6 Months Home in Pictures

On March 7, 2013, we arrived at Midway airport very tired but so very happy. It's hard to believe that 6 months have already passed. Here's some pictures of our first 6 months home.

Pictures by month:

(I didn't censor these. I took the best picture that was taken on that day.)

March 7, 2013

 April 7, 2013

May 8, 2013

June 7, 2013

July 7, 2013

 August 7, 2013
(I feel like I need to explain that she put herself here to give me some privacy in the bathroom.)

September 7, 2013

Pictures by State:

Illinois

New York

Michigan

Ohio

Maine

California

Family

Nana

Cousin Grace

Uncle Bryon

Uncle John

Grandpa

Tia Janelle

Uncle Rob

Aunt Mary and Uncle Leroy

Aunt Kathy

Cousin Kinsley

Milestones

First Day of School

Dedication

First US Passport

5th Birthday

First Day of Kindergarten

First Birthday Party

Experiences

First Flight

First Snow Sighting

First Easter

First 5K

First Memorial Day

First Train Ride

 First Road Trip

First Baseball Game

First Merry-Go-Round Ride

First Bike Ride

First Swim in a Big Pool

First 4th of July

First Flower Girl Gig

First Camping Trip

The Crisis is Real

I'm not really one to write about "the orphan crisis."  I don't usually give statistics or numbers about the number of orphans versus the number of Christians in America.  I don't encourage everyone to adopt.  I don't get into the politics of agencies or ministries or countries.  I just don't choose to spend my time that way.

But today, my heart is broken.  Today, I want you to know that the orphan crisis is real.  I don't know how big it is.  I don't know how to fix it.  I realize that my adoption did not fix the overall problem.  (It did change one little's girls world.)  I can't fix it.  But I do know this:

Today, in a country not so far away, a 3-year-old little girl died.  I don't know how.  I don't know why.  I do know that she died without ever having the love of a mother.  She died an orphan.

She was not in a neglectful third-world country.  She was not in a horrible mental institution.    She does have a heart-breaking story.   She, like every child, deserved the love and security of a family.  

She will be mourned.  There were many of us that loved her from afar.  Unfortunately, none of us were in a position to make her our daughter in time.  Please pray for those who loved her both in person and through pictures and stories.  Our hearts are broken.  

Meet the Helf Family

Updated September 4, 2013 to include a new t-shirt sale.

                                       

Meet the Helf family.  I "met" Brooke in an online group of adopting families.  I bought a necklace from her for my mom for Christmas.  I love her jewelry and love how hard she is working to bring her daughter home from Eastern Europe.  Unfortunately, I can't show you Reya's picture but I can tell you that this 16 month old little girl is a beauty! 

Here is what their blog has to say about the Helfs:

This is a blog about our family heeding God’s call on our lives to go to the uttermost parts of Earth from our perspective. We are documenting this journey God has placed us on to be a witness to others. Bear with us as we open our hearts to Him and show our hearts to our calling.

We are a constantly growing family of 7 living in Monroe, GA. Craig and Brooke both grew up in the eastern suburbs of Metro Atlanta. We have 4 beautiful children: Eileen (10), Merrick (6), and Adalynn or Addie (5), Karis (2) and we also have Jana (15) living with us while here on a student visa.

We are currently in the process of adopting a little girl with Down Syndrome from Eastern Europe. We can’t wait to bring this little love bug home to her brother and sisters and to shower her with love!

God has brought us through an incredible journey over the past four years both in our marriage and in our relationship with Him. He has brought Craig back to a calling God placed in his heart at the age of 17 with a focus on missions in the former Soviet Union. Through friends hosting an orphan which led to an adoption, we have hosted five, going on six, children from an orphanage in Liepaja, Latvia. This has led to prayer to seeking God’s will in adoption as well. God has called us to serve the people of Latvia – whether that means full time missions there, short term mission trips there, or being advocates for missions here, we continue to seek God’s will in our next step.

Brooke has worked very hard to raise the money needed to complete their adoption.  She also continues to generously help others along the way.  I think one of the things that I most admire about Brooke and her family is that they have walked the walk.  They have served in Eastern Europe and worked in the trenches with orphans there.  They are not just going to "rescue" a child.   They want to continue to be involved in the work that is going on there.  

Can we encourage this wonderful family?  Even if you can't make a donation, head over to their blog and leave an ENCOURAGING comment.  Adoption is hard.  It's exhausting.  Encouragement and support are crucial---even when they come from complete strangers.

If you love adoption blogs like I do, you can follow their journey  here.    

If you feel led to donate to this amazing family, you can make a tax-deductible donation here.   They have a matching grant of $500.  Any donations made through their paypal will be doubled when they reach $500!  (brooke@thehelffamily.com)

If you want to purchase a hand-knit item to help with adoption costs, you can do that on my Scarves and Skirts for Sara's Friends page.  (50% of the price of the item will go to the Helf family.)

The Helf family currently has handmade jewelry available to purchase on their facebook page or on their new website.   They are currently selling Handmade Jewelry, Metal Stamped Jewelry, Medal Stamped Key Chains, and Vinyl Lettering.  

The family is also selling these great shirts from Fund the Nations.  If you would like to purchase a shirt, you can leave a comment on their blog.  Here is what Brooke had to say about the t-shirt sale:

We have some AMAZING one of a kind t-shirts to sell that an awesome ministry helped us design. These are awesome, quality shirts and when you buy them, the proceeds go to help our adoption! "Love" is written in many different languages in red and then "Love needs no translation" in white. In the background are all the continents. We are pre-selling these shirts for $22 each. If you would like more than one, your price is $22 for the first one and $20 for each additional shirt. Please let me know what sizes you would like and I'll get you a total that you can send to PayPal. Our goal is to sell at least 25 shirts in the next 2-3 weeks. Get a great shirt and help bring Reya home at the same time! Thank you!

Can you find a way to support and encourage this great family?  They are hoping to travel in October or November to meet their daughter.  

Meet Phillip

How precious is this little boy!  I've always been attracted to his angelic nature.  He doesn't have Down syndrome and he's in Latin America so he doesn't really get much attention on the Reece's Rainbow page or forum.  He just looks so sweet and precious.  

Here is the description of him on his Reece's Rainbow page:

Birth Date: 04/12/09
Gender: Male

Dysgenesis of the corpus callosum, congenital cervical scoliosis, and hypoplasia of the first finger of the right hand

Phillip was given up for adoption shortly after birth.  He is constantly smiling.  He is very social and frequently seeks to have company.  His weight and height are lower than the normal range for his age, but with a high-calorie diet and a dietary supplement he is expected to reach a normal weight and height.  He suffers from a speech delay for which he has been receiving therapy. He is responsive when adults play with him and has been making great progress with the therapy he receives. Phillip is an easygoing little boy who is earnestly waiting to be united with a family that will provide him with the care and love he deserves.

Phillip has a significant language delay, but his vocabulary and verbal productions are increasing.  He communicates using single words, gestures, and signs.  He recognizes and points out his body parts, imitates animal sounds, follows rhythms, dances and sings songs.   He understands and performs routine and simple tasks.

Phillip enjoys to interacting with adults and peers. He looks for help in adults when he has needs.

Video available through the agency for inquiring families.

Some of those words are pretty scary looking but not so bad if you google them.  His description sounds like he is doing well and making progress.

If you've followed the blog and thought, I could do that or I want to do that or I'd like to help someone else do that, now is your chance.  

*Phillip only has $18.00 in his grant currently!  The Latin American kids tend to be overlooked.  The kids that have issues other than Down syndrome also tend to be overlooked.  Maybe, if we could get a good grant going for him, his family will be less intimidated by the cost and the process.  If you'd like to help his future family and  make a tax-deductible donation, you can do so here.

*If you order something during the month of September from my Scarves and Skirts for Sara page, you can choose for 50% of the sale price to go to Phillip's grant.   (More detailed information about the Scarves and Skirts can be found on the blog.)

*If you are interested in adopting Phillip, or another child with special needs, you can find out more at Reece's Rainbow New Family Info page.    The specific requirements to adopt Vaughn's country are:  (He is also in Latin America.) 

• Single heterosexual parents may adopt
• No family size restrictions
• Both parents must travel to the country and stay until completion of adoption — approx 5-7 weeks (one parent may leave after a week or two)
• Estimated total cost $21,000-24,500

Join me in praying that Phillip will find a loving family that can help him reach his full potential!