Summertime Fun

Kids playing one of our favorite games.

Lauren at her dance recital.

Happy Father's Day!

We heard this song at church tonight and it brought tears to my eyes. Not just because we are adopting a son but because it is true...There are No Orphans to God! Amen! God is our Father! Avalon sings this song on their "Stand" Album. Here are the lyrics below... I also added the song to my playlist at the end of the blog.

Who here among us has not been broken Who here among us is without guilt or pain So oft’ abandoned by our transgressions If such a thing as grace exists Then grace was made for lives like this There are no strangers There are no outcasts There are no orphans of God So many fallen, but hallelujah There are no orphans of God Come ye unwanted and find affection Come all ye weary, come and lay down your head Come ye unworthy, you are my brother If such a thing as grace exists Then grace was made for lives like this O blessed Father, look down upon us We are Your children, we need Your love We run before Your throne of mercy And seek Your face to rise above

Food For Thought...

Why Choose Ethiopia?
• One in six children die before their fifth birthday• One in ten children die before their first birthday• 44% of the population of Ethiopia is under 15 years old• 60% of children in Ethiopia are stunted because of malnutrition• The median age in Ethiopia is 17.8 years• 1.5 million people are infected with AIDS (6th highest in the world)• 720,000 children have been orphaned by AIDS alone•There are 4.6 million orphans in Ethiopia and the country is twice the size of Texas• Per capita, Ethiopia receives less aid than any country in Africa• Drought struck the country from 2000-2002 (first year no crops, second year no seeds, third year no animals)• Half the children in Ethiopia will never attend school. 88% will never attend secondary school• Coffee prices (Ethiopia’s only major export) fell 40-60% from 1998-2002• Ethiopia’s doctor to children ratio is 1 to 24,000