A Plead for Powerful Prayer

So my life went on a little bit (okay, a lot of bit) of a roller coaster ride the last few months and this blog got completely ignored through that whole ride...I will spare you the details of that and just get to the point of my blog!

It's a new year, and a new chapter of my life in many ways, and I have been searching my heart for purpose, and no matter what possible purpose I come up with in my head, orphan care with the ultimate goal of adoption has always been part of that! Like the banner of my blog states: Psalm 82: 3-4a says: "Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy..."On top of this command, God has placed in my heart a deep love for adoption. When I think of defense and delivering others, I truly believe the first line of that is prayer....and not the God bless soandso prayers that I myself have been guilty of spouting off mindlessly, but the truly deep and fervent prayers you say when you clear your heart, weeping before God alone and truly seek his protection and guidance for someone. May God give us all the burden to pray for orphans everywhere with such a broken spirit for them. Many of us involved in Reece's Rainbow have been chosing a "sweet 16" kids to pray home this year. My goal for this year is to truly pray over these kids as if they were my own, sitting without parents, many of them not having anyone to tuck them in at night, or give them that gigantic hug and tell them "I love you, my dear daughter" or "I'm so proud of you, son!" If you just simply want one child to pray over, I urge you to go to reecesrainbow.org and fall in love with just one little face, and then sign up here at http://reecesrainbow.org/sponsorship/prayerwarriors to commit to praying for them. It is completely free for you to sign up, it's just asked that you would continually pray for that little face until it's being kissed all over by a mommy/daddy/grandparent/brother/sister/etc. Would you please join me in a year of prayer for these little faces and all the orphans in the world?


ALSO AN UPDATE:
 My warrior family, the Matthews, brought home their 2 new little ones, Owen and Tillie, a couple of months ago. Owen underwent some big time surgery stuff almost immediately to help his little heart work better, and I am happy to report that he is now at home. Congratulations to the Matthews Family on their new additions!

Also: on my last blog I did an orphan spotlight, and I am happy to report that little miss "Isabella" is in her new home, and Story and Stacy have also been placed in a loving family! So happy for all of them and wish them the best!

Orphan Spotlight | Reece's Rainbow

Today, I would like to introduce you all to 5 kiddos who really need a home and the love of a family they can call theirs. I am merely asking you to pray for them and share this blog post so that they have a better chance of being seen. If you wish to donate to their grant, follow their link.  If you should just to advocate for them, a.k.a. be a "guardian angel", even better! If you should decide to adopt them, the best! Click this link for information on how to do that!

MEET ISABELLA

Isabella was born in 2015 and has a condition called Spina Bifida. We don't really know much more than that except that she needs a loving family! She pretty likely needs at least one surgery when she gets home. I talked to a lady that has met her briefly and she said the pictures do not do her justice, which is unimaginable, because, well just....she's just so adorable in the pictures! She also said that her eyes are blue blue, and that her hair is an auburn color, and said she has a great laugh as well! She was shy around strangers which is a great sign that she can bond well. This little will do so great in a home! She has a grant of $18.00 (small, but she is newly listed.)

MEET EZRAH

Born in June of 2012, Ezrah has contracture of both knees and ankles, and low muscle tension in the limbs. This little extroverted guy cannot walk but can get around quite well with his crawling moves, so I hear. He can communicate and understand pretty well. His Reece's Rainbow grant has $3,457.60 in it currently. (More information on his grant page as well.)

MEET IRINA

This sweet pea was born in March of 2005. Being 11 years old, she automatically has a $10,000 older child grant. She has a cleft lip and FAS. This introverted sweetie loves hugs and attention. She has good development and is generally healthy! Much more information available on her grant page here.

 MEET STORY & STACY

These two sweeties are said to be "very nice." Story is healthy and Stacy has Spina Bifida. She has had surgery and can walk, although she wears a diaper for her bathroom needs. They are trying so hard to get them a family before the two are split up into different orphanges, foster homes, or even adoptive homes. They would love to see them adopted together as soon as possible! Their Reece's Rainbow grant has $153.00 in it currently.

One Post Just Doesn't Cover It! | Reece's Rainbow Reunion 2016

It's just not enough....ONE post about the reunion just isn't enough! I keep looking at the pictures and wishing the time hadn't gone by so quickly. Wishing that I had one more day with these people. Wishing I had the chance to sit for a whole day with each family and just get to know them better! While at the same time I am wishing all these things, I am just beaming with happiness that I actually got to be there. So why, oh why, is this event such an important thing? I'm glad you asked...kind of....

For these faces, who have not always known the love of family, to celebrate their families.To feel the love of people who love them even though they're not even part of their family. Well, Reece's Rainbow is a family, but I mean...you know what I mean. They get to see they're part of a community that loves beyond measure. For them to have a week where they're just "Etta" or "Faith's Daughter" and not labeled or judged for disability. To be accepted and celebrated for exactly who they are, precious and invaluable...worth EVERYTHING! 

For these faces, who are the siblings to those adopted siblings which changed their lives forever. For them to connect with other siblings. For them to feel loved and accepted as themselves as well. For them to have a place to see they're not alone in this life changing event. So that they know that adoption is important. 

For "Auntie" Andrea and Reece to get the chance to connect personally with all the families that have grown through their ministry that started 10 years ago! For them to get the chance to hug everyone and show that they really care. For the families and advocates to deeper understand what she is all about...what this ministry is all about.

For the families as a whole to have a special time each year to just get away and reconnect to each other. For the mommas and the daddies to get that family vacation with their children. To just spend the time going to the caves or the zoo or the pool and not having to think about work or bills or adulting. To just be parents...who are getting to spend time with their children...time their children won't easily forget. For just a breath of fresh air.

For those adopted through Reece's Rainbow to connect with others adopted through RR as well.  For them to be around other kids who have known their loss and pain. For them to know others have been through ups and downs too. For them to feel accepted as one of the group! Mostly, for them just to make friends, life long friends.

For our faces, who are advocates and not adoptive parents (yet). That we can connect with each other, though our presence is few in number at the reunion. That we can see that all our hours of helping to fight for families is worth it! For us to see the children home and doing well! For it to be more real...I mean, these are not just pictures of some kids on the internet....they are actual children with actual needs, actually wanting and needing to be part of a family.

For advocates husbands to see how cute they are! And for advocates to try to convince said husbands that they neeeeeeeed to adopt. (hope he doesn't read my blog, haha) ....but isn't this picture adorable?

And for moments like this:

And this:

 And this:

And for us ladies to sit around and talk about adoption...which is a passion for all of us. For mothers to share their fears and hopes with each other. For stories of adoption and fundraising and adjustment times at home. For connecting as new friends, who will soon be old friends, who will be life long friends. And for us advocates who hope to adopt someday to hear the REAL side of adoption and be better prepared for it. 

For just relaxing and taking it easy. Doing some fishing, or swimming, or jumping on the big pillow.

For us adults to get to be big kids and play with all the adorable littles and the fantastic bigger kids and other BIG kids. 

Mostly, for us to be together as a family unit.

It is not always easy to plan for a getaway. It is expensive and takes time away from work. It is hard for some families to be able to afford the trip. I tell you what though, Andrea asked in a post "tell me Melissa Tilton, was it worth the drive from Kansas? Kristen Matthews, worth the drive from MAINE? Missy Voigts, worth the drive from Florida? Shelby Johnson, worth the drive from Houston?" Kristen answered "Yes!! So worth it!!" Missy answered "Yes!!" Melissa said "Yes!" I gave an "Abso-tootin-lutely!" If you are part of Reece's Rainbow, I encourage you to start making plans to come next year! It is worth it! 

If you are reading this and would like to support these reunions and help families to be able to afford to come through grants, you can donate to the 2017 reunion on the button below or the button on my sidebar:

Warrior Family Updates | Reece's Rainbow

The Heirigs Family

I have been so busy I have been neglecting my warrior family, the Heirigs. Well, the reunion has relit my fire and I'm hitting it hard! I have started a new shirt fundraiser for them and need to blog about their fundraisers:

Click here to order my new shirt fundraiser for them: Ends July 10th, 2016

They also have these new adorable washer necklaces for sale: $8
(pay to paypal heirigsjames@hotmail.com or donate to FSP  http://reecesrainbow.org/104056/sponsorheirigs-2 

and email receipt to the paypal email and don't foget to include your mailing address) 

They also still have this shirt for new international adoptees: available 8 more days!

Then this shirt is still available too: $15 + Shipping to paypal: heirigsjames@hotmail.com

They also have their fundraisers listed and kept up on this facebook page here:

Heirigs Family Adoption Fundraisers

The Matthews Family

I'd like to introduce you to my second warrior family! They are the Matthews Family!

Adopting Addilyn:

And Owen:

We sent this picture to Kristen this afternoon to announce to her:

I will be co-warrioring with my friend Leah. I had talked to both but had met them at the RR Reunion this past week. Leah and I had both felt a draw to Kristen and their family, and so we decided the last night as we sat together on my cabin patio that we would team up and warrior for them! Their Dossier is complete and they have USCIS approval! They are expediting because Owen's health has been dipping and they want to get him home to medical attention as soon as possible. Kristen and her husband, Addison, have 5 grown children, ages 20-28, and in July of last year they traveled to China to pick up Corbin (age 3) and Paxton (age 7.)

Click here to see the shirt I have launched as a warrior kickoff fundraiser: ends July 10th

          Front                                                                              Back

Reece's Rainbow Reunion 2016

Last year, I was GREEN with envy over everyone getting to attend the annual reunion of children adopted with the help of Reece's Rainbow. Now, that's a funny play on words, because of some shady green water that got everyone sick and in turned helped me be thankful I couldn't go. However, this year, I was finally able to make it!! (and yes the water was a lovely blue hue.) I was so excited to be able to meet some of the people I had been following on Facebook for some time now! I was excited to have a vacation! I was excited to go camping! I was excited to meet some of the most interesting adults ever, and the cutest kids ever! I was geared up and rearing to go! Then I was not sure I would be able to go, and then I got offered some help in exchange for being the photographer for the week. I was so excited! Then to top it off, my husband decided he would come too! It was a fun week full of new adventure. My only complaint is that it went by way to quickly and I didn't get nearly as much time with everyone as I wanted! It did my heart good to see a few of the kiddos, whom I had longed to adopt but wasn't able to, be with their new families and to see them doing so well! It was good for myself and my husband to hear all the stories about the ups and downs of adoption, in preparations and hopes of adopting ourselves in the future. Mostly, it was good for my husband to be around the kiddos and get a little "baby" fever...or adoption fever maybe. Haha. Anyway, we made a lot of new friends, and I have a feeling that we'll be friends for a long time to come. This vacation is a little bit of a splurge for myself and for all of the families there, but it's so important to have that support and fellowship for them! I want to encourage all of the Reece's Rainbow families to make the effort to start planning on coming next year! It is a great time with fantastic company! Okay, enough talking...I don't know how I will pick my favorite pictures from the week, but I sure will try:

More World Down Syndrome Day Fun! A Giveaway and Artemur | Reece's Rainbow

A Giveaway For You!

My warrior family momma, Erin Foerch, has a giveaway going on right now in honor of World Down Syndrome Day. She has two daughters, adopted last year from China, and has some really great blogs going on, too! Check out the giveaway and don't forget to browse her blog while you're at it! She has purchased all the items in the giveaway from other families adopting children with Down Syndrome, so another point for her, and for you when you enter!

http://www.excuseourmess.com/ Giveaway and Blog

Orphan Spotlight

I thought for World Down Syndrome Day I would also share a child with Down Syndrome who is waiting on a family to love and cherish them.

Meet: Artemur!

Artemur was born in 2002 and has Down Syndrome, atrial septal defect, and polydactyly of the left hand. Despite being 14, he really is not much bigger than a preschooler. He likes to act out, but reacts really well to positive attention. He needs a mommy and a daddy to love him and give him time and attention. At least for now, it would be good if he were an only child because he needs a parent to teach him how to interact with others properly. He is a charmer though, I hear, and would make a great son for someone who is dedicated, patient, and loving. He has a grant available that totals $12,752.57 that can be applied to his adoption fees, which would really drastically help a family be able to afford adopting him! Click his name above to go to his profile. There you can donate to his grant, share his link to help find his family, or find out more on how to adopt him!

So here is this spunky sweet thing: