3/21: Big Hugs & BedHead

I love this picture of Liza. Her and her bedhead. This is pretty much what it looks like every morning when she gets up. It's the one consistent thing about her mornings, cause I never know if she's gonna hop right up out of bed with a smile, bat me away and pull the covers back over herself, or just stay sleeping no matter how much I poke/prod/cajole.

This morning was one of those "happy" mornings. She woke up with a smile and then wrapped her arms around me and laid her head on my shoulder. Then, after taking care of "morning business", she needed to be held some more and she patted my back as I patted hers. I really love those mornings.

Today on World Down Syndrome Day, 3/21 for the 3rd copy of the 21st chromosome, I feel like I should be posting about Down syndrome in some way or another, but all I can think about this morning is how this little girl, who greeted me with a sleepy smile and a big hug, just two years ago was a terrified, half-neglected orphan. Two years ago I was pretty sure she did not like me and I was scared that maybe she never would. I won her over, thank God!

I think for WDSD I hope that advocating for acceptance of people with Down syndrome as simply PEOPLE will mean that less children will be abandoned to orphanages or foster care because they are born with Down syndrome. That parents whose children are diagnosed in the womb will not have fear and false information thrown at them.

That's it, my hope for today. 

Elizaveta Collette - 2+ years home

This is what I call her "orphanage Nanny" face.
She makes this face when I'm fussing at her... lol

Look at this gorgeous child! I (mostly) love it when she makes the above face at me, it cracks me up. Which makes it hard to be serious when I have to get on to her for something. She likes to think she is the one in charge and she doesn't take it kindly when I try and let her know that, in fact, I am the one in charge. You can't help but love this kid!

Look at all those first day K emotions! This makes me smile.

Elizaveta Collette is in Kindergarten now and really loves going to school. She likes circle time and anything to do with letters - because she knows them all (she's a smarty!). She has a favorite friend whose name is Trace and every time they are in the same room she has to be right next to him. Her teacher says he seems to enjoy her too. All I hear at home is "Kwace, Kwace". I think I like "Kwace", for now. We'll re-evaluate in a few years. Funny story: Trace has a twin named Chase who's in another class. One day Liza met Chase and her Aide said she just kept giving him the evil eye cause she knew it wasn't Trace, but just wasn't sure why he looked like Trace. Wish I could've been there.

Preschool!

Last year Liza went to Preschool at a local private preschool. The county wanted her to go to Kindergarten but I thought she needed an extra year of preschool, and it was SO good for her. I'm glad I stuck to my guns and allowed her that extra time.She loved her teachers and the encouragement of her friends at school was really beneficial to her and good for me as her mom. They would all be so excited for her when she would use a new word or when she chose to be a "nice friend" rather than ummm, a not so nice friend. Ahem....

She loved this bird we met at the pet store. I'm pretty sure he liked her too.

Summer 2012

Liza has come so far from the little girl she was in the orphanage, but yet she's still the same little girl that I met over two years ago. Sassy, sweet, bossy, and a whole lot of fun to hang out with. Every day I feel so blessed that I get to be her Mama, and yet, I still sometimes feel so sad for the ones who weren't able to parent her and experience the amazing gift that she is. I hope they know, somehow, that she's loved and beautiful. That she makes people smile and laugh everyday. She's the best girl ever!

More Reece's Rainbow Cuties

I have been thinking a lot about all the kiddos that we will be leaving behind once we bring Liza home with us in a few weeks. I really wish we could adopt more than one! Before we left I signed up to be a Christmas Warrior, just like last year and was assigned Evan. By the way, the little one I prayed for last year, Claire, has a family committed to her now! Yay! Praying I can say the same for Evan soon.

Isn't he CUTE?!

Here's the info RR has on him: 

Boy, Born June 5, 2008

Evan recently transferred to this baby house. He was born with a heart defect, but was blessed to already have surgery and is doing great now! He is so young, and all three of these little boys could be adopted together!
From one of our adoptive families who visited with him in May 2010: " Evan would give us a big smile when we would touch his hand. He loved for us to just hold him and would cry if we put him down. He sits by himself and is trying to crawl. He can scoot to get to where he wants to go" .

He has $1090 in his fund right now, and I would love to see that go up during this Angel Tree season. I know how a grant can help these kids find a family I've seen in happen over and over. There ARE families out there who would love to parent these children and only need the funds to make this desire a reality. Even if you can't adopt you can know that you're gift would help to place a child in a family. Then you are living out James 1:27 and making Psalm 68:6 a reality, and I don't know about you, but I am in awe that God would allow us to be a part of doing that kind of work. He is a good God!

Then there's Tori.

Some friends of mine really love her and desire to see her saved from the life she's living now. And YES, I say saved because if you knew what it was really like for her you would understand that her being adopted would be saving her life. Go and read what Stephanie has to say about her and about life in an institution. Then join in the fundraiser that she is running to raise money for Tori's grant. She is giving away an Ipod to one lucky person who donates. But, the biggest reward here would be knowing that you helped to place Tori in a family.

There's also Miss Alina:

How cute is she?! Poor sweet baby. She needs a Mama who will adore her. I know there has to be someone out there who has been looking for Alina, just like she's been waiting for her Mama and Papa to come. She only has $370 in her grant. Please help Alina to be placed in a family.

And of course I could not leave out my buddy Maxim.

I really need someone to adopt him who I can go and visit cause I just love this little guy! But, even if you live on the West coast and you love Maxim too, please take a chance on him. He deserves it! Besides, I am NOT afraid to get on a plane or drive across the country to see him, and you of course ;o)

Reece's Rainbow Advocating

Ever read the book, "A Mother for Choco"? If not, you should really check it out. It's great for even just teaching compassion to little children. Not to mention adoption and seeing everyone as more alike than different. I love that book and read it to my boys over and over when they were small. I challenge you to look at the pictures of these kids and imagine them asking, "Are you my mother?" Come on, what have you got to lose really?

   This is Vera. Her sad face jumped out at me today on Reece's Rainbow and I couldn't stand it, I just had to get her face out so someone will see it and maybe her family will find her. Her description on Reece's Rainbow includes a caption that says, "Please come for me soon, Daddy." It really looks like that's what she's hoping for. However, she is in a country that single women can adopt from so if she catches your heart and you're a single mommy I'm sure she would love to have you! Vera's Mommy or Daddy? Are you out there? For more info please contact Andrea Roberts or visit Reece's Rainbow.

This is Claire! My friend from Christmas, remember her? She just turned two years old back in January and she has a $500 grant now. She's at a really great age to benefit from a loving family and all the early intervention that she needs. I just know she could thrive if she was adopted. She's in the same country and region as Vera. So, single moms are accepted. Are you her family? For more info please contact Andrea Roberts or visit Reece's Rainbow.




                                                                             
This cute little baldy is Anna B and if you look very close it looks like she's wearing earrings. She is absolutely beautiful, isn't she? I can just imagine how stunning she would be when her hair was allowed to grow out. She needs a mommy and daddy to help her reach her full potential. Do you know them? Same country and region as the girls above. For more info please contact Andrea Roberts or visit Reece's Rainbow.





This is Elena. I just love her DARK hair and eyes with her light complexion. And those cheeks!Isn't she gorgeous? She also is in need of someone to love her and provide her with the early intervention services that would help her to thrive and reach her fullest potential. She's in the same region and country as the other girls and all information and requirements can be found here. For more info please contact Andrea Roberts or visit Reece's Rainbow.





There are so many other kids listed with Reece's Rainbow, please give them a look. I could have posted one hundred pictures here and still had others that I would love see find a family. All of them just waiting for someone to fall in love with them. It really could be you and your family. So, what are you waiting for? What's holding you back?

Liza's Birthday

Today is Liza's 4th Birthday and our official meeting day with our Social Worker! On one hand I am excited that we are actually making some progress and hoping to have her here soon (February or March... maybe?), and on the other I am sad that she is "celebrating" her birthday once again in an orphanage. What that means is that  she's probably not celebrating at all. Today will  be just another day for her, just like yesterday and the day before and..... you get my point. I was really hoping that she would be here now and that we could show her how it feels to be celebrated on the day of your birth. What it's like to be loved and cherished like all children should be.

To honor her birthday I'd like to ask if you feel led to please make a donation to our Family Sponsorship Page on Reece's Rainbow. This will make it tax-deductible and really help us when it is time to actually make the trip over there. We have paid pretty much everything that is required for fees here, but are still in need of some of what we will need to pay when it is time to travel. We took a loan out on Rick's 401K and then our van and our stove had to be replaced, so that cut into some of what we planned to use. Every little bit helps, even $5 or $10. Just click the button included in this post or the one on the sidebar to help. Thank you!


Grab This Button

Update on Tonya & Claire

To Give Tonya Hope
CLICK HERE

Since I posted about Tonya the other day we found out tht there IS a family that wants to adopt her but is worried about the financial aspect of adopting internationally. In other words the only thing stopping them is money. So, Lu, a friend in London has created this button to help spread the news about Tonya's need. If you are willing to help please grab the code for the button and paste it wherever it might be seen.  There is a family at her orphanage now adopting a friend of Tonya's and they say that she really wants a Mommy and Daddy. Let's see Tonya's Hope of a family become reality!
As for Miss Claire: She now has $400 in her grant fund! Yay! So, if you donated after reading my last post: Thank You! I am hoping that she will reach at least $1000 by the end of the Angel Tree and that she will have a family committed to adopting her. If you are interested in any of the children featured on Reece's Rainbow you can contact Andrea Roberts, her info can be found here.

Tonya and Claire

Look at Tonya all decked out in her pink winter outfit! Pink certainly seems to be her color. She is still waiting for a family and her profile can be found on the Reece's Rainbow site here under ophanage 24. She is also on the Angel Tree under "Help me get to $2500". Her total grants together are over $4000. This will really help to defray some of the costs of her adoption. Are you her family? Do you know someone who might be? She's been waiting a long time and is at the age she can be transferred to the institution.  I really don't want to see that happen to her.

Sweet little Claire! This is my Christmas Angel Baby, who I have not done a great job of advocating for. You can find Claire on the Angel Tree under "help me get to $500". Every DOLLAR donated to her fund helps bring her closer to having a family. But, for $35 you get an ornament with her picture on it to hang on your tree. How great would it be to pull out her ornament next year and know she is celebrating Christmas with her family and you had a part in that! There are truly families who would love to step up and commit to these children but can't because of the cost. So, the grant funds that Reece's Rainbow raises for them really are saving lives every day.

In just the 30+ days that the Angel Tree has been up this year 28 kids have had families step forward to adopt them. I am blown away by this and looking forward to who's moved to the "My Family Found Me" area next. Maybe it will be Tonya? Oh, I hope so! Or Claire? That would be great! OR maybe BOTH of them? That would be SPECTACULAR! :)

Wondering What's Up?

Anybody been wondering what's going on with us? I've actually just been laying low while we were waiting for Dr. Psychologist to submit his reports, and oh ok, I'll admit it a few times having a pity party.

But, we are on the move again. Homestudy Agency got the reports and within 20 minutes of getting them sent me a message saying we were good to go. Does anyone else think it's ridiculous that three months of waiting was wrapped up by a fax and a 15 minute "meeting" to interpret the fax? I just had to laugh, but was really glad they didn't make us wait to get the go-ahead.

So, after all that fuss, and Dr. Psychologist disappearing from the radar for a while, we are back on track and hoping to meet with our actual SW on December 18. After that we can submit the HS to USCIS to get our I171-H, then we get our entire dossier apostilled, send it to Liza's country, and wait for a travel date that will hopefully come in early March. Then the excitement really starts!