More Ridiculous Things Em Will Wear on Her Head

  They just keep coming. 

It's a dolls hat, just in case you were wondering. Emmie has the smallest head in the world! I think I could fit it in my pocket. This hat fits her better than the doll it came with.

Good Morning!

Have a great Sunday:)

My Cup Overfloweth

A while back I somehow found a blog called My Cup Overfloweth, and was stopped dead in my tracks by it's beauty. It wasn't the design of the blog that got to me, it was the beauty of the family. They are just breath taking, inside and out. When I met this family they were trying to bring home their little boy Solomon, from China.  Solomon has come home, and so has their youngest daughter Jubilee. 


I don't stop by as often as I should and that upsets me. There just are not enough hours in the day to visit every blog that I love. This morning I was trying to catch up, and boy did I miss a lot!!!


Stacy, the mama, at My Cup Overfloweth, is a runner. That I knew. But, what she is doing with her running I did not know!  She has turned her running, which to most people is a healthy hobby, into using it to glorify God!




Stacy's heart is in China. She is a constant voice for the orphans there. That is her special niche. That is where God has placed her to do His work. And she does an amazing job!


What I just caught up on today, inspired me to share it with you. She is running with a group of woman. They run for the glory of God, and by His strength. And now they are running with the sole purpose of raising money for a baby boy named Herschel who is in China. Who has no family to love him. Who has a heart condition that if not corrected will eventually lead to his death.  Read about, Team His Strength

"Herschel is a precious two month-old baby boy who has been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect that includes Transposition of the Great Arteries. Because of this, Herschel’s doctors recommend surgery to repair his heart before he misses the “window of opportunity” for an optimal surgical repair. Herschel’s diagnosis also includes ASD, VSD, and possible Pulmonary Stenosis"

Herschel

They run for Him, and they run for Herschel.  

I needed to share this today. Maybe God wanted me to. Maybe someone needed to see this. My roll is not that of a great money raiser, I don't draw huge crowds that hang on my every word. But God has given me a wonderful task. One I take great honor in being handed. I am a seed planter.  I may or may not ever see any harvest from my planting. But that's ok, because I have done my job. I was inspired to plant this seed today and I did. 


Herschel needs prayers, he needs funding, he needs a family and he needs a miracle.


Which part of that can you help him with.

Time is Running Out...

To vote for Emilia!!!! She is in 4th place:(  In the Beautiful Baby Contest.
If you haven't voted please vote today! If you have voted than THANK YOU!! Now could you please share:)


And I know it's tough! There are a lot of friends out there!! I know so many of the Beautiful Babies!! I didn't even vote for Emilia, I used my vote for someone else! But her Daddy voted for her:)


You can vote here

Typical

I'm bored

Picky , Picky, and Picky!

Do your kids like to eat? Do they eat well for you? Emilia has the appetite of a horse, but it's what she eats, or rather won't eat that's the problem. 

When she was younger she ate everything! I thought she was going to be the best and healthiest eater of the bunch. Then she slowly started changing. She decided veggies were for wimps and won't even look at them.    She even makes a scary face when I try to give her grapes! They were her all time favorite until recently. 


It's getting harder and harder to think of things to feed her. She can't live on scrambled eggs and popcorn forever!


Of course she can polish off a bag of Cheetos, in just minutes, Oreos, pizza, and M&M's just make her goofy happy. And just let me clear my name by stating we don't give her these foods on a regular basis and I have never given her Cheetos, washed down with M&M's  for lunch. Popcorn yes, but never Cheetos! LOL


Lately more food has been flung to the floor in disgust by Em than I care to discuss! 


Could use some pointers here , because she can't possibly be getting every thing she needs in popcorn. Even if it is kettle corn!


We've added a daily vitamin to her diet. She loves it.... of course she does, it's gummy and sweet!

Oh What's this?

Of course  steak and cheese was voted as an acceptable food by Miss.Em .

So please help me out here. She's the pickiest of the bunch now!I'm not very creative on camouflaging food.


Anyone else dealing with a food critic at home!!

Ball Pit Photo Of The Week: A lesson In Noodle Eating

The ball pit has so many uses it's hard to keep track. It also doubles as a table for one! For those times when you just want to eat your noodles alone, and in peace with no one watching. 

Dinner for one  is served.

While dining alone, Emilia soon realizes she has no need for utensils. Her fingers can grab much more than that fork. And no one is looking anyway... right?

Emilia, being the smarty pants she is, soon makes another remarkable discovery. Why get your hands dirty when you can just jump in face first.

Yup that's our girl!

Teamwork Tuesday :Sweet Isaiah!!

This is a tough one. Not lot of info, no new pictures , no stories from people who have met him. 


Just a name, age and photo. Meet Isaiah

Isaiah Birth Date: July 2006
Gender: Male
Eyes: Gray
Hair: light brown

$2451.35 is available towards the cost of my adoption! 

 

 

 

In July he will be six. What do little boys do when they are six? Andrew started baseball, well T ball. We went to summer night games and had hot dogs and routed our little guy on. I bet Isaiah would love to play baseball on day.  His birthday won't bring anything like that this year. Maybe a transfer to an institution. Another year of waiting for his family, more lonely nights without any dreams. I mean what can he dream about. He has no joy to remember.

Please, keep Isaiah in you prayers. Please share. 

Other Teamwork Tuesday children:

Russell

Wyatt and Chandler

Robert

This is Urgent!

My incredible friend Jane whose heart beats in time with Jesus' when it come to orphans has left me speechless.  I cannot do her story justice so I am reposting it here.  When you get to the end of this post you will see a photo of two little girls. Samantha and Kristina, they are sisters, and they stole my heart a couple of months ago, when I saw them on Reece's Rainbow. What stopped me dead in my tracks were their birthdays. November 22, and November 27th. My son and husbands birthdays! I'm their prayer warrior now and what has filled my head since finding them is wondering where they actually are, are they ok, are they still together, are they sick, does anyone even know they are alive, or even care.
Soon my friend Jane will know the answer to all these questions. She is going there, to them. She will see them and hold them. I became their Prayer warrior, and God is answering MY prayers. All my questions will be answered, and not by a stranger, or hearsay, but by my friend. I will admit I'm afraid of the answers. I'm afraid what Jane will tell me when she gets back. But I'm so thankful for this miracle. Of all the places they could be or Jane could go, God is putting them together. And because she is going there, I can be certain that Samantha and Kristina and all the others will feel love, if even for a moment, but they will remember what love feels like forever!God speed dear friend. My heart is with you!

Music for Bobby! Please Re-Post!

My trip is very soon to that 'remote institution' that is Bobby's home.

You can help! I need your help!

Thank God my path has led me to the amazing work of 'The Happy Child Foundation'. These are the people who will try to open doors for me to see the children and find ways to help. Visit here  to see the amazing work they are doing.

So as I make plans to leave I quickly realise that I simply cannot go empty handed! The dilemma... I don't really have the finances for the trip  itself,  let alone to arrive armed with gifts and much needed items!!

So here is where you can help and I pray that you will!!

In the lead up to valentines day, our celebration of love, I need a 2 week fund raising miracle!

Can we bring about a TRUE LOVE VALENTINE MIRACLE for these children?

Could you spare the money you would spend on a card or a rose or a meal for 2 for the children of 50?

Provided byFundraising Ideas Center

 Albert Pavlov...founder of the foundation in initial contacts has told me the children really need musical instruments and writing/art supplies! So a shopping trip together when I arrive is planned before we visit! But without your help it will simply be 'window shopping'! Can you help me build a pot of money for this shopping trip to bring music and art to the children at orphanage 50? It will be hand-picked equipment by people who know what is really needed and useful and then hand delivered. Can you help?

I remember the excitement of being a child and the instruments being brought out of the classroom cupboard...do you? Could we bring moments like this to these children so desperate  for their days to have something within them apart from the same 4 walls and the bars of a cot!

The Happy Child Foundation can take pay pal donations through this link  at Eleanors Kids, its sister charity in theUSA...  http://deti.zp.ua/eng/paypal.php  donations here can be collected into a pot of money to shop with when I arrive. If you do donate you will need to say at the point of your donation what your money is for. Please make sure you say it's for 'Music and Art for Bobby'. This will ensure the money is kept separate and available to spend when I get there with the full support of the 'Happy Child Foundation ' staff to ensure that only the most appropriate equipment possible is purchased!

I would also love enough funds to stock the institution in nappies for a week!

One trip by the Happy Child Foundation delivering nappies!

It costs $150 a day for nappies! $150 x7...Could we manage this as well? Lack of nappies, bed sores and the repercussions of this unacceptable situation must be unbearable for the children and the staff trying to care for them...could we help? Again just donate on the link above with the same code, 'Music and Art for Bobby'!

Bring some sunshine into the lives of the children at Orphanage 50! Not only the nine beautiful little souls listed at Reece's Rainbow but all of them!




Tania



Stacy



Bobby




Evan



Alix



Jason



Katrina



Samantha and Kristina



Samantha is the eldest of the sisters.



Help them make some music and draw some pictures.
Give true love this valentines!

Let's help them to LIVE for no child is simply born to die!

The children's graves at Bobby's home!


Please help me help these children and the people trying to care for them!

Please share and help spread the word for the children of orphanage 50!

Let the Voting Begin

I NEVER, and I repeat NEVER enter contests. Until now! I entered Emilia in the Beautiful Baby Contest that three families put together to help with cost of their adoptions. They are bringing home four children! They are RESCUING four children to be exact!

Aren't they all so beautiful!!


Anyway Emilia is in the running, and I would appreciate the votes! I hope I don't turn in to one of those crazy pageant moms!!LOL


Could you just picture Em in full glitz!! HAHA!!!Not to worry this is about as far as I go!
This is the photo I entered. I think it's my all time favorite!

This should be a lot of fun and it's for the best cause ever!!
Just click on Emilia's name in the poll!
Vote here and thanks!

Before The Super Bowl

The sky is cloudless and the sun is just coming up through the trees. It's quiet and still and just how a Sunday morning should be.  We will be going to church soon, and then dinner at my mom's house. I have the movie Courageous that we rented and would like to watch that this afternoon too.  A lot to do before the big game.


Oh, we'll be watching that's for sure. I mean it's our hometown playing ! Where else would we be!


Well a little over a year ago, I guess I would say, there's no where else I would be. February 5th had no significant meaning to me.  But a day back in November of 2010, when my daughter Sophia, showed me a picture of Brigita  on Reece's Rainbow,  changed that. We sat there and looked at Brigita, and the first thought I had was, why did you lead her to this child, God. This child is going to break her heart.

 

She was already almost six years old. I feared the worst for Brigita and wanted to protect Sophia. But Sophia had other plans. She wanted to be her Prayer Warrior, and she started blogging about Brigita. I was not going to stop her as her mind was already made up. I did try to stay dis-attached.  That lasted for about five minutes. Then I found myself looking at Miss B's picture and checking on her daily, and blogging about her myself. We feel in love and we feel head over heels!!


I was wondering what God was up to. How was an 11 year old child and her mother going to do anything for this child so far away. 


Then I saw it!!! A post written by a woman, and she was writing about our Brigita!!  She referred to Brigita as The Cheshire Charmer, because of her adorable smile. I sat and cried because I found someone else who loved Brigita.  My friend Helle all the way in Norway, was Brigita's RR Warrior!! 


Now there were two!!! Two mama's to love Miss B, and advocate for her!!


But wait, Helle had some news!!! She knew another Mama! Kelly!! And Kelly had a direct link to Miss B!!! Kelly had been to the orphanage!!She had actually held her and loved on her!! 

THREE Mama's!!!


Then I met a very quiet and sweet woman. Who already knew Helle and Kelly. I saw a comment she left one day on Helle's blog and it just made me smile!  She loved Miss B too!!! In came Lauren!


FOUR Mama's!!! 


Can you believe, through Sophia finding a picture of Brigita, to all of us meeting and all of us loving this one little girl!  We are scattered all over the country and Norway!!! Yet one little girl made us friends, and advocates! 


We exchanged emails and stayed in touch. We would randomly pray Novena's to St. Rita to find Brigita's real mama!  Yes, all four of us would walk through fire to rescue Brigita, but for various reasons, none of us could adopt her at this time. 


We have been together as friends and advocates, praying together, when necessary crying together and always supporting each other, for over a year now. 

Then a woman named Dee emailed me on Christmas Eve. She told me how she loved Brigita and wanted so much to be her mama! Her real mama! She wanted to adopt her!!  We, "the mama's" were saying a  Christmas Novena for Brigita, Novena's are a nine day prayer, and Christmas was day nine! I found out Miss B was going home on Christmas Eve! Could God have given me anything better??? Well just to make it perfect.... Dee lives on the East Coast, so yes He could and did make it better!! I will hold that Dumpling in my arms one day!!  


Then one day a friend, Christina on FB, announced that she saw a child on RR that she fell in love with. She referred to her as her daughter. I smiled and thought that was nice,and went to her wall to see who the Dumpling was. You know where this is going right?? Yup! Brigita!

MAMA # 5!!!!

I was seriously overwhelmed and sent her a message explaining everything about Brigita's other mothers and Dee. Christina jumped in with both feet and started a group on FB to support Dee and started fund raising right away to help with the up front expenses. She is indispensable and God knew we needed her!!




And on this very special day, seven years ago God started his plan for Brigita and her "mama's". Seven years ago today a baby was born. A baby whose mother said NO!
A baby unwanted, and unloved. A beautiful baby girl, with Down syndrome FAS, and most likely other delays. A little girl who would have to wait over seven years to know love. 

I cannot count the prayers that have been said for this child, just like I cannot count the tears that have been shed. There were days when we all were so down about Brigita. Days when emails were written through tears. Always the same... where is her mama??? 

Today on her special day, before the big game, The Super Bowl, please could you send Brigita a birthday gift. A small gift. A gift from your heart. This isn't a fund raiser. I don't expect thousands , or even hundreds of dollars Just a birthday gift to a child who is coming home, to a mother trying to make it happen as quickly as possible.   I just want this day acknowledged, it's her day, her special day. And when she is older and home, Dee will tell her that on her seventh birthday, even though she was still far away, she wasn't alone. That people across the ocean took a minute to send her a gift. A gift that was used to bring her home! 

Hacked!!!!!

Insert cute yet diabolical laugh

Hey peeps! It's Emmie!!!! I have never done anything like this before!!! Moms busy, curling hair and getting things in order for my sisters. Tonight is the Father/ Daughter dance at school.  So I thought I would take this opportunity to take over the blog for a moment. 

Mom has been doing this weird happy dance lately. She says it's because Brigita is finally coming home. 

 This is Brigita. She is really cute. Mom says that she is going to be living close enough for us to go see her when she is home. After mom says this, she gets all teary eyed. I think mom really loves Brigita.






Mommy said tomorrow is a really special day. I say, "yeah, it's the Super Bowl!!! Go Pat's!!!!"


Mommy said, "No, there is something even more special happening."

Get this! Tomorrow is Brigita's birthday!! She is going to be 7 years old!!! And it's the last birthday she will ever have without her mommy!! Again, mom gets all teary when she says this.

Mom said we are going to have cake and celebrate Miss B tomorrow. 


Then I heard mom mumble something about money. And get teary eyed again. What's up with all the tears. 


I guess money is something Brigita needs. Or maybe Brigita's mommy. Well, I got some money on my birthday from people who love me.  Maybe people who love Brigita will give her some money on her birthday too. Do you love Brigita?? 

Seems pretty simple. Mom says there's a place you can put the money to keep safe until Brigita is ready to come home. Something like a Rainbow place. I didn't understand that word.


Maybe before the game comes on tomorrow we can all give a little surprise to Brigita and her mommy. It would be her very first birthday present. Imagine that! Seven years old and never getting a birthday present!!




Mom said people are going to be really busy tomorrow with the game. Then she mumbled something about money again. I think she was a little mad. I heard her say people spend millions of  that money stuff on the game. Then she yelled "A game!! A game, they can spend ,millions on! What about important things like the lives of children!!!" Mommy occasionally does this thing she calls venting. I think it's a good thing because after she's done "venting" she seems all normal again.


Well I have to go, before mom sees me. I'm cute and get away with a lot but this is probably going to get me some real time in the corner. Mom is really protective of this blog. She says it's a very special place and doesn't want anyone to mess with it. 


I just wanted to help my new friend Brigita have a nice birthday.So if you aren't too busy maybe you could give her just a little bit of that money stuff for her birthday. Mom says little things all together make a big thing. I don't really understand that, but mom says it a lot ,so it must be true.


See ya... when  I get out of the corner.










 

My Own Food Challenges/Issues

I have to admit. I don't like food messes. I like clean little faces. But Emmie on the other hand LOVES spreading her food all over her face. In fact her signature move, as I call it, is when she has a face full of some spreadable gloppy, gooey, food and brings both equally messy hands up to her face, places them on her cheeks, then smooths them all the way up her face and runs them through her hair, repeatedly!  


Knowing that this is coming, I do prefer to feed her really messy food. But, I can't do that forever, so I've been rising to the challenge of getting over my own food phobia and letting Miss Em have the messy stuff.  


Look how good she is getting!

How can I deny her this happiness!  And notice how clean she is keeping the spoon by using her hand instead! lol

Game On!

Of all the things Miss Em did in school this week, this was definitely one of THE most important!

How could she watch the big game without her Official Super Bowl Sunday Hat!! 




Don't forget to enter your photo, for The Beautiful Baby contest, before the big game on Sunday!!!

You will be supporting three families who are adopting four precious loves!!! 


Meet the Families, See the Details and Entry form here.

Beautiful Baby Contest, Deadline and Questions??

Enter  contest here!!

I'm shocked that there are not hundreds of crazy, proud moms flocking to this contest! I know so many of you with beautiful babies age 0- 3!  What's up?? 


There is a great prize given away,  and it supports three families who are bringing home FOUR children through Reece's Rainbow!


I was thinking maybe there is some confusion as to who can enter. 


ANYONE with a child age 0-3 can enter this contest. 


Your child does not have to have Down syndrome or be adopted.


Your child does not have to have special needs of any kind to enter this contest. This contest is open to ALL!!


You do not have to be friends on FB with anyone of the families running this contest.


You do not have to belong to any FB group in order to enter this contest!! So if your neighbor has a cute kid tell them about this contest.


Yes you can still enter if your friend has entered. This is a friendly contest, vote for each other:)

Any and all are welcome!!


$25.00 donation and the kid of your choice and you're in!;)

These four beautiful babies are who you  will be supporting by entering this contest!!! 


The winners, one boy and one girl will each receive a $150.00 Target gift card! Who doesn't need that!!!


There are still a few days left, so please grab your baby and your camera and get that winning photo submitted!!


And yes that little one, Nellie was mine!! I was her Reece's Rainbow Warrior!!  So this contest has an extra special place in my heart!! 


You can submit a photo until February 5th and the voting begins on February 6th- 14th! 




If you cannot enter than please share this!!! I know there is no shortage of beautiful babies out there!!



ENTER HERE

This Face Scares Me.... a Little

It's the attitude that sends shivers down my spine! After I just got through with my "don't make a mess with the popcorn speech"! I turn around to this disaster. But look at her face! She is unphased  by my obvious disapproval, my tsk, tsk, tsk, doesn't even raise one of her cute little eyebrows. She just sits with that "what are you going to do about it " stare. And I think... I'm in some deep poop!


So as any good parent would do, I picked my battle! This was not one of them. You win Em! Enjoy the popcorn ;)

The Ever Progressing Miss Emilia!

School ROCKS!!!!!!! I never thought I would say that but it has been the BEST thing for Em. I know I will have my battles when she changes school and gets older but for right now we are both LOVIN' it!!!


She's a Little Miss Smarty Pants!! Her receptive and expressive language are just exploding!! 


Yesterday, Sophia was in the dining room with a popcorn. You know the stuff Em would kill and maim for. Well, Em was in the living room with her favorite video and it was getting to the really good part where Em can dance along. She was walking back and forth , between pieces of popcorn, and bits of video , but that just was not working for Em.What's a kid to do! Split between to loves!!
Get this! Emmie goes to the closet where I keep my plastic containers, takes one out and brings it to Sophia! Problem solved! Sophia put some popcorn in her bowl and off she went to watch her video! Normally this is what I do, but I did not intervene this time! She problem solved!!!!!!! 

She says "all done" clear as a bell!!! Book and bubbles! She has had these words for a while but now they are so clear.


Her progress report from school was great!!! Emmie is also following one step directions there and doing fabulous!!


There are still moments where she flings herself to the ground in frustration, and times I just don't kn ow what's wrong, but that light of hope just keeps getting brighter and brighter. She amazes us daily, and we are blessed , so blessed to be in her life!

The Village Did It

Of course!!


Charlotte's Mama and Daddy will be traveling , the goal was met!!! In just HOURS ,not days!!




Next goal... FULLY FUNDED!


We can't stop now!!


This Dumpling is at stake!

So go here all you Aunties and Uncles, Cousins and fellow villagers! This child is ours, she's one of ours!! We are family out here and she needs to come home!

Don't Tell This Face No

 She's heard "No" for four years! 

 

$3800.00 in 48 hours! 



This village can and WILL do it!




"YES" Charlotte , your mama is coming!




Do not let there be any more "no's" for Charlotte.

Support here! 

Pray anywhere,

Share everywhere


Just DO something!

When The Going Gets Tough...

WE RALLY! When one of our own is in trouble... WE RALLY! When a family is in need of support... WE CARRY THEM!

This is Charlotte, soon to become Miss Charlotte Dirkes! 




Her mama and daddy are taking her home soon! There court date is in just days!!! They have everything ready, especially their hearts!! 

They have already meet each other and both sides gave a big thumbs up! Love at first sight!
Aren't they both so beautiful!!!




So it all looks perfect. Except for one small problem. The Dirkes are not yet fully funded.


This is where we come in. This is where we rally. We carry, we support a fellow family doing something to save a life of a child. This is where we can no longer sit back. This is the time to act, and to do what you can to help The Dirkes bring Charlotte all the way home to everything wonderful that is waiting for her!




I really don't want to imagine The Dirkes stress level at this point. I don't want to imagine what they are thinking, their doubts and fears. But the one thing I really don't want them to think is that they are alone. It takes a village to bring home a child, and we are that village. We have brought home many children together, we have been part of the miracle time and time again! This one is no different. We just need to rally!

It's not impossible, it's really rather easy if we all chip in together. We are a community of families who get it!  We understand the importance of getting these Dumplings home as soon as possible. We understand Down syndrome is a joy, and we understand that being an orphan in EE is a death sentence.So let's just Get The Job Done for a fellow friend! 


Kelly's giveaway which is magnificent is here. Please show her your support. she shouldn't have to stress right now about money. She should just be busy getting ready to see her daughter again! Please do what you can! And as I always say!!! Sharing and praying are as important as donating!!!!! So please pass this along!!! You never know who will be reading, please!