Grace's Spotlight on Student Award!

The first time I saw a pic of my three Ethiopian kids I couldn't get over how sad and simultaneously poised they looked. I was specifically struck by laying eyes on Ejigayehu who we later gave the American first name of Grace because she looked so poised. We had later found out that the day the pictures were taken were also the same day that she had been left at the orphanage by her Grandmother who loved her dearly but could no longer care for them. Grace's eyes were clearly bloodshot from crying.

When Grace left the orphanage I couldn't believe how beautiful and excited she was to approach her future in America. She just exudes poise, finesse and 'grace'. She has impressed us with her focus on her studies, always with a positive attitude.

Things are rough these days. We have just put our house up on the market with hopes that we can simultaneously get our bank to agree to some form of loan modification. Business is slower than usual and in all honesty from a worldly perspective things are tough.

Still, we feel the Lord more than ever and are watching as our ministry is being birthed. Tonight we were pleased to watch as Grace won a SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENT award by the Wake County Board of Ed. This means that the staff at her school nominated and chose her to be honored due to her hard work and success at persevering through adversity. As we stood there watching, Mark would remind me that although things are tough, watching her is  all worth it.  Knowing the path we have all taken be a family in the way that God has willed for us is miraculous.  There are no regrets and that is something not everyone can say.  My real estate investment may not currently be in the best shape but the most incredibly secure investments we have made are in our children. Each one of them are miraculous. I couldn't help thinking of what a privilege it was tonight to be able to witness something Grace's biological mother would never get to see. I kept thinking of ways for us to get pictures of this night to a far off village in Ethiopia to show her Grandmother who left her at the orphanage in 2006 in hopes of offering her a better life. I would like to say to Grandma Atalay that she was and remains an excellent mother and grandmother to our kids. We wish she would have been there with us tonight.

The spotlight was on Grace tonight but somehow I believe God wanted us to be reminded of the blessings and gifts he showers on us even when we have a For Sale sign on the front lawn...God is good and our children are thriving....Thank you God for everything....