You thought I was done... #10!!!!

Finishing up on 10 ways we all can care for the orphan -
#10 is very important!!!
As Christians we are all called to care for the orphan!

#1 - Pray

#2 - Speak up

#3 - Provide 

#4 - Help those who support

#5 - Protect them

#6 - Visit them

#7 - Give

#8 - Encourage

#9 - Adopt

#10

Mobilize the church

Caring for the orphan is the call to the church!

Mobilize your church!! 

Encourage your leadership to see the 

crisis of the orphan!

It is easy to live in the bubble of our churches,

kids programs,

youth programs,

beautiful choirs,

good preaching...

but let's get uncomfortable!!!!

Let's do what God called us to do - 

move!!! 

and love others!!! 

Ten Ways Every Christian can care for the Orphan

and waiting child.

http://www.christianalliancefororphans.org

And for anyone local who would like to join us in a local parade!
We will be raising awareness for the Orphan Crisis!!
Let me know if you are interested in learning how you can be involved!

#9- my favorite!

#9 

Adopt!!!

I must tell you, and I know I have said this more then once...

we thought we were blessing these children 

by bringing them home to our family...

but what we didn't expect was how much 

they have blessed us! 

How much they have taught us!

They are incredible people 

and we are better because of them!

Not better because we "saved" them -

but they saved us!

Search your heart!

Pray!!! Pray!!! Pray!!!

and

LISTEN!!!!

#8

I know that November is over,
and "National Adoption Month" is over
but the orphan crisis needs to be focused on
more then during one month!!!

So we continue with our
#10 ways to help the orphan
and we are now on...

#8

Encourage them

Sponsor a child! 

Support them financially!

Correspond with them!

Everyone likes getting mail!

and photos!! 

Just think of the smile you could put on someone's face,

just by sending them a letter

of encouragement!!

Become a mentor or tutor! 

Ask a foster family if you can help with homework

for their foster child! 

Become a big brother or big sister!

Let's convince these kids that they are worthy 

of Christ's love! 

They are worthy of unconditional love!! 

#7

#7 

Give!

I truly don't believe ALL are called to adopt -
but I do believe we, as Christians,
are all called to help.

And by helping we can financially give
to families who are called to adopt!

God raised ALL of our needed adoption funds
to bring Hagan and Griggs home.
Some donations were from friends,
and some were from strangers.
Each $1 was a blessing!!!!
Each donation was an amazing encouragement!
Satan tried to break us down many times -
you know he hates
when orphans come home to their forever families,
and he'll do anything to keep them apart.

You could be a major blessing to an entire family!!!

If you don't know of an adoptive family -
let me know  -
I can introduce you to some!!!

#6

#6 

Visit them!

There are mission trips all over the world! 

There are foster and group homes all over 

the states!! 

Visit them on a regular basis! 

We have friends that go annually, 

and semi-annually to a specific area.

They have built relationships with the 

children and the adults. 

I can't wait to go on my first mission trip!!

To China!!

To visit these precious children,

love on them,

learn about them,

and share them with y'all. 

These children need to see that there is hope

for them,

they need to see Christ's love through us.

They will bless you far more then
you bless them!!!

#5

Since it is is National Adoption month 

I have been doing a little blogging to

help encourage y'all to help the 

orphan! 

There are so many ways!!! 

These are the first four blog posts -

#1

#2

#3

#4

And today we are on #5! 

Protect them!

Be a foster parent,

be a mentor in your local school,

give to a foundation that works with 

Children living on the streets.

Be a CASA volunteer!!

A foster parent!!!

This is something that I have always wanted to do,

but God has not yet opened this door. 

But, I'm still praying! 

(and they are really flexible on the age limit

of the parents - so no excuses!!! 

I'm still hoping to be a foster grandma!)

Can I tell y'all a cool story...

a new friend, at our new church came to me on Sunday -

super excited! 

She told me that since Orphan Sunday -

she has stepped up to be a CASA volunteer!

I am sooo excited for her and for the children that 

she will be working with.

This is a hard position,

but ohhh so important!!!  

and another couple at church,

whom we shared with on Orphan Sunday 

are preparing their foster son to return home -

keeping this child safe while 

his parents worked through their own suffering

is an amazing gift that this special family 

has given this boy and his family!

or,

have you ever heard of 

Safe Families?

I am just learning about it but am so excited about this ministry.

Children can go to a Safe Family,

while their parents work through 

their personal issues. 

It is a short term commitment -

but can change the lives of the entire family!!!

As I learn more - 

I'd be glad to pass information on to y'all!

#4

#4 

Help those who support the orphan!

Reach out to the families around you who are 

called to care for the orphan in their own home.

When they are going through training -

if they have other kiddos at home -

offer to babysit! 

Satan uses any excuse to slow down the 

adoption/foster process!

Encourage the family.

Listen to their hopes and fears.

Pray for them,

pray with them.

When their child comes home…

the first part of adoption and fostering is to get the bonding

and attachment started.

This is hard for people who have never experienced this to understand,

and will have to be another  blog post,

but ask the family what they need. 

I remember one of the best evenings I had after Hagan and Griggs first came home -

was when a friend of mine,

a state away set up a time to call me -

she called after I had gotten everyone to bed,

and I had a glass of wine, 

sitting in my garage,

chatting with her on the phone for hours! 

Soooo therapeutic.

Help babysit the other kids while 

mom and dad are bonding with the new kids,

or taking them to doctor appointments. 

Be there as their friend,

Adoption may not be something you are called to do -

but be their friend,

sometimes just getting out for a few hours can do wonders 

for a mom or dad! 

#3

#3

Provide for the orphan. 

Call your local CPS office -

What do they need for their foster families?

What do they need to help ease the transition 

for these children when they have to 

be removed from their home?

backpacks,

blankets,

diapers, 

night lights,

toys, 

books…

and/or

Host a Shoe making party through

SoleHope.com!!! 

A pair of shoes can change a child's life! 

Take a look at my son's feet - 

each scar has a story of it's own.

Unfortunately, they are hard and hurtful stories. 

and/or

Support an orphan or family monthly!

I just love this program through 

Project Hopeful!

The FIG Program 

Family In the Gap!

The #1 goal of this program is to keep 

families together!! 

Please contact my friend Charisa 

to learn more! 

charisa@projecthopeful.org

#2

#2 way to help the orphan.

Speak up for the orphan!!! 

Tell others about the orphan crisis!

Believe it or not, many people still don't know! 

Share with others that precious face 

that you are praying for. 

and/or

Become a CASA advocate! 

(Court Appointed Special Advocate)

See NationalCASA.org

and/or

Be a mentor at your local school. 

There are kids in your own community who need you!

Having a positive mentor in their live 

can make all the difference!!! 

There is something we ALL can do! 

#1

What can you do for the orphan? 

#1

PRAY!!!!

This is sooo very easy!! 

Pray, but don't just pray 

"God take care of the orphan"

Seriously, 

pray for specific children. 

Go to an agency Waitlist and print off a photo -

pray for the child that touches you! 

Go to my advocacy website -

I don't have a lot of kids on there because 

I want to specifically pray for a few kids at a time! 

There are millions of children who need our prayers.

David Platt says it perfectly,

“We learned that orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore before you see their faces. It is easier to pretend they’re not real before you hold them in your arms. But once you do, everything changes…” – David Platt, “Radical”

Here are three beautiful children you now know their names,

and see their faces.

Please pray with us for them specifically!

Susanna

Linny

Kevin

Doing what's right...

Doing what is right or doing what is easy? I am usually one to go for the "easy" path. But when God asks us to follow HIM that doesn't equal an easy life. Infact, I think following HIM means hard times. Not because HE wants us to suffer, or struggle to prove our love to HIM, but rather because the evil one will hit hard. Hit hard to try to sway us from following Christ and living for HIM.

 I apologize if you get tired of me talking to you about the orphan. But, there are over 147 million children who's voices go unheard. And though I can't bring all of them home, I know that I can speak up for them. So, no matter how hard our daily life can be, with lots of laundry, lots of cooking for kiddos, lots of arguments to work through, and lots of healing, emotionally and physically to walk through with my children - but their smiles and joy are priceless.

  

 When I tuck my babies in at night - my heart is at peace.

 

 When my babies say "Momma! Momma! Look..." and they show me their newest creation... priceless. 

 

When my babies argue about who gets to sit on my lap, or brush my hair at bedtime story time... priceless.

 

 

I wish more then anything that these babies will one day know what a family is. 

    

These babies need to know they are loved,

  

 and that they are important, 

 

and that they are loved unconditionally. 

  (all of these children are listed with Lifeline Children Services)

 Y'all know that I don't believe in sugarcoating adoption. It is hard... it is hard for the child, it is hard for the adoptive parents, it is hard for the other children in the house... but hard doesn't mean wrong. God doesn't ask us to take the easy path - HE asks us to believe HIM, and HE will carry us through. Even when I am having a bad day, or frustrated about how my day went - there is nothing I have experienced that compares to the loneliness, or frustrations that 147 million+ children experience e.v.e.r.y.d.a.y.

I think of the Boston Marathon bombing, I picture the people who ran towards the danger. They ran toward uncertainty to help another human being. Another person that they didn't know, people they had never spoken too, but they knew they needed help. Do we run to the orphan or do we run away? Do we worry about what they would do to our lives if we invite them in, or do we ask what can we do in their lives to show them the love of God?

 I challenge you to take the rest of this month and seriously pray, ask God "What do you want me to do for the orphan crisis." Print off one of these photos of these precious children, ask God, "What do you want me to do for this child?" ask, "Is this my child?" Don't be afraid to ask, we've asked this many times and God has told us "no". But we need to be willing to ask and if the answer is "yes" we need to be willing to move. I will be spending this month focusing on this prayer also. If you would like me to add you to my prayer list, I would love to pray with you. Feel free to leave a comment or email me. (soccermom@tx.rr.com).

Out of the mouths of babes!

As Jorja and I sat snuggling on the couch,

for a quiet moment.

Jorja announced,

"We need to bring a kid home from China." 

I was shocked,

"really?

isn't our house crowded enough?"

she replied,

"Well,
that doesn't matter!
-

 there might be baby crying for their mommy."

All the hurt our sweetie endured,

for almost five years she spent crying herself to sleep in her crib,

she is willing to share her mommy and daddy,

her toys,

her bed,

and precious cuddle time,

so that someone else wont sit crying for their mommy.