We made the decision last year that we would not go home for Thanksgiving since we do so much traveling on Christmas Day. I am so glad we made that decision because the last two Thanksgiving Days have been so relaxed. Although I would love to spend this day with our family, I am so glad I don't have to spend 5 hours in the car. We will be enjoying Thanksgiving lunch with some good friends.

Things I am thankful for:
1. My God - It is so comforting to know He is in control. Even when things don't go the way I wanted them to, His plan and purpose for me is so much better. Because of Him, I can continue this list.

2. My Salvation - God sent His only Son to pay a penalty He did not owe. I will never understand that kind of sacrifice. Jesus was sinless, yet He took my sinfulness. He was obedient to death - even death on a cross. I will never understand that kind of obedience.

3. My husband - Bucky is a wonderful man. He is a hard worker, self sacrificing, patient, loving, and trust worthy. I love him!

4. Sasha - I wish I could hug him and tell him how much I love him.

5. Xan - He is so quirky, imaginative, and funny.

6. Brennan - He is WILD, LOUD, and CRAZY. But he is also very snuggly and cute.

7. Toilets and Toilet paper - see The Snook's blog.

8. The miracle of adoption - My socks have blessed off by my children.

9. Family - I love my family (Bucky's side included). Bucky and I have NEVER had any in-law problems. My family loves him and his family loves me.

10. Airplanes - I know, you are probably thinking "what?". You see, an airplane will be what unites us with Sasha. I am dreading the 20 to 24 hours in airports and airplanes, but that is so much better than going across the Atlantic Ocean in a boat! :-)

Happy Thanksgiving from the Rogers

November...Adoption Awareness Month

James 1:27, "Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..."

Please allow me to share some of the alarming orphan statistics:
-There are over 140 million orphans worldwide.
-Every 18 seconds another child becomes an orphan.
-43.4 million orphans live in sub-Saharan Africa, 87.6 million orphans live in Asia, and 12.4 million orphans live in Latin America and the Caribbean.
-1.5 million children live in public care in Central and Eastern Europe alone.
-At any given point there are over 500,000 children in the U.S. Foster Care system.
-Orphaned children are at a higher risk of being forced into gang activity and the sex trade industry.

I have heard so many excuses for why Christians don't adopt. However, the one I hear most often is, "It just costs so much." Psalm 50:9-11 says, "I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains,and the creatures of the field are mine." God doesn't need anything we have, it ALL belongs to Him anyway. It's All His! If He has called you to adopt, He will provide the funds. Many times people ask me why adoption costs so much. I believe adoption is the proclamation of the truth of the Gospel. God has shown His lavish love for us by adopting us as His own children. And He showed that lavish love by sending His sinless and perfect son Jesus to die for our sins. My adoption cost God EVERYTHING. Now that is expensive!

There are so many ways you can help:
-Be an orphan sponsor
-Take a mission trip
-Mentor a foster care child
-Be a sender (Bucky and I have blessed by so many "senders", people who have given financially to our adoptions.)
-Adopt

God's word is clear, He commands us to care for orphans in their distress. So, what's stopping you?