Twenty-five

This weekend I turned 25.

(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!

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.

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... ;)

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!