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