Thursday, September 20, 2012

Waiting...

Look at these sweet faces!

 Margaret
 Walden
 Jaxon
 Margaret
 Lynette
Mali

They all have something in common.

They've all been listed on Reece's Rainbow.

They've all waited for a family to make them their own.

For several, that family was on the way!

But, the life of an orphan is hard.

For these little ones, it was too hard...

They all passed away.  

Waiting.

For those who have been here before, I warned you.

I want to break your heart - but in a good way.

I want the lives of these little ones to MATTER.

I want people to know they lived.

Waiting.

Children waiting for a family to choose them.

Families waiting for funds to proceed.

Courts waiting for paperwork to arrive.

So much waiting...

And sometimes, it's just too late.


This is Ekaterina.

It's NOT too late for her.

She is waiting.

This holiday season I'm going to be Ekaterina's "Christmas Warrior".

That means I'm going to send her picture far and wide and ask you to send it on also.

Because, she MATTERS!

One little girl, far away, who's waited 8 years to be someone's chosen child!

How many of us have waited 8 years for anything, let alone, a family?

As Ekaterina's Christmas Warrior I will yell for her but I am also hoping to ease the way for her family by raising a bit of her ransom.  It's my goal to add at least $1000 to her adoption grant by Christmas.



Here's the fun part! I'm doing a GiveAway! For a donation to Ekaterina's grant OR for sharing her info on Facebook/Blog/Twitter you will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Gift Card of your choice- just in time for last minute shopping! A donation of any size=1 entry, sharing=1 entry, purchase her ornament ($35 donation)=3 entries, donate to her and one other child of your choice on the Angel Tree (http://static.reecesrainbow.org/angeltree2012/)=5 entries!
When you've made you donation, email me a copy of your receipt (it will have your address but no financial info except the donation amount) and I will get you entered! Message me or comment to get the email address. The drawing will be done on Sunday, Dec. 16th but Angel Tree donations are accepted through Dec. 31st. All donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE!

Hold her in your heart.  Keep her in your prayers.

Spread the word.

"Do you know someone who could be her mama?"

"She's waiting..."
















Thursday, September 13, 2012

Afraid...


“If to be feelingly alive to the sufferings of my fellow-creatures is to be a fanatic, I am one of the most incurable fanatics ever permitted to be at large.”  William Wilberforce

While in Eastern Europe visiting her daughter, Adéye Salem met our daughter.  She saw our son, standing in his crib and gazing out the window into the hallway.  I read her blog and Susanna's blog and I find that, no matter how excited I am to get to my children, I dread going to this place.  I am afraid.  I know what others have seen there.  I know I will be changed.  I am afraid.  Because, right now, I know about Orphans but when I return, I will know orphans.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10

But, I have to confess, that I also fear... you... readers... friends.  You see, I've posted about these children on Facebook.  And, the crickets were deafening!

It's sad, reading about them, I've been told.

So, I'm trying to be brave.

Because, I want to break your heart!

I want you to fall to your knees, weeping!

I want you to be forever changed!

I think it's a good thing.

Can I encourage you to take a tiny moment of your day and read this and this.  Look at the faces of these children, children who share the floor with our Ethan and Elaina.  Really look at them!  Go here and just pick a child, any child - read their profile.  There are hundreds...  and this is just a tiny fraction of the needs waiting to be met all over the world and close to home.

Will you risk a broken heart?

Don't be afraid...

Really, what's the worst that can happen?

“You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.”  William Wilberforce





More to come, so, read at your own risk!