No Offense...

We have  a gut-wrenching, tear-your-heart-out hobby around here.  We peruse adoption agency waiting children lists.  We're not looking to expand our family, but with our collective appreciation for and love of all things adoption, we tend to visit these sites periodically.  Usually, it's just Christi and me.  But today, Christi had the kids gathered around her, looking over her shoulder at the iPad.  We saw a couple of boys from Thailand, ages 9 and 7.  We saw a pair of siblings from Taiwan.  Then we found a 13-year-old girl from China.  This sweet girl will turn 14 in May, at which age Chinese law prohibits her from being adopted.  The agency is looking for someone who has their paperwork all completed and can go soon to bring her into their family.  But this post is not about the joys, trials, rewards and blessings of adoption.  At least not another adoption:) 

This is about our sweet Graci.  Our sweet Graci who's favorite phrase is "no offense."  As in, "Dad, you have a fat tummy...no offense."  Or "Dad, you don't have very much hair on the top of your head...no offense."  She finds many interesting ways to use this phrase.  We've tried to help her understand that if you say something offensive, then say "no offense," it doesn't quite work.  But somehow the concept is still a little fuzzy for her.

So today, we're looking at the profile of this beautiful 13-year-old girl.  Graci says, quite sincerely, "She's cute!  No offense, but I'm cuter."  Ah, our Graci.  Never afraid to speak the truth, no matter how awkward it may sound:)

Jer