A Time to Pray

While The Football Game was playing in our house last night I was crying in the living room. 

I was (as is typical) not paying attention to the game. Football bores me so much that it, and not an overload of delicious turkey, are often why I fall asleep on Thanksgiving. I didn't even know it was our Chiefs who were playing until a couple hours before. So I was on the couch, trying to escape the thundering roars of the announcers and my own husband.

I came across a story here and the title caught my eye. I suppose that is the point right? So I clicked. It is a heartbreaking and tear-inducing tale of woe that seems worth so much more attention than a couple of small paragraphs in the middle of a internet news copy. Two mothers, sisters, whose children were torn from their arms as the typhoon waters surged around them. One of the women was interviewed briefly and I can't help but wonder if the reporter felt what I felt watching her try to speak, or if it was just a matter of getting a good story for him. I hope not, but I am not naive. 

The woman on the video, and who was mentioned, lost her two small boys, literally- "Where are they she wonders? Are dogs eating them?" and "How can I go on? I want to kill myself.I want to jump off that building over there" She struggles to even speak and I can't imagine that kind of grief. 

Thirteen hours behind, and 8,000 miles away, no amount of Red Cross money, canned food, or international aid is going to rescue that kind of misery and hopelessness. And why do I feel the urgency of her words the way I do? Does anyone else? Or will the world pass over the few lines of her sorrow with a hurried glance and off to something not quite so depressing? 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

     a time to be born and a time to die,

    a time to plant and a time to uproot,

     a time to kill and a time to heal,

    a time to tear down and a time to build,

    a time to weep and a time to laugh.

It is a hard truth of life that there is grief and sadness. Sin has made God's beautiful creation a heart- wrenching beast of misery sometimes. 

But there is one thing I can do, and that is: I can pray for her. Because my God is not a heartless statue that does not love to help those who ache. He is not only for Americans or white people or good people or poor people. He is here and He is there. He goes where I cannot. I don't want her to kill herself, and neither does He. So I will pray fervently that He will comfort her, heal her, help her find her children alive or give her answers and a peace that surpasses all understanding. And most of all, that she would find in Him her solace her shelter,her salvation, and her joy. He loves her. And in Him, I can love her too. I hope, not flippantly like with the throwing of a coin into a fountain, but with a real, expectant hope that she will feel the power of the Holy Spirit this week. Will you please join with me in blessing this woman and her sister, and all the people of that region this week?

One Little Sentence

We started reading through The Golden Children's Bible in school today during writing practice time. Its the first "subject" we do in the morning and its a great way to be in the word with the kids every day.

Of course we started in Genesis, since that's where the cool people start reading their bibles, and even though I've read that part dozens of times, its so awesome to see Jesus there in the very beginning. It blows my mind to think that every story, every chapter in the Old Testament points to Jesus in the New Testament.

Like when Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden for eating the apple, and

"The Lord made garments of skin for Adam and for his wife and clothed them."

It seems like such a simple statement, not anything special. But oh, how awesome it is! Because it is such a picture of Jesus on the cross and what he did for us.

Adam and Eve didnt know they were naked until they ate from that tree God told them not to eat from. They disobeyed.

And sin came into the world for the very first time.

And then they realized with shame that they were naked, so they hid and sewed themselves coverings made of leaves. And God walked through the garden and asked where they were ( like He didnt know) and listened to the whole story, which mainly consisted of them blaming someone else for causing them to sin.

Then he gave them their punishments and made them clothing from animal skins so they could hide their nakedness and sent them on their way to live out their days in sweat, blood, and tears.

"The Lord made garments of skin for Adam and for his wife and clothed them."

God took the life of an animal. He killed it so that Adam and Eve could be clothed by it and not feel the shame of the sin that caused them to realize they were naked. The bible says that before the Fall,  the animals in the garden ate of the plants and grasses there, they were all vegetarians. There were no predators and prey. God took something innocent and slaughtered it for His people who didn't deserve to be clothed in good things. But He did it because they were his children, even if they were sinners, and He loved them.

How beautiful a foretelling of Jesus' sacrifice that is. Jesus, whom God dearly loved, who never sinned, who was completely innocent, was nailed on that cross to be our covering. The sin that causes us to realize how naked we are before the Almighty God needed an atonement. It needed to be covered over in good things so we could once again be able to come before God in all His holiness. And God took something innocent and slaughtered it for His people who didn't deserve it, because they were his children, even if they were sinners, and He loved them.  Jesus' robes of righteousness cover every sin, every shame; past, present, and future.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-9

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 1 Peter 1:18:20

My thoughts on the whole Chick-Fil-A thing...

As it turns out, living in this the greatest of all nations has some perks. While other people across the world right this very minute are struggling with deadly viruses, war, famine, and a myriad of other other actually life threatening issues, what do us First Worldians  have to be concerned about?

Oh, yes. The "CHICK-FIL-A CONTROVERSY 2012".

Pretty sad isnt it? That we dont have anything else to be in an uproar about. Not that Im particularly upset about that. I mean, Im not pining for a rash of Ebola in my neighborhood, or for a mortar through my bedroom window. But I guess us Americans just have to have something to fret over. And as the Twilight Lovers Scandal seems to be dying down, this appears to be just the ticket.

I'm really very tired of hearing about it, but its like a bad song that gets stuck in your head: you just have to sing it to get it out. So here is my 2 cents:

1. Get over it. If you dont like it, dont eat there. Shockingly, there are worse things in the world than someone whose opinion differs from your own, at a fast-food restaurant, that you can choose to eat at or not.

2. If Chick-Fil-A's mission statement offends you, perhaps you would also like to stop giving your business to other companies who share in it's beliefs like:

Hobby Lobby

Interstate Batteries

Forever 21

Mary Kay

Tyson

ServiceMaster (Terminix,MerryMaids, American Home Shield)

Curves

H.E.B

Toms

In-N-Out Burger

Just to name a few.

3. Love of Jesus is not hate for others. We are all sinners in need of a righteous Savior, whether we know it yet or not. Perhaps actually reading the Bible might help those who like to use bits and pieces of it out of context to bash or put down others, to understand what Jesus was really teaching.

4. Christians, please. If you are inclined to think that you are better than someone because "God is on your side", please refer to #3.

5. Maybe the reason that people are so shocked that a Christian owner of a Christian company would "admit" ( which by the way, implies wrong-doing) that his OPINION is that marriage is a biblical union of a man and a woman is because it is shocking that a Christian would actually come right out and say it and be bold enough in his convictions to not back down when people call him hateful and stupid and a bunch of other things I can't write here.
 Why are the masses so surprised ? Because the majority of Christians are exactly like all the non-Christians. We are supposed to be set apart. We are supposed to live our lives in such a way that others will see the wonderful Jesus who by grace we are blessed to call our Savior. But when we act just like people who don't know him, all they see are people who maybe sort of go to church and throw out some bible verses sometimes and drive the car with the fish sticker on the bumper. And if they can see nothing special about the Jesus who died for us, how will they come to know that he also died for them?
So Christians, stop being chickens! ( pun intended) Be a man (or a woman!) of Christ and be brave! Let's live out our faith and stop bowing down to society's views on what is socially acceptable or cool or politically correct. And while we're at it, lets really knock their socks off and do it lovingly and humbly, with grace.

As Promised

I told you all last week that I had some news to share.

I wont get into specifics here, but I will tell you that we are going to have a baby! Very much a surprise, and very exciting for all of us as we wait for Zoey to come home.

As we understand it, because of God's amazing timing, this pregnancy won't affect the adoption process at all.

I can't believe I'm going to have 5 kids! And there is the possibility that Zoey and this baby could be so close in age as to be like having twins. That would be pretty crazy.

No other updates about Ethiopia adoptions lately. It is still very slow. There have been a few referrals for baby girls for our agency recently, so that is encouraging. One was for a 3 month old!

We know God has a plan and is working it out. We are not discouraged. We trust in Him and can't wait to see, when this is all done, what He was doing all this time.

Conversations with Charlotte: A thought provoking question

Charlotte: Are Mary and Joseph real?

Me: Yes, they were real. They were really Jesus' parents.

Charlotte: In a story?

Me: Well, the bible tells about them in a story but it really happened a long time ago that they were real people.

Charlotte: Who watched him when they were gone?

Me: What do you mean- when they were gone where?

Charlotte: When Mary and Joseph were gone on a date, who watched Jesus for them?

Me: Oh ( Stifling a laugh) Well... they probably just took him with them...Or maybe they got a babysitter.

Charlotte: Oh- Maybe it was the Wise Men.

My take on Proverbs 22:2

Everything, every part of my day brings to mind the suffering in Africa.

When I eat, when I leave the water on while I wash dishes. Doing laundry or reading to my kids. Sleeping with the fan on, driving down the block for a drink at Sonic, going to the grocery store, playing outside, frozen pizza, putting gas in my car, swimming.

Maybe adopting Zoey has something to do with that. Maybe this is how she will come to be ours.

Somalia, Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia.

It is the worst drought in 60 years. The UN calls it the worst humanitarian disaster ever, and it is expected that 12 million people will die of starvation.

U.S officials estimate that in the last three months alone, 29,000 children under the age of 5 have died from malnutrition.

There are no rains, so there is no water for crops or cattle or drinking. Food prices are at all time highs because of increases in fuel and transportation costs. Its such a heartbreaking decision for many: stay where we are and we will all die, or leave our home and walk days, weeks, miles and miles to refugee camps where some of us might survive.

Of course those roads to help are filled with stories of beatings, robberies, rape, murder, starvation, death and despair.
How do you possibly make a choice like that for your children?

Here, we are safely tucked away from all that. We have clean water at will. We have air-conditioned 24-hour grocery stores, convenience stores, fast food chains. I have two in my backyard alone, three more within walking distance. We have nutrition programs, child health services, prenatal care, weight loss programs, meal delivery websites. We have trucks that come to our doorstep to take away all that we cannot or do not want to eat. We can choose to cook or have someone do the cooking for us. We have air-conditioned gyms so we can sweat away the pounds but still stay comfortable. We have locks on our doors and windows and the police are just three little numbers away. We have state of the art hospitals. We water our lawns for pete's sake.We can turn off our televisions and radios and computers and ipads and iphones if we would rather not see how the other side of the world is doing today.

And oh, how I am thankful for all that we have. I am thankful that my kids can drink from a cup, from a tap in the sink or on the door of a fridge or a bottle of water. I am thankful for the electricity that keeps my freezers running and my fans on. I am thankful for healthcare and regular checkups and toothbrushes and antibacterial wipes. I am thankful for 24-hour convenience and Sonic Happy Hour and debit cards and 2% milk.

I am blessed.

But does that mean that they aren't?

When the cattle dies and the husband cannot provide and he must choose the chance of life over the certainty of death, does that mean that his family is less blessed than mine?

When a mother is attacked on the road to a "safe zone" and her children watch helplessly, does that mean that they are less blessed than us?

When babies die from starvation and the parents must leave them in roadside graves and keep going, or God forbid, abandon their weakest children to save the stronger ones, does that mean that those children are less blessed than mine?

What is the difference between a mother in the Horn of Africa and me?

Certainly skin color, language, and culture. But that is not it.

Take those three things away and what is left? We are the same- the same loving hands made the two of us. The same Savior died for the two of us. He loved us both and loves us both.

So why do I have it so good?

Why is there enough food in the world to feed every hungry person yet millions are starving to death?

It doesn't make sense to me.

If the same God made us,

and the same God loves us,

and the same God reigns over North America and Africa,

and the same Savior gave His life for us,

and the same Savior rose again for us,

and the same salvation is for both of us,

then how can it be that I can live so abundantly and comfortably and excessively here, while I watch them live so poorly and desperately and vulnerably there?

If the same God made us, then we all are brothers and sisters. We are aunts and uncles. We, as the body of Christ, are one. We are family.

I wouldn't want my family here to live in fear and want. And as a Christian, I don't want that for my family there either.

Miles and language and culture cannot change that.

I know that God isn't deficient. He is good, all the time. Here, there. He is powerful and redemptive and He makes all things new.

I know that God can fill every empty stomach, wipe away every tear, and fill the lands with water and green grass. He could, and maybe He will. Maybe our Savior will return, soon, and rescue.

But until then, we, the church, the body of Christ are responsible to act. We know the need.

It's not to sit back and say "that's so sad" and change the channel.
It's not to think someone else will help, so we don't need too.

It's not to say " I can't make a big enough difference, so I might as well not even bother."

And it's not to say " That's not my problem."

I may not be able to GO to Africa, but I am able to DO something.

Awhile back I made up a new shirt design to sell as a fundraiser for Zoey's adoption. It's taken most of the summer to get it going but here it is:

Womens fitted

Mens style

After alot of thought and prayer, I've decided that all of the proceeds from these shirts will go toWorld Vision to help in the relief efforts in Africa. I researched many international charities and I feel that World Vision is one of the best out there in terms of financial stewardship and putting their faith into action.

From the World Vision website:

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.We serve close to 100 million people in nearly 100 countries around the world. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, we serve alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people.World Vision is a global organization with offices in approximately 100 countries. These interdependent national offices are bound together by a Covenant of Partnership, a biblically based agreement that enables us to work together in a unified and complementary way as we walk alongside those we serve.

We are blessed with staff who are experts in a broad range of technical specialties, ranging from hydrology to microenterprise development to public health. And we are inspired by the ways in which they use their God-given abilities in conjunction with existing community resources.

Of the more than 40,000 staff employed by World Vision, 97 percent work in their home countries or regions. Familiar with the culture and language, they bring to World Vision a deeply personal understanding of how best to assist local children and families.The millions of people we serve include earthquake and hurricane survivors, abandoned and exploited children, survivors of famine and civil war, refugees, and children and families in communities devastated by AIDS in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Our extensive global infrastructure enables us to respond where the need is greatest, anywhere in the world.

The excellence of World Vision’s work has earned the trust of more than 3 million donors, supporters, and volunteers; more than half a million child sponsors; thousands of churches; hundreds of corporations; and government agencies in the United States and around the world.

Please pray for Africa- for Somalia, Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia and the surrounding countries. Pray about what you can do to help our brothers and sisters there.

There was the story on the AP site today of a little boy in Ghana who is trying to raise a lot money to help. Many would say too much for a little boy to raise.

Why?

"This is a moment that mankind can touch lives," he said. "There is no point for others to have so much to eat while others have nothing to eat. It is not right."

Because it's the right thing to do.

Do we need a better reason than that?

**Shirts can be ordered at the sidebar. They are true to size.Please allow about 2 weeks to recieve.**

A Miracle

If you want to see a miracle happening RIGHT NOW, head over to NO GREATER JOY MOM

This little girl is "Lilliana." She lives in Eastern Europe.

Because children with Down Syndrome are not valued as people where she lives, she spends her days in an orphanage lying in a crib, or in a baby bouncy seat.

Because children with Down Syndrome are not valued where she lives, Lilliana does not get taken care of like "normal " children.

Because children with Down Syndrome are not valued where she lives, it is acceptable to her "caretakers" that at 11 years old, Lilliana weighs only 10 pounds.

11 years old.

10 pounds.

Let that one sit for a minute...

But right now, Adeye at No Greater Joy Mom is holding the biggest giveaway I've ever seen.

Adeye loves children who the world says have no chance at being loved.

I think that is why God uses her to bring them families.

Adeye set up the raffle yesterday, August 18. With a total needed at $22,000.

That's a pretty big leap of faith.

But our God is bigger and He loves Lilliana more.

Tonight, not even 24 hours after starting the raffle, the amount raised for Lilliana is

$20,394

What an awesome God we have!

You can donate here, at Adeye's blog:

Nogreaterjoymom.com

There are some amazing prizes to be won.

But really, to be a part of this, is better than anything you could win...

Your VBS is Jealous of Our VBS

I know that sounds a little mean, but it is so true.

I mean look at this!

Unfortunately I was sick all week and only stayed the last day,

so I dont have a lot of pictures.

This is Ethan with his new BFF Wes. Right after I took this, E reached his hand up and held Wes's for a second. It was so sweet.

Ethan said, " I made lots of friends at VBS! Some of them I didn't even ask if they wanted to be my friend, I just...made a friend out of them!"

Hope is not far off...

More than $20,000 has been raised for Terri Lynn in less than 3 days!

"I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!"

Deuteronomy 32:3

A Princess in Need of Rescuing...

There is a little girl who reminds me of my Charlotte, and my niece Selah. She is 5 1/2. Her name is Terri Lynn and she is one of the many children with Down Syndrome on Reece's Rainbow. Last December when she turned 5, no one threw her a party, or gave her any presents. No one sang her a song or baked a cake.

In her country, children with Down Syndrome are kept in a Baby House until they turn 5. Then they are taken on a car ride- for most, the only one they will ever have- to one of the many Mental Asylums in the country. Here they will have their heads shaved and be assigned a crib that they will never leave. Some will have their wrists and ankles tied to the bars. They will not be changed, or taken to the bathroom, or played with, or given toys, or fed anything but porridge in a bottle. They will be drugged day and night with adult tranquilzers so they dont bother the "caretakers" with their crying or whining or asking to be held.

Research shows that about 95% of children with Down Syndrome die of starvation, neglect,or abuse within the first year in the Asylums.

After just a few weeks, she is not the same little girl. Her beautiful hair, her pink cheeks, that curious look in her eyes, is all gone.

No one cares that she wears boy clothes, or clothes that fit. No one cares how those bruises on her face got there, or what or who caused them.

But we should care. We know she is a child of the Most High God. We know that a child with Down Syndrome has so much more potential than what her current environment has in store for her.

There are many families trying to raise money for Teri Lynn. There are no prizes to offer, just the knowledge that by donating you are helping rescue this little princess from certain death.

Some matching grants have been offered at No Greater Joy Mom and the total is climbing.

Terri Lynn doesn't have a family yet.

Most times families who consider adoption end up not going through with it because the cost seems too great.

But, as we are singing in VBS this week, Our God is so BIG!

Soon, I just know it, her Mommy is going to see her picture and know this is the little girl she has been praying for. And she won't have to worry about how on earth she will get the money because it will already be there.

God doesnt need our help, or our money, but what a blessing it is that He gives us the chance to be a part of something like this. That He opens our eyes to see beyond our little comfortable bubbles and gives us the opportunity to do more than just talk about being the hands and feet of Jesus.

Please give.

There is Still Time to Win!

**Updated total: $350.00**

As of right now, 8 people have donated to Ian's fund! I know there are some of you out there that are in a crunch financially, or maybe you are also trying to fund your own adoption, and maybe you think you cant spare anything. Maybe you would like to help, but you feel bad for taking away from your own adoption.

I understand! We are adopting and I know how hard it is when you want you own child home so badly, and yet your heart breaks for other families who are so close...yet so far away.

God's heart is for orphans. It's written all throughout the Bible- He is the Father of the Fatherless. He could save them all, find them all families, fund every adoption in a heartbeat.

But what a wonderful blessing it is that He hasn't, in that He asks us to be a part of bringing families together, to sacrifice for the purpose of helping give a child a home, love, safety, and the love of Jesus.

To give any amount will be to help Ian come home.

If you can give $5 you are a part of this.

If you give $100 you are a part of this.

You don't have to be rich to save a life, you just have to step out and trust that the Father of the fatherless is also our Provider, and He is faithful.

He is not in the business of leaving us in our hour of need, and He blesses those who bless others.

Please read what Gretchen has written on her blog about their need. Please see it from her perspective- a mother desperate for her son.

I am extending the giveaway for awhile, and anyone who donates ANYTHING to Ian's fund will be entered to win a

$100 Visa Giftcard.

Go Here to Donate!

Please leave me a comment and tell me how much you donated so I can tell you all the total at the end. You can leave a comment under this post or scroll down to the previous post and leave one there.

We need people to dig deep, to step up, to challenge the devil and show him what Love is made of. What happens if we don't raise this money now? To tell the absolute truth, if we would miss our court date because we didn't have the money, Ian will very likely pass away within a year or two. He will be transferred to an institution that he cannot be adopted out of, and he will die there. He will face multiple surgeries, one major, in his country (that alone could be it for him), and our hearts will be broken forever. We would never have the chance to adopt him again (if we missed court because we could not come up with the money needed). It would be devastating.

To tell another absolute truth, we could put this almost $9,000 on a credit card and carry that debt until the adoption credit comes through next year at tax time, and we would, if the day came to travel and we had not raised this last eight thousand dollars. We will NOT let Ian be sent on the car ride, and we will not miss our court date...he is our son already in our hearts and we would go to ends of the earth for him.

We do not want to do that however, because we know for certain that Ian is facing multiple surgeries, and when that time comes, we will be faced with insurance co-pays of 10%. What does heart surgery cost these days? $100,000? That would be a $10K co-payment. Leave time from work, COBRA costs, Ian's schooling, Ari's treatment (which incidentally Autism is NOT covered by insurance), and on and on. So, we yes, we could put it on a credit card and call it done but we have prayed about this and God's answer was to us was to go to his people for this last little bit to get Ian home, so we have what we need to cover Ian's surgeries when he comes home. Imagine trying to fund raise for that.

We beg for our Christian family to step forward and help us answer God's call to care for orphans. We are bringing Ian into our home forever. He may never live on his own, but that does not matter to us - what matters is that he LIVE, and he and we need all of you and everyone you know, to stop for a moment and make hearing about Ian and a need that is being shown, the most important part of your day in the coming week.

Our final dossier is in Ian's country. We expect to travel for court within 4 weeks, and 10 days later, return to bring Ian home. We have been told by our agency to prepare for first week in July court date.

Time is fleeting, we are at this hour, "just" $8,835.00 short of what we need to, as we say in the south - Git-R-Done! (humor sustains us:)

Seems like a lot, but not for God.

He has already provided more than $23,000.00 in donations for an adoption that will come close to a $50,000 price tag.

Ian's nation being among the most expensive and longest from start to finish.

I will keep this page up for awhile to allow more people to donate! Check back as I will post the amount raised periodically- Help us raise $1000 for Ian!

Win Win

This is Gretchen and her son Ian.

Gretchen lives in Georgia. Ian lives in Russia.

He has Down Syndrome and they recently found out he will need heart surgery.
He is almost 5 and will be transferred to a mental institution if his adoption isn't completed by then.

You've heard me talk about that kind of thing before right? Once or twice?

I don't know about you, but of all the things I have ever wanted for my birthday, for the last twenty-some birthdays I've had, I have never once asked for a family. Ever.

Because I already had one.

Ian doesn't have one.

Ian needs one.

Ian doesn't need to get transferred out of the orphanage he has lived in his entire life and into what amounts to hell on earth.

Hell.

Yes, I said it on my blog.

Because imagine that you are five years old, and you are taken away from the only people you have ever known, to a place where strangers will shave your head and tie you to a crib, where you will not be fed, or changed, or washed, or played with, or touched, or talked to, or loved, or prayed with, or taken outside, or taken to the bathroom, or read to, or sung to.

Where they give you adult doses of drugs to knock you out for most of the day so they don't have to deal with you. Because if a place for kids like you even exists, if there is actually a need in your country for a building to house children with Down Syndrome that nobody wants, and everybody says are trash, then what are the odds that the people who are paid to work there will actually take care of you?

0.

Because what's the point?

85% of the kids who are transferred do not live more than a year.

But Ian has hope. Ian has a family who is fighting for him and trying so hard to get him home. He has a mommy and a daddy and a brother.

But they can't do it alone. Right now, they need $11,385.

And they need it before the first week of July, when they must appear in court to finalize the adoption.

If they don't have it, they won't be able to bring Ian home.

They've already traveled once. They've seen him and held him and played with him.

They have this mountain of money before them. But our God is a Mountain-Moving God!

So here is the point of this post:

Ian needs a family.

The Stewart family needs money to bring him home.

You can help! ( Isn't that exciting?!)

I have 72 followers, and a few more who are not "official."

So if every follower donated $13.89, Ian would have $1000 more in his account at Reece's Rainbow- the tax-deductable (if you are into that sort of thing) account that is reserved for him and only him.

But if every follower donated say, more than $13.89, that would be ok too.

And to make it a little more exciting for you, besides the fact that you could literally be a part of saving Ian's life, how about if you donate at least $10.00, then you will be entered to win a $100 Visa Gift card?

(I'm no financial expert, but that's not a bad return on your money.)

It is so easy!

1) Go here and donate.

2) Come back and leave me a comment telling me how much you donated( I want to keep track so I can tell you all the total at the end)

3) Feel good about uniting a family.

4) Be entered to win a $100 Visa Giftcard.

You don't have to donate just $13.89 either.
You could donate $10.00

You could donate $72.63

You could donate $1000.00

You could transfer your Paypal balance.

Whatever amount you donate, the Stewarts and Ian will be so thankful!

You will feel awesome knowing you helped!

Its just a lot of feelin' good all around!

I really really believe we can raise AT LEAST $1000 for the Stewarts!

I will leave this up for a week. That's 7 whole days that you can donate. But don't put it off!

Do it now!

Ready

Set

Go!

And here is a really sweet Gotcha Video from another Reece's Rainbow family-this little girl Anya was friends with Ian and was adopted! Enjoy!

What Hope Does

Hope looks at a little girl and does not see it's reflection in her eyes.

But it keeps looking anyway because she is beautiful.

Hope says she is not a burden, not unworthy, not unloveable.

Hope says she wont amount to nothing.

Hope says she was created in the image of the Living God.

That she was knitted by His hands in her mother's womb.

Hope says God knew her before she was born.

When the world says her transfer is imminent,

Hope says its a long way to September.

When the world says it would take a lot of money,

Hope says Our God owns the cattle on a thousand hills.

And He owns the universe too.

The world says, "There are plenty of healthy kids here in America too, you know."

Hope says someone will see that beautiful, sad face and say

"THAT"S MY DAUGHTER!"

Hope says Her ransom will be raised, and she will know the love of a family, and fulfill her God-given purpose on this earth.

The world says it can't be done. Just forget about her.

Hope says, I may not be able to do it alone. But I don't go alone. He who has set a good work in my heart will finish it. My God is with me, and He is bigger than the cost, bigger than the red tape, bigger than my fears. He will not leave me.

A Perfect Lily is raising money to get Albina adopted and away from the danger of the mental institution she is headed for when she turns 5 on September 20.

She has Down Syndrome and a Septal Defect.

Through the month of May, an anonymous donor is giving her a matching grant. If she recieves $5,000, her grant will actually be $10,000. Currently, it is up to $2964.

There are some awesome prizes being given away too. But more importantly, there is a family for this girl somewhere who will be able to bring her home where she belongs.
She will be the winner.

Will you be her hope?

Dang.

Why am I always the last to hear about these sort of things?

I mean, you'd think The Rapture would make bigger headlines. But then again, we have been watching a lot of Andy Griffith on Netflix, so I guess I sorta missed the memo.

I say again,
Dang.

There's so much I wanted to get done before Saturday.

Like vacuuming out the car and eating better. Maybe going to the gym.
Maybe not. I hate working out.

And I should have been using our good dishes.
I mean, I should have bought good dishes, and then used them.And what in the world have I been saving my expensive shampoo for?

Oh well.

Must not concentrate on the what if's...

What I should do is take advantage of Sonic Happy Hour tomorrow and possibly Saturday, depending on what time this all is supposed to go down. Does anyone know?

I want to savor the Cherry Limeade like its going out of style.Because as awesome as Heaven is, I'm pretty sure they don't have Sonic ice.

Also, does anyone want a baby turtle? If we all go away, the poor thing is going to be Up.A.Creek. Maybe we should just let him go. On the other hand, if IT doesn't happen, I'm gonna feel like the world's worst parent come Sunday morning. Oh what a quandary!

Of course there would be some benefits to being raptured.

(Like not dying, for one.)

No more Michael Bolton elevator Musack, pumping my own gas, or waiting in line for the bathroom.

And no more mustaches...

yuck.

I wonder if I can eat a whole roll of Pillsbury cookie dough before then?

And I should probably clean up my house in case any unbelieving squatters need a place to stay after we're gone. I want to leave a good impression, you know.

So much to do!

Oh, well, if it doesn't all get done, it doesn't get done.

It's not the end of the world.

Or maybe it is MWAHAHA...

In all seriousness, in case you don't know, Jesus really could come back Saturday.

Of course, He could come back tonight or in August, or in 3000 years.

"No one knows about the day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back-whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn." Mark 13:35

No one has special insight into this sort of thing.

I mean, if God hasn't even told Jesus, His own son, about it, why would he tell any one of us?

But you gotta give those people some credit- they are nothing if not persistent.

And one of these days, bless their little hearts, one of them might just finally get it right!

*No offense if you have a mustache. Jesus loves you and so do I , but come on...

Reece's Rainbow

There are things that adoption brings to your attention that you just really don't want to know. Before we started this, the world was a better place. In my happy ignorance, I could just worry about my kids. 3 is easy. I could focus on dishes and dinner and occasionally read magazines about all the pretty ways to decorate my home.

My favorite YouTube videos were funny and had nothing to do with Third World Countries, Trash Dumps, or HIV.

I didn't know about the things that come up when you go through an international adoption.

I didn't know about Reece's Rainbow. I have spoken about them before. They are a wonderful organization that advocates for children with down syndrome, HIV, and other special needs in Russia and other Eastern European countries.

But more than just advocating for these children, they also raise funds to get them adopted(called grants, which attach to individual kids) and help potential families understand how to take care of their needs.

And when they don't make it to their families, they grieve.

In these countries where RR works, children who have Down Syndrome are treated like trash. Thrown away, abandoned, mistreated, abused, starved.

Children with HIV are treated just the same. Their society doesn't know what we know about HIV and AIDS. Children with HIV may go to the institution, or will age out at about 13, which means they will be put on the street. They will have no one to support them, and will not be able to get a job because of laws that mandate that employees not be HIV+. They will live, and die, on the street.

There are stories from RR Adoptive Families that would break your heart. Absolutely crush it. Stories of twins born in a hospital, but only the healthy one went home with the parents, because they didn't want the one with Down syndrome.

Stories of children who weigh only 11 pounds at 3 years old because no one saw the point in feeding a child who was called worthless by her society.

Stories of children that are drugged twice a day by their "caretakers" who can't be bothered with feeding, changing diapers, playing with, exercising or bathing them.

Stories of children who are only 5 years old being transfered to a mental institution for adults because they are not perfectly healthy, where most of them will die within 2 years because they cannot handle the abuse and neglect. Some of them have Down Syndrome, some have HIV, some are unable to walk but are perfectly healthy otherwise.

All just need a family to rescue them and love them. Feed them. Show them that they aren't worthless.

While most people who are considering adoption want to wait for a sign from God about whether or not He is calling them, whether now is the right time, whether they should save up the money first, these kids are spending their days hoping that TODAY is the day, that money will not stop someone from loving them NOW.

While we are weighing the pros and cons of adoption, how much it will cost, what it will do to our social circle, our children, our vacation opportunities, our retirement, these kids wait for someone to just help them survive.

I want to tell you, I am not a voice for God. I don't have any special insight to His will for your life, but I do have a Bible. And it tells us exactly what to do.

And I'm guessing that if you are reading this blog, you know what it says too.

I believe that God grieves for these kids. His heart breaks because He loves them more than an of us ever could. He made them with a purpose and without flaw. Only we put labels and stipulations on them. Only we make them out to be imperfect and undesirable.

There are some people who have no business adopting. I understand that.

But what if God gave us all our talents, our income, our creativity, our location, our church family,our particular job, our ability to stay at home, our resources, so that we could use them for the purpose of rescuing a child from certain death?

Isn't that more worthwhile than a new car, expensive clothes, or a cush retirement?

"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later, I'll give it tomorrow"-when you now have it with you."

Proverb 3"27-28

"Once our eyes are opened, we cannot pretend we do not know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act."

Proverb 24:12