Advocating alongside my oldest {Compassion Blogger}
Three years ago my oldest and I walked the markets in China. It was a few days before we met his sister and several days before he would visit the orphanage she spent her first year. The impact of that trip on his life can’t really be measured. When given the chance to open his eyes to people and places, especially those far from the borders of our state and nation, I will run passionately through that door. He was 18 months old when he got the first stamp in his passport. I want to blow his mind with sights, smells, people, and interactions. I want to dive into history, politics, social justice, and all the ‘deep’ stuff with him, showing him how he fits in the story of it all.
I want to go. With him. With each of my kids.
He has always been the one up for an adventure with me. Very little worries him or causes him to feel fearful. He is steady and confident. His emotions stay pretty much at one level lacking any extremes either direction, much like his mom. 
This is a pretty special post – you’ll see why below – so I wanted a new picture of the two of us. These are the two most recent shots I have of us. In fact, I could not find one picture where we are both looking at the camera smiling. Most likely this is due to our mutual ability to be anything but active or awkward in front of a camera. 
In less than two weeks, I will be taking him with me on a dream trip. A trip to gain understanding, to learn, to serve, to play and to advocate. I’m not the most eloquent of bloggers. I am certainly not the most ‘put together’. What you usually find on this blog is my journey in motherhood as a Christian…a mix of photography, projects and a whole lot of trying to see beauty in everyday moments.
In two weeks, we will board an airplane bound for Ecuador as part of a Compassion Blogger trip. For those unfamiliar with Compassion, I will be sharing more in the weeks to come. We sponsor a few children through Compassion. During this trip we will meet one of the boys we sponsor. We will also visit centers run by Compassion and see first hand the work they are doing in Ecuador. Advocating for children – alongside my child – this is a dream come true for me.
This will be the first Compassion Blogger trip which each blogger is bringing her son along too. We will be joining Ruth Simons (Gracelaced), Shannan Martin (Flowerpatch Farm Girl), and their sons.
Motherhood changed me. I have so many dreams and hopes for my children. Compassion International has allowed me to come alongside the moms of my sponsored kids. Together we get to watch these children we love have the opportunity to dream big with great hope for the future. I am equally thankful for all that wells up within my own kids as they forge relationships through letters and pictures with amazing kids around the globe.
As I look ahead to this trip, so many prayers for my oldest fall from my lips. So many prayers for the sponsored children and their families that we meet. And so many prayers for the children still waiting for sponsorship.
