Frank's Freedom

Meet Frank. He’s 13 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. 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 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.

The Baker family has committed to adopt Frank and another boy, Emmitt. But international adoption is pretty expensive. The adoption would cost about $30,000. 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. With Reece's Rainbow's help, the Baker family only needs about $10,000 to bring home both boys!





Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Zack

So, I have five boys I yell for. This is a yell for Zack! Here are two posts written about him by people who have met him!

This One Too! Written here- http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2012/09/this-one-too-lord.html

"It was the last day of visits with our sweet daughters in the orphanage. My new friend and fellow adoptive mom, Susan, and I choked back tears as we headed out the door one final time. We had spent seven glorious days with our daughters.

And then it was time to leave.

Having adopted children from different countries, I can tell you one thing with absolute certainty…

There is nothing like leaving your child behind in an orphanage!

There is nothing like knowing where you are leaving them—and walking OUT!

Because knowing changes everything!

As we drove out of the orphanage gates that Friday just a few weeks ago, we headed to a different orphanage on our way back to the capital city, Sofia. Our driver needed to get updated pictures and video of a little boy who had recently been listed for adoption.

We arrived at the institution, and both Susan and I knew that we just had to meet this little boy. Our driver agreed that we could come in with him.

We were greeted by many children as we entered the building that day.

Beautiful, precious, and amazing children all created by the Master Craftsman Himself.

Each one with many needs.

But mostly, the need for someone to come for them. The need to be loved. The need to be accepted for who they are—His beautiful creations--fearfully and wonderfully made just the way they are.

My heart was breaking before we even entered the front door.

We were ushered into a smaller room.

And within minutes...he came in.

The most darling little boy. I thought him to be maybe around eight years old. Later I found out that he is eleven.

His name is Zack.

Susan and I sat watching as our driver tried to interview Zack for a video for prospective parents. Neither of us understanding Bulgarian, we had no idea what he and the orphanage director were saying to the boy. He seemed to do okay for a few minutes and answered their questions politely.

Then, all of a sudden, tears started streaming down his little cheeks. He sobbed quietly—unable to get out a single word.

He was clearly heartbroken.

We both choked back tears—not wanting the little guy to see us all weepy. We did not know why in the world this sweet and tender little boy was so upset. It was very obvious though that he had such deep pain and that his heart was aching.

Sitting there and observing this dear little boy crying heart-wrenching sobs just about ripped my heart out! Everything in me wanted to rush over and hold him tightly—calming his anxious heart and assuring him that God had not forsaken him—that his Daddy in heaven knew what was tearing him apart.

Later that day, we heard Zack’s story….

And I knew instantly that I would go to the ends of the earth to help this little boy get the one thing in this life that he has never had, never known.

The one thing that made him cry until he literally could not stop!

I listened as my attorney shared Zack’s story with me.

It began with his best friend, Maria. They grew up in a very decent orphanage (as far as orphanages go) and spent the first eleven years bonding—being together. I am told that they are more than just best friends—but more like family. Until recently, the only family either of them had ever known. Zack and Maria shared a room (very normal for Eastern European orphanages) and spent every waking moment together—inseparable!

But everything was soon to change. Maria was blessed! Unbeknownst to her, she had been found, chosen by an amazing single mom who just knew that Maria was the daughter of her heart.

Maria was soon to know what it meant to be FAMILY.

I am so thankful that Katherine shared Maria and Zack’s story with me. She met Maria for the first time last December. The social worker at the orphanage informed Katherine that she would be meeting Maria’s best friend, telling her that they were extremely close. She got to know Zack pretty well during that first trip to his country.

Months passed and finally Katherine was able to return to Eastern Europe to complete the adoption process for Maria.

Here’s her account of that day—“Gotcha Day,” as it is known for adoptive parents.

“My Gotcha Day was horrible, to say the least. We were asked to be at the orphanage by 11 am so that one staff member could say goodbye to Maria. I got there and did ask about Zack's availability to be adopted. I wanted to help him find his mom. I was told that Zack was being moved that very same day to a new orphanage. These days I understand why he had to be moved and I understand why it was easier to do it all at once....sort of rip the band aid off.

My heart still weeps for the memory of that day.

You see, the orphanage that Maria and Zack were at was for children birth through seven years. The orphanage had kept both Maria and Zack until they were 11 1/2, because they knew that the kids were special that they needed the additional care. So, on my pick up date I was looking through the photo album I was given of Maria by the orphanage. The director came in and told me I needed to be strong because the kids (Maria and Zack) were not handling the separation well. I quickly gathered my things and went to the lobby.

I saw Zack first. He was in his chair wailing (it wasn't just crying). I walked over to him and gave him the gift I had bought specially for him and tried to tell him that it would all be okay, that Maria would be taken care of. The whole time Maria was wailing over by the stairs while another adult spoke with her. Zack quickly rolled himself back to Maria. These two were hugging and kissing each other....truly like siblings.....weeping and crying the whole time.

Finally a staff member rolled Zack outside in his wheelchair. Maria quickly followed. She no sooner got one step outside and was quickly scooped up by the director and taken to our car. It was only made more difficult by the fact that the two cars for the kids were facing each other. So, they could see each other the whole time we were getting everything into the cars and they never stopped crying. Sasha and the orphanage's social worker were with Zack and took him to his new orphanage. Maria cried so much as we left and throughout the day for her friend."

Oh my goodness! I cannot even imagine being eleven years old and having to lose the one person in the world you love…and who loves you back!

AND be moved that very same day to an unfamiliar new home.

Excruciating!

And so, on the same day that Maria was adopted, Zack was transferred from his place of safety to an institutional-type facility for children and adults with special needs.

And there he has struggled to adjust to his new normal.

Loss.

Grief.

Katherine returned to the U.S with her new daughter and has done everything she possibly could to keep a promise she made Maria.

To find a family to adopt Zack!

Thankfully, with the help of the attorney we are using to adopt our children, God has moved mountains and Zack is finally listed for adoption.

He has HOPE!

I have thought back to that day a few weeks ago when Susan and I fought back tears as we watched Zack weeping while sitting in his wheelchair.

And I thank God that I didn’t know at that very moment…

That he was crying inconsolably simply because the absolute desire of his heart is to have a family of his own too. And to come to America where he can, once again, have contact with the girl who is like a sister to him.

I just don’t think I would have been strong enough to hold it together.

And so today I come to you all, the amazing readers of my blog, pleading for your help. I KNOW there is a family out there for Zack. What a sweet blessing he would be to a family—he truly is just the most gentle, loving little boy. Zack has CP (which only seems to affect his lower limbs) and scoliosis. He is going GREAT mentally and I’m told that he is on target developmentally. His only “issue” is that he cannot walk. I have, however, seen a picture of him standing up while holding onto a chair. With good medical treatment, there is no telling how far Zack will go.

Would you share his story wherever you possibly can? I would appreciate that so much. Zack has about six weeks left to find a family! That’s it!

Thank you for sharing Zack's story! Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus to this little lovie who wants nothing more in this life than to belong—to love and be loved.

"Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us."
~Ephesians 3:20

Anyone wanting more information about adopting Zack can contact Shelley at shele337@gmail.com."

The other is Maria's mom. Here is what she wrote:
"What can happen in 2 months
It has been over 2 months since I that day in June when I picked up a weeping Maria up from the orphanage. Over 2 months since I saw a weeping tear streaked face of Zack as he saw his best friend leave without him, as he was forced to leave the only home and family he ever knew. A lot can happen in 2 months.

Gotcha Day...slowly opening up after leaving the only home she knew and her best friend

But all the while Zack has been on our minds and hearts. Wondering how he is doing. We know he is in basically a good place, but that it took a while for him to open up when he was visited by the foundation. In 2 months this is what has happened to Zack....

Zack from a few weeks ago...notice the stuffed animal. That was a gift from Manuela to Zack from Maria. Now he is keeping it with him.

So very hard to see this bright little boy this sad.

I wish you could see the spark in his eyes that I saw in December when I met him.
2 Months....not that long for Maria to accomplish and try so much. For her to thrive in a family that loves her. For her to realize the world is open to so many opportunities, that she will NOT be held back by her disability.
2 Months....for Zack it has been very hard. Missing his best friend, who was like a sister to him. No longer having his caretakers there by his side to help him through his grief. Being the new kid without a loving family to help him through each step. My heart broke when I saw these pictures and heard that the NGO didn't send the first few videos because in them Zack was crying out for Maria....it was heartbreaking for all the adults involved and who are invested in this little boy. Please help him find his forever family!

I am waiting for that day when I can finally tell Maria the good news that Zack is wanted....a family is preparing for him and she will see him again!
Katherine" there are pictures in the post but I can't copy them. View it here- http://adoptingsinglemom.blogspot.com/2012/09/what-can-happen-in-2-months.html

Now I've included all the pictures of Zack from these two posts. The ones of him in the pool are from March, when he was so happy. The individual ones (in the pinkish shirt) are more recent. This boy is so sad, we need to help him!!

Monday, September 24, 2012

Hero

Today, I wanted to share about some of my heroes. Most are people who exceed expectations the world has put on them.

"Exceeds Expectations"

Usually you would see this term on a report card from school. It's equal to that "4" or that "A" that most students strive for. But the term can be used for people too. A better way to say it is to "defy expectations". I have some peoples' stories to share with you, about people who defy the worlds expectations on a daily basis.

On May 19,2001, a boy was born. His mother put him up for adoption, and the child's aunt and uncle adopted the infant Christopher. Now, this was a special boy. Christopher's mother had not been very healthy, and he was born blind and later diagnosed with autism. But his adoptive parents believed in him. At age four, he went on his first mission trip. It was then discovered that Christopher was a singer. Since that, Christopher Duffley has performed for the president, sung the national anthem at many sports games, and preformed with his favorite artists, like Paul Baloche, writer of "Open The Eyes Of My Heart", Chris' favorite song. There's a video of him singing that song, he is amazing. But none of that would have happened if his parents hadn't taken that leap of faith and adopted him. What if Aiden has that hidden talent? Maybe he's an amazing singer. Maybe Zack, he's a computer kind of kid. Or maybe Theo is an amazing painter. Whatever their talents are, they probably won't be discovered by them sitting alone in an orphanage. He needs a family to help him discover that potential. Christopher defies expectations in his own way. Would you expect a blind, 11 year old boy with autism to blow you away with his voice? Imagine Brody, and the potential he has!

Next is someone I "discovered" about two years ago. He is a indoor kite flyer, who has epilepsy. He took this talent and actually tried out for America's Got Talent. And he got in! He got called back at the wild card show. I hadn't really seen the show before, but I stopped to watch it. The first performance I saw was Connor Doran doing his act at Wild Card week. I couldn't look away. He was so captivating to watch. If you haven't seen it, look at the video below. It was the most inspiring and captivating thing I have ever seen.

The last is possibly someone you have heard of. In 1982, in Brisbane, Australia, without any medical explanation or warning, a baby came into the world with neither arms nor legs. Imagine the shock his parents felt when they saw their first-born brand new baby boy for the first time, only to find he was what the world would consider imperfect and abnormal. A limbless son was not what nurse Dushka Vujicic, and her husband Pastor Boris Vujicic had been expecting. How would their son live a normal happy life? What could he ever do or become when living with such a massive disability? Little did they or anyone else know that this beautiful limbless baby would one day be someone who would inspire and motivate people from all walks of life. God uses Nick to touch lives and bring the hope of Jesus Christ to people across the globe.
Throughout his childhood, Nick Vujicic dealt not only with the typical challenges of school and adolescence such as bullying and self-esteem issues; but also struggled with depression and loneliness.  He constantly questioned why he was different than all the other kids surrounding him; why he was the one born without arms and legs. He wondered what the purpose behind his life was, or if he even had a purpose. According to Nick, the victory over his struggles throughout his journey, as well as the strength and passion he has for life can be credited to his faith in God. His family, friends and the many people he has encountered along the way have also encouraged him.

After school, Nick went on with further study and obtained a double Bachelor’s degree, majoring in Accounting and Financial Planning from Griffith University in Logan, Australia. By the age of 19, Nick started to fulfill his dream of being able to encourage other people and bring them the gospel of Jesus through motivational speaking and sharing his testimony about how God changed his life and gave him a future and a hope. “I found the purpose of my existence, and also the purpose of my circumstance. There’s a purpose for why you’re in the fire.” Nick wholeheartedly believes that there is a purpose in each of the struggles we each encounter in our lives, and that our attitude towards those struggles, along with our faith and trust in the Lord can be the keys to overcoming the challenges we face.

Today, this limbless young man has accomplished more than most people accomplish in a lifetime. Nick made the massive move from Brisbane, Australia to California, USA in 2007, where he is the President and CEO of a non-profit organization, Life Without Limbs. Since his first speaking engagement back when he was 19, Nick has traveled around the world, sharing his story with millions of people, speaking to a range of different groups such as students, teachers, youth, businessmen and women, entrepreneurs, and church congregations of all sizes.  He has also told his story and been interviewed on various televised programs worldwide. “If God can use a man without arms and legs to be His hands and feet, then He will certainly use any willing heart!”


Next is someone I have mentioned before. His name is Luke Everett. He's the pastor from Rancho Sordo Mudo, a ministry for the deaf orphans in Mexico. He told us his life story, which was pretty amazing. You can hear it here and his message here. He went lost most of his hearing when he was little. His dad was called to be a missionary in Mexico, and they packed up their family and headed south (they lived in America). If you haven't seen the movie, "Hearing Everett", I suggest you do. It's about Rancho Sordo Mudo, and how his family was lead there. He's now in his 50s. He's had a lot happen to him. But despite everything that has happened to him, he still has hope in Jesus.

Aiden, Zack, Brody, Frank and Theo have so much potential! All of these people I told you about have something in common: they don't let a disability get in the way of their abilities. Christopher is a singer. Connor flies kites and inspires people everyday. Nick is an inspirational speaker. Luke is a pastor and runs a ranch in Mexico. Frank could be one of them. He just needs a chance.

I have some more heroes. So many people in this world inspire me.

One is someone I have mentioned multiple times: Renee. She is in country adopting Rascal, and instead of complaining about how badly her son is being treated there, she is fundraising for Everett and Olson to get them out of there! She has already cleared out an orphanage, and is working on another! She is an amazing women of God, and he has blessed her to be a mighty writing warrior (me, not so much)! And she never takes the credit for clearing the orphanage, it's all Jesus! She is amazing, and it scares me to think what would be happening over in 39 if she hadn't gone over. Alexis, Tyler, Pryce, Patti, Carter, Marcus, Bernie and Mason probably wouldn't have families coming for them. Bernadette, Mason, Clarice, Greta, and Mabel wouldn't have even been listed. Moxie would have been transferred. She is an inspiration, and I hope God will bless me with her writing ability.

Next is Andy Finch. If you are a snowboarder, you have probably heard of him. Here's his (or his dad's) story in his words:
"A little over 2 years ago my father started acting very out of the ordinary, very strange. My dad is my childhood hero and I have a great respect for him. My friends call him perma-grin because he was always smiling. He had no criminal history, but in mid September something went haywire in his brain and he lost all sense of reality. To him everything was normal and “The rest of the world was just acting crazy!” He felt threatened and the last two days before the accident he started carrying around a gun.
Due to the stress he was putting on the family, I did a last minute 8 hour round trip to Fresno to see if I could help my father in any way before I headed to Europe for 3 weeks. After sitting down with him for 4 hours I realized there was nothing I could do and I told my wife that it was going to end up in the hands of the police. Cliff was doing things that are just not acceptable in our society and for good reason.
My wife had just met me in France for a week vacation after I had just competed in Switzerland. She had been on the ground for about 5 hours when I received a text saying, “emergency! Call now!” I knew instantly something bad happened with my father, but never could have imagined what I was about to find out.
I called my mom who could barely talk. She told me my father had been shot 6 to 8 times and docs didn’t think he was going to make it. This call was right when I was about to go to bed. Well no flights were leaving till morning, so my wife and I just started praying.  The next morning with no sleep God gave me a peace that I would see my father again alive, if only for a moment. I was strangely calm as we bought new plane tickets home on the first possible flight. Family picked us up in SF and drove us straight to the hospital in Fresno. The first thing they told me in SF was that my father had opened his eyes. On the drive down I got the whole story.
Cliff had gone to my uncle’s house looking for my mom, but was in a very angry mood. He brandished his 9 mm as he searched aggressively through the house. My uncle frightened by what my father might do, called the police. When the police tried to pull him over, they were led down a high-speed chase down a main street in Fresno. The Police did a P.I.T. maneuver and put him into a ditch. Approaching his car, two shots came from my dad’s vehicle, than 18 rounds were returned into my father’s truck. Police pulled him from the vehicle and had to revive him 5 times. No one besides my dad was hurt in anyway except a dent in the police vehicle that spun out Cliff’s truck. That was miracle number one!
When I finally saw my dad, at I can’t remember what time of night, I could barley recognize him. There were multiple bullet wounds to his face and everything was swollen. A sheriff sat next to my unconscious father while he was chained to the bed. That was quite possibly the hardest thing for me, seeing my father treated as a criminal.
Still not knowing if he would make it, we started praying like never before, as did everyone that heard about it, which was a lot of people as this was a high profile accident, with the news covering every detail.
I’ll try to make this short, but there was so much stacked against my father and our family. I want you to try and realize why my faith in God is more secure then ever before! First thing we prayed for was for Cliff to survive. As vital signs stabilized we prayed for him to be able to breath on his own.  2 weeks after his accident, I put a prayer vigil together with only a 24-hour notice. 200 people showed up on the front lawn of the Hospital in a dangerous part of Fresno and the hospital was nervous because it was sketchy at night. The next day he could breath on his own. Miracle 3 was when he could talk. Who would cover the medical bills, which would bankrupt my parents? Would he ever walk again? Who would defend my father in court, which could also bankrupt my parents! Bail was set at 2.2 million dollars. Was he paralyzed?  Was his brain damaged from the bullets to his head? Nothing was moving, fingers, toes or arms. Stood him up the first time 4 months out. He lived off a feeding tube for 6 months. Was his mental illness still present? Without my dad, my parents had no substantial way to make money. 2 weeks after the hospital released my father, my mother went into the hospital for a mastectomy and lung surgery, that I am for sure was a result of the stress from the accident. Chemo and radiation would follow for the next 6 months. Now she could not take care of herself, my dad or run the business. Fully had to surrender. Amber and I were newly weds and it was a hard way to start our new marriage. Cliff was facing life in prison with two counts of attempted murder on a peace officer, two counts of assault and one count of evading the police. It would take 10 pages to tell you how everything worked out, but believe me when I tell you it was a true miracle that only God could have orchestrated.
Dads Injuries-
Hit by 7 bullets, 3 in the head (all missing his brain), one bullet thru his jaw, another through his cheek and hitting his ear drum, another lodged in his C1 of his brainstem and stopped against his spinal cord. YES, a bullet stopped against his spinal cord! Try and tell me that’s not a miracle! Such a dangerous zone that the doctors wouldn’t risk removing it. One bullet in his left elbow, two in his right elbow, both blown to pieces, and another in his stomach/ lower back. Was completely paralyzed for a long time.
Outcome-
Elbows fused, right leg barely works, left leg his only good limb, left arm works ok, right arm doesn’t work (used to be right handed). Deaf in right ear. Mental illness under control with medication. Mom got cleared of cancer a year later. Between the state and my dad’s purple heart (VA hospital) most bills and court fees were covered. Business still eeking by. Court stuff- took two years in court, court gave my father 5 years probation and 200 hours of community service and $5,000 in damages. I prayed for justice knowing God is a just God and that might mean my father spending the rest of his life in jail.
God put on my heart a week after that accident that he would snowboard again even with everything he faced. It is a miracle to watch my father snowboard again! Keep the faith!"


There are some musicians who are also my heroes. Their stories and songs speak to me.
I love music. I feel it can sometimes communicate better than just words. In my long list of favorite artists (which are all Christian), Steven Curtis Chapman, Matthew West and Mark Schultz are at the top. Steven Curtis Chapman is deeply involved with adoption, and had multiple children adopted from China. He has written so many songs related to adoption, and good things anyway.
"All I Really Want For Christmas (is a family)" is the letter of an orphan boy, telling that he wanted a few things, but above that, he needs a family.
"What Now" is a song about following God's commandment to "take care of orphans... In their distress", about seeing the need and taking care of it. It is about the verse that says "you fed me when I was hungry, gave me water when I was thirsty," and what you do to the least of these we do to him. This song is about seeing Jesus in that little orphan girl on the other side of the world, or the homeless child who was sleeping in the old car while his mom went looking for food. Jesus is right where he said he would be, we just need to act.
"Meant to Be" was actually written for a VeggieTales movie (I like VeggieTales, don't judge), but the story of the movie was the story of two boys on the football team. One boy caught the ball, winning the game. 15 years later, the other boy is wondering what would have happen if he had gotten the ball. He has a journey (like the three spirits of "A Christmas Carol") and realizes that everything happened for a reason.
"Do Everything" is another of my favorites. The story is it doesn't matter what you do or who you are, "do everything you do to the glory of the one who made you, because he made you".
Now to Matthew West. I don't know his full story, but his newest album, "The Story Of Your Life" has some pretty awesome songs.
"One Less" is best explained by the first verse.
"There's a child, been abandoned out on the street
Now she's waiting for someone to be her miracle
There's a wife, somewhere halfway around the world
Begging God for a little girl to call her own.
Well, worlds collide, and colors fade, and a man and wife
Brought that little girl home today
There's one less, one less, one less broken heart in the world tonight"
This is also about how God loved us so much that he left his high heavens in the form of Jesus, and died on the cross so that we could spend eternity with him. He took that step, and so did the couple in the song.
"Strong Enough" is also a good one. Though not orphan/ adoption related, it is about us not needing to be strong enough for every trial, we just need to depend on God, and we will get through.
Now on to Mark Schultz. Did you know that Mark Shultz was adopted? He was. He wrote a song for his biological mom, called "Everything to Me". I just discovered it, and I love it. It is what he would say to her, that he understood her choices. "You had dreams for me, you wanted best for me, you made only choice you could that night. You gave life to me, a brand new world to see, like playing baseball with my dad at night. Mom reading 'Good Night, Moon", and praying in my room. You worry if your choice was right, when you gave me up, you gave vey thing to me". When he sees her in heaven, he will tell her the man he had become, and that he is grateful of the life she gave him.
"He's My Son" always makes people cry. Although not a strictly orphan/ adoption song, I think of it as a really good song to advocate with. It's about a father, praying to God about his son, to help him, because the father can't do anything else. The father wants to take the son's place somehow, because "he's not just anyone, he's my son". The father is just asking for his son to be able to grow up, and live without being scared. The song doesn't mention why the son is scared, but some people use the song for music dedications to their sons who have/ had terminal diseases or died young from a disability. Others use the song from Mary's point of view, as Jesus died upon the cross.
What's the point of all this? Well, first, I wanted to put some of my favorite songs out there. And second, there's so many messages in them. "What Now" is about taking God's love to the least of these, specifically the widows and orphans, but it extends to everyone. I know it's summer, but think of that kid at your school, or coworker who always sits alone. We need to extend our love to those least of these too. Marcus, Carter, Patti, Pryce, Tyler, and Alexis, they are the least of these. Thankfully,  they have families coming for them. Zack and Aiden and Brody and Frank and Theo, still needs his family! He needs a momma to read him stories at night, a dad to play baseball in the yard with. International adoption can be daunting, I know. Reece's Rainbow tries to help out by raising funds to help with the cost. I know that $24,000 is a lot of money. 143 million orphans is too.
Have you heard the story of the starfish? It is a story used a lot in the adoption world. Here's how the story goes:

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, "What are you doing?"
The youth replied, "Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out.  If I don't throw them back, they'll die."
"Son," the man said, "don't you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can't make a difference!"
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf.  Then, smiling at the man, he said:
"I made a difference for that one."
That is how every orphan will be saved. One at a time. One dollar at a time. There's a shirt I really want to get , it says: "How do you save 143 million orphans? ONE AT A TIME." and that is exactly how we plan on doing it.
Let's rally together and save these boys! Because it matters to this one!
Asher
 Tyler- HOME!
Frank- MFFM!
Zack- MFFM!
 Brody
Theo
Pryce- HOME
 Marcus- FAMILY FOUND
Alexis- HOME!
Greta
Mabel
Mason- HOME
Aiden- MFFM!
Clarice
Carter- HOME!
Bernadette- HOME

Ulysses

Friday, September 7, 2012

Duct Tape

I do have a post coming, but I wanted to get this up!
So, I make duct tape stuff, and sell it to raise money for kids and families. Well, here's my first sale with duct tape auction!

The first item are duct tape wallets. I have five available: one paint splatters, one pink zebra stripe, one cheetah print, and two digital camo print. And i can make more, any color (as long as you've seen it at a store, i can use it). Each duct tape wallet includes four card holders, and one see through pocket they also have two pockets in the back for money. Behind the card holders, there are two more pockets for change.
Starting bid: $8 each (includes shipping).
Next, I have water bottle holders. They are very durable, and are an across the chest, on the hip design. I have two that hold a normal sized Camelbak water bottle (24oz water bottle). I have two: a dark blue and light blue striped, and a teal one. I used it during my job at a summer camp and it worked well.
Starting Bid: $8 each (includes shipping).
I also have a duct tape belt. Starting Bid: $1
All my products are the best of quality.. I don't sell anything I wouldn't be willing to use. I actually use a duct tape wallet, and it works well. They are very durable. I don't use cheap duct tape, I use Duck brand duct tape. Other duct tape will separate when really hot, this does not. And duct tape presents make good gifts for kids.
Go to my FaceBook Auction to keep up!
http://www.facebook.com/SeekJusticeLoveMercyWalkHumbly
All the proceeds go to the Crites family, who are adopting Marcus.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Noel for angel tree!

Hey! Read this article tink found on RR and vote for Noel!
http://reecesrainbow.org/my-own-little-starfish