Empty Hands

Naked. Not a stitch of clothing to call their own. Stripped of everything from their former life. Nothing saved. Their orphan clothes removed and given to another child to wear.

The newly adopted walk out of their orphanages and institutes with all new clothing, right down to their underwear. Empty handed. All ties to their former life are completely severed.  They come out with nothing. All of the work, all of the bills, all of the papers signed and sealed-- all are done by others. They are powerless to make any contribution to their own rescues. They are utterly dependent upon the loving family that has crossed oceans and mountains to get them.

Then, in an unspoken but time-honored ritual, they are stripped once again as soon as they arrive at their new lodgings. Washed and cleansed by loving hands. Their new parents scrub every single square inch of their little bodies. They scan them, noting every scar, every mark. Tracing their lines, wondering about their untold stories. Grieving over lost time and opportunities, yet rejoicing over future prospects.

Next, their new parents lift them out of the water and wrap them gently in towels. Re-dressed, once again. Hair combed (if they have any). Teeth brushed. Fresh. New. This symbolic cleansing announces their arrival in their new family: They are orphans no more!

Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.

Like those orphans, we too arrive with nothing. Without a stitch of righteousness that can gain us access to the throne. Completely helpless, apart from a loving God who crossed the great divide caused by our sin and filth. Orphans in a world of chaos. Empty handed we kneel. Completely and totally dependent. Filthy. Dirty.

Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law's commands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.

Saved only by God's grace. Naked. Stripped. Totally dependent upon Jesus Christ to pay the debt of our sin and seal our papers with His mark.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.

Then, in a time-honored ritual, we are washed. Cleansed. Lovingly scrubbed clean of our filth and stains. Our scars and marks already known by the Creator of the Universe. Grief and joy mingle as He brings us out of the water into a New Life. Orphans no more. Children of the King. Redeemed. Cleansed. Forgiven. Protected and safe in the Father's arms.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.

Guess What I Am Doing This Week????

Yep that's me.... Mom on Mission.... Boys on the Run....

BOYS!

They are noisy, rowdy, messy, boisterous and wild!  They are constantly on the move, unable to follow the easiest of directions, forever leaving their dirty socks around the house, interested in everything that is gross and ugly and focused on anything pertaining to blood and guts!

Boys. 

I have three.

Despite their mess, noise and wildness...

I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. 

Because though they may have all of the above faults, they are also thoughtful and fun and creative and brave and tender and loveable.  They are wise and silly and fearfully and wonderfully made. 

They are boys.

Made just right by the Creator to grow into men who will be providers and protectors of their families.

Boys into Men.

Yet look at adoption website listings for available older children and you will notice something.  The boys outnumber the girls considerably.  They are too quickly passed over because girls are deemed to be easier, smarter, calmer and less risky. 

 

Boys are the orphans nobody wants.

    

Boys.

 

 

Most likely to end up in jail or commit suicide when they leave the orphanages.  If they ever get to leave.

The least of the least.

 

Boys

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

All the boys listed on this page are OTHER ANGEL BOYS 6+ on the Reece's Rainbow Website.

There are many many many more listed. 

Sunday Rambles

There is a family who is currently in Jonah's baby house and they are going to do everything they can to capture my little sweet one with their camera.

I will share each and every one of their pictures with you in hopes that somewhere - somehow - at sometime - a family will step forward and say YES to this little guy.

Doesn't he look precious in his snowsuit?

You want to know the total hoot - I bet it was 65+ degrees outside!!!

I have to be honest.

Jonah has had several families interested.  But for many many reasons - each one has had to walk away. 

Break my heart.

He needs a Mommy and a Daddy.  He does.  Someone to love him unconditionally. 

Someone to let him run around outside in clothes that don't constrict and confine.

Someone to let him be a little boy.

So each and every picture and each and every word I receive from the family who is in his baby house I will pass on to you.  PLEASE keep praying for sweet Jonah.  Please.

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

On another happy note - My Dad's girl has a family.

I don't know who they are but sweet Zara has been found.  My Dad is bursting with joy over this news!

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

There are only 8 REJECTED STONES left in Ian's Giveaway.  I am still holding out hope that I win one!!  GO DONATE!!! 

Easter is coming.  How fitting a time to Giveaway REJECTED STONES. 

Ian needs his family!!

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

And finally.... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE - I have not been posting about Kirill much because they are letting the court process take its course BUT PRAYERS CONTINUE TO NEED TO BE LIFTED UP.  It doesn't need to go across the internet - JUST PRAY. 

Debut

Over the last several years we have put a lot of time and energy into writing material for a Four Year Classical Christian Homeschooling History and Literature Curriculum called BiblioPlan.  Over the coming weeks, I'll be appearing at several conventions to sell and speak about our program. The first is this weekend.

We are proud of what we have written these last few years.  Our deepest desire is that it would be God-honoring and a blessing to families, homeschooling cooperatives and Christian schools.  We haven't finished writing everything but we are finally seeing a light at the end of a long tunnel.

Through our Reece's Rainbow connections over the last year, we have become friends with an amazingly creative and brilliant woman over in Britain who advocates passionately for the babes on the Reece's Rainbow website. Here name is Lucille Brown.  She is the genius behind the Reece's Rainbow art and their blog.  She puts in countless hours assisting on their webdesign.  I am blessed to call her my friend.  We are also blessed that she agreed to help us revamp our BiblioPlan website.  Sometime today or tonight, while I am at the convention, our brand-new website is debuting!  It is a work in progress, and we have burned the candle at both ends to get everything up and running.  But if you're at all interested, please take a look, because the ministries that are near and dear to our hearts are flashing bold and proud at the bottom of our new website!  Another opportunity to shout for those who have no voice.

So CLICK HERE TOMORROW and go see what we have been working on so fervently!

Or CLICK HERE to see it on Facebook!

P.S.

This will be the first time I will be away from my littlest since we carried him out of the institute.

Me thinks I am going to miss his cute little smile!

Left Behind

They wait.  They watch.  They hope. 

The ones left behind. 

The files everyone passed over.  The children nobody wanted.  In every nation - every culture.  They wait. 

There are so many.  Millions and millions and millions of waiting lost children.

Standing behind fences, laying in cribs.  Longing.  Praying.  Wishing. 

It is heartbreaking to see their faces peering out past the bars in their lives. 

The reality is -  only a few will be rescued.  Only a small portion will walk free of the bars.

Most of these loves.  Most of these little ones.  Most of these children will grow up without homes.  Without families.  They will grow up behind the bars.  Staring out. 

Some of them will be placed behind even thicker bars.  They will have no chance ever of leaving.

Forever and ever in institutes. 

Others.  Others will eventually walk out of those gates.

Fourteen, fifteen, sixteen year olds. 

No parents to give them direction.

No safety net if they fail.

They will walk out alone.  Millions each year graduating from behind the bars.

A few will be rescued by those in the church who are putting Christ's words into action. A few will find real jobs and will be able to make it in the world. A few will survive.

But only a few.

The vast majority - the vast majority of these little lost loves who finally grew up - the vast majority will end up on the streets.

Without a means to support themselves.  Without help to get jobs.  Without money or food.... 

The girls - the girls will sell their bodies for food. 

The boys - the boys will end up in jail.

In every culture - every country.

If they don't commit suicide first.

That is the sad reality.

Each family I talk to who goes over - each family who enters the world of adoption is confronted with THIS reality.  They are rescuing one but millions are left behind.

They walk the halls of the orphanages and the institutes faced with the reality that the vast majority will never ever have a family. 

It is heartbreaking, gut-wrenching and it is the reason why so many who adopt cannot stop shouting for those they left behind.

They have looked into the eyes of the lost loves.  They have walked away from those who are longing, hoping, waiting. 

They have been forced to turn away from the faces of those peering out behind the bars.

Those loves they left behind.

And they have been changed.

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

The picture above was taken a week ago by a family who met their son for the first time.  They have to make three trips before he is finally, safely home at last.  Their hearts were broken these last few weeks by those they will leave behind.  It is all they can do to keep from weeping at those little loves behind that fence.  So many who need families.  So few who will ever make it out.  They are dear dear people to me.  Their support for us was endless when we were adopting Aaron.  There are no words for how much they helped us during our great time of need over there. 

They have much yet to raise to bring this treasure home.

Ian

I love the Giveaway they are doing!!  It is unique and I am definitely hoping my name gets drawn.  I don't wear a lot of jewelry but I would wear one of these!  They come with an 'imperfection' making them not quite up to the world's standards.  How unbelievably cool is that?  'Rejected' stones. 

I definitely want one.

Psalm 118 22-24

The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone;

the LORD has done this,

and it is marvelous in our eyes.

The LORD has done it this very day;

let us rejoice today and be glad.

PLEASE go support the Stewart family.

We can't save the millions but we can make a difference for the one.

One less child looking out from behind that fence is a Victory!

My Boy From a Baby House

Last night I watched the NBC Documentary about the Boy From Baby House 10.  I watched while my youngest played with his toys on the floor beside me.  My Vanya.  My Aaron Vanya Nalle. 

I don't honestly have words this morning. 

In December 2009 we saw Aaron's picture for the first time.  We read that he had been transferred.  Our hearts were drawn to the little boy in the striped shirt.  We e-mailed Andrea Roberts and asked her where he was located.  When she told us the country we said NO.  We didn't want to go to that country.  So we shut down the computer and walked away.

But God.

There were many many signs He gave us over the next week.

One of the biggest was in a 'Going Out of Business' book sale that was taking place THE VERY NEXT DAY after seeing Aaron's picture. 

I was alone - browsing the shelves of the bookshelves.  My eyes scanned up and saw - alone - on the shelf - by itself - with no other books to compete with it - a book - THE BOY FROM BABY HOUSE 10.  I reached up and took it off the shelf.  I stood in that bookstore reading the first chapter and wept for the Vanya in the book.  I brought it home and read it and gave it to Rob to read.  We then had a dear friend carry that book out of our house.  We couldn't bear to consider that our son - Our VANYA - was in the same type of facility as the boy in the book.  

Last night I watched a documentary on that book while My Vanya played with his toys on the floor.

I don't have words this morning.

He's safe.  Home.

THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WHO ARE NOT.

He Sat in a Shed

It is hard to believe that less than a year ago this child was sitting in a shed.

Rocking out of boredom.

Listening to the moans of the boys around him.

I can't get my mind around it sometimes when I look at him.

He has come so far.

Each time he snuggles into me and laughs with utter joy when I hold and kiss him, I am reminded how far he has come...

Yet...

He has a long ways to go. 

We have realized more and more in the last few weeks just how far our little fugitive needs to go.  He seems to have hit a plateau in the language department.  He struggles to retain words that we have used over and over again for months now.  Language is a huge struggle.

But knowing where he was a year ago.  We understand.  And we grieve.

He sat in a shed.  At a mental institute.

He was deemed severely mentally disabled as well as severely physically disabled.  So, when he turned five years old, they sent him to a mental institute.

Where he sat. 

In empty rooms and sheds.  With nothing.  Nothing.  FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR.

I can't get my brain around that sometimes, and I would NEVER have believed it if I hadn't witnessed it with my own eyes. 

He is disabled physically.  Yes.  But mentally.  NO.  He is not mentally disabled.

If God had given Aaron to us at birth - we believe he would be up with his peers.  Probably ahead in many areas.  Maybe behind in some.  A normal child.

But after five years in an orphanage and after a year in a shed - in a language-deprived world - after the trauma of transfer - after all that he lost - it is no wonder that he struggles.  And will continue to struggle.

And we grieve.

Time.  Love.  Safety.  Security.  Patience.  Wisdom.  Work.

Prayer.

God.

We know it will take all of these to unlock what we know is inside our little guy.

So we wait.  We work with him.  We cherish who he is.  We try hard not to compare.  We love.  We rejoice at how far he has come.  We study to understand.  We pray. 

The reality...

He is a precious little guy. 

He didn't come out of his year unscathed but his spirit is sweet and the joy that radiates from him much of the time is humbling. 

We have no idea what the future holds for him.  There are so many mountains he needs to climb.  We struggle to know how to proceed.  It grieves us to see him struggle.  We want so much for him.

But we are learning to take one day at a time.

And learning to love him just as he is. 

And to be completely honest - with Aaron - loving him is definitely the easiest part!

Charms for Breakfast

Yesterday Aaron did something he has never done before....

He fed himself an entire bowl of cereal.

Oh he was proud.

He ate those Lucky Charms like there was no tomorrow....

Yep.... We are quite proud of you little man!

Never fear all you Health Food Moms out there -  we don't usually eat Lucky Charms for breakfast.  But... I confess with a smile that they happen to be MY all-time favorite cereal and every once in a while.... when they are on sale.. and I am in the mood for a bedtime snack... I succumb to the temptation and bring home the favored treat! 

But for Aaron... cereal with milk... Yuck!

Not for him.

He wants eggs, eggs and more eggs for breakfast. 

Sometimes peanut butter toast.

Sometimes waffles or pancakes.

But the vast majority of the time - EGGS!

But that colorful box of Lucky Charms.... with the marshmallows... and the leprechaun... nope...he just couldn't resist....

....the temptation was just too great...

So he sat up at the counter with his little spoon and tasted them.

And by all accounts it has been confirmed - He is MY SON!

Me thinks that little one might be ditching eggs for breakfast and will be asking for Lucky Charms from now on....

Opportunities to Bless

Yesterday you got to party with me over THE LIST!  

175 families answering the call to go rescue over 200 SPECIAL NEEDS orphans. 

Last fall I was at an Adoption Expo in DC passing out brochures and making a real nuisance of myself to every single person who stepped into my path.  Fresh from across the ocean, I burned with a passion to give our Lost Boys a voice.  Every single family at that Expo was considering adoption but our booth was the ONLY booth that blatantly and boldy pronounced that children with special needs were WORTH adopting.   I talked to so many that day who told me honestly that they would never consider adopting a special needs child. 

Never.  Not.  Nope. 

My response - I laughed. 

I agreed.  I said I didn't either.  Never.  Not.  Nope.  And international... OUT OF THE QUESTION!

Absolutely ridiculous. 

But God. 

He changed our hearts.

 And when I see a list of 175 families representing over 200 SPECIAL NEEDS orphans I know that what He did to us - He is doing over and over and over again. 

And so I rejoice.  Laugh. 

And tell all those who say they would - Never. Not. Nope.  To be careful.  Because just about the time that you utter those words.... God has an amazing way of sneaking the YES in the backdoor.

And again - those who can't go - IT IS OKAY!  Because there are 175 families who NEED you to stand behind them and support them and encourage them and pray for them and give to them...

This morning I will AGAIN let you meet a few....

Family #1 - The Senti family

THIS IS EMBER...

Doesn't she look like she needs a Mama?  She has Arthrogryposis like Aaron.  I am happy to support them because I'll let you in on a secret.... They are going to be bringing their sweet one to the SHRINER'S IN PHILLY!  Yep - I'm going to get to hold this little one in the near future so come on... Help this family out so I can see her finally smile!  The Senti family had the breath taken out of them in November, after they committed to Ember, when Thad's dad died in a terrible accident.  It's been rough for them the last few months and they honestly could use help.  They are doing an iPad 2 Giveaway.  They bought it themselves and NEED it to do well.  They are still 11,000 short and are traveling in MAY!  So go donate HERE and you may just win a really cool prize!

Family #2 - The Tam Family

 

THIS IS PAISLEY

 

You've seen her picture before.  Her Mama has been trying to do everything possible to raise money for this sweet one and frankly, she's just plain discouraged.  You know what her motto is:  LOVE WINS.   I LOVE that motto.   Renee has been trying to raise money for Paisley but she has also been unbelievable about helping raise money FOR EVERYONE ELSE.  You see she is actually LIVING her motto.  Whenever there is a fundraiser or a need out there - Renee is right smack dab in the middle of that need hollering as loud as she can.  And that touches me deeply because she has her own 10,000 + to raise and it is a struggle.  Right now they are NOT doing a Giveaway but who cares.  Please - let's show Renee that LOVE WINS backwards.  Let's live HER MOTTO and help her family out so they can get this baby girl.  LOVE WINS people.  Renee is a living example of Christ's love winning again and again.  So go HERE and drop sweet Renee an encouraging word of encouragement and drop some money into the Tam family account and BE LOVE today.

#3 - The Burger Family

THIS IS BRIAN

See this sweet one - clean - sitting in a swing?  Currently he is in an orphanage with TOYS - books - Stimulation!  But not for long.  His Mama and Papa are racing to get him.  He is in the same area as my sweet Jonah (SOMEONE GO GET JONAH!) and Brian will end up as a LOST BOY soon.  By God's grace he has been kept at his orphanage.  Rob and I know well the place where he will be transferred and my heart stops each time I see him.  I have been heaping prayers on his little head that he will STAY where he is.   An iPad 2 Giveaway is being done by the Browning family to raise money for the Burgers.  Love in Action again!  Their blog is HERE.   Go help.  Every single 5.00 bill helps.

#4 The Davis Family

THIS IS PRECIOUS KIRILL

Oh how God has used this sweet boy to change so many hearts. 

Since December I have been rallying people to pray for three families who have been desperately trying to get three little babes with Down Syndrome out of a region that has been closed forever.  One child was rejected (Kirill).  One child WON and one child still waits (Baby J).  The battle continues to be fought across the ocean for the remaining two little ones.  The Davis family is appealing their rejection.   At this point all I can say on this blog is that prayers are needed.  Whispered quiet prayers for all involved in this case.  Please don't post or raise a stir.  Just pray.  A group of Reece's Rainbow Moms who have already brought their sweet ones home have pulled together a Giveway to help the Davis family cover all the extra costs associated with their appeal.  They are trying to raise 15,000 in 7 days to cover all the extra costs.   You can access that Giveaway HERE.

#5 The Cannell Family

Remember John and Carson

They are still working hard to raise the 32,000.00 they need to bring these boys home.  Their Dad just posted a sweet entry on their  blog you can read HERE.  Their Giveaway for the signed football continues. 

Please consider helping these five families.  Share their stories on your blogs and facebook and twitter.  Help them out in their efforts.  Write them a note - let them know you are praying.   

Be the church..

LOVE WINS!

The List

 

I have something I want to share this morning. 

Something really cool.  Something that just makes me want to weep and cry for joy.

I want to share it so that you can join in the party.

Here it is...

THE LIST...

fsp-AbellOlga

fsp-AllenAddison

fsp-Archerboys

fsp-ArcherJessie

fsp-Baker

fsp-Barnett

fsp-Baumann

fsp-Beamish

fsp-BedfordNika

fsp-BeeckIvan

fsp-BergmanCharlotte

fsp-BittermanDillon

fsp-Blatt

fsp-BoroughsSullivan

fsp-Bowden

fsp-BranciforteStellan

fsp-BrownAdam

fsp-BrownCaden

fsp-BrownEvan

fsp-BrunswickLillian

fsp-BurckhardNathan

fsp-BurgerBrian

fsp-Burick

fsp-BurlinghamAndriy

fsp-CannellCarson

fsp-CannonDariya

fsp-CarlinDanil

fsp-Carmichael

fsp-Chance

fsp-Christopherson

fsp-Clark2

fsp-ClarkElizabeth

fsp-Clifton

fsp-ColemanToby

fsp-CoxKareen

fsp-CoxwellSpencer

fsp-DahlenAngel

fsp-DarrowMaxLena

fsp-Davis

fsp-Davis(3)

fsp-DavisKirill

fsp-DeanAdamNessie

fsp-DeckerMyron

fsp-DelgadoAnton

fsp-DeVoweGage

fsp-DirkesMariaN

fsp-DobrovitsHenry

fsp-Dornoff

fsp-Drost

fsp-DueckKatya

fsp-Duncan

fsp-DuncanMM

fsp-EarleywineIvan

fsp-Edsall

fsp-Edsall

fsp-Egan

fsp-Eicher2boys

fsp-EldredgeSamantha

fsp-Elizabeth

fsp-ElliottNicole

fsp-Erquiaga

fsp-EvansVera

fsp-Fanzsiblings

fsp-FarleySergeyT

fsp-FerroneNastyaMoira

fsp-Fick

fsp-FolioMaeve

fsp-Freeman

fsp-FussellPhillip

fsp-Gibson

fsp-GibsonAntonio

fsp-Gleason

fsp-GneiserAleksey

fsp-Godone-Maresca

fsp-GoerlingAlina

fsp-GoldenSebastian

fsp-Goodman2

fsp-GreenAngelina

fsp-Gross

fsp-HaddickAnya

fsp-HaglerSasha

> fsp-HamernikMarissa

> fsp-Harris

fsp-HarrisCarlene

fsp-HarrisLee

fsp-HartmanBrady

fsp-HazletonKirk

fsp-HeirigsGenevieve

fsp-Higbie

fsp-HiltonAbel

fsp-HinzNikita

fsp-HogelandSharon

fsp-Hogg

fsp-Hook

fsp-HouseGavin

fsp-HouseMartin

fsp-HouserSveta

fsp-InglinPeter

fsp-JenkinsAngieNeal

fsp-JensenDelvin

fsp-JensenLuke

fsp-JimVictoria

fsp-Johnson

fsp-JohnsonMichaela

fsp-KehmPeter

fsp-KoenigVika

fsp-KooimanStefan

fsp-KramerIvanK

fsp-KrehbielAlexD

fsp-KrulikDanil19

fsp-KulpShea

fsp-LassiterCarter

fsp-LimDarlene

fsp-Logue

fsp-LucasIvan

fsp-Lynch

fsp-MaddexDanil

fsp-MarksMax2H

fsp-McClain

fsp-McFarlandFrederick

fsp-MeierSophiaC

fsp-Meyer

fsp-MickschlLydiah

fsp-MillerQuinton

fsp-MonierDima

fsp-MooreMateo

fsp-Moreno

fsp-MorganLucy

fsp-MountsSam

fsp-Overstreet

fsp-Perry

fsp-PhillipsNathanAlek

fsp-PhillipsValerie

fsp-PlummerBarbara

fsp-RayMicah

fsp-ReynoldsMarlena

fsp-RhodesDawson

fsp-RistGeorgia

fsp-RoweMasha

fsp-SaderMelanie

fsp-Sauder

fsp-SayreLena

fsp-SchlorfJohnny

fsp-SchwenzerJulia

fsp-ScodaVaughn

fsp-SentiTasha

fsp-SeyboldVika

fsp-SilvaNoah

fsp-SmithWinston

fsp-Statz

fsp-StClairRiley

fsp-StevensGigi

fsp-Stewart

fsp-StolzJacobMatt

fsp-Suttles

fsp-Tam

fsp-Tarkovich

fsp-TaylorAlexander

fsp-Thomas

fsp-Thumann

fsp-UnroeFamily

fsp-WainDana

fsp-WaltersDillon

fsp-WarnerCliff

fsp-WeimanStacie

fsp-Westbrook#2

fsp-WhiteLeesia

fsp-Williams

fsp-WilsonPeyton

fsp-WinnDavidCody

fsp-WooddellWilson

fsp-YANASmith
fsp-YoungKody
fsp-ZuzunagaMariaF



Are you crying yet?

Doesn't that list just make you want to weep?

I know what you are thinking - You are wondering if I am a bit touched in the head...

Not true..

I have NOT lost it.

What you just saw is PRECIOUS.  Beautiful.  Wonderful.  Amazing!!

It represents LIFE and LOVE and SACRIFICE.

It represents the work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and minds of so many.

It represents GOD AT WORK in the CHURCH!

No - I am not off my rocker and Rob does NOT need to call the men in the white coats and the white van.  I am OKAY over here in our little house in the woods.

But that list does make me weep.  And rejoice.

And Praise God...

Why?  What does it represent??

What is the List...

My dear friends....

What you just saw is the current list of EVERY family who is adopting a special needs child from Reece's Rainbow.

The children that nobody wanted are WANTED!

175 names are on that list.

Did you catch that???

175 families....

AND MANY MANY MANY OF THOSE FAMILIES ARE BRINGING HOME MORE THAN ONE CHILD!!

Did you read that??  We are talking well over 200 children who will SOON BE HOME!

Now are you crying with me?

Throwing a party?

Want to go see ALL of the kids represented on that list?  Take a few minutes - click here - and get your tissues.  Look at that list.  Look at those kids.  Think about what it means. 

For too long the 'least of these' have been lost and forsaken but Thanks Be to God - He has heard their cries. He is answering their pleas.  God is raising up families.  And one by one they are crossing the ocean to rescue the ones that nobody wanted.  Thanks Be to God.

175 families on a list. 

More than 200 children soon to be rescued.

Thanks be to God.

Thanks be to God!

Relief

• Relief is spending 18 hours traveling to and from Philadelphia for a brace adjustment and yet your son walks in the door smiling at the end of the day.

• Relief is watching the tears end after the third adjustment on those incredibly painful braces!

• Relief is pulling the blue straps to the black line without a flinch

• Relief is riding in the Shriner's van with braces that DON'T HURT!

• Relief is a GPS system that is able to tell you about the 40 minute traffic delay up ahead so you can adjust your homeward route
• Relief is watching your son remove the bandaid that was placed on Pooh's foot weeks ago (when we first got the braces) with a happy pronouncement that "Pooh's foot not hurt anymore". 

 

• Relief is adding the second layer of blue straps and watching your son drift off to sleep pain free
• Relief is knowing this morning that though I am completely exhausted - it was a trip worth making.

We cannot begin to express our gratitute to the Shriner's for all they are doing for our little guy.  The sacrifice, kindness and care they give to us and to Aaron is unbelievable.  We are beyond grateful.