A Voice....

So today while I was cleaning up from dinner I was listening to the kids outside.  I was thinking about how I just had a conversation with a friend about her little girl.  She is having some health issues and the doctors are kind of pushing it under the carpet.  We were talking about her options and I said to her..."You know her and you need to keep pushing.  You have to advocate for her, don't give up.  You are her voice."

And then I thought of all the kids on Reece's Rainbow and how RR is their voice but we also need to continue that.  We need to stand up and be the voice of these kids.  I know this isn't a new idea but sometimes I think we worry too much about what others are thinking.  Do I talk about them too much?  Are they sick of hearing about this one or that one?  Who should I say it in front of and who is offended?

Well guess what I am not going to care anymore!  I was given a voice and a passion and I will fight for these little ones until the day I die.

There are 3 little girl that has been in my thoughts and prayers daily.

I'm not sure how to express the need these children are in.  I know many believe if you don't have the money that it isn't time to adopt.  Now I believe if you are in so much debt that you are having trouble paying bills now then maybe it isn't time but just because you don't have 30,000 sitting in your bank account well I'm not a believer.  I believe that if the Lord is leading then the Lord will provide.  We are $12,000 short right now.  I will continue to do fundraisers and continue to save but if I have to take out a loan.  That is what we will do!  How can you put a price on them, they are truly helpless and voiceless with out us.  Remember 80% will die when transferred between the ages of 4-6.  Their lives truly depend on if those called to rescue them listen and obey.

Vivian

Girl, born May 2008

Gray eyes

Hair blonde

The character is calm

$100.00 is available towards the cost of my adoption!

 

 

 

Alissa

Girl, born July 2008

Mother was healthy, gave up child at birth. Child's APGAR was 7/8.

 Alissa has Down syndrome, and is otherwise healthy. She is friendly, active, social, loves music, enjoys playing with toys, knows her name, walks while holding on.

 She is said to be very high functioning.

$580.00 is available towards the cost of my adoption!

Bridget

Date of Birth: September 2006
Gender: Female
Eyes: Blue
Hair: brown
Character: sociable

$2453.00 is available towards the cost of my adoption!

Are they not beautiful.  Bridget is in danger of being transferred to a mental institution very soon. Vivian and Alissa are young and need a family also!

AMEN!!!!

I could shout it from every mountain. 

Some of you may have seen my FB post this week.  There was a cute little boy.  A little boy that stole my heart.  A little 6 yr old boy that just lost his mom.  A mom who fought for her boy that was handicapped.  A little boy who wouldn't believe that his mom had passed away and wouldn't be coming back.  Oh he looked so happy, positive, blind to what was to come.

See he is 6 and wouldn't have much time left in the baby house.

Well he won't have long till his new mommy will be there.  Yep you read that right a family has committed to him.  Hold on Patrick your new mommy is coming, AMEN to that!!

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Also on FB many of you might have seen this beautiful little face.  I also blogged about it here.

I know if you go to RR it doesn't say much about requirements but I did learn the agency said the cost of this region is about $33,000.

Now look at this

$22162.03 is available towards the cost of my adoption!

 

That leaves you less then 11,000.oo

 

That is amazing.....that is all that stands in the way of this little girl having hope back into those eyes. 

 

 

Look at her....this was taken only 3 weeks after being transferred.....

 

She looks so scared and lost.

 

This little one needs some one to show her she is

 

LOVED

CHERISHED

SPECIAL

AMAZING

 

I can't imagine the fear so she is going through.....

 

Her mommy needs to push her fear aside and take the steps of faith

 

The Lord does not call the equipped, He equips the called!

 

 



Stuck together.......

So anyone notice something about the blog....

I'll give you a hint.

If you look at right side you might see it.

 It's tall and skinny

Green and purple

and is very very important with bringing home Caleb.

Yep.....

Did you see how much our thermometer is up.....

$13,380

We are half way there!!!!

Every single person who has given small or large has played a role in this!!  We are so grateful to each person and can never explain in words how thankful we are.

People that we have never met have given money to family members to give us, people who are just making ends meet have surprised us with very generous donations, people from church have donated items for us to sell and then there are those that aren't family but have woven themselves into our lives and will forever be family to us whether they like it or not!! 

Yesterday when I went out to get the mail I saw we got an envelope from the church who held the benefit for Jake and Ashley.  When I opened it, it was the check for the item they auctioned off for us.  It was an awesome feeling to add it to our total.

Then I started going through the mail and there was another letter from their church.  I opened it and just fell to pieces.  Inside another check with a love gift and letter.

I am still trying to take all it in.   This church family has already pulled together and gave 2 benefits to 2 families who have adopted from RR in the past 8 months, and let me tell you they are not a large church by any means.  It amazes me what a love of orphans they have.

At Carter's benefit their pastor came over to me and had mentioned that they were praying for us and would help in any way we needed.  He said "Hey we are all family.  We are here for each other.  Listen, you are stuck with us whether you like it or not."

I will always be thankful to be "stuck" to loving, giving, supporting and forever selfless group of family and friends that we have.

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The items up for auction are listed under the July 14th post.  You may need to click at the bottom on older posts to get to see all of them.   The items will be done on Sunday at midnight.

 

Beauty for ashes......

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me....He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted....to give them beauty for ashes....that He might be glorified." - Isaiah 61:1-3

Today I read that in an Adoption Devotional Study

It goes on to state that the word "ashes" in the Bible represents great pain, sorrow, and even death.  The world of adoption has some of the greatest amounts of ashes in the world.

Meet Teri Lynn

This beautiful little girl lives in EE and has down syndrome.  She is the picture of a child who has endured many ashes. 

This is the same girl 3 weeks after being transferred to a mental institution.  Only 3 weeks!!  This is why we choose to adopt.  This little girl needs a family.   We are all called to help.  Many state that money is what holds them back.  Teri Lynn right now has

$16200.30 is available towards the cost of my adoption

That is a grant available to her parents when they adopt her through reece's rainbow and it is growing daily.  Her only hope, the only thing that can save her is being adopted.

In adoption the fearful become beloved,

the scorned become adored,

the nameless become cherished,

the lonely become the laughing,

and death becomes life abundant.

 "Hope for the journey"

We need to help raise that grant so that her family can find the courage to step forward and finally help her find beauty in her ashes!

If you would like to add to her grant or inquire about her please click here

Happy Birthday........

Oh Sweet Caleb Happy 3rd Birthday!!

Today we celebrate your life.  Life that was never a mistake.  Life that was given to you for a purpose.  Life that is meant to be CELEBRATED!

I truly wish we could have found you sooner and you could be home with us for this day.  That we could have this day with you here with us.  I hope and pray that today some one wraps their arms around you and whispers happy birthday to you.  How I wish they knew we were coming, trying to get to you as fast as possible.  How I wish they could give you a BIG hug and kiss and tell you that your mommy loves you.

Caleb I wish you never had to know life without a mommy and daddy.  I wish you never had to go through a birthday without a family to love you and cherish you.   This year you are getting a birthday gift.......A promise from me to never give up on you.  To love you no matter what.  To love you unconditionally.  To help you reach your fullest potential.  To help teach others that down syndrome is not scary or a death sentence.  And to work as hard and fast as I can to get you home where you belong.

We started a tradition this year.  On the kids birthday I wake them up in bed with a pancake and candle.  They love it so today we had one for Caleb and sang him happy birthday

I love you more than you know sweet boy!

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Also I had a request to keep the bidding open through the weekend....so we will end it on Monday at midnight.  Scroll down a couple days and you can see what is available to bid on :)

Out of my hands.....

Well today we sent all of our dossier papers to the Consulate in Chicago to get authenticated!!!

From there it goes straight to our agency and then all we wait for is our I800A approval and then need to notarize, verify and authenticate that and then you know what.....

Off to Caleb's country it goes!

It is so freeing to have all those papers out of my hands but at the same time I sat in the Fed Ex store sweating because I was so worried I would miss putting something in or was adding up the money wrong or that it is going to get lost in the process of getting to 2 different destinations....

Well no going back it is out of my hands and in a truck!

The only thing is because I was so nervous I forgot my camera to take a picture of all the papers and handing it over....bummer.....

One step closer little guy.  

Remember we still have tickets to different wisconsin events up for auction to raise money for caleb. scroll down 2 posts and it will explain!

Selfless.....

I don't know what other word would describe them

maybe

True friends, caring, amazing, givers, God loving oh and

Soon to be Carter's parents

Yep Jake and Ashley Gibson.

Now if you don't know them you need to!!  They are amazing and did I mention selfless.

When we started this adoption journey we came to find out that Jake and Ashley were also starting.  We had known them through AWANA with the kids.   Now let me tell you since the first time Ashley and I talked about our little love of the different kiddos on Reece's Rainbow I knew we had a common thread.  I don't think however I knew how that common thread would bond us for life.  It has created a friendship that is true. 

Tonight Jake and Ashley had an AMAZING benefit thrown for them to help bring their little boy home.  They had many friends and family there.  These benefits are huge for families adopting.  They help reduce the enormous cost of adoption.  Do you know what this amazing couple did.?

They took one of their items donated.  Not just any little item.  An amazing signed Packers picture and explained to everyone that this item was being auctioned off for us.  They said they wanted to help because we were unable to have our golf outing.  We had so many of their family and friends blessing us (I can't even count how many time I was in tears....now I know I cry easy but man)

  Their uncle was the winner.  What a family, to give when it wasn't even for Jake and Ashley.

AMAZING

SELFLESS

What words can be said to express the gratitude we have for them. 

Jake and Ashley, Carter is one lucky boy.  Not only is he getting you as parents but there is no doubt that that little boy is getting an amazing extended family.