1. http://www.habitatforhumanity.org.uk/current_appeal.htm
2. According to figures from the United Nations. These statistics include children in the American Foster Care system
3. This is an estimate. Infants may stay as long as 18 years while children who become orphans at an older age stay a shorter time.
4. To AGE OUT means to grow to the age where a child is forced to leave the orphanage or foster home with no place to call home.
5. http://www.hopefororphansoftheworld.org/
There are so many more children waiting to be adopted than families willing to adopt them (though perhaps not infants). The number of children in U.S. foster care alone needing homes is staggering, plus there is a need for families to open their lives and homes to minority and special-needs children (all races, regardless of physical and mental health, are often considered special needs if they are older). There are also countless precious little children in orphanages and foster care around the world! While adoption can take awhile, it's often due to the required paperwork, homestudy, education, and legal requirements - not always due to lack of available children.
Andrew serves on the board of a local agency and they are working hard to advocate the adoption of minority children. When we've talked to local agencies and attorneys, we have been told many times that if we are open to race, placement is usually quick (often 3- 6 months) - for a newborn. We've also looked on our state's waiting children list and read what these children would like - a pet, a family to take them to church, to be adopted with their siblings etc. - they long for a family and it absolutely breaks my heart. And while adopting an older child is not what God has called us to at this point, we are open to His leading.
There are children waiting in every state and there are not enough families. I've also heard this statistic (though don't have the originating source) - if 7% of Christians would adopt one child, there would be no more orphans.
We will spend today celebrating adoption and marveling at God's gracious gifts to our family. We praise God for adopting us as His children and for His love for orphans everywhere. And we will pray earnestly for children still waiting - born and yet to be born - for families to love them and raise them. This is my heart, my passion, my desire. To God Be The Glory!
Herbs and spices are, in my opinion, the backbone of the kitchen. It would be a rather bland kitchen without them and the dishes coming from that kitchen would be rather boring and blah. I'm a bit of a dump-and-pour-eyeball-it-it's-fine cook (yes, that's definitely a technical term :)) and I love going to my spice cabinet to see what flavors appeal for whatever sauce or soup I'm creating. Some of my favorites are rosemary, dill, cumin, chili powder, Italian seasoning, and curry. Andrew's favorite is cilantro.
Herbs and spices are expensive when you go to buy them at the grocery store. And I've heard you should refresh your spices frequently but who can afford to? I pretty much use them until they are gone with no negative flavors thus far - I think they have decreased potency over time. So here is my tip - go to your local health food store or bulk foods store and you can buy all of your favorite spices by the ounce at a fraction of the grocery store cost. I also love the fact that I can buy a small amount of something I want to try without breaking the bank and without being stuck with a big container of something I'll never use again.
I also want to highlight this magazine, The Herb Companion. I first saw this at the Green Festival in Chicago and loved it! Growing fresh herbs during the spring and summer is one of my hobbies as well as using a variety of dried herbs and spices. The magazine includes recipes as well as health & decorative uses for herbs. It also has tips on growing them successfully. One of my goals is to start a window herb garden...one of these days. :) So next time you are in need of some spices - forgo the traditional grocery and check out by-the-ounce availability!
This is the best of the bunch and the camera focused on the dog and blurred the kids...yeah, she only wishes for that kind of attention these days...not to say she isn't loved and cared for member of the family...okay, I'll stop now... :)
I knew when we found out about Ty that I wanted a baby carrier. We inadvertently left our Baby Bjorn in Kazakhstan and I didn't care for it very much anyway - it hurt my back. I polled friends and had it narrowed down to a couple of options and then I unexpectedly won a giveaway for a Sleepy Wrap. I was so excited to try it and was so blessed to receive it - with all the adoption expenses it was nice to have a baby item provided!
breeze. It holds the baby securely, has three or so different ways to wear it, and best of all - it's comfortable! I like the fact that it is worn over both shoulders - I was concerned about a sling because it only went over one shoulder and I have a lot of back and neck problems/pain. I get many compliments on it and Ty LOVES it! At under $40, it is also one of the most reasonably priced carriers on the market. I like wearing it - I'm a big fan of baby wearing though I definitely don't do it constantly. Anyway, it's been perfect for me! Oh and it is great for attachment. Though I haven't used this through a heavier child/toddler years yet, I highly recommend this baby wrap - I have not been disappointed at all.
