{One Less}

Have you noticed that after you buy a new car or a new pair of shoes (or pretty much anything)- you start to notice others like it everywhere?  After I bought my Mazda, I started to see identical cars all over.  It seemed like my little car was at every red light, in every parking lot, on every highway.  I am sure there were just as many before...I never noticed.  Now I do.  Why is that?

For me, it's the same way with foster parenting and adoption.  Before Ryan, it was easy for me to ignore the estimated 153,000,000 orphans worldwide.  That's right- 153 MILLION parent-less children.  That's astounding.  It's frustrating.  It's incredibly sad.  In the last year, I have encountered more families created through adoption than I ever had before.  Is it because I am more aware?  Is it because it's becoming more prevalent?  I'm not sure.

Every August, during back-to-school week the school district I am a part of hosts convocation.  During this event, we celebrate the amazing work taking place in our classrooms, schools, and district.  Additionally, one staff member is honored with the "Starfish Award".  The award is based off a very popular story about a little boy racing to save a beach full of starfish.  He frantically runs back and forth from the sand to the shore line, tossing the stranded starfish back into the water.  The sun is rising and an older gentleman passing by encourages the little boy to give up.  "You'll never save them all, what difference will it make?".  The little boy, without hesitating, throws another starfish into the waves, turns to the man and says, "it made a difference for that one."

Every August when the award is given to an individual that is making a difference in the lives of children, I cry.  If you know me, you aren't surprised.  I cry during songs on the radio- Phillip Phillips "Home".  Come on ya'll, it gets me every time.  I cry during commercials, movies and books.  But this award is different and since starting this journey it has hit far closer to home.

When our superintendent read the starfish story aloud to the crowd, I began to think about the difference we are making in Ryan's life and I wonder how we could go about impacting more and more children.

On the radio this morning, Matthew West's song One Less came on and tears filled my eyes.  I think the song and the starfish story are landing on my heart differently than before. I might not make a difference in each of the 153 million children's lives.  But I am surely making a difference in the life of one.

Next week we are signing our papers to officially become a family of three (insert mild huge freak out here). On that day, I can say there is one less child looking for a forever family and I can't wait!  When we found out in April that the possibility of Ryan staying with us permanently was much, much bigger- we felt incredibly blessed.  Now we are nearing the end of this chapter in our lives.  I look forward to what is next.  The possibility of making one less become two less or three less is alive in our hearts.  So, we are turning it over to God and are striving to live a life that allows others to see Him when they look at us.

I'm sure you will hear from us again over the course of the next week as we near "Gotcha Day".  Please be patient as the excitement builds, we truly feel blessed and want to share that with all of you!

{She}