This morning I am thankful.  Thankful for many things....I could go on and on listing all that I am thankful for but I'm sure that my list would sound pretty much like your list so just think of what you are thankful for today and then you will know what I am thankful for.  I am especially thankful that even in these uncertain circumstances and with our country's bad economic situation our family is still able to travel down this path to Ethiopia to find our child. These children living in extreme poverty can't wait until we decide that we have enough money or that we are secure enough in our job or life.  These children need a family now.  They need someone to take care of them, to meet their needs, to love them....forever.  These children have suffered much. I think of my children, or actually even myself, have we ever really had to suffer?? When was the last time, because of lack of food, you just didn't get to eat that day? When was the last time you had to drink water that came from a polluted river because that was your only source of water? When was the last time you had to walk for miles to get that polluted water and then walk for miles carrying that large jug back to your house?

This is why we joined the Red Letters Campaign.  

I am so thankful for being able to add to our family through the adoption of an Ethiopian child but what saddens me is that if my child's birth family had their basic needs met maybe my Ethiopian child would be able to live with her birth family forever and grow up in Ethiopia. I love this child so much now and I don't even know her yet but the sad thing is, for me to be able to have such joy, someone else has to suffer tremendous loss. That's terribly sad. If people around the world could just work together to help these countries to just even get to the point where they have their basic needs met there would be less sickness and disease and more prosperity for the people of these developing countries.

Stepping down off my soap box now.........

Wendy