Dear Iris,
 I miss you.  It's hard to believe I can love a little one so much that I haven't even held yet.
I was feeling sorry for myself this week (again).  I really wanted to be home with you and Caloway, Norah, Winston, and Leighton.  I wanted to hug and kiss all over each of your faces.  I wanted to feel the comfort and security of home.

 Then I spent another afternoon at the orphanage.  28 little sets of pre-school hands pulling and fighting for attention.  28 sets of eyes longing for someone to love them.  As I picked up little Rachel, she held on so tight and as I sat down her little legs wrapped around mine so I couldn't put her down.  Each little one of these precious children have a story.  Suddenly my sob-story didn't seem so pitiful.  Then we went into the baby room.  Six precious, once abandoned, babies sat quietly in their cribs.  Not one cry.  Not one attempt to get out of their tiny cribs.  They were old enough to walk, but not one of them could even stand.  Holding those little ones made me miss you, but holding those little ones reminded me why we are here.

I thought about you, Iris.  Most likely with more than 28 hands of loved ones fighting to hold you and then I think about the 28 little hands fighting for just one person to hold them.  I remember why I am here.

  I'm thankful that God has blessed you with so much love and that you will grow up knowing and experiencing the love of Christ in your life.  Don't ever take that gift for granted.  God has blessed our family with more love than most people experience in a life-time.  I'm thankful that our family gets to join hands together in sharing that love here in Africa.  One day we will get to be in heaven together with our African brothers and sisters because God allowed us to come and God allowed you to send.
I love you Caloway, Norah, Winston, Leighton, and Iris.
Aunt Stephie