One of our whole family taken after our Valentine's date
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Because it's Tuesday....
You get to look at this sweet face. Isn't this hilarious? Linden does this all the time, looks at me out the side of her eyes. Spunky girl much?!?!
One of our whole family taken after our Valentine's date
One of our whole family taken after our Valentine's date
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Just sad today
Giving 'it' to God, whatever 'it' may be, is easier said than done. My 'it' is adopting an orphan with special needs. I've been drawn to adoption ever since I was a little girl. Once, when I was about 7 or 8, I was told what an orphan was, a child with no parents. It made me very sad to think about a child perhaps the same age as me that had no family. I decided that I was going to set up my own orphanage where people could bring their kids to our family and we would take care of them rather than them being alone. (Again, this is a 7-8 year old's idea, keep that in mind ;) ) I straightened up my bedroom, put my toys in boxes along the wall, made my bed, gathered blankets and pillows from the other bedrooms in our house and after that was done, I started making signs for our doors. How would someone know our house was an orphanage if we didn't advertise? I put a big sign on our front door with the words "Orphans can live here." It was all set up, now, I waited. I fully expected for people to just start dropping kids off at our house. My mom probably thought that I was just playing around, but it really was all from my heart to save a child. A child saving a child.
Obviously, my bedroom did not become an orphanage, but that burden of 'saving children' has never left me. Before we were married, my now husband and I watched a Dateline NBC episode about the plight of the diabled orphans in Ukraine. It was absolutely heartwrenching to watch these people literally wasting away and forgotten. Many of the institutionalized had Down syndrome and although I didn't know much about it, I knew that they didn't deserve to be treated this way. I told my husband that I wished we could take some of those children in and love them like they should be loved, cherish them like they should be cherished. I don't think he took me seriously.
A year later, my 2nd biological daughter (technically 3rd), Linden, was born in Sept 2008, with Down syndrome. (!!!) I knew before she was born that something was going to be 'different' with her and I expressed that feeling to my husband. A mother's intuition is amazing! Through the Down syndrome message boards that I frequenced, I saw two different families with biological children with DS adopting another child with DS from Reece's Rainbow. It had never occured to me to adopt another child with DS, I didn't know that people did that. We were really overwhelmed at the time with our own children and Linden's health issues. After following those amazing journeys made by amazing families, I was really inspired to adopt another sweetie with Ds 'one day'.
I've followed many adoption journeys in the past year. I've witnessed God's hand in it all. I've seen people worry about the cost and then, somehow, He makes that burden go away by showing them that He is in control. I've seen husbands against adoption in general, finally come around to it and meet their child for the first time and wonder what their worry was in the first place. I've seen an 11 year old girl raise $30,000 in 8 days to bring home her baby sister. I've seen a family fall in love with a child on the angel tree, committing to raise money for them, praying for them to find a family, and ending up being that family themselves. I've seen children weeks away from an adult mental institution find families in the nick of time. I've seen many, many miracles.
This all leads me to the reason why I'm struggling right now. My husband is adamantly against adoption. His reasons (1.He thinks we have enough children. 2. We already have one with special needs. 3. To be honest, I think he only has two reasons..ha!) do make sense to me in a way, however, when weighed against a child like my daughter lying in a crib for their entire lives, wasting away, unloved, forgotten, alone, it is very hard for me to find a good solid reason to say no. I'm burdened with these children's faces. I'm burdened with their stories. The burden isn't so much the problem. I am not always sure with what to do with that burden. Does God want me to adopt one of these children? Does God want me to advocate and raise money for them? Is that enough? Does God want me to leave it up to Him and just go about my life while praying for His will to be done? I wish I knew what His will was..........
Obviously, my bedroom did not become an orphanage, but that burden of 'saving children' has never left me. Before we were married, my now husband and I watched a Dateline NBC episode about the plight of the diabled orphans in Ukraine. It was absolutely heartwrenching to watch these people literally wasting away and forgotten. Many of the institutionalized had Down syndrome and although I didn't know much about it, I knew that they didn't deserve to be treated this way. I told my husband that I wished we could take some of those children in and love them like they should be loved, cherish them like they should be cherished. I don't think he took me seriously.
A year later, my 2nd biological daughter (technically 3rd), Linden, was born in Sept 2008, with Down syndrome. (!!!) I knew before she was born that something was going to be 'different' with her and I expressed that feeling to my husband. A mother's intuition is amazing! Through the Down syndrome message boards that I frequenced, I saw two different families with biological children with DS adopting another child with DS from Reece's Rainbow. It had never occured to me to adopt another child with DS, I didn't know that people did that. We were really overwhelmed at the time with our own children and Linden's health issues. After following those amazing journeys made by amazing families, I was really inspired to adopt another sweetie with Ds 'one day'.
I've followed many adoption journeys in the past year. I've witnessed God's hand in it all. I've seen people worry about the cost and then, somehow, He makes that burden go away by showing them that He is in control. I've seen husbands against adoption in general, finally come around to it and meet their child for the first time and wonder what their worry was in the first place. I've seen an 11 year old girl raise $30,000 in 8 days to bring home her baby sister. I've seen a family fall in love with a child on the angel tree, committing to raise money for them, praying for them to find a family, and ending up being that family themselves. I've seen children weeks away from an adult mental institution find families in the nick of time. I've seen many, many miracles.
This all leads me to the reason why I'm struggling right now. My husband is adamantly against adoption. His reasons (1.He thinks we have enough children. 2. We already have one with special needs. 3. To be honest, I think he only has two reasons..ha!) do make sense to me in a way, however, when weighed against a child like my daughter lying in a crib for their entire lives, wasting away, unloved, forgotten, alone, it is very hard for me to find a good solid reason to say no. I'm burdened with these children's faces. I'm burdened with their stories. The burden isn't so much the problem. I am not always sure with what to do with that burden. Does God want me to adopt one of these children? Does God want me to advocate and raise money for them? Is that enough? Does God want me to leave it up to Him and just go about my life while praying for His will to be done? I wish I knew what His will was..........
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Want to win a P.S. I Love You dvd?
Got any plans for Valentine's Day? This month on Reece's Rainbow there is a project for the 'Other Angels' (orphans with other special needs other than Down syndrome) I'm doing a giveaway of the movie P.S. I Love You which is the perfect love story to watch Valentine's Day weekend. All you have to do is donate $10 or more to a chip-in that is listed on this post. 100% of your tax deductible donation will go to Reece's Rainbow and will be split equally among these precious children. I'm asking for $10 or more because Paypal charges 30% for donations under $10! This will only be on my blog for a week. The drawing will be on Feb 11 so that I am able to mail the movie off in time. Thank you!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Simple Pleasures
These are some things that just make me so happy!
Every time a family finds a child on Reece's Rainbow!
hearing a new name that I like
Every time a family finds a child on Reece's Rainbow!
hearing a new name that I like
waking up to rain falling on our tin roof
Linden's gummy smile
Tristen's art
eating gooey sugar cookies straight out of the oven
getting to take longer than a 10 minute bath without interuption
My girls' smiles
popcorn with Ranch seasoning
getting a bag of hand-me-down clothes for the kiddos
waking up in the middle of the night and thinking it's morning but realizing it's only 2AM
getting a comment on my blog
Joe reaching to hold my hand for no reason
love letters
kisses on my forehead
cuddles with my baby girl first thing in the morning
seeing Linden have so much fun in her Jumperoo
a clean house
the smell of freshly cut grass
watching Joe so happy after his team wins
a Coke first thing in the morning
realizing that a prayer has been answered
meals made in the slow-cooker
people with Down syndrome
This picture
So, what are your simple pleasures?
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Please consider Lera!
This sweet girl has lost her adoptive family. She was within weeks of being sent to the institution when they stepped up to adopt her and for whatever reason cannot complete the adoption. Little Lera is so precious and will go to a place where she cannot be adopted out of if she is not saved.
Lera (4)
Girl, Born August 7, 2005
Russia
I LOST MY FAMILY!!
Lera is a gorgeous little girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. She is 4 years old. She is quite high functioning, and doing very well. She has flat feet and a systolic heart murmur, but no major heart conditions. She is able to walk and climb, she eats by herself, dances, and understands and follows directions. She has also been transferred to the regular class, so she living and learning with her typical peers.
She will be transferred soon to a place she can not be adopted out of, so please save Lera!
Adoption requirements at www.reecesrainbow.org/waitingchild2.html
SINGLE MOMS ACCEPTED!
Upfront costs: $3000 agency fee + homestudy
For more information please contact Andrea
She has $8,605 in her grant fund!!
Please consider Lera!
Lera (4)
Girl, Born August 7, 2005
Russia
I LOST MY FAMILY!!
Lera is a gorgeous little girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. She is 4 years old. She is quite high functioning, and doing very well. She has flat feet and a systolic heart murmur, but no major heart conditions. She is able to walk and climb, she eats by herself, dances, and understands and follows directions. She has also been transferred to the regular class, so she living and learning with her typical peers.
She will be transferred soon to a place she can not be adopted out of, so please save Lera!
Adoption requirements at www.reecesrainbow.org/waitingchild2.html
SINGLE MOMS ACCEPTED!
Upfront costs: $3000 agency fee + homestudy
For more information please contact Andrea
She has $8,605 in her grant fund!!
Please consider Lera!
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