Blessed to Bless

When we hosted the Princesses in our home, numerous people rallied around us to provide just what those children needed.

Here are some of the blessings we received for the girls:
- books
- piano books
- clothes
- hair accessories
- dental items
- excursions/outings
- gift cards
- toys
- room decor
- furniture
- car seat for the youngest girl
- Christmas gifts
- Bibles in their language

What happened with all these blessings once the adoption ended?
- books (still have)
- piano books (still have)
- clothes (given to a family at the school I teach at)
- hair accessories (most of them sent back with the girls, some given to a family at the school I teach at and to a local children's home)
- dental items (most of them sent back with the girls, some still under the bathroom sink)
- excursions/outings (used for the girls when they were here)
- gift cards (used for the girls when they were here)
- toys (given to a local children's home)
- room decor (given to another family that could use it)
- furniture (put back in family storage where it came from)
- car seat for the youngest girl (given to a church member who nannies and needed it for her car)
- Christmas gifts (given to the girls when they were here - some taken back with them but rest given to a local children's home)
- Bibles in their language (still have them, but they will probably end up at New Horizons for Children for other kids to use)

It's obvious that we were blessed by so many generous gifts! Those blessings were used as new blessings last week. After cleaning out the baby closet last Wednesday, the toys were boxed up and placed in my car. On Thursday, the toys were taken to a local children's home that I learned about through people at the school where I teach . . .

Have you ever done something that wasn't easy and was easy all at the same time? That's how dropping off the toys at Calvary Children's Home was. It was not easy because that was mainly the last of the girls' belongings in our home. Dropping off toys was cutting more strings (even though I still have pictures and memories). On the other hand, dropping off the toys was easy because I knew that there were many children who would benefit from having those toys. The children's home operates on a donation basis, so receiving so many toys was a blessing for the home. Just imagine the little girls playing with the toy stroller and doll accessories. Picture the happy faces made with the squeeze of a new stuffed animal. What about the creative outlet for those who use the craft supplies? Can you hear the laughter the games will invoke? Think of all the conversations that will occur when the girls play with their barbie dolls.

When dropping off the boxes of toys, I had the privilege of meeting the wife of the children's home founder. She was so sweet and took time to share with me about the history of the children's home. Until a parent from my school told me about this children's home, I had no idea it existed. It's only about 20 minutes from where we live! This home has such a special ministry to the children that come through there. In fact, the founder's wife told me that some past children practically grew up there, graduated, got married, and brought their kids back there to visit. Check out the home's website to learn more.

So many people blessed us through donations, so it was an honor to take those same gifts and allow them to bless others.