The Misguided Sainthood of Mrs. Kleiner: March 2006

About Me

Location: Seattle, Washington

I have been married to the delicious Joe Kleiner for 6 years. I got preg in 1999 & miscarried at 17 weeks. I was depressed for a very long time. I now know I have PCOS, an endocrine disorder and leading cause of infertility. Joe and I both felt compelled to adopt foster children so we called ANTIOCH ADOPTIONS. They are committed to helping normal people adopt & to getting kids out of foster care. Our kids came home in the fall of 2001. Bret (8), Nene (7), and Tony (5). In 2004 we were contacted because the kids had a new biological sister and through God's amazing providence we now have her too. Yes, that's four-ages 12, 10, 9 and 1. This is where the mythology begins. Often people who don't know us hold to an erroneous and misguided belief that I am special, a saint if you will. That THEY would never be able to live my life. That God has not CALLED THEM to fostering or adopting. I disagree with every cell of my being. I am no saint. But I do believe that Jesus calls us ALL to care for the fatherless, to love the unlovable, and to die to ourselves. So this is my attempt to set the record straight.

Friday, March 10, 2006

FACE OF COURAGE

I haven't written in a long time. Life has been busy. There is a lot going on. But the amazing thing is I am not overwhelmed. I have peace in my life for the first time in a long time. More about that later.

We had dinner tonight with an old friend. She returned to Seattle a few months ago after a long banishment to eastern washington. She looks amazing. Her children are as gorgeous and fresh and creative as ususal. Her hospitality is as comfortable and welcoming as always. Her home is a place of refuge.

You would never know from looking at her that her husbnad of ten years left her and their four children for a younger woman. I don't know all the details. I don't need to. She has been chronicling her journey on her own blog and I will read that tomorrow when I have more time.

For tonight I want to remember her face. Her beauty. Her courage. As we left her warm and cozy house I was reminded that our strength and peace does NOT come from our circumstances--but in the sheer faith that God is good. That He will provide and heal us. I was reminded that there is incredible beauty in suffering as it shapes us and refines us. I know she must be so scared and lonely--I am not making light of that in any way. I guess I just see suffering so much differently these days.

It's not the enemy it once was.

Back to Lacey. She is beautiful and courageous and I love her.