Hold on Tight...

You know in the movies, when something BIG is getting ready to happen?

The music starts building, and as you are sitting there in the dark, eating your popcorn, you start to get that rumbling in your stomach that says, "oh boy, this is going to be awesome!"

And you find yourself gripping the armrest next to you which is also being gripped by your neighbor, whom you have never met, but its ok, because you are in this together?

Well, if you were sitting next to me right now, I would grab hold of your hand and say excitedly, "This is going to be so awesome!!"

There has been alot, (and I mean, nearly every single adoption blog I read-which is alot) of buzz about a teenage boy all the way over in Latvia. He is going to turn 16 on January 23rd and become ineligible for adoption. He will be kicked out of the orphanage and be forced to live on the streets. He will have nothing. And it is winter there.

But hundreds, if not thousands, of people who have never and will never meet him have been advocating and raising money for him to find a family before then. Its no exaggeration to say that miracles would need to happen in order to do this.

There is a lot of discussion about whether the word "rescue" is appropriate when discussing adoption. Some think its making too much of the process, that its making the whole thing out to be a publicity stunt or something, making it bigger than what it is.

I think its a pretty appropriate term.

Rescue: 1.to save from danger or harm 2.save from being discarded 3.an instance of providing help to somebody in a difficult situation.

"For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight."

Psalm 72:11-14

It will be a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them.

Isaiah 19:20

I found the following post here .

Can you hear the music building?

* * *

48 hours later….

48 hours ago, I sat in this chair crying as I tried to put the weight of one small Latvian teenagers’ future into words.

48 hours ago, Davids was a lost boy, a boy who had been abandoned not only by his birth family years ago, but by a family who he believed had chosen him.

48 hours ago, his dreams of being the most important person to somebody, of being loved and treasured, became ashes, like paperdolls in the fire.

48 hours ago, Davids was weeks away from being homeless in the dead of the Latvian winter, his future bleak, frightening.

And now, 48 hours later

Davids

has

a

family!

A family has stepped out in faith—having known of this boy’s existence for less than two days—and claimed him as their own.

48 hours ago, this family stepped out on the faith that God would provide $20,000 for them to adopt Davids.

And that’s where we come in…

Today we are celebrating, as well we should. But we can’t move on yet. There is work to be done! You see, if Davids’ family can’t raise the money…

the won’t be able to proceed…

and if they can’t proceed…

it will be over

for good.

Many of you who are reading this have already been part of Davids’ miracle—-by the way, how does that feel? How does it feel to know that one day you are going to be in Heaven and you’re going to look up and see this handsome brother-in-Christ who will say to you, “You prayed me a family!” How will it feel when Christ hands you a crown, and you see one particular sparkling jewel that’s there because you wept for this boy and prayed for him and helped bring him home? When you cast that crown at the feet of Jesus, rejoicing because of His mercy and might? Will there be yee-haw in Heaven? (That’s a hypothetical, y’all. Because if I’m there–and I will be—there’ll be some yee-haw. No, notHee-Haw; YEE-haw. That’s all I’m sayin’….)

Our work is not over. We still have much to do. But I think this is the fun part. I mean, the past 48 hours has been the cryin’ kind of work. Now comes the the part when all George Bailey’s friends come rushing in the house smiling and laughing and throwing their spare change on the table, singing Auld Lang Syne.

48 hours ago, I pledged to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the family who would come forward and answer God’s call. I know God is going to provide the $20,000 needed to rescue His precious son Davids. And I believe He is going to do it

through

us.

So keep being a part of this miracle. Project Hopeful has set up a fund for tax-deductible donations toward Davids’ adoption. Donations of any amount will help get this boy home to a loving family. God will multiply every single dollar.

Should we make it fun? I like fun. Fun is so…well…fun, isn’t it? How about this: David would have been lost forever on his 16th birthday, so you could donate $16 dollars to commemorate his receiving the best 16th birthday present ever! His family committed to him less than 48 hours after his story was first shared, so you could contribute $48. And of course, if you are able to donate more to get this boy into his forever family, please don’t let my limited imagination hold you back!

But when it comes right down to it, if all you can spare is $5, then God will take your widow’s mite and multiply it. Whatever you can give, know that you are standing in the middle of a miracle, shoulder-to-shoulder with Davids’ new family. But please don’t keep on walking just because you think your gift is too small. It’s not.

How awesome would it be if— oh, I almost can’t type this, because it’s just too awesome to even think about— how awesome would it be if we had Davids’ adoption fund fully funded…

…within 48 hours?

CLICK HERE TO BE TAKEN TO THE PROJECT HOPEFUL DONATION SITE. All donations are tax-deductible. ***Please put DAVIDS in the comment section to ensure that your gift is credited to his fund.***

Get in the middle of this miracle, bay-bee!

So…who’s with me?

The Faces of HIV

The Tweitmeyer family founded ProjectHOPEful to educate families and squash the many misconceptions about HIV and AIDS that scare people away from adopting infected children.

Did you know that 95% of major medical insurance companies cover the cost of the medications needed to treat the disease?

Did you know that it is so manageable, that medically speaking it is preferable to having diabetes?

Did you know that children with HIV can live a normal life span, work, get married, and have children, and that only a small percentage of children born to mothers with the disease will contract it?

A really good interview with Caroline.

Reese's Rainbow advocates for orphans with HIV as well as with Down Syndrome. These children are all in danger of being transfered to mental institutions soon. They will not be taught, they will not go outside, they will not receive the medicine they need to survive. They will die there, because of the stigma of their disease, unless someone rescues them.

"Baxter" shares a birthday with my niece Olivia.

This boy, called Peyton on RR, has already been transferred to a mental institution.

He is a month older than Ethan.

This little girl is the same age as Charlotte.

What I love about...

Her charming personality

Her ability to make a mess as soon as I turn my attention from her. And when she says with those wide eyes and raised eyebrows, "I don't know. It wasn't me!"

her bravery and willingness to try anything

Her winning performance at the Christmas Pageant

She is the best mommy to her babies

Her exploration of the arts

Her widely varied facial expressions

She's way more glam with a baby in her tummy than I ever am.

That she insists on getting her hair "cut" anytime anyone else does.

The fact that a backpack full of blocks doesn't hinder her dancing skilz at all

She snores.

she's silly

This picture

these kids love to dance...

Dear Zoey,

I wanted to start a journal for you. I should have done it months ago. You will soon find that I am a procrastinator, and a very good one at that.

This way I can add pictures and pretend that you can see them, wherever you are.

And while I'm at it, I will pretend that it's just you and me-writing and reading, as if you can read right now, English, or anything for that matter.

So here is my first letter to you.

Dear Zoey,

This is a new year for you baby girl! I wish I knew what you look like. I wish I knew where you are, and how it will be that you will end up here with us. I am trying to be patient and not rush your daddy with the paperwork, but my heart feels like hummingbirds have taken over and I just want to go to Africa and find you now. It feels like there is someone missing in this family and I don't like it. I know that the Lord patterns our steps, but sometimes it is so hard to hear about how 'it's all in God's timing' because I don't always want God's timing, I want mine, and I want it right now...although I know that is true.

I hope you like us. We sure like you a whole lot. We have been praying that God will whisper to you that we love you and we are coming for you. We pray for you all the time. We talk about you every single day. Ethan, your big brother, wants all your friends in the orphanage to have families too, and he's always making some little drawings or papers to sell to make money for them. Charlotte cannot wait to have a sister. She names her babies after you and talks about all the fun things she wants to do with you- like share her bed and teach you to make cookies and get you a pretty carseat so you can sit next to her in the car.She's very concerned that you don't have anything to call your own so she's ready to share her blankets, babies, and shoes with you.

Caden is a little indifferent now, but he will love you, I know it. He will enjoy having someone to pick on and tattle on, but it's ok because he really is a softie and loves everyone.

Just a warning, we are not rich or famous. Sometimes you might hear the name "Angelina" thrown around in the orphanage, so don't be dissappointed when you show up and you have to share a room with someone. Or when you see that we only have one bathroom. We have a lot of love, and so far, everything else seems to be working out just fine.

There are alot of other people here who can't wait to meet you. You are going to be somewhat of a celebrity yourself, at least at church. It's amazing to see all the love for you that our friends and family have. I can't wait to show you off!

Only the Lord knows what this year will bring. I hope and pray that you will be able to come home before the year is done. I pray for your birthmommy all the time. She is a pretty special lady, and we won't let you forget her.

Although I don't know where you are or who you are, I have a picture of you in my mind, and you are beautiful. You are my daughter and I love you.

Love and hugs,
Mommy

see how loveable we are?

(don't worry, we don't actually look like this)