PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket
"Sometimes I'd like to ask God why He allows poverty, famine, and injustice in the world when He could do something about it...but I'm afraid God might ask me the same question."
-Anonymous
Lilypie Waiting to Adopt tickers

Monday, December 28, 2009

The Ripple Effect

One of the most incredible parts of the adoption experience is the number of people that are touched by the process. It excites me that, in some way, we might be the spark that helps someone consider adoption, choose to get involved in orphan care, travel on a mission trip, etc. We have been fortunate to have good friends who have influenced our decision to adopt. Their adoption experience has, no doubt, had an impact on our family. We have learned so much from them, gained so much support from them and continue to receive so much encouragement from them!!!


(my wonderful friend and her beautiful daughter)

This is a picture of my awesome friend and her daughter. Her little girl came home from Guatemala about three years ago and has been a blessing to many since she has been here! I have heard countless stories of people that have witnessed her adoption and been moved by her story. It is awesome when people that had never even considered adopting start to think about it because they see a wonderful family do it and are able to see the blessings that follow.

I love the quote (by Paul Shane Spear) "As one person I cannot change the world, but I can change the world of one person." I look forward to changing the life of the one little girl we hope to bring home. This is a beautiful sentiment, but I really think that through one adoption, many more lives are changed. Take, for instance, all of the friends and relatives of ours that had no idea we were planning to adopt. It may come as a surprise to some of them. Now they are thinking about it and hopefully it doesn't seem too weird... Maybe they will tell someone about us, who talks to someone else about it, and maybe that person is interested in learning more about adoption, etc. What an awesome "ripple effect!" Or, maybe, young people that go through the process with us will learn from our experience. I know our children will grow up realizing that adoption is an option and an experience that can be part of any family. On Christmas Eve we told more of our family that we were in the process of adopting. Our 18 year old nephew said "I think that's cool. I would like to do that some day." His girlfriend said the same thing! How exciting to hear something like that from young people. They didn't seem to think it was weird at all! It just makes me smile to think about the potential "ripple effect" we may have!!!

(Our nephew and his girlfriend)

I look forward to 2010 and all of the "ripples" that come along the way!!!
Happy New Year!!!

3 comments:

  1. your news is beyond a blessing to me today ... You are the second person to tell me this kind of news today ... I don't take lightly the calling upon our lives to share what God has done in our family through adoption .. I pray your journey will spur many others to bring an amazing child into their home and be there FOREVER family ...

    thanks sister !!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a cute family! It was nice to hear from you today. I always like "meeting" other Arise families. We will definitely look out for a preschool age little girl. You never know!

    We, too, hope that through our adoption people will see that they can do it. Just today, James was getting some vaccines and the ladies kept asking him about our adoption. He had fun telling them about it and even pulled up our blog to show them a picture!

    ReplyDelete
  3. i'm excited your family as you continue in the adventure of adoption. i would love to talk with you more about taking your 11 year old. we are SO glad we took our son. we are still seeing the ripple effect of that decision. i didn't feel nervous about safety for him. he handled it all really well. and we were still totally able to focus on lulu and bond with her. i would NOT have wanted the younger two. they wouldn't have been able to handle it. your youngest definitely reminds me of my jack...his hair makes me miss jackie's curls before i cut them off. you have a beautiful family. you can leave your email on my comments if you want to communicate further about the trip with an 11 year. it's great to "meet" you!

    ReplyDelete