The Starfish

"Why?" is a question we're expecting will come up quite a lot when we go public with our intentions to adopt a toddler from overseas. And that's okay! We can't expect everybody to understand at first. You care about us, you're trying to look out for us, you're worried we've lost our minds-- and we really do appreciate the concern. ;) Our intention isn't to become the Jolie-Pitt family, start our own reality show or end up with enough kids to have our own sports team. Plainly, we can't imagine our lives without Wylie and we'd love for him to have at least one sibling. We could have another one of our own, but we really want to do something that would make a difference for one small person who deserves a family just as much as any other kid. We have drafted a letter to our family and friends to send out at Easter explaining what we were doing and inviting them to keep up with us on this blog. Dan, Wylie and I are excited to share all of this with you. We know it will be a total roller coaster ride of craziness and we hope you understand how grateful we are that you're coming along with us.

There are many families adopting through an organization known as Reece's Rainbow who have online "homes" (including us). The Abell family posted this great story about starfish on their blog. In the end, we learn that the boy tossing starfish off the beach and into the ocean hasn't set out to save every single one. He knows that would be too large a goal. Instead, he endeavors to save just one starfish's life at a time. Each one he rescues has a second chance that it wouldn't have had otherwise. The boy is but a small part of a larger picture and he is comfortable in that role. So are we.