Ross, Jade, Oliver and Victoria.... They are worth the effort...

I can never predict on this blog what is and is not going to move someone's heart. I learned long ago that there isn't a formula I can follow to get people to respond to my words. There have been times when I have spent tons of hours thoughtfully and carefully writing a post only to watch it seemingly fizzle and  burn almost as soon as I hit publish.  There are other times when my posts go nuts after only a few minutes of writing.  I can't predict. I don't even try. I don't have this little blog set up so that I earn money when I write. I don't set aside post times to advertise for our business.  

 

 I just write what the Lord puts on my heart believing that those words will touch the hearts HE DESIRES for them to touch. If that means only ONE PERSON is moved then writing is worth the effort!

 

Last week I shared a post called Nobody's Children. It didn't go viral. It didn't go nuts.  But it did move some of your hearts and because of that the Schultz' moved a tiny bit closer to raising the 10,000 they need to get their 10,000 matching grant.

 

I'm sharing them again this morning.  They now have travel dates. Their plane tickets have been bought. They are still a little over 4,000 short of raising the 10,000 they need to get the matching grant that will mean they are fully funded.

 

I can't move hearts. I can only be faithful to share the need.  They have a need.  Will you help them? 

Ross, Jade, Oliver and Victoria

 

 

Four children are going to meet their Forever Family in a matter of weeks.

 

Please, let's help them get home!!

 

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE SCHULTZ

 

 

Nobody's Children

My little boys are counting down the days. In two weeks they will drive with me to Atlanta, Georgia to the Association of Classical Christian Schools Convention. Nope. That's not why they are excited although staying at a BIG hotel and spending two days hanging out in the city with a babysitting while Mama works is fun to think about. They are excited because AFTER the convention we will be driving to Kentucky for the Reece's Rainbow Reunion. 

 

This year we are sharing a cabin with a very special girl and her family.

 

Annie (Reilly on RR) and John grew up together in the orphanage. Rob and I had the loving privilege of meeting her when we adopted John. To say we love her would be a HUGE understatement.

 

 

A few weeks ago we were blessed to be able to celebrate her 12th birthday with her.

 

 

My little boys are so so excited to go to Yogi Bear!! And they are doubly excited to hang out with Annie for the week.

 

I'm excited because I get to hang out with a bunch of other moms who have treasures like us.

 

Two years ago at Yogi was a little guy who was "Nobody's Child." He was being hosted by an RR family and was the ONLY child at the reunion who didn't have a Mama or a Papa.

 

Simon (Valera on RR)

 

 

Well one of the Mamas there took one look at "Nobody's Child" and knew as soon as she saw him that he was her son.  The crazy part was she was in the middle of another adoption in an entirely different country.

 

That didn't stop her.

Last year he was at the RR reunion again.  No longer "Nobody's Child", he now had a Mama and a Papa and brothers and sisters.

 

But the story doesn't end because back in his orphanage wait four other "Nobody's Children."  Four. 

 

These beautiful, precious treasures.

 

Ross, Jade, Oliver and Victoria

 

 

The Schultz' met these four children in Simon's orphanage and it was a no brainer for them... they had to go back to bring them home.

 

They are SO CLOSE to travel.

 

Only weeks away.

 

All that stands between them and getting these sweet kiddos is a phone call letting them know when they are to travel.

 

And yes.  Money.

 

But here's the really really cool part... They have a $10,000 matching grant. 

 

When their grant account reaches $11,119.16 they will receive an additional $10,000 and will then be fully fully funded.

 

Unfortunately, they have a LONG ways to go to match their grant and little time to do it.

 

So here I am asking begging you to help the Schultz family match their grant!!

 

They are stepping out in faith.  Will you step with them?

 

A phone call and money are the only two things that stand in the way.

 

We can't make the call but we can help with the money.  Every single dollar is doubled. So that five dollar bill wadded up in your pocket will become ten.  Twenty  will turn into forty.  A hundred will be two hundred.  A thousand will be two thousand.

 

Help make four "Nobody's Children" a family's precious treasures. 

 

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE SCHULTZ FAMILY

 

 

Seussical the Musical

 

These last two weekends I have had the fun privilege of watching my husband and sons performing in Seussical the Musical.

 

Elijah is the Cat in the Hat.  I know I am his mom. I know moms are biased.

 

I'm not biased.

 

He ROCKS the part!

 

 

I could watch him play the Cat in the Hat all day.

 

 

He's a total riot on stage and YES. He can SING.

 

 

Then there's Horton. My dear sweet husband fits that role like a glove.

 

 

Horton is the protector of the tiniest people on the planet...  

 

And also an abandoned egg...

 

 

Oh yes. He fits that part very very well.  And Yes. He can SING too.

 

And then there are my little cadets.

 

They make my Mama heart proud even though their little voices are not quite on the same level as their Papa and big brother...

 

They make up for it in cuteness and sincerity!

 

They have one more show tonight.  Rob and Elijah have the show tonight and another one on Sunday afternoon.

 

If you live in the Charlottesville area - you really need to come see them. 

 

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

 

 

 

Shhhh!!! Don't Tell!!

We haven't told them yet so don't spill the beans...

 

 

Next week these two cuties are traveling with us to Florida to the FPEA Homeschool Convention. 

 

The convention just happens to be right near a certain park that one of our little boys has been drooling over ever since he learned that his brother went there two years ago...

 

Shhhhh... don't tell...

 

Next Wednesday this little boy gets to go to the Magic Kingdom!!

 

 

I'm still trying to figure out how we are going to tell them... All they know right now is they are getting a BIG SURPRISE!!

 

 

 

 

A Friday Story!

This week I was scrolling through Facebook in a few minutes of free time.  Trust me.  We are in the middle of tech week for Seussical and with teaching and dealing with BiblioPlan business stuff and cooking and cleaning and being a mom.... having those few free minutes to leisurely scroll through Facebook was RARE!!

 

So I was scrolling through and stumbled upon a mom who was asking for help to get a matching grant met.  Below her request was a link to a blogpost and to the sweetest story I have heard in a long time. 

 

It was about these two children.

 

A little girl and a little boy. 

 

Not brother and sister biologically but brother and sister in heart.

 

 

I sat stunned as I read the story.

 

There were tons of pictures in the blogpost and in each one were these two babes.  A little girl and a little boy who were as close as brother and sister could ever be.

 

Do you notice what I notice in the picture?  Do you see what I see?  Anyone who knows my Aaron would recognize that the little boy most likely has arthrogryposis.

 

 

Two little children who grew up together until one day a family came and adopted the little girl.

 

She left her brother behind.  But she did not forget him.  She carried his picture around.  She slept with it at night.  She asked over and over and over when he was coming home too.

 

They had to go back.

 

How in the world could they leave him behind? They didn't have the funds.  They didn't. It didn't matter. A little girl wanted her brother to come home.  They had room at their table.  They believe in a BIG GOD who cares for the brothers left behind.

 

They are IN COUNTRY now but still short of funds.  This is their 6th adoption. 

 

Their grant account needs to read $7,000 to be fully funded making them about $2,000 short.  Will you help?? He will be home in less than a week. The need is big. God is bigger!! 

 

To donate GO HERE.

 

To read the full story GO HERE. Take some tissue before you click.

 

 

I LOVE stories like that!!

 

 

 

Old Farm Day Then and Now

The very first outing Aaron went on when he came home was to our local Old Farm Days.     He had only been home for three days when we put him in the van and drove him to look at a massive amount of 'machinas.'  

 

 

He spoke not a word, stared at everything and wandered all over with us following behind like ducks in a row. To say he was overwhelmed was putting it mildly. But it was a good overwhelmed.        It was pure heaven on earth for him.         The happiest moment was getting to ride in the little cars.   The Trash Man      He was one very happy little boy!     He loved it so much he went back around again in John's Body Shop.    

We got home and the boy who NEVER naps fell fast asleep in his little chair.

 

 

Fast Forward to five years later....

 

 

 

 

He doesn't fit quite so nicely in the little car but he still LOVES it!

 

 

 

 And this year... the boy who rode in John's Body Shop happened to be...

  

 

John Himself!

 

 

It was his FIRST Old Farm Day experience.

 

 

 

 

Aaron was thrilled to share his happy place with his brother.

 

 

Granddad had a blast walking around with his two youngest grandsons.

 

The two little boys walked all around, talked a mile a minute, looked at everything, filled their bags with goodies from every single booth and I followed behind just like always.  

 

 

 

 

It was a special day for John.  Another new memory.  Another new place he can now say he has visited.

 

 

The Best Part

 

The BEST Part of my mother's day is having all four of my sons under the same roof!!

 

 

Stay tuned...

 

For all you homeschooling moms... I'm going to share a really cool sale that's coming up next week...

 

I

Hair Art

 

 

I'm thinking of starting a new career....

 

Hair Art by Julia

 

 

 

 

 

Whatcha think???