...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.

Stop Making Excuses...

...why, if there is someone wanting this child, especially Elton John, is it better for him to remain in a orphanage than where someone can love him and obviously take care of him? How is that better for the child - tell me how, how HOW is it possibly better for the child to stay socially and mentally under developed with a stigma of HIV on him the rest of his life in an orphanage and then in an instatution - when he can have love and help and a LIFE? When someone wants him? You all, I am a bit upset, I can't even get it out in appropriate words at this point - to say I don't understand doesn't stress it enough, doesn't say it enough.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090914/ap_on_en_mu/eu_ukraine_elton_john

Sign of the Times

So, the 'twist' that will soften the impact - doesn't. It still sheds light to the idea that preys on reasons people are afraid to adopt.

I've been putting together some thoughts on this.

Two movies - one in 1982 and one in 2009. Both are movies about Orphans.

The 1982 movie is 'Annie'.

The 2009 movie, of course, is 'Orphan'.

In one, a little girl is hopeful and sure 'the sun will come out tomorrow'. In the other, the little girl is making sure no sun comes out again.

One gave a good outlook on these children in which the world was corrupt around them, one gave the story about the 'child' being corrupt.

If you follow my tags under this post about 'Orphan' you know how I feel about this movie. Its scary sometimes how the perspectives have changed. Its frightening what 27 years, in this case, can do.

Freedom of Choice Act:

Abortion.

My stance?

Yes - it is the woman's body, but it is not her life.

I have a friend, a very dear friend, whom has miscarried five babies. Each one to her a life, a baby boy, a baby girl, another baby girl... and the last to they didn't know. But each child has a name. Each one a life. Each one a baby book and a sonogram photo if they were able to get one.

So, the Freedom of Choice Act - also known as FOCA, gives women privacy and this right to chose. It allows a 13 year old girl to get an abortion without her parents knowing.

Okay, so - the school nurse has to call to get permission to give your 13 year old an aspirin? But we don't need permission to get an abortion?

Whom exactly is this catering to in this case? A Child, a 13 year old child who is scared to death of her parents finding out. That's who. And that is why.

Is something wrong with this picture? Aspirin must be so much more scary and dangerous than a abortion, I guess.

With FOCA Partial Birth Abortions would also be legal. If you don't know what this is I strongly suggest that you click here. But be warned, it isn't nice.

Taxpayers -even those who do not believe in abortion - will have to pay for them. Religous hospials would be forced to perform them or close their doors.

Along with this, there are other things FOCA will cause, so please look into it. There is a button to it in the right side of my scroll bar, you will have to scroll down and down. And President Obama already reversed Bushes ban on giving federal money to international groups that perform abortions. Does he want to pass this act too?

Please help fight this. Yes, women have a choice, but I feel this is secretive and not safe and while there are those who are pro-choice, this does, in my opinion infringe on the rights of pro-life citizens, when pro-choice can already make their choice without this. That is my opinion. You are welcome to express yours even if you do not agree with me. But please don't be nasty. I've tried not to be.

Fight FOCA. Oh yes, and I wanted to add this button to the blog I read this on:

Who Does it Hurt, Really?

Okay, fair warning. This is a really long post on somewhat a touchy topic, if not quite on topic of this blog, but definitely related to it.

I found the link far below, at the bottom of this post, while following blog links. And I admit to using this word in the wrong way my whole life, most likely even recently, I didn't pay attention. And that seems in my opinion to be part of the problem; I don't think alot of people see it as the insult that it is, more to the people who are mentally handicapped than as an insult to those who the term is flung at for not calling the boy next door you have a crush on or forgetting to pay a bill, or tripping on the curb one day.

I didn't see it for what it was, even recently as this topic began to take light on the net. I began tossing my thoughts on the issue around in my head and have been for a few days now. Is it really that wrong, I wondered? I mean, I don't think people are really intending to be mean to people with these challenges.

I read where someone wrote to the effect of, "I do not agree with this, it is just a word."

Yes it is 'just' a word. But the definition of this word has become sickly twisted from a medical term to something derogatory.

For that person who wrote that it is just a word and they are not going to stop using it, that is your choice. But my choice and the way I see it is this - ignorance is bliss and easier to accept than the truth - which hurts. And it might be the easier to keep doing what one always has and everyone does than to get off the proverbial rolling bandwagon and go bare-footed down the road less traveled.

All roads were less traveled once. If you think about it, most everyone knows someone who knows someone who struggles with such challenges, if not mentally than physically, some sort of challenge. - My own grandfather is blind. I am too, nearly blind. Legally, I am.

Does this make him stupid? Does that give you reason to shout, "Hey, Old Blind Guy!," at him from across the street. And yes while some may do this to be cruel I bet many people would see him out there with his cane and at least offer to help him, if not then they would most likely leave him alone. But would they plaster the term in a movie and on T'Shirts? Most likely no. And does it make, him, or me, me stupid, No.

Let me tell you a couple short stories, first is about this same grandfather of mine.

I took him to walgreens one day so he could get his prescription filled. Remember, the man is BLIND he cannot see. But we try to let him be as independent as we can, as he has put himself through blindschool for. [he lost his eyesight only a few years ago. In fact, he used to be a pilot] So I stand back and just browse a few isles down to make sure you know, he is still okay.

Anyway, my grandpa, cane in hand, asks directions through the store on how to find the pharmacy window, and people are generally friendly and help him out. So he gets there and the guy stares at him. Doesn't speak, just stares. But my grandpa can still hear him you know. So, Grandpa gives him the paper with the prescription on it, a type of lotion, and asks to have it filled.

The man behind the counter tosses the prescription back at him, "this item is in cosmetics, you need to go there!" And then the man proceeds to walk away from the pharmacy window.

Grandpa calls him back, "sir, I am blind. I can't..." he starts to say 'see' but before he finishes the sentance the man behind the pharmacy counter literally yells, "go to cosmetics!" at him, drawing not only my attention but the attention of a few other patrons of the store.

I walk up. Take the prescription. Glare at the guy behind the counter, who happens to be the manager, and we leave [probably i should not have glared] all the way everyone else who works there has seen it and is trying to cover asking if they can help. I tell them no, and we leave and get the item from a walgreens up the street.

---Can you for a moment imagine how it felt for my grandfather to be subjected to that? A man who has been independent his entire life to suddenly be dependent, no matter how hard he is trying to continue on without his eyes, in the first place to be subject to such blatant disrespect??

Okay, think about it in another vien - of mental challenges - of the fact that those who are mentally challenged might not even know. To that effect - is that disrespect for those who will never harm or judge you and only love and want to be loved?

Onto the same/similar topic:

My uncle was the vice president of the a major computer company, but he was also diabetic since the age of 12. In his last days he could not walk or even move much on his own. Did this make him stupid? No.

And I cannot for the life of me, at 30 some odd years- grasp long division. I can do algebra and have gone to and graduated college after having to pass all their math courses. But this one thing escapes me, my family has tried, teachers have tried, said uncle above even tried. I can't grasp it, and yet I write full length novels and can get impressions and sometimes understand archaic and ancient languages?

So - does the fact that I can't do long division make me stupid? No.

I can't let go of my ex. It has been four years. I know I need help from a therapist to overcome it...

Does this make me stupid? No. Mentally challenged because this IS a handicap in my life, perhaps.

I do not know.

We were warned when my baby sister was born 17 years ago that chances were high of her having some sort of mental handicap, as my mother was almost 40. My sister would have been beautiful no matter what, I decided that. Yes, I was old enough to understand and remember and be willing to fight for her.

But she was born 'typical' the same. We were told, she was blessed. Does this mean that kids with such challenges were not. I don't believe so, I believe they are blessed just the same but as everyone else they have other gifts to give and things to teach as we all do along the way.

"I'm fat. I'm thin. I'm short. I'm tall. I'm deaf. I'm blind, hey aren't we all??" It is a song by Mark Wills called "Don't Laugh at Me." It goes on to say, "In God's Eyes we are all the same."

Indeed, indeed we are.

I know I am only one person. But from here out I pledge to no longer use this word as an insult in this sense. Thank you, for this post, found through the link 'Educate Yourselves Please,' Below. I will think of your sister. I will think of angels.

So there are my thoughts on this somewhat controversial topic.

Please follow the link below and read what it says. I do not allow for negativity on this site. That is not what it is about. And such comments will be quickly deleted. Thank you.

Where Are My Angels: Educate Yourselves Please.