Things I Never Thought I'd Say to My Daughter

Liza is crazy, seriously. We call her a Crazy Chica, and she signs back to us that she's a crazy chicken... LOL

I find myself saying things all the time to her that I never thought I'd say to my daughter, or maybe to my child period. Here are a few examples:

• "Oh Lord! Don't drink from the dog bowl!"
• "You're not a dog, you're a girl!"
• "Liza, don't lick the counter!"
• "Liza don't bite Grandma's toes!"
• Please don't lick your brother."

So, what do you think? Anyone else find theirself saying unexpected things to their kids? Surely she's not the only Crazy Chica (or chicken) out there.

Fundraiser Friday (a couple days early) - Olga E's Puzzle

Monica lives in Norway and is committed to advocating and raising money for a little girl called Olga E. She is running a puzzle fundraiser to raise money for Olga's adoption grant and raise awareness so that her family can find her. We all know that the higher a child's grant is the more likely a family will step forward to adopt them. Because, adoption is expensive and the cost is what holds willing families back all to often.

Each piece is only $1 so go over and sponsor a few pieces and put Monica to the test as she adds the pieces to make Olga's puzzle come together.

(There will still be a FF post on Friday. I had a couple requests with fundraisers going on now and didn't want to miss any.)

Who is Andrea G

Maybe you've noticed that I mention her name a lot since coming home from Ukraine. I "met" Andrea about a month or so before we went to Ukraine because she had written about "her angels" on her blog and one of them just happened to be my angel. BTW - thanks to the Anonymous commenter who shared that post with me. See, sometimes Anonymous can be nice! (all you bloggers know what I mean, right?)

We feel so blessed to have gotten to know Andrea and to have had her insight into some of the things Liza did when we first met her. I remember one day I took Liza back up to groupa and let go of her hand to leave. I stayed and watched for a minute to see what would happen and my sweet angel walked right up to another child (pretty sure it was Diana), who is incapable of defending herself, and slapped her across the face! It broke my heart in two to see her do that. Of course, my fierce sense of right and wrong couldn't let that go so I marched right over to Liza and took her hand and told her with a stern look and a stern voice, "I DO NOT like that! Not Nice!" But, inside I was thinking, "my child is a monster. why would she do such a thing?" You know, all the silly Mama hysterics we can get into. Thankfully, Andrea witnessed the whole thing and was able to share with me why she thought Liza had done what she did. Seems it was a way to get attention from the caregivers that she and a few of the others practiced regularly :( It really set my heart at ease to have Andrea's insight into why she did what she did.

Andrea's heart for adoption and the kids who wait is huge and she is always open to sharing what she knows with prospective parents. She also has great info on Krivoy Rog and the different orphanages that she was able to visit. While we were there she taught us to take the bus on our own which really helped with boredom and saved us money on hiring a driver. She also helped us find the church that is right around the corner from the orphanage and that was such a lifesaver for us. I don't know how we would've made it without the fellowship at the church, and with Andrea herself, for all the weeks we were there.

Andrea is now back home in Canada, but advocates for her kids every chance she gets. We love her heart and are so glad we were given the chance to get to know her. I wonder if that's why God had our process take so much longer, because if we had gone to Ukraine when I wanted to we would never have met her. Looking back now I wouldn't change things if it meant losing the opportunity to meet her. Go check out Andrea's blog, Ambassador of Love, and the kids she loves but had to leave behind.

We love you Andrea!! :)  Many kisses from your girl... <3

Project T.L.C.

What about the ones left behind? That's what I keep asking myself ever since we came home. Because no matter how we advocate or how many children I, or my friends, or your friends, adopt we really can't save them all. Isn't that heartbreaking? It almost brings you to the point of throwing in the towel, huh?

ALMOST, but when I feel that way there's a story I heard once that keeps me moving, keeps me determined.

The Legend of the Starfish

A man was walking along a beach when he saw a young boy. Along the shore were many starfish that had been washed up by the tide and were sure to die before the tide returned. The boy walked slowly along the shore and occasionally reached down and tossed the beached starfish back into the ocean. The man, hoping to teach the boy a little lesson in common sense, walked up to the boy and said, "I have been watching what you are doing, son. You have a good heart, and I know you mean well, but do you realize how many beaches there are around here and how many starfish are dying on every beach every day. Do you really think that what you are doing is going to make a difference?" The boy looked up at the man, and then he looked down at a starfish by his feet. He picked up the starfish, and as he gently tossed it back into the ocean, he said, "It makes a difference to that one." 

No matter how many times I read that story I tear up every time. "It makes a difference to that one."

I have some friends who adopted a few children from Ukraine and two of them brought one child home literally on death's door. Stephanie, Shelly, and Boston decided they had to do something to make a difference for the ones they weren't able to rescue so they started Project T.L.C. to provide for some of the needs of the children that were left behind in institutions in the Crimea region of Ukraine. 

They will be sending someone over with basic hygiene supplies in the Fall and are in need of donations to make this happen. Can we all be like the young man in the story and look through eyes of hope and compassion? Knowing that maybe we can't save them all but we CAN make a difference for just one. 

Speaking of Fundraising/Fundraiser Friday - Charlotte's Chocolate Factory

Since I let my heart fall out about families, orphans, and fundraising the other day I can't seem to stop thinking about it. I really believe in adoption fundraising and have decided I want to support those who are in the trenches, so to speak, like I was at one time - and who knows, may be again someday (and no, that's not some super secret announcement). If you or someone you know is fundraising for adoption please let me know so I can highlight them one week. Email me at hismissionmine at yahoo dot com.

So, Fundraiser Friday is starting today featuring friends I made not long after Liza came home and had the pleasure of meeting, ironically, at another family's adoption fundraiser.

Charlotte (aka Charlie)
Who wouldn't wanna spend some time with this cutie? :)

Kelly and Kyle Dirkes are adopting Charlie, a sweet little muffin with the same extra chromosome that Liza has. I met Kelly and Kyle not long after they committed to Charlie and have found Kelly to be a good friend ever since that night. She's helped me with computer and picture issues, and offered valuable advice on IEP navigating. I am really looking forward to meeting Miss Charlie when she comes home. 

Kelly is putting her love of baking to good use through Charlotte's Chocolate Factory for the next week and is inviting you all to indulge yourselves and help Sweet Charlie come home. I have been told these treats are delicious! I can't wait for mine to get here - I'm hoping I can hide them from Rick and the kids... lol

I mean, really! Even the packaging is pretty.

Go on over and visit Charlies Chocolate Factory and hook yourself up. You get some yummy treats and the satisfaction of knowing that you're helping bring Charlotte home. It's a win-win, seriously!

Reality and Fundraising

Ever wondered why folks fundraise for adoption? You think, "why should I help them "have a baby"? Because it's not about that family gaining a new child, it's about THAT CHILD getting a family versus the reality they currently live in. That's truly the bottom line. Unfortunately changing these kids' realities costs a lot of money :( Thank you to ALL who gave to help change Liza's reality!

*posted as my FB status
 

I wonder just how many adoptive families have faced these types of questions and attitudes? Unfortunately too many that I know have and it really breaks my heart. Not just for them but for the kids who wait while those who want to come and bring change are stifled by those who can't see past the dollar signs. Because really, isn't that what the problem really is?

Why are people offended that we are asking for help to pay the ransom needed to change the reality for these children? Would they be just as offended if a mother whose child was abducted asked for help to raise the money to pay the kidnappers in order to get her child back? What if my child was severely ill and we needed to raise the funds to pay his medical bills. Would that offend you? 

Maybe you'd say those scenarios aren't really the same and I'd have to ask you why you don't think so. 

• Is it because the child I want to adopt isn't "mine"  yet? Well, that may be true but that same child is God's child. You would have to be able to tell me that you don't believe that HE wants you to help me pay the ransom to change HIS child's reality or if you can't do that to be supportive in some tangible way. 
• Is it because you don't really believe that the reality orphan children live in is anything like a child living with a severe illness or a child being held against their will by those who care nothing for them?
• Have you read Carrington's story? What about Theo's? And now there's also Victoria. If you have, do you still think their stories are nothing like that of a child who's seriously ill? Or a child who's being held against their will by people who don't care? Is their former reality the kind that a child should have to live in just because we might be offended that someone is fundraising in order to make a difference for them?
• Or maybe you're ok with giving to a family raising money to adopt a waiting listed child, but a family adopting a newborn is different? But how is it? Why is it different?
• If you call yourself Pro-Life then adoption is something you ought to be supporting in SOME way, and the best way if you can't or aren't willing to adopt yourself, is to support those who are whether the child they hope to adopt is born or unborn. 
• Mothers who want to place their children for adoption need the assurance that there are families waiting to adopt their babies when they're born. Those families need our help to stand in the gap. The alternative reality for those babies is foster care or life in an orphanage. Do you want to tell that mother that's the reality for her child because you just can't support adoption?

These families are hoping to adopt children who need families. Children who may be born and waiting in foster care or orphanages or children who are unborn, whose mothers are hoping for just the right family to step forward. They need our help to stand in the gap and help them reach these children. But honestly, it's not about them - it's about the children whose realities they are desperately trying to change. When you consider giving think of the children first.

Brooke and Michael Annessa - Adopting a (hopefully) soon to be born infant they will name Adelyn.

Renee and Steve Tam - Adopting a little girl with DS they are naming Paisley. They hope to travel soon!

Amanda and David Burlingham - Adopting a little boy who was once Liza's buddy and happens to be blind. I got to hold this little guy and can't wait for him to meet his family!

Amy Lucas - Adopting Liam, a little guy with DS who will be her 5th son :) Gotta love little boys! Moving fast so she would really appreciate the support.

Ann and Jason Plummer - Adopting Barbara and Matthew, 2 little ones with Down Syndrome.

Jenn and Chris Abell - Adopting Olga, who I had dubbed "Liza's twin" when she was waiting :) They look some alike and have that same mischievous gleam in the eye, oh and the same extra chromosome!

6 Months in Photos

I have been seriously lacking in updates on this blog, heck in just blogging period. Facebook, I love you but I blame you for my lack of blogging ability for a while now (not that I was ever this amazing blogger, but you know...), it's just so easy to go and throw up a little blurb every now and then over there and post photos too. After I've done that I usually get sucked into what everyone else is up to and somehow blogging just never happens. The first step towards recovering from an addiction is admitting it, right? So, I admit to an addiction to Facebook. We'll see where that takes us :)

Since Liza has been home now for more than SIX months I knew I needed to do a really nice update post on her progress. The other day I was looking thru all the pics of her from orphanage to present and even I was struck by the total difference in even her appearance. Rick and I both have been at a loss as to what to call it and then on Facebook my friend Renee Tam shared something that struck me and I realized what the difference was -" ‎'Surviving is important. Thriving is elegant.' — Maya Angelou I can't wait to see Paisley thrive, she's been just surviving long enough..." in case you don't know Renee is adopting a little girl she's naming Paisley who shares that little something extra with Liza.

For the past 6+ months we have had the privilege and honor to watch as Liza went from just surviving to really THRIVING. It has been amazing to watch and I thought the best way to celebrate the past 6 months and share with you all the difference we've seen was to start at the beginning - the first day we met her - and move forward to the present in pictures.  

Typical Daddy/Daughter Interaction

Couldn't find a good pic of them together. But, this'll do, right? :)

So, we're out having lunch today and this is what takes place.

Liza is sitting beside Rick on the booth seat across from me. She is eating nothing but french fries and he wants her to eat her chicken. (BTW- how did she turn into a typical American kid so fast?)

Rick tells her to eat her chicken and then gives her a stern look as she picks up another french fry.

She looks at him as if to say, "what?" That doesn't work so she puts on a cute face and shakes her ponytail at him.

He almost smiled, but didn't quite crack. He says, "Liza eat your chicken." and tries another stern look.

She leans behind his back and kisses his shoulder.

Dad eats the chicken and she eats her french fries.

Liza 1 / Daddy 0

Liza's "Brother's and Sister's" - Brody

I've shared before about some of Liza's friends that she grew up with who are still waiting. Recently a friend who is adopting one of Liza's friends referred to these other kids as her son's "brothers and sisters" and I realized that she was right. These kids were the only brothers and sisters that Liza knew until we brought her home. They fought just like siblings do. As I was told Liza and Victoria did quite a bit before V was transferred. I really hope that a family finds her soon and that we can get the girls together again. I'd love to see what they think of each other when they don't have to fight for the attention of the adults in their lives.

My friend, Andrea was able to spend lot's of time with all of these children and since she has returned home it has become her greatest hope to see them all adopted by loving families. She posted recently about Brody.

When we were in Ukraine we were able to meet Brody and I haven't been able to forget him. Poor Brody just cried constantly and even at times would harm himself by banging his head on the floor as hard as he could. Unfortunately, when he did this no one tried to stop him :( It was almost as if at four years old he already felt that all hope for him was gone. It totally broke my heart and I prayed for him to receive help from somewhere. To have someone who would love him no matter what. Andrea did just that every chance she had, but we all knew that her time there was going to come to a close and we worried what life for Brody would be like then.

Praise God that before Andrea left Brody was transferred! Wait, since when do we rejoice about a kid being transferred? This transfer turned out to be a good thing for Brody. Andrea said he is much calmer, his head no longer has ping pong ball size knots on it, he is loved and treated with respect. That is something worthy of praising God for! It would be even better, though, if he had a family. Please go and read Andrea's post about Brody. If you know of someone looking for a sweet boy who has so much potential. Who just needs to continue to have hope poured back into him, please share Brody's story with them. He is worth it!

5/5/5 Warrioring

I love to say Warrioring :) I don't know if it's even really a word, but I just like the way it sounds and what it stands for. It means we are literally fighting for the lives of kids who have no one else to fight for them. I never really thought of myself as a fighter until I realized how passionate I was about the least of these. Whether it's the orphan around the World, the young man in the grocery store who no one else wants to look at because he has an extra chromosome, or even just my little brother who, at 6 years old, had the audacity to step on the brand new shoes of one of the high school football players (that's a story I should really share someday).

As of May 5 Reece's Rainbow has launched a new Warrior program to advocate for all of the children listed who are five years old. Why only the five year olds? Because five is the average age that a child will be transferred to the institution. Liza was TWO months from turning five when we took her from the orphanage and I know that's where she would've gone if we had been denied her referral, which almost happened. She actually should have gone at four but because they knew we were coming and she was a favorite they held her as long as they could.

Those of you who have met her:

Can you imagine this child living in an institution?

I know how far she's come in the amount of time she's been with us and I shudder to think what a transfer would've meant to her. New faces, new routine, all new caregivers. Maybe she wouldn't have been the favorite anymore. Maybe her tendencies to try to be in charge of everyone wouldn't have been seen as cute and endearing. Maybe her Drama Queen moments would've landed her on the bottom of the pyramid when it came to attention, feeding, bathing, and all those other little things that are needed to keep at least a semblance of health and happiness. Just thinking of the possibilities causes me to praise God once again for changing the circumstances that could've kept us from receiving her referral in Ukraine. That's another story I should tell someday....

So, now we come back to sweet Callie.

We originally planned to adopt from China but then weren't qualified. So, she is my China baby of my heart till her Mama finds her :)

She is in China, she's five, and she desperately needs the same chance at a new life that Liza has been given. Please help me find her Mama or donate to her fund to help her Mama/Papa find her.  Do it because you have a heart for orphans. Do it as a tribute to Liza. Do it because we are commanded to care for the Widow and the orphan. Do it because Callie has no voice except the one that we give her.