Fatherless Friday

Almost there.

There are a host of families who are so very close to traveling.

They are almost ready to board the plane and meet their little ones.

Some of them are fully funded.  Some are not.  Some have their bags packed and ready to go.  Others are running around frantically trying to get everything done on their check-off list.  Some are calm.  Others are hysterical.  None of them are truly breathing.   As I've said before, you stop breathing when you jump off that cliff and don't commence breathing until you step off the plane with your little one/s in your arms.  

They are all in need of our prayers, our support, our love.

It is a scary thing to cross that ocean.  To walk into a different culture, a different world and try to navigate your way around it.  It is humbling to be dependent upon others to navigate you through the adoption process over there.  

They need us.

These families and more.

They need us to stand beside them.  Pray for them.  Encourage them.

Each of them has a different story... Here are but a few...

ROBERT AND JEN - Robert and Jen committed to getting three precious little boys from across the ocean.  They got all of their paperwork in and were just waiting for their travel date.  Adoption is not for the faint-hearted though and they definitely discovered this when they learned that another family from a different country had stepped in and adopted their three little guys.  Their hearts were a bit torn in two to say the least.  They are still crossing the ocean though.  They KNOW God has called them to adopt.  They are packing their bags - stepping out in an even greater leap of faith.  Unfortunately - on top of everything else - just this last week - someone broke into their house.  To say they are feeling vulnerable and scared and in desperate need of the body of Christ to come alongside them would be putting it mildly.  Please pray for this family.  Send them a word of encouragement.  Let them know that you are going to journey with them as they go!!  They need us.

PATRICK - Oh My Sweet Patrick.  I don't know how many of you remember a blogpost I did last summer about a little boy who had just plain ripped my heart out!  I was ready to cross the ocean on a row boat to get him and Rob was ready to row the boat with him.  Thankfully the Lord brought a family quickly to soothe our aching hearts.  They are leaving soon.  I am asking for you to pray that little Joshua's (Patrick) heart will be prepared for a new Mama and Papa.  He lost his own Mama just a short time ago.  Please pray that he will be open to these new people in his life.  Pray that fears will be calmed and that he will be able to trust again.  Pray for Mike and Jennifer as they cross the ocean.  Pray that they will be covered with peace and that God will grant them wisdom as they bring this little orphaned boy into their family.

EASTON - And then there's Easton.  Last February I was yelling for him after learning that the family who wanted him would not be allowed to adopt him because of the rules in their country.  Their hearts were broken and that broke mine.  But God brought a family for him and in just a few days HIS FAMILY is crossing the ocean.   He has already been transferred which adds layers of stress and sorrow as they encounter what life has been like for their son over the last year.

GRACIE - This sweet little muffin has a Mama and Papa who are within a week of travel but have not raised all that they need.  They are down to the wire in regards to finances.  A number of people have stepped up to help.  A BABY CONTEST is going on to try to raise money for Gracie and 2 other families who are also in need.  Would you help this family?  Either enter into the Baby Contest or just make a donation.  I LOVE to see the little ones taken out.  I love that Gracie will not have to spend years and years waiting but instead she has a family who wants her NOW... They want to hold her and love her and put bows in her little hair.  That just makes me jump for joy.  Please help this family!!

ANDREY - This family is near and dear to our hearts!! When Rob and I were across the ocean they were too - getting two precious treasures.  We had the privilege of spending a pleasant evening walking around the capital city and sharing stories.  Though we were together but one evening, both our families feel quite knit together.  When the Lord made it clear that they needed to rescue another little one, they were not picky. They took the neediest child on the RR list at the time.  Andrey.  Please pray for them as they cross the ocean.  And if you feel led - help them out.  They have basically funded their adoption themselves as they are humble people and did not fundraise.  I would love to bless them before they go. 

SHANE AND OLEG - The Patterson's story is wild to say the least and they definitely could use our prayers over the coming weeks.  Last summer they hosted two precious elementary aged boys and absolutely fell in love with them.  They had been released for adoption and so the Pattersons decided that they were going to get them.  When they arrived in country, they discovered that an aunt had stepped forward and the boys were no longer available.  They were deeply grieved but Adoption is on their hearts and they knew that they hadn't traveled across the ocean to leave empty-handed.  After much prayer and discussion, they decided to pursue two precious little guys with Down Syndrome.  The boys had had a family coming to get them but backed out and so they were left hanging.  The Patterson's needed to change their paperwork and needed an new appointment date so they came home.  While  home, Lorraine's Mom died suddenly.  It has been a rough couple of weeks.  They are traveling this weekend and could really use prayers as they meet their little guys and work through the process to bring them home.  Pray that God would continue to comfort them as they work through the losses they have experience in the last weeks. (Both the boys and Lorraine's Mom)

Please lift up all of these families and the others that I didn't highlight.  You can find them HERE.

They need us.  Some need our financial support.  All of them need our prayers.  Make comments on their blogs if you can.  Let them know you are supporting them.  Cheer them on!! 

Adoption is not for the faint-heart.

It should not be done without the Body of Christ walking alongside!

Sometimes It's Hard.

Sometimes it's hard.

It's hard to watch my little guy with his little hands that struggle to work.

Sometimes it's hard.

Christmas Day with the guns was one of those times. 

While his brothers and his Papa played freely with the guns at Christmas.

While his cousins after arriving pulled and shot to their heart's delight...

Aaron was left out in the cold.

He couldn't work the gun.

Sometimes it's hard.

I tried to find guns that he could work.  I stood in the store for an hour checking out every one.  Trying hard to fulfill Aaron's desire for a 'shooter gun'.  I thought I had found the perfect gun.  The trigger was loose, it was small and looked easy to manage.

But when we took it out of the box and tested it on Christmas Day we knew it was another fail for Aaron.  He could cock it using his legs and a string around his neck but once the gun was cocked - the trigger tightened.  He could not shoot the gun.

Yes we could shoot it for him while he half-held it.  But it wasn't the same.

So in the midst of our Christmas chaos - with his brothers, his Papa, his cousins enjoying the guns and the darts - our little guy was left out again. 

It stung.

He showed himself no pity though.  Despite the hurt that was nestled deep in his heart - our little guy made the best of a harsh situation.  He laughed.  He cheered.  He collected bullets.  He held the bucket.  He withstood being shot and he stayed in the midst of the battles that raged.  

It humbled me to see my little guy laughing and playing in the midst of the chaos. Finding joy though he was experiencing such loss.  I know few in this world who would stay and play in the midst of such disappointment.  Most would run off and hide.  Rant and rave at what they do not have.  Throw fits and shout angry words at all who would hear.

Aaron stayed.

I was proud beyond words of my little guy who has had so many strikes against him.  I was proud that he didn't walk away.  I was proud of the joy he exuded.  I was proud of my son on Christmas Day.

But I also grieved and my Mama's heart was crying out that just once - just once - I would like to see him be able to play as they are playing.  To enjoy life as they are enjoying life.  To take part as they are taking part.  Sometimes I just wish my little boy had hands that worked.

Sometimes it's hard. 

Where Little Boys Belong

When its cold outside....

And your little hands are not well-equipped for regular gloves....

NEVER FEAR...

TOE SOCKS ARE HERE!!!

Sweet Aaron.

Happy to go outside.

Happy to ride his bike.

Happy to run free.  Playing.  Laughing.  Doing what little boys are supposed to be doing.

Going where little boys are supposed to be going...

Outside.  Where Little Boys Belong.

BRENT ISN'T.

He's sitting in a room at a mental institute.... 

Just sitting.

Day after day.

Listening to the moans of the boys around him.

Probably moaning himself.  Rocking back and forth.  Lost.  Forever Lost unless SOMEONE GETS HIM!

In our PASSED OVER BABES Giveaway back in December...

We were giving away a $100 dollar Gift certificate to the Vintage Pearl.

Well the winner of the Vintage Pearl GAVE IT BACK.

They GRACIOUSLY told us to donate the certificate to another babe.

I've been caught up in the Angel Tree Craziness and so we made an executive decision...

We gave the certificate to my dear friend Patti over at A PERFECT LILY.

And she is using it for BRENT.

So he can find a Mama who will bundle him warm and let him go outside and play....

SO HE WON'T HAVE TO SPEND HIS EVERY WAKING MOMENT AS A LOST BOY.

Someone else donated a KINDLE for BRENT...

Goodness gracious the unbelievable kindness of people just blows me away!!!

BUT YOU NEED TO ACT QUICKLY...

THE GIVEAWAY ENDS TOMORROW.

GO HERE to donate to help Brent's grant fund increase..... And maybe you can win one of the cool prizes....

And maybe next year.... Next year we will get to read on someone's blog.. somewhere... that sweet Brent is getting HIS gloves on so he can go outside to play!!

Running free.... Where Little Boys Belong!

Christmas with Aaron - Part Mayhem

It started out serene.

While Aaron was playing with his new "Granddaddy's" truck, Elijah had distributed the presents so everyone had their own pile.

We don't always do it that way but felt for Aaron's sake that it would be better for him to see his pile since he still was pretty oblivious to the fact that there were presents under the tree for him.

To say he was thrilled at his pile would be putting it mildly.

We took turns, going around the circle, enjoying what each person had received.

There were definitely some laughs shared...

Yes, Elijah gave Ben toilet paper in retaliation for Ben giving him a large, stuffed My Little Pony last year....

Gee thanks Mom!!!

But mostly it was pleasant.

Each of us enjoying what the other had received.

I was taking few pictures and just enjoying the peaceful moments....

Peaceful and quiet with the MESSIAH playing in the background....

Then Rob opened a gift.

It was from "Aaron".

Being the mature man that he is... He set aside his gift and waited for the next person in line to open HER gift....

NOT...

He tore into that box like a kid in a candy store.... laughing all the way!!

Shooting all of us defenseless minions in the room...

But then Ben opened HIS gift from Aaron...

And the war began!!

When Elijah found HIS Aaron gift....

Mayhem erupted....

This only added fuel to the fire!!

Oh Yes.... It was pure Mayhem in our Christmas room....

Except for Aaron....

A midst the bullets sailing around his head..

Despite getting his very own Aaron Gift...

He plugged away quietly and happily, opening every one of his presents..

Happy Happy Boy in the Midst of a Christmas Gone Wild!!

A Christmas I doubt he will ever forget.  

Merry Memories little fugitive from across the ocean... Merry Memories to you...

Christmas with Aaron Part Three

He was content with his stocking full of candy and his family surrounding him.

He was pretty sure Christmas was now over except for a bunch of family coming later to visit.

He was sitting on the floor talking and playing and oblivious.

Then Elijah turned on the train.

Choo Chooing its way around the track under the tree in the other room.

Aaron KNOWS trains.

Trains are pure happiness to Aaron.  They represent everything wonderful and magical in this world outside of sheds and orphan buildings.

His keen little ears perked up.... What was that?  Granddaddy's train?  

Here??

He pulled himself up and walked with wonder into the living room... 

Mama come look!

Papa do you see??

Elijah?  Ben?

THAT'S SO COOL!!!

Do you see?? Do you see??

AND..... GRANDDADDY'S TRUCK.... DO YOU SEE??

FOR AARON???  Papa!!  Mama!!  Aaron's truck??

Aaron can help open it.

Totally oblivious to all the presents under the tree ... focused only on the train and the truck!!

Pure joy!!

Utterly content.

His brothers.... not so much....

.....stay tuned for Part Four in which pure mayhem ensues....

Toppling Goliath

There was despair in the Christmas Warriors chat room yesterday morning.

Thirty-seven children still had not reached their $1,000 Angel Tree goal.

There were no big donors waiting in the wings with big checks to save the day.

We were a bunch of tired, battle-weary and empty-pocketed Warriors whose only job description was that we all cared deeply about a bunch of castaway kids.

We had given it our all for weeks and weeks, but THIRTY-SEVEN children were still on the wrong side of the $1,000 wall.

We still needed to raise thousands of dollars if we were going to get them all over that wall.

How in the world?

We were a group of little Davids, armed with nothing but a few pebbles to cast at a mighty foe.

But God was on our side.

And our purpose was true and right: To stand in the gap for the voiceless ones.  To share with the world the fact that these forgotten orphans have value.  To defend their right to live, and to have a life that's worth living.

And so we rallied.  Although we were tired and discouraged, we got up, dusted ourselves off and went back to work.  We determined in our hearts that we were going to show these precious babes to the world one last time before the Angel Tree was over.  Whether or not they all made it over the wall, we were at least going to show the world their pictures and tell their sad stories one last time.

So we slammed the internet with their faces.  Over and over and over we put their faces out.  And with God on OUR side - people began to SEE the children.  EVERY SINGLE ONE of them.

And ALL THIRTY-SEVEN began to move towards the wall.

The half hour updates on the Angel Tree website verified the fruit of our labor.

Step by step.  Inch by inch.

Every single one of them was moving toward that wall.

So many people were responding that the Reece's Rainbow website went down.

Panic set in as we prayed for it to come back on-line.

Most of the donations were small ones of $5, $10 or $20 each, representing hundreds, thousands of people out there who were seeing the babies and responding in love. 

It was beautiful to behold. When the first babe finally jumped the wall after hours of labor, we rejoiced.  Then another jumped.  And another.  By early afternoon five babies had jumped. There were still 32 left, but all of them had moved closer to the wall.

And then a donor stepped forward with a challenge: he or she would pull the BOTTOM FIVE babes over the wall if we could get another TEN babes over the wall first.

We were a mess.  Strategy went out the window.  We just started hollering and yelling even louder.

If we had been strategy-minded, we would have told people to stop donating to the bottom five, because they were already guaranteed to make it over the wall.

Thankfully, we were a bunch of Hysterical Warriors who cared little about strategy and cared everything about all 32 babes who we refused to leave behind.

So it went on as before, with every single child advancing.  The bottom five kept swapping places with the others.  It was a cacophony of craziness. A few hours later, the first child jumped.  Screaming ensued.  A half hour later, another followed.  The Warriors chat room was going hysterical.

So many people were jumping on the website to donate that the servers were struggling to keep up.

Then we had only 23 babies left.  Only one more to go, and then the bottom five would go too.

That would leave 17 babes. 

What happened next was absolutely beyond words.

Around 6:30 p.m.,  Number 22 jumped the wall.

In the half hour from 6:30 to 7:00, Michelle from RR set to work distributing our big donor's money to pull the bottom five over the wall as promised.  But within that same half hour, the donations for all the babes poured in like water over a broken dam. They were jumping the wall so fast that we couldn't keep up with them all.  It was wild beyond belief.

At 7:00 pm, when the site refreshed and everyone expected to see 17 babes left on the wrong side of the wall, there were instead only ELEVEN left.

ELEVEN!

I was in complete and utter shock and awe at what God had accomplished through us.  Looking at those eleven remaining babies, I knew that we had won.  I knew then that we would get them all over that wall.

  

The mighty Reece's Rainbow Warriors were not going to leave those last Eleven behind.

A bunch of pebbles with a Mighty God makes for victory every single time!!

And, thank the Lord, I was right.  Within another hour or so, they all had made it.  All Thirty Seven Babies.

Through the Angel Tree, those poor lost babies got their chance to speak to hearts all over the world-- both in the world across the ocean, where people often throw their 'broken' children away, and in our world on this side of the ocean, where we often eliminate them before they can even take their first breath.

The Holy Spirit moved in the hearts of everyone who saw those poor babies' pictures yesterday.

Yesterday the Lord of Hosts made it clear to all that these babes are precious, that they are worthy of His attention, and that they are on HIS heart.


And yesterday, for a few hours, the world listened to the cries of the many children whom it has hidden away and forgotten.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO LISTENED.  THANK YOU.