Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Hobo Story

We had a little Hobo in our midst... 


He came in out of the rain begging for a few morsels of food..


I wasn't sure I wanted him in our house... I mean he was rather scruffy looking...


And his face looked like it hadn't been washed in weeks...


But then I looked into his eyes... 


Seriously... how can you turn that face away???


So I gave the little hobo some breakfast and sent him on his way...

Hope he comes back.... I kind of liked having him around!!

------------------------------------

At the beginning of January there were around 10 children on Reece's Rainbow who all had one thing in common.  They all had arthrogryposis.  Since that is Aaron's condition - all of those children had a piece of my heart.  Not just my heart but the hearts of five other women too.  We grieved for those 10 who had no families and in our grief we decided to do something about it.  We banded together into a tiny, yet powerful little group and we set out to bring hope to the kids with arthrogryposis this year.  We prayed.  We raised matching grant money.  We advocated.  We yelled.  We prayed some more.  We screamed.  We raised more money.  We prayed even harder.  We yelled even louder.  And God has blessed our tiny little efforts.

Yesterday we stopped and took inventory in  our tiny little group.  We named the children with arthrogryposis who are either already home or heading for home since January 1st.

Roland (home). Laurel (home).  Alexis (parents are currently in country). Igor (parents are close to traveling). Rita. Sandra.  Anastasia.  Victoria.

EIGHT REECE'S RAINBOW CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THE LAST YEAR WHO ALL HAVE ARTHROGRYPOSIS!

Thousands and thousands of dollars raised for these kids.  Hundreds of hours spent yelling and praying and advocating.  

I cried as I wrote out those names.  Each one precious to me.  I am beyond grateful for the families who have stepped up.  I am forever thankful to every single one of you who came alongside us and prayed over and donated to and advocated for those kids.  We rejoice together.  Though you had no idea there was a small group working together - you guys were as much a part of that tiny group as anyone.  You gave.  You gave abundantly.  You yelled.  You prayed.  There just are no words.

There are four kids left on Reece's Rainbow who have arthrogryposis.  

I know that is not ALL the children in Eastern Europe with that condition but these are four that we know about.  There is one more that we want to share as soon as we have permission.  A precious little girl from Africa.  Oh we desperately want to see her in a family!!

Three of the RR kids currently have matching grants THAT END TODAY. 

Those matching grants are ALL OR NOTHING.  

The match is met - the child gets the match.  The match is not met then the donor has made it clear they will donate the money to another cause.  Another place.  Because obviously we don't care!  OUCH!   I don't know this donor.  One of the members in our group was able to convince them to offer the matching.  They know little about what we do.  They are not convinced that anyone would care about disabled kids across the ocean.

NOT CARE??

Not care about Aubree??  The family that just adopted Laurel met this sweet girl and she is a gem!!  She is in a NICE institute that has missionaries who have helped to change it from one of the worst places in that country to one of the best.  Aubree has flourished!!  YES WE CARE!!  Please - Aubree's grant account needs to say $615.00 in order for a $500.00 matching grant to be added to her account.  PLEASE SHOW YOU CARE!!  She needs $180.00 by midnight tonight!
 
AUBREE HAS MET HER MATCH!!! THANK YOU FOR CARING!!
 

NOT CARE??

Not care about Elizaveta?  Not care that in all of her pictures she can't manage a smile because she has little to smile about??  Oh please someone go make that child smile.  Give her hope!  Please care!!  Her grant account must read $600 in order for her to receive a $500.00 matching grant.  

ELIZAVETA HAS MET HER MATCH!!!  THANK YOU FOR CARING!!

NOT CARE??

Not care about Raymond??  Oh please please please look beyond the horrific picture and bad hair cut and SEE this boy.  I bet this kid is going to shock us all at how precious he is!  Not care that if Raymond is left alone he will spend his entire days laying in a crib??  How can I not care about that??  Raymond's grant account needs to reach $1700.00 in order for him to receive a $500 matching grant.  He needs $333.00 by midnight tonight.
 
RAYMOND HAS MET HIS MATCH!!! THANK YOU FOR CARING!!

I know... it is a tall order.  All total we need $712.00 for the three children.  I can't write that check or I would.  I can donate a little and ask that others donate a little and maybe, maybe we can chip away at that amount.  

I know we care.  I know you care.  Let's show this donor what caring looks like!  These kids matter.  They matter to God and they matter to us.  

PLEASE CARE.

And don't forget to vote.  ONE MORE TIME.  Vote today.  Then I won't bug you any more!!






CARE!!









Tuesday, October 30, 2012

What?????

What????




You have not voted for Reece's Rainbow yet???





I'M SAD!!



CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR REECE'S RAINBOW....

You only need to vote TWO more times.  TWO.  Today and Tomorrow.  Please vote.

---------------------------------

Many of the children across the ocean who lay in the baby houses and institutes don't just suffer emotionally. They also suffer physically.  They don't get the treatment they need and because of this they go through endless years of suffering.  Maxim is a boy who has suffered endlessly.  His suffering makes my heart sick.  You can read about it here.  Please don't go if you have a weak stomach.  Please go to have your eyes opened to what lack of medical treatment forces these kids to go through.



Maxim is not without hope because HE DOES HAVE a family coming.  They are leaving soon to not only bring home Maxim but another precious treasure, Yulia.



They have been offered a 2,500.00 matching grant that ends tomorrow night (October 31).  Please consider dropping something in their bucket to help them meet that matching grant!!!

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO MAXIM AND YULIA'S FUND FOR THE KACIREK FAMILY




Monday, October 29, 2012

Sweet Victory!

It's raining here.  Inside and out.

Sandy's raining outside.

I'm raining inside.  Tears of Joy are flowing down my cheeks.


Victoria has a family.


The little girl we have prayed over - wept over - advocated for has a family!!


PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!


I cannot wait to see this little girl with long hair!!  I cannot wait for the day when her Mama and Papa bring her to Shriners and I get to meet her.  

Sandy's fury cannot rival my joy for Victoria!!

THANK YOU JESUS!!


This is why we advocate.  This is why we yell.  

THANK YOU JESUS!!


My Peoples

We went away for a few days last weekend and Aaron's biggest concern:  "My Peoples will miss me."


My Peoples.

That's how Aaron refers to everyone in his world.  They are not just friends.  They are HIS PEOPLES.  And if he isn't going to be at school, in his mind, they will be lost without him.  


To say he cracks us up on a daily basis would be an understatement.

Not that he doesn't have fits or struggles because he does. 


Whenever we do new things we can expect to see Aaron's two modes - very happy to the extreme - or very upset to the extreme.  

Getting away for a few days in a new place and doing all new things brought out the extremes in our little guy as he worked to regulate the unbelievable joy he felt with the unbelievable terror he had in dealing with all the people, chaos and the total strangeness of it all.


He likes to know what is happening, when it is happening, where it is happening and how he can be in control of it happening!!


BUSCH GARDENS IS NOT A WORLD THAT WORKS THAT WAY!!

And it was pure fun for him.  


But also pure terror. 


 So all day we watched him bounce from utter happiness to sudden meltdowns for seemingly no reason.  

Thankfully he has patient brothers who gave up 'doing their own thing'.


They were willing to just hang with us as we looked for Aaron-type activities..


 that would bring him the greatest pleasure.



And this smile says it all....





It was a cool day for our littlest...




P.S. And lest you think they were deprived... Ben and Elijah had their fun too... Rob and I took Aaron out of the park before they started the Scream Fest so that they could enjoy a few hours of pure terror too...  


---------------------------------------

THREE MORE VOTES.  That's all you need to do.  Vote three more times.  We have NO IDEA if we are winning or losing.  PLEASE VOTE!!  If you haven't voted before - it is NOT TOO LATE to begin now.  Your three votes matter.  








Sunday, October 28, 2012

Four Days!

I'm working on a fun post with loads of pictures from our weekend away...

Until then.... we have FOUR DAYS LEFT in the Cultivate Wines contest.

Cover Photo

They have done a CRUEL AND INHUMANE ACT  in these last few days...

They have turned off the counter so we no longer know how we are doing in the vote!!!

Tara                                                   Veronika
  


Last night we were ahead by about 100 votes BUT THAT IS WAY TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT!


Angelina                                                     Michael
 


PLEASE DON'T ASSUME WE ARE WINNING - ASSUME WE ARE LOSING AND VOTE LIKE WE ARE LOSING!!!

FOUR VOTES... THAT IS ALL I AM ASKING YOU TO DO!

Andruis                                                                   Dawn
 


VOTE FOUR TIMES!

FOR THESE BABES!!!

Kai                                                           Asher
  

Orion                                            James
                       PRAISE GOD MY FAMILY FOUND ME!!
 


VOTE ON.....

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday!

This morning someone was asking about adopting one of the children.  They wanted to know about the child and what the cost would be!  DO YOU REALIZE THAT YOUR VOTING HAS AN IMPACT ON THAT CHILD'S ADOPTION???   

PLEASE VOTE!  



Saturday, October 27, 2012

Let's Care

Yesterday I asked for one of my typical eye-rolling - Julia you are a little bit nuts - requests.  

I wanted 124 children to be chosen.  Prayed for.  Cried over.  Lifted to the throne.

  

A rather lofty goal for a Friday when a storm is getting ready to hit the East Coast and the Presidential election has everyone's focus.  Plus... most people on Reece's Rainbow had ONE thing on their minds and that was the voting going on.  We started out yesterday morning in 2nd place by 125 votes but throughout the day people were working overtime to get others to vote and by 11:30 last night when I went to bed we were behind by only 10 votes.  This morning we are ahead by 125 votes!

So my request for the 124 forgotten kids was definitely a bit of a pipe dream.

  

BUT GOD!

CHECK OUT THE LIST.

YEP.

ALL 124 HAD SOMEONE CLICK ON THEIR LINK AND PRAY FOR THEM. (I know there are 125 because we added sweet Annie in the end)






  • Brian - $0 $5 $105 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!! I'M OVER THE 100 WALL!!
  • Tatumn - $10 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!
  • Caesar - $0 $5 $10  SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!
  • Collier - $0 $15 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Cambria - $10 $25 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!
  • Liam - $10 $22 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!
  • Hope - $0 $15 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Breanna - $0 $17 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • June - $0 $51.25 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Elliette - $10 $28 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Shane - $0 $27.50  SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Maiya - $0 $25.20 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Dash - $5 $45.50 $55.50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Layna - $0 $50 $60 $75 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!
  • Annie - $10 $53.85 $76.85 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!
  • Davin - $0 $19.80 $25 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Marina - $0 $20 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Christian - $51.80 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Brian - $50.50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Devon - $77.50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Rhonda - $50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!
  • Carly - $10 $28 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!
  • Channah - $10 $65 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Lauren - $50 $103.60 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY! I'M OVER THE 100 WALL!!
  • Aurora - $50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Prudence - $56.70 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Carissa - $24 $30 $68 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Milo - $33 $50 $60 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Moses - $10 $55 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Bryan - $280 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!! I'M OVER THE 100 WALL!!
  • Tyson - $50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Joel - $46 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Gideon - $20 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Lance - $52.50  SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Maverick - $10 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Brayden - $10 $28 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Dylan - $51.80 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Dixon - $50.70 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Tanner - $50.60 $60.60 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Adam - $56 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Marty - $70 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Daniel - $60.70 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!
  • Randall - $20 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Frankie - $50.40 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Tania $50.20 $55.20 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Emilija - $50.60 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Kylie - $30 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Angelia - $50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Kinley - $10 $55 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Emmalyn $10 $20 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Rania - $15 $38 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Veronika - $50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!! I'M OVER THE 100 WALL!!
  • Natalija - $52.50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Sealey - $50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Caesar - $51.50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Colin - $35 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Evan - $55 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!
  • Jedidiah - $17 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!
  • Parker $50 $57 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Troy - $50.60 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Dmitri - $51 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Alan - $50 $58 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Nathan - $50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Anderson - $50.70 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Donald - $50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Russ - $52.50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Leo - $50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Nick - $15 $40 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Callum - $15 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Jude - $10 $28 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Quinn - $10 $34 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Greyson - $10 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Niles - $10 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Eldon - $10 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Hayden - $20 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Abram - $10 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Owen - $60 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Roger - $32.50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Sergey - $25 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Judie - $51.50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Linda - $53.50 $80 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Jenna - $10 $15 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Evelyn $25 $35 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Alisha - $50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Christine - $50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Maddie - $10 $20 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Lanie - $12 $17 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Winnie - $50.80 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Brittany - $53 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Daisy - $60.50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Noel - $104 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!! I'M OVER THE 100 WALL!!
  • Victoria - $20 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Olive - $73 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Elise - $68.50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Brenda - $20 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Lexi - $10 $15 $37.50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Leila - $55 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Danielle - $5 $10 $15 $30 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Jenny & Jordan $68 $70 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Octavia - $51.50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Avery - $53 $63 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Eric - $60 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Yuri - $57 $65 - SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Andrey - $51.50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Ilyssa - $50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Andrew - $50.20 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • George - $105 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!! I'M OVER THE 100 WALL
  • Mark - $52 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Jasmina - $35 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Anjelica - $50.20 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Megan - $50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Ahmed - $50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Andrue - $60 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Fallon - $52.50 $60 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Henry $10 $28 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Fernando - $55 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Glenn - $54.70 $56.70 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Madden - $55 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Jordan - $73 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Joey - $15.50 $35.30 $50.30 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!
  • Kaleb - $53.30 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Devon - $52 $55 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Alexei - $50 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Luke - $53 $65 SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!
  • Annie - $76.85 - SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME TODAY!!


  • Not only that...Well over half of them had donations made into their grant accounts... .AND.... SIX CHILDREN MADE IT OVER THE 100 WALL!

      

    When I went to bed last night at 11:30 seven children had yet to have someone choose them.  This morning I checked my messages and all seven had been chosen.  Not only that but most of those seven had been chosen several times.  And people didn't just stop there... some were praying over and beyond what I asked.  Several people spent all day yesterday clicking EVERY SINGLE LINK and praying over EVERY SINGLE CHILD.  I got messages about how HARD it was to look at each face.  I too clicked every single link and prayed over every single child.  My heart was ripped out yesterday looking at all the children.

      

    Maybe the whole thing was an exercise in futileness.  I mean who cares if someone clicked a link and said a prayer for a kid.  Kind of silly when you think about it.  I know that is what many people thought when they saw my post yesterday.  Futile.

      


    But I don't believe that it was futile at all.  I don't believe that asking people to pray to a LIVING GOD is a useless exercise.  I know He hears. I know He responds.  I know that the Holy Spirit is alive and well and working in hearts.  I may never know this side of heaven whether it made any difference at all.  I just know that what we did mattered.  Prayer matters.  Carrying our burdens to the throne is not an exercise in futility.  


      

    And these kids matter.  If you want your heart broken spend the day clicking every link and looking into their eyes.  Read their profiles.  Grief their circumstance.  These kids are all older.  They SCARE people.  Their diagnoses overwhelm.  Most of them are the forever unwanted boys.  Their chances for families slipping away as time passes.  

      

    We are left with two choices.  We can throw up our hands and walk away because raising grant money and finding families for 124 unwanted kids is too overwhelming.  Or we can drop to our knees and ask the Lord to help us.  I choose the latter.  I believe prayer makes all the difference in the world.  He is the Father to the Fatherless.  He sets the lonely in families.  These children are not without hope.  He's called us to care.  So let's care.

      

    Let's Care. 

    If you didn't have a chance to care yesterday... please... pick a child... click their link and pray.  Donate to them.  Pull them over the 100 wall.  CARE!!  If not us then who??

    ---------------------------------------

    PLEASE KEEP VOTING.... Do you see how hard it is to get nickels and dimes into these kids grant accounts??  Do you see how hard we work??  50,000 dollars is on the line.  The families who will eventually adopt those kids will rise up and call you blessed if we win that money.  Please VOTE and don't only vote but SHARE!  Even if you don't have a FB account you can SHARE.  When I voted this morning we were in 1st place by 128 votes.  That is a precarious lead at best.  We need to keep voting and keep finding new people to vote.  From what I understand... in the last few days of the voting - THEY WILL TURN OFF WHO IS IN FIRST PLACE - so we will be voting blind.  So vote NOW.   Share with your friends.  

    LET'S CARE!!!