One Whole Year

I was reading over old emails last week and found

one I wrote one year ago today to Heather (Anya's mom).

You may remember that one year ago 

Heather's family had just met Anya and were

trying to raise the last of the funds they needed to bring her home.

So I got this great idea to enter my daughter's picture

in one of those Parent Magazine Cute Kids Contest.

The goal was to get enough people to vote for her that we

would win the $250 prize and then be able to donate it

to Anya's Adoption Account.

I mean, who wouldn't want to vote for my adorable daughter

to help bring home another adorable child.

But we didn't win that prize.

Instead it set us on a whole new path.

Here is my email to Heather last year:

Hi Heather, I'm sorry the contest didn't happen the way I had hoped. But I think something bigger is going on here and I want to ignore it because it scares me and I'm not sure how to tell my husband. I have been searching Reeces website more and more. I can't seem to go to bed at night without doing so. I have read more blogs written by amazing families that are in the process or have already adopted one of these precious children. The child I keep being lead to is Carlene. I just googled her name and found a blog where someone is asking that people raise money for her. I then saw your name in the blog. Did you meet Carlene? I can't even begin to tell you have confused I am right now. I don't know if this is what Heavenly Father wants of me or if I am just feeling compassion for these little ones. I feel so overwhelmed with life as it is right now and I can't even imagine raising that much money. Anyway, I'm not sure why I am writing this email accept that I am sure you can relate. I read an incredible blog today. I don't know if you have read it before but here is the link. If you have any information on Carlene or more pictures please let me know. I am scared to death on what all this means. Thanks for listening and I apologize again the our fund raiser didn't work out so well. Katrina

The blog that I was referring to was written by Julia

and she titled it "A Whisper"

When I read the words she had written I felt as if I could have written them

myself. They were exactly how I was feeling.

Then a picture.  A smiling face.  A helpless child.  The Holy Spirit whisper becomes a scream. 

This child.  In that country. GO.  Now.  Say yes.  Despite the bank account.  Despite the schedule.  Despite the arguments.  Despite it all.  GO. 

A few days after I wrote this email and read this blog

Carlene got a family.

But the feeling still wouldn't go away.

I thought after she got a family I could go back to my normal happy life

and just forget the feelings I had been having.

But they didn't go away.

They just grew stronger.

Talk to your husband anyway.

Plant the seed. 

It will need time to grow in him.

And it did need time to grow. 

About 6 months to be exact. 

But that is when Carlene became available again. 

So even though we have only been at this for 6 months

Carlene has been in my hear for a year now.

Soon sweet girl. 

Soon it will be your turn.

Until then here is a song from when I was a child

that is heard on the movie The Rescuers.

This is my song to my sweet Carlene.

And so this year as you read  "A Whisper"
And as you listen to Someone's Waiting for You
Ask yourself  if one of these sweet little girls who still need a family could be your daughter.

This is Celine She was just recently moved to the same Institution   that Carlene is at. 
She has a warrior named Leah who has been working so hard to raise money for Celine so that she can have a family too.
As of today, Celine has just over $7,500 in her grant account to help towards the cost of her adoption.

This is Megan
Megan is one of the little cuties we considered when we thought Carlene had a family already.
She is the same age as Carlene and is in the  same region as her.
Megan has over $16,000 in her grant account to help a family with the cost of her adoption.
So if that whisper that you have been trying to ignore is  growing louder it maybe that your time is drawing near.
These girls have all had to be brave for far too long.
It is time for them to have a family.
It is time for them to be loved by a mom and a dad, not just taken care of by overworked caregivers that change swifts frequently.
So the next time you hear that Whisper or Yell  ask yourself
Am I the Someone who is waiting to love them?