“Jasper” is coming too

The deadline was Friday. MAA simply couldn’t wait any longer to get all the paperwork and details lined up for each child coming over. The children who had not yet had a host family say yes at that point were not coming this time.

Thursday evening at 5:30pm “Jasper,” one of the best friends to the little boy heading to our home in about a month, still did not have a host family.

We had already asked good friends of ours if they’d do this hosting thing with us. We live only minutes apart; we already see each other often; it would be perfect. But, when we asked them last week, they just weren’t sure and felt like the timing wasn’t right to jump into something like this. We understood and affirmed them and told them how great it would be to host along with them another time. They thought so too and said they’d be interested.

But, it was Thursday night now. I had asked everyone I knew to ask. And, the social worker heading up this program had explored every lead she had too.

So, I texted them again.

would you reconsider hosting Jasper?

That’s how the conversation started.

I could nearly hear her voice when she texted that this was hard, that her husband needed more time. She told me what I already knew about them, that they take months to make big decisions and that this was crazy to try to decide something so big in just one night. I knew that. I really did know that.

With a heart of compassion for where they were, I texted back.

Ok. I can tell the social worker to look for other families….

But, then it was quiet for a little bit. And, then I got this:

 

 

 

which of course warranted a fast response of this (because everyone celebrates with an exploitive of processed meat):

 

 

 

I posted on Facebook that if anyone wanted to help donate to make sure “Jasper” could come with his buddies, they could donate to his hosting fees. Another adoptive mom who was already smitten with Jasper’s story and his sweet face saw it and also posted on Facebook with an announcement that she’d personally match any donations made as a result of her post. Within 24 hours, generous and compassionate people rallied for the sake of a boy they have never met, and every need was met.

All three boys are coming. And, these two will be only minutes apart, swimming at the same Y pool, playing on the same playgrounds, worshipping at the same church, turning two households upside down while two families work hard to make sure they find both find theirs.