(Sigh).............

We know a family here in town who adopted a little blonde, blue eyed boy from Eastern Europe.  Aaron has some physical challenges and the family is making trips to Shriners Children's Hospital in Maryland each week to get casting on his legs to correct some muscular issues that were not addressed in his earlier life which he spent in an orphanage, and then spent an additional miserable year in a mental institution which is where unadopted post 4 year olds are sent in Eastern Europe. These children are basically discarded, locked away from society and many of them literally perish in these horrific institutions.  Aaron was adopted at 5 years old by this dear family who fought like crazy to get him out of this hell-on-earth place and into their loving home.  For the last 3 weeks, I have had the HONOR of teaching Aaron in the PreK class at our local homeschool co-op.  To see him smiling, full of joy, bright, laughing and interacting with the other children is truly unbelievable.  Aaron is doing SO well, is so smart, so full of life....all because of one loving family who was willing to take a "risk" and get outside of their comfort zone.  Many adoptive families hear from others;..."oh, (your child's name) is SO lucky that you adopted them!"  but most adoptive families would say that THEY are the ones who have been blessed beyond measure.

This is where my (sigh) comes in.  Aaron's family has a blog that follows many other blogs which highlight families in the process of eastern european adoptions.  While it is wonderful to see the cases of the children being adopted into their forever families, there is still a great and DIRE need for many more families to adopt.  Every day, these sweet children "age out" of the orphanages and take a very somber and scary car ride to what will probably be their final destination: a mental institution for children ages 4-18.  Run-down, ill equipped, understaffed, unclean, wretched places that most people would not deem livable at all.  And 4 year old toddlers are "introduced" into these unwelcoming places where they will likely spend the rest of their "childhood".

When I hear Ana chattering away in the preschool class, announcing proudly that "SHE has a Daddy who wears a tie" when we're learning about the letter "T", or that SHE has a doggie at her house that she loves, I can't help but think about all the other children for which time is ticking, ticking, each day bringing them closer to aging out of the orphanage.  Who will go for them? Who will adopt them?  When, if ever, will they be able to say that THEY have a Daddy and a doggie and a house?  I know I sound depressing, and I know most people don't want to hear such sad things but this IS the reality...........

Micah 6:8- "He has showed you O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."