On expectations and a broken heart

I am not typically good at waiting (is anyone?) especially when it's the kind of waiting that comes with very few details!  I, like most other people,  tend to feel more comfortable when I have some level of control and a pretty solid idea of what to expect.

There is a lot of waiting in the adoption process. When we began this journey we were told to expect it to take 12-18 months and we were good with that. I was ready to practice my waiting!!! :) In addition, we signed up for a pilot program where there were more unknowns than knowns. What a great opportunity to practice being ok with not having all the details too!

We werent financially ready and we knew we had a lot to learn. We even told our caseworker early on that she could prioritize other cases (specifically those of our freinds who are also adopting) because we were sooo not in a hurry. I expected it to be complicated, for there to be many twists and for it to take a long time.

I thought I had healthy expectations.

What I did not expect is this:

I didnt know that I could fall so deeply in love with someone I have never met, never touched, never seen. I had no idea that I could worry so much and care so deeply about a country I have never been to.

I didnt plan on my entire life turning upside down- at least not before Little Guy was even here! It seems like every other day we are talking about how we are standing in awe again.  In any wild hope or dream, we couldn't have put together the collection of people who have come forward to support us. New friendships are abundant and old friendships have become richer than we could have imagined.

I guess that as I have prayed over the years that God would break my heart for the things that break His heart...i could have never expected this...

There are over 50 million orphans in Sub-Sahara Africa. Just sit with that for a minute.

I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Grand Rapids is a large city in a larger metropolitan area that is home to just under a million people. So there are over 50 Grand Rapids' in one part of Africa and they are made up completely of orphaned children! Children who dont have access to clean water, children who become modern day slaves, children who are dying of preventable diseases. 

I dont know about you, but that breaks my heart.

These are children created by God, who deserve the same exact love, care and opportunity as the kid who lives next door to me, down the street from me, and (dare I say it?) in your home, dear reader.

And yet again, I am discovering that I am really not that good at waiting...

On Luck and Blessing

As I was out running errands today I noticed the Christmas music playing in the background and thought about how this time next year we will parents. I will be singing these same Christmas songs to our little guy.

Wow. It's thoughts like that one that still catch me off guard. 

It is just so amazing to think that so much will be different. That God will bring a little orphan boy from halfway across the world into our lives. That we will be blessed enough to be called his parents.

Some will say that it is him who is lucky...that he is blessed- but I will say no. No child born into poverty is lucky. No child whose parents die from AIDS is blessed. No child who spends his nights AND days in a crib, who shares a few loving adults with 30 other children is lucky. 

We can only hope and pray that what we can provide for him is enough. We will shower him with love and teach him that God loves him even more! We will tell him that although he is adopted by us, we have all been adopted by a God who cares about us to the ends of the world...a God who will never abandon us. We will remind him that he has a purpose that only he can live in to. We will do everything to protect him...and even more to provide the best possible life for him. 

It is truly Chad and I who will be blessed to have the opportunity to know that kind of love.

Getting to know our Little Guy part 2: His 1st home

While we have no idea yet of the specific circumstances our little guy was born into we know that even while we type he could already be in an orphanage. 

(This post will appeal specifically to the 'numbers' people in our lives!)

His first home...

Ghana's Flag

- Red: symbolizes the blood shed for their independence

- Yellow: represents the country's mineral wealth

- Green: represents the forests and natural wealth

- Black Star: lodestar for African Freedom

Geographical Size: Approximately the size of Illinois and Indiana combined

Capitol: Accra- 11th largest city in the country 

Population: 24 million, 4 million in the greater Accra area

~Due to the high growth/immigration rate in the capitol, 9 slums have emerged, locally called "Sodom and Gomorrah". The government is currently working to demolish them because of their 'effect on the environment'.

Skyline of Accra

Ghana became independent from the British Administration in 1957 and celebrate their independence every March 6.

Africa Day, celebrated on May 25th (ironically also our wedding anniversary) commemorates the founding of the Organization of African Unity, when 30 of the 32 countries signed a unity charter.

Life Expectancy: 57 (only 4% of the population live past the age of 65)

Average Age: 21 (over half of the population is under 24)

Language: English (over 70 languages/dialects spoken country-wide)

Main Export: Cocoa, then gold, diamonds, tuna and timber 

The global demand for exotic timber and for cocoa (which can be planted in the place of fallen trees) has increased deforestation and had a devastating impact on the local culture)

Poverty Level: Nearly 29% are below the poverty line 

Low income housing is often made from mud and untreated lumber.

Currency/Exchange: Currently $1Cedi (pronounced SEE-DEE) exchanges for $1.89 American

Primary Sport: Football (Soccer), Team Name- The Black Stars

Weather: steady year around, ranging between 76 and 82, the 'winter' months being marked by increased humidity/rainy season (and there are palm trees!)

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According to the World Health Organization- 2/3rd of ALL people infected with HIV/AIDS live in sub-sahara Africa, although this region contains just 12% of the worlds population! 

12% of African children are orphans- that is an estimated 54 million kids.

The Supreme Court in Accra: where we will be granted the blessing of becoming Little Guy's parents!