My Heart Aches Tonight

For two families. Andriy's family will not be adopting him. Due to some political thing in his country, he has been transfered to a 'nursing home for disabled children' or something like that, and isn't available for adoption anymore. Molly was also taken. To read more about it, check Andrea's blog (in the links on the side, post titled Gone). It is good that now their needs will be taken care of, but two families are heart broken. Pray for healing in these families. And Vika has a possible family (Spud posted the worng picture I think).
Clarification: When I say Vika, I mean my blind Vika on the left. Victoria will be the one on the bottom.

:D

Remember this cutie from a few posts ago!?! ya... well she possibly has a family coming for her! Amanda emailed me telling me she was $175 short of the commitment cost! she is in desperate need of that $175! if you could please spare some loose change for her, that would be amazing if your wondering where to send/donate that $, check out her blog!

somehow, God WILL provide that $175!

<3 Spud

Victoria

I seriously have no idea how i did this but this is a video of victoria :)

My focus- New

Wow, so fast, Dmitriy already has a committed family. So, now I have picked a new child. This one took me a while, but I have decided on another blind child. Her name is Victoria. Here she is.

I added some more of her pictures on the side. Her is her Reece's Rainbow page info.

Girl, Born November 13, 2005
HELP, I HAVE ALREADY BEEN TRANSFERRED!

Victoria is too cute! She has brown hair and blue eyes, and is in the same orphanage as Andriy and several other children with Down syndrome. Victoria is a smart little girl and very *able*. From her medical records: congenital cataract of both eyes (blind), microphtalm, delay of psychological development. Outgoing, can walk independently, knows her way around in her group, is interested in studies, responds well when adults refer to her.
From a missionary who has spent time with Victoria: "What a sweetheart! Gentle, calm, outgoing, and very affectionate. She has made a lot of progress since she was at the baby orphanage. Vika has had some self-harming tendencies but the workers have been working with her on that… Whenever she would start banging her head they would pick her up, lay her across their lap and start massaging her back. Now, when she gets upset she goes to them and lays across their lap all on her own, no longer resorting to self-harming behaviours. Vika is independent and was walking around all over the room hardly ever bumping into anything. She doesn't speak much but she does say "Mama". She also knows how to let the workers know when she needs to go to the bathroom. They also said that her fine motor skills have greatly improved as well. Finally, she is a real snuggler. First thing she did when I called her over to me was climb up onto my lap. I tried to get better pictures of her but all she wanted to do was cuddle in close… how could I say no to that???" This orphanage is one of the good ones. Small, with all higher functioning special needs children of "preschool" age (ages 4-8). There were only 6 kids in Victoria and "Andriy"'s room and two workers caring for them. It was clear that workers care about them very much and showed them plenty of love and affection. The director is not only open to adoption, she is actively looking for families for all of the kids so that they don't have to be transferred once they turn 8-years-old! Unfortunately, "Andriy" and Vika are in the lowest functioning group and they usually have a hard time finding families for those kids… but maybe that's something RR can help with :)
$3757.80 is available towards the cost of my adoption!

I have more info from a missionary named Andrea (not Andrea Roberts, the Andrea that 'Just ONE more 4 Us?!' has mentioned in her posts), which I'll be posting occasionally.

English Project

Make sure to scroll down and see my "Christmas Miracle" post. Kinda important.

So, got an English assignment today. 'Imagine giving up everything- no responsibilities, no school, no job, no sports, family or friends to wrry about. You have $2,000. You can do anything you want with it. What will you do? Where will you go?'

Of course mine is an orphan thing. This is it (we were supposed to do like journal entries. We had to involve some 'transendentalist' stuff, thats what the snow is about). I used the name Dmitriy, but has almost nothing to do with my Dmitriy. Let me know what you think. And I used two Reece's Rainbow pics

David. Supposed to be 'Maxim'. And Brandon, supposed to be 'Dmitriy'.

"November 20
Today I left my home. Embarking on this magnificent journey to my boys. My parents were hesitant to let me go, but now I am going. Most people look down at me for adopting my boys, for truly they are my boys, when I am only 11 years older. But who cares what the world says when my boys are waiting? Today I departed, for my boys, for Ukraine.
November 25
Much to be thankful for! I have arrived in Ukraine. After spending three days on a ferry from Seattle to Anchorage, AK, I took a flight from Anchorage to Kiev, Ukraine. George met me here, and drove me to this hotel. I checked in and have a room upstairs. George showed me around Kiev a bit, and today at 9am, I entered my son's building, and finally met Dmitriy. His brother, Maxim, is at another building about 100 miles from here. Dmitriy and I will take a train from Kiev to Torez, and go pick up Maxim. George explained all of this to me.
George is my translator, guide, and much more. He is older, probably in his sixties. He has thinning gray hair, a short beard, and brown eyes. He is tall, and lean. He's been running around Ukraine helping me organize this for months.
Kiev is very beautiful, full of nature. There is a giant oak tree out front of Dmitriy’s building, and the leaves are piled up. It snowed today, and I felt enlightened by the beauty.
Today I met Dmitriy. I was ready to go at 8:30, and at 8:45, George picked me up in his car. We drove to Dmitriy's orphanage, and I was excited. I was finally going to meet him, after so many months of waiting. A caregiver took us around the orphanage, which wasn't in very good shape. Then we were led into a small room. Normally, George would have left at this point, but I asked him to stay, to help me translate. After 5 minutes, the door opened. And Dmitriy was led in.
Dmitriy is small, smaller than I imagined. Even though he is six, he seems as small as a 3yr old. His hair is short and uneven, like it had been cut in a hurry. He wore a red, fleece jacket and thick brown tights that functioned as pants. He saw me, and instantly asked his caregiver, "мама?" The caregiver nodded, and he shouted, "Мама!" and dove into my lap. He hugged me, smiling big. Then he jumped off my lap, and said something in Russian. “He said, ‘Come with me!’” George translated. Dmitriy took my hand and led me through his home. He was speaking constantly, and George translated every word. ‘Come on Mama,’, ‘This is where my friend sleeps’. Finally, he led us to his room.
Rows of beds line the wall, and rows in the middle. He led us to his bed, one in a corner with a small, light blue blanket. He showed us, excited to show everything. Then his caregiver called him over, for snack, George told me. He was sad for us to leave, but we needed to get me started on paperwork anyway. I was lead into the directors’ office, and George translated. I had to sign some papers, and then received a file about Dmitriy’s history.
I am shocked at what Dmitriy and Maxim experienced at the hands of their parents. The two were removed from the home after Maxim went blind from abuse. I can’t say anymore, I am so appalled. I spent some time with Dmitriy today, and I am so glad. I look forward in anticipation of the day that I don’t have to leave him there, which hopefully will be soon. I want them to both be mine by Christmas if possible. I am waiting for my court date, where the judge will see if I am fit to adopt Dmitriy and Maxim. It’s getting very late, and I need to sleep.

December 3
So much has happen in a week. Dmitriy is officially mine! I had court on the 30th, and the judge was pretty quick to say yes. Probably Dmitriy sold it to her, as he got up from his seat in the back, came up and curled up in my lap, saying ‘Mama’. He has a lot of energy, this boy. We took the train to Maxim’s orphanage, which took 2 days (the 1st and 2nd), and we met Maxim today.
George volunteered himself to watch Dmitriy for a while, while Maxim got warmed up to me. Dmitriy was a bit wild, and I didn’t want to scare Maxim. It had been four years since they had been separated. George took Dmitriy to a park, where George reported he loved playing in the new fallen, sparkling snow.
I went into the building, which was bigger than Dmitriy’s building. It was gray, with rows of windows. I was immediately led to the ‘meeting room’. I was given paperwork to sign, and more information about Maxim and his past. I found myself almost in tears at his past. Then there was a quiet, hesitant knock on the door. The lady giving me the info said something in Russian, and the door opened. Maxim entered. He had a long, thin stick in his hand, probably the closest thing he had to a walking stick. He wore a way-too-big shirt with long sleeves, and blue pajama pants. He wore slipper shoes, and white socks. He is skinny for his age, which is 7. His eyes were closed. He timidly came in, visibly shaking. The lady ordered him to do something, and he felt around for the couch. He sat, and laid his stick on the ground, between his feet. “Hi, Maxim,” I said, gently touching his shoulder. He still jumped. I had learned from his file that Maxim was studying English, and was pretty fluent in it. “You my Mama?” he asked. “Yes, I am adopting you and your brother, Dmitriy.” I said, slowly so could understand. He turned his face toward me. “Why me? I blind.” He said. “Because you are you, and you’re my son now.” I said. Tears began to flow down his face, and I found myself crying too. I hugged him, and he hugged me back, pressing his face into my shoulder. We sat there, crying for a couple minutes.
Maxim wiped his face with his sleeve. “Thank you. You are nice, not like my old mama papa?” He asked. “Oh, yes, I will make sure you are never hurt like that again. I am sorry I wasn’t here before now.” I said, hugging him. He reached up hesitantly and felt my face, getting a picture in his mind. I signed some more paperwork, and had to leave Maxim there, with promises that I would come back.
Luckily, I already got my second court date, the 15. If all goes well, we could be on our way home by Christmas!

December 15
Maxim and Dmitriy got to meet again today. I had court, and both boys came up. Dmitriy’s court date wasn’t really an official court, it was just granting me temporary guardianship, I learned today. But now they are officially mine. Their names are now Maxim David Alexander and Dmitriy Brandon Kristopher. I got their birth certificates, and am so happy that I can officially call them my sons (though I have been for months). George treated the boys and me to dinner and dessert at a nearby restaurant. He insisted, as it was tradition to take the new family out, or so he told me.
Dmitriy has quite the appetite; I didn’t know you could shove that much food into that small of a child! He ate a whole hamburger (his first one, I might add), a corn dog, and a serving of fries. Maxim ate more according to his size, just a small kid’s meal with chicken strips. Both boys enjoyed the food, as they had never had it before. At their orphanages, they just had Cheerios and fruit.
Seeing the boys enjoying the meal, and not worrying about their past, made me feel calm. This was what made life worth living, those little moments, when we don’t have to worry about the world, or what’s going on on Facebook, but can just relax and enjoy the tranquility.
I laughed, as George did, at the look on Dmitriy’s face when he took his first bite of ice cream, eyes wide. He loved ice cream. Maxim, on the other hand, more enjoyed the cherry on top of his sundae, and the melted fudge at the bottom.
We’re on the train right now, back to Kiev so we can fly home. I can see flakes of snow outside. They cover the land in white, and make it look clean. Dmitriy is asleep, curled up on the seat. Maxim is next to me, his head on my shoulder. I think he’s asleep. Even in his sleep, he is hanging on to his walking stick. It’s worn from years of age, and I think that’s why he likes it. We’ll be this train until the 18th, then we’ll fly back home. I think we’ll be home by Christmas.
It’s hard to believe that Maxim and Dmitriy are blood- related sometimes. Dmitriy is so loud and energetic. Maxim is quiet, reserved, and wise beyond his years. We were talking just a few minutes ago, about his family before. He brought it up. He said, “I remember seeing. Mama Papa mean, they hurt me and yell at me. One time, I wake up and I blind. I scared of them. You stay me safe?” He asked. He asked if I would keep him safe, and I promised him I would. He didn’t seem to talk anymore, and I didn’t push it. I know that he is still working on accepting his past, and is in shock that he has a ‘good Mama’ now. “Dmitriy is lucky. He doesn’t remember. But I do.” Maxim told me. Dmitriy is very, demanding, in that he always wants to be held. I think it’s because before he was adopted, he almost never got held. He loves the snow, and danced in the rain yesterday. I can’t believe they are really with me. It’s been a blast. Maxim said it best with “We used to be orphans, but now we have our Mama. Yay!”"

What do you think?

'Another Incredible, Wonderful, Beautiful Christmas Miracle!'

A quote from the play I helped with this weekend at our church. 70 kids, 6 1 hour shows, 3 days, 5 adult cast, countless volenteers, and LOTS OF FUN!

Well, here's the miracle :)
http://reecesrainbow.org/3145/dmitriy114

Tell me, what does that tag say?

World AIDS Day

These are some of the orphans on Reece's Rainbow who are HIV+, in honor of World AIDS Day

Go to ReecesRainbow.Org for these kids info and many more.

Now a little info about AIDS/ HIV:

AIDS is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body's ability to fight the organisms that cause disease.

HIV is a sexually transmitted disease. It can also be spread by contact with infected blood, or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding. It can take years before HIV weakens your immune system to the point that you have AIDS.

There's no cure for HIV/AIDS, but there are medications that can dramatically slow the progression of the disease. These drugs have reduced AIDS deaths in many developed nations. But HIV continues to decimate populations in Africa, Haiti and parts of Asia.

GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!!!!! WE'RE POSSIBLY (PROBABLY) SENDING DMITRIY HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So the other day, Tink was looking on the "RR New Commitments" page. she saw a girl She recognized named Genesis.

she clicked on The Family's blog link and read the 'was then' top post, "In the Middle Of A Miracle" she found out that not only does Dmitriy have the exact same extremely rare 'disease' i guess (they believe, it's called Peter's Anomaly), but they said they were thinking about adopting Dmitriy as well!

it would only be $5000 more. now $5000 sounds like a lot of money, but in God's eyes, that's less than a penny! Tink and i think Dmitriy and Genesis are related, so we've commited to raising that $5000 ourselves. thats rite, 2 young teenagers raising $5000 to bring a little blind kid home! we'll do all sorts of fundraisers (church offering [hopefully], selling knit items at our church...). We will try to make a documentary. PLEASE PRAY that this all works out! we hope to at least send the money to their family by Christmas!

"I can do ALL things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me!" Philipians 4:13

Christmas Presents For Orphans

This year, we hope to send Christmas presents to 8 U*rainian orphans. This stuff is what we have for them. Please comment on what you think would be good for each child.

We also have a dark, thicker twin sheet, a child spiderman blanket, and a child blue blanket.

Dmitriy is five years old, a month until he turns six. He is blind (only one eye, blind). He was recently transferred to (1).

Y is 14 years old. 3 feet and 3inches. She is Severely mentally delayed, cerebral palsy, double hemiplegia, dysarthria. She is at (1).

A is 18. He will be my pen pal. He was recently transferred from (1) to an adult building. He has a repaired cleft lip, injured hands, and no feet.

Sergey is five and a half. His records: congenital brain anomaly, spastic tetraparesis, simptomatic epilepsy, generalized tonic clonic seizures, cryptorchidism, adenoid vegetation, bending-movable contractures of the hip joints, deficiency anemia, mental delay. Pretty much some physical and mental delays. He lives at (25).

Noel is 7. She has severe CP and hydrocephaly. She lives at (25).

I is 13. He is 75cm. From his records: Mentally Delayed, Spina Bifida, lower paralysis, abnormal development of the left lung, right-sided inward turned foot

AJ, formally known as Anthony, is 6 years old. He has CP. He is at (25), and has a family coming for him!

Victoria is 8, almost nine. She has arthrogryposis. She is (1).

Please let us know your suggestions, preferably from the top picture.

Ephesians 5:20

Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20


I am thankful for my family
I am thankful for my Loving Jesus who took the weight of all my sin and all our sin so I can be free
I am thankful for my friends, who never fail to make me laugh (I was in stiches x3 yesterday)
I am thankful for my church, which isn't just the building, its the people. (we went out to dinner at a pizza place after service last weekend)
I am thankful that I might have a pen pal in U*raine (more on that later)
I am thankful for everything Gid has given me

I am thankful Sam is home
I am thankful AJ/ Antony has a family coming for him
I am thankful that Katya is home, and is doing well from her surgery (check the blog)
I am thankful that Noel hasn't been transfered yet
I am thankful Dmitriy is alive and well, and still can smile
I am thankful I got new visual of Dmitriy

So i ask you: What are you thankful for today?

'Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.' Ephesians 5:20