Thankful

Rebekah Grace on our first trip to Astrakhan, Russia - December 2009

It was right about this time two years ago when we got the call. "Well, they don't have any little boys, but they do have a little girl" the lady from our adoption agency said... We didn't care, boy or girl. We just wanted to be parents, and give a child a home. Two years removed from that phone conversation, we tucked that little girl in a warm bed at her grandparents house last night.

Today, The turkey is in the oven, the dressing and sweet potatoe casserole too. A feast is being prepared, a celebration. And two years from standing on the fearful edge of the unknown, the little malnourished girl we found in the dark of south Russia is about to sit at the table, again, with her family, on a warm Thanksgiving day in Alabama.

 My daughter, to whom everyday is a gift, will never know hunger again, and her family is to numerous for my aging mind to count. She's a Boman, and a Felton, and a Cleland, and a Burt and she holds all the rights and priveledges associated with belonging to a large, loving family.

But I'll never look at my beloved daughter sitting at the table, with a plate full, and not think of the feast to come. For those belonging to Christ, one day we'll all gather around at the feast of the Marriage Supper of The Lamb of God, and not a stranger will be found on that day, and for all of enternity we will rejoice in what Jesus Christ has done to bring us into His family. And every day between now and then we will continue to point Rebekah to the God that saved Mommy and Daddy and sent them to get her. So, remember the fatherless today, and, if you are not a part of God's family, allow me to invite you in, there are plenty of seats at table.

Today I am most thankful that we were not left as orphans.

z


1"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also... 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." John 14:1-3,

World's Strongest Man Finals in Photos

I'm a loser for not wrapping up this whole WSM '11 sooner. But here we go. 

 The Man, The Myth, The Legend - Randall J. Strossen... He's probably reading one of my tweets..

 The truck pull lane

 This is the view from competitors angle.

 This is what a world record looks like.

I can't believe I was there to witness all of this, and got to play photo journalist at World's Strongest Man for a few days... best use of vacation time ever...  Brian Shaw deserved the win, but like Paul Ohl said once "if you give Zydrunas enough events, eventually, he'll win."  If there had been one more event Zydrunas would have claimed his 3rd title, he was just warming up at 6 events. Nevertheless I'm proud for Brian, he worked hard for it.

To view all of my photos from the finals Click Here for Day 1 and Here for Day 2.