The Bestest Parts

Long road times are not the bestest parts...

Ornery GPS devices are not the bestest parts...

Paying toll and buying gas are not the bestest parts...

Waiting for doctors is definitely not the bestest parts...

But meeting families... Seeing what God is doing in the lives of so many children...

That, my dear friends, is the bestest parts!

On Thursday we had the amazing privilege of fellowshipping with three amazing Reece's Rainbow families... The Boroughs, the Mussers and the Wesleys!  On Friday we had the added blessing of spending time with two other Reece's Rainbow families.... Stacy Francis and Cameron and Tammy Enberg (Sophia is recovering from surgery so I didn't actually get to love on her as she was sleeping but I was able to spend time talking to Tammy).

Here's a smattering of pictures and memories from THE BESTEST PARTS of our two days...

The meeting of the moms on Thursday night....

Amy Boroughs - mom of 7 adopted treasures, me, Susanna Musser, sweet Katie from Ple*in, Alexis Wesley and precious Roland WHO JUST CAME HOME A FEW WEEKS AGO!!

THIS LITTLE BOY IS AMAZING!! He has arthrogryposis like Aaron but that does NOT stop him.  He is all over the place.  He was drugged at his babyhouse and coming home was a bit of a challenge until the drugs vacated his little body but now that he is drug-free... this little guy is an absolute gem!  

Roland's big sister, Laelia!!

We met Laelia Wesley almost two years ago at Shriners.  The doctors in California told her Mom that she would never walk.  Well...THEY WERE WRONG!! She is walking all over the place.  Wow!  And Aaron fell in total love with her.  She was the queen and he willing served her every need and whim! Yes, he is pushing her on the swing!!

This was first time that Aaron has ever had the chance to play with other children who have arthrogryposis like he does.  Don't ever let anyone tell you that these kids shouldn't be born.  There is so much life and hope and potential in these kids!!  Sadly, most children diagnosed with arthrogryposis in our country are aborted.   The Wesley's chose LIFE for Laelia.   I could hug them and then hug them again.  And they saw such amazing potential in their daughter that they crossed the ocean to rescue Roland.   There are no words.

One of Amy's treasures. Irina.  A Reece's Rainbow babe.  I wish you could have seen her singing with her big sisters!! 

Another of Amy's treasures. Luke.  Another Reece's Rainbow babe.  Don't let his quiet little face fool you... this boy is wired for speed!!  He is only sitting quietly because he's gearing up for supper!

Another Amy treasure.  Sam.  And yes, He's another Reece's Rainbow babe.  Sam, Irina and Luke were all adopted out of the same babyhouse as Roland.  Irina and Luke were drugged in the same manner as Roland. Sam was one of the first RR kids I yelled about when we first came back from adopting Aaron.  To finally meet him was sweet indeed.  He and Aaron became best friends very quickly.  

Another Amy treasure. Blair.  

Another Amy treasure.  Ivan.  

Another Amy treasure.  Abilene.

This little sensitive sweetheart is Verity Musser.  She was too shy to let me hold her (darn) so I could only love her from a distance!!  She is a homegrown babe and she too has a Mama who CHOSE LIFE.  

And the princess of the party... Sweet Katie Musser.  

What a highlight to see this little girl.  A year ago we were praying her home.  Look at her.  

Katie and Mama.

God is good.

FORGIVE ME FOR NOT TAKING PICTURES OF THE FATHERS.... CHARLES WESLEY, ADAM BOROUGHS AND MY SWEET HUSBAND WERE ALL THERE BUT OF COURSE THEY DIDN'T VOLUNTEER TO GET THEIR PICTURES TAKEN AND NOBODY REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT.  

What the world??? Without those guys none of these kids would be home!!  

I'M SORRY!!!

This is Cameron Francis.  On Friday Aaron and Cameron met for the first time.  We yelled for Cameron (Jordan on Reece's Rainbow) after we came home and again, to finally meet him and his mom was another HUGE highlight for me.  

The two boys had an absolute blast playing together.  Again, what a blessing for Aaron to play with another child who has arthro.  I am so grateful for the chance to talk to other moms with children who face the same challenges as Aaron. 

45 minutes playing in an exam room is just too short for Aaron.  He mourned having to leave his new friend!

It was a fast and exhausting trip.  We ran out of Shriners on Friday at noon and made an almost non-stop mad dash back to Charlottesville so we could take part in Bye Bye Birdie.  But even though we are on our faces today in exhaustion, the trip was worth it for us to be able to spend time with all the children.  To look at each one and see anew what God has done and is doing... it was worth it.

IT WAS THE BESTEST PART!!

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GO SEE HEATH'S GRANT ACCOUNT... He officially has matched the 5,000 and the blessings for him just spilled over!!  Once the Matching Grant is put in his account he will have over 21,000.00 in his grant account!

HEATH'S MAMA... WHERE ARE YOU??

The Giveaway is still going on... Porter's grant account has $3754.70... Do you think we could get it to $4,000.00 before Monday??  PLEASE??

All donations between now and Monday morning will receive double points!

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO PORTER