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

New Year's Eve is coming and I can't wait to party

For the last few years I've attended a unique New Year's Eve party that's right up my alley.

The dress code is casual and comfy, the food is bring your own, and it's also very family friendly, in fact, most of the night is centers on families and children.

Did I mention this party also takes place online? That means you're invited too!

Parties  are a lot of fun and this one is no different. There always seems to be a few jokes, some reminiscing, and a good time all around. Unlike most parties, this one is a party with a purpose.

December 31st is the last day of the Reece's Rainbow Christmas Campaign (I know, I can barely believe it either) on New Year's Eve a group comes together to give one last push for the wee ones who have captured our hearts this year.

We celebrate those like Walter, Brandi, and Elinor who met their goals financially while still pushing for the ultimate goal of their forever families

      

We push for the ones who are still short their financial goals, children like Priscilla, Emma, and Ginny knowing that each share could be the one to help them come home and every dollar helps ease  the burden on that family.

    

We also celebrate the children who were part of this campaign and are now home because sharing these families burdens through donating, prayer, and practical support if you're local and sharing these kids and bringing light to the situations facing thousands of orphans around the world. It works. It honest to goodness works and there are hundreds of families who can attest to how their lives have changed since meeting a  child in a picture and saying yes.

I know New Year's is a busy time but maybe when you're people out at the party of have a minute to spare while you're sitting in the passengers seat, come and spend a few minutes with us and see what a difference the smallest actions can make.

Christmas with special needs may not look like a traditional celebration.

It may mean cancelling family gatherings despite desire or disapproving relatives because your child simply cannot handle even one more second of new sensory input.

It may mean learning new ways of making dinner to incorporate different food needs.

It may mean grieving expectations and celebrating every little victory, even when others think you're nuts for celebrating something they don't understand.

It may mean massive coordination to set  up therapies during holiday hours and find time to start filling out the funding paperwork that comes up every new year.

It may mean facing the holidays like any other day.


You know what though, love covers all.


We planned our pj and cartoon day with weighted blankets and extra naps. We learned new recipes.
This Mama even has no shame admitting I cried when our little man excitedly wanted to dance during our Christmas Eve service, joy shining in his eyes before totally sensory overload hit that night on the phone with Nana and Papa.


Our little guy came to us after an absurdly long labour that left this Mama sore and recovering for months (seriously pregnancy and I do not get along and labour is worse). Over his 3.5 years we've gained more insights into what makes him tick and how to best meet his unique needs and I'm not going to lie,  it's hard work, frustrating work, and sometimes you just don't know so you take it minute by minute.


In so many ways adopting a special needs child is even harder.
Your life is completely turned upside down as financial costs are faced, medical needs  are assessed and treatments are devised, the child is faced with the loss of their environment, their culture, a language, the family is faced with the loss of their structure/time/finances/sleep.

Adoption is risky love.
 I have to wonder how many of us have become afraid to risk because I know how easy it is for my own spirit to sink back into the safety of complacency.

           

We're afraid so we do nothing and real children sit waiting. We're  not all called to adopt internationally but we can do something. There's domestic adoption, volunteering with local CAS, prayer, fundraising for international adoption through organizations like Reece's Rainbow and the MACC. you can share a child's picture you may not be the family for Priscilla, Walter, Ginny, or Anna but maybe someone you know is  - the power of sharing is underestimated every time.

When you can't

"When you can't run, you crawl ... and when you can't crawl, when you can't do that... 

 'You find someone to carry you.'" 

(firefly)

I remember as a child being utterly fascinated by the thick newspapers that graced my Great Grandpa's footstool every weekend. Not only did they have the best comics  and word searches which he continued to pass along to me until he passed away my first year of college, but, for many year the local CAS would feature a child or sibling group in need of a family.

Adoption was something I always remember being aware of, let's face it, as a Canadian everyone up here has heard of a certain red-headed orphan girl from P.E.I. But I was the weird child who read a story and needed to know what was behind it so I started researching. 

I found vague statistics that saddened me as a child (yep back in the pre-google days) and mostly put it to rest due to a lack of connection. When college came I stumbled upon Reece's Rainbow and that interest was renewed  only this time with more passion. Now there was internet, research, I could double and triple check the facts (did I mention that the term nerd is often used when describing me? I think it's pretty accurate and usually loving). I didn't like the facts.

Did you know that if  orphans founded their own country they'd be the 10th most populated?

Did you know that many children with special needs will not face happy futures after aging out falling victim to trafficking, drugs, gangs, poverty, suicide, or wasting away in an institution?

Did you know that the brain develops differently when faced with trauma or lack of human interaction?

How does one face a situation when hundreds of thousands of lives are being set up to fail and falter.

I remember reading a blog,

It  told the starfish story and I allowed my thinking to shift. 

How  do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

How do you help the orphan crises? One step at a time. 

It's really the only way to do anything. One step and then another, walking in faith.

But sometimes it wears on me and I see that weariness in others too. 

Life keeps us firmly unable to do anything but write, shout, and try to help raise funds to brings these kids home before it's too late though my heart aches to do more.

But sometimes it feels like I'm standing on a beach covered with starfish and no one's getting to the water.

My first Angel Tree girl has aged out. She will never have a family and faces life in whatever system her country has  established. We shouted and fundraised but no mama or papa stood up.

My second child still waits with a larger grant than most. She's waited 2 years already and continues to wait, her file has information, though dated and yet no one steps up.

My current girly is sitting at the bottom of the  tree

With so little information and a dated picture, interest just isn't there despite my efforts and my heart breaks as i see her slipping through the cracks.

I'm tired and  weary and my heart longs for things I can't  control. Today would you help me out and share this little girl, share the Christmas Campaign, because I'm weary and heavy hearted  and could sure  use someone to help carry me today.

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?

Why bother with Awareness

It was a cool, quiet afternoon in 2002. I was homeschooled so classes often included my little CD player blaring through my work space. I often had music playing to help me focus or just edge out the lonely quiet that could creep up while I was alone.

I remember popping in my brand new Christmas CD - WOW Christmas, I honestly have no idea what time of year it was because I'm one of those wonderfully weird people who can pull out the Christmas tunes any time of year.

That was the year that WOW include TobyMac's "This Christmas".The song captivated me, I played that song over and over to the point I was surprised it wasn't scratched when I finally added it to my ITunes a few years later.

It's a simple song to remember, telling the story of a young boy having a discussion. As the song unfolds you discover the boy has no family of his own. The song really hit me as a teen. I was aware that there were children without families, that's what we were told CAS was for. I had read Anne of Green Gables and knew on some levels that orphanages still existed around the world. For some reason, as I sat at my desk and hear the song unfold into the first half of James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress" it suddenly dawned  on me that, maybe, we all had some level of responsibility.

There is such a temptation to fall into the mentality that someone else is already doing something: CAS, staff workers, volunteers, missionaries, etc. .. Worse, we can fall into the trap of "out of sight, out of mind" - a tragedy brought home once again this week in Julia's blogpost. When we overlook we can't challenge for change, we don't open our hearts, and people start slipping through cracks.

November is Orphan Awareness Month. An entire month dedicated to remembering these children and promoting the ways to change because, I think, far too often it's easy to overlook, easy to forget, easy to minimize rather than face our own comfort or maybe or own inability. This is how the Ben's and the Isaiahu's stories are repeated over and over again only, perhaps, without the outpouring that has allowed them the extra care to hold on.

Even in an awareness month it's painfully easy to overlook. Not everyone is called to adoption, it can be a hard and painful road and some people are called to walk other ministries more intimately. However, James makes it clear that we all hold responsibility because adoption is not the only way to help.

Locally, there is a need for parents but there is also a need for those who can foster, those who can provide respite, or even find unique ways to support through gifts and events.

Local and International adopt can be support through prayer, giving financially either to help with adoption like with Tarsha and others through an organization like Reece's Rainbow/ a group working locally/ or a local (overseas) group like Camp Lela.

There's also the ability to help by supporting families both in and post adoption as they anticipate or adjust to their new family dynamics. Be a community by asking what these families need or offering a few choices rather than imposing your own opinions on what you think is needed. There are lots of amazing blogs out there that touch upon this one.

Finally you can raise awareness through education. By getting the information yourself and raising your own awareness on the situation facing orphans around the globe you can be prepared to pass along that information to others and who knows how far those ripples could go.

Fear

I had a message last night from a friend about Angel Tree (and if you ever see this I hope you don't mind my sharing).

This woman is a blessing to be around, she's honest, insightful, and has one of the biggest servant's hearts I've ever had the pleasure to meet. I've lost track of how many times I spotted her sharing a conversation or a ready smile with someone while unobtrusively doing some task that just needed doing. So, it struck me odd at first when she mentioned fear as a motivator for not acting on issues of justice.

Fear has been a longtime companion of mine.
Post-Partum anxiety royally sucks and social anxiety and I have been good acquaintances even longer. I've learned to manage my anxiety most of the time and am blessed to have a husband who gives me space to see to my mental health on the days when anxiety tries to take over.

For me, the interesting thing is how my fear has changed in light of my passion.
I'm not an extrovert. Even when my anxiety isn't an issue in groups I still find being with a group of people exhausted (although enjoyable if I know them and feel comfortable around them a key point that can be overlooked when dealing with us introverted folk). Yet, even with that discomfort, I cannot help but speak up when I find myself faced with an opportunity to share my passions whether that is my family, my very nerdy love of sci-fi, disabled rights, or as you may have gathered - adoption (which also ties in to family and disability).

As my knowledge on these topics grows so does my enthusiasm, my drive, and my passion.
Some of this makes a lot of sense. We all like to talk about things we enjoy and honestly have you seen a sci-fi convention? Nerds love talking about what makes us tick we just want the conversations to have purpose even if it doesn't seem meaningful to an outsider without the proper context.
Family is another easy topic for most to understand. I love my guys and want them to know it, so I try to encourage and maybe even brag on them a bit when it's appropriate,

Acts of social justice can be harder passions to understand. They can seem so distant, downplayed, or even overwhelming in our initial assessment that fear can raise its presence to the point our ability to respond is beaten down or drowned out.
That was my first year after discovering Reece's and researching into the state of orphans, especially disabled orphans, around the globe.

We are urged to be unique, stand out, find ourselves but on the other hand, when we constantly seek to stand out of the crowd we realize how alone we are and, in turn, can realize how powerless we feel in the face of the monumental tasks.

So, I prayed for my heart to break and the strength to face the beast of my fear.

Guess what?

It worked. I'm still afraid of raising my one, lonely voice in the face of all this tragedy but I'm more afraid of remaining silent, knowing I could have done something but remained silent in face of my inability to due everything. I'm still afraid but no longer feel my fear of being heard measures up to the suffering that continues in my silence. I'm afraid of the vastness of the issues but realize, like Dr. Suess says "A person's a person no matter how small." We all have something to contribute and over the years I've stumbled across tiny, solitary voices who've dared to shout out like Julia at Micah 6:8
and Jenny at Zero the Zeroes and so many others, who together form a loud chorus that shakes through the bad days, the hard times, and the days when you want to give up - reminding that you aren't alone.

It's astonishing the difference that community makes and I fear that we've forgotten that.

In the end these people don't need thousands upon thousands of people (although imagine how that would cut into the costs of bringing these kids home) all each child needs is one family to step up for each of them. One voice can make a difference and perhaps that's what feeds our fear the most.

143

It's an odd number, a random number.
It can't be rounded out or smoothed over.
Some have downplayed it saying that 18 is more accurate, that there are mitigating factors that need to be taken into account for a more accurate assessment.

Either way, both of those numbers are far too high when you consider that they represent real children growing up all over the globe with no family to hold them tight, walk with them through life, celebrate the everyday victories, and grieve the losses that are already stacked far too high in young lives.

The most recent number I could find place the global estimation or current orphans at 143 million children. That's a heartbreaking number when you consider how many affected lives that actually signifies. Even more painful was the downplaying, the attempts to rationalize the numbers recognizing that the status of orphan in these surveys still includes those being raised by extended family and single, surviving parents. To read sites that seem to be aiming for reassurance that the issue isn't as big as originally feared as there are only approximately 18 million orphans should be devastating, it should drive us to action.

Instead, it feels like many either buy into the reassurances that the problem isn't as bad as feared (even at the conservative number of 18 million we're still looking at the population 18x the size of Saskatchewan, Canada) or freeze overwhelmed at the sheer scope of the task ahead.

This is why I love organizations such as Reece's Rainbow. Even though I'm well aware of the 30 000 wards of the crown in my own country and hope to , one day, be in a better place within our family to help address that number. I'm equally aware that for disabled orphans around the world, their lives could depend on whether or not a family steps up to take them home.

Whether it's a lack of funds, unavailable medical care, uncaring workers, overcrowded homes, aging out and falling victim to suicide (a reality for potentially 10% of aged out children), drugs use, gangs, or trafficking, or even a life sentence in an adult mental institution for children as young as those we'd normally see in kindergarten.
The is the sad reality for orphans around the world and it doesn't have to be!

Reece's Rainbow is what I call a starfish organization.
Following the story of the starfish washed upon the shore aided by one small boy, Reece's Rainbow recognizes that while 18 million is a staggering number, anyone can help another, single person.
As E. Hale says "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do."

Reece's Rainbow helps advocate and raise awareness for these children, aiding families bring them home through grants and the support of parents who have gone before. Valuable assets given the cost -emotional and financial for bringing a child home.

However, even though RR represents a minuscule portion of the 18 million.Taking 10 minutes to scroll through their website and see the faces, read the ages, and realize the reality of these children can still feel daunting.

Here enters Angel Tree.

Angel Tree takes a small(ish) number of children from within RR and highlights them for the months of November and December. Instead of trying to raise as much as possible (although larger grants are always helpful) each child has a goal of 1000 dollars raised towards their grant within the 2 months with one specific person assigned  to help the child meet their goal or find a family through fundraising and advocacy. 

18 million is staggering and the total cost of adoption is no little goal. However, 1 child and a few dollars here or sharing them with a friend, looking into the needs of orphans around the world. These things are doable and should be.

18 million - I can't help everyone, but I can help one and I can't wait to introduce you to her. . . Next time!

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.

Why Angel Tree makes me Sad

Sometimes Angel Tree can get me down.

The reason's two-fold really. On one hand, it's so exciting to see numbers grow and, in some cases, families reach out and begin the adoption process. Not because they are overwhelmed by sentimentality or "feel-good" wishes of this time of year but because the support in it's various ways whispers out that families aren't alone and that they can do this. That, after counting the cost and seeking out the best for their families (not necessarily the easiest) these families step forward and say "that one's mine" However, there are also kids who just languish on the bottom of the tree, once again waiting for someone to notice and even give 5 dollars towards their grant to eliminate the glaring 0 (side note- 10% of all donation go to the voice of hope fund allowing RR to continue their work throughout the year).

It's hard to watch days and weeks go by with Angels still sporting 0's because, regardless of their grant size, it means, once again, they've faded into the background and are overlooked.

The second part that makes Angel Tree hard is the kids. Each year Angel Tree features dozens of kids from within RR. The vast majority have Down Syndrome while one child from each other category is usually added as well.

This makes for a very large tree.

But I can't help but think of the others who hold my heart but are not within our family's reach. Children who still wait for their forever families to say that they're willing to take the risk.

Children like

Dani - turning 5 next month and facing transfer if she hasn't already.

Lynda - turning 6 next month and also potentially facing transfer soon

Or what about Hester - 3 years old and so solemn

Hester, Lynda, Dani, and Tara all little girls with so much potential, each facing challenge, let's not forget them this holiday season.

Why Should We Care About Orphans?

Have you heard of Orphan Sunday?

Did you know, in many places, today was recognized as Orphan Sunday?

Do you realize that for too many children around the world, every Sunday is Orphan Sunday?

Life is busy, life is complicated. The fears, concerns, and cries of orphans around the world are easy enough to ignore . . . or, at least, I found them easy to ignore until I had my eyes opened.

It is true, there are some amazing groups around the world, possibly even in your backyard working with orphans and children in state care to improve their prospects and help them to prosper in their home countries, a vital need in some third world countries. It is true that some of these children go on to lead successful lives. This summer, my husband and I helped send a child to camp in the Ukraine with a group that will continue to work with the campers throughout the year where they live. Yet, even a small bit of research will reveal that this is not the case for every child and in some countries, especially for disabled orphans these success stories are far too rare.

One of my least favourite parts of Reece's Rainbow is their page "In Loving Memory". Here, each child who had been shouted for, prayed over, cheered on, and perhaps even had a family committed yet passed before making home is remembered.

Some people wonder why they should be concerned about orphans in other countries when there is so much need at home.

A society is gauged on how it cares for those who are weakest - the young, the old, the disabled, the voiceless.

In faith religious that is pure and faultless is said to  be found in looking after widows and orphans in their distress. 

I recall a family that brought their daughter home from an overseas orphanage where she was cared for, loved, and treated well. Not a picture of distress. Yet when you look at her today she has grown, she has flourished, and accomplished more than would have been possible without the unique love of family. Though not apparent until a family was present to most, this child was "distressed."

The children on RR's memorial page were in obvious distress but they weren't in our backyard, or were they?

I think of the parable of the good Samaritan. The neighbour was not the respected officials, or the kinsmen. It was the one who showed mercy. The one who stopped and loved became the neighbour even though culturally he began an enemy.

When we stop to care, even if the child is an ocean away, in China perhaps, they become our neighbour, our care shrinks the world and they become are back yard.

We are all called to care, to love, and have mercy. We are called to be human in the midst of our brokenness. 

Today, on Orphan Sunday, I challenge you to shrink your yard and gain a few neighbours while remembering a 12 year old girl named Tara.

Tying Angel Tree into your Holidays

Angel Tree is underway and the numbers are already starting to climb!

One of the things I love about Angel Tree is how simple it is to participate in Angel Tree as part of your holiday giving.

Personally, I adore ornaments for the Christmas tree.
In our family, each child was given an ornament in their stocking with the idea that, when we moved out, we would have our own ornaments filled with holiday memories to take with us. After all what's a Christmas tree but a collection of memories from holidays and gatherings long past tied up with the hope of memories to come?

This is a tradition we hope to continue with our son and Angel Tree has an amazing option for an ornament with meaning.
After going to the main Angel Tree page all you need to do is hit Ctrl+f (this opens a search box), type in "Tara," and let your mouse over the donate button.

At this point, you'll see an option for "buy ornament" with a minimum donation of $35, clicking on it puts the ornament in your cart and allows you to check out. Not only do you contribute to an Angel Tree grant (obviously I'm focusing on Tara but, technically, you could donate to any of the Angel Tree children ;) ) but, with this option, you receive a 2014 Angel Tree ornament for your tree or to give as a gift (you could even get more than 1, there's no limit until they run out of stock).  These ornaments provide a great entry point for talking with kids about the bigger issues that can get buried under the understandable Santa excitement that seems to follow this time of year.

The other way to tie Angel Tree into your Christmas giving is Angel Tree dollars. Essentially, these function as Angel Tree gift certificates that can be redeemed by the recipient in the Angel Tree grant of their choosing.

Afraid your gift would go wasted if the recipient forgets to redeem them? No worries, unclaimed AT dollars are gifted to the voice of hope fund assisting Reece's Rainbow in their year round operations which have helped over 1000 children come home to their forever families since opening.


Now to address another issue I've seen pop up occasionally since I've first started following Reece's Rainbow. After all, Angel Tree is supposed to be fun, hopeful, and full of celebrations, right?

Some people question the need to raise so much money for adoption and accuse grant organizations of "selling children" or "paying parents"

Let's cut the confusion.

In domestic adoption the cost in much less. You can go through government care which, in Canada at least, can bring some tax refunds and other benefits that leave the cost extremely low. Even going through a private agency (the most popular option for healthy babies) still comes in at less than half the cost of what agencies such as Reece's Rainbow cite as an approximate number.

The reason is simple international adoption is expensive - special needs international adoption is even more expensive!

Domestic adoption doesn't require translators, international flights (multiple as many countries require 2-3 trips), living costs in country during court, agency fees for both countries, paperwork fees to file with both countries. Costs add up quickly and these costs are necessary. Home studies, dossiers, fingerprinting, government paperwork all help to insure that each child is being paired with the right family and that each family is growing with the right child. The last thing anyone wants is a mismatch or a child to go to a family that cannot provide for their needs. These processes are necesary for the safety of everyone involved.

Now add medical needs in there. Some children's situations are desperate enough they require expedited processes and/or medical care during the trip home again adding more costs.

While the families adopting have the funds to cover an expanded family whether through income/ insurance/whatever. Finances are taken into consideration during the paperwork mentioned above. However, most families simply don't have the approximately 40 grand laying around that is required to finance the adoption in the timelines given.

This is where agencies like Reece's Rainbow come in raising funds for the child to help relieve some of the fear (how am i going to finance this) for the families and help faciliate bringing these kids home. No buying, no selling, just helping those who are taking the plunge into adoption. After all, take many people giving what they can and, even though it may be small, the end result can be spectacular.

Two Days Until Angel Tree!

It's only two days until Angel Tree officially starts and donations start counting towards the Angel Tree goals!

Did you know it's also two days until something else?

Previously unknown to me, November is Adoption Awareness Month.
Wow, I'm guessing this is either an intentional overlap or the best of coincidences.

What was less exciting were the statistics.

The ad I saw was Canadian-based (useful since I am Canadian) and stated that 21% of Canadian families consider adoption at some point in their family, a great positive statistic.
Unfortunately, the most current stats for Canada I've seen place children eligible for adoption in Canada at close to 30000 and the hundreds of children internationally helped by organizations like Reece's Rainbow are a drop in the bucket compared to the number of children looking for families. So what happened to all the interest? What makes families hesitate, drop back, and say no even when they know they are being called towards adoption.

Fear and finances, if I had to make a guess, are the two biggest killers when it comes to adoption dreams and that is why, although I also love the organizations who go in and work with orphans in their home country, my heart returns to places such as Reece's Rainbow.

The RR community address both of these dream killers in such a unique way.

International adoption is hard, expensive, and in many cases a battle on so many fronts - emotional, financial, physical, mental, paperwork (is that it's own category). Reece's rainbow provides the financial help through Angel Tree, 5/5/5, and year round fundraising to help families meet the financial burden in a timely manner. Which, for some kids, literally means the difference between life and death. The truth is for a family on the edge about to give in to the fears and the seemingly insurmountable odds, having a grant gifted could be the encouragement they need to bring their child home rather than walk away like so many in that early 21%.

Reece's Rainbow also provides another venue of support in it's people. So many people in the RR community be they staff who walk you through your questions or families who blog about the ups and downs of life pre, post, and during adoption honestly communicate about the reality of adoption and life in country for these kids rather than the misinformation and borderline fear mongering that seems to abound. I'm not saying it's easy or without struggles, neither do they but these families who pour out their lives and invite readers on their journey provide some much more wisdom/information/ and an honest ability to "count the cost" than any promotional material ever could.

If you're curious check out some of my favourites

http://covenantbuilders.blogspot.ca/  - (the Nalle family adopting number 2, warning reading their posts about the Lost Boys is eye-opening and you won't be able to hide behind the line"I didn't know" ever again)

http://nataliekeller.blogspot.ca/ - (not updated very often anymore but her posts mid adoption are beautifully honest regarding the adoption process)

http://angeleyesadoption.blogspot.ca/ (no longer updated but some great insight into life post adoption)

Do some reading, challenge some assumptions, and don't forget Tara ;)

Happy (almost) Adoption Awareness Month.

3 Days and counting until Angel Tree 2014!

Only a few more days until Angel Tree officially starts and dozens upon dozens of children will have a chorus of warriors joining together to help raise their grant goal.

The anticipation is exciting as the last few children have warriors stand up and say, I choose this one.

As of last count 17 (now 9, whohoo for updates) children still have no warrior to cheer, to write, to pray, to plead that this one matters.

In a lot of ways Angel Tree is a combination of paradoxes. It's a fundraiser during the holidays when many budgets are stretched either through tight budgets or through the pursuit of bigger and better.

The goal of 1000 dollars raised for each child on the tree seems an extravagant goal and yet in the face of international adoption which can run 30 - 40 thousand dollars, 1000 seems a small though blessed drop in the bucket.

We plead and cheer and pray for these children for 2 months and perhaps even throughout the year and yet too many children are repeat visitors on the Angel tree still waiting for a family ready to take a risk on the unknown of bringing a broken child into a differently broken family, cause, let's face it, we're all broken in our own different ways.

and yet . . .

Every year volunteers step forward in faith, watching as God moves in mysterious and magnificent ways bringing hope that things can change. Sometimes so slowly it's painful and other times so quickly your head could spin numbers climb and grants are strengthened.

Sometimes, if you're really lucky you'll even see one or two faces that you've come to know by an old picture and a name gifted by others to protect a child's identity, have someone step forward and take their own leap of faith and begin the process to bring their child home.

I dare you, today, right now, take a look at the children on Angel Tree. See the faces, see the children, read the stories and allow your hearts to be opened.

Then, if you dare, go here see the difference a grant can make to a family and a family can make to a child.

Angel Tree starts in 3 days!

Angel Trees and a leap of faith.

I'm back and on a mission.

As I've grown a little older and a little wiser the holidays take on a different tone. The idea that our little one will actually catch some of the excitement this year brings me so much joy as I start planning our adventures even now. Lets face it, any major plan with an 18 month old requires lots of planning.

Planning is one of my favourite things.

So, I plan trips, gifts, and special memories. Times with grandparents and all our aunties and uncles, celebrating special birthdays with special people. I want this time of year to be full of good memories and family time yet, even at such a young age I worry about the materialism that runs rampant as the year winds down. I wonder how I'm supposed to instill in our son concern for others, compassion for those who don't have the same opportunities, love for those who need it.

I also realize how quickly good intentions can be laid aside if you don't make them a reality sooner than later. So this year I've agreed to raise my voice with dozens upon dozens of others in an effort to raise awareness and raise funds to bring attention to special needs orphans around the world with Reece's Rainbow, orphans who's greatest Christmas wish is a family that can see beyond the cost- financially, emotionally, spiritually, and physically and see the treasure and worth inherent to those the world considers "the least of these".

The #2014AngelTree doesn't officially start until November 1st so that's when I'll be revealing the angel I'll be shouting for this season, the goal is to get each angel an extra 1000 dollars in their grant over the next two months that will go directly towards helping their family, once committed, to paying the large upfront fees that accompany overseas adoption.

This Christmas season Angel Tree is a great way to redirect our focus off of the excess and back onto what matters. Will you join me?