Shining Stars in My Heart - The Children of Tooro Babies Home

I miss these kiddos so. stinkin. much.  

Think about them every day.  

I find myself blinking back tears sometimes as I'm just enjoying watching Duncan play. . . like last night when Rick was flipping Duncan upside down, and Fallyn grabbed his hand and started running in a circle, the way she has seen Janie do with Duncan and Rick in the video clip.  

Because they are a part of him, and of us.

The bond these kids have is incredible. . . "friends" doesn't do their relationship justice, 

and neither does "brother" or "sister". . . stronger than that, even.

Indescribable.

I am so thankful that Tooro Babies Home is going to continue adoptions.  We were praying that Duncan and Isaac's adoptions could blaze a trail for more to have families, also.

The video is a bit long, but it's for Duncan, and for us. . . if you can't STAND to sit through a few minutes of ABSOLUTE sweetness (grin). . . then at least watch at about 3:25.  That's Janie you hear behind the camera yelling at her friends and laughing--oh that raspy hilarious laugh!  Can't get enough!  She's also in the very beginning of the video in several pictures, one of which is our first "family" photo we tried to get with Duncan. :)
. . . 

She's Duncan's closest friend and is the most hilarious, spunky, did I say HILARIOUS three-year-old we've ever seen!  Her personality/demeanor is beyond words, you just have to see it in person.  Lucky us, we got to. :)

The video clips I got of her are my favorite clips from Uganda!!! :)

WE MADE IT!

I put together some pics/video clips of me and Duncan from our time in Uganda.  The song is so great--it's by Mandi Mapes and it's called This Love.  

Adoptive mamas, be prepared for some tears if you listen to the lyrics! :)

Rick was with me for 10 days, then I was flying solo. I had Dawn and her boys and their awesome friend Ken during my several days in Fort Portal without Rick, and then my mom arrived the day after we all got back into Kampala. . . incredibly thankful for all their support.  I don't know how I would've survived.  

God definitely knew I'd need all that. 

But, it was still SO. HARD. without Rick there to share the burden of trying to GET OUR BOY HOME.  There are emotions and nerves I don't want to relive again, that's for sure!  (Although, perhaps I will, since we're going to do it all over again at some point!)

It was a definite close call--a very real possibility--that we'd have to put Duncan back in the orphanage, go home empty-handed, and return in a couple months to bring him home.

Or, me somehow stay with Duncan for a couple months in Uganda.  I couldn't see how either of those situations would work at all. . . I'll stop talking now because those nerves are creeping up again just thinking about it!

God spared us all that. . . PHEW!

Anyway, here's my celebration video. . . me and my boy MADE IT HOME! 

 Thanks be to God!

Is It Worth It???

Let's take the focus of that common question off the adoption PROCESS because that makes it all about us. . . and focus on the FATHERLESS.  Instead we should ask ourselves,

"Are THEY worth it???"

Some think so.  People who go out of their way to adopt. . . and people who sacrificially HELP OTHERS adopt.  

I'm not tooting my own horn here in this post, nosiree.  Our adoption would not have been possible without the support of SO MANY people, so props go to them, and our gracious God!

This video from The Zoe Foundation is being reposted a lot out in bloggy land. . . for good reason. . . it asks some tough questions.  Take a couple minutes and watch it, listen especially at 2:25, then keep reading.

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. . . " Proverbs 31.8

Now, look at these little ones, and tell THEM why you can't adopt.  Because it's not about a PROCESS or the COSTS, it's about a CHILD.

Hi sweet little baby!  

Sorry, adding you to our family would mean we have to upgrade from our stylin' sedan to a minivan--eew!  Can you imagine?

Sorry!  Money is already tight (as you just spent $50 on party decorations for your son's birthday, and bought a $4 latte on your way to Target, where you also snagged an awesome dress for $30!).  

We just don't know how we'd do it!

Well hello, you're so precious!  We would probably have room in our hearts and our home, but. . . we just don't have that kind of money laying around.

Have a nice life, everyone!  We're off to our annual family ski trip, and by golly, we scrimp and save every year for that awesome vacation!

Man, you just look like you need rocked to sleep for once in your life. . . too bad we have plans to remodel our kitchen this year.

We always knew we'd be done at 2.2 kids. . . sorry, just wasn't in our nice little American dream to potentially rock the boat.

Our other kids are growing so fast and adding so much more to our grocery bill!

No, sorry, you can't join us for a lifetime of endless love. . . we might have to cut back on new clothes and eating out and start clipping coupons and drive older cars, and that just seems like so much work--would those things really make that much of a difference anyway?

 Wouldn't you love to be read to before nap time every day!  I just don't know if we'd have room in the girls' bedroom, even though you share a room with 8 other kids now.  If we adopted you, we couldn't afford to move yet to a bigger home. . . do you see our dilemma sweet little girl?

Too bad we just can't envision going back to the baby stage and having to BUY DIAPERS and go through teething again.  Plus, our insurance coverage is soooo nice if we just had another one the ol' fashioned way.

Anywho. . .

If there's anything we want anyone to see from our adoption journey, it's that regular ol' people can do it!!! 

It does not take a "special type of person". . . it does not take a person with extra $$$ sitting around. . . we match neither of those criteria!

[I do NOT believe everyone is called to adopt or SHOULD. . . but I DO believe it CANNOT be based on comfort--material, financial, or things just being fine and comfortable the way they are thank-you-very-much]

 It might take a lot of creative efforts, it WILL take a lot of prayer. . . it WILL take you out of your comfort zone. . .  it WILL take a lot of people coming alongside you who have a heart for adoption.

Trust me--there are people out there who cannot adopt themselves, but want to help others adopt.

Well, hello, little one!  

Why YES, you can pack your bags and come HOME with us!!!

I promise you this will be the last time you have to lay down for a nap in an orphanage!

Friends and family and grant organizations and fundraisers. . . that's how God brought us to you. 

 Money is tight back home. . . 

. . . we won't have fancy vacations or stylin' vehicles or a pool or a perfectly manicured lawn for you to play in. . . 

You'll probably get just 1 special birthday or Christmas gift. . .  

We hope you don't mind. . . 

cause WE SURE DON'T. . . 

 . . . because YOU'RE WORTH IT!!!

And we will be back for another one. . . because THEY'RE WORTH IT!!!

Do YOU think they're worth it?!  

What are you saying yes to in your life that is causing you say no to one of the world's fatherless?

If you are not called to adoption, figure out what role you will play in the lives of the fatherless--we all must do SOMETHING.  Help others adopt, mentor, give, volunteer. . . 

Whatever your role, let it take you out of your comfort zone, because THAT'S where you will find THEM.

One Reason Adoption Rocks {First Words}

"First words". . . such a sweet time for any parent and child. . . adoption of a toddler who is just beginning to speak English brings a unique element to the sweetness.  

We are so blessed to be able to experience this.  

I wish everyone could :)  

Or would choose to, rather. :)

Tonight as I was bathing the kids, I got Duncan out of the tub, dried him off, and lotioned him up. . . big bright eyes and a bright smile accompanied one of his first English phrases, with emphasis on the last word:

This is home!

Update on Kids at Oasis!

Read the latest update to see what happened in only 24 hours!!!

What wondrous things God can do through His people, when there are people willing to GO and people willing to SEND!

Must-Read! Orphanage in Great Need

Check out Melissa's latest post. . . and then the rest of her blog when you get a chance!  She lives very near me but I didn't meet her in person until I was in Kampala. She has been stuck in Uganda over 9 months while they try to bring home their 2-yr-old daughter, Mercy.  

She has a husband and two other daughters at home here.  She has had an incredibly rough road, but has made incredible use of her time in Uganda! 

Anyway, she has many pictures and inside scoop from an orphanage called Oasis that is in  desperate need.  

Will you consider how you can help these incredible children?  

Give. . . pray. . . link on facebook or your own blog. . . anyone can do SOMETHING!

Here's one picture, then go to her blog for the rest.  

This is the room where the babies sleep.  Babies who have no formula or milk. . .