Reece's Rainbow Families & Children | I'm failing.

This is one of those 'being honest' posts.

I've been advocating for international orphans with special needs for almost exactly two years now.  It was right around Thanksgiving when I saw Katie Musser's picture and read her Mama's blog and watched the videos and visited Reece's Rainbow and the entire weight of the orphan crisis hit me like a ton of bricks.  Two years ago, I couldn't even sleep because no matter what I did to help, it wasn't ENOUGH.

One year ago, with Angel Tree in full swing, helping to raise $1000 each for TWO boys, I was preparing to shave my head if they met their goal... which I did, and I'll have you know it was actually kind of fun!  Not that I want to do it again.  I miss ponytails.

This year I'm failing.

I didn't officially sign up for Angel Tree because I wanted to devote my efforts to helping my friend Laura raise Brett's Angel Tree money.  I was also committed to helping a family raise the money they need to progress with the adoption of their daughter.

All the well-laid plans I had in the past year fell apart in a haze of hospital stays, heartbreak, frustration, and being overwhelmed.

Now it's nearly halfway through Angel Tree... and Brett's total for this year sits at $44.55.  The very bottom tier.  There are some kids already up to $5,000 raised in the past month alone!

I'm failing.  I'm failing Brett.  Brett, who has sat on Reece's Rainbow for at least four years.  Brett, who has been overlooked for too long.  Brett, whose grant was under $100 when I started advocating for him.  Brett, who has been sitting in an orphanage, no family ever coming for him, for TWELVE YEARS.

And I'm failing Annie.  Annie, and her Mama and Daddy to be, who I promised to help.  Annie, who reminds me so much of my precious A, who I would do anything to bring home.  The Enemy has waged war on the Jones family, whose nest-egg for adoption was eaten away literally as soon as they announced their intention to adopt.  Now they are left scrambling to come up with money urgently needed for agency fees.  Money that has to be paid before they even get that invitation to travel.  I'm failing my friend Amanda, who has tried literally EVERYTHING to raise the money to bring her girl home.  Seriously, look at the blog post here where I listed all the ways we were trying to raise this child's ransom!

I feel a tremendous amount of guilt.

Sure, I could say that I've been overwhelmed.  I started a new job in October which is exhausting and takes up 45 hours per week of the time I used to use for advocacy and fundraising.  When my best friend had to go out and get two jobs to support her family, I took on caring for her kids when she works and I don't, so she doesn't spend all she makes trying to pay a babysitter.  I do that happily, because I love her and I love her children - but it's usually another 20 hours a week of my time.  When I do get some downtime, I'm emotionally and physically exhausted and just want to zone out.

I could say that.  But that's an excuse, to me.  And not a good one.  Because you see, while I moan and groan over losing 65 hours per week of free time, while I feel desperate just for some time to zone out... Brett and Annie have nothing to do but zone out.  They have waited too long for a family.  They have far too few people to advocate for them and even fewer willing to step up and change their worlds.  No one, so far, has come forward and said "That is my son," for Brett.  Not in two years of me advocating for him.  Not in four years or more of being listed.  Not in twelve years of life.  ONE family did step up and say "This is our daughter" for Annie - and yet, even among those of us who spend all our time begging for families for children, begging to save them from life in an institution, asking why someone doesn't step up, they have not received the support they need to complete her adoption! 

And I'm as guilty as anyone else.  New job or not.  Exhausted or not.  I'm failing them.

To Brett, and Annie, and my friend Laura, and my friend Amanda and her husband Collin:  I am sorry.  I should be doing more.  I should be doing better.

To everyone else:  I can't do better without you.  Please.  Help me.  See these kids.  See this family.  DO SOMETHING about their need.  Many of the fundraisers I was talking about in the previous post for the Jones family are still going on.  Check out the new shirts (and the old ones, which I got one of and they're AWESOME) at their blog here.  I plan to add a couple more fundraisers to my blog that are currently only on facebook very soon.  My friend Laura is working on a fundraiser via facebook for Brett, which I will also announce here very soon.  Until then, you can support the Jones via paypal, or via their Reece's Rainbow FSP (please note that paypal donations are not tax deductible, but are available for the immediately needed fees, whereas FSP donations are tax deductible but not accessible until travel invitation).  You can support Brett by buying his Angel Tree ornament, or just plain donating to his grant at Reece's Rainbow.

Tomorrow is the day we are supposed to give thanks for what we have.  What better way to show our gratitude than to bless someone else?  And truly, it isn't even only the children or families you will be blessing... there are many advocates cheering along the sidelines who would be so thankful to see these kids a little closer to home.

As for me... I'm making the decision to stop failing NOW!  Get ready to hear from me a lot more often - because I won't rest until these kids are HOME!

Fundraisers Galore! | Reece's Rainbow Families

So.  Ahem.  I have a feeling my begging and pleading for the Jones family adopting Annie is probably getting a bit trying on some of your nerves... given that I haven't shut up about it except when I was under anesthesia.  Annie's Mama, Amanda, has been working HARD to make it easier and more fun for you to help them bring their girl home, and I would like to share some of these awesome new fundraisers with you.  But first I would like to share these words from Amanda's blog:

"We have a big need. We need to make a payment to our agency. We are currently at a STANDSTILL and CANNOT move. There are documents that I am working on but money is our hold up."

That's not cool folks.  Money standing between a child and her family.  Not cool at all.

Now to get down to it.  Amanda has been working her fingers to the bone making things to sell to help get Annie home!  Christmas is coming and I bet you could knock out a person or two on your list AND help bring an orphan home at the same time!

First up:  How cute are these blocks??

They are hand-made, hand-painted domino-style matching blocks - super cute, and would be a one of a kind present for a little person on your list.  Price for these is $20, plus $3 shipping, which I think is a bargain... seriously, go price hand-painted blocks in the store, if you can even find such a thing in this commercial day and age... you won't find a better deal and you'll be helping to bring an orphan home!

Which brings us to the second style of awesome blocks:

Letters!!  Oh, the educator in me is just reeling with possibilities.  Seek-and-find, spelling words, matching capitals and lower case, phonics - ah, I would just love to have these to do with my best friend's kindergartner!  This set of 52 blocks is $30, plus $4 shipping.  Still a bargain as that's a lot of blocks - and I'm not sure I've ever seen lower case letters even in commercially produced letter blocks.  Not to mention, oh wait, this is like the fourth time I've mentioned... THESE ONES HELP BRING AN ORPHAN HOME!!  Click here for how to place your order for either set of blocks.

So maybe there aren't so many kids on your list this holiday season.  Maybe your kids are furry instead.  Guess what...

That's right!  We have something for them too!  Pet collars!  Your pet will be one of a kind with these hand-made collars, priced by size (see picture above).  After all, it's Christmas for kitties and puppies too!  Check out the variety of designs available:

How cool that your pet's present could be tailor-made for him!  He'll be all the talk at the dog park.  Oh, and did I mention you're helping an orphan?  Place your custom order here.

But what about the adults on your list?  Do we have anything for them?  What about, say, your friend Katie?  I don't know, just thinking out loud here... ;)

Oh, that's right!  Just about one of the cutest adoption T-shirts I've ever seen!  No adopted kids?  Don't forget... you were adopted too.  And if you DO just so happen to have a friend who writes some crazy blog about orphans, I'm pretty willing to bet this is on their Christmas list!  These shirts are available in short sleeve ($22) and long sleeve ($26) from adult sizes small to 3XL.  Shipping is included in that price.  Click here for ordering information.

Is fashion your thing?  Do you want even MORE bang for your buck (in addition to helping bring an orphan home and getting a cool item)?  Check out the Trades of Hope E-Show benefiting the Jones family from now until September 27!

These items and MORE can be purchased through this link, and in addition to benefiting you and the Jones family, the sale of these items also supports women living in poverty.  Some of them have been rescued from sex slavery.  Some of them are facing the challenge of raising special needs children alone.  Some of them have been affected by devastating diseases like HIV/AIDS.  I was the lucky recipient of a bracelet much like the one above earlier this year and I LOVE it and everything it represents!  These items make perfect gifts!

And, okay, I know that these days everyone and their sister is a consultant for Thirty-One, but not everyone does it for such a special cause.  Amanda is also a Thirty-One consultant, and if you place your order through her...

...you guessed it... YOU'RE ALSO HELPING AN ORPHAN!  Order through Amanda's link here!  Thirty-One has something for everyone - I know I wouldn't be disappointed to find a bunch of it under my tree!  In fact, I could use a new purse... ;)

Editing to add ONE MORE way to help get them funded... Scentsy!!

This party is going on for the Jones family until September 28, and I can tell you now that these products are seriously awesome.  They make perfect gifts (I got my mom a plug-in warmer this Spring and now we all get to enjoy it!) and perfect holiday decor.  Get your orders in now!


If, somehow, you've still managed to get this far without seeing something you want, we will also have an auction and a giveaway coming up soon.  I shared quite a few non-purchasing options for helping the Jones family in this post.  I am still taking auction items!

Please, if you could just find some way to help... it would mean the world to me... and Amanda and Collin... and to Annie.  The options are many... just pick one!  And don't forget the whole reason behind it all...

She needs YOUR HELP to get home!

"But She Looks Healthy" | Reece's Rainbow Families

This is something that even the most caring, understanding adoption advocates have probably found themselves thinking at one point or another.  Some children CLEARLY need OUT right now.  Nothing more than their pictures is necessary to tell you how dire the circumstances are for these children:

Della is eleven years old.

Hannah is almost five and due for transfer.

Lelani is so underweight she has to be tube fed.  She is four.

Marla is stuck in this position from having spent years that way.

Nehemiah is thirteen years old.

But then there are the other children.  The ones who we know are in orphanages all the same, but who 'look' healthy.

Annie

Bernadette

Otto

Ryan

Shawn

Monet

They don't 'look' sick, do they?  They don't look desperate, like the others.  Surely they can wait a little longer for a family.  Surely their need is not as urgent.

Until you see the truth behind the picture.

Bernadette has epilepsy.  She has complex partial seizures.  She needs expert medical care to prevent permanent damage from being done.

Shawn has HIV.  Without anti-retroviral medications, his disease could progress into full blown AIDS and be fatal.  Or he could age out and be turned out onto the streets, where most girls turn to prostitution and most boys turn to lives of crime, just to survive.

All of these children (with the exception of two) have the same future in store for them.  Years in orphanages and mental institutions.  Some in lying rooms, wasting away.  Not getting the nutrition they need.  If they are not adopted, eventually their pictures WILL look like a child in desperate need.  If they are not adopted, they will ultimately die without ever seeing beyond the four walls of their institutions.

But notice I said 'except for two'.  Have you picked out which two are different yet?

Monet.  Monet is different.  Her given name was Marianna.

Was.

She looked healthy.

She looked like she could wait a little longer.

She was deaf, and she had epilepsy, but hadn't had a reported seizure in years.

Looked.  Was.  Had.

We received confirmation today that Monet/Marianna passed away.

She was three years old.

She died without ever having known the love of a mother.

She looked healthy.

But now she's gone.

Words cannot express the depth of the pain we, as advocates, feel when one of these precious lives is lost.

Rest in peace, sweet angel.  Your pain is gone, you are with Jesus now.

But this loss does something else as well.

It spurs us on to action.  To fight harder.  Until they all come home.

Have you guessed which of the other above children has a different fate than the others yet?

Annie.

Beloved child, holder of hearts.

Annie has a different fate than the others for a different, much happier reason than Monet.

She has a family.

A committed family who stepped out in faith and said "YES, she is our daughter."

But they are struggling.  Everyone is fundraising, the economy is poor, everyone is tapped out.  The blows just keep on coming making their funding situation look more and more bleak.

But she looks healthy... shouldn't we give to a sicker-looking child first?

Monet looked healthy too.

Right now, MONEY is the only thing holding Annie's family back from moving more quickly to get her home.  They recently lost an expected $1,000 matching grant due to the donor's inability to follow through.  We do not blame the donor who initially offered up such a generous gift, but we do need to make up for the loss of expected funding.

MONEY is standing between Annie and her family.

This is unacceptable.

We cannot allow children to wait even one extra minute because of money.

There is too much at risk.

A few days ago I posted about why Annie's family is so close to my heart, and detailed all the ways that YOU can help them bring their girl home.

The response has been disappointing to say the least.

If you, like me, are heartbroken by the loss of another child... one who 'looked' healthy... won't you help us make sure that this child doesn't have to wait longer and face greater risk - simply because of MONEY?

Don't you have just a few dollars to spare?  Can't you skip pizza night and eat a grilled cheese sandwich?

And if you truly don't have two pennies to rub together, couldn't you at least share this post and help us reach the people who may be able to give?

It's not hard.  It's not complicated.  Give.  Share.  Pray.

You can find Annie's family's blog with the YouCaring Give widget on the right hand side here.

Please?

Close To My Heart | Reece's Rainbow Family

I have promised a few people (after my persistent begging for this family) in the past couple days that I would explain *why* 'Annie's family is so close to my heart.  This is that post.

Annie was close to my heart from the start, because she reminded me so much of my precious A, the little girl that I helped to raise and who lived with me on and off from ages 2-9.  Here are the two of them side-by-side.

On the left is my A.  On the right is RR's "Annie".

Wow, right?

How could I not fall in love with the little girl who reminded me so much of the one who holds my heart?  Even her description on Reece's Rainbow reminded me of my A.

"Diagnosis: delays in development -report indicates that due to delayed speech, Autism was initially suspected. However, no formal testing has been done and the child’s development is continuing to improve.

Annie is 7 years old. Her motor skills are well developed. She walks, runs, catches & throws a ball, climbs, hops on one foot and participates in musical games that require movement. Her fine motor skills are developing as well. She can open/close scissors and is learning to cut with them. She draws on paper, though she is not yet writing letters. She plays with play dough and builds a tower of 12 blocks. She is in the 1st grade and attending school outside the orphanage. She follows verbal directions and responds to her name. She tries to imitate words said by adults. She currently expresses herself non verbally. She is very protective of her possessions. She doesn’t often initiate play with the other children, but she will play close to them. She will join in organized group activities for short periods of time and is very emotionally responsive to familiar adults. She needs extra time to complete tasks and has a short attention span. She stops inappropriate behaviors when redirected by an adult. She feeds and dresses herself. Since she is non verbal, she does not yet indicate that she needs to go to the bathroom on her own, so she is taken on a schedule and is completely toilet trained using this method."

Delayed development... check.
Delayed speech... check.
Autism was initially suspected... check.
Well developed motor skills... check.
Follows verbal directions and responds to her name... check.
Very protective of her possessions... check.
Emotionally responsive to *familiar* adults... check.
Needs extra time to complete tasks... check.
Short attention span... super check.
Stops inappropriate behaviors when redirected... check.
Feeds and dresses herself... check.
Difficulties with toilet training... check.

Those very words could have been written about my A just a few short years ago.  In those short years, she has progressed amazingly.  I just know that with the love of a family, "Annie" will too.

Because I was instantly drawn to "Annie" because she reminded me so much of my A, I wrote a blog post about her.  I shared it in the Reece's Rainbow group I'm in.  Someone saw it.

She saw it, and her heart stopped too.  She saw it, and she too realized she was looking into the eyes of her little girl.  She showed it to her husband... and he, too, realized that this was the child that was meant to be theirs.

Amanda and Collin said "Yes" to Annie.  They inquired with an agency and sent commitment papers to both the agency and Reece's Rainbow.

God used me to lead them to their daughter.  I truly can't tell you what that meant to me.

You see, the past few years have not been easy ones for my A and I.  I can't share all the details, but in short, a little over a year ago, my A confessed something to me that she had never told anyone else.  Something bad.  Something serious.  She needed help... desperately.

I did everything I could to help her.  I fought for her.  I contacted all the right people.  I told them the truth.  I prayed for God to help me help A.

A little over a year later, we have been to hell and back.  We prayed without ceasing.  We went to court.

We lost.

I could not help A escape her situation or her abuser.  I made a promise to help her, and I failed.

It is the biggest failure of my entire life.

My heart is broken.

I haven't seen my sweet A in over a year.  I don't even know if she is safe.  If nothing has changed since the last time I saw her, she almost certainly is not.

I still pray every day.

I still sleep with her stuffed elephant 'lovey' every night.

I still believe she is coming home someday.

But for right now... I couldn't help my precious princess A.  I failed her.

I love you, Princessa.

But Annie...

Annie is our chance to create beauty from the ashes.

I couldn't help my A, as hard as I tried... but I can help Annie.

And then someday... I will have the most beautiful story to tell my Princessa... about how, without ever knowing it, she helped bring a little orphan girl home to her family.

I already let my sweet girl down.  I can't let Annie down too.

When Amanda and Collin began considering committing to Annie, I promised to help them in whatever way possible.  They took a huge leap of faith... and I promised to help them make it a success.

I can't break another promise to another little girl.

In honor of my sweet girl... I have to help bring this sweet girl to the parents who love and want her more than anything.

To the family she deserves more than anything.

"Annie"

But I can't do it alone.  I am but one person with very limited resources.

I have no job.

I'm not even currently capable of working, having had surgery for a debilitating condition some twelve hours ago.

My bank account reads $0.68

I raided my statehood quarter collection just to eat last week.

I am $400 short of a very important bill that MUST be paid in just over two weeks with no income.

I am crafty, but I have no money to buy supplies.  I am, however, little by little, piecing together an auction to benefit Annie's family.  But still I have no money to pay for postage.

I have ideas for fundraisers, but lack the resources (not just money - venues, volunteers, etc.) to pull them off.

All I really have...

Is my voice.

So I make it a loud one.

I scream for Annie and the Jones family every opportunity I have.

But my screaming is all for nothing if nobody is listening.

I need you.

Annie needs you.

Amanda and Collin need you.

To bring their little girl home... the very thing I failed at doing a year ago this fall.  The very thing that broke my heart.

We - I - can't fail again.

A child's life is on the line.

Everybody can do something.  I have seen people give out of nothing - families who are in the process to adopt themselves giving to other families.  Individuals who live on a fixed income sharing what little they have to help someone else.  Teenagers who save up their babysitting money to help an orphan.

Nearly all of us can spare something.  Even if it's only five dollars.  One dollar.  Any amount counts.

Can you imagine if each one of my friends and family, each one of Amanda and Collin's friends and family, each Reece's Rainbow supporter... gave just five dollars each?  Or even one dollar each?  Even at that low, easily manageable amount, thousands of dollars would be raised.

Isn't the life of a child worth a dollar to you?

Couldn't you pass up that big mac, or that Starbucks coffee, and eat at home instead, and be a part of saving a child's life?

Besides - God loves a cheerful giver.  I can't count the number of times He has blessed me for giving from nothing.  You'd be surprised what He will do for you if you give selflessly and with your whole heart.

And if you're in the situation I'm in right now... jobless... in debt... perhaps disabled... and truly don't have two pennies to rub together - there are still things you can do.

When was the last time you cleaned out your basement or attic?  Get a Christmas gift last year that just wasn't your style?  Unwanted gift cards?  Good at a craft?  These items make wonderful auction items - all you have to do is contact me at Callmecrazycbus@hotmail.com with a photo and a description of the item(s) you'd like to donate, and I can put them in Annie's Auction.  Depending on your location, Amanda or myself can pick up items, or you can ship them to us or directly to the auction winner.  Shipping reimbursement is available.  It doesn't cost you a thing... and helps clean out your house!

Just cleaned out your house and truly don't have anything extra lying around?  No good at arts and crafts?  There's STILL something you can do... and it only takes a couple clicks of your mouse.  At the bottom of this post, there are several icons that allow you to share it on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and a variety of other social networks.  You can also copy and paste the link to the post anywhere you like.  Simply share the post, and maybe it will reach someone who DOES have something to give.  It's that easy to be a part of saving a life (not to mention making my day.  Seriously, every time someone shares about Annie and her family, I find myself grinning ear to ear for hours).

The easiest way yet to help is to pray.  One simple sentence added to your evening prayers.  "Dear Lord, please bring Annie home to her family, safe and sound."

I can't imagine that's too much to ask.

I can't turn away.  I have to do whatever I can, not just for Annie, but in honor of my A.  To create beauty from the ashes.  To help heal my broken heart.

Now you know why this means so much to me.  And you know exactly how you can help.  Please, I'm begging you not to turn away either.

Give.  Advocate.  Share.  Pray.  Everyone can do something.

And I guarantee, you won't regret being a part of this sweet girl's miracle.



Helpful links:

To GIVE MONEY:

• 50/50 fundraiser going on at the Jones family's blog until September 2nd HERE.
• Donate through the Jones' tax deductible Reece's Rainbow FSP HERE.
• Donate directly to the Jones' (non-tax deductible) via paypal HERE.
• Contact Amanda for information on sending a check (avoid paypal fees) HERE.
• Order Thirty-One products from Amanda HERE.

To GIVE AUCTION ITEMS:

• Contact me at Callmecrazycbus@hotmail.com.
• Contact Amanda at jones.jer2911@gmail.com.

To ADVOCATE/SHARE:

• Copy and paste the link to this blog post (http://crazy-arewethereyet.blogspot.com/2013/08/close-to-my-heart.html) anywhere you'd like.
• Copy and paste the link to the Jones' blog (http://youbeliftedhigh.blogspot.com/) anywhere you'd like.
• Copy and paste the link to the Jones' Reece's Rainbow FSP (http://reecesrainbow.org/61087/sponsorjones-2) anywhere you'd like.
• Use the 'share buttons' below this post to share it on the social media network of your choice (they look like this):  

To PRAY:

• Well - that one's easy!

Remember... EVERYONE can do SOMETHING!

Surgery... and a plea

Check out my other blog for an FYI on the surgery I'm having tomorrow, and a plea for my friends adopting this beautiful girl.

Sadness and Joy

Recently, the adoption world has been a tumultuous place.  It's hard to tell the truth from the lies, to see the light in the dark.  For some people, it's become an ugly place.  For others, it's confusing.  For more yet - myself included - it's just terribly sad.  The focus has shifted from the children to, what seems to me to be needless drama.

Through all the dark, there was someone who wanted to bring a little more light to the adoption world.  Someone who agreed with me that we all need to refocus our energy on the children.  Right now, the Enemy is rejoicing because we are fighting amongst ourselves instead of working as the hands and feet of God to rescue these children.  This person, who contacted me to help her in her happy mission, sought to find others who had kept their focus on the children, even throughout all the drama, and lift them up by assisting their fundraising efforts to bring children home.  So I made a post in the adoption group we're in, and the response was overwhelming.  So many families who were the silent majority... families who might not have even been noticed because those involved in the drama are so loud, it's hard to hear the voices of anyone else over theirs.  The selfless actions of this donor brought smiles to the faces of many.  For a while, the light overcame the dark.

Sadly, for one reason or another, cynicism allowed someone, whom I will not name as not to encourage said drama, to accuse the donor of having ulterior motives; to take a post in a private group and share it in a public blog with untrue assumptions about the identity and motivation of the donor, myself, and the families who were blessed by the donor.  Because comments from 'outsiders' are disabled, I was unable to even refute these accusations on the aforementioned blog.  Suddenly, a damper fell over the positivity and joy spread by this person's selfless act... and the sadness I felt about the state of the adoption world before returned.

Let me tell you a little something, without giving away the identity of the donor, who wishes to remain anonymous for personal reasons.  This individual's motivations are nothing but pure.  This is an individual who is in it 100% for the children, who has not taken sides, and who has, like me, been saddened both by the state of the adoption world, and events in their personal life.  This is a person who was desperately searching for a way to bring joy and light to their own life and the lives of others.  Through these donations, this individual achieved that goal, probably more than they ever anticipated.

Can you imagine how this individual felt when they saw someone accusing them of less than pure motives, of being a part of some conspiracy?  Can you imagine how it felt - like a deflated balloon - for anything to put a damper on this individual's joy?  This person did something pure good, and was rewarded with gossip and unfair assumptions... and neither one of us were able to refute them where they were made, as comments are disabled on that particular blog.

I guess my caution is this.  However righteous you may feel, however strongly you may agree or disagree with any person or group, mind your words and your actions, because you never know what innocent people may be hurt along the way.  Do not gossip, do not make assumptions.  I say this not to any one person or group, but to everyone.  When I was a little girl, and people made fun of me ruthlessly, my mom always used to tell me to 'kill 'em with kindness'.  That's what we need to do now.  Focus on the kids, ignore the drama, and replace this sadness with joy.  That's what this donor and I were trying to do, and that's what we'll continue to do.  I hope you're with us.

A Family in Need | Reece's Rainbow Families

I have been blessed recently to know a family who, though not planning an international adoption before, fell in love with a child on RR and decided to jump in with both feet.  This is amazing because they are acting on faith.  You see, sometimes families hesitate to commit to children because commitment costs can be so overwhelming, and not every child has a large grant already waiting for them.  Some children don't have a grant yet at all, therefore to even start the process to rescue the child, families have to come up with a large sum in a short amount of time.  This is one of those situations - where a family is taking a leap of faith to try to raise commitment costs in a short amount of time, knowing all the while that a child's life rests in the balance.

A Family Sponsorship Program can be set up with Reece's Rainbow, but not until after commitment costs have been paid.  The visibility and tax deductible status of the FSP has helped many families raise needed funds - but not before commitment.  Here we have a family who is ready to jump in and rescue a child, maybe two, and MONEY is the only thing holding them back.

We can't let that happen.  We just can't.

A lot of people will say that it's the family's responsibility alone to raise commitment costs - because if they can't come up with the initial money, how are they going to fund the rest of their adoption?  But there is a fundamental flaw in this logic.  Many, many adoptive parents were not planning to adopt, therefore they were not setting money aside for this purpose.  It's great when a family knows they intend to adopt and can set aside funds beforehand, but sometimes God taps us on the shoulder, and ready or not, families go.  That's what this family is doing.  It will take time to get further fundraisers in place, for the family to reassess their expenses to save as much as possible for their adoption.  But the kids - they don't have time.  Some children's files are returned after only two months with an agency if a family is not found for them.  Other children are in such desperate condition, that a family must be able to move as quickly as possible.

This is where we come in.  Those of us who can't adopt can still help.  We can help that family raise the initial ransom for their children, giving them time to formulate a plan for the rest of the adoption expenses.  We can donate, or do a fundraiser for them, or share their need.

Sadly, I have seen situations where families were unable to raise commitment costs in time and had to release a child.  This means more time waiting for those children.  We can't let that happen anymore.  If we're not willing or able to jump in and go get these kids ourselves, we need to rally around those who are.

So here I want to introduce you to my friend Amanda.  She and her husband are just starting out their adoption journey, hoping to rescue one, maybe two children from Eastern Europe.  These are children who do not have time to wait around.  They are also in a place where initial commitment costs are high, so a family's work is really cut out for them.  Amanda has started a blog recently to write about their need, their fundraisers, and hopefully one day their children.  I encourage you to visit her blog.  Note the paypal link on the right hand side.  Could you contribute just a little bit - maybe swap out Starbucks for a home brew, or skip pizza night, to help ransom an orphan?  In situations like these, every little bit helps!  Check out Amanda's posts too - she is also a 31 consultant!  I have to admit I have fallen for 31 bags recently, as have many people, and if you order through Amanda, her commission will go straight toward ransoming an orphan.  It's a win-win situation!

One day, hopefully one day soon, I hope to be able to post a picture to show you the face(s) of the child(ren) that this family is bringing home... but it can't happen without you.  Right now, right here, is where you can help.  So many of us have hearts for these children but cannot adopt.  This is our opportunity to DO something.  To be a part of bringing orphans home.

Visit Amanda's blog here.

And remember these faces.  Faces of children across the world who have no hope without you... as you do.

Donate.  Share.  Pray.  Do something.

Which group will you be in?  The one that steps up... or the one that walks away?

Do You Want...

All of us - well, okay, most of us - try to be relatively frugal most of the time... but don't you ever have days where you think, "Wow, it would be really cool if I could have a ___________!"  Because I know I do!  It would be really cool if I could have an iPad - or any sort of tablet-type gadget.  It would be really cool if an extra $50 or $100 dropped out of the sky for me to spend as I pleased.  Honestly, it would be really cool just to have a neat little trinket that makes me smile that I didn't have before - say, one of those things I pick up in the aisle at the store and then put back thinking, "I don't really NEED this."

So, what do you daydream about having?  Electronics?  Books?  Crafty stuff?  Gift certificates?  Something you can use to pay it forward?

Well, friends, I have good news for you.  I have a way for you to be frugal - more than frugal - generous... and still get a chance (a whole lot bigger than the one you have now!) of owning that 'whatever' that you want!  In fact, the only money you'll spend will be tax deductible donations (size is up to you) to go toward uniting orphans with their Forever Families.

The 2013 Mulligan Stew has arrived!

Do you want an iPad mini?  A Wii U deluxe set?  A Kindle Fire HD?

Do you want a $500 Visa gift card?  How about a Visa or store gift card of up to $100?

Or would you like to share the wealth even more and win the chance to give up to $250 to the Reece's Rainbow child/family of your choice?

And these are just a few of the amazing prizes available!

But the most amazing prize... is the one you get just by entering.  The opportunity to change the life of a child, a family, forever.  That prize is guaranteed when you enter.

For more details on how to enter, please check out the Mulligan Stew details here.  Earn extra entries by sharing!

Please?  It's my birthday tomorrow... do it for me?  And you never know... you could win big!

Going Back for More

Back when my other blog was my only blog, I'm sure I shared this picture with you:

This is Keith.  Well.  That was Keith.  You might remember that he was in a bad place.  A place where no child should be.  A place where, at four years old, he weighed only 12 pounds.  A place where he was alone all the time, lying unstimulated in a crib.

Then my friend Amanda Unroe said 'Yes' to Keith... and to four other children in the same country.  Yes, you read that right.  Amanda, who admits she's probably not entirely sane (but in the best way), brought five children with down syndrome home at once.  And she did it like a rockstar too.  Keith and his brother and sisters have been home for six months now.  Look at that little twelve pound 'baby' now...

Check out all that hair, the little bit of chub on his hand... the light that shines in him... having a family has brought him to life!  He escaped that place where no child should be, and now he gets to be part of one of the most amazing families I know.  The Unroes currently have eighteen children, and they love and treasure every single one of them.  In fact, Amanda may be the most fun mom ever - she lets them have indoor snowball fights!  When I heard that, I volunteered to be adopted next!

I think it's safe to say that these five 'orphans no more' have a lot of happy memories ahead of them...

The first of many *adorable* Christmases in a family!

But, my friend Amanda, as you can probably guess, loves kids.  Imagine a person like her going into the place Keith was, the sort of place you don't even want to imagine one child in, and knowing - seeing - that there are hundreds of them there.  A few of them have families coming for them... but what of the others?  Imagine coming home, seeing this beautiful child come to life, and then seeing more children who have suffered far too much for their short lives listed for adoption... and no one stepping forward for them.  Imagine knowing that for the ones you brought home, there are dozens more left behind.

Someone like Amanda experiences that and thinks 'I have more love to give.'  Bringing home children doesn't divide the love - it multiplies it.

So she committed to three more children in a terrible place.  Three more children who desperately need to come home... less than six months after getting home with these five.  And by the way, I have no doubt she's going to absolutely rock it with three more too.  The first year I did Vacation Bible School, there were 31 kids in my class, and myself and two other teachers.  I was fourteen.  I remember my mom saying to me that night, "Crazy, huh?" and I replied "I like this kind of crazy.  It works well for me."  That's the kind of person Amanda is.  Even though most of us can't imagine how we'd handle 21 kids, she handles 18 like a rockstar, and she'll do the same when the other three are home.  Everybody has rough days, sure, but for the most part, it sounds like a lot of fun to live in that house!

Meet the kids who will join the Unroe family this year.

"Presley" will be named Charity.

"Carson" will be named Johnathan.

"Thad" will be named Matthew.

Do you want to guess how old they are?  I'll bet you'd never have guessed that Keith was four in that first picture, five now, would you?  How about these little ones?

Charity is three.  She has autism.

Johnathan is six.  He has hydrocephalus, treated with a shunt.

Matthew is nine.  He suffered a severe brain injury from abuse by his birth parents.  He has been neglected so severely that he weighs only 18 pounds and his legs are contracted at the knee.  He needs to come home yesterday.

The family is currently working to update their homestudy, working on the dossier (paperwork) that needs to be sent to the kids' country and translated for their government, and filing paperwork with Reece's Rainbow to be eligible for the Family Sponsorship Program (FSP).  Once that paperwork is done you will be able to make tax deductible donations to them through Reece's Rainbow.  For now though, funds are still desperately needed.  They have a number of auctions and buy-it-now sales going on continuously on facebook, are participating in programs that will share portions of the proceeds with their adoption fund, and knowing Amanda, will be having any number of other fundraisers until these three finally touch American soil.  But right now, the biggest obstacle for them is money.  Every next step takes money.  Agency fees, getting documents in order to send to the government, filing them, paying the homestudy agency, I don't think I could accurately list everything if I tried, having never adopted myself, but since they went through this process already last year, they know what they're doing and have gotten everything together as fast as they could - and a lot of it is done - but now they need the money to move forward.

Look at him.  He is nine years old.  Matthew desperately needs the kind of love and care a family provide - the kind that transformed Keith from a crib-bound infant to a busy toddler on the verge of walking independently.

Money cannot be what stands between this little boy - or his brother and sister - and the care they need and deserve.  There is no time to waste.  They've waited years.  They shouldn't have to wait one more day than absolutely necessary.

Many of us have tax refunds coming this time of year.  I think I know where the Unroes' is going.  Lots of people plan vacations or buy themselves shiny new things with their tax refunds, and that's fine - you earned that money, you deserve it - but could you spare just a little bit to help bring these kids home?  $20, out of the whole amount?  Would that be too much to ask?  Too little, perhaps?  If I spent my money the way I really wanted to, they and a few other families would be getting my whole paychecks and I'd be living on chicken nuggets indefinitely.  Most of you know that I only just got a full time job - what I made last year was independent and won't earn me a refund.  Nevertheless, I'll pledge $20 from my next paycheck to the Unroes.  Would you be willing to match me?  And if you can't afford $20, how about $10?  Would you give up pizza night this week to help bring Matthew and the others home?  How about $5?  From what I understand, that's about one cup of coffee at Starbucks.  Brew your coffee at home one day, please, and help me bless this family?  You won't regret being a part of making a difference in the lives of these kids and indeed, their entire beautiful family.

Donations can be made via paypal to unroerescare@yahoo.com, or on their blog linked below.  There is a "Chip-In" on the upper right hand side of the blog where you can donate - Chip-In is down while I'm writing this so you can use the paypal address as an alternative, but the Chip-In should be back up soon.

And if you want to learn more about my friend's amazing family, please check out their blog (full of cute pictures too!).  A mutual friend, Michelle (who is adopting Carolina and could also use both prayers and funds - we are trying to arrange a local benefit for their adoption as they live relatively near me, so if anyone local can help us find a place to do that I would love to hear from you!) also wrote a beautiful post about them this week that you can read here.  In fact, please do read it.  She writes much more eloquently than I do... and she can tell you more about Matthew's story.

Friends... I know we're not all called to adopt.  I know we're not all called to have 21 kids.  We're not even all called to write blogs and fundraise for orphans.  But we're all commanded to CARE for orphans.  Here is a family who has done wonderful things (all but one of their children are adopted, by the way), and you have the chance to help them, to be a part of that.  I'm blessed to have been even a small part of it.  Don't let another day go by missing out on that.  Match my pledge... or exceed it... or just give what you can... say a prayer... offer an encouraging word on their blog... do anything except nothing.

 

They're counting on you.