Please Don't Just Pass Them By..

Today is Orphan Sunday...

This is the third time I've posted this video on this blog over the years.  And I will post it, again and again.  It is worth it.  Please watch it.



I've blogged before about how orphans are tied up, how they are so stiff they can't move, how they are starving.  Here is just a small glimpse of that.  And it isn't just the country featured in this video.  Many (not all) places are like this:




Hi everyone, the little girl Kareen has a family and is home.  But there are so many others who do not.  Please, I know we can't all adopt.  I can't adopt.  But we can all do something.  Visit these websites.  Pick a child, scream at the top of your lungs all over your social media for that child or for any or all of these kids.  Pass the websites on.  Alot of people just don't know this happens.  Pray for them if you pray.  Adopt if you can. 

Realistically, I know alot of people will come to this blog and leave without clicking the links at the bottom of this post.  Alot of them may leave without watching the videos.  But please look.  Please click.  It only takes a few minutes of time - that may very well change the world for someone else.

Thank you for reading here today, Orphan Sunday.
Take care.

www.reecesrainbow.org
www.projecthopeful.org
www.adoptuskids.org
www.rainbowkids.org
www.eliproject.org

All of Us...

Hi there...

 

Did you know that all of us...

Are Looking for Our Mommies and Daddies?

Did you know?

[my family found me]

That all of us

Are are also on a page of kids that are said to be adoptable by single women?

That's right!

If you are only a Mommy...

...but still want to adopt...

That's Great!

 

Come and Get us!  We are waiting!  

All of us and more kids available for adoption by single mom's can be found: 

BY CLICKING RIGHT HERE

If He Was My Son:

IF YOU WERE MY SON:
The day I found out I was carrying you inside me would have been among the happiest moment's of my life. I would have taken your daddy to dinner, and surprised him with a cake that said he was a daddy. We would have gone shopping to pick out sweet baby things for you, we would have talked for days and weeks, picking your bed out, painting and arranging your room. If you were my son you would have been our first child and we would be bragging on how you would be the toughest of all your cousins. We would have gone through a list of names, changing our minds again and again before we we even knew if you were a girl or a boy. We been asked if we wanted a girl or a boy, we would have said, it wouldn't matter, as long as the baby is healthy.

If you were my son the day we found out there was something wrong may have been the day we found out you were a boy, it may have been sooner. If you were my son it would probably be the hardest day of my life. There would have been tears streaming from my eyes that day, out of fear for you, love for you, there would have been tears of pain, loss and yes even denial sweet baby boy. But also there would be the most tears because as I held my arms around my belly, already trying to protect you as they went through the list of what was wrong, I may have been asked if I wanted to end the pregnancy, abort you, and try for another baby later that would be healthy.

If you were my son, your daddy would have been there, holding my hand. And together we would have said no -- no way -- this is our child. With the number of abortions going on out there for special needs God trusted specifically us with your life. It is up to God to decide if he stays with us, not us. And against the people's judgement whom would have thought we should abort you because you were different - we choose to keep you.

If you were our son, in spite of every thing else, we know you are a boy now. If you were my son, we would give you a name now - Owen, the last name of whom would have been your great-grandfather, meaning noble and well-born, if you were my son.

If you were my son the doctor trips would be difficult. People would whisper and talk, and point fingers at us. But you would continue to thrive and grow, and each day would be a day we would treasure.

If you were my son, the day you were born, I would have held you close and whispered how much I loved you forever, no matter what. With tears of joy for being blessed with such a tiny precious treasure I would have told you that it was going to be alright, that we would fight for you and make sure you got the very best in life.

If you were my son:


If you were my son we would take you home. I would love you. I would give you everything I could and advocate for you when you could not. I would chase down every single lead I could for your happiness and well being. I would cherish each moment I had with you as you are a precious gift, because, like all children do, you will grow very fast, and your first birthday would come.


...and you would grow. You would go to school like all children do, play like all children do. You would have grandparents and cousins and aunts and uncles. You would have family. You would have friends. When they teased I would be there for you. When you hurt I would hug you. You would learn that there is nothing to dislike about who you are, that people tend to fear what they do not understand. And we would help them. If you were my son I would show the world how beautiful you really are.

...and you would still grow. You would know there was nothing you couldn't do or be. You would love and be loved. You would blossom into someone so beautiful that, if everyone knew just how beautiful you were, they would want you for their son too.

If you were my son -- you would not have been left to cry like this:

...you would not have been left alone like this, to waste away like this, you would not have been left in an orphanage to lie like this. You would not have to hurt like this. If you were my son.

But you are God's son.

"I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you."
--John 14:18

He promises he will come for you. Hold on little boy, just a bit longer.

Ok all, the little boy in the pictures above is Owen on Reece's Rainbow. He is a living breathing child. Because he is alive I am guessing the woman whom gave birth to this child held a blessing in her hands but either pressured by society or by choice, she left him alone. Honestly, I do not know the reasons he was left an orphan.

All the same, instead of having a family choosing names and painting his room he was sent to an orphanage. Instead of having love and someone to tell him it will be alright and getting him the medical attention he needs he is most likely barely getting his basic needs met. Instead of having people around him to encourage him he is most likely considered an invalid and a burden instead. Instead of having cuddles and love he probably self-stims alot, maybe by rocking or banging his head. He might sit in wet diapers or dirty clothes until someone notices him or its his turn at last. Instead of having all the beautiful things a child has and needs -- from day one he has been rejected and left in an orphanage instead.

The staff might love him. I am thinking most at most places the staff do. I hear allot about how the staff at the orphanages do love the children, but I also hear about how they are doing all they can do with the little they have among a great number of kids. To see him like this may be just as hard on them. I am very glad that Reece's Rainbow found him and chose to advocate for him and show his beautiful face to the world.

Please,think for a moment what if he was your son? What if he was born to you? What would you do? How would you react? Wouldn't you love him anyway? Think, seriously think even if you came to this blog only looking for 'the red thread saying' if he could be your son? Or more importantly - is he your son? Even if you never considered adoption before?

Please, I am joining Christine here in her plea for this little boy. I too have been keeping an eye on this little guy nearly since the day he was first posted. That said, I have to admit I almost passed her plea by, just for a few hours I told myself. I almost waited to post this, I thought, 'I will put him on my blog, tomorrow.' And I tried to move to the next site, my email, or whatever it was I was going to do next with my day.

But I couldn't get him off my mind. So I came back and posted about him. It is all I can do to be part of God's promise to Owen. Won't you be part of that promise too? If you can't bring him home, please post about him on your blogs, on Facebook, on everything you know. It will only take a little bit of your time and Owen doesn't have time to wait until tomorrow. He needs us to act now. Please click here for more information about Owen.

Thank you, everyone,
With all my heart,

-Debrah

The Trash Bag:

It is up to each of us to listen, to act, to do something. We can make choices we like easily, good choices and bad ones. It is harder to make choices that are frightening with ends that are unknown. But that is what faith is, you have to believe first before you see -- this is something that has taken and is still taking me a very hard and long time to learn to accept.

But you do see in the end - and what you see is more amazing than you could ever lay out or imagine on your human own. You fight, you resist, you ignore, you pretend the message is for someone else and not you, you pass it by, you come up with excuses, you put things off to the end, you lie... but in the end when you run out of options -- you cave. You give in. You say ok God --- and then you seriously start to pray.

You dream of standing in a star field with a black and very tattered and taped up trash bag full of everything that you think is important to you, taped and tattered at the cost of hauling it around and trying to keep it all together. And Jesus is there just feet away waiting for you to give it to him. With tears rolling down your face you start to do so... but at the last minute pull it back from him for fear of letting go.

You still feel sick. You still don't want to do this. You still don't believe all the way. You still miss what you had and are 'secretly' thinking of ways to go back. But in the end again - you cave, and say -- Ok God. You try and give the trash bag over again but you can't quite do it. You pray again.

You spend days in tears of not understanding why it can't be the way you want it to be, why does everyone else get what they want? Why do you have to give up everything your happiness and comfort, your all for someone else's sake?

You rage for days with this question, weeks, months... again and again. Then one dark and rainy night at three in the morning you are staring out a window. The night and the storm has made your heart quiet and still enough so you can finally hear the answer that has been being repeated again and again in all the noise you've been making: Jesus gave up everything he had too. He gave his life for you - not for himself. He gave up absolutely everything.

It shocks you to the core. Especially when you remember you are supposed to try and be like Jesus. Give and give and keep on giving - because you love. Even if you do not get anything immediately back in return, even if it hurts. You are supposed to pick up that cross and be like Jesus.

So you pray again. The whole time he is just standing there waiting for you to trust him, to give him that trash bag you carry of everything precious to you. Just waiting reassuring you it will be alright. He could turn it into something beautiful. And this time you do it. You had that trash bag over. With shaking hands and tears pouring down your face you step back and whisper "Ok God, I will stop fighting and trust you. I will do what you want of me, just show me."

And he does. Slowly at first, one step at a time, one breath at a time, your heart changes, your world starts to crack open and you start to see bits and pieces of a plan that had that has been made since before the dawn of time. Looking back on your life to this point you can see where the pieces had fallen into place and you didn't even know it then. You see the tiny bits of light that shine through are so bright and brilliant that you dare to hope -- and at last it comes spiraling open until you are on top of a flowered hillside looking up into a beautiful sky, remembering what you had and fought for and wanted for so long was not nearly as nice as this is -- and this is what you were fighting against being given. It is more beautiful than you ever could have imagined:

LOVE.

Love.

love.

This could apply in many more ways than just adoption. It might apply in every heart felt-battle you might have in your life.
Some people may just have to look harder to find that hillside and they may have to do it more than once. For me, it wasn't related to the idea of adoption either at first. But in this moment I felt I did need to write it here for that relation.

I saw this quote on another blog. It was so strong inside me that I had to share it again:

"What if there are children in the world who will suffer somehow because I failed to obey God? What if my cowardice costs even one child somewhere in the world his or her life?"
-- Richard Stearns.

What about Bella in the post below this one? And what about the others? What about the ones we might never know? Pray, post about them, have faith and believe. Bring one home if you can. Really sit back and ask yourself -- can you? If not can you pass word on about them? That is important to because together we can reach someone whom can.

This has been posted time and again on the internet, even one other time by me here on this blog - but I will post it again:



My friends, your thoughts and actions are always your own. You know your own roads and I cannot and will not even begin to try to imagine them. It's just that after years of trying to take the trash bag back, I felt the need to share mine as encouragement to someone out there. So many of you have encouraged me that I also wanted to say thank you. Until next time, in peace and have a good night.
--Debrah

More Familiar Kiddos?

I Wanted Him...

...today, I read on a blog that a little boy has been transferred to an institution. A sweet little boy with beautiful eyes and a glowing smile that said he was so happy with what he had, too innocent to know it wasn't much to be happy about or that it all -soon- would be taken away. A little boy whom is an orphan, with $7,105 in his account and yet he wasn't chosen. He was smart, active, playful, outgoing, he wanted love.... ...he was sent to an institution in eastern Europe instead.

This is what that could be like, we've all seen it by now but I ask no matter how horrific it is just spare a few minutes at least for this little boy and watch it again:



Or maybe watch this one [warning, very disturbing content]:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by0Q1H79bec

Or this one [also very disturbing]:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9lNUsLLC8c&feature=related

None of these were the country this little boy was in. But the country he is in was listed in the second video. As that video said, the conditions are generally the same in institutions all over the world. It brought a chill to my spine, and tears to my eyes, and a bit of anger to read when someone's blog declared that NO ONE WANTED HIM:


I did...[click here for an older post] He wasn't un-noticed.

This year on my birthday there will be a cake for Alexander instead. For a present I hope to help find his family and will be starting fundraisers for him. Look at him everyone, you can SEE his joy and his potential. Now look at him and think of him in one of the places as posted above. I can hardly stand to think of it. I wanted him. I can't have him. Hopefully this and this woman's blog post will have someone somewhere who can have him wanting him too.

He can't wait anymore. Contact Andrea at Reeces Rainbow about Alexander today.

Little Twin Princesses

...you may notice in the right side bar, this button:


Grab This Button
...it is the sponsorship button for this lovely family whom is trying to adopt a pair of adorable twin girls. Prior to being committed to by this family these little twins have been available for adoption for a long long time and I often wondered why someone didn't snap them right up. And right now, this family may have to release their commitment to adopt them while they find a way to finance their home study. Sooo... what do you say everyone, want to help them out so sweet little girlies can come home sooner? What do you think; a cheeseburger for you, or a lifetime for them? Yep, thats all it takes. Hop on over and meet them today. Thanks everyone. Until next time.

Alyssa and Marek

Alyssa and Marek's mommy and daddy also need help. They are short a bit of money to finish up the 'red tape' to bring the kids home. Contact them or catch up with their journey here. Have a good day everyone.

Do You Remember Lera?

...the sweet little girl whom had a few different families try to adopt her? Click on the label 'Lera' below for just a bit of her story. I just saw this post on Lera's blog. We just saw a miracle happen. Why stop there? Lets try and make another? Pray for Lera everyone and her family.

God is Calling His Army...

...to be on the move for this little girl. This little girl is Yulia, and this morning at about 3 a.m. I awoke with the urge to check my computer - and there it was, a heartbreaking plea from a woman named Adeye, whom had met Yulia in person. Adeye's post for Yulia says it so much more than I could ever say it - but I will try. Sweet little Yulia is almost 3, she has lain drugged for 'best sleep' in a crib for all of her life, only being taken out to be changed and fed. 'Best Sleep' is the words the orphanage used to say they have basically drugged the child to keep her pretty much motionless and quiet. For Yulia, this is how it has been her entire life. She knows nothing else except maybe that one flimsy crib toy you see her in the picture with. No one hugs her or kisses her or even sees her as a human being. She is left to lie in her own waste and just wait until its her turn on the daily list of chores to do. At age four she will likely be sent to an institution where horrors await her that you and I cannot even begin to comprehend - horrors such as being tied down to a bed or wrapped up so tightly she could not move, her little body will grow stiff and hard and atrophy into nothing for lack of care. She will stop growing and eventually stop moving. Eventually, she will even stop breathing. These, sadly, are the horrors faced by many many people young and old in institutions overseas. Why a mental institution for little Yulia and other kids like her -- they have no where else to put them. People with disabilities in some other countries are seen as a burden and an object of ridicule. The way to save these children is to adopt them. And for sweet little Yulia who already has all these strikes against her when she has done absolutely nothing wrong -- that she gets adopted is more imperative than ever -- it is her only hope.

But for sweet princess Yulia, that isn't all of it. Baby Yulia has an extremely rare condition called Cockayne Syndrome. This is a disorder that causes pre-mature aging.. giving children who are born with it a shortened lifespan most commonly between 4 and 10 years... other symptoms include imparment of hearing and and vision, degeneration of the central nervous system, and so on.

Oh my goodness, to have to go through life faced with that? And then to have to go through life alone without love, without worth, without value, without someone to hold you and assure you when you are afraid. I can't even start to imagine it! This, I am guessing, is the reason that sweet little Yulia is left in a laying room just waiting to die. Yes, everyone, waiting to die. Tears threaten my eyes at that thought. How can this happen? Why should it be allowed to happen? Why does it have to happen this way?

Thing is everyone -- it doesn't have to happen this way. It shouldn't be allowed to happen and further -- it CAN'T happen. God's army is being called to stop it from happening.

Lets go back to 3 in the morning for a moment. I woke up with the urge to check my computer, and there the post about Yulia was. I was astonished and in tears. This little girl, Yulia, has been tugging on my mind ever since I heard about her. I remember just a few days ago I was laying there thinking about her for no real reason and I found myself terrified that no one would go for her. Who could? Who could love someone just to loose them like that and knowing they would loose them like that? Who would willingly let their hearts be broken like that. I felt that would be, outside of funding, the biggest block to this baby getting a family -- the fear of loosing her. But those dispairing thoughts were cut short with the memory of Miss Chrissie Patterson... and the family who went for her and loves her still and what she taught and moved thousands of people with in her little precious life. Oh my, someone is out there who will wrap thier arms around little Yulia if only they could, if only they had the funds. Fear is huge but God is bigger, put it aside and allow yourself to give into him and that selfless kind of love. I came to realise then that I would go and get her. I would have to shove that fear of loosing her aside and would gladly do so if only to know and give that precious kind of love. Would it be easy - no. Would it hurt, absolutely so. But would it be worth it just to feel her little fingers latch onto yours for that wisdom and reassurance that no matter what happens, you love her and are there to protect her, that no matter what happens --- it WILL be alright.

That is what love is. But, with tears I have to face it and tell myself -- I can't go and get her... for all the same reasons I couldn't go and get any child from over there. But what I can do is listen to God's call to summon his army to burst open windows and doors for this little girl. Adeye started something this morning with her blog post for Yulia -- asking us all to give money or at least post her on our blogs and twitter and facebook accounts, to get her story out there to open these doors for her, to tell the world about Yulia... loud and clear -- because its what God wants. How do I know that? He doesn't have plans to hurt us.

So I tossed and turned it all over in my head, trying to think of how to write this blog, knowing I had to do this but not knowing how. Finally, I just sat down and wrote whatever came out. And if the God of the Universe has put this child on my heart and asked me to March forward for her -- I will. Won't you? What she needs most is a family, if she has a family the money will follow. If someone out there hears about her in all our shouting, will step forward. And if you can't be that family, she needs money, so that all her family has to do is the paperwork and get on a plane for her. For this precious angel we need to take away the barrier of cost. Can you donate to her grant fund? You can find it here. Or you can donate through the red chip in box in the right side bar of your screen. Please help in any way you can, even if it is just telling about her and posting her picture and story on your blog. Yes, there is a family for Yulia. We just have to find them...



If anyone would like more information about Yulia please contact Andrea Roberts at Reece's Rainbow or Adeye at nogreaterjoymom.com

[mean and hurtful comments will be immediately deleted]

Some Time Ago...

... I posted a link to THIS WEBPAGE of a woman whom was adopting kids with severe special needs decades ago before it was so widely heard of here in the USA.

To echo Meridith -- "Really?"

Monroe has spastic cerebral palsy. He also has a GRANT of 20,000 to cover his adoption and to keep him out of an institution.

I know some families are not prepared for this but somewhere, someone is and can. We just have to find that someone. I do hope his family is out there to get him. I do hope they have only to see his sweet little face. If you can't bring him home, please pass word of him on. Please, I know I ask this often of you bloggers, I know, but sometimes its all I can do. It takes one minute - one minute that can change his life. Like little Lera, it could be YOUR blog post that changes Monroe's life!

Here is his profile from Reece's Rainbow:

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

Monroe (12)

BOY, Born February 4, 2005

SIGNIFICANT RISK, PLEASE ADOPT ME SOON!!

Monroe is a sunshine of a little boy! He is already 5 and blessed to still be at the baby house. He needs a family right away!

From a missionary who visited with him in June 2010: I met with the doctor in his Groupa House who brought me back to meet him. The Head Doctor wanted me to meet the children who needed equipment. While measuring him for a chair, she explained to me what was more important was that he get a family. He will be traferred in six months to the worst institution, restrained in a crib in a dark room. She broke into tears! Monroe has spastic cerebral palsy in all four limbs and is globally delayed. He is able to recognize the voices of his careworkers and understand simple directions. However, due to his spasticity he is unable to do much of anything. No speech. With therapy he can improve but will always have limitations. I measured his head circumfeence and once home will check with a doctor regtarding whether ir not he is microcephalic as well. I will try to gather more information on him today. His temperament was sweet and his eyes twinkled. He needs a family fast!

From an adoptive family who visited with him in June 2009: Monroe has CP. It appears that he is unable to use his arms and legs and is not sitting up on his own. He has the most beautiful smile and I don't think there is much of a cognitive delay. He loves to be held and his whole face lights up when you come near him."

*** Monroe has an incredible benefactor who has offered a FULL GRANT of $20,000 for his adoption. He is facing imminent institutionalization, and will regress quickly once he is transferred. Families who are qualified (www.reecesrainbow.org/newfamily.html) to adopt internationally and who are approved to adopt a significantly delayed child should contact Andrea for more information. This is a very fast program and it is very possible to have him home before the end of 2010! ***

Only families with at least one parent under age 50 can adopt Monroe from his country. Must be a heterosexual married couple.

MORE PHOTOS AVAILABLE

I have $20,000 in my grant fund towards the cost of my adoption!

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

...all his family has to do is go get him. So, what do you say everyone, if that lady could bring home severely disabled kids decades ago -- can't we find a home for and get one little boy home today? Contact Andrea at Reeces Rainbow about Monroe today. Thanks for your time everyone.

This Little Boy and I...

...share a birthday! When I saw that I was like, well, we have common ground and a connection! I absolutely must tell you all about him. From his profile at Reece's Rainbow:

Alexander (20)

OH, what a difference a new picture can make!! Alexander has been listed with us for more than 2 years, and not a soul has ever inquired about him. Up until now, the only photos we have had of him were laying down in a crib, never showing him up and mobile and active! But look at him!! What a great smile, and so much life in him!

Alexander is a handsome little boy who really needs a loving family. He has dark hair and brown eyes. He is already 5! He was born with a minor PDA, but does not have pulmonary hypertension. He also has flat feet. Please give Alexander the chance to grow up in a loving family He has already turned 5, so he is facing imminent institutionalization!

HEADS WERE SHAVED FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS

Click HERE for Alexander's Page at Reece's Rainbow. You may have to scroll down a bit but he is there.

Adopt a Blind Child

UPDATE 02.20.12: I am happy to announce that Dmitriy has been found by a family! And since I've had several visitors come to this page by searching for 'adopt blind children' here are a few more links to kids who need us:

http://reecesrainbow.org/33322/tobias-2h

http://reecesrainbow.org/32915/andrew-3

http://reecesrainbow.org/30400/christian-14g

http://reecesrainbow.org/28552/warren

http://reecesrainbow.org/category/waitingchildren/other-angel-boys

http://reecesrainbow.org/30643/arianna-8w

http://reecesrainbow.org/957/jeanne-b-13ei1-3

http://reecesrainbow.org/850/wendy-6

http://reecesrainbow.org/category/waitingchildren/angel-girls-0-5

http://reecesrainbow.org/1369/artem

http://reecesrainbow.org/30561/talya-5g

http://reecesrainbow.org/1710/bridget-20

http://reecesrainbow.org/26928/judie

http://reecesrainbow.org/31706/carissa

http://www.eliproject.org/children/daria/


"I brought children into this dark world because it needed the light that only a child can bring." ~Liz Armbruster.

I wrote the title the way I did in hopes of drawing people in from search engines whom are looking for a beautiful little boy! Welcome to my blog!

Meet sweet Dmitriy, he has been waiting on Reece's Rainbow for almost 3 years. [his name is a link to the page he is on, you might have to scroll a bit to find him and a bit more info there] This is the same Dmitry I've posted about here before and I would commit to him and bring him home in a matter of seconds if I could. But I can't.... so how about you? I am following Mara's adoption, and Freddie's too, hopefully I can follow Dmitriy's soon too!

Clicking on his 'label' below will bring you to other entries I have written with him in it, including one with a picture he was younger in. Someone go get sweet Dmitriy for their own. :)

Stop Reading and Go Get Them...

Hi Everyone.

About the blog title, I don't say it bitterly, I don't say it with anger or with contempt. I say it as a plea. 90% of you are likely on this blog because you are interested in some way about adoption. That said -- if you can adopt, if you meet the requirements, adopt, do it now. Go and get one of these kids, or one of these kids. They are not just a last resort to infertility -- they are children. If you can't adopt right now sponsor or talk about them any way you can so that someone who can adopt can go and get them.

If you are here and haven't thought of adopting, why not? Do you qualify? If you've always thought you would adopt 'someday' then why isn't that day today? These kids cannot wait for 'someday' -- I can't write it enough, their lives are at stake RIGHT NOW.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Does it cost alot -- you bet. Isn't it a hassle -- absolutely so. Won't having a kid shake up your life so much more than the comfortable way you live it now -- yes, wonderfully so. Do you think they are comfortable sitting in cribs, barely being fed and only being 'bathed' part of the time? Shouldn't we be compassionate enough to give up our comfortable lives only to help the lives of a little boy or girl, or at that -- a big boy or girl-- that they might be comfortable, happy and fed? And when its all said and done this child will become such a part of your life you couldn't imagine how you ever lived without them in it?

I am struggling with my own trial, I have been now for six years. My question to God was this; "What is all this free agency stuff? How come I can't have what I want? How come I have to give up my own happiness and everything I want all the time so everyone else can be happy? How come I have to give up everything I have for someone else?" I prayed this question, I begged this question, I shouted this question out in anger for years... years.

And one night while cleaning the tables at work I was hit with the answer to that question; Jesus gave up everything -- everything for all of us. He gave up everything for people who even hated him ...aren't we supposed to be like Jesus?

So how much will it cost? Won't it be hard? Won't it hurt and will it make a difference to get one of these kids?

How much did it cost Jesus to do what he did for us? Don't you think it was hard? Don't you think it hurt?

And now the big one: Don't you think it made a difference?

I am not asking you to save the world, just the world for one little kid. You can be the difference in thier lives, you can take them out of these cribs and love them, and they can be the difference in your lives too... amazingly so.

Adeye writes it better than I can ever say in this entry on her blog. Look at those kids everyone. Those children specifically and that blog entry inspired this blog entry. Could one of them be yours? Really, one little child? Isn't it worth it?

I will keep talking for them. Keep in mind, you can speak your mind, yell at me all you want and tell me how out of line I am -- but I will not post the comment here. This blog is about HOPE and that is what I am trying to do here. Such a small percentage of the population can make it so there are no more orphans in this world. So -- why don't we?

On a side note,

Mara, the little girl I fell in love with, has disappeared from the Reece's Rainbow site and I don't know why. I had hoped she finally had a family but every time I check she's not posted on the my family found me page yet. So pray for Mara with me? That she might be ok.

...my two cents on a few things:

"It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish. "

--Mother Teresa

People ask me why, still, adopt overseas orphans instead of our own. The fact is I am not saying not to adopt our own at all. I think all orphans need a family, here or overseas. I believe that God knows and will lead you where to go, sure, it might look like it is yourself, and agencies, etc -- but was it a successful adoption, or did it fall through? If it doesn't work, most likely it wasn't meant to be. I know that is why I can't adopt right now. I don't have the means but the means will come.

So, why Overseas? They will die without us. In cribs or beds, alone, its not just something people whom advocate for them say -- it is the sad truth -- they will be transferred to institutions like these [warning, disturbing content] -- and not just in the country featured in the example video.

Yes, they are disabled. But they are JUST KIDS. Taken out of conditions like those shown they can thrive, improve, develop, learn and grow.

I read a story once on an adoptive mother's blog about how the orphanage her daughter was at was not expecting her and she walked in to find all the kids tied to the wooden slats of a playpen when she went to visit her little girl.

Here, this is neglect and child abuse. Here, the perpetrator would be investigated, arrested, tried and if found guilty -- sent to jail. There -- these people are paid to do this. These children are OBJECTS to most, less than animals, a paycheck to take home. Yes, that sounds harsh. I know, but it is the hard reality of MOST over there.

In the USA, this does not happen. These kids here are in 'the system' yes, but they have A CHANCE. However slight it is, they at least have a chance to make it and the support and help they need, they get to go to school and get an education, they are integrated into a family with the idea of being taught values behind it. They are valued members of society.

In the United States most people want toddlers or babies, its hard to be an older child or a teen. The stigma is that older kids are already 'wired' to act one way or another and are not shape-able anymore. -- Right. Tell me, at what age do you stop learning and loving and growing emotionally and spiritually?

In International Adoptions most people want toddlers or babies too. Most often when you say international adoption you think of China. China, is one of the hardest, if not the hardest program to adopt from in the world. You can't be single, you can't be over a certain age, you even have to fall within a certain BMI weight as well. These are just a few of their requirements. I've heard they say its because they are trying to find 'families for children' not 'children for families'

That, I applaud and agree with. And yet, find hard to believe. Why does adopting from China take over two years?? They say its because they don't have enough kids there? And yet you have kids in china just sitting in orphanages and waiting and dying that are considered "not adoptable" why? Because they are missing a leg, have a cleft palate, have down syndrome, cerebral palsy? Is it because they were born a girl? There are PLENTY of children in China for ALL people to bring home. So why don't they let them go? Are their requirements for who is adoptable and whom is not just as strict?? They don't want them -- they allow only one kid per household. That in itself is adding to the problem of their over population, because they all only can have one child - most little girls get abandoned because boys carry the family name. Yet, abandoned girls are STILL there. They are STILL adding to the population. Soo.. why not allow TWO children per household?? This will give them a second chance to have a boy AND get kids out of orphanages and out of streets -- thus causing a drop in population. Sadly, China is not the only country.

I know that I am outside of the picture in all of these scenarios and as such I don't have all the facts, only just what I think and see, and so might be a bit unfair in my judgment. I do not understand these ways and how this is right. This blog gets MANY international hits daily. I am not trying to offend anyone or say that I understand their ways.

Another little girl in an East European orphanage died last week, without her family, alone. Her special need -- she was blind. Thats it. So how does a blind child die at age 4?

Like with Elton John when he wanted to adopt an HIV baby boy from Ukraine and was denied because he didn't have a 'legal marriage,' because it was policy. So what. He is a knight for goodness sake. That aside, if its about the kids, why not give them to the people whom want them, whom can love them and give them life? How can it be better for the child to be left in an orphanage as another statistic to die?

Just my two cents, that's all. I know I am waaay out of the picture and only have the half of it. But I, for one, want to adopt from Foster Care. I want to adopt from Overseas. Older kids or younger, whomever God places in my family.

Adopt kids from the USA, whole-heartily and yes I intend to, but also kids from overseas too. God doesn't pick one over the other - why should we? He loves "all the children of the world", and so should we. How can you love God, and not his children? All of them?





Take care, everyone.

I Get Alot of hits from Searches for Chinese Adoption, Older Child

Usually they get led to this blog entry, but as you can see it is dated back in January and hopefully that little girl has found her home.

That said, click here for some kids in China that are said to be needing homes. And while we are on it, China's got some pretty specific adoption requirements. They are grouped in a listing of other countries so you will have to scroll down.

*EDITED OCT 7, 2010:

Here are some more. If you click this link to another blog and scroll down a bit you will find some more waiting kids.

Hope it helps. Take care all.

"Angels Among Us" -- a Detication to Sweet Christyn Joy and her Family

...my friends,

...this morning right around 3 am I was mopping up the floor at work and randomly thought of sweetest little Chrissie and how she had to have been in the hospital now for about a month.

I've never met her. I don't know her family.

Probably I never will.

And that is fine. That isn't what this is about.

It is amazing how much you can love someone you've never met. One other time on this blog I've shared news like this. I mean no disrespect but instead the highest amount of comfort and love go from me to this sweet family and still to Chrissie.

At around 3 a.m. this morning, on her 1 month anniversary of being hospitalized, sweet little Christyn Joy returned to Heaven to Dance with Jesus.

Chrissie, if there was ever the truth of God's hand here on this Earth it has come through you. Your journey has taught so many people to believe and that he is real. Your little life, of humblest beginnings, had entirely so much worth and you have done so much here.

Enjoy your dancing little one. We will keep you and your precious family in our thoughts and prayers.

1000 for Freddie

Grab This Button

...ok you all, here I am again ...with a heartfelt shove pushing for Freddie and his family. Really you all, his adoption will change his future. You see, Freddie is 15 and in a eastern European orphanage -- at sixteen he will be out on the streets without hope, without a future, without the medicine to manage his epilepsy. Literally out on the street, with no where to go, no money, no food, and like so many others he might have to turn to desperate means just to try and survive.



Please, consider giving ten dollars to help Freddie get home. He has grown up watching other kids get adopted and had wondered why he hasn't, he thinks its because of his epilepsy. It is not, like I said before a wonderful, wonderful family want to go get him. They are trying to adopt him and love him and he doesn't even know it.

So, this is the 1000 for Freddie. If 1000 people donated just 10 dollars, his family would have all the money they need to save him from this fate. I myself will be contributing this payday. Thank you so much everyone for listening, and watching, and caring. If you cannot contribute, use your blog, your facebook, your myspace, your instant messenger, your newspaper, whatever means you can to reach these 1000 people. Maybe donate to his puzzle fundraiser. We can change this boy's future.

Donate to bring Freddie home, HERE.

Thanks again.

Oh Little Miss Lera...

...my heart goes out for this sweet child. This is an urgent plea. Hopefully it will be spread across the internet like wildfire, hopefully someone out there will meet the requirements and be able to step forward for this precious little girl.

For the third time, Lera has lost her adoptive family. At this point there will be no way to keep her out of an institution [where they send special needs orphans in her country]. From what I understand she can still be adopted -if the US delegation is able to convince Russia to leave their program open to Americans. Canadian families may be able to adopt Lera as well. But since she has lost so many families, to adopt her, at this point, only home study ready families will be considered and no match will be made until the initial agency fees are paid. Needless to say -- her situation is critical and the conditions are very specific. Are you her family or maybe know someone whom might be? Please pray for her and blog about her, please pass her information along.

For more information about Lera please contact Andrea Roberts at www.reecesrainbow.com

This Sweet Baby...

...is known as Andrea. She is a little girl in Eastern Europe that was born in 2006, so the picture is a little old -- and its a awful picture. I have read this baby's lips are not this full or this red. She has been on my heart almost since the day I found Reece's Rainbow. Is she your little girl? For more information on Andrea please click this link. You may have to scroll down a little to find where she is at on the page.