The Orphan Crisis...

I have found myself consumed last week with the crisis that is happening all around us. That crisis is the 143 million orphans in the world today. Let me repeat 143 million. My husband and I have seen first hand what that looks and feels like on the streets of Ethiopia and we are very aware of the thousands of children right here in the US who live in the foster care system. The orphan crisis knows few boundaries and spans the globe. Today is Orphan Sunday and many churches and organizations are focusing on educating about the statistics and the solution. You see WE can be the solution and the hope for the orphan. Take a look at the video below to learn more. Remember to head to the bottom of my blog to pause the music first.


Creation Groans from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

This week marks ten weeks home with our precious Ava and loving her and caring for her each day makes us even more convicted about the plight of the millions of orphans who are still waiting. It's Orphan Sunday and yes the thought of her being alone, cold and hungry takes my breath away so I am choosing this important day to share some of the details of our journey to the daughter of our hearts. I hope you will read with eyes wide open all the while listening carefully to your heart. Perhaps God is calling you to the very same path of caring for the orphan in his or her distress.

 Five or so years ago we were your everyday basic family of five. We were a working Dad and a stay at home Mom raising three young boys and like most of you, sometimes tearing our hair out and wishing we could "google" parenting 101 to find out all the many things we did not do well. We worked hard and played hard, creating new family traditions and exposing our children to all the many wonders of the beautiful world.  Many days we were on the go and wondering where our next bit of patience would come from or how we would make it through the next fit our youngest would send our way. We were the average American family who enjoyed our days working, attending church, raising our children to understand right from wrong.  We were happy and healthy, connected to friends and family and cherishing every moment we could spend together as an immediate family. Bob was finding peace in his profession and although his days required hard work,  the rewards were great. We were back in our home town and finally building a house we had waited so long for. We were blessed and in so many ways truly in love with our family and our lives.

But deep down something was a brewin'. Things were going well yet I can very clearly recall the questions I began asking of God. "So is this it? We seem to have it all, are we supposed to feel like we just continue to climb the ladder of more stuff and bigger things? Are we giving enough of what we have been blessed with away?" There were questions and it did seem that something big was missing from our lives.  With three boys I was aware of my growing desire to raise a daughter and my dear   eldest son, who knew that I wanted a little girl in our world, began to send me these little messages that he said were coming from God about adopting a little girl. "Adoption" became a word we threw around and a word we were very comfortable with after numerous health concerns that made us question our ability to conceive back in the late 1990's. Adoption became a word we all used when people would comment or ask about our brood of boys. I kid you not when I say people would often stare when I was out and about with our first two and a big round belly pregnant with our third. I had three boys in four years and we did look like crazy people even on our good days. LOL! So people would ask, "So are you thinking of going for the girl?' To which I would so casually reply, "Yeah sure but she is not going Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would become such a passion and a calling.

Then one day God flipped a switch. I wish I had the clarity to remember exactly when it happened, but I do know that we went through several months where all we talked about where the many children of the world who needed so much. We began to discuss as a family the children who were in need of clean water, a safe place to live, food and of course parents. We began to talk to our three young boys more strongly about how we give more to the needy children of the world. We participated in packing shoe boxes through Operation Christmas Child. I began to read about the child soldiers of Uganda in this child's true story.We began looking at the various adoption agencies and researching those that served children both domestically and internationally. Way back when we even attended a meeting through the local Adoption Associates Agency and the Director of the China Program came in to the meeting to discuss a new program opening in Ethiopia. I'm telling you even way back then, four or more years ago, God was trying to open our hearts to Ethiopia.

What came next was the reading of a book by Patricia McCormick called Sold

Then came a weekend that changed my heart deeply. The Watoto Choir came to our church for a performance that was eye opening beyond measure. The children are all Ugandan and most are orphaned due to the ravages of a 20 year war. We signed on to house choir members and I will never forget the connections I felt immediately to these three precious young girls.

Each has a unique story as to how she was brought to the Watoto compound. The oldest girl was actually brought to Watoto by her older brother who was caring for several family members after parents were killed and could no longer care for her. Their stories were harrowing and although the structure of the choir and the discipline that it took to travel the world with over 100 children for 16 months left us with a few questions, we have carefully watched what the Watoto organization is doing and it seems they are changing lives for the best. The idea behind the choirs is to give each of the Ugandan children a skill and to bathe them in the love of Christ to help heal their hurts and hopefully raise them up to become leaders in their own country. Watoto children are adopted by Watoto and each is raised in a family setting with Special Mothers as the heads of the households. Check out their website. It's worth it. The three girls who spent the night in our house changed me and made me realize that there was so much more our family could give.

So back to our story... From 2004 on God was really pushing me to become more curious about the children of the world.  HE was opening me up to all sorts of Global crisis situations through books, films, reading, blogs, other families, etc. I can confidently say now that what seemed coincidental was no accident to God. HE was in the details and leading me all the way all the while begging me to TRUST Him. Yeah not my strongest skill- that lovely TRUST thing. So the story continues with us knowing that All God's Children International was the adoption agency we were most interested in. We had read the story of how the family run agency was founded, and we loved the faith and love they were pouring into the orphans of the world. But again I need to pinch myself in remembering that choosing a Christian agency was not my top priority. Yes another thing God knew about what we needed! AGCI means the world to us now and we are so in awe of the amazing families we have met and the exceptional work that AGCI strives to do in the world. AGCI brought us hope when it felt like there was none after having signed on with the Nepal adoption program  that quickly began to dissolve. The ultimate gift  AGCI provided was the comfort as they cared for our precious Ava for the first three months of her new life. The entire team on the ground in Ethiopia from the drivers, to the cleaning staff to the Special Mothers and of course the agency Director are the most caring and loving souls we could have hoped for in the first few months of our daughter's life. Now we cannot even fathom being on such a life changing journey without our AGCI family.

So I share a portion of our story on this Orphan Sunday with the hope of encouraging you in a couple of ways. What speaks to you in terms of reaching outside of your comfort zone and changing the world? What themes seem to continue to pop up in your life? Have you asked yourself if these conversations, words, things perhaps you have read or people who have come in contact with are mere coincidence or could they be very specific, God ordained signs that YOU were meant to do more. you. This week I would encourage you and I will do the same... to pray for the vulnerable children of the world. The statistics make me want to run and hide but then I am brought back to the realization that it God can do great things, beyond our wildest imagination. HE can use you and I one at a time to change the world one orphan at a time.  Perhaps we cannot all adopt, but we all have the ability to research the issue and learn more. We can all pray. Many of us can sponsor children and many of us have the passion and the church platform to spread the message of the poor, the helpless, the enslaved and the orphaned. Maybe you are being called to visit the hurting children of the world. Even if you are afraid or wonder how you could possibly do such a thing with such busy days or your role as parents- DO IT ANYWAY!
Change can happen, one child at a time.

Orphan Sunday Video

It's the Little Things

This morning while our daughter drank her bottle I noticed her latest trick. She now holds her hands up and opens and shuts them while starring at the movement of her fingers. Yes I know, no big deal for most children and of course when we are busy busy busy sometimes we just want our little ones to drink their bottle so we can get them down for a nap. Ava had changed us. We look at her with eyes wide open. We watch her every move with more excitement and perhaps more passion than we might have six years ago when our third son was born. It sounds strange but all the little things Ava does have become such a miracle to us and it is great fun to be still and quiet and just take it all in. This morning I called Bob into the room to see if he could watch her watching her own hands but instead she just began to star into the eyes of her Daddy. He was on his way out and I loved his words, "She is just soooo cool!" 

All of the little things that shape and define our day can be so refreshing if we choose to see them with clearer, less hectic open eyes. Not always so easy for me but I sure do try. Here is my attempt to capture a few to remember this week...

The smile of my first grade son when I met him outside his classroom all ready for his Halloween parade. He dressed himself as I was busy getting my

 very popular daughter into the school in time for the parade (more on that in a minute). He was thrilled that he did it all by himself. Rock on Elvis!

Last Sunday's gorgeous trip to the orchard with all FOUR

of our kiddos. I absolutely love fall and seeing Ava in all her beauty in the middle of 

all the small orange pumpkins on a bright warm day was just delightful!

Before anyone cringes about "no socks," I took them off only briefly to snap 

her little toes with the pumpkins. :)

Three happy, healthy and WILD 

brothers who are so tight.

They have a deep love for one another!

Carter rocked this week and he does so many little things in a day to help our family run smoothly.

He is sweet and grateful almost always. This week he could hardly wait for his after school art class and I am enjoying watching him learn a few drawing techniques. He loves it and left the house this morning 

with colored pencils and his little notebook in hand.

This little thing is BIG. My fifth grader, dressed as President Regan, was so excited to have his 

sister at school. I was totally prepared to run out of the building if Ava was scared but instead she 

giggled through the entire afternoon while I visited both schools, the elementary and the 5th/6th.

What was so endearing was Hayden loving on his sister with such a pride. He was so excited to tell 

others that she is from Ethiopia. He introduced her to everyone and she had a blast, costumes and all.

Walking through school with Ava with all the other parents around was truly 

a memorable experience. Pick some sort of icon or movie star and picture yourself 

walking through a public arena with he or she. Yes that is what it often feels like when traveling with 

Miss Ava. THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT as much as it is a statement of truth...

Ava's smile is contagious and people want to know her story- our story!

I have said before that adoption is a huge responsibility on so many levels and here is one of those levels.

I feel like she is our child but she is also a child of God who can perhaps change the life of more children who may have started out life with similar circumstances. We do want to share her in a sense and we do want to hear and guide those who have had adoption on their hearts. I was overwhelmed yesterday as so many people were thrilled so finally see her and even those Moms who do not know us well had heard rumbling of Ava having come home. Even those people had to stop me to take a look at our new family member. It is wild, overwhelming, emotional and so much fun all at once to begin to introduce her to the world. I am rambling I know but I feel strongly like Ava herself and this blog platform will hopefully transform hearts and help people to just do it. Call me or email me. I will always be a listening ear or an open book with information on adoption, our process, the hardships, the joys. With 147 million orphans in the world we all need to be the change and begin with one, be it adoption, sponsorship and one time donation- anything. We can all do something :)

My favorite part of the walking the school halls was when my friend, Jenny, yelled during the costume parade, "Melanie, turn that baby around so we can see her!" Ava was in the Ergo and Jenny needed to see her. Yep then we were really on display for all the Mommas who were lining the lockers to see.

Thank you to all my many friends and our awesome community who have been so supportive and downright amazing. You have blessed us beyond words with your eagerness, messages and loving attention.

In many ways in seems that Ava came home to all of us!

One more thing. I shared this tip yesterday with a hundred others and my friend Andrea gives a bit more detail on her fabulous blog HERE

Have fun and don't forget to treasure the little things!

Beautiful Bounty

Days click by and I am so wishing there was a gadget to transfer my thoughts to paper without having to find the time to sit and type. Of course there will be soon as I can only imagine someone at Apple is working on that right now. :) 

You see when I sit in this space I have the best time to think...

The rocking chair we used for all three boys is in this room and I love to turn on the fan and 

sit in the quiet while feeding Ava. She just looks up with her dreamy eyes and I am reminded that 

my life as a Mother of four is so good. I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams.

Lately, I have also found that looking into Ava's eyes makes me want to be a better person, a more

knowledgeable soul and a better follower of Jesus.

It's as if God has turned on a switch in me and I love the light that is radiating through my veins.

My dialogue with God is in full swing when I make the time to sit quietly and listen.

Sitting still and listening is not an easy feat for a type A doer and person who loves to accomplish much, but what I am finding in my listening is so encouraging, changing and sustaining.

Last Thursday night we went as a family to see this man perform:

Yes it is... Stephen Curtis Chapman! We absolutely love his music and his 

families call to help orphans. Their ministry is amazing and the tragedy they have endured as 

a family is nothing you would wish upon anyone, however they are such a testament to 

God's great grace.  The loss has transformed their lives and I believe the loss of one little 

one's life has brought medical care, safety and adoption to thousands of children

who might not have had it without the formation of Maria's Big House of Hope after 

the death of their daughter. Visit Show Hope to see how you can do more to impact the orphan 

crisis through monthly support, mobilizing your church and/or requesting aid to assist in your own adoption.

So here is where my story begins. We took our three boys to the concert but the concert began to get very late and we knew we needed to head home as it was a school night. On the way out our six year old began to come undone and by the time we all made it to the car he was in a full blown fit and freaking out.  This can be common for him but quickly everyone began to escalate and before we knew it the other kids were crying and begging our very obstinate son to just get in his car seat. It was horrendous and all I could think was that we were just trying to attend the Stephen Curtis Chapman concert with our family. Can this be for real?

We made it home and all fell into bed feeling lost and drained. Parenting can be the most thankless job in the world and I think the last few years of trying to parent Owen has definitely increased my faith as I find myself often asking God for the proper words to make my point with my children.

We then rolled into Friday and when the boys returned home from school we knew we had to deal with the event that t had taken place the night before. Shortly after everyone was home I found myself sitting in Ava's room feeding her and begging God to show me what He needs me to say and do to be a more effective parent. God truly showed up and within a short time I called our whole family into Ava's room for a meeting.

The words just came and I felt a bit like I was lecturing even though I tried hard to ask many questions. Bob did the same. We asked the boys why we adopted a child into our family?

We asked them what kind of family we are called to be?

We talked at great length about respect and honoring your parents even when it requires doing something you may not want to do or something that may interfere with what your personal agenda is at the time. I felt the load lift and we all made our way outside to do a family night of yard work. There were other plans looming out there but we needed to simply be, hanging with one another and working together as a family. 

The weekend went on with several moments where both Bob and myself worked very hard to continue to check in, to engage more, to listen harder and to pray for the attitudes of our children.

I reread several chapters in Ted Tripp's Shepherding a Child's Heart and it was helpful once again for me to regroup, pass my learning along to Bob and then put it into action.

It is a book for people who have children of any age and it is full of ways to encourage your children to respect and honor parents. This weekend we discussed how honoring your parents, even when you may not want to, teaches you to honor God. We challenged them to do what they are asked without excuse, challenge or delay. It's a tough road as we are more and more beginning to see their individual personalities creeping into the mix. They are getting so old and they want what they want when they want it. I remember those days as a child, but I also remember feeling awful when I behaved that way.

We have a big job ahead and for whatever reason this past weekend was very trying and very 

exhausting.

BUT in the midst of it all so many beautiful and bountiful things 

happened...

-We all communicated and listened more. Carter sat out back with Ava by the fire while Hayden and Owen helped cut back perennials.

-Bob and I had a long discussion about our spiritual lives and the possibility that we are being lead to attend another church ( a whole can of worms I must not dig into just yet)

-We attended soccer games, hiked with other Dads and sons from school.

-Spent more time loving on Ava and cherishing her smile and her silly fake coughs and chatter.

- We slept in on Sunday (whatever that means) and still made it to the early service.

-We completed Halloween costumes and prepared for the week.

-We visited our favorite pumpkin patch and did all things fall.

-We had an impromptu dinner with friends and the kids all planned  dance party in the basement with our Halloween strob light.

-We watched an inspiring video series called: Another World is Possible, featuring Shain Claiborne who founded the faith community of the Simple Way. Shain is radical and oh so funny. Take a peak at how he is making a difference with his DVD series on poverty. It was yet another reminder that we need to open our eyes and our hearts to those beyond our own corners of the world.

His crazy hair and insightful comments will truly make you think and of course I love what he asks others to do simply by giving their shoes.

Just a reminder of all things that make our lives so rich... The good, the bad, the difficult, the simple and the ugly. On Monday a friend reminded me that we are asked to do the very best we can each day.

After all, we are never assured a tomorrow.

Today I will be grateful for the bounty and the beauty that comes alongside this wild ride called parenthood!

BE THE CHANGE and get your t-shirt(s) HERE!

Speak Up for Those Who Cannot Speak for Themselves!

All proceeds from the sale of our tshirts will benefit 

the love and care of orphans and widows.

-Send a child to school

-Send someone to love on orphans 

Be the Change 

ONE CHILD at a TIME!

We have three junior sizes and small, medium, large and x-large for adults. Please note that the shirts are slightly fitted.

Please feel free to email us at strobels@mac.com should you have any questions.

Thank you for your support!

sizes

adult small adult medium adult large adult xlarge youth small youth medium youth large

Loving with Abandon

Tonight I write to all of you reading who might be questioning adoption. I know you are wondering if it is for you or your family. Perhaps you are asking yourself if it is something you have the heart to endure or the patience to stomach. Maybe you are fearful of what lies ahead due to the many unknowns in the adoption journey. I write to you and wish I could jump through my computer screen and come over for a cup of coffee and hear your hearts and your fears. I wish I could listen to your concerns and answer your questions.  I think it would be a gift and a wonderful way to spend time, connecting with those couples who wish to adopt. But trust me when I tell you that after I gave you my full attention and my listening ear well I am fairly certain I would then do the following:

I would jump up and begin to shout at the top of my lungs the ever popular Nike phrase:

JUST DO IT! 

(repeatedly of course)

You would perhaps think me crazy but I would not care. I do crazy quite well thank you. :)

You see I have walked in your shoes. I have felt the ache your heart my feel, I have done all the research and talked until I am blue in the face about what country and the pros and cons of international 

versus domestic adoption.

I know the process and the soul searching you are going through feels so challenging... 

Sometimes you may even wish you could run the other way from the call to adopt. 

The calling is often frightening 

but I am hear to remind you today that 

God does not call the equipped: He equips the called!

Today was a big day in the life of our daughter.

Today Ava turned six months old! 

She is vibrant, smiley, demanding,

sitting up, communicative with her eyes and her smiles, sleeping well and rolling over like crazy.

Watching her all day today reminded me that I should help others to know that they too can take the crazy leap of faith into the world of adoption. Let our heart be softened and your prayer filled soul be your guide to the child of yur heart, wherever he or she is.

All children need us and perhaps there is one child who God intends especially for you and your family.

Today I am grateful for the joy of Ava. I am grateful for the challenge and the juggling she has created in our family. I am grateful for the bustle of our household as the boys nearly miss the bus becasue they have to say goodbye to Ava. I am grateful for the leaky bottles and the middle of the night feedings, for the fussy times when I must let go of my own needs so that I might better meet hers. 

These are all changes that God knew  I needed and our family needed.

Funny how one little can change so much.

JUST DO IT!

We believed we were simply growing our family but God had so much more in store when he showed us the way to Ava.

Happy half birthday sweet daughter of ours...

We love you with wild abandon!