A SPECIAL NIGHT for a SPECIAL BOY

                                       2012 JR. SR. PROM                                         

It couldn't of been more perfect. And all because of this sweet young lady who wouldn't have it any other way.

On his cherished wizard lawnmover, other wise known as old betsy!

And instead of throttle down, he did throttle up!

But no problem.....just a little backfire and smoke!!!!

Being a gentleman and helping her off :)

Morgan showing him how to escort her. (we practiced this but he was kinda nervous and forgot.)

Now introducing.....Cole Lawrence and Morgan Hendrix

(and my heart at this point was busting with pride:)  )

The theme of the prom was "The Roaring 20's". After their meal they had a DJ there and they danced the night away!! I was told that Cole did not sit out even one dance! He loved it and told me as we were leaving, "man mom, I partied my butt off!"

And I'm guessing he did cause he hasn't stop complaining about his legs hurting since we got home Sat. night and this is Monday!

This is Rylie, our baby girl, and she wasn't just real happy about having to wear this attire but I thought all the girls looked cute. She is a sophmore and their job was to serve the food and help out where needed. And I felt better knowing that Rylie was there just in case Cole needed her or she needed to call me to come sooner than I had planned. But thank you Lord, there was no need for a phone call. Cole had the time of his life and handled everything very well I was told. All the kids made him truely a part of this prom. His teachers were wonderful and even invited us to attend, but I knew he would be better without me there.(why are your kids always better for someone else???) Anyway, it was really a special night. And I told my oldest daughter, while filling a bucket with all the tears I was cryin, that for just a few minutes......it was like all his special needs were taken away and he was just a normal young man headed out for a night of fun with his date and all his friends.

And then the fog cleared, and there was my boy. My shining star. My guiding light.

Very seldom do I use that word......normal. I really don't like it. I'm not even sure what the heck "normal" means.

But if it means trying to change this boy so that he "fits in"......

then I want no part of it.

Nope, we'll keep him just the way God made him.

We'll take all his "needs specialties"......the ability to see the unseen and hear the unspoken, the gift of perseverance, the ability to enjoy the simplest of simple, the art of knowing NO GREY AREAS.....it either is or it isn't, the confidence to say whats on his mind and heart(yes whether good or bad) and the beauty and insight he has of heaven  and his fearlessness to express and share this gift with anyone, anytime and/or anywhere he feels the need. 

Yes sir, the way I see it, his special needs abilities have taught me, and others, many valuable lessons, and I think if we were all more like Cole, this old world would be a much better place to live in.

I LOVE YOU COLE LAWRENCE TO THE STARS AND BACK.

(and he says, "one time or twice times?")

OOOOOOH, TWICE MY LOVE, TWICE.

WHY ADOPT???

I read this today and just want to share it. I realize there are more people that DON'T understand, than people who DO understand. It is now my responsibility to help others see. To give others the opportunity to know  about these kiddos and the blessings that await them if they would only take the time to look.  We make time for everything else, right??  Go to Reece's Rainbow and spend 5 minutes.  Five minutes could end up saving one more life. If you don't understand that, go to RR, look at their faces, read their stories.......then I think you will understand what I mean.  Below is one womans answer to "why adopt" and are my thoughts exactly.

Mend a Broken Heart? ~ by Tanya Yungmann

So, I have to be honest, when I first heard that my sister was adopting a child with Down syndrome, my first thought was "Why?" Why a child that you will most likely have to take care of for the rest of your life? Why add more work to your already crazy days? Why not a child that is "healthy" and "whole"? Do you really know what you're getting into?!

Selfish, I know, but I'm human right? Don't I have enough to worry about already in my own life?

I decided to make my own judgment without the full knowledge of why she and her husband made this decision. Why special needs? Why from another country instead of right here in the USA? Don't we have enough orphans here?

Then, my naive and selfish self decided to actually read one of the many posts that she had posted and check out some pictures and videos.

After that I don't think I could have kicked myself in the butt enough to make up for my first judgment that I made when I had first heard the news that they were adopting.

I read of a little boy that was raised by his birth family until he was 3 months old, then given to the orphanage when he was diagnosed with an illness that he would have for the rest of his life.

I read of a beautiful little girl that was full of smiles but very low functioning with multiple health issues because her mother was an alcoholic.

I saw picture after picture of sweet babies, toddlers, 5-7 year olds with Down syndrome that were given to this orphanage because if their mother kept them, she would become an outcast among her family and friends for having a child with this "condition".

And now my heart breaks. It breaks every time I see a new post about one of these precious babies about to be sent to an institution where they will likely die soon after their arrival.

It breaks every time I see them smiling even though they are in the conditions they are in.

It breaks every time I compare them to my own son and all the love, family, friends, food, toys, health and a future full of possibilities that he has, just because he was blessed enough to be born into that.

It breaks every time I think that these poor babies had no choice about how their life began, and because of that, they have no choice about how it will either continue, or end.

These babies don't have that kind of help. There are no doctors treating them for their illness. No loving arms holding them while they are uncomfortable and sick with fever. They don't have a doctor on speed dial. A local store where someone will go and get them what they need.

Their resources are here, in the USA, where their strabismus (crossed eyes) can easily be fixed. Where the meds for HIV are more accessible. Where their malnutrition is easily fixed by our easy food availability.

That is why there, and not here, where our country doesn't neglect the children and uses every possible resource.

I want more than anything to storm into these countries, swoop up all these sweet children, and rescue them from whatever fate they are facing... but I can't. I can't save them all. At times I feel like even saving one won't make much difference. Will it?

The answer is YES. Even though it doesn't seem like it, there is some hope. 147 million orphans, minus 2, the 2 boys my sister's family is adopting will soon be home, safe and sound, and they don't even know it yet.

My heart will continue to break, but I don't want to mend it. I don't want this hurt, these tears that won't stop every time I read about them, to go away. I don't want to just forget about them so that I will "feel better".

Without knowledge, we will perish. I had to come out of my box, my comfort zone, my little world of me and my family and remember just how much hurt there is out there.

My heart is heavy, but I don't want it to be light again. With this broken heart I now have a passion. A passion to fulfill what God has called us to do, feed the poor, clothe the naked, shelter the orphans.

No longer will I turn away to protect myself from how it might affect me. No longer will I ignore the cries so I can be more comfortable. No longer will I pass over the posts about lost babies because it's the millionth one I've seen and I don't have the "time".

My heart is breaking and I pray that it never mends until I am with my Savior, along with all the orphans, in the safety of the arms of Jesus for eternity.

I thank God everyday for shakin me up to the point that I couldn't even sleep at night. Can we save them all??? Maybe not, but I have a shirt that says, "147 Million Orphans" on the front......and on the back......MINUS 2.     Praise God, out of a crying plea for direction and taking 5 minutes to look at a website, my boys have a life and I believe I get to have a little glimpse of what heaven will really be like one day. I get to see, hear, touch and feel the fullness of Gods love through them, every.single.day. What I once thought was important, those worldly things.......they no longer are.  Take 5 minutes, go to RR. Be blessed. I sure am.

                                                             



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!



FINDING CLAIRE

                                               PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Back in October I wrote this post about an e-mail I had received from one of the ladies at Reece's Rainbow telling me about 3 new little girls who had been listed with them, and that they were from Gabe's former orphanage. (the one he was transferred to afew months before we got him.) It's a neat story and once again, only one that our Father above could orchestrate. 

So, if you've read that story, you'll know my excitement right now! I think I could turn a  flip or heck, maybe two!!

This is Claire

 

And this precious treasure just showed up on the "MY FAMILY FOUND ME" page on Reece's Rainbow. Thank you Jesus! Once lost, but now found.  I know who her new family is but will wait until they make it public before I say it here. 

Oh sweet Claire, hang on baby. You'll be meeting your new momma and papa real soon.  And to her new family.....may God bless you abundantly for the journey you have said "yes" to. Blessings to you and yours.

Called to ACTION

Have you ever had so much to say, yet you can't say anything because you fear stepping on toes of the very ones who mean alot to you?? That's where I'm at. I have so much I want to YELL and tell the world about these kids, kids that a society says are  worthless. I want to tell people to quit making excuses and step up and do something. Then I tell myself, "but I have to do it in a way to not offend anyone, and I sure don't want anyone to think that because we went, that we feel we are better than them." So, I sit. I see the faces of the ones we loved on, the ones that ran to us each day for a simple hug or a piece of candy, I see the faces of the ones who couldn't run. I see Roman. And as long as I live, I will never forget the look on his face and the sadness in his eyes as I waved my last goodbye to him and him to me. Yet, I sit. Trying to find words, the right words, and the right time to do it.   And then it hits me, I'm doing just like the majority of everyone else right now. Making excuses. It's not the right time. I don't want to step on anyones toes. I don't want to make anybody feel uncomfortable. I don't want to do this or that. Excuses. I should be ashamed, and believe me......I am.  Scripture says, "do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to ACT."  Yes, we were called to action and we went. But that does not excuse me from continuing the "action" now that we're home. Just looking at these two boys of ours should be all the inspiration I need to press on and continue in ACTION.  Shame on me. My prayer right now is that I no longer let fear of what others think stop me from speaking out for these special kids. WE, friends and family, WE, the church, have a responsibility to speak up and take action. Go to Reece's Rainbow and there are a number of ways for you to begin helping right now.

And now on a lighter note!

This weekend we enjoyed the weather and got our storm "container" ready in case we need it. (this is called making do with what you've got and praying it stays put if a tornado does come!) Hope you enjoy the pictures and hoping and praying that if God is nudging you to ACTION for "one of the least of these" little ones, you will be able to do so knowing that He WILL provide you with everything you need. Blessings to you and yours.