IF...

I came across this statistic on another adoption blog...how many Christians would it take to adopt all the orphans in the world? As challenging and convicting as it may be...it's a good question. 


"Therefore, if roughly 6% of the born again Christians in the world adopted we could care for all the adoptable orphans in the world (I have heard 7% used and that might be true as well)."


See full article here: http://abbafund.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/how-many-christians-would-it-take-to-adopt-all-the-orphans-in-the-world/


I'm not sure what number would sound impossible- but 6% certainly doesn't sound impossible to me! 

What I do Know...

A good friend gave me some great advice today. She texted me "Maybe make a list of every single thing that you're afraid of and then cross off everything you think God can't handle." Well- what I am afraid of is what I don't know. I don't know how long we will wait, I don't know how I will meet my child and say "good-bye for now", I don't know how difficult the transition home will be for any of us, I don't know how little man and little miss will handle the addition of a new sibling, I don't know how we will communicate at first with a possible language barrier.....I don't know a lot. But what I do know is that God can handle EVERY SINGLE ONE of these things because God is all-powerful...For nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37).

On a recent car ride I let me emotions get the better of me- this happens everyone once in a while  A LOT! And because God is timely like this- it just so happened that this song played on the car radio...

                                            (pause music at bottom of page)

As I listened to the words of this song I feel like I realized for the first time that it really doesn't matter what we don't know....what I do know is that we will be filled with love like never before AND fulfilling God's call....and knowing that HE will hold us together even in the moments when it feels like we are falling apart.

Is Adoption Trendy?

Courtesy of Dictionary.com

Trendy

–adjective

1.of, in, or pertaining to the latest trend  or style.

2.following the latest trends  or fashions; up-to-date or chic:the trendy young generation.

3.appealing to faddish taste: a trendy hotel.

When I think of trendy, I think of the Coach bag I had to have, the Puma shoes I needed to specially order because everyone had them but they didn't sell my large size in the store, the Burberry coat I was surprised with several Christmases ago, and the Gymboree clothes that my children really need! I think of things that everyone wants, desires, and ultimately convinces themselves that they need in order to “fit in”. These things are essentially extra’s, things we can survive without- desires of our flesh. 

So- why do we think we need these things? Perhaps all of our friends have them, or we saw them advertised in such a catchy way that we can’t get them out of our heads....or perhaps the latest and greatest celebrity has it. Hmmmm...does anyone see where I am going with this yet?

Adoption has certainly become more recognizable since photos of celebrity’s adopted children have debuted on magazine covers. Now, for all of those Americans who don’t stay up till midnight searching adoption blogs- there is a face to the orphans of the world. And, if Angelina is doing it- surely a whole bunch of other people are too....right?

Yes, Ethiopian adoptions have increased in number. But, when you consider the 4.4 million orphans living in the country- the roughly 2,500 that were adopted into forever families during the year 2010 doesn’t really seem to make a dent. Some nights I go to bed, after reading 15-20 blogs of families adopting from Ethiopia, and really truly believe that EVERYONE I know is adopting from Ethiopia. A few hours of sleep later I am back in the real world and realizing that I do NOT know anyone personally who has adopted from Ethiopia.....but I do know an awful lot of people with my same Coach bag....Yes, it’s true- I do NOT know anyone personally who has adopted from Ethiopia and yet here I am, stepping out in faith, not because Angelina did it...but because God did it. 

The reality is...I WISH adoption was trendy. I WISH that people (including myself) were not questioning “Am I crazy?” I WISH it was trendy because then- when I brought my child home- I wouldn’t even have to think twice about the fact that we WILL be a biracial family- which in and of itself brings challenges and transitions. BUT, above all, I WISH it was trendy, because if it was- there would be no such thing as a waiting child, there would be no such thing as a street child- living on their own among trash and illness....If adoption was trendy- Coach would be claiming bankruptcy and the word ORPHAN would be extinguished from our vocabulary. If adoption was trendy.....you wouldn’t be reading this blog. 

Waiting...

Waiting...waiting...waiting. There is a whole lot of waiting going on in our lives right now- and NOT just on the adoption front. Obviously we have not reached the MAJOR waiting point- the time from which our dossier reaches Ethiopia until we receive a referral- that time is still quite a ways away from us. The waiting right now is for little paperwork pieces and mostly in other components of our life. But the real waiting that is impacting me this week is not even my own waiting- it is the waiting children in Ethiopia. The children that have been waiting anywhere from a few months to years for a family. If we, the adopting families here in America, feel like we are waiting- I can't even begin to imagine what the waiting must feel like on the other end. I can't describe what it does to me any better than to say it literally hurts my heart. I ache for what I cannot possibly give all of them- a home. I can't imagine being 12 years old and hoping that one day- just the right person will see my picture on a waiting child list and choose me. I can't imagine that just the right person will overlook that I have been living in an institution, malnourished, improperly disciplined, insecurely attached, and so on. I can't imagine hoping that just the right person will think "this child is a perfect fit for my home!" I can't imagine hoping that just the right person will overlook all the challenges that adding me to their family might bring and yet still decide that I am worth it. I can't imagine all that. That is a lot of waiting and wondering for somebody so young. And yet, that is the reality for SO SO SO many children. I do not yet know who the Lord will bring us- only He knows the blessing He has in store for our family at the end of this journey. But this week, I am committing to praying for the waiting children. The children who, themselves, are praying for a family. This week I am remembering them, loving them from afar, and praying that their waiting will soon come to an end.

One Blessed Mommy...

Today, at 6am, I prayed a simple prayer...

I asked God for patience that would last the day...

That I would strive less to be a perfect mother...

And more the mother that my children would remember....

Loving them deeply...

Enjoying them fully...

And creating lasting memories.

So, what I discovered is that God listens to all prayers, even the simple ones prayed from bed with one eye still closed- because we had a great day! We played outside before 8am- filling a bucket with bubbles and having fun with lots of different bubble wands. We picked blackberries with friends, ate ice cream BEFORE lunch (at least we ate lunch too!), ate dinner as a family, and took an early evening bike ride/walk. Everybody was in a great mood today- or maybe I was in a great mood- sometimes that makes all the difference!

Hope everyone's week is off to a great start!

And A 14.7 Update!!

I apologize that I have failed to give a 14.7 update until now! Well- I took on that goal not quite realizing that the "little jump" from 10-11 miles a week to 14.7 miles would be such a challenge for me! I know it doesn't seem like a huge jump but for some reason it was for me. So the first two weeks of July I fell short of my goal- whether due to training issues, the heat we have been experiencing, or sick kids. Either way- it did not happen the first two weeks! However, this past week I did it! I got in a long run on the treadmill at the gym that definitely helped get the mileage up! Today I ran three miles with the kids- they were so well-behaved it was almost eerie LOL! I so wanted to give up with about a fourth of a mile left so I tried to get little man excited about it so he would cheer me along. He started yelling, "Yay mommy, you're almost there, go!!!" Well we hit the three mile marker-( did I mention they are REAALLY starting to weigh down the stroller??) and I was SO excited! Even little man who is not really aware of the 14.7 goal was so happy and he just made my day by saying, "Mommy, daddy is going to be so proud of you when he gets home!" So, we're going for it again next week- wish us luck!!

What I'm Learning...

A conversation little man and I had while driving today:

Little man: My song isn't coming back on mommy, it was about Jesus and now it is over.

Me: All of the songs are about Jesus, let's listen to the next one.

Little man: But mom (very whiny), I don't know where Jesus is, I can't see Him.

Me: Remember what your book said- He's always with you, even if you can't see Him.

Little man: But mom, He's not here, where is God?

Me: (Really trying to phrase this right!) Well, remember what we said, God is in heaven and Jesus is with him and will come again.

Little man: But we could go there, I think we have to take a car, it's very far away.

Oh, how I love a three year old trying to grasp what I'm still trying to grasp at 27 (almost 28) years (yes, my birthday is soon!).  I am amazed everyday to hear him trying to sort through all of this information. It is absolutely the most wonderful stage. Last week, his fascination centered around the story of David and Goliath and he continually asked, "Mommy, why that little boy knock the giant down?" My husband did story time with him the other night and read the story of Mary and Martha...he came downstairs afterwards and said, "You know that Children's Bible is great, but man, it is hard to explain some of those stories to a three year old!" We are continually amazed with our little man's love for Jesus- and amazed at what he is grasping. Last week, when my parent's were visiting, out of the blue he announced at dinner, "Jesus is coming to get mommy, daddy, and me and taking us to meet his friends." I asked him where Jesus' friends were and he said, "In heaven." No, we don't make a practice of teaching our preschooler about the rapture- I'm really not sure where he picked up on that! But it did bring tears to my eyes! 

In the last few weeks, I have felt a lot like my three year old. We've encountered some situations lately that have really caused me to step out in my faith. By nature, I often assume the worst. So, even if you tell me that the chances are 80% good and 20% bad, I will harp on the 20%. But, I am learning (very very slowly) that I can sit and ruminate in my fearful thoughts- or I can believe for the good. Yes, I will still chew every cuticle down and pick all my nail polish off- but these last two weeks in my fear, I have sought God. I have asked for prayer and ministering and found comfort in scripture. I have always had faith-but I have never put my faith to work like I have lately. So often, it seems individuals think how unfair it is that God would "allow" bad things to happen to good people. When, in fact, that is the furthest thing from the truth. We so often forget that with the fall came evil and free will- and sin. It is clear that things will happen that won't feel good- but it is our response, our growth, and our faith in these situations that brings us closer to God. Over the last two weeks, this is what I have been slowly learning. And yes, I definitely had one or two days when my stress got the better of me and my response to certain situations was far from Christian-like. Today however, I rejoice in lots of good news- and a renewed sense of peace- and to Him goes all the glory and praise!