Monday, June 28, 2010

Love this!

Reece's Rainbow is so awesome and literally helping families to save these little lives!  This is their 4 year anniversary video, so good.  You might see a little one you recognize!  :)

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

There is a family in the Ukraine right now adopting a little boy named Joseph with Down syndrome.   While there, there was a little girl in a pink skirt who loved them so much.  They decided to try to adopt her too while there.  She has an unrepaired cleft palate and HIV and the sweetest heart.  While pursuing this last minute adoption, Mrs. Urban started becoming overwhelmed with her special needs and all it took to adopt her.  Her husband wrote her this:


 Lk 10:30-35
  Jesus answered by telling a story.  There was once a child living in an
orphanage near Kiev. On her way into this world she was infected with a deadly
disease from her mother. She left her, not caring wether her daughter lived or
died. Care takers took her to the orphanage where they watched her for 5 years.


Luckily, the pastor was on his way down the same road, but when he saw the
little girl, he angled across to the other side, and avoided her, reasoning one
must use their God-given wisdom in these situations.


Then a local Christian man, showed up at the orphanage; he also avoided the
hurting little girl saying to himself, someone will eventually care for her. I
have 3 children now and they are all I can handle. I just can't take on another
responsibility. I cannot afford to send 4 kids to college.

Then, a man who saw God's heart traveled down the road, on purpose, and came
to her orphanage to visit the beautiful young girl. When he saw the little
girl's condition, his heart went out to her with overwhelming compassion and
love.


He gave her medical attention, and special medicine to help her get better.
Then he lifted her into his arms and led her through the court system of her
country, all along helping her feel loved, wanted, special and valued.


Then one morning he took out money and a large stack of papers and gave them
to a judge, saying, Take good care of her for 10 days. I will be back and
take her to my home to live with me and my family for the rest of her life.
Please allow her to become my beautiful daughter. We will love her. We will care
for her. We will be her forever family.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

4 month pregnant?

I guess I don't usually feel pregnant.  Last night I hung out with 2 pregnant friends with their round bellies, and felt like mine is still needing to come out into the light! 

Yesterday, Andrew took a picture of my four month belly just to show that there may just be a baby in there.





I feel like I am trying to look pregnant, haha!  My day will come, I'm sure.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Burdened...

I don't know if it's the pregnancy hormones, or what, but I have recently been finding myself overwhemingly burdened for little Jacob.  I have been having dreams of trying to find him in Bulgaria, walking up in the mornings thinking about him, pleading with God to find him a family, then not being able to go back to sleep.  It pains me to think of him lying alone in an awful crib all day. 

Today I asked God to take the burden from me, but then retracted that prayer.  Should I be less burdened?  Should I continue my life happy and ignorant to the fact that this little one never even sees sunshine, or feels a loving embrace?  Is that what I want?  Selfishly, yes, sometimes, but I know it's not right.  It's ok to be burdened, to want something better for someone I have never met.  I know God care deeply for His children, that He is ANGRY when they are mistreated, and that those who reach out to help these children are greatly rewarded here on earth and in Heaven.

Here are two families and children who have recently given me hope (and actually more burden) for Jacob.  The first is a family who recently adopted a little girl with almost the same situation as Jacob; Almost 5, kept in a crib all day every day, fed only bottles, 14lbs, and she was heavily medicated to keep her sleeping and silent at all times with a medication that was toxic.  This family has had her home for about 6 weeks, and I can see the rapid change and growth in her:

In a matter of weeks, this little girl, so similar to Jacob in their inhumane treatment when from this:


To this:


I don't know if this little girl had ever smiled before, ever felt happiness before.  Read about this amazing, and current transformations here:  www.nogreaterjoymom.com

The other family adopted a little boy named Andrew from Bulgaria of all places who is blind, and kept in his crib his entire life for 5+ years.  His adoptive parents even saw some abuse towards him while visiting.  When they first got him, he was so weak, he couldn't even lift his head and ate from a bottle.  He is now walking.  Watch this video of their first night with him:  http://blessedbyachild.blogspot.com/2010/06/watch-this-video-of-andrew-first-nite.html

So, yes, these stories bless me.  They give me hope for Jacob and his potential.  But they also frighten me to know that there is so much of a chance that this potential could be lost.  That he will remain in that godawful crib for the rest of his, what will be, short life and never swing, smile, walk or be rocked to sleep. 

So now what?  I don't know.  I really don't.  Our art fundraiser got pushed back until August, the month before his 5th birthday.  Please pray for him, donate, or suggest to me a great idea that could help him.  Think about taking him into your home, or suggest it to some momma you know. 

Saturday, June 5, 2010

The cutest cake!

How badly do I need to make this cake!?



I also love the dotted table cloth it is on :)

Perhaps I should make it for a sweet girl named Hilary who is returning from a missions trip to Fiji today!  I am just so proud of that awesome girl!

The first day of bible study she proudly announced, "I don't believe really in the bible!"  "That's alright," we said.  "We are happy you are here and you can believe anything you want!"

Well, now look at this angel serving the Lord with her whole heart the mothers and children in need across the globe in Fiji!  God is so good and changes hearts with his love and truth!


(She the cute blond one holding the child.)

p.s. She LOVES owls, so on her first bible study back, I think this cake will be a great celebration!  So proud of you Hil!