Interesting statistics

I got this from Adoption Ark this morning and thought it was interesting info.

Every 15 SECONDS, another child becomes an AIDS orphan in Africa

Every DAY 5,760 more children become orphans

Every YEAR 2,102,400 more children become orphans (in Africa alone)

143,000,000 Orphans in the world today spend an average of 10 years3 in an orphanage or foster home

Approximately 250,000 children are adopted annually, but…

Every YEAR 14,050,000 children still grow up as orphans and AGE OUT of the system

Every DAY 38,493 children AGE OUT

Every 2.2 SECONDS, another orphan child AGES OUT with no family to belong to and no place to call home

In Ukraine and Russia 10% -15% of children who age out of an orphanage commit suicide before age 18.

60% of the girls are lured into prostitution. 70% of the boys become hardened criminals.

Many of these children accept job offers that ultimately result in their being sold as slaves. Millions of girls

are sex slaves today, simply because they were unfortunate enough to grow up as orphans.

Is today my babys birthday???

Our process marches on.  I've completed 95% of our first group of paperwork which feels FANtastic.  The paperwork hasn't been difficult but is incredibly time consuming.  The one good thing about it is that it's pulled me out of my constant mourning for the birth mother.  August and part of September were extremely hard for me in the aspect of concern for the birth parents- particularly the birth mother.  In the near future she will be giving birth to our baby and then ...... the event that brings our baby to us.  It's the ...... that's really hard.  I'm desperately praying for her and feel like I could pray "better" if I knew the situation.  Of course that's impossible.  I dont know if she's going to die or if she makes a conscious decision to give up her baby due to lack of food or .......?  There are tons of things to fill in the .... with.   My major request is that everyone be praying for the birth mother. For her salvation and whatever the unknown situation is.  Please pray that God will grant her immense, unmeasurable peace.