2 Years Old Today

This is not quite how we wanted to celebrate Daniela's 2nd birthday.  We had hoped to surround her with family, give her a couple gifts, eat cake with her, and do all the other things one does with a two year old on her birthday.  Instead today, we will look back on this journey of adoption, and take comfort in knowing that she is enjoying cake with others who love her, and have cared for her so well during her first 2 years.  To them, we will never be able to express our gratitude.

Our adoption journey really started many years ago. I wrote about it in my blog from March 2008. Today we are close to bringing our beloved daughter home, and we are thinking about the volunteers who have given years of their lives to care for Daniela and the other children at the orphanage. Some of them spent years at the orphanage, others spent weeks.  All of them gave of themselves to children who do not understand the depth of that love.  Some of them we have met in person, others only by e-mail. Many others we have not met at all.  Nonetheless, when I think of them, this verse comes to mind:  "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" - Matthew 25:40

Maria and Arlyn have been with Daniela since she arrived. They are two of the most amazing people we know.  Maria is from Ireland, and Arlyn is from Canada. Both of them have given the last 2 years of their lives to care for "the least of these."  How do you say thank you to people like this?

We have a mix of emotion today.  It is with great sadness that we cannot be with our beautiful Haitian Princess on her 2nd birthday.  Yet we have great joy in knowing that she is celebrating her special day with cake, and love from some pretty amazing people.

You can change the life of a child too.  By sponsoring a child through Compassion International, you can make a real difference. The cost is just $32 per month. In doing so, you will provide that child with food, clean water, education, medical and dental care.  Most of all, you can show that child that she is loved.

Please consider changing a life by sponsoring a child living in poverty. You can even sponsor a child whose birthday is today!  Just visit Compassion.com.

He who is kind to the poor, lends to the Lord who 

will reward him for what he has done. 

— Proverbs 19:17

Almost Home

I haven't been good about keeping up with this blog. There's been many reasons for that, not the least of which is just laziness. Other reasons include, a major remodel project in our home, followed by damage to our home from a frozen pipe (in the newly completed remodel), and a recent promotion at work.

Waiting for Daniela has been very difficult, especially in light of what has happened in Haiti over the past year.  During our visit in April 2008, we arrived just before the food riots began.  During the previous 4 months, the price of rice and beans had doubled in Haiti. Families who were already struggling in ways we cannot imagine became desperate. While we were complaining about gas that was $4 per gallon, in Haiti it was as high as $9 per gallon.

That was April.  By late fall hurricane after hurricane had crossed Haiti. Over 1,000 people died as a direct result of the storm.  When people are in such desperate circumstances they can't even consider sending their children to school.  Paying the fees for school hardly seems to be a priority when you have nothing to eat.

Today we are waiting for the US Embassy to issue Daniela a visa.  In mere days we could be traveling to Haiti to bring home our daughter, our beautiful Haitian Princess.  For the rest of our lives we will strive to give her what she most needs, and teach her of God's love for her. We will also always wonder, and never know, what her life might have been like in Haiti.

The experience of adopting Daniela has only increased my appreciation for Compassion International. Children in Haiti who are in Compassion's sponsorship program have their school fees covered.  They are involved in their local church, and in addition to their education, they are fed, and given health care, and dental care.  Most of all, they are shown love in a safe environment.  Isn't that what we want for our own children?

As you consider the economy, and how much tougher things are right now than a few years ago, please consider the circumstances of those living in poverty.  It's not their fault. It's not because they're lazy. It's because of circumstances beyond their control.  All they want is hope for their children.

"Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work." —Mother Teresa

Please consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International.