Beautiful Life





Hey child up and go; A big world is out there waiting for us to live in every day. Outside you will find, there is love all around you; Takes you, makes you wanna' say; That it's a beautiful life and it's a beautiful world and it's a beautiful time to be here, to be here, to be here. -Fisher

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Something to think about....

When Paul and I went to China last year, we traveled with eight other families. All the families, save one, were adopting children that had been labeled "special needs". The needs and "disabilities" varied widely from Katie with a missing arm and Mia with a cleft lip and palate, to YoYo with bladder exstrophy and Claire with Spina Bifida. I think we all understood, to some degree, that they would one day ask, "why me?" That life wouldn't always be easy and that it would be our job to help them learn not to dwell on what they couldn't do or didn't like about their lives, but on what they could do and how truly special they are, just because they are.

Claire is young and has not begun to really understand how she is different from her "Sisabel" (Isabel) the way Ellie over at AND NOW THERE ARE FIVE has realized she is different from her Josie-Tatum. She has not yet said "I wish I was Isabel." Maybe she won't. Hopefully she won't. But, I know at some point she's going to realize that she is not like most other kids her age and she probably won't like it. And telling her it's okay, won't make it so.

I am thankful for blogging and the window it has given me into the lives of others like us. I am afforded the opportunity to see how parents and their children are handling these tough issues before I have to and that is priceless. Pip over at Significant Source is always an inspiration to me and so are the children of Always In My Heart, especially Elaine. And this guy should be an inspiration to all....(turn the music of at the bottom before starting the video)







Today is the Prayer Meetin' over at Significant Source and I'm about to head over there to join in. Feel free to join us by clicking on the button. Please remember sweet Hannah in your prayers today. Her mother says she is doing great! Also pray for our Claire to continue to progress each day.

4 comments:

Brianna said...

I'm gonna cry. I have arms AND legs!

Yvette said...

Wow. There was a child on the multiple agency listing (that came out just after Kate's waiting children list) that had no lower limbs. I wish videos like this could accompany listings like that one. To see such strength and matter of fact determination to live a normal life . . . Thanks for sharing that.

Blessed Mom of Four AND More said...

We are blessed to have our "blogging" friends to share our struggles, our blessings, and our triumphant moments.
Robbie

Regina said...

Happy New Year Gour family! It's wonderful to read so many new posts -- I don't know how you keep up with it.

I tried to do your game of "tag" but that folder was actually perfectly empty! Then I thought I would just go to the 5th and 5th, butthen I got sidetracked. I'll try to do it next blog update.

I just wanted to say hello and that I think of you guys often!

Love,
Regina, Frank and Milo