Praying for a Big Week

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. Ours was reasonably uneventful. The big kids were forced into manual labor and had to weed the yard. :) The little one is working hard on losing her first tooth. (Bottom center tooth. She only has three teeth on the bottom between her two eye teeth. Some sort of oddity that we can't quite explain.)

As we go into this week, I am hoping and praying it will be a big week. I'm praying for PGN movement, especially for those stuck for a long time. I'm praying for my friend Johanna's adoption and that Kathelin's birth mother can be found this week. I'm praying for several families I know as they ponder the decision to adopt. I'm wishing that Sue and her family find some much needed time to relax and celebrate her son's graduation.

I spent some time this weekend reading various blogs folks have put up about their adoptions. Most were China adoptions. I was struck how different the China adoptions are from Guatemala. In China, the process and tight agency control that force families to move and travel together through the process cause virtual strangers to become families based on referral and travel dates. In Guatemala, each family is a bit like their own island, with the level of agency support varying by agency and attorney. I'm not suggesting one is better than the other, they're just different. In all cases, I am heartened as to the level of faith that people have, their belief and commitment in the decision to adopt, and their level of acceptance and faith that the child they're adopting is their child. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but it's affirming to read just the same.

I met with a friend and co-worker for lunch last week and she's pondering the decision to adopt. She's single, in her early 40's, Chinese, and is actually considering Guatemala over China. Her reasoning makes sense and I think she'd be a great Mom. I think she'll be an even better person if she opens up her life to a child. This is not to say that childless adults are not good people. I just believe that if you take the time to care and love another person, let them affect your life in a positive way, you'll be a better person for taking that step. I believe my older children are different and better adults because we added Jayden to our family. This single decision will shape the adults they become.

I guess that's enough philosophy for tonight. Again, here's to a really big week!