International Adoption

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  So, here I sit, sad tonight because I know deep down in my heart that Tessa will be the last child we bring into our home. Not by choice, really, but by circumstance. It's funny.....how I say "bring into our home", like Tessa is adopted too. I have cracked myself up because I catch myself saying when we "brought her home" or "when we got her". I never say "when I had her", "when she was born". I guess I'm so used to saying those things about Emy and Luke--when they came home and such. Funny.

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  I am sad that I won't be able to bring another baby home from another country. International adoption is such a blessing that I challenge all who read my blog to try it just once--it will so bless you. It takes hard work, resilience, prayer, hope, patience, love and kindness. There is a butt load of paperwork to complete, a whole lot of money to pay at each stage of the adoption, and so much waiting......and waiting.......and waiting. It is all so worth it in the end. I will challenge you to this as well--if you can't adopt a child internationally or even domestically; how about becoming a foster parent? Or donating to an orphanage? Or donating to an adoption agency to help someone else financially? Please consider doing this--it will bless these families and these children so much.

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  My heart is so open to more children but my pocketbook is closed firmly. Unless there is a miracle waiting around the corner, my family is absolutely complete; "we are a party of 5".

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  Don't get me wrong--I'm so thankful for all of my blessings. I love each of them so very much. My life is absolutely whole and complete and I thank God for all of my kids and for Darrell. They are my world and my life and my heart.

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  Think about my challenge to you--try to uplift some of these waiting families--give a little. If you can't give money, you can pray for them, you can call them and tell them you are thinking of them and that you love them; you can send them a card or email of encouragement or post to their blog.

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  So, that's it really. That's what was on my mind so that is what I posted.

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  Later y'all.


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  Cindy

3 kids!

Yep, I've got 3 kids. I find myself wondering how in the world that happened. I was married and then BAM! 3 kids. My head spins with how fast my life is going by. I'm almost 40 years old--good grief! I have been so blessed by God already. . . He truly does give you the desires of your heart. When I was little, I played house and babies all the time. I wanted Prince Charming and I got my Darrell. After a long day at work, he is my stinky, smelly Darrell. But, he does have a job for which I am very thankful. He is my Prince Charming. I did fall for him after one date you know. I don't know how many hours I used to spend (when I was about 5-6 years old ) listening to those read along records (yes I said RECORDs). It would ring a little bell when I needed to turn the page. I think that taught me more about reading than school actually did. I hated school until I was in 7th grade. Then I loved it. I became a cheerleader and it really brought me out of my shell (I think I had a shell-haha). Back to the read along records. . . I used to read all the time about princesses and princes and wishes coming true, fairy tales, and happily ever after......well, here I am 30 something years later and I truly have my happily ever after. I have married my true love. He & I have adopted two precious children from a poverty filled country-brought them home thinking somehow that I was blessing them. Yeah, right. If you only could see how these two sweeties have blessed my heart, soul and life. I am the LUCKY one, blessed one, whatever you want to call me. Someone said the other day--"those kids are so lucky to have you". I see it as Darrell and I are the lucky ones....Sure I filled out paper work and we paid a little money for the fees. . . that's small potatoes. These two kids were taken from all they knew. We smelled different, looked different, spoke a different language. We are white, they are brown. We have a southern accent. All they had heard was Bengali and they had only seen brown people. Can you imagine what went through those kids minds? What did they think? Where were they going? Would they ever get something "good" to eat again? Its really hard to imagine. I know that Emy transitioned easier than Luke. She was 14 months old. He was 3 years old. Luke hid cookies in his pockets when he started preschool. We found cookies broken in his pockets for a good 6 months after he started preschool. they've come a long way, baby! I'm so happy to be blessed twice by international adoption. If you count my nephews, I'm blessed x 4 by international adoption. I'm happy to have experienced pregnancy and birth of baby Tessa as well. That was a blessing from God as well. She is a true miracle of my life. Actually we have three live miracles in our house....how many do you have?? So this weekend, every time one of my kids got on my nerves, after correcting their actions and telling them what they needed to hear, I tried to turn my face toward Heaven and thank God in the name of Jesus that he put them in my life. I am here to nurture and nature them into adults. They are little people that I am forming into my future. That is a scary statement my friends. It worries the snot out of me. At night, when I'm so tired I can't hold Tessa anymore, I call on my Prince and he takes over. When I need help in the mornings I call on my older children to help with the baby and when I am alone, I start counting...... my blessings, I name them one by one. Darrell, Emy, Luke, and Tessa. Thank you God in the name of Jesus that you placed these special people big and small in my life. I am so blessed...I love them so much!