Time is running out!!!

Time is running out for Geno!! 

Please help us find his family!! 

Normally birthdays are a special time,

 especially when a boy reaches his teens.

But for Geno,

his upcoming birthday means that he will have 

no chance of ever being adopted. 

Life in China as an orphan is beyond hard!

but life as an orphan in a wheelchair with OI -

is unimaginable. 

I will never forget the homeless man that came to talk to Hagan,

while we were in China. 

This beautiful man, had the sweetest eyes,

his body was mangled,

he could not stand, 

he walked on his feet.

But this man, came to say hi to Hagan. 

He touched Hagan and spoke to him in Mandarian,

and Hagan was not scared.

The man looked at me and smiled and smiled again at Hagan. 

I believe he was happy that Hagan would have a 

full life and that he would be loved!

Geno's paperwork is not finished , the orphanage will finish it
When his family comes forward! 

I pray the same for Geno!

Geno is said to have OI,

Osteogenesis Imperfecta.  

Geno has a big, loving heart, 

one of his dreams is to open a restaurant to support himself 

and others in need!

He takes Chinese, Math, English, History 

and Art classes!  

He is a hard worker!

Please help us spread the word about this amazing boy!

When God grabs your heart...

There are times in life when we just want to
do something for some one...
I'm at this point with a
 precious little girl in  China.



I wish there was something I could do.

Part of the reason for my 'ugly' cry at the picnic -
is because this special little girl
weighs heavy on my heart.

This is a portion of her story...

Linny is a beautiful little 3 year old whose original diagnosis was Congenital meningocele. After having surgery she was developing normal physically and mentally. At 21 months old she was admitted to the hospital with a severe head injury for which she needed surgery. She is now paralyzed on her right side. She can no longer speak and can not walk.

She is introvert, limbs, intelligence and language development is slow. Her left hand can hold milk bottle to drink. She can understand what adults said, and their facial expressions. She can communicate with others by eyesight.  She can respond to the sound who called her.

"Linny" needs her momma!

Desperately!

For now,
God is asking us to pray for her,
 to share her beautiful face and ask others to pray for her!

Please join our family as we pray for sweet Linny,
and for her forever family to find her.

Write her name on your hand,
be reminded to pray for her.
Feel free to send me your photo -
wont it be fun to be able to give to her one day,
and let her know how loved she is,
and how many people have prayed for her.
soccermom@tx.rr.com
or post it on fb!
Please share this precious girl with others!

She has a fund set up for her on Reece's Rainbow,

if you would like to donate to her adoption fee's please do!

Thank you for your prayers for
God's precious child!

(if you are interested in learning more about 
Linny, I'd love to chat with you -
or you can chat with Jessica at twentyless.com
Linny is on the shared list)

only if...

If only we could bring 3 kiddos home 

this trip -

this is who I would bring home with our boys!

Ohhhh! My!!!!

Isn't she just sooooo adorable! 

and I've seen her file...

She is 5 years old,

she has dwarfism

and 

she is beautiful!

Some one please bring this sweet girl home!

Logan at

Lifeline Children Services

would love to talk to you about sweet Ramona

Shoe Boxes!

Just a reminder...

Cause I need reminders ALL the time!

It's time to fill shoe boxes for 

children around the world!

Go to Samaritan's Purse

to get the details and drop-off locations!

Have you ever had false reports made of you?

Maybe someone spread some rumors 

around the office about you,

or within a group of mutual friends...

and you were shunned because of these rumors.

What happened? 

I know this has happened to me before -

and I was upset, sad, depressed,

ticked-off! 

but, 

the rest of my life was good,

I still had my other friends who believed in me.

I still had a place to lay my head at night.

I still had my family to lean on.

~~~

There is one particular young girl in China,

who has broken my heart!

She has had rumors and judgements made about her

and this has brought fear to  potential adoptive families.

Hua was abandoned as an infant. 

She is healthy, 

with no developmental issues, 

no medical problems...

nothing out of the ordinary.

Except, she is not very good in math.

and because math does not come easily to her -

in 2009, she was labeled

"low intelligence growth".

Of course, this can be a scary diagnosis -

but after a CT scan -

she has been now labeled

"normal".

Hua is outgoing and gets along with her classmates and nannies very well.

She is attentive to her teacher in class and her 

grades are average.

Her biggest problem now is that she will be 13 in November 

and is running out of time for her family to find her 

before the China adoption laws will no longer allow her to be adopted. 

Please pray for her sweet heart.

The orphanage director said something to her that lead her to believe 

that she had a family working to bring her home,

when she learned that this was not true -

no one was searching for her,

no one was praying for her,

no one was longing to bring her home,

she was very disappointed. 

Pray with us that her family will find her!

If you want more information -

please contact 

Dick and Cheryl Graham

iaap2000@gmail.com

Heartsent Adoption

Upheaval

I wonder what kind of uproar there would be in our community if even just one of our public schools could not supply school lunches for a month,

or a week,

or even a day. 

We have lived in this community for almost 15 years,

and I am sure that there would be a massive upheaval of 

parents, grandparents, 

community leaders if for even ONE day 

our students were not given lunch. 

People would stop their world to complain,

the administration building would have lines of people 

wanting answers, 

the phone lines to the school(s) would be 

incredibly busy, 

people of our community would want answers!

News stations would be called!

"This is unfair for our children!" 

"Our children need better then this!"

"Our children deserve better then this!"

"This is not right!" 

"How can our children learn if their bodies are not being fueled?"

"We will not stand for this!"

Yet, 

we sit,

with bellies full...

eating our luxury foods...

donuts,

ice cream, 

oreos,

potato chips,

$5 coffee

without a care that there are children all over the world 

who are not eating!

Who are not being loved.

Who don't have hope for a future.

Who will help?

Who will stand and fight for them?

Who will care for them?

It's okay -

they aren't our children.

But you know what -

they are  our children,

 and more importantly they are

God's children!  

What does God say about caring for the needy and poor?

Proverbs 21:13 

"If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, 

he too will cry out and not be answered." (NIV)

Proverbs 31:8-9

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, 

for the rights of all who are destitute. 

Speak up and judge fairly;

defend the rights of the poor and needy." (NIV)

Matthew 19:21 

"Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions 

and give to the poor, 

and you will have treasures in heaven.

Then come, follow me.'" (NIV)

Luke 12:33

"Sell your possessions and give to the poor. 

Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out,

a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted,

where no thief comes near and no moth destroys."

I won!

I won -

this 

and 

this...

 

and this!

But even more importantly $4,500 was 

raised for three very special 

families and their very special boys!

Thank you to everyone who donated items to be bid on,

those who bid,

and those who prayed for the auction!

Please keep praying for these families -

I know they would appreciate it!

T's family

Z's family

L's family

Happy Dance!

The online auction for our sweet friends  warriors in Ethiopia 

is doing great!

But there are still some beautiful items 

at your finger tips!

Check it out 

and have fun bidding!!! 

http://tlcfortlz.blogspot.com/

Two out of three of these boys have families working 

hard to get to their sons!

Praise God!

Up and running!!!

The online Auction for T,L and Z 

is up and running! 

Amazing items! 

Join us, have fun and get bidding!

I dare you to out bid me! 

Just sayin' this is my favorite! :)

Course,

there's this too!

This study is wonderful for any adoptive parent!

And ohhhh -

Gotta love me some Beth Moore!

Tomorrow...

Tuesday morning!!

begins our auction for 

T,L and Z!

Here are just a few items that will be in the auction

November 15 - Dec 9th!

Ethiopian coffee!

Junk Posse necklace!

Personalized family canvas!

Beautiful 10k gold diamond bracelet!

Beautiful beaded bookmark!

And tons more!!!!  

Join us tomorrow at
TLC for TLZ

Wanna help?

Since returning from our court date in Ethiopia in April I have mentioned three incredible boys who are waiting for the chance to have a family.  My heart has broken for these boys - there is not a day that goes by that I do not think of them, pray for them and cry for them. 

---

T – T is a quiet boy who likes to play with his friends. He has a calm and friendly personality that one might see as being shy, but after he warms up to someone he is more outgoing, kind and friendly.

T likes to be active and play soccer with his buddies. He is good at sharing and is kind to the younger children at the Care Center.

L-L is an adorable little guy who loves to have fun! He can be shy around adults but is friendly with the other children. He loves to play cars and enjoys trying to make one-on-one conversations with visiting adults. Showing off what English he is learning.

Z-Z is a very compassionate boy. He is always looking out for the younger boys at the Care Center. He is seen as a big brother to every one there and is sweet to every one.

Z is fun and loves to play games with his friends. He is not over powering for attention but is willing to wait his turn.

---

Here is how you can help:

Several of us have decided to host an online silent auction to raise funds for grants for the families that step forward to give these boys a home and family.

It will be from mid-November to December 1st. (just in time for your Christmas shopping!) 

We would love to have you help us! Right now we are in the stage of gathering items to put in the auction (the website will be www.tlcfortlz.blogspot.com  It’s in process right now ) 

Would you be willing to donate something?

Here is how it works:

1. You let me know if you would be willing to donate. Email us at ianwaitingchild@gmail.com with what you would like to donate! Then, just sit back and relax!

2. We will create a blog post about your item, including a description and picture, a minimum bid price, and a link over to your etsy page/website/blog so they can check out the other fabulous things that you do!

Look for it on www.tlcfortlz.blogspot.com

3. We are planning to open the auction mid November and end it on Dec 1 (just in time for Christmas!) Readers will bid on your fantastic donation!

4. When the auction closes we will e-mail the winner to get their mailing address. Then, we will send you the address.

5. So the only thing you have to do is mail them the prize!

Also, after the auction closes, We will write a post encouraging bidders who bid on your item and did not win to go check out your etsy page/website/blog! Hopefully this will bring you a lot of free publicity.

The sweet boys get advocated for and families get a grant. Win-Win.

Feel free to email me with any questions or ideas!!

We’ve already received some fantastic donations and I can’t wait to share them with you!

Sunday Snapshot: A look at our boys home

This is their playground...

Their swing set...

Their teeter-totter

Their jungle-gym

 Their bed...

Donovan and Elijah share the bottom bunk

Their toys that they have hidden away.

To our boys this will soon be a thing of the past.
Their time at the orphanage will be history.
They will begin to heal,
and begin to share their memories.
We will hold them when they hurt,
and 
listen when they want to share.


But...

we can't forget the millions of children 

this is their life...

day after day...

with no hope of 
real education,
real love,
real pride,
real joy,


a real family.

The crisis is happening NOW!

Last but not least...

10) Mobilize your church 
 

Matthew 28:18-20

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, 
baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 
teaching them to observe all that I commanded you … 

Be an advocate in your own church 

and community for the orphan.

 

Take a step in faith,

begin an orphan awareness program at your church,

or 

take part in an orphan ministry 

that is already in place.

There is no time to sit 

and wait for someone else to do it!

We need to help 

NOW!

The statistics are rising 

163 million children feel worthless

and unloved. 

What are we going to do about it?

10 Ways to Help the Orphan and Waiting Child

9) Adopt them

Psalm 68:5-6a NIV

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, 
is God in His holy dwelling. 

God sets the lonely in families … 

God truly loves the orphan.


His heart breaks for them.


He sets them in families.




Taking the huge step into adoption is a huge 
leap of faith.
It is taking life as we know it,
 and shaking it up! 




But, is that a bad thing?


It hasn't been for us.

 If you would like to talk adoption please 
feel free to email me,
I'd love to chat with you!
or
attend our Truly Blessed gathering 
on December 12th.
We'd love to share and listen to you -
no pressure!




10 Ways to Help the Orphan and Waiting Child 

We are Truly Blessed

We are thankful for so many blessings
this year.
As Brady gets older, he's a Junior now,
I wonder how many more Thanksgivings we will
have him home for.
So we are enjoying this family time together!


I can hear my kids laughing now -
We have been enjoying our time
rearranging our house
and bedrooms
for the arrival of
Donovan and Elijah!
(yes, we finally decided on names!
we will keep their Ethiopian names as
their middle names.
This way they can decide which name they would like
to use.)


We will be having a casual day today,
playing board games,
watching football,
and just enjoying each other.


But, there always seems to a dark cloud over
our home.
The fact that soooo many children
will be sad today,
including our Donovan and Elijah.
We can't wait to celebrate Thanksgiving with them
next year.


We are truly blessed!




To continue with our list of
10 ways to help the Orphan and Waiting Child,
we have #8


8) Encourage them to press on!
1 Thessalonians 5:14

We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage

the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with

everyone. 

Sponsor a child!

But, remember monthly financial support 

is the easy part. 

Remember to send them letters,

and try to go on a mission trip to visit them!

Or,

Become a mentor to a child in a foster group home.

The time you take to 

encourage a child could change

the world for them!

7) Give sacrificially to them.

 2 Corinthians 9:7

Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not

grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful

giver.

I love this song, My Own Little World by Matthew West!

It's easy to life in my own little world,

of population me.

But, what if there is a bigger purpose!

Lord, break my heart for what 

breaks yours! 

And let me give with a cheerful heart.

10 ways to Help the Orphans

Hope for the Orphan

5.) Protect them from harm and 6.) Visit them where they are

Psalms 146:9

The LORD protects the strangers; 

He supports the fatherless and the widow, 

But He thwarts the way of the wicked.

What happens to the orphan 

when they are left?

Every country has an age limit 

in which the orphan is no longer

"cared".

What happens to them then?

7 out of 10 girls who grow up in US Foster Care

have at least one child of their own in foster care.

When children "age out" they are either put in
nursing homes or let go into the world without
any guidance.
(I have a 16 year old and 14 year old -
though they are pretty mature -
there is no way they would live long
if they were thrown out into the streets to fend for themselves.)

~
Maybe you could be an emergency foster parent.
May you could help raise money to help build
a children's home,
so we can get these kids off the streets.


6.) Visit them where they are
James 1:27
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight
of our God and Father is this: 
to visit orphans and widows in their distress, 
and to keep oneself unstained by the world. 

Go on a mission trip and visit an orphanage.
You will help them 

and your heart will be changed too. 

 

 or

visit a foster group home or

foster family on a regular basis.

 

10 Ways every Christian can help the orphan

and waiting child 

This will help foster kids to feel "normal"

and loved,

and you will be a blessing to the foster parents as well.

4.) Support those who support the orphan

"support"

according to Dictionary.com

(cause I'm too lazy to go get my Websters)

the definition of "support" is:

to bear or hold up (a load, mass, structure, part, etc.); 

serve as a foundation for.

Adoptive families need support!

Adoption is not easy.

It's a huge transition for the adoptee 

and for the adoptive family.

From the very beginnings of paperwork,

to financing the adoption,

to fixing up a bedroom,

to traveling domestically or internationally,
childcare.
It's more the bringing a meal over when the family
is united.

To share the highs and lows with them,

this is a gift that you can give some one!

To cheer with the family during accomplishments,
and to cry with them when they struggle.

Walking the journey by the side of an adoptive family

is an incredible blessing.

So, if you have ever said,

"Oh, I'd love to adopt but my spouse wont."
or
"I'm not called to adopt."

Then I ask you,

find someone in your area -

walk with them.

help them.

support them

in whatever way they need.

**************

Check out my friends -

they are both having awesome auctions

to help raise funds for to bring home their babies!

If you can support them financially that would 

be awesome! 

Y'all are great!

Connie has a $500 Walmart gift card!

(Ends today! Get your support in now!)

and 

Anita has a $150 and $100 Visa gift cards,

and ipod touch,

and more! 

(Ends tomorrow!  Help them bring their Kaleb home!)

Hebrews 10:24

 And let us consider how we may spur 
one another on toward love 
and good deeds.

(This list is from Hope for the Orphan)