A Different Life

We are in Destin, Florida right now and having a great time with Daryn's parents, sister and family, and brother and family....I'll post some pictures when we get home but I just had to post my thoughts-the kids are having a great time with their cousins-besides Grace, Luke, and Anteneh, there are 5 other cousins-all 7 and under except the eldest cousin, Eli, who is 10 (and one of the aunts is pregnant with TWINS!)....well, last night we ALL went out to eat..."West-party of 16!" haha... we had 2 great tables that overlooked the ocean-and after we ate we took all the kids down to the beach and they all ran in the sand and waves (and got their nice out to eat clothes drenched)...we were out there for almost an hour watching the kids 'frolic' in the waves...and I just watched Anteneh and couldn't stop thinking about how his life is so different. 4 months ago he was in an orphanage in Ethiopia with no family-he had been abandoned there by his mommy-he was one of 20 kids his age wandering around a small room with only a couple toys that the kids would yank out of his hands...his hair, fingernails, and toenails were long and dirty...his ear was oozing , his hair was falling out in places, he had giardia (an intestinal parasite)...and he's wandering around a room with sharp rusty metal walls-jagged in places...and 4 months later he is running in the surf after eating a seafood dinner on the beach...he is running in the sand in a Hawaiian shirt and Birkenstock sandals...with his new family-Daddy, Mommy, Sister, Brother, Papa, Grandma, 2 Aunts, 2 Uncles, 3 cousins, 2 boy cousins, and 2 in utero cousins...(and that's just on Daddy's side)...he splashes in the ocean, runs in the white sand and falls down and rolls around-screaming with excitement...the sun is setting and he is literally on the other side of the WORLD in a completely different life...the only thing that is the same is his first name and his memories of his past and his biological family...he is healthy, has a full belly, and people all around him who love him so much...he is staying in a condo for a week that would cost the average Ethiopian 4 years wages...he truly has a different life...