Since I was talking in my earlier post about our supportive community, I thought I would share this here. I posted it on my Rainbowkids blog right before we left for Ethiopia. I think it is a wonderful example of how a small rural community can be overwhelmingly supportive of a transracial family. With our first transracial adoption we had a lot of people question how we would raise a child of a minority race "here", (here being a small, predominantly white community in the Rocky Mountains). Although we don't have a large amount of diversity here, we do have a large number of other adoptive families, and our community is amazingly supportive of us and the other families. So we seek out cultural oppurtunities in near by areas and make consious efforts to celebrate, learn about and expose our children to their cultures and other people of their culture. We feel truly blessed to live in a place with such a sense of community and support.

Anyway, here is my post from Feb. 10, just hours before we left for Ethiopia.

The Jar

We are leaving any minute now, but I had to share this. In all the hustle and bustle of getting things ready today, someone knocked on my door. It was a lady from our church, who said she had found a package in her car with a note saying "Please deliver to the Hendersons". She had no idea what it was or who it was from. So we opened it up to find a jar full of money! It had a letter with it, calling it a "Christmas Jar". The letter explained that the jar is left out, and the family giving the jar contributes to it whenever they want. The money can never be taken out once put in, or counted. When it is full, it is donated to someone in need. This family decided that since "we were opening our hearts and home to another one of God's special children" that they wanted to give it to us to help with the cost of the adoption. The letter said that even though it was February, that it was embracing the spirit of Christmas, because bringing Ben home would truly be "Christmas all over again for our family." I had held it together emotionally really well until I tried to read that letter. I am so overwhelmed with the love and support we have gotten from our friends and community here. All day the phone rang with people we know well and people we don't asking if we needed help, or what they could do, or just to wish us safe travels and offer congratulations. It is always painfully hard for me to leave my kids, especially my baby Marcus, and I really felt like God was lifting me up today with the special people in our lives who took the time to let us know they care. The kids are all at their friends' houses, Marcus and Shane are tucked away here at home with my Auntie and we are ready and waiting for our ride to the airport. Marcus took right to my aunt and has been chasing her around yelling "Tee tee" and giving her kisses, etc. so I know he will be great with her. I sure will miss all of them! I can't wait until we are back at the airport with our sweet Ben and I can see all of my kids together. Well, we're off! It's amazing and exciting and my heart is very full. More soon!"