I feel like wherever I turn I'm getting great insight from people that are causing me to look at things through a different lens than I have been using. As you know from my previous post that I have been rather consumed with my kids in Haiti. Please don't think I'm psycho and going nuts here, but I just think of them lots, which is good, but I need to focus on good things and not all that I am missing.

This sweet lady left a great response to the sappy mess I wrote about the other day. She said they adopted one of their children when she was older and although they missed a lot of “traditional firsts” they also experienced so many other first. Hand dryers, cotton candy, and even discovering Jesus. That was great for me to hear. There will be goodness given to us in the form of first's with our kids.

Then today I read the Weimer's blog and they are talking about one of their daughter's from Ethiopia experiencing the automatic hand dryer in the bathroom for the first time and I smiled at the thought of Amos putting his hands under one for the first time. It is a first I look forward to now. I can almost see his face light up and scream with delight like I remember him doing when the bugs were on the light at the dinner table. I still remember his little voice! Thank you God for that memory.

Today I open up bloglines and my new friend Stephanie who is also working with ROTH has posted a beautiful poem that I needed to read. It is just what Lori and I were talking about last night on the phone. She was encouraging me to remember my kids that are home with us now. She said that as adoptive parents we can become so consumed with waiting on our children that we miss out on things going on here with our kids. I was moved and encouraged by her words. Great words of advice. Thanks!

Here is the poem that Stephanie wrote.

Checking on three sleeping children tonight
Tucking them in, making sure they’re alright
Thinking of one who is so far away
Remembering that I need to cherish today

Let me not miss this moment of my children’s lives
The ones that are sleeping under my roof tonight
They need to know that my love is here
Hugging them closer, holding them near

Let me not miss this moment of my child’s life
The one that is living in a world torn with strife
He needs to know that someone does care
Someone who longs for the chance to be there

The light in her eyes – the curl in his hair
The smile on her face – the joy that he shares
Each one so precious, so special, unique
Each one a gift from our Father to me

Let me not miss this moment of my children’s lives
The ones that are sleeping under my roof tonight
Help them to know that God’s love is here
Hugging them closer, holding them near

Let me not miss this moment of my child’s life
The one that is living in a world torn with strife
He needs to know that the Father does care
And that He is the one who is already there

Each day goes faster, the moments slip by
Let me not miss this moment
Of my children’s lives.

-shg 01.30.08

Stephanie will be putting together a book of poetry to help off set some of the costs for their upcoming adoption.  Bookmark her site and check back often!