Where are we now? -- We are "included"

 Such a long update is needed.  I am not even sure where to start. It has been ten years now since I was last in another country, completing our perfect-for-us family.  I believe that perfect-for-us is exactly that, everything we need and right when we need it... exactly as God planned.  His plan is beautiful! Little did I know that trip did not complete our family. It continues to grow, nine children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, three grandsons, and two more grandbabies on their way before the year is done. I have been told more than once, "You're going to have a lot of grandchildren."  This big family is just going to get bigger and bigger and I can't begin to describe how that makes me feel.  

Over the past 12 years, my sweet adopted "babies" have each endured orthopedic surgeries and physical, occupational, and speech therapies. We have learned the value of a good ophthalmologist, contact lenses and eyeglasses (yes, one of them wears both simultaneously.)  We have embraced the power of hearing aids and c-pap machines. We have become unofficial members of a whole new community.  Within that community, we learned about adaptive sports. Some incredible minds have come up with a way to allow physically challenged and disabled persons to participate in sports with non-disabled people.  They call this "inclusion."  

    INCLUSION means creating an environment where everyone feels
 welcome, respected, and valued, 
regardless of their ability, background or any other characteristic.

Their whole lives they have been excluded from activities because of their inability to participate physically or sometimes just because they look "different."  Being included just feels so good, makes you feel valued, and more importantly than anything, being included leads to making friends. I don't know when inclusion first began but I am forever grateful that it exists. 

Right when my children reached the age when they started to notice their differences and began to feel like they didn't fit in anywhere, we learned about the Kyle Pease Foundation. (God's beautiful timing again 😍) For us, the Kyle Pease Foundation is where we are included. This foundation has truly great employees and extraordinary volunteers. Not only do the volunteers give their time and energy assisting the physically challenged athletes across the finish lines, but these volunteers also bond with the athletes and make their differences seem to disappear.  They have mastered the art of inclusion.  My kids feel welcome, respected, and valued, and beyond that, they feel embraced.  It's like a second family.  (Look at that.... family growing again.)