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Thankful Thursday

First I want to say thanks to my friend Robyn who sent a Chinese New Year gift box to us all the way from Canada. She sent a case of Wunderbars (that’s right, a case..YUM), Smarties and one of her favorite books for Nadia. It’s called “A Wrinkle In Time”. The 2 images that follow here are something I told her about that she wanted to see. Sherry’s Place in GZ made these for us after we bought about a million pairs of squeeky shoes. The first is Nadia’s Chinese name and a dog because she was born in the year of the dog. The second says “Happy Family”. I think they are just so pretty.

Year of the Dog

Happy Family

  • I am thankful that we are a Happy Family! Our life is just wonderful and blessed beyond belief.
  • That my friend Jacquelyn is out of the hospital and healing at home.
  • For my cousin Jen who is coming for a visit this weekend. YEAH!
  • That the packing for the trip is mostly done. Just need to toss the clothes in and pack the laptop. WOOT!
  • For mac and cheese. When Nadia won’t eat anything else, she will eat this.
  • For Karen taking care of the KIDS HOPE program for me while we are gone.
  • For all the people that have told us they will be praying for our safety and fun times on our trip.
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Thankful Thursday

  • I am thankful that we have such a happy baby! The top photo is of her laying on the floor laughing. Who knows why? Baby minds are a mystery.
  • For that little tongue poking out in the second photo. When she carries around her giraffe when she is getting sleepy – out comes the tongue and I haven’t been able to catch a good shot until now.
  • For the adoption community and more rallying around Love Without Boundaries so they could win the Facebook Giving Challenge bonus $50,000!! The lives of at least 10 children will be saved with that money. A heart surgery in China is only about $5,000.
  • For all the people giving to Half the Sky and other organizations to help the orphanages in China that are being so deeply affected by the storms. For all the nannies and directors sacrificing so much to keep the babies warm and fed.
  • For the friends I have made at my church. I really have gotten to know some of the neatest people since we joined our church.
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Thankful Thursday

Visitors Center

Coming off of the World Vision conference I could type for days about the things I am thankful for. I cried a lot this time as I have in the past at the heartache faced by those around the world, but also tears of joy about the love and compassion poured out by people working together to make a difference.

  • For the fact that I NEVER for one single second have to wonder where food is going to come from for Nadia.
  • For the fact that I NEVER for one single second have to worry that there won’t be doctors and medicine available should she get sick.
  • For the fact that I NEVER for one single second have to wonder if my child will live another day because the only water available to me is miles away and the color of mud.
  • For the fact that I NEVER for one single second have to worry that civil unrest is going to bring rape, pillaging and death to my doorstep.
  • For the fact that I NEVER for one single second have to worry that some fanatical anti government group is going to come and kidnap my child to turn her into a child soldier or a sex slave.
  • For the World Vision workers around the world that have given their lives to try and make the world a better place for children. I pray for their families’ comfort.
  • For the World Vision staff in Seattle that do SO MUCH good with the money they are entrusted with.  To see them in action made me feel even better about giving money to WV (and I wouldn’t have thought that possible).
  • For all the corporations in America that make in kind donations to WV. Those donations are used to help the poorest of the poor here in America and around the world.
  • For Miyon, Tiffany and Lori (and Marla while she was with the team) for all their support they offer to the Child Ambassadors.
  • For all the Child Ambassadors. These are people from every walk of life who believe so strongly in the difference that can be made by those who care that they volunteer their time to tell others about child sponsorship.
  • For all the people who have ever sponsored children through me. Trust me that you are making a difference in the lives of these children and their community. You are being a shining example to them.
  • For the children that Mike and I sponsor and the sweet, sweet letters and photos that are sent to us.
  • For the children whose picture folders I have that expire tomorrow and go back into the system. I pray that they will get sponsored soon since they are going to the top of the pile. Especially for the orphans who have lost their parents to the global AIDS pandemic…and just don’t have access to the meds that we do in America.
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Thankful Thursday +3

Hello. I missed the TT last week because we were in Seattle for the World Vision Child Ambassador Retreat. This was my 3rd time to attend and Mike and Nadia came along because I couldn’t bear to leave her for that long. I would have been totally distracted if they had stayed in Texas.

The retreat was a great blessing once again and I am oh so THANKFUL that I get to be a part of this program for World Vision. If you are new to our blog, I am a Child Ambassador for World Vision. Child Ambassadors are all sponsors who volunteer their time to share sponsorship with the people in their circle of influence. It has been one of the greatest blessings of my life to do this and to bring life and opportunities to the forgotten children of the world. If you are interested in finding out more or sponsoring a child, please visit my World Vision page.

Or you can call/email me anytime. I will be blogging more about the trip as I decompress all the information, but here are a few statistics:

  • In 2000 approximately 33,000 children were dying EVERY DAY because of preventable causes like diarrhea and malaria. The 2007 statistics have gone down to 26,000 children. Still a horrific number of children dying every day, but organizations like WV are MAKING A DIFFERENCE!!!
  • 80% of the world (or 5 billion people) have one meal a day or one meal every other day. That was shocking number to me. I so often take it for granted that I eat multiple times every day and have a choice of foods at every meal. Even the poorest of the poor in America are eating more than the vast majority of the world.