Kids Will Be Kids

We spent a fabulous morning just hanging out with the kids at the park.  But what amazed me about this particular morning at the park with the kids was watching Hannah and Joseph.  These are kids that have literally spent the past few years growing up in a run-down, over-crowded, mis-managed children's prison. They have never been to a park before.  They've never zipped down a slide.  They've never swayed back and forth in a swing.  And yet, they are kids.  They instinctively knew what to do (okay, it did take a little training to teach them not to climb up the slide, but rather slide down it!)  They had a blast!!!  And so did the grown ups - just watching their innocent, child-like smiles and hearing the bubbling laughter.  It's balm to our souls!

2.5 Million Minus One More!!

I can't think of a better way to ring in the New Year than to hang out at the Atlanta Airport one more night welcoming home yet ANOTHER child from Uganda!  Our friend, M, brought home her newest son, CT tonight.  She was welcomed by another huge crowd of fun loving, super supportive friends.

(See the Post Script below for the story behind this angel!)

Isn't this amazing - in just two days, Uganda has 3 fewer orphans!!  Praise the Lord!!  I'm reminded of the verse, Psalm 68:6, "God sets the lonely in families."  He certainly does!!

Not to burst the bubble, because bringing home 3 orphans is a HUGE deal!  But there are still an estimated 2,499,997 orphans in Uganda alone.  Let me say that again...two and a half million orphans in a country the size of the state of Oregon.  And it's not that Ugandans aren't doing their part - 1 in 6 families has adopted in Uganda.  Can Americans say the same?  Uh - not even close!  It's estimated that 120,000 children are adopted (both internationally and domestically) into American families.  With over 111 million families in America...that's kind of pathetic!

But tonight there is reason for rejoicing!  Because three children now have a mommy and a daddy and a place to call home.

(Post Script: The sweet African Princess pictured above has an amazing story in and of herself.  She was literally rescued from her death bed in Uganda about a year ago.  When her adoptive parents first met her, she weighed 18 pounds (or there abouts).  She was so sick they didn't even know if she'd live long enough to be legally adopted, let alone brought home to America.  Now, she's one fat and happy little girl!  God has a special plan for her and I'm so blessed to say I know this angel!)

Check out her story: http://james127family.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-11-23T15:11:00-05:00&max-results=50 (read the archives for October 2009 through February 2010.  No, actually read up until the present day - it's such an amazing God story!)

There Aren't Enough Words

There really aren't enough words to describe today.  Remember as a kid when you woke up on Christmas morning?  Or when you walked down the aisle as a blushing bride?  Only a very few days can hold this kind of emotion.

We started out the day at my sweet friend's house.  Several of us gathered to make welcome home posters for Hannah and Joseph.

Then we had a belated "Happy Birthday, Jesus" party.

And to culminate our day, we celebrated the homecoming of Hannah and Joseph at the airport (along with about 60 of our friends!).

 There's no place like home...

My uncle has a saying, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life."  For Hannah and Joseph, today really is that day.

 Wow.  What a day.  Words really aren't enough to describe the love and excitement we have.  All I can say is that my love tank is full.  And it probably will be full for a while!