Sunday Spotlight

June is birthday month in our house.

2 little boys in our house, at least 3 cousins, a few aunts, sister in law, grandmothers - every time we turn around from June 1st until July 1st there is another set of congratulations to send along. Birthdays are a happy thing, a time of celebration and reflection . . . unless you're an orphan.


Depending on where you're from, if you're an orphan birthdays mean you're that much closer to aging out and either left to fend for yourself or destined to remain in a lonely adult mental institution that has probably been your home for a few years already.

For some kids on Reece's Rainbow the birthdays left are getting far too few for comfort.

Winnie

Clara

Morris

Soleil

Scottie

Shirley

Tatumn

For some of these kids there are no birthdays left. This is there last year to find a family before that door closes forever. It's a sad, simple fact and after celebrating with my own babies this past week, one that my Mama's heart finds harder and harder to understand. Every child deserves a parent to love them and celebrate with them. One that won't bypass their hurts and griefs of which these kids have had more than their share. Please share one this week, or hop over to the aging out page at RR and find a child to share so that their last birthday might just be their last one alone.

Sunday Spotlight

Have you stopped by Reece's Rainbow lately?

In honour of the tenth anniversary the website has undergone a massive overhaul. It's definitely worth going over and taking a look. As with any major reno it takes some time to work out all the kinks in the system so it may take a few extra minutes to spot the page you're looking for or the page may be down for a few more days.

But while you're looking you may just find

Hana

This little sweetheart will be 9 this year. She's noted for her amazing laughter, agreeable nature, intelligence, and hard work. She loves piano and colouring. She also has spina bifida and loads of potential.

Emma

Emma turns 7 this year. She's reported to be friendly and calm although she does struggle with delays. Emma's orphange can only keep her through the summer at which point she will be transferred to a school orphanage for mentally delayed children.

Lucie

Lucie is 7 and lives in an adult mental institution. This is never the best option for a child this young and yet Lucie still has her smile.

Lexi

Lexi is almost 12 (children age out at 14 in her part of the world) This sweet lady has lower spine issues and an issue with her right knee. At her last update she was reported to love singing, was smart, and had formed close friendships with other children.

These are just four of the reasons why Reece's is overhauling their website and gearing up for another busy decade. No child should be forgotten, every child deserves to be loved and wanted. So celebrate with me by checking out the new website, finding a few new faces, and helping spread the word.

Sunday Spotlight

It's hard to believe but Reece's Rainbow turned 10 this week!

It's been a crazy ten years and almost 1600 children have be united with their families since those early days.

While there have been some changes over the years, the focus remains the same bringing orphans home. One of the more recent changes involves the oldest children on RR, the aging out who's window for rescue is starting to narrow.

Thanks to a pooling of resources all older children are eligible for a 10 000 grant (until the fund runs down which i'm told is many, many adoptions from now). This 10 000 goes a long way to helping families combat the high cost of international adoption and the lower fund raising time which can accompany these older kids.

Kids like

Irina

Already listed for over 6 years and still waiting :(

Haven

Listed for over 5 years

Angela

Maiya

Maddie

Each listed for 4 years

And Tara my first Angel and so close to aging out who's been listed almost 6 years :(

Each of these beautiful young ladies have been listed for years, a quarter of their lives waiting on a site that advocates getting these kids seen. Sometime change is hard but in this case I'm so grateful that the older children are now eligible for this amazing grant and hopefully these girls will celebrate 11 years of Reece's with families of their own.

Sunday Spoptlight

It's always hard to post these pictures.
How to choose a handful of faces from a list that is constantly growing.
To be honest, I get overwhelmed and disappear for a bit to regroup, returning when time or a familiar face like Mandy and Victoria make their way over to the my family found me page.

So I'm back with a new little group to shout for this week and today's post will be different because each of these children are summed up by a single line. Please see them, see the potential behind the name and diagnosis and help get these kids seen and home!

Chelsea - born 2009, mild intellectual delays

Christina - born 2010, blind.

Harlowe- born 2008, Cerebral palsy, focal symptomatic epileptic syndrome, complex local convulsions; rough delay of psychological and speech development

MaryAnn- born 2008, Cerebral Palsy, hydrocephalus

Skyler - born 2003 - Cerebral Palsy, eligible for 10 000 older child grant

See past the line and shout for these kiddo's who deserve so much more.