Our Eyes Opened: Kirill's Story

Our Eyes Opened: Kirill's Story Sometimes things happen in the world that just break our hearts, and compel us to prayer. Please join in prayer for this situation, this child, this family, and all the other children and families this legal decision will effect.

Give Away Winners

And we have two winners! Yeah!

The winner of the Green with Envy Jewelry Give Away is Colleen at Sunshine from Heaven. Colleen, would you please leave a comment or email me, so I can put you in touch with the Fab Four at To Love the Unloved? They still hold the jewelry and can send it to you.

The winner of the Adoption Wisdom Give Away is Therese, who doesn't have a blog. (In the interest of full disclosure, Therese happens to be related to me, but that is purely a coincidence.)

Thanks to all who participated. Those Give Aways may be over, but there is still plenty of opportunity to help the House Family, and all the other families working so hard to bring children with Down Syndrome and other disabilities from insitutions into families.

Give aways ending March 17

Just a reminder that the two great give aways to raise funds for Paul's adoption end this Thursday, March 17!

See the Give Away buttons on the side of this blog? They will both come down on Friday.

To enter make a tax deductible donation to Reece's Rainbow to benefit "Paul for the House Family". You can donate by clicking on the Paul button on the side of the blog or mailing a check to:
Reece's Rainbow
PO Box 4024
Gaithersburg, MD 20885

Then leave a comment on this blog or send me an email, letting me know that you make the donation, and which give away you are entering. $5 per entry, 5 entries for $20.

Even if you cannot make a donation, please spread the word about the give aways by reposting on your blog or facebook. That will also get you entered in one of the give aways, just leave me a comment so I can confirm your reposting.

Your odds of winning are very good, since as of this minute only one person is entered in the Green with Envy Jewelry give away and no one has entered the Adoption Wisdom give away. It's a good cause--just look at the little guy--and your chances have never been better.

Finding Martin...: Putting stuff back together.

Finding Martin...: Putting stuff back together.: "I just wanted to put a quick post out there for all our followers. I am in the process of starting a new blog and when I do I'll post the ne..."

Lenten Sacrifices and Giving

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. For Christians Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a time of preparation for Holy Week and Easter, traditionally parked by prayer, fasting and alms giving.

A very old Lenten practice is to fast or give-up something for Lent and to donate the money that you would have spent on the item or activity. As a family, we are going to have two meatless days a week for Lent. Contrary to my big guy's suggestion, we are not going to replace meat with Salmon or crab legs, but with rice and beans, or a vegetable soup. We are going to try to live more simply this Lent and donate the money we save to Reece's Rainbow, to help bring children with disabilities from institutions into families.

When you make your Lenten Sacrifices, as you fill your mite box or rice bowl, please consider donating those funds to an organization that works with orphans.

A Shout Out for Kolya

Okay, first a picture to whet your appetite for more information. How stinkin' cute is he?

Remember how I just could not get Martin out of my head? Remember how I needed to do something to find him a family? Well, there is another mom out there who feels the same way about Kolya, and she is offering her engagement ring to try to find a family for him.

Kolya turns 11 in July, so he is exactly one year younger than my big guy! Wow, it will take a confident family to move forward to bring home a child that age, but nonetheless, still a child (just like my big guy), still in need of a family to love and parent him. He is described by his friends, the orphanage workers who so want him to find a home, as "a really good and loyal man."

Go here to read what this mom has to say about Kolya.

Along The Road: While We Wait: "While we sit waiting for the next step, there is a little boy that I must share with you all: 'Kolya' Region 15. Love him? Contact Reese's..."

Then go here to read more about Koyla. There is a newer picture than the one I have here, and he looks a bit thinner to me. Maybe Koyla is just having a growth spurt like so many boys his age do. Or maybe he just really needs to come home, so his mother can spoil him with macaroni and cheese, and his father can take him for a special treat at the DQ.

Do you have room in your heart and in your home for "a really good and loyal man"?

Less than perfect...just like us

"In the end, everything funnels down to a simple fact: Many babies and children need a mommy and daddy, and if they are less than 'perfect,' they are really only like their parents-to-be."
Ray Guarendi, Adoption: Choosing It, Living It, Loving It.

For more adoption wisdeom from Dr. Ray contribute to the House Family Adoption fund and enter the Adoption Wisdom Give Away.

Amazing Camera Give Away to Bring Noah Home

Wow, some people think of really amazing give aways to raise money to bring children home, like this one for Noah. Makes me feel like quite the slacker. Go on over and take a look.

Martin's Hope

Such good news!

I always knew that Martin was going to do great things in this world, and at only 5 years of age, he already is at it.

Martin is no longer available for adoption, but he has brought hope to another child, Paul.

Like Martin, Paul was born with a little something extra, a third copy of his 21st chromosome. Like Martin, Paul was abandoned at birth to the tender ministrations of a state-run orphanage. Now, like Martin, Paul has the hope of a family. The House Family is pursuing Paul's adoption.

I have so much respect for this wonderful family, pushing through their loss and moving forward. Choosing a child who has no hope, and giving it to him.

Let's continue to work together to help give an orphan hope, a family to love and care for him, to dry his tears, teach him that every morning can be good, and kiss him to sleep at night. Since Martin is no longer available for adoption his funds have been transferred to Paul, and you can contribute to Paul's adoption fund by clicking on the House Family Sponsorship button with Martin's picture on it on the sidebar of this blog.

I like that there is not a new button yet. It makes me smile to think of Martin working to bring his little brother home.

What is fear keeping you from doing?

"The number of people wanting and willing to adopt would be higher except for one thing--they're scared." Ray Guarendi in Adoption: Choosing It, Living It, Loving It

Fear can be a powerful force. Some fear is a good, even necessary thing. It helps us to be safe. Fear prevents me from driving 100 miles per hour through my neighborhood. It keeps me from walking into a dark ally alone at night.

But fear can also be a very negative thing in our lives. Fear can keep us from doing things that we should do. Fear of failure can keep us from even trying. Fear makes it all about us, since it focuses all attention on keeping ourselves safe. Other people, God, all other considerations must give way to that fear induced self-obsession (or perhaps the self-obsession causes the fear?). Usually, fear promotes the status quo, and keeps us from making changes in our lives, even when those changes are for the good.

What is fear keeping you from doing?