June 16, 2013 · 11:31 pm

To My Father…

GongGong and Grandson at the zoo.

GongGong and Grandson at the zoo.

When i think of my father, it is his smile i see.
When i think of my father, it is his hugs i feel.
When i think of my father, it is his laughter i hear.
When i think of my father, it is his favourite coffee i smell.

My father is my teacher. He shows me how things work.
My father is my advisor. He tells me the best way to go.
My father is my protector. He keeps danger away from me.
My father is my example. He leads by being the best he can be.

Daddy, i love you more than words can say.
Daddy, i love you sun up till sun down.
Daddy, i love you moonrise till moonset.
Daddy, i love you further than the furthest star.

Thank you for being my daddy and a wonderful grandfather to my boy.

Father and Son after a day on the ski slopes.

Father and Son after a day on the ski slopes.

To my loving husband, the father of my son…

You are the strength which holds us.
You are the light which lights our way.
You are the shade which protects us.
You are the love which fills us.

Thank you for being the steadfast influence in our son’s life.
Thank you for guiding him in the way he should go.
Thank you for fixing his toys – always.
Thank you for showing him he is loved, even in discipline.

We love you like the gerbil loves nuts.
We love you like the flowers love the sun.
We love you like the hummingbirds love nectar.
We love you more than we can ever say or show.

Thank you for being the father you are to our boy.

To all the fathers out there, Happy Father’s Day!

syc

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· 1:16 am

All From Asia #06…

Asia map

Asia map (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is post #06 of our All From Asia series, which features families adopting from Asia who need your help to bring home these precious children. The mummies and daddies on this list would like to express their thanks to everyone who has helped them in every small way; financially, in prayers and in sharing their stories. Please do continue to help them in whatever way you can.

Families who are HOME!

The Hemmes Family is in country, they have John with them and are finishing final paperwork before flying home. You can follow their journey here.

The Vogelzang Family is HOME with Pearl Katherine TuYuan. You can follow their journey here.

Families still on their adoption journey:

The Gaines Family is still playing the waiting game with regards to their TA (Travel Approval). A computer upgrade at the CCCWA is causing quite a bit of delay for a lots of our families. Please pray that the computer upgrade is worked out quickly and things move fast. On a brighter note, they have a lovely new video of Finnley and great photos of her opening the care package they sent her. Go check it out on their blog. Also, they need just a little over US$1000 to be fully funded! Please help them by sponsoring a piece from their Puzzle Fundraiser. Only 40 pieces left. You can also help by using their Amazon link from their blog for your Amazon purchases. You can follow their journey here.

Jon & Angela have their LOA (Letter of Approval) and are now awaiting travel dates. They are expecting to travel at the end of June. And they are still in need of about US$16,000. Please help them by taking part in the following fundraisers:  Masterpiece Quilts are still giving 20% of their sales to Jon&Angela when you purchase from them and state at check-out that it is for the Jon&Angela adopting Jack&Jensen. Please go here to see what wonderful quilts they make! They have an Usborne Fundraiser going on, click here to go to the Usborne Page directly or here to join the FB event. They have a Java for Jack & Jensen fundraiser so buy some coffee and help them at the same time. You can also contribute directly to their Project Hopeful grant (link at the top of their blog) or their FSP on Reece’s Rainbow. You can follow the family’s journey here.

The Garrick Family has been told that they will need to make 2 trips! Which means more expenses. You can help by purchasing a t-shirt from here, or shopping at She Does Justice and a Just Love Coffee fundraiser. You can also double your contribution through Brittany’s Hope, simply select Special Needs Adoption Grants and key in Garrick under Grant Recipient Family. When they raise US$1500, Brittany’s Hope will give them another US$1500. You can also contribute directly to their adoption grant on Reece’s Rainbow. Please also pray that they hear about travel dates real soon. You can follow their journey here.

The Evans Family is still waiting for LOA. They are one of the families affected by the computer upgrade i mentioned earlier. They need another US$7400 to be fully funded. Please help them meet that goal by buying a lovely handmade Wooden Name Puzzle, beautiful Apparent Bracelets and cute homemade Bottlecap Necklaces. You can contribute directly to their FSP on Reece’s Rainbow. You can follow the family’s journey here.

The Fristoe Family is trying to recover from the loss of little Feng. Please continue to pray for them. They are still going ahead with You’s adoption. They are waiting for her file to be released. They are finishing their homestudy and are in need of funds. They have a coup aide fundraiser where you can receive a US$50 Restaurant.com voucher for a US$20 donation. You can also contribution to their adoption grant on Reece’s Rainbow. You can follow their journey here.

The Murdoch Family is still waiting for travel dates. They are also one of the families affected by that computer upgrade issue. Please do pray that they get LOA as soon as possible. They are a little over halfway with their fundraising but still need a fair bit. You can help by requesting to join the Crazy for Corina FB page and purchasing the lovely handmade items. You can also take part in their Build A Menu fundraiser. You can also contribute directly to their FSP on Reece’s Rainbow. You can follow the family’s journey here.

The Pellegrino Family has LOA! And are expecting to travel in September. They still have about US$14,000 to raise. You can help by buying Olive Tree Promise products, they get 50%. Shop at Ordinary Hero and they get 40% when you click on Pellegrino, Kim as the affiliate. Purchase adoption tees from Adoption Bug and they get 25-40%. Get coffee from Just Love Coffee Roasters, they get a percentage. Buy gift cards, magazines & cookie dough from here and they get up to 40%. They are also affiliates of Amazon and CafePress so shop through their blog! They will also host a Golf Fundraiser in July! Sign up if you are local to them. They have also listed other ways you can help them on their blog. They have been given a US$5000 matching grant, they need their FSP to read US$5655 by July 4th to get that additional US$5000, which would mean more than two-thirds the funds they still need. Please help by contributing here. You can follow their journey here.

The Dismuke Family is waiting for their documents to be certified and then posted to country. They have met their Lifesongs Matching Grant – thank you so much. They still need another US$16,100 to be fully funded. They have a Shop With A Cause tab on their blog; they have affiliate programs with The Sili Company, Mama’s Bug A Boo, Adoption Bug, Just Love Coffee Roasters, Amazon Link. And they are also a Pampered Chef representative so start shopping and helping. You can contribute to their adoption grant on Reece’s Rainbow. You can follow the family’s journey here.

The Lewis Family is getting their documents authenticated, after which it will be posted to country. Please pray that they will receive their NOC (No Objection Certification). They have a Lifesongs Matching Grant of US$2500 to meet by July 24th. (They have matched $800 of that to date.) Please help them by contributing through Lifesongs, instructions here. They are still selling Indian Bracelets. Please also continue to support their Birthday Fundraiser for Riya, who has turned 6. They are asking for 100 persons to give US$55 each to Riya as a birthday present, which would cover their travel expenses. Please continue to pray for that in-country grant which would take care of their in-country fees. You can contribute directly to their FSP on Reece’s Rainbow. You can follow their journey here.

The Gariepy Family is waiting to hear back about travel dates, which are expected to be the end of this summer. Andrea needs US$15,000 to complete the whole process. You can contribute to their adoption grant on Reece’s Rainbow. You can follow the family’s journey here.

The Wetherington Family is compiling their dossier and hopes to finish real soon. They are now busy fundraising: they have a Pampered Chef Fundraiser (go to top left box to select specific show, put in Wetherington for last name), and an Online Auction (send me a message for an invite to this). Please do support them. You can also give directly to their FSP on Reece’s Rainbow. You can follow their journey here.

The Phelps Family has their dossier logged in and are waiting for LOA. They need US$10,000 to be fully funded. They made a loss on their last fundraiser so please pray for them, pray for ideas for the next fundraiser which would bring in the funds they need. You can help by buying a Wild Olive Tee (remember when placing order, please enter PHELPS1207 in the coupon area). Purchase therapy items through their Therapy Fun blog-link and a percentage goes to their adoption grant. You can also contribute to their adoption grant on Reece’s Rainbow. You can follow the family’s journey here.

The Gilbert Phillips Family has their dossier in DC and hopes to have it in country next week. They are thankful for funds given from a benefit dinner which kind strangers have held for 5 orphans and Winnie was one of them. They ask for prayers for little Winnie to be prepared for this huge life change. They are also asking for prayers as they consider adding another child to this adoption. They are searching for Winnie’s foster-sister. You can contribute to their FSP on Reece’s Rainbow. You can follow their journey here.

NEW – The Smith Family is currently putting together their homestudy. They have had pre-approval and have experienced some delays over the last week. Please pray for them to trust in God’s timing and for the delays to be removed. They have 6 months from the time of pre-approval to get their dossier to country. As they are just at the start of their process, they will need lots of funding. They have quite a few fundraisers going on: Usborne Books, Build A Menu, Amazon Link, Just Love Coffee, Adoption Bug, Young Living (use number 1450122) and Play World Toys. So many ways to help, just pick one! You can give towards their adoption grant on Reece’s Rainbow too. You can follow the family’s journey here.

NEW – The Huhn Family is not new to adoption. They had to stop their last adoption process because of a ban in that particular country. However, they have been faithful and pressed on and God has led them to Josie. Please pray for them as they move forward to bring Josie home, pray for their hearts to be open and have peace, and not be fearful of losing her (no repeat of previous situation). They are in the process of doing up their homestudy. So they are at the beginning of the process and have just started fundraising. Their first fundraiser is over at SophiaRoseCraftShop. Do stop by and buy some really cute handmade items and help them in their adoption journey. You can give towards their adoption grant on Reece’s Rainbow also. You can follow their journey here.

These are the 15 families who need your help, your prayers, your generous giving, your sharing of their stories so that their adoption journeys might be just that bit smoother. Thank you so much.

syc

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June 12, 2013 · 2:00 pm

One Step At A Time…

i read these lines on Life Is An Adventure:

Every journey begins with a single step. Life is a journey and each step we take prepares us for the next one. Every step is preparation for what God has planned in our lives.

How true, isn’t it? That’s how we journey through life, one step at a time. Some days taking those steps is a wonderful thing and other days they are frightful steps to take. Regardless, we still step out every day and walk this journey of life.

And i am so glad to have my family and friends with me, especially on days when the steps i have to take are difficult. Aren’t we all grateful that we do not travel life alone? 

But there are people who do travel life alone and my heart goes out to them. They either have chosen to journey alone (very few do) or circumstances are such that they have no loving family to journey with.

Sweet Penelope needs a family to help take the next steps in life.

Penelope is one such little girl. She has lived the last 4 years of her little life without the care of a loving family. She is an orphan and is deaf, with a heart condition and limited vision.

She has taken as many steps as she can all by herself. Now she really needs a wonderful family to help her walk the rest of life’s journey, which can hold such amazing opportunities if only she has a forever family to help her discover them, to provide her with the special education she needs to take full advantage of those opportunities. Opportunities which for her would not exist in her home country, as the society is heavily prejudiced against disabilities such as hers.

Every step leads us to the next step. Have the steps you have been taking leading you to adoption? Is this what God has been preparing you for? If so, would you consider adding Penelope into your family? If yes, please contact Reece’s Rainbow for details.

Or maybe the steps you have been taking have brought you to the challenge of daily praying for someone else? Would you pray for Penelope? Pray for her daily needs, her educational needs and for a forever family to step up for her.

The steps you have been taking may have put you in a privileged position (by which i simply mean you have enough for yourself and some spare to share), then would you please share a little of what you have? Would you give towards Penelope‘s adoption grant, which is very tiny at the moment? This would help ease her forever family’s journey to her. Please click on her name or picture to go to her profile page to make your contribution.

Perhaps your journey has given you the simple advantage of knowing how to use a computer and the internet. Then those skills can now be used to help share Penelope‘s story far and wide so that her forever family might see her. Would you do that today?

Here’s another post written for Penelope.

Thank you.

syc

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June 11, 2013 · 12:27 am

Running Day At School…

… otherwise known as Sports Day when i was little.

So a few days ago it was Running Day at Tobias’ school.

Apparently, the local Gym/Sports Club (Turnverein) used to host these runs yearly. Then it stopped and this year with support from the local government and the school, they have started it up again.

As suggested by the German name, the only sports was running. All the kids from the school as well as Kindergarten and playgroup in the village were invited to run.

The race lanes. The first race with the playground kids - so adorable!

The race lanes. The first race with the playground kids – so adorable!

After some technical delays, we were up and running (yes, pun intended and yes, very corny). Tobias ran against his schoolmates from the same school year. i was too busy trying to catch a good photo to take note which place he came in. But some of the girls from his class told me he was 4th or 5th, which is good, considering he has not run in a race before.

That serious concentrated look!

That serious concentrated look!

Interestingly, in between some of the races and before the final prize-giving ceremony, we were treated to some gymnastic dance. i was surprised to find out that there were even national competitions. The group at the end had won a national competition last year (i think – i couldn’t quite hear the announcer clearly.).

Gymnastic Dance Exhibition...

Gymnastic Dance Exhibition…

Enjoying cheering his friends on...

Enjoying cheering his friends on…

At the final prize-giving ceremony...

At the final prize-giving ceremony…

Drinks and sausage were also served (we had to buy them) and that kept hungry tummies happy. All in all, it was quite an enjoyable evening.

syc

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June 6, 2013 · 11:48 pm

Care For Orphans…

i read a blog-post on Rage Against the Minivan entitled ” You Don’t Need to Adopt to Care For Orphans.” and she is absolutely right! You don’t have to adopt to show that you care and want to help. The post list wonderful ways you can help, please go over, have a read and consider making some of those suggestions a part of your life.

Today i want to take just one of those suggestions and expand on it a little more:

Consider adopting a teen who is aging out – There is something profoundly heartbreaking in reading the photo-listings of children who have turned 18 and who, despite being old enough to live independently, place themselves on national photo-listings because they desperately want a family. Many of these teenagers have college plans or career aspirations and are really looking for the moral support of a family as they enter adulthood. Everyone deserves to have a consistent place to land for the holidays, rituals, and celebrations in life. Maybe you have that to give.

She is talking from the viewpoint of domestic adoptions within the US, but i would like to ask you to consider the teen orphans who are in countries where their abilities and worth are in doubt simply because they have some form of special needs.

These teens have spent most of their lives in an orphanage or institution. It is uncertain if they are given an education but regardless, they will never get the opportunities they deserve, they will never be fully accepted into the society they are born into because of their special needs such as Down Syndrome, limb disability, mental delays etc.

They deserve to know that they are valued, just as they are. They need the support of a loving family to help them through the difficulties of their special needs. They want a caring mummy and daddy to call their own. They should be given the opportunities to show off what they are truly capable of.

Please allow me to introduce:

Shaina

She has ONLY A FEW WEEKS (before end of June 2013) before she ages out of the system! We need a miracle here for her to have a family of her own. She has Down Syndrome and physical and mental delays. But she is said to be expressive with body language and is  kind and sincere.

Are you her forever family? If yes, please contact Reece’s Rainbow immediately for details.

Daniel

He is an active, friendly and affectionate child. He likes to play with and greet people. He enjoys cleaning and keeping a room tidy and is sensitive to the needs of others. He has Down Syndrome. He would do wonderfully in a loving family. He has till July 2013 (less than 2 months) to find a family.

Are you that loving family? If yes , please contact Reece’s Rainbow at once for details.

Matthew-John

He has an amazing smile, don’t you think? He is extroverted in character, and is an active and lovely child. His temper is very obstinate. He gets along well with children in his institute and likes playing games with other children, swinging and playing football. He is well-loved by those who know him. He suffers from an absence of left frontal skull bone and dyskinesia of right limbs. He has until September 2013 (less than 4 months) to have a family of his own. Matthew has a VERY large grant available through Lifesong, as well!

Could you be the family to love him just as he is? If yes, please contact Reece’s Rainbow asap for details.

Erin

She has been at the institute since her infancy. She has been diagnosed with aural atresia of both ears, auricle deformity, and delays in intelligence and growth development. But she is still fairly independent and is also able to help with chores such as sweeping the floor. Her language development is limited, but she can say goodbye to others and can understand gestures. She is a sweet girl who likes to be cuddled and enjoys playing with her good friends. She ages out in November 2013 (less than 6 months).

Could you be her family? If yes, please contact Reece’s Rainbow without delay for details.

Eddy

She has delayed development and amyotrophy of the left lower limb. Her mental, motor and language and emotional abilities are delayed. She can walk alone, her gait is abnormal. She likes to play games, obeys the rules, and can get along well with others. She needs a family who understands that she is very delayed in many aspects of her life, including behavior. She needs a family to come for her by January 2014 (less than 8 months).

Are you that understanding family? If yes, please contact Reece’s Rainbow promptly for details.

These young teens live in a country where adoptions are not commonplace and adoption of a special needs child is rare and adoption of an older special needs child is almost unheard of! So an international adoption is likely the best way for them to have a forever family.

Here is where you can help even if you are not able to adopt:

  • You can share their stories far and wide so that their forever families may be found. Time is of the essence here! Social media sharing is one of the best ways to do this.
  • You can pray for them. Pray very hard that their forever family be courageous and step forward for them today. Pray that their daily and medical needs be met.
  • You can give towards their adoption grants so that their forever family’s very expensive international journey to them would have fewer hurdles. Click on their pictures or names to go to their individual profile page to donate.

Thank you.

syc

PS: there are a few other children in Eastern Europe who are also aging out. Please view details here.

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June 4, 2013 · 11:32 am

Why Adopt Special Needs Children…

i have been advocating for special needs adoption for almost 18 months now. It has been a wonderful journey filled with lots of heartache, tears but also with joy and miracles. And of course the question in the title has been asked of me as well (even though i am not adopting – yet…).

i came across this video and felt that it answered quite a few of aspects of the why… take a look and then read what else i have to say about this…

In the video, Elizabeth speaks about the fate of children who age out of the adoption system in their country. She speaks of how when they are shown the door at 16. They have no money, no family, no friends, little skills or education to help them survive outside of the institute-environment. My heart absolutely breaks when she speaks about post-orphan stats from Russia… 20% commit suicide in under 2 years, 20% become prostitutes, 30% harden criminals, 10% in prisons…

Sweet Wesley has been waiting so very long for his forever family.

Sweet Wesley has been waiting so very long for his forever family.

i have been advocating for Wesley since last November and i know he also faces similar odds. Although Wesley‘s home country does not have such post-orphan stats, you can read this article which briefly describes what may happen to him if he is not adopted. His chance for a family is lost much earlier than 16, he will age out at 14 years old which means he has less than 15 months to be adopted.

You may look at his condition (albinism and vision problems) and think, “That’s not too bad. And he looks to be ok in the photo, quite well-taken care of, yes? He would likely find a job, right?”.

Sure, maybe if he was living in a different country. You have to understand that he sticks out like a sore-thumb in his country because of his skin colour. His vision problems will be a major issue even if he tries getting the jobs which are normally for the very lowly educated. He will not be accepted by the society he has been born into, in fact, some people from his country would consider him cursed even. (Which i believe is a contributing factor to him being abandoned at age 6.) And his government would only provide him food, clothing and shelter for just a few more years before he has to fend for him in this cold world, with almost no education or skills.

So you see, the odds are indeed against Wesley. Unless a family steps forward for him. Unless, like Elizabeth and Eric, some loving couple (or a caring mum) answers yes to God’s call to bring him into their home.

Are you the family who would answer YES and trust God to provide everything else to bring Wesley into your home? To care and love him for who he is? To support and provide him with opportunities he would otherwise never have? If you answered yes, then please contact Reece’s Rainbow for more details.

Not everyone is called to adopt. BUT everyone can help. (i will write more about that tomorrow).

Here’s how you can help Wesley:

  1. You can share his story far and wide so that through your sharing, somehow, his forever family might find him.
  2. You can pray for him. Pray for his daily needs, pray for his future and most importantly pray that God gives courage to a caring family to step up for him.
  3. You can also help to grow his adoption grant which would ease the journey his forever family would have in reaching him. As i mentioned above, acceptance of his condition is rare in his home country so an expensive international adoption would be his chance for a family. You can contribute by clicking on his name or picture to get to his profile page.

You can go here to read what another advocate has to say about Wesley.

Thank you.

syc

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June 3, 2013 · 10:13 pm

Don’t Be a Resolution Writer…

Writing

Writing (Photo credit: jjpacres)

Some of you know that i was hit by the writing bug a few years ago when a friend introduced me to Nanowrimo.

i have always been an avid reader and have always loved the world of words; words are very important to me; i love how they can convert an idea, share an emotion, flesh out a character, reveal a secret, paint a picture, create an entire world and so much more.

Nanowrimo made me realise how much i liked to write as well. So i made a resolution to keep writing. Unfortunately, it remained a resolution. i have written in the last 3 Nanowrimos but can’t seem to keep up with writing daily or weekly or monthly or even with finishing any of the stories i have started writing.

i have, however, started following quite a few writing blogs and one of them is The Write Practice. And this recent post, Don’t be a resolution writer, made me sit up and think hard. And i know i am just that, a resolution writer.

It’s the days that don’t inspire that separate an in-shape writer and an unhealthy writer.

So i have been an unhealthy couch-potato writer, sitting in front of my computer reading about writing and about other writers instead of actually putting words down on to paper or in these days, in file.

Why? i was tired, sick, not inspired, too hot, too cold, stressed, too late, too early, wrong music, didn’t feel like it etc… If i am honest, the simple answer is that i have an ideal in my head about how/when i would write; i was waiting for the so-called perfect circumstances to meet that unstoppable inspiration.

BUT…

“A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper.”

The Write Practice is so right! The will of the writer needs to prevail!

And these are  the points i will bear in mind on days i don’t “feel” like writing:

  1. Calling yourself a writer is a privilege that many wish to do, but never will. When that privilege is understood, you’ll take a new approach to your writing.
  2. Look at those times you don’t feel like writing as gifts to practice – like swinging a weighted bat before stepping up to the plate.
  3. Writers write. If it’s who you are, you won’t be able to make any decision other than to write.

So i am writer (not amateur writer, simply writer) and therefore i will write!

syc

PS: i’m thinking of posting snippets of what i write… sometimes, not all the time, to keep me on track, accountable so to speak. Would that be a good idea?

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