Family 2013

Family 2013
Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

2 Less Orphans BABY ! Gods plans..

Look to the right side bar.
See Gavin's button? Gavin is on his way to a very remote "mental institution" for children 4- 25 :(  
Gavin has always had my heart. Gavin has Down Syndrome and is in the same orphanage has our babies Taiya and Benji. ACTUALLY- Gavin is in THE SAME LAYING DOWN ROOM
AS OUR TAIYA WAS :(  I saw him, looked into his eyes. At the time he was familiar to me, but I didn't place him as Gavin. We all thought Gavin was higher functioning and in a good room . He is 6 and his time has run out . A baby. Like my baby. Going to a horrible lonely place...to die. Alone.

Oh wait a minute !!
NO HE'S NOT ! ;)

My sweet friend Lindy and her hubby (and her awesome , sweet kiddos , Genesis, Jude and Zane:) have stepped forward to adopt Gavin ! This baby boy who has sensory issues, is very small for his age, doesn't walk, talk or do much, will HAVE A MAMA AND A PAPA !! Oh baby boy your life is about to change in an amazing way !! Hang on sweet boy !!

But That wasn't enough.

They have also stepped up to adopt the last child at Orphanage 20 with Down syndrome  who is eligible for adoption.( Sadly many parents never release their parental rights and the children are given a life sentence of orphanages and mental institutions :( 

Sweet Tristan !!



 He is 5 and .......he is now in Benji's old room !!! He filled Benji's spot when he left ! How amazing and so like GOD to weave this whole thing to mirror our adoption, and bring our home school friend back from Tennessee where they had moved for a year or so , to Florida not only to our rural town but 5 minutes from our house !!
I sit in awe when I look back at the road the Lord paves for us and just waits while we walk it :)

This is Lindy's blog - visit and say hello :)


2 beautiful children have found their families and they are going to be my neighbors !! Oh yes I am so flipping happy for my friend, these beautiful boys and me :) heehee :)

Btw- the family adopting Benji's best friend , was a childhood friend of my friend Lindy! I asked her to cross post Sasha's picture on face book and BAM ! Another mama found her child ! Be still my heart. Seriously Crazy !!
Can you see my smile ????

Btw- Benji is now only flushing the toilet about 4 times after using the potty or not using the potty ;) versus the 152 times he was flushing :)

Some cuteness just cause it would be wrong NOT to share :)


 My beautiful strong survivor :)

 My 3 little sweeties :) look at Taiyas face how full of life !

Oh how I love my Ethiopian sweetie :):)
Hugs !!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Sisters love :)


My teeny Baby girl has finally learned how to climb out of her crib :( well where do you think she goes?

IN TAIYA'S CRIB!

How stinkin cute is that? I have found them cuddled together the last few nights :) I love that Baby girl sees Taiya as her "baby sister" even though Taiya will be 5 (gasp!) next month and Baby girl is only 2 :)
I gotta say with a champion like Baby girl on her side, Taiya has nothing to worry about in life :):)
Baby girl is one tough little Ethiopian ;)

Hugs !!!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Thank you from Baby Anna & BF finds a home !!

Thank you , to everyone who prayed for, and gave  our baby Anna a birthday gift :) Her grant has grown by $200 ! That is 200 steps closer to bringing her home :)

AND IN BIG NEWS-

 Remember this sweetie? This is Benji's best friend since they were little babies. Truly they were more like brothers. In the insecure world of an orphanage these 2 little boys formed a bond and cared for each other. They were constantly hugging or holding hands. It was so sweet and broke our hearts at the same time. We vowed to find  a way to have "sasha" listed on Reeces Rainbow and work so very hard to find him a family of his own. At the time we couldnt bring him home since we werent approved for 3 children :(
Well just a few weeks ago after many emails to Andrea ;) finally Sasha was on Reeces Rainbow ! I worked hard to advocate for him and asked friends to cross post, AND IT WORKED ! His family has found him just in time !! This tiny boy is 6 and was destined to the institution very very soon :(
We couldnt be his family at this time, since we are commited to Baby Anna and they are in two different cities far apart. Yes we would have gone back for him if he didnt find a family, but we couldnt bear to see this sweet little boy step one foot into a dark scary institution. He may not have survived it .
He will be a big brother to a beautiful little boy. His soon to be family is in the military so he will have a very exciting life :):)


Sasha we love you and are so happy for you !! We are praying we will be able to get the boys together so they can continue the bond they have .

hugs !!!!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

The Best Gift-Drum roll please .....

You know what they say - " it's better to give than to receive "
I believe that's true .
What about giving a gift that keeps on giving ?
That's pretty cool too right ?
How about putting others before yourself ? Great rule to live by.

And one of my favorites is the plan to  "Live your life storing up Godly treasure Not Worldly treasures ." another important lesson to live by.
(I have a point I promise :)


Meet Sweet Baby Anna -




Today is her birthday . She is turning 3.
She lives in an orphanage in Europe. Do you think anyone is bringing her a little cake or a cute little hat? Maybe a soft teddy bear ? Most likely not. It will be like every other day. Day in and Day out.
Her birthmother is very young and adores her. But she can't care for her :( why ? Because Anna has Down syndrome . Her mom will lose her apartment ,her job and maybe some friends and family . She most likely will not get married . Her society will punish her because she loves her child with special needs.So Anna is alone . In an orphanage for another year , then she will be sent to a mental institution. But for now her birth mom prays and begs everyone to find her baby a home. Someone to take her out of this place and love her. Cherish her. Like she does a few days a month when she visits Anna. You see her birthmom loves her and is standing by trying to do the right thing for her baby .She is trying hard to give her the gift of a life.

What would Anna and her birthmom like MOST for Annas 3rd birthday ?
A loving forever family ! A chance at a wonderful life.
Guess what ??


They are going to get their wish !!!


Baby Anna will be our daughter !!

We saw the desperate need . We heard the cries. We are willing to work hard , pray harder and make it happen.
Why?
Because NO child should live and die in an orphanage.


We know it will be a bit tricky to do this all over again so quickly . But we have to. Saving another life and giving peace to Anna's birth mom is  worth it .Having another beautiful daughter is worth it ! And oh my !! The gifts we receive in love and joy - so worth it !
Making Jesus smile by saving his children? Yup. SO worth it.


Can you help us celebrate Annas birthday today? Can you make A donation to her grant fund for her birthday to help us bring her home quickly ?? thank you all !! xoxo
Click here to peek at our bio :) and donate a gift to baby Anna .
Hugs !!!

Monday, January 3, 2011

More cuteness


found these pics I had forgot to post from October. HUGE thank you to sweet Tisha for the cutie pootie outfits on both kiddos :) we love them.
Hugs !
"...Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows that we know, and holds us responsible to ACT..." Proverbs 24:12

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." -(Mahatma Gandhi)