Irishopian Love

Photos:  Irishopian

I wasn't sure if my blog was the right place for this post, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought, hey this blog is about beautiful homes, beautiful places, so why not about beautiful people too?  Not runway model beautiful, but beauty that runs far deeper.  A beauty that is lasting, and one which leaves an indelible mark on this world.  And that is a beauty we can all appreciate!

I love the picture above, it's of a friend of mine and her adopted daughter Marin.  I met my friend Kristin a few years ago when I did a story about her beautiful home.  The moment I drove up the driveway to her house I knew the home would be beautiful and that I would enjoy seeing every square inch of it.  I hope to show you her home in an upcoming blog post...hint hint Kristin! ;-)

What I didn't know was that the occupants of that house would be far more beautiful than any of its contents.  When I did the interview, Kristin and her husband were the proud parents of 5 gorgeous children.  The love they had for their kids was evident in the way they lived, the home they had built, and how they spoke about each of their children.  

Kristin and I had an instant connection and we spent almost as much time discussing family and life as we did about her wonderful home!  She also excitedly told me about how they were hoping to adopt a sixth child, and that she was anxiously awaiting news about the the adoption.  

After I left her home I wondered to myself, "would I adopt a child in need if I were already the parent to 5 great kids?!"  But I knew in my heart that if anyone had plenty of love to spare for a child, it was Kristin and her family!  

We continued to stay in touch with one another after my visit, and even though months would sometimes pass before we would email or chat again, it was like we had never skipped a beat.  Six months or so passed before I got the news that Kristin and her family would indeed be adopting a child and that she would be from Ethiopia.  A beautiful girl named Marin!  

Kristin's husband is from Ireland and their darling little girl would forever be known as the Irishopian.  A wonderful blending of her heritage and the new family she would call her very own.

Since Marin's adoption, Kristin has made sure that her daughter has strong ties to her roots.  She networks with other adoptees and their families from Ethiopia and has even made a trip back to Ethopia to help ensure clean, safe drinking water is available to villagers.  Reading about her trip to help others halfway across the world was both moving and hugely inspirational!

So although I'm not one to get on a soapbox...well maybe a cool antique one that I could put in my laundry room...oops, sorry!...I wanted to give you a link to Kristin's blog where she shares the journey of her and her family's life with Marin and the plight of those in Ethiopia!

And besides being a great blog,  there is another reason why I want to share her blog with you!  Kristin and her family are once again trying to reach out to those less fortunate, and they are trying to adopt two more Ethiopian children, two boys age 8 and 10!!!  Crazy...maybe....Generous and unselfish...you better believe it!  Kristin now has a donation button on her blog to help raise the extra funds needed to bring these two orphans home.  Not the home they've known all their lives, but to a new home where they will be cherished for who they are and where they come from, and where love is overflowing!  So this post is my way of giving back to someone who gives so much, thank you Kristin!

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To visit Kristin's blog, please click HERE!