We had a yard sale a couple weeks ago to raise money for the adoption. A big shout out to those who donated stuff for us to sell! You made the fundraiser a success!! So just like last time we advertised that we were hosting this as a fundraiser for our adoption. One because we like to talk about adoption and once you meet someone who have adopted it doesn't seem like an impossible thing to do. Second people tend to be more generous if they know it's to raise money, so they might actually pay the 50 cents marked on an item instead of asking if I'll take a quarter for it.
I had some encouraging conversations and we were making sales when a couple of ladies came over to purchase their items. The first question is "Well why aren't you adopting from America??" in a very condescending tone. I smiled and politely explained to her exactly why (you can see my post Why Ethiopia? for the full explanation). There is potential that I had a little tone of my own when telling her what happens to most orphans when they "age out" of the orphanage in most countries. I don't think she caught it though because her next question was, "Won't they be black?" This one actually took me off guard, looking back I wish I had been more witty but it surprised me so much that all I could say was "Yes mam they will be." "You all must really love kids!" she said a little disgusted sounding. By this point my heart was much more sad than I could muster up anger. I told her we do in fact love children and that we think all children are a blessing from the Lord. "God loves children" I told her and we want to be after God's own heart. It's words like that that make me stand up tall like the mama bear protecting her young....I think I might have actually been standing on my tip toes and stretching out my neck as I answered her. I'm on the defense. It's funny because they aren't even home yet!
The next night I had the sweet privilege of going on a date with my husband to celebrate his birthday. We always joke when we're out what we'll look like at a restaurant as a family of 6, the looks we'll get, and maybe the comments. I tend to think, surely people won't say ugly things in front of my kids. But people continue to surprise me. So I wonder how many times I'll have to take my kids out in public for me to get down off my tip toes. Because even without knowing what their faces look like I am defending them. I will fiercely do so to anyone who questions their worth. It's a precious thing to pray for them, to ask the God who knit together my girls in my womb to protect my children that He knit together so far away. Even though the womb that gave birth to them won't be called "mom" she is a precious lady who loved her kids enough to give them life. I'm so thankful for her and to our incredible God who has allowed me to be called "mommy".
