Welcome to The Miracle Foundation Blog!

Good afternoon everyone!

It's a hot, hot afternoon here in Austin, TX, at The Miracle Foundation HQ. We're all buzzing away as we prepare for our August trip to India. Mail from our children's sponsors is coming in - stickers, coloring books, candy - and I'm sitting here, tapping away at the computer keys, still a bit overwhelmed by all of the responsibilities, logistics and hard work that has to be done to maximize this trip.

First, let me give you a little info on myself. My name is Chris Thorman and I am the Marketing & Web Manager for The Miracle Foundation. I'm also newly in charge of our Sponsorship program, the monthly giving that is oh so important to the health of our organization. Miracle Foundation sponsors really do make the world go round.

I came on staff in mid-May after working and living in Kansas City, MO, which happens to be where I grew up. I went to school in St. Louis, worked in DC after that...yadda yadda yadda. You're bored already, I can tell.

After weekend trip to Austin this past May, a jumbled set of events led to an interview with The Miracle Foundation and then to me being hired short time later.

Poof! I'm living and working in Austin, TX, within two short weeks.

And now, just a short time later, I'm off on my first international trip to India to visit our children's homes.

Now that we've got the introduction out of the way, what is this blog going to be about?

This blog will be more like a journal if you will, as I outline my thoughts, impressions and relay my emotions as best as I can on to this digital page. There will be pictures and videos to supplement my writing.

As it stands now, I have exactly 18 days until my plane leaves Austin headed for Delhi. When those 18 days are up and I'm fighting jet lag on my way to India, I hope you'll join me in this journey by reading this blog.

I hope to deliver to you an intimate understanding of what life is like in our children's homes and the conditions that India as a whole has created for them. My main goal is to document and post as much information as possible. The thing is - I'm not sure what to expect. I know I'm going to be shocked. I'm sure at least one tear will stream down my face. I'm sure some expectations will be fulfilled and others completely dashed. What I do want to do is get it down on paper so others can read what I've seen and done while in India. I don't speak for everyone. These will be just my thoughts and they are no more important than any other traveler.

Of course, you could listen to me or you could go there yourself. I hope you do both.

Welcome to The Miracle Foundation Blog!