31 Days

  
    Gavin has a little over 400 dollars in his Angel Tree fund for his adoption.  I have 31 days to get that amount up to 1,000.00 dollars.  We donated to his fund... will you?  I bet if Gavin had 20,000 in his fund a family would jump at the chance to adopt him.   Come on - every single 5.00 bill gets Gavin one step closer to finding a family.  The Angel Tree family for Tristan, (Gavin's buddy at the orphanage), is working towards getting 20,000 into his account!!  That just makes me heart sing!  But yikes... I'm being left in the dust!!  Help!!

     Okay - so here's the truth - I'm lousy at fundraising.  I confess.  I hate begging for money.  I am not craftzy and can't sew worth a darn, so selling handmade stuff is not an option.  No one would want to buy my baked goods (although Aaron thinks they are quite delicious) so baking pies is not going to work.   We cleaned out our house to raise money for Aaron so a yard sale wouldn't generate beans.  What to do... what to do...

    I can sell books.  Just yesterday I made 18.00 selling some books on-line that Rob's niece gave me.  Hurrah!!  18.00 dollars for Gavin!  Here's how I did it... I took the books and I went to
THIS WEBSITE  I plugged in the ISBN number of that book and they let me know if they would take it or not.  The really valuable books she gave me I actually listed on Amazon.com in hopes that someone would buy them but the nickel and dime books - I made 18.00 off those books that normally I would have discarded.  They were the ones that I would have thrown away.  After I went through the pile of books, agreed to sell the books they agreed to buy, filled out a very easy form, let them know that I wanted payment through Paypal - then printed the shipping label BECAUSE THEY PAY ALL SHIPPING FEES - boxed the books together and taped the shipping label to the top - I was done.  After they get the books - they will credit my Paypal and I will put that money in Gavin's account.  Easy. 

     Try it.  Pull some books off your shelf and see if they will sell.  (Textbooks are the BEST).  Dump them in a box, send them off and donate the money to Gavin or another child!  Every single nickel helps.  I was so excited to make 18.00 dollars for Gavin yesterday.  Ben told me (wisely) not to tell too many people because it won't last long.  How can I not share though??  How about we keep it a secret within the adoption world???  Sell your books - donate your money and maybe, just maybe the little ones on the Reece's Rainbow website will find families.  Shhh....  (If you live in my area - bring me your books and I will sell them for you!!)


     Gavin turns six in a few months.  He is going to be transferred soon.  PLEASE.... He is an absolute sweetheart.  His caretakers LOVE him.  He needs a Mama and a Papa.  He doesn't need to spent the rest of his life sitting in a shed with nothing to do.  PLEASE.  Someone out there jump off the cliff and go get Gavin... or  Brady... or Heath.... Little boys - so desperate for families.  They need Pooh Bears and clean sheets and train tracks and balls and presents under the Christmas tree.  They need brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles and grandmom's who spoil them rotten.  They need trips to the ocean to play in the sand.  They need to hear the stories of Jesus so they can grow up to love Him with all their hearts and souls and minds.  PLEASE!  Who will tell them if someone doesn't go get them?

So Donate - Pray - and PLEASE search your hearts.  The Lost Boys are waiting.  They are not in a Neverland of fun and games.  They are not battling Hook on pirate ships.  They are Lost.  They are Lonely.  They are dying in their cribs and wasting away in orphanages and institutes.  Consider - just consider - sprinking on some fairy dust - flying across the ocean and rescuing one, or two so they can go home - where they belong.

Stemming the Tide

    There's a story I read when I was growing up called "Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates."  I loved that book.  Inside that story was another story of a little boy who walks by a dyke and sees a hole in the side.  He sticks his finger in the hole, staying there all night to keep his town from being flooded.  In the morning the townspeople discover the boy and work together to stem the tide.

    On Monday Andrea Roberts spent the day listing onto the Reece's Rainbow website 100 more little ones with Down Syndrome.  When I saw that news I felt washed over with weariness.  Here I am - hollering for Gavin, Brady and Heath in my tiny corner in the world - holding my little finger in the dyke and 100 more children come flooding over the walls.  What does my finger matter in the whole scheme of things?  How can I even think that what I do makes a bit of difference?

I despair.

    It's too big for me.  I feel like throwing in the towel.  Giving up on keeping my hole plugged.  I've got my child.  I did my job.  Let me go back to normal. 

    To be honest - that is what the church as a whole has done.  Given up.  The church has seen the huge need and decided that what needs to be done to fix the problem of orphans in the world is to forget the individual orphan and instead to focus on the 'social' ills that cause the orphan problem.  It's become a license to do nothing. 

     I've been in a lot of churches in the last 48 years of my life (yes, I am that old).  I've heard a lot of sermons.  Lots.  The honest, sad truth - Rarely - rarely - have I ever heard a sermon about the orphan.  Almost never.  How unbelievably sad.  I hate to write that on my blog because I love the church.  I love my faith.  I am a Christian and I am not ashamed.  But it is the truth.

     So I stand here, with my finger in a dyke, wondering what good I am doing as I watch the water pouring over the sides.  There are millions and millions of orphans.  I don't even want to post the number because it is too discouraging.  Too big.  What difference does my little finger make?

     To God - all the difference in the world.  To God - my little finger matters greatly.  It may be little and I may not even be plugging the hole properly and I may even have water leaking out around me but to God - my finger in that dyke is of great value. 

     And I am not alone.  Nope.  The church is around me.  I know this.  Maybe not the church proper but the real church - the individuals - those driven by the Holy Spirit - they are definitely around me.  All I have to do is read my comments section to see that mine isn't the only finger in the dyke.    All I have to do is walk into the grocery store and have someone come up and tell me that they are reading our blog, praying for the Lost Boys, cheering us on.  All I have to do is walk into my Homeschooling Co-op and see that ours isn't the only child saved.  All I have to do is hunt the internet on adoptions and see that there are hundreds, thousands of other Christian families standing next to me, stemming the tide.  All I have to do is open my e-mail and discover that I am surrounded.  There were thousands of bowed heads behind us when we stood before a judge back in September.  I am discovering that there are even more bowed heads standing with us as we fight to stem the tide to rescue the least of these. 

     Just yesterday I was given a gift by one of those who is standing with us to stem the tide.  Someone who chooses to be nameless.  Someone who has put in the mail - an iPad - a gift to help raise money for a little boy in a far away land - Gavin.  Sweet Gavin.  Another finger in the dyke.  I cried when I found out what they were doing.  I panicked too.  I am just one small person.  I am not good at fundraisers and raising money.  What if it bombs?   Yuck!  Oh me of little faith.  Truly little.  I'm struggling on Monday with whether my finger matters and yesterday someone sends me an iPad to GIVE-AWAY for Gavin.

     Our fingers do matter and saving one child is of great worth to God.  Beyond measure.  Gavin matters to the Creator of the Universe.  He matters to me.  He matters to my anonymous friend who cares deeply that he find a family.  Soon.  Gavin turns six in just a few months.  He faces transfer any day.  He needs a family quickly.  

Please stand with me.  I am putting another chip-in for the iPad.  Here's how it is going to work - If you make a donation to either of Gavin's chip-ins before December 19 - your name will be entered in a drawing.  The more you give, the more times your name will be entered.  Those who have already given to Gavin WILL have their names entered into the Give-away.  You have not been left out of this!

$5 = 1 entry
$20 = 5 entries
 $35 = 9 entries
$50 = 13 entries
 $75 = 19 entries
$100 = 25 entries
$150 = 40 entries

On December 19 we will draw a name for the iPad.  I will then ship it to the winner Priority mail so that it will arrive by Christmas! 

**If you Donate 35.00 or more before December 15th, you will also receive an Angel Tree Ornament with Gavin's picture!

Please help spread the word - Help us raise money for Gavin.  Help us find a family for this sweet little boy.  

What we do matters - maybe not to the rest of the world - but in the eyes of the Lord - Priceless.

Matthew 25: 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Rise Up!

I wish I had the means to tell you Lyla's story properly, but I'm here at the homeschooling convention in Tennessee with little time to write and lousy internet access.

 I wish I had a better way to tell you why my eyes well up with tears each time I see this little girl's picture...

Sweet Lyla.

Her complicated story involves a lot of twists and turns.  It is a story worth telling, and I really wish I had a better way to tell it.

Suffice it to say that Lyla has a family who has loved her with the deepest of loves for almost two years.  They chose Lyla to be their daughter out of ALL the children on Reece's Rainbow - the child of their hearts.  They started the process to adopt her; but before they could finish their paperwork and cross the ocean, the authorities told them that she was no longer available for adoption.  Lyla was too sick to be adopted, and she was going to die.

Stricken with grief, but still obedient to the Father's call, Lyla's family chose to cross the ocean anyway and adopt a different child. 

 Longing for Lyla, but unable to carry her home, they chose to rescue Belle instead.

Sweet Belle helped soften their heartache over poor, lost little Lyla.

But in the meantime, something unexpected happened: Lyla survived.

Uknown to her family, Lyla was still clinging to life.  She was determined to live, and live she did.

The authorities neglected to share this news with the Spitzes. So, when they felt God call them to go back and bring home another child, they chose Gavin.

And Gavin was an AMAZING choice - a perfect fit for their family.

Only after they were committed to Gavin did they discover that LYLA WAS ALIVE, AND THAT SHE WAS ONCE AGAIN AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION.

What to do?  At the time, the authorities had only approved the Spitzes for one child. They were committed to Gavin, not to Lyla.  They couldn't leave Gavin behind.  What could they do?  

After much prayer, they decided to go adopt Gavin, then work and pray hard to find another family to adopt Lyla.

Soon enough, another family stepped forward to adopt Lyla, and all was well.  Their baby girl was going home - not with them, but with another loving family.

It so happened that Gavin and Lyla shared the same baby house. During their trip to adopt Gavin, they got a chance to meet Lyla in person for the first time-- to hold her, to kiss her, and to whisper in her ears that a family was coming for her.

Then came yet another twist: As it turned out, Lyla's new family couldn't complete her adoption, and poor Lyla was looking for a family all over again.

When that happened, LYLA'S FIRST FAMILY - THE SPITZES - THE FAMILY WHO LOVED HER FROM THE BEGINNING - rasied their hands and said to the Lord, "Send us. We want this child. She is ours."

They obediently and graciously stepped up to claim their baby girl.

Unfortunately, the difficult economic reality is that they have just completed two enormously expensive international adoptions.  

The cliff from which they just jumped on their way to bring home a third child is a high, steep one.  

They honestly need help; and today, I am begging you to help them.  

This baby girl needs to go home.  She needs her Mama. 

The Spitzes have wanted her from the first.  Her story led them to bring home TWO OTHER CHILDREN.  Because of their loyalty to Lyla, THREE ORPHANS HAVE FOUND HOMES.

But they need help.

There is a Giveaway going for the Spitzes. It ends today, and if you donate today, you can still enter; but honestly, WE OWE THIS FAMILY OUR SUPPORT WITH OR WITHOUT A GIVEAWAY!!  

They need over $9,000.00 to bring their Lyla home.

God's handwriting is all over the adoption of these three babes, and the Body of Christ needs to acknowledge that by supporting this family.  Giveaways or not.  We need to help them.

You can CLICK HERE to make a donation.  

Stand with them as they go get their babe.  Pray for them as they step out in faith for the third time in a year. Support them with gifts as they step off of this cliff.

RISE UP CHURCH.  

RISE UP!!

A Child's Heart

When I found out that Gavin had a family - I wasn't told who it was.  But I figured it out.  I'm not very smart, but I do read a lot of blogs and one blog in particular had caught my eye.  I liked reading this blog because the writer was a child.  An eleven year old girl. 

I follow several blogs written by young girls with big hearts.  I love these kids because their hearts have already been broken by the things of this world.  They love God and this shines through in their blogs as they write with passion, joy and a faith that moves mountains.

This little girl, Genesis, could not contain her joy on her blog.  She was so excited to let the world know that they were adopting.  But she wasn't allowed to say much so she kept talking about a 'secret.'  When her secret coincided with the announcement that Gavin had a family - I knew.  I knew they had chosen Gavin.  I quickly sent a note to the family and was delighted to find out that my hunch was true. Genesis is going to be the big sister of a very special little guy. 

In the last week some new pictures of Gavin have arrived....

 

Do you see this picture?  Doesn't he look like a cute little toddler in the crib?  Maybe weighs 20-30 lbs.  A baby?  Isn't that what it looks like?  The truth - He's not a baby. 

Gavin is almost SIX YEARS OLD. 

He faces transfer at any time.  This little boy would be swallowed up in an institute like Aaron's.  He would not survive.  Look at that picture.  A baby in his PJ's -  Adopting Gavin is an act of mercy and love.  A rescue. 

  I am so grateful that a family has decided to go get him.  To pick him up out out of that crib among so many other cribs and carry him into their family.  I am so grateful that Gavin is going to have a big sister who is so beyond excited to have him for a brother that she can't contain her pleasure.  He gets two brothers too. 

How precious for one little boy.  If you want to read Genesis's blog - go HERE.

For all of you who have donated to this family -  THANK YOU. 

If you haven't - please donate to help this family bring this child home. 

The iPad give-away ends on Sunday. 

Don't you look forward to the day when I get to post a picture of 4 children posing together for a camera??

Update on Gavin

We just found out last night that dear Gavin has not been transferred .... YET! 

He is still in the baby house! 

THANK YOU DEAR LORD!

Not ALL is good news though...

There were three little boys all with Down Syndrome at that same baby house together....

My Gavin...

Sweet Tristan

and precious Alexander....

It was ALEXANDER who was transferred.  

THERE IS NO REJOICING IN THAT NEWS!

Tristan and Gavin are next.

All three of these boys are going to a place that is off the beaten path. 

A closed place.  A hidden institute filled with Lost Boys who are living out their lives alone and lonely.

 

THIS IS WHERE ALEXANDER HAS BEEN SENT.

 

Thankfully - They are OPEN to Alexander finding a family!!  HE CAN STILL BE ADOPTED!!
He is STILL available. 

HE HAS $7,105.00 in his grant account. 
That is huge!!!

Come on.  Somebody go get him!!  He turns six in April!!  Please!  He has been on Reece's Rainbow for TWO YEARS and has been passed over by everybody. 

NO ONE HAS EVER ASKED ABOUT THIS CHILD! 

EVER!

Break.my.heart. 

Gavin turns six in February.  HE COULD BE TRANSFERRED ANY DAY.   He has close to 1,000.00 in his grant account (angel tree plus his other grant money).  Maybe that doesn't seem like much but...That is how much grant money Aaron had when we committed to him.  GOD PROVIDES!  HE DOES PROVIDE! 

Tristan too is on the transfer list.  He has barely 700.00 in his grant accounts.   He needs money and he needs a family.   He is so little.  Helpless.  Where are you church??

ALL THREE OF THESE BOYS NEED FAMILIES!!

I can't stand the thought of these three tiny boys in the back of a line of boys who are twice their size.

Alexander, the boy NOBODY wanted, is already there. 

I rejoice that Gavin is not there yet but he is going soon. 

Tristan is right behind. 

Three little boys.

One already a Lost Boy.. two on their way. 

Come on church.  Step up.  They need money in their accounts.  They need to be rescued. 

Plain and simple. 

Isaiah 1:17 

Learn to do right; seek justice.

Defend the oppressed.

Take up the cause of the fatherless;

plead the case of the widow.

Gavin

About a year ago, I learned about a ministry that identifies and advocates for special needs children who are stuck in orphanages and institutes in Eastern Europe and Asia.  REECE'S RAINBOW.  I was touched by this ministry.  I didn't have a pull to go GET ONE of those children - NOT for us.  We weren't going to adopt internationally.  Not!  Special needs - NO WAY!  But I realized that this was a Christian ministry worth donating towards.  So I happily picked two little guys off the ANGEL TREE and gladly put money into their accounts.  A worthy ministry.  I did my part.  Pat myself on the back!  Goal accomplished. 

A year later - we now have a Reece's Rainbow child sleeping in our house.  Our lives have been forever changed.


So...when RR was looking for families to sponsor children off this year's Angel Tree...we raised our hands.  Our two boys from a year ago, (Emory and Artem K) already had sponsors so we asked for a child who is close to transfer.  A little guy who's clock is ticking unless someone goes and gets him.  We were given Gavin. 

His picture is lousy and sadly that often makes the difference in whether these children are selected by families.  In real life - he is a cute little guy with a great personality.  He is well-loved by his caretakers at his orphanage.  They desperately want to see him find a home before he is transferred.  We know what transferring means.  We have seen it up close and personal.  It just plain stinks.  Please help us out so that Gavin doesn't suffer what Aaron went through.  We are trying to raise 1,000.00 for Gavin's account.  We are also praying that Gavin finds a family.  Please look beyond his lousy picture (can I volunteer to be the photographer??) and see the precious treasure behind his grimace!  Please help keep him from being another Lost Boy.  Any donation will do.  From $1.00 to $1,000.00 is fine with us!  If you give $35.00 or more, you will receive a Christmas ornament with Gavin's picture on it.  You can hang it on your Christmas tree and join your prayers with ours that next year, he will be opening gifts instead of sitting in a place of no return.

P.S. For those who wonder why we aren't sponsoring Brady and Heath; since they are older - they do not have individual accounts.  They are not on the Angel Tree.  The sad reality is that once the children reach a certain age and are transferred, their chances of being adopted decrease considerably.  So Reece's Rainbow has one account for the older boys and one for the older girls.  Each time an older child is picked, whatever is in that account goes to that child.  This allows for larger grants but it prevents being able to make donations towards individual children.  So Brady and Heath need families first and THEN we will do whatever we can to help those families raise the funds they need to bring those boys home!

They Love Orphans

   

A year ago they discovered Reece's Rainbow.  Unlike many of us who hem and haw and wonder and struggle and wrestle and fight over whether we should or should not or when or how or why etc. etc. etc. - Not them.  They love orphans.  They were ready then, to go get one of the 'least of these.'  They already had hearts for the orphans and once they found RR, they knew that this is what God desired for their family.  Bags packed. 

But the door was shut.  They didn't meet the financial requirements set forth for a family of five.  So they waited, prayed, wondered, considered.  Please Dear Lord.  Open the door.  A new job emerged.  In a church.  Near family.  Full-time ministry.  But not enough was offered.  The salary quoted wouldn't allow them to adopt.  They prayed.  They asked.  The church prayed.  They agreed.  The salary was raised to where they could adopt.  God had opened the door.  Just barely, but Praise God, the door was open!

Now for the thrill.  To chose a child.  A child in need.  Which child did this gracious, loving family chose?  Which child? 

My Gavin.  They are getting Gavin.  They heard the cries of the orphan and they responded.  It took a year.  A year of prayer, faith, trust and hope.  Now Gavin gets a family.  God's timing.  Perfect.

Dear friends, they are not rich financially - not in any stretch of the imagination.  They just barely make the minimal amount to get one precious child.  But they serve a living and loving God who will supply all their needs.  I know He will.  Through us.  We get to be His hands and feet. 

The opportunity to bless this family is here.  Right now.  The Give-away for Gavin's iPad is still open.  There is still opportunity for anyone/everyone to donate for a chance to win that iPad. 

• One family, choosing to do so without fanfare or praise, stepped out in faith and love for the orphan and DONATED the iPad for Gavin.  That is amazing Love! 
• The HOUSE family has stepped up in faith and love to BRING HIM HOME. 
• Together, giving freely, we can help ease their financial burden and honor the gift given for this one little boy.
• And prayerfully, with great hope and expectation, one little orphan, cherished and loved, will be HOME next Christmas. 

Please make a donation 

Every single 5.00 bill helps.  You have until December 19th.

On the 20th we will announce the winner of the iPad giveaway - Just in time for Christmas!!

If you want to follow along on their journey - Their blog is HERE

In All We Do...

Psalm 19

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Colossians 3:12-17

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

In all that we do - in all that we say - we want to give Glory and Honor to the One and Only.

Remember back in November - the little guy we were yelling about....our Christmas Angel.... Gavin???  Remember Gavin?

His Mama and Papa and Big Sister met him this week.

He was going to be transferred NEXT MONTH.

The reality - Gavin would have died.

He is in pitiful shape.  Weighs about 20 lbs and is six years old.

He has been laying in a crib for six years.

He would not have survived in the mental institute for long.

For so many of these children it is a rescue.  Pure and simple.

For Moira it is...

For Gavin...

So many more.

They are hanging on by a thread.

Last week one little guy died before his Mama and Papa made it.

Little Jacob.

Break.my.heart.

Micah 6:8

He has showed you, O Man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

In All We Do.... Let it bring Glory and Honor to Our Lord!

Aaron's shirt can be purchased HERE.  Help Tracy Morgan bring Lucy home!!!

 

Still Reeling...

In case you wondered... I am still in shock over last night's news.  I could NOT sleep last night... Brady and Gavin have families.  Unbelievable.  Two boys in one night.  After hours of laying in bed, I quit trying to sleep and decided I should just get up and work on the computer (as always - writing Medieval curriculum).  Now I'm tired and it is 9:00 am.  Ben is at the Community College, Elijah is making himself breakfast and Aaron is still sleeping.  I want to go back to bed.  But my brain is still full of thoughts.

Sweet thoughts.  Sad thoughts.  Thoughts overflowing.  Part of me - the human, tired part - wants to rejoice and then go back to what used to be normal.  Brady has a family.  My number one goal when I left that village in September.  Can I pass the baton?  Can I say "all is well" and then pick up where we left off a year ago - before the lightning bolt of adoption hit our family?  Yeah! Hurrah!  Gavin is going home.  Praise God.  I'm done.

That's the human side.  The 'tired of feeling overwhelmed with the children pouring over the wall' side.  The selfish, 'pitiful is me' side.  The sick on my stomach each time I post about my Lost Boys side.  The weary of our financial woes and just wanting life to ease up side.  Brady has a family.  Gavin does too.  I rejoice deeply in that news.  It makes me cry tears - tears that are so confused that I can't even put into words how I feel.  But I know it isn't over.  Not for me anyway.  Not for Rob.  The first words out of his mouth after I told him were - "Poor little Heath.  Who's going to go get him?"  My thoughts too.

What about Heath?  What about poor, pitiful little Heath - sitting in his shared wheelchair, playing with the only toy he can find - a string.  A dirty piece of frayed string.  Who's going to yell for Heath if I quit?  Maybe someone else will but probably not as loudly.  He's too easy to forget.  He didn't even show up on the radar until we walked into his institute.  He was completely hidden.  Truly Lost.  In reality, he's only been barely 'found.'  Heath needs someone yelling his name.  So do the other boys in that place.  They need to be found.  You see there are 100+ boys at that institute who are NOT listed for adoption.  Many should be but unless the director agrees - they remain completely Lost to the outside world.  The boys walking or in wheelchairs - the ones we saw - there are about 60 of them.  Inside those buildings, laying in cribs, are 40-70 MORE boys.  They can't even feed themselves.  They are unable to sit up.  They are laying there - day after day - rotting.  Dying.  Who will yell?  Yell, so that we can pray and then pray all the harder.  Pray for the Lost Boys - the ones seen and the ones not seen. 

I have to keep yelling.  Praise God, Brady and Gavin have families.  I rejoice - I celebrate - I weep.  So many more.  So many.  We can't quit.  Too many more are pouring over the walls.   I want them to pour.  Seriously.  I'm praying with all my heart that some of those who come pouring over that wall will be newly 'found' Lost Boys from Brady and Aaron's FORMER institute.  Please pray with me.  And don't forget little Lost Heath.  He too needs a family.  Strings are not proper toys for little boys.

Another Lost Boy

     Transferred.  Gavin has been transferred.  We asked for a child off the Angel Tree who was close to being transferred because we wanted to do what we could to hold back the tide but it washed over us.  I cried like a baby last night when I received word.  They are trying to discover where he was moved.  Thankfully he is still available for adoption.  Poor little Gavin.  He was in a good orphanage where he was well-loved.  He was a favorite.  I know his nannies cried when they dressed him and led him down to the car to take him to the place of no return.  I know it hurt them deeply to say goodbye.  He was their happy little blonde hair, blue-eyed baby.  I just can't even find the words for how I feel at this point.  I'm grieving. 

     Last night I tucked my littlest into his bed, with Pooh Bear under the covers next to him.  I kissed his little cheeks over and over.  I put my hand on his cute little blonde head and prayed for him.  He doesn't know I'm praying so he is talking as I am praying.  He is telling me about Ben and Elijah and other whatnot that I cannot understand.  We are both whispering words.  My words are words of thankfulness that he is mine.  My words are blessings and prayers of hope that He will grow up to love with all his heart, soul and mind the God who has kept and cared for him since birth.  Intermixed with my words are his little boy words of brothers and toys and Papa and computers.  His words are happy.  He is content under those covers with Mama kissing and praying for him.  He has much to share even though I don't understand.  He sleeps easily and before I am done, he is quiet and close to slumber.  I kissed him again and began to cry and pray for the little boys who don't have Pooh Bears and a Papa and big brothers who toss them into the air.  I wept for Brady and Heath and Gavin.  Dear Gavin.  Another Lost Boy.  My heart longs to see them receive what my dear little Aaron has been given.   A family.  A home.  Hope.  A chance to grow up to love God with all their hearts, souls and minds. 

     Jeremiah 29:11-14: 

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD,

“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me,

and I will listen to you.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD,

“and will bring you back from captivity.

I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”



Too Much to Say

I have too much going on in my head.... I'm a jumble of thoughts and emotions.... Some things I have shared and some I have not.  I plan to share.  I find myself holding my breath though because what I have to say has literally blown me away.    It seems too good to be true.  So I am holding back.  Scared.  Oh me of little tiny faith.  Seriously.  Bear with me, dear friends.  I do have news.  News that makes me come undone when I allow myself to consider it too deeply.  God has gone far beyond what I ever hoped and imagined.  I can't share it though.  Not right now.  For a multitude of reasons.  Faith is one of them.

Please - if you haven't dropped five dollars or more into Gavin's account - please do it today.  The iPad ends tonight.  Tomorrow morning - bright and early - someone is going to get an e-mail asking for their address.  PAY ATTENTION to your e-mail because I want to mail the iPad out TOMORROW!   Gavin's family needs every single dollar that is dropped into his account!!

PLEASE - PLEASE - PLEASE - PRAY FOR THE VOTE COMING UP THIS WEEK! 

It is a Very BIG deal.  Pray NOW!  Pray HARD!

Pray that either the vote fails or that the wording on the bill is changed to allow adoptions to continue.  There are those who would choose to shut down adoptions in Aaron's former country completely.  Seriously.  Evil does abound in this world.   There are those who would choose for these children to stay hidden, out of reach.  Please.  There are lives hanging in the balance.   Please pray.  

On Friday, a Reece's Rainbow family met their two little boys for the first time.  Look at these sweet, needy little boys.  Please.  Look in their eyes.  This is WHY you are praying.

 

These little guys weigh 16 lbs and 13 lbs.  They are both three years old but are extremely tiny and malnourished.  They have spent their lives in one room in an orphanage.  In cribs.  Drugged.  They have never left that room.   Like Gavin, they are not babies.   They are absolutely in horrible condition.  That is the honest truth.  Their bodies are rotting.  They have never been touched, held, rocked or soothed.  One of these days I am going to write a post about WHY these boys are in such a state.  I can't right now.  Another one of those stomach wrenching blog posts that takes time to consider and work through.  Emotionally and prayerfully. 

Dear friends, these little boys need to get out.  If the vote passes without wording changes - this family has to leave these boys behind.  Neither boy would survive if they were transferred.  They just would not survive.   The transition from one hell-hole to another is just an unbearable thought.  I can't express how desperately needy they are.  By the grace of God these boys have hope.  Last spring another little girl was rescued from this same room.  Her mom came out yelling and this family heard her cry.  Three children rescued.  Another family is packing bags to get another little one out of that room.  Praise God.  God's people are answering His call.  They are sending a powerful message to the caretakers there.  These children are wanted.  They are precious, beautiful treasures. 

There are so many more.  This is NOT a unique case.  So many of the little ones being adopted are not healthy and happy children in the orphanages.  So many of them are barely hanging on.  Children who are laying in cribs, lost, drugged to keep them quiet, and completely helpless.   Their cries are feeble but God has heard their whimpers as they lay day after day.  He has heard.  He is calling His church to cross the ocean and rescue these desperate and dying babies.  Please stand with these families, this family as they give up so much to gain such blessings.  Pray for them - for the vote - for the children.  The door has been opened.  We just can't stand by and let it close.

SHHHH... Don't Tell....

It's Aaron's birthday today.

He is officially EIGHT years old.  Oh My!

It's a secret though.  Shh... Don't Tell.. He doesn't know it is his birthday.  He thinks its zumorow when the balloons and cake and presents and cousins arrive.  Don't tell him.  He'd never forgive me!!

He's a funny little guy... He wondered this week where the Christmas tree is because don't you need a Christmas tree for a Birthday Party??  Oh Sweet Aaron!! 

No Christmas tree but definitely some presents and some balloons.  Definitely a cake although we haven't quite figured out what kind yet.  Definitely a special day for a special little guy.

My little Aaron is eight today.

I need to go find some tissues... He is growing up way too fast!!

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

Here's the deal...

Yesterday I asked for the ridiculous.... I asked for 50 people to donate to THREE families and then let me know.  I don't know how many people truly participated but 18 people shared with me that they did it!!

They didn't do it to get prizes or gifts.  They did it to help some families in need.  Some of those people couldn't just pick three so they picked four and five and more!

THANK YOU TO THE EIGHTEEN WHO GAVE YESTERDAY!!!!  WOO HOO!!!

I'm not giving up on my ridiculous request though.... I'M STILL PRAYING FOR FIFTY FAMILIES.

I have a small incentive.... TWO NECKLACES!

 

Stacy from Jubilee's Jewels has offered these two necklaces for me to give to two of the FIFTY who donate to the families!!  Look at the Bible verses on these necklaces.... I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU AS ORPHANS, I WILL COME TO YOU..... FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU DECLARES THE LORD!!  Precious words from a Precious Savior.   THANK YOU STACY!!

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

SO COME ON... I still need THIRTY TWO FAMILIES who will agree to donate to THREE families who are adopting.  They can be the families I shared about yesterday HERE... or they can be the families I am sharing about today.  OR.. they can be other families who need help.  I DON'T CARE!!

If 50 people stood in the gap and helped THREE families... then that would equal 150 donations made!

OKAY OKAY!!!

I agree this is a ROTTEN time of the year for fundraising. 

 Just ask the families who are adopting!!!!   They will tell you that it truly is a ROTTEN time of the year for fundraising!!  Beyond hard.  Nobody gives in August.  It is school shopping time... NOT orphan giving time.  Yet so many of the families are leaving in weeks and they NEED HELP!!

Will you please consider joining in??? Will you be one of the thirty two families?

 Here are some families you can help....

THE BOOTH FAMILY
One of our Mulligan Babes will soon be meeting her family for the first time!!  Her family is traveling soon for their first trip and THEY ARE SHORT OF FUNDS.  Last I heard they needed quite a lot of money but are humble people.  Please won't you throw some money in their pot.  I love this family - their gentle quiet spirits!  Makayla desperately needs out of that crib!!!

THE NANCE FAMILY

When Rob and I were across the ocean... this was one of the first families we met.  They singlehandedly kept us from losing our sanity by braving the streets of that country and purchasing us a FAN.  Our apartment was on the zillionenth floor and was NOT blessed with A/C and it was a million degrees outside when we were there and more than that inside our apartment.  Giving us that fan sealed our friendship for life.

AND THEY ARE ADOPTING MAXIM!! Woo Hoo!!  Isn't he precious??

  

Stephanie told me the other day she doesn't know how to say that she needs to raise about 12,000 or so dollars for their adoption.  WELL I AM SAYING IT FOR HER!!  Would you help??  This is their third little guy from that country.

THE WANGERIN FAMILY

I don't have a picture for this family but they adopted Alina around the same time we brought Aaron home.  They are going back to bring home another little girl - Rosemary!!  They are doing an auction and you can see it HERE.  Please consider going over and bidding on some things!!  Most of what is on there are handmade items by Becky!!  She donated to our Mulligan Stew so PLEASE won't you go help them out???

THE LITTLE FAMILY

This family started a GIVEAWAY yesterday and it is a NICE one... Go check it out... It is HERE.  Personally - since we had to forgo a vacation this year due to circumstances way beyond our control... I'm hoping to win that timeshare prize but don't tell anyone....!!! 

Sweet Pasha - Your Mama and Papa are SO CLOSE to bringing you home!!!



THE ERIKSON FAMILY
My Little Lost Boy's family is definitely in need of help!!
Please won't you consider dropping something in their bucket.  They really stepped out in faith to go get him and definitely need help raising the funds.  Don't forget my sweet Porter.  He needs out of that mental institute!!!

The day he is in their arms.... There will be no words from me!


THE LEWIS FAMILY
Oh Jack.
Your Mama and Papa are moving mountains to get you!!

Sweet Jack.  Looking for a home... A nice Giveaway is HERE if you want to donate and win something!!  I LOVE THIS BOY!!


THE THOMAS FAMILY
Gavin looks like a healthy little guy in this picture but the reality is... he's a pretty sick little boy.  The Thomas family is doing everything in their power to move the mountain to go get him.  Gavin needs medical help.  Will you help get this family fully funded so they can concentrate on getting Gavin home??



THE ROSENCRANTS
Can I tell you what I LOVE about this family??? They are not only getting two very very needy babies from the worst orphanage in Eastern Europe but their blog is all about advocating for other desperately needy babies!!  It is one big yell fest and I love that!  AND THESE PEOPLE ARE ADOPTION EXPERTS.  They have adopted from all over and LOVE THEIR BABES!  So please go say thank you by dropping a few dollars in their bucket!!  Help them bring Gabby and Marsha out of the darkness and into the light!
 


THE ROBERSON FAMILY
The Robersons adopted two babes a few years ago from a country in Africa.  They found out recently that their adopted daughter has an older sister who desperately needs a family.  She is fifteen and is aging out and the Robersons are her only hope.  They are stepping out in faith to bring the sister home.  They didn't have the luxury of waiting for the funds to come so would you please consider helping them??  You can click HERE or HERE (this is the Project Hopeful link - look for the Roberson family under H found her Family) to donate.


AND IF YOU HAVE A FAVORITE FAMILY OR TWO OR THREE OR FIVE.... GO AHEAD... DONATE TO THEM!!  I'M SO NOT PICKY... JUST LET ME KNOW YOU DONATED TO THREE FAMILIES AND I WILL PUT YOU ON THE LIST....

Here's my list so far...

1. Rob and Julia
2. Julie 
3. Kat
4. Michelle
5. Joy
6. Holly 
7. Tanya
8. Theresa 
9. Rosemary 
10. Amy
11. Jennifer
12. Tiny Feet
13. Susan
14. Hansina
15. Lisa
16. Joy 
17. Kelly 
18. Kathy

Because You Asked

Since its raining here and I have a few minutes... and since some of you are badgering me for pictures...

 

Here's a few from Monday...

 

 

For all of you who have loved and prayed for and advocated for these kids...

 

 

 

 

Two of the Three White Babes... (I can't tell which is which but let me tell you - all three are precious!!!)

 

 

Peyton White

 

Fuad Breen (adopted a year ago)

 

Vlado Breen

 

 

Aaron White and one of his three little sisters!! :)

 

Gavin White

 

Missy and Fuad Breen

 

Jennifer and Milana Wojcik and Belle Spitz

Gavin Spitz

 

I love these little White babes!!!

 

Heart stealer!!

 

Dave and Lyla Spitz

 

Bobby Baird

 

Reece Roberts, Ben and Aaron

 

The Barnett boys

 

Trenton Barnett

 

And those are just some pics from Monday....

 

I lost track of how many babes and families are here... my heart is full.  Seeing all these babes and knowing where they were all headed....

 

There are just no words.

 

God is good.