Saying Goodbye

Today was a sad day for the Runner Family....we had to put our sweet, sweet Daschund down today.....Complete kidney failure is a bummer - just so ya know. 

We were blessed to hear her non-stop barking for a little over 13 years (Seriously, this girl could bark).  Our house is sad and to be honest it feels different right now.....After dinner tonite I almost yelled for her a few times......the kids would drop something and well, she used to be right there...I will miss the way she chased the flashlight (which always made when the electricity went out super fun!).  I will miss her smell.  I will even miss getting up at 4:00 in the morning to take her out to the bathroom (okay, maybe that is just the saddness talking).  I will miss the sound of her walking around (she never really got in a hurry). oh, there is so much I will miss about you Cass-a-roll....

We love you baby girl.....and we miss you terribly already. 

Sometimes God just makes me laugh

Let me set the stage for you....last Thursday some of my sweet, sweet and very dear friends sponsored a Purse and Dessert Party to help our family raise funds.  It was a combo ThirtyOne and Pampered Chef Party.  Sidenote: Funny story when they were planning it for me - I had no idea......I heard them talking one day about having a party.....I thought I wasn't invited......how stupid am I?

I was covered in love and completely humbled by how nice people are. It was so amazingly giving of my friends and church family to come out to support me - pics are coming soon! 

Now for the God making me laugh part.......

We met with our social worker on Monday and let me start off by saying she is GREAT!  She knows the ins and out of all of it.  She has two beautiful babies that she has brought home from Ethiopia, who we got to hold and love on.  Then to top it off - she is a Hilltopper too!  How great is that?  I love fellow WKU grads. 

We sat and talked in her office.  We asked questions - she answered them.  It was a very good adoption day.  We discussed next steps and how much each next step would be......well........the money that was raised from the party will almost cover the first expense of the homestudy almost in its entirety!!!!!!  Our Heavenly Father is funny, funny! 

Thanks so much to each and everyone of you that has offered support and prayers! The Runner Family is humbled by all your kindness!  I am enjoying the journey of adoption but really can't wait to get my hands on our baby girl!!!!

Orphan bunnies

Well a few days before Easter we found this in our front yard buried under the mulch of one of our trees.....

And yes, our grass was tall enough for bunnies to build a nest right there in our front yard - don't judge me...

Well truth be told Eric was weed-eating around that said tree and well....one bunny got caught in the cross fire.  It was sad but to avoid telling our children the gory truth.....Eric told the kids that the momma bunny (aka the bunny he just killed) was hopping away because he scared it......What does my sweet, sweet boy say...

"Daddy! They are orphans.  We HAVE to take care of the orphan bunnies!"

So, everyday thus far we check on the bunnies to make sure that they are okay.  Much to my surprise they are still there and haven't hopped away yet.....

So, why are you adopting?

I have been asked this question.....I have to write a letter stating why we want to adopt for our international paperwork.....and let's face it - you want to know, right?

I will give you some history:

Eric and I had college roomates who married each other.  A few years after college our only communication with them was Christmas Cards every year with an update of our lives....I'm not 100% sure how it happened but we started talking again and found out they were adopting from Ethiopia.  We went to greet them at the airport when they arrived home with their baby boy in January 2010.  Eric asked me that night...."Would you do that?"

Then the Haiti earthquake happened....I watched (as did everyone) and was honestly crying and was heartbroken not only by the sheer devastation but by these beautiful children who had lost their parents...It was gut-wrenching but after a while I pushed it aside (hey, I am just being honest here - we all know life takes over)

Months later we reconnected with some other friends of ours from TN - well when I say reconnected I mean another friend referred their blog which you can see here and I privately stalked it for months.  I didn't tell anyone.  I didn't make a comment.  I just read it.  I watched their journey.  I was inspired by it. 

During that time - I saw this....(prepare yourselves)

Yeah.....look at it again....seriously.....

The short bit of information behind the picture is that the photographer that took this picture left this lil' girl....HE LEFT HER!  This little human is searching for food and the vulture is just waiting for her to die so that he can eat.  No one knows what happened to her, but you can guess that it wasn't daffodils and roses....I was having a conversation with a very close friend and we both made the statement "How could he have left her?" In that conversation I realized I have left countless children.....I have been on the floor crying for them.  I have had a heart for them....but not long after I turned the station or flipped the page that I was reading it was gone....gone from my mind....much like they never existed.....but the very truth is that they do exist and I REFUSE to sit idly by any longer.  

I cannot save the world but I can save a beautiful child and welcome her into my home as my own.  I have a house full of more 'stuff' than I need.  I have a pantry full of food.  I have clothes.  There are doctors readily available and all I have to do is stop worrying - 'What will people think? Does this mean that I won't have my 401(k) anymore? (Okay, it's Eric's but you get the drift)  What about my two blond hair/blue-eyed kids? Does this mean that I have to give up Disney World?, etc. etc'  Seriously......I can no longer be that person.  I dont want to be that person.  I want to be a person that is real in my faith.  I want to be a person that no longer needs the things of the world.....(I am still fighting the wants of the world- let's face it- that may take a while)

So, to answer the question why is the Runner Family adopting? - we just can't leave her there any longer. 

Career Day was a success!

Today was career day at the school and the kids were all dressed up in what they wanted to be when they get all 'growed up'.  It was so stinkin' cute!  Kids are hilarious!  I would show you pictures except I am now the mom that carried her camera in, set it down and totally forgot to use it.....sheesh. 

During career day the agency that is doing our homestudy was there.....I sat in and listened to her.....it was great.  She showed a video - seriously! a video!  I was sitting next to three girlfriends and let me tell you we were just holding in those snot bubbles....how sweet it is to see parents holding and loving on their child for the first time....For the first time I didn't cry because my heart breaks for those children that are there (though it does) I cried 'cause my baby is out there and I can't wait to hold her.  I can't wait to meet her. To be honest I left the room feeling completely rejuvanted in that this is what we are supposed to do. 

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain

Compassion Sunday!

They run

They play

They are safe

They are funny

Somewhere a mother is wondering how she is going to feed her babies today.  Somewhere there is a mother praying that she can get medicine for her sick child.  Somewhere there is a child that is asking, 'Why can't I go to school?'

Start small and think big! Go here for more information about Compassion Sunday http://www.compassion.com/

Update!

Well....let's just say that I have had alot going on - no excuses but let's just be honest.  Announcing the adoption to some people I love very much has been met with alot of mixed reaction to say the least. Some hurtful, some encouraging....that's okay.  It is teaching me to die to self, right James?  (James is the pastor of my church.....and boy last week he kicked me in the ol' bootie) If you are interested in hearing him click here. 

Secondly, my sister needs prayer. Anybody who has ever been married knows just how hard it is.....If you believe in prayer please pray for her. 

Sheesh....that was kinda heavy....

My dear, dear friends and some people that I have never met (thanks Jim Beam Distillery!) have donated items for us to sell and have given us money.........I really don't quite know what to say....I am not used to this and quite frankly I am overwhelmed.  We are currently working on our dossier paperwork (international stuff).  The money and items that have been donated thus far are going to all the expenses with that.  We have to get background checks, credit reports, birth certificates, marriage certificates and passports (that was just this week!) So, to everyone that has given thank you!  We are using it to help pay all the expenses that are required to complete that paperwork. 

(this was just an update - I am back in the bloggin' game - I promise the next few posts will be more entertaining)