Sunshine.  Today's post is going to reflect the beautiful day that we had today.  I was able to go with my husband to get our USCIS fingerprints today... and so we wait now for word on our approval.  I also got to spend time with my kids at the pool.  Splashing and having fun and friends while we enjoyed the beautiful weather... what more can you ask for?

There have been a lot of new faces posted online that are in need of families that are not so lucky.  Each of these kiddos grabbed my attention and made me smile when I saw them... please click on their photos to learn more about them. 

"I have been impressed with the urgency of doing.  Knowing is not enough; we must apply.  Being willing is not enough; we must do." ~ Leonardo da Vinci

This is "Katie".  Doesn't her beautiful smile just make you want to swing her up in your arms and go play?  This little 3 year old girl needs a mommy to share snow cones and read "Good Night Moon".

This is "Joseph".  Look Ma ... blue hands!  Don't you just want to know what he has been up to to get so wonderfully colorful?!  Ah, the possibilities.  He loves to play with the other kids and the dog.  One of his favorite things to do is also the same as my son's ... LEGOS!  Unfortunately, this great kid has something going against him... the clock.  You see, he is already 13 years old and in just a few short years, he will be too old to be adopted, yet still on his own.  Do you have room at your table?

"Thadius"is a beautiful sunny baby, with his red hair and happy disposition.  Isn't he just squishy?!  He could be home for his first birthday... can we make that happen for this little guy?

"Emmalyn" is 11 years old and has such a pretty smile.  Her bobbed hair and floral shirt just SHOUT spring!  She could be doing so much with her family this summer.  Playing with dolls, coloring pictures or playing on the iPad.  I can see her at the pool, just like we were today.  How her life could be changed if only she can be saved from a life in an institution.

The future for ... Maggie
http://butbygraceitcouldbeme.blogspot.com/ for other musings

Ah, sweet Maggie.  Such a cute little girl who should have the world as her playground.  This little one isn't even 3 years old yet.  She would blossom in a loving home with the support of a family.  I can see her at home, her hair grown out and put up into pig-tails with ribbon streamers, bouncing up and down in her excitement when daddy gets home.  Her little arms lift up as her eyes sparkle in greeting and she giggles as her daddy tosses her into the air and catches her into a huge bear hug complete with kisses.  She tugs at his arm to get him to move towards the kitchen where her art work from earlier in the day is proudly displayed on the refrigerator.  Later, she curiously crawls after the family cat to "pat kitty"... or tug its tail.  Evenings would be full of family fun, sitting on the floor playing with puzzles and games with her brothers and/or sisters.  Would she like kindermusic or mommy and me yoga?  Is she a tom-boy or fru-fru girl?  Maybe she is both, playing with frogs and toads while wearing a tutu?!  Will you find out?

The future of ... Presley

Follow along with other's thoughts on his future at http://butbygraceitcouldbeme.blogspot.com/

What gorgeous baby blues...perhaps he should be named "Frankie"?!  This poor little guy needs a family here on Earth before he ascends to his heavenly Father.  Without good medical care for his leukemia, that trip could be much sooner than any child deserves.

So what types of things do I see Presley doing?  Why, what does ANY 4 year old boy enjoy?  Trips to the zoo.  Play dates with friends.  Balloons.  Tail wagging, face licking puppies.  Pizza.  Calliou and Thomas the train and the Back Yardigans.  Cars and trains and planes.

You can introduce him to each of these things along your way home from his country.  I know we all remember the old saying "Little boys are made of snips and snails and puppy dog tails".  Maybe this throw-back in thinking is what leads most adopters to subconsciously favor girls of "sugar and spice"?  But little boys can be snuggly when you read them stories before bed and loving and cute little imps.  My son is the most helpful around the house and does his chores without the constant reminder his sisters require.  Boys have a quirky sense of humor (burping the alphabet and whoopie cushions come to mind).  They have a unique perspective on dirt and grime and sticks that can be hard for girls to understand at any age.  Each little hand can so easily hold your heart for a lifetime if you let them.  Could this little man have made his way into your heart?  Could this little boy belong to you?

The future of... Reid.

For the next 15 days, there will be posts on 15 different children looking for families of their own.  http://butbygraceitcouldbeme.blogspot.com/ is where you begin this journey... please stop in every day for the next 2 weeks to continue this saga.

Last weekend I was lucky enough to be able to go with my daughter J and her teammates to the Challenger Baseball World Jamboree in Norfolk.  There were over 60 teams from 6+ states in attendance for the 3 days of games and activities.  There were children with walkers and wheelchairs and strollers and cleats.  There were dancers and swimmers amongst them too!  All of a sudden, the kids that are always a minority, "different" or "slow" are now being cheered instead of jeered.  These kids are hitting home runs to standing ovations and showing how the smallest accomplishment can garnish the greatest reward.  These kids have the best outlook and sportsmanship I have seen in a long time.    There is no screaming at umpires for bad calls or booing of players.  They are truly a great group of kids and young adults that I am proud to say I know.

And there is Reid.  What a cute little guy!  I can see him in a family so much like our own and the others that I saw last weekend.  I could see him succeeding at this game of life: playing catch with his dad and brothers, running to home base into his mom's arms, cheering on his friends and team.  Back at the hotel, the pool is the place to be!  It doesn't matter if you can walk or stand on your own on land, because the water is a whole other world.  In the water you can be graceful or fast or goofy or just like any other person there.  He can play Marco Polo with his brothers and sisters or just float on past the action.  Did I mention the HOT TUB?!?  Oh yeah baby!  Hot tubs are the bomb-digity!  Ah... nothing like it after a hard work out on the field to relax those tired muscles before going out on the boardwalk for some dinner and seafood.  I wonder what Reid would think of shrimp or crab?  Would he rather have a burger and fries or would he be daring and want a shrimp cocktail of his own?  What about ice cream for dessert?  Sounds good, huh?  Well what if you had never had cold beverages before, everything you ever drank was tepid, not even some ice to cool down your tea on a hot day.  How strange would it be to get that first taste of ice-cold creaminess on your tongue?  Hmmm... vanilla, chocolate or strawberry... which would you choose?

And a quick blurb on us:

Ok, I guess it is time for a quick adoption process update for those out there that are interested in following our progress.

We completed our homestudy on 4/30/12. We have now also completed all of our Dossier and it is on it's way to Eastern Europe! We are now awaiting our USCIS fingerprints & then approval. So, all in all.. I would have to say that this process is moving much more quickly than I had anticipated. We committed to our *hopefully* new son the end of Feb./first of March and it is now Mid-May. IF we get a quick fingerprint appointment and approval here... we potentially could be looking at having him home before the start of school in the fall! You never know, stranger things have happened (like the fact that our first choice in child care is due with her 2nd child Aug. 6th). We'll just have to play things by ear and take them as they come.

"In the future ... of Keaton"

This is the story of 16 children who are each unique and in search of their one true family.  You may be blessed with children of your own, by birth or marriage or chance.  This is Keaton's chance to shine and look for one of his own...

Keaton is going to be 6 years old in just a few months and is at a cross roads.  His life could go down one of two paths and it is up to us to decide his future.  Yes, just like on American Idol you can VOTE and make a difference with just a click of your phone or facebook or email.  You can choose to forward his story and picture to your friends and they can forward it to their friends until he has so many people rooting for him that he becomes a "winner".  The prize?  A family of his own!

What do I think his life could be like with a loving family, proper nutrition, medical care and education?

I see Keaton as a Rock Star.  I can picture him as a child, jambing out on the game Rock Band.  As a teenager, I see him learning to play an instrument, maybe an electric guitar or the drums.  School gives him the opportunity to play in concert bands and in competitions, then on the weekend, he can be found jamming to the beat with his buddies in the garage. The neighbors can feel the music as they go about their yard work with a smile on their face, enjoying the serenade.  I picture Keaton with his hair teased and styled with gel, maybe with some highlights of black or red to set him apart from the crowd.  As the band gets better, they start to play at some near by events; a coffee house or restaurant and become local favorites.  The next stop?  What does a music lover do?  Why, he plays music of course?  For his own pleasure, for family and friends .. because it goes all the way to his soul.  What type of music could you introduce him to to grab his interest and broaden his mind? Mozart? Bach? Christian Rock? the Blues? Jazz?  Country?  Wow, so many many genres in just this one small bit of interest.  What else could his eyes be opened to?  What other interests could he develop and pursue?  No one will know until they take a chance and allow him to develop into all of his what-ifs and could-bes and do-be-doos.

Rock on Keaton!

Today my heart is breaking for those children that have reached out and said, YES - I want a mama and papa too!  These three children are still looking for a mom and dad to take them into their hearts and homes.  They stepped forward to have their pictures taken when a stranger came by and said, "Do you want me to try and find you a family?"  They live someplace that looks at their physical limitations and labels them as worthless.  I know this is NOT TRUE!  From experience with my own family and friends, I know that life is full of struggles, and that it can define you.  It can make you cold and bitter or it can make you stronger and better person.  These young people have not let others define their worth and have taken a chance... won't you take one too?  Give to their funds.   Forward their pictures and stories.  Step out in FAITH to take the less traveled path of adoption.   I KNOW that they have families out there waiting to embrace them and show them how much they are loved.  They each claim a special piece of my heart just from seeing their pictures, hearing their stories, and talking with other moms who have personally met each one.

Erin is going to turn 10 years old this year.  She's just a few months younger than my son.  Erin should be going to Girl Scout meetings and be on the swim team this summer.  I can see her chatting on the phone with her friends and going to parties.  I know she would love going to Five Below and picking out nail polish and hair bows.  I can see her writing in her diary and sharing secrets with her new friends.  She is waiting for a family because she has CP and needs AFO's on her feet to help her walk and run. Because her feet are not perfect, she is seen as being less smart and less capable than other kids.  This simply is not true!  Help her to show the world that she can SHINE!

Marcus is also going to turn 10 before the end of this year.  Oh how my heart aches for this boy!  My son N so loves to sit with me and snuggle, watching TV or reading stories at the end of the day.  As much as he strives to be independent throughout the day, acting like the responsible older brother, he also wants to know that he is loved and appreciated and lets himself be vulnerable at the end of the day, wrapped against my side knowing he is safe and loved.  Marcus yearns for the same thing.  Unfortunately there are not arms to hold him and a mom and dad to tell him that he is loved with all their heart.  He doesn't have anyone to wipe away his tears when he is sad or hurt, to kiss his boo-boos better.  He doesn't have anyone to cheer him on and praise him for his good work at school or in the play.  There aren't photo albums and pictures on the wall documenting his achievements.  There isn't anyone there to tell him that he is more than just a boy in a wheelchair.  I have no doubt that he could change your world, if only given the chance.

And then there is Carter.  He badly needs a family, having several of his good friends leave and find their own families without having one of his own will break his heart.  He has SPUNK!  http://butbygraceitcouldbeme.blogspot.com/2012/03/smart-mouthed-fat-dumb-as-doornail.html This link says more about Carter than I could possibly put into words.  He is a lovable scamp that would fit right in with a family and desperately wishes for his own. 



For more information...  http://reecesrainbow.org/