Pray for the Shupps...

     Please pray for Freddie's family.  Their blog is  HERE.  Their papers were supposed to be submitted yesterday and Aaron's are supposed to be submitted on Thursday and we were going to be in the country at the same time!  I was so looking forward to meeting them.   Lyndi has been a real God-send to me as I have waded through these deep waters.  Unfortunately a tiny error on their paperwork has kept their papers from being submitted and they are now back to scrambling around trying to fix the problem.  Please pray for them.  My heart aches.  Because of one small issue Freddie has to wait even longer for his family!

     It could just as easily happen to us which makes this whole process so unbelievably unpredictable and scary.  We feel so vulnerable and helpless so much of the time.  Please keep praying for us.  Our papers are supposed to be submitted on Thursday.  

QUICK Puzzle Post..

TIME TO ADD MORE PIECES TO OUR PUZZLE....

29 PIECES.....

THAT MAKES A TOTAL OF 474 PEOPLE "LOVING AARON HOME!"

WE ONLY NEED 26 MORE PEOPLE TO FILL UP OUR PUZZLE!  IS THAT UNBELIEVABLE???

If you have not made a donation - you had better hurry!!!

BiblioPlan

YES THIS POST IS AN ADVERTISEMENT BUT PLEASE READ...IT HELPS AARON!!  

  In the next several weeks I will be attending two different Homeschooling Conventions.  I will be helping to sell a history curriculum that Rob and I have spent the last two years working on almost daily - BiblioPlan.  In light of needing to still raise almost 10,000 dollars, these Conventions are rather important for us. 

     If you are a Homeschooling family OR a family who loves history - PLEASE CHECK OUT this out:  BIBLIOPLAN - It is an all-in-one history/geography/art/literature/writing curriculum.  It is a four year program - Ancients, Medieval, Early America and World and Modern America and World.  It is designed so that all your children can do it together.  It is the least expensive history program on the market!!  Rob and I wrote the Parent Companions and created the Maps, Craft booklet and Cool History Packet and those are the items where we make a cut of the profits. 
    
     The really neat part about the e-book Parent Companions is that EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT USING THE BIBLIOPLAN GUIDE or EVEN IF YOU DON'T HOMESCHOOL, the Companions are so rich in information that they will go with ANY history program you are using.  They are e-books in order to keep the price down to a very cheap 16.95 for Ancients (it is both World and Bible history combined) and 12.95 for the other two. 

Medieval is still being written.  We plan on selling Medieval to those who are interested and e-mailing it piecemeal so if you are interested in Medieval - LET ME KNOW!!  I started writing the first lesson this past week...

Please check out BIBLIOPLAN and tell your friends!  If you are part of a Co-op - We have a whole section on the website for you!!

Meagan's Speech

My 14 year old niece, Meagan, wrote a speech for her forensics class.  Talk about ripping our hearts out!  Precious words from a precious young lady! 

READ AND ENJOY!!

     Last thanksgiving, my Aunt Julie and my Uncle Rob made a decision that would change their lives forever. I didn’t think they were serious, the way my cousins talked about it they just thought their Mom was just… going through a phase I guess. But, when we got the letter in the mail, I knew she wasn’t kidding. When I pulled out the little piece of paper and saw a cute little boy with blonde hair and dimples smiling up at me, I realized how serious this was. My cousins were really, truly adopting a child.



     His name is Aaron. He’s a cute little six year old boy living with athrogryposis. And no, I don’t expect you to have any idea what that is. Athrogryposis is a non-progressive disease that is described as having curved or hooked joints.


      I’m really glad that my cousins stepped up to the challenge of adopting him. The only setback they have is the loads of paperwork, time, and $26,000 out of their pockets. Now, my cousins aren’t rich, and even if they were, $26,000 is a lot to just give up. How does someone raise that much money? My Aunt started a blog a while ago, where you can go and donate to their fund. And who wouldn’t? As soon as you see Aarons cute little smile, his dirty blonde hair, his bright blue eyes, you know you have to do something for that.


     As a fourteen year old girl with limited allowance, I felt helpless. I still do. I can only donate so much. Up until March, I couldn’t do anything for Aaron. But, on March 1st, I read on my aunts blog that they were making a puzzle for him. She decided to take a 500 piece puzzle of balloons and turn it into something better. On the back of each puzzle piece, she would write the name of someone who donated $5 for Aaron. When she gets 500 pieces, she would put the puzzle of names together and then hang it up in his room, so Aaron (whenever he gets here,) knows just how many people loved him home.


     I sprung at the idea of helping with that. All last month, I got together as many people as I could to donate $5 for Aaron. I put every donation into an envelope, which I kept in a secret place, just to be safe. When I was sure that I got every donation I could, I sent it to my Aunt. I still have yet to hear from her, (because I sent it last week.) but I can imagine how she will react when she gets it. I hope she doesn’t make a big deal out of it, I was just doing my part. No THANK YOU SO MUCH MEAGAN! Or a I LOVE YOU FOR DOING THIS MEAGAN!, please. I’d just rather silently smile at myself for doing something for my soon-to-be cousin.
 
 

MEAGAN DEAREST.....

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND... WE LOVE YOU!! 

Quick update...

     I received an e-mail yesterday saying that our dossier (and Freddie's) will be submitted next Thursday. 

Praise the Lord!  

     Rob is going to start the 'paint Aaron's room' project this afternoon.  I've been finding the coolest stuff at yard sales and am so excited to decorate.  My boys were BIG Thomas the Tank Engine fans and so I can't wait to unpack the train boxes that have been in storage and get them out for Aaron to enjoy!  Most likely his two older brothers will enjoy them again too!

Too Long...

      We didn't hear anything yesterday or this morning one way or the other about whether our dossier was submitted.  I'm assuming it was not.  I'm sad this morning as next Thursday seems so long from now.  Each week that goes by is one more week that Aaron sits alone in a mental institute.  I used to work in a mental institute for the mentally handicapped in the 1980's in New Jersey.  If Aaron's institute is anything like what I experienced while working as a nurse in that facility, well...... let me just say that I can't finish the sentence. 

     I've tried my hardest to NOT think about it.  I turn my brain off whenever my heart gets too close to imagining what his life is like.  Each day I have to push down the thoughts and entrust them to the Father who knows the plight of the orphan... my little orphan. 

     We are so totally dependent upon God's hand in all of this.  It is HARD!  I would be lying if I said it wasn't.  My faith is being stretched in a way that hurts.  Last night we sat and counted how many weeks we may have to wait before we go to see him.  It may not be until July and that makes me shudder.  He has been in a mental institute since sometime around September or October.  That is TOO LONG!  My heart is grieved within me!

Please pray with and for us.  Pray for Aaron. 

PUZZLE POST

IT'S ANOTHER PUZZLE POST.....

 

17 MORE PIECES ADDED TO OUR PUZZLE!!

458 AMAZING PEOPLE HAVE DONATED TO AARON!!

 

THAT MAKES 42 PIECES LEFT ON OUR 500 PIECE PUZZLE!!!

Thursday

Our dossier is in Aaron's country.  It sits.  Probably in a pile with a bunch of others.  It represents one child.  One life.  Hope.  Today is Thursday and each week, on Thursday, the dossiers at the top of the pile are submitted to the governmental agency that processes adoptions.  Today Aaron's paperwork could be submitted.  Maybe.  Maybe not.  I will find out sometime today.  Waiting and hopeful but trying hard not to get my hopes too high.  If not - well, next Thursday is only 7 days from now.  Sigh!

Please continue to pray for Aaron.  Where he is living is lonely and dark.  He desperately needs our prayers!

Wizard

Since I am backstage manager for the Wizard of Oz - I don't have a lot of time to take pictures.  I did get this one though with my dear family members!   Rob is the Tin Man, Elijah is the cute Witch's guard with the red hat on and Ben is the Wizard (wearing green)!  The rest of the characters all live in our county so this picture is going in our local newspaper!!!

Mother's Day

     Sorry.  I'm not joining in the chorus of 'Happy Mother's Day'.  Don't get me wrong.  I love being a Mom.  It is the highlight of my life apart from being married to Rob.  But this day is not my favorite day of the year.  It stopped being my favorite when nine years ago colon cancer robbed me of my Mom and it robbed my kids of their Grandmom. This weekend Ben played the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz and she didn't get to see him.  Elijah was serving breakfast pancakes for Boy Scouts this morning and he didn't get to serve her.  In a few months Aaron will sit around our table and she will not get to love on him and watch him grow.  I miss her.  I am sad that my Mom is missing my boys grow up.  I'm sad that she doesn't get to be a part of our adoption of Aaron.  Mother's Day is a bit sad for me.  I miss my Mom!

A needed encounter...

It's been a wild week for the Wizard of Oz.  I woke up exhausted this morning and in need of a diversion so I went out to do my favorite activity - hunting for bargains at yard sales!

My first stop was at a charity sale for AN ADOPTION!!  The family is adopting a little girl from Guatamala.  I shared with them Aaron's picture and they showed me the little one and smiles were shared all around.  When I left, I gave them a 20.00 dollar donation.  It was one of those Holy Spirit shouts in my ear that I needed to donate to their adoption.  I bought 20.00 worth of stuff so this was on top of the donation.  I drove away wondering how we are ever going to raise 10,000 if I keep having Holy Spirit shouts like that.  It isn't the first time in the last few weeks that I have felt compelled to give.  Each time I have obeyed and wondered.  Today I wondered the most.  I began to weep and pray as I drove to the next yard sale.  Wondering.  Worrying.

The next sale was a church sale and they are the best.  The sale was winding down so bags were being handed out to fill for a buck!  I love those kinds of sales.  I was happily filling up my dollar bag with books when I heard a 'hello' from across the table.  I looked up and saw a lady I hadn't seen in five years.  We greeted and shared info about our kids.  I told her about Aaron and pulled his ever-ready picture out of my purse to show her.

She gasped.  She knew him.  She had been praying for him for months.  He was on the board at her child's Christian school and each day the children pray for him.  I stood there in shock.  A Holy Spirit moment.  Tears came and still do.  Out of nowhere, God reached down and touched my spirit.  He is in charge of this adoption not me.  He has raised up an army of people to pray for Aaron that I know nothing about.   He is orchestrating this concert and our family is just along for the ride.  Oh what release.  The Holy Spirit, in His infinite wisdom is not only touching my heart to encourage a family in THEIR adoption, but is touching other hearts to pray for our little guy!  

What wonderous love is this!

What a loving God we serve! 

What rest.

Puzzle Time!!

We are in the home stretch for our 500 piece puzzle!!  We are adding 47 pieces to our puzzle....

THAT MAKES A TOTAL OF 441 PIECES CLAIMED....

Only 59 puzzle pieces left.  If you want your name on Aaron's puzzle.... you had better hurry!!

Longing

     We are on a crazy schedule this week!  It is 'Tech' week for the Wizard of Oz production and each night we are doing 3+ hours of practice.   We are all a bit exhausted. 

     I am the backstage manager for the shows.   I do a little bit of everything and then some.  Tech week is especially crazy for me but overall quite fun.  My greatest pleasure in the week is working with the kids.  We have over 100 children of all ages in the shows (split into two casts) and I oversee all of them. 

     One night this week one dear little Munchkin was herded backstage with the other 40 or so Munchkins to get set to go on stage.  Unfortunately, in the confusion, she ended up unable to find her 'spot.'  When I realized she was missing, I went and found her and placed her where she needed to go but it was just too much for her little heart.  Sobs erupted and she cried out "I want my Mommy."  I knelt down in front of her and tried to console her but it just wasn't enough so I picked her up.  She immediately threw her little arms around my neck and held on for dear life, crying out the stress of being 'lost.' 

    As I held that dear little Munchkin and felt her tears and whispered soothing words in her ear I was hit with a longing that poured from deep within my soul.  I wanted it to be Aaron in my arms.  I wanted to be soothing his heart, his cries for a Mommy when his world was too much for him.  I want to be his Mommy.  I am so longing for the day to be his Mommy.

The little Munchkin's Mommy was not far. She was probably out in the hall or sitting in the car waiting for her little one's practice to be over. In a short time her Mommy would come in and see her and hold her and be there for her.   Her 'lostness' would be over.

I'm so far from Aaron right now.  He's in Europe, far away, 'lost'.  Yet each day I am one step closer.  One step closer to being Aaron's Mommy.  Oh how I long for that day when Aaron will be 'lost' no more.



    

What Can Brown Do For You...Part 4...

What can Brown do for you?????

BROWN CAN DELIVER YOUR VERY IMPORTANT PAPERS INTO THE HANDS OF OUR REECE'S RAINBOW'S VERY GIFTED FACILITATOR IN LESS THAN 48 HOURS! 

Freddie and Aaron's papers have been delivered.  Safe.  Sound. Wow!

I'm SO Grateful they didn't use this.... to deliver our precious documents!!

What Can Brown Do For You...Part 3...

OH MY GOODNESS. 

This morning at 6:00 am Rob and I ran down to the computer to track Aaron's papers. 

THEY ARE IN HIS COUNTRY!! 

Dancing a jig or two...

They have already passed through customs and are, AS I TYPE, being delivered to our facilitators house!!

Happy Day!  Praise the Lord...

Aaron - your Mommy and Daddy are coming soon!

What Can Brown Do For You...Part 2...

     OKAY ALL YOU PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO SEND YOUR DOSSIER OVERSEAS...

Our papers left yesterday and tonight...

THEY ARE ALREADY IN GERMANY!!  

GO UPS!!!

What Can Brown Do For You...

The UPS truck is on the move.....

Yesterday afternoon Aaron's precious papers left Charlottesville and arrived in Richmond.  Unresting, they  traveled through the night to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, arriving there at 2:00 am.  We wait with great anticipation to find out where they are going to 'land' next!

Letting go...

I didn't want to let Aaron's papers go today... I drove to Richmond to get the last two papers certified and now all the papers contain a golden seal from the State of Virginia... Don't they look beautiful???

It was so hard to let them go.  To place them in the hands of UPS and walk away.  They represent a lot of sweat, tears, frustration and anxiety.  A whole lot of prayer.  Aaron's papers. 

They leave tonight for Aaron's country.  We are going to track them as soon as they get in the system.  Riding along with Aaron's papers is a precious document for this beautiful boy - Freddie.

His parents are watching our package with as much love and concern as we are.  Their adoption blog is here. 

I have this to share about dear Freddie.  Before we ever saw Aaron's picture, we saw Freddie's.  We read his story, his need and our hearts ached for him.  We prayed that Freddie would find a family because at that point we were not looking to adopt.  A few weeks after we saw Freddie's picture - we found Aaron.  I believe that having our hearts yearn for Freddie was one of the many small ways that God was preparing us to see Aaron's picture for the first time.  When Freddie found his family we rejoiced.

Knowing how Freddie touched our hearts, I am thrilled to be able to have a small part in his adoption journey

So... Please pray for our papers that they will have an UNEVENTFUL trip across the ocean and into the hands of our able facilitators. 

The next phase of this amazing and scary journey is beginning.

Happy Day

OUR GOLDEN TICKET ARRIVED!! 

SMILES, JOY AND PRAISES TO THE ONE WHO HOLDS AARON IN HIS LOVING HANDS!

Laugh of the day... the Congressman's envelope arrived... WITHOUT the copy of the Golden Ticket!  The envelope contained a letter telling us that the 171h was enclosed but the envelope was empty! 

We got a big laugh out of that one. 

 But, we hold in hand, and have already made copies of the PRECIOUS piece of paper that approves us for the adoption of one special needs boy between the ages of 2-7! 

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW...

The other needed paper arrived in the same mailbox so on Monday afternoon - barring unforseen difficulties... our dossier will head for Aaron's country!

To add to our joy.... We were given a partial list of all the people who donated through Reece's Rainbow into our account since the middle of April.  We had NO IDEA who you all were and we just stand humbled and overjoyed at your outpouring of love for our family and Aaron!  If you wondered why we didn't say thank you... it is because we have only seen the list today... Some of you we don't even know....

So...Jacque, Asher, Ken, Margaret, Phil, Jennifer, Marilyn, Richard, Laura, Tracy, Joshua, Kimberly, Rusty and Katie - THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS!!

We've been told that this is not a final list and there are other names to be added.... Boy do we feel overwhelmed right now!

My dad, who is the one who writes names on our puzzle is away until Tuesday but just to let you know... We have less than 65 pieces left on our puzzle!!! 

Postal prayers...

So... 171h is still enroute to my house via of a very slow postal system!  BUT... the Congressman's office mailed their copy of the 171h to our house and we can use THAT copy in our dossier without waiting for the official paper.  BUT... we are waiting for THAT copy to arrive via of a very slow postal system!  HOPEFULLY BOTH will arrive in today's mail.  I'm planning on a trip to Richmond on Monday if either paper arrives today! 

Yesterday I checked and re-checked our paperwork to make sure everything is correct.  I was being so careful... checking off every form, every paper, planning my trip to Richmond if the 171h arrived in time, planning the trip to the mailing center to send off the dossier etc. etc.  I was prepared and feeling quite please..

Then I realized that I DIDN'T HAVE THE ADDRESS FOR AARON'S COUNTRY!  Too funny!  I don't think that putting "Aaron's Country" on the box would work!  A quick e-mail to my wonderful Reece's Rainbow facilitators gained me that wonderful address and so I can now check that important detail off my list.

On a note and to add prayers to our list... Another family in the Reece's Rainbow world has sent a paper that was missing from their dossier in the mail to us so that it can ride along with Aaron's paper.  That paper is SUPPOSED to arrive today!  Please pray that their precious piece of paper and our precious piece of paper arrive today!