Angels in DC...Part I

John and I had the opportunity to travel to Washington DC last week to be honored as Angels in Adoption. This is a program created by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute to 'provide a Member of Congress the opportunity to honor an individual, family, or organization that has made an extraordinary contribution on behalf of children in need of homes'. Our congressman, Jerry Moran, nominated my husband and I to be the recipients of this award.

We graciously accepted our angel pin and certificate, however, we did not/do not feel worthy of this title. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that many of the other angels in attendance did not feel worthy either! I think it is because we realize that what we've done to help children doesn't even scratch the surface of what needs to be done!!

Had I been asked to give an acceptance speech (which, thankfully, I was NOT!!), it would've gone something like this:

"I accept this honor not as a tribute to anything I've done, but on behalf of all of those who have made it possible for me to be here.

First, I accept it on behalf of my 4 biological children who were willing to open their hearts and home to children they hadn't even met, willing to give up a little of their comfort to share their family with children who didn't have one, who have been the example that these children need of what it looks like to be a part of a family and to show and receive love and respect.

I accept this award on behalf of my 2 adopted daughters who have endured pain and loss that I wish no child would have to experience. They were expected to embrace a family they didn't know who had taken them from all they were familiar with, and who immersed them in a culture and language very different from their own. Yes, my 6 children are truly angels!!

I, also, accept this on behalf of the families who adopted before us, who planted the seed of desire within us, and who encouraged and supported us throughout the process. They know who they are!! They are the ones who made the difference!!

I accept this on behalf of our community and church who rallied behind us with amazing support when we kept asking them to give a little more to help a country and people and children who we had become passionate about.

And, of course, I accept this on behalf of my parents and my husband's parents who provided each of us with a stable home, showed us how important it was to commit to raising children and to rise to the challenges that child rearing presents! I'm glad they didn't tell me how hard it would be!"

I hope that by receiving this award, doors will be opened for my family to help more children who are in need of a loving home! We hope that our story and our lives will be an inspiration to others!

I will share more in another post about our week in DC and about the amazing people we were privileged to meet!!