How small our world is when a mother of young children in Spain takes the time to encourage me! How awesome is that? As you may know, from a couple posts ago, I was a little discouraged with the crazies my children got on Christmas day. I am over it now, but sharing on a forum I belong to on how crazy it can be sometimes...this dear mother wrote the following back to me, to encourage me:
"Children are a lot of work... but they are a lot of joy!!!! When you have a day like that... think: Yes, I am crazy soooo what!!! (the world is full of boring people is good to be crazy some times). You are brave and caring, ok, your kids behave bad sometimes so what!!! They are just kids!!! ...Congratulations for your noisy and wild family. I would like it a lot if you were my neighbors if somebody doesn't like your family too bad for them, you can always move to Spain and live next to my noisy and wild family."
Isn't that just awesome! I love the line about crazy to counter boring. :) Yes, we are anything but boring....and in 2008, we may get more crazy and less boring!
In 2005, when we were on the adoption path, but had not yet received our referral of our little Princess Qing, Qing, in fact we were still looking in the California Foster Care system and had not signed up for the China program,...Nick had a dream about his little sister to be. He dreamed of her and described her as looking like Olivia, a little African girl in Anthony's preschool class. It was such a strong, vivid dream to him.
Adoption is a wonderful thing, whether local, US or International. I truly believe it is something dear to God's heart. I remember when I started on the path of adoption, I kept questioning whether this was something God wanted me to do. I know I wanted to do it, but did he? And each step of the way, I prayed for him to keep the door open or close it to reveal his will. To my amazement, He kept it wide open, against all odds. (Less than 6 months after our China Princess came home, China changed their adoption laws, which would not make it impossible for me to adopt from China, being single.) How amazing is our God.
He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. (Duet. 10:18) God sets the lonely in families, (Ps 68:6), and BOY, has He done that for me for us.
Did you know that Ethiopia's population size and growth rate are among the highest in Africa with half of the over 60 million people under 20 years old. Orphans due There are over 6 million orphans in Ethiopia. By 2010 some 15 to 25 percent of children in 12 countries - including Ethiopia - could be orphaned due to AIDS.
Think of a typical 15 year old girl in your hometown. What does she look like, what occupies her thoughts, what is she concerned about? Now take another look at the picture above. That is 15 year old Olivia, an orphan and her 2 year old sister, Sandra. (Interesting names, coincidence?) And she is quickly becoming the typical teenager in Ethiopia. What do you think occupies her thoughts, what are her concerns?
Our family is embarking on a new journey. After some thought, prayer, research and encouragement, we are again making the adoption journey. I will let you know how it progresses as we go. Like our journey to Mary, our journey to our "Olivia" in Ethiopia will totally depend on God opening doors, leading and keeping them open.
We covet your prayers. And, yes, in case you were wondering, we are crazy, but not boring!
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans. James 1:27
first posted Dec 26, 2007 at my other blog: http://360.yahoo.com/lvglvk
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