Was it worth it?

Was it worth it - all the paperwork and hurdles?  Was it worth all of the money and added stress to our lives?  Or the tears and the pain?  The delays and lost fingerprints - was it worth it?  Was it worth the grey hair, wrinkles and the worry?  Was it worth two years of our lives?

Was it worth it?

Three weeks ago I was a stranger.  To her, I could have been anyone in a crowd.  A complete unknown.  In a matter of hours she crawled in my arms and called me mommy.

As she wakes up from her nap she cries out for this person she now knows as mommy.  When I lay next to her, she gently rests her head on my chest and instantly falls back asleep.

Once a stranger - now her security.

Her comfort.

Her mommy.

Was it worth it?

Yes.  It was worth it.  All of it.

And I'd do it all over again.

One Less Orphan

She's home.  I can't believe it.  After all the tears, prayers, money, paperwork, sleepless nights, worry...she's home.

We are getting to know our new family dynamic.  The first couple of days were challenging.  She was hyper-stimulated by her surroundings.  Just imagine going from nothing to everything - a bed, clothes, toys, siblings, and food.

Her big sister has wanted to hold her since she got home.  Today the little girl was all smiles when her sister got home from school.

This, my friends, is what it's all about.

One less orphan.

There are 152 million children in the world without a mama to rock them to sleep at night.  152 million little souls without a daddy's lap to cuddle on.  152 million sweet faces that deserve a family.  Would you consider opening your heart to one of them? 

Truth

Truth:  Haiti is noisy and chaotic and dirty.

Truth:  Haiti is quiet and peaceful and clean.

Truth:  Most of the people on this planet are good.  Even if they speak a different language and don't look like you.

Truth:  There is absolute joy in nothing.  You don't need stuff to be happy.

Truth:  You can go without sleep for 40 hours and then have a hard time falling asleep.

Truth:  Not all street food is going to make you sick.

Truth:  There are many luxuries not afforded to most people in this world:  warm showers, a bed, electricity, medical care and Kleenex and so much more.  Be thankful for what you have.

Truth:  If you live your life worried about what could happen or afraid of being uncomfortable, you aren't living your life.

Truth:  Most people in the US have never seen true poverty.

Truth:  I am an overweight, spoiled American.

Truth:  Haitians work extremely hard for almost everything in life.

Truth:  Because I have seen this so much, firsthand, it makes me embarrassed for all I have and all of my gluttony.

Truth:  I have decided it's time to get in shape.

Truth:  I miss Henry and Sofia.

Truth:  We save too much for when we're older.  We need to give and trust that God will work out all the details.

Truth:  You didn't choose to be born in the country you were born.

Truth:  Haitians didn't choose to be born in Haiti either.

Truth:  We aren't put on this earth to be comfortable.  We're put in this earth to take what we have and make sure others have what they need.

Truth:  I mean it.