It's not just our Azeb who needed a home!

I don't know how many of you are intensely following this, but we were blessed to be able to take donations via Reece's Rainbow and to better know that organization in this last adoption.  God has truly moved in our lives, challenged us and led us to our two youngest daughters and the world of raising a child with recognized special needs (two of our kids have type 1 diabetes and we don't consider them special needs in that context - we talk about medical special needs, which is different).  Reece's Rainbow advocates for children with Down Syndrome (primarily) that are waiting for forever families - most of whom will never be adopted, and many of whom may likely perish in institutions never knowing the love of a family.  I am just overwhelmed to think of all the children who wait, who may never be tucked in at night, who many never have the opportunity to grow in love and nurturing.  Because it is true.  There are many children with special needs, with Down Syndrome particularly, who are unrecognized as valuable, as a life to be nurtured and loved.

We protest that thought.

Totally protest that.  I protest that any child grow up without a family to love them and support them.  That any child doesn't have all the love and support that every child deserves.

Reece's Rainbow is an amazing organization.  I am so blessed to have gotten to know them.  I simply cannot look at their waiting children lists.  In all honesty, it breaks my heart.  I have a half a second of wondering about trying again someday, and then am called back by the needs of my kids at home and know that right now it is not within our resources to bring another child into our family.  I refuse to dictate to God that we are done - honestly because each time we have done that, it has been almost like a challenge to God and soon we are expanding our family again.  I simply don't know what God will call us to.  I know that I feel that at the moment He knows that we are full.  That we are using everything we have for the kids He has lovingly placed into our homes.  We are blessed.  We are overwhelmed at some moments, bu through Christ all things are possible.  We know that our littlest ones need so much right now, that our teens need us actively with them in their rapidly expanding lives, that our tweens/almost teens need us too.  We are so fully blessed.  I know what we are called to today.  I do at the moment think our family may be complete, if God so dictates, we may add to it.  I simply cannot imagine it right now.  But on the other hand, before I wish it would happen, several children will fly the nest, become adults (oh, way too rapidly for their mama).  God has a plan.  I don't know what it will be in the future. God has already brought us so far that we never ever would have imagined.  I don't want to tell Him what our future should be (though the lottery would be lovely, if You are listening God!).  I need to take each step that He has laid out for me.

And I do think that for today, our role is to advocate for other children in need. For children like Azeb.  For children who were born with challenges that the world does not see as valuable.  They are.  Just as valuable as any other child.

So, I want to share this link with you: http://onestepclosertohome.blogspot.com/2012/06/racing-for-orphans-with-down-syndrome.html">Racing for Orphans with Down Syndrome - Ironman.  This amazing man is raising money to support the effort to get these kids into homes.  Reece's Rainbow assists with fundraising - the funds raised - listed on our sidebar - are for our post adoption work, thankfully that is the last bit we have left to go.  They have GRANTS for children on their list!!!!  If you are interested in adopting a child with Down Syndrome or another special need who is on their list, there are many grants, some are absolutely huge!!!!  What a huge blessing and help in the process.  Honestly, the finances of adoption are daunting.  We are still repaying loans that we got to bring our kids home.  We have paid off each one before starting another, and a sacrifice that we don't count, but it is still a challenge. We are making payments on what it took to bring our kids to a loving home.  So, these grants are huge to adopting families!!!  You can help bring a child to a family who is willing to love and raise them - possibly for an entire lifetime of care. What a huge gift.  Please, please go to this link.  Read it, learn more.  This wonderful athlete is working to raise awareness and funds for children with Down Syndrome in need of families!  What a creative way to bring awareness of the need to the world.  We each reach out in our own way, and reach those that might hear us.  We are facing a season in which we can raise awareness and hopefully help others adopt children who desperately need homes.  There are several kids on the website that just break my heart, each child speaks to a different family, to a different person - but all I can do right now is pray and raise awareness.  If that is our role now, we will gladly do that.

Please check out this website listed above and visit Reece's Rainbow.  Each life is of value.  Each child deserves love.

I look at Azeb - who can make us crazy as she tests every boundary, and then will scrunch up her little face and let loose with a belly laugh that will just challenge you to not laugh along with her - even when you should be scolding her!  I cannot imagine her little life not being of value.  As she trucks all over, following me, or running away (there is a 50/50 chance of either), exploring the dirt, chasing down a cat (that a few short weeks terrified her) so she can hug it, petting one of our dogs, or telling me a story in her own version of words, jargon and gestures - so clear at times that I totally understood it, well, how could she not be part of a family?  A family to care for her, to look out for her, to nurture her, to entice her to be all that she can be?  EVERY child deserves that!!!!

Okay, off my soapbox.  I need to go feed an orphaned kitten. And check on the chicks that hatched in the incubator in the last two days ( up to six now!), and keep watching the epic news reports of the recall election of our State of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.  And sleep because tomorrow I will take one kiddo to renew his temps (for driving), and then to our time at the stable, then schooling, then the usual!!!!

"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Can I finally share?????

Yep, I can!

After all the ups and downs of the last year, all the preparations of adoptions that did not happen, well, it is now signed on the dotted line!!!

We are going back to Ethiopia!  Hopefully sometime in the next six months.

We are adding two little girls to our family, to be loved on by all of us who are so excited!  The girls are sisters, the older one has Down Syndrome and is said to be two.  After looking at her photos and her walking, we think she is older than that.  The little one is six to twelve months, probably closer to twelve months.  We are so excited! 

God has moved in amazing ways, has made it totally clear and everyone is on board!  This time Steve and I will travel together - there is NO WAY I can manage two toddlers, immigration, luggage, customs and changing planes and all that by myself!  Ethiopia has changed their rules, and we will need to take two trips, one short one to meet the girls before court and one for visas and to bring them home!

Our application is in, that is all signed, the homestudy is being updated to an international one rather than a domestic one, and we are doing all our education work and all that.  I have more papers to fill out, documents to collect and all sorts of stuff to do.  Time to make some energy tea!

I am working on decluttering - having toddlers again will be something we need to be ready for, and we need to simplify life a little.  We are selling some of our ponies (the kids are too big for them anyway, but we also need less to care for), downsizing our goat herd some, and totally getting things organized!  The consignment store, and donation stores are our best friends! 

I am being totally smart and taking it one step at a time.  We know that we are working towards the next payment for the next step, one piece at a time.  I have seen God do amazing miracles and am sure that He will continue the good work that He has begun.  If you want to chip in, feel free - there should be a button on the sidebar to connect to our paypal for adoption fees.  If you look through posts, we are also making ceramic initial bears, handmade by the kids for their little sisters' adoption fund!  Feel free to leave an order, or send our link on to anyone who might be interested.  We are doing all sorts of ideas for fundraising! 

We are excited and totally in awe of this new direction!  I wish I could post photos of the girls, but we cannot until they are totally ours, and likely won't until they arrive home with us, just to avoid any difficulties!  I so wish I could share, they are so cute!!!!!  I guarantee that when we get home from Ethiopia with them we will post tons of photos!!!!

I had to laugh, because shortly after this all started, I realized that I have alternated between praying for a "baby" and praying for a "child with Down Syndrome" to add to our family.  In my heart, I meant ONE child, the same child.  God got the last laugh and gave me BOTH, but in two packages!!!!  He has SUCH a sense of humor!

Honestly, I have to let you know that the adoption journey and all the unknown cycles between the extreme highs and joy and the total fears and worries.  I have never met these kids, honestly don't even really know how old they actually are, or what we might face with them.  But, we didn't know what might come with any of our birth kids either.  I find that some days are up and some days are down.  Some days I wonder if I am absolutely nuts or if it is the best thing ever!  I know from past experience it will be better than I could ever imagine, will stretch me in ways I could never even imagine, and will be beyond belief.  I know that God will use this for more than I could ever imagine.  But in reality, the next year will be a wild ride.  So, bear with me if I am a little freaked out some days.  I will try to be transparent and honest, with the hopes that someone can glean something from our lives.  (And it may simply be "what not to do")  I just want God to use this for whatever He has in mind. 

Well, the kids have been helping me with sorting things out, getting stuff out to the van to be delivered, advertising what we are trying to sell, and generally being supportive.  So, I am going to make them pancakes!!!!!

Blessings to anyone who happens to stumble across this!!!

Christy

"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Listen to this!

Click Here

Click the link above! Who says that kids can't do a lot, or you need to wait until you are grown! I am amazed and humbled!
Me