Sunday, June 30, 2013

Grande Finale

I'm kind of sad that this is the last round of pictures.  I'm sure some of you have been overwhelmed with my picture-fest and scrolled through them quickly each day.   Many of you never even waited around for the pictures to upload.   
 
That's okay. 
 
 Putting these pictures on was good for ME.  
 
I needed these Blogposts.  I NEEDED THEM!! They are beautiful reminders to me of what GOD HAS DONE.  As I sat and held and watched and laughed and enjoyed the children this past week I was brought back time and again that this is God's work.  He did this.  He sets the lonely in families.
 
Our cries matter.
 
Reece and Owen Roberts and Aaron
 
 
I watched friendships formed..
 
Johnny Hines, Owen Roberts and Aaron
 
 
Aaron and Charlotte Dirkes
 

 
I watched brothers playing with brothers...
 
Peyton and Gavin White
 
 
 
 
I watched families laugh and play together.
 
 
I watched my family find joy in the simple.
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
I watched babes who were destined for a life behind closed walls able to run free and laugh and play!
 
 
It was a good week.  Raising our voices mattered to each one at that campground. 

 
As we laughed and played and talked and shared I was struck by the reality that all of us carry within us profound gratefulness that our babes are free...
 

 


 
 
And profound sorrow that we left so many behind. 
 

 
 
I think that joy and sorrow will always be part of us.
 
 I know it will always be part of me.
 
 
 
 

5 comments:

  1. Oh, that 3rd picture... looks like some serious hero worship going on there!
    Your entire family looks so relaxed and happy.
    Don't listen to that whispering voice that says no one wants to listen or see. I'm betting every single one of your readers waited for every single photo to load and then searched each picture for familiar faces and fought tears at the sight of such joy and belonging and love.
    Keep doing what you're doing, Julia. You must get weary. Please don't give up.

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  2. Julia, Thank you so much for posting pictures from your time with Yogi. Grateful that your time was really spent with many of the children that God has placed in families. What a blessing to see them running and playing and most of all loved. They are thriving! It is beautiful. Thank you so much for all you bring to our attention. What a difference in the lives of these children and families. God bless you and yours.

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  3. Thank you for sharing the pictures and sharing the babes stories! You are touching lives. I honestly never really even thought about orphans in other countries until somehow I stumbled across your blog. I am slowly trying to reach others and talk my husband into making this a reality for our family. I have always wanted to adopt and now my heart cries out for all of these babes still over there. Thank you for all you do!

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  4. I loved the pictures. I saw kids and families that I prayed for and worried about and haven't seen for a long time. Some for a very long time. I wondered about them and I still pray for them. So, thank you thank you for letting me see them. It gave me some encouragement.

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  5. I am on the other side of the world & have been following your family since about the time you were bringing your gorgeous boy home. I have loved seeing your photos of so many precious little faces enjoying having the love of family & friends. Some of the names I recognised from my travels around the internet & some I didn't, it made no difference, what I did see was pure joy. My husband & I had hoped to adopt but unfortunately my health problems ruled us out, every smiling little face shows me what we are missing

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Loving words from kind people make our hearts glad!