe our country's problems are never going 23 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:22,679 Speaker 4: to be solved by a bunch of fancy people. In 24 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 4: nice suits, using big words that nobody ever uses on 25 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 4: seeing inner Fox, but rather. 26 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:31,320 Speaker 5: By an army of normal folks. 27 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:35,480 Speaker 4: Guys, that's us, just you and me deciding, hey, you 28 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 4: know what, maybe I can help. That's what Lydia and 29 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 4: Scott Rosenkrantz, the voices you just heard have done. These 30 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 4: unsung heroes have thirteen children, eleven of which are adopted, 31 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 4: and several have disabilities. And if that wasn't crazy enough, 32 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:57,560 Speaker 4: Lydia is going to lead our local chapter in Memphis. 33 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 4: I cannot wait for you to meet Scott Lydia right 34 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 4: after these brief messages from our general sponsors. Scott and 35 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 4: Lydia Rosenkrantz, Welcome to an army of normal thoughts. 36 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:26,800 Speaker 1: Thank you, it's great to be here. 37 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 5: First of all, let me just go ahead and break 38 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 5: the eye. Y'all are nuts. 39 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: You're not telling us anything. 40 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 5: You are minds crazy. 41 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:41,119 Speaker 6: I thought it was not quite so obvious. 42 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 4: So interestingly, you are our second interview to come from 43 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 4: a first interview. The first interview was Peter Mudubasi, who 44 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 4: is a dad who's fostered forty seven kids and adopted 45 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 4: three of them. And we did a large audience attended 46 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:08,239 Speaker 4: event with him, and his episode is incredible and he's incredible, 47 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 4: and we got a lot of great response from it. 48 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:16,119 Speaker 4: And through that we met Mick and Tracy Taylor, who 49 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 4: attended that live interview with Peter, and their voices are 50 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 4: really powerful on the topic of transracial adoption, which is 51 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 4: really interesting to us because we are conditioned as a 52 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 4: public and culturally when we think of transracial adoption candidly 53 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 4: to think of two white parents that adopt black or 54 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 4: brown children, or maybe Asian, but Mick and Tracy are 55 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 4: African American parents who adopted white children. It's just an 56 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 4: interesting juxtaposition. And honestly, it says a lot about our 57 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 4: culture that that would be an interesting juxtaposition that even 58 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 4: that is surprising to us, and it was surprising to me, 59 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 4: And after meeting them and hearing their story, I refused 60 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 4: to any longer be surprised by that. There's latent prejudiced 61 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 4: and racism in the surprise itself and their interview and 62 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 4: their story helped me to see adoption in a very 63 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,159 Speaker 4: different light. I loved them, They were great, and she 64 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:35,039 Speaker 4: is tough as nails. And then you guys come along, 65 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:36,479 Speaker 4: because I think you were there too. 66 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 5: I was both, or just how did you hear about it? 67 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 5: Why did you attend? 68 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:42,039 Speaker 3: You? 69 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 2: Gosh, I want to say I've probably heard about it 70 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 2: on LinkedIn first, and then you know, just the idea 71 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 2: of adoption and a single dad having that many foster kids. 72 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: I was really excited to attend. 73 00:04:57,600 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 2: And then I'm also aware of the good work that 74 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 2: Agape does and that's where we filmed it. 75 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 4: So you happened to show up and I guess you 76 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:05,679 Speaker 4: met Alex sitting on a corner. 77 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 1: Sure, I did. 78 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:09,720 Speaker 2: He was behind he was he was behind the curtain, 79 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 2: but I pulled it back and I. 80 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 5: Said, hey, so you're like Toto a little bit. Yes, 81 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 5: she came to the Alex's lemonade stand. 82 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 1: That's right, I did. 83 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 5: Yeah. 84 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 2: I didn't get to come to the actual recording, but 85 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 2: I did get to meet Oh goodness, you're going to 86 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 2: have to tell me your name, yes, and get a 87 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 2: picture with her, and that was Yeah, it was very special. 88 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 5: So why are we talking to Scott and Lydia today? 89 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 4: Scott and Lydia are parents to thirteen children, eleven of 90 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 4: which are adopted not from Memphis but now living in Memphis, 91 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 4: which we'll get into. How and why and what and 92 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 4: what else they're doing, and the story of the growth 93 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:01,720 Speaker 4: of their family is just phenomenal. And so from Peter 94 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:07,359 Speaker 4: and McK and Tracy come Scott and Lydia, who I 95 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 4: think when you hear their story, everybody, you're going to 96 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 4: be like, Wow, these are just normal people who have 97 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 4: changed so many lives through their love and their empathy 98 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:20,799 Speaker 4: and candidly they're hard work. 99 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 5: So first, how'd your meat? 100 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:29,159 Speaker 4: First of all, two crazy peoples one another. 101 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 3: Oh, well, that was that was interesting. 102 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:33,840 Speaker 6: That was I had just gotten out of the Navy 103 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 6: that year, So this was nineteen ninety six, and I 104 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 6: was riffing houses on the side and working at a microbrewery, 105 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 6: brewing beer and partending at night. 106 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 5: That's what people do when they get out of day. 107 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 6: Oh exactly so, because you know, beer was kind of 108 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 6: a sport in the navy. So she was on a 109 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 6: date with another guy that night. 110 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:57,840 Speaker 5: Oh, you didn't told me that. 111 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,359 Speaker 1: To mention that, Alex is that real? 112 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:03,360 Speaker 3: Yeah? 113 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 5: And uh, Scott's game. 114 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 6: The way the micro berry set up is behind the 115 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 6: bar is it's one way glass because all the lot 116 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 6: are tons and everything back there. So if you're back 117 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 6: there working a thing, you'd help. You could see through, 118 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 6: but they can't see into the back. And I wasn't 119 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 6: actually bartending that night. I was doing some maintenance work 120 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 6: and I saw her walk in and I've already talked 121 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 6: to the bartender because he was expecting a girl he 122 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 6: wanted to talk to to come in that night, and 123 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 6: I said, so when I saw her walking, I came 124 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 6: out and said, hey, man, now. 125 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:34,120 Speaker 3: It's the chance we'll just switch. 126 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 6: You can keep an eye out for I was going on, 127 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 6: I'm going to run the bar for a little while. 128 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 6: So well, she didn't know the first time that I 129 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 6: actually saw her first she thought what she walked in 130 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 6: and saw me come into the bartender. 131 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 3: That was the first time that. 132 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 2: I was well was it was not someone that I 133 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 2: knew well, we had just been out a couple of times. 134 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 2: I will just say, Bill, it goes to show that 135 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 2: God can use any situation for his good and his plans, 136 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 2: because those were two very broken people that met that night. 137 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:05,559 Speaker 1: Two people. I mean, we both grew up in the church. 138 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 2: We had wandered really far away, both of us, and 139 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:13,559 Speaker 2: you know, I often laugh thinking about how we thought, 140 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 2: you know, we're just going out for a fun It 141 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 2: was a Friday night. We're going out for a fun 142 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 2: Friday night. And I just felt like God was just 143 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 2: sitting up there and having laughing going, you guys have 144 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 2: no idea what I have in store for you. 145 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 5: Were you in school? 146 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 1: I was. 147 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 2: I was getting my PhD in accounting at Michigan State University. 148 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 5: My grandmother went to Michigan State. 149 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, I got spartans. 150 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, a long time ago. She was in one 151 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 4: of the first classes that admitted women. Okay, yeah, long 152 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 4: time ago, long time ago. 153 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 5: So you're spartan. So you're getting your PhD. 154 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: In a in accounting, yes, right. 155 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 4: And you're figuring it out. You got out of the 156 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 4: Navy and kind of what's next working in a micro 157 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 4: brewery and doing your thing. But I think you you 158 00:08:58,840 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 4: had the interest on. 159 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 5: Well, I was. 160 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 6: I was in the I was in the Nuclear Navy, 161 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 6: So I was in a nuclear navy. So I was 162 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:08,959 Speaker 6: facettech submarines. I was a nuclear qualified operator. I was 163 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 6: electrician and diver. I'd had a few years of college 164 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 6: before I went into the Navy, so I'd already been 165 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 6: in the electric engineering pipeline. 166 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 3: And that was you know, hoping to come back and 167 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 3: finish that off. 168 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 6: So, but you know, in the meantime, after you know, 169 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 6: doing the twenty four seven three sixty five thing, you're 170 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 6: kind of like, I was catching my breath kind of thing. 171 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 5: You were on nuclear subs? 172 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 6: Yes, yeah, six eighty eight class the USS city of 173 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 6: Corpus CHRISTI. 174 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 5: How long would you spend underwater? 175 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 6: Well, we could spend months if we needed to, but 176 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 6: I think thirty eight days. 177 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:44,560 Speaker 3: The longest time that we went. Thirty eight thirty eight days. 178 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:49,320 Speaker 4: I think we found out that Genesis if you're crazy, Yeah, yeah, 179 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:52,840 Speaker 4: eight days underwater. This has nothing to do with the story, 180 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 4: but I want to hear what that like. Does it 181 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 4: get funky smelling under there? 182 00:09:57,400 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 6: Well, yes, because everything that comes into it, because you've 183 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 6: got you know, we have diesel fuel on board for 184 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 6: the when we're on the surface, and you've got you know, 185 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 6: obviously one hundred and forty men on board there, and 186 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,200 Speaker 6: all the smells that we generate because we can recycle 187 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:13,720 Speaker 6: and you know, refresh our air. But it's not the 188 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 6: freshest there in the world. So you have what's called 189 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 6: boat smell. You get used to it, and you don't 190 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:19,079 Speaker 6: know it till you step out in fresh air and 191 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 6: you go what is on my clothes. 192 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:24,680 Speaker 5: They call it. Boats called it boat. 193 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 6: Smell, So you know, and when you're going to go 194 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 6: to a port, you don't have your your civilian clothes 195 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 6: where they can suck up that boat smell. They are 196 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:34,200 Speaker 6: in plastic bags with a dryer sheet in them, so 197 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 6: you don't really. 198 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:36,959 Speaker 3: Yeah, so you don't. Yeah, oh yes, you don't smell 199 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:38,200 Speaker 3: like an ogre when you're in public. 200 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 4: So yeah, it's that's unreal. Oh yeah, what about showering? 201 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 4: Do they ration water and things? 202 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 6: Oh yeah, it's the showering is a whole purpose of 203 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 6: you get in, get wet, shut the water off, soap up, 204 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 6: turn the water back on, rents out, get out, because 205 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 6: you know, we we make our own fresh water, but 206 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 6: you're not supposed to use a whole lot of it. 207 00:10:57,440 --> 00:10:58,200 Speaker 5: That's fine. 208 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 4: In the submarine, take in salt water, desalenated and make water. 209 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 3: Ten thousand gallons a day. 210 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 4: Really, Oh yeah, I see, I could sit here. We 211 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 4: can't really know, but I could talk about that forever. 212 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 4: That is wildly interesting. Where where would you patrol? Where 213 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:15,080 Speaker 4: would you where would this one? 214 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 5: Well? 215 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 6: I was a I would stay not a grout in Connecticut, 216 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 6: so we were East coast, so Atlantic North South all 217 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:23,440 Speaker 6: the way up to Gateway to the North. I've been 218 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 6: in the North Atlantic. I've been underneath the polar ice cap. 219 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 5: Have you really? Oh yeah, when that thing comes up. 220 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 4: In the middle of nowhere Atlantic, are y'all allowed to 221 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 4: walk around on the boat and get some fresh air 222 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 4: and see it? 223 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 5: What was that just for people? 224 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 3: Yeah? 225 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 6: Only at least special events where you go and do that. 226 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:41,959 Speaker 6: You got to be part of the top side crew 227 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:43,840 Speaker 6: and me and I was a ship's diver. I was 228 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 6: number one as far as safety goes. I'm the only 229 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 6: person who wasn't tracked into the deck because if someone 230 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 6: went off or over, I had to have freedom of 231 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:54,680 Speaker 6: movement to go get somebody. So I had a line 232 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 6: on me. But I didn't have the harness and everything 233 00:11:58,040 --> 00:11:59,199 Speaker 6: that everybody else tops I did. 234 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 5: So did you have the big metal hat? No? 235 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 3: No, no, I wasn't not deep sea this. 236 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 6: I was scuba so no kidding. Yeah, so up there 237 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 6: and I didn't. I didn't even have tanks on. It 238 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:11,840 Speaker 6: was just I had a udtves non shorts, fins arotected 239 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 6: in case. 240 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 5: It's kind of cold. Yeah, it kind of is. Yeah, 241 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 5: I can't but you're married to a boss. 242 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,960 Speaker 4: Oh absolutely, that's really very very cool. 243 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:25,959 Speaker 1: That's you can see why I dump the other guy. 244 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 4: Yeah, it get it. 245 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 3: Yeah. 246 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 5: If you're listening to the other guy, I don't know. 247 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:37,320 Speaker 1: He's saying they have thirteen kids, Thank you God. 248 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 5: Apparently they're nuts. That's right. 249 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 4: That's really a cool Your kids know all this, they 250 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 4: know some of it. Yeah, you should tell them all 251 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 4: of it. I mean, that's that's dad hero status stuff. 252 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 5: I wasn't tell my kids cool stuff like that. That's 253 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:55,199 Speaker 5: really really neat. 254 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:01,480 Speaker 4: And now a few messages from marginal sponsors. But first 255 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 4: I wanted to share an awesome update that in January 256 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 4: and February we're launching the first six local chapters of 257 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 4: an Army in normal folks. If you happen to live 258 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 4: in one of these communities and you be interested in 259 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:18,320 Speaker 4: being a part of it, email Alex and he'll connect 260 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 4: you to their leaders. The cities are Memphis, Oxford, Mississippi, Hadiitaddi, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Wichita, 261 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:29,959 Speaker 4: and Clinton, New York. If you be interested in leading 262 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 4: a local chapter in your community, will hopefully be launching 263 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:35,680 Speaker 4: more of this spring or summer. Please reach out to 264 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 4: Alex about that too his email Army at Normalfolks dot us. 265 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 4: We'll be right back, all right, So y'all meet Atterbrurary. 266 00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:00,800 Speaker 4: You scoop up and skate the scar out of the way, 267 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:06,320 Speaker 4: and you don't do so you get married, I mean 268 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 4: take me from there. 269 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 1: We dated two years and then. 270 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 3: I proposed about eighteen seventeen, eighteen months into it, so. 271 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 5: Something like that, and you're both in Michigan's, Michigan. And 272 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 5: what was the plan. 273 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 6: The I guess the plan was at the time, she 274 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 6: was take her PhD, figure out where she would end 275 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 6: up teaching, and I would continue my education, get my 276 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 6: engineering degree and Georgia Tech. 277 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 2: Ash yeah, yeah, well that's because I ended up getting 278 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 2: a job at a small school in Georgia. 279 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 5: Oh well, then I next time Georgia Tech. 280 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 2: Georgia Tech was we were we were about an hour 281 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 2: south of Atlanta where we were, and so it worked 282 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:56,640 Speaker 2: out he could either go to Georgia Tech or Auburn 283 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 2: and ended up choosing Georgia Tech. 284 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 1: So and our plan was I would work. 285 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 2: While he finished school, and then once he started working, 286 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:07,600 Speaker 2: I would start staying home and having babies. 287 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 5: Normal. Yeah, normal, right, very very rational r not crazy. 288 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 1: No normal, No, just very. 289 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 4: Rational, honestly wonderful, boring love story, but boring and and 290 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 4: really unremarkable. Everybody normal wife, that's it. 291 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 5: Yep, So what the hell happened? All right? 292 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 2: Well I'll start and then I'll I'll let Scott pick 293 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 2: up with how he felt. I don't think anybody else 294 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 2: can share how he felt when I said this. That. So, so, 295 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 2: before we got married, we had really rededicated our lives 296 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 2: to the Lord. We'd he had brought us back as 297 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 2: a couple, Yes, as a couple, and church became extreme 298 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 2: important too, is I would say, pre children. Besides my 299 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:06,560 Speaker 2: job and his schooling, church was everything to us. We 300 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 2: were very involved in our church, and so we had 301 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 2: only been in Lagrange. I think I think we were 302 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 2: in our second year there in the Grange, Georgia, right, sorry, yes, 303 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 2: in our second year there. So we were very young, 304 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 2: still newlywoods and I laid down to take a nap 305 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 2: one day because we had a strange little January term 306 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 2: that had just started, and I wasn't teaching and he 307 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 2: wasn't taking a class, and so we had all this 308 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 2: time and God spoke out loud to me and said, 309 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 2: you're going to adopt internationally. 310 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 5: Is that the first time that thought had been in you. 311 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 1: As far as I can remember, Yes, Well. 312 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 4: This wasn't a thing you thought about as a child 313 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 4: or no, a teenager. 314 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 1: No, no, I'm an only child. 315 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 2: I don't remember, you know, really thinking a whole lot 316 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:57,720 Speaker 2: about kids in general from this, because I was still 317 00:16:57,960 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 2: I don't know, twenty nine, I think at this point, 318 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 2: I was still pretty young. It was the only time 319 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 2: he has spoken out loud to me. 320 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: But it was clear. It was completely clear. 321 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 5: So I assume at some point you share this switch. 322 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:13,960 Speaker 2: I got, I got out, I got out of my nap, 323 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:15,239 Speaker 2: you know, I got up from my nap and went 324 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:18,400 Speaker 2: and started looking on the internet, like, are you kidding? No, 325 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:21,240 Speaker 2: that quickly I was like, that's how clear it was. 326 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:23,719 Speaker 6: And our computer was in the downstairs room where our 327 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 6: TV room was, and and I was it was a 328 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:27,880 Speaker 6: Sunday afternoon, I'm watching football. 329 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, So all right, so he comes, you know, he 330 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:35,400 Speaker 2: comes in, and I'm like, so I need to tell 331 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 2: you what God said and I did, and I'll let 332 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:39,360 Speaker 2: him give you his reaction. 333 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 6: And you know, you know, having been in the military 334 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:46,959 Speaker 6: and submarines, things things change, and you're like next thing up, whatever, 335 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 6: and you're out this. 336 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:49,960 Speaker 3: You know, you're out the scene. It's just she said that, 337 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:50,440 Speaker 3: and I was like. 338 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:52,160 Speaker 5: A second, it's third and three. 339 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:56,640 Speaker 1: Maybe Detroit wasn't playing it. 340 00:17:56,280 --> 00:18:00,639 Speaker 6: And I was just like, okay, we'll see this goes. 341 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 6: I have no idea what you're talking about. And you know, 342 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 6: I never have any idea when God's involved. It's like, yep. 343 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:13,960 Speaker 4: You know, when eberneze or Scrooge saw the the first 344 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 4: vision of Christmas past, he thought it might have been 345 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 4: just some undigested out. 346 00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:21,920 Speaker 1: That's exactly what could have been. Could have been, It 347 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:27,360 Speaker 1: could have been, it could have heavy. Except that within 348 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 1: a week. 349 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 4: Just one second, Yeah, Alex, you saw just evoke Charles Dickens. 350 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:39,480 Speaker 4: You see that, right, really good Charles Dickens in this center. Gosh, 351 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 4: that's pretty cool. Right, I'm not impressed that you cited 352 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 4: or something. I give you a break. I'm sorry, go 353 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:53,399 Speaker 4: back to. 354 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 5: Keep going. 355 00:18:56,440 --> 00:18:59,560 Speaker 2: So I might believe you, Bill, except that within a 356 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:01,760 Speaker 2: week we had signed with our adoption agency. 357 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:03,240 Speaker 1: It was that fast. 358 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 4: Wow, And that was going to internationally. That's a big, 359 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:08,959 Speaker 4: big footprint. 360 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:13,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's well, so somewhere in there God had just 361 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:16,359 Speaker 2: narrowed it down for us very quickly that it was 362 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 2: going to be Kazakhstan. 363 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 5: Okay, when I read that Alex put that in the prep, 364 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 5: I laughed. 365 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:27,479 Speaker 4: Out loud, because it's because I've been to Uzbekistan and 366 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 4: I've done business there, and so I know a little 367 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 4: bit about this place. 368 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:33,679 Speaker 5: It's completely landlocked. 369 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 4: Yes, it's Russia to the east and its China really 370 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:45,440 Speaker 4: to the west, and in these mountain region stands in 371 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 4: the middle. And the people are these beautiful mix of 372 00:19:53,000 --> 00:20:01,320 Speaker 4: East Asian West Russian folk, yes, largely muslim m and 373 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 4: beautifully kind, very poor for the most part, people, lots 374 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 4: of agriculture and all of that. And for centuries these 375 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 4: places have been invaded and taken by larger countries around 376 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 4: it for their natural resources. 377 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 5: That's the stuns. Sure, so let's go there. I mean, 378 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:28,920 Speaker 5: come on, are you crazier? The crazy? 379 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:33,200 Speaker 1: Well, it was just you know, I mean, it was 380 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 1: where God let. 381 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:38,640 Speaker 5: Us, nobody even thinks about the stars we exists. 382 00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 1: So this was two thousand and one. 383 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 2: At the time, if you looked up countries to adopt from, 384 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 2: Kazakhstan was actually a pretty popular country for adoptions. 385 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 5: Oh, okay, it was easy, it. 386 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 1: Was fast at the time. 387 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:54,439 Speaker 2: Now, I don't think it's even I don't think international adoptions, 388 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:56,040 Speaker 2: at least in the US, are even allowed. 389 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:56,959 Speaker 1: But it was. 390 00:20:57,119 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 2: It was easy and fast, and they had young children, 391 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:05,159 Speaker 2: which most people who were adopting they did it for 392 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:08,480 Speaker 2: infertility reasons and so they wanted to have the experience 393 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:10,919 Speaker 2: of a baby, right, so you could actually adopt a 394 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 2: baby if. 395 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 5: You, on the other hand, did it because of a map. 396 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:15,280 Speaker 1: I did it because of a nap. I did it, 397 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:16,040 Speaker 1: you know, And. 398 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:18,399 Speaker 3: So happened when you're well rested. 399 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:22,359 Speaker 2: We actually because at the time we thought, you know, 400 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:25,120 Speaker 2: Scott's in school. We need children that can go into daycare. 401 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:27,680 Speaker 2: So we were actually wanting to adopt older. 402 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:29,879 Speaker 5: Yeah, you didn't want an infant, you wanted so much. 403 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:31,920 Speaker 2: Right at least too at least two years old was 404 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 2: kind of our So anyway, somehow we ended up at Kazakhstean. 405 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 1: I don't know. That was a long time ago. 406 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:39,399 Speaker 5: Crazy so take me. 407 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:43,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, you know, it's a it's a process. 408 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 6: You've got to you can watch videos and then you 409 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:50,160 Speaker 6: put it in a referral. Well, for the first little 410 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:51,919 Speaker 6: boy that we were looking at you with a lot 411 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:54,880 Speaker 6: of prayer and watching the video over and over and over. 412 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:57,920 Speaker 6: We fell in love with this little boy. But someone 413 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:01,080 Speaker 6: was in line ahead of us, and so we're like, 414 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:03,320 Speaker 6: oh my god, if we put all this into this 415 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 6: is this is gonna happen, is not going to happen. 416 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:08,760 Speaker 6: And it was a Sunday morning, so we're, you know, 417 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:10,639 Speaker 6: getting ready for church because we got to go early 418 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:12,400 Speaker 6: because she's involved the praise team. 419 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:13,200 Speaker 5: You know. 420 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:13,720 Speaker 3: I worked with the. 421 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 6: Techno group, and I went to take a showers. She 422 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:19,520 Speaker 6: went downstairs check the computer again, see what's up with 423 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 6: the referral. And the house that we were in at 424 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:23,840 Speaker 6: the time was three stories, so I'm all the way 425 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 6: upstairs in the bathrooms store. She's all the way downstairs 426 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:31,080 Speaker 6: with the computers, and I hear screaming, and of course 427 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:33,720 Speaker 6: I'm in the shower with a spider. 428 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 5: On the walls. Screaming or joyous. 429 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:42,480 Speaker 6: Through two floors, you can't tell tell screaming, and I'm like, 430 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:45,200 Speaker 6: out of the shower, grab a towel. 431 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 5: Maybe on the way I. 432 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 6: Go and find out because I think it could be 433 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:50,600 Speaker 6: somebody in the house got for everything, and I'm I'm 434 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:56,199 Speaker 6: ready to kill or just get a hut. Don't our 435 00:22:56,200 --> 00:22:58,639 Speaker 6: referral had gone through the other couple that had been 436 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 6: looking at the little boy dropped out and we found 437 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:02,400 Speaker 6: out that Arstin was ours. 438 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:04,600 Speaker 3: So that was that was good kid. 439 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:09,080 Speaker 6: Of screaming solos a very you know, it's start, joyous 440 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:11,640 Speaker 6: start to the rest of the process. 441 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 3: Which is well. 442 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:16,080 Speaker 2: And so the one thing that you find out very 443 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:22,639 Speaker 2: quickly is international adoptions are delayed constantly, constantly, and that 444 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 2: can be from our side, that can be from their countryside. 445 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 6: It is. 446 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 4: Yes, when I was reading this, this popped into my 447 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:35,720 Speaker 4: head and people are going to hear this, and there's 448 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:39,119 Speaker 4: going to be a number of people that say hmmm 449 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:40,600 Speaker 4: and look into it. 450 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 5: So eyes wide open kind of thing. 451 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:46,119 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's not cheap, no, no. 452 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:52,359 Speaker 4: But beyond that, in some of these third world countries, 453 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:57,800 Speaker 4: forget adoption for a second again, I've done business there. 454 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:01,960 Speaker 5: You run into a lot of people with their handout. 455 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:05,000 Speaker 4: Oh absolutely, and if you don't put the money in 456 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:10,199 Speaker 4: the pall, oftentimes that leads to delays and oh this 457 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:13,280 Speaker 4: paperwork got lost, and I'm sorry that they. People can 458 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:17,800 Speaker 4: people with just a modicum of administrative power can make 459 00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:21,960 Speaker 4: lives miserable in places like this. If you don't grease 460 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:24,359 Speaker 4: the palms. I don't do it. I don't want my 461 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 4: business involved in it. I don't think it's ethical. So 462 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:31,920 Speaker 4: if it comes down to doing business or not, in 463 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:36,040 Speaker 4: that situation, we walk. I'm just curious for the delays 464 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:40,360 Speaker 4: because some people were wanting things that you were unwilling 465 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:41,320 Speaker 4: or unable to give. 466 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:44,400 Speaker 5: Or is it just the administrative. 467 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:46,760 Speaker 4: Process and these places are so jacked up it just 468 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:47,479 Speaker 4: takes forever. 469 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:48,560 Speaker 5: It was. 470 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:51,280 Speaker 1: It was a delay across the board. It wasn't just us. 471 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:54,840 Speaker 2: It was no families would travel during this period of 472 00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:58,399 Speaker 2: time because the laws were changing, or they took the 473 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:02,240 Speaker 2: summer off. Yeah, they took they took the summer off. 474 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 5: Were done. 475 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:06,639 Speaker 2: They did seriously, I mean they were you know, they 476 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 2: were part of the SOVIETI they were the second largest 477 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 2: country to come out of the Soviet Union when the 478 00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:13,679 Speaker 2: Slovie Union broke, so very different way of doing things. 479 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:19,199 Speaker 2: But we traveled exactly when God had his plan to travel. 480 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:22,560 Speaker 2: Now I was not so that sounds like, oh, isn't 481 00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:26,280 Speaker 2: she just so faithful? No, I was pacing many times 482 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:27,000 Speaker 2: saying God. 483 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:28,200 Speaker 1: Why, you know, why, why why? 484 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:31,040 Speaker 2: But in the middle of it, we did decide we 485 00:25:31,119 --> 00:25:34,119 Speaker 2: get it up to so it did allow us to 486 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:40,920 Speaker 2: bring home two little boys instead of one. 487 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:47,040 Speaker 5: We'll be right back. 488 00:26:00,480 --> 00:26:01,200 Speaker 3: In this process. 489 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:04,560 Speaker 6: Then it's because you travel with other couples, and one 490 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:06,280 Speaker 6: of the couples that we were traveling that we got 491 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:08,960 Speaker 6: to know they were debating about a second little boy 492 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:11,560 Speaker 6: because he needed a very special type of heart surgery 493 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 6: that you really can only get here in the States. 494 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:17,680 Speaker 6: And so part of the delay process was God working 495 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:21,440 Speaker 6: on their hearts provide this opportunity to get move them 496 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:24,400 Speaker 6: to that point. So while that was happening, you know. 497 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:25,000 Speaker 3: We're bored. 498 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:30,199 Speaker 6: So we were continuing to look at pictures on the 499 00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:33,600 Speaker 6: same website and we came across another little boy who 500 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:34,920 Speaker 6: we just thought, isn't he cut? 501 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:37,639 Speaker 3: And he was, and it is. 502 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 6: He's a very handsome young man now. And so we 503 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:46,000 Speaker 6: ended up adopting two little boys. And this was more 504 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:48,840 Speaker 6: on like I said, this time on her leading that 505 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:50,720 Speaker 6: this was the thing we needed to do. So this 506 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:53,920 Speaker 6: was Arson and Seric. So they were the first two 507 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:54,720 Speaker 6: that we adopted. 508 00:26:56,359 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 5: Yes, so. 509 00:26:59,280 --> 00:27:01,919 Speaker 4: You people sing, the reason I'm pausing is to have 510 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:04,560 Speaker 4: a chart of all these kids and their ages and 511 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:10,040 Speaker 4: where they're from. And now I'm boxing in Arston. Arsta 512 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:14,160 Speaker 4: N and Sarah ser I k who were the first 513 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:17,760 Speaker 4: two of the family, both from Kazakhstan. 514 00:27:17,359 --> 00:27:18,679 Speaker 1: Five weeks apart in age? 515 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:20,480 Speaker 5: How many five weeks? 516 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:25,360 Speaker 4: Five weeks apart in age biological tie? Who were your 517 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:28,840 Speaker 4: first two children? Yes, and they were adopted in two. 518 00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:31,920 Speaker 1: Thousand and one, September or August of two thousand and one. 519 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:34,680 Speaker 4: Yeah, which is interesting because when you went to get 520 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:36,919 Speaker 4: them and were flying back, it. 521 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:40,160 Speaker 6: Was September eleventh, and we did not make it back 522 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 6: to the United States of America. 523 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:43,080 Speaker 1: We made it to Canada. 524 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:46,800 Speaker 4: Unbelievable. So here was my next question. I read that, 525 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:50,000 Speaker 4: which is your planing got diverted to Canada? 526 00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:51,600 Speaker 5: Right right? Grounded everybody. 527 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:55,480 Speaker 4: So now you got two Americans in Canada trying to 528 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:59,119 Speaker 4: get back home to the United States with two brand 529 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:02,280 Speaker 4: new Kasah children. 530 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:05,240 Speaker 2: Who didn't have a and who didn't have a Canadian visa, 531 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:12,360 Speaker 2: so they were a passport. I mean, so in Canada, 532 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:15,639 Speaker 2: all that work, all the Canadian people, bill they were, 533 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:22,000 Speaker 2: they were so incredible. They pulled us aside, immediately, processed 534 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:23,040 Speaker 2: visas immediately. 535 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:25,119 Speaker 5: Was it because they knew you had a background and beer? 536 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:29,720 Speaker 3: It could have been Well, I've been to Nova Scotia. 537 00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 5: Cruised by their coast and a nuclear with me. Yeah. 538 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:41,320 Speaker 1: They treated us with so much respect and we're so kind. 539 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:42,560 Speaker 5: Where were you in Canada? 540 00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:43,280 Speaker 1: Were Toronto? 541 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 5: They so you weren't at least you're just a cross border. 542 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:49,440 Speaker 6: Yes, which was again another God said, because at the 543 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:52,960 Speaker 6: time my parents were still alive and being from Michigan, 544 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:58,080 Speaker 6: the borders you know here on sorry on, they opened 545 00:28:58,080 --> 00:29:02,480 Speaker 6: the border and allowed people to cross. My parents. How 546 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 6: did you get You walked? I guess you walked. We drove, 547 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:08,880 Speaker 6: We drove my they you know, they drove hotel and 548 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:11,440 Speaker 6: stuff when we were kind of stuck down in Rockford, 549 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:13,080 Speaker 6: which is a really nice area of Toronto, if you know, 550 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:18,320 Speaker 6: that's like Toronto raptors. So lustan'sa airline put us up, 551 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:20,760 Speaker 6: paid for everything. So we had three meals a day, 552 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:23,840 Speaker 6: We had hotels. 553 00:29:24,160 --> 00:29:27,880 Speaker 5: Were they at the time. 554 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:29,000 Speaker 2: What one had actually just turned to one was about 555 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:30,880 Speaker 2: to turn to So they were in the middle. 556 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:36,440 Speaker 5: Get you and then you get back and. 557 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:36,440 Speaker 3: Drive to Georgia. 558 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:38,760 Speaker 5: Yeah, and drive to Georgia. 559 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:40,960 Speaker 1: After all that, they got to meet their grandparents and 560 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:42,120 Speaker 1: the inn. 561 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:45,000 Speaker 5: You know, so look look what we did. Yeah, here's 562 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:47,720 Speaker 5: your grand grandson's too, So here you are. 563 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 4: Yeah, now we were so happy thirty or so. 564 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:56,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, and you go, oh, I should say Scott had 565 00:29:56,440 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 2: you know, he had planned to start Georgia Tech that fall, 566 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:01,760 Speaker 2: but we had to defer because of the delays. Right, 567 00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:04,120 Speaker 2: so you didn't get to start till the spring. So 568 00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:06,479 Speaker 2: we get to spend that whole semester home with the boys. 569 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:07,840 Speaker 5: Got it? Oh? 570 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:09,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, so new Dad. 571 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 4: Here are new Dad arstin Surk. Everything's great, you're about 572 00:30:15,080 --> 00:30:19,080 Speaker 4: to go back to TAG. You're working your job. Happy 573 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:24,440 Speaker 4: family woke up from the nap shot, not one verse two. 574 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:27,840 Speaker 5: We're good to go. We are and life moves on. 575 00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:33,240 Speaker 2: But not really, because too far we had seen those 576 00:30:33,880 --> 00:30:34,800 Speaker 2: We've seen the kids. 577 00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:36,640 Speaker 1: We had seen the children. 578 00:30:36,680 --> 00:30:39,480 Speaker 6: When you're there, because you visit twice a day in 579 00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:40,240 Speaker 6: the baby houses. 580 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:42,240 Speaker 1: Is an organ I mean orphanage. 581 00:30:42,280 --> 00:30:45,560 Speaker 2: It's an orphanage, right, I mean these are we don't 582 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:48,320 Speaker 2: have a it's hard for us to comprehend. I mean, 583 00:30:48,320 --> 00:30:52,440 Speaker 2: these are babies and toddlers that live in an orphanage. 584 00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:56,000 Speaker 1: Right, we don't see that. It's hard for us to understand. 585 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 4: In a picture of what a Kazakhstan orphanage looks like. 586 00:31:00,040 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 6: If you've seen the construction of the basic type of ability. 587 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:08,360 Speaker 6: Most of them are these cookie cutter put together concrete buildings. Yeah, 588 00:31:08,560 --> 00:31:12,680 Speaker 6: square building, square windows, two to three stories whatever. Leaky 589 00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:14,880 Speaker 6: heat and you know the steam heat that comes in 590 00:31:14,920 --> 00:31:16,520 Speaker 6: and does everything, and you see it leaking up through 591 00:31:16,520 --> 00:31:20,760 Speaker 6: the streets. Everything's you know, metal fenced concrete, so it's 592 00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:22,200 Speaker 6: not welcoming. 593 00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:25,440 Speaker 5: There's no pictures of little miss tough at eating or. 594 00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:31,000 Speaker 6: Nothing like that, but you know inside the places were clean. 595 00:31:31,280 --> 00:31:34,360 Speaker 6: The caregivers were phenomenal. They kept these kids in line. 596 00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:35,800 Speaker 6: The way to keep them in line was after they 597 00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:38,160 Speaker 6: were fed and clothed and got everything ready, they'd walk 598 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:40,960 Speaker 6: them for two hours morning and afternoons. 599 00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:41,960 Speaker 3: These kids could. 600 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:45,360 Speaker 6: Walk, but you go outside when we had our time 601 00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:47,920 Speaker 6: with them and playing with the boys and being outside, 602 00:31:48,560 --> 00:31:50,640 Speaker 6: they would be walking the groups. The other little kids 603 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:54,240 Speaker 6: would see their friends and they would see these adults 604 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:57,280 Speaker 6: who they didn't recognize. They know why they're there. These 605 00:31:57,320 --> 00:31:59,320 Speaker 6: kids didn't know English, so they knew two words bomby 606 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:03,320 Speaker 6: and daddy, and as a group they would come like 607 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:04,960 Speaker 6: a little herd, running screaming those. 608 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:06,640 Speaker 5: Two words, looking for mom and dad. 609 00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:08,560 Speaker 6: Right, yeah, and so the two little boys were so 610 00:32:08,560 --> 00:32:11,080 Speaker 6: we're out with Arsen serc we a couple of times, 611 00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:14,040 Speaker 6: a couple of days, and the fear in their eyes 612 00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:17,920 Speaker 6: when they clung to our legs. You know, you're kind 613 00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:19,480 Speaker 6: of getting to know each other and you haven't done 614 00:32:19,480 --> 00:32:21,680 Speaker 6: a whole lot of the hugging and that kind of stuff. 615 00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:24,120 Speaker 6: Yet all of a sudden, they're clinging to us because 616 00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:26,360 Speaker 6: they're afraid we might choose someone else. 617 00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:33,280 Speaker 4: You know, there's a scene in the musical Annie where 618 00:32:34,160 --> 00:32:39,120 Speaker 4: perspective parents are coming to the orphanage and all of 619 00:32:39,160 --> 00:32:41,800 Speaker 4: the kids are running around, arguing and putting on the 620 00:32:41,880 --> 00:32:44,920 Speaker 4: nicest clothes they have and everything because they want to 621 00:32:45,160 --> 00:32:48,800 Speaker 4: act as best they can to possibly be picked. 622 00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:53,400 Speaker 5: That's this, yeah, oh yeah, but in a very real way. 623 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:58,960 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's heartbreaking because you know you're leaving and the 624 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:01,400 Speaker 4: ones you leave behind, and yeah, and I can get 625 00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:02,720 Speaker 4: a mommy and daddy, right. 626 00:33:02,600 --> 00:33:05,680 Speaker 3: And those kids no legs, they see that happen, and they. 627 00:33:05,440 --> 00:33:12,360 Speaker 5: And what happens in Kazakhstan when kids don't get chosen ultimately, well. 628 00:33:12,760 --> 00:33:14,360 Speaker 1: They I mean they keep moving up. 629 00:33:14,440 --> 00:33:17,200 Speaker 2: They move from you know, they age out to the 630 00:33:17,240 --> 00:33:23,160 Speaker 2: next orphanage. And honestly, I don't know exactly what happens 631 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:27,520 Speaker 2: today at the time we had were adopting the oldest kids. 632 00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:31,520 Speaker 2: They would age out at about sixteen, and it was 633 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:34,160 Speaker 2: whatever you could do at that point. 634 00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:35,480 Speaker 5: It's heartbreaking too. 635 00:33:35,840 --> 00:33:41,680 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, okay, So how long after the arrival of 636 00:33:43,000 --> 00:33:45,480 Speaker 4: child one and two do we decide we need to 637 00:33:45,480 --> 00:33:48,160 Speaker 4: go back to Kazakhstan and get some more of these kids. 638 00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:52,080 Speaker 2: So we were home in September. We started the process 639 00:33:52,120 --> 00:33:53,560 Speaker 2: again in January. 640 00:33:53,880 --> 00:33:56,760 Speaker 5: Oh five months stops. 641 00:33:56,880 --> 00:34:08,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, we celebrated first a breathe. Yeah, why why? 642 00:34:08,520 --> 00:34:11,400 Speaker 4: I mean, I get I get the emotional todd of 643 00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:15,360 Speaker 4: those kids, but y'all you're young. You haven't even finished 644 00:34:15,360 --> 00:34:16,000 Speaker 4: school yet. 645 00:34:16,080 --> 00:34:20,960 Speaker 1: Even started new program started. You hadn't started started it right. 646 00:34:21,080 --> 00:34:25,280 Speaker 4: And and and you're actually thinking, let's go get two more. 647 00:34:26,080 --> 00:34:28,400 Speaker 6: Yeah, And it was and this time around we were 648 00:34:28,400 --> 00:34:30,040 Speaker 6: talking about, yeah, we're going to do this when and 649 00:34:30,040 --> 00:34:34,719 Speaker 6: we're looking at Demir, who's our oldest son, and looking 650 00:34:34,760 --> 00:34:37,000 Speaker 6: at his pictures and the videos and stuff, and we're 651 00:34:37,040 --> 00:34:39,120 Speaker 6: just going back forth when we found out he had 652 00:34:39,120 --> 00:34:43,360 Speaker 6: a half brother. And I remember the conversation because I 653 00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:46,320 Speaker 6: had actually started. I was, I was driving to Atlanta 654 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:49,840 Speaker 6: every day, so I started at Georgia Tech, and I 655 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:53,799 Speaker 6: remember Lydia asking me, she goes too, really do you 656 00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:54,520 Speaker 6: think we need. 657 00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:55,360 Speaker 3: To do too this time? 658 00:34:56,680 --> 00:34:59,759 Speaker 6: And I was I listened to talk radio. Well, I'm 659 00:34:59,800 --> 00:35:01,719 Speaker 6: in a hard because, you know, you gotta have something 660 00:35:01,719 --> 00:35:03,080 Speaker 6: to take your mind off the fact that you're on 661 00:35:03,120 --> 00:35:05,520 Speaker 6: the road with you know, ten thousand other people or 662 00:35:05,560 --> 00:35:07,239 Speaker 6: we have normal folcus. It's not a bad thing to 663 00:35:07,280 --> 00:35:13,560 Speaker 6: listen to. Yeah two yeah, you know. So you you know, 664 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:15,680 Speaker 6: you drive with people on the roadhore willing to kill 665 00:35:15,719 --> 00:35:16,319 Speaker 6: you to get to work. 666 00:35:16,360 --> 00:35:17,640 Speaker 3: And I'm just going to school. 667 00:35:18,040 --> 00:35:20,000 Speaker 6: But I'm listening to this, and the voice on the 668 00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:24,200 Speaker 6: radio changed and it basically told me that you are 669 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:26,640 Speaker 6: doing the right thing. You are going to take two 670 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:29,600 Speaker 6: boys again. You will take that second child home. 671 00:35:30,719 --> 00:35:32,080 Speaker 5: So you go back to Kazakhstan. 672 00:35:32,360 --> 00:35:35,160 Speaker 3: Yes, so we go almost a year to day, same city. 673 00:35:35,360 --> 00:35:36,319 Speaker 1: Yeah, it was very close. 674 00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:38,240 Speaker 3: Different baby house, but they're in the same city. 675 00:35:38,280 --> 00:35:42,640 Speaker 4: They call them baby houses too, And so you roll 676 00:35:42,719 --> 00:35:46,319 Speaker 4: in and you find the mirror and his half brother. 677 00:35:49,120 --> 00:35:50,400 Speaker 5: How long does it take. 678 00:35:51,920 --> 00:35:54,839 Speaker 6: The process while we're staying over there, Yeah, okay, it's 679 00:35:54,920 --> 00:35:58,319 Speaker 6: it's about a month. So you stay there for a month. Yeah, 680 00:35:58,360 --> 00:36:01,600 Speaker 6: you're living in an apartment. Is the whoeverything she will throw. 681 00:36:01,680 --> 00:36:03,960 Speaker 6: The organization went through. They arrange all that. 682 00:36:04,480 --> 00:36:07,480 Speaker 5: You have to stay there a month, you visit twice 683 00:36:07,520 --> 00:36:07,839 Speaker 5: a day. 684 00:36:08,840 --> 00:36:12,040 Speaker 6: It's it's an hour and a half on the visitation 685 00:36:12,440 --> 00:36:18,279 Speaker 6: was watching my parents came down from Michigan, stayed in 686 00:36:18,280 --> 00:36:21,920 Speaker 6: our house and family effort. 687 00:36:23,760 --> 00:36:26,600 Speaker 1: It has always been always been. 688 00:36:26,560 --> 00:36:30,719 Speaker 4: So yes, so you come home a month later with 689 00:36:30,760 --> 00:36:31,200 Speaker 4: these two. 690 00:36:32,480 --> 00:36:35,960 Speaker 6: So now yeah, we went six, well, well with those 691 00:36:36,040 --> 00:36:37,840 Speaker 6: it's it's so yeah. There's six of us in the 692 00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:41,759 Speaker 6: house plus two dogs. Of course would but we went 693 00:36:41,760 --> 00:36:44,839 Speaker 6: from being parents of nothing to parents of four boys 694 00:36:44,880 --> 00:36:46,399 Speaker 6: under the age of five within a year. 695 00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:56,680 Speaker 4: And that concludes Part one of our conversation with Lydia 696 00:36:56,680 --> 00:36:57,919 Speaker 4: and Scott Rosenkrantz. 697 00:36:57,960 --> 00:36:59,879 Speaker 5: And you do not want to miss port too. 698 00:37:00,480 --> 00:37:04,120 Speaker 4: It's now available to listen to you together. Guys, we 699 00:37:04,239 --> 00:37:07,560 Speaker 4: can change this country, but it starts with you. I'll 700 00:37:07,600 --> 00:37:08,439 Speaker 4: see it in part two.