Garland Half Dozen: What I know and what I don't

What I know ... I know there are 147 million orphans (and some believe that estimate is low). I know that less than 1% of 1% of them will ever be adopted (that is an extremely low number!). This number saddens me to no end. I know ... that 2 of those will join (and already have) joined our family. I know that there is a little boy on the other side of the planet who has never had the love of a mother, the love of a father or the love of brothers and a sister. I know that he does not know about us yet and that he wakes up each day surrounded by many other "orphans" and goes through his normal routine each and every day, with many days probably looking a lot like the others. I know that as I write this, he is probably sleeping and my heart aches to have him here ... to hold him, to love on him and for him to know that he is ours ... forever ... and that he will no longer be motherless, fatherless or without a home and siblings who adore him. I do know that he has a Heavenly Father that loves him unconditionally and is watching over him each and every day and will for the rest of his life. I do know that our family has been called to the fatherless and the orphans of this world and we have been blessed beyond measure to see so many orphans find their forever families. I believe everyone is called to something and this is our something. Not too shabby, huh?

What I don't know ... I don't know why Eli's birth parents did not feel that they could take care of him. I don't know what that will be like for him as he gets older. I don't know the struggles that we may have as a family, but who does?

I know that I am a child of God and one that cannot wait to grab my little guy up in China and shower him with love like he has never known. Please continue to pray for our family. This is truly a rollercoaster ride. We are waiting for our Letter of Acceptance and there is no true prediction of when this might come. Our prayer is that we will receive it this month so we might have the chance to travel before the end of the year. This would mean a relatively "quick" LOA, but we know God can move mountains! The kids keep asking if Eli will be here before Christmas and unless we get that LOA soon, I don't think it will happen (because of all the other steps we need to go through before travel). But again, God can move mountains, so we will see!

I don't like to write a post without sharing some pics, so here are a few ...

Keenan receiving his new belt