Small town girl with big world vision
Look at these two pictures. It seems like a different child. In a way, it is. Both are Peter Pan, but one was taken when he was with our family in America, and the other was taken when he was with his friends in Latvia. The difference is part of the orphan mentality, a…
He is here. Peter Pan flew across hours and oceans to live with us for the next four weeks. And we are both reeling a bit at this prospect. I saw his face when he came off the plane: the way the relief of reaching the destination mixes with the realization of total bone-tired exhaustion…
In one week, Peter Pan will be here. In one week, our lives will change forever. I know that this sounds a touch on the dramatic side, but hosting is a lot like having a baby, and is a major change to our world. Everything will revolve around acclimating ourselves to this new life in…
He doesn’t want to grow up. Not alone. Please not alone. That’s what he told me with longing in his quiet eyes. I met this darling Lost Boy in a McDonald’s of all places. I was traveling with New Horizons for Children, interviewing orphans who were hoping to be part of the Christmas hosting program,…
Sunshine is staying put in Latvia. I couldn’t be more content. Sprite is at this moment flying here to start his life in America. I couldn’t be more thrilled. It doesn’t make sense to others, I am sure, how these two events can live in parallel spaces in my heart and bring such joy. But…
I don’t know what time it is. I spent a week in Latvia with my family, and came back to the United States three days ago. My body wakes at odd hours. I am mad productive at five in the morning and dragging at five in the evening. I’ve given up the figuring. I live…
It has been quiet here. I haven’t written a lot because I needed to rest in the stillness for a while. I needed to recover from some family deaths and some personal struggles. And in the middle of all of it, I have had to reconcile myself to the fact that Sunshine will not be…
“Have I done him a disservice?” This question came to me from a good friend of mine who hosted a young man this past summer…a sweet, dear boy. He is almost sixteen, which is the cut-off age when children are no longer able to be adopted internationally. My friend and I talked, and she shared…
It’s been a few weeks since I returned from Latvia and things are quieter than I would like. Word from those I love back there are few and the days seem long. Life here crowds in to fill the spaces and the hours. Living without a part of your heart is possible but not always…
Only one full day here and I am already enchanted by this country. I understand why Sunshine loves it so. As my plane descended, it looked like I was landing in a forest from years past, dotted with beautiful old structures. It was like coming back to a place I had seen only in my…
