Let's support adopting families!

I know first-hand how expensive adoption can be. Finding and raising funds is not fun, and it's embarrassing to ask for money. No one WANTS to beg for every dollar they can get. But families 
 will do whatever they can to bring home their children. People are always willing to give money and gits to families who give birth to a new baby - adopting families deserve the same! They are getting a new child in their home, and working hard to do so. Let's support them!

Diamond necklace giveaway from a family adopting two boys from Eastern Europe. They are in "crunch time" - they are leaving soon and really need to raise their final amount!

Cookie Lee Jewelry fundraiser for a family adopting a little boy in EE - also in crunch time!

31 Fundraiser for a family adopting a little girl in EE. 

Here's an Etsy shop for a family adopting from EE. Cute stuff and all proceeds go to the adoption. 

Several fundraisers going at this blog of a mom working to bring her sweet girl home.

This family urgently needs initial funds to officially commit to their child before his file is returned to his country.

Or how about an Ipad2 giveaway from a family adopting two sweeties from EE?

And here's a great fundraiser for a family adopting a sweet little boy. 

 

ONE WEEK to help graduating orphans!

Do you remember your 16th birthday? I sure do. Sweet Sixteen usually means big parties and getting your driver's license. For a lot of kids, it signals freedom - in the next few years, you'll be graduating high school, maybe going to college, moving out of your parent's house. It's a time to celebrate!

Unless, of course, you're an orphan. If you are an orphan, turning 16 is a time of dread, fear, and hopelessness. Once you turn 16 - only 14 in some countries - your chances of finding a family are over. You will never get the chance to call someone mama, or have a family to call yours, or a HOME. In fact, the home you've known for the last few years is no longer yours, either. Your time is up, and it's time to "graduate". What a nice way of saying you're no longer welcome in the only place you've had to live, with the only people you've known. You're put out into the streets, ill-prepared, poorly educated, with the awful stigma of Orphan attached to you. You might as well have it stamped onto your forehead. If you are lucky, you may find a minimum wage job and scratch out a "living". More likely, you'll turn to crime, drugs, and prostitution. If you get pregnant, you'll have no way to support your child, and they will end up in an orphanage as well.

Maybe, you'll lose all hope and end your own life. Like so many others before you.

Seems pretty bleak, doesn't it?

Most of us are blessed, and have families and a home and food. You have been blessed so that you can bless others! My dear friends at Bible Orphan Ministry would really love to help some of these former orphans who are aging out of the orphanage. I really admire my friends, they are wonderful people who are fulfilling the Lord's call to help those in need. And they really need our help! Bible Orphan Ministry would like to buy items to help graduating orphans in their new life. Please read THIS POST to see a glimpse of their heart and passion for these kids. Visit THIS BLOG to donate, and you will be entered in a drawing. They only have a week left! Please help these kids!

Biggest FUNdraiser Ever!

Eight-year-old Vanya really needs a family. He's waiting in an orphanage in the same country where my son is. Everyday, Vanya asks his caregivers is today is the day someone has chosen him. If today he finally has a family. So far, no one has come for him. And his time is running short - soon he will be transferred to a place he cannot be adopted from. The Eli Project ministry has an adoption grant fund set up for Vanya, and Adeye at No Greater Joy Mom is having an AMAZING fundraiser for him! I have never seen so many prizes in one place! Please visit HERE to check out the fundraiser, or visit The Eli Project to learn more about their ministry and how to help kids like Vanya.

My posts about adoption are coming. :) Tomorrow morning I leave to go get my son!

Baby House 19

It's been a little while since I've posted. I've been a bit busy - we leave in just one week to go meet our new son! There's so much to do in such a short amount of time. His new bed is up in our room, his clothes are hanging in the closet, our suitcases are filling up. Oh, how I long to hold my sweet little boy!

He's waiting for us, and we're dreaming of him.

Who is dreaming of Karina? Or Nadia? Miley, or Thomas? These are all children in our boy's orphanage - children who have no mamas coming to rescue them. No mamas putting away little clothes just for them, no names being mulled over, no futures being planned for.

Karina, in particular, desperately needs a family. She will certainly not survive if she doesn't receive medical care soon. Sweet baby girl.

And then there's Easton, Niko, and Sasha. These three boys grew up in the very same baby house as my little boy. They had the same nannies, played with the same toys. But these three boys have now been transferred - moved from the baby house. They are "older children" (but hardly old at 5 years old!) and have minor special needs - making it hard for them to find families. Some great mamas have set up a fundraiser to help these boys find families! Check out the fundraiser HERE and you might even win a great prize!

Consider donating to one of these little children. At the very least, click the link to the fundraiser where you can learn more about Easton, Niko, and Sasha, and the orphans in Eastern Europe. It is a beautifully written post. Plus, they are just too cute!

Help a Family

One easy way you can help orphans is to help families who are adopting!
Adoption is expensive, and families often host fundraisers to help with the costs. Here a few links to current fundraisers:
A family adopting two from Asia: Gift Card Giveaway

A family adopting from Eastern Europe: I-pad Giveaway
Another family adopting a little boy in EE: Handmade accessories

A family adopting from a different country in EE: Handmade jewelry

This family recently found out their daughter has been transferred to an institution: Handmade necklaces

You can also look HERE for a longer list of family fundraisers.

All of the items for sale would make great gifts! So do a little shopping, enter a few contests, and help a few families at the same time!