Aaron's Challenge

Aaron never ceases to amaze us.

Our little fugitive from across the ocean.

He's a tough, tough kid who has so many strikes against him.  The list of things he "can't" do is long and depressing at times.  We sometimes wonder how in the world he will ever overcome that list.

Last weekend, I was so sad to see my son sitting on the floor with all of his little Cub Scout buddies. When they all jumped up and ran away, he was left sitting there, waiting for someone to have mercy and lift him to his feet.  His knees don't bend far enough for him to get up by himself easily, and his arms provide him with absolutely no lift whatsoever.  So for all of his life, he has only been able to stand up by himself when he's had a nearby chair or wall to use for leverage. When neither of those is nearby, he's had to beg for assistance. 

Until this week, no one had figured out a way for him to stand up without help. Neither we nor any teacher or therapist could figure out a way for him to do it.  We all thought he would probably be stuck begging for help forever.

But this Mama wasn't convinced of that, because I know MY BOY is TOUGH and he is STRONG and he is SMART. And so, together, we decided to figure out how Aaron could get up off of the floor by himself. On Thursday night while Papa, Ben and Elijah were away at play practice, Aaron and I got to work.

We had figured out earlier that the ONLY way Aaron would be able to stand up from a sitting position on the ground was if he used his head in the place of his hands. He would have to become a human tripod.  But without strong, flexible knees, the boy was going to have to do some serious maneuvering to get himself anywhere near a position to stand. Then he would need INCREDIBLY strong stomach muscles in order to pull himself up. 

This is what we came up with:

DID YOU SEE???  DID YOU SEE???

WANT TO SEE IT AGAIN???

ALL BY HIMSELF!!

He can stand up all by himself.

I weep to type those words.  My boy is a SUPER HERO!

Think this is no big deal???  You try it! 

Aaron's Challenge.....

Ben can't do it.  Elijah can't do it.  Rob can't do it.  I can't do it.

Try it.

No hands.  No knee bending.  No cheating.  Just head and legs and stomach muscles allowed.

Try it!!  Have fun!!

Let us know how you did!!

Fatherless Friday

Artem K

Do you know how much fun it is to go to my sidebar every day and see that Artem's grant account keeps rising??

We are $911.64 away from reaching our $10,000.00 goal for Artem.

Keep on keeping on for Artem.

THANK YOU THANK YOU for making advocating for him SO MUCH FUN!!

Jack

Project Hopeful has officially opened up an account for sweet Jack so for those who have been wondering how you can donate DIRECTLY to Jack in order to help a family find him.... PLEASE click HERE and make a donation.  You will need to put in the comments that the money is designated to JACK 23.  Project Hopeful is a WONDERFUL ministry that focuses on children with HIV.   

PLEASE KEEP SHARING ABOUT BOTH MY BOYS....

Also..... See this little cutie???

This is Grace and her Mama and Papa are crossing the ocean THIS WEEKEND!! 

Oh I know they are just going crazy thinking about her!

They are in a different country than where Aaron was so their procedure is different.  I KNOW they would LOVE for you to remember them in prayer as they have so many tasks to complete in the next week or so before they can bring their sweet one home. 

Their link is HERE.  They are a bit short in funds for sweet Grace but are trusting God that He will provide all that they need. 

Finally.... I get a lot of requests from families to help them raise money for their adoptions.  It is SO HARD to know how to help.  I try to do whatever I can because I know that raising the money needed is one of the most daunting parts of adopting.  My heart is burdened deeply to know how best to stand with the families as they cliff jump.  But I also want to advocate and raise awareness for the little ones who don't have families yet.  Raising their grant money is important to me.  I don't want to see little ones ending up where Aaron went.  It just rips my heart out.  So I am often torn in two.  How to support the families and how to yell for the kids!

My sweet friend Adeye also gets a lot of requests from families for help.  She came up with a BRILLIANT idea this past week.  I am so excited for all the families and the FORTY CHILDREN she has been able to help through her 'different' style Giveaway.   Please go HERE so you can see what she is doing.  Pick a family off there - join in the fun!! 

Smile!

Patti and I received a precious gift yesterday.

Precious indeed.

If he hadn't captured your heart before today.... LET HIM CAPTURE YOU NOW!!

We're talking one seriously cute little boy!!

Who is standing there wondering where in the world is HIS MOMMY!!!

Where are you Mommy??

Where are you???

Please share these new pictures of Artem.  What a treasure.  How rare.  I'm praising God we have them. 

Please share.

And please keep donating.  We are almost at the 9,000.00 mark. 

Woo Hoo!!

Our goal is 10,000.00. 

5.00 dollars at a time.

We want the way to be EASY for a family to step up and say yes.  We don't want money to be the reason why a family can't cliff jump for Artem.

So go look in your sock drawer.  Maybe under the washing machine.  How about in the drawers of your desk.

I know you can scratch up five measly dollars from SOMEWHERE!!

This little boy has been stuck in that crib for far too long!

What Do They Need To Do?

What do I need to do...

... for a Mom to come?

Do you know...

...where she is?

Is she...

...looking for me?

Do you know anyone....

 who would like to take a boy like me?

Anyone?

JACK and ARTEM

Two orphans.  In a world of orphans.

What do they need to do?

P.S. Artem now has $8774.84 in his grant account.  Please keep giving and please keep sharing.   He is five years old and facing transfer soon.  Please.

Tough Boy

Yep, that's my CUTE Tiger Cub.

He's the one whose Mom dressed him in the WRONG uniform.

Never fear though - this uniform fits just fine!!

My boy may not be dressed correctly but he isn't going to be easily pushed around!!

 Now THAT was Aaron's definition of FUN!!

WOO HOO.... Artem's Grant Account continues to rise!!!! 

We only need 1,245.00 to reach 10,000.00.

Please pray for Artem.  I don't know if anyone has even inquired about him yet. 

Break.My.Heart.

I Can't Imagine

I can't imagine.

I can't imagine spending 11 years in an orphanage waiting, longing, hoping, praying for a family.

I can't imagine how it must feel to wonder each time the car pulls up if the family from across the ocean is coming for me.

I can't imagine how utterly alone it would feel to watch your friends leave one by one while you are left behind.

I can't imagine.

I can't imagine how one simple diagnosis can cause people to run in terror from even considering the child behind the label.

I can't imagine.

Jack

His words:

 "What do I need to do for a Mom to come? Do you know where she is? Is she looking for me?"

I just can't imagine.

IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE WHO HAS ROOM AT THEIR TABLE FOR A SWEET, GENTLE, QUIET, OBEDIENT, KIND LITTLE BOY WHO DESPERATELY WANTS A MAMA?

Jack - CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

The Perils of the Outside

Help!!

The Hitch-hikers are on the loose....

They must think I'm cute or something!!!

Mom definitely agrees!

Oh well - Who cares as long as there is a DS nearby!!

ANYWAY.....

Mom will pull off all the hitch-hikers... She doesn't have anything better to do....

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DO YOU SEE??? DO YOU SEE??? 

Artem's grant fund is rising!!  Almost a thousand dollars has been donated to his grant account in a week!!

FIVE DOLLARS AT A TIME!!

If you haven't joined in on the fun of watching that thermometer rise for one sweet little boy then come on!!  All it takes is a Five Dollar donation!!

Our goal is to get his fund to at least 10,000.00

We have 1,541.16 left to go to reach that goal!!!

WE CAN DO THIS!!  

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE SHARE ABOUT ARTEM ON YOUR BLOGS, FB, TWITTERS. The more people know about him - the greater his chance of finding his Mama.  He faces transfer AT ANY TIME.  He is already FIVE and that is the age of transfer!!  Though he is NOT in the same country as our Aaron, the procedure is the SAME.  He is too little and too sweet to end up in a mental institute. 

PLEASE - ARTEM NEEDS A FAMILY!!

Sad Anniversary

Ten years ago my mom lost her battle to cancer.

 I miss her.

So does Dad.

Revelation 21:1-4

     "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”



Still selling Popcorn....

Yep - my two Handsome scouts are STILL selling Popcorn!!

 

If you LOVE popcorn and would like to help my two Handsome boys out.....

Click HERE and you can get yourself some delicious Boy Scout Popcorn. 

The really cool thing - It will be delivered RIGHT TO YOUR DOOR!!

I can definitely verify this because those who ordered last week - had it delivered within just a few days.

My Two Scouts Thank You!!

P.S. - If you don't like popcorn - never fear.... If you CLICK THIS LINK - you can make a MILITARY DONATION and the popcorn will be shipped to the men and women in our U.S. military. 

Let's Celebrate!

Let's just take a moment people to stand up at our computers and do a happy dance!!  Come on and celebrate.  Baby J is going home.  The judge said yes. 

JULIANA SOFIA MORENO

No longer an orphan.  Adopted from a region that was CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED. 

BUT GOD.

We have watched and ached and prayed for months now.  We cried out in shock and sorrow when the judge said NO to Kirill's adoption.  We stormed heaven for Evan and jumped up and down for joy when the judge agreed after two hard days of questioning.  We stood in awe as we watched the Supreme Court in Kirill's country overturn Kirill's ruling.  We praised God as we recognized the Mighty Acts He was doing for all the special needs orphans in that country through this wayward judge and her rulings. 

And now.  Now we party.  Because the third little one - Baby J - Juliana Sofia Moreno - is coming home. 

What an adventure.  What a lot of tears and sorrow but joy unspeakable.  We have been so privileged to take part in watching God move and act.  Not just for these three babes.  But for the thousands of others in that country who are stuck behind bars longing to be free. 

Let's party people!!  Let's party!

The Last of the Three

Okay - I only received ONE comment yesterday! 

My dear friend Shelly cashed in her soda cans and donated 10.00 to Artem!! 

Woo HOO!! 

BUT HELLO......IS ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE???

I know you are because Artem's grant fund now has over 8,000.00 in it!!!

Honestly - I know...Five dollars doesn't seem like much. 

And you wonder what in the world it would matter if YOU didn't participate because it is ONLY a MEASLY Five Dollars - I mean really.....

but PEOPLE... HEAR ME WELL...

IT ADDS UP. 

Every single FIVE DOLLAR donation matters. 

Every single one! 

And if you donate - then YOU get to enjoy taking part.

So join in the fun of watching Artem's fund increase through simple FIVE DOLLAR donations.

And PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE share about Artem on your FB pages and your blogs and anywhere else.  Tell people on the STREETS that this little guy NEEDS A MAMA!!

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On a much more serious note....

Tomorrow morning - while we sleep - the Moreno family is facing the judge who has a habit of being a bit back and forth on her rulings. 

She said NO to the Davis family and YES to the Hook family.

You think the Moreno's are a bit nervous??

I KNOW how they are feeling right now and so I am asking you to do TWO THINGS.

One - PRAY. 

Two - Let them KNOW you are praying.  Click this link and drop them a line and encourage them.  It costs NOTHING.  It takes but a moment of your time.  It will mean the WORLD to them right now. 

Where's My Mama?

See that cute little guy... I don't know what was going through his head when they snapped his picture but most likely he was wondering...

WHERE'S MY MAMA!!

Thank you Thank you to all the people who cleaned out their whatnot drawers yesterday and found 5.00 to donate to Artem's grant fund.

THANK YOU!

We raised over 225.00 yesterday!!  Wow!

I know there are a whole bunch more of you out there who haven't gone looking for that 5.00 hiding in your house.

Did you check the top of your dresser?

How about in your coat pockets?

Any more suggestions for where people can find some loose change????

Come on..... join in the fun.... round up your FIVE DOLLARS in the hidden places of your house and then comment here where you found the money!! 

I'll post all the hidden places on the blog tomorrow!!

Motherless Monday

One little boy across the ocean.

Artem.

Just one little boy with Down Syndrome and FAS sitting in a baby house across the ocean.

Just one little boy among many little boys.

Motherless.

Soon to be transferred.  Very soon.

He needs a family.   Plain and simple.  It is my goal to do whatever I can to find a family for him.

This October - the goal on this blog and my friend Patti's blog is to raise Artem's grant money.

Our goal is to get his account to 10,000.

He currently has 7740.94

He needs 2259.06 to make 10,000.00

We are NOT asking for much... Just FIVE DOLLARS from each of our readers.

5.00

Pocket change. 

I bet you could find that much hidden in the folds of your couch.

Or in your whatnot drawer in the kitchen.

How about in the ashtray in your car.

5.00

One little motherless boy.

Will you take part?

Just click on Artem's Paypal link on the top right and go donate 5.00.

If you want to donate more... well... NO ONE WILL COMPLAIN!!

For Mike and MaryAnne

I am a loyal Redskin fan through and through. 

I have been since I was a little girl growing up in the Washington D.C. area. 

I do not like the Dallas Cowboys.

I do not.

I never have and I never will.

NEVER EVER!!

UNFORTUNATELY...the director of our local drama group (Black Box Players)  is a loyal Cowboy fan.  Her husband is a Cowboy fanatic!! 

And for Aaron's birthday - they gave him the most DIGUSTING shirt you can imagine.  I about vomited when he pulled it out of the bag.

What the world???

Do they think I would EVER put this shirt on my kid and post the pictures on my blog???

No way...

Not me.

I would never ever post pictures of MY SWEET GOING TO BE A REDSKIN FAN AARON wearing a STINKIN' CowGIRL shirt on my blog.

I mean it is bad enough that my oldest son has betrayed our family by being a CowGIRL fan... NOT TWO... NO WAY!!

Never.

NEVER NEVER NEVER!!!

Okay - Maybe just this ONE time!!

Maybe for the 25th Anniversary of the BLACK BOX PLAYERS.  Maybe since Black Box has been SO GOOD for my boys and our family.  Maybe since we have been so blessed to be part of a family drama group that gives every child a chance to shine on stage... Maybe just this ONE TIME will I post pictures of my Precious Aaron in a stinky Cowboy shirt....

Maybe just for Mike and MaryAnne...

Maybe just this ONE TIME will I let my littlest wear that shirt on my blog.....

Only for you Mike and MaryAnne.....

Only for you....

HAPPY 25TH TO THE BLACK BOX PLAYERS!!

Loving Artem

I don't have time to blog today but that's okay because my dear friend Patti says all I need to say on this fine Saturday morning in October!!  Look below and then go HERE and find out where MY heart is going to be this month.