Tuesday, July 31, 2012

A little Bit of a Lot


This little guy has been on the RR website for just about the LONGEST amount of time.  

As of today... He has a family!!

PRAISE GOD!!

I have wanted to yell about him for months now but something always came up...Praising God that silent prayers work just as well as loud screams!!

Oh how sweet to see him there this morning...


Yeah God!!

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Lyla is meeting her Mama and Papa tomorrow...

My heart is overflowing but prayers are pouring forth because they found out that Lyla's heart is not very typical...

Doctors are being consulted.  I'm praying that somehow their process can be speeded up!!  This baby needs out now!


Please please please pray this precious babe home!!  Breathe Lyla Breathe!

You can follow Lyla's story HERE.

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THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN TO THE WESTBROOKS..

Here's an update - Last Friday they went to the US Consulate to get their visas... They have had this appointment for months and based all their plane tickets and travel around this particular appointment.  But the US messed up and the Visas were not ready.  They DO have them now (as of Monday) and are currently flying home (today) BUT... The tickets they had with UNITED could NOT be exchanged because United could not find seats for them for several weeks.  So they had to switch airlines.  That means that they had to buy all new tickets!  PLUS they had to pay hundreds of dollars extra for hotel and food and had to pay change costs for their flight to H*ng K*ng.  


They fell $7,000.00 in a hole in just a matter of minutes because of the US Consulate error.  

When they come home they are going to appeal to everyone they can think of to try to get United to reimburse their plane tickets.  But in the meantime - they are short thousands of dollars and they did not have that money in reserve.  I wrote about why yesterday....

Please consider helping them out in their time of need!



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And PLEASE don't forget my friend Patti's Giveaway that she is doing for the Archer family.  They are bringing home THREE of our MULLIGAN STEW BABES... They need to raise around $1,740.00 to be fully funded.  Patti has an awesome giveaway going and she wrote a post the other day that gave me leaky eyes!!

You can read that post HERE and while you are over there... ENTER INTO THAT GIVEAWAY BY DROPPING A FEW DOLLARS IN THE ARCHER'S BUCKET!!


I know three little boys who will be forever grateful!!


Monday, July 30, 2012

Treasures...

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Did you read those verses???  Really read them??  

This is a treasure.



Two treasures...


These are the Westbrook babes. 

I begged several times for them as they struggled to raise the money they needed to bring home these treasures.


Well they have them... And they are precious treasures indeed.

The Westbrooks know all about storing up treasures... and not storing up treasures...

You see right before they left to get the girls they did a Giveaway.  

Right in the middle of their Giveaway - they realized they were FULLY FUNDED.  But the Giveaway was NOT OVER.

Now many people would have quietly finished out the Giveaway in order to give themselves a buffer against unforeseeable problems.

They would have stored up treasures....

Not the Westbrooks.

They instead offered all the extra proceeds from their Giveaway to other families who were in process.  They  gave away their earthly treasure!

Then Kirsten (mom) and Daniel (son) crossed the ocean to gather their true treasures to their side.

On Saturday they were supposed to fly home with the babes and celebrate a happy ending to an amazing story.

But our US government messed up and the visas that the girls needed to leave the country were NOT READY.  And so the Westbrooks (Mom, Daniel and the 2 girls) are stuck in country until they can get the visas.  More than that.. changing the tickets cost them thousands of dollars.  

I will say no more.  




“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."




Saturday, July 28, 2012

The Cool Dudes

MISS TEEN DELAWARE WAS AT THE REECE'S RAINBOW BOOTH AT THE CONVENTION...

Yes she was!!

Anyone who wanted could come up and get their picture taken with her!

Of course everyone jumped at the opportunity to look cool besides the most beautiful woman at the Convention....




These two dudes were definitely NOT going to be left out of THAT action!!


Owen Roberts and Aaron... 


How could she say no???


Reece the man had to get in the action too!!


Miss Delaware Rocks!!



To say that Ben was jealous when he saw these pictures would be putting it mildly!!!


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Amelia and the rest of her family are currently on their way home.  

As of 6:00 am EST they were safely in Germany!!  PLEASE KEEP PRAYING THEM HOME AND PLEASE PRAY FOR AMELIA AND THE OTHER CHILDREN... THEY ARE GOING STRAIGHT TO THE HOSPITAL FROM THE AIRPORT!!

For those who have asked... HERE is the Brown blog. Jenny has not updated it this week due to the craziness of the week.

Also - A chip-in has been opened up to help cover the extra expenses the family is being hit with at this point.  You can access that chip-in HERE.



Friday, July 27, 2012

Fatherless Friday

UPDATE ON AMELIA...

Can I just say that if anyone thinks that what we did by adopting Aaron was amazing...

IT AIN'T  NOTHING COMPARED TO THESE FAMILIES...

They put me to shame!!

Adoption is on their hearts and minds.

Despite the criticism they get.  Despite the rolled eyes.  Despite the hits by the trolls who are quick to point out that they have TOO MANY KIDS!

These three families make me want to sit small in my chair because they are seriously not only talking the talk but they are walking the walk!!

THE ARCHER FAMILY
THE SHARP FAMILY
THE BOROUGHS FAMILY

Three families who have answered the call to adopt despite their 'quivers being full.'

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The Archers have adopted 13 CHILDREN!! And they are not finished!!

Their hearts are so incredibly big and each time the Holy Spirit whispers - THEY RESPOND!

They are adopting three of our Mulligan Stew Babes!!



THEY ARE ALMOST READY TO CROSS THE OCEAN TO GET THESE BOYS OUT AND STILL NEED AROUND 5,000!!

My dear friend Patti is desperately trying to help them raise those final funds.  She wrote a BEAUTIFUL POST on Wednesday and I would LOVE IT if you would go over to blog and read her post and then donate to the Archers.  Patti is doing a Giveaway for an iPad 3.

GO HERE TO GET TO PATTI'S BLOG
GO HERE TO DONATE TO THE ARCHERS

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP THE ARCHERS GET THEIR KIDS HOME!!

I seriously LOVE The Archer family.  Do you know that despite the fact that she has a quiver full of kids... she took the time to make me a prayer shawl as a thank you for putting her boys in our Mulligan Stew?  IT IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

Like I said... Families like the Archers make me want to sit small in my chair!!

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My second BIG FAMILY is the Sharp family.

A Dozen Reasons & More

I LOVE THIS PICTURE!!

This is the coolest family!

See the little guy at the very end?? He's a Reece's Rainbow babe and I followed his adoption process.


He has come so far and I have been so blessed to watch his progress.  His name is Kullen and he has a form of dwarfism.  When the Sharps arrived at his baby house the director TRIED TO CONVINCE THEM TO PICK ANOTHER CHILD.  He was damaged goods in their eyes.  

THIS IS NOT DAMAGED GOODS!!



The Sharps have also been listening to the Holy Spirit whispers and they are again being called across the ocean to adopt two more little ones who also have a form of dwarfism.  

Rowyn and Zekiel

    

Life as a dwarf in their country is far from pleasant.  My heart aches to think what will happen to these two treasures if someone doesn't go get them.  Oh how precious the day when they will be added to the picture above!!

Adopting both kids is going to cost the Sharps around 40,000!!  

PLEASE WON'T YOU HELP??

The Sharps have an auction going on with some really cool stuff  in it and also a $1,000 matching grant has been offered.  

They have a bike raffle and some other stuff going on... PLEASE HELP THEM... 

SO FAR THEY HAVE HAD LITTLE SUPPORT AND THAT MAKES ME SAD!!

Tracey is a wonderful writer and if you go over to her blog and start reading... well... she has some very interesting stories to tell.  She also has some very interesting pictures she took. One of them knocked my socks off!!    I'm not telling which one.... 


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This is my dear friend Amy.


I met her almost two years ago at an Adoption Expo.  The Lord knit our hearts together for the few hours that we yelled for the babes on Reece's Rainbow and we have been bonded ever since.  This past weekend I had the privilege of seeing her again at the Down Syndrome convention and I was blessed beyond measure to spend quality time catching up in real life what is hard to do on the internet.

I was especially blessed to watch her with Aaron and all the other babes around her. 


She has SEVEN adoption treasures.  Three of them are Reece's Rainbow babes.  Four of them have Down Syndrome.  She didn't have any of them with her this past weekend.  With that many kids, most people would have taken a baby break but not Amy.  She was loving on every kid she could get her hands on.  I was so impressed by how gentle she was with each one. 

Conventional wisdom would tell Amy and Adam that they have enough kids...


But Adam and Amy aren't tuned into conventional wisdom... they have their hearts tuned to Holy Spirit whispers that call them to go here and go there.  They have been all across the globe gathering their kids and they are not stopping.  A little girl with Down Syndrome is sitting in an orphanage across the ocean and they are again answering the call.

This past week they sent their dossier across the ocean.

Frustratingly enough, they couldn't write a check to submit their dossier because the grant money they have applied for hasn't come in SO THEY PUT 6,000 ON THEIR CREDIT CARD.

The next day they learned they need another 5,000.  

Good grief.  In the long run it is a small price to pay for a tiny little girl who is going to fit perfectly into that family. But in the short run - it is rather overwhelming.

I want to help them.


WOULD YOU PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING THEM??  

Donating into their Reece's Rainbow account?

I can't show pictures of their sweet one because of the agency rules in their country but will you PLEASE help bring Maddie home??


PLEASE BLESS THEM AS THEY HAVE BLESSED SO MANY OTHER LIVES!!

P.S.  Amy is not the only one in the family who cares deeply about orphans.  Adam was the nurse who went with the Mussers to help bring Katie home last fall.  KATIE WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR ADDING THE KIDS FROM PLEV*N INTO OUR MULLIGAN STEW!  He didn't know the Mussers but felt God tap on his shoulder to volunteer his services. I know the Mussers were beyond grateful for his skills during that scary trip home.

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And for those who have been praying for our little Mulligan Stew babe who was taken out of the orphanage this week..  PLEASE KEEP PRAYING.  She is just a little bit of a thing and is just hanging on to life right now.  She's struggling to eat or drink and at 12 pounds at 12 years old... THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS.  They are still over there.  Last I heard she has been twice to the hospital.  They are hoping for a feeding tube to be put in to stabilize her as they are scheduled to leave tomorrow.  

This is Amelia.  SHE IS TWELVE YEARS OLD.

Photo: It is morning her and we did get about 5 hours sleep.  Amelia was able to sleep without waking up choking, praise God.  Today I will try again feeding her the bottle after she gets more reflux meds. This was a picture of Gotcha Day. She loved the car ride but did not like getting out.

    Photo: Jenny Sousa-Brown and Amelia


    Please pray for her and for the other three who are also desperately needy.  Pray God's hand of protection on them as they fly out tomorrow.

    UPDATE AS OF 11:50 AM...

    " I just returned from the hospital ,Amelia is admitted she will stay until the very last moment in other words she will be having a taxi pick me and Amelia from the hospital to the airport for our f...light. We leave Bulgaria 0715 (time here) to Germany. Amelia has a PH of 7.28. her blood glucose is 36. they have her on IV fluids with Sodium Bicarbonate I have just gotten back to teh hotel and am packing our suitcases so I can go quickly to the store, pay off our hotel and go back to the hospital. please . please pray. The us embassy has arranged for Dept of Homeland security to meet us once the plane lands Washington and through the line so we can get to our next gate.""

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    Some people get offended that I say that adopting these kids is a rescue.

    I stand by my words.

    The three Archer boys, the two little Sharp babes and Amy's little Maddie - They are all special needs kids who face a lifetime in institutions if someone doesn't cross the ocean for them.  Look at Amelia.  What the Brown are doing for her is pure and simple RESCUE.  

    Help these families RESCUE these kids!

    PLEASE!










    Thursday, July 26, 2012

    Five Minutes


    It took over five minutes for Aaron to swim across the pool last Wednesday in his first swim meet.

    Five long, tear-filled minutes.

    How can I capture those minutes into words?



    Our little Aaron.  

    With a list a mile long of all the things he can't do.


    Swimming in his first swim meet.


    Completely at ease.  With the biggest grin on his face..


    ..and with his dimples shining the entire length of the pool.


    His coach swimming beside him and quietly cheering him on the entire way.


    I'm not one who tends to cry in public but for those five minutes - I wasn't just crying - I was coughing up full fledged sobs as I watched my little guy happily inching along.


    It was surreal to watch him and listen to the hundreds and hundreds of people lining the pool all the way around...several people deep.

    SCREAMING.


    Screaming and yelling and cheering over one little boy who was going oh so very fast in his mind.

    Cheering him on as he gallantly swam.

    Five long scream-filled minutes.



    Tears flowed as he made his way to the end.

    Not just me.  Not just Rob.

    But all over the place people were crying.  Watching.  Cheering.


    Words do not do those five minutes justice.


    When he reached the end and his little head touched the wall... when everyone screamed like he had won....

    Yelling as if his was not the slowest race of the night..

    Yelling as if what he had done was amazing beyond belief..

    Yelling as if it was all that mattered...



    Yelling for one little boy who has gone through so much ... who has endured so much... lost so much...

    One little boy who inspired a crowd for those five minutes..



    It was all I could to do keep from going to complete pieces.

    To not want to jump up on a podium and yell out to all those cheering - to tell them where he had been - what he has overcome - what he left behind.  

    My heart burned because even though all of those people were cheering him on, most did not even know his story.  They had no idea where he spent the first six years of his life.  They had no clue that for a year he sat in a shed passing the time by drawing pictures in the dirt around him.


    They had no idea, yet his swim brought people to the edge of that pool and they yelled like there was no tomorrow... both teams... rivals to the core.. two coaches shaking hands over one very brave little boy.



    Aaron.

    I cried in the arms of a friend after it was over.  Cried tears of joy and tears of sorrow.  Sobbing out to her all the gut-wrenching thoughts and feelings I experienced as I watched him swim.  Remembering.  Remembering.  Grieving.  Rejoicing.  All wrapped up in one little swim by the bravest little guy I know.

    Oh to think that fear of the unknown almost held us back from adopting such a treasure!

    To think that if we had said no, the world would never have known the amazing and wonderful Aaron Vanya Nalle.



    Wednesday, July 25, 2012

    Sweet Memories III

    This is Part Three of our amazing weekend at the DS Convention. 

    We made so many friends... Sweet Memories indeed...

    Making Friends!!

    Reece, Aaron, Owen and Owen!!


    Gavin just hanging out with his big brother!!


    Summer and Sweet Belle!


    See little Rudy???  

    This is what she looked like when she realized that ELMO was coming down the escalator.


    Cookie Monster was COOL... BUT ELMO WAS THE BOMB!!


    That was one happy Ruby!!


    CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS AARON????  WE'RE STANDING NEXT TO ELMO AND COOKIE MONSTER!!

    Molly thinks it's pretty cool.....




    The Reece's Rainbow Booth... My picture does NOT do that banner justice!!


    Aaron thought that Andrea's name was "HEY"..


    So she tried to get him to say "Auntie" instead...


    Either way he always got her attention!!