When you know better .... you do better!

Not often but there have been times over the past few weeks I have found myself annoyed, irritated, ok even angry at the lack of support by some family and friends. I've also been frustrated by some of the senseless, thoughtless comments that strangers have made on other blogs, pages, or news reports towards international adoption. I was frustrated that people didn't "GET" it! How can anyone not understand that ALL children deserve a loving home? I was irritated to see Millions raised for "Save the Whales" or "Breast Cancer Awareness".  Why? why did this bother me? I LOVE Whales! and I have friends that have survived breast cancer!!! How could I feel this way!?  I have supported many charities over the years! Alzheimer's Awareness, The Homeless, Toys for Tots and many many other GREAT causes.  Just because I have now decided to adopt Orphans with Down Syndrome doesn't mean others should "care" or "support" me financially or otherwise? I found myself having a fleeting initial response of jealousy when I saw other families fully funded, or receiving huge grants. I immediately corrected myself. How dare I feel that way!!! After all there are so many that have supported me and given so much. Each time I experienced these negative feelings, I would remind myself it is not about me! I would make a small donation to another family, or try and assist in some other way... sharing their blog or offering support/advice. I prayed for forgiveness knowing that it was my own lack of faith that brought on these feelings. Fear. Fear that I would not get to my boys. That I would fail them. Who would I blame?

I realize that this to shall pass. It is part of the journey God is taking me on. He is cleansing me. I am struggling with God, the enemy, my human nature. I am impatient, flawed. I could run away from all of this. I could return to my selfish way of life. Living only for myself. But that is not an option. I simply cannot. So I will grow instead. I will grow in my relationship with God, in faith, in hope and forgiveness. I will continue to correct myself when doubt, jealousy, resentment creep in. I will fast, and pray and continue to have faith. I want to emerge on the other side cleansed, reborn. I have decided to support the whales! and breast cancer awareness! and Recycle! and any other cause my Savior deems worthy! I realized that these causes are important to others and they are important to HIM. Then they are important to ME! Because if I frown upon their choice of passion and God's calling in their life, then I am not living the gospel. I am to love without expecting. God has a plan. We are ALL a part of that plan. and as we all know in order for any plan to work everyone must do their part. Alone we are helpless. Together we are strong. Christ wants us to work together. There is plenty to be done in this world .... pollution, unemployment, animal abuse, orphans, abortion...... the list goes on! But, we cannot criticize one another for the "good" we decide to do. So I have learned my lesson. I will pray for those that sit idle to hear their calling, follow their heart and make a difference. I pray they will be a light for someone or for something, in this dark world!

We Pray...

We received Marty's passport Friday so I added his number to our paperwork and printed it out for our dossier. We are waiting for USCIS to get back to us on our Federal Fingerprinting appointments. Once we receive that and our approval letter we can compile everything together, have it notarized and apostilled and sent off to Ukraine. Then more waiting.... fundraising....worrying...waiting...
 Baby Gage turned 3 months old. He is such a cutie! He is learning how to use his hands and I love watching him stare at them and attempt to grab the toys hanging from his floor mat. I'm sure he will be skilled at building things and fixing things like his Daddy and big brother Austin. I imagine him with Dunham and Edgar, the three of them in their super hero jammies wrestling in the living room, watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and making a mess in their playroom. Those thoughts are blessings to cut through the dark cloud of uncertainty brewing in Ukraine.
 I am so proud of the Ukraine people, I pray they will be able to establish the type of Democratic freedom we take for granted every day. I am frightened for them and the fight that lies ahead. I am terrified for our boys and the other lost children of Ukraine. Will there be a freeze on adoption? Will we be one of those families grieving the loss of children we are already so emotionally invested in? It is these thoughts that shake my faith and draw me to God. I pray. What else can I do? I pray for strength, understanding, peace, safety, guidance, blessings, funding, patience, and the freedom of the Ukraine people.

The Ripple Effect

Today we went to the local Farmer's Market to raise awareness for Reece's Rainbow and The Ripple Effect.  "The Ripple Effect" is our local support group for adoptive families. A local reporter came out to do a story on our adoption and several of the other families came out to tell their stories and show their support. I love these families! They have meant so much to us. They have been our support, encouragement, and a major resource of information on this journey. Many of them are fundraising for their own adoptions. I wanted to add links to each of their blogs so that you could follow their stories as well!


Other Family Blogs:

Journey of The Heart 5


Bringing Home Family


Not The End 4 U


3bolins


Facebook Mary adopting China


Monday Morning Christians