With Jesus

Written by Carla a few weeks ago after Henry's most recent surgery...

That moment...

When your adopted child rouses from post surgery anesthesia on a vent searching frantically with his eyes... And his meet yours... And his whole body softens and relaxes and he squeezes your finger and slowly and peacefully closes his eyes again...

Yeah, that moment... 

Worth every penny, every sleepless night, every hardship....

For all those like me who are still mourning Henry....

A chip-in has been set up to help defray funeral and hospital expenses.  All the money is going DIRECTLY into the Dobrovits Paypal Account.  Any left over funds they receive will be donated by them to the REECE'S RAINBOW VOICE OF HOPE FUND.

They are grateful for every gift made in Henry's honor.

For those who can't see the chip-in - go to Paypal and donate using this:
Dobspc@aol.com

For those who want to know a little more about Henry...

He was listed on Reece's Rainbow as having arthrogryposis.  That put him high on my list for kids I cared deeply about.  When Carla committed to him she immediately made contact with all of the families who had adopted kids with arthro (AMC) and we connected.  She joined the groups I was in and our lives intertwined.  I couldn't wait for them to bring him home because they were Shriners bound and I knew that eventually I would get to hold him in my arms.

But at their first Shriners appointment they learned that Henry did NOT have arthrogryposis.  He had Larsen's Syndrome.   Now some would be angry that they had been misled but I can tell you for a fact that the Dobrovits were anything but angry.  They rejoiced that Henry had been misdiagnosed.  Larsen's Syndrome was NOT on the Special Needs list in his country and if he had been correctly diagnosed by the doctors over there - Henry would have died alone and lonely in his crib. I have to admit that though I rejoiced along with them for the mistake, I was also deeply disappointed in Henry's diagnosis because it meant that the chances of our paths crossing decreased considerably.  

Larsen's Syndrome meant that Henry faced some pretty serious surgeries.  It meant a hard road for his parents but I know for a fact that the Dobrovits would NOT have chosen any other road but that one.  They loved their son before they ever laid eyes on him and the moment they took him into their arms he completely stole their hearts and no diagnosis, prognosis or any other osis would ever have caused them to turn back.




 They would have gone to the ends of the earth for him.

And he knew he was loved.  He knew who his Mama and Papa were.  He was secure and happy in their arms.

He didn't die alone and he knew deep in his tiny little heart that he was one very very loved little boy.

And he is home.

Carla said it best...

Henry is finally home.

His ultimate home.

The home where it was my job, as his mommy, to deliver him.

Home with Jesus in heaven.

AND THAT MY FRIENDS IS ADOPTION AT ITS FINEST!

One Of Our Own

The Reece's Rainbow is in mourning tonight.

There are no words.

We lost a little warrior.

Henry.

He died from complications after surgery.

He came across the ocean a little over a year ago.  So tiny.  So frail.  So loved.  So wanted.  Immersed in love from the moment they picked him out of that crib.  

Precious Henry.

One of our own has died tonight.

Tears flow freely.  

Much love and prayer to the Dobrovits family.

Isaiah 51:11 

And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;  they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Sweet Sasha

A few weeks ago I begged for prayers for my Lost Boys, Mulligan and Passed Over Babes because I knew that God was moving in hearts for some of my babes.  I knew too that the mountains were high for these families who were hearing the pounding on their hearts....

WELL ONE MOUNTAIN JUST CAME DOWN!!!

SASHA HAS A FAMILY FIGHTING TO CROSS THE OCEAN FOR HIM!!

Praise God!! Praise God!!  

SOON LITTLE BOY YOU WILL KNOW WHAT LOVE FEELS LIKE!!

PRAISE GOD!!

One Lost Boy Found.... Four more to go!!

PRAYER MATTERS....

PLEASE KEEP PRAYING... KEEP YELLING... KEEP ADVOCATING...

 Heath                                                       Hanson 

        

Alexei

Alexei has $226.50 in his Angel Tree Account!!! 

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS DONATED!!  

 

Samuel and Sara

Their grant account now reads $176.00.  

THAT MAKES ME CRY!! THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT THEM!!  

This past weekend I tried posting about these two precious treasures on an adoption FB group and a war ensued over whether I should be sharing their story.  I watched people fight for 5 days over these sweet children.  It made me sadder than sad.  Samuel is rotting away in a shed across the ocean and people are at odds over whether I should tell their story with their pictures.  

 

I didn't like the controversy.  I tend to avoid it at all costs.  I was tempted to pull the post so the controversy would end.  But I didn't.  For one very simple reason.  For five days Samuel and Sara were seen by a large amount of people who were either fighting or reading the post to figure out what was going on.  For five days they were seen.   It blows me away that anyone could look in their eyes and want to stop someone yelling for them but maybe that is because those yelling have not SEEN what I have seen.  They have not BEEN where I have been.  They do not KNOW what I know.  

Regardless...

I will not stop yelling for these two.  

I cannot look at Samuel without dropping to my knees each and every time.  The Johnsons were there last May and met him.  They wrote a blogpost this week about him.  YOU CAN READ IT HERE.

I get weary in this fight.  

But when I see mountains crumble like they are crumbling for Sasha...

When I get comments from many of you to keep on fighting...

When I see others willing to jump in the fray and fight alongside me....

I am encouraged to keep on keeping on.  

PS.

My sweet Emmitt has almost $500.00 in his Angel Tree account.  Go Emmitt!!  

Emmitt

My sweet Yegor has $229.00 in his grant account!! Go Yegor!!           

 Yegor 

        

If you want to donate to Yegor or Emmitt or Alexei to get them to the $1,000 wall.... CLICK HERE and go find them on the Angel Tree...

P.S.S. - I am considering doing a one-week Giveaway for the Angel Tree....  If you have something new that you don't mind shipping to the winner that would make a great Christmas gift... let me know...  my e-mail is covenantb@yahoo.com.

    

     

Words Fail Me

I don't have any words to blog. 

A little boy sits in a mental institute across the ocean.  His sister in another institute.  Separated by distance and circumstances. I cannot look at him without wanting to weep. Oh Samuel.

And in that same institute live Heath and Sasha and Hanson and Alexei.  I just don't have words to blog today.

   

Five Lost Boys.  PLEASE LORD SEND FAMILIES!!

Another little boy is slowly going downhill as he sits and waits for a family.  He too is in an institute.  Bobby. Where is your Mama little boy?  I can't look at your new pictures without wanting to lose it.

   

And Yegor?  Sitting in another institute?

And Emmitt??

I don't have any words to blog. 

I just don't even know what to say.

Words fail me on this Monday.

All I can do is pray.

My heart is sad today. 

Thanksgiving Fun

My niece made this video of our Thanksgiving family gathering at our house! 

In part of the film Aaron is running my dad's trains.  Aaron is an absolute whiz at running his Grandad's trains.  

Enjoy!!

For This Child...

I saw him a little over a year ago.

He was part of a video that the ministry team sent us after visiting the Lost Boys.  We gasped when we saw him.  We couldn't believe he was a Lost Boy.  He was too tiny.  His clothes were different.  At one point he was sitting on the lap of one of the caretakers.  We wondered if he was her son.  Maybe he came with the ministry team.  No way was he one of the boys.  He just didn't fit in.  I watched the video over and over and over again.  Looking.  Praying.  Worrying.  Who was the tiny little guy in the pictures? Please Lord, don't let him be a Lost Boy.

We saw him again a few months later.  Pictures that confirmed what we  feared.  He WAS a Lost boy.  A tiny wheelchair sitting next to him as he sat on the lap of the caretaker.  

My heart broke at his reality. OH Dear Lord NO!

 I sent e-mails.  Begged to know if he was available.  Grieving inside that this tiny little boy was living in that place.  Dear Lord help me get him out.  Please!  Help me get him out.

But we didn't have a name.  We didn't have any information.  We only knew what the director was willing to share with the ministry team.  

His parents were dead.  Killed in a car accident.  The same accident that had rendered him unable to walk.

That was it.  Just those few sentences.  Words in an e-mail that sent me reeling.  

I wept.  I prayed.  I begged.

But without a name and with a director who would not share any more information - our hands were tied.

So I prayed.  Over and over I prayed.  Please Lord.  Please.

The ministry team didn't get to visit through the winter months.  They tried but the director kept turning them away with one excuse after another.  

Finally.. finally they went.  In the spring.  With some Americans in tow who carried with them money that we had raised from the Mulligan Stew.  The Johnsons.   They were allowed to enter the gates and for 30 minutes they saw a few of the Lost Boys.  He was with them.  The tiny little Roma boy who couldn't walk. They sat beside him. They held his hand.  Watched him interact.  Fell in love with his amazing smile. It was obvious to all that HE DID NOT BELONG THERE.  

Oh Lord help me get this child out!!

But we still did not have a name.  No information.  No good picture.  No way to get him listed.  

Please God!

For this child I have prayed....

I shared him with others privately.  Begged for prayers for him.  Pleaded to the Lord to open a door for him.

Finally.. finally..

In October the door began to swing open.  The ministry team was able to visit the Lost Boys again.  THEY FOUND OUT HIS NAME.  They took pictures.  They were able to talk with him again.  

Sadly - like Aaron  - he was losing his words.  But his smile remained.  And despite his lack of language it was obvious to all that he was SMART.  Bright.  NOT COGNITIVELY DELAYED.  Just living in a world where all he hears are groans and moans.  HE IS ALONE. His parents are gone. 

We now had a picture.  A name. 

Hope.  

E-mails were sent.  His picture went out.  The searching began.  

Finally.  Finally his file was found.  He has paraplegia.  We knew that.  He has a sister.  

That news shocked me.  He has a sister.  A sister who has HIV.  Two years older and in another institute in the same region (not a mental institute but an internat which is better). They go together.  Brother and sister. 

 Please.  Please.  Lord help us get them listed.

I prayed and waited and prayed some more. 

More time passed as her file needed to be found.  Information verified.  FINALLY. FINALLY.   

The only picture of the sister a pitiful copy of the one in her file.  

THANK YOU JESUS, THANK YOU!!

 And finally... on Wednesday.. the day before Thanksgiving.... they were listed on Reece's Rainbow.

Finally.

And today - the WORST day to share their story... On this Black Friday when the world is focused on filling up their homes with treasures galore ... On this day I share their story.  

Two children.  

Orphans.

A brother and a sister separated by tragedy.  

A little boy LOST. 

PLEASE.  PLEASE.

Someone go get them.  They have NOTHING in their grant account.  They have nothing.

They have no treasure to offer the world.  They require sacrifice of much earthly treasure to gain them.

But they are treasures.

DIAMONDS TO BE DISCOVERED. 

A Little Lost Boy and Girl.

 

God has made a way for them to be found.

PLEASE.

SHARE THEIR STORY.  

THESE BABES NEED OUT.  Samuel needs OUT.  Sara needs OUT.  They need to be together again.  To be brother and sister again.  To grieve their loss.  To begin anew.  To heal.  To regain words and learn again about love.  Please.

For this child I prayed.  For over a year.  Today I am yelling for two.  

Samuel and Sara.

Yell with me.

On this Black Friday.  

On this - the worst day of all to yell for two orphans.  Please.  Yell with me.

Wordless Wednesday

I'M THANKFUL FOR....

Reaping a Harvest

This morning as I was quietly getting ready to start my day... this little verse popped into my head...

I walked downstairs and shared it with Rob.

I sat down with that little verse still rolling around in my brain.

I wasn't planning on blogging ...

But that little verse would not stay quiet....

I checked on the Angel Tree and groaned inwardly as I saw how many babes have not jumped the $100.00 wall.  

LET US NOT....

I checked the Menges grant account and saw that they still need close to $1,500.00.  Not much changed from yesterday despite blogging.  Sigh.

BECOME WEARY...

I checked Lillian's grant account and saw that she received some donations but still needs well over 12,000.00 to be funded.  Sigh.

IN DOING GOOD...

I checked Stephanie Nance's auction and saw that not ONE PAINTING has ANY bids on them.  Sigh.

Let us NOT become weary....

LET US NOT BECOME WEARY....

LET US NOT BECOME WEARY!!!!!!

I focused on that verse and prayed and donated to Maxim and prayed some more.  Thanking God for the little verse He gave ME in the quiet of my morning.

I assumed my little verse was for me and for me alone.

Until I looked on Facebook and saw that my friend Jane had become weary.  

So I sent her MY verse.  

And she thanked me.

And then she posted this on Facebook.

And I realized that I needed to blog and share MY verse with more than just Jane.

SO HERE I GO...

DO NOT BECOME WEARY PEOPLE... DO NOT.... KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING.... BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO SEE HARVEST.  OUR HARD WORK IS NOT IN VAIN.  WE WILL SEE A HARVEST IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP.

How do I know??

What was my tidbit of hope that God dropped into my heart???

This morning on the My Family Found Me Page....

FOUR BROTHERS WERE CHOSEN.

Four brothers have a family.

A family working like crazy to cross the ocean to bring them home!!!!!

Let us NOT become weary in doing good.... 

The harvest is coming....

....and you just don't want to miss reaping the harvest!!

A Necessary Purchase

I'm sitting here working on my lists for Thanksgiving.  We are hosting it this year so my shopping list is rather long and involved.  Wednesday soup night, Thursday feast, Friday brunch.

It's going to be a busy week.  I'd like to just put this blog on hold and go about my business.  

But.

There are two families who are traveling THIS WEEKEND.  

They are both short funds.  

I can't go about my business this week - cooking and cleaning and getting ready for family to descend and not give a shout out for these families.

Collectively they are bringing home THREE children who are going to be sitting under the Christmas tree in just a few short weeks!

 

If that isn't enough to make you want to drop a five into their bucket in THANKSGIVING I don't know what else I could say.  

HOW ABOUT IT???

The Menges family still needs $1,500 to be funded.

CLICK HERE TO HELP THEM BRING IAN HOME

Lillian Godone-Maresca still needs $13,000.00 to be funded.  She just recently lost her mom.  In this time of Thanksgiving please remember them as they both grieve and rejoice.

CLICK HERE TO HELP LILLIAN BRING PHILIP AND MAXIMILIAN HOME

 

Let's not be so busy in our to-do's this week that we forget the families who are doing everything they can to bring home precious treasures!!!

A New Babe

A few weeks ago I was going to share with you a sweet little girl with arthrogryposis who was available for adoption.  Her name was Francesca and she was just an itty bitty babe.

The little group of women I am in who are determined to give voice to the kids with arthrogryposis were thrilled to be her voice.  They had already started yelling for her and I was right behind them, formulating a post in my mind.  Just from their posting alone several families had inquired about adopting her.  

She died.  

She was only 8 weeks old.  Arthrogryposis is not a condition that causes death so something else happened.  Sorrow upon sorrow.

I didn't even get to yell for her.  

But as we mourn her passing, and we deeply mourn her passing.....

We were given another file of another babe.

Kyle

Another itty bitty babe who has been left at the hospital.  He too has arthrogryposis.  He was four pounds at birth and they are using a feeding tube to help him gain weight.  He is only 3 months old and is available for adoption.

KYLE NEEDS A FAMILY!!! 

 Arthrogryposis is at its worst at birth.  I have friends whose children are walking and they were born in the same condition Kyle's legs, knees and hips are in.  Aaron's feet were clubbed like Kyle's and look what Aaron is doing!!  Kyle's records don't indicate that his upper body is affected.  Even if they are - the fact that his right elbow is bent is a HUGE plus!  

Kyle needs out of that crib. He needs to be held and moved and stimulated.  He needs a Mama who will work his hands and arms.  He needs a family who will fight to get him the best treatment possible.  He needs gentle hands and lots of kisses.  

If you are SERIOUSLY interested in adopting Kyle - 

Contact Ruth Cox. Her email is  yakorphans@gmail.com.

The requirements in his country include:

*at least 30 years of age

*have been married at least 5 years

 

They are flexible on the number of children already in the home if you are adopting a child with special needs. Also this is a Hague accredited nation which is only important for the fact that you have to fill out certain paperwork for it.

Kuddos Mom

I may have blown the Veterans Day clothing requirement....

But I didn't blow the PAJAMA DAY on Wednesday!!

Of course Aaron's teacher sent me a PERSONAL REMINDER so that I wouldn't forget!!

Even so.... 

I'm counting it as a Win for Mom!!

An Honest Post

Okay - Here's another - "I'll be honest" post.

It's Angel Tree time and all year I have assumed I would be doing something big for the Angel Tree like I did last year.  I didn't know what I would be doing but I was going to do something!   I mean if it hadn't been for the Angel Tree we would not have found Aaron.... Of course I was going to do something!! 

But as the time drew closer I realized that I have NOTHING to give this year.  My cup is empty.  Oh I know I could round up prizes because you guys are absolutely generous to a fault and I have already gotten e-mails from people.  It was ME.  My cup.  My energy level.  What I bring to it.  Empty.  I'm exhausted.  

So I've been in this mental battle with myself that involved wanting to do something, wanting to do nothing, feeling guilty because I'm not doing anything etc. etc.

Then yesterday a sweet friend who is yelling for Sonny WHO NEEDS SOMEONE TO YELL FOR HIM BECAUSE LOOK AT HIS BEFORE TRANSFER AND AFTER TRANSFER PICTURES...

    

Well - she reminded me that unless the Lord builds the house - the labor is in vain.

And peace flooded my heart.  It is OKAY that I don't have anything to give right now.   It is okay because it is the Holy Spirit who moves and directs and right now - I'm in a waiting and resting period.  The Lord will move in my heart when it is time and I don't need to worry about it.  I'm just going to rest and wait.

That doesn't mean I don't care about the Angel Tree because I care deeply.  Some of the children on the Angel Tree have already been transferred BUT MOST HAVE NOT and  I WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY!!  Finding families for the young ones is MY DEEPEST DESIRE.  Raising awareness for the wee ones so that they never have to set foot in the mental institute.... Oh Dear Friends.... 

I check the Angel Tree daily to see how the kids are doing.  I first of all look at Yegor since he is my Angel Tree boy!!  He has $101.50 in his AT account.  Only $898.50 to go!!

Then I look for Emmitt.  Yes Emmitt is on the Angel Tree.  Praise God!!  GO EMMITT GO!! 

He has $283.46 in his AT account.

And now that Alexei is a Lost Boy I am going to be checking him daily... His AT account is at $140.00

Then I start looking at the other babes.... whispering prayers... longing for families.... grieving over all the faces I recognize... babes who have been on RR for years and years...
These are but a few....  

                

Oh how could I not care?  Each one a precious treasure. Each with diagnoses that should not define them.  Each one cast away by the world.  Each one worthy of love.

I'm waiting and resting.  But I am not idle.  Prayer matters.  And above all else these kids need prayers.

GO CHECK OUT THE ANGEL TREE.

LET YOUR HEART BE BROKEN.

If you want to enter to win some REALLY COOL PRIZES... go to Stori's blog and enter to win.... All it takes is a 5.00 donation to Sonny.

UPDATES:  

• The Mountain family made it to their appointment ON TIME and should be in region today meeting their daughter. PRAISE GOD!! They are so very grateful for each prayer raised on their behalf and would welcome continued prayers as they walk through the process.

• The Eriksons met their 1,000 grant match!!  Thank you to those who donated!  

• The Sharps are having a Facebook Auction with over 100 items in the auction.  It ends today and they still have items that have NO bids on them.  I donated some of those items  - go check them out and bid!!!

1. Narnia CD's
2.  A 24 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS Action Racing Collectibles 1:24- Scale Stock Racing Car. Mint in Original Box! NO BIDS!!
3. A Tie the Knots Kit for a Boy Scout. THIS IS NICE!!  It is brand new - I had to unwrap the pieces to take pictures.  It comes in a NICE wooden block!!  Great Christmas gift!!

The Auction is for Zek and Rowyn.... CLICK HERE TO GO BID!!

• The Nance's are having an AMAZING auction and Giveaway to spring Maxim from the Mental Institute.... They have some beautiful art work up for auction including some Thomas Kinkade pieces. They also have a Giveaway that you need to check out!! CLICK HERE TO GO BID!!