Puppy Love and Building Faith

At the end of January, we were offered a puppy from a litter that had been born on January 7. Since we had been in the market for a new puppy, we jumped at the chance when we found out the price was zero dollars. Hooray!

Now fast forward to a little after Valentine's Day. Mo started asking for a puppy. Never being short on imagination, she was very specific with her request. She wanted a little, tiny, brown, cutie puppy (an exact quote). She didn't know about our "free puppy" and so we decided to keep it a secret, telling her that she needed to pray and ask God for a puppy.

With the diligence and honesty of only a child she began praying for her "little, tiny, brown, cutie puppy" with every prayer she made. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, bedtime -- always, "God, please send me a little brown puppy". She didn't forget, not once, to make her petition known. Neither did she get impatient or set deadlines for God. She just kept going before the Lord asking in innocence and expectation. Wow! How often do I pray like that. Sad to say, not often enough.

So this week-end, we arranged for a scavenger hunt and put out clues and gifts/hints all over the house. She read each note with anticipation building on anticipation. She started running faster and faster from clue to clue. It was so fun to watch her move from clue to clue and finally reach the carrier. She wasn't sure what was inside, but it started wiggling as she read the final clue. She was entrusted to give this new little being a loving and caring home and was praised for her prayers and faith.

Then, she unzipped the flap and out wiggled the "little, tiny, brown, cutie puppy" she had known God would give her. He was christened "Chocolate Kiss" but that has sort of morphed to "Dumpling". He is sweet, fun and tiny -- pomeranian/chihuahua mix. Mo has a little buddy that is going to grow up with her. It really is a match made in heaven.

So, in trying to teach my little girl about faith and the power of prayer, I was reminded of a few lessons myself:

- Be specific when you pray.

- Pray with expectation.

- Don't limit God or try to set boundaries.

- Stand back and expect to be amazed.

All that from a "little, tiny, brown, cutie puppy".

Too Simple of a Solution?

My heart has been breaking as I've watched the scenes coming out of Haiti. What keeps coming back to me over and over again is just how poor this small country was and now this. Even on our very worst day, we live so much better than any of them ever did on their very best day.

We've see benefits and people making donations from all around the world, but there seems to be one area that no one is seriously looking at--All the new orphans. It's been with tear-filled eyes that I've watched news report after news report of people being united with their children, but these are children that were already in process. What about those that haven't found their forever families yet? What about all the "new" orphans that have come because of this tragedy?
The Hague agreement aside, why can't there be expedited EMERGENCY adoptions? There are so many people who are ready, willing and able to take on one, two, three new family members.

No, we're not talking about wealthy people. Not people with huge houses, six-figure incomes and pony rides. Just good, hard-working people who are willing to love and care for someone that needs love and caring RIGHT NOW. I've heard so many people say, "We'd be willing to take in a child or two if the cost and government red-tape wasn't blocking the way." It would be a win/win. The children would have families and the families would be getting them out of the devastation.

Is it illogical for me to make it so simple? If you have previously adopted (domestic or international) you automatically qualify for adopting from Haiti. All that would need to be run is a background check to make sure you've been behaving yourself. :) For anyone that has adopted before, you know the hoops you've had to jump through, the mounds of paperwork involved. You're life is an opened book. Why duplicate all that when it's already been done? Just pay a small fee to defray the cost of transporting the child(ren) from Haiti to a central location in the U.S., and badda-bing, badda-boom... Adoption complete.

For those who have never adopted before, what's more important -- getting those children out of that suffering or doing 3-4 home studies and spending years, just to make sure you have outlet covers in place? Seems a little shallow. Let's get those kids out of there and into forever family homes. Come on, Uncle Sam. We're asking for an exception--and a miracle.