Who's the winner now?

Yep, that's me. A winner of the lovely bracelet in the picture, above. I also 'won' a pie in the face of the sweet friend who had the giveaway. I know she's very grateful for my help in that regard. Right, Renee?

I also won something from the very start...the satisfaction of knowing I was helping a little beauty, Paisley Tam, find her way home. That's no small thing.

Gorgeous Paisley!

Just ask my mom. Yes, my mom.

From my soul sistah, Ashley of The Chaos Diaries, my mom learned that a little girl in Eastern Europe had been transferred to a mental institution despite having a family who was working hard to bring her home. A little girl Mom had seen countless times here on this very blog. A little girl who reminded us all of our precious Vera, of the fate that could have befallen her, of the potential we see blossoming in her.

Beautiful Lera

My mom was heartbroken. Absolutely heartbroken. She was waking up at night, worrying and praying for Lera. Worse still, my mom found out that the adoption agency had demanded Lera's parents-to-be have all the money they needed for their adoption raised by the end of March. It was the middle of March. Things were looking a bit desperate, as they hadn't had huge success in raising their funds.

So, one fine day my mom up and wrote a letter. Here it is, in part:

Dear friends,


Of necessity, this is a long email. Please bear with me.

As most of you know, my daughter Jill has adopted two daughters with Down syndrome internationally. It is a very expensive process without even counting the money for international travel. As a result of these adoptions, Jill has become an advocate for adoption of Ds children and their new parents. I am constantly amazed by all of the wonderful people who are willing and enthusiastic about sharing their lives with these children. By experience, these are some of the most wonderful persons in our lives. We are thrilled to have three beautiful granddaughters with Down syndrome.
Now, the reason for my email:

In eastern Europe and Russia, once Ds children reach the age of five, they are taken from the baby house orphanage and placed in an institution for the mentally ill/insane. They are tied to their cribs and neglected, with no nourishing, and usually die within the first year. This situation is deplorable, as bad as the asylums of years ago in the United States.

A couple that Jill knows has been trying to adopt a beautiful little girl named Lera. I have seen pictures of her and she is precious. They have about $21,000 of the $30,000 they must have in hand before the adoption can move forward. They are desperately trying to raise the funds. However, Lera has already been moved to an institution, and I cannot get her out of my heart.

Reese's Rainbow is a non-profit that helps identify Ds children and helps with grants for the adoption. Jill has worked with them and the founder, Andrea Roberts. Right now, I am asking any of you who can afford $100, or really anything, to consider helping this family. All you will get from this is their, and my, eternal gratitude. And also, a charitable tax deduction.

She mailed it to friends, family, her Sunday School class. In less than a week, she had collected over $2,000 and a guarantee from a longtime family friend to cover the remainder, whatever the family needed to get Lera home. Some people had to wait until payday to give. Some people had the wife write a check for one amount, the husband for another and then agree to give both checks. Last I heard, the total she collected was over $7,000. It would have been higher had it needed to be but the family had lots of other support, too.

So who's the winner now? Paisley and Lera, of course. My mom. Those who gave, though perhaps not in the way they expected.

Some of those people have grandchildren who have yet to be born. If one of those babies is found to have Down syndrome I will just bet that they will be excited to welcome their grandbaby into the family, knowing that there are families willing to go for broke (literally) in their adoption of a child with Ds.

Some of those people may not be used to giving outside of church, or to adoptions. Perhaps their hearts have been opened to helping the least of the least around the world because that's what God told us to do. Perhaps they took a peek at Reece's Rainbow and opened their hearts to praying for those precious, precious faces who don't yet have a family fighting to bring them home.

I really enjoy winning things in giveaways, I do. Moreso, I really enjoy being a part of miracles. I would bet my mom would say she does now, too! It's an amazing place to be, watching God move mountains. It's amazing to know you were a part of it, whether it's by writing letters, donating, praying, encouraging.

I feel like I'm dancing around my point, so here it is: be a part! Don't just sit on the sidelines and let everyone get blessed.

Luke 6:38 ~~ Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.


Here's your chance to be Jesus's hands and feet in the life of another family chasing hard after God and His command to care for the orphan:  GO! BE A WINNER!

My friends are CrAzY!!!

But one stands head and shoulders above the rest: 

Renee.
She is one CrAzY CaJuN!

Right now, my CrAzY CaJuN friend is having a crazy fun chance to win some jewelry and humiliate some gals and guys who may or may not deserve it.

Why is my CrAzY CaJuN friend doing this? Why are those gals agreeing to help her?

Grab This!

You probably could have guessed why.

Renee is CrAzY in LoVe with PaIsLeY!!

Renee has been working so hard to bring Paisley home, cooking up a storm, saving pennies (and a whole lot more) but those international adoptions don't come cheap so she and her husband and some ZaNy FrIeNdS came up with this lovely giveaway.

Wanna see what you might win for the low, low donation of a mere $5? $5 that gets Renee that much closer to Paisley, that is.

Well, here ya go:

Aren't those gorgeous?

Now that I've tempted you with goodies, go over and read about the ways your $5 (or more...much more) could go toward humiliating some deserving (or not) people. That may be better than jewelry, but maybe that's just me.

Why are you still reading?

GO!!

(Click on any of the red words--get going!)

Angelina

Meet Angelina. Angelina is Elizabeth's best friend.

Remember Elizabeth, below?

Elizabeth is being adopted by a precious family. They are so sad to think that Elizabeth's best friend does not have a family coming for her. They are trying to start a very important fundraiser for Angelina. You can read about it here. If you'd like to participate, let me know.

Not only is Elizabeth's soon-to-be family concerned about Angelina, so is a 14 year old girl who is trying to raise funds and awareness of Angelina's plight. Angelina has just a few months before she will be transferred to a mental institution. This is the same type of fate our Vera would have been subjected to had she remained in the orphanage when she turned 7.

Angelina is just a few weeks older than Ella. A few weeks. Ella will be 7 on August 19th. Ella happens to be standing right beside me. I'm looking at her tiny self and wondering how in the world I could drive her to an adult mental institution and leave her there. How could I leave her in such hard surroundings. Yet here I am, standing by as Angelina staggers toward that very same journey.

I want to help her. How about you?

These are older pictures of Angelina in the awful glasses. See the little girl in the background, below? Her new mommy took a couple of new pictures of Angelina during their first adoption trip a few months ago. You can see one picture at the bottom of this post. She looks great without the outdated, too-big glasses they stuck on her.

Look at Elizabeth and Angelina playing mommy with their dolls together! I think Angelina would LOVE to be mothered, too!!

This button is another link to the blog of the 14 year old girl who is advocating for Angelina.

Isn't that just the best?

Grab This!

You can read all about Angelina here. She has a long list of medical issues, but mostly they sound like minor issues or eye-related issues. Honestly, she seems very healthy and fairly typical for a little girl with Down syndrome. That's not a medical opinion so please don't take it as such!

I know that many people were very moved to find out that Elizabeth had been transferred to a mental institution and they were spurred to action to find a family and get her out of there. I would so love for God to find a family for Angelina BEFORE she has to be moved from the orphanage. It's really not a bad orphanage at all and it seems she is doing well there. Let's don't make her take a trip to a scary new place.

Please share the blogs that I've shared. Share the pictures. Share her story. Let's get this sweet girl home while we still can. Thanks!

Miracles

We recently had a guest speaker in our Sunday school class, a man who speaks about ministering through your workplace. One of the questions he asked our class was, "Do you ever see supernatural events (miracles) in your workplace?"

For a second, I simply dismissed the question as irrelevant to the chronically unemployed mommy that I am. Then it occurred to me that although I didn't have a paying job, I do volunteer with Reece's Rainbow and that is a workplace of sorts for me.

As soon as the thought hit my brain a smile spread across my face. I see miracles all.the.time. Weekly or even daily sometimes. I have a front row seat as some of the most amazing, unbelievable, 'didn't think it could happen again but it did' events have transpired in the lives of families adopting children with special needs.

From the very start, I was amazed as I witnessed while two different 5 year old children who had only lived in cribs were lifted out, chosen by families who hadn't adopted before and didn't even have biological children with Down syndrome. That's a miracle. God worked a miracle in the hearts of those moms and dads to see past the dirty clothes and faces, the crossed eyes, the sickly pallor, the malnutrition and the blank looks; those parents didn't turn away because they saw their child.

I couldn't begin to count the number of times I've seen families who are days away from traveling to adopt their child(ren) with special needs and are short thousands of dollars. Equally as often I've seen God finance their trip. He uses all different means to accomplish it, to be sure. Sometimes he uses a whole bunch of people to contribute $5, $10, maybe $25. Sometimes He sells something for them and they get more than they'd hoped. Sometimes an anonymous donor shows up and gives them all they need. No matter how He works it the results are the same: a miracle.

I had the privilege of watching a miracle unfold in Ukraine last summer. A family went to adopt their son with arthrogryposis from a mental institution. He was the first to be sprung from that place and probably the first ever to be adopted in that village. The family, adoption novices, had to live with a peasant lady for weeks because there were no hotels. The accommodations were primitive, at best. They had no assurance that the judge would even hear their case (the problems with that issue seemed insurmountable for quite some time) and that, once hearing it, would grant their adoption. I'll never forget the imagery they used to console their anxious hearts as they walked to their long-awaited court. They knew the Reece's Rainbow family (and many, many others) were praying for them: they imagined thousands of bowed heads behind them as they testified before the judge, thousands of bowed heads pleading with a just and loving Lord to work on the judge's heart, thousands of bowed heads crying out for a boy to be saved from a horrible life. Their precious son is now home in Virginia, a miracle.

More recently, a family went to adopt child #7 and while in Ukraine found out that a little girl they had wanted to adopt (but were denied by the orphanage director) a couple of years earlier was now available; the orphanage director had his heart changed toward adoption and the little girl is now living in Florida with seven brothers and sisters. A miracle.

A couple of weeks ago the call went out around the internet for a boy in Latvia who was about to turn 16 and would thereafter be on the streets, kicked out of his orphanage, lost forever from adoption and family and hope. He had been to America and stayed with a host family and thought he had a family pursuing his adoption. The family decided not to adopt him but never told anyone until finally, with less than 2 weeks until his fateful birthday, the sad news was discovered. The boy, Davids, was crushed. Hearts all over the world were broken for him. The most desperate problem was that a family had to be found who had a special, Hague approved homestudy that said they could adopt a 16 year old, was current, and the family had to be able to file with the US government to adopt him before his birthday, an expensive proposition. It seemed so impossible. But God...

I still cry thinking about it. God brought forth a family that was already adopting an almost 16 year old from Latvia, their homestudy was perfect and allowed for them to adopt two children although they were originally going for one. Every detail was taken care of. Between the time the call went out for Davids and the time the family was found, almost all the money necessary for this new adoption had been raised for them. A miracle. A big, fat, could only be from God, better than we could have expected miracle.

How could we not praise such a God? How could we not trust Him over the details of our lives?

Today, right this very second as I type, I am just waiting for the next big, fat, could only be from God, better than we could have expected miracle because I believe God is setting up the situation perfectly. While we sleep tonight, a judge in an Eastern European country is going to be approached by an adoption facilitator and asked to set two court dates for two Reece's Rainbow families who are each adopting a child with Down syndrome. Both families have met their child, fallen head over heels in love with their child, and have been waiting months to go back, have their court date and bring their precious little one home.

Much like the family who adopted the little boy from Ukraine, this judge may not even grant a court date. That's the first hurdle and, like I said, it's happening while we sleep tonight. If that doesn't happen then three children will not get their families.

Three?

Yes. Another family, better known as my wonderful friend Ashley of the Chaos Diaries, is also in the process of adopting a princess with Down syndrome in that same region of that same country. If the first two families don't get a court date, Ashley won't be allowed to proceed either. If the families do get a court date but are denied the adoption of their children (which we have been led to believe would be due to the judge's predjudice against Down syndrome), Ashley won't be allowed to proceed in her adoption of Baby J.

Can you imagine? These families have been in process for over a year. Well over a year. If you haven't adopted this may seem a bit strange to you, but I can assure you that in their hearts these children are theirs already. They've been imagining and daydreaming about just how their new child will fit in the family, about all the glorious and wonderful new things they'll show their new child, all the love they'll lavish upon their little frames.

At this point, everything is out of their hands except for prayer. Like I said, it's the perfect setup for God to work. I think He lets us muddle around, grasping and trying and getting increasingly desperate, knowing it's all a prelude to His mighty work, started at the foundation of the world.

Tonight, I'll be up praying for my friends. I've said it before about my own adoptions: I'm a miracle junkie. I love to see God work in a seemingly hopeless situation. As I pray for Baby J, Kirill, and Evan, I'll comfort my anxious heart with the knowledge that ranging round the judge will be thousands upon thousands of bowed heads. I'll know that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective, and I'll be waiting for news of a miracle.

Psalm 77:14--You are the God who performs miracles;
   you display your power among the peoples.

Wilson met his Angel Tree goal!!!

I'd love to think I had something to do with it but I didn't. And that's okay, because someone donated enough money to put every single child on our Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree at the $1000 goal!!!

Wow! I'm just stunned. We've never had such a successful Angel Tree event. Keep an eye on my sidebar 'button' for the Angel Tree, as results will show up in a day or two regarding the total amount raised, children who've found homes, ornaments mailed. It's been a great year!

So....where's Wilson's family? He's got a cool thousand bucks to help you on your way!!

Alexander the Great!

As my facebook friends may have noticed, I am more than just a bit smitten by a certain little boy named Alexander from Reece's Rainbow. I was reading a friend's blog yesterday and found out Reece's Rainbow is about to start a new initiative called the New Year Warriors and I knew just who I would choose to 'warrior' for, having already decided that I would advocate for him this year! I do hope I am out of a job soon, though.

Alexander, as described below, has dual diagnoses of Down syndrome and epilepsy. In the coming days, I will be trying to demystify the idea of having a child with epilepsy by sharing what other moms are sharing with me. The quick answer, though, is that in the big picture it (having epilepsy or some other seizure disorder) just isn't that big of a deal.

Isn't that great to know?

Alexander-2H

Birthdate: February 2007
Gender: Male
Eyes: Brown
Hair: brown
Character: Calm, sedentary
Alexander is a sweet boy with brown hair and eyes.   He was born with Down syndrome and also struggles with epilepsy.   He has strabismus as well.   Alexander is described as affectionate and social.

He sounds perfect to me!

Jess in FL, my FIAR friend

Thank you, as always, for your support of Reece's Rainbow! You are a huge blessing to the children you sponsor and to me!! I had thought of you while trimming the tree and placing the two ornaments you had given me. So nice to know you thought of 'our' kids. May God continue to bless you and your family!!

Merry Christmas!!!

My new favorite Christmas card

Yesterday, when I visited my new friend Renee's blog, I found she had left me the most wonderful Christmas card. Of course, I had to show it to you! As you can see from the video, Renee is adopting a darling little girl, but those who are still waiting weigh heavily on her heart, as they do mine.

Enjoy...but don't forget the tissues!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Hello, my international friends!

I like to check my sitemeter and see where folks are when they read my blog. I often see someone from Germany, the UK, occasionally Norway, but my face lights up when I see Ukraine.

Why Ukraine? you might ask.

Because, I might answer, I can generally guess those are Reece's Rainbow families who are over there adopting a little one or two or more. I totally get the boredom that can creep into the long stays in country. Although I remember my adoption trips very fondly (hey, who else gets to say they met a member of the Russian mafia?) I do know the yearning to be home. When home isn't coming anytime soon then at least we can read blogs and see normal family life and birthday celebrations and we can think of the day when we will celebrate our new little one's birthday.

So to my Ukrainian reader today--hello! I hope you're doing well! I hope you're soon home and immersed in recalling your new little one or two or more back to life.

Until then...enjoy a little dose of what passes for normal around here. ;-)

And the winner is....

I had a giveaway. Sophia was blessed! Now it's my turn to bless those who were able to give during this busy and often expensive holiday season. I wish I could bless you all but I suppose I'll need to leave it up to Jesus, who has much better gifts at His disposal than we do down here. ;-)

Here are the entrants:

Here is Alex choosing (and Luke choosing to act goofy, knowing I would post this):

And...the moment you've all been waiting for...Alex shares the winner:

 Luke is giving you a hand, Carrie Joy!! You won!!! Go take a gander again at Laura Lu's photographs and tell me which one you want (although I seem to recall something about a barn) and which size would work best for you (I think it would look best in the larger size unless you have a small spot in mind to hang it). You can message me on facebook and we'll get 'er done so you'll have it for Christmas. Oh, and don't forget to give me your address! As soon as I get it your picture will be ordered from Laura and your book from amazon!

All four of the ladies who contributed are so special to me. CJ is one of Reece's Rainbow's biggest cheerleaders, often beating me in posting information about RR on facebook. Sarah, through her etsy shop, has contributed financially to numerous RR adoptions (and I have the necklaces to prove it!). Tina has long since inspired me with her family's generosity and loving ways.

Last, but certainly not least, Megan has become my new friend. Not just because she's a sweetheart, although she is, but because....

MEGAN IS ADOPTING SOPHIA!!!!

You can check out her blog here!! Megan is a single mom-to-be and has really stretched herself and her trust in God to help her through this expensive adoption. I can see already that it is true love that compels Megan toward Sophia and that is precious to see. She is head over heels in love with our darling little Sophia and I can see she's ready to move mountains to bring her home. Isn't that exciting news? Megan may not have won the giveaway but she's certainly getting the prize!!

Thank you, truly thank you all, from the bottom of my heart! Your generosity humbles me.



Elizabeth C.--my prayer request

Today at A Place Called Simplicity, Linny is calling for a day of fasting and prayer, as she occasionally does. We've seen God move some big mountains when His people pray and today I'm adding my request to the many she will gather on her blog today.

I found out yesterday that Elizabeth C. was moved to an institution. A mental institution. In a former Soviet country that has never recovered its value of human life, much less disabled human life, since its repudiation of communism. I have written many times before about mental institutions in Eastern Europe. Today, I'll share what someone else has written about them, someone who was just there, someone who saw a teenaged boy with Down syndrome whose daily job was to wash out the toilet pots, who daily had excrement smeared all over his hands, who daily smelled overwhelmingly awful, who daily smiled at her and tried to interact with gentleness, who daily reminded her that a mental institution is no place for such a gentle soul.

That situation may be better or worse than where Elizabeth was sent; we don't know. If it's worse, it's not by much. In the USA, our institutions, relics of our own misguided past, are often in the news after yet another flagrant abuse is discovered. Their institutions don't even make the news; no abuse that is discovered will ever even be known, prosecuted, championed. The caregivers over these defenseless children wield enormous power inside the walls of the institution. I feel sure some use it judiciously and others use it maliciously.

So my prayer request: I ask for prayer that someone would step forward today and claim her for their very own. I pray that someone could move quickly with her adoption. Even in that situation, it will take months for her adoption to be completed, so I pray that God would send some mighty fierce angels to guard her innocence, guard her heart, guard that sparkle in her eyes until her parents can remove her and escort her safely home.

I pray for a kind-hearted caregiver for Elizabeth, one who treats her gently and who has a kind word for her every day. I pray for friends in the orphanage. Elizabeth has been ripped away from her very best friend, Angelina. They spent their days playing dolls together. I've never heard of nor seen a doll in an institution. Not a toy. Nothing. These are the places where active and imaginative children are tied to too-small cribs.

As I'm typing, Vera just came in to give me a big hug and good morning kiss. I'm weeping now. This is where she was headed. I cannot imagine Vera's spark being snuffed out by life in the institution. What a loss to me. What a loss to Vera.

I pray that when Elizabeth is adopted that God would restore the years the locusts have eaten, that He would meld her into her family as seamlessly as if she'd been born to them.

Isn't she beautiful?

She's been put into some awful glasses but that sweet smile just shines through, doesn't it?

Here is the info from Reece's Rainbow:

Elizabeth C.

Date of Birth: August 2003
Gender: Female
Eyes: Gray
Hair: dark brown

HELP! I HAVE ALREADY BEEN TRANSFERRED ((

This sweet girl is 7 years old. We are so hopeful to find a family for her! Elizabeth is so beautiful, and she loves to care for her baby dolls. She is active, intelligent, social, helpful, and an orphanage favorite. She does wear glasses, but who knows if they are the right prescription for her? Elizabeth will do very well in a family setting, and I hope someone will "baby" HER very soon!

From her medical records: Down Syndrome, moderate mental deficiency, atopic dermatitis; delay in growth, amblyopia of high degree, congenital myopia with astigmatism

FULL MEDICAL RECORDS AVAILABLE
LOTS MORE PHOTOS AVAILABLE
I AM ELIGIBLE FOR AN OLDER CHILD GRANT (which currently stands at $975, but a fundraiser that has raised $990 has not been added, or at least has not been added in its entirety)

If you are her family then please contact Andrea Roberts at: andrea@reecesrainbow.org to get started. Today.

3 pictures of Wilson!

He's even more irresistible now! What a doll!! He's at such a great age to come home to a family, having just turned 2 in October.

I just know someone's going to fall in love with those big brown eyes and blond hair. I just know they'll want to see God work and move mountains to bring this little guy home. I just know someone is dreaming of being cheek to cheek with him, feeling his chunky little hands pat them on the back as he starts to understand what hugging is. I just know someone wants to put some chub on that skinny little belly so they can blow raspberries on it. I just know someone wants to plop him into a big warm bubble bath and wrap him up in the softest towels, just to let him know he has a soft place to land now. I just know someone has some soft fleece jammies for him to wear as they slide him between clean sheets in his own bed and tuck him in after bedtime stories and prayers. I just know someone wants to tell him that Jesus loves him, in word and in deed.

I just know someone is wishing for a little boy who will love unconditionally, smile often, laugh more, stay little longer, need his mommy a little more, try harder to reach his milestones and keep the empty nest from emptying quite so soon.

God has a family for Wilson. I just know it's you.

Wilson

Meet Wilson, or as I like to call him, Mr. Irresistible! Wilson was just added to the Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree this week. The call went out that the recently minted 2 year old Wilson needed a Christmas Warrior. Those chubby cheeks, bright eyes, and sweet face just called to me so I volunteered my inestimable services. OK, so my services are quite estimable, even down to the penny, because we can all see the chip-ins on the top of my blog!

Wilson's deal isn't quite the same as Sophia's deal. If you donate at least $35 to his chipin (which sends the money directly to Reece's Rainbow) you will still receive this year's Reece's Rainbow ornament but it won't have sweet Wilson's picture on it. He was added to the Angel Tree too late. Even without Mr. Irresistible's face, though, the ornaments are lovely.

Wilson has another interesting deal going on. His region of Russia allows the adoption of multiple unrelated children, although there are some income restrictions for those who wish to do so. You can see all the other children in that region here. You can also read about Wilson and the regional adoption requirements there, but here is his info:

Birth Date: October 2008
Gender: Male
Eyes: Gray
Hair: brown
Character: Calm.
Friendly, quiet, gentle boy. Goes well in touch with adults. Shows interest in toys.
More photos available, single moms welcome.

I am still having a giveaway for Miss Sophia until December 1. After that, I hope to have another giveaway for both of my beauties. I want to help increase their grant funds at Reece's Rainbow so that people take a second look because some of the costs would be taken care of. I want to see both of them home next year, tucking in to turkey and dressing, sweet potatoes and green beans, pumpkin pies and spice cakes! I want to see them surrounded by a family of their very own, so full of thanksgiving for the gift of Sophia or Wilson they can hardly stop smiling.

I'm not sure I can emphasize this enough: the $10 donations here and there add up and before you know it, the kids are home! I also cannot emphasize enough that your donations to Reece's Rainbow for Sophia and Wilson are tax-deductible, so if you've realized that you haven't donated quite as much as you'd intended this year, this is a great way to do so. If you've realized you haven't remembered the orphan as much as you'd intended this year, then...well, you know what to do.

Sophia and Wilson thank you!

I'm having a giveaway!!!

I'm killing two birds with one stone with this giveaway. It's sort of complicated, for a giveaway and all, so read through it and see if you can participate!!

The first bird:  One of my dear friends in the adoption world, Laura Lu, had a very quick adoption happen earlier this year. It happened fast due to the earthquake in Haiti; their son was made available much more quickly than would normally happen in a Haitian adoption and they weren't yet prepared for the costs.

Zane is actually their second adopted son. Their first son was a domestic adoption. I have rarely seen a family work so hard to raise the funds for an adoption. Among other things, Laura's husband took an evening job delivering pizzas. I'll never forget the night of her birthday when he had to work. He showed up at their door with a pizza for Laura and their girls, a quick kiss and then he was gone. I still tear up thinking about the sacrifice and devotion. I share this because they are not the type to sit back and beg for help but this time around they simply didn't have the time to get their money together.

Laura is an accomplished photographer with a rare sense of artistry. She is having a fundraiser that features several beautiful photographs, some with scriptures or a quote, for sale in either an 8 X 10 or 11 X 14 size. Please go look now! I don't want to copy them without her permission. You can read about their adoption there, too. (And please, feel free to buy one yourself without waiting to see if you've won here!)

I AM GIVING AWAY ONE OF HER PICTURES!
(plus something else, but you'll have to read to the end to find out what)The second bird:  I volunteered to be the Christmas Warrior for Sophia C, the beautiful little girl pictured below. (Newly discovered pictures of her!!) I am hoping to raise $1000 to help defray the adoption costs and get her home more quickly.

Soooooo, if you'd like to be entered in the giveaway for Laura Lu's beautiful photographs (your choice of size and image), please give a donation of $10 or more to Sophia via the ChipIn I now have at the top of my blog. If you have never used a ChipIn before I can assure you it is very easy and it will walk you through the steps. Your donation will go straight to Sophia's account with Reece's Rainbow. I don't ever see a penny of it. As I have mentioned previously, donations of $35 or more will also get you a Reece's Rainbow Christmas ornament with Sophia's picture on it.

So that's my plan. You donate to Sophia C's chipin at the top of my blog and you are thereby entered into my giveaway for one of Laura Lu's photographs PLUS a copy of Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream. (Not that the pot wasn't sweet enough with a gorgeous photograph, but I just couldn't resist giving away that book, as Laura and her family so beautifully exemplify the ideals contained in it.)

I will draw the winner on December 1, 2010.

Thank you for reading, thank you for (hopefully!) sharing, and thank you for participating if you are able. I hope you win!!

Sophia C. and the Angel Tree--a Fairy Tale

Two years ago, in a faraway land, a beautiful little blond-haired princess was born. She had an extra chromosome. No one understood that made her extra special! The doctors told her parents she was cursed. Her parents believed the doctors and sent her to live in an orphanage until the curse could be lifted. No one in her country understood that it was no curse, but a blessing. They kept trying to remove the curse from princess, without success, until...
Something extraordinary happened!

The fearless and bold Andrea Roberts, leader of Reece's Rainbow Adoption Crusaders, has kind helpers in this princess's country who scour the countryside, looking for pretty little girls and handsome little boys with extra chromosomes. When they find these children, like our princess, Sophia, they take pictures of them and send them back to Andrea. Andrea puts pictures and all the information she can find onto the Reece's Rainbow website so families like mine can find these pretty little girls and handsome little boys and bring them home. Home, after all, is the place where people with an extra chromosome are best able to reach their amazing potential!! Home is the place where princess Sophia's curse can at last be lifted...the curse of living in an orphanage with no parents to love her, place sparkly tiaras on her head and dress her in the colors of royalty, as every princess deserves.

So many families look at the pretty little girls and handsome little boys on Reece's Rainbow and know they want to bring one or two or three to their own home. Isn't that a happy ending? No, because the big scary expenses of adoption stand in the way of so many of the families. These special families could treat the pretty little girls and handsome little boys to a sweet life of fun, family, and festivities, if only they could clear the path of that dragon and bring their prince or princess home.

Sophia is a true princess and she needs her happy ending! Will you help her family-to-be find their way to her by slaying some of the big bad adoption expenses? Sophia's expenses are even bigger and badder than most of the children on Reece's Rainbow. She needs a knight in shining armor!

This Christmas season I am raising money for Sophia as part of Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree. The Angel Tree is our biggest fundraising push of the year and I am honored to help. I would be all the more honored (more like thrilled) if you would join with me in slaying the expense dragons in her way! If you donate at least $35.00 to Sophia's account (as explained below), you will receive a Christmas ornament with the Reece's Rainbow Christmas Tree logo on one side and Sophia's picture on the other side. $30 will go to Sophia's account while $5 goes into the Voice of Hope Fund to defray the costs of the ornaments. Click here for a full explanation. Speaking of money-hungry dragons, all donations are tax-deductible, too.

If you click here, you can donate money to Sophia by clicking the "Donate" button, which takes you to a Paypal page. On that page, near the top, is a box with a blinking cursor in it--put the amount you wish to donate in that box and click the yellow box that says "Update Total". After that, scroll down a bit and you'll see a place to log in to PayPal. If you have a PayPal account, I probably don't need to tell you what to do! If you don't have a PayPal account, however, please note that on the left side of the page there is a place to click and you can then just pay by debit or credit card. By donating in this way, you are ensuring that Sophia receives the money you donated.

Click here to see all the other pretty little girls and handsome little boys that Andrea has gathered from around the world! For the months of November and December all our precious little ones with Down syndrome (aged 5 and younger) are gathered together on one page so we can follow along and rejoice as their dragons are slayed and the path cleared for parents to bring them home.

Thank you for being a part of Sophia's happy ending!

Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Lisette



Girl, Born March 10, 2007

Lisette is healthy and active and just waiting on a mommy of her very own! She currently weighs 20 pounds at three and a half years old, so she’s still tiny! She was born with a heart condition that no longer requires medical check-ups. She is sitting independently, crawling and can stand holding on to the side of her crib.
Her head was shaved this summer, but her pretty brown hair is already starting to grow back! We have many photos of Lisette from the previous year.
More photos available.

She has a grant of $1791 today! The total estimated costs for adoptions in her Eastern European country, including travel, are $16,000, making hers one of the least expensive adoptions we have on Reece's Rainbow.

Can you tell she's one of my favorites? Even with the shaved head, she reminds me of a dainty little fairy.

Lisette was put on Reece's Rainbow last year just before Christmas, I believe, so she's been waiting almost a year. Actually, for a few months she had a family committed to her but they have backed out. On her birthday this year, I wrote a birthday prayer for her. My prayer today is that on her birthday next year she'll have a family working to get her home FAST!

I read one of the most touching, tear-jerking blog posts yesterday at One Blessed Nest. If you've ever thought that older child adoption would bring you an out of control, ungrateful child, please take the time to read about my friend Tina's precious daughter and her amazingly clear understanding of what it means to be in a family. It's why we do what we do...over and over again.

Reece's Rainbow needs Christmas Warriors!

I am the Christmas Warrior for Miss Sophia, first picture below. She is a darling little girl in a very expensive country from which to adopt. I am hoping, as her Christmas Warrior, to raise at least $1000 for her between Monday and New Year's Eve. Big task, right? Not too big for God. I have included a few more of my Reece's Rainbow favorites, several of whom still don't have Warriors. Look at the sweet faces, look over the list of children who were still available (or were available earlier today) and see if you could help.

The plain and simple fact of the matter is that children with larger grants to help defray the adoption costs are those who are most often chosen. We all wish that weren't the case but we have to help based on reality and not wishful thinking. As part of the fundraising effort, Reece's Rainbow will send an ornament with your Christmas Warrior child's picture on it to anyone who donates at least $35. The money doesn't go to overhead, it doesn't go to salaries...it goes to help save the life of a child.

The money that is raised stays in trust for that child until their adoption is almost complete to ensure that the money actually goes toward the adoption. Most (although by no means all) of the money for adoptions is due toward the end and while the family is in country, so this also ensures that upfront costs are paid by the family, in part as a way of ensuring their commitment. I say all this just in case anyone is confused about the way Reece's Rainbow handles their contributions. I will probably repeat it in a few days when the actual Angel Tree/Christmas Warrior program begins.

In the meantime, again, please look at these faces, go to http://www.reecesrainbow.org/ and search for the names I have listed at the end of the pictures, consider stepping out in faith to become a child's Christmas Warrior.

Maria has a warrior but I just can't help and share her cute face!

Caleb needs a sponsor

Hailey needs a sponsor

Mr Chubbalub, Henry, needs a warrior

Lisette doesn't needs a warrior...she's had a fierce warrior for a long time...what she needs is a family

Gibson needs a Warrior

I think this cutie has a Warrior

This is Alexander and he has a warrior...I just love that smile!! He needs a dad to wrestle him and tickle him!

Aisha K Russia region 23

Andy China

Brent Ukraine 35

Caleb China

Christian Russia region 6

Darren Ukraine 41

Devon Russia region 5

Dmitri B Russia region 8
Dmitriy P Russia region 16
Dmitriy Sh Russia region 8

Gavin Ukraine 20
Gibson Russia region 5
Grant Ukraine 38
Hailey China 

Henry China

Ivan K Russia region 5
Ivan L Russia region 13

James Russia region 2

Jonas Russia region 9

Kennedy Russia region 2

Lawrence Russia region 2

Leeza Ukraine 2

Oksana M Russia region 13

Olga Russia region 3

Paul J Russia region 13

Sergei G Russia region 9

Toby Ukraine 26