National Adoption Month - over 140 million orphans

"I am only one, but still I am one.

I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything,

 I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."

 ~ Edward Everett Hale

"Adopting a child won't change the world,

but for that child the world will change."

~ unknown

There are a few things I could have spoken about for this post.

Early intervention and screening, which is so important,

having a support system for yourself after you're home with your child.

My primary support was and still is Grace's travel group.

 And also quite a few wonderful adoptive moms I've met through blogging and in person.

But I think I'd rather ask the question...why don't more people adopt?

That question haunts me.

Probably because I don't think of these children as a nameless face or a statistic.

They are real, living, breathing people who have distinct personalities, names, likes and dislikes.
They laugh, cry and love. And need to be loved.

They may live in a foster home, an orphanage, or on the street.

They lack one thing.

A family that is theirs and loves them unconditionally.

I often think about the children in Grace's orphanage and Will's foster home that I spoke to,
played and laughed with, touched and held on our trips to China.

 Do they have a family now?

I imagine most folks who don't want to adopt are afraid.

Afraid of it possibly not working out, the expense or not having the money, etc.

There are all kinds of reasons.

Both times we adopted there were events that happened in our lives

 that could have made us pull our paperwork.

With Grace's adoption, Dan lost his job twice.

We kept moving forward and he was employed eventually.

For both adoptions we took a leap of faith and made the commitment.

Each time we didn't have all the money when we started the process.

And somehow it came.

 Sometimes in surprising ways.

I'm asking you to consider adoption and if it's the right thing for your family,

to research and find out everything you can.

And if you feel like this isn't for you,

I'm asking you to consider helping a child financially 

 through one of these organizations which will benefit them directly.

Or give to a family financially that's waiting to adopt.
Any amount will help.

An Orphan's Wish

Half the Sky

Love Without Boundaries

Loaves and Fishes International (Will's foster home)

New Day Foster Home

Pearl River Outreach

Starfish Foster Home

 Please email me with any questions about our experiences.

And I'll have one more adoption month post to come soon.