Sweet Monday Morning

I'm just the clown.

 

The one cheering and clapping and begging.

 

The one laying in bed at 2:00 am praying - Praying, Oh, so hard for the engine to pull the train over the mountain.

 

That's me.

 

The silly clown.

 

 

SWEET MONDAY MORNING!!!

 

The train is over.

 

I know the train we were pulling was heavy and I know the mountain was high.  But I serve and love a MIGHTY GOD who breathed life into this world with just a word. I knew that He could whisper in hearts. I knew that He would pull our train.

 

All Glory and Praise to Him.

 

We met the $5,000 in matching grants.

 

The following people need to contact me as they have won a portrait (covenantb@yahoo.com)

Andrea G.

Lindsay (Minstrel)

Cindy Olzewski

Bethany Whiteley

 

Thank you to every single one of you who gave so lovingly to these boys.  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you for listening to His whispers on your hearts!

 

 

LOOK AND SEE WHAT GOD HAS DONE....and check out the four beautiful portraits... these were all done by a young girl who wanted to use her God-given talent to help these boys!

 



 

 

  

 

ISAIAHU http://reecesrainbow.org/90772/isaiahu 

He met his match!

His grant account started with $18.00.  He will now have over $2,018.00

 

 

 

 AARON http://reecesrainbow.org/90768/aaron-2 

He met his match!

His grant account started with $45.00.  He will now have over $2,045.00

 

  

 STEPHAN http://reecesrainbow.org/91925/stephan 

He met his match!

His grant account started with $54.00.  He now has over $2,300.00.

 

  

 

 

 BEN http://reecesrainbow.org/90775/ben 

He met his match!

His grant account started with $3,363.36.  He will now have over $5,366.00

 

 

 ALEX http://reecesrainbow.org/91928/alex - HIS FAMILY FOUND HIM!!!!

He met his match!

His grant account started with $567.00.  He now has $8,159.00 to give to his family!

 

  

 

ISOLDE http://reecesrainbow.org/52891/isolde - SHE AGED OUT 
MICAH http://reecesrainbow.org/91918/micah - He met his match - HE AGED OUT (His grant money was given to Alex)

Please pray for these two. Pray that the Lord has great things in store for them. 

 

I'm Not The Little Engine That Could

When my oldest son, Ben, was little he loved the story of the Little Engine that Could. He made us read that book so many times that we had to sometimes put it on timeout on top of the fridge! By the time Elijah came along Rob and I could recite the entire book from memory.

 

It's a sweet story of a little engine that is willing to do what the big and powerful engines are too busy and proud to do - pull the train filled with toys and good things for the children to eat over the mountain. She struggles at first to pull the train because she is just a little engine, the train is heavy and the mountain is steep.  But as she strains to pull the train up the mountain she whispers over and over, "I think I can, I think I can."

 

 

I think I can.

 

Back in the beginning of October a sweet donor offered $5,000 matching in grants for us to use for six boys who desperately, desperately need families.

 

I swallowed hard when I read the e-mail.

 

There were numerous reasons why I just could not do $5,000 in matching grants. Our newest son was having surgery. I'm having a hard time managing time this fall with the added duties of teaching at Aaron and John's school.  I don't have prizes to offer.  We are in the middle of another big BiblioPlan project. I'm a mom. It's too much money to raise.  The Angel Tree is during the same time. I don't know if I can do it.

 

 

I talked to Rob. I shared with Kim. I talked to the donor. We prayed. We considered.  We decided to go for it.

 

But here's the truth. 

 

I'm not the little engine that could.

 

I can't get the train over the mountain.

 

I never thought I could.

 

I'm completely dependent upon the Lord to move in hearts. I'm just the clown in the story.  The one who rallies the toys, asks for help. The clown who cheers when the little engine agrees to pull the train. I'm just the clown.

 

 

The Lord is the engine that can.

 

I'm just along for the ride. Cheering. Encouraging. Rallying.

 

I am trusting God to get us over this mountain.

 

The matching grants end tomorrow night.  November 30th. 

 

I know the train we are trying to pull is heavy and I know the mountain is high.  But I serve and love a MIGHTY GOD who breathed life into this world with just a word. I know that He can whisper in hearts. I know that He can pull our train.

 

I know He can.

 

I know He can.

 

 

His soft whispers speak to our hearts.

 

Love. Care. Give.

 

These child need us.  They need to be seen. They need families. Money in their grant accounts is a huge blessing.

 

We have been given $5,000 in matching grants.  By God's sweet grace we have raised $4,368.80.  4 of the six boys have met their matching grants.  We just need to get these last two boys over the mountain.  $631.20. 

 

I know He can.

 

I know He can whisper in hearts and I know He is. Please listen. Please hear.  Our little train needs to get over the mountain to bring good food and toys to a couple of boys who are living in the hardest of worlds.

 

  

 

ISAIAHU http://reecesrainbow.org/90772/isaiahu - 1,000.00 matching grant. Grant account needs to read 1018.00 - Still needs 272.20

 

Just two little boys are left. Isaiahu and Aaron.

 

No one has ever inquired about adopting Aaron.  Not one person.  No one.

 

I know God can whisper in hearts. I know He can call out families. I know He can.

 

Listen. Please listen.

 

Love. Care. Give.

 

 

 AARON http://reecesrainbow.org/90768/aaron-2 - 1,000.00 matching grant. Grant account needs to read 1045.00 - Still needs 360.00

 

See what God already has done??

  

 STEPHAN http://reecesrainbow.org/91925/stephan - HE NEEDS A FAMILY! - He met his match!

  

 

 

 BEN http://reecesrainbow.org/90775/ben - HE NEEDS A FAMILY! - He met his match!

 

 

 ALEX http://reecesrainbow.org/91928/alex - HIS FAMILY FOUND HIM!!!!

 

  

 

ISOLDE http://reecesrainbow.org/52891/isolde - SHE AGED OUT 
MICAH http://reecesrainbow.org/91918/micah - He met his match - HE AGED OUT (His grant money was given to Alex)

 

Of Course!

John had a Dr's appointment on Wednesday. He was getting shots and was nervous so he was sitting on my lap waiting for the nurse when my phone beeped that I had a private message on Facebook. 

 

He sat on my lap as I cried.

 

And cried.

 

He kept turning around and looking at me and a few times reached up and wiped the tears from my face.

 

I was a sorry mess by the time the nurse walked into the room.

 

It was this picture that completely did me in.

 

 

See that sweet boy right in the middle of that picture in the light blue shirt with his arm draped over the lion??? That my dear friends, is Toby. 

 

He's watched every single one of his friends adopted.  He's asked over and over again why no one ever wanted him.He's waited for 10 long years for a family. 

 

Back in May, Rob took this picture of John and Toby with that lion. 

 

 

 

John's best buddy at the orphanage. His partner in crime.  A little boy who longed with all of his being to be loved best of all.

 

Well Toby has a Mama who loves him best of all.

 

It was THAT PICTURE that did her in!!

 

 

He has little brothers who think he is going to be a pretty cool big brother!

 

 

 

Toby has a family who crossed the ocean to ask him if he wanted to be in their family.

 

Sweet boy didn't even hesitate. He said OF COURSE!!!

 

 

How could he NOT want to be in this family????

 

Yes!!  Yes!! OF COURSE!

 

 Sweet sweet sweet moments like those remind me why we keep pressing on for families.

 

A little over a week ago we had other sweet moments.  John's other best friend from the orphanage who we left behind came for a visit.  Mila (Reilly on RR).

 

 

Last time we saw her we were crying and hugging her goodbye at the orphanage. Rob could barely hold it together that day. This sweet girl stole our hearts.  

Seeing her in a family who loves her best of all was precious. It was a HUGE answer to our deepest prayers.  And having her live close enough for us to be able to see her is just icing on the cake.

 

We are so blessed.

 

We are so blessed each time we see a child found. We were doubly blessed to be part of finding families for both of these children because we loved them so much. 

 

God is so good.

 

And yesterday, on Black Friday...

 

Ben met his match and I can now reveal his picture!!

 

WOO HOO!!!

 

 BEN http://reecesrainbow.org/90775/ben - HE NEEDS A FAMILY! - He met his match!

 

 

 

WE HAVE TWO SWEET BABES TO GO...

 

 

 

  

ISAIAHU http://reecesrainbow.org/90772/isaiahu - 1,000.00 matching grant. Grant account needs to read 1018.00 - Still needs 302.70

 

We have until Monday to get these two boys to $1,000.00.  We are SO CLOSE!!!

 

 

 AARON http://reecesrainbow.org/90768/aaron-2 - 1,000.00 matching grant. Grant account needs to read 1045.00 - Still needs 378.00

 

WON'T YOU HELP???

 

We need to raise $680.00!! 

 

That's 68 people!!

 

Will you be one of those 68???

 

Once all four pictures are revealed I will be giving away four portraits as prizes.

 

We have THREE DAYS!!

 

 

  

STEPHAN - HE NEEDS A FAMILY! - He met his match!

 STEPHAN http://reecesrainbow.org/91925/stephan

 

 

  

 

ISOLDE http://reecesrainbow.org/52891/isolde - SHE AGED OUT 
MICAH http://reecesrainbow.org/91918/micah - HE AGED OUT

 ALEX http://reecesrainbow.org/91928/alex - HIS FAMILY FOUND HIM!!!!

 

Run Free, Alex

I threw a party on Facebook last night. There were party hats.  A lot of shouting. Loud Hurrahs!! 

In case you missed it on Facebook I am throwing it here as well.

ALEX HAS A FAMILY!

 

 

 

Sweet boy has a family!

I've been grieving Micah.  I've been grieving Isolde.

Each time I put them at the bottom of my posts I cry out against the injustice of a world that hides children away just because... I couldn't bear to remove them while we raise the matching grants. I know they have aged out but deep in my being I've hoped for a miracle.  I can't stand the thought that these two will spend the rest of their lives hidden behind walls.

And all the while I have stormed heaven for Alex.

Please Lord, not Alex too....

 
 

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing... Throw a party, people! Alex will soon be free of those cages.  He's going to run free. I just can't stand it! I'm crying as I type those words.  Thank you, Jesus.  Thank you.

ALEX HAS A FAMILY!

If you think your donations don't matter... I know the family adopting Alex is beyond grateful for the money in his grant account. I know that it played a part as they considered adopting him. Money is a factor. It is a barrier.  It causes many to turn away from the very possibility even when empty chairs cry out to be filled at their tables.

Last year at this time our John had just been listed on Reece's Rainbow - his RR name was Ian.  After he was listed, there were a number of people who made it their mission to get money into his grant account. When we committed to him in April he had 3,300 in his account. We would have adopted him anyway, but let me tell you that that money was a HUGE blessing.  It was one less burden we had to bear at that time.  I wanted to reach out and hug every single person who gave so freely to him. They carried part of our load for us by gifting John with that money.

Your gifts matter.

Your whispered prayers matter even more.

At the beginning of November, six boys were offered a $5,000 matching grant. We have met the match for three of the boys. We have three boys left. Each boy will receive $1,000 when we raise $1,000 for them. This ends November 30th. 

When we have revealed all four pictures, I am going to give away four professionally done prints from four of the portraits.  Winners will get to choose which portrait they want printed. 

 

I just need 89 people willing to donate $10.00 to remove a box of love.

 

I am more than willing to take people willing to donate MORE than $10.00 to remove even more boxes. 

 

I'm not picky.

 

We have $899.50 left to raise.

 

 

 BEN http://reecesrainbow.org/90775/ben - 1,000.00 matching grant.  Grant account needs to read 4,363.36 - Still needs 149.50

 

  

ISAIAHU http://reecesrainbow.org/90772/isaiahu - 1,000.00 matching grant. Grant account needs to read 1018.00 - Still needs 340.50

 

 

 

 AARON http://reecesrainbow.org/90768/aaron-2 - 1,000.00 matching grant. Grant account needs to read 1045.00 - Still needs 409.50

 

THANK YOU FOR LOVING THE ORPHAN!

 

 

STEPHAN - HE NEEDS A FAMILY! - He met his match!

 

  

STEPHAN http://reecesrainbow.org/91925/stephan

 

 

  

 

ISOLDE http://reecesrainbow.org/52891/isolde - SHE AGED OUT 
MICAH http://reecesrainbow.org/91918/micah - HE AGED OUT

 ALEX http://reecesrainbow.org/91928/alex - HIS FAMILY FOUND HIM!!!!