Thanksgiving

It seems that stores start decorating for Christmas a lot earlier every year. Thanksgiving gets pushed to the side. Thanksgiving isn't commercialized, it's the day after that is. 

Isn't it funny how right after giving thanks, we rush to buy all this "stuff" we can't live without? 

Isn't it funny that we didn't even wait until the day after this year? 

Isn't it funny that this year, stores started their "Black Friday" sales Thanksgiving night? 

Isn't it funny that we spend the day eating an insane amount of food, when there are people even here that don't have enough to eat? 

Isn't it funny that we say we don't have enough time to help orphans, yet we have time to spend hours in line to go Black Friday shopping?

Are you laughing? 

Thanksgiving is an important holiday. It's not about planning your Black Friday shopping marathon, and how to avoid being trampled over that perfect pair of shoes for Jill, or that new football jersey for Jack. It's not just a day off to sleep the day away. It's about spending time with those you are thankful for. It's in the name. Thanksgiving is about giving thanks. Maybe you are thankful you didn't burn the turkey, or you made enough mashed potatoes. Be thankful for those little "helpers". Look around, you will see a lot to be thankful for. A fun family project would be to make lists of what you are thankful for. 

First, I want you to make a list of 25 things you are thankful for. I'll do one too. 

1. Jesus

2. My family

3. My friends

4. My church

5. Food and drink

6. Internet

7. My phone

8. My bed

9. My house

10. Clean water

11. Rain

12. My camera

13. My puppy

14. Clothes

15. Headphones

16. Music

17. Books

18. My writing skills

19. Duct tape

20. Education

21. Job

22. Health

23. Sun

24. Snow

25. Chocolate

Was that hard? I want you to make another list of 25 (50 total).

26. Stores

27. Language

28. Lights

28. Heating

29. Air conditioning

30. Swimming

31. Animals

32. Shampoo

33. Soap

34. Indoor plumbing

35. Computers

36. Blankets

37. Medicine

38. TV

39. Movies

40. Waterfalls

41. Cars

42. Airplanes

43. Boats

44. Clocks

45. Audio theatre

46. Imagination

47. Mission trips

48. Sight

49. Hearing

50. Expression

We have so much to be thankful for. Remember that this year. 

Seven

Seven

He was only seven years old. Seven. What did you do when you were seven? You were probably in second grade. Expanding your reading, checking out library books for the first time. Were your days spent at school, then coming home to do homework, then play outside with your friends or family? Or maybe if you got your homework done early, you got to play a game on the computer or watch one of your favorite shows. 

But he didn't. He spent the days in a cold, dark room. Lying in a cold crib. Surrounded by the cries and moans of other children. Drugged so he was "easier to take care of". At seven years old, he weighed only 20 pounds. He wore diapers because he was left in the crib all day. He had no stimulation. No chance to walk, talk, or even move. 

He was transferred to the institution when he was four years old. He struggled on for three years, but by November of 2010, he couldn't do it anymore. 

He died on November 16, 2010. He was only seven years old. No one was there to witness it. The workers probably didn't notice until they went to feed him the next day. Then he was buried in an unmarked grave behind the mental institution he died in. 

Dakota was an orphan in Eastern Europe. He had hydrocephalus.  Most children have this corrected as an infant and go on to live a normal life. But he didn't. Because of having hydrocephalus, he was put into an adult mental institution. When he was only four years old. He went from being a normal functioning child to a frail shell of a child, who only weighed 20 pounds. He struggled to move, or even to breathe.

It's too late for Dakota. But it's not for some of the other children at his institution. Please save them before it's too late. Don't let them become a statistic. Don't let them be a nameless grave in back yard of the institution.

 

All of those children are waiting for families in the institution where Dakota died. Please, let's not let them become a statistic. For Dakota.

Holy Angel Tree Fundraiser, Batman*!

Meet Frank. He’s 12 years old, and is curious, busy, fun happy and bright. He has a mental delay, but that doesn’t stop him from being friendly, engaging and kind (plus he can rock a batman* hat!). He’s also an orphan in Eastern Europe. This means he is in an institution. If he is not adopted by age 16, he will be thrown out on the street with nothing but the clothes on his back and his “disabled orphan”status. Let me tell you more about Frank.

He’s little, about the size of a 7 year old. And he’s smart. He is in a group with teenage boys ages 16-24. He does puzzles and he attends school. He does his chores diligently. He is very kind to the younger children. Frank is friendly and engaging. He likes being with the boys, but is happy being alone too. He plays appropriately with toys and is “all boy”. He could very easily function in a family. Frank is curious, smart, fun and sweet. He likes to play in the dirt and jump on the trampoline. Frank is independent, a good eater, is happy and content. Frank is physically healthy. He walks, runs, feeds himself,speaks, does puzzles and interacts with others well. He's a sweet boy who seems rather unaffected by his surroundings. He has no future where he's at, and without help, he's never getting out.  Institutions are a one way ticket to nowhere.  And this little boy deserves a future. This little boy will be a blessing to any family.

He needs a family. But international adoption is pretty expensive. His adoption would cost about $25,000. Reece’s Rainbow is an organization that helps with this cost. They set up grants for children in 25 countries around the world,and any money that is donated to these funds is given to the families to help with adoption fees.

During this Christmas season, Reece’s Rainbow sets a goal,for every child on the “Christmas Angel Tree” to have an Angel Tree warrior.This warrior’s goal is to raise $1,000 or more as the adoption grant for their Angel Tree child. This is my goal. So, I am selling duct tape wallets to help fill Frank’s freedom fund (adoption grant), and help get him freedom and a forever family! 80% of the funds from these wallets go to Frank’s fund. The other 20%is used for supplies so I can continue to fund raise for Frank.

For more information about Frank, please visit www.reecesrainbow.org/frank 

 I'm also selling key chains and friendship bracelets. These are all available here, on my Facebook page and in the Reece's Rainbow Craft Mall.

I have many different patterns and colors, please ask! I'm just giving a few examples of each as to show you what I have. 

Friendship Bracelet- $5 This one is Reece's Rainbow themed. They are hand- tied, light and durable. Many colors available.

Gecko Key chains- $4 They are cute little toys or something to hand from your mirror. Many colors available.

Friendship Key chains- $2 Made in the same way as friendship bracelets. Light and durable.

Starfish Key Chains- $2

 

"E" Calendar- $10 Personalized, each month includes a photo (or two) of your choice and a aphorism, quote or saying. You can pick a theme and everything, I'll make it and email it to you, and the money goes to Frank! You can print it or you can keep it on the computer, your choice. 

Now for my favorites- The Wallets! I love to make them! This is a sample of some of my different patterns, designs and colors! Each wallet has 4 card spots and an ID card spot, two pockets behind the cards, and two money pockets. Plain colors (like Black, or Silver and Black) are $10 (includes shipping) and print or print with a solid edging (like the Cheetah and Black shown here) are $11 (includes shipping). $6 from each wallet goes to Frank and the rest helps me with shipping and supplies! There are many different combinations and patterns, please ask if you would like one! 
Please Help out Frank! There's many more designs and patterns on my Facebook page and in the RR Craft Mall. (Though I haven't found batman* themed yet... I will be searching!)
Remember the boy with the batman* hat!
~Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27 NIV)~