Kyle and I attended a funeral last weekend. A retired Army Colonel with a quick wit and a heart of gold, a member of our closest family circle, and a friend to Tarana even though she never got to meet him. He had looked forward to meeting her and wanted her to call him "Big Poppy."
During the memorial service, one of John's sons told the story of how, when the Colonel found out how much money we needed to meet our adoption expenses and travel to India, he gladly sent us a check, without being asked.
He also insisted on knowing the names of the Indian judges in charge of her adoption case, just in case his powerful connections around the world might be able to help move things along for us. He was determined to do everything in his power to get her home, and for that we will be forever graeful.
He explained his contribution as "the right thing to do for a little girl."
His wife Sandra was equally supportive of our adoption process. She passed away less than a month before he did. We had planned to introduce Tarana to them last time we were in town, a week after Tarana came home, but John was in the hospital and didn't want Tarana to see him like that.
No one knew that Sandra was sick too until she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a week after our missed chance to visit them. And now they're both gone. These friends who gave so generously to bring home a little girl they had never met will never meet her this side of heaven.
I hope they knew what a joyful, delightful child she is, and how much our family needed her.
John and Sandra are some of the many people who helped us bring our little girl home. When we started the adoption process, we had no idea where the money would come from. We certainly didn't have it. Not even in savings. There was no way we could have paid the adoption expenses ourselves. But the love, support and funds we needed poured in from the most unexpected people. And the most generous were those who had the least to give.
I can't even begin to list and thank everyone who helped, but you know who you are, and God knows who you are, and your support helped our hearts just as much as our fundraiser account. We know that even the grants we received came from individual donations made to the adoption grant organizations.
And then there were the friends who served us in other ways to meet our needs, by helping us sell our fundraising items, organizing a silent art auction, finding connections in India, providing us with cell phones for use in country, watching our dogs and stocking our pantry while we were in India, showering Tarana with gifts of clothing, books and toys, and helping us through this time of transition with patience and understanding.
We will always remember John and Sandra, and so many others who showed so much generosity toward Tarana and us.
I pray that we will never forget how God used the gifts of His people to bring our daughter home. May this always be a reminder of His never wavering faithfulness toward His people.
Thanks be to God.
During the memorial service, one of John's sons told the story of how, when the Colonel found out how much money we needed to meet our adoption expenses and travel to India, he gladly sent us a check, without being asked.
He also insisted on knowing the names of the Indian judges in charge of her adoption case, just in case his powerful connections around the world might be able to help move things along for us. He was determined to do everything in his power to get her home, and for that we will be forever graeful.
He explained his contribution as "the right thing to do for a little girl."
His wife Sandra was equally supportive of our adoption process. She passed away less than a month before he did. We had planned to introduce Tarana to them last time we were in town, a week after Tarana came home, but John was in the hospital and didn't want Tarana to see him like that.
No one knew that Sandra was sick too until she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a week after our missed chance to visit them. And now they're both gone. These friends who gave so generously to bring home a little girl they had never met will never meet her this side of heaven.
I hope they knew what a joyful, delightful child she is, and how much our family needed her.
John and Sandra are some of the many people who helped us bring our little girl home. When we started the adoption process, we had no idea where the money would come from. We certainly didn't have it. Not even in savings. There was no way we could have paid the adoption expenses ourselves. But the love, support and funds we needed poured in from the most unexpected people. And the most generous were those who had the least to give.
I can't even begin to list and thank everyone who helped, but you know who you are, and God knows who you are, and your support helped our hearts just as much as our fundraiser account. We know that even the grants we received came from individual donations made to the adoption grant organizations.
And then there were the friends who served us in other ways to meet our needs, by helping us sell our fundraising items, organizing a silent art auction, finding connections in India, providing us with cell phones for use in country, watching our dogs and stocking our pantry while we were in India, showering Tarana with gifts of clothing, books and toys, and helping us through this time of transition with patience and understanding.
We will always remember John and Sandra, and so many others who showed so much generosity toward Tarana and us.
I pray that we will never forget how God used the gifts of His people to bring our daughter home. May this always be a reminder of His never wavering faithfulness toward His people.
Thanks be to God.
Hey Virginia. What a beautiful post! Thank you for your sweet remembrance of my parents. It means the world. We are so excited for you three and we are here for you however we can be moving forward. Much love, Kelly
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