Recently three of my kids spoke about how their lives had been changed by a recent mission trip. (I use this term lightly – as one of my kids is in their 20’s.)
“My life was changed…. ”
“I see things differently…”
You can say this about so many things – here’s one of the many ways adoption has changed me.
I can’t watch entertainment like I once did. Stories mean much more to me, strike me deeper and at a different place then they used to. This isn’t only because of our impending adoption, but also the tragedy I saw in South Africa.
I can’t watch anything without dreaming about my kids. For example,
Annie – she suddenly stops being an annoying little perfection in a red dress and instead an actual orphan who deserves the mansion she gets.
Les Mis – The song Bring Him Home took on a whole new meaning. I suddenly had an allergy attack.
Hotel Rwanda – I wanted to jump into my TV and grab those kids out of that life and into mine!
Lilo and Stitch – When Lilo punches the little girl, I may rewind that scene more then I should.
and yes,
The Lion King
Nyants  ingonyama bagithi baba
Sithi uhhmm ingonyama!! 
(That is not a typo – those are the lyrics to the opening anthem Circle of Life.)
I actually allowed the thought to scroll through my head while on an actual African safari “Huh this really looks like the Safari at Animal Kingdom.”
American idiot party of one.
I’ve become a documentary junkie – I want as many recommendations for education as possible. And with every one I watch I feel I find three more. Anything that has anything to do with forced labor, sex trafficking, the least of these, third world countries, adoption, attachment, interracial families, and the fact that we are consumers without thought for the people we extort and the planet we violate.
I’ve changed much of the way I shop. I will continue to do so.  I feel like I never need to go to the mall again.
I have a lot to learn about food and where it comes from – and what I can do about it.  Does anyone know where I can get humanely treated grass fed chicken for less than $26 a pound?
And parenting – I’d like a cheat sheet on parenting a non white child in a white community after they’ve been ripped away from all they know and forced to fly 16 hours “home” with total strangers. May I borrow yours??
The fact of the matter is – that people change slowly – hearts beat and with every passing heartbeat we have an opportunity to change the rhythm of our own. What it beats for. What the purpose is. What our purpose is.
I’ve struggled a lot recently – to figure out what my goal should be for the next X amount of months we have kidless.  Slowly – I feel the Lord is showing me, through what I have become passionate about, and encouragement I’ve received from people I trust. I dont know how to save all the kids. I do know I’m working toward ours. Whatever it is I need to do I’m going to do it. I’m going to make that my priority. Give it my time. Follow this calling. See where it leads.
I’m going to be changed. My worldview is shifting and I like it. What’s changed your life? If you can’t think of anything – maybe that should be your next big thing.