Amazing gifts

This Christmas is a bit different for us...we don't currently have a home (we just relocated across the country and are staying in a basement apartment of a kind family), half our belongings at least are in storage, and after an adoption and a move and various medical bills, our resources are drained. Our time and energy has been drained as well in looking for a home for our family....the children dread having to get back in the car to drive all over, poor things.

It will be a simple Christmas here but blessed.We have received some amazing gifts this year in these challenges. We have two precious children with us that were not here before. Last Christmas Joshua lay in his crib all the day hearing little ones around him. Now he is in a family and the people he hears talk to him and hold him and love him. Last year Lily spend her time in a stroller and now she is held and carried around and has discovered CLIMBING! They are about to have their first Christmas in a family. Last Christmas was when we committed to adopt Lily...what a blessing that she and Joshua are here with us. Two lives being changed...what an amazing gift.

One of our favorite little boys on Reeces Rainbow since we first looked into our adoption (of Sean), is Victor... he was in a different region than Sean so we couldn't adopt him ourselves but we've been praying he would find a family... this Christmas he is with his family after just coming home in the past month! You can read about him and his precious little sister here!

We recently found out how other families --who read our story in "Above Rubies" are now adopting special needs childen! One family is getting their homestudy done to adopt Priscilla ...she emailed me a few months ago and we were so excited.
Just a week or so ago, another preciosu family contacted us that are in the Ukraine right now adopting a little girl named Alice. They just had court today and now she is their daughter!! Praise God. Here she is....isn't she precious?


Emily, Alice's mother, also wrote that 2 families in her church are also adopting special needs children after hearing their story too. Wow.
(you can go to the blogs of Alice's family and Priscilla's family on the sidebar by clicking on their beautiful picture buttons)

These are amazing gifts...Lives are being changed. Our lives, their lives....5 orphans will be orphans no more. I wonder what other gifts are going on from the Lord that we don't see or know of yet. Isn't it amazing how the Lord works and how He interweaves our lives? God's gifts are far greater than those in packages under the tree.

Lets think about gifts the Lord gives us, whatever our situation, and thank Him this Christmas.

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His love endures forever.
To Him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever."

Psalm 136:1-4

Never the same

Something happens when you adopt a child... you are never the same.
I know I can't describe what that is, but I know it is something that God does.
He changes your heart. Opens your heart...to a child, a life, a precious soul.
I wondered if we could love a child that was "not our own." Of course even when we started having more than one child, I wondered how we could love another as much...but we did. I think with adoption it happens at different times with different people...some have a deep love even before they meet their child, some the moment they see them, and for others it is a gradual process. But it happens...God opens your heart and gives you love for a child that is now "your own."

Just the other day my son said, "it feels like Joshua wasn't adopted" ..meaning he felt just like his brother. My daughter said, "I don't think of Lily and Sean as having Down Syndrome Mommy...they are just my sister and brother!"
Its happening in their hearts. They loved these children before we got them...in fact they begged us to go get them and prayed hard. Still, it wasn't quite what they expected. They didn't anticipate how much (total) help JOshua would need, that he would cry or squeal loudly at night sometimes, that Lily would bite (at first)spit and cry stubbornly when she didn't like something, or that Sean would laugh mischieviously, get into everything, and be loud and silly early in the morning. But they are learning about God's love...which is unconditional and patient and giving. They are noticing ... that Joshua is happy when he is held and paid attention to, that LIly lights up and smiles when she is picked up and tickled, that Sean loves to wrestle and be a part of the family happenings, and that our family is blessed to have them in it. They....we....are growing in love. ITs not always easy but it is good!

The other thing that changes is that you can't forget...what you saw and what you know, the orphans you couldn't bring home and the many others you didn't see. Your heart is happy for the child you were able to give a home but still aches for the others still waiting. You want to do more, to help the many other orphans.

God's given our children this love for orphans...and a heart to do more.
It is a precious thing to me, and even more so, to the Lord whose word says that "Pure and undefiled relgion is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress..." Their hearts are being made more like His.

THat is why our sweet daughters are still working to help orphans. THey helped get their sister and brother home but that is not enough. THeir hearts ache for all the orphans on Reeces Rainbow. Their hearts ache for little Ethan, who is six but is less than 20 pounds. That sounds impossible in our well-fed american baby culture, but it is his reality. He has Downs and other medical issues and is believed to be too sickly to get the surgery he needs....unless he is adopted. Well now a precious family--who have a heart for special needs orphans--is working hard to get to him. They already have brought home three children with special needs...one this past year (who nearly went to an institution) and 2 the previous year (one had already been sent to the institution).... they are an amazing family that God has given a great love for needy children and a willingness to obey his calling to care for the orphan.

You can read about Ethan's condition here The Malones have a travel date of January 31st for their SDA apointment. They still need quite a lot of money to complete the adoption
($12,000 or more) Lets help this dear family to raise the money they need. Every prayer, every dollar, every time we spread the word...matters. It is incredible that this little boy is still alive...it is a miracle...and that is what is needed for his family to bring him home, and God can use each of us to be a part of it.
He will never be the same and neither will you!

If you'd like to help Ethan, see Haylee's post below, or visit their blog at:
www.laciesbracelets.blogspot.com (can also click the picture of the bracelet at the top of this blog)

ONLY 7 MORE DAYS ...

Dear All,

please consider giving a donation to help us help bring Ethan home! We only have 7 day left to raise money for Ethan...

It could be a donation of $6 or more for a bracelet or two...or if you do not need a bracelet right now, we are also selling handmade beautiful Christmas yarn angels! (see picture and description below on side bar of this blog). Maybe, if you order soon, you might get the bracelets/angels in time for Christmas/New Years!

Help us help this little boy's family bring him home! He needs to come home quickly before he is transferred to a mental institution. Ethan has a lot of medical issues too, which need to be treated by surgery.

Share with your friends/family!

ONLY 7 MORE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS...OUR DEADLINE FOR THE FUNDRAISER!!


Thanks,
Haylee and Naomi

ps. to donate, click on the chip-in on the side. Thank you! :)

Lost Boys and girls

This is a post by a RR mom...we were really touched by this...it is so sad about all these lost boys and girls at the institutions! Please help them! Ethan, the little boy who we are raising money for will be transferred to the institution if his family can't get to him in time. Please help us raise money for him! Thankyou!





God bless you,

Haylee Adamson
laciesbracelets.blogspot.com
email: childrenpreciousinhissight@gmail.com




Why do we scream and yell and holler for the children listed on Reece's Rainbow? Why do we raise money for them, lose sleep over them and sacrifice every waking hour advocating for them? Why we do work so hard to get them adopted from the baby houses before they reach the age of transfer? Why do we grieve and mourn when they are transferred to the special needs mental institutes in Eastern Europe?

Read on. This is ONE of the reasons why. There are HUNDREDS more.

We live a harried life. Running here, there and everywhere. We work, take our kids to this activity, then that activity, rush to meetings, juggle schedules and cook, clean and work side-jobs in our spare time. We rarely have time to do Nothing.

We love doing Nothing. A day where we have no appointments, no meetings and no places where our children have to be. An evening where we can stay at home, curl up as a family with a bowl of popcorn and watch a movie. An afternoon where we can take a walk or play in the yard. Nothing. Nothing so that we can do what we find pleasurable. Reading a book, building a puzzle, playing a game. Nothing has warm connotations, happy thoughts. Nothing is what we live for as a family.

For us, in America, Nothing means Everything.

For the Lost Boys and Girls across Eastern Europe, for the ones who have been transferred - Nothing means NOTHING.

This is what NOTHING looks like for many of the Lost Boys and Lost Girls in Eastern Europe. Those who are transferred to the institutes. Those who can walk. Those who are mobile. This is Nothing. This is what one family witnessed just a few months ago on their journey to their son. This is one institute out of many.







On warm days, 20 plus boys will be led to this shed. 20 plus boys will go inside this shed. A bench will be placed across the door so that they will not be allowed to leave. Then, those 20 plus boys will do nothing. They will sit inside that shed. They will sit. They will rock. They will cry out. They will moan. They will stare at the walls. They will hit each other. They will hit themselves. They will sit. They will sit. They will wait. After hours of sitting they will get to leave for another shed, to eat. They will be forced to eat quickly so that they can be led back to this shed. To do Nothing. In the afternoon they will be led to their rooms. They will be made to lay down on their beds. For hours they will lay on those beds. Some will sleep to escape. Others will lay and do Nothing. Staring at the walls, ceiling - staring at Nothing. When it is time to get up, they will go back to their shed. Again, to do Nothing.


On rainy days, or cold days, they will stay in their buildings. They will not leave those buildings. They will not venture downstairs or get to visit the other boys in the other buildings or even in the other part of their building. No. They will stay in their section. They will sit in the sitting room. It is as empty as the shed. Benches and carpets. They will sit. They will sit and they will do Nothing. They will rock. They will moan. They will hit each other. They will hit themselves. They will sit. They will wait. They will stare at the four walls. They will do Nothing.

On rainy days, or cold days, they will stay in their buildings. They will not leave those buildings. They will not venture downstairs or get to visit the other boys in the other buildings or even in the other part of their building. No. They will stay in their section. They will sit in the sitting room. It is as empty as the shed. Benches and carpets. They will sit. They will sit and they will do Nothing. They will rock. They will moan. They will hit each other. They will hit themselves. They will sit. They will wait. They will stare at the four walls. They will do Nothing.

.Once in a while, on weekends, they will get to hear music. The bigger boys will get to do jobs. Some jobs that are heart-breaking. The best behaved boys will get to kick a deflated ball sometimes. Sometimes a stick can be found for drawing in the dirt. Sometimes they will even let a child or two play in the sand pile that is often used as a toilet. Sometimes. On really rare days, when visitors come, they may even get out a hidden toy or two. Rarely. Most of the time, they do Nothing.


Nothing for the Lost Boys and Girls in Eastern Europe means Nothing.


Two worlds. Our Nothing. Their Nothing. Can we just sit by and do Nothing?


Help us rescue the little ones who are still at the Baby Houses - donate to the Angel Tree. Give a gift that means EVERYTHING to the "Least of These." Every child rescued out of the Baby House is one less child who has to sit and do Nothing.

Eric Ludy - Depraved Indifference

Another RR family had this video on their blog and it is very powerful. It is humbling and pierces the heart.

It reminds me of the "why" we did what we did when we adopted our 3 children with special needs when we already had 6 "of our own." It doesn't make sense from a worldly perspective so many people didn't or still don't understand it. When I take my eyes off of the Lord, and focus on the challenges and incoveniences, I forget and it doesn't make sense to me either. I can hear myself beginning to think, "didn't I have enough to do?" or "how can I possibly meet their needs?" and --the one that well meaning, good friends and family members say often-- "what about (you) me and (your)my needs?"

But when I have God's perspective...which is far above my own... it makes sense.
This video reminds me that this world is not about my comfort, desires or ambitions. It is about God and what He is doing. He loves every child, every orphan...they are precious to Him. If we call ourselves His children, then we will love them too...enough to show it. He loved us sacrificially and if we follow HIm, we must love sacrificially...and trust Him to work it all out through us. He is big enough to enable each of us to be His hands and His feet to this world.

The amazing part is that He blesses us when we are obedient and care for the orphan. Sometimes we wonder if our adoptions have been more than saving these 3 precious children, but also about the work God is doing in our hearts...in other words, we are being blessed even more by them, and what God is drawing out of us as we learn to love and care for the "least of these" who may not be able to "give" according to the world's defintion.

Our children's fundraiser: great gift idea for a great cause!

Our children have an orphan bracelet ministry that started when they desperately wanted to bring their little sister Lacie (now Lily) home. We didn't have any savings with which to adopt again (having just adopted Sean) but in faith they asked their Daddy if they could start fundraising. It was wonderful to see God bless their efforts in helping bring their sister home.

Now that she is here (and their brother Joshua too) they still want to help orphans... right now they are seeking to raise some money to help the Malone family bring a little boy named Ethan home. Ethan is a disabled orphan already in an institution who desperately needs surgery and who has a family he doesn't know about that is working hard to bring him home. Their dossier (official paperwork) is already overseas and they await its submission and to receive a travel date! God has worked wonders to get it all together for them in a short time and they are trusting God to provide the money needed (international adoptions here cost about $22,000)

If you'd like to make a donation for a bracelet, please visit our children's blog at:
www.laciesbracelets.blogspot.com
where there are pictures of bracelets (special orders are also available)

They are asking for donations of $6 or more which can be done through the chip-in on paypal, or you can email them if you prefer to use a check at:
childrenpreciousinhissight@gmail.com

It is a precious thing to see the Lord giving them hearts for the orphans and trusting Him that He can use even them and it is something that several of our kids have enjoyed doing together.

So please consider helping them to help bring Ethan home! The bracelets would make special Christmas (or birthday) gifts for someone special in your life!

Urgent Prayer Request

Did you know that there is a vote coming up that could stop all adoptions in the Ukraine (where we adopted SEan, Lily and Joshua)? Below is from a post of another family who just adopted from there and who knows alot more about it than me. Please read it ...pray and share this prayer need with others.


A few weeks ago I posted about a vote on a bill that would put a moratoriam on adoptions in Aaron's former country. The bill passed once, but needs to pass a second time before it goes to the President and is signed into law. If the bill stays as it is written then adoptions in that country will come to a screeching halt. I've heard a lot of differing information, advice, thoughts etc. about when the second vote will take place. It is very possible that the vote will take place next week. Thanksgiving week. Some say November 22 and some say November 24. Some say it will not happen until spring. Only the Lord knows when that vote will take place. It is an extremely serious matter and we need to be praying hard that this bill will either not pass or that the wording of the bill changes so that adoptions, especially the special needs adoptions, will not be hindered. Consider the following:

Next Thursday is the LAST day this year when that country will be accepting dossiers until the end of February. This is a normal process that takes place each year. Those families who are not submitted in the next two weeks will have to wait until early next year for submission.

If the bill passes and if it is signed as it it currently written:


Then those families who have been racing against time to get their dossier to that country by the cut off date will find all their work to have been done in vain.
All the families who are currently in that country and have met their child BUT HAVE NOT HAD COURT will be sent home.
All the families who have bags packed, plane tickets in hand and are ready to walk out the door to go get their children will not get to go.
All the families who have had all their paperwork submitted over there and are just waiting for a travel date will be left hanging.
All the families who have mailed their dossiers and are praying they will be accepted either this week or next week by the agency that processes adoptions will not be submitted.
There are about 30 Reece's Rainbow families in the above situations. 30 families who are hoping to bring home over 40 children. FORTY. There are over 40 other families who are working hard on their paperwork in order to be submitted early next year. We are talking over 100 SPECIAL NEEDS children who have families right now willing to sacrifice everything to get them home.

It is a battle. A spiritual battle that needs to be won. Four years ago these children were hidden from society. They were unwanted. They were dying in their cribs. Alone. But God has raised up an army of loving families who want these kids. They want the unwanted ones. They are shocking the orphanage directors, the nannies, the doctors and the social workers. Each time one of the 'least of these' is selected, they are making a powerful statement to the powers that be in this country and others that these little ones have value. They deserve life, love and families. They don't need to be discarded at the hospitals. They can grow and learn and thrive. Hearts are changing and the powers of darkness are not pleased. It is a spiritual battle. As the church is waking up, realizing its call in this forgotten realm, the battle lines are being drawn.

Pure and simple - we need to pray. We have on our side, a Mighty God. He is the One who has called the church to action and He is the One who is leading this battle. I have in my house the sweetest little guy because God placed it in on our hearts to GO GET HIM. Our call did not end when we walked off the plane. One child whisked out of darkness is not enough. We need to battle with the rest of the families who are fighting against the odds to get these children out. They have been called by God and we need to stand with them in prayer that NOTHING will prevent them for fulfilling His plans.

Pray church. Pray that the bill either doesn't pass or that it is reworded. Pray that God will continue to move in the hearts and minds and souls of each and every orphanage and institute director. Pray that the doors of these places would be flung open and that the church would be able to march inside. Pray that through the testimony of every single family who goes over there, that the system of discarding the special needs children would come to an end. Pray. Pray for the vote. Pray for the people God has put in place who are working around the clock to address the issue. Pray for the families. Pray for God's peace to reign in their hearts as they journey in this unknown. There are numerous other families who are trying to adopt in Aaron's former country who are also deeply affected by this vote. They are not Reece's Rainbow families but they are just as much in need of our prayer covering. We know many in this group and we agonize with them also. They too desperately need our prayers. This vote affects thousands of children stuck in a very harsh system. Pray not only for the families, but for God's call for you. Pray for discernment as you wrestle with whether God is calling you to adopt. Pray hard, church.

Those who are unable at this time to rescue a child, you are not off the hook. You are called to support the families who are going. You are called to GIVE. You are called to be an encourager, a supporter. You are called to pray. So pray. And lest you forget for whom we pray:

All of the precious little ones pictured above need families. I can't look at their faces without wanting to cry. They are helpless, needy and desperately in need of your prayers and support.
Posted by Julia at www.covenantbuilders.blogspot.com (you can see the pictures on her blog post)

I know--though its pushed far in the back of my mind as it is a hard thing to think about-- that Sean and Joshua would be in an institution right now if we were not able to adopt them, and Lily would be going next year. At their orphanage, the caregivers seemed to care about them and even though they didn't see their potential or do things as we would have and the children didn't receive the nurturing and therapy they needed, they took care of them and even fussed about certain things, like wearing a bonnet if it was 60 degrees or lower. If they'd been transferred, their lives would have changed dramatically as they would not have received such care at a mental institution (along with older children and adults with mental disabilities)and most likely they would have perished very quickly. You can go and read on Reeces Rainbow's webpage for statistics, but they are not good. If they did survive, their hope of having a Mommy and a Daddy, loving care, opportunities to learn, receive therapy and have everyday freedoms we all enjoy would have been gone. I pray that God will keep the doors open for all the families who have opened their hearts to welcome these special children into their lives. Please pray with us.

You can also read it directly on their blog at:
http://covenantbuilders.blogspot.com/2010/11/lest-we-forget.html

Our daughters fundraiser: Great Christmas gift idea...for a great cause!

Our children have an orphan bracelet ministry that started when they desperately wanted to bring their little sister Lacie (now Lily) home. We didn't have any savings with which to adopt again (having just adopted Sean) but in faith they asked their Daddy if they could start fundraising. It was wonderful to see God bless their efforts in helping bring their sister home.

Now that she is here (and their brother Joshua too) they still want to help orphans... right now they are seeking to raise some money to help the Malone family bring a little boy named Ethan home. Ethan is a disabled orphan already in an institution who desperately needs surgery and who has a family he doesn't know about that is working hard to bring him home. Their dossier (official paperwork) is already overseas and they await its submission and to receive a travel date! God has worked wonders to get it all together for them in a short time and they are trusting God to provide the money needed (international adoptions here cost about $22,000)

If you'd like to make a donation for a bracelet, please visit our children's blog at:


,
where there are pictures of bracelets (special orders are also available)


They are asking for donations of $6 or more which can be done through the chip-in on paypal, or you can email them if you prefer to use a check at:


It is a precious thing to see the Lord giving them hearts for the orphans and trusting Him that He can use even them and it is something that several of our kids have enjoyed doing together.

So please consider helping them to help bring Ethan home! The bracelets would make special Christmas (or birthday) gifts for someone special in your life!

Sean's 5th bday (updated pictures)

I added a few more pictures of Sean....
not sure why some ended up sideways after I flipped them but enjoy anyway!


















Today was Sean's 5th birthday, November 11th, the 2nd birthday he has celebrated with us. He is a precious, active, happy little boy, and we are so glad we were able to adopt him! :)

This is what we did for his birthday:

We had some of Sean's favorite foods (he loves to eat!)..
Breakfast: toast, banana, BAnilla yogurt (banana vanilla), and cereal--banana's are his favorite!!
Lunch: chili with chips
Dinner: hotdogs, potatoes, steamed veggies
Desert: cake and banana splits-- with pineapple orange apple homemade icecream!

For his birthday, Sean got a bop bag (a blow-up bag that you hit and it bops back up) and a bouncing ball (where you hold on to a holding thing, sit on the ball and bounce). Sean and everyone else had fun playing with them!

We went on a nature walk down the driveway and played ball(we like to take walks everyday!)

In the afternoon, we went to a nearby park that has a fun playgroud which we like to go to and played there and our Daddy met us after work there.

When we got home, Sean and the other little kids watched "Signing time", which Sean calls "Leah" --Leah is the name of the little girl in the video (Sean loves the Signing times!)

Sean loved all the things we did together on his birthday, and before he went to bed, he got to wrestle with Daddy which was great fun for him!! :)


Haylee Adamson

Help Vika & Orphan Sunday

Orphan Sunday was this past Sunday, and we were blessed to be able to visit a church which acknowledged the need of the orphans, and where 2 families shared about what God has done in their family through the blessing of adoption. We were invited to come to the service, as one of these families was also sharing about Reeces Rainbow, the ministry where we learned about orphans with Down Syndrome (and found our son Sean. I'm glad that churches pause to think about the needs of the orphans and our calling to care for the orphan, and I pray that God will touch many hearts to have His heart for the orphans and be moved to help.

My last post talked about the bottom line "why" we adopted 3 special needs orphans into our home. THe hardest thing about adopting is not raising the money, having to put together your paperwork for many months (and redo it and redo it) and go through homestudies and doctor visits etc, deal with being in a culture different from your own for an extended time, or even being separated from loved ones (though it is very difficult!)...I think the hardest part is seeing so many precious children that don't have families. Especially the disabled ones...because of knowing that they generally lack any kind of positive future as they are transferred at the age of 4 to a mental institution where there are very poor conditions, lack of any comforts or toys or stimulation, and where it is very unlikely, sometimes not even possible, that they will be adopted and know the love of a family. Please see the post below and the links that describe more in detail the institutions that 2 families we know adopted from.

I wanted to share a link to learn about how you can help bring home a precious little girl with Cerepral Palsy whose name is Vika.


Isn't she beautiful? Apparently she was just transferred to an institution.
You can read about her on our friend's blog at:
http://theroadlesstraveledcontinues.blogspot.com/?zx=5e9315717f252e29

There is an $800 Best Buy giveaway to raise funds for Vika! For every $5 donation, there is one entry, or 6 entries for $25. Please pray for Vika and spread the word about her fundraiser...and help bring Vika home to a loving family.

Remembering why

When we learned about Reeces Rainbow orphan ministry God changed our lives in many ways, as He began to give us His heart for the orphan, in particularly the orphan with disabilites. We were grieved, burdened, overwhelmed when we learned of the plight of these children in many other countries...who at age 4 are routinely transferred to a mental institution (unlike their quote "normal" playmates who go on to an older orphanage, something like a boarding school) Here they face very poor conditions, lack of care, stimulation, therapy, love and the opportunity to be adopted into a family. Many do not survive very long.
When we saw all those faces of so many disabled orphans facing this, we could not forget about it and that led us to pray and open our hearts and home to special needs orphans...first one little boy with Down syndrome in 2009 and then a little girl with DS and a little boy with a chromosome 18 disorder.

We've also been changed by other people who have also been burdened by the Lord to care for these orphans. Its been a great blessing to us to follow their journeys, to see the Lord changing hearts and lives, and we're amazed by the growth of Reece Rainbow in reaching and saving these precious lives. We feel like we know these other families, just as when you meet new people who are believers in the Lord Jesus, you share a strong and deep bond of His love. If you go to www.reecesrainbow.org you can click on "sponsor an adoptive family" and on their sponsor pages is often a blog address link so you can read their stories.

One family we know just brought their son home from an institution where they were the first to adopt a disabled boy. Their adoption was not easy....both to get the approval and to face in person the inhumane and horrifying conditions that their new son had to deal with and that is the reality of many boys still there...whom they call the Lost Boys. They are advocating for 2 little boys there who are able to be adopted through Reeces Rainbow named Heath and Brady...who desperately need to be rescued and given the hope of a loving family.


Brady


Heath

They are SO precious and would heal and thrive in a loving family where they were meant to be safe and grow and love and be loved. You can read more about them on their blog on some older posts. Oir RR friends have been sharing what it was like at this institution and I think it is something everyone should know, so here is the link:

http://covenantbuilders.blogspot.com/2010/11/sad-reality.html#comment-form

Another family we know from RR shared on their blog about an article written by someone who had visited the same institution that they adopted their son from. It is very eye-opening s well:
http://themalonefamily.us/?p=192

(I haven't figure out yet how to make those link but it is so worth the time to copy past the links and read)



Honestly,some days are hard...taking in 3 disabled children isn't easy. OUr two with DS are challenging in some ways...in that I'm challenged to show more patience, more attentiveness, more creativity in occupying them. Our son Joshua requires care for everything as he doesnt sit on his own and needs to be fed. He cries very hard and loud pretty often when he is hungry or tired or wet or theres a loud noise (or someone else is crying) and its challenging because I can't tell him to be quiet as he doesn't understand.
I'm learning ever so slowly about God's love and compassion and patience...
which he shows us knowing that we can not ever repay Him for it or get something in return.

I wish I could say that I joyfully serve all my little ones each day...that is my goal but I have much growing yet to do. There are times when I have am weary and struggle and I lose sight of the "why" we're doing this. Reading our friend's post reminded me again of the why and its something I need to keep in my mind, even though its not pleasant. The fact is that Sean would've been transferred over a year ago and in such a place. HE is a sturdy boy but we've heard of other perfectly healthy kids with DS that didn't survive long after transfer. Even if he did survive, he would have no hope, now future, no love. Joshua was being readied to transfer as he had already turned 4 in May... he was fed by a bottle, but they were starting to train him to take food with a spoon --because at the institution they didn't use bottles. Given his condition and the level of care he needs, he would've spent his days on a bare mat and could not have survived very long. Lily just turned 3 and had one more year.. It is sobering to think about.

When I remember, it all comes back into perspective and I'm so thankful we were able to bring them home. It inspires me to love them more, to be more patient, to open their world more and more. Today we went for a hike/walk through the woods at a park here. I thought about how wonderful it was that Joshua was able to feel the sunshine and fresh breeze on his face and be exposed to God's creation as his sister pushed him in the stroller, and that Lily, (who has been finding her smile more and more) was able to snuggle behind her Daddy in the ERgo and fall asleep, and that Sean was able to enthusiastically toddle along holding a hand while he picked up sticks and got some exercise. Simple things that we take for granted.

It makes me want to do so much more. We have our hands quite full right now as we adjust to having 2 more special children to care for but our hearts still ache for the many who still need families. Please join us in spreading the word about these kids...and encourage people to learn about Reeces Rainbow and orphans like Heath and Brady whose hope is fading.
We know and have seen that God is the Father to the fatherless and He sets the lonely into families. He loves these orphans and as we are faithful to obey His commands to care for the orphan, He works wonders. A good friend reminded me of the Scripture, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me " (Phillipians 4:13). Just as He leads us to care or intercede for the orphan, He also will enable us to do what He leads us to do.

So happy

that sweet Victor met his family today!

Victor was one that stole our hearts (along with our Sean) when we first discovered Reeces Rainbow. I'd wanted so much to adopt him too but we couldn't adopt from 2 different regions as it would've taken doubly long (and we were leaving little ones) and cost double the fees. We knew God had a plan for him and we prayed for him to find his family....it is such a blessing to get to see it coming to be! And he will have a sweet baby sister who is also being adopted. Praise God for how He sets the lonely into families and is a Father to the fatherless. Please keep their family in your prayers...


http://somewherebehindthemorning.blogspot.com/2010/11/i-am-so-blessed.html?

Diapers, dishes, and doctor's

Thanks to all who have prayed for our family as we moved across the country and get settled here in our temporary home, and look for a more permanent home here in VA.

Today I was feeling like all I've been accomplishing is feeding children, washing dishes, changing diapers and wiping noses ...not sure if it is a never-ending cold or allergies but our 2 with DS seem to have had a runny nose for a few weeks now. We are missing our dishwasher (we were so spoiled) as dishes pile up very quickly with 11 people--even if 5 of them are 4 and under.

Today I had to take Annabelle to the doctor after we discovered a tick on her shoulder. I found out that correct technique was not to smother it but to use tweezers to pull firmly (not harming the tick, as it could spew bacteria) and hold, and the tick should release its head....well, not this tick--it was holding on for good and after many tries it broke off with the head still in her skin. So we headed to urgent care where they finally got it out....she was so incredibly brave and didn't even cry once. It was incredible.

Even though it was concerning (with the risk of possible Lymes Disease or infection)and stressful, there were some blessings in disguise...one being that my eldest daughters got the opportunity they'd been wanting (but Mommy wasn't ready for) to watch some of the younger children while I took her to the doctor. Thankfully our host family was at home (we are staying in their basement apartment) so I knew if there was a need, they were there. The girls did great...I came home to dinner made and the little ones being fed. Praise God! The best thing was....they really enjoyed doing it!
The experience also reminded me of all we have to be thankful for, and how precious each child is. Changing those diapers is important work , and I can give thanks that we had food to eat on those dishes...and praise God that my girls can find joy in cooking and helping their family.

It generally is so easy to see the negative, what is wrong or lacking and miss the good... we recently watched Pollyanna where she quoted Abraham Lincoln saying something like, "if you look for whats wrong in people, you will certainly find it" So often this is true of me, when I live according to my "flesh" or what comes natural, but God says to "rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonianas 5:18) I could have come home and focused on what wasn't done and I thank God for helping me, this time, to focus on what was done and be thankful. So there may be a sink full of dishes...there was character building going on today.... a 6 year-old was being strong and courageous....an 11 and 13 year-old were seeking to serve their family joyfully... little ones were learning that its okay for big sisters to take care of them...and mommy was being reminded of what was important. Thank you, Lord.

Please pray that Annabelle will remain healthy now that the tick is removed fully. We are also seeking God's wisdom and direction regarding a home for our family so we can get settled.

A precious gift

Today we celebrate the wonderful day that God gave our family Naomi Grace. Her name fits her so well..."pleasant" or "sweet" "gift."

She is 11 now...where does the time go? We are so blessed by our precious Naomi. God has given her many abilities and gifts to share with this world and it is a much better place with her in it. Naomi has a great heart for the Lord, for the unborn and for orphans, and already she's played a major part in bringing 3 special orphans into our family...and is learning to be a servant as she helps care for them day in and day out. She has a special gift in caring for little ones--it is a blessing! She brings out the best in others and at times reminds me of whats important. She inspires me by her diligence, creativity (she is an incredible story teller), integrity, spiritual sensitivity, and compassion.

We thank God for her!

She has a blog called "The Lord's Grace to Us" at:
http://thelordsgracetous.blogspot.com/?zx=8b0e6168dd480c9a

She and her sister also seek to raise money for special needs orphans adoptions by making beautiful bracelets, some with special messages. Their blog for their bracelet ministry is:
http://laciesbracelets.blogspot.com/

Reece's Rainbow: Andrea Roberts, Founder & Director of Reece's Rainbow HAS WON! People Magazine's First Ever Reader's Choice Hero of the Year 2010! Congratulations Andrea!

We were so excited to hear that Andrea, founder of Reeces Rainbow, won the Hero of the year through People Magazine. This ministry has forever impacted the lives of many special needs orphans (and their families) in the few years of its existance...
including our Sean, Lily and Joshua. The $10,000 award will go directly to helping more orphans to find families.

Please if you haven't already, visit the website at www.reecesrainbow.org ... it will open your eyes and change your heart forever. It did ours. Even if you are not in a position to adopt, there are so many ways that each of us can help care for these very special orphans as God calls us to. Check it out!


Reece's Rainbow: Andrea Roberts, Founder & Director of Reece's Rainbow HAS WON! People Magazine's First Ever Reader's Choice Hero of the Year 2010! Congratulations Andrea!

Pictures

I just wanted to share some recent photos of our children that I didn't have time to post back before we left SD. Our good friend Katie came to take pictures of our family and most of these I snapped quickly with my little videocamera (hers will be MUCH better quality of course but some came out well) I'm looking forward to seeing her pictures of our entire family...coming soon! Enjoy!


Our sweet Haylee is growing up so fast



Big brother Jonah (so glad he willingly let me take his picture and smiled!)



Naomi at her favorite place...the creek!


Joshua sleeping


Love that toothless smile of Annabelle!



Somehow I missed taking Elsie's picture that day outside



Sean...in a rare quiet moment


Lily May....I can't seem to catch her cute smile on the camera



Aidan was getting over a cold so he looks a little sleepy

Unpacking

Remembering some SD fun...

Fun in the sand...isn't it beautiful there?



Everyone having fun in the water



Sean...this boy LOVES water like noone I've ever seen



Naomi is amazing with little kids




Joshua enjoying the outdoors



Jonah cold...a storm came up suddenly and we had to leave


Lily enjoyed walking around free and playing in the sand



Annabelle taking a break



Elsie telling Mommy something


These are some older pictures of going to a local lake in SD during the month we were home after the adoption...we had alot of fun. Lily liked playing in the sand and Joshua loved being outside. I will try to put some recent pictures on here soon!


Last week is a blur..it went by so fast. We've been moving boxes to the right places (the movers didn't bother to read where they were to be put), then ones we don't need to open to the garage, then to storage. We've been unpacking and organizing our temporary basement apartment we are living in and being creative with the space.

Did you know that 11 people's clothes can fit into a big closet? We have a family closet which works really well for putting laundry away. Did you further know that 8 children can fit into a bedroom? We were going to have a boy room and a girl room and mommy and daddy on the couch futon, but the kids decided they'd rather all sleep together and make the 2nd bedroom area an office for Daddy (who will be able to work a little from home) and for homeschool! They were so precious his first day to work...they helped clear out the boxes and set up an office space for him and surprised him! It has been working pretty well...all are pretty deep sleepers except for the baby, who we put in a pack-n-play in the office at night, near John and I (he ends up nursing and sleeping with Mommy part of the time anyway). I'm so glad that they mostly sleep through as at times Joshua can cry --and his cries are so loud and distressing ...usually he will go back to sleep once he's been repositioned, thankfully. In case you're wondering how the sardines fit, we have a twin/full bunkbed (one on top, 2 and a little on the bottom, a twin mattress,2 pack-n-plays (for the 2 that need boundaries--yes, our 2 with DS), and a small mattress. Thankfully, it is only temporary but for now, it is working. Naps are a little more difficult...sometimes they nap, sometimes they don't!

We've been very blessed by our host family's graciousness to us, both in staying here, allowing us to use their laundry machines, freezer, etc and helping us with moving boxes and taking trash etc. The children are loving playing outside on their beautiful property with their new friends. The biggest challenge has been getting back into a routine...we haven't yet and have been having late sleepers (me included). We are working on getting back into our routine of chores, learning, play and eating, and learning how to care for those who need help. WE have 3 children who need to be fed, so it takes some coordination. We've also been looking at possible places to live in the area as John learns where he will need to travel and what would be best.

We were visited by my parents this past weekend which was WONDERFUL after not seeing them for far too long. It was a blessing to say goodbye knowing it will not be so long again before we visit again. For those who prayed for my dad after his heart surgery, he looked GREAT! He so thoroughly enjoys his grandchildren and I'm glad he will get to see them more often.

We made it to VA

WE made it to Virginia exactly one week since we left last Saturday. It was quite an adventure traveling across the country with our 9 children! We are thankful to the Lord that our van made it with out any problems, and for the wonderful visits we had along the way.

We were blessed to be able to meet and visit with the Niesch family, who organized a benefit concert for us in Iowa, after they had learned about Reeces Rainbow. If you didn't read that story you can go to older posts and read about it...and be encouraged that God works in wonderful ways. The kids really enjoyed getting to play and run around with new friends, and we all enjoyed a home cooked meal. We were provided lodging at a local hotel by their friends which was a nice treat for us after being in sleeping bags at home for a week and a KOA the first night.

Then we drove through St. Louis and enjoyed meeting and staying with the Olmsteads, another RR family who adopted 2 girls last year when we adopted Sean. Once again we were blessed by a wonderful meal and good company... a short visit (as we had to leave early the next day) but we all really enjoyed it.

Our next stop was Indiana where we visited our good friends the Garlands who are like family to us...only problem was the kids didn't want to leave, and when their DAddy had to visit the ER (to get checked out due to palpitations) they were secretly glad they got to stay another day. Thankfully, everything checked out okay and the doctor thought it was due to overuse of his inhaler, combined with the stress of traveling. He is trying to lay off the inhaler, eat well, and take it easy and he has been feeling alot better. Please keep him in your prayers as we have to move lots of boxes here to get things in order. WE all really enjoyed our Indiana visit and got to meet up with some dear friends at the park while we were there.

Our drive into VA was probably the longest and hardest and we arrived late to a KOA that night. THe kids have done amazingly well I think with sleeping in so many new places, with all of us together...and they did so well with traveling. I don't think Aidan our baby cried one time during the traveling ...his big sister Haylee took great care him and Joshua. In fact, by later in the trip he would go right to sleep in his carseat when we put him in it and put a blanket on him. Our other big girl Naomi took good care of the little girls in the bag. Would you believe Sean never slept during the long drives...I finally decided to move him to the side (as he had been inbetween 2) and the last day he finally started napping again in the van--guess it was too much stimulation there. We didn't have much time at the KOAs we stopped out, but we decided to make the best of it and had a morning campfire and cooked hotdogs for breakfast...it wasn't that bad actually!

We arrived Saturday afternoon and were greeted by the Wood family who has so graciously allowed us to stay in their basement apartment while we look for a place to live here. It was so nice to have a dinner in the refridgerater to heat up...especially since the movers didn't put beds together or put boxes where they were labeled...there are boxes everywhere. WE have alot of work to do to get our small apartment livable...but we are making progress. We plan to keep as much boxed up as we can so the next move won't be as difficult to prepare for (and maybe get rid of some more stuff._

Buddy Walk

Jonah walking with his little brother Sean (I love this picture)



John with Joshua and Sean





Lily playing with a balloon



Below are pictures of a family that had prayed for Lily ...it was so neat to meet them and let them hold her. I think they'd really like to go adopt themselves one day :)








our friend Jackson



Another lady who prayed for us



Our table about Reeces Rainbow...
if anyone could potentially appreciate the great worth orphans with Down Syndrome have, it would be parents with children who have Down Syndrome by birth and love them very much. We hope to be able to share more about Reeces Rainbow in the future...in VA!





The festivities at the Buddy Walk!



During the actual Buddy "walk" indoors...

Naomi pushing one of the little ones...



John pushing Joshua



Haylee pushing Lily


A few weeks ago we went to our first Buddy Walk. Last year we weren't able to take Sean because I was busy having a baby :)
It was indoors because that day was freezing and drizzling...in the 50's (the day before and the day after were both in the 70's....that is South Dakota weather for you!) The walk part was not as nice as being outside but it still was alot of fun for the kids and very well attended. We put up a table to share about Reeces Rainbow's orphan ministry which finds homes for orphans with Down Syndrome and other disabilities....where we found Sean! We were thankful for the opportunity, though the place we were given was not very viewable...but there were people who came by and took brochures and looked at our adoption photos. We also had pictures of waiting orphans for people to take to pray for them to find a family and some people took one! A blessing we had was to meet people there who had prayed for Lily to come home...who got to meet her and hold her.