She can do this too!

I cannot believe this is the same child who a year ago would shriek and carry on so badly during bathtime that her lips would turn blue! I'm still not sure who was more traumatized by baths - me or her?

So, little Miss Determination decided this week that she was tired of sitting on the side of the pool waiting for mommy, daddy, or a sibling to take her in the water. Instead, she thought she would just try swimming all by herself, and that is what she did! Can you tell how proud she is? I know I am one proud mama! Wait till her physical therapist hears the good news.

She can do it!

One of the things I love about Irina is her determination to accomplish a task. Now it has to be something she WANTS to do, because during her weekly physical therapy, if she doesn't want to work on something then she cannot be pushed to do it. However, if she wants to conquer something, then look out world! At the playground the other day, she very timidly and cautiously went across the swing bridge. She held tightly to the handrail, and took small, slow steps. She went back and forth, gaining confidence each time, until finally she was running across the bridge laughing and so very proud of herself!

Monkey Business

Please won't you help?

BOY, Born February 4, 2005
SIGNIFICANT RISK, PLEASE ADOPT ME SOON!!
Monroe is a sunshine of a little boy! He is already 5 and blessed to still be at the baby house. He needs a family right away!

From a missionary who visited with him in June 2010: I met with the doctor in his Groupa House who brought me back to meet him. The Head Doctor wanted me to meet the children who needed equipment. While measuring him for a chair, she explained to me what was more important was that he get a family. He will be traferred in six months to the worst institution, restrained in a crib in a dark room. She broke into tears! Monroe has spastic cerebral palsy in all four limbs and is globally delayed. He is able to recognize the voices of his careworkers and understand simple directions. However, due to his spacitiy he is unable to do much of anything. No speech. With therapy he can improve but will always have limitations. I measured his head circumfeence and once home will check with a doctor regtarding whether ir not he is microcephalic as well. I will try to gather more information on him today. His temperament was sweet and his eyes twinkled. He needs a family fast!

From an adoptive family who visited with him in June 2009: Monroe has CP. It appears that he is unable to use his arms and legs and is not sitting up on his own. He has the most beautiful smile and I don't think there is much of a cognitive delay. He loves to be held and his whole face lights up when you come near him."

*** Monroe has an incredible benefactor who has offered a FULL GRANT of $20,000 for his adoption. He is facing imminent institutionalization, and will regress quickly once he is transferred. Families who are qualified (www.reecesrainbow.org/newfamily.html) to adopt internationally and who are approved to adopt a significantly delayed child should contact Andrea for more information. This is a very fast program and it is very possible to have him home before the end of 2010! ***

MORE PHOTOS AVAILABLE
I have $20,000 in my grant fund towards the cost of my adoption!


Anyone interested please email Andrea Roberts at Reeces Rainbow! bamaroberts@comcast.net

Remember Lucy?

My heart is overflowing with joy! Sweet Lucy is now named Teresa, and her wonderful family is in China right now to bring her home! What an amazing answer to prayer. She looks so happy and comfortable, it is so obvious that this was God's plan for her all along. Please pray for her as they travel home. Her heart condition is very serious (you could never tell from the pictures that she is a sick little girl). Please check out their family blog and send them love and prayers here.

Happy Birthday, Awesome Hubby!

This week was my incredible husband's birthday! To mark the occassion, he shaved his head. I wasn't sure about the idea when he mentioned it awhile back, but I think he looks super handsome (or if I want to get my older kids to gag I can just say "hot"!:). We celebrated with homemade crab cakes and my Caroline made a decadent cheesecake for dessert. My husband really enjoys cycling, so we got him a bike trailer so he could tote around a kid or two when he goes for a ride (some might say this is a little selfish on my part, but really how good will he get doing hills with that added resistence in the back? I'm really just thinking of him! Really).

As you can see, Blair was very willing to be the first passenger. He looks pretty comfy with his water bottle in one hand and a snack in the other....

Nothing worthwhile is ever easy

I tried to find out who said this to credit them, but it seems there are many individuals quoted as saying something to this effect. I know these words are true, and it feels even more so right now. Sometimes it seems the more worthwhile and valuable the goal, the harder the journey is to get there.

I am being intentionally vague on my blog, but as soon as I can, I promise I will go into detail. You may wonder why I am bothering to post when I am leaving you in the dark, but it is partly therapeutic and also to keep asking for your continued prayers for us. Prayer changes things, and we need it!

We are on a journey that truly either God is in it, or it ain't gonna happen. Really. This is one of those scenarios where HE is going to show up in a big way or He is going to shut the door. We were told yesterday that there is a 95% chance that what we are pursuing isn't going to happen. 95%! I wanted to cry when I got this news. As I shared with my amazing husband the "bad news", his response melted my heart. He simply responded "well, then there is a 5% chance it will".

It doesn't make any logical sense to push on when the chances of success are so slim, but faith is all about trusting God with what is impossible. This certainly isn't the first time the "odds" aren't in our favor. It isn't the first time we have asked the Lord to work a miracle on our behalf. No matter the outcome, we know that He loves us and has a plan for us. We just feel we have to trust Him to give us the final "no" or "yes". We have to at least ask Him for that miracle.

Don't press your luck...

When will I learn? Once you get a fairly decent picture or two, you don't keep going!

We have a Priceless WINNER!

Congratulations to RACHEL at Brown Eyed Blessings! I will be in contact to get your mailing information and get the book out to you this week. I hope you enjoy it, and consider putting a review on your blog when you are done reading it. Thank you to everyone who participated! I wish I could have sent all of you a free copy!

Oh, and a special thank you to my assistant Blair for helping to draw a name!:)

Time is running out!

The give away for the Priceless book will end on Monday, July 5th at noon! See the post below for how to add your name to the drawing! Don't miss out on getting this great book FREE! Happy Birthday, America!

Beautiful Slave

A friend of mine had this video posted on her blog, and it is very timely having recently read the book Priceless. Please watch.