Two Great Days!!

This weekend was filled with wonderful memories that were being made. Saturday we celebrated Eliana's first birthday (a few days late but that's ok), and then today (Sunday) we had her dedicated at church. What a whirlwind weekend.

I'm so amazed every time I go and get her out of her bed, or come home from work and see her bright shining face as I walk through the door. She is so precious. I call her Bangel, a cross between a baby and an angel. God is good, sooo good.

It's amazing to think that this is her first birthday, a year ago she was born to a loving mother (which we had the honor of meeting) and due to circumstances beyond her control the Lord has placed her in our care. I truly feel for her mother, it's sad to think of a woman a half a world away today who weeps for Nigist. I hope the Lord brings her comfort in a way that only he can on such a special day. I'll save the meeting between us and her mother for another post, it was an experience that I'll never forget.

In addition to her birthday this weekend we also had Eliana's dedication today in church. What an incredible morning. We did it in the middle service at church, and were fortunate that some of our family could be there to share it with us.

Ian our pastor did the dedication, and handed me the microphone to briefly share a few words regarding our adoption experience, boy was it tough. I don't have problems speaking in front of people by any stretch, in fact I do it quite often in the military. The tough part is overcoming the emotion of my mother's death being a part of making the whole adoption possible but also the emotion of my little girl. Those two together is a recipe for water works, and sure enough there was no holding back (I hate that!). I'm by no means afraid to cry, but on my terms, oh well I balled in front of everybody. All in all it was great to share our experience and for everybody to finally be able to see me and Mary's beautiful angel. The icing on the cake was my four boys standing up there with us, six in total, oops!, seven in total. The Lord has truly blessed the Stapp family.

Many Blessings

Joe

The Big Question

The Big Question, why would you adopt a child

over there instead of over here? It's funny that people would ask that question, in some cases with a level of indignation, believe it or not. Even in a sense that it seemed the tone was in some way questioning my patriotism, kind of the same way people view buying an American car as oppose to an import. Somewhat humorous, but then again not so much. Most Americans have no concept of poverty, real no kidding poverty. The kind of poverty that wreaks with the stench of a death sentence. That's why we adopted from Ethiopia, because poverty in Ethiopia can be just that, a death sentence.

Here in the states we confuse poverty with neglect. I have no doubt, in fact it's well documented that there is an issue with hunger here in the states. I won't refute that, but once again there is the infrastructure and the social programs to provide for those that are less fortunate. If one refuses to get aid and it affects their children, that is neglect, not poverty. I can almost guarantee you that the majority of homes that fit this description probably have a TV in them (with cable I might add) an automobile in the driveway, a cell phone, and probably a pack of cigarettes on the coffee table. Once again there may be an exception to the rule but not many. In Ethiopia and other countries nothing, no safety net for the unfortunate.

Poverty, that is why we adopted from Ethiopia, well second of course to God laying it on our heart that we needed to adopt from there. What a blessing it's been.

Anyway, having a daughter is so special. I can't explain it, boys their rough and tumble, and no doubt Eliana Nigist will be as well, but she's a my Ethiopian queen, the mother of my grandchildren (Lord willing). She's gonna be that gentle hand that some day comforts a Godly husband, that soft voice of encouragement, a precious angel. I just can't explain it, it's just right.

Well I'll be writing some more this weekend, about my beautiful angel so stay tuned.

God Bless,

Joe