Daily Smiles

This Has Nothing To Do With The Ball Pit! But Still Pretty Exciting!

2012-01-27T21:19:00.000-05:00

Most of you know speech is not Em's strong point. She's trying and things are coming along nicely.Slow but nicely Lately I have been noticing her acting like she is understanding more and more. In fact at times, even when she is not directly part of a conversation, but just within earshot, she will act like she understands what we are talking about. She laughs at the right time, or makes a face, that corresponds with what it being said.She has even started to make a scary face when we tell her it's time for bed... it's hysterical!!

WELL

Tonight, some paper fell to the floor and Em picked it up. I told her to "put it in the garbage". All spoken words , I didn't use any signing. I've done this a few thousand times in the past, and Em has done the same thing, a few thousand times. Laugh and run away. Usually taking the garbage with her. I think she is a future hoarder , but that's another problem and another post. lol

TONIGHT

SHE PUT IT IN THE GARBAGE!!!!

Little stinker understood perfectly!!!! Opened the lid, put the trash right in and closed the lid!! A Celebration immediately followed!! She understands!!!!!!!!!!!!

And yes I'm crying because she put trash in the garbage! We are celebrating because she put trash in the garbage! How blessed are we to be able to celebrate magnificent things like this!!!!

I guess a picture of this event would have been cool, but I was too busy praying and holding my breath to make a move for the camera. We'll try again tomorrow;)

Ball Pit Photo of the Week

2012-01-27T06:01:00.001-05:00

I know I'm writing about that ball pit, Again!!! it seems almost every picture I take of Em is in the ball pit. Everything she does, she does, in the ball pit ... except play with the balls. Remember, she really disliked them and tossed them all out.

So, since I always take pictures of Em and I'm getting quite a collection of her in "the pit" I figured I'd save them for one special ball pit post every Friday.

So here is the photo of the week!

Using her creative side Em has realized, if you turn the pit upside down it makes a great jumpy, slide thing!

Love the closed eyes and big smile!

It's Bella's Birthday!!

2012-01-26T16:29:00.001-05:00

While the "tornado" sleeps I'll take this moment to wish my Bella Rose a very happy 10th Birthday!!

I'm watching her right now in her blue sparkly skirt twirling in the living room while she talks on the phone to her biggest sister in California, and I'm thinking ... Wow, she's my girl!


She hates having her picture taken. I consider myself lucky getting one birthday picture, even a blurry one.

Love you more, Bella!!!!

Terror on Two Legs:Updated

2012-01-26T11:14:00.000-05:00

By 10:30

A Cashew explosion.

Cashews, eggs, bagel and an elephant ear pastry.

Checking out the mess in her beloved ball pit. And in her defense she did try to stuff as many as possible in her mouth to "help" clean up.

And by 1045:


Mommy rules the house once again!


Of course she enjoyed using the vacuum and a mini meltdown followed when i took it back.

She is so taking a nap... soon! What is it, that gets into kids, that make then totally nuts some days!! She is off the wall! And figures it's her Thursday off from school.

Terror on Two Legs

2012-01-26T09:34:00.000-05:00

It's only 9:30 am and so far Miss Em has rearranged all of Andrews trains, thrown scrambles eggs everywhere and answered me back in some form of growling language. Her time out length is indefinite at this point,and there is a sharp pain in my left temple.
OK, add hit the 18 year old, half dead cat in the head with her sippy. Guess that's what he gets for sitting under her highchair. Bet he has the same pain in his temple now too!!

Don't let that smile fool you. She's just plotting her next move.

It Was 75% Off !

2012-01-25T15:21:00.000-05:00

And I knew she would wear it because she will only tolerate ridiculous things on her head.

Teamwork Tuesday: Robert

2012-01-24T06:51:00.002-05:00

Tuesday again and time to showcase another beautiful child from Reece's Rainbow. Hopefully you will be seeing Robert on other blogs too, as some of RR Warriors have gotten together to post about a different child every Tuesday. Please feel free to share this post and Robert on your blog or FB or Twitter. Exposure is what is needed to bring these children to the light. They need to be seen! So please don't feel like too many people already said and did all there is for a child, and your post or share on FB won't matter. IT MATTERS! It may be the one post that a child's mama sees. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO US READING, NEVER!

So without further waiting , here is Robert!

Look at those big brown eyes!!!

Boy, born December 2009

Robert is just up from his nap — and look how bright-eyed he is! He has a couple of little teeth peeking out on the bottom, too

He has Down syndrome and a patent foramen ovale – which is a small hole between the chambers of the heart. This is common in childhood, and often closes without any medical intervention.

These children are blessed to be in an excellent orphanage, however this region typically requires 3 trips. This is a great orphanage and the children receive excellent care, and there is minimal travel in-country. This orphanage is close to the Capital city, so it's fantastic for sight-seeing.

We have had many successful adoptions from this orphanage, and families are willing to share their experiences.

He's a beautiful bundle!

Please look at Robert, and look into your own heart. Helping comes in so many different forms. It's not always about money and donating. What is God asking you to do? Maybe just a simple post, or maybe something more. But you can always do something. A prayer while you're driving, for a little boy named Robert would be great. Little things when put together amount to miracles.

*Here are other Teamwork Tuesday posts. These boys are still waiting.

Russell

Wyatt (Wyatt did have a family, but unfortunately they could not continue with the adoption, he is still waiting)

Invasion On The Snowy Hills

2012-01-23T14:41:00.003-05:00

When the snow started falling I had a mini tantrum. Then I decided to make lemonade out of lemons! Or whatever you make out of unwanted snow. So yesterday we took the sleds...and the kids to the park and road our troubles away... at least for the afternoon.

Emmie's not so sure about the thumbs up at this point.

Emmie is scooting down the hill, she got tired of waiting for an available sled. Self sufficient! Love it!

Ringling Brothers on Snow You should have seen how fast the kid on the orange sled moved. haha

Recovering from a rough ride down the hill with dad. Took a huge face full of snow! Recovered quite nicely for another round of rides.

Bella smiling!! I had to threaten to take her sled away.

Lovely surroundings. I wonder where all the people went. Probably went home to watch the football game... it couldn't have been us ;)

Sharing Sunday: The Lost Get Found

2012-01-22T08:20:00.000-05:00

Relentless, from the dictionary, adj. Steady and persistent; unremitting.

In certain situations being relentless is frowned upon, like when you're on the phone and your little one is just on fire to tell you something! That's when the words,"You are relentless" are not a compliment.

But sometimes you meet a person and you can use the word, relentless, as the highest form of flattery.
My friend Leah is that person. I don't know when I met her, or how long I've know her. And when I say "met" and "known" it is only through FB and blogging that we have ever "spoken". But sometimes that's all it takes to see someone for who they are.

Leah is young and crazy about the orphan and adoption. She is Relentless in speaking about children on Reece's rainbow. She is Relentless in blogging about the beauties on RR, and she is Relentless when it comes to taking a stand and advocating.

She takes on tasks that most of us would back down from. She just does what needs to be done and gets amazing results. Her Angel Tree baby made their goal, she has successfully raised money for children waiting for their forever families, and now she has a fundraiser going on for Celine and Heath from Reece's Rainbow.


Celine

Celine is very near and dear to my heart. I've sat and prayed and cried over her for far too long. Wondering why in the world this child is still waiting.Logically speaking this child should have been home years ago! She fits the criteria perfectly. A beautiful healthy little girl with a dazzling smile! But still she waits, and now she waits while she is institutionalized.

This is Leah's little one! She loves her so much!!! She has been RELENTLESS in advocating for her.

And now she has put together this amazing fundraiser. I don't know how she did it. But she did and it's huge!!! You know, I'm thinking I know how she did it. It's all done on love and faith. Leah just puts it all into Gods hands and when you do that in faith , how can you fail.

Heath

You must be a part of this. Meet Leah here and see her The Lost Get Found Giveaway. And please if you cannot donate, than please share and pray!!!! That is just as important as a monetary donation!!!

This is a Sharing Sunday post.

Read more posts like this one at Jane's blog Flight Platform Living.

E- M - I - L - I - A

2012-01-21T08:19:00.000-05:00

Emilia

Everything, I never knew, I longed for.

MINE!!!!

Inseparable from my heart

Leader of laughs:)

Instructor of truth

Able to do ANYTHING!

ME, eternally blessed , to be entrusted with such a treasure.

Not Always a Happy Dumping Girl

2012-01-19T07:31:00.000-05:00

Mornings are usually pretty good for Emmie. But yesterday she just wasn't having it. She jumped to the safety of her empty ball pit (which seems to have taken up permanent residency in my living room) and flopped.

Oh Miss E, you have years and years of early mornings ahead of you.

And about that ball pit! Seriously!!! We are a family of seven sitting on one couch, because of the ball pit! Our chair gets moved into the sun room at Christmas time to make room for the tree. This year after the tree came down the ball pit moved in. So it's like musical chairs at night when we're all home to see who gets a seat on the couch! I have never seen a child get so attached to something.

When summer is here it's going outside! Than we can maybe we can bring the chair back.
Not saying that Emmie runs the household in any way, or somehow enforces her way on us. Not at all....

Tick Tock Time To Get Off The Potty Pot

2012-01-18T07:20:00.003-05:00

OK, you all know I'm potty training, from this post. I think that was the last potty post I wrote. We're just taking this real slow. Em's not quite sure about the whole thing just yet. But her teacher says they go to the potty twice a day, and Em is in full favor of the walk there, she'll sit nicely and even attempts to pull up her pants. Sounds like she's got the routine down pretty well. Except for the main part, which is actually putting the pee pee in the potty! Sigh!

After school I changed Em gave her lunch and as she does everyday, I let her watch a video before her nap. I knew she had to go, so instead of her Princess chair I put her potty in front of the TV.

Look at her, all ready to make a a splash!

I put her video on and she settled in. Not really the plan but I figured I could clean up a little since she was so comfortable.

Guess I got a little carried away with cleaning up and , it just slipped my mind that Em was still on the potty! OOPS. I was sure there must be something in there by now. Come on Miss Em lets see!

Nothing! She sat herself back down and snuggled in to watch the rest of her show, quite content to continue sitting there.

My conclusion: She loves her potty and doesn't want to get it dirty. Why do I think this? Because after sitting on it for over half an hour , she stood up walked in to the kitchen and peed on my floor! Thanks Em! I knew she had to go!
Oh Em good thing we love you more than chocolate!!! :)

Teamwork Tuesday: Russell

2012-01-17T17:38:00.001-05:00

Meet Russell!! He has that irresistible kissable spot under that chin of his! But I don't think anyone gives him too many, if any kisses. Russell is an orphan just waiting for his forever family to find him.

He is in Easter Europe and his fate for transfer has been sealed if he is not adopted.

Russell is beautiful and perfect and would be a blessing to any family.

11gz8-3
Boy, born July 2009
Eyes Grey
Hair dark brown
Nature calm
Down syndrome

$1555.00 is available towards the cost of my adoption!

For more info on Russell contact Reece's Rainbow

A Toddler Bed is Needed...

2012-01-17T07:54:00.002-05:00

...for the toddler that is. My goodness how you've grown!!!

I guess it's time to start looking for a big girl bed for Miss Em. Just wondering what nights will be like for us with a toddler, toddling around! I have no hope that she will actually stay in the bed when tucked in at night. This might have to wait a few more months til summer vacation when getting to sleep isn't our...my top priority.

Big Sis and Little Sis Fun

2012-01-16T17:30:00.000-05:00

I wonder if preschool allows this color.

Thankful Sunday... Really

2012-01-15T08:48:00.001-05:00

Oh it's been Aaaages since I've written a thankful Sunday post! Not because I'm not thankful, mostly because I've kind of been away from blogging. I was going through my posts and I realized how this blog has changed over the years. It will be three years in April that I've been out here. Three really great years.

This blog was solely Emilia's when I started. Now, she shares it with so many other Dumplings. I'm seeing that this blog has more and more posts about orphans and less about Em. It might be time to divide and conquer.

I could write about orphans all day long, and never cover everything that is on my mind. But this is Em's place and I want it to stay her place. Thinking about moving my "adoption blog " to Wordpress, and keeping things all , or mostly all, Em here.

So anyway, on to the thankfulness.

Miss Em!! That little ball of sunshine just makes me keep on keeping on! She is doing so well in school!!! Shouting THANKFULNESS from the rooftops for that!!!
Her new word is book! A spoken word!!!!!!!! Thankful!! Thankful and thankful!!!!

Miss Em's teacher and her whole team at her school is well, I don't have words for them because they are out of this world!!!!!!!

This is just a cute funny story about the beautiful people who love Emmie at school.

A couple of weeks back it was open house at Em's school. Peter and I went together and I was introducing him to some of the "team" that he had not yet met. I introduced him to the school social worker, she then asked him if he had met (and I quote) " the crazy school psychologist who is obsessed with Emilia" oh we were on the floor laughing!!! They love her like she's theirs and I thank God that things went so well.

And look at Emmie's very first school picture!!!!! Sorry the quality is not great. I took a picture of a picture and did a lousy cropping job, but I love this photo!!! And I don't know who was more excited about it, me or her teacher!! She looks like a big girl though, doesn't she. Her teacher said, "this picture captured all that Emmie is". And I totally agree. The thankfulness I have for Em is overwhelming . She takes my breath away every day.

It's a beautiful sunny Sunday here. Hope it's the same where you are. Make the best of this day. Be thankful for something or someone. God bless:)

Holding On To Old Habits

2012-01-14T11:25:00.000-05:00

Still obsessed with the dish washer

Don't know what the attraction is but it's one of her favorite chores.

Her first dishwasher encounter was way back in July of 2010! Now if I can just teach her to start it at night, we'd be in business!! Guess she really gets into her work! :/ hehe

And let me tell you, she had quite the hissy when we were all done and it was time to get out of the dishwasher!

Noah's Dad andTIME MAGAZINE!!!

2012-01-13T20:38:00.000-05:00

OK, I love this guy! I've been following him for a while now and well, he and his family are just the cutest. Seriously, they just ooze cuteness. Love them.

Anyway, Rick, Noah's dad posted about the Target add and one thing lead to another and that lead to an interview with Fox News. You can view that here. Its awesome!!

And now, get this, TIME MAGAZINE is interviewing him!!! Tonight!! Can you believe that! This is for all of us! For all our children. This is one huge step in the right direction to bring well needed awareness to our children and the gift and the joy that they truly are!!! That Down syndrome is nothing to run from!

"I'm doing an interview with Time magazine (as in the print edition) tonight! They want to run a story about all of this! Guys, this is our time...the world is seeing that our kids are valuable!!! Keep sharing this page, posting, commenting, and letting the world know about this community. It's amazing how God is using all of this! "
Rick Smith

Thank you RICK ABBY and NOAH!!!! You will be speaking for all of us! Thank you!!!

And just in case you haven't had the pleasure stop by and read Rick's blog, Noah's Dad.

Team Work Tuesday: Wyatt.... UPDATED

2012-01-10T19:40:00.001-05:00

Wyatt is on the MFFM PAGE!!!

I am honored to be part of a group of woman that never stop. They never stop advocating for the Angels of Reece's Rainbow. They are constantly coming up with new ideas to spread awareness, and get the word out about these hidden Angels.

Teamwork Tuesday is when we all blog, tweet, FB or do whatever we can to get as many people as possible to see the face of one child. This week it's Wyatt.

Wyatt needs a home really soon.


Baby Wyatt

gpr3-26HA
Boy, born February 2009
Eyes: Gray
Hair: blond
Nature: Quiet

Update Sept 2011: Our little Wyatt is not doing well. He is described as a recumbent patient. Along with his Down syndrome, he has hydrocephalus and can hardly move his hands.

Here is Wyatt's updated photo.

His birthday is next month. Wyatt will be three years old! His time is running out. He needs medical attention. Hydrocephalus is treatable!!! But he needs a family, to make that happen.

A Leap Of Faith, My Heart and And a Giveaway

2012-01-09T19:22:00.000-05:00

OK, I have to kind of make this quick because I have an issue with my shoulder/back/arm. In a nutshell tons of pain and sitting at the computer just brings it on BIG TIME.! So here goes.

First : A leap of faith. A friend of mine named Dee is adopting a little one. She is going to be a fabulous mom to a beautiful dumpling from EE. I cannot announce who it is yet because she has not committed to her, just yet! So , yes I'm asking you all to trust me, and take a leap of faith to support Dee. The upfront costs are what she needs help with. There is so much that must come out of pocket all at once. Well anyone who has adopted knows that. All I can say is this little one really needs to get home. NOW! This is it, this is the time, Dee is the mama, and she so needs our support.

2nd: My heart. My heart almost stopped beating when I heard the news that a certain little one had a mama. And yours will too when she commits and we can announce it. The news came to me on Christmas Eve. It was an answer to a Christmas Novena being said for this particular child.

3rd. The Giveaway!! Here it is .. A NOOK!

Not too shabby !!
Please trust me! Take a leap and support Dee. HERE!

I'm so excited about this, wish I could just blurt it all out! Soon!! Fingers crossed... soon!!

I Wish I Was a Down syndrome Kid...

2012-01-07T13:57:00.000-05:00

I know my post title is not in people first language, but let me explain. My favorite boy in the whole world was busy playing a very important game this morning on Disney Tune Town. Andrew doesn't get a lot of time on the computer so when he is on it's all business.

I was watching him, because really, he is just adorable when he is lost in his little world of animation.

All of a sudden out of the blue he looks up and says, " I wish I was a Down syndrome kid."

"Really"? I replied. "Why"?

He looked up from his game for a split second and said. "Because it's fun" And then right back to battle the Cogs of Tune Town.
And that was it. Conversation over.

I seriously love my little man!

And we are working on the people first language, we are also, at the age of eight, still trying to master the English language. He'll get it all together in his own time. I actually think he already "gets it" and I'm just so proud of him!

Beautiful Baby Contest? Hmmmm

2012-01-04T18:05:00.000-05:00

Now you know I'm chomping at the bit to enter this one! And even though I don't want the competition, I am taking the high road and telling you all about this AMAZING fund raiser!!!!

This is the best idea I have EVER heard of! It's pure genius!!!

Three families all adopting from Reece's Rainbow have come together to have this best ever fund raiser.

And one of the Dumplings just happens to be my girlie girl Nellie! I don't relinquish rights easily. Yes, Nellie has a family advocating for her now, but I'm her warrior, and I will be her warrior til she's home, or maybe just until she starts school, heck I may as well hang around until she graduates high school. I get attached what can I say.

So bring the cutest photo of your cutest Dumpling over here, and enter to win this

150.00 Target Gift Card. One to the boy winner, and one to the girl winner!

Meet all the families and support these super people who are all just taking a huge leap of faith, and going in heart first!
Come on who doesn't love a baby contest...

Santa Got Run Over By An Emmie...

2012-01-03T23:03:00.000-05:00

...hangin out at our house Christmas Eve.

She Still Hasn't Left...

2012-01-02T12:20:00.000-05:00

... her new home. Since Christmas morning Emmie has eaten, played, read, rested, and done just about everything else in this little ball pit. The only thing she hasn't done in it is play with the balls. They were immediately rejected and ejected, never to be seen again!

first and last time those balls got in her way!

Waiting for the clock to strike midnight on New Years Eve

Cuddling with her new blankie!

All cozied up to do a little reading

and of course a little texting!

Bracelet Winner

2012-01-01T07:52:00.000-05:00

Using Random.org to release any burden from myself, lol. The winner of the bracelet is Christina!

Thank you to EVERYONE who supported the Angel Tree this year! Not only my Sweet Carina, but all the other Angels who flew to their goals last night! It was amazing!!!!! Best New Years Eve party I've ever attended!
Now we just have to get them all home!

Happy New Year everyone. May this year bring only joys and blessings to you all!

It Ain't Over Yet !!!

2011-12-31T09:52:00.000-05:00

It's New Years Eve.People have plans made for a great night out. Young adults are probably already primping to look their best, wondering if they will be kissed at midnight. Couples have reservations at the best restaurants in town, booked months ago. I'm sure there are some nervous guys out there practicing in the mirror...."will you marry me?" The world will celebrate tonight. Fireworks will sound on all four corners of the globe, and even in the most remote corners of the world, they will know it's a new year. Even my children will be pinned to the TV to watch the ball drop. Why??? Why is today so much different than yesterday? Why does a new year designate so much hoopla? I mean when you wake up tomorrow, it will all look the same. Nothing really changes.

Or does it?

With the New Year comes HOPE! It's a new beginning. Another chance to make things right. All those resolutions!! I promise to's.... all said with the best of intentions. But how many of those resolutions ever see the light of day? I know I stopped making them years ago. I mean honestly after a couple of glasses of wine, I think I can take on the world, so resolutions made on New Years Eve don't have a fighting chance.

I'd rather just find comfort in HOPE. Another year, means God still wants us around. He's not done with us yet,and we still have a chance to make it right with Him.

Tonight, 2011 will be over, and tonight, Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree will be over too. Our goal was to get every child on that tree at least $1000.00 into their account. Why?? Because that is their HOPE!

That is their ticket out of hell.

There are currently 37 children who have not yet met their goals.

Can you give them some HOPE for 2012? Before you go out tonight, before you do your hair and make up and put on that fabulous outfit, before you call your friends to see what their wearing, before you look at your ring finger and get butterflies because you can just guess that tonight is the night he pops the question. Before you double check your reservations to make sure you have the best seat,before you say so long to 2011, can you give these children HOPE?

And maybe with that bit of HOPE passed on to them by you, one day they will be making plans with their friends, and doing their hair and picking out a fabulous outfit for New Years Eve. Maybe they will have great seats at the best restaurant, and be watching the fireworks, maybe they will be glued to the TV, counting down 10. 9. 8.7.6.5.4.3.2.1.. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

HOPE is what they long for. Please give them HOPE. Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree

.



My bracelet giveaway will run til midnight. Any one donating $10.00 to any of these children still under $1000.00 will be entered. Just leave a comment here so I can add you.

Have a Happy and safe New Year. God bless you!!

Bracelet Giveaway Switched... NOW For children Under $1000.00 ONLY!

2011-12-30T09:14:00.000-05:00

I'm changing the bracelet giveaway! Anything donated from now must be donated to any child still under $1000.00 on the Angel Tree.

7 inch sterling silver.

Carina has my heart and I want her account to grow, because I want her home! She is turning four in April and I do not want this Dumpling to see the inside of a mental institution. She already looks like her spirit has been broken in her bio picture and I feel she would completely give up in an institution.

BUT, when I look at the remaining 49 children who have not reached their goal yet, I get a sick feeling in my stomach.

I'm torn between Carina and all the others.
The shells did good yesterday but so much more is needed. When all is said and done I want to know that I did everything in my power to do the right thing.

Carina was very blessed this year by a large donation from an absolute Angel. There is no way I would have gotten even close to the amount she has now on my own.

So please donate $10.00 to any child under $1000.00 and you will be entered.

I'm still taking orders for the Shells too. That is a five dollar donation to any child still under $1000.00. See details here.

Don't forget to leave a comment here, to be entered in the giveaway for the bracelet. I will pick a winner on New Years Day.

LAST MINUTE GIVEAWAY FOR CARINA!

2011-12-29T15:33:00.001-05:00

THIS ONE WILL LAST UNTIL NEW YEARS EVE. A SEVEN INCH STERLING SILVER BRACELET. KEEPING WITH THE STARFISH THEME!
I'M KEEPING IT SIMPLE.

$10.00 DONATION TO CARINA GETS YOU IN! LEAVE ME A COMMENT,THAT'S IT, YOU'RE IN!

All Angels to $1000.00 Fund Raiser!

2011-12-29T13:16:00.001-05:00

The Reece's Rainbow Tree Fund Raiser is in it's last hours! It ends when the year does! This fund raiser I'm having now is for the children who are still under $ 1000.00 only! There are still too many who have not met their goal yet! Let's help them out.

Donate five or more dollars to any child under $1000.00 on RR and pick out a shell. I will personalize it with any name you want, and ship it to you.

View all the details here. Any questions feel free to contact me via email or FB. This was seriously put together this morning, so I may not have explained it too clearly.

The Long Lost Emilia

2011-12-28T08:40:00.001-05:00

Well, my blogging as been slacking that's for sure. Between the Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree and Christmas, and all the stuff that goes along with it, blogging had to take a back seat. I'm enjoying this week off. The kids are home, Aniela is home and we are just trying to get as much of her as we can before she flies off again :(

We had our annual Christmas bedroom switch again. For some reason it seems like we always get this bright idea to change someones bedroom around Christmas time. This year Andrew came back upstairs to share with Bella and Sophia went downstairs to have her own room:) One day, all hands on deck and it's done. And the best part is there are bags and bags of things going to good will!!! I love to purge!!!! Unfortunately, any or all of my family members will undoubtedly be highlighted on an episode of "Hoarders" They hold on to everything!!

Now, here are some photos of Miss Em and Co.

Not wanting to wake up on Christmas morning.

Now she's ready to go!! Must be that skirt!!! Thanks Lacey!!

My Christmas cookies

The calm before the storm.


All six!!! Such a rare moment

Miss Bella

Now what? She still won't open any presents.

Em and the cat... crash and burn

Up from her nap and ready for some mashed potatoes

Mmmm, just shove them in Honey!

She hasn't gotten out of this yet!! Doesn't want any part of the balls that are supposed to go in it, but she as lived in here since Christmas morning!!

Cute trick to teach her... thanks Liv

The perfect place to catch up on some reading.

We Wii... Come on give Em a remote!!!!

Thanks to family, and friends and Christmas miracles our holiday was picture perfect. Ready and waiting to see what lies ahead for us in 2012!

Hidden Angels: American Families Saving Children With Down Syndrome - ABC News

2011-12-26T21:28:00.000-05:00

Hidden Angels: American Families Saving Children With Down Syndrome - ABC News

WATCH ABC WORLD NEWS WITH DIANE SAWYER TONIGHT

2011-12-26T08:04:00.001-05:00

This will undoubtedly be the longest day ever!!!!!!! Tonight on ABC World News With Diane Sawyer, there will be a story about a little girl named Mia and her family.

Mia was adopted from Ukraine earlier this year. She is beautiful and delightful and was one of the children, like Carina, who would would have been placed in an institution had her family not rescued her!!! Why ? Because she has down syndrome.

FINALLY, now you will be able to see why I'm so crazy about advocating for these children!!!!! FINALLY you will be able to see and hear her family talk about this adoption. FINALLY you will be able to see the child!!!!

I can't wait to see it!!! And just to make it even better, this is one of my all time favorite families!!!!! Wait until you see them! You'll just fall in love!

Open your hearts, clear your calendars and turn your TV's on tonight. PLEASE!!!!!!

See with your own eyes why I can never stop advocating!

Artem's Family

2011-12-18T08:27:00.000-05:00

Ok I'm sure you've all heard the fabulous news about Artem getting a family!! Amazing!!!!!
Now my friend Beth who is adopting "my" Nellie is having a fund raiser for Artem's family. Now before you run for the hills, WAIT and finish reading this.

I know Artem has a boatload of money in his account. Thanks to Patti the Magnificent. She gets things done like no other. Now when his family is ready to travel they will be more than good to go. But that money is not for them to use now. It will not be released until they get their travel date. Now before that, there are a lot of expenses for them to deal with.

I know this is the week before Christmas and most bank accounts are tapped out. I'm not asking for too much. Five dollars , ten?? Can't do that, then how about a prayer? If you pray maybe someone who is able to donate will .
Thank you Beth for helping out even though you are in the middle of your own adoption!! You are pretty flippin cool! Nellie is one blessed little one to be coming into your family!
Check out the giveaway here and thank you!

Side By Side

2011-12-17T10:36:00.002-05:00

Two ornaments hang on my tree. Two little girls so much alike. Both three years old, both just beautiful, both with an extra bit of magic in their chromosomes. Two little girls with so much to give. Two little girls ...

One little girl is safe in my arms, with a family to love her. Pretty clothes in her closet, toys and books and her favorite foods. Everything her heart desires. Put on a pedestal because of her diagnosis. Appreciated and loved for who she is and who she will become. Parents bursting at the seams with pride. A future, hope and dreams are all available for one little girl. And it shows in her smile. She knows she is loved.

The other little girl... well, it shows in her face too. Her expression shows nothing. No emotion, no excitement, no hope. Rejected because of her diagnosis. Has she given up? How much sorrow and loneliness has this little girl already experienced? Does she even dream anymore?

Two little girls, side by side , so much alike, yet, they couldn't be more different.

Emilia is living a beautiful life and Carina is in an orphanage.If she is not adopted by the time she is four she will be transferred to an adult mental institution, where life will become hopeless and desolate. Carina is a Princess, just like Emilia and needs to be rescued.

Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree has about two weeks left. Please, if you are thinking about donating, now is the time!!! Carina needs a family and the more money she has in her account the more likely someone will be able to commit to her. Every single dollar makes a difference. Please do not think that your donation is not worth giving because it is too small! I rejoice in seeing her account go up dollar by dollar.

Please consider donating to Carina. Most of my donations and fund raisers were collecting change. No big bills, no large sums. We just couldn't do it this year. So I really understand what it's like to not be able to make a donation. So when I say I rejoice over every dollar, I seriously mean it. The widow's mite goes a long long way in the eyes of God.

Miss Em

2011-12-05T19:38:00.000-05:00

My happy little Dumpling!!!

Dear, Sweet Anonymous ...

2011-12-05T07:03:00.000-05:00

You're out there!!I just saw your comment,so sorry I didn't see it sooner. I'm so glad you come to my blog. I really wanted you to know how grateful I am for you( even though the surprise almost killed me, lol) Again , thank you!!! And I too want to see Carina smile! I know it will be dazzling!!! I can see it in my head.

I'm too attached to leave her after the Angel Tree, I'll stay with her until her family finds her. Praying , advocating and trying to raise money for her.

You and everyone who has donated to her has given her hope!!! She had nothing in her account before. Nothing! Now she has almost $3000.00!!! That's huge!!!

The kids at school are collecting change and I can't wait to see what wonderful totals they come up with!

You are an angel , my Sweet Anonymous Donor! God bless you this Christmas season!!

What's Up??? A Sharing Sunday Post

2011-12-04T14:11:00.000-05:00

This time of year, and the hustle and bustle all about, and I guess the blog gets a little left out.

It's Nutcracker week so that means complete and utter chaos til the curtain goes up. Olivia has got a few and beautiful roles this year. But her rehearsals have been long, and she has been sick,she's a trooper though. But I tell you when you're sitting in that gorgeous PPAC theater, and the curtain goes up, honestly I don't think I breath for the entire show. It's all worth it. To see her on stage, doing what she loves and what she has worked so hard to achieve, just takes my breath away.

The rest of the Dumplings are all getting over being sick. They are all doing their things, driving me insane and basically just being kids. Emilia is doing well in school, and just loves it!

Our fund raiser for Carina is under way at school and my kids are reporting to me that YES, the students are bringing in change!!! It's coming in! Eleven grades from preschool 3 through grade eight are participating.

Carina is within spitting distance of $3000.00!!! And I know that's just a drop in the bucket when you're looking at around 30,000, but it's a great start!! I wonder if her family is watching ,and thinking ,and praying.
Imagine if she gets a family this Christmas!! That would be amazing!

Here's my little Dumpling girl, just in case you forgot what she looked like ;)

And here's a link to the Angel tree, just in case you decide to donate ;)

And look at these two girls I found on Reece's Rainbow this morning. I've never seen them before, but this morning they just stopped me dead in my tracks. Their birthdays are the same as Andrew's Nov 22nd) and Peter's (Nov27th) Seriously??

Kristina

Samantha

So please share these girls on FB, your blogs!! They have been transferred, and I don't know when, as I've never seen them before. I can only say God wanted to get my attention about them, and if it weren't for the birthdays I can't say that I would be posting about them right now. I'm so wrapped up in Carina and the Angel Tree, I probably wouldn't have stopped to look. I really don't know how I found them.

This is a Sharing Sunday Post.

See more here at Jane's blog, Flight Platform Living... just a click across the pond :)

Pies In The Face.. Ok . But Beans Over The Head?? Only in the UK..

2011-11-28T06:40:00.000-05:00

Only Jane I tell you!!! My crazy but lovable friend from across the pond is at it again! This time she's taking a pie in the face for Tabitha! And beans over the head for Liliana.

Here's Jane's post:

Do any of you remember when i posted about Anna over at The Chronicles Of Ellie Bellie Bear?

It was this post here entitled, Follow Your Heart, Follow Anna.

Anna is so in love with sweet Tabitha, a beautiful little girl with Down Syndrome, waiting in an orphanage in Eastern Europe for a family to find and love her. Let's pray this is soon, as Tabitha, just like Francine, will be sent to an adult mental institution to live out her days as she ages out at 4-6 years old! Unthinkable...how can we as a world not be screaming with everything in us about this!

Anna is so in love with sweet Tabitha, a beautiful little girl with Down Syndrome, waiting in an orphanage in Eastern Europe for a family to find and love her. Let's pray this is soon, as Tabitha, just like Francine, will be sent to an adult mental institution to live out her days as she ages out at 4-6 years old! Unthinkable...how can we as a world not be screaming with everything in us about this!

Anna is so smitten she has offered to donate a dollar into Tabitha's adoption fund at Reece's Rainbow for every follower of her blog up to 150. This adoption fund will support a forever family in the huge financial commitment of international adoption and could make all the difference between Tabitha being saved or not!

Anna is also busying herself as Tabitha's Christmas Warrior, chasing her funds ever upwards towards the $1000 target...currently her angel tree fund is standing at $225. Anna also spends her time supporting and raising awareness for many more children and families in desperate need. I am honoured to count Anna as my friend and was thrilled to offer to match fund her efforts of $1 for every follower up to 150!

So how many followers is she up to?

As i type Anna has 126 followers! She is only 24 away from the 150 (that's going to cost us real dosh) total!

Can you pop on over and say hi to Anna here and see how wonderful her blog is?

The next 24 people to click 'follow' will enable me to finish donating my matched funding...1 simple little click will raise a dollar towards beautiful Tabitha!

I am also adding a little more fun into the mix as well...if you are one of the 24 who go and click 'follow' and then also donate yourself even one dollar into Tabitha's angel tree fund I will add another dollar myself. That would mean $2 from me for each of the next 24 followers! That could mean $50 extra for beautiful Tabitha if the next 24 followers made even a tiny donation each!

Of course, do feel free to add huge donations as well...to encourage this thought along, for every donation over $30 i will add $3 to my running total! Wow if the next 24 followers did that it would mean $75 from me and the $1000 target reached overall!

Will you be in the 24? Leave a comment on this post to let me know you are newly following Anna and if you donated to cost me even more money! Remember, if you want to be one of the 24 these are your 3 options...

click follow here on Anna's blog to cost me $1..or

click follow here on Anna's blog and also donate into Tabitha's fund to cost me $2...or

click follow here on Anna's blog and also donate over $30 into Tabitha's fund to cost me $3

COME ON, I DARE YOU TO COST ME SOME MONEY!

If we get Tabitha's angel tree fund over $1000 in the next week I will even take a cream pie in the face! For every additional $100 I will add an extra plate of varied yuk (my husband and children can decide on what this will be!)...yep that's how much i love Anna and the daughter of her heart!

Come on...I dare you!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Lilianna

Darling Lilianna! Once thought dead, then rediscovered, but still so poorly, still with no family committed to her and still in such desperate need of rescue!

Lilianna has some awesome women loving her from afar! Sarah at Matthew 18:14 never posts without adding this picture of her precious girl...

Summer from I LoveYou To The Moon And Back will love her forever for many reasons, their two histories entwined in ways that are so amazing I am certain we have not seen the end of their story as God's plans continue to unfold before us.

And of course the wonderful Marianne Fick from A Home for Darya is now Lilianna's Christmas Warrior!

Wow Lilianna, you wait till you find out what wonderful friends you have!

Lillianna has just turned two, her birthday if not exactly the same day as mine must have been pretty close. Aged two, abandoned in a baby house, no presents and family hugs...it makes me weep!

But we can help ensure this sweet girl's next birthday is very different...it's so easy as well! Marianne is collecting loose change for LiliannaLilianna?

Loose change and your heart. Could you? Will you?
Visit this post to see what Marianne is up to.

If I get 100 people committing to collecting a jar of change for Lilianna over the festive period and then donating it into her Christmas Angel Tree adoption fund i will personally take a bucket of beans over the head! You heard right...beans! Sticky, disgusting, cold beans! Will you? Part of me fears you actually will!
If you are going to collect change then again leave a comment on this post!

Beans, pie and varied yuk for 2 sweet girls, my kids would love you forever if you gave them this pleasure!

......................................................................................
Remember that many tiny actions joined together can create huge miracles. So go on…change the world for a child! Never be frozen by how small you feel in a world of insurmountable need…. that is the devil whispering in your ear!

So there you have it! A few painless clicks of you mouse and some change you'll end up losing anyway can help save a couple of Princesses, and you get to see my friend with a bucket of beans on her head, So flippin worth it! LOL

Because you will video tape this Sweet Jane!!!! I want live action shots!!

Visit Jane's blog, Flight Platform Living !!

Love this Chick!!

The Realist... Forget Me not Friday..

2011-11-25T09:25:00.002-05:00

My daughter Sophia, although one of my most compassionate children is also a hard core realist. It is what it is in her eyes. If you ask her opinion you'll get it. Believe me you'll get it. The girl does not believe in sugar coating...anything.

When Carina's Angel Tree Account jumped very unexpectedly , 2500.00, I literally lost my breath. I was crying and just sat in awe. In fact I kept going back and forth from my blog to Reece's Rainbow to make sure I wasn't seeing things and to make sure it didn't just disappear.
Peter stood in disbelief and the little ones seeing my joy understood something really amazing had just happened and participated in my celebrating.

When I looked over at Sophia she was very quiet. Not typical of her at all. She usually has a lot more than two cents to add to any conversation. I was kind of surprised that she wasn't the one jumping up and down. I mean she is Miss Brigita's prayer warrior, she reads blogs and looks on RR all on her own. She has written posts advocating for orphans on her blog too. I just didn't understand her silence.

Then she spoke...

"If Carina gets a family, it's probably going to cost them 30,000 to bring her home. What's 2500.00 going to do. How's that going to help. It's not enough"

Whoa... I definitely wasn't prepared to hear that.

Of course being the "patient" and "understanding " person I am, my first instinct was to .... go completely nuts!

"Sophia, what in the world are you thinking! Someone... someone I don't even know who they are, or why or how, found Carina and felt called to drop 2500.00 into her account!!! Seriously! What do you mean it's not enough!!

So after a vent on my part and a look to me from Peter(the look that says be quiet she has a point) I thought about what she said. And I do want to clarify that Sophia meant absolutely no disrespect. She knows all I know about these dumplings. She has seen the pics and read the posts. She knows and her eyes are, thank God, WIDE OPEN! She was in no way insinuating that the $2500.00 donation wasn't enough. She was referring to the total needed to bring Carina or any orphan home. In her eyes it wasn't enough to feel relief.

So,I thought, and I came to the conclusion that my Sophia had a point worth listening to. My first thoughts when I saw Carina's account go up were, "thank you God and thank you donor, Carina made her goal! And then some!!
I guess for a split second, I thought I was done.

When Sophia spoke, her words really stung. They (these children) need so much more. Done??? No I'm not nearly done. Maybe Carina has hit her AT goal, but I'm not done trying to raise money for her. I know it will be even harder now that she has reached her goal. And I totally understand that. The ultimate goal is for every child to reach at least $1000.00, so most people will pass by the ones already at their goals to help the ones not there yet. And that is a great thing!!

So that just means I have to talk, talk ,talk. Spread the word, open eyes and keep on doing what I'm doing.

I've got a couple more fund raisers planned for Carina. so I am praying she is over three thousand by Christmas. Ornaments of Carina are still available through Reece's rainbow for any donation of thirty- five dollars or more.Of course any donation is greatly appreciated!

Carina

We are saving change at home for Carina, and yesterday Bella got three dollars from her Aunt for Thanksgiving . She handed it to me and said she wanted to give it to Carina. "Is that a good thing, mama?" She asked ..."'Oh yes Bella, that is a really good thing... thank you"

There is no donation too small. Every dollar is a reason to rejoice.

This post is part of a very special Forget me not Friday post. More posts like this can be found at Flight Platform Living, hosted by Jane, whose heart beats loud and strong for orphans

Forget Me Not Fridays

Sharing Some Tummy Yumminess... Baked Squash Style....Seriously

2011-11-23T08:36:00.001-05:00

I've been making this squash dish every year since I got married. I only make it on Thanksgiving and Christmas and my family is always foaming at the mouth for it. Squash and kids? Yup they'll eat this one.. it's amazing! Thought I'd share it for the holidays with my "closest" friends:)

Try it.

Baked Winter Squash

1 small winter squash( I use butternut because it's our favorite) and I triple the recipe
1 cup vegetable stock (I used good canned veggie broth)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 yellow onion. finely chopped
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper

preheat oven to375degrees
Cut the squash in half lengthwise. Place cut side down in a baking dish. Pour the stock into the dish. Place in the oven and bake until tender, about 45 minutes. To test , pierce the flesh with a fork.

In a frying pan melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and stir until soft, about 2 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of the parsley and the marjoram and stir for one minute. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Scoop out and discard the seeds and fibers from the baked squash halves.Scoop out the pulp, reserving one of the squash shells. ( I don't save the shell. I find that baking the squash in a casserole dish is much better)

Place the pulp in a food processor fitted with a metal blade(I use my regular blender). Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and the egg yolks and process to blend. Add cream, cheese and reserved onion and again process to blend.
Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon the squash mixture evenly into the squash shell or casserole dish and place in baking dish(only if using the shell). Bake until the top is golden, 15 - 20 minutes.

Sprinkle the remaining 1tablespoon parsley over the top and serve hot.Spoon directly from the shell.

This dish is great to make ahead of time and just reheat.
Serves four... see why I triple it:)

My Little Man... Andrew

2011-11-22T06:48:00.000-05:00

I love eight!!! Andrew is eight years old today. My one an only son, the "golden boy". He has to endure four sisters at home every waking moment. He's a trooper and I love him!!!

Silly! I realized as I was looking for a picture of the birthday boy that they all look a bit silly. Another reason I love EIGHT!

He love trains and Chuck E Cheese and still lets me snuggle with him.

He recently made a thankful turkey in school, some of the things my eight year old is grateful for:
God
Jesus
Sharks??
angels
food

Ok, no one in the family made the list but God and Jesus did!! LOL And seriously how could you not be thankful for sharks!!

Dewy I love you more than any other eight year old in the world!!! You are my favorite son!! EVER!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY:)))

Seriously Thing Of Taking The PLUNGE!!! Should I????

2011-11-21T13:05:00.001-05:00

Oh my goodness, my daughter Sophia and I are seriously thinking of taking the Penguin Plunge this year!! It's to support the Special Olympics. It is being help at the beach closest to us this year, "our beach". Oh I think we're going to do it!! My only fear is my heart stopping! I even googled the plunge to see if anyone has ever died... no one has... yet. But it was ranked number nine out of ten for most dangerous events.

ACK!!! Should we do it???? I get so freaking excited thinking about it. But you know it all looks great in your head. But when you actually have to do it... yikes!! What if I wimp out!!!

It's January 1st, and the only thing that date promises is freezing temps. Gosh it could be snowing and windy, what if there is a blizzard!
Sophia is all for it, but the other "wimps" won't do it. They did promise to cheer us on safely from shore.

Tell me what you think!

The American Dream?? Not Sure I want It...

2011-11-20T08:07:00.001-05:00

When I was growing up I used to dream about what my "perfect life" would be. I grew up with my mom only. She worked hard to support us and she was a single parent. I had no siblings and we lived in a small apartment.

My friends all lived in houses and had dads and siblings. In my mind, my perfect family was a home and a family. A complete family. I really didn't deviate from that as I grew up. I wanted a big family, a house a garden where the children could play and of course the daddy.

Images like these swirled in my mind. The perfect family!!

The Sound of music was and still is one of my favorites. "My" children would all behave. I was completely in favor of the whistle method!

Of course we all know that's not how it really is!! Children come in to your life and each one is unique and precious and beautiful, but they are not and never will be predictable or programmable!

Unfortunately people are trying and "succeeding" to make their own "perfect" family. We live in a world that spends billions on recycling. You don't dare throw a paper on the ground. How could you even think about destroying Mother Earth that way. But you can legally throw your kid in the trash(abortion). Sorry but does that child go in Blue or green?? yeah I'm off and running!

Which brings me to this.Which believe me I really wanted to stay away from...
The new Down syndrome test that Sequenom has produced, in my opinion, was born in the bowels of hell, whipped up by demons and presented to Satan, who then handed it to us. And of course just like the freakin apple, we took it.

And with it we will proceed to make the perfect families! Grab the American dream and live the good life. No more needless worrying about messing up family photos with a child with Down syndrome! I mean how would that look on the Christmas cards.

What exactly is Sequenom trying to achieve here. You wolf in sheeps clothing!!! Annihilation!!That's what they are trying to achieve! They wrap it up in a pretty box with a cheap price tag ... “It’s better than anything by far that we’ve ever seen in testing for Down syndrome noninvasively,” said Jacob A. Canick, a professor of pathology at Brown University and the senior author of the study.
.
But tell me, what do you do after the testing?? Do you smile and tell the parents congratulations!! Our tests came back positive! You just won the lottery. Down syndrome is nothing to be afraid of. It's no big freakin deal! Your kid will be fine. He will walk and talk and bring you joy and love. He won't screw up you family photos!! Yes there will be challenges but you WILL over come them.

Or do you simply say, this way to the abortionist. We'll clear this little problem up in no time for you.There is no need to carry this burden any longer.

If this is the American dream KEEP IT! A society that wants everything perfect, a society that will kill it's own children because of a so called imperfection.

If you were told that later in life the child in your womb would become the most loathsome, hated and dangerous person in the world would you abort him? What if there was a "simple" blood test that would tell you the future. Are you carrying a rapist? A prostitute? A drug dealer? Will your child live up to your expectations? Would you abort??

Simple... no you wouldn't. Because you would change that. You would, as a parent have the ability to love you child, nurture your child. You wouldn't give up on your child. And you wouldn't believe it!!

So why in the name of God do over 90% of woman give up on their child because they are going to give birth to a beautiful baby. A baby that will make them laugh and smile every day. A baby that will bring more joy than they will ever imagine. STUDIES prove it!

Why? Because it's easier to throw it away and start over. There would be no need for Sequenoms new test if people weren't shaking in their boots at the words Down syndrome. How much freakin money are they going to make from this. Everyone benefits right? Praises for modern medical technologies, praises for doctors performing abortions, and praises from thankful parents who were spared the burden of a child with Down syndrome. And praises from a society that won't have to deal with Down syndrome! Finally all you tax payers will get a break! You've carried the burden of supporting this group of people long enough.
They need you to be afraid! They need to keep feeding the fear. If not, they are out BILLIONS! What the hell would they do if people started to keep their babies, if they weren't terrified into aborting them? They'd be out of a freakin job that's what would happen!
The American Dream! Go figure. Not exactly what I had in mind as a child.

She is my dream. I'm glad I didn't let anyone take her away from me. Wake up America! Seriously...

So Hows The Potty Training Going?

2011-11-17T06:34:00.001-05:00

Pictures really can explain when sometimes words just do not do a situation justice.

Hmm, looking a little wet there Peter.

Emmie, did you piddle on Daddy?

Well, there's a typical answer for you.

Note to Daddy...Never tickle a naked baby BEFORE you put her on the potty!There's just not that much control going on just yet and when I get laughing...well you're just taking some big risks..

Catching My Breath

2011-11-16T06:45:00.001-05:00

If any of you heard a strange scream around around seven last night it was just me when I went to my blog and saw the amount in Carina's Angel Tree Fund. Completely took my breath away. It was completely unexpected and if whoever did that is reading this , may God bless you abundantly!

And to all who donated to Carina's Eggs Giveaway, Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!!

Rosemary was the winner, but God bless you all for helping! I did that giveaway on a whim and really was hoping and praying for a least $100.00 but you all surprised me and raised $200.00 for Carina!

I want this little one home! And with a good amount in her account it's so possible. I'm hoping to get it well over $3000.00 by Christmas. I want someone to see a good amount in her fund and commit to her! I so want to see her smile! Gosh Andrea Roberts if you ever get a new photo of Carina even looking up please post it!!!

I always wonder when I look at her , what has she already seen and heard and endured in her short life to put such a heavy and sad look in her beautiful eyes.

Then I think , no I really don't want to know.

I knew this would happen... I've fallen hopelessly in love with her.I can't wait to get my ornament and hang it on the tree right next to Miss Olga's. Please fall in love, give your heart away. Yeah, it breaks occasionally but when miracles happen like last night it's all worth it! It's just black and white proof that God is in control, God loves these little ones and He is working beside us to get them home.

Can't you just picture all the angels and saints in heaven cheering us on, high five's all around every time a donation is made and having a party with every new commitment.

I want her account to grow and grow. I want all the accounts to grow and grow! Carina's donation box is in my sidebar. Please consider a donation in any amount. A thirty - five dollar or more donation will get you an ornament of Carina delivered to you from Reece's Rainbow. Every dollar brings her parents closer and closer. Money is such an unfortunate obstacle.For one person or one family it is quite often overwhelming and out of reach, but a little from everyone makes the impossible so attainable. Makes and orphan, a daughter...

Emmie Picked A Winner!!!

2011-11-14T13:18:00.000-05:00

Well this went a lot smoother in my mind! At any rate a winner was picked fair and square:) Thank you all so very much for donating to Carina! Because of all of your help $200.00 was raised this past weekend. And $260.00 has been raised since the start of The Angel Tree. I'm totally thrilled.

You'll have to sit through the video to see who the winner is. Emmie was mad at me because I shut her show off, and wasn't as helpful as I had hoped she'd be, but it all worked out!

Congratulations to the winner:) And could you please email me(rarefindings@verizon.net) your address so I can get these out to you as soon as possible.

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Send in The Clowns...

2011-11-13T09:07:00.005-05:00

I've often referred to life in our home as a circus. Really there's not much Ringling Brothers have that we don't.
One any given day there are bodies swinging from trees or furniture, or being swirled around in big giant toilet like contraptions. They are a fearless bunch.

Death defying stunts performed right before my eyes. Dare devils on bikes, wild animal tamers(ok the cat is 18 years old and on his last leg, but he was pretty feisty in his day),

There are monkeys of all kinds

And then there are the clowns. What would a circus be without dancing clowns. Grab some cotton candy and a light up toy and enjoy The Greatest Show On Earth. (well my earth anyway)

**Don't forget to get your eggs!! Carina's giveaway ends today!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Can I be honest???

2011-11-12T07:57:00.001-05:00

Umm, yesterday kinda freaked me out. My post "Boundaries" got more attention than anything I have ever written. My blog is small and quiet for the most part. It really doesn't see a lot of action, and the way I see it, God controls my traffic. I really don't go nuts joining other social media sites. I don't try to get backlinks, and really don't even comment on other blogs enough( although I do read). My husband knows all the tricks to get more traffic and how to link to this or that to get a better ranking but honestly I just want to write. I probably should listen to him because I would reach more people but I just don't have the time. Maybe when he reads this he'll "pimp my blog" for me free of charge! LOL (I'm not being fresh, "pimp my blog " is just an expression meaning , give it a boost)

Anyway, when I sat down yesterday I had no idea what I was going to write. I was just going through other blogs and I came across the scripture verse that I opened my post with. Proverbs 24:12 "Once our eyes are opened we cannot pretend we do not know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows we know and holds us responsible to act."
And I guess God did the rest. I was amazed at the amount of people who shared that post. All I can say is thank you! And because of you, yesterday was a good day for the orphan! 11/11/11 was a lucky day after all. Carina's account went to $200.00 which was WAAAAY more than I expected, and I pray that hearts and eyes were opened. There are so many people that just do not have any idea of what is happening to these precious children. I'd like to put those pictures I used in my post yesterday on a billboard. I'd like to take control of radio and TV and Internet and shake people up... wake people up. Children are being treated like trash because they have Down syndrome or another disability. Instead of being loved and treasured they are bound and tied to cribs, ~~like wild animals~~ correction, like monsters... wild animals would be treated better and have more rights.

But for now, I'll do what I can with what I've got. I'll keep talking until people listen. I'll keep posting , hoping people keep reading. I'll do what God asks of me, and I will try to be more trusting in Him. He usually has to ask me a few times. You know that nagging voice in your head, or that idea that just keeps popping up out of no where? It's God, trying to get your attention because He has a job for you. My initial response is usually "Seriously? You want me to do what"? I then proceed to tell Him why His idea would never work. LOL Good thing God has a sense of humor and an infinite amount of patience because I am definitely a "challenging" child. Probably why He gave me five just like me:)

And on that note, don't forget to check out Carina's Eggs!! My Christmas ornament giveaway. Donate to Carina through Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree located in my sidebar, leave me a comment telling me you donated(any amount) and you're in! Giveaway ends Sunday at Midnight.

You will be entered to win all six of these eggs for any donation made to Carina . Just remember to leave me a comment, telling me you donated. You do not need to tell me the amount.

I am only one , but still I am one.. I cannot do everything but I can do something and because I cannot do everything!! I will not refuse to do what I can ~~Edward Everett Hale

Boundaries??

2011-11-11T08:20:00.006-05:00

Proverbs 24:12 tells us that "Once our eyes are opened we cannot pretend we do not know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows we know and holds us responsible to act.

Maybe that's easier said than done .Maybe even after all the posts and the pictures ,and the videos describing the life of a child with Down syndrome in other countries , maybe it still doesn't become believable to people.
Maybe pictures like this one are not taken seriously?

Maybe some people still don't believe that this is actually happening?

Maybe because this child is in another country, the problem is passed along. Let her country help her. I hear that a lot. But unfortunately her country did this to her because they see her as useless!

Look at this picture. These are not babies! They are boys and young men! In cribs! Treated with no respect no love and no hope.

Maybe we, who have lost our hearts to these children have a better understanding because we have heard it from families who have seen these atrocities with their own eyes. Maybe they have lessened the distance. Brought the reality home with them, if you will.

To me there is no distance between us. God didn't tell us to only help those within walking distance.
Help only those that "belong" to your country. Let everyone take care of their own. Jesus went out of His way to help people no one else would. He made it perfectly clear that He didn't believe in boundaries when he took a drink from the Samaritan woman.

When we get to heaven there will be no borders, no lines defining your territory and mine. Why should we let that be an issue now?

I used to think that way. I used to think , why should I help others who are so far away? But now that I have seen , I know I must. How can I not? And the more I help, the more the distance disappears. These are children. Children who will die if we don't help them.

When soldiers get their orders, they go. They don't say"I can't go there, it's too far, I don't know the people there, I just signed up to help the people around here".

They go where they are needed. When God calls you to be a soldier, you go. You go where you are needed. Maybe these children need you. Maybe God is calling you to be a soldier for them.

Maybe Carina has seen things a child should never see, I've never seen such sadness in a child's eyes.Maybe Carina could use a few more warriors in her corner.
Her Christmas ornament giveaway is still going on. Please donate to her Angel account from my sidebar. Just click on "Angel Tree" or "donate", and then leave a comment so I know and you will be entered to win all six ornaments.

They will come to you boxed individually so you can keep some and give some a s gifts if you want. View more pictures of the ornaments here

And on this Veterans day, to the soldiers that just GO, to protect us everyday, thank you. Thank you for not hesitating. Thank you for being brave all the time, even when you don't feel like it. Thank you for putting our needs first, No questions asked.

Eggs For Carina Giveaway??

2011-11-10T08:01:00.000-05:00

Ok here is a quick and easy giveaway for my Angel tree Angel, Carina.
A basket of eggs! Christmas eggs!

These are the same beautiful ornaments I used in Olga's Give To back in July. I didn't offer the eggs because I don't have as many of these as I do the other ornaments.

All the ornaments were special ordered from Poland and hand painted.

So how about an easy and fast giveaway??? Make a donation for any denomination to the Angel Tree for Carina, leave me a comment and you're in. Just running this through Sunday. You'll have these beauties in time to hang on your tree and trust me they are gorgeous! Just make sure you donate to her Angel Tree fund.

A winner will be drawn on Monday November 14th by Emmie:)

Carina is an orphan in Eastern Europe waiting for her family. Reese's Rainbow is having their Angel Tree Project. It's their biggest fund raiser of the year. The goal is to get at least $1000.00 into each orphans account.It is also a huge way to raise awareness to these children. Most people are completely unaware of the life these children lead. Most children with Down syndrome in EE countries, are immediately given up for adoption. They are placed in orphanages where they are not always treated with kindness. A lot are mistreated and neglected. If by the age of four they have not been adopted they begin the process of being transferred to an adult mental institution, where 85% will die the first year due to poor care. Carina is now three and a half years old. Her time is running out. Please open your hearts to her.

From Reece's rainbow:

Nature: Calm

Her picture is so forlorn … I hope we can find her a family to make her smile!

Carina is said to have a moderate intellectual delay, as well as a physical / motor function delay. She has an open oval window of 2 mm (which may yet close on its own), and she has a heart murmur. She has enlarged tonsils, and dermatitis — so, pretty much your standard little girl with Down syndrome!

Just click"donate" on her donation box in my sidebar. That will take you directly to her Angel tree Account. Don't forget to leave me a comment and you will be entered in the giveaway for the ornaments. Also if you donate $35.00 or more Reece's Rainbow will send you a beautiful ornament of Carina to hang on your tree.

It is completely possible that Carina's family will find her this Christmas. The Angel Tree has just begun and already FIVE little ones have forever families!!

The Look Of Success

2011-11-08T11:44:00.000-05:00

Exhausted, dirty and lopsided ponies. All sure signs of a successful day of school.

I Think We Have A Winner

2011-11-06T06:44:00.001-05:00

I am determined that Em's ears do freeze and fall off this winter. And the little hat hater is determined to toss every hat I put on her to the ground. But I think we have found some common ground.

Yes Emmie a chin strap!

A few adjustments

I think she's trying to make the same face as the monster on the hat

By George I think she likes it! We'll see how long this little gem lasts. I have a feeling it will soon be in the big box of rejects.

Hat Hater

2011-11-05T09:56:00.001-04:00

Since Emmie was born she hated hats! She came home from the NICU with a bag full of little hats that somehow made it to the floor. She would not keep them on her head.

But these she will wear all day long.

A bald cap

An infant cap


And this...well, I'd better not say anything...

With winter right on our heels I'm really having a hard time deciding which on of these lovely head covers to choose for Miss Em . I've got a ton of pretty little hats and not one will she keep on her head. Maybe I can hot glue flowers all over the bald cap:)

Forget Me Not Friday: Ipad 2???

2011-11-04T07:07:00.000-04:00

I have met some real lovies out her in blogland and most I have to say live far away. Like Kansas ugh, California, Canada,Washington State... seriously? But there is a chance we could meet. Traveling wouldn't be impossible. Driving could be an option. Not a fun one, but still an option. But what about The UK. Double ugh! There's that stinkin' pond in between us. Well,one of my favorite lovies, Jane, lives across that pond. I know we would be the best of friends. Just through emails I know I can be myself with her. I know if we met in person there would be no getting to know you time. We'd just cozy up and start laughing and chatting. Oh and I would just drink in her accent.

But again that pond is a problem.

Anyhoo, Miss Jane the founder of Forget Me Not Fridays is also a mad Reece's Rainbow advocate. She is also completely nuts about Francine. You can see why. Isn't she just gorgeous???

Now don't let me lose you here. I know I've been going on and on lately about fund raisers, even my hubby has been giving me the eye when he reads my blog. Thinks I'm going to get you guys in a tither if I don't write more about Em. Well, he just doesn't know you all the way I know you.

Back to Jane and Francine. Jane has a giveaway going on, but it's almost over. Now if I were selfish I wouldn't be telling you all about it.Why??? you may be thinking... Because, Jane has an ipad2 up for grabs. I have been trying to get my hands on one of those little buggers for Em for months. You see my sweetie is just about to talk. Literally the words are on the tip of her tongue. I've heard so many super things about the apps for the Ipads helping kids with delayed speech that I've been a little OCD lately trying to get on for Em.

But, I'm not selfish, lots of other things, but not selfish. I'm sharing this fabulous giveaway with you all,hehe!

The other thing about Jane is that she is an artist. A REAL artist!!! Like people pay for her work. Like she has showings in REAL galleries. She won't brag but I will. People pay big bucks for her work.

This is just ONE of my favorites.if you can't see the words, they say..And I hope I hope I hope amid the shadows. How long will it take us to get to where we're going? We asked.I don't know she whispered But don't give up.

There are a ton of other things in Jane's giveaway too. Just in case you have no need for priceless original artwork or and Ipad.... yeah right.

So please take a quick jump across the pond to Jane's blog, Flight Platform Living and see whats happening.

Promise a little Em tomorrow. Ok Peter????,

A Definite Carnivore

2011-11-03T06:18:00.000-04:00

No doubt about it, Em is a meat eater. Like a little tiger, she is. We just toss it, run and stay clear til she's done.

One Ends and Another Begins

2011-11-01T07:17:00.005-04:00

October is gone, November is moving in. One month closer to the Holidays and right at the beginning of Reece's Rainbow Christmas Warrior Project.

Reece's Rainbow, for any that don't know is a non profit organization started by Andrea Roberts and inspired by her son Reece. Their mission statement :

The mission of Reece's Rainbow is to rescue orphans with Down syndrome through the gift of adoption, to raise awareness for all of the children who are waiting in 25 countries around the world, and to raise funds as adoption grants that help adoptive families afford the high cost of adopting these beautiful children

In the last five years over 500 orphans have found their forever families!

As stated by Andrea" I can say with great confidence that if we had a full grant for every child on our website, there would BE no children on our website. There are hundreds of families in the US and Canada who would give their left arm to bring one or more of these children home. The money is the ONLY thing standing in their way."

The Christmas Warrior Project is one of the most successful ways to support an orphan still waiting for their family. Each child on RR has their own account. You can view the children and donate to whichever child you choose. I am advocating for Carina this Christmas. I think she is beautiful. And I would love to see her smile. But most of all I'd love to see her with her family.

Carina

For anyone new to my blog who may not be familiar with RR, you may be wondering why go to other countries to adopt. Why not help children here in the states. And that is a very good question. There are many children here waiting for families, so true! And thankfully God chooses people to advocate for them too. However advocating for these particular children on RR is where I feel God has chosen to put me. Another reason is that children in other countries born with a disability like Down syndrome are almost always given up for adoption. There just is not the support in other countries that there is here in the States.Children born with Down syndrome are given only a few short years to be adopted , if by the age of four they haven't been placed in a home they then start the proceedings to place them in an adult mental institution. There the life expectancy is very dim, with 85% dying within the first year.

I am very passionate about this. children born here are very lucky. There is a waiting list here in the States to adopt a child with Down syndrome. We here, are finally realizing their amazing beauty, and that they are a gift to be treasured.

But in other countries this is the fate of a child born with Down syndrome or another disability. This is why I am passionate about saving these children. This is why Carina is on my mind and in my prayers daily. Please watch the video. And please consider a donation to Carina. Her donation box is in my sidebar. That will take you directly to her account on RR . This is her fate if she is not adopted. There are no exceptions to the rule. She will end up in an institution much like this one. I wish i were exaggerating. But unfortunately in the year 2011, this is how children are being treated. I really don't think it matters which side of the ocean they are on. This particular video highlights Serbia but it is the same in many Eastern European countries.

31 for 21: Emmie's Day

2011-10-31T06:59:00.000-04:00

Today is not just Halloween in our house. It's the day Emmie came home. After a brief nine day stay in the NICU Miss Em came home just in time for her first Halloween. Seeing how she enjoys dressing up and devouring sweets, there's no doubt in my mind that even at the young age of nine days, the Chick smelled the Halloween chocolate and that was her motivation to get discharged and home.
Today, three years later, she will be going to school dressed has a cupcake fairy. Three years ago I couldn't imagine her ever getting any bigger than the six and a half pound little bundle that she was. And now she's an independent, sassy little dumpling. We have been abundantly blessed in the past three years. Emilia has changed us more than I can find words to explain, and in more ways than I can count. I am not even remotely the same person I was three years ago. Halloween will never be just Halloween in our house. It's Emmie's Day. Of course she already thinks every day is Emmie day...

The Cupcake Fairy after her party. All cupcaked out

Rest up Dumpling, tonight's another wild night:)

And today Down syndrome Awareness month comes to an end... but not really. It's our lives now. We never stop advocating for our loves. It was a great month here in blogland. So many wonderful posts, new people, and information.

We really are a special group. It's an honor to know each and every one of you.

The Scallywag and The Cupcake

2011-10-30T17:19:00.000-04:00

Scallywag


Cupcake Fairy

Oh Halloween brings with it so many decisions.

31 for 21: She's Going Home

2011-10-30T06:54:00.001-04:00

Thanks for getting the job done!

31 for 21: I Swear This Is The Last Time....

2011-10-29T08:45:00.001-04:00

..I am going to ask you to do anything.But I have just recently learned that there are three families in need of help, ASAP. Please hang on for one second before you run screaming from my blog!! I know I've been like a broken record lately. Sorry I'm just passionate about orphans and doing my part to help. And unfortunately God has not blessed me with wealth so I could just hand out what is needed (dang it) But He did bless me with persistence and also the ability to put my pride aside and ask, yet again for help. Not really what I would have grabbed for myself, but there's nothing I can do about that but use it

Anyhoo,we all know the Abell's are almost ready to submit their paper work and get their first travel date to see Olga. Well here's some new and great news! A very generous person has stepped forward and for the next few days will match any donation up to 500.00 !! There's a quick way to make a thousand!!! Here is where to donate!

The next family is, The Dirkes, they are adopting Charlotte! You might remember her as Marie from Reese's Rainbow. Listen to this!!! They are traveling this MONDAY!!! And are short 2500.00 They cannot travel without that money!! Monday!! The day after tomorrow!!! Here is where you can scatter like little mice to quickly donate! PLEASE!!!

And the third family The Plummer's who are bringing home Matthew and Barbara are still short and will be traveling in just days to take their Dumplings HOME!!!!! This has been a long haul for them. They need about 2000.00 before they travel! See a pattern forming here with these families? Think Satan might be getting his jollies or something! Read their amazing story here and also please support them !!!

Three families all adopting special little dumplings, all traveling soon, all in need of around the same amount to make it happen. I do believe Satan is challenging us. Shall we step up to the plate and show him he is messing with the wrong group of people! This is no problem for us. We will not let these sweet little ones lose there families for a couple of thousand dollars! Seriously?? let's kick some satan butt, and show him he's just a slight annoyance and no challlenge for us!

And if you made it this far God bless you!!! I promise some Emmie time this weekend! Her party and some Halloween costumes are coming! Love you all!!And remember donating is not the only way to help! Sharing and spreading these families stories is a great way to help!!

31 for 21: What Else Could I Possiby Say???

2011-10-28T06:53:00.003-04:00

As I sit here in the dark early morning, there is no pretty sunrise, it's raining... still, and it's cold. I am seriously going to have the audacity, the gall, the nerve, the ka-knockas, call it what you will to ask you to think about Olga right now. As good as things are going, they need to go a little quicker. Her birthday is in January and The Abell's paper work is going to expire soon. For anyone who doesn't know, because I just recently found out, all that paper work you must submit expires. It's not good for however long the adoption takes. If it expires you have to start all over. That's not an option. We need to get this family fully funded so they can submit their papers and get a travel date. They must submit now!!! Their papers expire in NOVEMBER! IT'S' OCTOBER 28th! ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS IS STILL NEEDED . Now is the time to share, share and did I say share!!!! I know you have donated , but if you could drop a few dollars into that chip in it will make a world of difference. And pray!!!! Who knows maybe there's someone out there with a thousand extra ones they are being called to donate:)
One day without a coffee, a lunch. Eating out tonight? Don't buy a drink. Going shopping? Buy one shirt instead of two. Small little sacrifices... No, correction, these not sacrifices because we are not suffering if we give up a drink or a shirt . They are just kind and generous gestures to a family who needs to wrap this up and get their daughter home.

I'm absolutely positive there are people willing to donate , but maybe they just haven't heard about The Abell's yet. Maybe they heard about them last year and don't know their situation right now. Please share their story. One person at a time will make this happen. One person sharing this story on their blog or FB or wherever can make a difference.

Olga's time is running out too. Just as The Abell's paper work expires her time in the orphanage does too. This is very difficult for me to think about and I have to admit that I do try to push it out of my mind. But Olga's next move depending on how fast The Abell's get to her could be the institution. It's going to be close. I'm not being dramatic and I'm not exaggerating. I wish I was.

Please, I'm not asking you to do what you can, you have already done that. Thank you!
Today I'm asking you to go beyond what you can do and raise that last $1000.00 for this little one to come home.

31 for 21:What Have They Done To Emmie????

2011-10-27T12:38:00.001-04:00

Em has been in school for four days and I have a gripe! In a matter of just four days my "baby" girl is looking and acting like a "little" girl! Is this a legitimate gripe? Probably not..

Okay so forget the gripe. And replace it with praises for her team at school.
I already see a major difference in her expressive language. No she's not speaking , but she is signing more and verbalizing , and answering questions... in her way, but with a deliberate attempt to answer. She shook her head "no" when I asked her , while she was sitting on the potty, if she did pee pee. She's never done that before. I know in her head she is saying "no", but she has never answered without being prompted. She is understanding the morning routine, already. And when we get home she gets out of the car and walks to the front door. She has NEVER done that before. She usually just makes a mad run for it, in any direction. Do you know how nice it is to put her down in the driveway and be able to grab my handbag and not worry about her running into the street. When she leaves school she says bye bye to her teacher... unprompted!!!!! And says Hi to me!!!!

She is happy and adjusting beautifully, and progressing at lightning speed. I guess my only gripe is that my heart cannot keep up.
But I am so proud of my little preschooler. But thank God she's only gone two and a half hours a day!

This is Miss Em's spider! A brilliant masterpiece...lol

I know a lot of you out there have little ones that just started school this year. Tell me, did you notice an immediate difference in your child? And it is subtle because I really don't think anyone else would notice these little things that Em is doing. But to me they are really something to notice. Like walking from the car to the front door. No one else would get that... you know what I mean?? Please share because this fascinates me. I am so excited to see what changes there are over the next few months.

31 for 21: Changing Your Paradigm

2011-10-26T06:42:00.000-04:00

Paradigm, (definition)

Intellectual perception or view, accepted by an individual or a society as a clear example, model, or pattern of how things work in the world.

I have so many posts that I could write using this title, but this one was inspired by my husband Peter. He told me this story the other day.

It was the end of a work day and the subway train was filled with people on their way home from work. They were tired and most just sat in silence, probably anticipating getting home after a long day, having dinner and spending time with friends or family. They were all deep in to their own thoughts, when a man and his children boarded. He took a seat but the children proceeded to play and run around. As the ride went on the children became more and more unruly. The father was apparently oblivious to the distractions his children were causing and people were starting to become annoyed. Looks were passed between passengers. Eyebrows raised and whispers of "what's wrong with him, can't he see what his kids are doing" "what kind of a parent lets his children run around like wild animals" and of course "tsk, tsk".
Finally one man could take it no longer and approached the despondent father. "Sir" he said. " don't you think you should say something to your children"? The father looked up at the stranger, and with a sort of lost look on his face he said, " Yes I suppose I should , we were just coming back from the hospital... their mother died an hour ago".
Upon hearing those tragic words the rest of the passengers immediately rose to action. A couple went to tend to the children, others went to comfort the father who was obviously not just a bad parent but a grieving husband. Everyone suddenly understood and wanted to help. No longer were tempers flaring and judgements being made. Their Paradigm was changed.

I do believe that in the last couple of days I have been seeing a change in the paradigm. In the not so distant past I wrote a post clearly explaining how I felt about supporting the Abell's. I will stand beside them to the end of their adoption and I will stand with them as their lives begin after the adoption. (sorry Chris and Jenn you've got me for life) Not everyone felt that way. Things were a bit stressful for The Abell's for a while, and unfortunately some people were not so nice and decided to walk away. Their paradigm was set.

But in the last two days, I have seen such an outpouring of support and help! People sharing and posting. People who have been absent for months, returning to help. People changing their paradigm because a child is in need. People realizing, this isn't a one person job, a family, even with a huge grant still needs help. And above all, a child needs to be rescued.

My faith has been renewed. This community is one of a kind. And I'm so honored to be a part of it with you all.

But the best part of the last couple of days has been seeing The Abell's spirits rising again! There is a happiness in Jenn's post that hasn't been there for months. There is HOPE again, there is joy in her writing. She can feel and see the support that is back. The greatest gift you can give anyone is love! It will carry you through your darkest moments . It is extremely powerful. More powerful than any giveaway or fund raiser, more powerful than any post that can be written. And The Abell's are feelin' the love! And because of that Miss Olga will be feelin' the love of a family ...soon!

They now need about $1800.00 to wrap things up! Jenn's little fingers are working fast to keep up with the TNT orders that keep coming in. Please change your paradigm today, and go wild and donate. Every $5.00 donation gets a little TNT.
And thank you from both me and Peter, who obviously are quite attached to Olga and The Abell's. When they stress we stress, when they rejoice we rejoice. And right now we are seriously getting ready for a big, big party!
OK, go get your TNT!

31 for 21: Em's First Day of School

2011-10-25T07:13:00.000-04:00

Sorrry to let you wait a day. So without further delay here is Em's very first day of school!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

And as I slept, Jenn's chip in is at just about $500.00!!! The end is near and Olga's beginning is just around the corner! Let's keep it going !!

Jenn Says, $2265.00

2011-10-24T21:22:00.000-04:00

I think $2265.00 is the updated amount needed to spring Olga! This spontaneous rally has been a blast. Probably more so for
The Abell's, LOL
This has been a great day. An unexpected day! A child's ransom is almost paid, her life about to begin.

I know Jenn has been popping in and out all day here and on facebook thanking everyone who has donated, but I just gotta say it again too. THANK YOU!!

This amount is so attainable. But I cannot call it done yet. Almost only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades. Not ransoms!! We need to have the exact amount for Olga to be free.

I'm going to bed now and I'm going to be praying that this momentum only grows during the night. Please pray too. Please continue to spread the word. Share wherever you can. Donate if you can. Donate what you can:)

Let's wipe out this ransom for Olga, because she is coming home, but we can make it quicker!
This village of ours needs to get one of our own home, where she belongs!

OMG You're Listening!

2011-10-24T13:08:00.001-04:00

Not much leaves me speechless, given my Italian heritage, I'm not usually at a loss for words. But right now all I can come up with is THANK YOU!!!

Jenn's chip in has gone up almost $300.00 TODAY
I can't even type , I am seriously flabbergasted!

I hadn't planned on this kind of post today, but when I read Jenn's post this morning my heart just sank. To think that $2700.00 could jeopardize Olga's homecoming made me sick. I knew we just could not let that happen.

And you know what? We are NOT going to let that happen! Right now The Abell's need us, OLGA needs us! Today is the day to help them!!

Add caption

Please keep listening, please keep sharing, please donate. And like I said here, trust God. Whatever you give, He will give back to you one hundred fold.He has shown me that time and time again. So many times I seriously had like five dollars left to my name and I would hesitate to part with it. Only natural to want to hang on to it. But I would hear His voice whisper, "It's okay, I'll replace it . Don't be afraid to give it away" And I swear, there has never been a time when He didn't replace it in one way or another, and it was always with more than what I gave. Please even Five dollars will make a huge difference. They are so insanely close to bringing her home!

If you are just coming here for the first time today , please read this post from earlier today. Like I said this wasn't planned for today. I was planning on posting Em's first day of school (which went super) but that just has to wait. This is my priority today. This is my priority until Olga is home. I know we will make this happen. It's already happening! Please get on board!! Gosh my adrenalin is pumping I feel like I'm going to throw up! LOL, I'm such a goof!

Please let's keep it going for Olga! DONATE HERE:)

31 for 21: I Really Need Your Attention

2011-10-24T06:45:00.000-04:00

In a few minutes I'll be getting everyone up for school, and my day will be insane. This is one of those days that every time you check your calendar there is something else on it. I won't be done until,a round ten tonight so I really thought this could not wait .

$2700.00, Two thousand seven hundred dollars. What is this number? This is what the Abell's need to bring Olga home. After all of the months of fund raising and praying and praying and working to bring their girl home, this is all they need.
I am seriously begging and pleading to anyone who still reads this blog to please, please donate.

Please give whatever you can. This is such a small amount. This is when 5, 10, or 20 dollars really does make a difference.

I know I have a couple of new faces here so I'll fill you in.

This is Beautiful Olga, she sits in an orphanage in Eastern Europe waiting for her family. $2700.00 is keeping her apart from her family.Olga is very special to me too. I fell in love with her last November and became her prayer warrior. I've also become good friends with the Mom and Dad. I cannot sit silent and let a mere $2700.00 keep them from bringing her home.

I went to a Gala the other night which was raising funds for the arts. It was beautiful and necessary and I hope successful. At one point during the night a very handsome dancer took the stage to talk about the importance of the arts, and how we should do everything in our power to keep it alive. He spoke for no more than 10 - 15 minutes and raised to my ruff calculations over 20,000. People were writing checks from $100.00 to $5000.00 on the spot. I was thrilled to see the support but you must know what I was thinking.
I, of course was thinking that all that money collected in just minutes could fully fund so many families. I wish I could take the stage, being my blog, say a few words and collect $20.000. Olga is very important too. And we need to do every thing we can to keep her alive!

I know times are tough, trust me I flippin know!! My husband has been out of work for over a year. I don't even know how we make it through each month. But I also know that whatever we are able to give, we get back. I donate what I can whenever I can. And God always replaces it.
Please, give to The Abells. Please this child needs to come home! THEY are her family!!

Please, just this once listen to me. Trust God. Donate and wait. I promise that money will come back to you somehow. It happens every time with us. God sees what's in your heart and He knows what you can do. And He will definitely see that and bless you efforts.
This is a life, a child's life and $2700.00 is standing in the way of her happiness and her safety. We need to help.

Please visit Jenn's blog read her post , they need us!!! Olga needs us!!

Please trust God and please donate whatever you can!!!

31 for 21: Getting Ready For the Big Day!!

2011-10-23T17:34:00.000-04:00

What big day? Could it be Halloween?

Nope!

The big day is... Emmie's first day of school! Bright and early tomorrow morning! Oh my goodness...wish US luck .

31 for 21: She is Magical, She is 3!!!

2011-10-22T07:49:00.001-04:00

Thank you Miss Em for coming to our family:) Guess you knew what you were getting in to three years ago. I suppose God gave you the lowdown on us before your arrival. He must have told you how desperately we needed you, how we longed for you , only we didn't know it . I'm sure He informed you that we were a big noisy clan and you'd almost never have a moments peace. That there would be constant bickering among your siblings, that your mama was scared and confused about you, and that your dad was too but didn't want your mama to know.

I'm sure He also told you that most of the constant bickering among your siblings would be them fighting over you! They adore you, Em!

And I'm sure you felt all of mama and daddy's love for you the second you were born. All of the fear and confusion went right out the window.

So today Miss Em I just wanted to say thank you, for being our own magical miracle. For loving us and accepting all of US the way WE are.

Happy Birthday Emilia Faith, there are no words to express how much we all love you.

31 for 21:Forget Me Not Friday; The Day Before

2011-10-21T07:17:00.003-04:00

Today is the day before Emmie's third birthday. My "baby" will be three years old tomorrow. I just cannot believe it. Three years of joy and laughs and love that we wouldn't have had without her.
Tomorrow, Emilia will be smothered in cake and kisses. She will be loved and played with. She will hear the song "Happy Birthday To You" and she will unwrap a present. Her day will be delightful and I imagine she will skip her nap and by around seven at night be seriously delirious and welcome her bed , where she will have sweet dreams about her special day.

There is another beautiful October baby . A little girl equally as beautiful with a smile that just dazzles. But this little one isn't as lucky as Em. No one will smother her with cake and kisses. Her October birthday probably already came and went with absolutely no fanfare.

Celine

Celine is still waiting. Although I really cannot understand why. She will be transferred soon. As I said, she is an October baby. and well, we all know what kind of birthday present you get when you're an orphan with Down syndrome or other special needs in certain countries. I was thinking about getting Em some nesting blocks for her birthday, Celine may get a car ride to an institution. Bet she'd rather have the blocks...Bet she'd really like to have a mama, a family, and some love. Bet she'd really like to feel safe.

Two little girls, worlds apart. Both sharing October as their birth month, both with Down syndrome. One, loved and adored. One, treated like a Princess. One with a family who cherishes her like a rare gem.
The other, forgotten and lost, treated like an outcast, with no one to elevate her to where she deserves to be.
Celine is about to be taken to a place where many will die waiting. A place not fit for any human being.

Please, think and pray about this. Could you be her mama? Could you be singing Happy Birthday Celine, next October? This little one needs to be spared.

This is a Forget Me Not post. Forget Me Not Friday's were created by Jane At Flight Platform Living.

31 for 21: The Gift

2011-10-20T06:52:00.002-04:00

Last night Olivia along with the rest of the Junior Company performed at the Veterans Memorial Theater in downtown Providence at a Gala called Together We Dance. It was hosted by Festival Ballet Providence where Olivia dances. It was a Gala to benefit the arts which are struggling in this economy. The Gala which was hosted by Festival brought dancers together from all over the country. Some of the most talented dancers from ABT, Houston Ballet, The Lithuanian Ballet, NY Ballet and Boston Ballet took the stage last night to show all there, that dance matters!! The arts need to be supported. We need the arts in our lives.

Right about now you may be wondering how this post is in any way contributing to Down syndrome Awareness. Please , keep reading.

My kids all dance. Olivia has been walking on her toes since she started walking when she was one a year old. I even took her to the doctor when she was around two because she never put her heels down. She literally walked everywhere on her toes. I thought there was something wrong! The doctor assured this first time parent that she was fine and was working up one heck of a calf muscle . When she was five we enrolled her in ballet and the rest is history.

Festival Ballet is one of a kind in RI. They are not only a top notch school, but they are the only school in RI to have a professional ballet company . The students are able to see right before their eyes some of the best dancers take class, rehears, perform. They are there with them. They see how hard they have to work. They see the sweat the injuries the determination, the beauty.

Festival Ballet also offers something else, something very special. They have an Adapted Ballet Class for children with Down syndrome. It is amazing! And hopefully Emmie will be there soon! The children love it!
With the help of Boston Ballet, Festival has started it's own classes here for the kids.

Last night, the children from the adapted class opened the show with "The Gift". Eight of the most beautiful children in the world walked onto the stage dressed in red. The girls in beautiful ballet dresses. They took their spots and... they danced.

They had been practicing long and hard for this very special moment. I held my breath, praying the audience would see the beauty, the talent, the determination. As I was watching, one little girl caught my eye. She was the smallest one, had a blondish pony tail and seemed to "improvise " a little. She gently adjusted one child who apparently went off their mark. She strolled to another with a smile on her face and when the dance was over she was front and center stage for her bow. As I watched my eyes could no longer hold back the tears and they began to stream down my face. Once they started there was no stopping them. I was having a real shoulder shaking cry. The little girl reminded me of Emmie, and I was overwhelmed with the possibilities that lay ahead for her.

Last night was one of the most important nights Festival Ballet has ever had, and they chose to open the show with eight very special children. How far we have come!!! A few years ago these children wouldn't be dancing. These are the children doctors told parents to institutionalize. They were thought incapable of learning and socially inadequate. Last night the spotlight was there's, they owned the stage and yes, the audience got it! The crowd went wild!!

Thank you Festival Ballet Providence for recognizing our children, for holding them in such high esteem, for treating them with respect. Thank you for The Gift!

31 for 21:My Heaven

2011-10-19T07:31:00.001-04:00

I originally posted this in September 2010. I thought it was worth re-posting for Down syndrome awareness month.

If Heaven is Perfect

When I look at Emilia my heart swells. She flutters around like a firefly, spreading a warmth over all she passes. She is a constant light. Her laughter is contagious. Her constant antics have us on our toes at all times. And that mischievous twinkle in her eye... well,I love it ! To me Emilia Faith is perfection.

When I was in school we were taught that heaven was a place of complete happiness. Obviously, being in the presence of God you have no choice but to be completely happy. In heaven there is no sickness, no sadness, no prejudices , no anger or jealousy. It is as Jesus said, "Paradise". It is home.

I love to think about heaven sometimes, especially when I'm missing someone who has left us. I think about how it will be when we are reunited. And of course I have a vision of what heaven looks like to me. There are beautiful gardens with flowers and colors we have never seen before. Things God saved only for heaven. Everyone is happy and full of love. Laughter, singing and praising fill the air, which is always at a comfortable 75degrees with a gentle warm breeze. I can see my loved ones happy and healthy again. They are all perfect. No more suffering with the pains they had here on earth. Any imperfections are gone. Legs work, eyes see , ears hear.

Then I think about Em. Some people look at her and see only imperfections. Where I see beauty they see ugliness. What does their heaven look like? When I think about Em being in heaven she doesn't look any different to me. She still has those fabulous blue eyes, and their perfect almond shape. She still has those adorable curved pinkies.

Some people would think I am crazy for even thinking my child go through an eternity looking like she has Down syndrome. Am I?

That's the face I love, that's the face that makes me cry with a joy I never new existed. That's the face that God molded in His hands just for her.

I'm sorry that everyone cannot see the beauty that we can in our children. I'm sorry that I didn't see it until God gave me Em.

I am overjoyed that my eyes we opened to this beauty while I was still here in this world. And my image of heaven could be made even better.

These are just my ramblings and in no way what to force my beliefs on anyone. I'm just thinking out loud here. I'm definitely not wishing Em or anyone else to go through an eternity with the difficulties that accompany Down syndrome, which God wouldn't allow anyway.
Who knows what heaven will actually be like. No one here can really answer that. Except to say that anything we, with our limited abilities can imagine , God will out do a million times over. We surely will not be disappointed.

31 for 21: 21 Emmie Things :)

2011-10-18T13:42:00.001-04:00

This month, being Down syndrome awareness month seems like a good time to catch you all up on Em, and to help anyone new here to discover the joy of Down syndrome and to hopefully open your hearts and help you to see what life is like with a child who just happens to have been born with a little magic.
Here are 21 "things" about Em, in no particular order.

1. Em delights us.
2. She has just recently learned how to jump and thinks she is extremely cool!
3. She is on the verge of talking. It's so close right now, and she is determined!
4. The first day of school is October 24th!!
5. She is spoiled.
6. Em is walking unassisted up and down the stairs.
7.Emmie has attached herself to her ST's nesting cups and "yells" at whoever touches them. I consider this a little strange but we just comply and stay clear of the cups.
8. Em loves to sleep in...early mornings and getting ready for school are going to be a shock to her system.
9. She's a runner. Any chance she gets she's gone!
10. Emmie loves music and dancing.
11. Em knows when I'm on the computer and she hears music or voices that I'm watching a fellow bloggers video, and comes running from where ever she is to watch with me.
12. She is a social butterfly and always ready for a party.
13. She will make you love her by just looking at you. I've seen it happen time and time again to unsuspecting people who hadn't planned on any long term attachment... it's that magical 47th chromosome:)
14. Emmie throws a fit every time I have to brush her hair. Hates it!
15. She could live outside. She is definitely a free spirit, and running with no barriers is her favorite thing to do.
16. Her belly laugh is contagious!
17. She has a love hate relationship with bath time.
18. Emmie is convinced every small dog is a cat, and will repeatedly correct me by signing and saying cat whenever I say dog.
19. When I come into the room and she says "hi" and runs for a hug, I can hardly stand the love that I feel in my heart for her.
20. Em is extremely independent and will push you away if she does not want your help.
21. As a family the ONE and ONLY thing we can all agree on is that life with Em is extraordinary!We all love her to the extreme and she loves us all back , no questions asked. She is our sun. She lights our lives and shines so brightly on all who pass her way. She is our miracle, our magical little dumpling that we all would fight to the death for... no questions asked.

31 for 21: Clowns Of God

2011-10-17T06:27:00.001-04:00

CLOWNS OF GOD, by Morris West

I know what are you thinking.

You need a sign.

What better one could I give

than to make this little one whole and new?

I could do it; but I will not.

I am the Lord and not a conjurer.

I gave this mite a gift I denied to all of you

ETERNAL INNOCENCE

To you she looks imperfect

but to me she is flawless,

like the bud that dies unopened,

or the fledglings

that fall from the nest to be devoured by ants.

She never offended me,

as all of you have done.

She never perverted the work of My Father hands.

She is necessary to you.

She will evoke the kindness that will prompt you to

gratitude for own good fortune....more.....

she will remind you every day that I am who I am,

that My ways are not yours,

and the smallest dust mite whirled in darkest

space does not fall out of my hand.

I have chosen you.

you have not chosen me.

this little one is my sign to you.

TREASURE HER.

31 for 21: Kiss My Cheeks

2011-10-16T11:07:00.000-04:00

mmmwwwaaa! (that's my kissing sound)

31 for 21: The Sweet tooth... Is It Bigger In Kids With Down syndrome??

2011-10-15T07:16:00.000-04:00

I have no idea, there is no data on that.I'm just being silly. I'm just going by what I see. This Dumpling can smell chocolate from a room away. Can wipe out a bag of M&M's in no time flat. and will eat any flavor of ice cream...even strawberry. Now that's hard core.

If you have a sweet and you make eye contact with her consider it hers. Don't leave it unattended because she will stuff it in her mouth immediately. I've seen her devour a candy bar in two bites .Stuffs her little mouth til her cheeks are puffed out like a squirrel packing it away for winter.

Wait til Halloween. She's going to freak when people start throwing candy at her!! this is the first year that she will actually "get" what's going on.

31 for 21: Forget Me Not Friday... Miss Carina

2011-10-14T06:10:00.001-04:00

Forget Me Not Friday is here to spread the word about our kids on Reese's Rainbow. Started by Jane at Flight Platform Living. Anyone can join in!! Jane also has a gallery of their photos on her blog. if you are thinking about adoption this is a great place to fall in love:)

Today I will introduce Miss Carina.

Carina

Carina has one of the saddest little faces I have ever seen. I wonder if she smiles at all. Maybe she was just a grumpy girl when this picture was taken. Maybe she's not always so sad. Maybe...

Or maybe Carina has no reason to smile. Maybe she has lost hope of ever being loved and snuggled. if you look closely, her shirt says Daily Pleasure...does she have any pleasure in her life? What a shirt to be wearing in her situation.

I am Carina's Christmas Warrior so you'll be seeing a lot of her in the next two months, and I'm hoping and praying her mama sees her too. She's just perfect and beautiful and I can only imagine how she sparkles when she smiles.

31 for 21: IEP...Done , Em's Heart... Perfect

2011-10-13T06:33:00.001-04:00

We had a big day on Tuesday! I went to Em's IEP meeting and Peter took Emmie to the cardiologist. We both had great days. Her IEP meeting was fabulous. Emmie has such an amazing team waiting for her at school. I feel 100% confident that they will do everything we want for her. Her teacher, Miss Lisa instantly gave me that "feel good feeling". She is pleasant and confident and never flinched when I told her Emmie is a runner and a thrower. They have doorbells on all the doors in the classrooms, lol! That's going to be going off all day:)
As for her services, she qualified for all of them. She will be getting ST, OT and PT. She will be in a divided classroom with four typically developing kids and four with special needs.
Her teacher even got me excited about potty training. Em can wear pull ups to school because... when one pees they all pee. So flipppin cute!! And Emmie does learn by watching. The only small obstacle there is that Emmie is the only Princess in a class of Princes!!! Not sure the observing and learning method applies here. But hey sitting or standing, as long as she's making the connection and it gets in the bowl I'm good!

On to cardiology. Em did fantastic. She was scheduled for an echocardiogram, which i did not tell Peter about. I figured there was absolutely no way she would be still enough for them to do it. I was expecting them to suggest she be sedated. Something I really didn't want to consider. Emmie has a good heart, she's never had surgery but she was born with a Right Bundle Branch Blockage Complete. basically a wiring issue. There is no treatment for it and it does not in any way interfere with her everyday life or health. Many people have a BB but most don't even know it. The only odd thing about it is that you usually get a BB because of a trauma that your heart has been through, like a heart attack or surgery. Em's had none of that. Probably just a weird Down syndrome thing. And she was born with a small hole in her heart. Really small.
So anyway, she did it! She stayed perfectly still the whole time. I was amazed . The doctor said the hole has completely closed and as far as the BB there really is not a lot of data on them. Just watch her for any signs that her heart is having problems, like her color and if she gets tired fast all the usual things. Emmie has never shown any signs of having any sort of problems like that so I'm pretty confident as is her cardiologist that this BB will not cause any problems. She doesn't have to go back for a year.

And this would have been my header picture if Blogger would have let me up load it. Another great day apple picking.

31 for 21: A Post From One Of Brigita's "Mama's"

2011-10-12T06:08:00.003-04:00

As most of you know I have a special place in my heart for Miss Brigita. Sophia my daughter found her on Reese's Rainbow about a year ago and became her prayer warrior. Shortly after that I started to find other "mamas" who also had a special place in their hearts for Miss B. One of them Robin E, recently wrote a post about Brigita that just put it all so beautifully and perfectly. She could be speaking for all of us when she writes about Brigita. Please read her post below. Please keep Brigita in your hearts and in your prayers. This little one needs to go home. she has been waiting far too long. She is dazzling in my eyes. And I know others will see her amazing beauty too. Please read Robin's post below and fall in love with Miss Brigita, see what we see.

Big, Beautiful Smile

From the moment I saw Brigita's profile on Reece's Rainbow, I was captivated. The brightness in her eyes, along with that big, beautiful smile told me that this was a very special little girl who would add a lot of joy to some lucky family with what was surely a sparkling personality. I have thought about her night and day since then, praying constantly for her health and comfort, and for that lucky family to discover her. That was last December, two months before she turned six.

One thing that troubled me then was the possibility that the big, beautiful smile in the picture had faded away as the years went by. I am not sure when the picture was taken, but I found out at one point that Brigita had been listed with RR since at least 2009 without a profile pic. So, does that mean she was about four in the pic? Or was it taken earlier for her file, and only released to RR later? She looks so tiny, like a toddler, in the photo. I really thought she looked two or three. It just might be that when people see pictures of the older children that had obviously been taken much earlier, they might just think, "cute," and move on. They might think that the available picture may bear little resemblance to the child as he or she is now - either physically or mentally. I always wonder if that disconnect is one of the things holding Brigita back from attracting the interest she should attract.

Fast forward a bit to after I had the immense good fortune to correspond with a wonderful lady who had met Brigita in the spring of 2010, when Brigita was five. She told me that Brigita was still very small, about a 2-3T, and probably under 30 lbs. In other words, about the size of my 2 1/2 year old, but a LOT skinnier! However, she walked very well and loved to play with noisy toys, despite her hearing problem. So, that news was both a relief and a worry. Brigita was ok as of last year, but she needed to gain weight and grow. She was sturdy. She was responsive. She smiled and she laughed. (Yes! Thank God! She laughed when taken - with help - on a playground slide!) But for how long would that remain to be the case? What if she got sick? What if she continued to lose weight? What if she just gave up? That's why I pray for her everyday. Because we just don't know these things.

I have great hope for her, though, and here's why:

A smile like that isn't going to fade easily. Brigita may not have that much to smile about on a daily basis (pray with me that's not the case!), but that smile that just lights up her whole face shows something deeper and more durable in her personality. Maybe in her soul. A joie de vivre that even a short visit and a turn on a slide could bring out in all its glory. I cried big tears of relief and gratitude when I saw the spring 2010 version of that smile. The smile that prompted her good and devoted warrior, Helle, to dub her "The Cheshire Charmer." She is still there, waiting for the day that purity of spirit can be shared with a family of her very own, and she'll get all the hugs and holding she so deserves and so appreciates. Family, are you out there? There's a little prayer team out there praying for you, and for your sweet girl. We haven't given up in all this time, and we won't. We are waiting to see that big, beautiful smile again. Please God, let it be this side of heaven.

Note: I had to double check the date on this picture, because if you notice, it says 2009/05/02 in yellow on the front. Those dates are just a camera error. The owner of the picture has assured me that it was indeed taken in April of 2010, just a little over a year ago. She also told me something I had never heard before - something so beautiful I just had to quote her here:

"This picture was taken at the orphanage when we first met Little Miss. She was so happy to be getting attention and she loved the warm sun coming through the window just like a little cat. I bet she would love to just sit in the sun!"

Hoping those memories give her hope to hold on in the long days of waiting for someone to come and hold her again, and let her know she's so very loved.

Thank you Robin E for this post.

* Please if you are thinking about adoption, especially from the older girls please, pray and consider Miss B. Please keep her in your prayers, she needs to be home .

31 for 21: Summers Sweet Return

2011-10-11T07:27:00.000-04:00

Fall in New England means crunching leaves under your feet, cool days and even cooler nights. The smell in the air is a mixture of everything that has blossomed over the summer and left it's scent lingering, then add to that the smells of apples and pumpkins, grasses, and leaves. If you've ever been out in these neck of the woods you know what I'm trying to explain. It's an intoxicating battle of the seasons where sweetness and spiciness battle for the crown.

So to have a day at the beach in October is a rare and delightful treat. Yesterday we took full advantage of Summers brief return and got to enjoy a day by the ocean. We were even able to swim in the water.

Emilia ran and ran, her giggles bouncing of the waves and filling the beach.

Playing tag with the waves

Run Emmie

*btw, You probably noticed that I have no header picture. I tried to change it and now blogger won't let me upload anymore photos. Says I have reached my limit...again! But it obviously is allowing me to upload in to my post. I've switched editors back and forth and that's not working this time. If anyone has any suggestions please feel free to lend some advice.

31 for 21 : We Weep... Again

2011-10-10T08:00:00.001-04:00

Yesterday we went apple picking. It was warm and sunny and we were together as a family. Despite the moans and groans from a couple of my older children, we were together and had a good time.

When I got home I thought I'd go through the pictures get a post ready for today , change my summer background and catch up on everyone's Sunday.

I saw that my friend Polly had posted for prayers. I immediately thought "now what's happened" thinking they were for her.

Nothing in my wildest nightmares could have braced me for what she had written in her post.

I was at the dining room table , the kids were coming in slowly and getting settled, as I was reading, and obviously the tears were coming down , I just kept saying "no not again this can't be happening again". By now Peter was inside and as everyone came around ,I told them what had happened. Shock just took over their faces. Disbelief from even my little ones. They remember Carly and even their young minds new this was something horrific. Something no one should have to deal with.

Another unthinkable tragedy has struck The George Family. Most of you are familiar with Joany and Paul. Most of you remember that just a year and a half ago they were left heart broken by the loss of their beautiful Carly. Suddenly and unexpectedly she was gone.

I cannot even believe the words as I type them here, but they again have been engulfed in the unbelievable. Their son Brad is now gone too. Gone to be with Carly . All I know is that it was a house fire. Their house. I believe he was home alone.

I cannot wrap my head around this news. Maybe that's why I'm up early, unable to sleep. I cannot clear my thoughts of this tragedy. I cannot pray!! The words will not come.

WHY!!! is all I can muster when I try to pray. I'm mad that God allowed this to happen...again! This family was crippled when Carly died. The posts that Joany has written over the last 18 months express her pain in such a way that you feel it too. Both Joany and Paul have been trying so hard to go on. To live ....somehow without Carly. To find the strength to continue. Her last post , written just a few days ago was entitled ,One Day at a Time. She wrote how difficult it still was ,how hard it was going and leaving the cemetery . I get chills thinking about that post.

What are they supposed to do now?

I don't even know why I'm writing this post. I guess to reach anyone who did not hear already. Hopefully to reach people who can pray right now. Maybe just to express my feelings.

I know we will come together has a community to embrace The George Family, someone will organize something for them I'm sure. It's probably already in the works. That's just how we are out here. We come together no matter what, no matter how you know the person, whether you were close friends or just acquaintances on FB, it doesn't matter. When one of us is down the others lift them up. No words needed. When one has fallen,we all weep.
I just can't fathom how they will find the strength , again. I can't fathom the amount of pain they are in right now. My head hurts from trying to figure this out. And a friend on FB posted something that made sense in all this mess. She was paraphrasing , St Augustan ...

With my finite mind I can no more comprehend the ways of the Lord than I can contain the waters of the ocean with a bucket

31 for 21:Sharing Sunday

2011-10-09T08:00:00.002-04:00

Well I know I usually write a Thankful Sunday post on Sunday's but I've been slacking on those the last few weeks. Maybe a little change is in order. And Miss Jane at Flight Platform Living is on a roll! Actually the girl is on Fire!!! She has started the Forget Me Not Friday blog hop, advocating for orphans, and now she has started her Sharing Sunday Posts.

Anyone can link up and share whatever they want to. A fundraiser , a special event in their lives , their children , orphans... you name it.

Today I'm sharing about a gal named Faith. What an appropriate name. I met her on FB , when she was hinting around at "possibly" adopting a little one from Reese's Rainbow in very dire straights. There was a true giddiness in her posts.

And I decided right there and then that I liked this chick and would follow her journey . At the time of her hinting, there was a little fellow named Josiah in need of some immediate rescuing and we were all hoping that he is who Faith was talking about.

Josiah

Faith moved quickly and yes, she swooped in and has committed to Josiah.

Faith has a blog set up for Josiah, called Ransoming An Angel, there you can read the whole story . Faith is one amazing person. Just read her "about me" and you will see what I mean. But read the blog too. lol!!!

And here is the link to her fundraisers going on now. And I need to mention the urgency in Josiah's rescue. He has run out of time. He has already been transferred. Faith just needs to raise the money and get him home as fast as possible.

Thanks:)

And Happy Sunday. We will be enjoying summer like weather today!! What a treat!

31 for 21: Stairs... Check

2011-10-08T06:46:00.000-04:00

Well Miss Em has been at it again. She has decided to learn how to go down the stairs ALONE! She has been going up and down for a while now, but holding my hand. Up she has been doing alone for the most part, but I never let her go down by herself. Our PT advised us to take the gate down... WHAT!!! And watch my baby girl fall head over heels down the stairs! I just couldn't do it.

Then the gate broke:( It was on it's way out to begin with. It's had a few mishaps in the last couple of years. But the other day I just had to throw it out. We were going to replace it, but then we saw this.

see ya!

Thanks Em you just saved us 40 bucks , no new gate needed!

Now the problem of having her roaming around downstairs, lots of trouble she can get into down there. Miss Em is a master slinker. Before you even realize it, she has quietly slinked away to investigate/destroy something.
And lets all hope my other lovies who occasionally have "tails" don't leave the front door open.
Guess we better hide the car keys too :)

Yesterday she walked down the stairs, pointed to the front door and said "that"!!! She told me she wanted to go outside!! It's coming!!! That little head of hers is working overtime, and those words are coming!

31 for 21: Forget Me Not Friday

2011-10-07T07:13:00.003-04:00

It's Friday again! Time for Forget Me Not Friday. My lovely friend Jane, from Flight Platform Living, who has a heart overflowing with love for the orphan has started a beautiful tribute to them on Fridays. She welcomes bloggers to link up their posts and has also started a gallery of gorgeous little ones all waiting for their forever families.

31 for 21: Siblings and Therapies

2011-10-06T08:01:00.002-04:00

Some people will think that having a child with Down syndrome will take away attention from the other children in the family. Parents my think they will not have time to deal with a child with a disability and their typical children. And to a certain extent that is true. A medically fragile child (whether that child have Down syndrome or any other medical condition) will demand more attention, but, if anything the typical siblings will feel more needed. They will more than likely have to help out, and that is great! They will and should be included in caring for their new sibling.

Emilia was blessed to be born very healthy, she has no major medical concerns. What she does have is a very busy schedule of therapies. For the past three years our Early Intervention team have been literally part of our family. On almost every day of the week she was either being visited or attending a group session.

Schedules have been arranged around Miss Em's therapies. During the summer we did things after PT. We went to the beach after Speech. Grocery shopping was done after OT.

And it's ok! It works. You just make it work. It becomes second nature.

I can speak for my kids and say that since Em has taken her place in our family, they have almost never had a gripe about her therapies interfering with their lives. Sophia did ask that we reschedule Miss Em's speech when it fell on her birthday, but other than that it's been pretty smooth. It's actually been a learning experience for them. When they are home , they partake in the therapies, they learn new techniques to use with Emmie. They play with her in a way that she will learn more and be more interested. They know how to walk with her up and down the stairs, they know to sit facing her when playing or reading as it's more beneficial. They work on the things that her OT is working on. Without even realizing it they have incorporated her therapies into our /their every day routines.

Here is a great video of Andrew playing soccer with Emmie. Without even thinking he has adapted the soccer game so Em can play with him. He's having fun , she's having fun and she kicked the ball!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

31 for 21: Enter With Your Heart Only

2011-10-05T06:33:00.003-04:00

Two and a half years ago when I started this blog it was a place to talk about Emmie ... period. She had come into our lives and overtaken us. She crept into every nook and crannie of our hearts. I wanted to share her with everyone. I wanted everyone to see and feel the joy that we all did because of Em,

About six months or so into blogging I somehow stumbled onto Reese's Rainbow and then to Lera. And things changed. I still wanted to share Emmie, I wanted to ease any fears people had about Down syndrome, but now there was something else I felt I had to do.

Not only was I an advocate for my own Dumpling but I strongly felt God telling me to be a voice for the orphan. The lest of His people. The meekest and smallest. The one no one cares about or even knows exists. The orphan hidden away in orphanages in Eastern European countries. The ones that will die if not rescued. The ones just like Emmie.

I really wasn't sure how to go about doing this. I'm a small time blogger, with a small following. I don't reach many people. I'm not really a prime candidate for this.

But the tugging was there, and it was getting stronger.

So in obedience to God I started advocating , writing posts, trying to support as many families as possible.

Sometimes people listen but for the most part I think my ramblings just drift off and swirl around like the wind. But that's okay. I don't expect to do great things.

I love the life of St Therese and find great comfort and inspiration in reading about her life, she was just an ordinary girl, she did nothing extraordinary during her life.She even referred to herself as "a little grain of sand" But she is one of the greatest Saints of all time, because of her simple life. She just did what God called her to do.

"Jesus does not ask for great achievements: only surrender and gratitude".

St. Therese of Lisieux

A friend of mine, April who blogs at The Narretto Family feels the same way I do about our special orphans. There is one in particular that has stolen her heart, and in obedience she has become his voice. She is having her first give away for Bogdan.

We all know the importance of having a good account on Reese's Rainbow. April is putting herself out there to help. She has put aside the fears, and the "what ifs" and she is doing what God is leading her to do... For Him.

Please today, right now, GO. Support a child who needs a home. Support April's giveaway. This is her heart here. She loves this little boy so much. Please act now, think later! And in the case of an orphan always follow your heart, leave your head out of it!!!

There is no place for logic when advocating for these sweets. Their situation is not logical. It's desperate. This is a job for the heart. I do truly believe that some jobs are just for the heart. If you think about how enormous the job of advocating is, the amount of money needed, and then the chances of finding parents for a child on the other side of the country, it will knock the wind out of you. Your brain will immediately tell you this is impossible to achieve. But your heart will whisper... it can be done:)

This is my small part to help. If we all do a small part , it will grow in to something huge. We are a community, we are friends, we support each other. Please do your small part today. Visit the giveaway, write a quick post, put Bogdan's picture up on your blog or FB. His mama may see him!! All these things just take a minute, and can quite possibly save a life.

"Jesus does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, or even at their difficulty, as at the love with which we do them."
St. Therese of Lisieux

today let your heart take the lead...

31 for 21: A Possible TMI

2011-10-04T06:20:00.000-04:00

Here's proof that kids with Down syndrome can be just as goofy as their typical siblings. Miss Em is developing quite a sense of humor... or quite possibly these goggles were doubling as a gas mask to reduce the risk of passing out. You see at the time of this picture taking Miss Em had a little "something" brewing in her diaper. Her little "somethings" have the capability of peeling the paint right off the walls. No one, not even she, can stand it for long.

Either way it shows comedic relief, (as I was laughing myself sick watching her antics), and MacGyver ingenuity on how to survive a malodorous situation.

We love our stinky, silly, Little Dumpling.

31 for 21: Shine

2011-10-03T07:33:00.002-04:00

As I sit here this morning thinking about all the fun we had at the Buddy Walk yesterday, and all the people I've met these last three years since Emmie burst on to the scene, I really cannot imagine my life any other way. Down syndrome is and always will be part of my life. I am grateful for that. My life is better because of that.

I'm not afraid of Down syndrome anymore. I don't buy into the stereotypes that society has made up. The myths about Down syndrome are almost laughable to me... now.

Why then, in this day and age , are so many people still living in caves when it comes to Down syndrome. And forgive me, but too many of those people are in the medical profession. There are of course some very good and supportive doctors out there, the ones that encourage and congratulate you on the blessing of Down syndrome, but they are few and far between.

Why is it that the words Down syndrome can still set a fear in people that send them into a tailspin. A fear so strong that most think their only way out, their only salvation, is to end the life of their poor cursed baby before it ever has a chance to see the light of day.

Why can't people listen to others and believe that Down syndrome is a gift? That people with Down syndrome are simply magical?

I'll tell you why. Because for most people, myself included, it is unbelievable. It's inconceivable that a child born with any disability would be a good thing. I mean we pray as mothers for healthy children. Why would you be happy to have a child who will always have to work harder to do everything? It just doesn't make sense...

...until, you live it. Until you hold it in your arms and inhale every miraculous fiber of it. Then and only then are your eyes fully opened to the blessing of Down syndrome.

So what are we to do? We can't give every person a child with Down syndrome. We can't force people to believe what we are saying.How do we reach people who don't understand. People like the person I used to be.

We keep on keeping on. We "fight the good fight" We persevere. We celebrate our kids loud and often for all to see!

There's a song by the Newsboys that speaks about glorifying the Lord but there is a line in there that makes me think of us, advocating for our kids and what we need to do, continually to open eyes and hearts.

Shine
Make 'em wonder what you've got
Make 'em wish that they were not
On the outside looking bored
So SHINE! Just as our kids do we need to SHINE. Til people realize what we've got!