I've often said my heart is with the people of Guatemala. When we adopted Daniel last year, I left a piece of it there. It felt like I left all of it there. There are children in that country (mentioned here) that I will always love as my own, ministries that we will continue to support monetarily and with mission trips, and a country that I will always feel loyalty to because it gave us our sweet son.
But over the past several months, I've realized that I didn't leave my heart in Guatemala. I gave it to all 147 million orphans in the world. It's not just the beautiful faces of Guatemala that I ache for, it's the children in China, Kazakhstan, Uganda, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, the United States, and any country that has a child longing for a family.
In our search for seeking God's will for our role in caring for orphans, I came upon a wonderful ministry called An Orphan's Wish. (Click the bloggy button below to visit their site.)
They care for orphans in China who have medical needs that can't be met in a regular orphanage. The children range from infants who need surgery to older children with cerebral palsy. I've been helping write this and that for their new newsletter and we are sponsoring the cutest little guy named Cooper. People can help by sponsoring children and soon there will be a listing of needs that people can give to for one-time donations. And if you sponsor a new arrival to AOW, you get to pick his or her English name. How cool is that?!
In just the last several months of watching the work at An Orphan's Wish, I have been blown away by what I have seen. The quality of care, the amount of love, well, I'd trust my own children to their care. Because it is a smaller ministry, it has been fun to see firsthand how my donations are used. I get amazing updates on the little guy we sponsor--monthly reports via e-mail with lots of photos that make my kids do their "awwwws."
I don't plug a lot of things on my blog, but this cause I felt was worthy of it. Right now Stefanie from Ni Hao Y'all, also the director of AOW (also one of the gals behind Wild Olive Tees--see the bloggy button on my sidebar), is celebrating her 1000th post by matching dollars for every comment. (That is one brave lady.)
Well, I'm not celebrating a 1000th post, but I am celebrating. My birthday gift from my husband was his official blessing for us to start another adoption. We are in the process of updating our homestudy and will share in the coming months as God leads us to the child who has been waiting for our family.
For every comment you leave below, I'll also donate a dollar to An Orphan's Wish. (That means I want all you loyal lurkers to come out of the shadows and say hi!)
Thanks for the blessing you all have been to me!
So Grateful,
Kathie
65 comments:
Hey that is AWESOME! On SO many levels!!
CONGRATULATIONS on starting another adoption... that's fantastic!!
And how cool that you are going to donate to AOW for every comment left... hope you get LOTS AND LOTS :)
Woohooo!!!
What an amazing program... heading over to check it now!
Thank you for sharing your heart for orphans!
Wow Kathie, I cannot imagine a more beautiful birthday gift than your husband's blessing on another adoption. How exciting for you!!!
Rejoicing with you in NC,
Lisa
Had to come over from Stephanie's blog and post a comment. :) Now to go lurk, I mean look around.
I am saying hi as a reader of Stephanie's blog.
Another comment, another dollar for AOW!
Together we can make a difference.
Love what you are doing!!! Another dollar for An Orphan's Wish! Deb
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KATHIE! What a fantastic birthday gift! CONGRATULATIONS!
What a gift! Thank you for being so generous!!!
Tammy
Happy birthday!!! What an awesome birthday gift!!
Blessings,
Karen
How wonderful!!!!! I'll be praying! Apryl
Thank you for your love, compassion, and commitment to the orphans in China. We are currently in the process of adoption (from China) and I rejoice with you in your journey to another little blessing God has waiting for you!!
Congratulations Kathie! First on being such a young, beautiful 40yr. old and second on starting another amazing adoption journey. How wonderful is that???
I can barely keep my eyes open and I hate that I've been AWOL in commenting on my favorite blogs but I'm still trying to get my body on U.S. time. This time of night (8:00ish) is when it really hits me. Hopefully just a few more days of the adjustment period to endure. :)
Can't wait to see where God is taking you this time!
One more dollar, cha-ching, for An Orphan's Wish!
One big HALLELUJAH for the beginning of another adoption journey . . . to a waiting child. YOUR waiting child. May the Lord direct your path! I'm so excited!
Love from Texas~
Tina
I am touched by the heart that you have for the orphans of the world. and, I'll be checking out the link! Happy Belated Birthday!
You have brought me hope on SO many levels! Thank you first off for your generous heart for The Orphans Wish Campaign! You have such a beautiful heart for orphans all around the world and I love how you have shared and inspired all of us with your words. You said it SO beautifully, it cannot be underscored enough. I too will be turning 40 in about a month ... and I am hoping to face it with the beauty that you did. And if my husband surprised me with the gift that your husband gave you--wow that would be the gift of a lifetime! That would be the wish of my heart. I'm going to bookmark your page and hopefully follow along with you on this next leg of your journey. Blessings to you!
And please stop by our blog if you have a moment.
Valerie
http://almyfamilyjournal.blogspot.com/
Sorry, that LAST comment I posted was from me
Valerie, not Rita ... I'm chairing Rita Rippee's fundraiser for their family's adoption and I forgot to sign out of her account after making updates this morning. So it looked like Rita left the comment, not Valerie. Please check out their blessed site if you would like.
http://blessingsahundredfold.blogspot.com/
I would LOVE for you to spread the word of this fundraiser/drawing ... there are many great prizes to win if you post the button, comment, chip-in, pray for them--there are so many ways to enter! As well as the joy of knowing that a beautiful little girl will wait no more for her mom and dad.
Sorry about the earlier confusion with the names. Maybe God can use this for His glory!! :-)
Blessings,
Valerie
What an awesome birthday gift!
From one AOW volunteer to another!!!!
:)
Congratulations...what a absolutely wonderful birthday present!!
Here's hoping for many comments!!!
Wow that is great Kathie! Praying for you as you begin the process again & find another forever child. My heart hurts for the orphans too! I'm always looking for new ways to support them so thanks for the info. Part of my heart is in Kazakhstan also & I dream of going there with Lindsay with an organization for a mission trip when she's older. I'm excited for you all!
Congratulations on your upcoming adoption! That is absolutely WONDERFUL! And thank you so much for what you do for AOW!
This is awesome - thanks for being a part of AOW!
For the children of China!
My husband often talk about orphans. I think God gives all of us gifts and I know ours is a love for the orphan. It has not been easy but through the fire of it all he has refined me. We are on our 4th and we would not say no if God lead us down that path again. Thank you for listening to God's pull and for speaking out for the orphan. We will be praying for you on this new journey! Braidi Tartaglia
Happy Birthday, Kathie!!
That is WONDERFUL news!!
And thanks for all of your help with the AOW newsletter! :)
Blessings always,
Patricia
Wooo-Hooo!! Another kiddo will be getting a home!! Congratulations!! I can't wait to follow your journey!!
what an awesome thing to do for the kids at An Orphan's wish!
Helping the littles at An Orphans Wish! Love the idea!
CONGRATULATIONS and good luck
Best wishes as you begin the process. What a great gift!
Thanks for joining in! This is awesome!
Just had to visit and post a comment....anything for the children!
Wonderful news! That is such a sweet gift from your h hubby. Thanks for sharing with us. I'm so glad to have found your blog.
-Jen
sjwaits@aol.com
Congratulations on your adoption announcement! (I found you through Stefanie's site).
Congratulations on starting another adoption. What a wonderful birthday gift. I can't think of a better one.
An Orphans Wish will be blessed by your contribution. I want to see the children get all the help they can.
What a wonderful birthday gift you were given and giiving!
Wow! Congratulations on your growing family. I can't wait to see how God continues to work through you!
Congrats on your new adoption!!
Another dollar for AOW. You are awesome! Congratulations on your forthcoming adoption.
Once to see the Lord's children in the orphanges, nothing is the same.
Blessings to you,
Nancy (mama to 6... so far. From VeitNam and now on to China)
I found you today through Stephanie's blog, and I just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS on starting another adoption! That is very exciting:)
I found you today through Stephanie's blog, and I just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS on starting another adoption! That is very exciting:)
Congratulations! What a wonderful birthday present!
Congratualtions on starting to bring another child home!
This is my first time visiting your blog (visiting from Stephanie's). Congratulations on your growing family & many blessings to you! Thanks you for donating to AOW!
Congratulations on your beginning of another adoption!!! God is truly wonderful and He KNOWS who He calls to help the plight of the orphans will listen to His voice. And way to step out for AOW!! What a wonderful ministry!! Congratulations and I will be praying for you! :)
Thank you so much for your kindness!!
Thank you so much for your kindness!!
I found you through Stefanie's blog. It's amazing what you're doing for these kiddos. Congratulations and Happy birthday ;o)
What an amazing gift! I so wish my husband would give me a gift like that--hmmmm...perhaps I can plant the idea by sharing your story. You never know--but God does. :)
Blessings to you--it's clear you have a beautiful heart Kathie--bless you on your journey to the next precious addition to your family.
Lisa
izabella's Mom (Home since Oct 2009)
THANK YOU, BEST OF LUCK, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
What a great birthday gift!
Congratulations on beginning the process for a new adoption. Also, what a wonderful gift you are giving by donating to An Orphan's Wish!
Woohoo!!! Congratulations on your adoption!!!!! That is SO exciting!!
Hurray for this awesome giveaway to An Orphan's Wish and congratulations on your next adoption!
Congratulations!
What an awesome program!
Congratulations--a great gift that your husband is giving to both you and the child fortunate to become part of your family.
I too have a heart for orphans, we adopted from Ukraine this spring.
Blessings to you on your journey~
jodi
Congratulations and great job!
WoooHooo!! So excited for all of you...and can't wait to hear more...I will be praying as God directs your steps....so amazing to imagine that He has had this all planned since long before you and I were even thought about! Yippee Jesus!! xo
I just saw this and WHOOHOOO!!! Another adoption!!! YEA!!! I am SO HAPPY I seriously have a big ol' goofy grin on my face right now.I can't WAIT to post that same announcement on my blog one glorious day, that my husband has given me his official blessing to start ours. =)
This sounds like an amazing ministry, I will go and check it out right now that is way more fun than working anyway. Thanks for letting us all know about it and post some pics of Cooper if you are allowed to, we would love to meet the little guy.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Kathie,
Happy Birthday! Thank you for your heart for orphans and all that you do to help.
Kirsten.
Congratulations! Happy Birthday!
Oh, Kathie!! (I found a few moments to catch up with you on here). How exciting! How sweet! How wonderful!
We'll be praying for your family as you look to our Precious Father to direct your steps...
BIG HUG!! : )
And Happy Belated Birthday!!
hi
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