One

Never would I have imagined that for my first child's, first birthday, that we would be half a world away from each other. But as I've said before, life is an adventure. You can never be sure exactly how and where God will direct your life. Yesterday Jon surprised me with ice cream cake, and I was delighted when my good friend Vanessa dropped off a special birthday card from her little girl Eden.

Despite the fun surprises, as I head off for work, my arms feel especially empty today. As we await approval from the Embassy, if we pass, his first birthday party will happen, just a few months after the fact. As much as my heart aches today, I can't help but think of his birth mom and family, who will miss not only birthdays, but the big and small milestones of his life, and it brings tears. My heart goes out to the millions of children who never have the experience of celebrating birthdays with the love and support of family and friends. I pray that all of us continue to have our hearts open to caring for the vulnerable children in our world.