Orphan Sunday 2012

Yesterday at Newsong for the third year, we celebrated God's heart for the orphan. I was honored to host our services and was basically a blubbering mess all day (I held it together on stage except for one moment when I shared the pictures below). I shared with our community how we take caring for orphans very seriously at Newsong because we see God's calling all over the pages of Scripture and because it's become so personal for us.

150+ million orphans in the world is an overwhelming - and sobering - statistic, but it became personal when I saw these two faces.

When we first laid eyes on our son, he was no longer a statistic. He had flesh and a name. And he needed a family.

And then this beauty took our breath away.

They were both so young. And beautiful. And perfect. And ours! August 16, 2010 is the day when these orphans became our son and daughter in our heart. They were no longer a statistic to us. Orphan care became incredibly personal.                        

The first Orphan Sunday that Newsong participated in (2010), we were in Ethiopia meeting our children for the first time. The ability to be IN Ethiopia ON Orphan Sunday was a miracle only God could do.

This picture was taken in Ethiopia right after going to court to legally become their parents.

Last year on Orphan Sunday (2011) we were blessed to dedicate Judah and Addise to the Lord along with three other adoptive families and before our church family. Judah and Addise were proudly dressed in traditional Ethiopian clothing. And I was secretly 8 weeks pregnant with Asher. Our family of 5 was exploding in gratitude.

Our children's pastor and another pastor dedicating Judah and Addise.

This year I learned the origin of Orphan Sunday: Orphan Sunday started in Zambia, Africa 10 years ago. Pastor Billy Chondwe’s church had only 70 members, many of them facing deep poverty themselves. Yet their sacrificial actions for orphans and widows set in motion a vision that has spread worldwide.

Pastor Chondwe explains, “I had no clue that by now it would go across the globe. I was just looking at it as a local thing. But when I see and hear what God is doing through Orphan Sunday in other nations, I just think, “It is a miracle. This is the doing of God.”

This year Orphan Sunday was celebrated in 22 counties in thousands of churches by hundreds of thousands of people across denominational lines. A unity focused on children so close to God's heart. He must be so pleased. Check out this video for more of the story. It will capture your heart. (Because it's long, if you want, just watch the first 7 minutes and then minutes 31:00-32:30. You will be so glad you did!)


Zambia's Gift to the World from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

My African brothers and sisters continue to teach me - and compel me! - to live out the Gospel even more. In a country where they are "lacking" so much, they are also giving so much more than we often dare. This passage read at the beginning of the video says it all...

Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us^[c]—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:1-7

May it be more true of us.

Half Year (ALREADY?!)

I believe the cliches - I CANNOT BELIEVE ASHER'S ALREADY 6 MONTHS OLD! This is going by too fast. Way. Too. Fast. We didn't get these early months with our first two (wail and scream and cry) and we don't plan on them again, so we are truly enjoying - savoring! - everything about his infancy.

What started almost exactly 1 year ago as a shocking and terrifying positive pregnancy test has turned into our 3rd greatest blessing. Asher is perfection. Pure joy. The best baby. The most wonderful addition to our family.

We took naming our son seriously. Just a few weeks before his miraculous arrival, we landed on his name: Asher means "happy" and "blessing" and Zacarias means "God remembered". Every day I think of the weight of his name and how he's already living into it. He is truly the happiest baby (barring the most adorable pouty face he makes when he's really expressing his disappointment with life). He's slept through the night for a couple months (more or less) and he doesn't even wake up crying in hunger. He wakes up with a smile. He finds excuses to smile and giggle profusely. He flirts with all the girls - batting his long eye lashes and flashing a gummy smile. He's content with the world, loves his swing, eat/sleeps/poops like a champ. Though a preemie, he's quickly made up time in every area. Perhaps he's so happy because he gets lathered in kisses everyday by his siblings, momma, and daddy. He's so very well loved.

Asher's our little Benjamin Button look-alike blessing. We cannot imagine life without him, although a year ago we couldn't imagine life with another child. It's humbling to know God remembered our prayers from y-e-a-r-s ago and gave us this miracle. We are soaking in every moment of these early days with Asher.

Our little Harry Potter wrapped up, all clean.

Bald boys at the happiest place on Earth.

Knawing on fingers has become a way of life. So has drool.

Let's call this his Zoolander face.

Stop it. They don't make 'em cuter.

Trying rice cereal for the first time. It didn't go so well.

Spitting. Kicking. Smiling. It's a full time job.

Checking out his new "friend".

Asher Zacarias, we love you like crazy. You have blessed our life immeasurably and filled our family with joy.

Summer So Far

Being on maternity leave for half the summer allowed us some special bonding time as a new family of five. Seeking our new normal, schedules all outta whack, lavishing kisses on our littlest Diaz, here are some moments to remember and share...

Addise was a flower girl in the wedding I officiated. Judah was the ring bearer. Here she is in her traditional Ethiopian dress...devouring a lemon.

Unprompted cuddles. Maybe one of my favorite pictures of all time.

So. Much. LOVE.

We got an annual membership to the "monkey zoo" down the street from our house. A 5-minute walk and we are surrounded by animals, learning, and fun.

Our association pool has been frequented this summer. Though I'm not thrilled to be in a bathing suit weeks after having a baby, I've chosen making pool memories with my preschoolers over vanity. Good choice.

Last summer my older Ethiopian had never been in a body of water larger than a bathtub. Pools freaked him out. This summer he is running and jumping into pool (with floaties), blowing bubbles, and toying with arm strokes. That's my boy!

"More Daddy!"

Tiny toes emerging like a Houdini act from his swaddle.

Learning to love the activity gym.

"Ride da horsey, mommy?" If I had a dollar for every time Addise asked me that question. Here they are with my momma at the zoo.

Camping out with the birdies at the zoo.

Come on. They're just the cutest. It's really not fair.

His model face.

There's nothing like a naked baby. Can't believe this chunky baby came out at 4 lb 5 oz.

Staying up past bedtime watching the Olympics' Opening Ceremonies. Our first Olympics as a family.

His giggles and smiles are addicting. Asher is living into his name's meaning - HAPPY!

Stop it. Too cool for school. Asher's accompanying me to work these days. I think the sunglasses are a disguise for sleeping during the meeting I was leading. On another note, it brings me immeasurable joy to have my friends/coworkers love on him when we're at the office. Guys and girls alike beg, steal, and barter for "Asher time". They snuggle, feed, change diapers, kiss, and rock him. Sometimes I lose track of him as he gets passed around the office. It takes a village and I live mine!

Vintage Addise. Such a lady.

Brian's parents visiting us and meeting their newest grandchild. Hanging at the beach was a must for my island in-laws!

Testing the waves. The waves won moments later.

Sand. Sand. Sand. We find you in her hair for days to come. Curses, sand.

Family.

No words. Only love.