the one with the girl

so I have been feeling overwhelmingly pulled towards adoption in the last year.  I have frequently poured over waiting child websites just looking at orphans in need of families.  and I have cried.  my heart has been broken over and over for these children.  I feel like I have a good home and lots of love.  and then I am taken aback that I could dream of helping, it wouldn't make a difference, I can't adopt them all! I'd think, how can I pick one?  and leave the next?  how would I know which one would be the one?  how is it fair to the others I didn't pick? 

I often have a list of kids I am praying for and about saved in "MY" section on one of the adoption sites.  sometimes I'd show brendan a picture and tell the story.  he would look and make a few comments, but nothing indicating he was moved by that child...so I looked on...

then, about 2 weeks ago...I showed him a girl, I had seen her picture a few days earlier and stuck her in my "que" and prayed.  she was so beautiful!  and when I showed her to brendan,  he cried. 

we just knew...she's the one...

THE STARFISH POEM
Once upon a time there was a wise man
who used to go to the ocean
to do his writing.
He had a habit of walking
on the beach
before he began his work.
One day he was walking along
the shore.
As he looked down the beach,
he saw a human
figure moving like a dancer.
He smiled to himself to think
of someone who would
dance to the day.
So he began to walk faster
to catch up.
As he got closer, he saw
that it was a young man
and the young man wasn't dancing,
but instead he was reaching
down to the shore,
picking up something
and very gently throwing it
into the ocean.
As he got closer he called out,
"Good morning! What are you doing?"
The young man paused,
looked up and replied,
"Throwing starfish in the ocean."
"I guess I should have asked,
why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"
"The sun is up and the tide is going out.
And if I don't throw them in they'll die."
"But, young man, don't you realize that
there are miles and miles of beach
and starfish all along it.
You can't possibly make a difference!"
The young man listened politely.
Then bent down, picked up another starfish
and threw it into the sea,
past the breaking waves and said-
"It made a difference for that one."

I know this poem is cliche in the adoption world...but it is profoundly true nonetheless...

one girl will know love, and family and bedtime stories and family vacations and dinner games....and Jesus 

God whispered in the dark...and we say yes