Count My Blessings

One should really do this sort of exercise more often. Helps put a stop to the whining. :-)

The many ways people blessed us through our adoption journey:

Two baby showers
A thoughtful picture frame with a nice note to hold the place of our daughter’s picture during our long wait for referral
Two doctor friends’ expert opinions on critical matters
Free piano lessons for one of our sons to help with costs
An unexpected significant cash gift from a friend to help with travel
Pastor pulling us aside Sunday before our trip for a prayer
Pastor joyfully announcing our return to the whole congregation in the middle of his sermon!
Many folks who contributed in one way or another to our adoption paperwork!
My sister buying us new very nice car seat
Neighbor who mowed our lawn
Friends who took care of our cat
Long-time friend who took care of our stupid dog
A bunch of my coworkers surprised us with a nice card and generous contributions that took care of that first trip to Costco for diapers and formula!
Various friends giving us a crib,
……. a running stroller,
……..their daughter’s clothes
Literally dozens of folks who have spoken words of blessing to us about our adoption and about little Lulit after we got her
The wonderful people at our agency (CHI) who guided us through the process with love and skill
Whoever put up the “Welcome Home, Lulit” banner, streamers and balloons
Three sons of mine who have prayed for Lulit for 2+ years and engulfed her with love
My beautiful wife who envisioned our family expanding through adoption

New Flower

Yep, it's a bummer that I tore my ACL last winter. It's a bummer that it knocked me out of the Boston Marathon again this year. It's a bummer that I missed Boston in 2008 to a pulled hamstring. It's a bummer that I can't yet run any further than 6 or 7 miles at a time (although under a glass half full philosophy that is most definitely NOT really a bummer). And it is a bummer that I probably won't be able to run a fall marathon because there just isn't enough time to get more healed up and then to build up. Looking further back over the last two to three years it's a bummer that I was treated grossly unfairly in a job and had to leave it and lost another one to an unfortunate business development. And there were other significant family events that caused me and my little family tremendous grief over that time frame.

But then there's this. And I learn again that I am the richest man in the world.