Excitement

Over the last few months, we have been reevaluating our family choices and goals. We tried to remember our five and ten year goals that we made early in marriage (we celebrated our eleventh anniversary this spring.). As Mom and Dad moved back home from Uganda, we have, as a family, been discussing what each of our “missions” might be. That seemed impossible to narrow down, but I think we’ve done it.

The primary mission for our family is to care for orphans. We have internal family goals as well, but this is specifically our family’s mission to the world. God placed it in our hearts before our marriage and that passion has not lessened with time. Being Jordan’s Mom, Dad, and sisters is part of that mission. Supporting other adoptive and foster families through friendship, counsel, prayer, babysitting and respite care is part of it. Supporting orphan care organizations financially is part of it. Supporting families that might otherwise fall apart without help is part of it (thinking of impoverished families who can’t afford to care for their children without aid, such as World Vision children). As specific as caring for orphans is as a mission, it has broad possibilities for application. And I’m excited.

I’m excited that we have a mission. A goal. Something to aim at, to strive for. I’m excited to have introduced it to the kids. I love broadening their world and seeing them embrace the new information and grow. I’m so proud of them.

Tonight we went around the table and tried to decide what some things we can do are. Being Jordan’s family came up. Praying came up. And sending money to an orphanage or other orphan-care organization came up. We made a goal of saving up as much as we could by Christmas! We got out a big jar and we all raided our purses and wallets and put our bills and dollars in.

I’m excited.

We’re going to try and think up some fundraisers to help us raise some more money. We’re especially looking for things that we can do together. Our first idea is to take some of the scrapbooking paper we have and write Scripture or inspirational quotes on it in calligraphy. Or I can do calligraphy on regular paper and the kids can decorate it. The idea was to have something inexpensive to mail so that we can sell these things very cheap. We’re putting quarters and dollars into this jar. Please let me know if you also want to contribute and how!

A very good beginning!