tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29265364599367818232024-02-18T18:59:35.900-08:00We Will Love The Least Of These~ "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." ~ Matthew 25:40
If not us, who will be like Jesus to the least of these?Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-72510463465300135952013-11-03T10:48:00.002-08:002013-11-03T10:48:49.052-08:00Frogs, Snails and Puppy- Dogs Tails
"What are little boys made of?
What are little boys made of?
Frogs and snails and puppy-dogs' tails,
And that are little boys made of."
Three little boys.
Brothers.
Ages 9, 7 and 5.
I don't know the circumstances, but somehow they were removed from their home, and put into an orphanage.
Hunter is the oldest. He is 9 years old. In simple terms, he has difficulty sleeping, behavioral problems, and is usually hyperactive. He also has flat feet. He also has a condition that causes pressure on the brain, which can lead to massive headaches. This could be a reason for his difficulty sleeping. And if you can't sleep, it makes it hard to focus on being "good". Or he could have ADHD. ADHD can make it hard to make your brain "shut down" for the night. Or it could be PTSD, anxiety, or another disorder caused by a traumatic experience, like the event that caused the boys to land in an orphanage.
When I was younger, I always had a hard time going to sleep. Every now and then, I still get nights where insomnia hits, and I can't seem to fall asleep. At age 5 or 6, I would stay awake for hours, unable to fall asleep. My parents would sometimes have me put boots on and run around in our cul-de-sac to burn off the energy. I remember sleepless nights where I desperately wanted to go to sleep, but it would not come. Hunter could have this same experience. But unlike me, he doesn't have parents to support him. Now, we have medicine like NyQuil that can help you fall asleep. He doesn't have any of that. If he can't sleep, then he won't sleep. His condition can also cause painful headaches. If you have a migraine, you usually take some Advil and go lay down in a dark, quiet room. Hunter doesn't have that available. His room may be dark, but it won't be quiet. He shares it with many other boys. When you have a headache, you're usually more irritable. Which can lead to "behavioral issues".
Forest is diagnosed with a mild mental delay and speech issues. While he could have a mental delay, the reality is that almost all orphans are diagnosed with at least a mild mental delay. He hasn't had the same opportunities as other "normal" kids his age. He probably doesn't know all the same stuff as other children his age who have parents. His speech issue could be a range of things. It could be as simple as a speech delay; he could just be a late speaker. He may not talk much if he feels like no one listens. If his older brother, Hunter, has constant headaches, he wouldn't want people to talk to. Therefore, Forest would talk to his younger brother, and may be "delayed" as the result of his main interaction with a younger child. If his speech issue is something like a stutter, he also may be a quiet child, as to not be ridiculed.
Ridge is five. His only diagnosis is a mild hear condition that currently does not require surgery. He is the baby of the family.
All three brothers are unique boys who need someone to step up and rescue them. They need someone to get them the help they need. Hunter's condition is not life- threatening now, but it could be. Forest needs help now, so he does not regress. If left alone, a mild mental delay could turn into a moderate delay. If ridiculed for a speech issue, he could become withdrawn and mute. Ridge's condition does not require currently require surgery, but if left untreated, it could.
Do you have room in your heart and home for three little boys?
Little boys were not made for orphanages.
They were made for digging in dirt, for hunting for bugs and wrestling in the yard.
They were made for laughing at gross stuff and for pretending to be tough.
They were made for their heroes to be Spiderman, Superman or Batman.
They were made for fighting with imaginary LightSabers and pretending to be Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
They were made for a family.
Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-50934653354296605102013-09-17T20:31:00.001-07:002013-09-17T20:31:31.305-07:00Crazy for OrphansYep. I'm crazy. I know.
So...
Usually, when you sign up for Angel Tree, you get one child, and your goal is to raise $1,000 for their adoption grant, between November 1 and December 31.
But this year... We also had some siblings on the list.
So... Allow me to introduce my Angel Tree Kids- Hunter, Forest and Ridge. Three brothers!
I don't know too much about them yet, but here is what I know.
Hunter is 9 years old, and born in March 2004.
Forest is 7, and was born in August 2006.
Ridge is 5, and born in August 2008.
I'll be raising money for them this Christmas season!
http://reecesrainbow.org/63837/hunterforestridge
(Blogger won't let me show pics, but I promise, they're cute!Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-71243269588420009952013-09-01T14:37:00.002-07:002013-09-05T16:13:16.144-07:00Trolls<br />
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Troll, Noun: </div>
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1. A large, brutish creature of European myth, often lacking in intelligence. Sometimes compared to the Japanese oni.</div>
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2. A member of an internet forum who continually harangues and harasses others.</div>
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Trolls have no place in the adoption world. All they do is spread hate. Usually a troll had been adopted themselves, and is unhappy about it, and hence hate adoption.</div>
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This is for the trolls. I'm calling you out. You have no guts, attacking families who have never done anything to you. You think you're so clever, yet you hide behind a fake name on the internet.</div>
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Dear trolls,</div>
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Saying you hate adoption because you were adopted, and your family wasn't perfect doesn't make sense.</div>
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It makes about as much sense as saying you're against birth because you were born and your family wasn't perfect.</div>
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Yes, I get that sometimes adoptions don't work out. But that's no reason to hate it.</div>
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If you hate adoption, then you must be against all the products that came from someone who is adopted. So if you're going to be against all adoption, throw out all your Apple products. Your iPhone, your Mac, your iPod, your iPad. Delete your iTunes, and all the music you've ever bought from it. Because you're against adoption, and all those products were invented by someone who was adopted. That's right- Steve Jobs was adopted. If he hadn't been adopted, those products would not exist.</div>
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So, trolls, if you say you are against adoption, practice what you preach, and throw out all your Apple products, because they were invented by someone who was adopted.</div>
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I dare you.</div>
Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-45916741537055767102013-08-25T14:05:00.000-07:002013-09-05T16:24:38.418-07:00Why They Sometimes Say No<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
There's always the chance, with adopting older kids, that once a family comes, they say no to being adopted.
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A lot of people don't understand. They ask, "If they were always going to say no, why would they say yes in the first place?"
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Saying "yes" to the far- off dream of having a family, and "yes" to a family standing in front of you, it's a lot different.
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Imagine someone asked you if someday, you'd like to go to Disneyland. You would probably say yes. It doesn't seem very "real" at that time, it's a one in a million chance. It's not a realistic, it's just a dream. You would say yes, and not really think about it again.
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But what if months or years later, you are told there is someone that is willing to take you to Disneyland. You would have to learn a new language, leave your friends, but you knew that when you said yes. You would have the time of your life and make new friends. You're very excited to go.
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But then your friends and caretakers, the people you have grown up with, the ones who you trust, start telling you things. They're lies, but you don't know that. They start telling you that if you go, you will be killed, and your body parts sold. They tell you that if you go, they will never talk to you again.
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So you get scared, and you say no.
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That's what happens to kids in EE. Boys like M. He wanted a family. He heard of the great things a family could give him, and he wanted it more then anything. He wanted to be loved.
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But when a family came, he started getting scared. His friends and caretakers, people he trusted, began to tell him horrible (untrue) things. They told him no one would ever love him in America. They told him that he would be sold for parts. They told him that Americans would kill him. They told him that he would have a great life if he stayed (which is usually not true). They told him he would be scorned at the orphanage if he said yes.
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So he got scared. He didn't want to leave his friends. He couldn't gather the courage to say yes. So he said no. The caretakers had told him he would be able to go to trade school and get an education- even though he lived in country that is not wheelchair- accessible.
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By the time he realizes the mistake, that he should have said yes, it will be too late. He'll be kicked out, or worse, transferred to an adult mental institution.
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That's why we pray so hard for these older boys, pray they will say yes to adoption. Before it's too late. And even if they say no, we continue to pray, that God will change their hearts. We remain ready to jump on a plane and go rescue them. We will never give up hope. </div>
Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-14231467971112474972013-08-21T15:12:00.002-07:002013-09-05T16:24:48.773-07:00Image of God<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
We are all made in the image of God. Whether you are white, black, Asian, Native American, short, tall, fat, thin, it doesn't matter. We were made in the image of God. That doesn't mean just the actual "image"; what we look like on the outside.<br />
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It's the things on the inside too. Not the literal "inside" like bones, but things like feelings.
We all have feelings. The way something makes us feel. The way our brains work. The sense of right and wrong.
Our brains are one of the reasons I have to believe God exists. There is no way that such a complex organ could just "evolve" into existence. Something (or someone) had to create it.
I'm not completely against the idea of evolution; the idea that things "evolve" to adapt to their surroundings. I know that small evolution like that happens. Like an species slowly becoming smaller to avoid capture, yes, it makes sense. But I don't believe we came from monkeys. Our brains are too intricate to have just "happened".
We were made in the image of God. We're all equal. No one is any better then someone else. So why don't we treat people like that? Why do we treat others like we are so much better then them? Why do we think others are "lower" and don't deserve life?
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<br />
90% of babies diagnose with Down Syndrome are aborted.
9 in 10.
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90 in 100 – that is a lot of life snuffed out because of the possibility of one extra chromosome.
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I'm not saying it's easy to be a parent of a child with special needs. But doesn't every child deserve a chance at life?<br />
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I've met a lot of kids with Down Syndrome, and they are some of the sweetest kids you will ever meet. But 9 in 10 potential kids with Down Syndrome are aborted. I can't stand that.
And those kids that are "lucky" enough to be born? In Eastern Europe, they are deemed "unworthy" of normal life. At age 4, they are put into an adult mental institution.
At only 4 years old. You probably know a four year old. A friend, a niece or nephew, maybe even your own child. Imagine if they were put into a mental institution.
Four year olds may seem like they are independent, but they are not. They still need someone to make sure they get food everyday, give them baths, pick out their clothes.
But in Eastern Europe, those little four years are sent to adult mental institutions, just because they were born with special needs.
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Before you start booing Eastern Europe, remember, in America, we used to do that too. We still have a few mental institutions, "homes", for those with special needs. Luckily we've started to move past that.
Theo was one of those ones that was "lucky" enough to be born. I don't know his full story, but his mother gave him up. Maybe she couldn't raise a child. Maybe she wanted to keep him, but her friends and family talked her out of it. Whatever the reason, he was given up. Now he's older, and he's in a mental institution. Yes, it's one of the "better" ones. He was one of the few boys that was put into the "Happy Home" next to the orphanage, where it is a little more like a home, where they get a little more attention.
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<br />
But it's still an orphanage.
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All because he was born with cerebral palsy.
A sweet, gentle, happy little boy, was doomed by his country because of something that wasn't his fault.
Cerebral Palsy isn't a death sentence. With therapy, he could probably live a pretty normal life.
But he needs a family for that.
Are you his family?
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People say I'm obsessed with orphans. Yes, I am. And I'm not ashamed. I'm not ashamed of pouring my heart and soul into rescuing orphans from a living hell. Because they don't have another voice. I know that my writing, my fundraising, it won't change the world. His family probably won't find him through me. My fundraising probably won't even make a dent in the huge price for Theo's Freedom. Theo probably won't ever know about me. But you know what? If one person reads this, that's one more person that may not have known before. That's one more person that can help spread the word. So, no, I'm not going to change the world.
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But I sure am going to try.
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Because it makes a difference to this one.</div>
Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-11973554316946512522013-06-27T21:56:00.001-07:002013-09-05T16:25:18.542-07:00Theo the Gentle<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
Everyone who has met Theo described him as a gentle, lovey, cuddly boy. He is very delayed, but would blossom in a family, if given the opportunity. He is a gentle delight to be around, and such a sweetie! </div>
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He is stiff, due to having cerebral palsy, and not having the luxury of Physical Therapy to help him function better. He sits hour after hour in a wheel chair. As he gets older and bigger he will be moved to a bed and left there. He will be put in a diaper and left in bed – fed there and left – the diaper changed once or twice a day. He will no longer be taken outside he will just be left to lay there. Unless the workers take them to the pond or playground, they literally sit in a shed and do NOTHING all day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGU_GCS-VeMYBKXMpBcKCe_3Upcfwd4s6cCLFIyG1tbLj-jkGWzpk7gMOaiXQ1jGQgC9uE6kmcvrYnAyaJWveZjU7YXe2n-yQUJAEFSaC9CWsU_PFsDHHuJVL5IVAKgfO2bPPHHAqFN2ze/s640/blogger-image-530250170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGU_GCS-VeMYBKXMpBcKCe_3Upcfwd4s6cCLFIyG1tbLj-jkGWzpk7gMOaiXQ1jGQgC9uE6kmcvrYnAyaJWveZjU7YXe2n-yQUJAEFSaC9CWsU_PFsDHHuJVL5IVAKgfO2bPPHHAqFN2ze/s640/blogger-image-530250170.jpg" /></a>He is truly a sweetheart with so much love to give. He is an incredibly loving little boy. He is so sweet and gentle and patient. He is appreciative of the smallest kindness. When someone visiting waved at him, his eyes came to life – he was noticed. Later when she returned he waved and smiled. She went and said hi to him and he lit up. The third day she went and gave him a balloon and you would have thought he won the lottery. If they were playing with balloons she would make sure he had one. He soon learned to pop the balloon. He thought it was hysterical. It also got him attention – everyone would look. He has a great smile and laughs easily. The balloon popping had him in hysterics. </div>
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Theo is an absolute sweetheart. Gentle is what sums him up the best, his smile is ever ready and he loved being around people. He kind of melted into his joy every time they got close to him. </div>
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Of all the kids there I think he has the most room for improvement. With a family that will stretch him and help him I think he has a ton of potential! He is speech delayed also but again has so much potential.</div>
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He speaks but not much, but he seems aware of his surroundings and delights in small pleasures. A missionary took him for a walk one day and they heard a cuckoo. She said "cuckoo!" and he repeated "cuckoo!" several times. The next day, when she saw him, he said "Mama! Cuckoo!" He has the ability to remember people and events. He has the sweetest voice, and he actively seeks attention. He loves to sit on the swing and to listen to music or play with musical toys. He also was thrilled to be able to dip his hands and legs in the pond.</div>
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-b9zKUKSLjC0/Uc0XadgaVMI/AAAAAAAAFsw/1krxeWwVEBw/s640/blogger-image-1633521375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-b9zKUKSLjC0/Uc0XadgaVMI/AAAAAAAAFsw/1krxeWwVEBw/s640/blogger-image-1633521375.jpg" /></a>There have several pictures of him - none great cause every time someone goes to take it he is so excited with the attention he won't stop moving.</div>
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A missionary took the children to the playground, and she wrote all their names in English and gave them the papers. Theo was so excited to get his. He kept looking at it and saying his name again and again and showing her. Later, when they were back at the shed, she saw him looking at the paper and saying his name. Then he carefully put it in his pocket, which is hard for him because he has cerebral palsy. Then he sat with his hand covering his pocket so the paper would not fall out. After he was in bed, she rubbed his back and sang to him and he just smiled and smiled and patted her face. Theo would blossom in a family.</div>
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Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-17770846282208909882013-06-12T11:32:00.000-07:002013-09-05T16:25:43.161-07:00All Along<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
When I first found RR, I put together a list of kid that caught my attention. Along with Sullivan and Dmitriy, Theo was on that list. Then I went to the one or two kid sponsoring, and kind of forgot him. Then I added him to the five boys kids (along with Frank, Ulysses and Zack, who all have families). I've been trying to figure out who to sponsor next.
I kind of wasn't sure if I would pick another kid.<br />
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But I was updating the blog, and knowing Danielle Vrtar (A Reece's Rainbow advocate) was at O50, so I went through and added the kids at O50 that caught my attention (Maya's Hope also shares about them), along with Brody and Auggie (can't abandon the brothers).<br />
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All day, Theo was on my mind. But I wasn't sure. So I said, "God, please give me a sign if he is the next one."
So I sent my best friend (and blog partner) the pictures of the six boys, to see if she felt the same pull.
And she did. Out of the six, she felt drawn to Theo too.Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-34567196908223083812013-06-10T16:58:00.000-07:002013-09-05T16:25:55.741-07:00If We Are The Body<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
When we see bad stuff happening, we go "God, why are you letting this happen?" And you know what? He's looking at you and asking the same thing.<br />
If we are the body of Christ, why does almost half the world — over three billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day? We're not doing everything we can. Because there's enough for everyone's need. Just not everyone's greed.<br />
In 2005, about 72 million children of primary school age in the developing world were not in school. 72 million kids, who were at the age to be in school, weren't.<br />
- Less than 1% of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn’t happen. Our focus is on defeating others, instead of educating our future. The money is out there, but we are too greedy.<br />
- Some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation. 1.1 billion people. 1,100,000,000 people, don't have adequate access to water. And that water they do have access to, isn't that healthy. Twice that many lack basic sanitation. So people get sick. People are getting sick and dying from preventable things.<br />
Here in America, you have access to water pretty much 24/7. Go walk into your kitchen, there's water. Water to drink, to cook, to flush toilets, to water our gardens. 1.8 billion people who have access to a water source within 1 kilometre, but not in their house or yard, consume around 20 litres per day. In the United Kingdom the average person uses more than 50 litres of water a day flushing toilets (where average daily water usage is about 150 liters a day. The highest average water use in the world is in the US, at 600 liters day.)<br />
Can you believe that? We use more water to FLUSH A TOILET then 1.8 billion people have access to everyday. Doesn't that bother you? In the US, we use an average of 600 liters of water a day- per person. One person in the US uses the same amount as 30 people who don't have water in their house. We take long showers, not thinking about how much water we're using, because it's not going to run out. Doing laundry, doing dishes. Millions of women spending several hours a day collecting water. Yet in the US, we can get it in five seconds. You can probably see a water source from where you're sitting right now.<br />
1 in every 2 children is living in poverty. Yet we have 7 year old beauty pagent participants with their own TV shows. We have shows where parents will spend hundreds and thousands of dollars to dress their children up and show them off. <br />
There are 157 million orphans in the world. There are 2.18 billion people who call themselves Christians. There is no way this can be right.<br />
157,000,000 orphans.<br />
2,180,000,000 Christians.<br />
James 1:27 is pretty clear. "Religion our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans in their distress." If you call yourself a Christian, look after orphans.<br />
So where's the problem?<br />
Our problem is that we aren't being the body. We need to become the body, and save these little ones. We're getting too comfortable in our faith, just taking the forgiveness, and not giving back. That's not what being a Christian is about! We serve because we are saved, not to be saved. When you realize that freedom, you can't help but share it with others! It's like having the cure for cancer. You're not sharing it because you want to save yourself, you're sharing it because you can't help share! Good works are the fruits of salvation, not the roots.<br />
It's like an apple, it doesn't have to think about growing apples, it just does! It doesn't make apples so that it will be kept care of, it makes apples because it is taken care of.<br />
We are the body of Christ. Every one of those things I mentioned can be fixed. There are multiple organizations that have made it their mission to eliminate one of those problems.<br />
A body only works if everything works together, and does what it is supposed to do.<br />
And as a church, we need to be welcoming. Church is not a museum for good people, it’s a hospital for the broken. We all need healing. So don't judge others. You know you do it. Put yourself in their shoes. Because people notice, when you won't make eye contact, or avoid passing them. They notice when you talk about them. And although the saying goes, "Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me", words do hurt. Sticks and stones hurt physically, but physical wounds can heal. Emotional wounds are so much worse.<br />
We don't want to be excluded, so why do we exclude others?<br />
We're all human, we're all messed up. We all have secrets, and things we are ashamed of. We've all sinned, we've all hurt others. No one is better then anyone else. So don't try to be.<br />
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It's crowded in worship today<br />As she slips in trying to fade into the faces<br />The girl's teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know<br />Farther than they know<br /><br />But if we are the body<br />Why aren't His arms reaching?<br />Why aren't His hands healing?<br />Why aren't His words teaching?<br />And if we are the body<br />Why aren't His feet going?<br />Why is His love not showing them there is a way?<br />There is a way<br /><br />A traveler is far away from home<br />He sheds his coat and quietly sinks into the back row<br />The weight of their judgmental glances<br />Tells him that his chances are better out on the road<br /><br />But if we are the body<br />Why aren't His arms reaching?<br />Why aren't His hands healing?<br />Why aren't His words teaching?<br />And if we are the body<br />Why aren't His feet going?<br />Why is His love not showing them there is a way?<br />There is a way<br /><br />Jesus paid much too high a price<br />For us to pick and choose who should come<br />And we are the body of Christ<br /><br />if we are the body<br />Why aren't His arms reaching?<br />Why aren't His hands healing?<br />Why aren't His words teaching?<br />And if we are the body<br />Why aren't His feet going?<br />Why is His love not showing them there is a way?<br />There is a way<br />
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Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-27895372638105573022013-05-08T20:17:00.000-07:002013-09-05T16:26:22.731-07:00When You Wish Upon A Star<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
You know what I really miss about Mexico, that I never expected I would? The stars.</div>
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When I was little, stargazing kind of freaked me out. I don't know why. Mostly when I saw a satellite, because it was freaky to me to think that it was all the way out in space, and I could seen it moving.</div>
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But when I was on the mission trip in Mexico, I loved how many stars you could see. Here, you can't see as many stars. That's because almost wherever you go, there's a town with lights nearby. Big cities, even from far away, light up the sky, and you can't see as many stars.</div>
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But in Mexico, you could see so many. Because there wasn't huge cities full of lights everywhere. It was amazing to walk to our tent every night, and see all the stars.</div>
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It's amazing to realize that the God who made every one of those stars, made us. He knows every star in the sky and every hair on your head.</div>
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And a little boy in Eastern Europe and a group of people here who love him could all be looking at that same star.</div>
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Did he pray every night for a family? I know I did. I prayed for a family for him. Because I know how at risk he is. I know that if he wasn't saved, he would literally lose his mind. He'd turn into a mindless, rocking body. I knew he would never get out without a family. He had no hope without a family. So I prayed every night that a family would take the leap of faith and rescue him.</div>
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In September 2011, Laura and Jeremy traveled to Eastern Europe to rescue their son, Seth. They spent seven weeks in country, meeting Seth and adopting him. While they were there, they met a little boy. Laura thought he was 7, because he was so small. When they got home, she went to work getting him listed on Reece's Rainbow.</div>
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About February 2012, he was listed on Reece's Rainbow. He had a not- so- good photo that had been taken about six months earlier. Laura gave Reece's Rainbow a picture they had gotten of him, and information about him. But no one really knew about him.</div>
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He'd been met by someone six months earlier, but that was all the information about him. He wasn't aging out, he didn't have a life- threatening disease. He was just a dirty, lonely boy. He didn't have a heart- wrenching story, like some of the other kids. He was overlooked. I admit, I'd glanced through the listings and seen him before, but he didn't really catch my attention. </div>
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That was around the time of the "Orphanage 39" "craziness". A mom was in country, at 'Orphanage 39'. She was meeting her daughter. While they were there, they started getting to know the kids at that orphanage. It was a really good orphanage, and a lot of the kids had been listed. She began begging for families for them, sharing updates and stories about them. The Reece's Rainbow community began sharing and yelling for these kids. Every child she yelled for (except for three, who sadly decided not to be adopted) is now home. I joined in, yelling for those kids. I was a Guardian Angel for Tyler, then Alexis, then Patti, then Carter. So, I hadn't really noticed Frank. Then in August, I was looking for another child to sponsor. A boy was listed on Reece's Rainbow, and I immediately jumped to become his Guardian Angel. He was an older boy, already 12 years old, named Zack, with Spina Bifida. A family had met him, and he had been the best friend of their daughter. Pretty soon, Zack found a family. </div>
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So I was looking on Reece's Rainbow, to try and see who I would sponsor next. I made a list of all the children (at that time) who had been met by adopting families, and therefore had information and pictures available. I started praying, and worked on narrowing the list down. I knew I wanted older kids, so I narrowed it down to kids 6 and up. Then I narrowed it to kids with special needs other then Down Syndrome, since DS is Reece's Rainbow's main focus. Then to boys, because they are less likely to be chosen. Along the way, I picked up a little blind boy who stole my heart, even though no one had met him and he was only three. Finally, I got it down to 4 older boys. All in Eastern Europe, all with special needs other then Down Syndrome.</div>
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Theo, who has Cerebral Palsy. Multiple people had met him, and shared pictures. He was such a calm and gentle boy.</div>
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Brody and Auggie. Brothers, who had been separated. They were believed to have a genetic disorder, that lead to self- harming and autistic behaviors. Two missionary had spent time with them, and had a lot of pictures and information.</div>
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I picked up Ulysses, because I had a soft spot for blind little boys.</div>
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Then there was Frank. I still don't know exactly why I was led to pick him, but I did. For August and September, I began to share about each of the boys, collecting all the information and sharing it.</div>
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Then in October, Frank was up for voting for Angel Tree. I kept posting on the Reece's Rainbow group page, asking people to vote for Frank. Laura contacted me, to let me know she was the one who had met Frank and got him listed. When he made it onto Angel Tree, I knew he was the one I was supposed to sponsor. I became his Angel Tree Warrior.</div>
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Before Angel Tree, he only had about $200 in his adoption grant. He still wasn't very "well- known". I'll admit it, I was terrified he wouldn't get to his goal. I was terrified to fail him. I committed to be his warrior, and my brain immediately went "What did you just do?" </div>
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But I knew God would be faithful, and he would make it to $1,000. </div>
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Frank was starting to touch other lives too. A fellow (popular)advocate, Julia, shared about him on her blog. I truly believe it was because of her sharing that he made it to his goal.</div>
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After Angel Tree, his grant stalled for a while.</div>
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Then a team of fellow advocates put together a huge fundraiser, to raise money for kids on RR, and raise awareness. It was called Forty To Forever. For each of the 40 days of Lent, the goal was to raise $400 for the featured waiting child or adopting family. I immediately asked if Frank could be part. And he was!</div>
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Forty To Forever raised about $500 for him. It also got his face out there. </div>
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His army of supporters was slowly growing. </div>
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Then Julia had her big fundraiser, Mulligan Stew. It was a huge success, and Frank was a part of it! He had stolen her heart, and he was one of the children she wanted to raise awareness and fundraise for him. Mulligan Stew raised over $1,000 for his adoption grant. He also received a special donation of about $2,000.</div>
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Now he had over $4,000 in his adoption grant. I was slowly working to get him to $5,000 (the next level of Moving Mountains, Sizable Grants). That was about a month ago. I was blogging and writing and sharing about him, begging for a family for him. I arranged a virtual "birthday party" for him, as a fundraiser for him.</div>
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Then Reece's Rainbow made the bittersweet decision to regift the adoption grants raised for the children in Russia, since Russia has banned American adoptions. Frank was gifted one of these grants. I had been hoping he would get one, thinking he would get $1,000, tops.</div>
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He was gifted an adoption grant of $7,649. I hadn't been on to see, but an advocator commented on a post of mine, saying it looked like his grant had taken a huge leap. Pessimist that I am at times, I thought maybe it was just her now seeing the Mulligan Stew money fundraised. But I went and checked.</div>
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His adoption grant was now almost $12,000. I almost cried when I saw that. I had just been talking to Laura, that with almost $5,000, he was only $1,000 away from being 1/3 funded. Then he got to almost $12,000. He was only $13 away, so I asked if someone would donate $13, to get him to $12,000, in honor of him turning 13 this month. Laura did. So he had $12,000.37.</div>
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On Tuesday night, I was getting ready for Frank's birthday "party". Trying to get more kids invited, seeing who was invited. </div>
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Then I got a message. </div>
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Only two words. </div>
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"Watch MFFM". </div>
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I think Frank heard my scream on the other side of the world.</div>
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The day before his 13th birthday (month), he found a family.</div>
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He found a family.</div>
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Now, let me backtrack a little. There was another boy on Reece's Rainbow, an older boy. Almost 15 years old, trapped in a Level 4 (very poor) institution. Mentally- sound, trapped in a body that does not work. If you have been around Reece's Rainbow a while, you have probably heard of him. His name is Emmitt. He'd been listed for a long time. Multiple years, at least. He had one picture, and a little write- up from a family who had met him a few years back. No one knew anything else about him, but he'd been listed so long, everyone knew about him. He was about to turn 15. His advocate, Pam, is the one who came up with the birthday party idea. Of course, she got a lot more kids invited, since she started 6 months in advance. He and Frank were both on Angel Tree.</div>
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There have been two "parties" for kids on Reece's Rainbow. Pam's for Emmitt, and mine for Frank.</div>
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There was a mom who got two Angel Tree Ornaments. Frank's and Emmitt's. She had no idea what was to come.</div>
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March 2013, Emmitt found a family. We rejoiced that he found a family. We celebrated he would be rescued.</div>
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2013 has been the year for older boys.</div>
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There's 50 older boys (born 2007 or earlier) on MFFM. Frank is #50. I knew it was coming. There were so many older boys ending up on MFFM, I knew Frank was coming.</div>
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Emmitt and Frank. Two older other angel boys. Both over 10. Both in Level 4 institutions. Both too smart to be where they are. Both on Angel Tree. Both in Eastern Europe.</div>
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Brothers.</div>
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They're going to be brothers.</div>
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They prayed for a family. They looked at that star, and prayed God would give them a family, and rescue them.</div>
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They're coming home.</div>
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God always has a plan. </div>
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"'For I know the plans I have for you,'” declares the Lord , “'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" ~ Jeremiah 29:11</div>
Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-82166948288406803002013-05-06T22:51:00.001-07:002013-09-05T16:26:37.595-07:00Nobody's Child<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
Written by <a href="http://crazy-arewethereyet.blogspot.com/">Katie</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I wish I could command inspiration to strike me when I needed it, but I can't.<br /><br />I wish I could conjure up the most eloquent blog post ever right now, but I can't.<br /><br />I'm actually pretty preoccupied by my health tonight, and I didn't really want to write a blog post.<br /><br />But then it occurred to me.<br /><br />While I sit in my warm bed in my warm house, not wanting to type on my laptop...<br /><br />...a little boy sits, and maybe he's cold, having nothing that's really his own... not wanting to be an orphan.<br /><br />And I owe it to him to write this post.<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhykOm9aF-jPkap2fDTFxTS9n_jcU514XjR2jatueqqwQWrNQ0-d5f1w1C-OMwVfRDR7872qnF6gCjkZQJDUfnkNOMRQvXj03jJ4puzqeM5DKlnkEXAyrbLSPVJ07BVyEjmXxd6Uy738/s1600/Brettnew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhykOm9aF-jPkap2fDTFxTS9n_jcU514XjR2jatueqqwQWrNQ0-d5f1w1C-OMwVfRDR7872qnF6gCjkZQJDUfnkNOMRQvXj03jJ4puzqeM5DKlnkEXAyrbLSPVJ07BVyEjmXxd6Uy738/s1600/Brettnew.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><br />Around a year and a half ago, for some reason and without ever intending to, I fell in love with this little boy.<br /><br />Back then, he looked more like this:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLUEzzN61XDPkYY10gV94WYYb3piHKUDX0oZ3QREC1YMVBO8QIP3jdjbRfdCohh4gvCVNiYY9Z89MckKj_IGDezadlkllTv5T4tMyeYSv2GZLzhoatoMz-k0359DjgMK9omMP_yPfX7o/s1600/Brett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLUEzzN61XDPkYY10gV94WYYb3piHKUDX0oZ3QREC1YMVBO8QIP3jdjbRfdCohh4gvCVNiYY9Z89MckKj_IGDezadlkllTv5T4tMyeYSv2GZLzhoatoMz-k0359DjgMK9omMP_yPfX7o/s1600/Brett.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><br />I don't know what it was about him. Maybe his picture. Maybe his story. But I think, mostly God.<br /><br />That little boy is Brett, and he lives in a mental institution in Eastern Europe, because he was abandoned at birth because he has down syndrome.<br /><br />And when I say abandoned at birth... I mean it quite literally. Most of the children in orphanages or institutions were born in hospitals or at home and surrendered from there directly to the orphanage. Not Brett. Immediately after giving birth, Brett's birth mother left him to lie in a field. He became hypothermic and unresponsive, went into shock. When a stranger came upon him and took him to the hospital, he was covered in bug bites.<br /><br />Brett very nearly didn't make it through his first day on this earth. If that stranger hadn't come upon him, for whatever reason, by whatever twist of fate... he would have died, a nameless baby who belonged to no one.<br /><br />But that didn't happen. He was saved. Saved... and then taken to a hospital... and then to an orphanage. At three years old, he was transferred from the orphanage to an adult mental institution. Adult. Three years old.<br /><br />Saved... but for what kind of life?<br /><br />This is the question I ask myself every day - and it can only have one answer. Brett's story isn't over - not yet. He was saved that day, on August 23, 2001 (yes, I have his birthday memorized), for something greater than the life he's living now... and all he needs to get there... is you.<br /><br />You.<br /><br />Yes, YOU.<br /><br />If you've been waiting for a sign, this is it. Brett needs YOU.<br /><br />He's eleven years old now, still waiting in that mental institution, legally free and available for adoption and listed with Reece's Ranbow with a grant over $2,500 to aid with his adoption. I can personally promise to help raise the rest of the money required for the family who adopts him. His country is really a great one to adopt from - easy travel, inexpensive, very stable program, Hague country, I've heard nothing but good about the facilitators and agency staff.<br /><br />What are you waiting for?<br /><br />Recently, one of the adoption facilitators traveled to Brett's institution. The report came back that he has some nonverbal communication skills, is extremely flexible (typical for kids with DS), and would likely do very well in a family and is not aggressive (something that has been seen in many institutionalized children). Brett also has alopecia, which is why he lost his hair. No big deal. I shaved mine for him on New Year's this year! There are all sorts of fun things to do with a bald head. And this little detail of his appearance... should absolutely NOT be what stops him from having the family he deserves. From my own limited experience with institutionalized children, I suspect he would be a wonderful and loving son. Others with more experience seem to concur. More pictures and videos of Brett are available from the agency.<br /><br />There are two possible outcomes for Brett. Only two. He doesn't have the limitless opportunities we have in this country.<br /><br />The first one, the one I want for him, is a happy ending. A family. A mom and dad, or maybe just a mom, to say YES to Brett... where others have said no.<br /><br />Lately, there have been a string of older boys (the most at-risk group of orphans) appearing on the My Family Found Me page at Reece's Rainbow. And every time a new one shows up, I rejoice for him, but my heart says, "Why not Brett?" Fifteen year olds, aging out in a matter of days, have had the adoption community rally around them and been adopted just in time. Teenagers, on the cusp of being fully grown adults. By comparison, Brett isn't 'older'. He's eleven. I remember eleven. We traded pokemon cards, danced to music, played dress up in our parents' clothes, loved board games, had sleepovers. Brett is still a child. And he has Down Syndrome. His developmental 'age' is likely much lower. He's just a little boy... in the body of an eleven year old. So I ask again... Why not Brett? Why, never Brett? Why is he not one that people rally behind? Because he doesn't come from the 'right' institution? Because no adopting families have met him? None of these things are his fault! No more obstacles than have been overcome in previous cases. <br /><br />He's just another little boy, locked away in a place he doesn't belong... probably very rural, from what we know, which is likely to increase his hardship, especially during the winter. Heat and food can be hard to come by in rural areas without reliable routes of transportation for all seasons... so while you're celebrating Christmas, instead of celebrating with you, eyes lighting up brighter than the Christmas tree, he's probably cold, and hungry.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: justify;"><i><b>'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' </b></i></span><i><b> ...whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’</b></i></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i><b><br /></b></i>If Christ our Lord was sitting in that institution... would you not save him? <br /><br />But He is.<br /><br />He is in every one of us... <i>especially</i> the least of these.<br /><br />Which group are you in? Those who <b>do</b>, or those who <b>don't</b>?<br /><br />Because, the second possible outcome of Brett's life is unimaginable. I don't need a long paragraph to describe it. He will spend the rest of his life in a mental institution with sub-par care, until one day, he dies there. He will rock, chew his hands, bite his tongue, stare at blank walls, shiver, maybe starve... and then he will die. He'll be buried in an unmarked grave, or maybe a grave marked only with a wooden stick and a number. Again, nameless, and again, belonging to nobody... the same way he started out.<br /><br />That is not the life he was saved for. I refuse to believe it. That can't be his future. Not after all the obstacles he's overcome already. Brett is a fighter - in a good way, of course - but there's only so much he can do for himself in his position. Right now, he needs you... to help him fight... to get him out... to save him from fading away as alone as he started out.<br /><br /><br />They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, so let me allow the pictures to illustrate the stark contrast between these two futures.<br /><br />Here's the one he can have if you say YES to him.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlu98eFburMWfpzrzZR0pUqlOCq95nR3PLm2Y9U7iIOHPRkgVi-7bDHDkdCv1ovOaXqgvgg_Ne2HMnKHzK_WgMGGCuDigFw8hVl2v3CtqsKKwELyvmKiNMh8u05fNmWD3OpjQCr1aBR8/s1600/Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlu98eFburMWfpzrzZR0pUqlOCq95nR3PLm2Y9U7iIOHPRkgVi-7bDHDkdCv1ovOaXqgvgg_Ne2HMnKHzK_WgMGGCuDigFw8hVl2v3CtqsKKwELyvmKiNMh8u05fNmWD3OpjQCr1aBR8/s200/Home.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguj1cEEtcueZ9PKBLpN-Rpdypsn3QlPiO898Oa4ImGpxoJGV_s_4Tn9z6iRWmUaw0NVtWKu8BKhiHNI64uxZNa6PzLiprs4sgeh6j4zPQ4mRm-13UYpyMf46QXPVlrpYWhosDVoSgyIc/s1600/InUS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguj1cEEtcueZ9PKBLpN-Rpdypsn3QlPiO898Oa4ImGpxoJGV_s_4Tn9z6iRWmUaw0NVtWKu8BKhiHNI64uxZNa6PzLiprs4sgeh6j4zPQ4mRm-13UYpyMf46QXPVlrpYWhosDVoSgyIc/s200/InUS.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><br /><br />And here's the one he'll have if you turn away.<br /></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjEz2B4dmLOX6sb1wXq2kVHHWNbPUkxW9kdsZKt4vZPL5weedYERFEPBsjJokRMgZdhnK2l1xJTBPsko2R5W03c0kuPg34iPXD2JjH3JMQCZhJA2A2mOpAh-D2AZSXkkT5lmSsezNsP0/s1600/orphanage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjEz2B4dmLOX6sb1wXq2kVHHWNbPUkxW9kdsZKt4vZPL5weedYERFEPBsjJokRMgZdhnK2l1xJTBPsko2R5W03c0kuPg34iPXD2JjH3JMQCZhJA2A2mOpAh-D2AZSXkkT5lmSsezNsP0/s200/orphanage.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijaD6iDKY95_oZybTgLwDaSgS9WnEyJ_mpfQH5ZPa0CpoEHxCLDcb3eD9kpfUsun9TYIW5b97IBwOLxwhTr4tiJ_ECY00j2qnB444wl5uxai3eyRHa4NmbYcrfnlrDefeSSNIqttnRj38/s1600/Graveyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijaD6iDKY95_oZybTgLwDaSgS9WnEyJ_mpfQH5ZPa0CpoEHxCLDcb3eD9kpfUsun9TYIW5b97IBwOLxwhTr4tiJ_ECY00j2qnB444wl5uxai3eyRHa4NmbYcrfnlrDefeSSNIqttnRj38/s200/Graveyard.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br />I've been pleading for Brett since the day I saw his picture. Like the day the stranger came upon him in that field, I believe it was fate that I saw him. But I can't adopt him. I'm too young for his country's requirements and I always will be. The law requires parent and child to be at least 15 years apart in age. I've posted his picture everywhere. I've written countless blog posts for him. I've done fundraisers for him. I shaved my head for one of them! Since that day a year and a half ago, his grant has grown by over $2,500 (although certainly not by my own hand). But I can't save him. Not alone.<br /><br />I'm a realistic person. I know not everyone can or should adopt... but I also know that people do, every day... and sometimes they choose older boys, just like Brett. Why not him? And if you're in that group, like me, who couldn't adopt him no matter how hard they tried, that doesn't mean you can't do anything! Brett needs two things. He needs money in his <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/1146/brett-b-396" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Reece's Rainbow account</b></a>, to help the family who commits to him. You can donate to him here. But more than anything, he needs to be <b><u>seen</u>.</b> So I beg you to share this blog post... far and wide. If you never do anything I ask again, please, please do this. Just this would be enough. And if not for me... do it for the abandoned little boy in the field, cold and alone and covered in bug bites. Or do it for God. Just do it... please. This is our chance to get Brett seen... <i>before</i> it becomes an aging out emergency.<br /><br />Donate. Share. Pray. Adopt.<br /><br />Be one of those who gives to the least of these... not one of those who turns away.<br /><br />Please. I'm begging you. Don't turn away. Don't let him stay the way he is right now... nobody's child.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><br />Other blog posts about Brett:</span><br />
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><a href="http://callmecrazycbus.blogspot.com/search/label/Brett" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">http://callmecrazycbus.blogspot.com/search/label/Brett</span></a></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><a href="http://crazy-arewethereyet.blogspot.com/search/label/Brett" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">http://crazy-arewethereyet.blogspot.com/search/label/Brett</span></a></li>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Inquire about Brett at<b><a href="http://www.reecesrainbow.org/" style="text-decoration: none;">www.reecesrainbow.org</a></b>. </span></div>
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Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-8118452918368263642013-04-28T14:46:00.000-07:002013-04-28T14:46:05.959-07:00A Confession<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px;">I've got to confess something...</span><br />
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I'm in love. With this little boy. His name is Frank, and he's stolen my heart, and I can't stand to see him waiting for a family. He's a sweet, kind, silly, smart boy. But for some reason I can't understand, he's been put into a mental institution. He's been there a while. Yet he's remained smart, and bright, and kind.</div>
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But years surrounded by rocking, stimming men takes a toll on a young mind. And if he isn't saved soon, he will regress into a rocking, mindless body. He needs someone to come save him, to let him be a kid. He's almost 13 years old. But he still needs a daddy to wrestle with, a mom to comfort him. Brothers to play Nerd fights with. Sisters to make forts with. Siblings to explore with. He'd be a blessing to any family. Yes, he has a mental delay. What would you expect from a child who has spent years in a mental institution? But he hasn't lost his spirit. He's still a joyful little kid. He's bring that joy to a family. But if he isn't saved soon, he'll lose that spirit. He's strong, but no one can resist forever. Please, I am begging. Come save him. He has almost $12,000 available for his adoption. The total adoption would only cost $18,000- $20,000. He's already 2/3 of the way to fully funded. I promise, as his Guardian Angel and past Angel Tree Warrior, I will do everything in my power to raise the rest of the money needed to bring him home. Money won't be an issue.</div>
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So look around? Could your table seat one more? Could you share a little more of your life and give him a family? Could your kids use another playmate? He just needs someone to take that step, and save him. Before it's too late.</div>
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www.reecesrainbow.org/frank </div>
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www.savingsullivan.blogspot.com</div>
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www.facebook.com/SeekJusticeLoveMercyWalkHumbly </div>
Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-2201786141670630322013-04-26T06:31:00.000-07:002013-09-05T16:28:03.116-07:00But He's Got A Trampoline<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
I've had some people make some comments about Frank's need for a family. And I think those common misconceptions are why he so overlooked. But he is just as deserving of a family. He needs a family too!
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He's 12, so he isn't super close to aging out. He's got a little over three years still. But let me point something out to you. He's almost 13. I'm not sure how long he has been in an orphanage, but he's probably spent almost his entire life in orphanages. He's waited 13 YEARS for a family. No, he's not "aging out" yet, but why wait until the last minute! He needed someone to come get him, like yesterday. Just because he isn't "aging out" doesn't mean he doesn't need out. He needs out of that mental institution.
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I have shared the picture of Frank on the trampoline before. The reaction is usually, "Hey, he has fun there!" He's having fun at the mental institution, so he doesn't need a family, right? I mean, he's got a trampoline, that's all a kid ever needs, right? Right? Look a little closer at that picture. Do you see the ripped, high water jeans? Do you see how skinny he is? But of course, he has a trampoline, so he's fine! Right? My heart hurts when people just see that and think he's fine, because they have a trampoline. What about those jeans? They're ripped and way too short on him, yet they are falling off because he is so skinny. Sure, he gets fed at the institution, but with 70 residents, there's probably not "seconds". There's no choice of what you're going to eat. You sit down and eat what is given to you, or you don't eat.
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Frank doesn't have a life- threatening illness. He just has a mental delay, and possibly FAS. So there isn't that "urgency" to save him. But there needs to be an urgency! Everyday he's there, he's getting older, and he's becoming more delayed. He doesn't have anyone to teach him, to help him grow. With no stimulation, his delay will only increase. He does nothing all day. He just walks around. He needs a family who will be able to teach him, to help him experience the world.
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He's got food, clothes, and a place to sleep. So he's well off right? I've already talked about the food issue. Yes, he has food, but they never get enough. No one has time to make sure all the residents are "full". He has clothes, but they aren't his own. They come from a community closet, and they wear whatever they can find. Most often, the clothes are too big or too small, and never new. And his "place to sleep"? It's a cruddy old mattress, in a room full of other residents. The mattresses are all falling apart, with patches and holes. The residents do the best they can to fix them and clean them. They really do need new ones, but it is very expensive and they cannot afford it. Whenever his mattress gets dirty, he'll drag it outside and try to wash it, then lean it against the fence, and hope it dries before he goes to bed. When I say 'mattress', I'm not talking about your super comfy, Sleep Country USA, heated, TEMPUR- Pedic. I'm not even talking your average, bunk bed twin mattress. No, I'm talking about a few large pieces of cloth, sewn together, and stuffed with anything soft. Not the best thing in the world to sleep on.
He needs someone who can answer all his questions. Little kids always have lots of questions. "Why is the sky blue? Why is grass green? Why do I have brown eyes?" And while caretakers can answer some of those, he will always have more questions. Let me tell you a little story that happened a few weeks ago.
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The institution had just put a new decoration on the wall in the dining room- a figurine of Jesus on the cross. During the next meal, Frank noticed it on the wall. He went over and observed it, then began asking the caretakers who that was, and why he was crucified. The caretakers told him it was Jesus, and he was crucified because people sinned. He kept calling people over and telling them, "That's Jesus! That's Jesus!" He needs a family who can help him learn more about Jesus, and his love for us, so he can tell the world, "That's Jesus!"
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He's a smart, kind, bright little boy. His story may not stand out as much, but he has just as urgent a need to adopted! Please share about him!</div>
Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-29756817579301176182013-04-24T15:44:00.001-07:002013-04-24T16:13:11.328-07:00Kevin, Jack and Jensen- Welcome to the Party!<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you Lonni for inviting Kevin, Jack and Jensen!</span><br />
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<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/52939/kevin-2"><span style="font-size: large;">Kevin</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="kevin" class="size-full wp-image-52940 alignleft" height="187" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/kevin.jpg" width="125" /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Boy, born January 2004
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<span style="font-size: large;">PRC
albinism, ametropia, amblyopia
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kevin is generally happy and healthy. He needs to wear sunglasses outside.
He is cognitively normal, and attends kindergarten.
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<span style="font-size: large;">$23.00 is available towards the cost of my adoption!
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<a href="http://www.reecesrainbow.org/sponsorjack"><span style="font-size: large;">JACK and JENSEN for Jon and Angela — NV</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-36638" height="225" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Jack-300x225.jpg" title="Jack" width="300" /><img alt="Jensen" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-51852" height="300" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Jensen-161x300.jpg" width="161" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Many years ago, at different times and in different cities, two incredibly special baby boys were born into the world. Both were precious and beautiful children from the moment they came into being and the world is, without a doubt, better for having them in it. “Jensen” was born first. He is said to be a quiet yet friendly child who is calm and loves people, animals, nature and crafts. While he lives with Cerebral Palsy, his condition does not define him. There is so much more to this amazing young man and his waiting family longs to bring him opportunities that he cannot get without a family. It has been relayed to his waiting family that Jensen is worried that a family will never come for him and he is afraid of reaching his next birthday without a family (which would mean that he would forever lose his chance at being adopted). While his family does not know when he will be told that they are coming for him, they pray his heart can be shielded from this stress and pain during this unnerving time. Born next was precious “Jack”. This little angel was born with an incredibly rare genetic condition called Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP) and, unfortunately, with the demands of this life-threatening illness, his needs are exceptionally difficult to manage in his country of origin. When this baby boy came into alternative care, it quickly became clear that, in an orphanage setting, it would be an uphill battle to provide him with what he needs to avoid the many dangers that are faced by children living with XP- most importantly cancer and a very premature death. While this boy has been loved by orphanage staff and missions teams who have visited him, he has waited for just under a decade for someone to claim him as their son and provide him with what all children need and deserve- love, family, stability, dedication, proper medical care and hope. While he does not yet know about his waiting family either, he should be getting to meet them soon as there are attempts being made to expedite the adoption process as much as possible because of his extreme medical needs. Jack is a spunky little fighter and his best chance at survival is coming home to his loving family.
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<span style="font-size: large;">The family that has stepped forward for both wonderful boys has said “Yes! We will absolutely do everything in our power to bring our sons-to-be home as quickly as possible and we will move heaven and earth to provide them with everything they need and deserve.” This family does not wish to be thought of as heroic or saintly though. While they realize that these children will now be given lives that they could not get in an orphanage or foster facility setting, they truly feel as if they are the blessed ones in this situation. They will now get to love on these sweet, compassionate and amazing young boys who both have very special spirits and very special places in the hearts of their family-members-to-be. No matter what battles they may face with the care of their new sons, this family knows that they will do all that is necessary for their care and well-being and that they will enjoy and make the most of however long it is that they have together. While Jack’s condition is life-threatening and comes, most typically, with a significantly reduced life span (especially in the case of those living untreated for prolonged periods of time as has Jack), the hope is that once this little guy gets home to his new country, new state, new family and new medical team, his health will be able to be properly assessed by professionals with expertise in his rare condition and that he will be put on a path that will allow him a long, healthy and happy life. Surely that is what we all hope for this child. While his condition cannot be cured, it can be managed better here in the states than it can be in an orphanage setting in his country of origin. While the waiting family originally committed to Jack alone, they knew that they wanted to welcome Jensen into the family as well as soon as they learned of him and they could not allow this sweet young man to age out never knowing the love and security of a family. People say that there are no guarantees in life but this family guarantees that they will love their new children to no end and that they will make sure they have what they need to be put in the best position possible.
While this family can provide for all of Jack’s and Jensen’s needs once they get home, they could very much use assistance in getting to the point where the boys actually can come home. Please search your heart and determine whether or not you can help them with the financial aspect of the adoption process. You will enjoy getting to know this family virtually and you will surely be pleased by reading more about their precious sons-and brothers-to-be. Hopefully you will agree to step alongside not only these beautiful young boys, but also their soon-to-be-dad (a wonderfully devoted husband, father and active duty military member), mom (a fiercely dedicated wife and mother as well as a skilled secondary school teacher), big brothers and baby sister (all of whom are thrilled to be welcoming new siblings into the family). Whether you keep this family and, most importantly, these children in your thoughts and prayers or you sow into the family’s adoption fund, you will be an immensely positive force in all of their lives. You will forever have this family’s heart and gratitude for helping them along in the adoption process and for caring about their new children. Blessings, peace and love to all of you!
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<span style="font-size: large;">4/16/13—DOSSIER IN COUNTRY
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<span style="font-size: large;">Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at </span><a href="http://ourfamilysescapades.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://ourfamilysescapades.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">
$12210.71 is available towards the cost of my adoption!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Somewhere there's a little boy growing up on his own</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When he wants to feel the arms of love and a hope he's never known</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Across town there's a woman who's looking at a photograph</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">She longs to give her heart away to a child she couldn't have</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Tonight he needs the strength to just hold on</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And she believes deep in her heart that day is gonna come</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You just may be</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The answer to a prayer</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The one to meet a need</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And you just may be</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The only heaven some will ever see</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You just may be</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> A baby girl is born to face the world alone</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">While a mom and dad are on their knees praying for a little one</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Half a world away three brothers in a foster home</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Are dreaming of a family they can call their own</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Well that family leaves tomorrow for the Philippines</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And that mom and dad got the call they waited years to receive</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> You just may be</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The answer to a prayer</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The one to meet a need</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And you just may be</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The only heaven some will ever see</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> You just may be the hope to hold on to</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Be the hand that pulls them through</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A single ray of loves that shines so true</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> You just may be</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The <nobr>answer to</nobr> a <nobr>prayer</nobr></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The one to meet a need</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And you just may be</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The only heaven some will ever see</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, the one who leads them to believe</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The only heaven some will ever see</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You just may be"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">~ Karyn Williams "Just May Be"</span></div>
Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-6340016773562004072013-04-22T21:15:00.000-07:002013-09-05T16:28:28.813-07:00$5<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
You can do a lot with just $5. I'm having a $5 fundraiser. Instead of spending in on that coffee, consider spending it to help Frank!</div>
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This is all part of <a href="http://savingsullivan.blogspot.com/2013/03/its-party.html">Frank's birthday celebration</a>!</div>
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With $5, you can do one of the following:</div>
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- Purchase a handmade friendship <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SeekJusticeLoveMercyWalkHumbly">bracelet</a></div>
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- Purchase a set of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/seekjusticelovemercywalkhumbly">hair bows</a></div>
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- Invite a child to <a href="http://savingsullivan.blogspot.com/2013/03/its-party.html">Frank's party</a>! The child of your choice will be featured in a blog post, my blog sidebar, and a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.342187275893434.1073741825.265829263529236&type=3">special birthday party album</a> on my FB page!</div>
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<br /></div>
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I have some incentives for you to come join!</div>
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<br /></div>
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If you do one of the following:</div>
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a) buy a set of hair bows and invite a child</div>
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b) buy a bracelet and invite a child</div>
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c) buy a wallet</div>
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d) invite two children</div>
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You can invite another child! The only rule is you have to purchase a wallet or invite another child, and you can invite another!</div>
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<br /></div>
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If you share on your blog, you can invite a child! Only once please.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Plus, if you give more then $25, I will make you a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SqdgVYa1zk">personalized photo/ music video!</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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So why not join? Come join the party!</div>
Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-81637251904255884222013-04-09T21:21:00.001-07:002013-09-05T16:29:08.480-07:00Emergency!<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
I am interrupting my blogging for Frank, to share three boys who need families NOW! Two of them age out in 15 and 16 days. The other in 2 months.<br />
Let me introduce you to Sebastian, Joseph, and Casey.<br />
Other bloggers have shared about these boys, in hopes to rescue them!<br />
Please share!<br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://savinghissparrows.blogspot.com/2013/04/emergency-pray-for-miracle.html">http://savinghissparrows.blogspot.com/2013/04/emergency-pray-for-miracle.html</a></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://swissmaman.blogspot.ch/2013/04/joseph-and-sebastian-2-boys-in-very.html">http://swissmaman.blogspot.ch/2013/04/joseph-and-sebastian-2-boys-in-very.html</a></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://loveslightwings.blogspot.com/2013/04/hoping-for-another-miracle.html"><span style="font-family: .HelveticaNeueUI;">Http://</span>loveslightwings.blogspot.com/2013/04/hoping-for-another-miracle.html</a></span><br />
<a href="http://matthew18vs14.blogspot.com/2013/04/urgent-need.html">http://matthew18vs14.blogspot.com/2013/04/urgent-need.html</a><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.andthisonematters.blogspot.com/2013/04/timing-out-teen-young-man-needs-family.html">http://www.andthisonematters.blogspot.com/2013/04/timing-out-teen-young-man-needs-family.html</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sebastian</span></span></h1>
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<img alt="Sebastian (1)" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-57192" height="300" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Sebastian-1-203x300.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;" width="203" /><img alt="Sebastian (2)" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-57193" height="300" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Sebastian-2-232x300.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;" width="232" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Boy, born April 26 1997</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Speech issues</span></div>
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<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sebastian will turn 16 THIS MONTH (April 2013). A family must have paperwork filed for him with USCIS PRIOR to his birthday — so, it must be filed on 4/25/2013.</strong></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We’ve been told Sebastian is available for adoption, but his paperwork will not be cleared in country until fall 2013. However, the process *MUST* be started with USCIS (US Immigration) prior to his 16th birthday, for an American family to adopt him.</strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sebastian so badly longs for a family and to belong. He is shy, and has a very calm demeanor, slow to think and respond and soft spoken. He is not the ”in your face” kind of young man. He has ran away from the school on several occasions because he is sad living at the school and just does not fit in. With him being shy he is often picked on and accused of things he does not do and becomes a target because he does not fight back. Anything he was asked to do or help with the mission team he did not hesitate to help. When activities came up and he was asked to participate he had no problem engaging and playing. He has a slight stutter that comes out at times but nothing that will enable him or his future to achieve any goals. He is a precious young man. He says at times he has a hard time remembering things . He stated that he believes in God.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He loves to read the encyclopedia and to learn. He loves animals and like to look them up and read about them. He loves all animals and would love to be in a family with any kind of animal. He loves mashed potatoes and chicken and he does not care much for fish soup! He enjoys sports like Futbul (soccer), basketball, running and swimming. He enjoys drawing cars.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Although Sebastian is shy he can be funny and talkative at times. If he had a choice to be in a calm and quiet place, alone or with friends he would rather be with friends and not alone. He would prefer to be one to follow a good leader verse being the one to lead others. If he had some free time he would love to wind down by reading a book. He wants to build houses and that is the one trade he would love to learn. If he had three wishes he said to come to have a family in America, live in America and live near his other friend named Sasha or be able to talk to him. If he could be like anyone in the world he said he likes himself the way God made him. If he could visit anywhere in the world it would be America. He said he has visited a camp in Greece and he liked it there. When he went he thought he was going to be adopted and it did not happen it was just a camp so he was heart broken. He would love to visit an athletic gym in America and look at houses (architecture). He loves to look at church buildings and study how they are built and what they look like and enjoyed seeing them in Greece. He said he does not smoke or drink like many in his school and his favorite color is yellow. His favorite school subjects are Math, drawing and PE and his least favorite is Chemistry. He states he is an average student. When asked if he could visit a family in America would he like to be the oldest or youngest he said he did not care he just wanted to be part of a family. This young man is running out of time and it was so clear he just wants a family. He wrote a letter to a member of the team, asking for her help to find a family and thanking her for being willing to find him one.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<h1 class="title" style="border: 0px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Joseph</span></span></h1>
<div class="meta-info" style="background-image: url(http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/themes/Magnificent/images/full-post-info-bg.png); background-position: 0px 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: -10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 82px 30px 42px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<img alt="30226121603 Joseph" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-56712" height="300" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/30226121603-Joseph-239x300.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;" width="239" /></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Boy, born April 25, 1997</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Abnormal development of cardiac system, recurrent infection of ENT organs and respiratory tract, humpback</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Joseph WANTS to be adopted and we want to give him a chance in case there is a family that is paper ready or able to file petition for his adoption with USCIS <strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">before he turns 16</strong> to adopt him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He has no younger siblings.</span></div>
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<h1 class="title" style="border: 0px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Casey</span></span></h1>
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<img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-51157" height="198" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Casey-300x198.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Casey" width="300" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Born June 1997</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Cerebral palsy, significant mental delays, seborrheic dermatitis</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Casey is very sweet. He is bedridden, yet full of smiles. He desperately needs a family to save him.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Travel required; married couples only. Large families welcome.</span></div>
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<div class="donation-can_donation-widget" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<div class="donation_can_text" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 0px 5px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="donation_meter_amount ltr" style="border: 0px; margin: auto; outline: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 5px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">$1745.30</span> is available towards the cost of my adoption!</span></div>
<div class="donation-can_donation-form" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><input alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online" border="0" name="submit" src="http://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif" type="image" /><br /></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Donations are tax deductible</span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;">.</span></div>
</form>
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Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-61279207576949873822013-04-07T14:22:00.002-07:002013-09-05T16:29:20.168-07:00Mulligan Stew 2013<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="http://covenantbuilders.blogspot.com/2013/04/you-matter-frank.html">You Matter Frank!</a></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">They are always hungry.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Most of the babes in the institute get just enough but never really enough.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRuFzxRzw62DCcXxbn0076sAe_FiQDIKpOw7x81AEDEYyjpGZVCnoSesCI8T8AovSXczX5T4-2oF4QydYjQEZWObzjfqROSsoPWKH958dvFxEsH6HHXEtGFNuHt4uTYL4nO8Sn2VUrD0/s1600/frank+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRuFzxRzw62DCcXxbn0076sAe_FiQDIKpOw7x81AEDEYyjpGZVCnoSesCI8T8AovSXczX5T4-2oF4QydYjQEZWObzjfqROSsoPWKH958dvFxEsH6HHXEtGFNuHt4uTYL4nO8Sn2VUrD0/s400/frank+2.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Their little tummies are always longing for more food.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">They don't get a choice what they are going to eat and frankly - they don't care. They just want food.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Even if it is soup and bread every single day of their lives.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ylnEGZQQ9Q8FgVviCI_qvxacjcKxenA7sHZFwUEUyN0M2TWzOfbWv3QJBdjOZAyHcJEnTHV9ZgqG019mSa3j_adwbxiV7N25J82BAdTLU5IU49c89CRDzhYOLd8ZYnZmwffwvaO9Cec/s1600/feeding-the-hungry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ylnEGZQQ9Q8FgVviCI_qvxacjcKxenA7sHZFwUEUyN0M2TWzOfbWv3QJBdjOZAyHcJEnTHV9ZgqG019mSa3j_adwbxiV7N25J82BAdTLU5IU49c89CRDzhYOLd8ZYnZmwffwvaO9Cec/s320/feeding-the-hungry.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">They shovel the food in as fast as they can for fear that it will be taken away before they can finish.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIGjljW9iULBjBuwdAg8cgzL_H_CtFMkW6eMaGQnS_e9WuoqIlZNBuTcRKnGdL8ZkXHkKG2K9pxuUYDvIZSHuCEJAi9HbgkMGhq6lozi_bNjE9U5JLdhzS4GAGOdYTEP2oI8INYmglrc/s1600/DSC00259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIGjljW9iULBjBuwdAg8cgzL_H_CtFMkW6eMaGQnS_e9WuoqIlZNBuTcRKnGdL8ZkXHkKG2K9pxuUYDvIZSHuCEJAi9HbgkMGhq6lozi_bNjE9U5JLdhzS4GAGOdYTEP2oI8INYmglrc/s400/DSC00259.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We can't cross the ocean and set up a stew pot to fill their stomachs for real.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMQ_XCShMW_srpNVdsgQ-qdbrxD4WoY73C4jRuauDhCVoA9DyX9bmLQJ2bceqMbb0TIh2ry9dADUkdkDC8dvIdaxJGorHMbVPy0nEqdmATx1Ed-FoQXg7auDW92kRUz0rA_DizZDEc0w/s1600/Christmas+blog+44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMQ_XCShMW_srpNVdsgQ-qdbrxD4WoY73C4jRuauDhCVoA9DyX9bmLQJ2bceqMbb0TIh2ry9dADUkdkDC8dvIdaxJGorHMbVPy0nEqdmATx1Ed-FoQXg7auDW92kRUz0rA_DizZDEc0w/s400/Christmas+blog+44.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Even if we could, they would just be hungry again the next day.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">What we can do is much greater.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We can throw our dimes and nickels into their buckets and fill up their grant accounts to make it easy for a family to cross that ocean and adopt them so they will never be hungry again.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Frank.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsauSdKfRnWoU7NeBOnEixHbYfYHSXS8RDYbYw_V0chqkObAdJd_A6sfYwaxWfHjfWQPRCOoQCdQZG9iB89hFNzy77jKbamsNBPeGvHcIP8nb33PiOckWsmVmPoh9edNYdbqjSPaiuj9Y/s1600/image_1363645376183244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsauSdKfRnWoU7NeBOnEixHbYfYHSXS8RDYbYw_V0chqkObAdJd_A6sfYwaxWfHjfWQPRCOoQCdQZG9iB89hFNzy77jKbamsNBPeGvHcIP8nb33PiOckWsmVmPoh9edNYdbqjSPaiuj9Y/s640/image_1363645376183244.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He is starving for so much more than food in his belly.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He is starving for attention. He is starving for someone to care. He is starving for someone to chase after him when he runs. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUNI6nnZbgdM1SNMfTyVKLB7BtbpTh8Uep-tPghxKUo7JIWhyphenhyphen_pFleFFGJO9cl8xswaVcMT9JALbqQ74rAIdraPejS0NqPJeTFnPdm6NoWPIX8o-qwah6xh4YhyuoZPzWHknDgEPsI54/s1600/christmas+31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUNI6nnZbgdM1SNMfTyVKLB7BtbpTh8Uep-tPghxKUo7JIWhyphenhyphen_pFleFFGJO9cl8xswaVcMT9JALbqQ74rAIdraPejS0NqPJeTFnPdm6NoWPIX8o-qwah6xh4YhyuoZPzWHknDgEPsI54/s400/christmas+31.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="283" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He is looking for a Father who can HOLD HIS HAND and teach him how to grow up to be a man.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUPWruURUcguG4Rz5tYGoixaVnPMroqmP4F6zXIqXynTIHONVroawkKLmwKGiW6ZnckxMp_CtPwrTF1iRpGHj_LZZerQ6HaejGU7EK9NXl6VsRthIW0eOmCbw0F9QHGq3y240sED3-rs/s1600/Vasha+31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="557" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUPWruURUcguG4Rz5tYGoixaVnPMroqmP4F6zXIqXynTIHONVroawkKLmwKGiW6ZnckxMp_CtPwrTF1iRpGHj_LZZerQ6HaejGU7EK9NXl6VsRthIW0eOmCbw0F9QHGq3y240sED3-rs/s640/Vasha+31.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He's looking for a Mother who will comfort him when he scrapes his knee. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChMLXK0ho3mjr8FN217QIdfi8pABxhcbmhXz31fYXwBYiKg0_ziihcxUZef1ul0oHiuZApW3IoBFi0GwxvGulC2fqlxFu_LUIdqEvUFfgsOoIZM-E6Ix5dbVFUCdoM7_OfcX89FxMyw8/s1600/vasha+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChMLXK0ho3mjr8FN217QIdfi8pABxhcbmhXz31fYXwBYiKg0_ziihcxUZef1ul0oHiuZApW3IoBFi0GwxvGulC2fqlxFu_LUIdqEvUFfgsOoIZM-E6Ix5dbVFUCdoM7_OfcX89FxMyw8/s640/vasha+4.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="411" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Oh Frank.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You matter so much.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You matter so very very much.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-53057" height="352" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Frank-41.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" width="294" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Please help me raise <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/27940/frank" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Frank's grant account</a>. Right now we have raised only $76.00 for Frank. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Please help me get his face out. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The ONLY diagnosis Frank has is moderate mental delay. He MAY have FAS but that is just MY cautionary. He DESPERATELY needs a family. He is wasting away at a Level Four Mental Institute where he most definitely DOES NOT belong!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">OUR 2013 MICAH SIX EIGHT MULLIGAN STEW GIVEAWAY!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfnrY8xMsMk1dT7oKuUjUGt39C_EGk65S_f3j8r3wkdsr_q-f8obR4hjj63aQN_niBiE_F1Nfcxu98SFD0vjHb5V9S8mMfE4WaZvA-uJWm4LjytoYJo-C2ThYLuJqrh10fECP4Rw5Kbo_/s320/mulliganstew.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"A Common Stew for an Uncommonly Good Cause!"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There are more than 100 items simmering away in our stew pot. The total value of all of these items is well over $5,000.00.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Now we just need YOU to help us care for the orphan.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'"</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong></strong><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Last year we had over <strong>500 PEOPLE</strong> donate and share.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This year ....</span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> 120 people have donated so far...</strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Annie, Joni, Nicole, Erin, Katrina, Micheala, Kim, Andrew, Leah, Kathy, Daniel</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Anne, Debbie, Amy, Lori, Christine, Katie, Pam</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">K.B. Tina Candee Amber Joni C.H. Rebecca Kelly Jenny Christine Katie Pam</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Joni, Jason, Jane, Nicole, Amanda, Rebecca, Kami, Lynettte, Jennifer, Candice, Francine, Lisa, Liz, Layna, Osborn, Courtney, Ivy</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Pam, Amanda, Candice, Erika, Gretchen, Elizabeth, Amanda, Tanna, Susan , Cathy, Kelli</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Natalie, Chelsea, Tania, Jolene, Beth, S.D., Val, Kalia, Gina, Morgan, K.B.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Pam, Cassandra, F.M., Amy, Ryan, Vanessa, Christine</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kim, Erika, Lisa, Lisa, Sarah, Stori, Gwen, Karla, Carolina, Jo, Virginia</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kim, Sharon, Sandra, Debbie, Carolyn</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Annette, Sara, Katie, Kristen, Amber, Connie, Erika, Luba, Kim, Lynn, Tamsin</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Candice, Kim, Amy, Loree, Michele, Megan, Nicole. Connie, Cassie</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Cheryl, Eric, Sierra, Lauren, Christine, Jamie, Katie, Carol</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We have raised $17,424.00 so far in this Giveaway!!</strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">THESE ARE OUR EIGHT FAMILIES</strong></div>
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<strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Our FIRST goal is to raise AT LEAST $2,000.00 in each grant account!! </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My deepest desire is to double that!!</strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><strong>These families still need $5,386.00 to meet our first goal!!! </strong></b></span></div>
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</b></span>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><strong>PLEASE HELP US!!</strong></b></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>
</b><strong><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
</strong></span><br />
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(Sorry, but adding Sutter/ the Collins Family up here means that despite all of your generous donations yesterday, our families' need actually went up a bit!)</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/49527/sponsorjack" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">JON AND ANGELA</a>-Adopting Jack and Jensen RAISED $2768.00 <strong>(MET OUR FIRST GOAL!)</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://www.adopttogether.org/thejohnsons/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">THE JOHNSON FAMILY</a> - Adopting FOUR brothers! RAISED $1,569.00</span></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">WHEN THE JOHNSONS' ACCOUNT REACHES $6,210, THEY WILL MEET THEIR MATCHING GRANT AND AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE ANOTHER $500!</b></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/50731/sponsorsasha" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">THE MARR FAMILY</a> - Adopting Alexei RAISED $1045.00</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/54201/sponsortaylor-3" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">THE TAYLOR FAMILY</a> - Adopting Samuel and Sara RAISED $1268.00</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: center;"></span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">WHEN THE TAYLORS' ACCOUNT REACHES $1,654, THEY WILL MEET THEIR MATCHING GRANT AND AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE ANOTHER $500!</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b style="text-align: center;"></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b style="text-align: center;"></b><span style="text-align: center;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/48738/sponsordeutsch" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">THE DEUTSCH FAMILY</a> - Adopting Estelle and Gerard RAISED $1542.00</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/55794/sponsorbaker-2" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">THE BAKER FAMILY</a> - Adopting Emmitt RAISED $1454.00</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/53344/sponsorunroe-2" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">THE UNROE FAMILY</a> - Adopting Matthew, Jonathan, and Charity RAISED $1489.00</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/57141/sponsorcollins-4" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">THE COLLINS FAMILY</a> - Adopting Sutter Raised $247.00</span></span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">THESE ARE OUR ELEVEN WAITING CHILDREN.... THEY ALL NEED FAMILIES!!</strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></b><br />
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>Our FIRST goal is to raise $1,000.00 in each of their grant accounts. </strong></b></div>
<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">
</b>
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>My deepest desire is to double that!!</strong></b></div>
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</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">THESE CHILDREN STILL NEED $5,593.00 TO MEET OUR FIRST GOAL!!</strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/12332/hanson4702" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">HANSON</a> - RAISED $315.00</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/12304/porter" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">PORTER</a> - RAISED $296.00</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/1401/jason5002" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">JASON</a> - RAISED $272.00</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/51124/casey" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">CASEY</a> - RAISED $1225.00 <strong>(CASEY HAS REACHED OUR FIRST GOAL!)</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/50017/simon" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">SIMON</a> - RAISED $437.00</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/1409/bobby5003" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">BOBBY</a> - RAISED $261.00</span></span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">WHEN BOBBY'S ACCOUNT REACHES $3,842, HE WILL MEET HIS MATCHING GRANT AND AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE ANOTHER $100.00. WE HAVE 24 HOURS TO MATCH THIS GRANT!!!</strong></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/51606/barton" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">BARTON</a> - RAISED $875.00</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/52215/iris" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">IRIS</a> - RAISED $523.00</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/42770/aubree" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">AUBREE</a> - RAISED $311.00</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/27940/frank" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">FRANK</a> - RAISED $476.00</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/439/darren405" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">DARREN</a> - RAISED $641.00</span></span></div>
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</span><span style="text-align: center;"></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong></strong><b>WHEN DARREN'S ACCOUNT REACHES $3,837, HE WILL MEET HIS MATCHING GRANT AND AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE ANOTHER $2,000!</b></span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">LOST BOYS - RAISED $410.00</strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<u style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">THESE ARE THE RULES:</u></div>
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<strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Simple Math - <u>Every five dollars donated</u> earns you one entry into our giveaway!!!</strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">To enter, here's what you have to do:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>FIRST....</b> You have to pick at least ONE of the families and make a donation into their grant account.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>SECOND....</strong>You have to pick at least ONE of the waiting children below and make a donation into their grant account.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>THIRD...</strong> You have to leave a comment WITH YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME letting me know which of the families you donated to and which of the waiting children. Make sure to give me the total amount donated. Because I always moderate my comments, I will be able to keep this information private if you ask me to leave it private. if you prefer not to leave a comment, you can e-mail me at<a href="mailto:covenantb@yahoo.com" style="text-decoration: none;">covenantb@yahoo.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">THAT'S IT.... YOU ARE OFFICALLY ENTERED WITH JUST THOSE TWO DONATIONS...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We will let it be between you and the Lord the size of your gift.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">BUT DON'T STOP THERE....</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>FOURTH....</b> You will also earn one entry for each additional family and/or waiting child you donate to. For example, a $50 donation spread among 3 families and 2 waiting children earns you 15 entries: 50/5 = 10 entries for the money, and 1 entry each for the families/children! So spread the love around!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>FIFTH....</strong> You also get entries if you donate to the Lost Boys through Harvest International. Directions are below!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>SIXTH.... </b>You can also earn entries into the giveaway for SHARING! So share away. Share on Twitter. Share on FB. Share on your blog!!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When our Mulligan Stew Giveaway ends, we'll choose a winner for each prize by drawing random numbers from random.org. The more entries there are beside your name, the more chances you'll have to win something great!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<u style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">THESE ARE OUR FAMILIES</u></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/52642/sutter" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><strong>SUTTER</strong></a><strong> </strong></span></span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">MY FAMILY FOUND ME!!!</strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">THE COLLINS FAMILY</span></div>
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<a href="http://onemorespecialcollinsblessing.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Click here to get to their family blog</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/57141/sponsorcollins-4" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Click here to get to their grant account</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="Sutter" class="size-medium wp-image-54693 alignleft" height="300" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Sutter-220x300.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" width="220" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">THE TAYLOR FAMILY</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Adopting Samuel and Sara (brother and sister)</span></div>
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<a href="http://taylor-made-for-his-purpose.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Click here to get to their Family Blog</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/54201/sponsortaylor-3" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Click here to donate to their grant account</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="21121204900 (1)" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-50294" height="310" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/21121204900-1-300x291.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" width="320" /> <img alt="21121205037" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-50295" height="320" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/21121205037-186x300.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" width="198" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">THE DEUTSCH FAMILY</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Adopting Estelle and Gerard</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="http://www.deutschfamilyadoption.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Click here to get to their Family Blog</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/48738/sponsordeutsch" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Click here to get to their grant account</span></a></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="10825232256" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-24205" height="320" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/10825232256-199x300.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" width="211" /> <img alt="10825233124" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-24210" height="320" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/108252331241-200x300.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" width="212" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">THE BAKER FAMILY</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Adopting Emmitt</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/55794/sponsorbaker-2" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Click here to get to their grant account</span></a></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="Emmitt 2013 (1)" class="size-medium wp-image-53380 alignleft" height="320" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Emmitt-2013-1-203x300.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" width="216" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">THE UNROE FAMILY</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Adopting Matthew (Thad) Jonathan (Carson) and Charity (Presley)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="http://godsrainbowsinourlives.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Click here to get to their Family Blog</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/53344/sponsorunroe-2" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Click here to get to their grant account</span></a></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="Thad_sm" class="alignleft wp-image-43265" height="320" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Thad_sm-233x300.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" width="248" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <img alt="Carson_Aug2012" class="alignleft wp-image-44435" height="320" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Carson_Aug2012-199x300.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" width="211" /> <img alt="Presley" class="alignleft wp-image-43132" height="320" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Presley-245x300.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" width="260" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">JON AND ANGELA</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Adopting Jack and Jensen</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="http://ourfamilysescapades.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Click here to get to their Family Blog</span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: #c0a154; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/49527/sponsorjack" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Click here to donate to their grant account</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-36638" height="240" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Jack-300x225.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" title="Jack" width="320" /> <img alt="Jensen" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-51852" height="320" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Jensen-161x300.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" width="171" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">THE JOHNSON FAMILY</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Adopting FOUR brothers!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">D. V. Little V and Baby K!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="http://www.enteringtheborderland.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Click here to get to their Family Blog</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="http://www.adopttogether.org/thejohnsons/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Click here to donate to their grant account</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgZUJ0-iHdlm4XES51jE9YBZdCk_PpYwYafetCaCk2h4FCM-xTy4ID9Bkbesg6B0FQv9V0-zT_ZrnAJK38fnkkvMAGN_kEcvxFXGRgmnD-aGJP-OIn3tB5TC4Z44ZyJIv7b1DlaLUSFM/s1600/601963_10151689277066055_742577535_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgZUJ0-iHdlm4XES51jE9YBZdCk_PpYwYafetCaCk2h4FCM-xTy4ID9Bkbesg6B0FQv9V0-zT_ZrnAJK38fnkkvMAGN_kEcvxFXGRgmnD-aGJP-OIn3tB5TC4Z44ZyJIv7b1DlaLUSFM/s1600/601963_10151689277066055_742577535_n.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicifZAK1Mk5l8qiHmk6qbq2kfzuFID7vaUvVAUwgCUq0ARfPvPVQhmQHoujp2v2akQxSgpDn-vjJ2QshqfiIG0UfSfhq94oF-HvSJJFvJvh5RDrpC7CcPFbmCP1ImeDomLVUKSiXhVO_4/s1600/542731_10151453721931055_1361263326_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicifZAK1Mk5l8qiHmk6qbq2kfzuFID7vaUvVAUwgCUq0ARfPvPVQhmQHoujp2v2akQxSgpDn-vjJ2QshqfiIG0UfSfhq94oF-HvSJJFvJvh5RDrpC7CcPFbmCP1ImeDomLVUKSiXhVO_4/s320/542731_10151453721931055_1361263326_n.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">THE MARR FAMILY</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Adopting Alexei</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="http://www.everlastingmomentum.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Click here to get to their Family Blog</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/50731/sponsorsasha" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Click here to get to their grant account</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZglvfBB7kjZUCU8_umytxNUyZet4b-mLvyhx1c-r16hxlpyN116wjZJhOS4RYenoA2UHPB-c9Vh0tu82ncOyr_rbe65HXIjeAPATcn7UknDbkkLM1sETY2fSZbT33w3nqfxJUA9n2xE/s1600/alexei-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZglvfBB7kjZUCU8_umytxNUyZet4b-mLvyhx1c-r16hxlpyN116wjZJhOS4RYenoA2UHPB-c9Vh0tu82ncOyr_rbe65HXIjeAPATcn7UknDbkkLM1sETY2fSZbT33w3nqfxJUA9n2xE/s320/alexei-3.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="236" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">THESE ARE OUR WAITING CHILDREN</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">WOULD YOU PRAY AND CONSIDER??</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/1401/jason5002" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">JASON</a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="Jason (1)" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-53163" height="320" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Jason-1-279x300.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" width="297" /> </span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/51124/casey" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">CASEY</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> Casey has until June 2013 to find a family</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-51157" height="211" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Casey-300x198.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" title="Casey" width="320" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/51606/barton" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">BARTON</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> Barton has until December 2013 to find a family</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/51606/barton/barton-1" rel="attachment wp-att-54738" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="barton-1" class="size-medium wp-image-54738 alignleft" height="300" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/barton-1-225x300.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="225" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/27940/frank" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">FRANK</a> <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/439/darren405" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">DARREN</a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-42059" height="300" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Frank-2-255x300.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" title="Frank (2)" width="255" /><img alt="darrennov2011-5-cropped" class="size-full wp-image-53067 alignright" height="320" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/darrennov2011-5-cropped2.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" width="188" /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/12332/hanson4702" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">HANSON</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/hanson-cropped.jpg" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-12333" height="320" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/hanson-cropped-288x300.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" title="hanson-cropped" width="305" /></span></a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/12304/porter" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">PORTER</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/porter-cropped.jpg" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-12306" height="280" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/porter-cropped-300x266.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" title="porter-cropped" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
<div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/50017/simon" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">SIMON</a> <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/1409/bobby5003" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">BOBBY</a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Simon has until October 2013 to find a family!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/sponsorship/guardian-angel-project" style="text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-51071" height="300" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Simon2-198x300.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" title="Simon" width="198" /></a><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-46844" height="300" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/bobbysep2012-1-225x300.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" title="bobbysep2012-1" width="225" /></span></span></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/52215/iris" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">IRIS</a> <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/42770/aubree" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">AUBREE</a><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/42770/aubree" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-52230" height="300" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Iris-2-210x300.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" title="Iris (2)" width="210" /> <img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-42771" height="225" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/208100837202-300x225.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" title="20810083720(2)" width="300" /></span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">OUR LOST BOYS!</strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">BECAUSE I CANNOT LEAVE THEM OUT.... You can donate to the Lost Boys through <a href="http://www.harvestinternational.org/donations.html" style="text-decoration: none;">Harvest International</a>. Click on<a href="http://www.harvestinternational.org/donations.html" style="text-decoration: none;">THIS LINK</a> and designate your gift to Alyona and Slavik for the Lost Boys. All donations to <a href="http://www.harvestinternational.org/donations.html" style="text-decoration: none;">Harvest International</a> are Tax Deductible.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO DESIGNATE YOUR GIFT TO ALYONA AND SLAVIK FOR THE LOST BOYS.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHuxQIpvV-ANst0WKM7chBoRqa4dPBnat_C25fIVVV8SF8NDFakAgfQ2BUFS4tiDrzLfEeO2qE4aUZcprffFhNoUokOrPUJX1psbjMVnghYMqAgA2_eXTRLCHqCssFdjHpm_F14Y4VilX/s400/IMG_8003.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" width="400" /></span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">WOW WOW WOW!!</strong></div>
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<strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">THE LIST OF PRIZES!!!</strong></div>
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<strong><a href="http://covenantbuilders.blogspot.com/p/2013-mulligan-stew_3637.html" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES AND DETAILS</a></strong></div>
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<table border="1" cellpadding="15" cellspacing="2" dir="LTR" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small; height: 775px; line-height: 20px; width: 637px;"><tbody>
<tr><td height="1020" valign="TOP" width="50%"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN"><strong>$500.00 Gift Card<br />IPad Mini - $360.00<br />Wii U - $250.00 Value<br />KINDLE FIRE - $199.00 Value<br />Cross of Loops Necklace with Pearl - $280 Value<br />250.00 PICK A CHILD<br />BEAUTIFUL HANDMADE QUILT $175.00<br />BEAUTIFUL HANDMADE SURPRISE QUILT $175.00<br />Retired Lladro Shepherdess with basket, value approximately $130<br />$100.00 Value - BOG BOOTS<br />$100.00 Amazon Card<br />100 dollar gift card<br />$100.00 Target Gift Card<br />100 Chevron gas card<br />100 Chevron gas card<br />$100 BiblioPlan year for a family….<br />$100 Restaurant Gift Card </strong></span><br /><strong>Glass Wine Decanter with 6 glasses - $100.00 Value<br />$100.00 gift certificate to Caps for Causes:</strong><strong>$100.00 gift certificate to Caps for Causes</strong><strong>4 pack of ItWorks wraps. They are valued at $99<br />Original Photo on Canvas Print - $60.00 Value<br />16 GB Kingston Data Traveler Flash drive $60.00<br />Jessica Tote - $59.00<br />Baby/Lap Quilt (40" X 52") is valued at $50<br />$50.00 Target Gift Card<br />$50.00 Amazon Gift card<br />$50.00 Bloomingdales Gift Card<br />$50.00 Best Buy Gift card<br />50.00 Mobile Gas Card<br />50.00 Pencil Portrait<br />50.00 Pick a Child<br />$50.00 ANYWHERE GIFT CARD<br />$50.00 Custom book gift package<br />35 X 25 Rag quilt - $45.00 Value<br />Weighted Blanket - $40.00 Value<br />Thirty-One mini organizer in the minty chip pattern $30.00 value<br />Four Herbalife personal care products: Strengthening Shampoo (8.5 oz), Strengthening Conditioner (8.5 oz), Hand & Body Wash (8.5 oz), and Bath & Body Bar (4.4 oz). Approximate value $30.<br />Vera Bradley wristlet - 30.00<br />30.00 gift card to winner‘s choice<br />One dozen Cupcakes or cake balls from the "The Cupcake Patch" (winner’s choice) - $25.00 value<br />One dozen Cupcakes or cake balls from the "The Cupcake Patch" (winner’s choice) - $25.00 value<br />25.00 Amazon Gift Card<br />25.00 Visa gift card<br />25.00 credit to a scout shop<br />$25.00 ANYWHERE gift card <<br />$25.00 ANYWHERE gift card<br />25 itunes card<br />25.00 PICK A CHILD or FAMILY<br />Mama Bird Necklace - Value $25.00<br />Customized video $25.00 Value - Winner’s Choice<br />$25.00 in Amazon cards (five 5.00 cards)<br />$25 gift card to Maggiano’s/On the Border/Romano’s Macaroni Grill<br />EasyLunchboxes Set -- 4 containers and cooler (pink) - $21 value<br />EasyLunchboxes Set -- 4 containers and cooler (orange) - $21 value<br />Happier at Home book - $26.00 Value</strong></span></span></td><td height="1020" valign="TOP" width="50%"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN"><strong>Custom Made Crochet Hat $20.00 Value - Winner’s choice<br />Duct Tape set (2 hair bows and a wallet) Value 20.00<br />Duct Tape set (2 hair bows and a wallet) Value 20.00<br />20.00 PICK A CHILD or FAMILY<br />Montessori Wooden Rainbow Puzzle 20.00<br />Four Handmade Bars of Soap - 20.00 Value<br />Four Handmade Bars of Soap - 20.00 Value<br />Four Handmade Bars of Soap - 20.00 Value<br />Four Handmade Bars of Soap - 20.00 Value<br />Four Handmade Bars of Soap - 20.00 Value<br />$20.00 Multi-color print Owl purse<br />$20.00 Pink print Owl purse<br />$18 gift certificate for my crochet shop Hooked on Hope -<br />3 hair bows - 16.00 value<br />Personalized Pendant - $16.00 value<br />Rainbow Gnomes 15.00<br />"Heritage Lace" "Victorian House 13" x 20" Placement, Ecru" $15.00 value<br />$15 Jamba Juice Gift Card<br />Animal Lovie (bear) is valued at $12<br />Ancient craft book $12.00 Value<br />Medieval craft book $12.00 Value<br />Modern craft book $12.00 Value<br />$10.00 Bright turquoise Disciple cross<br />$10.00 Light pink Disciple cross<br />$10.00 Titanium Disciple cross<br />$10.00 4 wooden Disney puzzles<br />$10 Cold Stone gift card<br />$10 Target card<br />$10.00 Tortured for Christ book (gently used)<br />Autographed Blake Shelton CD $10.00<br />Devotional book - Jesus Calling 10.00 value<br />SIGNED COPY - $10.00 There's a Green Plastic Monkey in My Purse: And Other Ways Motherhood Changes Us by Jessie Clemence</strong></span><span lang="EN"><strong>Crayon People (5.00)<br />$5.00 Bible Card Games<br />THREE THEMED OUT OF PRINT WORKBOOKS<br />5.00 Crocheted headband<br />Crocheted hat<br />$25.00 Value Infinity scarf, Frosty Green Fleck with Amber Fun Fur & glass beads<br />$25.00 Value Infinity scarf/shoulder wrap, Homespun with Terra Cotta Fun Fur<br />Made with Love/Beloved necklace $15.00<br />Forevermore necklace 15.00<br />Worthy bracelet $15.00<br />Inspire/Believe bracelet $20.00<br />Chosen bracelet $15.00<br />Daughter bracelet $15.00<br />Wonderful bracelet $20.00<br />Pink ring $5.00<br />Set of matching red flower dresses with headbands $40.00<br />Set of matching powder blue dresses & headbands -$40.00<br />Set of matching blue/striped bottom dresses $35.00<br />Pink/Purple Dress with headband $25.00<br />Red/Black/White dress - $20.00<br />Two Pack Jam - Two equal sized bottles of your favourite jams (125mL). There are a few varieties to chose from!<br />Jam Sampler- 125ml bottles of brandied cranberry & orange sauce, bumbleberry jam, orange & lemon marmalade, raspberry jam, strawberry jam and wild blueberry jam.</strong></span></span></span></td></tr>
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Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-18409070781877962952013-04-02T16:52:00.000-07:002013-09-05T16:29:34.249-07:00Depraved Indifference<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
You see, there is a cast system in heaven. But it's exactly backward from the cast system this world naturally creates. This world applauds and esteems the wealthy and the powerful and the privileged and the talented.<br />
<br />
<b>THAT'S NOT HOW GOD'S SYSTEM WORKS.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Jesus came and he proved it. He took the lowest spot, and <b>HE WAS GOD</b>.<br />
<br />
The bigger you get in the kingdom of heaven the lower position you will take.<br />
<br />
<b>The special ones in God's kingdom</b> are the weak ones. The ones that can't fight for themselves, the ones who can't speak for themselves, the ones that don't have someone to feed them, the ones that don't have someone to protect them. And Jesus says, 'Those are the prized ones. You treat them as royalty here on earth. And the way you treat them is <b>ultimately the way you're treating me.' What you do unto the least of these is how you're treating your God. Christianity is taking what has been purchased by the cross, the behavior of heaven, the nature of Jesus Christ</b> and transplanting it into the heart of men and women down here on earth, so that they behave not like this world, but of heaven! So when this world sees them, <b>they're different! </b>There is something odd about them, they are from another realm. What does it look like?<b> It's Noble, it's brave, it's courageous, and it's selfless. It is willing to spend itself for the weak.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I was doing some studying on Liberia. If you want to be disturbed, start studying Liberia. This four year old boy, who's sitting on the side of the road. No one to comfort, no one to take him in. No shelter, no food. Nothing. So in the middle of that night, I wake up. And it's like God had already deposited a question, it was waiting to meet me when I popped awake in the middle of the night, 2 in the morning. I had this picture of this little boy in Liberia in front of me. And God asked me a question: What if that was Hudson? My four year old. What if that was Hudson?<br />
<br />
You don't mess with a father's heart. What if that was Hudson? If my boy was on the side of a road, across the world from me, suffering, totally alone, not knowing what's happening- he's not old enough to comprehend this! <b>He's abandoned. He has no one to fight for his cause. No one to give him a voice.</b> He doesn't even know how to articulate his circumstances. <b>He's hungry</b> and no one's feeding him. <b>He's starving to death.</b> If my son is in that situation, put a concrete wall in front of me, I'll claw through it with my bare hands. This is my son we're talking about, and if I couldn't get there, then I'd call up <b>every friend I have</b>, and I would say "<b>I have a son</b>, over in Liberia. You call yourself my friend, I need you to get on a plane, and I need you to <b>get to him</b>. I'll give you the coordinates, I'll do whatever it takes, I need you to get to him, and be a father to him."<br />
<br />
God's response: <b>That's MY Hudson.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>That's My Hudson.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>He's looking to us</b>, and he's saying, "I'm calling up everyone I know. Everyone on my list, that calls himself by my name that says they're a friend of God. And I'm saying, my son is over there in Liberia. <b>Are you willing?</b> To get on the plane and get to him?"<br />
<br />
We have our cause, but <b>we don't want to see it</b>. And it's when we finally acknowledge the fact that something is wrong with us, not with the world out there. If we start with this little group here, and say, "God, you need to fix this."<br />
<br />
<b>I suffer from</b> <b>Depraved Indifference</b>.
So do you.<br />
<br />
Oh, we care, it's not that that doesn't move us at some level, to hear about this little child, over in Liberia, we care! But we can go home tonight and sleep just fine.
<b>How is that?</b><br />
<br />
It's because there is an indifference to that life. And it's naturally born within us.<br />
<br />
<b>That life isn't affecting us. <br />
<br />
It's not in our backyard, we're not related to it.<br />
<br />
It's someone else's issue.<br />
<br />
</b>In fact, we start quoting scripture about God being the father to the fatherless, we're like "Thank you God, you're a father to that child." <br />
<br />
He says, "Remember, you call yourself my body. I'm not there, except through you. Your hands, those are my hands. Your feet, those are my feet. That heart? That's my heart, if it's not beating, my heart's not beating on this earth anymore.<br />
<br />
I work through my body. I'm a father to the fatherless through my body; I rescue the weak and the vulnerable, <b>through you.</b> And if you're not doing it, no one is!"<br />
<br />
<b>There is a solution for our disease</b>, which is known as sin. It's Jesus Christ. There's a solution for these dying children, it's <b>Jesus Christ</b>. Might sound overly simplistic, but that's it. <br />
<br />
<b>That IS the solution, because Jesus Christ will change a man, into a man that feels what Jesus Christ is feeling</b>. And he cannot stay in Suburbia, USA any longer and do nothing.<br />
<br />
<b>Heroes are made because they are moved.</b> <br />
<br />
Not in their head, but in their heart. You have to be moved at such a level that you would shed blood.<br />
<br />
<b>Jesus Christ was moved. <br />
<br />
For God So Loved The World That He Gave.</b> <br />
<br />
And that son that was given suffered and died, for what? For the cause that is being laid before us tonight.<br />
<br />
<b>It wasn't head knowledge,</b> about the disaster that was taking place in this world.<br />
<br />
<b>It was life abandonment unto the cause of those that are dying, unto the eternal souls that are around us.<br />
<br />
Do we care at the level God Cares? </b> Do we carry a burden? When we go home tonight, will we grieve over the fact that those children are God's children?<br />
<br />
And he is longing for an advocate to stand up and say "<b>I'M WILLING GOD,</b> to fight for what is yours. I'm willing, God, burden me."<br />
<br />
When Jesus was in Gethsemane, you know what he was there for? He was there for life. He was burdened with the weight of it all, for life.<br />
<br />
<b>He was willing </b>to sweat great droplets of blood. <br />
<br />
<b>Are we? For our King and his glory.</b> <br />
<br />
We will rescue these little ones.<br />
<br />
<br />
~ Eric Ludy, Message: "Depraved Indifference" <br />
<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UWHJ6-YhSYQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-49653788343337566712013-04-02T07:23:00.003-07:002013-09-05T16:30:01.518-07:00Before The Morning<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Do you wonder why you have to</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Feel the things that hurt you?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If there's a God who loves you</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Where is He now?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Or maybe there are things you can't see</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And all those things are happening</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">To bring a better ending</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Someday, somehow you'll see, you'll see</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Would you dare, would you dare to believe</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">That you still have a reason to sing?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">'Cause the pain that you've been feeling</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It can't compare to the joy that's coming</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So hold on, you gotta wait for the light</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Press on and just fight the good fight</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">'Cause the pain that you've been feeling</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It's just the dark before the morning</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My friend, you know how this all ends</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And you know where you're going</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You just don't know how you'll get there</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So say a prayer</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And hold on</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">'Cause there's good for those who love God</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But life is not a snapshot</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It might take a little time, but you'll see the bigger picture</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Would you dare, would you dare to believe</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">That you still have a reason to sing?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">'Cause the pain that you've been feeling</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It can't compare to the joy that's coming</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So hold on, you gotta wait for the light</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Press on and just fight the good fight</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">'Cause the pain that you've been feeling</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It's just the dark before the morning</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yeah, yeah, before the morning</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yeah, yeah</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Once you feel the weight of glory</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">All your pain will fade to memory</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Once you feel the weight of glory</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">All your pain will fade to memory, memory, memory, yeah</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Would you dare, would you dare to believe</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">That you still got a reason to sing?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">'Cause the pain that you've been feeling</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It can't compare to the joy that's coming</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Would you dare, would you dare to believe</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">That you still got a reason to sing?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">'Cause the pain that you've been feeling</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It can't compare to the joy that's coming</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Come on, you gotta wait for the light</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Press on and just fight the good fight</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">'Cause the pain that you've been feeling</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It's just the hurt before the healing</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Oh, the pain that you've been feeling</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It's just the dark before the morning</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yeah, yeah, before the morning</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yeah, yeah, before the morning"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">~ Josh Wilson, "Before The Morning"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=New8i_eX3x8 </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-81298895610452171282013-03-28T22:03:00.002-07:002013-03-28T22:09:18.718-07:00Our First Guests!Thanks to Pam and Erin, who helped Frank and invited 7 children to our Party! Let me introduce you. Sweet Colin and Leo are together, in a mental institution. They have been listed a long time.<br />
Janna and Stellan are in the same Laying Down room, unless one was transferred.<br />
Jordan is often overlooked.<br />
Wilson is an older boy. He needs a daddy! He is only HIV+, and with medicine nowadays, that can easily be taken care of.<br />
Marshall is still young, the perfect age!<br />
<h1 class="title" style="border: 0px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Colin</span></span></h1>
<div class="meta-info" style="background-image: url(http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/themes/Magnificent/images/full-post-info-bg.png); background-position: 0px 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: -10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 82px 30px 42px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img align="left" alt="" border="0" class="alignleft" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/images/colin-1.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;" width="200" /></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Boy, Born December 16, 2002</span></div>
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<div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Colin has the most striking blue eyes! He was born with CP and is not able to walk on his own yet. His upper body seems to be fine, but his legs are affected by the spasticity. Colin has tremendous potential for improvement with therapy and a loving family. He is medically healthy outside of his CP.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">From his medical records: microcephaly, CP, spastic tetraplegia</span></div>
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</div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As with all children living in these difficult conditions, this child’s cognitive development has regressed significantly since he/she was younger. It is of crucial importance that any family considering the adoption of an older child from the mental institution setting be well prepared for what to expect with regards to how the neglect and lack of adequate medical care and nourishment has affected this child. These children all have TREMENDOUS potential for improvement, and deserve to have a life outside these four walls.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">These children are truly living on borrowed time, and families should be home study approved before an official commitment can be made for this child.</span></div>
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</div>
<div class="donation-can_content-widget" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="donation-can_donation-widget" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="donation-can_goal-description" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="donation_can_text" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 0px 5px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="donation_meter_amount ltr" style="border: 0px; margin: auto; outline: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 5px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">$50.00</span> is available towards the cost of my adoption!</span></div>
<div class="donation_can_text" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 0px 5px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><input alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online" border="0" name="submit" src="http://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif" type="image" /><br style="text-align: left;" /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="donation_can_small" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 0px 5px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Donations are tax deductible.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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<div class="info-panel clearfix" style="background-image: url(http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/themes/Magnificent/images/infopanel-bg.png); background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 25px -29px 0px -30px; outline: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<h1 class="title" style="border: 0px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Janna</span></span></h1>
<div class="meta-info" style="background-image: url(http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/themes/Magnificent/images/full-post-info-bg.png); background-position: 0px 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: -10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 82px 30px 42px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Janna-2-1.jpg" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-43484" height="300" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Janna-2-220x300.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Janna 2" width="220" /><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17739" height="300" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Janna-2-1-225x300.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Digital image" width="225" /></span></a></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Girl, born January 2005</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Look at Janna’s long lovely fingers!</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Janna has a congential anomaly of the brain. Both pictures we have of her she is lying down — she desperately needs a family to rescue her. Once she is transferred, she will likely be left in bed for the rest of her days.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There are many children in this orphanage who could be adopted together.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">FACING IMMINENT TRANSFER!</strong></span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">From a family who met her in 2012:</strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I did not see her moving much but she would arch her back occasionally and make a few noises. She desperately wanted to move though. Desperately! She was the only child I ever saw that was given toys (I would suspect it was because the other kids would likely throw them out of the crib but Janna would keep them in the crib and play with them). The fact that she would play purposefully with toys speaks volumes about her cognitive ability. She would dangle the toys over her face and wiggle them around. She could move all of her limbs but did not seem to have enough strength to sit up on her own (although she almost did it). I do not know if she can roll herself over but when she did move she seemed to have more trunk and upper body strength then I expected. She was given one opportunity to sit up and be on her tummy and SHE LOVED IT! She reached for toys and enjoyed looking at herself in the mirror.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If I had to guess (and again it’s just a guess) I would guess that she has hydrocephalus and seizures. If that is true, I believe the care takers are hesitant to touch or move her. They may not understand hydrocephalus and seizures and are afraid to trigger one.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">What touched me the most was every time I would rub her head or hands she looked at me like it was the most soothing thing that had ever happened to her – I will never forget that look. It was as if years of horrible memories were released and she soaked up the gentle attention.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My heart is absolutely broken for her… Janna is 7 years old and is living at the orphanage on borrowed time. It is believed that she will be transferred to a mental institution in September 2012. However if a family commits to adopt her the orphanage director may keep her at the orphanage until they come. I cannot even bring myself to think of her life in a mental institution, she is far too sweet and too gentle to deal with what she would experience. Please…someone…rescue Janna</span></div>
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<div class="donation-can_donation-widget" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="donation-can_goal-description" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="donation_can_text" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 0px 5px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="donation_meter_amount ltr" style="border: 0px; margin: auto; outline: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 5px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">$1042.50</span> is available towards the cost of my adoption!</span></div>
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<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Donations are tax deductible.</span></div>
</form>
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<div class="info-panel clearfix" style="background-image: url(http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/themes/Magnificent/images/infopanel-bg.png); background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 25px -29px 0px -30px; outline: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<h1 class="title" style="border: 0px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Leo</span></span></h1>
<div class="meta-info" style="background-image: url(http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/themes/Magnificent/images/full-post-info-bg.png); background-position: 0px 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: -10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 82px 30px 42px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img align="left" alt="" border="0" class="alignleft" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/images/leo.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;" width="200" /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/sponsorship/guardian-angel-project" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Guardian Angel" class="alignright size-full wp-image-32016" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/guardianangel.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;" title="guardianangel" width="130" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Boy, Born December 4, 2002</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Leo’s needs are mostly physical. He is a happy and social child.</span></div>
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</div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">From his medical records: lower paraplegia, secondary arthrogryposis, right-side scoliosis, convergent squint</span></div>
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</div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As with all children living in these difficult conditions, this child’s cognitive development has regressed significantly since he/she was younger. It is of crucial importance that any family considering the adoption of an older child from the mental institution setting be well prepared for what to expect with regards to how the neglect and lack of adequate medical care and nourishment has affected this child. These children all have TREMENDOUS potential for improvement, and deserve to have a life outside these four walls.</span></div>
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<div class="donation_can_text" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 0px 5px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="donation_meter_amount ltr" style="border: 0px; margin: auto; outline: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 5px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">$50.00</span> is available towards the cost of my adoption!</span></div>
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<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Donations are tax deductible.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span><br />
<h1 class="title" style="border: 0px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Stellan</span></span></span></h1>
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</div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Stellan-2-1.jpg" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17743" height="300" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Stellan-2-1-224x300.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Stellan (2)-1" width="224" /></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-43481" height="300" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Stellan-2-200x300.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Stellan 2" width="200" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Boy, born July 2008</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Such handsome brown eyes!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Stellan has Cerebal Palsy. He’s another one who will greatly benefit from being part of a family!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">From a family who met him in 2012:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Despite his obvious lack of proper nutrition he was very strong. He stuck his feet out of his crib on the floor and pulled himself to a standing position. He cannot walk but with help he can take some steps. I strongly suspect this is due more to lack of opportunity than actual loss of ability. He is able to sit up and pull up on his crib. He vocalized vowel sounds and made good eye contact. I believe that given a chance and some therapy he would be able to walk and be at least semi-independent.</span></span></div>
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<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I really cannot speak to his mental ability because I just did not get to spend enough time with him. There was one special day that visitors came to the orphanage so the staff let him out of his crib. That’s how I got a picture of him in a stroller. It was very hard to get a picture of him because he was very near a toy and he was obsessed with getting to it and playing with it. I could not get his attention as he was fixated on the toy. Who could blame him? I would do the same thing for a toy too if I was never allowed to play with one. So I do not know if his obsessive behavior was again due to the institutionalization or connected to some ‘special need’, I just want to mention it so that a family that considers him has a good picture of him and his behavior so that can prepare to help him. He seemed to just pull and toss toys. Like most institutionalized children he has not learned how to play purposefully with toys. No one has taught him so he does not know any better.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I did notice Stellan licking his hands a lot. When you are in an environment that is void of sensory stimulation you will find ways to get it. His oral sensory seeking can be corrected rather easily with things like chewy vibrating toys, chew sticks, vibrating toothbrushes, crunchy foods, etc. His licking really just speaks to his level of neglect and it is just so sad to me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The one thing I will always remember about Stellan is that he had a very sweet demeanor. Despite his lot in life he was very happy and very sweet. No child EVER deserves a life sentenced to a mental institution but especially a child like Stellan, who really has the chance to blossom with some opportunity to work on his abilities. I just know in my heart that with some therapy and some love, he could be a completely changed boy. Please…someone…rescue Stellan.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="donation_meter_amount ltr" style="border: 0px; margin: auto; outline: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 5px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">$365.50</span> is available towards the cost of my adoption!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><input alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online" border="0" name="submit" src="http://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif" type="image" /><br /></span></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Donations are tax deductible</span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;">.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Jordan</span></span></h1>
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<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Jordan-2-1.jpg" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17751" height="300" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Jordan-2-1-225x300.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Jordan (2)-1" width="225" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> Boy, born January 2005</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Jordan is waving hello!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He has Down syndrome, and he seems very tiny for his age. The other picture we have of him, he is lying down — we have no other information about him, but it is possible he is not yet walking.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This sweet boy would thrive in a family!</span></div>
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<div class="donation_can_text" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 0px 5px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="donation_meter_amount ltr" style="border: 0px; margin: auto; outline: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 5px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">$101.00</span> is available towards the cost of my adoption!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><input alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online" border="0" name="submit" src="http://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif" type="image" /><br /></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Donations are tax deductible</span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;">.</span><br />
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<h1 class="title" style="border: 0px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Wilson</span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-32984" height="300" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/20204033114-240x300.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" width="240" /></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Boy, born November 2006</span></span></div>
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<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">HIV+</span></span></div>
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<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Wilson stands so proud and serious for his picture — hoping his parents will find him. Wilson is a very good boy who needs a family and will match to any family which loves children and is open to HIV child.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He is smart and well-behaved, kind and patient. He is doing very well with other children. He is open and friendly. </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">From his medical records we know that he has 4th clinic stage of HIV. He does NOT have any mental retardation but speech and psychological delay (common to all orphans). He has congenital abnormal development of gallbladder which does not bother him but was found due to regular ultrasound diagnostic. He also has protein deficiency so he is a kind of skinny. </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He is an orphan, all his close family died. Before the orphanage he lived in his birth family. in his medical record he has residual effects of TB due to his birth family history of TB. He never had active TB but got adequate medical treatment because of his TB contact.</span></span></div>
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<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">For more info and parent support on adopting and raising a child with HIV, please visit <a href="http://www.projecthopeful.org/" style="border: 0px; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>projecthopeful.org/</a> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="donation_meter_amount ltr" style="border: 0px; margin: auto; outline: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 5px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">$460.00</span> is available towards the cost of my adoption!</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><input alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online" border="0" name="submit" src="http://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif" type="image" /><br /></span></span></span>
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<div class="donation_can_small" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 0px 5px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Donations are tax deductible</span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"></span></span><br />
<h1 class="title" style="border: 0px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Marshall</span></span></span></span></h1>
<div class="meta-info" style="background-image: url(http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/themes/Magnificent/images/full-post-info-bg.png); background-position: 0px 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: -10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 82px 30px 42px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><img alt="Marshall update 2013" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-54626" height="300" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Marshall-update-2013-133x300.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;" width="133" /><img alt="" class="alignleft wp-image-36083" height="240" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/20418050158-Marshall-155x300.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;" title="20418050158 Marshall" width="124" /><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/sponsorship/guardian-angel-project" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Guardian Angel" class="alignright size-full wp-image-32016" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/guardianangel.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;" title="guardianangel" width="130" /></span></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Boy, born January 2010</span></span></span></div>
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<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Congenital hydrocephalus</span></span></span></div>
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<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Marshall looks great! Three years old and ready to RUN — he looks like he’ll keep his mama busy and on the go!</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">WHY is he still waiting!?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="donation_meter_amount ltr" style="border: 0px; margin: auto; outline: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 5px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">$190.50</span> is available towards the cost of my adoption!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><input alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online" border="0" name="submit" src="http://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif" type="image" /><br /></span></span></span></span>
<div class="donation_can_small" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 0px 5px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Donations are tax deductible</span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;">.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px;">
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Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-58099387161710337632013-03-26T12:08:00.001-07:002013-09-05T16:30:16.048-07:00It's A Party!<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px;">I am stealing this idea from a fellow blogger, Pam (www.savinghissparrows.blogspot.com) </span><br />
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Frank is going to be 13 in May! That's so close! I want to do something "big" for his birthday. So I thought, I could have a "party" for him like Pam did for Emmit! I am stealing her "rules", I will do the same.</div>
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For every $5 donation to Frank's adoption fund...</div>
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You can bring a child of your choice to the party!</div>
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1 for $5...</div>
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2 for $10...</div>
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3 for $15...</div>
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etc...</div>
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Your child(ren) will have a place on my sidebar at least through May (since I don't know his actual birthday, we're celebrating all month!)</div>
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(Space permitting of course - let's fill that sidebar up!)</div>
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I will also mention your child in one of my blog posts with a link to your child's profile or your family's family sponsorship page if you are adopting.</div>
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I will also share them on my Facebook page, and add them to an album on the page, so people can see!</div>
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If you'd like me to include a link to your blog or your fundraiser as well just let me know...</div>
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By commenting on this post...</div>
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Or sending me a FB message! </div>
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Starting now! I'll keep this post going, with who has joined. I've got lots of places, come join and celebrate Frank! Hopefully this will be his last birthday alone!<br />
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UPDATE: $5 challenge!</div>
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You can do a lot with just $5. I'm having a $5 fundraiser. Instead of spending in on that coffee, consider spending it to help Frank!</div>
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This is all part of <a href="http://savingsullivan.blogspot.com/2013/03/its-party.html">Frank's birthday celebration</a>!</div>
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With $5, you can do one of the following:</div>
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- Purchase a handmade friendship <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SeekJusticeLoveMercyWalkHumbly">bracelet</a></div>
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- Purchase a set of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/seekjusticelovemercywalkhumbly">hair bows</a></div>
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- Invite a child to <a href="http://savingsullivan.blogspot.com/2013/03/its-party.html">Frank's party</a>! The child of your choice will be featured in a blog post, my blog sidebar, and a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.342187275893434.1073741825.265829263529236&type=3">special birthday party album</a> on my FB page!</div>
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I have some incentives for you to come join!</div>
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If you do one of the following:</div>
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a) buy a set of hair bows and invite a child</div>
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b) buy a bracelet and invite a child</div>
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c) buy a wallet</div>
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d) invite two children</div>
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You can invite another child! The only rule is you have to purchase a wallet or invite another child, and you can invite another!</div>
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If you share on your blog, you can invite a child! Only once please.</div>
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Plus, if you give more then $25, I will make you a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SqdgVYa1zk">personalized photo/ music video!</a></div>
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So why not join? Come join the party!</div>
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Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-10691532115912233192013-03-08T09:54:00.001-08:002013-09-05T16:30:26.489-07:00There Will Be A Day<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
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There will be a day, when we will stand before God, and he will ask each of us: "I gave you commandments. What did you do to obey them? I gave you talents and gifts, how did you use them to glorify me?"</div>
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When he asks you what you did to obey his commandments, what will you say? "Sorry, I know that you commanded me to be a light in this world, but it was too hard!"</div>
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"Sorry, I know you commanded me to care for orphans, but I was too busy on Facebook to do anything. Besides, that's someone else's job! I did plenty of other good things!"</div>
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"I know that my eyes were opened, and you held me responsible to act, but I just HAD to get that new purse, instead of giving that money away."</div>
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"I know that the orphans needed my help, but it was too sad, and I couldn't do anything, so why did I need to try?"</div>
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"I know that there are teenage orphans that weigh less then their age, but what could I have done?"</div>
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"I know that you gave me this amazing voice, but I'm scared to sing in front of people."</div>
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There will be a day when we will stand in front of God, and he will ask us, what did we do? What will be our answer?</div>
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"I know, but .... Was more important."? </div>
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Or will it be "I did everything in my power to save every orphan and obey your commands."?</div>
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God loves us so much that he came down as a baby, a helpless baby, and lived a perfect life, and died on a cross so we could be with him. What excuse can possibly exist not to do SOMETHING? He died on a CROSS so we could have eternity in heaven. Is TV really more important? Is Facebook? It takes 10 seconds to share a link on Facebook. You can do that during an ad on TV.</div>
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And do we really need to have fast food every night? Consider taking out just one night of fast food, and instead donating it. It's better for you (fast food is disgusting) and it will help someone else.</div>
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“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.</div>
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All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. </div>
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He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. </div>
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“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. </div>
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For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, </div>
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I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’</div>
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“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?</div>
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When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? </div>
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When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ </div>
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“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ </div>
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“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.</div>
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For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,</div>
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I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’</div>
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“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’</div>
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“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’</div>
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“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46 NIV)</div>
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There will be a day. It might be soon. What have you done?</div>
Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-11011578589152754342013-03-03T10:49:00.001-08:002013-09-05T16:30:39.639-07:00I Can See<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
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I saw a new picture of Frank this week. It may have just be the angle of the camera, and that he was standing, but I think Frank is getting taller. My heart aches that he still hasn't found a family. I can't stand the thought of him growing up without a family to guide him. He's almost 13. My brother is about a year younger then Frank, and he has plenty of times when he needs his family. Just because Frank is almost a teenager doesn't mean he's "grown- out" of needing a family. In fact, this is when he needs one most of all. The teen years can be the most stressful.</div>
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I can imagine Frank home, with a family who loves him. Maybe he has a big family, with siblings who love to teach him new things. I can see his older brother teaching him how to play soccer, or racing him on the track. I can see him being kind and playing in a fort he and his younger sister have built. I can see the joy in his parents' faces' at his junior high graduation. I can see him, proud of his own clean bed. I can see his first birthday home, and the joy of a day completely dedicated to him. I can see his first Christmas home, learning about the love of Jesus. I can see his first VBS, playing games, singing songs, and learning about Jesus.</div>
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But if his family doesn't find him soon, none of that will happen.</div>
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He will spend years in that institution. Trying to make up his own games to play. No "graduation." Sleeping on a old, lumpy, dirty mattress in a crowded room with many other residents at the institution. No birthday celebrations. He was luck to receive "Christmas" last year, but it is nothing like what a family would be like. Each resident at the institution got a present, a meal, and a "party". There's no VBS. Nothing to do all day, just walk around all day.</div>
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He needs a family to come get him. To rescue him and give him the life he deserves. </div>
Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-43132905275504323832013-02-17T21:41:00.002-08:002013-09-05T16:30:48.087-07:00Those Pictures<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">Those Pictures</span><br />
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You've seen the pictures, of orphans that are no more then skin and bones. Tied up to prevent self- harm. So skinny you can count every rib. Teenagers who weigh less then their age.</div>
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But it doesn't matter to you. It's just a picture, right? There's nothing you can do, so why bother? It's not your problem, right?</div>
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Imagine if that was your son or daughter. Or your brother or sister. Locked away, starved and depraved, because they were born with a disability. Some as simple as a vision or hearing difficulty.</div>
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But it's not, so it doesn't matter, right?</div>
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What if it was? Would you stand there, letting life go on? How could you, knowing your child was starving? How could you, knowing they were hurting, and needing you?</div>
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But it's just a picture, right? You can't do anything, so why bother?</div>
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Those pictures, they are real kids. Real kids who need real help.</div>
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When you see those pictures, you want to look away. You quickly scroll past, not wanting to see. Because you know if you do, you won't be able to ignore them.</div>
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What if that was your child? What if that was your child, tied to a crib to stop the self- harming, his only stimulation? What if that was your child, locked in a crib for their entire life? What if that was your child?</div>
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Those are God's children. How you would feel if that was your child, that's how God feels. If that was your child, you would do everything in your power to get to them, and rescue them.</div>
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That's what God is telling us to do.</div>
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We are the hands and feet of God. Why aren't we running to save the powerless? To love the helpless? To heal the wounded and the weak?</div>
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But I guess it's too hard to do something. Too much of a step outside our comfort zones.</div>
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We'll just continue life, and move on like we never saw those children.</div>
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"Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and holds us responsible to act." Prov. 24:12</div>
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God knows our hearts. He knows that we know about those children. We are responsible to act. What excuse could possibly exist not to act?</div>
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I'm sorry, orphan, I know you are starving, but I really need this fast food everyday.</div>
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I know you're freezing, but I'm too comfortable in my heated house, i my bed with 1,000 blankets and pillows.</div>
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I know you need a family, but we don't have room. The kids would have to share, and they won't be happy about that.</div>
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I know you're thirsty, but I really need this coffee every morning.</div>
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I know you're there, but I am too busy to care.</div>
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Would you really say that to someone? It's ridiculous! Our problems suddenly aren't so big, when we compare to them.</div>
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Even if you are not able to adopt, you can still help!</div>
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It takes 5 seconds to share the picture of an orphan, and ask people to pray.</div>
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You can pray.</div>
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You can advocate.</div>
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You can donate.</div>
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You can fundraise.</div>
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There's no excuse not to do something. We are commanded to act.</div>
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"Religion our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans in their distress" (James 1:27).</div>
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Even if you're "too busy", you have no excuse. It takes five seconds to share on Facebook, Twitter or text.</div>
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Can't you spare five seconds to help save a life?</div>
Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-16904291215092725572013-01-29T19:38:00.000-08:002013-09-05T16:32:27.862-07:00Don't Forget About Me<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
I recently rediscovered a song I love. It's called "Every Child (Deserves A Home)" by Newsong. It's an amazing song.
There's a part in it that goes:<br />
"There’s something in their faces that tells us their story <br />
There’s something in their cry that keeps calling out, “Don’t forget about me!” <br />
Red and yellow, black and white <br />
They are precious in His sight <br />
Jesus died for all the children of the world" <br />
And all I could think of is Frank, and how much he needs to be saved. That we can't let him be forgotten. But he is overlooked. No one has inquired about him. Before Angel Tree, he only had about $200 in his grant fund. Through Angel Tree, it grew tremendously to almost $1,500, which is amazing! But since Angel Tree, it has grown once, by a donation from a friend of mine for a video I put together for her. <br />
He gets forgotten though. Before Angel Tree, no one really knew him. Even I didn't really know him. But God changed that, and introduced someone who had met him, and I fell in love with this little boy I'd never met. I don't know his story. I don't know how he ended up in that mental institution. But I do know that if he stays there, he is forgotten.
Without Reece's Rainbow, he's just another face at the institution. Just another kid who ended up in the wrong place. Just one of 210 million orphans in the world. Just one of 70 at the institution. <br />
"Orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore before you see their faces. It is easier to pretend they're not real before you hold them in your arms. But once you do, everything changes." -David Platt <br />
It's easy to ignore just another face in the institution. But can you ignore this real little boy, named Frank? Can you really pretend he's not real? Because he's real. He's real, and he's waiting for his momma. <br />
Don't forget about him. He wants a family. He knows what a momma and daddy is. And he's crying out, "Don't forget about me!" <br />
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Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926536459936781823.post-68417709583660169982013-01-21T21:07:00.003-08:002013-09-05T16:33:12.790-07:00Helping Hands USA<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
Helping Hands USA is a non-profit organization that works at Frank's institution. They run completely from donations. They use what they are given to provide meals, clothes, and supplies to the institution of 70 children/ men. But they are't very well known, so they don't get a lot of donations. <br />
This organization helped to give Frank a Christmas. Without them, it would have been just another day. But they were able to provide a party, a gift and a meal to each boy. They told them about Jesus, and how he loves them. <br />
They need your help to continue their work at the institution. Please watch and share this video. Go "like" their Facebook page, go see the difference your donations make. <br />
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40 NIV) <br />
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Helping-Hands-Usa/239641486137013?fref=ts <br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PoImlGS5dRQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Tinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16713278233982059853noreply@blogger.com0