Other than us, I mean.
Kidding.
We have friends like that. The kids - four of them - are smart and cute and sweet and perfectly behaved. The parents never raise their voices. They never make any decisions on a whim, and, it seems, they don't make bad decisions. They are humble and gracious and funny and never gloat or have any airs of superiority.
Don't you just hate those people?
We would, too, if we could. But these friends of ours are pretty tough to hate.
Once, at lunch, a bunch of us were talking about what we had done over spring break. We had gone to Disney, played on beaches, bummed around. This guy, the dad? He went to Honduras to help build a hospital.
These are the kind of people that, despite having four kids - a sizable family this day and age, more than I think I could handle - open their doors to foster kids. And then, when the kids move on, they stay in touch.
And then, as perfect as they are - and they would object to that label, so let's just say wonderful (they would object to that, too - they keep getting better. Or, at least, they keep living their values in ways that are more and more inspiring.
How?
They have adopted two orphans from Ethiopia.
We had a shower for them here at work yesterday. Soon the parents will travel to Africa to pick up their two new children. The mom is learning how to cook Ethiopian food.
Imagine: They have two new children (it was made official this week.) They have not met these children. They aren't sure what language the children speak. They do know that while facing the many challenges of entering a very foreign culture and a brand new family, these kids will also be coping with the worst kinds of losses to the worst kind of disease. And to these kids, this family says: Come on in. Whatever you need.
I find this family to be inspiring. You will too. Meet them here.
At the Not-Babies Shower
Their new son and daughter
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