Disneyland, Comes to Life in LR! (Our Saturday)

Wow, I am overwhelmed by the day we had today. My friend Christie, (She is so awesome!) organized a Disney Extravaganza for the foster/adoption eligiable kids today. It was truly wonderful. I could dedicate this whole post to all the things she does for these kids...voluntarily. So many churches and people volunteer to put this on, and the kids had so much fun! It was just awesome being around so many people that were there b/c they love these kids. They truly do have a lot of people on their side rooting, and praying for them.

I had a booth....of course, it was Minnie's photo booth. I thought I could tackle it by myself, but thankfully, my dear sweet husband arrived pretty soon when I called him for help! I was so excited to see the lovely faces of my husband and kids! I felt like my team was there with me! I took my laptop, and my picture mate printer, and we printed the photos for the kids right there. It did get kinda wild, but still, I felt so PRIVILEDGED to be part of it. Wow. Again, as I always am, I have been an emotional mess. For so many reasons. Rejoicing for the children that I saw again, that were now with their new parents! (YIPEE!) And hopeful for the kids that were meeting prospective parents. B/c that is also part of what this day was for. It was a day for potential adoptive parents to meet the kids. And, I felt so silly to get so excited each time a kid came up that I had already met when I did their heart gallery photo. I doubt they remembered me, but I greeted them by name with excitement....if only they knew the time I have spent looking at each photo and praying for them. Words cannot express how priviledged I feel to be able to be involved with the work for these kids. Truly. God is awesome. And the people I am meeting, that advocate for these kids, are awesome. Meeting these children have changed me as a person, how I look at the world, how I feel in my heart, and how I know God.

My best story of the day. An adorable little girl marched right up to Minnie and hopped into her lap with the biggest, happiest smile I had ever seen. And whenever I looked at her closely, I realized I had looked at her photo over and over again, looking into her sad eyes. Eyes that told the pain she had been though. I met her whenever Kelly and I photographed these kids the first time. And she and I have talked about her so many times. And the woman standing beside her, I asked her, "is she with you?" And she said, "Yes, she is my adopted daughter, we finalize in August!" And I burst into tears. She looked at me kinda funny, and then hugged ME b/c I was crying. And then, through my stumbling, and cracked voice, I described to her what she was like the day I first met her. How it took 30 mins for her to give us a weak smile, and that the change in her was AMAZING! She has only lived with her for 4 months. I told her she was awesome, and GOD BLESS her for what she had done for this little girl. And I will never forget that. And I have told this story to my mom, Clay, and typed it here, and I tear up everytime!