My inner monoglogue coming to life...(only more eloquently)...

So, as you know, I read some of the blogs of the people who are diving into adopting special needs children through Reeces Rainbow.  I think I love these blogs becuase these people who decide to do this aren't super special, super spiritual, and are very real with their fears and emotions prior to meeting this child they have chosen to come into their home.  One in particular adopted a young, beautiful girl with a heart problem from Serbia last year, who a few months ago passed away due to complications.  On her blog yesterday, I feel like she said everything I am trying to tell myself on a regular basis, and majorly challanged me......to say the least............

Lorraine Patterson
http://www.allarepreciousinhissight.blogspot.com/



Make a Difference Monday
Posted: 26 Jul 2010 12:23 AM PDT
“It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.” ~Mother Teresa

I was going to stop with that powerful quote, but there's so much more I want to say.Basically, I'm tired. I'm not tired of the things you might think...not tired of dishes, laundry, kids...those are all blessings, and I never tire of blessings. I'm tired of people sitting back thinking that theyr'e waiting for some magical moment to step in and make a difference in the life of just 1 child.Waiting to sponsor that child until they get a larger paycheck.Waiting for our "own" kids to grow up and move out and then we might consider helping someone else's children.Waiting for our house to get cleaned up before we think about a home study.Waiting for more bedrooms before we can possibly add another child into our home.Waiting...Waiting...Waiting...While we wait for our lives to be perfect before we consider helping another child, guess what?There's someone else, a helpless child, who is waiting...waiting...waiting...for us to get our act together and decide that RIGHT NOW is the time to make a difference. Right now is the time to step up to the plate and say YES. Right now is the time to trust God with our lives, our homes, our finances, instead of relying upon self.Right now is the time to realize that as we wait for the right time, a child dies of starvation. A child dies of neglect. A child dies of malnutrition. A child is ignored. A child is abused. A child wishes for a clean cup of drinking water. A child is sold into sex slavery. A child aches for a mom and a dad. A child yearns for just one person to tell her that she's special. A child wastes away in a crib in an orphanage, waiting for someone to rescue him. All of this while we wait at a fast food restaurant, getting angry when it takes longer than 3 minutes to get our food. While we wait for our pocketbook to grow larger, wishing our waists would grow thinner, and hoping our gym memberships will get us in shape so that we'll be in a better position to help others.When will you decide that RIGHT NOW is the time to make a difference?"To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world." ~author unknownOne life matters! There are so many ways to help, to make a difference, to help orphans and live out James 1:27 (to care for orphans and widows in their distress).

Feed 1 child. (through a child feeding sponsorship)

Pray for 1 child. (that he/she would find a home and be kept safe until God unites them)

Foster 1 child. (it's free...you actually get paid to do this)

Adopt 1 child. (yes, adopting 1 child really does make a difference)

If you're ready to commit to making a difference RIGHT NOW, go register to attend the Together for Adoption 2010 Conference to find out how YOU can make a difference in the life of 1 child. Or more. :-) There are SO many ways for you to make a difference. Come find out how. CLICK HERE to register.

"Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat."

~Mother Teresa "We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty". ~Mother Teresa "There is more hunger in the world for love and appreciation in this world than for bread." ~Mother Teresa "The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread." ~Mother Teresa "The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved." ~Mother Teresa

Cutest girl ever

Ok, this is a short post, with just a link to a blog I have been following of a family who went to the Ukraine to adopt a little 7 year old girl named Bianca with HIV.  When they got there (a few weeks ago), they found out she was unadoptable!  So sad!  But, they were able to get another referral of a little girl who was 2, almost 3.  At first, the husband said no way!  Too young!  But, once they met her....

The only reason I am sharing this is because she is the cutest little girl I have ever seen!  Scroll and look at this precious little face.  "So sweet she can cause a sugar tooth ache" says her new mommy.


http://www.letitbetome.blogspot.com/

Garage Sailin'!

On Satuday morning I went garage sailing wiht a hardcore garage sailer, and one not so hardcore garage sailer, who usually doesn't rise before 9:30.  I think the 7am wakeup call was pretty rough for her :)

Oh well, too bad for her, becuase I found a couple cute trinckets for our little bundle, who as of this very day, has been brewing for 5 whole months!  I'll post pics one of these day, but I definetly am feeling like I am showing now.

SO...here is the first little treasure I found on my hunt:

Little leather moccasins, straight from Minnetonka!  Yep, I have been there, yep, I had my own pair of Minnetonka moccasins when I was a kid, although mine were pink with rhinestones ;)
These little brown ones cost just a dollar, and are supposed to be good for little feet.

Next is this cute little devotional bedtime bible.  It cost fifties cents, but the women was adamant that it was for free because I had found a dollar on the ground and given it to her.  It's really cute and interactive.

And last but not least, this cute and new baby einsteins book that teaches letters and art history all in one, umm...yes PERFECT!  Ok, I'm kind of a dork, but I love it.  I was subject to long hours of art history books with my grandmother, for which I am now thankful.  Hopefully this will be fun and easy :)


I also thought I found the deal of the century when I found a hiking backpack, but it didn't recieve Andrew's seal of approval, so it's going on Craigslist this weekend.  OHHHH WELLL....

Happy Garage Sailing!

It's a boy!

...and a little thumb sucker!  We had our big sonogram the other night, and it went really well.  We saw our boy in action doing all the crazy things he likes to do in there.  At one point he got the hiccups, which was so cute to see his little chest rise and fall.  He pull his arm over his face and put his fingers in his mouth, which is this picture right here:

She said that it was a really healthy sign that he was doing this already.  Everything checked out, he's as healthy as can be!  He was on the smaller scale for everything but that's compared to 20 week babies, and we went in at 18 (my doctors mistake!)  She guessed our due date is Nov. 30th, but we need to have it confirmed with the doctor.

So, now it's onto nursery and names.  We are keeping the yet to be decided name under wraps until the little on makes his appearance, just to keep things nice :)

I was so blessed last night to have my girls come over to get stuff I had ready for their big garage sale this morning for their missions trip to Ecuador!  AHHH!  I can't believe how much stuff I was able to get rid of, and how great my house feels now!  I hope they make alot of money so they can go bless some orphans, I am so proud of them!

Well, have a great day!  We will!

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!  :)

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

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.

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.