REALITY and INSPIRATION for me

Every morning, hopefully before my day gets going, I go to this blog for a daily cup of reality. If you go there, you might think REALLY??? instead of REALITY. Most of the time, its not pretty. Most of the time Julia is pleading for the lives of children whose society said, "they have no potential." She and I both know what it is like to adopt one of these kiddos. She and I both know how WRONG society is. And slowly but surely, her advocating along with others, has brought change to some of the orphanages in Eastern Europe. Hearts are being reached. God is moving mountains. BIG MOUNTAINS. I have several kids that I consider "mine" and I keep up with them. Praying for them and waiting to see if  some one goes for them. And thank God, many of them now have a family. I continue to watch in amazement how God works things out for those who share HIS heart. I have watched THOUSANDS of dollars pour in in as little as 24 hrs. to help different families bring their child home. I have watched families who have barely gotten their kids home turn right around and go again because they know what happens if they.......if WE.......don't. I go to Micah Six Eight for a good cup of reality because I love to see God at work. God's heart is for the orphan and He will continue to move mountains if we continue to be faithful to His calling. WE are His hands and feet on earth. WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. No more excuses. Time is running out for so many of the kiddos.  Be the difference. Save a life. Go to Reece's Rainbow and see how you can help.

Keegan- 1yr.old

His baby orphanage is closing and he will go to a mental institution for 5yrs. and older because he has down syndrome.

Sarah- 6yrs.

Sarah only has 2 weeks to be found. She is in an orphanage in Bulgaria called Plevin. It is a horrible place. In her country files are only given to an agency for a short period of time and her time is almost up. Sarah has CP.

Nicky- 4yrs.

He is tiny. He needs his mama to find him soon.

Lily-5yrs.

Lily has waited sooooo long. She has a significant heart defect and needs a family soon.

Preston-6yrs.

He has a heart defect and is facing the institution soon.

Stacy-5yrs.

She is facing the institution soon.

All of the above kiddos have sizeable grants of over $4000 in each of their accounts. Some have way over that amount.

Don't let money be your excuse for NOT saving one of these kids.

God will not let you down. He will provide everything you need. He will lead you on the most amazing journey of your life.

Go get a cup of REALITY.

Go to here or here.

Go be inspired.

First Trip.....One Year Later

One year ago today, we boarded a plane and headed off

 to see our new son for the first time.

First rattle out of the box, right before boarding, we were told to go to a different gate for a different plane.

Second rattle out of the box, THAT plane malfunctioned on the runway. After returning back to the gate and sitting for 2 hrs. on the plane, they said they thought they had the problem fixed. Uhhhhh excuse me.......you think you have it fixed!  Then they came on and said no they didn't and we passengers could de-board the plane and try to get another flight or we could wait while they worked on the plane some more and maybe it could be fixed. People started exiting the plane and I was also wanting off there pretty darn bad.  I mean, I hate to fly, and the thought of that thing malfunctioning in mid flight was almost more than I could handle. But oh no. Rick said, "sit down. we are staying right here. its probably just minor." Holy cow. Minor malfunction on MY plane is MAJOR to me!!  We hadn't even gotten in the air yet and I was about to throw up! But, they finally told us it was repaired and off we went. I was on pins and needles the whole way to New York, but we made it fine. Just another one of those things the ole devil had thrown at us for a couple of months. And he didn't stop there. We had crazy, stressful events happen all the way to Vlad. and back home again. Crazy passengers, crazy landings, crazy airports! And had we listened to all the "signs" we were getting, we would have thrown the towel in and never experienced what God had waiting for us.

Had we listened to all the things the "world" was telling us......

We would have missed the MOST AMAZING blessing.

God's heart is for the orphan. It is. He will move heaven and earth, if need be, to bring these kiddos home.

We, His church and His people, only have to say yes.  

No to the world and YES to Him.

Today we attended our little country church and we gave thanks and praise for an empty tomb and a risen Lord. OUR risen Lord.

And with his hands held high, and thousands of miles from where he was this time last year, our little blessing praised God too.

What a difference love can make.

And all because of an empty tomb

and a RISEN LORD.

GABE'S FIRST EGG HUNT

What does a boy do on his very first easter egg hunt??

He carefully examines the first few!

And then big brother gives him some pointers,

And now his eyes are on those eggs!!

Happy First Easter Egg Hunt My Precious Boy!