Old Fashioned Giveaway For Carina, Part 2

Well the first giveaway of ornaments is done, and the second is beginning! I thought some figurines might be fun this time. Santa and snowman measure about 5inches tall. All hand blown and painted glass ornaments from Poland. Lots of sparkle!!! My kids tease me so much because I love sparkles!!

Same deal as before. Two days only! This one will end on Dec 1st!!!

1.  Donation and entries
$5.00 - 2 entries
$10.00 - 4 entries
$20.00 - 8 entries

2. All donations go to CARINA, all donations go to her Reece's Rainbow account.

3. After you donate , please leave me a comment, telling me your number of entries.

Giveaway starts NOW and ends on Saturday the 1st, at Midnight (East coast time)



And stay tuned, after this one , there will be another one...








 

WINNER!

And the ornaments go to.....


STORI!!!


Thank you to all who entered. And stay tuned the next ornament giveaway will begin later today. But unfortunately it will be on FB because blogger STINKS and won't let me upload anymore photos! But i will leave a link here to get to my FB page! There's always a way around obstacles!


Stori, send me you address via FB, and thanks again !And Stori you're going to love these sparkling beauties, but i think the most beautiful ornament will be your Carina one! :)

A Good old Fashioned Giveaway!

Here We go. 

These beauties are up for grabs.

All six go to the winner!

These glass ornaments are all hand blown and painted and come directly from Poland. We used to sell them in our store a few years back. My husband is from Poland and knew their art of hand blown glass. He contacted a company out there and these were all made for us. They are about 2.5 inches, the bells are slightly bigger, but they sure sparkle on a tree! 

If this giveaway goes well, I 'll have another one with different ornaments. You could get a whole collection!

Keeping it simple.

1.  Donation and entries
$5.00 - 2 entries
$10.00 - 4 entries
$20.00 - 8 entries

2. All donations go to CARINA, all donations go to her Reece's Rainbow account.

3. After you donate , please leave me a comment, telling me your number of entries.

Giveaway starts NOW and ends on WEDNESDAY the 28th. at Midnight (East coast time)

Winner will be announced Thursday!!So make sure you check back!!

CLICK HERE TO DONATE AND ENTER GIVEAWAY!
 

 

Down syndrome, Hidden Angels

Em has Down syndrome!

OK not front page news.

She's our daughter and we absolutely adore her!!! Her siblings adore her... except when she messes with Andrew's train tracks, then he's ready to put  a for sale on her!

We take her everywhere, she does everything, and we are so proud of her.  We celebrate on a daily basis, every new word, every accomplishment , no matter how small, it's celebrated BIG in our house.

Emmie knows she is loved. She is smothered daily by hugs and kisses, to the point of her actually putting her little hand up and saying "no". She is filled completely. Her life is perfect. She wants for nothing.

She has no fear of the dark, no issues with us leaving because she knows we always come back.  She goes to sleep peacefully.She eats when she wants, she always has a drink on hand. She is warm in the winter and cool in the summer. She has toys and clothes and someone to change her stinkie's as many times a day as needed (although that's getting pretty old and I wish she'd make friends with the potty)

And then there are the children in this video.  Just the opposite of Em. They have nothing. As completely filled that Em is , these children are as empty as can be. They want for everything. They are abandoned Angels. The children abandoned by their parents, hidden away, shunned by society. Why? Because they are just like Em.

A diagnosis of Down syndrome or any special need, in some countries,is just unacceptable. How Em is a Princess, these children have become throw aways. 

My Carina, that I advocate for unceasingly, is one of these children. She is facing life in a mental institution. She is just like Em. A beautiful four year old child. How can this child be worthless! How can her future be a mental institution!

Carina

How and WHY, should this child and every other child in my video have to endure such sadness, neglect, abuse, and even DEATH!

We need to get these children home!  Eventually, we need to start changing the hearts and minds of these countries so that parents are able to keep their children. But right now the ones who have been abandoned need to go home!

PLEASE WATCH THIS VIDEO. LET YOUR HEART BREAK FOR THESE KIDS, AND THEN PLEASE, PICK ONE AND DO SOMETHING FOR THAT CHILD! DONATE, PRAY, SPEAK,SHARE! PICK ONE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE TODAY!! BECAUSE SOME OF THESE KIDS ARE NOT PROMISED TOMORROW! TOO MANY DIE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO HELP THEM. I REFUSE TO LET CARINA BE ONE OF THEM. WHICH ONE WILL YOU HELP?

Down syndrome Makes Them Undesirable, YOU Can Help Bring Them To the Light

Waiting Children With Special Needs

Why Advocate For Orphans? The Top Five Most Asked Questions , Answerd!

Over the past few years , I've been getting more and more involved with advocating for children with special needs. Since I was abundantly blessed with such a child, my life along with the lives of everyone in my family have been changed immensely. And might I add...for the better.

As most of you know I advocate for Reece's Rainbow. They are a non profit organization run by a powerhouse of a woman named Andrea Roberts, who has shed a much needed light on the plight of the orphan with special needs in Eastern European countries.

Over the years I've been supported by so many people,I would never and could never do what I do without them.

But, I've encountered many questions over the years. Here are some of the most popular ones. Answered to be best of my ability.


1. Where does the money go that is raised for these children, since they don't have families committed to them yet?

Each child on Reece's Rainbow has their own account. When you make a donation to a particular child , that money is put into their own account. The money stays with that child until a family comes for them, and then it is used towards the cost of the adoption.

2. What if the child does not get a family?

Unfortunately, some children die waiting. These children all have special needs and along with that some have severe and or multiple medical conditions that don't always get the attention they need. In the event of a death, the money from that child's account is put towards another child. Reece's Rainbow decides who the recipient will be.


3. Why doesn't the child's own country help them?

This may be one of the saddest questions to answer. Most of the children are in countries that still do not see their value. They are hidden away, shunned and dismissed as throw aways. They live in the worst conditions and are given the least attention of all orphans.  One of the questions that so many adoptive parents are asked when in country adopting is , "Why? Why do you want this child?" It is hard for people to understand that these children will thrive in a loving family environment.

4. But why should we help them? We have orphans here that need families.

This question could carry it's own post. It's not an easy question to answer, because it's true. We do have a boatload of orphans right here. We have tons of children in need right in our own backyards. I need to break this down, into pieces to be able to answer it.

      A. God calls each of us to do something special for Him during our life time. Everyone of us has something we can do to make this world a better place.Everyone of us has something we can do to bring glory to God. For some it may be saving the whales, or advocating for abused animals. Some feel the need to go on mission trips, some advocate for better food. Are you advocating for orphans here? Then bless you! And thank you for answering the call!  What is YOUR passion? Mine is without a doubt advocating for these forgotten children.

     B. Thank God we are all called to different things! Imagine if we all were passionate about the same thing! Great for that one thing but the rest of the world would be terribly neglected!

     C. The children I advocate for are lost and forgotten. They will die and are dying because they are neglected or because they just do not get what they need. Even the ones who have somewhat decent caregivers do not get what they need. These orphanages are just not supplied with enough to go around.

    D.There is a waiting list here in the States to adopt a child with Down syndrome!  In other countries there is a waiting list to the mental institution where these children are sent when they turn FOUR! And if they thought life in an orphanage was hard, than life in a mental institution is  hell. Imagine being four years old and suddenly you find yourself in a mental institution. Confined to a bed with even less human interaction than before, less food and no love. Lost scared and confused with no answers no explanation, no hope, nothing.

   E. Quite simply, there are no boundaries when it comes to a child in need. PERIOD


5. But I can't adopt. What could I possibly do to help?

Well, I can't adopt right now either. But holy cow is there an endless list of things you can do! The most important thing... Speak!   Tell people what you know. Odds are they have absolutely no idea what happens to these children.  Donate! You don't have to be rich to help . A few dollars here and there adds up!  Advocate! Pick one child and advocate for them. Imagine if something you said or did prompted someone to adopt that child! Fund raise! Involve some friends and do something, anything! A bake sale, a craft sale, an online auction , have a giveaway!  These are all things that I have done! And Lord knows I'm not rich!  Pray! Nothing is more powerful than prayer! Pray for these children! Pick one and be that child's Prayer Warrior. But most importantly, do something! Don't pass the buck, to "Someone Else" because you know what... Someone Else , doesn't care, Someone Else is busy doing something else. And these kids are dying because of all the "Someone Else's" .


This little girl is who I do this for.

She is one of the children who is over four and will be transferred to an institution, because of Carina's Down syndrome diagnosis. How long do you think she'll survive there? 85% die within the first year, due to the deplorable conditions.

Carina

 I am  her "Someone". Can you help me, help her...

Can you donate, share , pray, advocate???
  

Auction for Carina!!!

I've been painting like a nut trying to get this auction off the ground and going for Carina! It's actually been kind of fun. The kids got involved and helped and they had some great ideas.

All donations go directly to Carina!

These would make great teacher gifts or stocking stuffers!! 



I found if you use a 5 or 6 inch easel it's a perfect way to display them

There are so many to choose from!

Angel Tree Warriors, might like this one! I can put your child's name on it!! 

Also anyone  who has adopted or is in the process. I'd love to put you little starfishes name here!

So come and take a look, maybe place a bid, maybe even share my page!! 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE  ENTIRE AUCTION FOR CARINA!

It's Nico (The Red head) Day!!!!!!

ONE DAY, SHARING EVERYWHERE TO BRING HOME NICO!

NICO

Kyle and Kara(mom and dad) met in 2004 and quickly fell in love. They were blessed with 4 beautiful daughters soon after that and live a blissfully busy life.

When Kara discovered Reece’s Rainbow, it was like a dream come true. She has always been called to orphans and especially the work of Mother Teresa, but didn’t know how to help. So, having a tangible way to advocate for these children was amazing.
Then Kara saw Nico and everything changed. She fell head over heels in love, but because they were not able to adopt at that time, she vowed to advocate as hard as she could for him, in hopes that a family would find him. Things changed very quickly once that “yes” was on both Kyle and Kara’s hearts, and they have been blessed to walk through each door as it has opened. They are praying that they will be able to give Nico the home and family that he deserves soon.
They are thankful for this opportunity and hope you will pray for them as they go through this process.

9/24/12—HOMESTUDY in PROGRESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at http://catholic-kara.blogspot.com/

One day  donated to showing the world Nico. One day dedicated to help raise funds for the McIntee Family, and one day set aside to raise awareness for all orphans. All that accomplished by sharing the Red Head! How easy!

Feel free to share this post, on FB twitter, and any social media available to you! Or just click HERE for Nico's bio on Reece's Rainbow, and hit the share button there! So simple and easy

  

Quite Speechless About Kalinovka

Yesterday, one of my dearest friends asked a simple favor of me. Actually, I should say, what I thought was going to be a simple favor. She asked me to share her new blog. Not a complicated task. I am familiar with the subject and thought I'd be able to do it justice, even with my limited writing abilities.

So this morning I sat down to write. First step, visit the new blog, read her post.

I visited , I read, and now I sit with my stomach in knots, and tears streaming down my face, and feeling like a drop of water in a vast and endless ocean.

The blog author and dear friend is Jane George, The subject Kalinovka and it's forgotten yet gifted inhabitants,

I'm quite lost at the moment and don't know how to write or capture the thoughts that are crisscrossing and zigzagging around in my mind. Maybe a brief explanation of Kalinovka and Jane. 

Last year, or rather earlier this year Jane went to Kalinovka. She went to Orphanage 50 and loved on the children there. She saw with her own eyes what we only see in pictures, her ears heard the sounds we can only imagine and she inhaled the scents we don't even want to imagine. 

But amid all the sadness and loneliness something else is happening in Kalinovka. There is a hope!

The Happy Child Foundation is building new homes for the children. Getting them out of the deplorable institutions that they are trying to survive in and putting them into clean warm and safe buildings. 

The children, the lost and forgotten children. 

But what of the children who have grown? The adults who are no longer children, who are not eligible for adoption, but who still  need love, and hope and respect and dignity? What happens when the child grows up...

This is as far as I can go,  I cannot do it the justice it deserves.

 For the rest of the story you must visit Jane's new blog.  Read her story first hand, look at the photos and look into the eyes of the people of Kalinovka!
Make the time for this one. There is hope in this story. There are miracles and beauty here too.  Support Jane, and her amazing efforts to bring light and hope into this desolate and dark place. Follow her blog , leave a comment and push her to keep up the selfless work she is doing for these beautiful people!


CLICK HERE TO GO TO KALINOVKA

Orphan Sunday: Make A Difference Today!

Today is Orphan Sunday. Step out in faith today and do something to make a difference.

Make a change in your life and others will benefit.

Be complacent and nothing changes. Don't wait for someone else to make it better.

Please make a small donation to Carina today. You have no idea what just $5.00 can do. God will multiply it. Donate here. Carina is facing life in an institution. We can stop that or we can wait for "someone " else to do something.

All donations are 100 percent safely made through paypal, or check.. Reece's Rainbow is a 5019c)3 non profit organization. Your donation goes directly to the child.

I'm Not A Penguin Or A Polar Bear But I'm Taking The Plunge

It could possibly be that the stress of my life has finally gotten to me or that I'm so completely in love with Carina that I would throw myself into the Atlantic Ocean for her. 

As you know the Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree is in full swing and it leads warriors to do whatever it takes to get to that $1000.00 goal.  I've got a few things up my sleeve but I am still worried that I won't make it. And I cannot and will not let Carina down. We all know that money, unfortunately is the mountain that blocks many people from committing to a child. 

So I'm hoping that morbid curiosity will get the best of you and Carina will get some early donations. (hint hint)

Yes, you're right, pride has taken a back seat. I am willing to darn a bathing suit during the miserable cold months of a New England winter, jump into the ocean, film it and then let you all enjoy the show.All for Carina! I love that girl like I love Emmie and she will get her $1000.00 this year!


So, I'm really hoping that goal is met this month because December at the beach could really (excuse my language) suck!

So please "like" my facebook page,   

 And please share my insane endeavors with everyone!!!!!!!

The faster I get to that goal the faster that video will be posted!!!!

And will I be plunging alone??? Hmmm I know Bella would be up for it. She's my little dare devil. And I've got a couple of friends I'm pretty sure I need to take along... Jim Bean and Johnnie Walker... j/k ;)

Angel Tree 2012, Miss Carina

I'm sitting here, quite terrified at what I've gotten myself into. Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree has begun!  Once again the children are being represented by warriors determined to raise at least $1000.00 for each, between today and New years Eve. The children are all orphans, all with special needs, most with Down syndrome like Carina, all in Eastern Europe. The exposure means many will find families this year and obviously the money makes it possible for families to adopt. The expense is overwhelming costing well over 25,000 to bring a child home.

"My" girl Carina is still waiting. She is once again on the Angel Tree and I am once again going to try to raise another $1000.00 for her account.

 And I am once again going to ask for your help. I love this child like she was mine. I've memorized every inch of her face and even though there is no smile, I've seen it in my dreams and it is breath taking.

She has my heart like no other.

She is four and a half years old now, and the thought of her being transferred to an institution literally makes me shake. For all I know she may be there already.

Her beauty, even in her sadness is simply angelic.

With your help  $5100.00 has been raised for her this past year. Actually, I'm finding out, this Dumpling has many warriors who love her and pray for her. This year her account needs to read at least $6100.00. It sounds like a lot of money but it's just a drop in the bucket of the amount needed to bring her home. So many children are still waiting and the reason  over and over and over again is money!!!

Please help me again this year!

Any donation of $35.00 or more will  receive a beautiful ornament from Reece's Rainbow with Carina on it.
But ANY donation is greatly appreciated! Nothing is too small. No effort goes unnoticed.

 Carina is worth it! 
Her life matters and she is a treasure! She should be dressed like a Princess every day and smothered in hugs and kisses. She should sleep with soft pillows and pink blankets. Her hair should smell like strawberries and be brushed until it's smooth and silky. And every day when she wakes,  her mama should be right there to pick her up.

Please help me to make this a reality for Carina. Little by little we can get her there. Every dollar counts , every penny counts!