Filled With Gratitude

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.  Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. 

Albert Sweitzer

Everyday is a celebration in our household.  Everyday, we are filled with gratitude, blessings, and love.  Everyday we see the transformation of what a few short months with a family and love can do.  Everyday, we are thankful for our little girl.

I am "thankful" she has learned to find her "snack" in the pantry when she is hungry, spill it all over the floor, and talk to Austin as if she has no clue how the Golden Grahams landed on the floor.

I am thankful that Addy and Austin are daily teaching Sarah new things, and she is proving her Mama and Papa wrong.  Tonight when her speech therapist was here, we were writing some words and sounds to work on.  When she was playing with Addy, don't you know she proved us both wrong and spoke those sounds.  (I'm working on video of her speaking soon, I promise.)

 Thankful for my little sprite's spunky personality.  In the fast-paced morning, I neglect to take pictures of her in the early morning.  By the time she comes home, she looks like she enjoyed her day.  Mismatched clothes, hair askew, and so I captured the breakfast of champions, with Miss Sarah turning her head in the "teasing" way she plays.

My little helper, taking the folded clothes up and down the stairs.  Putting them in the dirty clothes basket, and distributing other clothes in places I'll find in the next couple months:)

Oh, I wish I could share how this girl has changed our lives and those she is with on a daily basis.  Her teachers are continually amazed with her quickness for picking up new concepts.  Her classmates treat her as an equal, but are filled with compassion and help her as needed.  Daily, we are met with hugs, hellos, and goodbyes when she is in the great places she is.

My Sarah, changing lives, changing perceptions, changing...

I am thankful in another week, we're heading to my hometown.  To be in that circle of thankfulness, family, and love.  Where a year ago, she was a picture of hope.  This year, she is amongst us.

I am filled with gratitude daily.  It's the greatest way to live!

True North

From the the south, east, and west, my family followed their compass to my hometown this weekend, true north to my grandparents home for the annual summer event.

 Sarah walked up the sidewalk, inside the house, and swan-dived into my family who prayed for her these last ten months, anxiously awaiting for the moment she would join our circle.

Over 50 attended this summer event, and while others were unable to make it, their spirit was felt amongst us.  We ate delicious food, caught up on the family happenings, and watched the kids playing volleyball, corn-hole, and swimming in the kiddie pool.

 Sitting around the kiddie pool with my aunts, cousins, and grandmother, Sarah said,"Nana" for the first time.  And we all cheered in wide-eyed wonder.  In eight short weeks, my little girl is saying some words. 

Then, my aunt gave me a card from the entire clan for Sarah.  As I read the words, then passed it around to be read, all of us became teary-eyed.  They knew of our trek to bring her home.  The celebrations, the hurdles, and the trials.

           "Isn't it wonderful how one tiny girl can move right in and change your life forever?

She is changing lives, for anyone who learned of her story, and has watched her life unfold before our very eyes.  When she does something remarkable and I'm not around, her cheering section
 roots her on.  Celebrating new words, new firsts, celebrating Sarah.

She's teaching us all to stop, enjoy the moment, and spread love and joy all around.

"Isn't it wonderful how one tiny girl can move right in 

and change your life forever?" 

Filled with gratitude for my family...

Go BIG or GO home

We went BIG.  Friday, we hit rock bottom, so to speak, after we learned our case continued to be without an officer and it could be another month before approval.  Like chugging all the way up that first hill on a roller coaster, getting almost to the top, seeing the view,  and then the car rolls back to the starting gate:(  Between 3-5pm, we called in favors from as many people we knew with political ties to help us expedite our file.  Andy and I were up till midnight emailing congressman, senators, and posting pleas on Facebook for help from anyone with federal connections.  Saturday morning, friends were contacting everyone they knew and praying for our need.

We started early drafting more emails when at 9:51am on a SATURDAY, no less, an email showed up from USCIS.  An officer, not only was assigned, but reviewed our case and recommended us for approval within an 8 hour time frame.  We should have the very CHERISHED piece of paper in our hands shortly.

Astonishment filled our hearts, and we kept rereading so that we truly were understanding what it said, and not making assumptions.  Andy said,"Better call off the dogs..." so I posted an updated praise on Facebook.

We do not know how our status changed so quickly, nor do we care.  All we can do is thank everyone for their prayers, their calls, their help, and be filled with gratitude that we will soon see Sarah.

Kristen, this is for you, no socks:)

These feet will be traveling across the globe very soon to make a difference and change the world for one little girl.  What a joyous day that will be!!

Filled with gratitude...

I'm Grateful For...

 my two kids who embrace the magic of the holidays, spin their elf tales, and retell every moment of their special ornaments.

I am filled with gratitude that they pray for Sarah nightly, are making plans of ways to help her when she comes home, and learning finger plays and songs for her.   So much love for a little girl born in our hearts.

 

One day there'll be five stockings hanging...Soon....

Encouragement

To Encourage, Be Encouraged, Feel Encouraged...

When I began writing here, my sole purpose was to share pictures, small moments, and daily happenings with our family far away.  It was also an outlet for me to explore and tweak my blogging skills.  Then, it became a place to share our journey to a shining star, named Sarah.  While it continues with those messages, encouragement and gratitude are common themes.  That's why I write.  I want you to feel encouraged, inspired, uplifted, and motivated to pass it on.

My parents are the BEST encouragers.  My mother has this AMAZING gift of sending out encouraging cards weekly.  I"ve asked her how she keeps up with it because I barely can keep birthdays straight.  But, she has this gift.  Every Sunday afternoon, she sits down with her calendar and church bulletin and makes a list of all the cards she needs to send out.  Birthday, anniversary, get well, thinking of you...one by one, she writes them out and sends them on the appropriate day.  AMAZING!  My father will listen, like no other.  Never offering his opinion unless asked.   Many have used his ear as a sounding board.  Both gifts take time, no money, no power, only time.   They learned this gift from my grandparents, who even this week sent me a newspaper clipping in the mail about encouragement   (By the way, they have over 40 grandchildren and great-grandchildren and they continue to encourage, each and everyone!)

To encourage...

Driving home, I was thinking about my friends who are hurting.  They are traveling a path, I've never walked, nor experienced.  I have wept with them, encouraged them, written notes, but I can't take the pain or uncertainty away.  It's there gripping  every part of their being.   I wrote the other day on Compassion and graceful is the tear of the sympathy.  It is necessary to feel the compassion for those hurting.  We should never be at a place where we stop feeling these emotions.  Those hurting need encouragement the most.

 But, it is an absolute MUST to continually be filled with gratitude for what we see, what we are given, and what we have.  There are so many things to be filled with gratitude.   Waking up daily, thankful the sun is shining,  your kids are smiling and happy, you are loved,  the vibrant hues of the falling leaves, the holidays approaching, an extra hour sleep this weekend, ...

Stuff happens and will happen. It's inevitable.  But, take time to encourage someone.  Lift someone up.  Embrace your journey.  I hope when you stop by, you are encouraged.  Your demeanor is a little brighter.  You are uplifted. 

Adversity is like a strong wind.
It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn,
so that we see ourselves as we really are.
-Arthur Golden,

Positive Outlook

What we see depends mainly on what we look for.  

John Lubbock