When I started my first blog several years ago, I intended to chronicle a long journey toward adopting a child with special needs. I made plans, I counted days, I screamed and advocated for kids while I waited to be old enough...
And then God threw me a curve ball.
I have Borderline Personality Disorder.
I have accepted this and I refuse to be ashamed of it.
Unfortunately, the medical community still knows very little about psychological disease (I prefer this term to 'mental illness' because the latter implies the conscious mind is at fault when science proves that, like any other brain disease, structures and chemicals and hormones are responsible) and people with personality disorders are often 'screened out' of the pool of potential adoptive families. Private adoption remains an option for some but these opportunities are not common or reliable. Internationally, personality disorders and similar disease are even less understood. In fact, I'd go so far as to say there are people institutionalized, people whose every right has been taken from them, people living in deplorable conditions - because they have the same disease I do. The difference is this: I was born in the US. I want to HELP those with psychological afflictions. Were I born elsewhere, I would simply be labeled 'another psych case' and I would be the one in need of help. That's staggering to think about.
By now you might sense where this post is going. I likely will never be able to adopt, unless some attitudes change in some pretty big ways. This comes as a major blow especially as my ability to have biological children may be compromised (and all I've ever wanted to be was a mom). However, I have been taking some time for myself and thinking about what all this means for over a year now, and I realized that as usual, when God closed a door, he opened a window.
From now on, I will not be blogging about or actively pursuing my own adoption journey. I will continue to advocate for orphans and indeed for all children - and at the same time, I will advocate for those people like me, people with psychological disease who are misunderstood by society and thus often barred from things like adoption. There is no reason why a properly treated psychological condition should be considered differently than a properly treated 'physical' condition (quotes, because, aren't chemicals physical?) Further, this stigma perpetuates the problem of seriously ill people taking responsibility for children as they choose not to seek treatment for fear of what the label might mean for them. Wouldn't it be better if openness, honesty, and a good solid treatment plan counted for more than a label? THAT is my goal.
So hi. I'm Kate. I have Borderline Personality Disorder. And someday, given the chance, I will be a wonderful mom.
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Friday, March 25, 2016
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Twenty-five
This weekend I turned 25.
This is a big deal birthday for me. No, no driving privileges (unless you count that I can now cheaply rent a car), buying alcohol or tobacco (never really was interested anyways), gambling or lottery tickets (ok, the best part of those is scratching them off just for fun)... no earning the right to vote, no 'over the hill', it's not one of 'those' landmark birthdays. But it's a big deal to me.
Why?
Two and a half years ago when I found Reece's Rainbow, when I prayed for God to break my heart in the ways that break His - and my heart was broken for orphans with special needs all over the world - I started reading up on what a person had to do to adopt. To my delight, I found that single mothers could indeed adopt from some countries! There was an income requirement - but it was one that seemed achievable. And then I hit the brick wall... the minimum age requirement for any American to adopt was twenty-five. That seemed so far off. By then, many of these children would have spent most of their childhoods in orphanages. Many of them would have died, having never known the love of a family. And I couldn't go after them... not yet.
So what I did was I made a resolve. I told myself that God had brought these kids to my attention early for a reason, that He was giving me time to get my affairs in order so that when 25 hit, I was ready.
Sometimes I wonder if God laughs a bit to himself when He sees that we think we've figured out His plan.
In the 2.5 years that I was supposed to be spending getting ready to adopt, I've had at least three surgeries, at least half a dozen hospitalizations, a court battle over one of my dear borrowed kids, filed bankruptcy, and lost multiple jobs due to health issues. Instead of being independent, ready to bring an orphan into my home to love as my own forever, I still share a home with my mother. I still scrounge for pennies just to buy food sometimes.
So even though my family (incidentally, only part of which is defined by blood, underscoring the message of my awesome new Reece's Rainbow Sevenly shirt) made my 25th birthday an absolutely wonderful, beautiful day, there is a bittersweet aspect. A mourning of the loss of the hopes I once had for this day.
It was just as I sat down for a birthday dinner with my little family that I got the message from a friend - "Did you see Elizabeth's post about you?" I rushed to read what she was talking about, knowing it could only be good. You see, a little under a year ago, I got to know a wonderful woman named Elizabeth via Reece's Rainbow. There are a lot of things I could tell you about Elizabeth. The most obvious, the one most people might think to mention first, is that she has cancer. But cancer isn't what I think about when I think about Elizabeth. Just like my dearly departed friend Angie, she doesn't let the disease define or limit her life or who she is. What is MORE important to tell you about Elizabeth is that she has one of the kindest, most giving spirits of anyone I have ever met. Knowing her diagnosis would prevent her from adopting, Elizabeth has poured herself into giving whatever she can to children in need and the families who CAN go for them.
That day, without even knowing my personal reflections about turning 25, Elizabeth decided to give me the greatest gift of all... to include me in her magic-making... to allow me to choose a child or family to receive a donation today, for my birthday. I am so thrilled and blessed to be given this opportunity. However, it is so hard, when there are so many deserving children and families, to choose just one to bless today! So that's where my part of the plan comes in.
When Elizabeth made her announcement, I already had a couple children in mind who I would like to see get donations. But the families... goodness, the need there is overwhelming, and I had no idea how to choose. I asked for suggestions... families close to travel, families needing large sums, or just families that held a special place in someone's heart. And boy, did I get suggestions! Hah - and I thought asking for them would make it easier to choose! WRONG!
I have prayerfully chosen to share the blessings with one family and one child. The family will be the Horton Family adopting Gary and Marnie and the child will be Annie #40-4. The Hortons are a wonderful family who brought home a beautiful little girl from Eastern Europe last year - sweet Sophia has undergone a complete transformation since then - she is so healthy and thriving now! We can't wait until Gary and Marnie are home and can enjoy the same blessings of having a family. The Horton family will be leaving for their Gotcha trip in just a few days!
And sweet Annie... my love... I can't recall if I posted about it or not, but the family who had committed to her was regretfully unable to continue and released her. They still love her and have promised to help me advocate for her. As a result of their commitment to her, though, Annie has a permanent listing on Reece's Rainbow and a grant account, which is uncommon for children in her country unless they have Down Syndrome. Most children are listed for the two months an agency has their file, and then disappear again. Because of my friends' initial commitment to Annie, she will now be able to have money in her grant account when a family does step forward for her! Sadly, Annie has recently been transferred to a mental institution. Someone needs to rescue her, and fast!
In the process of choosing the Hortons and Annie, though, many deserving families and children have come to my attention. I would like to share all of these here and ask for your help, as well as introduce one more fundraiser for a third family.
Here is a list of families and children whose needs were brought to my attention, including links to their FSPs and/or blogs. I am humbly asking that you help me out with a 'two for one' gift - two for one because both myself and the families/children will be blessed by your gift. I'm calling it "25 for 25" - as in, $25 of any denomination, for my 25 years of life. Would you please consider giving $25 (for my 25th birthday) - or if you can't afford that, $2.50, or even $0.25 (or any other amount) to any one of these families or children? Since I am unable to adopt at 25 as I had hoped, and am temporarily unemployed and therefore unable to give as much as I'd like to these families and children, all I have left is my voice... so I am begging you to give me the gift of helping me help them. It's all I want for my birthday.
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| (And got the world's most awesome shirt) |
This is a big deal birthday for me. No, no driving privileges (unless you count that I can now cheaply rent a car), buying alcohol or tobacco (never really was interested anyways), gambling or lottery tickets (ok, the best part of those is scratching them off just for fun)... no earning the right to vote, no 'over the hill', it's not one of 'those' landmark birthdays. But it's a big deal to me.
Why?
Two and a half years ago when I found Reece's Rainbow, when I prayed for God to break my heart in the ways that break His - and my heart was broken for orphans with special needs all over the world - I started reading up on what a person had to do to adopt. To my delight, I found that single mothers could indeed adopt from some countries! There was an income requirement - but it was one that seemed achievable. And then I hit the brick wall... the minimum age requirement for any American to adopt was twenty-five. That seemed so far off. By then, many of these children would have spent most of their childhoods in orphanages. Many of them would have died, having never known the love of a family. And I couldn't go after them... not yet.
So what I did was I made a resolve. I told myself that God had brought these kids to my attention early for a reason, that He was giving me time to get my affairs in order so that when 25 hit, I was ready.
Sometimes I wonder if God laughs a bit to himself when He sees that we think we've figured out His plan.
In the 2.5 years that I was supposed to be spending getting ready to adopt, I've had at least three surgeries, at least half a dozen hospitalizations, a court battle over one of my dear borrowed kids, filed bankruptcy, and lost multiple jobs due to health issues. Instead of being independent, ready to bring an orphan into my home to love as my own forever, I still share a home with my mother. I still scrounge for pennies just to buy food sometimes.
So even though my family (incidentally, only part of which is defined by blood, underscoring the message of my awesome new Reece's Rainbow Sevenly shirt) made my 25th birthday an absolutely wonderful, beautiful day, there is a bittersweet aspect. A mourning of the loss of the hopes I once had for this day.
It was just as I sat down for a birthday dinner with my little family that I got the message from a friend - "Did you see Elizabeth's post about you?" I rushed to read what she was talking about, knowing it could only be good. You see, a little under a year ago, I got to know a wonderful woman named Elizabeth via Reece's Rainbow. There are a lot of things I could tell you about Elizabeth. The most obvious, the one most people might think to mention first, is that she has cancer. But cancer isn't what I think about when I think about Elizabeth. Just like my dearly departed friend Angie, she doesn't let the disease define or limit her life or who she is. What is MORE important to tell you about Elizabeth is that she has one of the kindest, most giving spirits of anyone I have ever met. Knowing her diagnosis would prevent her from adopting, Elizabeth has poured herself into giving whatever she can to children in need and the families who CAN go for them.
That day, without even knowing my personal reflections about turning 25, Elizabeth decided to give me the greatest gift of all... to include me in her magic-making... to allow me to choose a child or family to receive a donation today, for my birthday. I am so thrilled and blessed to be given this opportunity. However, it is so hard, when there are so many deserving children and families, to choose just one to bless today! So that's where my part of the plan comes in.
When Elizabeth made her announcement, I already had a couple children in mind who I would like to see get donations. But the families... goodness, the need there is overwhelming, and I had no idea how to choose. I asked for suggestions... families close to travel, families needing large sums, or just families that held a special place in someone's heart. And boy, did I get suggestions! Hah - and I thought asking for them would make it easier to choose! WRONG!
I have prayerfully chosen to share the blessings with one family and one child. The family will be the Horton Family adopting Gary and Marnie and the child will be Annie #40-4. The Hortons are a wonderful family who brought home a beautiful little girl from Eastern Europe last year - sweet Sophia has undergone a complete transformation since then - she is so healthy and thriving now! We can't wait until Gary and Marnie are home and can enjoy the same blessings of having a family. The Horton family will be leaving for their Gotcha trip in just a few days!
And sweet Annie... my love... I can't recall if I posted about it or not, but the family who had committed to her was regretfully unable to continue and released her. They still love her and have promised to help me advocate for her. As a result of their commitment to her, though, Annie has a permanent listing on Reece's Rainbow and a grant account, which is uncommon for children in her country unless they have Down Syndrome. Most children are listed for the two months an agency has their file, and then disappear again. Because of my friends' initial commitment to Annie, she will now be able to have money in her grant account when a family does step forward for her! Sadly, Annie has recently been transferred to a mental institution. Someone needs to rescue her, and fast!
In the process of choosing the Hortons and Annie, though, many deserving families and children have come to my attention. I would like to share all of these here and ask for your help, as well as introduce one more fundraiser for a third family.
Here is a list of families and children whose needs were brought to my attention, including links to their FSPs and/or blogs. I am humbly asking that you help me out with a 'two for one' gift - two for one because both myself and the families/children will be blessed by your gift. I'm calling it "25 for 25" - as in, $25 of any denomination, for my 25 years of life. Would you please consider giving $25 (for my 25th birthday) - or if you can't afford that, $2.50, or even $0.25 (or any other amount) to any one of these families or children? Since I am unable to adopt at 25 as I had hoped, and am temporarily unemployed and therefore unable to give as much as I'd like to these families and children, all I have left is my voice... so I am begging you to give me the gift of helping me help them. It's all I want for my birthday.
- Alejandro for the Greene family - This family is in the process of their first adoption, and overwhelmed by all the emotions and excitement that go with that. A little FSP encouragement could be just what they need!
- Kiril and Dell's family - These two have been waiting so long for a family... and it's finally their turn! What a blessing it would be for them and their family to get a little help bringing their boys home!
- Brandy and Brielle for the Casebier family - Terri Casebier has been the most wonderful advocate for so many families. Even as they raise funds for their own adoption, she posts all the time about families with urgent needs. When I asked for suggestions of families for this project, she not only posted her FSP but those of several other families!
- Rita for the Mayr family - This family is getting ready to travel for their 'gotcha' trip and are still thousands of dollars short! Could you please help out in some way?
- Margaret for the Thorp family - This family is traveling within the next few weeks and are still short on funds. They have already suffered a huge blow as Margaret's sweet sister Merry, to whom she was very attached, passed away early this year.
- Daniel for the Rakoczy family - One of the 'pipeline' families who was in process to adopt a child from Russia, this family has chosen to adopt a child from another country and are traveling in a few weeks, but still thousands short!
- Abby-Kate for the Lewis family - This family is leaving in only a couple weeks and still nearly $1500 short! They could really use an FSP boost of any amount.
- Theo, Orion, and Barton for the Bloom family - Another family traveling soon, the Blooms are adopting three older boys (and I hear rumor that they are considering adding one more!). A donation to their FSP would be greatly appreciated.
- Gage and Millie for the Novit family - I added this family myself. Colleen has been a huge inspiration to me in recent months - through ups and downs, she has kept her focus where it belongs - squarely on the children. Now she is adopting two precious children - one, an older girl with DS who has been waiting a very long time, and one a little boy from "the bad place" who very badly needs to come home. She has been the biggest cheerleader for so many children and families and I think it's time she gets some recognition of her own.
- Berkeley +1 for the Williams family - This is another family I added myself. The Williams' "+1" was originally supposed to be an older girl they had previously hosted. They were set to travel in the next few months to finally bring her home - this girl who knew and loved her family already - when her region closed to adoptions due to political upheaval in country. Their hearts are broken but they have not completely given up on the girl who will always be their daughter. For those of you who know me and my story, you know how I identify with their struggle. As the Williams continue to prepare to bring Berkeley home, in spite of all that is against them, they could really use some encouragement.
- Maria for the Cox family - Another family I added on my own. Kristi Cox replied to the post to wish me a happy birthday, but didn't even post her own FSP. I have grown to love her family over recent months, initially because she has a little girl similar in age to my A and whose (uncommon) name is only one letter different. Kristi's A longs to bring home her sister, a child who has waited far too long, and any help for them would be deeply appreciated.
- Tatiana for the Darrow family - This is the last family I chose myself, and I chose them because of their daughter. Tatiana was one of the first children I loved when I found Reece's Rainbow 2.5 years ago. She had a family at one point but they were not prepared for her needs and had to turn down her referral. Tatiana desperately craves attention and a family would do her so much good. Now this family has stepped forward for her, and I want to support them.
- BRETT NEEDS A FAMILY - For anyone who prefers to donate to children's accounts instead of families, I have added a couple. You all likely know my love for sweet Brett, who has waited far too long, as long as anyone can remember, for a family. Go and read his story, if you haven't yet, and tell me it doesn't break your heart. As an older boy (one of the hardest groups to place), Brett is going to need all the help we can give him.
- GEORGE NEEDS A FAMILY - Only recently listed, but still an older boy who has waited in an institution far too long, George is in the same place as Brett. The sad face in his profile picture breaks my heart, and I long to see a family turn it into what I'm sure is a handsome smile. A family for George would also mean more visibility for Brett, and we know this helps get kids adopted. George has been on my heart since the day he was listed and I would deeply appreciate any help for him.
Finally, there is one other project and family that I would like to mention. I have recently taken up making paracord bracelets, which are stylish, can display your colors, cause, or team of choice, and are useful in many situations. To read more about the many uses of paracord, check out this link. For local customers, I am selling these for $5 each - colors and size customizable, or I have some premade in stock. For customers requiring shipping, they are $7 (to account for shipping) although if multiple bracelets are ordered, only the first is $7 and the rest are $5. I have already sold 6 of these and would like to sell more (maybe 25?) before the end of the month. At that point, the proceeds from the bracelets will be donated to another family. Choosing a family for Elizabeth's wonderful gift also helped me choose my April family for this project, which will be the Winslows, adopting Edward and JoyAnna. I have long loved this family. They initially committed to, and met, a little girl called Zoey. Zoey was a tiny, frail thing in desperate need of medical attention. Sadly, not long after their trip to meet Zoey, during which they held her, sang to her, and read her Bible verses, Zoey went home not with the Winslows, but with Jesus. Determined to rescue another child in desperate condition, the Winslows did something nearly unprecedented and added another child to their adoption after the first trip. Now, because of Zoey, JoyAnna will be given the gift of a family and a life outside an institution. So for the month of April, if you order a paracord bracelet from me, all the proceeds will go to the Winslows, who expect to travel in May!
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| Sweet Zoey in the arms of her Mama |
Edward and JoyAnna
Please check out what I have to offer in paracord items here (you need not have a facebook account to see the album) and consider ordering something this month to benefit the Winslows! You can message me on facebook or comment here and I will give you an email address to use to order these.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
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.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Adopted
This is by no means a new thought - in fact, the urge to write this post came to me after seeing someone else express a similar opinion tonight - but though it is not new, it bears repeating.
I am adopted.
No, I've never been in an orphanage, or even in foster care. I went home from the hospital with the very same mother who gave birth to me, the very same mother who I've lived nearly 24 years of my life with. I was not adopted by her, or even in this country. In fact, you could perhaps call my adoption the ultimate international adoption. I was adopted by someone out of this world.
As this Easter day comes to a close, I am reminded that centuries ago, when Christ died on the cross... it was my adoption that killed Him. He gave His very life to bring me home.
Think about it. In the act of adoption, a child who has somehow been deemed unworthy or too difficult to care for, is chosen by a parent who says "I will love this one. I will bring her home. I will be her family." I, who am not worthy of His love or grace, who have sinned time and time again, have also been chosen by my Father in Heaven, who has said "I have made this one in my image. I will give her love and grace."
When a parent sets out upon the journey of adoption, many sacrifices must be made. Time and energy go into paperwork and homestudies. Enormous sums are spent on agency fees, travel, various certificates and documentation, on and on. The sacrifices start right away, and they never end - because we all know that being a parent certainly involves them! And then I look to the greatest sacrifice in history - the one made by Christ for me... the sacrifice He made to adopt me. He was beaten, mocked, ridiculed, tortured and crucified because He said YES to my adoption.
After all that sacrifice, all the struggles and pain and frustration and waiting, wishing, hoping, dreaming that is the adoption process, 'Gotcha Day' finally comes. The day parent and child are united forever. The day a child who was once cast aside by society, a person, a situation - is welcomed into a family for eternity. This is a glorious day full of joy, a day when the fruits of that sacrifice begin to be seen. I would argue that all of us who call ourselves Christians have a 'Gotcha Day'. I remember mine clearly. I've certainly considered myself a Christian my whole life, gone to church, read my Bible... but when I was 14, I went through my Confirmation ceremony. That was the day I accepted Christ's adoption of me in front of my whole church. In that moment I was filled with such a joy that I can not even describe... for that was the day I came home to Christ - my 'Gotcha Day'.
Then, when many people consider the adoption to be 'over', as a family settles in at home, the truly rewarding part of adoption comes. Children who were ill, struggling, malnourished, unloved, alone, lacked proper care or treatment for their needs, are finally given what they need to flourish. Remember little Katie?
Look at the truly unbelievable progress she's made in sixteen months! And how about sweet Keith?
Home only 8 months and already such a transformation! And countless similar stories, of children brought back from unthinkable circumstances and come to life... stories of redemption. The same sort of redemption I will experience through Christ's love, through the grace He bestows upon me that absolves my unthinkable circumstances - my sins - and recalls me to life - true, eternal life.
I once read a quote that sticks with me, for I think perhaps no truer words have ever been spoken: "My friends, adoption is redemption. It's costly, exhausting, expensive, and outrageous. Buying back lives costs so much. When God set out to redeem us, it killed Him." ~Derek Loux
So yes. I am adopted... and my adoption, yours too if you have chosen to accept Christ in your life, was the most costly of all. On this Easter night, I simply want to say "Thanks" to the Father who adopted me, who gave His very life to redeem mine; "Thank you", to Christ whose resurrection we celebrate on this day. I couldn't be more proud, or grateful, to have been adopted.
I am adopted.
No, I've never been in an orphanage, or even in foster care. I went home from the hospital with the very same mother who gave birth to me, the very same mother who I've lived nearly 24 years of my life with. I was not adopted by her, or even in this country. In fact, you could perhaps call my adoption the ultimate international adoption. I was adopted by someone out of this world.
As this Easter day comes to a close, I am reminded that centuries ago, when Christ died on the cross... it was my adoption that killed Him. He gave His very life to bring me home.
Think about it. In the act of adoption, a child who has somehow been deemed unworthy or too difficult to care for, is chosen by a parent who says "I will love this one. I will bring her home. I will be her family." I, who am not worthy of His love or grace, who have sinned time and time again, have also been chosen by my Father in Heaven, who has said "I have made this one in my image. I will give her love and grace."
When a parent sets out upon the journey of adoption, many sacrifices must be made. Time and energy go into paperwork and homestudies. Enormous sums are spent on agency fees, travel, various certificates and documentation, on and on. The sacrifices start right away, and they never end - because we all know that being a parent certainly involves them! And then I look to the greatest sacrifice in history - the one made by Christ for me... the sacrifice He made to adopt me. He was beaten, mocked, ridiculed, tortured and crucified because He said YES to my adoption.
After all that sacrifice, all the struggles and pain and frustration and waiting, wishing, hoping, dreaming that is the adoption process, 'Gotcha Day' finally comes. The day parent and child are united forever. The day a child who was once cast aside by society, a person, a situation - is welcomed into a family for eternity. This is a glorious day full of joy, a day when the fruits of that sacrifice begin to be seen. I would argue that all of us who call ourselves Christians have a 'Gotcha Day'. I remember mine clearly. I've certainly considered myself a Christian my whole life, gone to church, read my Bible... but when I was 14, I went through my Confirmation ceremony. That was the day I accepted Christ's adoption of me in front of my whole church. In that moment I was filled with such a joy that I can not even describe... for that was the day I came home to Christ - my 'Gotcha Day'.
Then, when many people consider the adoption to be 'over', as a family settles in at home, the truly rewarding part of adoption comes. Children who were ill, struggling, malnourished, unloved, alone, lacked proper care or treatment for their needs, are finally given what they need to flourish. Remember little Katie?
Look at the truly unbelievable progress she's made in sixteen months! And how about sweet Keith?
Home only 8 months and already such a transformation! And countless similar stories, of children brought back from unthinkable circumstances and come to life... stories of redemption. The same sort of redemption I will experience through Christ's love, through the grace He bestows upon me that absolves my unthinkable circumstances - my sins - and recalls me to life - true, eternal life.
I once read a quote that sticks with me, for I think perhaps no truer words have ever been spoken: "My friends, adoption is redemption. It's costly, exhausting, expensive, and outrageous. Buying back lives costs so much. When God set out to redeem us, it killed Him." ~Derek Loux
So yes. I am adopted... and my adoption, yours too if you have chosen to accept Christ in your life, was the most costly of all. On this Easter night, I simply want to say "Thanks" to the Father who adopted me, who gave His very life to redeem mine; "Thank you", to Christ whose resurrection we celebrate on this day. I couldn't be more proud, or grateful, to have been adopted.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Waiting
When my eyes were opened to the plight of special needs children around the world, I was 22 years old. 22 years and 8 months, precisely. To be approved in the U.S. for international adoption, you must be at least 25, or married (I'm not). Can you imagine how much that drove me crazy, having the will to go, but not being able to? I pleaded for time to pass quickly... I counted the months... When I turned 23, I celebrated not because it was my birthday, but because I was just a little tangibly closer to that goal.
I'll be 24 in April. 14 months now, between me and 25. I've come to realize that I may not be ready to adopt right at my 25th birthday - I'm still working on personal and financial stability and while I think I can come a long way in the next year, perhaps not quite all the way... which is frustrating, but it's still my goal to adopt as soon as I can, and to meet that goal, I'm trying to get those things in order as quickly as I can.
I know what country I'd like to adopt from - it fits my needs perfectly. I know I would like to adopt a child with down syndrome. I know what I need to do to raise money. I'm prepared to fill out the mounds of paperwork. I just can't yet.
But days like today, it's hard to wait even another second.
Days when you see pictures like this:
Jocelyn is six years old. Look at her tiny wrists, the socks that barely stay on her feet... tiny girl. Then look at her belly under her clothes... and for a minute... you might be deceived. You might think, maybe she's not as desperately malnourished as you might think... but she is. A certain type of malnutrition (kwashikor) causes a distended abdomen in its victims. It's not because they have meat on their bones. They don't. It's because they are so terribly starved to have developed this dangerous condition. This little girl needs a Mama, and a good doctor, ASAP.
What I wouldn't give to be able to go get her. But I can't.
Can you?
And she's not the only one, either. Look at them... all these children waiting, and only ONE obstacle that I can't overcome out of sheer will and determination, stands between me and them.
And then there are all the ones I can't adopt... because the country requires a certain age difference between parent and child... like my sweet Brett...
But then I think - oh, this waiting is so hard for me...
...but imagine how hard it must be for them.
While I'm waiting, I'm sitting in a warm house, under an electric blanket, drinking Dr. Pepper, eating delicious pastries and listening to music. Typing away at my laptop, the entire world at my fingertips. While I'm waiting, I'm working at a job I love and that fulfills me. I'm spending time with my family and friends. I'm going outside, enjoying the sunshine, or staying inside and enjoying a bit of hibernation. While I'm waiting, even when I get sick (like I did this past week), there are whole stores full of medicines I can buy to make me feel better - friends who are dictionaries of herbal remedies - a family who loves me and takes care of me - a warm bed to curl into until I feel better.
While they're waiting, they're lying in a cold crib, or bed, or wherever they've been plopped that day, or plopped themselves, if they can walk. Lucky if they have a blanket at all. Drinking thin soup or thick gray mush from a grated bottle. Eating the same - maybe some bread soaked in water, if they're lucky. Toys are scarce and it's survival of the fittest, so when you're small, or weak, or just not aggressive, there's not much to occupy your time. They're rocking. Biting their hands, grinding their teeth, pounding their heads against the bars of their cribs. Staring at the same surroundings every single day, in and out... for years. When they get sick, they are isolated, and the mind-numbing boredom combined with pain becomes absolutely excruciating. "Feeling better" is not even a concept that applies to them... how can you feel better when hunger is gnawing at your stomach 24/7, every day of your life?
And I only have to wait 14 months. The YOUNGEST of these children has been waiting nearly two years already - and the adoption process will likely take another year. And dear Brett... who sadly, I can never adopt, unless his country's laws change (which is doubtful - and I don't want him to wait that long anyways)... he has been living that reality for ELEVEN LONG YEARS. YEARS. YEARS of what I just described to you. No one to love on him. No one to call Mama.
Just thinking about the waiting they face... makes my wait all the harder. Because I'm a fixer, and I want to fix that for them. But I can't right now... not even for one of them. That breaks my heart.
What about you? Are you waiting too? Waiting on what? Is it insurmountable... or is it... maybe, time to stop waiting and start fighting?
Did you see your child here today?
What about here?
I'll be 24 in April. 14 months now, between me and 25. I've come to realize that I may not be ready to adopt right at my 25th birthday - I'm still working on personal and financial stability and while I think I can come a long way in the next year, perhaps not quite all the way... which is frustrating, but it's still my goal to adopt as soon as I can, and to meet that goal, I'm trying to get those things in order as quickly as I can.
I know what country I'd like to adopt from - it fits my needs perfectly. I know I would like to adopt a child with down syndrome. I know what I need to do to raise money. I'm prepared to fill out the mounds of paperwork. I just can't yet.
But days like today, it's hard to wait even another second.
Days when you see pictures like this:
 |
| Jocelyn |
What I wouldn't give to be able to go get her. But I can't.
Can you?
And she's not the only one, either. Look at them... all these children waiting, and only ONE obstacle that I can't overcome out of sheer will and determination, stands between me and them.
 |
| Micah |
 |
| Marnie |
 |
| Andrue |
 |
| Madden |
 |
| Kolya |
 |
| Millie |
And then there are all the ones I can't adopt... because the country requires a certain age difference between parent and child... like my sweet Brett...
But then I think - oh, this waiting is so hard for me...
...but imagine how hard it must be for them.
While I'm waiting, I'm sitting in a warm house, under an electric blanket, drinking Dr. Pepper, eating delicious pastries and listening to music. Typing away at my laptop, the entire world at my fingertips. While I'm waiting, I'm working at a job I love and that fulfills me. I'm spending time with my family and friends. I'm going outside, enjoying the sunshine, or staying inside and enjoying a bit of hibernation. While I'm waiting, even when I get sick (like I did this past week), there are whole stores full of medicines I can buy to make me feel better - friends who are dictionaries of herbal remedies - a family who loves me and takes care of me - a warm bed to curl into until I feel better.
While they're waiting, they're lying in a cold crib, or bed, or wherever they've been plopped that day, or plopped themselves, if they can walk. Lucky if they have a blanket at all. Drinking thin soup or thick gray mush from a grated bottle. Eating the same - maybe some bread soaked in water, if they're lucky. Toys are scarce and it's survival of the fittest, so when you're small, or weak, or just not aggressive, there's not much to occupy your time. They're rocking. Biting their hands, grinding their teeth, pounding their heads against the bars of their cribs. Staring at the same surroundings every single day, in and out... for years. When they get sick, they are isolated, and the mind-numbing boredom combined with pain becomes absolutely excruciating. "Feeling better" is not even a concept that applies to them... how can you feel better when hunger is gnawing at your stomach 24/7, every day of your life?
And I only have to wait 14 months. The YOUNGEST of these children has been waiting nearly two years already - and the adoption process will likely take another year. And dear Brett... who sadly, I can never adopt, unless his country's laws change (which is doubtful - and I don't want him to wait that long anyways)... he has been living that reality for ELEVEN LONG YEARS. YEARS. YEARS of what I just described to you. No one to love on him. No one to call Mama.
Just thinking about the waiting they face... makes my wait all the harder. Because I'm a fixer, and I want to fix that for them. But I can't right now... not even for one of them. That breaks my heart.
What about you? Are you waiting too? Waiting on what? Is it insurmountable... or is it... maybe, time to stop waiting and start fighting?
Did you see your child here today?
What about here?
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Long and Winding Road
I think I was born with my goal in life already in my head.
I called those little guys "lumpies". They were my version of baby dolls... my 'children'... there were 27 of them. Can you say foreshadowing?
Before I was even conscious of it, my heart knew my goal.
Help children.
I never knew what shape this would take. For a long time, I thought I'd just grow up and be a Mommy, like most little girls expect to. I even went through a phase (starting at the ripe old age of ten) where I became convinced, regularly, that I had somehow immaculately conceived and was going to have a baby. You know the plastic baby doll that cries project that everyone did in middle school?
Yeah. Aced it.
In high school, after watching an episode of 7th Heaven (I know, I know) I started feeling called to children who had difficult pasts... abuse, neglect, foster care... I used to ride my bike around the neighborhood, praying, saying, "God, I know my child is out there somewhere... I know she is... and she needs me, and I need her... please bring her to me..."
Ironically, that was Fall 2003. Indeed, my child was out there.
When I started taking care of M and A, it cemented in my mind that I wanted to do foster care someday... to help families and children who were in rough spots, to be there for them. I held so tightly to this goal that I literally cleaned our house from top to bottom, just 'in case' God decided to send a child our way early. At 18 I was diagnosed with endometriosis, and the dream of being a mother became a little more complicated - the way I'd originally intended to set about doing it may not work for me.
I went to college majoring in education. I was particularly interested in being an intervention specialist. Unfortunately, the red tape associated with our educational system today discouraged me and I changed my major... to health education, so I could work with families to keep their children safe in the car through public health, like I already did as a volunteer CPST. Children - the one thing about the equation that never changed.
I graduated with a degree in public health and was interning at the health department, working in the injury prevention department with a variety of responsibilities, all of which involved children somehow. I thought this was it - this was how I'd go about my life goal of helping children... keeping them safe... and I'd try to have a biological child and I'd do foster and adopt from foster care... I had it all planned out.
Then I lost my job, and a number of other things in my life came crashing down, I got more bad news about my endometriosis, and I sunk into a depression...
Until, as most of you probably know, I saw this picture:
And in nine days, God renewed my life's mission and lit a new fire inside me to pursue it.
At first, when I felt Him tap, tap, tapping on my shoulder, I fought it.
"No. That's not for me. I can't do that."
"I'll help some other way. I'll adopt kids in the US. International Adoption is not for me."
"I can't do this. I want to, but I just can't and I know it."
"Okay God, if you want me to do this, you have to give me the tools to do it."
Then...
"Sigh... I'm adopting a child with special needs from Eastern Europe, aren't I?"
Then I didn't sleep for two months. Constantly trying to find a way to help now, while I waited to be eligible for international adoption, while I was unemployed and broke. That's when I started advocating. That's when I found myself again.
Now, a year later, I can hardly believe the place it led me to. I still have endometriosis. I still don't know the future of my childbearing abilities. I've been through a living nightmare with one of my dear borrowed kids. It hasn't been easy. But now I have a wonderful job working with children with special needs, which I love, and which is preparing me in some ways (not all obviously - things are always different when they're you're own children) for my own adoption journey. Now I've continued advocating, been a part of raising money for two boys through Angel Tree this year, shared these kids' stories with everyone I could, met so many truly amazing people, and I know where I want to go from here.
That's not to say God couldn't redirect me in some way, as He has done so many times before, but if history serves as evidence (and I believe it does), the ultimate goal is not going to change...
Help children.
I never could have guessed, at ten, when I was dreaming of being a Mommy, that this is where my love for children would lead me. I had grand expectations for my life. But God had grander ones. My favorite movie is A Walk To Remember - and there's this one quote that has always stuck with me... "Maybe God had a bigger plan for me than I had for myself..." - and indeed He did. They say that when a door closes, sometimes we stare so long at that closed door that we miss the new one that opens. I spent years of my life doing that... but I feel like I have finally turned around and seen the open door. My diagnosis and possible fertility issues are no longer the downfall of my dreams... I have seen a greater purpose.
Now I trust. I trust that when I look at that closed door, I know I'm just waiting for another one, filled with untold treasures, to open. I have faith.
And that makes all the difference.
I called those little guys "lumpies". They were my version of baby dolls... my 'children'... there were 27 of them. Can you say foreshadowing?
Before I was even conscious of it, my heart knew my goal.
Help children.
I never knew what shape this would take. For a long time, I thought I'd just grow up and be a Mommy, like most little girls expect to. I even went through a phase (starting at the ripe old age of ten) where I became convinced, regularly, that I had somehow immaculately conceived and was going to have a baby. You know the plastic baby doll that cries project that everyone did in middle school?
 |
| Pardon the flash - it was in a photo album |
Yeah. Aced it.
In high school, after watching an episode of 7th Heaven (I know, I know) I started feeling called to children who had difficult pasts... abuse, neglect, foster care... I used to ride my bike around the neighborhood, praying, saying, "God, I know my child is out there somewhere... I know she is... and she needs me, and I need her... please bring her to me..."
Ironically, that was Fall 2003. Indeed, my child was out there.
When I started taking care of M and A, it cemented in my mind that I wanted to do foster care someday... to help families and children who were in rough spots, to be there for them. I held so tightly to this goal that I literally cleaned our house from top to bottom, just 'in case' God decided to send a child our way early. At 18 I was diagnosed with endometriosis, and the dream of being a mother became a little more complicated - the way I'd originally intended to set about doing it may not work for me.
I went to college majoring in education. I was particularly interested in being an intervention specialist. Unfortunately, the red tape associated with our educational system today discouraged me and I changed my major... to health education, so I could work with families to keep their children safe in the car through public health, like I already did as a volunteer CPST. Children - the one thing about the equation that never changed.
I graduated with a degree in public health and was interning at the health department, working in the injury prevention department with a variety of responsibilities, all of which involved children somehow. I thought this was it - this was how I'd go about my life goal of helping children... keeping them safe... and I'd try to have a biological child and I'd do foster and adopt from foster care... I had it all planned out.
Then I lost my job, and a number of other things in my life came crashing down, I got more bad news about my endometriosis, and I sunk into a depression...
Until, as most of you probably know, I saw this picture:
 |
| 9 year old Katie Musser on her way home from the hospital after escaping Pleven |
And in nine days, God renewed my life's mission and lit a new fire inside me to pursue it.
At first, when I felt Him tap, tap, tapping on my shoulder, I fought it.
"No. That's not for me. I can't do that."
"I'll help some other way. I'll adopt kids in the US. International Adoption is not for me."
"I can't do this. I want to, but I just can't and I know it."
"Okay God, if you want me to do this, you have to give me the tools to do it."
Then...
"Sigh... I'm adopting a child with special needs from Eastern Europe, aren't I?"
Then I didn't sleep for two months. Constantly trying to find a way to help now, while I waited to be eligible for international adoption, while I was unemployed and broke. That's when I started advocating. That's when I found myself again.
Now, a year later, I can hardly believe the place it led me to. I still have endometriosis. I still don't know the future of my childbearing abilities. I've been through a living nightmare with one of my dear borrowed kids. It hasn't been easy. But now I have a wonderful job working with children with special needs, which I love, and which is preparing me in some ways (not all obviously - things are always different when they're you're own children) for my own adoption journey. Now I've continued advocating, been a part of raising money for two boys through Angel Tree this year, shared these kids' stories with everyone I could, met so many truly amazing people, and I know where I want to go from here.
That's not to say God couldn't redirect me in some way, as He has done so many times before, but if history serves as evidence (and I believe it does), the ultimate goal is not going to change...
Help children.
I never could have guessed, at ten, when I was dreaming of being a Mommy, that this is where my love for children would lead me. I had grand expectations for my life. But God had grander ones. My favorite movie is A Walk To Remember - and there's this one quote that has always stuck with me... "Maybe God had a bigger plan for me than I had for myself..." - and indeed He did. They say that when a door closes, sometimes we stare so long at that closed door that we miss the new one that opens. I spent years of my life doing that... but I feel like I have finally turned around and seen the open door. My diagnosis and possible fertility issues are no longer the downfall of my dreams... I have seen a greater purpose.
Now I trust. I trust that when I look at that closed door, I know I'm just waiting for another one, filled with untold treasures, to open. I have faith.
And that makes all the difference.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
The Deed is Done - With Video Finally!
I have officially been balded, and after a fair amount of irritation with youtube, the video has been edited and uploaded! The first time I tried to upload it, my 18 year old brother decided to 'fix' the internet when it was about 50% done... needless to say, he didn't 'fix' anything, more like broke it, and interrupted my (hours long) upload! Grr! So a couple days later I tried again (while he was not home) and a good three, four hours later, success!
I should note that the video is small because we shot it with my iPhone vertical instead of horizontal - I need to remember not to do that anymore... but here it is - thanks to everyone - donors, friends, Reece's Rainbow, etc. for helping me get to this point!
And I'm still enjoying it, crazy as it may be. Here's a picture I took the other night, about 10 days post-balding - I have a fuzzy head now, haha!
I still have to order cards from Vistaprint to explain why I did this (waiting on my first paycheck at my new job!), but for now a friend gave me some Reece's Rainbow magnets to carry around and give to people who ask. This is honestly the part I was most excited about - continuing to advocate for 'our' kids by being a walking advertisement! Every person who asks will be one more person made aware of the orphan crisis!
And, true to my word, I'll continue to be crazy (it is in the name of both my blogs) until they ALL come home!
I should note that the video is small because we shot it with my iPhone vertical instead of horizontal - I need to remember not to do that anymore... but here it is - thanks to everyone - donors, friends, Reece's Rainbow, etc. for helping me get to this point!
And I'm still enjoying it, crazy as it may be. Here's a picture I took the other night, about 10 days post-balding - I have a fuzzy head now, haha!
 |
| Pardon how red I look in this picture, not sure what was going on with that. I think it was the camera, because that shirt is not red, it's hot pink. |
I still have to order cards from Vistaprint to explain why I did this (waiting on my first paycheck at my new job!), but for now a friend gave me some Reece's Rainbow magnets to carry around and give to people who ask. This is honestly the part I was most excited about - continuing to advocate for 'our' kids by being a walking advertisement! Every person who asks will be one more person made aware of the orphan crisis!
And, true to my word, I'll continue to be crazy (it is in the name of both my blogs) until they ALL come home!
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Video Coming Soon!
If you haven't yet, please go back and read this post so you'll understand this one!
There. Now that that's done and you know the reason for my hair's sudden disappearance, I shall post the rest of this update.
So apparently my college-learned Windows Movie Maker skills are a little rusty and videos over thirty seconds take a good bit to come off an iPhone, not to mention how slow youtube has been lately, so I'm still working on the final product head shaving video, planning to put some serious time into it tonight that I haven't been able to devote until now because I've been busy at my awesome new job!
But as not to deprive you of amusement at my expense (really not at my expense at all, this was actually really fun and I love having an opportunity to talk about the orphan crisis), until that time I'll post a picture of me just after the shaving, which was by the way, definitely hilarious.
According to my friend's three year old, I am now "a bald" (we were previously unaware of this demographic - thank goodness she enlightened us to my new status!). I've also managed to freak out a couple other friends' kids, and strike up a few conversations about orphans, so I'm considering this project a success! When I have the money I've got some cards designed on vistaprint to order and share with anyone who asks, about why I did it and who these kids are and how you can help. I hope to have an impact that goes on far longer than the two months of angel tree.
Please feel free to share for the amusement of others - and hopefully awareness too! And if you read something and want to know more, I'll just leave this handy link right here...
Reece's Rainbow Adoption Ministry
There. Now that that's done and you know the reason for my hair's sudden disappearance, I shall post the rest of this update.
So apparently my college-learned Windows Movie Maker skills are a little rusty and videos over thirty seconds take a good bit to come off an iPhone, not to mention how slow youtube has been lately, so I'm still working on the final product head shaving video, planning to put some serious time into it tonight that I haven't been able to devote until now because I've been busy at my awesome new job!
But as not to deprive you of amusement at my expense (really not at my expense at all, this was actually really fun and I love having an opportunity to talk about the orphan crisis), until that time I'll post a picture of me just after the shaving, which was by the way, definitely hilarious.
According to my friend's three year old, I am now "a bald" (we were previously unaware of this demographic - thank goodness she enlightened us to my new status!). I've also managed to freak out a couple other friends' kids, and strike up a few conversations about orphans, so I'm considering this project a success! When I have the money I've got some cards designed on vistaprint to order and share with anyone who asks, about why I did it and who these kids are and how you can help. I hope to have an impact that goes on far longer than the two months of angel tree.
Please feel free to share for the amusement of others - and hopefully awareness too! And if you read something and want to know more, I'll just leave this handy link right here...
Reece's Rainbow Adoption Ministry
Monday, December 31, 2012
We Did It!
Elden and Brett have both reached their goals! WE DID IT! Elden is at $1,000 and Brett is holding steady at $1,607.50, which means my boys have a total of $2,607.50! Yay!
I'll be balded soon - as soon as my dear friend shaves me, and then there'll be video and fun 'after' pictures!
As for tonight - I let my mom give me bangs and straighten my hair just for fun... I'm going to try out various eyebrows throughout the night, so I'll post again later or in the morning with a collection of eyebrow arrangements - four more for each $100 past $600 raised for Elden! For now, here's me with bangs! I like them!
Another post with my crazy brows will be up soon! Thanks to everyone who has has helped us get to this point! Now let's get the rest of those babes over the wall on Angel Tree!
I'll be balded soon - as soon as my dear friend shaves me, and then there'll be video and fun 'after' pictures!
As for tonight - I let my mom give me bangs and straighten my hair just for fun... I'm going to try out various eyebrows throughout the night, so I'll post again later or in the morning with a collection of eyebrow arrangements - four more for each $100 past $600 raised for Elden! For now, here's me with bangs! I like them!
Another post with my crazy brows will be up soon! Thanks to everyone who has has helped us get to this point! Now let's get the rest of those babes over the wall on Angel Tree!
LAST DAY!
And we have just under $400 to raise for Elden! We hit $600 raised through Angel Tree early this morning, and as promised, I am sharing a fun surprise...
These are my new eyebrows. I will be wearing them until we hit $700. At that point, a new (similarly fun) set will be drawn on. I have plenty of fun ideas.
And I have to go to the store today. It's up to you all what kind of eyebrows I'm wearing when I do it...
You know what to do. No amount is too small! We will chip away at that last $400 and reach our goal yet!
I want to start the new year off with no hair!
Donate to Elden here
These are my new eyebrows. I will be wearing them until we hit $700. At that point, a new (similarly fun) set will be drawn on. I have plenty of fun ideas.
And I have to go to the store today. It's up to you all what kind of eyebrows I'm wearing when I do it...
You know what to do. No amount is too small! We will chip away at that last $400 and reach our goal yet!
I want to start the new year off with no hair!
Donate to Elden here
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Losing the Other Eyebrow... and Being Down to the Wire
I'd have had this up sooner if I hadn't slept for the larger part of the last 24 hours, but alas, here it is - I am now an eyebrowless woman!
Thanks to Sevenly, Brett (one of 'my' boys), received $1,000 in his grant account late on Christmas day. When added to what had already been raised for him during Angel Tree, it amounted to $1,607.30! Hooray, Brett!
Elden's grant has been sitting at a pretty steady $529.50 for a few days - and I have been racking my brain trying to think of ways to raise it, but for the most part coming up empty handed - and some complications I will mention later in this post are not helping either.
Regardless, the boys are now WELL over a combined $1,500 - actually at a combined $2,136.80! However - since Elden is still not over the $1,000 wall yet, thus not at HIS goal, this only means one less eyebrow for this girl... in another $470.50, I get to shave my head!
But without further adieu, let me share the final de-eyebrowing with you all.
Here's a picture taken before, me and my one-eyebrowed glory:
And then here's me after The Shaving, no eyebrows left to speak of:
Yes. It is weird.
Now for the HAIR! Come on guys, we are so close and we only have five days left to raise that money! Let's complete the effect and baldify me! Once bald, I'm going to order cards from Vistaprint explaining why I'm bald with a link to Reece's Rainbow - so that every time someone asks, I'm spreading awareness!
Actually, that has started already. Eyebrows aren't usually enough for perfect strangers to ask what happened, but I did get to have an excellent conversation with some family members about orphans and Reece's Rainbow at family Christmas (which I attended one-eyebrowed).
Today, after posting the second eyebrow shaving video (will be seen below), I received two 'follows' on you tube and a private message informing me that I'm crazy, but for a good cause! Why yes, that's the point!
I've never been happier to have no eyebrows.
Wait. Pretty sure I've never done this before.
Now, here's some fun - the video of the second eyebrow's disappearance. In case you're noticing the theme here, yes, I am wearing footie pajamas again, only leopard this time. That's right. I have the most epic footie pajama collection in the world. Be. Jealous. ;)
Let me remind you all that WHEN the final money is raised and Elden is over his goal, the head shaving will be videotaped as well. I promise hilarity.
Now, despite the mostly upbeat and fun nature of this post, I'm feeling compelled to share something a little more serious with you all tonight. If you keep up with international news, you might know that the Russian parliament has passed an act that would ban all adoptions by U.S. citizens. The only obstacle left between this legislation and a legal decree that would essentially be a death sentence to many, many orphans, is President Putin, who can either sign or veto it. He has hinted at support for the legislation, even though it will have serious ramifications not only for the children, but for the Russian economy and US/Russian relations, as there is currently a treaty allowing such adoptions in place which this legislation would essentially be breaking.
For those of us who advocate for adoption, this whole thing is terrifying. Russia is a big country, obviously, and it has literally thousands upon thousands of orphans and not enough families to adopt them. Thousands are adopted by US families every year. Some of our dear sweet Reece's Rainbow babes - indeed, some of our Angel Tree babes - are in Russia - though I can't tell you which ones for their protection - and if this passes... well, think of what could happen to them!
Some of you might recall the post I wrote earlier this year about transfer. About how children are often transferred to adult mental institutions between the ages of 4 and 6. About how few special needs children survive this transfer, and how bleak their future is even if they do - unless they are adopted. Entire lives spent behind the walls of an institution. Do me a favor, go check out my other blog, the post about mental health in America, and imagine sending a five year old with down syndrome to live in a place like that - no - ten, twenty times WORSE than that - for the rest of his life.
Yes, there are other countries, but the vast majority of Russian children who are internationally adopted are adopted by American families. Without adoption to save them, how many more will be forced to live out their lives in bleak, horrible places? Even if the legislation were later revoked, it would be too late for many of them.
It is because of this that I ask you to pray. Pray with everything you have that something will soften Putin's heart and cause him to deny this legislation. Only God can intervene now. Share the plight of these children. Ask your friends to pray. Do not allow governments to use children as pawns in their political agendas without being held accountable for their actions.
It is also because of this that I again beg you to donate. Again, I can't tell you which children are in Russia, or which ones will be available to Canadian families even if the legislation passes, but those children are going to need our help even more. International adoption is even more costly in Canada than it is in the US. Awareness will need to be spread. Comfortable grants will need to be available for children to encourage families to take a leap of faith. And since I can't discuss exactly where kids are, if this moves you to donate, donate to any child. Many of them are in Russia. Many of them are not, and they need funding too. You can do no harm by giving to a child who has nothing.
Might I suggest a certain little boy with down syndrome, whose advocate wants to go bald just like he will?
Donate to Elden here.
Please help me get him over $1,000. Please. I don't really have anything to offer (except, you know, my amusing hair removal on video), but if I'm feeling discouraged right now I can only imagine how he would feel if he were transferred to one of those awful institutions - and he will be six in February - it is a very real danger. Together we can do this.
After the next $100 is raised, I'll post again with a little surprise... ;)
Thanks to Sevenly, Brett (one of 'my' boys), received $1,000 in his grant account late on Christmas day. When added to what had already been raised for him during Angel Tree, it amounted to $1,607.30! Hooray, Brett!
Elden's grant has been sitting at a pretty steady $529.50 for a few days - and I have been racking my brain trying to think of ways to raise it, but for the most part coming up empty handed - and some complications I will mention later in this post are not helping either.
Regardless, the boys are now WELL over a combined $1,500 - actually at a combined $2,136.80! However - since Elden is still not over the $1,000 wall yet, thus not at HIS goal, this only means one less eyebrow for this girl... in another $470.50, I get to shave my head!
But without further adieu, let me share the final de-eyebrowing with you all.
Here's a picture taken before, me and my one-eyebrowed glory:
And then here's me after The Shaving, no eyebrows left to speak of:
Yes. It is weird.
Now for the HAIR! Come on guys, we are so close and we only have five days left to raise that money! Let's complete the effect and baldify me! Once bald, I'm going to order cards from Vistaprint explaining why I'm bald with a link to Reece's Rainbow - so that every time someone asks, I'm spreading awareness!
Actually, that has started already. Eyebrows aren't usually enough for perfect strangers to ask what happened, but I did get to have an excellent conversation with some family members about orphans and Reece's Rainbow at family Christmas (which I attended one-eyebrowed).
Today, after posting the second eyebrow shaving video (will be seen below), I received two 'follows' on you tube and a private message informing me that I'm crazy, but for a good cause! Why yes, that's the point!
I've never been happier to have no eyebrows.
Wait. Pretty sure I've never done this before.
Now, here's some fun - the video of the second eyebrow's disappearance. In case you're noticing the theme here, yes, I am wearing footie pajamas again, only leopard this time. That's right. I have the most epic footie pajama collection in the world. Be. Jealous. ;)
Let me remind you all that WHEN the final money is raised and Elden is over his goal, the head shaving will be videotaped as well. I promise hilarity.
Now, despite the mostly upbeat and fun nature of this post, I'm feeling compelled to share something a little more serious with you all tonight. If you keep up with international news, you might know that the Russian parliament has passed an act that would ban all adoptions by U.S. citizens. The only obstacle left between this legislation and a legal decree that would essentially be a death sentence to many, many orphans, is President Putin, who can either sign or veto it. He has hinted at support for the legislation, even though it will have serious ramifications not only for the children, but for the Russian economy and US/Russian relations, as there is currently a treaty allowing such adoptions in place which this legislation would essentially be breaking.
For those of us who advocate for adoption, this whole thing is terrifying. Russia is a big country, obviously, and it has literally thousands upon thousands of orphans and not enough families to adopt them. Thousands are adopted by US families every year. Some of our dear sweet Reece's Rainbow babes - indeed, some of our Angel Tree babes - are in Russia - though I can't tell you which ones for their protection - and if this passes... well, think of what could happen to them!
Some of you might recall the post I wrote earlier this year about transfer. About how children are often transferred to adult mental institutions between the ages of 4 and 6. About how few special needs children survive this transfer, and how bleak their future is even if they do - unless they are adopted. Entire lives spent behind the walls of an institution. Do me a favor, go check out my other blog, the post about mental health in America, and imagine sending a five year old with down syndrome to live in a place like that - no - ten, twenty times WORSE than that - for the rest of his life.
Yes, there are other countries, but the vast majority of Russian children who are internationally adopted are adopted by American families. Without adoption to save them, how many more will be forced to live out their lives in bleak, horrible places? Even if the legislation were later revoked, it would be too late for many of them.
It is because of this that I ask you to pray. Pray with everything you have that something will soften Putin's heart and cause him to deny this legislation. Only God can intervene now. Share the plight of these children. Ask your friends to pray. Do not allow governments to use children as pawns in their political agendas without being held accountable for their actions.
It is also because of this that I again beg you to donate. Again, I can't tell you which children are in Russia, or which ones will be available to Canadian families even if the legislation passes, but those children are going to need our help even more. International adoption is even more costly in Canada than it is in the US. Awareness will need to be spread. Comfortable grants will need to be available for children to encourage families to take a leap of faith. And since I can't discuss exactly where kids are, if this moves you to donate, donate to any child. Many of them are in Russia. Many of them are not, and they need funding too. You can do no harm by giving to a child who has nothing.
Might I suggest a certain little boy with down syndrome, whose advocate wants to go bald just like he will?
Donate to Elden here.
Please help me get him over $1,000. Please. I don't really have anything to offer (except, you know, my amusing hair removal on video), but if I'm feeling discouraged right now I can only imagine how he would feel if he were transferred to one of those awful institutions - and he will be six in February - it is a very real danger. Together we can do this.
After the next $100 is raised, I'll post again with a little surprise... ;)
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Eyebrowlessness
That's a fun word. Even though it's not a word. It's still fun. I have a habit of inventing words, you know (see other blog) :P
So, I have been sans eyebrow since Monday night.
I've only been out of the house once. I went to McDonald's last night. I didn't even remember my lack of eyebrow until I was home and looking at angel tree. No one said anything. LOL.
Elden's grant is currently at $529.50 raised during Angel Tree.
Brett's grant is currently at $577.30 raised during Angel Tree.
So in total the boys have $1,106.80. When $393.20 more is raised, and they are at a total of at least $1,500, I get to shave the other eyebrow and be symmetrical again!
I miss symmetry. I was always fond of it.
I must confess, I've been feeling a little guilty that more of the things I wanted to do for Angel Tree never came to fruition. I really feel like I haven't done anything but beg, yell and holler, and I meant to do so much more. This has just been such a complicated and difficult year that there never seemed to be time or money to get much of anything started. A friend commented one day that she felt like her Angel Tree child got the 'short straw' because she didn't feel she had much to offer as his Christmas Warrior, and I have to admit that this thought has entered my head more than a few times lately. Yes, Elden is over the $500 wall, which is wonderful, but it was all you guys. All your generosity, your kindness, your love for him and the other kids just like him.
We have just under another $500 left to raise by New Year's. I wish I could say I'd been sitting on some sort of fabulous fundraiser all this time, but I have nothing that I can get off the ground quickly enough to make a difference in Angel Tree, so I suppose, as I've done up until this point, I'll continue to beg, plead, and cry out on his behalf. Over the next year I'm planning to do a lot of legwork on some other fundraising ideas I had so that the kids can still benefit from them - but it would really make my year to see Elden reach his $1,000 goal by New Year's, and he's already over halfway there thanks to you generous people. I'm at a loss. If there is anything I can do for you, anything you can think of, please let me know, obviously I'm willing to go to pretty much any extreme for these little guys, but this fundraising thing doesn't exactly come with an instruction manual, and it being the holiday season during a tough economic climate is certainly no help.
I want to say too that I know there are a lot of other Christmas Warriors out there in the same boat. If you feel a pull to support them and their 'angels', please don't hesitate to do so. There are a lot of kids on the angel tree, and ultimately the Reece's Rainbow community wants to see them ALL meet their goals.
That in mind, I want to share another unique opportunity (which I had nothing to do with, but nevertheless benefits Brett, one of 'my' boys) that you should ALL get in on in the next four days.
An organization called Sevenly has chosen Reece's Rainbow as this week's charity to support. This organization designs awesome clothing and each week, the profits go toward a different charity. From now until December 24, that charity is Reece's Rainbow! As each $1,000 is raised through the shirt sales, another RR child has $1,000 added to their grant. The 15th child on the list is 'our' Brett! Already, $11,522 has been raised - in three days! Isn't that amazing? But our ultimate goal is $25,000 and we want to get ALL THE WAY there.
There is no down side to this opportunity. The Sevenly shirts are *awesome*. Check these out for yourself or someone in your life - the style of these is meant to appeal to teens, young adults, and the young at heart - as well as those of us who just LOVE Reece's Rainbow.
This is just one of the beautiful designs - you can see the rest at sevenly.org! Orders will not arrive by the 25th, but these are perfect as a late Christmas gift, a birthday gift for the upcoming year, or just a random act of awesomeness (kindness is to mild a word - getting someone an awesome gift AND helping orphans with special needs? That's just pure awesome).
Because we are trying to reach out beyond the existing Reece's Rainbow/Down Syndrome community, please share the sevenly link with your friends and family - everyone can love these awesome designs! This is a fun and unique opportunity and we want to make the most of it.
So here ends my longish mish-mash of thoughts, which I thought was going to just be a couple of sentences and a picture to update my blog, but apparently, in case you haven't caught on yet, I'm long-winded and it turned into much more ;) Please keep Reece's Rainbow and Elden and Brett in your thoughts and prayers this holiday!
So, I have been sans eyebrow since Monday night.
I've only been out of the house once. I went to McDonald's last night. I didn't even remember my lack of eyebrow until I was home and looking at angel tree. No one said anything. LOL.
Elden's grant is currently at $529.50 raised during Angel Tree.
Brett's grant is currently at $577.30 raised during Angel Tree.
So in total the boys have $1,106.80. When $393.20 more is raised, and they are at a total of at least $1,500, I get to shave the other eyebrow and be symmetrical again!
I miss symmetry. I was always fond of it.
I must confess, I've been feeling a little guilty that more of the things I wanted to do for Angel Tree never came to fruition. I really feel like I haven't done anything but beg, yell and holler, and I meant to do so much more. This has just been such a complicated and difficult year that there never seemed to be time or money to get much of anything started. A friend commented one day that she felt like her Angel Tree child got the 'short straw' because she didn't feel she had much to offer as his Christmas Warrior, and I have to admit that this thought has entered my head more than a few times lately. Yes, Elden is over the $500 wall, which is wonderful, but it was all you guys. All your generosity, your kindness, your love for him and the other kids just like him.
We have just under another $500 left to raise by New Year's. I wish I could say I'd been sitting on some sort of fabulous fundraiser all this time, but I have nothing that I can get off the ground quickly enough to make a difference in Angel Tree, so I suppose, as I've done up until this point, I'll continue to beg, plead, and cry out on his behalf. Over the next year I'm planning to do a lot of legwork on some other fundraising ideas I had so that the kids can still benefit from them - but it would really make my year to see Elden reach his $1,000 goal by New Year's, and he's already over halfway there thanks to you generous people. I'm at a loss. If there is anything I can do for you, anything you can think of, please let me know, obviously I'm willing to go to pretty much any extreme for these little guys, but this fundraising thing doesn't exactly come with an instruction manual, and it being the holiday season during a tough economic climate is certainly no help.
I want to say too that I know there are a lot of other Christmas Warriors out there in the same boat. If you feel a pull to support them and their 'angels', please don't hesitate to do so. There are a lot of kids on the angel tree, and ultimately the Reece's Rainbow community wants to see them ALL meet their goals.
That in mind, I want to share another unique opportunity (which I had nothing to do with, but nevertheless benefits Brett, one of 'my' boys) that you should ALL get in on in the next four days.
An organization called Sevenly has chosen Reece's Rainbow as this week's charity to support. This organization designs awesome clothing and each week, the profits go toward a different charity. From now until December 24, that charity is Reece's Rainbow! As each $1,000 is raised through the shirt sales, another RR child has $1,000 added to their grant. The 15th child on the list is 'our' Brett! Already, $11,522 has been raised - in three days! Isn't that amazing? But our ultimate goal is $25,000 and we want to get ALL THE WAY there.
There is no down side to this opportunity. The Sevenly shirts are *awesome*. Check these out for yourself or someone in your life - the style of these is meant to appeal to teens, young adults, and the young at heart - as well as those of us who just LOVE Reece's Rainbow.
This is just one of the beautiful designs - you can see the rest at sevenly.org! Orders will not arrive by the 25th, but these are perfect as a late Christmas gift, a birthday gift for the upcoming year, or just a random act of awesomeness (kindness is to mild a word - getting someone an awesome gift AND helping orphans with special needs? That's just pure awesome).
Because we are trying to reach out beyond the existing Reece's Rainbow/Down Syndrome community, please share the sevenly link with your friends and family - everyone can love these awesome designs! This is a fun and unique opportunity and we want to make the most of it.
So here ends my longish mish-mash of thoughts, which I thought was going to just be a couple of sentences and a picture to update my blog, but apparently, in case you haven't caught on yet, I'm long-winded and it turned into much more ;) Please keep Reece's Rainbow and Elden and Brett in your thoughts and prayers this holiday!
Friday, December 7, 2012
A Young Heart for Orphans
A year ago, when I first discovered the plight of orphans with special needs, it consumed me for months. My thoughts, my prayers, my time, my heart... and more than once, my dear M, who was then 12 years old, caught me crying at my computer and asked me why.
I believe in being honest with M, and she's not a little girl anymore, she's a young lady. So I told her.
I told her that sometimes children are born with special needs, just like our A and AJ have special needs, but with some kids, it's really obvious as soon as their born.
I told her that in some countries, people don't believe that these kids can do anything or live normal lives, or they don't feel like they can take care of them properly, so they leave them at the hospital or give them to an orphanage, because they hope they'll have a better life.
I told her that often, at the orphanages, these children don't have a better life. Often, they die. Often, they're starved, neglected, and at very least deprived of the love of a Mom or Dad.
I told her that sometimes these kids can be adopted, but there are so many of them and it costs so much money that many of them wait for a long time.
I told her about the place in Eastern Europe where Katie Musser came from (#11), I showed her the pictures of the children and told her how old they were. I showed her the little girl who is now Amelia Brown, and told her "She's the same age as you."
I showed her the video that changed my life... 'The Dark Side of Serbian Mental Institutions'. If you haven't seen it, watch it now.
I hugged her when she cried and asked me how anyone could do this to children, and what we could do to help.
I told her that yes, I wanted to adopt one of these children - or more - someday. She told me that she would like to do it too.
Over the past year, I have kept M updated on the children we both have a heart for. I especially reveled in showing her photos of the progress that newly adopted children were making. You should have seen the shock on her face when she saw Katie Musser just after she was adopted, versus Katie only two months home. 'All they had to do was just take care of her.' She prayed with me as the Brown family flew home. She mourned with me when families lost newly adopted children, or children they were on their way to adopt. I showed her the photos of new children to pray for. I told her the stories of children redeemed by adoption.
Then, this year, in August when the Reece's Rainbow community began gearing up for this year's Angel Tree, I explained the concept to her and told her that I was going to commit to being a Christmas Warrior and to helping a friend raise funds for her Angel Tree child. She asked me how I was going to do it. I told her we were going to have an auction - we did. By the way, Bids 4 Brett raised $220, including 20% for Ollie! I told her I didn't know what else I was going to do - maybe try to make some things - I introduced her to Pinterest and together, we looked for ideas of things to make. We made anything we had the materials for and anything I already knew how to make.
One night in August we were having a 'Girls Night', and we were trying to stay up late to watch a meteorite shower (it turned out to be cloudy - boo!) While we waited and tried to keep ourselves awake, I taught her to make God's Eyes, a historically based craft made with yarn and popsicle sticks. The next day, when I woke up (late - because we'd stayed up so late), M had already been up for hours and made a pile of crafts! Over the next few days she made them in her spare time until a huge pile had been accumulated, the intention always to sell them to help raise funds for orphans.
I'll never forget one night, we were sitting together making crafts, and she looked up and asked me, "Katie? Do you think people will buy these to help those kids?"
"Yes," I told her. "I think they will, not just because they're fun and pretty, but because you made them with all the love in your heart for orphans, and that's pretty special."
And it is. I know you could make one yourself. Or a dozen. But my precious M has a heart to help, and I will do every single thing I can to support her in that. So I'm announcing McKenzie's God's Eye Sale - which will go from now until December 31. I've taken a photo of all the ones she's made so far, and she's up for more if they sell, so all you have to do is make a small donation to Elden (how much is up to you - we are thankful for ANYTHING we can raise for him!), forward me your donation receipt from RR (these don't state an amount in case you'd like to keep that anonymous, they're just proof of payment) at Callmecrazycbus@hotmail.com, along with the number and colors/designs you'd like (or I can have M choose her favorites if you'd like), and an address for shipping, and you too can be a part of a little girl's quest to help an orphan.
These crafts are great decorations and kids love them. All the kids we babysit begged to pick colors for one of their own (yes, we absolutely let them). Several hang on my Christmas tree every year from a fundraiser *I* headed up in elementary school. After that fundraiser I spotted them all over the place. On back packs, on rearview mirrors, around belt loops, hanging in various places in people's homes, attached to magnet backing and placed on refridgerators, anywhere you can think of. Each one comes with a hanging loop to make decorating easy. You can affix magnets easily with hot glue if you so choose. Here are a couple pictures I took tonight of M's master stash:
My M has a heart of gold, a heart for orphans and kids of all shapes and sizes. I love her more than life itself and I want nothing more than to help her help an orphan this Christmas. Would you please consider supporting her efforts?
And, because I'm a glutton for punishment, I'm tacking on another fundraiser here. Earlier this week I read about something called "Singing Christmas Cards". It's just what it sounds like - you dress up in some sort of holiday related costume, and for donations, pay the person of the donor's choice a visit and sing them a Christmas carol. Guaranteed to produce some laughs (and I don't mind even if they are at my expense!) I happen to own THE MOST EPIC Christmas costume of all time, hand made by my amazing mother, and I'm prepared to make this happen. For a $10 donation to Elden's grant, I will perform a singing Christmas card with your choice of song for whomever you would like to send it to. For a $20 donation, you can send three carols. I am local to Columbus, Ohio and can deliver these in person in the greater Columbus area. If you would like to send a card carol to someone outside this area, or just prefer this method, I'm happy to record the carol and send them a video. I'll even dance a little. If you make a donation for one or more of M's God's Eyes, I'll knock $2 off the price, in case you'd like to deliver a little gift with your card carol. Again, just make your donation to Elden's grant here, forward me the 'receipt' along with your choice of song(s) and your recipient's address(es) or e-mail address(es) at Callmecrazycbus@hotmail.com, and I'll get your card out ASAP. If your card is to be delivered in person, please try to include a day/time that you think would be best for delivery. Also, sending one to yourself just for your amusement is totally allowed. Er, just a disclaimer... I was in choir in middle school... but I'm not exactly a vocalist, if you get my point. If my voice is terrible, just consider it a part of the comedic effect ;)
Finally, I just want to share a couple other fundraisers that are on my heart right now.
My friend Laura is launching a new fundraiser (since our auction closed Monday) for Brett called 'With Love From...' - the goal being to obtain a love offering of $5 from at least one person in every state. If you give, please pay directly to Brett's grant (linked above) and let us know via blog, facebook or email where your love offering is coming from so we can add your state to the map! This fundraiser is just starting out, so we don't exactly have a lot of states covered yet... we'd love to add yours to the map!
Also, my friend Jenni, who is raising money to commit to a sweet little boy from Katie Musser's former orphanage (#11), is partnering with another family for a Wii U giveaway! This runs until December 15 and your chances of winning are AWESOME! You can read about their fundraiser at Jenni's blog here. They are in a time crunch to pay some agency fees and desperately need to raise this money, but don't have the benefit of having a Reece's Rainbow FSP yet. If you would like, or know someone who would like a Wii U this Christmas, would you please consider entering to help them out?
So there you are. Lots of fundraising going on, and I know it's a tight time of year for everyone, but I hope you'll pick at least one and give a little bit... maybe as a Christmas present to me? ;)
Oh - and for the sake of updating - $285 has currently been raised for Elden through Angel Tree and $193.30 for Brett (not all auction proceeds are in yet) - so a total of $478.30 has been raised for the two boys - almost halfway to $1,000, and halfway to me losing my first eyebrow! I'm getting excited! (Yes, I realize that I am exceedingly weird). Also, for the record, I've been doing this crazy thing called 'getting up early' lately, and this other crazy thing called 'taking a bath in the morning', which is why there haven't been many bedhead photos (that and they are really exceedingly embarrassing) but I will try to get back on track - if you promise to help me get those grants up so I can stop taking bad pictures of myself!
Finally I just want to send a sincere thank you out to everyone who has supported Elden and Brett so far. If the words existed to tell you what it means to me, I would say them, but there just aren't any words strong enough to express the depth of my gratitude. I grin like an idiot, and sometimes cry a little bit, every time one of them moves up though, if that tells you anything. Thank you so much. You all are truly amazing and none of this - angel tree, fundraising, Reece's Rainbow, over 800 adoptions in six years - would be possible without you.
Oh, and PS: Look who's on My Family Found Me...
 |
| My M last Christmas. She's artsy, if you can tell by the present. Oh yeah, and that's me in skull footie pajamas in the background. Be jealous. |
I believe in being honest with M, and she's not a little girl anymore, she's a young lady. So I told her.
I told her that sometimes children are born with special needs, just like our A and AJ have special needs, but with some kids, it's really obvious as soon as their born.
I told her that in some countries, people don't believe that these kids can do anything or live normal lives, or they don't feel like they can take care of them properly, so they leave them at the hospital or give them to an orphanage, because they hope they'll have a better life.
I told her that often, at the orphanages, these children don't have a better life. Often, they die. Often, they're starved, neglected, and at very least deprived of the love of a Mom or Dad.
I told her that sometimes these kids can be adopted, but there are so many of them and it costs so much money that many of them wait for a long time.
I told her about the place in Eastern Europe where Katie Musser came from (#11), I showed her the pictures of the children and told her how old they were. I showed her the little girl who is now Amelia Brown, and told her "She's the same age as you."
 |
| Amelia back in the orphanage (#11) |
I showed her the video that changed my life... 'The Dark Side of Serbian Mental Institutions'. If you haven't seen it, watch it now.
I hugged her when she cried and asked me how anyone could do this to children, and what we could do to help.
I told her that yes, I wanted to adopt one of these children - or more - someday. She told me that she would like to do it too.
Over the past year, I have kept M updated on the children we both have a heart for. I especially reveled in showing her photos of the progress that newly adopted children were making. You should have seen the shock on her face when she saw Katie Musser just after she was adopted, versus Katie only two months home. 'All they had to do was just take care of her.' She prayed with me as the Brown family flew home. She mourned with me when families lost newly adopted children, or children they were on their way to adopt. I showed her the photos of new children to pray for. I told her the stories of children redeemed by adoption.
Then, this year, in August when the Reece's Rainbow community began gearing up for this year's Angel Tree, I explained the concept to her and told her that I was going to commit to being a Christmas Warrior and to helping a friend raise funds for her Angel Tree child. She asked me how I was going to do it. I told her we were going to have an auction - we did. By the way, Bids 4 Brett raised $220, including 20% for Ollie! I told her I didn't know what else I was going to do - maybe try to make some things - I introduced her to Pinterest and together, we looked for ideas of things to make. We made anything we had the materials for and anything I already knew how to make.
One night in August we were having a 'Girls Night', and we were trying to stay up late to watch a meteorite shower (it turned out to be cloudy - boo!) While we waited and tried to keep ourselves awake, I taught her to make God's Eyes, a historically based craft made with yarn and popsicle sticks. The next day, when I woke up (late - because we'd stayed up so late), M had already been up for hours and made a pile of crafts! Over the next few days she made them in her spare time until a huge pile had been accumulated, the intention always to sell them to help raise funds for orphans.
I'll never forget one night, we were sitting together making crafts, and she looked up and asked me, "Katie? Do you think people will buy these to help those kids?"
"Yes," I told her. "I think they will, not just because they're fun and pretty, but because you made them with all the love in your heart for orphans, and that's pretty special."
And it is. I know you could make one yourself. Or a dozen. But my precious M has a heart to help, and I will do every single thing I can to support her in that. So I'm announcing McKenzie's God's Eye Sale - which will go from now until December 31. I've taken a photo of all the ones she's made so far, and she's up for more if they sell, so all you have to do is make a small donation to Elden (how much is up to you - we are thankful for ANYTHING we can raise for him!), forward me your donation receipt from RR (these don't state an amount in case you'd like to keep that anonymous, they're just proof of payment) at Callmecrazycbus@hotmail.com, along with the number and colors/designs you'd like (or I can have M choose her favorites if you'd like), and an address for shipping, and you too can be a part of a little girl's quest to help an orphan.
These crafts are great decorations and kids love them. All the kids we babysit begged to pick colors for one of their own (yes, we absolutely let them). Several hang on my Christmas tree every year from a fundraiser *I* headed up in elementary school. After that fundraiser I spotted them all over the place. On back packs, on rearview mirrors, around belt loops, hanging in various places in people's homes, attached to magnet backing and placed on refridgerators, anywhere you can think of. Each one comes with a hanging loop to make decorating easy. You can affix magnets easily with hot glue if you so choose. Here are a couple pictures I took tonight of M's master stash:
 |
| Made with love by McKenzie, 13. |
My M has a heart of gold, a heart for orphans and kids of all shapes and sizes. I love her more than life itself and I want nothing more than to help her help an orphan this Christmas. Would you please consider supporting her efforts?
 |
| For gratuitous cuteness (and, okay, a brag on how awesome she is - M sharing her cell phone with one of the girls we watch and showing her how to play a game <3 |
And, because I'm a glutton for punishment, I'm tacking on another fundraiser here. Earlier this week I read about something called "Singing Christmas Cards". It's just what it sounds like - you dress up in some sort of holiday related costume, and for donations, pay the person of the donor's choice a visit and sing them a Christmas carol. Guaranteed to produce some laughs (and I don't mind even if they are at my expense!) I happen to own THE MOST EPIC Christmas costume of all time, hand made by my amazing mother, and I'm prepared to make this happen. For a $10 donation to Elden's grant, I will perform a singing Christmas card with your choice of song for whomever you would like to send it to. For a $20 donation, you can send three carols. I am local to Columbus, Ohio and can deliver these in person in the greater Columbus area. If you would like to send a card carol to someone outside this area, or just prefer this method, I'm happy to record the carol and send them a video. I'll even dance a little. If you make a donation for one or more of M's God's Eyes, I'll knock $2 off the price, in case you'd like to deliver a little gift with your card carol. Again, just make your donation to Elden's grant here, forward me the 'receipt' along with your choice of song(s) and your recipient's address(es) or e-mail address(es) at Callmecrazycbus@hotmail.com, and I'll get your card out ASAP. If your card is to be delivered in person, please try to include a day/time that you think would be best for delivery. Also, sending one to yourself just for your amusement is totally allowed. Er, just a disclaimer... I was in choir in middle school... but I'm not exactly a vocalist, if you get my point. If my voice is terrible, just consider it a part of the comedic effect ;)
 |
| Epic Christmas Costume |
Finally, I just want to share a couple other fundraisers that are on my heart right now.
My friend Laura is launching a new fundraiser (since our auction closed Monday) for Brett called 'With Love From...' - the goal being to obtain a love offering of $5 from at least one person in every state. If you give, please pay directly to Brett's grant (linked above) and let us know via blog, facebook or email where your love offering is coming from so we can add your state to the map! This fundraiser is just starting out, so we don't exactly have a lot of states covered yet... we'd love to add yours to the map!
 |
| Love from Laura in Missouri so far! |
Also, my friend Jenni, who is raising money to commit to a sweet little boy from Katie Musser's former orphanage (#11), is partnering with another family for a Wii U giveaway! This runs until December 15 and your chances of winning are AWESOME! You can read about their fundraiser at Jenni's blog here. They are in a time crunch to pay some agency fees and desperately need to raise this money, but don't have the benefit of having a Reece's Rainbow FSP yet. If you would like, or know someone who would like a Wii U this Christmas, would you please consider entering to help them out?
So there you are. Lots of fundraising going on, and I know it's a tight time of year for everyone, but I hope you'll pick at least one and give a little bit... maybe as a Christmas present to me? ;)
Oh - and for the sake of updating - $285 has currently been raised for Elden through Angel Tree and $193.30 for Brett (not all auction proceeds are in yet) - so a total of $478.30 has been raised for the two boys - almost halfway to $1,000, and halfway to me losing my first eyebrow! I'm getting excited! (Yes, I realize that I am exceedingly weird). Also, for the record, I've been doing this crazy thing called 'getting up early' lately, and this other crazy thing called 'taking a bath in the morning', which is why there haven't been many bedhead photos (that and they are really exceedingly embarrassing) but I will try to get back on track - if you promise to help me get those grants up so I can stop taking bad pictures of myself!
Finally I just want to send a sincere thank you out to everyone who has supported Elden and Brett so far. If the words existed to tell you what it means to me, I would say them, but there just aren't any words strong enough to express the depth of my gratitude. I grin like an idiot, and sometimes cry a little bit, every time one of them moves up though, if that tells you anything. Thank you so much. You all are truly amazing and none of this - angel tree, fundraising, Reece's Rainbow, over 800 adoptions in six years - would be possible without you.
Oh, and PS: Look who's on My Family Found Me...
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| ZOEY!!!! |
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