Sunday Spotlight 17 for 2017

Sunday Spotlight is back and what better way to start than to highlight a few of our 17 for 2017 :)

First up is Merida

Merida will be turning 14 this year meaning she could qualify for a 10 000 grant from RR to help bring her home. Her file lists her as having hearing loss  but little else despite her being listed for 4.5 years. This is most likely due to her having been moved to an institute or older children facility.

Next we have Shirley

This sweet girl will be 13 this year meaning she has just 1 year left before her country's rules place as being to old for adoption. According to her profile

Shirley is a sweet girl who has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and high muscle tension in her legs. She has had surgery to help with the tension in her tendons. Shirley loves to play dress up with her dolls. She is currently attending a primary school and is learning a lot! Shirley has been living in a foster family since 2006 so that she could get more individualized attention. She go to therapies every day to make her body stronger. Shirley is able to take care of all her personal needs and is very independent. She has been taught about adoption and would like to be adopted!

Third is Nadene.

Miss Nadene turns 12 this year and is also eligible for up to 10000 from RR to help her family bring her home. Miss Nadene has been waiting for so long and has regressed since being transferred. 

Finally, we have Charissa

Look at that smile! It one of those light up the room types. How this sweetheart has been listed for 3 years I cannot fathom. Could she be the missing piece at your table? Charissa has 2 years before aging out and is also eligible for a grant from RR to help families with the financial aspect of adoption.

16 . . . 17 for 2017!

It's that time of year.

Christmas is over. The decorations have been put away. Daddy's back at work. The day to day mundane yet chaotic reality that is our life has returned. In our world this means, therapy pre-school (homeschool style), and learning our way around another new town (third town in 2 years, hoo boy).

That also means that MACC is over for another year.
This year was so exciting.
 Each child in the campaign met their $1000 grant goal and 9 children found families in those 2 months (with another stepping forward since the new year).
In some ways, after such a big push, it can feel tempting to put aside the advocating as the new year and all it brings comes rushing in. Although this year was successful I couldn't help but reflect back on the kiddo's who had been part of prior campaigns and were still waiting or who had aged out.

Can  I be honest? It hit me hard to get confirmation that  my Christmas kiddo had, in fact, been moved to an institution.
Sometimes you wonder if one voice can make a difference . .  .

Which is why anything worth doing is always better with a few like minded friends! One dear lady suggested picking 16 kiddo's to focus on throughout the year. 16 faces to bring forward in blogs and social media in order to help keep these kiddo's from being forgotten.

And here are my 16

16 precious children who deserve to know that they are loved daughters. 16 little  girls who need families, medical care, and love. 16 little ones who don't deserve to be forgotten

Merida, Brandi, Waniya, Priscilla, Lucie, Hana, Shirley, Emma, Harlowe, Charissa, Nadene, Claire, Elinor, Christina, Cadence, Dolly

Well, since it is 2017, it only makes sense to add one more Ginny!

Here's to 2017

Sunday Spotlight

Another Sunday.

The hardest part of these posts is picking the faces, how do you choose a handful out of pages and pages of faces, sadly aware that these are just a small representation of the thousands and thousands of unseen orphans waiting around the globe.

I'm never quite sure aside from the fact that following your heart is always a good place to start.

So here are just a few of the faces that plucked at my heart this week.

 

Otto is  such a little thing for a boy who turns 9 in 2016 but oh the ripples he's created these last few weeks. Otto was one of the recipients of the Shadow Children Giveaway . As a result, Otto  has over 4700 in a grant to help bring him home. This little love has a wide host of conditions noted on his file  including FAS and autistic features. however, he also has some wonderful insight into his personality for interested families thanks to a 10 day stay at camp last summer where he apparently "came alive".

Scout will also be 9 in 2016 and look at the grin in this picture. Scout is listed as having CP as well as club feet which were corrected a few years ago. She  came to the orphanage at age 3. She's listed as a spunky little girl who is quite the talker, has self-care skills and is helpful. 

Waniya is also 9 in 2016, what a wonderful age! He file lists her as being diagnosed with Cerebral palsy; Mixed specific developmental disorders; Coloboma of optic disc. This little girl has been waiting on RR since 2012 and needs a family to call her own.

Shirley will be 12 in 2016 and has 18 months until she becomes ineligible for  adoption :( She is described as a sweet  girl who wants to be adopted and has had the concept explained to her. Diagnosed with CP, it is said to mainly affect her legs and she has received some surgery for her condition. Due to her age Shirley is eligible for an older child grant with RR of 10000.

Rounding out this week is Judith.Her file is almost as small as her grant at the moment  :( Listed  as having  Cp and dual hemiplegia.  This little girl has a smile that outshines anything else.  At only 4, the benefits of therapy and family can  not be overstated for this sweetheart.

Not everyone can adopt but maybe you can share or contribute to a grant, visit  RR and see the other children who wait, advocate, or whatever uses your strengths and abilities.

Not everyone can adopt but everyone can do something and that's how lives are changed.

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.

Sunday Spotlight

Another week has passed and that means it's time for some more faces.

It can be hard to choose so few when the number to draw from is so large. So many children and each needing and deserving their own home.

If you manage to stumble across this blog, I beg you take 5 minutes and look at these children, go to Reece's and look at the faces. If you want to see the power of sharing a single story I urge you to go and check out Micah 6:8's post from this week. The power of sharing and sacrificial love is amazing.

Now onto this week's faces.

First up is Penny

Penny will be 5 years old this year and look at this sweetheart! Penny has been diagnosed with CP and crossed eyes, but is also listed as being able to walk independently. Some therapy and a family would do this little girlie wonders.

Annie's a face that has become all too familiar on RR due to the amount of time she's been listed

Annie just celebrated her 10th birthday and was transferred to an institution over a year ago which coincides with her last update :(

She was noted as having delays at that time but also noted for being an affectionate girl who sought attention and had a willingness to learn. 

Merida

is another sweetheart who's been listed too long and dear to my heart as we featured her at our wedding (another sign of how long she's been listed.)
This little sweetie breaks my heart every time I check in on her. Her grant hasn't grown since July of 2012 and her profile hasn't been update since before that. If you only have time to share one this week, please, share this girlie for me.


Finally we have Tracy and Bart

These older siblings NEED to be adopted together.
Tracy is reported to be healthy and a top student in her class. Bart has a cleft lip (in the picture it appears corrected?) and like so many is reported to love soccer.
Siblings are so much harder to place and are even considered special placements in domestic adoptions due to the added difficulty. Do you know someone ready to take a leap for these two?

Sunday Spotlight

Another week has come and gone and I'm sleepy.

It's the time of year that brings a lot of illness which translates to late nights for moms, dads, and kiddos alike. The good thing is that everyone seems to be on the mend as I write this and lots of hugs and snuggles were doled out alongside good food and some good old cough syrup and vicks depending on the day and person who was down.

Everyone once in awhile it hits me that for each face on Reece's in a child who doesn't have someone to sit up with them until the wee hours of the morning when they're sick or scared. There just isn't the resources in some places despite the amount of care and in others there isn't even that. So we keep sharing, and shouting, and praying, and hoping that one day each of these precious kiddos will find a family.


First up is Mila

So young to be listed which is such a blessing. Mila has been diagnosed with Arthrogryposis a condition affecting the joints. Both A White River and Micah 6:8 talk about their amazing kiddos who live with this condition for those who are unfamiliar with it.

Next is Byron

Byron is a  sweet little guy who is facing transfer soon as his current facility is transitioning roles. This is sad as the staff sound very involved and pro-adoption where he was not to mention his home and friends. It would be wonderful for him to find a forever home.

Stacey

Look at the life in those eyes. Stacey has some delays but is also in a space where therapy is available and she is quite determined in her efforts. Stacey is reported to be a friendly little girl who loves playing with her friends.

Finally we have Sophia

Sophia goes to school and can communicate. However she does struggle with more in depth communicating. She is listed as having scoliosis and mental delay.

Sunday Spotlight

I didn't intend to miss two weeks of Sunday's on here, however, apparently moving across country/starting a job hunt while in your third trimester leaves one a wee bit tired. Oops.
In hindsight I probably should have been able to figure that one out ahead of time.

I realize I could have put something together early but part of me hopes so dearly that these kids will move between the day I pick them out and Sunday I can't help but wait an extra day or two just in case the "My Family Found Me" page gains a few new faces.

I know shouting out the names of a few kids each week doesn't seem like a lot and perhaps, when reading this, you can't see the point of sharing either. I didn't. It took me months before I realized even something small could mean a big difference.

Once our internet came back on (woohoo, didn't expect a two week Facebook hiatus but it's amazing how much unpacking happened) I eagerly scanned the MFFM page and was thrilled to see a few faces who have been on my heart. However, that excitement was tempered by a quick visit to the "In loving memory" page. If you've ever been to Reece's Rainbow and not stopped by that link, do me a favour? Go and take a peek. Look at the faces of the ones who are no longer with us. Some had families coming, others didn't. Some had been listed for weeks, others years. All died in their orphanages around the world.

Now onto our spotlight.

First up is Dani!

Dani's been listed for so long with RR and looks like such a little monkey. Her file has been listed as imminent transfer for some time as well and could very well have already been moved to an institution or older children's home.
Dani is listed as having Cerebral Palsy as well as vision and hearing impairments. Although, as all children would need an assessment once adopted to discover her true abilities and potential. This little one won't be 6 until December and could receive so much help if placed with a family at this age. (As of Autumn 2015 Dani is home!!)

Next up is another sweetie who's been listed far too long considering her young age :(

Leilani 

Leilani has only ever appeared on RR, to my knowledge, in her crib and has a list of conditions that could scare away potential families. However, a crib and an institution are this little one's most likely future unless a family steps forward. Even with this little one's issues, there are a host of people standing behind Leilani's future family with her grant already exceeding $8000, a great start to bringing her home.


Claire

This little lady appears to be a favourite (given by her large bows) and has her orphanage advocating for a family which is a huge benefit and not necessarily a given in international adoption. Claire's workers note that she is is need of speech therapy and potentially has other cognitive assessments which would be more easily attained in a family setting, as would the attention this little girl so desperately seeks. She would most likely do best in a situation where she was the youngest child.

Although we usually only feature 3 on Sunday, since I missed a few weeks, here is

Colette

Colette is listed as having CP affecting her lower limbs. Although she can walk short distances, a wheelchair is required for longer trips. She is reported to be a clever girl who is both sweet and affectionate.

Even if you only have a moment, won't you take that moment and share one of these little girls this week? Give them a chance to be seen, to be heard, and maybe even be found.

Sunday Spotlight

Well, although I intended to write these every Sunday, however, I'm currently writing this in advance as Sunday is our long awaited moving day!!

Even better we have a house as of Tuesday, the only condition being we don't actually get keys from our landlord until the 1st. So, between an extended move and trying to find a new internet provider these posts may become a little spotty until those details are smoothed out.

With that said, onto our spotlight!

Up first is Vera

Even without reading her description you can tell this sweetie spends far too much time in her crib. This little one has a list of conditions on her profile and families should expected to get well acquainted with their medical professionals through her care, but should also not discount the potential which could be uncovered. Her pictured reminds me so much of another RR angel who has been home now for close to a year over at http://crunchylutheranmommy.com/


Next on our spotlight is Shirley

Shirley is listed as having Cerebral Palsy but has also learned to attend her own needs and has an independent streak.
Sounds like a pre-teen to me ;) (just kidding I love working with junior high students they always have the most enthusiasm and best ideas!)
 Placed in a foster home in 2006, Shirley has enjoyed more personalized attention and therapies which probably added to these increased skills and has been noted to enjoy playing with dolls and playing dress up.

Finishing off this week is Maiya

Maiya's another little girl that seems to have graced RR for too long and needs a family to step up and take her home. Listed with intelligence delay and epilepsy Maiya is reported to be delayed with no language although she can make sounds and finish simple tasks. This little girl doesn't seem to let that get her down for too long. Look at that smile!