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Sunday, June 30, 2013

Love redeems

Tonight I had the pleasure of welcoming home 2 cuties home from China. I got to see their sister, Hannah welcomed home from China in 2010 & I was so glad I got to see these two join the Bernard family. This family goes to my church & we know them well. They Homeschool, we carpooled when my brothers attended a private christian school, & they now have us beat by 4 kids LOL. 
Is this finally them? we kept trying to guess the tram they would be on lol. Edited cause of camera setting was not on so I tried to brighten it best as possible.
They are here!

I edited this photo to get the close up view of that Love. Luke is in one of his sisters arms looking at his Mom. Katie is in Moms arms.
                 Poor boy completely exhausted 
                    Glad to have their Mom back
                  Checking out my new siblings
Will add the photo with the poster I made later.
For Now Welcome home Bernard family & may you be blessed in the years to come! I have been amazed by how much Hannah has changed & can't wait to see the progress these two will make!

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Back to the grind|Reeces Rainbow

Lately I have not been much in a blogging mood. Nothing has changed much in R & I just felt like it was a good time to take a breather. Thinking of changing the blog header & going to try to figure out some new text styles & colors cause frankly I am getting tired of the same old thing. 

Two Little girls still wait for their families to find them. Is it you?

Somedays I wonder, & wonder what could of been. Why did I decide to pray & advocate for 3 children who just happened  to be in R? Why did "Shooting star girl" have to be in a region most difficult & country most expensive? How can their have been so many to Love her but none were to be her parents? Why did her regions door reopen then later the door to her country come crumbling down? Why has a miracle not happened? But then I think about it, & God tells me no matter what happens it's his plan for their lives. 
Two years ago next Month I found my Passion for Special Needs orphans, it started with two faces I saw on Reece's Rainbow after I followed a blog. I'm so greatful to God that even though just one of the original kids I have advocated for is home, I know many more will soon be home. I don't know what I would do without the daily reminder to keep going. Every time I see precious Quintons picture I'm reminded of the reason I started advocating & not to give up. 

Thank you God for the supportive & loving friends I have that have made these past few years so worth it!! I could never do anything without their prayers & encouragement to keep going. In the meantime I keep praying & trusting in your plan for my life & "my daughters & son in my heart".
If your still reading please be patient & keep me in your prayers as I try hard to fight the devils strings of holding me back in "the dark hole" as he keeps trying to keep me from blogging about what I love to do by advocating for the least of these. It's been tough ever since the ban & I'm trusting that God's got this. Will it ever change the fact of being sad, mad about it? Of course not & though I love these kids no child will never have that same bond I felt with Celine & Cora Lynne. I'm thankful that one of them in a "nice" place & has a Friend to enjoy but still wishing they can be in families. 

Sunday, June 9, 2013

A Heart for the Orphans|Reeces Rainbow

I have mentioned my story of how I was lead to help orphans. Now to tell you how these orphans/families stories have changed my life.
When I first started blogging I had not yet found my passion nor had I read adopting families blogs. When I first started reading an adoptive families journey on their blog, Saving Sofia I knew I could never look back. Since then I have read blog after blog, story after story. You may ask what I gain or what I have learned most from the families through RR or those I know who have adopted whether it's private, foster to adopt, or international adoption? 
I have learned that ADOPTION IS NOT EASY,
IT IS HARDWORK,
TAKES A LOT OF FAITH
EACH JOURNEY/CHILD IS DIFFERENT FROM THE NEXT,
IS EXPENSIVE NO MATTER THE ROUTE YOU ADOPT BUT IT IS WORTH THE COST!
WHETHER IT'S A CHILD IN THE USA OR CHINA, OR UKRAINE EVERY CHILD DESERVES THE LOVE A FAMILY CAN BRING!
I have learned so much about the daily life of orphans through the journies these families have blogged about. Through these families I have seen the good, the bad, & the harsh reality these kids face everyday. Hearing their stories has been life changing for me as it makes me want to do more to help these kids. I still hope I can go to one of these countries & help someday.  This video is what changed me the most when I first learned of the orphan crisis of kids with special needs face overseas.

If you have watched this for the first time here are ways to help support the special needs adoption community.
#1 PRAY, PRAY, PRAY FOR THESE ORPHANS, THE FAMILIES IN PROCESS ADOPTING,ETC.
#2 ADVOCATE FOR THE ORPHANS-CAN BE ANYTHING! SHARING IN SOCIAL MEDIA IS A HUGE HELP CAUSE EVEN IF YOU CAN'T ADOPT OR SUPPORT THAT CHILD OR FAMILY SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT FIND THEIR CHILD OR BE ABLE TO SUPPORT SOMEONES ADOPTION
#3 ADOPT-THINK YOU CAN'T ADOPT CAUSE OF THE COST? THEIR ARE PLENTY OF GRANT ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE OR IF YOU CAN DO THE FOSTER TO ADOPT ROUTE THEIR IS NO/LITTLE COST IN THAT ROUTE.
#4 HELPING ADOPTIVE FAMILIES FUNDRAISE WHETHER IT'S DONATING ITEMS FOR AN AUCTION OR YARD SALE OR SOMETHING ELSE. OR ORGANIZING A FUNDRAISER FOR THEM.
#5-DURING/POST ADOPTION SUPPORT:THAT IS A HUGE NEED OF ADOPTIVE FAMILIES. WHETHER IT'S PRAYER SUPPORT, MEAL SUPPORT, BABYSITTING, ETC. FOR FAMILIES IN PROCESS OR ESPECIALLY AFTER THE ADOPTION IS COMPLETED.

NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO TO HELP BEFORE, DURING, OR AFTER ADOPTING & ORPHANS IT ALL MAKES A DIFFERENCE BIG OR SMALL!