Family

In case you didn't already know... I pretty much have the greatest family in the world.  A bold statement, I know, but also a true one.

Let me tell you just how great they are.  But, first I have to go back a couple of months.

During month 2 of the race, I had the opportunity to live and work at an orphanage in Haiti called HIS Home for Children.  Not surprising to anyone, I quickly fell in love with the beautiful faces there, but there were two kids in particular that stole my heart... a 9 year old named Jasmine and a baby named Sammy. 

Let me give you a little background on these two. 

Jasmine has lived at the orphanage since she was about 2 years old.  At this time she was severely malnourished and her mother brought her in because she just could not take care of her on her own.  At the orphanage, she was nursed back to health and her mother was actually given the opportunity to attempt to raise her again.  Unfortunately, a couple months later, her mother returned with the baby because she could not provide for her properly. Jasmine was my shadow from the day I stepped into the orphanage.  She's beautiful, she has a smile that lights up the room, and while she loves the color pink, she sure doesn't mind getting down and dirty in the middle of a soccer game with all of the boys.  Definitely my kind of girl.

Sammy, a one year old in the nursery, stole my heart at first glance.  He has big brown eyes that read both of sadness and of love.  From the first time I picked him up out of his bed, I knew we had a special bond.  Throughout the month, I would stop in the nursery many times a day just to kiss my sweet baby on the head. It got to the point that he would start jumping up and down with a huge smile on his face whenever I would even peek my head in the room.  This beautiful, sweet baby, like many other orphans just craved love.

Why tell you about these two? What does this have anything to do with my family?  I'm getting there, I promise.  :)  You see, throughout my month in Haiti I prayed specifically over these two and their huge needs for a family.  During this time, I also jokingly mentioned to my parents and my older sister that I had found Haitian children for them to adopt. 

Somewhat to my surprise, and by God's divine intervention, my family took this advice seriously and agreed to be prayerful about it.  Wow.

Long story short, these two Haitian kiddos will soon be coming to the United States to be a part of my family!  I now have another little sister as well as a second nephew!  Two little loves of my life will officially be a part of it forever.

How crazy is that?  It still blows my mind.

See, I told you... I have a ridiculously wonderful family.

and an even more fabulous God.