And God Keeps Surprising Us

There has been a flurry of internet activity at our house the past 24 hours as God has been at work again. I am never, ever fully able to grasp how BIG God can be and sometimes I think the joke is on me as I tend to bottle God up in a small 8 ounce container when indeed an Olympic sized swimming pool is too small!

There is a delegation of Kyrgyz officials coming to Washington, DC...members of Parliament. A group of waiting families has been selected to meet with these officials to present their case for allowing international adoptions to resume and release their children to come home. I am honored that Kenny and I were asked to attend as well, and Kenny will be speaking for all the children who have no voice. Funny, isn't it, that the little boy with the speech issues will be the one to speak for Kyrgyz adopted children?

Our participation in this would NEVER have been possible without the help of others, both waiting families and post-adoptive Kyrgyz families. The Marquis family at www.bringinghomeanara.blogspot.com whose child is already home but whose compassion knows no bounds, generously donated frequent flier miles and hotel points so that this could happen. Suzanne, a waiting mommy, donated additional miles and I am grateful and humbled to be able to advocate for these families. I only hope that our help and presence is of some value and that hearts are changed.

Kenny and I are both pretty scared. Kenny said "I want to help those babies come home, Mommy...but what if I say the wrong thing?". I reassured him there was nothing he could say that would be wrong, that he simply needed to share his story.

Just when I think life will settle down for a bit, along comes some other adventure!

Today was the last day of school for our boys, and it was a little sad for everyone I think. This has been a year filled with the amazing presence of teachers who were each a perfect fit for each of our sons...teachers with passion, skill, and huge hearts. The usual end of the year excitement was noticeably absent as everyone was quietly pondering things in the car on the way home. I admit I too will miss the wonderful people involved in our kids lives. I don't know why, but it seems I have often become friends with my children's teachers...and this year there was a depth to the relationships that will be sorely missed and I hope can continue outside the classroom. It's weird, I know, but why let a good relationship pass you by simply because it is unusual? I don't see myself as having all that much in common with teachers or their profession, and I am not sure why I have been blessed to find friendship in this setting, but I have...and those whom I have become closest with are phenomenal people and a real gift in my life, as well as my children's lives.

Each of the boys wrote a thank you letter to their teacher, which is something we did for the first time this year but I think we will continue with next year. Teachers seldom get thanked, aren't often told the ways in which they have made a difference a child's life. When I suggested the idea, I thought the boys would think it was a little lame, but they picked up the project with great gusto and it was quickly apparent that each one found it important to say what they felt for their teachers...and I hope it meant something to their teachers to receive the letters.

So Summer begins tomorrow!!! Sleeping in, staying up late, relaxing and reading and playing. We have plans to go camping this weekend and thought we would go up tomorrow but might find ourselves hanging out at home one extra day as I was bushed today and need another few hours to get things ready. I am so glad to have the boys home, we have some mini-adventures ahead of us as well as bigger ones! Nothing overly exciting...but we are having a family book challenge to see who can read the most, we are planning a road trip to Wichita to see our friends, and will surely have a houseful of friends hanging out as well...at least I hope so! And now for Kenny and I, an unexpected and nerve wracking trip to Washington, DC.

Helping other waiting parents has one benefit...it takes my mind off our own interminable waiting.