What's Love Got To Do With It?? EVERYTHING!!!



With all that's going on with the adoptions in Russia, I have been "extra" tuned in to our little guy and know the treasure we have been given.

August 8, 2011 at the institution.

Now don't get me wrong. I thank God every day for this boy and for the chance to be his momma.

But with the sad news about Putin signing the bill to ban Americans from adopting these Russian children, well, lets just say we have hugged him alittle tighter lately.  :)

We are so fortunate to have him in our family.

I can't put into words what he means to us, his family, and to all he comes in contact with, because THERE ARE NO WORDS that I know to sum it all up!! But here are afew pictures that show his true personality.

He is SOOOOO funny!

He loves to eat!!

And yes......he is a ham!

He loves school.

He would live outside if I'd let him!

He loves surprises!

He LOVES music.

August 2012

He just PLAIN. LOVES. LIFE.

Anyone who thinks these kids are better off in orphanages and institutions vs. an American home or ANY home.........seriously, they can have NO love in their hearts.

Father God, place a hedge of protection around these precious kiddos. Give them strength to hold on. Father move in the hearts of those who hold their futures in their hands. Lord be with the families that have stepped out in faith to bring these kids home and just grant them peace and patience and Father, let them feel Your love. Lord, Your word says to trust YOU with all our heart and to lean not on our own understanding, and to acknowledge You in all our ways and You will make our paths straight. Lord, I sure don't understand why this is happening, but I trust You and I am clinging to Your word. Thank you for this precious Russian child you have placed in our family. My cup runneth over.

Please pray for these kids and the families that are trying to bring them home. Also for all the government officials who have a say in their futures that their hearts will be softened and the ban will be lifted. Thanks and may you be blessed.

TRUST ME

TRUST ME with every fiber of your being!

What I can accomplish in and through you is proportional to how much

you depend on ME. (Sarah Young's Jesus Calling devotional for today)

I have to be honest.......I thought, maybe, in the last minute.....Putin would not sign the bill stopping all U.S. adoptions from Russia.

I wanted it to be a just a scare tactic. Just a political push and shove that would only ruffle some feathers.

Boy was I wrong.......again!

As I was wiping away my tears, my level headed, see the big picture husband,

reminded me........"Kim, GOD IS IN CONTROL OF THIS. There is more to this picture than we are seeing."

And in my head I knew that. But in my heart, all I can think about are those precious kiddos, some of who have already met their families and understand that they are coming back for them, and then the families. Oh my gosh. These kids ARE their children. Can you imagine if your child was on the other side of the world and you couldn't get to them. They are suffering and you are not allowed to bring them home where they deserve to be. Here their every need will be met. They will be cherished treasures and unconditionally loved. Can you fathom that??? I can't. So, I am doing the only thing that I can do at this time. Praying. I am praying and fasting today, along with thousands of others around the world, for these Russian children who's lives are at stake. If you feel so led, would you pray too? Amazing things happen when people come together in prayer. I believe with all my heart that God WILL have the last say here. And as Rick said, there is more to this picture than we are seeing, and we have to trust that God IS IN CONTROL.

If you would like to know more about WHY this ban on adoptions in Russia is such a big deal........go read what Tensey has to say about her son Kirill. He, like our Gabe, had already been transferred to an institution when they finally were able to bring him home. No child should have to suffer these conditions.

No child should ever be told they cannot be adopted because they have Down Syndrome.

No child should ever have to live in these conditions when there are loving families who want to adopt them and love them unconditionally.

I do not believe it is over for these kiddos.

I BELIEVE ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE BABIES.

 

 

HOPE

We live in a fallen world.

A world where our most vulnerable are targeted.....

the children.

But amid the harsh realities of this world......

Whether it be by our own greed or by the hands of another.....

(Russia to ban U.S. adoptions)

WE HAVE HOPE.

And that HOPE came in the form of a CHILD.

This Christmas season, amid the pain and sorrows all around us, I choose to focus on HOPE and not the things of this world.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trials and sorrows. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Praying that you and yours have a Christmas full of hope, peace and love.



THE GIFT OF SERVING OTHERS

 As I write this, there are only 15 more days until Christmas. This time last year Gabe was still some what confused with all the glimmer and lights that go along with this time of the year. He had never spent Christmas with family, never received gifts, and certainly had never heard the REAL REASON that we celebrate this time of year. For the first 5 yrs of his life, he had known nothing of our Fathers love for him. He had no idea that God had a plan for his future. But now, a year and a half later, he knows what its like to have the love of a family, he knows and anticipates the “open presents” part of Christmas (which I kinda don't like), and though he knows it's Jesus's birthday, he still has no idea the importance of this day. And sometimes, nor do we. Or we do, but sometimes forget. Just like little kids, we big kids get caught up in all the glimmer and lights and sometimes forget what's most important. We worry about getting the perfect gifts for our kids, our friends, our kids friends, parents, siblings, all those who matter to us.........and sometimes we don't even think about those who really matter..........to no one. In the bible, Jesus refers to them as, “the least of these.” Mother Theresa quotes: “The dying, the cripple, the mental, the unwanted, the unloved, they are Jesus in disguise.” Matthew 25:40 says, 'And the King will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to Me.' The least of these. Jesus in disguise.

. If Jesus came to your door, sick, dirty, starving and alone, would you turn your back and just go on trying to think happy thoughts and pretend you didn't see him, and go on about your life?? No, of course you wouldn't. But then I don't think God is going to make it that easy for us by sending Jesus to knock on our door!! Nope, I don't think He will, but I do think He sends Jesus in disguise, in hopes that we will recognize the opportunities He gives us to love and serve Him, by loving and serving others, as in, “the least of these.”

This Christmas season as you hurry around to finish up your shopping and get everything just right for this big holiday, I hope that you will take some extra time and think about those who Jesus described as “the least of these” and do something for them too.

And now here comes my plug for the plight of the orphan. Kids like our Gabe and Cole, are thrown away by their society because they ARE the least of these. All of these kiddos long to be loved and to give love. They long for families who will love them, despite the needs they have. They wait day after day, night after night. But no one comes.

Jesus says, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Matthew 25:35

Maybe it's not right for you to pursue a special needs international adoption, and that's ok, but if the Lord has placed that on your heart in some form or fashion, I beg you to act on it. It's the greatest gift you will ever receive. If not, don't worry, Jesus is in disguise all around us. There are always opportunities to serve Him by serving others, whether it be on the other side of the world or just down the street. But I encourage you to open your eyes and hearts this Christmas season, and do something to help the least of these, where ever that might lead you. When we find a way to serve others, we are serving God. I pray this Christmas season that we all will see “Jesus in disguise” and say “yes” in a way that is pleasing to Him.

We (my family) have until the end of December to continue trying to raise funds for our little guy on the Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree. This money will go into his grant fund account and be used by the family that decides to adopt him. His name is Orson(that's not his real name) and if you haven't already given to “one of the least of these” this season, he truly falls into this category. If you would like to help him, you can use the donate button here on my blog or go to the Reece's Rainbow Christmas Angel Tree and donate to Orson or one or more of the other kiddos. Every little bit helps when it comes to adopting one of these treasures. Maybe you could do it because you know our boys, Cole and Gabe. Maybe you could do it just because you love the Lord!

May you and yours be blessed this Christmas season.

FACE TIME

I know the title of this is suppose to be something you can do on your i-phones or smart phones(obviously I haven't figured mine out yet!) but today it means this.........

Today is THEIR face time.

Time for you to see their little faces and ACT.

And if you do..........There are some GREAT GIVE AWAYS!!

All you have to do is go to Julia's blog and she explains it all.

C'MON! IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME!!!

IT'S THE SEASON TO GIVE!

AND WHAT BETTER WAY THAN TO GIVE TO THESE BOYS

WHO DESPERATELY NEED YOUR HELP.

GO TO Julia's blog and then jump on over to Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree,

AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON.

Yegor

Sonny

Frank

Alexei

Bobby

Emmitt

And please don't forget my little angel tree guy, Orson.

ORSON

He only has $221.00 of the $1000 he needs to reach our goal.

Wow. We gotta get busy! Won't you help us??

Thanks and blessings to you and yours this Christmas Season.

ZOEY

As I sit here by the phone, anticipating a call that we've been waiting for, for 3 days now, I'm thinking about no matter how that phone call goes.........we have hope.

It doesn't matter if we hear the word benign or malignant.........we have hope.

It doesn't matter that we're facing a surgery, regardless of which of those two words we hear........

We have hope.

We know and serve a mighty God and He knows us.

WE HAVE HOPE.

This little one my friends, has no hope........

UNLESS someone rescues her SOON.

She is almost 6 and weighs about 10 lbs. She exists in the confines of her crib day and night. She is tube fed, and it's evident, that is not enough.

She is a child of God, just like you and I, created in the image of her Father. But she will never be what God intented her to be, unless you and I ACT on her behalf.

Today, you and I are her only hope. Unless you and I become the hands and feet of Jesus..........Zoey has no hope.

"Once our eyes are opened we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls know that we know and holds us responsible to act."

Today, I am Zoey's voice. Please search your hearts and ask God to break your heart for the things that break his.

He will. And He will give you everything you need to ACT on behalf of these precious treasures.

For more information on Zoey, contact: Shele337@gmail.com

I GET TO

       

Sometimes I catch myself so caught up in the "awe" of this adoption thing. Gabe is so funny and just keeps us in stitches most of the time. He has facial expressions that I have no idea where they come from and now verbal expressions to go along with them! He puts so much JOY in our lives. Sometimes I think, "Wow. What if we had missed this. Can you imagine??"  No, I can't. I can't imagine not having he or Cole.  They define me. They make me a better person.  They are my light at the end of the tunnel. They are my rainbows after the raging storms.  And sometimes we have storms pretty regularly around here!!  A friend of mine said that a person could describe our place as being "one tent short of a circus!!"  And how right she is!  But you know what.........I wouldn't change one thing.  Alot of people my age already have an empty nest or will soon, but for me....... that's something I never have to worry about!  Lonely days and nights.......out of the question. And as I type these words, and one boy is continually trying to get my attention for one reason or another, I have to smile. Well wait a minute.........I don't have to smile........I choose to smile.  I smile because, we GET to do this. We get to be these boy's family. We get to parent these boys who were once orphaned.  We get to love them.  We get to teach them and tell them about God's love for them and us.  And so many times I wonder........who are we, that we get to do this, we GET to partner with God's heart for orphans.  And there is that "awe" again.

You have probably heard the saying, " God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called."  We are living proof of that statement. We are not special. We are not. As a matter of fact, we are FAR from it! But we were willing, and because of that.........we are GETTING to spend the rest of our lives with two incredible, special boys. 

Is your nest empty???!!! Or will be???!!! Hey, I can help you out!! Go to  Reece's Rainbow and see which way God nudges you.  Lots of ways to help and something for all ages. 

And don't forget the RR Christmas Angel Tree and my little angel, Orson.  He wants and deserves a family of his own. Will you please help me, help him?   Go to the Angel Tree and click on his picture or use the button on this blog. Thanks and  Blessings to you and yours.



AWESOME ORSON

It's that time again! The Reece's Rainbow Christmas Angel Tree is in full swing and I need your help!  We are this little guys Christmas Warriors this year and we have pledged to raise $1000 for his grant fund. This is so important for him as these funds will go to help the family that finds him and wants to make him their son. I have a donate button on the right side of my blog that you can use to make a donation for him. Or you can go to the link above, find his picture (and any other kids you want to give to) and donate that way.  If you don't want to use this route, you can mail me a check and I will send it to RR for you. Some believe that money is the only thing keeping families from adopting these precious kids. Please help me, help Orson, and let's add $1000 to his fund. And may you be blessed for giving.

Hi, my name is Orson!

I'm 4 1/2 yrs. old and I live in an orphanage in Russia. My caretakers say I'm a good boy and that I have big beautiful brown eyes.

Here's a picture of me when I was just a little bitty guy!

I think I might have been having a bad hair day :)

I'm so glad I'm on the Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree this year.

If I can get some money in my grant fund then maybe a family will see it and it will help them say "yes" to making me a part of their family.

And then maybe next year I will be HOME to celebrate Christmas.

I sure hope you will help me. I really am a good boy. Thank you,

                                                                                 Orson



WHILE WE WAIT

“As we get older, our vision should improve. Not our vision of earth, but our vision of heaven. Those who have spent their life looking for heaven gain a skip in their step as the city comes into view. After Michelangelo died, someone found in his studio a piece of paper on which he had written a note to his apprentice. In the handwriting of his old age the great artist wrote: “Draw, Antonio, draw, and do not waste time.” Well founded urgency, Michelangelo. Time slips. Days pass. Years fade. And life ends. And what we came to do must be done while there is time.” Max Lucado.

Have you ever felt that “urgency” in some area of your life but you just keep coming up with excuses as to why you can't act on that urgency? You keep finding reasons that it would be better to “wait” instead of pursuing what ever it is thats telling you, the time is NOW.

In the world of adoption, (as in other areas too), there are lots of excuses people use to NOT act with urgency or to not act at all. And this includes me as well. Here are a few.

1. It cost too much.
2. I have enough kids.
3. I'll wait till the kids get older.
4. It will take away from Susie's senior yr.
5. I have to save for Susie's college fund.
6. It might effect the other kids.
7. My house is not big enough.
8. I don't have enough time for another child.
9. I'm not called to do that.
10. I don't know anything about special needs.
11. I'm too old.
12. I'll pray about it and see what happens.

Don't you like that last one??!! Now don't get me wrong here. I believe in prayer......oh how I believe in prayer. But I think, sometimes, we use those words simply because we don't want to do what we know we should do. We sit and wait around for God to speak to us the way WE want to hear Him. And when we don't hear Him in that way (our way), then we say, “well, I prayed about it but nothing happened, guess I'll just keep on waiting for an answer.” Have you ever thought you could be using that line as an excuse to NOT do something the Lord would be in favor of?? Ok, I'm alittle biased when it comes to the question of adopting a child in need verses not adopting a child in need. I understand fully, every excuse listed above. But I'm gonna tell ya, God's heart is for the orphaned kiddos. He is going to rise above EVERY single excuse you can come up with. He is bigger than any obstacle that you believe might be standing in the way of you doing this. If you have thought about adopting one of these precious kids and your just waiting for the right time......................please stop waiting. Because while we wait, THEY WAIT. And they have waited long enough. Sooooo, “Draw, Antonio, draw, and do not waste time!”

There are so many kiddos waiting. Please take a minute and pray for these that you see, and for the millions more that need a family to come for them. We serve a mighty God, and all He needs is ONE willing heart and the ripple effect from that one heart could mean MANY lives are touched and perhaps saved.

Will YOU be that ONE???



 

EXTRA WHAT???

Most people are aware that Down Syndrome is due to an extra chromosome.

October is the month chosen to be "Down Syndrome Awareness Month".

And while I am fully aware of both of these facts......

I am WAYYYYYYY MORE AWARE,

OF THE JOY, THE BLESSING, AND THE HONOR IT IS,

TO BE THIS BOYS MOM.

EXTRA CHROMOSOME SOME SAY????

Hmmmmmmm......

I say......EXTRA determination, EXTRA funny, EXTRA appreciation, EXTRA sensative to others, EXTRA joy, and most definitly.....

EXTRA LOVE.

Thank you Lord for continuing to teach me of YOUR love through the ''extras" that come with this precious child. Thank you for the opportunity and chance to say "yes". All glory and praise are forever YOURS.



Crystal Clear

I've been searching for words.......

I close my eyes and I see it so clearly.......

but the words don't come.

Some days........

No......Alot of days,

I feel like more of me is there than is here.

Truly the hardest part of Gabe's adoption???

Those we left behind.