Micah Six Eight

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Battered Suitcase Battered Lives

They are alone.

Adrift.

Out in the world with their battered suitcases.

Yesterday they were given their walking papers. The gates that had contained them for so many years were flung open and they were escorted out.

These were not criminals. They were not freed from behind bars.

They are orphans.

Just 15 or 16 or 17 years old.

Kids.

Immature. Untrained. Most of them completely lacking in knowing how to make good choices. Experts in manipulation, lying, cheating and stealing. Experts in surviving on the inside.

They have few options.

Some will wander back to the families that abandoned them to the system. Some will enter trade schools that are woefully ill-equipped to do more than just teach them a job that they are too often ill-prepared to master. Many will be swallowed up into the dark world of trafficking and slavery. Others will turn to drugs for solace. Many will steal to survive. Most of those will find themselves back behind gates that are locked forever. Some will seek escape through suicide.

Only a few survive. Only a few.

That is the realty.

Of the hundreds of orphans who were let out on the streets yesterday with their battered suitcases, the vast majority will shipwreck. They will be battered by the waves of life and crash and burn on the shore.

There are some who work around the clock to rescue these battered kids.

There are ministries who do whatever they can to support them, train them, equip them to survive in the outside world.

Nasledie Bible Orphan Ministry Christian Alliance for Orphans

These are a few ministries. There are more.

But the flood of battered suitcases coming out of those orphanages is overwhelming.

There are so many.

And not enough.

It's not enough, church.

It's not enough.

Please find a way to get involved.

Educate yourself. Educate your church.

Give to a ministry that is actively involved in orphan care.

Get involved. Go. Minister.

Adopt.

Find a place at your table.

Yesterday in the van, while we were waiting for their favorite Papa in the whole world to come out of the mechanics shop, my two little boys and I talked about those battered suitcases. We remembered the orphans. We discussed the world they left behind.

Yesterday I rejoiced that two little boys in my world are safe and secure in our family.

Today I grieve the hundreds. I grieve the thousands.

I grieve the battered suitcases. I grieve the battered lives.

Defend the weak and the fatherless;
uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 82:3-4

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Back from Italy

I gave them my camera.

I told them to take lots and lots and lots of pictures!!

And they did... they took lots of pictures of buildings...

and statutes...

And famous Domes...

And inside churches....

And outside churches....

and stuff in museums....

Beautiful pictures. Wonderful pictures.....

Pictures full of stories they will tell and many that are definitely going in our books.

But not ONE... NOT ONE PICTURE OF THEM.... Not one picture of Ben or Elijah or Rob in the entire lot!!

Insert banging head against the wall!!

These two are happy though because Papa brought them some cool shirts that they wore to school today!

At least I know how to take pictures of PEOPLE!!

Sigh!

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Today is YOUR Day!

12 years old.

Happy Birthday, Aaron!

We had to celebrate on Sunday before the big boys left for Italy.

You didn't care.

Cake. Presents.

A special double birthday celebration with your cousin at a local restaurant.

Celebrating early was fine with you.

But today is really your day.

Happy Birthday, sweet boy.

I love you to the moon and back!

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Italy, Italy!

He's been scruffy man ever since he agreed to be Reuben in the Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat musical.

24 years married and he never had a beard until now.

Yes. I thought it was cute.

Yes. I'm glad to have my smooth-faced husband back now that the show is over.

But I didn't get to enjoy his clean-shaven face for long.

Right after we took these pictures...

These three hit the road.

Little boys were a bit sad about their leaving..

So was I...

This morning they landed in Italy for a 9 day fast blitz across the country. Their welcome to Italy was a cab driver who promised them a smooth ride from airport to hotel. Smooth except that he drove like the Mafia was chasing him and then he dropped them off on the wrong street. Poor jet-lagged, car-sick men had to walk the streets of Italy trying to find their hotel!

Considering where they are and what they get to do for the next 9 days... I only feel a TINY bit sorry for them!

Little boys and I are going to enjoy easy dinners, lots of Olympics and the start of the school year....

Friday, August 5, 2016

Friday Family and Missing Winners

I love this little girl. Rob and I fell in love with her when she was first listed on RR. She's a tiny little warrior with a condition that means she isn't going to have a long life. That's a HUGE STRIKE against her in the adoption world. I mean - who is crazy enough to raise the ransom to adopt a child knowing that her life expectancy is short. Knowing that they are going to love and then lose. Who does that??

How about a family who understands her condition in a very intimate and personal way because they have two children of their own who share the same diagnosis?? How about THAT kind of family?

I wish I could do another giveaway on here.

I wish I had another whole round of prizes and I wish we all had deep deep pockets because this little girl's family isn't just adopting her but two others and all three children are in three separate regions which makes the road even harder for them.

One of those children is aging out. Thankfully they have all they need to adopt him.

One of those children is blind and is heading for the mental institute at the end of the summer because she failed the 4 year old test. Blind children do not get to ever pass that test. Ever.

They do NOT have the money to adopt her.

And Elizabeth. They do NOT have the money to adopt her.

They need 22,000 to adopt both girls.

Right now they are focused on raising the ransom for Elizabeth. Then they will work on raising the ransom for Beth.

How in the world can they leave Beth behind???

I wish I had cattle on a thousand hills.

I wish.

I know I have asked and begged and pleaded for you to help the Blooms. And you were AMAZING. And you helped raise the ransom for OTTO and that was amazing. P.S. HE STILL NEEDS A FAMILY!!

But I can't just ignore this family because if they can't raise the ransom then they will have to leave a babe behind. Three children in three different regions is a big mountain to climb.

So I am sharing them today. If your pockets have anything in them, two little girls will be eternally grateful! Neither of them want to be left behind.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE MCQUINNS

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THE MCQUINNS

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HELP!!!

I'M STILL LOOKING FOR THESE WINNERS...

9. PICK A FAMILY - Value $50.00 Juliette Bullock

10. PICK A CHILD - Value $50.00 Shannon Wilde

20. CROSS LAP QUILT - Value $70.00 Kara Wolf

21. BAIT AND TACKLE PILLOW - Value $15.00 Anastasia Ramsey

23. DESSERT HEAVEN PILLOW - Value $15.00 Errin Mills

25. ROAD WORKERS PILLOW - Value $15.00 Heidi Stoll

26. HANDMADE AFGHAN - Value $60.00 Stori Wann

27. NEW - THIRTY ONE BAG - Value $28 Heidi Stoll

36. CHILD'S PURSE - Value $10.00 Kalee Magnani

39. PINK BRACELET FROM UGANDA- Value $7.00 Angeline VanHalle

41. DELICATE PEACH NECKLACE FROM UGANDA- Value $10.00 Stori Wann

42. COLORFUL DOUBLE NECKLACE FROM UGANDA- Value $15.00 Joel Durham

43. SILVER EARRINGS FROM UGANDA- Value $5.00 Karen Strong

44. HANGING BEADS NECKLACE FROM UGANDA- Value $15.00 Rebecca Adams

53. STORY OF THE WORLD AUDIOBOOK - Volume 4 - Value $25.00 Angie Robshaw

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WINNERS NEED TO E-MAIL ME your name and address at covenantb@yahoo.com - Put the item you won IN THE SUBJECT LINE of the e-mail.

Make sure to put the item won in the subject line. If you won multiple items... Send me an e-mail for each item!! Don't forget name and address in the e-mail!!

THANK YOU!!

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Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Did YOU Win??

This is it.... the winner's list...

Of course the REAL winners are the 5 children who this benefitted.

All numbers were drawn using Random.Org. Prizes were distributed in order from #1-#53

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WINNERS NEED TO E-MAIL ME your name and address at covenantb@yahoo.com - Put the item you won IN THE SUBJECT LINE of the e-mail.

Make sure to put the item won in the subject line. If you won multiple items... Send me an e-mail for each item!! Don't forget name and address in the e-mail!!

THANK YOU!!

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HERE ARE THE WINNERS...

1. A CRUISE TO THE BAHAMAS FOR TWO
Value $836.00
Missy Voigts

2. AMAZON GIFT CARD- Value $300.00 Darla Messenger

3. NEW NINJA MEGA KITCHEN SYSTEM - Value $230.00 Carol Hill Miller

4. A NEW AMAZON ECHO - Value $180.00 Blythe Toyaards

5. A WORKING TRAIN TRACK - Value $120.00+ Naomi Herr

6. NEW AMAZON FIRE - KID'S EDITION - Value $99.00 Andrea Gariepy

7. AMAZON GIFT CARD- Value $25.00 Frankie Miller

8. AMAZON GIFT CARD- Value $25.00 Colleen Lin

9. PICK A FAMILY - Value $50.00 Juliette Bullock

10. PICK A CHILD - Value $50.00 Shannon Wilde

11. PICK A CHILD OR FAMILY - Value $30.00 Ben H.

12. TGI FRIDAY GIFT CARD- Value $50.00 Yvonne Opp

13. TARGET GIFT CARD - Value $15.00 Ben H.

14. NEW LOVE CROSSES BORDERS SIGN - Value $189.00 Becki Little

15. NEW FLOWER POWER LAP QUILT - Value $70.00 Amanda Lemons-McQuinn

16. LOVE, HOPE PEACE LAP QUILT - Value $70.00 Yvonne Opp

17. SPRING IS IN THE AIR LAP QUILT - Value $70.00 Colleen Lin

18. SCRIPTURE LAP QUILT - Value $70.00 Beth Whiteley

19. PURPLE SONG BIRD LAP QUILT - Value $70.00 Katie Opitz

20. CROSS LAP QUILT - Value $70.00 Kara Wolf

21. BAIT AND TACKLE PILLOW - Value $15.00 Anastasia Ramsey

22. MATH IS FOR LOVERS PILLOW - Value $15.00 Tammy Enberg

23. DESSERT HEAVEN PILLOW - Value $15.00 Errin Mills

24. RAINING CATS AND DOGS PILLOW - Value $15.00 Julie Ensor

25. ROAD WORKERS PILLOW - Value $15.00 Heidi Stoll

26. HANDMADE AFGHAN - Value $60.00 Stori Wann

27. NEW - THIRTY ONE BAG - Value $28 Heidi Stoll

28. AMERICAN EAGLE PURSE - Value $25.00 Stephanie Swanson

29. COACH CLUTCH PURSE - Value $45.00 Elaine Hardwick

30. EXPRESS PURSE - Value $30.00 Paula Dolin

31. BANANA REPUBLIC PURSE - Value $40.00 Christa Zellar

32. HANDMADE MEMORY BOX - Value $10.00 Susanna Musser

33. TRADITIONAL INDONESIAN TABLE RUNNER - Value $20.00 Mary Coar

34. TRADITIONAL INDONESIAN TABLE RUNNER - Value $20.00 Teresa Ward

35. NEW TODDLER CROCHETED HAT - Value $10.00 Paula Dolin

36. CHILD'S PURSE - Value $10.00 Kalee Magnani

37. NEW EARRINGS- Value $10.00 Julie Ensor

38. YELLOW BRACELET FROM UGANDA- Value $7.00 Eric H.

39. PINK BRACELET FROM UGANDA- Value $7.00 Angeline VanHalle

40. MULTICOLORED BRACELET FROM UGANDA- Value $10.00 Carolyn Johnson

41. DELICATE PEACH NECKLACE FROM UGANDA- Value $10.00 Stori Wann

42. COLORFUL DOUBLE NECKLACE FROM UGANDA- Value $15.00 Joel Durham

43. SILVER EARRINGS FROM UGANDA- Value $5.00 Karen Strong

44. HANGING BEADS NECKLACE FROM UGANDA- Value $15.00 Rebecca Adams

45. PINK DOUBLE NECKLACE FROM UGANDA- Value $10.00 Britta McCarthy

46. SWEET SET WOOL FELT DAHLIA PINS Teresa Ward

47. WHITE UKRAINE SHIRT - Value $10.00 Leah Hardwick

48. "LITTLE RED HEN" SOAP - Value $10.00 Holly Huntley

FIVE BONUS PRIZES EXCLUSIVELY FOR HOMESCHOOLING FAMILIES

49. RAINBOW RESOURCE GIFT CARD - Value $75.00 Christa Zellar

50. BIBLIOPLAN BUNDLE - Value $150.00 - $200.00 Rene Runner

51. BIBLIOPLAN: REMEMBER THE DAYS, MEDIEVAL DAYS: BOOK TWO - History for Junior Readers - Value $49.95 Taylor Tots

52. STORY OF THE WORLD AUDIOBOOK - Volume 3 - Value $25.00 Susanna Musser

53. STORY OF THE WORLD AUDIOBOOK - Volume 4 - Value $25.00 Angie Robshaw

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WINNERS NEED TO E-MAIL ME your name and address at covenantb@yahoo.com - Put the item you won IN THE SUBJECT LINE of the e-mail.

Make sure to put the item won in the subject line. If you won multiple items... Send me an e-mail for each item!! Don't forget name and address in the e-mail!!

THANK YOU!!

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Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Blown Away!

I'm am sitting here this morning blown away by God.

When we decided to do this giveaway I wrestled with how to pray. Otto started with NOTHING in his grant account when I first blogged about him. The Blooms needed over 23,000 dollars to fund their adoption.

I'm a bit on the wimpy side when it comes faith stuff. I never want to limit God but I also am terrified to come out and state outright what I am begging Him to do. I never even posted on the blog what I was hoping and praying this giveaway would do.

I'm a coward that way.

Want to know what I was praying and hoping for??

I wanted Otto to reach $1,000 in his grant account. That was my BIG prayer. That was my FAITH-STRETCHING PRAYER!

Did you see his grant account????????

HE HAS $4,712.45 IN HIS GRANT ACCOUNT!!

FOUR THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED AND TWELVE DOLLARS AND FORTY-FIVE CENTS!

That's well over four times my prayer!!!

My BIGGER prayer for Otto is that a family would FIND HIM. God hasn't answered that prayer yet, so I am staying in front of the throne and begging the Lord because Otto may look big in the pictures but he is just a teeny tiny little boy who needs tender loving care.

Those who know him and have held him say he weighs about 20 lbs. Twenty pounds. He's 9 years old this year and weighs 20 lbs. Please Please Please Mama step up!!

My prayer for the Blooms was BIG. It was truly a Faith-Stretching prayer. They needed over 23,000 to be fully funded and so raising $1,000 in their grant account was not going to come close to touching that need.

So I prayed big.

I asked the Lord for $10,000 for the Blooms.

I wanted our little Giveaway to move in hearts enough so that they would have their financial burden eased by $10,000.00.

I honestly didn't think we would reach $10,000.

I figured that between the Blooms AND Otto we MAY POSSIBLY get to $10,000 but just that much to the Blooms alone.... HUGE prayer of faith.

Oh me of little faith!!!

YOU DONATED $11,456.00 TO THE BLOOMS AND ANOTHER $500.00 IS ON ITS WAY TO THEIR ACCOUNT THIS WEEK!!

WE RAISED A TOTAL OF $16,568.00 IN THIS GIVEAWAY!!

I don't know how many of you APOLOGIZED for your little gifts. Are you serious?? Your gifts - whether 5, 50 or 1,000 are NOT little. They are beautiful offerings before the Lord and He took them and He did BIG THINGS with them.

Thank you to each of you. And thank you to those who gave and didn't tell me. Thank you!

Tammy, Karen, Lesley, Brianne, Lin, Emilie, Nicole, Danielle, Rebecca, Amanda, Jamie, Holly, Naomi, Stephanie, Keshia, Leah, Tammy, Lorene, Anne, Jaime, Dana, Elaine, Kara, Anonymous, Anastasia, Teresa, Mary, Becki, Cyndi, Blythe, Carolyn, Casey, Osborn, Kim, Peter, Deb, Mary, Karen, Kim, Lindsay, Joseph, Stephanie, Clint, Stephanie, Beth, Eric, Ben, Seana, Chris, Bethany, Stori, Lisa, Frankie, Rob, Jennifer, Amber, Beth, Missy, Teresa, Alicia, Rachel, Brian, Victoria, Erika, Gene, Carolyn, Michelle, Audrey, Susan, Lexii, Julia, Regan, David, Stef, Delisa, Keely, Mrs. Post, Amy, Amy, Heidi, Errin, Paula, Aaron, Jennifer, Angie, Darla, Jenny, Yvonne, Andrea, Debby, Christa, Christina, Susanna, Colleen, Christopher, Stefanie, Daniel, Robert, Juliette, Holly, Alicia, Kim, Cassie, Laura Anne, Molly, Kristina, Tammie, Tonia, Carol, Jenny, Michelle, Judith, Renee, Susanna, Ron, Vivian, Hanna, Luba, Leah, Beth Ann, Jeannie, Joel, Dawn, Kaitlyn, Gretchen, Amanda, Ann, Britta, Angeline, Pam, Anne, Christiana, Dana, Trish, Annette, Kathy, Erika, Sharon, Nicole, Debbie, Julie, Carla, Tracy, Kameron, Jenika, Mark, Lea Ann, Katie, Taylor, Lisa, Adrienne, Ronnie, Rene, Tammie, Lucille, Staci, Amanda, Julie, Karen, Kalee, Tiffany, Annette, Molly, Amanda, Trisha, Shannon, Sherri, Micheala, Karla, Beth, Martha, Jessica, Colleen, Sarah, Cayla, Mary

The coolest part is that God used 5 shadow children who have been hidden away all their lives in institutes across the ocean - He used them to break hearts. Each person who donated and each person who prayed and each person who shared - their hearts were touched by these 5 shadow children.

I cry just typing that.

I lose my words when I consider how much He loves these 5 lost babes. Their cries in their cribs do not fall on deaf ears. He has raised up a family for 4 of them. He tenderly watches over the one who waits. He is well aware of the plight of the orphans around this world and He is moving and stirring hearts to hear their cries. Whether you can adopt, pray, give, share - everyone can take part.

Otto. Violet, Amos, Lee, Daisy

They would thank you if they could.

I'm thanking you for them.

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I will be drawing names later today and will announce winners tomorrow so stay tuned.....

If you didn't have a chance to give...

The Blooms still need $11,484.00 to be fully funded.

Every 5.00 matters.

Monday, August 1, 2016

Last Day!

This is it... Today is the last day to enter to win one of the amazing 53 prizes below in the Shadow Children Giveaway. Every one of those prizes was donated by loving people who care about orphans!! I cannot begin to thank each of them enough for giving so sacrificially!

The Giveaway ends tonight - August 1st.

If you haven't given.... PLEASE GIVE. Please SHARE....

Please!!

We have raised so far: $13,299.00

Bloom Family - $8,599.00

They need $14,604.00 more to be fully funded.

Otto - $4,167.00

WOW!! WOW!! WOW!!!

THE GIVERS

THE SHADOW CHILDREN GIVEAWAY

Who does this benefit?

One family adopting FOUR orphans.

Amos, Daisy, Lee and Violet

Their grant account needs to read $27,500 to be fully funded.

If you want to know why I am committed to helping the Blooms raise the ransom go HERE or HERE or HERE or HERE or HERE or HERE.

One wee Lost Boy.

Otto

If you want to know about Otto go HERE.

OVER 50 PRIZES WORTH OVER $3,200 DOLLARS!

It's so easy to enter... just donate and let me know your name and how much you donated ... full details are below. If you are a homeschooling family you have the option of also entering the Homeschooling giveaway! After you donate just let me know you homeschool and you will be entered into BOTH giveaways! How's that for amazing!!

HERE ARE THE PRIZES...

1. A CRUISE TO THE BAHAMAS FOR TWO
Value $836.00

Thank you Anonymous

Cruise for two with 5 course dining included!
Three days, two nights on the Grand Celebration Cruise Liner to Freeport Grand Bahamas from Port of Palm Beach Florida. Gift card has no expiration date and is fully transferrable. Pick your date and travel! Travel to and from port not included.

2. AMAZON GIFT CARD- Value $300.00
Thank you Trish

3. NEW NINJA MEGA KITCHEN SYSTEM - Value $230.00
Thank you Anonymous

Ninja MEGA Kitchen System 1500 (BL770)

The Ninja MEGA Kitchen System provides PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE and POWER in XL 72oz. Pitcher, XL 8 cup Processor Bowl, and Nutri Ninja Cups! This professional-quality powerhouse comes packed with a 2+ HP motor that handles limitless tasks in seconds, freeing you to focus on cooking, serving and savoring. The MEGA Kitchen System is perfect for frozen blending, food processing and Nutrient and Vitamin extraction.

What's in the box?
1500 Watt Motor Base, 72oz. Blender Pitcher, Blender Pitcher Lid, Total Crushing Blades, 64oz. Food Processor Bowl, Food Processor Lid, Chopping Blade, Dough Blade, (2) Nutri Ninja Cups, Nutri Ninja Pro Extractor Blade, (2) Nutri Ninja To Go Lids, Instruction Book, Quick Start Guide, Inspiration Guide

4. A NEW AMAZON ECHO - Value $180.00

Thank you Anonymous

Amazon Echo is a hands-free speaker you control with your voice. Echo connects to the Alexa Voice Service to play music, provide information, news, sports scores, weather, and more—instantly. All you have to do is ask.

5. A WORKING TRAIN TRACK - Value $120.00+
Thank you Aaron and John's Granddad
PERFECT FOR SETTING UP AROUND YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE!!
Comes with one working engine, 14 pieces of track (12 curved and 2 straight), 1 Bachmann transformer, 1 caboose, 2 box cars, 1 coal car and 1 tanker. HO scale

6. A NEW AMAZON FIRE - KID'S EDITION - Value $99.00
Thank you Anonymous

Fire Kids Edition Tablet, 7" Display, Wi-Fi, 8 GB, Blue Kid-Proof Case
Latest generation Fire Tablet

A full-featured 7" Fire tablet with a 1024 x 600 IPS display that's perfect for watching movies like Frozen, plus a fast quad-core processor that ensures quick app launch times and smooth games and video.

7. AMAZON GIFT CARD- Value $25.00

Thank you Annette

8. AMAZON GIFT CARD- Value $25.00

Thank you Annette

9. PICK A FAMILY - Value $50.00

Winner gets to pick any family on Reece's Rainbow and $50.00 will be added to their grant account
Thank you Anonymous

10. PICK A CHILD - Value $50.00

Winner gets to pick any child on Reece's Rainbow and $50.00 will be added to their grant account
Thank you Anonymous

11. PICK A CHILD OR FAMILY - Value $30.00

Winner gets to pick any child OR family on Reece's Rainbow and $30.00 will be added to their grant account
Thank you Leah

12. TGI FRIDAY GIFT CARD- Value $50.00

Thank you Leah

13. TARGET GIFT CARD - Value $15.00

Thank you Laura

14. NEW LOVE CROSSES BORDERS SIGN - Value $189.00

Thank you Stori

"Love Crosses Oceans" measures approximately 28" X 20".
It comes ready to hang with hardware attached as well as a "no tool required" hanging hook. Pieces are also beautifully gift wrapped and include a gift tag.