Thankful

Sometimes I just feel overwhelmed by God's goodness to us. We have so much to thank Him for everyday. This week was a real blessing. Thursday we got to meet up with Susanna and Joe Musser at the airport as they started their journey to bring Katie home. I found myself teary meeting Susanna in person. We have prayed for months for Katie and her precious family, and it was so special to finally meet. They are already in Katie's country, and Adam is leaving soon to meet up with them!

Yesterday we received a call from a local special needs grant organization. They are purchasing a stroller for Irina. Wow! This will be so helpful as she has outgrown her stroller, and our insurance would not cover the one designed for an older special needs child. I was so sure they were calling to tell us that they were unable to grant our request, that I was silent for several seconds before I could get out "thank you"!

If you are following the Musser's blog, you probably know they are having Thanksgiving at our home. We are so excited to meet their entire family (and hope they aren't traumatized by our loud and wild crew!). Life has been so busy I haven't had much time to get to the specific planning, although a dear friend volunteered to help prepare the dinner. Today I got an email from a lovely person who had emailed me a few months ago, as she saw our family on the Reece's Rainbow site and realized we live minutes away. She and several friends from her church have been following the Musser's blog, and saw we were hosting Thanksgiving dinner. They volunteered to bake and bring all the desserts! I cried when I read the email. I just love the way God weaves our stories together, and cares about the most intimate details in our lives.I am so thankful.

I wish I could.....

Dear Orphan,
I saw your picture today and heard about your plight. Your face is so beautiful and sad, and it tugs at my heart.



I hear you don't get enough to eat, and that there isn't always medicine if you get sick. You sleep in a room with many children, but you still feel alone.



You have never had anyone wish you a "Happy Birthday", give you a gift, or even sing you a lullaby goodnight.  No one has ever told you about Jesus or that He loves you.



I wish we could adopt you, but....

It is such a long way to travel, it would cost so much money, and it involves so much paperwork.
Our home isn't very big, and we already have children. Adding another child to our family would mean they would have to share a bedroom as well as our love and attention.
What if you have health issues or special needs that are not yet diagnosed?
You might have a hard time adjusting to a family after never knowing one, or have "issues" from years of neglect, malnutrition, mistreatment, or abuse.

I'm sorry, it just feels like too much of a risk and sacrifice.  Adoption doesn't really feel like our "calling".  Maybe there is another family....



(I originally posted this last year, but decided to repost as November is orphan awareness month. My heart breaks over and over for the estimated 162 million orphans worldwide. Please prayerfully consider how God is asking YOU to respond!)