Our own kind

I was talking to a friend yesterday about how hard it is to raise money for orphans. We run into lots of reasons why people choose not to give but the one that blows me away is "we need to take of our own kind here in America."
I remember when we adopted Jordan a man at our church, a friend came up and asked us why we didnt' adopt " our own kind." Without missing a beat Mike said we did "the human kind!" Mind you I had only been a christian for about 5 years so this really disheartened me. That man never said another word to us again and eventually we never saw him again.
We are all of one kind. We are humans and God created each one of us. As for helping children in the United Sates, of course they need to be taken care. No child in America should be without a family, go hungry or suffer abuse of any kind. No child any where should be subject to any of this. The difference is that there are literally thousands of agencies and people in America fighting for these children. They raise hundreds of thousands of dollars, some millions to fight child disease, hunger, abuse and to promote adoption. Do some of these precious children fall through the cracks? Sadly yes. But the facts are there is help for all of them.
As for the many children in other countries this is not the case. We work in Ethiopia and if we do not try to raise the money to help them they go without food, water, clothes, shelter, school and die of diseases that are easily treated here in America. They have no advocates except for people like you and me that will step out of our box and help them.
God calls Christians to go out into the world show others love and help those in need no matter where they are. Staying in a "box" does not do anything for anyone.
All of us should step out of our box and go wherever God has called us. It may be Ethiopia, Vietnam or China. It may be in your neighborhood. Just go and do what He has called you to do. You will be blessed!

One of our sweeties with her daddy waiting for a sponsor.

My Sons

I wanted to talk a little bit about three very special guys in my life, my sons. The reason I wanted to talk about them is because of a question someone asked me the other day.  When you have adopted children of a different race you are asked some very odd, rude and intrusive questions. But the one I was asked the other day actually stunned me. That is not easy to do.
I was at a store returning something and the lady saw a picture of my daughters and we began talking about adoption. I told her that I also have three sons that were grown and on their own. She asked if they were adopted and I told her no. She looks at me with this "awww you poor thing" and says " So you adopted your daughters because you didn't want your sons huh? " WHAT????????
Where in our simple conversation did I ever imply such a horrible thing? It took a second to but finally I looked her in the eye and said " No that is not the reason. We love all of our children the same and they are all gifts from God. 
Yes I am an advocate for adoption and orphans. And yes you will see me post about those subjects more than others. But that has no bearing on how much I love and how devoted I am to my sons. They are not only amazing sons but they are also amazing brothers. They love their little sisters more than anyone can ever imagine. They carry their pictures around showing them off,  they brag about them and they are very protective of them. Our sons have big hearts, love their family and are never embarrassed to say it or show it.
And their little sister feel the same way. They love their brothers so much! When they come over the girls get so excited and you would think it had been years since they have seen each other!

So when I am out there speaking for those who have no voice, and trying to raise money for the foundation or trying to find sponsor for our children in Ethiopia remember I have three amazing young men who support what God has called me to do and I am blessed to call them my sons.

Mike

                  Cody

Dustin

Chill

Lately I have had this need to "chill." As much as I love my chaos I have come to realize that I just need to relax and do nothing. Doing nothing allows me to be quiet and enjoy time with God. No phones, computers, radio or people. Just me, my thoughts and God.
My favorite place is the ocean but since one isn't close by my backyard comes in second. I love my backyard. It has lots of trees, it faces the west so I try to go out right before dusk and watch the sunset. I am one of those people who feel God when the breeze blows on my face or the sun is shining on my face. I see God in the sunsets, the moon, the trees, the birds. I hear God when I am quiet. He ask us to be still and know Him.
Life is busy but that doesn't stop us from spending time on the computer, wathcing sports or going to the mall. Sadly most of us just can't seem to find the tme to be quiet with God.

Since I have made this decision my attitude is much more relaxed. I have more peace. You know what they say "don't sweat the small stuff." I hope you will find some time to "chill" with God. 

Asking

If you read my blogs you know my husband and I founded the Hug Away Foundation. We are advocates for adoption and orphans. Right now my main priority is finding sponsors for some children in Ethiopia. We have 90 children and many are still waiting for sponsors.
We have a website www.hugaway.org and a blog: www.titus3project.blogspot.com We also help the school they attend once they have a sponsor. I am traveling to Ethiopia in October with a friend of mine and we hope to add a kitchen to the school. For the time being the sweet lady who founded the school is making the meals at her home and carrying them to the school.
One of the down sides to all of this is that I am constantly asking for donations, monthly donors,sponsors or having to come up with ways to raise money. I may ask 100 people for help and get one response. It is very disheartening at times. I often think I can't do this much longer and what is the point. Then God speaks to my heart and I am reminded that we have been called by Him to help those who need us. Everything we have is a blessing from God and we are to share with those who have little or nothing.
I have found that people don't like seeing pictures or even think that there are kids who are starving to death, live in conditions unfit for humans, are targets for sex trafficker, or they are dying because they don't have a simple medicine that could save them. Yeah it is hard to look at those faces and to be honest it isn't my favorite thing to do. Let's face it denial is much easier. And asking for money, well I would rather have a tooth pulled. Uncomfortable? yes. Impossible? no. It is a step of faith.
I found this quote and thought it pretty much said it all.

...orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names.

They are easier to ignore before you see their faces.

It is easier to pretend they’re not real before you hold them in your arms...

.... but once you do, everything changes.

So when you & I hear staggering numbers & statistics about the poor & needy around us & around the world, we have a choice.
We can switch the channels on our mega T.V’s and continue our comfortable, untroubled, ordinary, church-going lives as if the global poor don’t exist.

We can let these numbers remain cold, distant, and almost imaginary....

Or we can open our eyes and our lives to the realities that surround us and begin considering the faces that are represented by these numbers.”
-David Platt



This is the sweetie I sponsor



Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me you heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

Brandon Heath

Chaos

Can I just say there is never a dull moment at my house? NEVER!!!! I am not complaining, not at all. As a matter of fact I find the ongoing chaos amusing and I love it. I beleive even when I go to sleep during those few moments I rarely get of deep sleep, what is it called? RPM, RAN or REM? Whatever, it doesnt' matter I don't get enough of it anyway! But back to the point. I beleive that during those moments my sleep is chaotic!
When I come home from work my dog who is usally the first to greet me at the door has this whine like he is trying to tell me the events of his day. Then instead of a hello the first thing out of Kennedys mouth is "can I?" Cameron gives me a beautiful smile an says "what's for dinner momma?" Jordan is just thankful I am home and retreats to her room and Mike needs to know if he has clean jeans and underwear. This is before I have made it all the way into the living room!
If I am so blessed to get out of my scrubs and into something more comfortable and I am not in need of a 15 minute power nap it's off to make dinner where my faithful audience of 1 Cameron will help in anyway she can so we can hurry up and get the meal on the table! Throw in a few loads of laundry where on a good day I can collect up to $20 in tips! I use to give it back but after years of lectures on cleaning out our pockets they know better. With three girls you know there is a lot of talking, that would be mostly Kennedy with her many opinions and questions. Back to the kitchen to make sure we cleaned up everything and dream of the day the remodel from>>>> is done! Finish up a load of laundry, work on Hug Away and by 11:30 off to grab some of those RPM or REM things! And that is after I get home. Morning is another story.
I would not have it any other way! I love my life chaos and all! My mornings always begin with a thank you to God for my life and time with Him. My day ends with a thank you to God and knowing how blessed I am.
Some people need things to make them happy. I need my chaos :)
Welcome to my world!

The Journey

Jordan in S. Korea

Most people think that when you adopt and the child has been placed in your arms that child's journey has just begun. They couldn't be more wrong. It started the day they were conceived. They have a life story. It may be short or very long. It may be a sad story or a happy story. Either way it is their story and it is important for adoptive families to remember this.

Some children will take a short journey from their birth mothers arms directly into their parents arms. Some will travel half way around the world before they make it into their parents arms. And for some it will be a journey of ups and downs, some pain and doubts until they walk into their parents arms.

The baby Jordan is holding will embark on this journey. We need to pray for all the children in the world who are waiting for a family. Let their journey begin.


We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life.
But those who make their journey home across time & miles,
growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them,
are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us
by God's very own hands.
--- Kristi Larson
.

Birthdays, Family and a Lesson

Today is my oldest sons birthday. He is 33. Michael has never been one to ask for a big party or expensive gifts. He just likes to have his family around a few friends and grill.
When I was growing up I can't remember my birthday or my sisters birthdays ever being acknowledged. So I decided when I had kids I would make sure they had a celebration to remember.
Now here is the deal. I just assumed all kids wanted big parties with their friends over and lots of gifts so I had an agenda! Taking the whole family to eat at any restaurant the birthday person wanted to go to. Seriously? And if I asked them what they wanted for their birthday and it didn't seem like much by golly I was going to add to the list. After all you need lots of presents to open...right? At times it was so stressful that by the time the party rolled around I was stressed, tired and couldn't wait until it was over. And if they asked for something simple like just dinner with the family I thought they were just being nice.
Well, like I said today is Michael's birthday. He is very low key and mellow. He wanted to grill and have his family around. Last year he grilled for his birthday and asked us over! I found this very simple request to be refreshing and I enjoy myself so much more. Of course there is a lesson to be learned here.
There isn't anything more valuable than love. There is nothing more wonderful than sitting around with these amazing people that you are blessed to call your family. And there is nothing more precious than when you realize how richly God has blessed your life. It is priceless.
Birthdays are a celebration of the day God blessed you with life. There is not enough cake, ice cream or gifts that can top that!