Our Little Miracle: 1,000 Words

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words.

That beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

And that seeing is believing.

They say the best things come in small packages.

That you can't judge a book by it's cover.

And that two heads are better than one.

They say time flies when you're having fun.

That good things come to those who wait.

And to look before you leap...

...but what about a leap of faith?

A leap of faith is not based on foresight and there is little control over the outcome. A leap of faith is not just talking about what you'd like to do or halfway committing to an idea. A leap of faith is the moment when the sum of all you believe and all you desire and all you are made of come together to take a risk. To make a choice.

To take a chance.

To say yes.

To let go.

To wait and watch what will happen next.

And to maintain the faith that no matter what happens...you will stand by your decision to leap.

To say this picture is worth 1,000 words would be the understatement of the year, for thousands upon thousands of words have been written about this child. By the mother and father who long to bring her home. By the friends and family who have been advocating for her adoption. By myself over the past 10 months. So many hearts -writing and talking and working to raise the funds necessary to bring this precious girl home.

And I'm writing to tell you...our work is not done friends.

From what I've observed/researched/witnessed, adoption is as much a financial journey as it is a emotional one.
It is easily some of the most overwhelming statistics I've heard.

But we're not talking about financing a house.

Or buying a car.

Or saving up for retirement.

We're talking about saving a life.

We're talking about Sofi Rose.

Born with spina bifida, an orphan in Eastern Europe, and living with myriad of un-met medical needs that only add to her basic physical, emotional and mental needs of a child living without.

Whose big brown eyes reached into the very souls Tracy and Stu Jensen - and in that moment their hearts claimed her as their own.

Some time has passed.

A whole year in fact.
Many wait for their babies for 9 months and often feel the wait is torturous.
Imagine waiting over a year for a child you love, but have never met....a child without family. Imagine not being able to control or even KNOW where she is...what she's doing...how she's treated...or when you can see her. Wondering if you will ever get there. Praying she will be okay until then.

Countless days this family has waited.
All of them spent working, praying, pleading, organizing, delegating, researching, perservering in every way possible to raise funds to adopt this little girl into their family.

And not just any family...but a family of 5 boys.

That's right.

Sofi is not only waiting for her mommy and daddy...but 5 big brothers to love and protect her.

I could write chapters about this family, these boys - what makes them special and how much my own son would love nothing more than for me to fly him out to Cali and left him with the Jensen boys! lol.

I could tell you of their strength of character and how much they make their mother laugh.

I could tell you about how different they all are - and yet how their personalities weave and twist together create the most incredible combination of young men.

I could tell you I want 5 just like them.

And honestly...I wouldn't be lying.

So when I see sweet Sofi's face...I not only imagine who she could be with them...

...but who they could be with her.

(yep. That's my little guy in the orange tank top with Tracy. An "honorary" Jensen boy.)

But changing a life.
Rewriting a future.
Redefining a family.

That isn't something one person, or one family or one community can do on their own.
This kind of love is beyond big.
And it takes a beyond big effort to keep it going.
It is outgrowing those who have already worked to cultivate it and now it is spreading.
To you...and your heart.
Will you help keep it going?

Share the link. Spread the word.
This world is so big. And there are so many people with big hearts.
Let's get Sofi's story to them.

How many words is her picture worth to you?