The Story of The Starfish

This morning, I wanted to share with you all a beautiful, empowering story that I've heard so many times, especially on adoption blogs. Anyone can make a difference!

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

YAY Phoebe!!!

Guess what?

Phoebe found her family!

For those of your who don't know, Phoebe is the 2 year old cutie who captured my heart way back in February.

I've been thinking about her for a few days, just knowing in my heart that she had a family committed to her.

I don't know why. it was just this feeling I had that I knew was true!

So today, when I finally couldn't take it anymore, I hopped onto the Reece's Rainbow website, did a quick search for this little girl, and lo and behold:

YES!!!

Even tough I already knew, my heart still lurched. Because it's AMAZING news!

I'm so excited for her. She's just barely 2, so she's going to get out of the horrible orphanage she's in an into a clean home with a loving family before she's even 3 years old!

She's a lucky duck, this girl.

Don't get me wrong, just because I knew it was coming doesn't mean I'm not freaking out. Trust me, I still freaking out!!! 

I'm just amazed my the way God opens the hearts of families. Almost all adoption stories start out the same way. "We didn't know we wanted to adopt, we didn't think we could adopt, but when we saw that face, we dove in."

No plan. Most of he time, no money. Just a rock solid faith in God and the willingness to believe that miracles DO happen.

No news, on who Phoebe's family is yet, which means her family has just found her, maybe even within the past week!! 

Adoption is just a calling. It can come to anyone and everyone. The journey is long and crazy. But the reward... is priceless! 

Go sweet Phoebe!!!

{Please keep Phoebe and her soon to be family in your prayers. They will need them!}

What do you think? An exciting idea!

I love blogging. I'm completely obsessed with it. So obsessed that I practically begged my sister to start a blog so i could help her and design it for her.

Maybe I'm not the best influence. :)

Anyway, I'm always thinking about how I want to be a blessing to other people and really do something to show that I care.

As I was planning Monday's post (Monday is World Down Syndrome day, hint hint) this idea just came to me.

My favorite part of blog design is the headers. That's why, if you've been reading for a while, you have seen my header change about a thousand times.

I thought it would be great to just do it for free. I'm not trying to make money here, whatsoever. So not my goal.

I know of several families who are adopting children that happen to possess that magical extra chromosome (a.k.a. Down Syndrome) and they need all the financial help they can get.

What if I offered blog/header design...

1. Free to anyone who first donates to the family yet to be chosen's adoption fund.

Or...

2. Charge a fee for blog design that would go towards family yet to be chosen's adoption fund.

So, please let me know what you think! I'm dying for opinions! Good idea or not? Suggestions?

Maybe I'm not even any good at design, but I love doing it and I really want to find a way to help fundraise to get these babies home sooner!
Blessings!

A Day to Save Olga

Remember this little sweetheart?

Or rather, this little heartbreaker?

Oh, Olga. I can't even begin to tell you how many nights and days I have spent thinking about Olga. About orphans.

Today is about Olga. If you haven't stopped by yet, visit Olga's family at Saving our Starfish. I am so overjoyed for them as they take this journey of courage and love. This journey of bring Olga to where she belongs, away from the image and emotions of orphanages.

We all know adoption is no easy process. We can't just exclaim, "I'm adopting! Let's jet over to Europe and pick up our next little darling!" I wish. It takes a whole lot of money. More money than any of us has individually. But together...

Our amazing Patti has already played a giant part in saving over $13,000 for Olga!!! Be proud, Patti. :)

Chris and Jenn are still in need of quite a bit of money, most importantly dossier money. $7,000 worth of dossier money.

Today is a Day to Save Olga. Donate whatever you can... $1, $27, $53, $101, really, whatever you can. 

So today, while I'm out and about, at work, at the grocery, right here in bed, I really won't be. Because my heart, my brain, my thoughts, my prayers.... are all overseas with Olga. I'm praying that yours are too!

The book I'm currently reading, Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman, does a great job of of explaining it all. Before they adopted their first little girl from China, Shaohannah, Mary Beth was down right scared. She had suffered from depression for years, and she didn't know how on Earth she was going to handle it. She was ready to call herself downright crazy. She was terrified. Terrified she couldn't live up to the expectations of an adoptive parent. But the thing is, there really is no adoptive parent. Parents are parents. And with that said, Children are children. Mary Beth had been afraid she wouldn't love Shaohannah as much as her biological children, but as soon as she laid eyes on her she knew that was false.She loved Shaohannah with all her mind, soul, heart, and being.

I don't want anyone to be afraid of adoption. When I read that part of the book, I almost cried because it was so sweet. I know I'm not afraid. I'm really, truly, not.

I'm 18 years old. I have a long way to go until I can adopt.  But I'm not scared at all. I know that when I am able to adopt I will. Why? Because in the end, all that truly matters is the moment when your child is put into your arms. And you realize that you could never love them any less. You realize that you have truly saved a life.

This isn't about me. though. No way. Today is selfless day. Today is all about OLGA!!!

Let's do some good today. Let's bring home an orphan. :) I smile just typing that.

In the end, we're all a little clueless. A lot clueless. WE don't know everything, we don't always do the right things, but there is someone who will lead us wrong. The One who deserves ever single morsel of credit for the miracle of adoption and saving lives. Just know that...

God is Good, ALL the time!!!

Rejoice, because today is the day. It's Olga's day. What a lovely day it is.

Blessings!