Guess What?!?!

Sweet little David...

(I blogged about him here.)

Has a FAMILY!!!

This sweetie pie will soon be OUT of that nursing home!

He'll be in a family where he can grow and become all that he can be!

Praise God!

You can read more on Adeye's blog here.

...

And in case you missed my last post...

Genesis has a family too!

Her family's blog is here!

This post is a part of the Forget Me Not Friday Linkup organized by Jane!

Please check it out here! And consider linking up a post of your own!

Adopted!

Have you ever been adopted?

I have!

(In an "unofficial" sort of way...)

My biological parents love me dearly and raised me...

So I have never been in need of a literal adoption...

I've lived many miles away from my parents for quite some time...

But my parents are only a phone call away...

And I'm a "grown-up" now...

But I've had the privilege to be "adopted" even so!

While I lived in California one of my coworkers took special interest in me...

She called me her adopted daughter...

(I'm am close to the same age as her own daughter.)

She invited me to eat with her many times after church...

We went walking together often...

She would give me advice if I needed it...

She cared...

It was hard to say goodbye when I moved to Michigan...

I found it a bit lonely after church...

Well...

Recently I met up with some friends from years ago...

They live in Michigan near to where I just moved...

We met up at church recently after more than 10 years...

(We had only had very minimal contact since we last saw each other.)

They invited me to lunch with them the next week...

Last weekend I was out walking and they happened to drive by...

They stopped and invited me into the car...

And told me they had decided to "adopt" me...

It is now "understood" that I am invited to eat with them EVERY week after church if I like...

Isn't that sweet!

While I don't need a "literal" adoption...

It's very nice to have "family" who care about me...

Family to spend time with...

While I am far from home!

I have been so blessed with both my biological family and dear friends along the way...

While "my" kids...

Have no family at all.

Emmitt - Almost 14 and no family yet :(

Victoria - 9th birthday next month with no family to share her special day :(

It's not fair is it?

While I've always had the blessing of a loving family...

They have no one.

While I am blessed with friendship...

They are lonely.

Don't you think it's time for them to be adopted?

They need more than a friendship adoption...

They need the "official" kind.

They've been alone so long...

I'm not in a position to adopt them myself...

So I've adopted them in a different way.

I've chosen to speak for them here...

In hopes that someone who IS able to adopt them...

Will see them...

And choose to give them the family they've never had...

The love they've been waiting for so long...

Will you consider my kids?

Emmitt

Victoria

Is it even remotely possible that one of them could be yours?

If so please at least look into it!

You can click on their pictures to read more about them!

Click here to find out the adoption requirements and see if you qualify!

Even if you are unable to adopt them...

Maybe you could spare at least a small donation?

(Donations can be made to their individual grant funds by clicking the link under their picture.)

Even small donations help their grant fund grow to help another family afford to adopt them!

Can you pray for them?

Prayer is one of the best ways to help...

And it's free!

Even if you can't adopt "officially" at this time...

You can choose a child to speak for!

There are many MANY children waiting!

Click here to choose a child to advocate for today!

Your voice counts!

You CAN make a difference in the life of a child!

God will bless your efforts -- they are HIS kids too!

Before closing...

I want to share good news with you!

Genesis is on the My Family Found Me page again!

Not only that!

She's also on the New Commitments page!

Here is her family's Reece's Rainow page!

One of her new brothers was born blind, but was blessed with a corneal implant...

Another (who is also ADOPTED!) is blind in one eye...

Her family are already prepared for her special need and she will have an extra special bond with her siblings!

You can read her family's blog here and follow Genesis' journey home!

Genesis has been chosen!

Chosen to be a special part of a real family...

A family who are choosing to make HER their very own!

Will my Emmitt and Victoria be next?

This post is a part of the Forget Me Not Friday Linkup organized by Jane!

Please check it out here! And consider linking up a post of your own!

Christmas Shopping Can Help!

Great opportunity!

Help Bradley, Bryant, & Brooks come home...

By shopping on Amazon.com!

When you use the above link to do your shopping you help these precious brothers come home!

Be sure to use the above link...

Also, you must use this link before adding the item to your cart or wish list...

(If its already on your wish list, delete it and then use the link!)

Check out the family blog for more details!

(The code for the Amazon Link is on the family blog too!

You can copy it so you can put the link on your blog...

This may encourage some of your readers to shop with the link...

So THEY can help the boys too!)

Amazon has so many options...

Books...

Toys...

Gift Certificates...

One family even helped by purchasing the exhaust system for their car on Amazon!

So go ahead!

Buy your Christmas gifts...

Or something you need...

and help these boys at the same time!

If you prefer, you can donate to the family's Reece's Rainbow fund here...

(When you donate through Reece's Rainbow... It's tax deductible in the US!)

This post is part of a Sharing Sunday blog link-up hosted by Jane!

Do check it out and consider linking up a post of your own!

Sad Story

Sad Story

See this little boy?

I don't know his name...

I know only a little of his story from two families who caught glimpses of his life...

Two families...

One adopting Harlene

The other adopting Blake

Harlene's family was waiting for friends when they saw two ladies bring this sweet boy and his little sister to the orphanage...

There were piles of paperwork...

The Doctor came in and took the little boy inside...

He came back and took little sister inside...

He came back with the children's clothes...

The two ladies took the clothes and left the orphanage...

There were no tears or emotion...

Probably the ladies were social workers...

Probably they were not family of the children...

But the poor little children...

Dumped off in a strange place with no hugs and kisses...

Some time later Blake's family got a glimpse of the children...

Workers brought the little boy and stood him before the blue backdrop to take his picture...

He looked frightened...

He looked stiff...

Can you imagine how scary it would be to be in this strange new place?

Next it was sister's turn...

She however would not cooperate...

She was too sad and scared...

She would not stand and smile for the camera no matter how the workers tried to comfort her...

Can you blame her?

Blake and Harlene will be going home soon...

But their places have already been taken by two more needy children...

Heartbroken, frightened little ones...

The light has gone out of their life...

They have become another number...

Another file...

So Sad

Please pray for them!

You can read what Harlene's family wrote about these children's entry into the orphanage here.

You can read what Blake's family wrote about them and the attempt to get the photograph for their orphanage file here.

I encourage you to read the story from the hearts of those who saw this story with their own eyes.

I know this is a sad story to share...

But I hope it will encourage us to keep up the work of advocating for orphans...

They are helpless...

Frightened...

Alone.

They need our voices to speak for them!

While we cannot save them all...

(If only we could!)

It makes such a huge difference in the lives of the children who are rescued!

Each child rescued is a testimony to the value and worth of all children!

God loves and sees each one...

He has not forgotten them...

Can He use your voice to speak for them?

"For the needy will not always be forgotten,
Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever." Psalm 9:18 NASB

This post is part of a Sharing Sunday blog link-up hosted by Jane!

Do check it out and consider linking up a post of your own!

Little David Needs Your Help!

Meet David

He looks like such a happy little guy!

Poor little David had a rough start in life...

He was born to an alcoholic mother...

He was born prematurely...

Spent his first year in the hospital...

And then...

Because he was unwanted...

And had nowhere else to go...

He was sent to a NURSING HOME!!!!

Missionaries gave him a chair so he could at least get some sitting up time...

But the staff don't have time to be with him while he's in it...

So he doesn't get to use it!

He spends his days in a crib...

He is three years old and weighs 17 pounds...

He has been to the hospital multiple times...

He needs a family to love and care for him!

To teach him new things...

To give him the opportunity to experience life and love.



This dear little boy is not listed on Reece's Rainbow or any other adoption site...

How will his Mama ever find him if she doesn't ever hear of his existence and need?

That's where you come in!

Can you share his story on your blog, or facebook, or with your friends?

I learned David's story from Adeye, an adoptive mom and wonderful advocate for orphans...

She blogs over at No Greater Joy Mom.

Please go to her site and read more about David!

She even has a video of him!

She learned about David from Missionaries in his country.

David lives in an Asian country...

Adoption is cheaper in his country than in some others...

Takes about 6-8 months...

Please click here for more details!

And please share David's story so his Mama and Papa can find him!

This sweet boy deserves a chance in life!



He deserves a life OUTSIDE of the nursing home!

A Mama to snuggle him and tell him how precious he is...

A Papa to protect him and read him stories...

Maybe even siblings to play with him and to teach him new things?

Thanks for praying for him and sharing his story!

This post is a part of the Forget Me Not Friday Linkup organized by Jane!

Please check it out here! And consider linking up a post of your own!

What a Beauty!

Look at this beautiful little girl!

Such beautiful blue eyes...

And cute pigtails...

Do you know what she's missing?

She's missing something that EVERY child deserves...

A most BASIC need that most of us take for granted...

This little girl has no Mama or Papa!

No Family to call her own!

She has Cerebral Palsy -- but don't let that scare you!

She's a bit unsteady, but she can WALK!

She needs a Mama and Papa to love and encourage her so she can reach her full potential!

Instead she waits in an orphanage...

If she is not rescued soon she will probably be institutionalized!

Do you think this beautiful intelligent child looks like a good candidate for institutionalization?

To be hidden away with no education...

No therapy...

No Love...

????

I don't!

By the way do you recognize her?

This beauty is none other than...

Francine!

She is growing into such a BEAUTIFUL girl!

You can see more new pictures of her here!

My blog friend Jane at Flight Platform Living loves Francine with all her heart!

She is trying with all her might to find a family for her and to raise money for her grant fund...

But she needs your help!

She is offering great prizes as incentives to encourage people to donate...

An I-Pad...

A camera...

ORIGINAL artwork which she made herself (and normally sells!)...

And other great prizes!

You can have a chance to win a prize with even a $10 donation!

Jane is planning to end the giveaway on November 23 -- Her Birthday...

(The I-Pad must wait till a certain amount is raised)

Can you help with even a small donation?

Donations are tax deductible in the US (and the end of the year is just around the corner!)

Can you share Francine's story and her giveaway fundraiser with others?

Many people want to adopt, but are scared by the great expense involved...

The higher Francine's grant fund gets...

The greater courage it can give to a prospective family to take that leap of faith...

And commit to jump the hoops...

So they can make Francine THEIR child!

Please click here and learn more about the giveaway!

Help give Jane the best birthday ever...

By donating and spreading the word...

(You could blog about her...

Share her story on Facebook...)

And if there is even the smallest possibility you could be Francine's Mom or Dad...

Won't you at least look into it...

To see if it might be a possibility?

It doesn't hurt to get more information!

For more information about Francine click here!

To learn more about adoption requirements and see if you qualify click here!

When Francine get's a family...

It will absolutely make Jane's day...

(And likely her whole month!)

She loves her SOOO much!

But if it makes Jane's day...

Imagine what it will mean to Francine!

This post is part of a Sharing Sunday blog link-up hosted by Jane!

Do check it out and consider linking up a post of your own!

See with your Heart!

*** Just updated this post (June 2012) because several of the pictures would no longer show up...

Since most of the original children have families coming or are already home (Yay!!!)-  I edited the post and added new children.  Sadly, one of the original children - Wendy - still waits :(   ***

*****


Blind!

Scary word and yet...

It need not define them!

Artem

Smart boy that likes to sing...

He's expected to learn English fast if he is adopted...

Imagine how much he could learn and do if only he had a family!

Carissa

Taken home from the orphanage by her Aunt along with her twin sister...

Her eyes damaged by premature birth became completely blind from lack of adequate medical care...


Returned to an orphange at 6 years old...


Her twin sister was adopted with out her...

And she was transferred to another institution where she nearly died from depression and grief...

She's waiting to belong and oh so lonely!

Who will come for her?

Wendy

Blind with CP but an orphanage favorite!

Who will see her worth?

Warren

Still a little guy and doing well now...

But still waiting for a family to see his potential...

To see that his lack of vision does not make him less valuable and precious!

Christian

Look at that sunshine smile with a shirt to match!

Blindness can't hinder his joy...

He looks like such a cheerful boy...

Ready to fill his Mom and Dad's lives with joy and happiness!

But sadly he is not only waiting...

He will soon be transferred to an institution...

How sad...

Somebody save him quick!


Andrew

Special little boy...

With a heart that longs for love!

*****

These special children cannot see...

The beautiful colors of autumn...

A lovely stream on an autumn day...

The beauty of freshly fallen snow...

The colorful flowers...

Or a resting butterfly...

But...

What they cannot see with their eyes they can feel with their heart...

They can feel neglect...

They can hear harsh words...

They can feel hunger...

They can hear the moans and groans of those around them...

Conversely...

They could smell food cooking...

Feel a gentle touch...

Hear sweet lullabies...

Feel loving hugs and kisses...

If they had the opportunity!

Are we also blind?

Society is...

It deems them worthless...

God sees them as treasures...

He tells us...

“...Do not look at his appearance... for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 NASB

"...it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish." Mathew 18:14 KJV

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Luke 12:6, 7 NIV

Can you see it?

Can you see their worth?

Can you see with your heart?

These children all need loving families...

They need a home to call their own...

You can help by your prayers...

Donations to their adoption grant fund...

And by sharing their story with others!

Maybe you could even be a Mom or Dad for one or two of them?

Click on their pictures to learn more about them!

This post is a part of the Forget Me Not Friday Linkup organized by Jane!

Please check it out here! And consider linking up a post of your own!