A Day for the Motherless

Today is a beautiful day of celebration for mothers and children around the United States. For some it is also a day of sadness, a day of mourning and remembrance for those who have experienced loss of a mother or the loss of a child.

And then for others, like me, it is a day of mixed emotions. Celebration and gratefulness for having a supportive mother in my life, an amazing step-mom, and grandmothers here and in heaven who have weaved love into my life from childhood. But I am also overwhelmed with a sense of longing. Longing for the children that my arms have yet to hold, and for those I have held in my arms and hold in my heart, but are separated by distance. 

As a childless mother on this day, I cannot help but think of all the motherless children in the world. Today it is for these children that my heart truly breaks.

Here are the beautiful faces of some of these children, representing others from all around the world. As you celebrate your moms today, I ask that you also remember the orphans, the one's waiting, hoping, and longing to know the love of a mother.

(Some of these children are waiting for a family, others who do not have this opportunity are simply waiting for a sponsor and mentor to pour into their lives. For more info on any of these children and how you can help them specifically, click on the name below the photo).

 

Panashe
 

Yelena

 

 

 

Farai

 

Tadiwa

 

 

Clara

 

 

Brandon

 

 

Agina

 

 

Owen

 

 

Kuda
 

 

Pamela

 

 Happy Mother's Day!

 

 



My Fiesty Girl

Today I received a wonderful email. My friend Joanna, who it seems has endless connections, was able to get in touch with a family who has met Yelena! This is so exciting! Yelena is the only child from her orphanage listed on Reece's Rainbow, and there is very little information about her. What an amazing gift to receive more recent photos and information about this little girl who so desperately wants and needs a family.

Yelena with her head shaved short, most likely due to lice.

Yelena is described as not shy. She is sweet to adults and hungry for affection, but is the odd-one-out among her peers. She needs a family to teach her through example how to build positive peer relationships.

Yelena is also described as fiesty. She has most likely picked up some of her fiestiness as a survival mechanism from orphanage life. I know with the love, nurturing, and the modeling she will receive from her family, Yelena's fiestiness and strong spirit can be molded and refined. These  are positive attributes that God will use in mighty ways!

Yelena is listed on Reece's Rainbow due to her positive HIV status, but likely has no other delays.

Please, please, please, share this post so we can find this sweet girl's family!

Check out Yelena's profile page for more information or to donate to her adoption grant.

 

 

Daughter

In Eastern Europe, less than 50% of orphans
will live to see their 20th birthdays.
- The Orphan Foundation

Will you stand in the gap with me as I fight for Yelena? Let's build up an army of warriors for this little girl. She has waited too long to be called "daughter."

To help fight this battle for life on Yelena's behalf:

*Share this blog post or Yelena's profile so that her sweet smile will be seen by as many people as possible. Help me share until it reaches her heavenly appointed family.

*Give to Yelena's adoption grant. When it reaches $2,500 she will join the "moving mountains" category on Reece's Rainbow, which means her profile will be seen by more people. You can read more about the importance of adoption grants in the post Breaking Down Barriers.

*Remember Yelena in your prayers. Pray that God would stir the hearts of her forever family and for protection and love to be poured out over Yelena while she waits.



 

Rejoice

It is odd that God would choose today to fill me up with some of His goodness, as I woke up this morning with a stomach bug thinking nothing pleasant could come of this day.

I have been so rushed and overwhelmed since going back to school that I have taken very little time to be still and take in all the blessings in my life. With that said, I now see that today has been a gift in disguise.

First of all, I clicked over to Yelena's profile page, and I am so thankful to say that she is more than half way to the "Moving Mountains" category. Moving Mountains children have $2,500 or more in their adoption fund. The higher that amount goes, the more likely they are to be seen and adopted, as the monumental task of raising the money to bring them home has been cut down considerably.

If you want to help me move some mountains for Yelena, you can do so here.

After a stressful week of trying to register for classes for next semester in time to apply for scholarships and getting the run around, I finally received a call today and figured out the problem. Without boring you with the details, I am being forced to take July off of school due to overlaps and prerequisite requirements. At first this did not sound like a good deal to me, as I am trying to get through school as fast as I can, and this will set me back a month. But honestly, work has been extra challenging lately and doing school and doing it well has been a daunting task. I woke up this morning counting down the days until my next break....graduation...in 18 months. Today I count down the days until July when I will have some time to breathe and maybe even go for a hike. That number seems much more doable and I must admit, I am relieved. 

Finally, today I received a new photo of my Compassion son, Lorkens. I began sponsoring Lorkens about 9 years ago through Compassion International, and it has been such a huge blessing to see him grow both in stature and in faith. To give you the full impact of his new picture, I am also including the first picture of Lorkens that I received when I became his sponsor in 2004. 

Lorkens, 7 years old

Lorkens, 16 years old

My cup overflows. 

The Metzger Family

Hey friends. I am officially breaking my blogging silence to let you all know about an awesome raffle taking place to help the Metzger family bring home their little girl, Leah, from China.

Leah will be coming home soon to loving parents and two brothers who, I am sure, will protect her with all their might and pull on her pigtails from time to time.

To help raise the funds to bring Leah home, a raffle is being held for a one week stay in Orange Beach, Alabama. Accommodations include a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom condo right on the beach, with access to an indoor/outdoor pool.

To find out more info, see pictures, and enter the raffle, click here. 

Raffle tickets are just $10 each, and can be purchased through March 7, 2013.

If you would like to support the Metzger family's adoption but are not interested in the raffle, you can give and stay updated on their fundraising goal through their fundraising page.

I hope you all will join me in sharing and giving to help this family bring their daughter home!

An Over-Abundance of Happy

This Christmas Dasha and Leana experienced their first Christmas at home.

Leana got to be a birthday princess for the first time.

For the first time ever they celebrated New Years with their family. Dasha had her first dance, an experience every little girl should have with her daddy.

And on Monday Dasha went to school for the first time!

I am so proud of these girls and so thankful for the amazing family that God created for them to be a part of.

Now I hope and pray that next year at this time we can celebrate these firsts for this beautiful girl, Yelena. I know it is possible!

And remember how I mentioned a missionary friend of mine who gets to hug one of my sponsored children on a regular basis? Well, there are many perks to that, and here is one:

Miss Tadiwa on Christmas. My friend said that she was undoubtedly the happiest child in the orphanage that day!

(Unlike Dasha, Leana, and Yelena, Tadiwa is not eligible for international adoption. But, she is eligible for sponsorship. This sponsorship helps her orphanage give her the care that she needs to thrive. Tadiwa still needs sponsors at the $25 and $30 monthly levels. Join Tadiwa's dream team or check out other Zimbabwe children who need sponsors here.)

Girls

Recently, as I have been praying over kids on the Reece's Rainbow website, the older girls have really captured my heart. The girls who have mild special needs, such as Yelena who is HIV+, will eventually age out of the orphanage (around the age of 16), and at that time go out on their own, most with little or no education.

Yelena is 8 years old. I am her advocate, you can give to her adoption grant here. 

Being a teenage girl anywhere in the world is vulnerable place, but for these girls, every odd is stacked up against them. I hate statistics because these children are not numbers- they are human beings, wonderfully made children of God. But the truth is that the statistics say these girls will turn to crime, become victims of sex trafficking, or lose the will to survive and commit suicide when left out on their own.

Diana is 10 years old, is described as artistic and socially active, and needs an advocate!
Update: Diana has an advocate, but she is still waiting for her family.

These beautiful girls who were created to be loved and wanted, sisters and daughters, mountain movers, most will not be given a chance to become.

Jeanette is nine years old, only has $10 in her adoption grant, and needs an advocate!
Update: Jeanette has a family! You can still donate to her adoption through the link above.

As I look at these faces and read more statistics, I can't help but think that someone needs to step in. These statistics have to change.

Kate is 11 years old. She just watched her best friend go home with her family, and desperately longs for a family of her own

Something has to change.

Let's be that someone. Let's be the change.

Celeste is 8 years old and needs an advocate!
Update: Celeste has a family! You can still donate to her adoption fund through the link above.

I have been following this story of adoption that has rocked my world and sparked my hope of family for each and every one of these precious girls. Although raised in orphanages and institutions, they were created for family.

Olivia is 13 years old, is described as a fighter and a leader, and she needs an advocate.
Update: Olivia has a family! You can still donate to her adoption fund through the link above.

I challenge you to take a day to pray, fast, meditate on what the Word has to say about God's heart for the orphan, and listen. I hope he will break your heart like He has mine.

Octavia is 10 years old and needs an advocate!
Update: Octavia has been adopted!!

He may ask you to give, or advocate, or adopt. He may even give you crazy dreams of changing the world.

Whatever He asks, I pray you listen.

Clicking on a picture above will take you to the Reece's Rainbow profile of the child pictured, where you can learn more about them, give to their adoption grant, or inquire about becoming an advocate. 

Running Around in my Dreams

A little over a year ago I wrote a post, The Way She Laughs, about my dreams for Dasha (who we then knew as Bethany).

As I reread this post today, I am overwhelmed with joy because Dasha and her sister Leana are home with their forever family, and so many of these dreams of have come true.

I wrote in that post:

"I can see her running through the park, giggling as the kite chasing behind her soars through the air."

and

"I can see her playing hopscotch and jumping rope, doing cartwheels and learning to rollerskate."

When I wrote The Way She Laughs, I knew from Dasha's profile that she had delays in physical and psychomotor development. What I didn't know at the time is that this girl, who had been running around in my dreams, has cerebral palsy and has never even walked.

I am happy I didn't know that then, because if I did maybe I would not have been so bold to have dreamed these dreams for her. But I did, and now more than ever, I believe that dreams come true.

I have heard the way she laughs.

Today, as I write this post, Dasha has just had her last set of casts taken off of her legs. Mamma and the doctor have put on her socks, her leg braces, and her tennis shoes, and are anxiously waiting to see if  Dasha will take her first step.

Today, at six years old, Dasha begins a new journey in life: Learning to walk.

I hope you will continue to join me praying for Dasha, dreaming big dreams for her life, and celebrating with me as these dreams come true.

Breaking Down Barriers

As many of you know from my recent post Calling on Angels, I am now the advocate for a beautiful little girl in Eastern Europe who is waiting for her forever family.

As part of my advocacy I will occasionally be holding fundraisers and making pleas to raise money for Yelena's adoption grant. Yelena does not have a family working towards adopting her (yet), and I just wanted to take a moment to explain why her adoption grant is so important.

As most of you probably know, adoption is expensive, and international adoption can have many additional costs. There are many families out there who are open to adoption, but the money obstacle can stand in the way. As a result, many families only search for children or only consider children who have considerable grants available to help with these often overwhelming costs.

As Yelena's grant grows, her chances of being seen and being chosen will also grow. I believe that God has a specific family hand selected for this beautiful girl. My goal is to create as much awareness and give as much financial and prayer support possible to help Yelena become visible to them.

If you feel a tug in your heart to give to Yelena, I would not only encourage you to do so, I will do a happy dance in your honor. If you would like to donate to her adoption grant now, you can do that here.

Thank you to all of you who have already shared Yelena's profile. If you would like to add Yelena's button to your blog, you can do that by copying the code from one of the grab boxes below and posting it as an html in your layout. (I made a second button that has a smaller width to fit more easily on most blogs).

<a border="0" href=" http://reecesrainbow.org/12873/yelena5904" target="_blank"><img src=" http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x376/shebecomes/Yelenathumbnail.jpg "/></a>

<a border="0" href=" http://reecesrainbow.org/12873/yelena5904" target="_blank"><img src=" http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x276/thebeccalynn7/yelenasecondeditbutton.jpg "/></a>

And if you haven't joined our facebook community yet, please, come on over!

    Linking up with...

Tomorrow

This beautiful little girl here will start kindergarten!

And this sweet one here is focusing on getting all of her medical needs taken care of.

Praise God they are home where they belong, but please continue to keep these precious ones in your prayers. 

Calling on Angels

Most of you all are very familiar with Dasha and Leana, but for those of you who are new around here, I'll take a moment to introduce you.

Dasha and Leana in the orphanage, 2011

On August 16, 2011, I became Dasha's warrior through Reece's Rainbow. Dasha was five years old and because of her special needs (cerebral palsy and HIV+), she would soon be facing an adult mental institution if not adopted.

Dasha

A few months later, when I found out that Leana is Dasha's sister and that they were available together, I also became Leana's warrior.

Leana

On August 16, 2012 (exactly one year to the day that I became Dasha's warrior) Dasha and Leana officially became part of the Friedl family.

Court Day in Ukraine- August 16, 2012

Although I did not personally connect Dasha and Leana with their forever family, and although the amount of money I was able to raise was merely a drop in the bucket of what is needed for international adoption, the experience of being part of these girls' journey was more than amazing. Being one of the many who prayed Dasha and Leana into the Friedl family was a great honor, and seeing them together as a family is a joy that I cannot put into words.

Dasha and Leana at home with their heavenly appointed sisters 

Once Dasha and Leana arrived to their new home, I knew I wanted to warrior for another child. For the last several weeks I have been praying over children on the Reece's Rainbow website, trying to select an "Other Angel" to become a "Guardian Angel" for, and so many of them have stolen my heart.

Like Presley who is four years old, who- in addition to his special needs- also has leukemia (and is not receiving the necessary medical treatment he needs for survival).

Presley needs a family, and a Guardian Angel

Or Shaun, who is going to turn five next month and has Trisomy 18. This is the same disability that my brother was born with, and passed away from just days after birth. Children with this condition rarely live past infancy, so if every life is a miracle, Shaun is a super miracle.

Shaun also needs a family and a Guardian Angel

But when I started having dreams about one particular little girl, just as I had of Dasha, I knew she was the one.

I would like to proudly introduce to you "Yelena."

Yelena is from Eastern Europe and is HIV+. There is not a lot of available information for this cutie, but she is eight years old and according to her profile she really wants a family. I am sure many or all of the children on the Reece's Rainbow's website really want a family, but rarely do I see it stated on their profiles. I am guessing that Yelena has really expressed this desire and that she is very aware of the family shaped hole in her heart for it to show up in writing.

When I became an advocate for Dasha and Leana, many people expressed their doubt that finding a family for these older girls was possible, especially because of their HIV status. But I really had faith and I knew in my heart that their family was out there. Now, once again, I have faith that Yelena has a safe home, a warm bed, and caring parents out there, they just don't know it or just have not found her yet.

Although I did some to spread awareness and raise money for Dasha and Leana, God really impressed on my heart that my biggest role in their adoption was prayer.

Now, for Yelena, I feel like God is really impressing a need for spreading more awareness and raising major funds to get her home.

I would love if you all would join me in this mission to find Yelena's family and get her home. The first step you can take to do this is to help me spread around Yelena's picture and profile to everyone you know, and if you would be willing, to ask others to pass it on as well.

You can do this a few ways:

1. Share this blog post on facebook, twitter, your blog, and other networking sites.

2. Add Yelena's button to your blog by copying the code in the grab box below her picture and pasting the code into your layout as an "html" code.(This button contains a link to Yelena's Reece's Rainbow profile.)

<a border="0" href=" http://reecesrainbow.org/12873/yelena5904" target="_blank"><img src=" http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x376/shebecomes/Yelenathumbnail.jpg "/></a> 

3. "Like" the She Becomes community by clicking on the link below. This will be my main source of sharing information about fundraisers and events for Yelena.

Thank you for joining me in being a voice for some beautiful and amazing children.

Also, take a moment to read Breaking Down Barriers and the importance of adoption grants.