Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails. ..

I feel a little bit of pressure to be witty in these posts now, I honestly don't know why... . but it is hard to be funny when I am facing a day  of dabbing calamine lotion on pocks that look far too big for my little boy to have on his lovely skin. I am sure my humor will return in a week or so. . .maybe sooner if my dreams will cooperate with me. (Peyton, where are you?). . until then you are stuck with un-funny Becki.

So, if I read the list right, today's Teamwork Tuesday was to be Justin, but Justin has a family! Oh my goodness! There are so many new faces on the My Family Found Me Page that I really cannot contain myself. This has been a wicked busy two weeks. . .I am just going to list the names of the kiddos that people are committed to bringing home, because it is a FABULOUSLY long list: Erin and Bethany, Harper, Leo, Maxim, Dalton, Gavin, Sarah, Dottie, Joey, Harlowe, Justin, Lizzy, Nadine, Masha, Charlie, Taylor, Tamara, Jack, Yana, Ashleigh, Isabelle, Meredith, Cindy, Alyssa, Aleksa, Juliette and Ruth. Some of these precious babies have been on this blog, on my mind and in my prayers. And ALL OF THEM HAVE FAMILIES. How amazing is that?? Not that I am counting but the statistics are this 20:8. Only 8 boys. Why is this?? I LOVE boys. Their energy, mischievous and messy. So precious to me. I am posting three boys that SHOULD not still be waiting. With the way children are being claimed, if you see a child that you want to make your own. . ..you best get a move on as more and more people are jumping on board!! God is totally working miracles every day!

There are some amazing little guys just waiting for a family...like Beau. Why is this kid still waiting? There is an awesome video http://lubertsy.opekainfo.ru/valera_video.php that showcases his beauty and his skill at styling hair. I could definitely use his help!! Someone had the end of the video translated and he is supposedly reciting a poem, with a lisp. HOW DARLING! I just cannot stand it. My boy has a lisp and I secretly hope he holds onto it for a while.

Here is Beau, he should be a familiar face to those that read this blog.

Beau 15H

ong6-15
Boy, born November 2004
Eyes of Gray
Blond hair
The nature of communicative
Diagnosis:  Cerebral Palsy

Beau does not make an impression of a child who lives in an orphanage from his birth. Beau is very well developed, already knows how to read by syllables and is able to spell, write and count. The child loves to learn more and will be a promising student in a future.  He is kind and friendly with the children and polite with the adults. He can be left alone in a room and will play with puzzles and mosaics for hours. He also likes to draw and is interested in technologies. He is a very accurate boy and likes cleanliness and order. He goes to the bathroom by himself and never forgets to brush his teeth and comb the hair. Beau walks without help but has spastic paraparetic gait.

$208.00 is available towards the cost of my adoption!

Emilio

Boy, Born July 2008

Look at this handsome little one!   Also of Roma heritage, Emilio was born with osteogenesis imperfecta.  He is healthy and able to walk though!!!  Typically developing cognitively.

From his medical records:  Congenital brittle bones (osteogenesis imperfecta)

$1375.00 is available towards the cost of my adoption!

Donations are tax deductible.

Mark 31C

8mq2-31

Boy, born October 2009

Little Mark has Down syndrome and was born with some heart issues (Atrial Septal Defects, no impairment of circulation), but surgery hasn’t been found necessary yet.

Full medical history available.

Mark is usually in good mood. He plays with toys variously, jabbers. He is active.

$3200.00 is available towards the cost of my adoption!

I will stick with these three precious boys today. Let their faces imprint. .. .their lives are depending on you!

Like the Chicken pox. ...

I no longer want faith the size of a mustard seed. Nope. Sometimes faith is too difficult if I am forced into inaction.  I am a do-er. Not a talker. Don't get me wrong, I can talk, and I do. Sometimes too much. But I much prefer rolling up my sleeves, digging in and getting dirty for causes that I am passionate about. I pray all the time but it never feels enough.I know this is probably wrong. That I should somehow be more comfortable sitting back and trusting that God will take care of these children, but if I am to be the hands of God in the world. .. .then let me already! Let me be the arms. . .. .please?
Right now that means I am sick and tired of praying and I just want to be hugging and holding and nurturing babies right now. That's right, babies plural. I hope that I am able to join a humanitarian trip this summer.. . I hope. I often have to fight the urge to hop on a plane. . . .convinced that one of these children is calling my name. My name.

have you seen this girl? isn't she so pretty? I want to see her with longer hair and a smile on her face!

Alina A. 


Being a parent to my current child takes precedence. Two days ago this child popped up with another rash. Another rash?? This one looked uncomfortable. It looked a bit like chicken pox. I got nervous, then shook myself as he has a history of crazy skin rashes and reactions. We had just been on vacation, and just changed laundry detergents. So, I took a deep breath and decided to just watch it. Watch it spread and spread and look even more like the chicken pox. The chicken pox? Where would he have picked up the chicken pox? AND WHY? After vacation, he has decided that he is no longer potty trained and no longer has to follow all the rules that we had already battled over. Sigh. Now chicken pox?
I resigned myself to what seemed to be inevitable, and prayed the lamest prayer to date "please not his face, dear Jesus. . ."

This morning I was greeted with a smile. A smile stuck in the middle of a pocky face. NO! Poor kiddo. (side rant.) I have been a major  pain in the butt of my Doctor, refusing any immunization that I did not understand. One of these immunizations was for chicken pox. In fact, I think I mocked the Doc. An immunization for chicken pox? Why? So that parents are never saddled with a sick child. So that school years aren't interrupted? How far will we go to make our lives hassle free?? This is ridiculous. NO I do not want to vaccinate my son for chicken pox. Um, sigh. I get it, but I am sure that I will grow and learn through this illness, once I stop blaming myself for this. . ..so I am shutting my pie-hole now. I never refuse extra cuddle time, I prefer cuddling a healthy child, but will cuddle away nonetheless.

Back to praying: I have been fervently praying for the children listed on Reece's Rainbow. I know, perhaps some of you are now rolling your eyes. Oh well. I know I cannot please everyone, and really have never tried to. No reason to start now, right? (I am so tangential today, sorry folks, I do have a point.) So in addition to praying I have been wracking my brain for other ways that I could help. I donate and advocate but nothing feels as important as personally claiming one of more of these children for myself. It seems that is the only thing that will satisfy me. (I am SO high maintenance!)
Many of you know I have started the ball rolling to establish an Adoption Mission to benefit RR at my parish. I am putting the finishing touches on that and it is exciting. I also recently started a wee facebook group for people in my area to meet and communicate and encourage each other. AND IT IS WORKING!!! People are getting familiar on that page already. I am so in-like with the people I have met on the RR Pages. They are so inspirational, open and funny.

I have always had faith. But it has been tested and has taken a beating recently. Despite this, my faith is growing. It started small. Looking at all the children waiting for families, knowing there are millions that aren't even listed, it is hard to have hope. It is easy to get discouraged. Avoidance is common.  As more people are discovering these children and advocating, more and more children are being adopted. Love, faith and hope are spreading. .. .and I pray it is contagious. Like an epidemic and spread like the chicken pox.

And as for me? I still don't want faith like that of a mustard seed. I want my faith to be like the chicken pox. I want it painted all over my face. I want it to be out of my control. . ..I want it to take over. Completely.

Fatherless Friday: Fatherless For 15 years

This is my first Fatherless Friday Post. I am super excited that I am on schedule. . .. yay me! I will get the hang of this someday! There is hope for me yet!

Over seven years ago I traveled to Kenya to spend 3 months working at an HIV Orphanage. I fell head over heels in love with 96 children. I was completely blown away by my capacity to love and by the love I received in return. I still love these children with everything that I have, but I am going to write about one extremely special boy in my life. His name is Lazarus and he is larger than life. He changed my life. For the better.

He has lived at Nyumbani (the orphanage in Kenya) all his life. Despite his diagnosis and his situation, nothing keeps him down. He is unstoppable, unflappable and so faithful to God. He is quite possibly the most inspirational person I have every met. I struggled for 7 years to make him my son. This was not meant to be. I mourn this every day. I know he is well cared for and happy. . .. it is my own selfishness that I hold on to the desire to make him mine. Adoption from Kenya is nearly impossible. (I have lots of bitterness and anger to vent. . .so I will leave it at that.) I am not sure if they are currently open to foreign adoptions at this juncture. I am still a little too bitter to check into this. . .moving on.

On Sunday April 29th Lazarus was welcomed into his community as a MAN! My little boy is a man. It is a massive coming of age rite in Kenya that starts with circumcision and ends 2 weeks later with a large celebration. Such a big deal!! I couldn't be prouder of him. A slip of paper saying that I am his legal Mom would not change the amount of love and pride I have for this child.

He is pictured cutting the cake with the other Men. . .he is the little guy in front. Oh, my heart just swells for him. 15 years old. Wow!

For 15 years, Lazarus has grown up without a Father of his own, and yet he has grown and has become a man. I know that given the chance, I would jump at the opportunity to bring him home. Fifteen is  not too old for him to acclimate to a family. Not too old for him to blossom and grow and excel. Not to old for me to squeeze and cuddle him every day. NOT TOO OLD!

There are a number of boys listed on Reece's Rainbow that have also spent 15 years without a Father. I am pretty sure they have not had the benefit of an AWESOME orphanage like Lazarus has. Nevertheless, look at these boys. They are precious indeed and waiting ever so patiently for their family. Don't make them wait any longer!! Fifteen years is plenty long to wait! Fifteen is not too old for them to be smothered with love, cuddled and nurtured.

Emmitt

Boy, Born January 26, 1998  

 Emmitt is a sweet boy.  He is living in one of the mental institutions, and has been for many years, yet he remains sweet, intelligent, and kind.  Two of our adopting families met him while they were there, and are pleading for a family to save him.     From his medical records:  myelomeningocele  (spina bifida)   From one of our adoptive families:  " Emmitt has a severe deformity of his legs.  He cannot walk at all.  He is very friendly, funny, and talkative. He desperately seeks out attention.  He was talking to my husband, and holding Zack's hand, which he then put on top of his head for Zack to rub his hair.  He is extremely intelligent, and just precious!  I brought him paper and crayons, and he drew me a flower  "

We are seeking more official medical information about his condition, but hope someone out there will see this sweet young man and know his kind and loving spirit.

$1678.50 is available towards the cost of my adoption!

Donations are tax deductible.

Bartholemew 9HA

17eh0-9

Boy, born August 1997

Blue Eyes

Blond hair

The nature of Moody

Diagnosis: Down syndrome

Oh, this poor boy.  His lips look so dry.  Our heart breaks for his look of sadness!  Barth is almost 15.  He needs a family fast!  This region allows unrelated children to be adopted.  Please consider him and maybe another child from this region.

Charlie 9HA

wow6-9

Boy, born June 1998

Brown eyes

Hair dark brown

The nature uncommunicative

Diagnosis: Down syndrome

Charlie is almost 14!  He looks so small.  Yet, he finds a reason to smile.  Charlie would make a great big brother to some lucky little child.  If you have any concerns about older child adoptions, feel free to ask us here at Reece’s Rainbow.  We have many people that could give you the information you are looking for!

Jared 9HA

16682-9

Boy, born October 1996

Diagnosis: Down syndrome

Blue Eyes

Nature of fun, not relaxing – he sounds like a busy guy!
Jared will be 16 in October, He needs a family soon or his chances to find a family will be gone. His description says “Nature of fun, not relaxing.” He sounds like a typical 16 year old!!

Families considering our older, institutionalized children should be home study approved prior to commitment.

If you are not in a place to adopt right now, I understand. Please pray. Pray for these boys. ..

Frustrated? Maybe a little. . .

I have no one to blame but myself. .. and Eli Manning.
Yes, I was on vacation last week. Did I mention it was free?? Best kind of vacation is a free vacation!

On the way to the airport I outlined my plan for the Parish Adoption Mission. I had a dream about it the night before (all my best ideas come from dreams. . .) Lucky for me, I remember most of my dreams with amazing clarity. Unlucky for me, this memory does not last long. I decided the best way to retain this information was to share it with my darling hubby.  I told him ALL about it. . .likely in nauseating detail. Over and over, during the hour drive to the airport. Hubby gave me all the right affirmations and asked all the right questions. Yay! He was listening AND he agreed that I was a genius. (okay, he will probably never agree that I am a genius, but I know deep down that he thinks it.)

We arrived home yesterday. Today was the dreaded day after the vacation day. . ..it is so cold here I had to wear layers in the house. I could not warm up. . .it is hard to do the laundry and the cleaning and basically anything at all when bundled up for the snowstorm that feels imminent. . .so that the day was not completely unproductive,  I asked my dear hubby to recount some of my brilliant adoption mission ideas. . .

Silence from hubby. Uh, dear. ..  .did you hear me? More silence.

A little more silence. I looked up at him from the couch to see him sheepishly say, "uh, I remember you telling me about the dream you had that you were dating Eli Manning. . ."

Yes. I had a dream that I was dating Eli Manning. .. and I was trying to explain that his name was a deal breaker for me. .. he needed to come up with a different name. Quickly.  Preferably one that was not the same as my son's. This whole dream was awesome and strange. .. .as Mr Manning is so not my type (in fact it wasn't Eli Manning in my dream, it was this guy:)
  . .. but I got to trade jokes with his super fun brother. .. He totally supported finding a new name for his brother and contributed some genius suggestions.

even this picture makes me giggle. Peyton you are too funny!

So, I guess that made up the lack of attraction?  Yes, I ended up hanging out with the Kardashians in this same dream. Kim was getting married in a bouncy castle. . .oh wait, did that really happen? Thankfully I woke up before things got even weirder. Despite the Kardashians I woke up with a smile.

THIS my dear hubby remembers. . . .and bubkiss about the Church Mission. Lucky for me, I have remembered the finer points of my Church Mission dream and have learned that perhaps the best mode of retention is to write it down. . ..lesson learned.

Re-entry

I am back!! Miss me? I have to brag a little bit.  ..as we just had the most fabulous vacation. All on my husband's frequent travel accounts. Yippee. I was so nervous about this trip. . .. buzz kill that I usually am, but traveling with a rowdy 2 year old is not normally my definition of fun. Shame on me, this trip was awesome and my rowdy 2 year old was so well behaved... .he was likely exhausted from all the fun he was having, but I will take it. Needless to say, my spirits are recharged and my mind is decompressed.

That being said, we all know that the first day home after a vacation sucks. It just does. Every day life just can't compete with the carefree, work free joyful days of a Holiday. ..I need hotel staff to move in here! It is 8:36 and I got 12 hours of sleep last night, Eli is inching up to 14 hours of sleep. WOWZA! Despite the sleep, I am groggy and grumpy about the list of tasks that must be accomplished today sans hotel staff. The  pile of laundry is currently staring at me and I am refusing to return the gaze. .. .

I haven't been online for a week now and I fired up my laptop to discover so much good news!! It seems that knowledge of Reece's Rainbow is spreading like wild fire. So many people are getting involved in so many different ways. What a kick-ass development to watch! It is overwhelming. There are 15 new children on the "My Family Found Me" page. FIFTEEN lives saved. It is so lovely I can't stand it. People can be so flipping amazing.

Sarah!! I cried happy tears about this one! 

Harper-claimed!

I am still desperate to adopt one of these lovelies. . .still praying. Please join with me in that. . I have been praying for months and it has yet to move the mountain. Sigh. I will not relent. That is not my style.  There are SO MANY children in need of loving homes. .. . hint hint! Consider it?

You must watch this video of Beau. I am in love with this little boy . . .


In other news, I had a dream about my parish Adoption Ministry. It was perfect (how pompous. .) and I now have a plan. I will spend my week hammering out the details then will present it to the Priest. Word about these children will continue to spread. Only good can come from that. I am thrilled to be doing what I can for these kiddos.

So, as my brain resumes normal functioning.... if I am able to swim out from under the ocean of laundry waiting to be done, I will also return to this wee blog. I have missed it!