Kole, our 4 1/2 year old, is highly sensitive. If you have not read the amazing book The Highly Sensitive Person or its "sequel" about children, it is a great one to pick up or, in our case, borrow from the library. Simply put, there is a very wide spectrum but a highly sensitive person is more aware of his/her world: pain, seams in socks, embarrasment, separation, loud noises...all of these would qualify. Because I am anything but highly sensitive (and, unfortunately, sometimes not sensitive at all!), for a lot of years I thought Kole may be trying to make my life difficult. I mean, I would think, "Buck up, buddy! Who cares if your shirt feels "crinkly"! What does that really mean anyway?!?" And what about the dread of putting snow clothes on every winter and the guaranteed tears that comes as a result?! It was all so annoying to me. That was my attitude pre-book. (There's a little "fleshly attitude" for you)
Well, after learning a little about children--and people--who are highly sensitive, I really began to see the legitimacy in their feelings (I mean, c'mon Danielle! When are a person's feelings not legitimate anyway! My social worker mom would be SO disappointed in me!!!) I began to parent Kole differently--and better. Now, I see the beauty in his sensitivity. That does not mean that when I'm in a hurry to get out the door, I'm not impatient over shoes that don't feel right, or that when the special Stride Rite seamless socks I purchased (at over $9 for a pack of 3) still don't ease his discomfort, I'm not a little perturbed. However, it really is a beautiful thing. Kole is incredible. He is the child that pulls me to him and says, "Mom, that necklace looks BEAUTIFUL!" He is the one that notices a pretty smell in a friend's bathroom. He is the one (his preschool teacher tells me) that looks after his classmate who has forgotten a scarf on their special Snow Day. And he is the one that today said to me from the couch, "Mom, did you know that I feel sad that I have so much stuff?!?" which began an incredible conversation about how much we have and how little others have...and how we need to do more to help.
Kole Joseph, I love you SO much, little man. Thank you for noticing all those things in life that so many of us forget. May I learn even more from you in the days ahead.
Friday, February 8
Thursday, February 7
It's there...God's perfect timing.
Well, as of 12 a.m. according to FEDEX records, our dossier is in Ethiopia!!! It may even be in the hands of Girmachew, America World's amazing go-to-guy based on what "International Shipment Release" means (I guess based on the busyness of the ET staff, sometimes packages of dossiers sit at the post office for a couple of weeks before they actually get picked up). This is just one piece of amazing news in a whole bunch of encouragement for the week. Besides our dossier, two AW families had successful court dates (allowing us to ooo and ahhh over their children's pictures and AW to begin making travel arrangments) with 5 more families scheduled for court tomorrow after a treacherously long wait. Anyway, after a LONG time with no collective action, the last month has been amazing.
However, even more amazing for me than all this news is what happened at women's prayer night yesterday. Once a month, a small group of women meet from several different church bodies to share, eat, and pray as the Spirit leads (that "as the Spirit leads" part had to do with the prayer, not the eating). It's like no other prayer time I've ever been involved with (and in 31 years of church activities, I've been involved in A LOT of prayer time!) and it has been life to me for years. Last night was a special night of ministry for me. Some of the women had some amazing revelation from God. It's really too personal to put out there in cyberspace, but let's just say that I realized for the first time that my incredible love and passion for Africa is not just a "cool something," but actually part of my CALLING. And I don't use that word lightly. Karl and I both are CALLED to Africa! It's so simple and makes so much sense as I look at the path God has had me on, but I don't think I would have ever used such heavy, significant language. No matter what the future holds (and with God, there are A LOT of different options out there!) my journey is closely linked to the people of Africa. Most recently, of course, our journey to our precious little one is how our love for the African people is being realized, but even this amazing, incredible, mind-boggling adoption is only a piece of the very large puzzle that is God's plan for our family, and for me personally! What life this brings!
So, today, I am embracing Africa. Not only does this mean that I'm purchasing two REALLY cool shirts with that beautiful continent on the front (see Gibson and Kidd family links!), it means that I am rejoicing in the fact that God has called me--this crazy white chic from the most affluent (and might I say materialistic) country on earth--to put my faith into action through prayer, activism, and whatever else the Great Composer of my life asks me to do!
Danielle
(I hate to ruin the moment, but I can't resist a stab at my own hypocrisy: did I just talk about buying something and America's sick materialism in the same sentence?!? I have such a long way to go!)
However, even more amazing for me than all this news is what happened at women's prayer night yesterday. Once a month, a small group of women meet from several different church bodies to share, eat, and pray as the Spirit leads (that "as the Spirit leads" part had to do with the prayer, not the eating). It's like no other prayer time I've ever been involved with (and in 31 years of church activities, I've been involved in A LOT of prayer time!) and it has been life to me for years. Last night was a special night of ministry for me. Some of the women had some amazing revelation from God. It's really too personal to put out there in cyberspace, but let's just say that I realized for the first time that my incredible love and passion for Africa is not just a "cool something," but actually part of my CALLING. And I don't use that word lightly. Karl and I both are CALLED to Africa! It's so simple and makes so much sense as I look at the path God has had me on, but I don't think I would have ever used such heavy, significant language. No matter what the future holds (and with God, there are A LOT of different options out there!) my journey is closely linked to the people of Africa. Most recently, of course, our journey to our precious little one is how our love for the African people is being realized, but even this amazing, incredible, mind-boggling adoption is only a piece of the very large puzzle that is God's plan for our family, and for me personally! What life this brings!
So, today, I am embracing Africa. Not only does this mean that I'm purchasing two REALLY cool shirts with that beautiful continent on the front (see Gibson and Kidd family links!), it means that I am rejoicing in the fact that God has called me--this crazy white chic from the most affluent (and might I say materialistic) country on earth--to put my faith into action through prayer, activism, and whatever else the Great Composer of my life asks me to do!
Danielle
(I hate to ruin the moment, but I can't resist a stab at my own hypocrisy: did I just talk about buying something and America's sick materialism in the same sentence?!? I have such a long way to go!)
Monday, February 4
Quick update!
We're just getting reacclamated after a wonderful weekend in Lansing, MI to visit Aunt Heidi, Uncle Matthew, Sophie, and Anna. I just wanted to let you all know that our dossier has been picked up from America World and is now--slowly--making it's way to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia! I'll let you know when it gets there :)
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