When Life Gets in The Way

Writing for me comes in waves which makes for a bad blogger. I am so impressed with bloggers who have fun, witty, and/or thought-provoking posts on a near daily basis. I have had many thoughts lately, but more in status update form than able to expand on (or bore you with) for a blog post. Or so emotional that I worry it would become a rambling mess of ranting, wailing diatribes. So for now I am working on these things I want to share off-line so that I can get my thoughts together and emotions under control.

One thing I want to share though is congratulations to my friend who has brought home her Ugandan Sweetie, and prayers for safe travels for two friends traveling to meet their children in Haiti. One left today, the other in a month. Both still have about a year or more to wait to bring their child home (still can't wrap my head around that) so prayers for patience, peace, and that all the paperwork would get done swiftly would be appreciated too.

An EASY Way to Raise Money for a Wonderful Organization

Please go here and support this amazing organization! And while you are there read through their blog posts, learn about the organization and Maria's Big House of Hope. It is pretty amazing!

Thank you!

If You See Me Crying...

Once again the amazing and talented JJ Heller and her hubby Dave have written a song that at once breaks your heart and gives it wings. If you see me on the road and I am bawling while trying to keep my kids for noticing chance are this song is playing. JJ, I love your music but good golly girl!

Congratulations "W" family!!!!

My sweet friends have officially added a sweet little girl to their family! Of course she has been a part of their hearts for months, but the papers have been signed, stamped and whatever else so that the government recognizes her as a "W" and she can finally come home! Please take a moment to learn about a couple of organizations (here and here) who are helping children from the same area this sweet baby find their forever families. You can also check out my friend's blog to hear more about their amazing journey and God's unwavering faithfulness!

Still Waiting

As I have mentioned before, I am a Waiting Child site stalker. I torture myself pray while looking at the pictures and reading the profiles of the children who are waiting for their Forever Family. I have done this enough to "know" many of them, to notice when a new face arrives and to rejoice when a familiar face is gone faithful that they are safe at home. Their forever home.

Some pictures grab my heart. There is a definite profile that I seem to be drawn to. Certain children that are waiting homes that I can actually see in my home, in my family, as my child. Little day dreams I occasionally allow myself to have to explore this longing in my heart. A pair of brothers had such an effect on me. I would check back on them frequently and by now practically have their profile memorized. And then they were gone. I knew I was supposed to rejoice but I didn't. Not entirely. I was sad for a little while. And then I continued to pray for them and their new parents and their future.

But they are back. My heart sank when I saw those beautiful face smiling at me from my computer screen. My heart breaks for these boys and all the other children who sit waiting for a months or a year or several years - waiting for someone to say, "I want YOU!" But until then they smile at the camera, talk to the videographer, and wait.

Children of Teen Moms At Higher Risk?

Teen moms get a bad rap. Set aside your personal judgments about choices they made (or failed to make) because once that plus-sign shows up on the pregnancy test your thoughts and judgments don't really matter. At that point what these young women need most is support and understanding. Sadly, it seems, many are faced with ridicule, anger, abandonment, and insane pressure to terminate, give the baby up, or keep it - perhaps all three from different sides. I am not making assumptions here. Sadly I know many women who were teen moms and very few have stories of love and support.

Recently I heard that less than 1% of teen moms give their babies up for adoption. Not that I necessarily think that is a bad thing in and of itself, but it is the implication of this decision that makes me stop and think. From what I could find out there are not a lot of support systems available to teen parents outside of what their own families provide. Sadly, the statistics show that a good number of children in the foster care system have moms who had her first baby when she was a teen (under 22). 60% in one article I found. This article also found that children from teen moms were also in the foster care system much longer than those from parents who were older.

In a perfect world all children would be born into loving households to married couples whoa re financially, mentally and emotionally prepared for parenthood, and who has a strong support system in place. But our world is not perfect so what can we do to make the best of the world we have? Better education to help prevent teens from getting pregnant? Better support and education for teen parents? Hopefully a little of both. What are your thoughts?

LOVE this video!

Please take 10 minutes and watch the very moving and inspiring video on the work Project 1:27 is doing.

On The Front Lines

Taking a look state-side at the amazing organizations and groups working to join children with their forever families, I have to start with one of my favorites - Project 1:27. According to their website there are 365 children who are legally available for adoption and waiting for their forever families in Colorado. Project 1:27's goal is to work with churches and parents to recruit, train and support adoptive parents and church leaders and to have ZERO waiting children in the state of Colorado. They predict that will be achieved by 2014. Can you imagine?!

Update on Ethiopian Adoptions

(If you have not heard about the changes going on in Ethiopia as far as their international adoption process, please visit here to get caught up.)

Well today the changes went into affect which means, effective immediately, 90% fewer children will be matched with their adoptive families each day (week, month, year). As discouraging as this is, there is still hope and there are still actions being taken and that can be taken by you.

1. Pray

2. Sign this petition.

3. Pray some more.

4. Spread the word.

5. and Pray some more.

Here is a statement from the National Council for Adoption that explains what steps are currently being taken to improve this situation.

Pray With Us

Please pop over to my friend's amazing blog and read her latest post and call to prayer for the children awaiting adoption in Ethiopia. This is an urgent need!

Promising Legislation for Adoptees

Thanks to possibly questionable steps by my mom I always have had a little information about my birth mother. I know her height, weight, eye color, hair color, her interests, that she wore glasses, that she has several siblings who were also tall, wore glasses and enjoyed sports and music. I also know that her parents and grandparents had things like diabetes and cancer. All identifiable information has been blacked out so I could not find her with the information given, but at least I had something which is a lot more than many adopted people from the time when closed adoptions were the norm. Still, every time I go to the doctor they ask the dreaded questions: what is your family history. Ummmm... I don't really have any.

Now the Surgeon General has made a statement strongly encouraging all Americans to know and have their family medical history ready since it can be an important piece in their medical management. Wonderful advice except for those who are adopted and have no access to their medical history. Some states even have made it so that adopted adults cannot even have access to their information. Here is an article that talks about this situation and also the steps that are being taken to change legislation to make medical history more accessible to adopted people. It won't lead to world peace, but it is at least a step towards bringing some peace of mind to those who have no idea what their genes may carry.

Eat Out for a Great Cause

If you are in the Denver, CO area mark your calendars to eat out at Jay's Grille and Bar in north Denver on Wednesday 2/23/11 to benefit CASA of Adams and Broomfield Counties. If you are not familiar with CASA it stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. In short a CASA is a volunteer who is assigned to a child (typically a victim of abuse or neglect) to determine and represent the child's best interests, and are typically the child's only constant adult while they are "in the system" or throughout any legal proceedings. If angels walk among us I am pretty sure they are trained and supported by CASA organizations.

Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a sickening, unimaginable and disgusting business. Do not mistake that it is most certainly a business. A business of imprisoning young girls and boys and forcing them to perform sex acts for money. It happens all over the world with children from all walks of life and it is happening now. It is estimated as many as 300,000 American children are currently living this nightmare. Let that sink in a second.

I have recently learned that the Super Bowl is a big draw for traffickers and their, um, clients. I am so naive and sheltered that this actually shocked me. There are a lot of awareness campaigns and I have to do my small part to help get the word out. Please read this story here, and these articles here and here, and then sign this petition.

Woefully Inadequate

It has become glaringly obvious that I am nearly completely ignorant to not only the plight of the widowed, orphaned and impoverished around the globe, as well as how to help or where to start. Honestly my heart tells me to quit lurking on the Waiting Children websites and scoop them all up and being them home. Looking at all those beautiful faces, most of them with amazing smiles, is painful but it gives me an opportunity to pray for each one my name and to keep their reality as a part of my day-to-day life. Something happens in your heart when you read about a child who wants a family with parents who will love them and not be mean. And it hurts. A lot. So again I fantasize about bringing them all home, but only for a moment. Then I pray and ask for a way to help.

I have been talking more with people I know (and even get to call friends! Yay me!) who are also passionate about adoption and caring for the orphans. It is amazing to me how strongly their call to adopt is, and also how they absolutely knew where their children were. Ethiopia, China, Korea,South America, or state-side - they knew it in their hearts. My mom always tells how when she first saw me, in a room with the other babies, she knew I was hers. I imagine it is that way for all parents when they meet or see their child(ren) for the first time either in person or in a photo. It is a long and heart-wrenching journey from when the idea first tugs at their hearts until the final papers are signed, but to see their family after the fact, to see the glow both parents and child have..., well it seems trite to say it was all worth it.

So I challenge you. Perhaps adoption is not what God has planned for your family and there should be no guilt with that. Well unless it puts you to action in which case run with it! Still, if you are not feeling like adoption is for you, or at least not right now, there is still plenty that you can do. Pick a state or country and Google a search for children available for adoption and look through their faces. Read their stories. Smile and laugh at how impossible beautiful they are. And then pray for them. Many agencies allow you to donate or sponsor these waiting children (which is just a 21st century way of saying orphan without conjuring images of Oliver Twist,) so if you are able to help financially this is a great way to do so.

Here is one of the agencies that I have been stalking lurking praying over: The Adoption Exchange.

My heart is completely drawn to older orphans - the ones who may be awkward and not as cute as the babies and toddlers, who are carrying some heavy baggage and have been passed around and rejected some for their entire lives, and who are starring at that birthday that will age them out of the system or orphanage. They will not only be homeless but also family-less. Completely alone. Depending of the report as many as 30% of these kids will commit suicide within that first year on their own. Many turn to crime, drugs, alcohol, prostitution and end up on the streets or in jail. That is what keeps me up at night and gets me up in the morning. That is what gets me to my knees several times a day. And chances are if my eyes are red and puffy that is the reason too.

Shopping With a Purpose

Do you drink coffee? Wear shoes? Wear t-shirts? Send cards or give gifts?

No matter what you spend your money on, chances are there are options for some of those purchases that would help provide for orphans and those in poverty. Here is just a beginning of a list. I intend to continue compiling lists from time to time so if you know of an organization I miss or want me to find one for something specific let me know!

Coffee

I am a coffee-lover through and through. There are several companies who sell high quality coffees, usually organic, fair-trade, whole bean or ground. Just Love Coffee Roasters has a wonderful variety of coffees as gifts that goes towards helping orphans in Ethiopia including a school for older orphans. Additionally, for families trying to raise funds to adopt, they can get their own fundraising page with their own URL which they can post on their blog, share with friend, etc. Pretty cool.

T-Shirts

There are some beautiful t-shirts out there that help fund families working towards adoption or organizations that help support orphans and those in extreme poverty.

Love Is Waiting - Love the silver t-shirt

Feeding the Orphans - "Help us raise awareness of the plight of the children of the world AND feed a child at the same time. 100% of the profit will go to benefit the children of Africa."

Gifts and other Fabulous Items

I wish I knew about these before Christmas so I guess I will just have to buy these beautiful items for myself!

Toms Shoes - "With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One." Simple and brilliant. As of September 2010 a million shoes have been given to children in need. It sounds simple to those who have never been without shoes, but shoes can change a child's life - no exaggeration. Check out their website and Facebook page for more.

Empower Orphans - cards and wine charms, super cute!

Bajalia Trading Company - one of my favorites. Amazing items from around the world, empowering the artisans and helping create sustainable change in their communities. Great prices too!

Another idea is to talk with people you know who have a home based business and see if they would be willing to offer a fundraising campaign where they would donate a portion of their proceeds to a charity or organization that is helping to protect and provide for children. It is a win-win situation if you think about it!

So do some research and see how you can help the millions of orphans and those living in poverty in your every-day living and spending.

Please Meet Roselore!

I feel like a new mom introducing her new daughter to the world! My heart is bursting and I have tears in my eyes! This is Roselore, our newly sponsored child from Compassion International.

I am so in love!

She is one of 12 children that lives with their mother and grandfather in a small Haitian community on the southern side of the island.

I have spent months and years dreaming of this day, looking through countless pictures of these beautiful and amazing children wondering if there was one that God had in mind for us and then today I found her. Something in her face made it so I could not look away. I clicked to learn more and saw how large her family is, the situation of the area she lives in, and then that her birthday is this weekend and I just knew. Roselore is the one for us!

I cannot wait to get her packet and to begin getting to know her. Oh that first letter from her is going to be worth more than the largest diamond, or a vintage Chanel bag. I look forward to sharing her with everyone just as I do with my other 3 amazing kids.

Ok, can't type anymore through the tears.

I love you Roselore!

Awesome Update!

Did you read Davids' story? Well his happy ending is right around the corner. Or maybe happy beginning is more accurate. Read here.

Welcome! Let's Change the World!

Hello and welcome to the first ever blog post! This is truly God's work through my humble hands and loud mouth. This world is messed up and I can't sit back and watch children fall through the cracks anymore. Something has to be done and more people need to become aware and get active. Now you might be saying, "But Deann, I can't adopt a child right now." Well hey guess what - neither can I! But that does not give us license to sit back and do nothing! Perhaps I should back up a little bit though. Like 30-some years.

Thirty-plus years ago God saved me from life as an orphan when He placed me into the womb of a woman who could not care for me but who was committed to finding the family who could. Because of her choice and God's providence I was raised in a safe, happy and comfortable home, never doubting that I was loved and cherished, never worrying about my safety, never going to bed cold or hungry. I never forget how blessed I am for that, or how easily my story could have been drastically different.

God has grown in me a heart for children who do not have a safe, loving home, or parents to protect and care for them. Countless children in our country and around the world are living in poverty and danger. Some have parents who are truly trying to provide for them but cannot. Others don't even have someone trying. Many are in very real and imminent danger of getting lured into human trafficking, gangs, or other atrocities that are just too horrible to imagine for long but are also all too real in our world. Thousands of teenagers are turned out into the streets every year because they simply had another birthday and now are too old to be provided for by the state/government anymore. From what I know that usually happens around age 16 or 17. In America these "adults" have hope of getting connected with welfare agencies to help provide shelter, work and food. In other countries they are simply shown the door. 15% of these teens commit suicide in that first year on their own.

Please read about one boy who is staring at this very real possibility as I type by clicking here.

Luckily for Davids a family has stepped forward and the wheels are in motion to get him his forever family, but for a moment let the reality of what his life was like before he got this news. Recovering from the shock of one family changing their minds about him, no longer wanting him, and having no idea what his future would bring. The fear of each day bringing you one day closer to homelessness and being completely powerless to it. Thousands of children are living with that fear right now.

Another catalyst to my stepping into action is the devastation I have been hearing about and reading about in Haiti. Haiti was one of the poorest countries on our globe before the earthquake, but now a year later having only 2% of the ruble cleared away, with millions of people living in tents and surrounded by violence, and 80% of the people living on less that $2 a day this country and it's people are truly in crisis. And all that aide money that was raised? Most of it is still sitting somewhere, unavailable to these people due to corruption and legal red tape.

So sit back and hold on as we delve into the needs of the millions of children around the world and try to live out God's call to each of us to help the poor, the widowed, the orphaned. No matter who you are, where you are, or what situation you are in, there is something you can do to help. Stick around and together we can make a difference.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead