Today Sean's Mom (visiting for Christmas) and I spent the afternoon at a small clinic here in Guatemala. As I sat in the small dark room I started to gain a different perspective.

A young girl from a small village far away from Guatemala City heard of Mimi's House through some other missionaries. This young girl was pregnant but knew it would not be an option for her to keep her baby. She had no means to care for this new baby and she didn't have family that could support her. a few months into the pregnancy she had decided that she would have Mimi's House take the baby.

Friday she was admitted into the clinic and ended up having to have a c-section. This morning the baby was able to go home to Mimi's house and the young mother is still in the clinic healing.

We sat in her room as she tried to sleep. We could tell she was in pain but with my limited Spanish couldn't offer much support. We would rub her head, adjust her blankets and try to show her we cared. My heart was breaking for her. This story hit close to home for me.

I had my oldest daughter when I was young and thank God I had the resources and a family that rallied around me for support. As I look at my beautiful daughter Mikayla, I am so thankful for every minute I have had with her. I remember how scared I was when I found out I was pregnant.

But what if I had nothing and could not feed her or care for her and what if I didn't have family willing to help? What would I have done?

Then years later I got to be on the other end of it. We adopted a beautiful little girl who's young birth Mom told me through a translator "It is not that I don't love her, I just don't have the means to care for her". Aubryella is such a gift to us and we are blessed to have her in our life!

When we first moved here and I started hearing about all these women giving up their babies. I must admit I was a little judgemental with the thoughts that went through my head. Then one day here Aubryella said to me "Mommy, why didn't my Mom want me?"
 I asked her what she would do if she got a new puppy and she could not feed it or take care of it and it was crying because it was hungry and thirsty. Would she keep it or give it to a family that could care for it?  She quickly responded with "I would give it to a family that could care for it so it wouldn't be sad"
My answer brought her peace and she moved on. I wasn't really sure it brought me peace.

Today baby Emily was brought home, to Mimi's house.

As I sat with the young birth mom I realized this was not easy for her. Who am I to judge if this is right or wrong. Maybe we are supposed to bear one anothers burdens Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
and open our hands to the needy and poor  Deuteronomy 15:11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

Today I feel like I have a better understanding....... every story and circumstance is different and I don't have to understand it, I shouldn't try to. Our job is to be there to help. To support her as she heals physically and emotionally and to continue to support Mimi's house who has opened a home for children like Emily who deserve a chance and a forever family.

Merry Christmas

This Christmas was a little different for the Cherry family. We didn't have many decorations, but we love our very little Christmas tree that we do have.

We didn't bake Christmas cookies with my family and the cousins, but some new good friends invited us over to make cookies.

We didn't go to the candle light service on Christmas Eve and then enjoy dinner with our family, but some friends invited us to their Christmas Eve celebration and we all had a great time.

It didn't snow Christmas Eve, but we saw the most AMAZING firework show we had ever seen. Words can not even explain how amazing it was.

We didn't wake up Christmas morning and open presents with the whole family watching, but we were incredibly blessed to have Sean's Mom , Aunt and Uncle join us here for Christmas and share in the joy of the kids opening their gifts.

We didn't get dressed up and join the entire family for a Christmas meal and games today, but we had some good friends that we shared a Christmas lunch with and celebrated a common interest of the new baby home getting ready to open.

Though many things were different this year one thing remains CHRISTmas is a celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! So in a different country, with different traditions, we celebrate Him!