I was going through old pictures a few days ago,

getting ready to put together a collage for The Angel and The Dinosaur.

It's their second Christmas with us.

WHOA!

I never believed time gets spent this fast.

As we were looking at birthdays and holidays

and pics of funny faces,

this one appeared,

out of place in my digital file of pictures.
It is from a Christmas past.

Three to be exact.

This face wasn't yet my daughter.

She was still an orphan.

And she was watching a friend leave for her new home.

With her new family.

The Angel looked at the picture.

She smiled and just said

"I remember that day."

"That was the day my last friend left Africa."

Tonight as I tuck my daughter into bed,

there are millions just like her all over the world.

Maybe some even in our neighborhood,

who are standing at the gate,

watching,

waiting,

praying

for their turn.

Their chance to have a home.

What are we going to do about it?

National Adoption Month: Meet Destini

This cupcake had me had first sight.

Meet Destini.

This 10 year old princess is currently in U.S. foster care in Washington state.

Just waiting for her new family to shower her like the diva she is.

Total preciousness!

She is being advocated for by WACAP, which is the adoption agency

we have signed for in order to take us to our new family member in Thailand.

Remember to pray for the kids you've seen here

and advocate for them by using your facebook, twitter and blogs.

Another Year

First day of November.

Time to start carving up the jack-o-lanterns

to make way for pumpkin pie.

Time to start listing the things we're thankful for and

making trips to the grocery store to gorge our families again.

Time to be reminiscent of memories passed and

gathering those still with us together to make more memories.

As I sit here looking over my "I'm so grateful list",

at the top, of course, is my children.

This month is adoption awareness month.

Did you know?

I almost forgot.

Last year, our church did a big presentation on Orphan Sunday.

We had The Waiting Heart Gallery of Oklahoma bring photos

of adoption ready children, currently in foster care.

Over 90% of those children listed last year were adopted.

Now if you go to their website, you'll see something like this:

Thank you Jesus! Orphaned no more!

Family found for this sweetie.So much is changed by the power of that little red heart attached to those pictures.

It means "you are loved" "you were chosen" "you belong".

But just about the time my heart was soaring about how many kids had found homes last year,

7 faces kept staring back at me.

For 7 of those precious faces,there is no red heart attached to their picture.
For them, it is another Thanksgiving of waiting, another bedtime in a strange bed,

another morning of uncertainty,

another holiday longing for a family all their own.

So instead of spending this month of things I'm thankful for,

I'm going to be blogging about a new face, a soul,

a heart who is longing to add to their "Thanks list" only one word:

family.

Meet Elmer.

His profile stuck out to me a year ago.

Just look at those eyes!

He specifically picked out his Sunday best for his photo.

Dressed to impress a family; his family.

You can go here to read Elmer's profile and learn more about this adorable boy.

You can also head over to www.adoptuskids.com and search thousands of kids

currently in U.S. foster care who are ready for adoption.

So this November, let's spread the word about as many children as possible.

I want to highlight a specific child or program each day this month,

so help me spread the word.

Let's not let any more precious kiddos like Elmer spend another holiday alone.

This Sunday is specifically Orphan Sunday.

What is your church, family, organization doing?
I'd love to hear it.