Orphan Ramblings

There is so much going on here at our house right now. We are still UNPACKING (yes, I said UNpacking) from our China trip, we are gearing up for next week's children's camp, trying to get school year 2010-11 in order, trying to find what our "norm" is going to be as a fam of 6, trying to get a handle on the fact that we won't be a fam of 6 for long - Ebaby (sorry again: Ellie-Joy) should be here next year, we are working on finalizing everything with Hannah Grace like getting SS numbers & added to insurance...yada yada yada. So, why do I think I have time to get on my soapbox? Well, I don't. But it's been on my mind alot lately. And obviously God is ordaining it because the same issue seems to be on others' minds too. Our children's minister at church is laying the foundation for a support group of some kind to help orphans (yes all facets - foster care, adoption, sponsorships, support groups, financial help, etc.) Of course when I heard about it - I jumped right in. Hopefully soon we will be meeting as a group to see where God is leading us next.
Then the adoption group from our area had a gathering just recently. It was good to meet up with folks who have gone through what we are going through. They answered lots of questions & oddly enough we had people asking us questions since we are finally on this side of adoption now. It really does take a village to raise children. During that fellowship, I spoke with someone who is working on getting something going through all the churches to help those who want to help orphans. We plan on meeting this fall to set up a schedule for the upcoming year & see where God is going to lead that group.

Well, with all this on my mind I still wonder about where God is going to use us. Obviously He isn't through with us (thank goodness). I've always said if I won the lottery I'd buy a huge piece of land & build an enormous house & fill it to the brim with a bunch of adorable kids. And I guess since that isn't happening (no, I haven't been buying lotto tickets.) I need to figure out what God is wanting from me. Andy & I have talked about the foster care system. We've even said that if we are in a home that gave us room that we'd like to be a foster parent. But that isn't right now. I want to know what it is that I am supposed to be doing RIGHT NOW. Everywhere I look I see people raising awareness. Is that supposed to be my purpose? I get caught up in everything & then I am hooked. I can't think of anything else. What's up with that? Then I start thinking: Why isn't everyone else thinking about these orphans? Why is it that older children wait & wait to never find their families? Yes, I will admit that I want to bring those two boys home that I've been mentioning. But the problem is, we don't qualify for them right now. We don't even have a room in our house for them. But they have us thinking, and thinking very hard I might add.

I went to a "cyber-friend's" site tonight & she is asking about the foster care program here in our state. I have some good friends that are foster parents & are GREAT at it. I want to be more like them. I think I am chasing rabbits right now. Anyway, she posted this video & I couldn't help but wonder. Are there more people out there that should be foster parents. Yes, I know what you are thinking. It'll hurt too much to let them go. I couldn't just let them go back to what they left. I've said it all too. But now I think about how selfish that is of me. How dare I think about my little hurt feelings when a child's life is at stake. If I allow myself to fall in love with a child & show him the love of Christ, wouldn't it be worth it? We are strong & I know what we could learn from these kids would make us even stronger. What kind of difference can we as Christians make on these kids if we open up our hearts & homes to these kids even if only temporary? Just think, you might be the only person available to show these kids Christ. What a responsibility!!!!! I'm doing some research. Hopefully soon, I'll come back with some info to share. They need us & somehow I think we need them.

Watch this video & then head over to www.adoptuskids.org

Maybe you still can't foster - well, then maybe God is calling you to adopt. This is a site FILLED with kids that are ADOPTABLE here in the states, not just needing foster care. They all want to be loved like everyone else.