You know, there's something quite awesome and amazing about experiencing selfless love. Love that sacrifices, love that is gentle and compassionate, love that doesn't need to understand the hows or the whys. Love that changes hearts and people.
When we were driving home two nights ago Ryan said, "This event really has changed me."
I think it was about three weeks ago that we started to initially feel some changes. Our adoption story and the story of our dear friends was shared on a local television news station. The result of that brought many changes. Some good, some not-so-good, and even some sad. Some of the comments and mentalities of others is nothing short of shocking and rude. I don't feel sad for us. I know who we are. I feel sad for the people with such ignorance, really. But, many MORE people showered us with love. One completely anonymous donor gifted our family $1000. That's really hard to swallow. I can't even type that without getting tearful. No identity tagged to the number. Love is humble.
My two amazing friends and colleagues made a YouTube video about us and sent it to Ellen DeGeneres. :) They have staked claim in this ordeal and are such little warriors for justice, you might say. Love is courageous, and bold, and sometimes tenacious.
And then our story was shared in our local newspaper! My mom and I were crying of laughter as I read bits to her, because in all honesty, I was really embarrassed by the article. Aside from several inaccuracies about certain details about us and our friends, there were some statements attached to my name that were not at all what I said. Beyond my embarrassment, I was worried! I was worried that people would actually think that my heart was what was depicted in the story. Mom's love grounds me. Being able to laugh at the ridiculousness of the statements and being reminded from one of my dearest, Esther, that people who really know me won't blink an eye... this is genuine love.
One of my sweet little Kinders caught wind of these t-shirt sales that our family is doing. He asked his mom to order one for him too! But somehow I think his sweet little 6 year old mind got stuck on "shirts" and so one day last week when he and his momma were shopping at Target, he insisted that he need to buy me a shirt! So the very next day at school, in walks Little Man with a brown paper bag, and the most beautiful purple-blue Merona brand t-shirt I've ever seen. In fact, I'm wearing it right now!! :) Love is child-like too. Pure and innocent, and assumes nothing.
Our GoFund Me button shows that we have met our $4,000 goal for fundraising! A handful of dear high school friends really took it upon themselves to spread the message about this little button -- and wowza! Our goal has been met (and even surpassed!!)! These funds will help us with our first agency fee! Many classmates I haven't seen in literally 15 years or more -- decided to open up their hearts and give one more little cheer to the quiet, sometimes nerdy Homecoming Queen and her family. :) Sometimes love is spontaneous.
And most recently, this very special event that changed Ryan. Two nights ago we (and our friends) were the 'guests of honor' at a spaghetti dinner benefit, to help us try to recover some of our losses from the agency bankruptcy. Words just cannot tell you what it feels like to see over 300 faces, tiny baby faces through great-grandparent faces, come into one place to do nothing more than bless others. Great food, great activities, and the fellowship was amazing. Sometimes loves means simply "showing up".
Easter Sunday is right around the corner. The most picture-perfect example of True Love -- God gave His only Son -- for us. We are so undeserving of this kind of Love. But it is given to us every single day. Thank you, Jesus. THIS is the kind of love that changed the world.
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