Dear Whoever You Are,

In lieu of Sunday Snippets, I'd like to share a heart wrenching story with you.

Tesney and her husband Greg, along with their biological son, Clayton, have been on a long and exhausting journey to adopt a little boy named Kirill.  Kirill lives in Russia, and he has Down Syndrome. On March 17th, after several hours of testimony in court on behalf of this loving family, a judge rejected the adoption because she believed Kirill to be "socially unadaptable" due to his his disability.  The family is heartbroken and fearful, but in an effort to bring their son home, they are appealing the judge's decision.

Although the judge's ruling may evoke an emotional response in you filled with anger and confusion, as it did me, it is important that we remain optimistic and not slander the judge.  Hatefulness will not help Kirill be brought home; it will only hinder the process.  Therefore, Tesney has asked that people "PLEASE do not be mean or slander the judge.  We LOVE her and want to show her CHRIST in our response to her ruling.  It will HURT our appeal if negative things about the judge are associated with our case.  We can say that we disagree with her decision and that it is an injustice to deny a child a family because he is "socially unadaptable" (has special needs/DS0, but please don't be hateful."

I don't know this family personally, but their story has been tugging on my heartstrings. I am fervently praying that little Kirill be brought home in a timely manner so that he can learn what it feels like to have a family of his own.

I am asking you to do the same.  Whatever you do for people in need, do it for this family.  If you pray or send good thoughts or pass along positive energy or meditate or fast or run or sing, do it for Kirill.

If you have any social or political connections, help this baby out.

To hear this amazing story from Tesney's point of view, follow the link below to her blog, which is where I stole the sweet picture from.

http://oureyesopened.blogspot.com/2011/03/kirills-story.html

If you're on Facebook, follow this link to check out the group made in Kirill's honor:  http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_160513784005050

Belated by a Day

 To the woman who throws the best birthday parties, tells me everyday that she loves me, gets in to wild and crazy adventures, devotes herself to others, believes unswervingly in the good, and always has a smile.

Happy (belated) Birthday, Mama!

I love you to the moon and back a milliontrillion times.

Thanks for never letting me give up.

Thanks for being my biggest fan.

Thanks for loving me no matter what.

Thanks for all the happiness you share.

Thanks for being you.

I can imagine no greater friend.

I can imagine no greater ally.

I can imagine no greater mother.

I love you all the ways my heart knows how.

You are my rock.

Happy.

Dear Daddy,

I hope this is one of the happiest birthdays you've had so far. I hope you'll double your age.

I'm glad you're spending this fiftysomethink birthday with me.

I love you all the ways my heart knows how.

-Jess

Dear Dixie,

I'm sorry you've been so sick, and we didn't know.

I'm sorry we called you old and contrary when you stopped eating and got picky about your food. I'm sorry that tumor was stuck to all you're organs. I promise to do my best to never call you old and contrary again, although I don't feel too guilty because in your younger years we all spent a great deal of time cleaning up your messes, searching the neighborhood during your near daily getaways, and picking up trash you ripped from other peoples already-put-out trash bags. So, since you were young and contrary, it was pretty natural for us to assume you'd be old and contrary, too.

Thanks for being such a good dog.

Even in the midst of all your greatly adventurous getaways and your typical Dixie trash hunting, you're a pretty great pal. You never minded all those times I kicked you in the night when your snoring finally got loud enough to shake the bed, although I will say it was pretty nice of me to let you sleep in my bed for so long with all of that noise you make in the night. You're welcome, pal; but, if you do live a little longer, you might want to work on that snoring of yours. It's really not ladylike, and, yes, I know you can't control snoring in your sleep; I'm referring to when you snore while awake (everyone knows you do that).

There are things about you I won't forget.

Like the day we met. Two days before Christmas. You arrived in a stocking and you were the tiniest little puppy I'd ever seen. I'll always be a sucker for a runt. You're just as cute now as you were then. Gray hair and whiskers look good on you, girl. (be glad because not everyone looks good with gray whiskers) You know, at first your name wasn't Dixie. It was Chrissy, get it? I got you for Christmas. I know; I know; it's corny. Some super cool friends of mine convinced me to change it, and we decided on Dixie. I think it fit.

Or like the time at Christmas when we were all in the living room and heard a light 'tinking' noise that kept getting louder and more intense, which is when we noticed the Christmas tree shaking furiously. Then we discovered you, precious dog, stuck underneath the beautifully decorated tree frantically trying to paw your way out from your newest not-so-favorite food storage area. And, oh by the way, I hope that if you live a little longer you'll quit hiding food. I mean, seriously? Mom and Dad will feed you. Duh.

Oh, Oh, and that time I got my bridal portraits done and you made the journey to Florida with us. And except for being a little nervous, you loved it. Remember how you loved the beach? Fun times. Anyway, so when I was getting my bridals done, you were such a sweet girl, and you posed for so many pictures and even wore Mama's pearls. Thanks for that. Thanks for only rolling around on and pawing at my train with your scruffy little nails once. It wasn't a blanket, you know? Then again, I guess you don't know because you really don't know about clothes because you don't like them much. Oh, well. If you live a little longer, you should really learn to distinguish the difference between blankets and clothing. Not only did you mistake my wedding dress for a blanket, but I've also seen you napping on top of a pile of clothes many times, so you should work on that.

Some people probably think it's foolish for a dog to undergo surgery. That's just because they don't know you. I'm glad you're making it so far. Try not to develop a blood clot and die on me, okay? We all still need you around a little longer. Some people probably think it's foolish to love a dog so deeply. That's just because they don't know you. You're a tough old girl, so I know you're doing your best to hang in there. Thanks for that.

You're really great pal, Dixie.

I love you,

Jessica.

P.S. If you live a little longer, I don't care if you can't tell the difference between blankets and clothes or if you want to hide your food for later in the strangest of places or if you snore all day long every day. I don't care if you develop a million-trillion new bad habits. (and it's not because I don't live with you anymore) It's because you're a part of my home and a part of my family and a part of my heart, so you'd be doing me a real big favor if you'd stay for a while.

My name is Jessica, and I have a sick dog named Dixie, not to be confused with the name Gracie. And, yes, that nasty thing in the top right corner of the collage is Dixie's removed tumor. Does it look about the size of a grapefruit to you?

It should. I said she was tough, remember?