For The Love of Tommy and the Others

I didn't see it coming.

The amazing response for Tommy candles.

I had hoped, of course,

that we might raise a couple of hundred dollars.

But, 

things have happened 

that I did not anticipate.

Readers sent money

and didn't want me to spend one penny of it 

on candle wax or jars.

"Just give them the money, please."

Others ordered Tommy candles in bulk.

Sometimes it was just one or two.

I've even been approached about purchasing

12 ounce jelly jar candles 

with the proceeds going to 

Tommy.

Of course!

At the latest count 

more than 230 candles have been sold.

The ladies at the post office and I have 

bonded every day....

well, 

except for the day of the hurricane.

Not only have we bonded but now they 

are sharing the story.

One clerk was asking me to verify details 

for her again as she was trying to tell 

others what was going on.

Yep!

God must really love Tommy.

Because He is spreading the word.

Please understand, 

our money is a good thing.

But even more powerful is every opportunity

to share about the things God is doing 

in that Eastern European Orphanage.

As I write this big changes are 

happening within the walls of a former

house of suffering.

Children are now being fed.

Diapers are being changed.

Children are just beginning to thrive.

Now, 

the best thing in the world would be if we could 

just get them all out of there and into loving

families.

But, God is on that too.

More and more families are finding these

little ones.

I read the blogs of two of these families 

regularly.  It is interesting to see the impact

of bringing these children home.

There is a commitment that is to be admired.

There are also challenges to work through.

The story does not end when the families walk out the 

doors of that orphanage.

In reality it has just begun.

These children have to learn how to accept love.

How to give love.

How to recognize their own family members

as uniquely theirs.

I am struck by the differences in 

these families.

The parental personalities. 

And how God has chosen

children with very differing needs

to match up with those personalities.

Pretty amazing.

The hardest thing in the real life of being the 

friend of the family is knowing that as much 

as I would want to connect with one brought 

home I must wait.

And wait.

At times it feels uncaring.

Watching a Mama put her own lunch to the side

for hours as she teaches her young one

how to eat.

It would be so easy to jump in and 

offer to help.

But this would be detrimental to the 

learning process.

That sacrifice is one the Mama wants to make.

One that she needs to make.

She must be the one to meet the needs of 

this darling daughter, every time,  for a long time.

Long enough that it is very clear that 

this Mommy and Daddy are hers.

That they are not going away.

So....

as a "doer" 

what is one supposed to do?

Spread.the.word.

For more information about 

adoption in Eastern Europe

I encourage you to get lost in either 

of these blogs.

Copperlight Wood

A family in Alaska who adopted two children

with no obvious physical challenges.

However.....

Their emotional and bonding issues are very real.

The Blessing of Verity

Our friends here in Lancaster County

who fell head over heels in love with two 

children with serious medical needs.

One we have met.

One we very much look forward to meeting.

Thank, so much, for bearing with this very long post.

My heart is full to overflowing at the evidence

of God's love for those 

that others just wanted to 

throw away.

Life is so precious.

Every life.