The Hurst Family!

Now that my first Family Warrior family is home with their sweet girl, I decided to prayerfully consider new families waiting for a warrior. 

After reading a few family's profiles, the Hurst Family simply stuck out to me and I knew that I needed to step up to stand with them during their adoption process. 

They're bringing home "Quinnlee"!

Look at this beautiful girl. 

MANY people have advocated for this sweet girl, including her mama and papa. 

They fervently prayed for Quinnlee before they made the decision to pursue her adoption. 

The Hurst family has loved this sweet girl for years and are currently fundraising to bring her home. 

The Hurst's oldest daughter has been praying for a baby sister and is excited to finally have a little sister of her very own. Quinnlee is already SO loved. 

Katie's heart has been drawn to the country where Quinnlee lives since she was a young girl.

I believe that the Lord put that desire within Katie for a purpose. . .I love that she's ALWAYS held fast to her love for a country and people other than her own. 

I've been praying for the Hurst family for about a week now, I was going to make a post as soon as I got the confirmation email that I was their family warrior. But I decided to wait, today I realized why I waited. 

I had prayed for the Hurst family this morning and asked the Lord to bless them and to give me the wisdom and insight I needed to be a blessing to their family. 

Today I was in a car traveling into the mountains of West Virginia, 

suddenly there was a dark rain cloud overhead. 

The sky opened up and the rain poured down on the road in front of us. 

But moments later, the sun peeked out behind that dark cloud. 

I immediately thought of the verse that has been a huge source of strength and encouragement for this family during their adoption process thus far. 

“And The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” 

(John 1:5)

Though there was darkness for a mere moment, light won. 

I couldn't help but think of the Hurst family, they are currently on a journey that can be very difficult at times. I'm sure there have been sleepless nights and mountains of paperwork. 

But. . . 

It says in Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." 

The Hurst family are in the midst of a journey that they were called to. 

They weren't only called to be "a light" to Quinnlee and their kiddos here in the states, 

they were called to be the "light of the world". 

Katie shouts for many waiting kiddos other than her own and that alone speaks volumes in my heart and mind. So now while she shouts and raises funds for her own adoption of  this sweet girl. 

I know that I'm called to shout with her and help her on her journey. 

I'm SO excited to get know this family and help them bring their girl home. 

For the next two weeks, they are working on getting a matching grant of $5,000! 

Katie is currently making bracelets to help get her girl home.

Donate here!

Upon your donation she can make you a custom bracelet with text of your choice! 

Katie is also selling Usborne books to help fund their adoption of Quinnlee. 

Order books here! 

You can read more about the Hurst's journey here . . . 

http://www.webearthelight.com/

Worth it.

I haven't been blogging as much lately. 

But don't worry, I'm still praying for precious kids that need families. 

In this season I've been trying to fix my eyes on Jesus more than I ever have. 

So while this blog has been quiet, my heart hasn't been. 

There are a few kiddos lately have really captured my heart and have become regulars in my prayers. 

http://reecesrainbow.org/77188/ivey

Ivey.

Sweet sweet Ivey.

A family that met Ivey this year said the followring:

"When we were in there, she asked the staff if it was possible to get a family for herself, but they felt the answer would be no- because no one would want someone as badly disabled as she was. . .  I am praying with all my heart that there is a family out there that recognizes that a person’s worth is not measured by what they can physically do- and will cross the ocean to call her daughter, because I truly believe she would be an incredible addition to a family. She’s spunky and overcame her hesitation about potential rejection, in order to ask me if I would please see if I could find her a family." 

This sweet girl ASKED for a family. 
Even though she thought the answer would be no, she asked anyways. 
My prayer is exactly what the family above said, that there is a family out there that sees that a person's worth isn't measured by what they can do physically. 
I know that there's a family out there that will look at her picture and know that she's their daughter.
They'll know that she's worth crossing oceans for. 

http://reecesrainbow.org/64331/lynda

Lynda. 

This little sweetie threw her arms around my brother-in-law's neck and rested her head on his shoulder. 

She's not a favored child in her orphanage. . . mostly due to her mental delays. 

Hair cropped short, no pretty dresses to wear or bows in her hair. 

She desperately needs a family. 

A family to treat her like the precious girl she is, that they will see her potential. 

Because just like Ivey, Lynda is worth it. 

I was looking through photos on my phone a few days ago. . . 

I found the first picture I ever saw of my nephew. 

This photo of him sparked this post. 

I found it the other day when I was looking through files on my computer. 

I couldn't shake the look on Sam's face in this photo. 

After I saw Sam's face in late 2012, I started praying for waiting kiddos like Sam. 

They saw his worth and they crossed oceans to make him a beloved son. 

Sam nowadays.
A beloved son, brother, grandson, and nephew.

 The world may not see the two girls I listed above as "worth it", but I do and so does Jesus.
He sees their beauty and thinks that they are perfect.
I pray that he comforts them in their orphanages in Eastern Europe, that he sends people to love them while they're waiting for their families.
I pray that Jesus works in the hearts of the future mothers and fathers of the two girls I listed above.

My Week in a Relatively Large Adoptive Family.

So this post happened because of a joke my sister-in-law made about me writing a blog post about my stay out of state with her and her fam. I laughed pretty hard when she brought it up, but the more and more I thought about it the more it made sense. A lot of people think bigger families are weird and unnatural, I used to be one of those people. (I'm not saying bigger families are for every person. . . ) Before going to visit I had already changed my opinion on bigger families, my trip confirmed my change of heart. 

Big families rule, seriously. 

So some of you that know me personally, know that my SIL and her husband brought home two children from Eastern Europe last year. They also have two other children (and one on the way). I got to hang out with their crew for just over a week. There's a bit of chaos but it's pretty controlled, it was weird coming back home to my quiet life. . . I may be crazy but I've missed the chaos. I actually have dragged my feet writing this post because of how hard it was for me to transition back to my quiet life after my trip. 

One major thing that I really took away from being part of the crew is the importance of not stressing over the little things. The simple life is awesome. Maranda and Ed don't double as short-order cooks for their kiddos and I LOVED feeding their kids lunch for that reason .(Everyone got the same thing and there was minimal whining!) The kids know they have schedules and in between homeschool lessons they have access to the backyard where they're able to run, play, exercise, and explore. My nieces and nephews get to be kids! There are tablets, computers, and TVs in the house. . . but they don't spend their days in front of screens. These kids know how to play and have great imaginations, they bring me so much joy. 

S (who once spent all of his days in an Eastern European orphanage) would tell me of his adventures as a pirate and all about the fish he saw during his time at sea. J is the sweetest "puppy" you'll ever meet, complete with doggy sounds. R and D have become a pretty dynamic duo (R lived in the same Eastern European orphanage as S), you can often find these two dancing or collecting branches, leaves, and toys in the yard and making "sculptures" and "machines". 

Many mornings I woke up to a softly spoken , "I love you Aunt Family" from R or was the recipient of a random hug or kiss on the cheek. Not because I asked for those things but I think when you have lived life without a family and true acts of love. . . even the little things are a big deal. If I have to sum up R in one sentence. . . it would go something like this, "R loves harder than most people I've met and adores making people happy." Maranda and I would sit on the couch some afternoons and we'd watch tiny R pull her almost 11 year old Brother J around in the wagon. . . her little tiny cheeks turning pink as she strained and J clapping in the wagon behind her. I can already see Jesus working R's life and I can't wait to see her grow in him. 

Then there's Mr. S. Before I went to visit I had kind of prepared myself for S to take awhile to warm up to me. I planned on a handshake and maybe a short hug. The first morning when I walked into the living room, S greeted me like we'd always known each other. S is a tiny warrior, he has an upper body that is about 95 times stronger than mine and he is one tough cookie. S is VERY brilliant and catches on very quickly! One of my favorite moments with him happened when we were on the trampoline. . . I was teaching his sisters how to do back bends and back walkovers (when you kick your legs and use your upper body to flip backwards out of a backbend) and he goes, "I try Aunt Family!". Within five minutes this boy was flipping his whole body weight over using ONLY his upper body. I can't wait to see what Jesus has in store for S, I believe that his story will touch thousands. 

God places the lonely in families. . . (Psalm 68:6)

Most of you know that I advocate for waiting children on Reece's Rainbow. These two are a big part of the reason why I've chosen to advocate for these precious kiddos. These kids aren't just faces on a screen in a country across the ocean. . . YOU can make a difference in the life of an orphan today. 

(email me to learn more.) 

I love a good before and after. . . (S&R haven't even been home a year yet!) Once orphans, now beloved members of a family. 

This is what redemption looks like. 

Here are some children from S&R's country that are waiting for their story to begin. 

http://reecesrainbow.org/52873/cara

http://reecesrainbow.org/64331/lynda

http://reecesrainbow.org/24193/gina

Twenty-one Days of Hope! Meet Lynda.

http://reecesrainbow.org/64331/lynda

This is Lynda. Lynda currently spends her days in the same orphanage my niece and nephew once called home. . Lynda's hair has been cut very short and she often was put in boy's clothing. My sister-in-law and her husband met this little girl and even though they were there adopting Sam and Ruby. (So they were only a little busy!). . . Maranda knew that she needed to help "Lynda" find a Mama and Papa of her very own. So, I'm going to use Maranda's words instead of my own. . .

"We met Lynda when we were at Sam & Ruby’s orphanage this summer.  She was in the same groupa (the group of children who basically share life together…they eat, sleep and play together all day, every day). Lynda needs a family badly.  She was one of the least favored children in the groupa.  As you can see, her hair is cropped short.  Thankfully, they put a cute dress on her for this photo, but for several weeks at the orphanage we thought Lynda was a boy.  Most of the other girls in the groupa wore girls’ clothes and always had pretty bows in their long hair, but not Lynda or another little girl with mental delays.  These two girls were dressed as boys all of the time.  Lynda seemed to receive the least attention and was often found playing by herself.

She has a quiet, noble nature about her.  She was always very kind even though she received little attention.  She is in a “good” orphanage in that she is well fed and kept clean, but she so desperately needs a family.  On one occasion she wandered over to the play shelter where we were playing and was trying to eat Ruby’s cookie.  We didn’t have any extra (we brought treats for the groupa every three days or so) so Ed just picked her up to distract her and as soon as he did, she threw her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder just soaking in the attention.  It was the most precious yet sad thing I’ve ever seen.  She just wants to love and be loved…to be a Daddy’s girl.  I wish you could have seen the smile on her face as she hugged Ed.  It was priceless.  For that brief moment, she was in heaven.

She has hydrocephalus and is globally delayed in her development but she is still very bright and has so much potential in a family.  Judging by the size and shape of her head, it seems that either her shunt isn’t working or she has never been shunted.  A shunt is crucial for people with hydrocephalus to keep the fluid from building up around their brain.  She needs medical attention, but most of all she needs a family.  Lynda will turn five in December.  Just like Sam, she will face the threat of being transferred to an adult insane asylum where she would likely die."

 Right now Reece's Rainbow is doing a campaign entitled, "21 Days of Hope." From February 24th- February 28th you can vote for a child daily (And yes. . . you can vote for the same child each day.) . The "Top 21" children will be featured between March 1st-21st, wouldn't you love to see Lynda featured?! So. . . starting today, once a day you can vote for Lynda! A free way to help a precious little girl get one step closer to a family of her very own. If you click on the Image below it will take you directly to the page where you can vote, so select Lynda's name and you can VOTE HERE for Lynda once every 24 hours! A free and easy way to help an orphan! Pretty cool, right?

Edit: Lynda is one of the 21 featured kiddos, THANK YOU for your votes! Now she could use your (tax-deductible donations! When the Voice of Hope fund hits $7000, $2100 will be added to Lynda's fund!  
DONATE HERE!

Lastly if you're interested in learning more about Lynda, email me and I'll connect you with the right folks.

Family Warrior!

So most of you know I spend some time hanging out over at Reece's Rainbow. I've been a "Prayer Warrior" and "Angel Tree Warrior" and now I get the pleasure of being a "Family Warrior". At first I kind of pushed it aside and decided to not commit to it. . . Mostly because I have so much fundraising of my own to do for my missions trip to Eastern Europe. But all day something tugged at me to read through some family profiles and make a decision. I knew that I needed choose a family and stand with them.

So after a ton of reading I chose The Williams Family, I had read their story before. But after reading it last night I knew that these were the people that I needed to commit to helping. This is an excerpt from their Reece's Rainbow FSP (Family sponsorship Program)  . . .

"After the adoption of their two youngest domestically Crystal kept being drawn back to the beautiful faces on Reece’s Rainbow. In the summer of 2012 another Reece’s Rainbow family posted on Facebook about a girl from Eastern Europe needing a host family for the summer, they thought this would be a great opportunity and excitedly agreed to host her. They fell in love with this thirteen year old girl and started making plans to make her their daughter; up until this point Jared had not really been on board about going overseas for adoption. God had even bigger plans for them; they both felt someone would still be missing from their family. After much prayer they found Grayson and knew he was meant to be theirs as well. God still was not done in his plans for this family. The 13 year old girl was not able to be adopted by Jared and Crystal due to some extended family that she still had, and even though this devastated them they believed it was in God’s hands even if they could not see the plan yet. Just as God had led them to Eastern Europe he had then led them to Callen who was in the same orphanage as Grayson. They lost a daughter on that trip but gained another son."

Reading that broke me, I realized that as much as my trip to serve in Ukraine matters to me . . . Berkeley matters and so do her parents and siblings. So I'm looking forward to praying with and praying for the Williams family, I'm excited to get to know them! I can't wait to see the photos of Berkeley with her family, as soon as I saw her photo I couldn't help but smile. As most of you know I ordered bracelets in bulk for  Angel Tree. Well, I'm bringing them back! This time for the Williams family!

When you donate to the Williams' family (http://reecesrainbow.org/61131/sponsorwilliams) forward me your receipt at emmyxjoy@gmail.com. I'll send you some bracelets and you'll help this family get one step closer to bringing their sweet girl home. 

http://reecesrainbow.org/familywarriorprogram

Learn more about the "Family Warrior" program by visiting the link above. 

Daughters.

As many of you know, I've been raising money for a little girl named "Lanie" for Angel Tree this Christmas. 

Reality hit me the other night when I was praying for Lanie . . . 

This Christmas, Lanie won't be surrounded by her family.

She sits behind orphanage walls. . . She won't receive hugs and kisses from her family, there won't be a carefully stuffed stocking with her name on it. Lanie won't get to wear a pretty dress with tights and shiny shoes for family pictures. 

My prayer is that before this time next year, she'll be someone's daughter. 

 I'll smile (and probably cry) when I see a picture of her standing in front of a decorated tree with her family. 

Love will win, I just know it.  

A year ago, my friend Natalie's daughter Sara spent her Christmas in an orphanage. 

This year she is a beloved daughter and is learning new things every day. 

Spend five minutes with this little gal and she'll capture your heart. 

Love won. 

Me, Natalie and Sara.
Check out Natalie's blog at:
http://nataliekeller.blogspot.com/

Sara meeting Santa.

Here are some precious little girls waiting for their families. 

Little girls that would look precious in pretty dresses while wearing shiny shoes. 

These girls need to be seen, they deserve to be loved. 

 Could one of them be your daughter?

http://reecesrainbow.org/36282/lanie-l

http://reecesrainbow.org/40489/kimberley

http://reecesrainbow.org/24193/gina

http://reecesrainbow.org/64331/lynda

http://reecesrainbow.org/24244/tessa

http://reecesrainbow.org/38595/lene

Family.

So I've realized that I've been wrecked in the best possible way . . . when I first started this blog I never dreamed that it would become more of an orphan advocacy blog than anything else. But God had other plans. . . Since I've been raising money for Lanie for Angel Tree, it's become more and more clear that as a believer and follower of Christ that I need to be outspoken for the orphan. This is exactly where I'm supposed to be, I just know it. Those of you reading this that know me in real life know that I have no problem being outspoken. Recently I've had people close their ears to me and the topic of orphan care/justice, people close to me. I'm learning more and more to brush myself off, say a couple silent prayers, and remind me that it's not about me. . . at all. 

A couple months ago, I read a book called "Orphan Justice" by Johnny Carr. I could quote this book for days. (But I'll let you pick it up yourself, it's worth buying.) If there is one quote that I want every person to read it is this one. 

“Man made orphanages for children, but God made the family for children… As followers of Jesus we cannot be satisfied with children living in orphanages as a long-term solution.” -Johnny Carr 

Let that sink in for a minute. . . 

I'm lucky enough to have been introduced to some incredible people that not only advocate for the orphan. . . they make them part of their family. Children that were once discarded are now beloved sons and daughters, many of their precious faces flood my Facebook's news feed. (I'm even related to some of these precious ones that are orphans no more!). 
I know that Christmas is rapidly approaching and money is tight, but I urge you to support some of these families. Some of these families are in country adopting right now or will be traveling soon. If you can't donate monetarily, pray for these families, or just take a minute to share this blog post. 

The Dobrovits family, these wonderful folks are from my neck of the woods. They are in Eastern Europe currently, adopting a sibling group of 3! It makes my heart so happy knowing that these three will grow up TOGETHER in their new loving home. (Also I have a feeling that I may or may not be asking Carla if I can come over and meet these cuties after they're all settled in.) 

http://reecesrainbow.org/57151/sponsordobrovits-2

The Tam family is traveling very soon to get their sweet girl, Caroline. Look how beautiful she is! Caroline begged for a family to come and bring her home. . . soon Caroline's biggest dream will be coming true. 

http://reecesrainbow.org/60118/sponsortam-2

The Lanz family is adopting Peter, the Lanz's also recently added two precious girls to their family from China. This family also needs help getting a wheelchair accessible vehicle and needs to make some renovations to their home to make it comfortable for their growing family.

http://reecesrainbow.org/63623/sponsorlanz-2


The Dismuke family is bringing home Johanna, there have been some bumps in the road in their adoption journey. . . but now they are SO close to bringing this princess home. 

http://reecesrainbow.org/35800/sponsordismuke

The Robinson family is traveling now! They are adopting three precious ones, they saw Caius' photo and fell in love. They also decided to add sweet Hattie and another kiddo to their family as well, please pray for them on their journey! 

http://reecesrainbow.org/60090/sponsorrobinson-4

The Williams family recently brought home two handsome little guys from Eastern Europe. I personally LOVE this family's story and cannot wait to see photo updates of the two beautiful older kiddos they are bringing home. 

http://reecesrainbow.org/61131/sponsorwilliams

The Mueller Family is working hard and doing numerous fundraisers to bring home Juri. Adoption has been on this couple's heart for quite some time and their journey is just beginning. They have dedicated so much time and effort to have this little boy in their arms and they are raising money for an Angel Tree kiddo WHILE fundraising for their own adoption.

http://reecesrainbow.org/63824/sponsormueller

The Taylor Family is traveling in two weeks to bring home three kiddos from Eastern Europe. Samuel and Sara are biological siblings and will get to start a whole new life together here in the US! The Taylor family also decided to adopt Patience as well. When they heard that Patience was not treated very nicely in her orphanage. . . the Taylor's are SO excited to show Patience what love is all about.

http://reecesrainbow.org/54201/sponsortaylor-3

Last but not least, is Renee's family. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read this family's story via the link below this photo. I read this family's story for the first time this week and me reading it is part of what inspired me to write this post. Renee and her husband are bringing home four little loves, they currently have four at home as well. . . those four are waiting for their new brothers and sisters to come home. Their daughter Moxie, begged them to bring home a brother or sister with Cerebral Palsy like her, so she could teach her new sibling how to the things that she could now do and so that she could share her mama and papa with them. (oh...my heart.)

http://reecesrainbow.org/65949/sponsor3kids

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
    this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
6 God places the lonely in families;
    he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

Psalm 68:5-6 (NLT)

*For fundraisers that benefit adopting families, visit the link below.*

http://fridayfamilyfundraisers.blogspot.com/

Love for Lanie! (Angel Tree 2013)

I've been excited for today for awhile, today begins the start of my first year doing  Angel Tree!

I'm so excited about this opportunity and would like to tell you more about it and some of the fundraisers I have planned. 

But first things first, you need to meet Lanie. 

But first. . . . here are some things about Lanie. 

Lanie is seven years old. 

She is currently living in an orphanage in Eastern Europe. 

Lanie is quiet, deliberate, and plays well by herself. 

According to her records she has a moderate level of hearing loss.

Lanie loves playing with dolls and uses imaginative play. 

From the first time I saw this little girl's photo, she captured my heart. I bet if you look at her photo for more than a second she'll capture yours too. 

I'm taking donations for Lanie during Angel Tree. 

Feel free to share this blog post, I want the world to see this sweet girl. 

Show sweet Lanie some love friends. 

****Some of the fundraisers I have planned so far****

**There will also be an online Paparazzi jewelry party, dates pending**

**Bracelets should be in stock between 11/14-11/16 but you can pre-order yours today by emailing me at loveforlanie@gmail.com**

                                        

***Will be taking catalog orders and online orders***

....more fundraisers TBA. 

For Kyle.

I had another post planned, but this is a post that I have to make. 

Late last year a certain country closed their doors to American adoptions. 
So many people's lives were altered by these events, some of the children over there had people coming for them. They were chosen. . .they still are. I know that their names are still engraved on the hearts of their parents and will be forever. They are still loved and wanted. 

I was heartbroken to hear that this sweet-faced little guy passed away yesterday. 
Someone's son. 
Kyle was chosen. 
I like to think that tonight he's sitting on Jesus' lap. . . no more tears or fear. Just love, the love that this sweet little guy yearned for his entire life. 

There is so much we can do . . . 
Yesterday after I heard about Kyle I listened to song by a band called "Take it Back!"  and they say it perfectly. 

"This has to end here .
This has to end right now.
No longer can we wait for things to all work out.
Just open up your eyes 
and look past your front door.
Your sisters in the streets and your brothers at war. 
Compassion has been lost in a nation built by greed ,
but we could be a generation that is truly free." 

Tonight look past your suburban street or your city loft. . . think of the sweet little loves that are locked away. 

In honor of sweet Kyle I urge you to pray for an orphan tonight, if you don't pray at least look at some of these sweet faces. Every last one of these children matter, they deserve to live in a home with people that love them. They do not deserve to die alone alone, children are meant to be in families. . . not institutions.

http://reecesrainbow.org/59329/phoenix

http://reecesrainbow.org/41347/ginger-jamie-twins

http://reecesrainbow.org/64331/lynda

http://reecesrainbow.org/38349/maddie-l