Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Orphan

Tom Davis over at Notes from the field said this about the new movie Orphan:

I want to challenge my readers and friends to write 500 positive blog posts about how an orphan has impacted and changed your life. Post this on your own blog so that when people search for the movie, they are flooded with positive messages about adoption and orphan care.

Just finish this sentence: "Warner Bros. new horror movie Orphan proclaims that it must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own. Let me tell you about how an orphan changed my life..."


My adopted children are my own. I am continually surprised when I walk by the mirror and once again realize that they don't look like me! Most often I feel like your typical large family with 2 full shopping carts at Sam's Club. Then I realize. They are starring because we "have our hands full" and because we are a trans-racial family. I found myself telling my husband that we might be the only black people at a conference we recently attended. Then I kind of laughed. I am not black. But I am Moma to 3 who are black, 1 who is Mexican and 1 who is a perfect combination of the two. I will let you figure it all out from the photo above. So, how has my life changed by these wonderful 5?

These two full hands make one fuller heart.

Five good morning cuddles.

Five snacks, five times a day.

Five times the energy.

Five times the laughter.

Five times the smiles.

Five times the fun.

Five sets of arms to watch splashing in the pool.

Five sets of legs that run down to the beach.

Five toothbrushes lined up by the sink.

Five times five pairs of shoes left by the front door.

Five stories to hear about what happened while they played.

Five books to read during "mommy reading time."

Five different animals to keep, okay make that 11.

Five bicycles lined up on the driveway.

Five different sizes of the same kind of socks.

Five mouths chewing mint gum.

Five bedtime prayers.

Five goodnight kisses.

Five different ways to be

eternally grateful

to the Lord for

His precious gifts.


Since becoming ours, my children have grown to know the Living God. They have grown from shy and unsure to knowing they are loved. This love is not just from myself and my husband, but from Jesus, their Redeemer. The life they came from is not who they are, but it has an impact for Christ on where they are going.

6 comments:

petersonclan said...

I remember when I first went to your blog after not seeing you all for over a decade... seriously surprised that I didn't remember Peter was black! You may have had to be there, but Eric laughed at me for days.

You all are awesome... and not just for your way cool family. Can't wait to see you someday!

Donna Rowell said...

Amen! So many hearts are fuller because of these precious children who we get to be grandparents to...
how blessed we are that God gave five precious gifts to fill our hearts with love and thankfulness!!
oma xo

Anonymous said...

Beautiful words Kristen. The Lord has been so good
to all of us to have these wonderful children in our
lives! We know it's alot of hard work to raise even
1 child...but you and Peter have far exceeded what
it means to devote your life to raising children in
the way they should go! Love you all very much!

Kate said...

love, love, love this and you all. It was such a sweet time being with you all Thursday night, singing, and roasting marshmallows. Much Love!

Cynthia said...

Kristen,
I'm so glad you stopped by my blog to say hello. Your family is abslolutely beautiful. Praise God for all that you are doing to raise up a generation to know him. We are currently in the midst of certification for foster to adopt. I look forward to reading more about you and yours.

In Him,

deb said...

we are a mixed family by marriage,adoption,We have 6 children by adoption 1 black,2 hispanic,2 hispanic/cc and 1 very white little boy(lol)1 hispanic dd by birth/,arriage 3 cc children by birth/marriage,we get looks especially if I am by myself with the children.When it comes to our youngest (he is aa) I get asked are they all yours? Yes is my answer they looked shocked! I love my babies and am happy GOD chose to bless us with them.