a LONG time. I have no other excuse except being a tad busy and a lot lazy! Today is Orphan Sunday and I thought what better way to kick it off than to post an update about our favorite former orphan! Anna is such a delight to our family and it seems like she has been here forever. I wish I could take her past back and make up for all that she lost in the orphanage and mental institution for six years. There really isn't anything we can do about it except make sure she has the most love and happiness that all children deserve for the rest of her life. Even though she is happy, thriving and deeply loved, there are still so many that don't know any of this. All they know is what life looks like from behind crib bars, mental institution walls, baby houses, etc. There are still so many that wait for the day and long for their turn to come to have a forever family.
Not everyone is capable or able to adopt but there are several other ways that you can help an orphan. Visit Reece's Rainbow and view the waiting children and children who have committed families. Adoption is very expensive and not many families who step out on faith to adopt a child have all of the money that is required to complete an adoption. Many people think that if a family doesn't have the $20,000 - $50,000 set aside then they shouldn't be adopting. I couldn't disagree with this statement more. If you are a Christian then you are aware that God commands us to take care of the orphans and the widows. He tells us to do it. He didn't say how or which ones, He just said - do it! Like I stated earlier, not everyone is able to adopt for various reasons, but there are some who can help families by given a monetary donation or by praying for the orphans and families or by spreading the word about Reece's Rainbow to your friends. By me sharing our story of adopting Anna, this little boy found his forever family too! I would have never dreamed in a million years that our story would help another orphan find their family.
If it weren't for kind, loving, generous people, we wouldn't have Anna as our daughter today. We stepped out on faith for God to provide a way for us to pay her ransom and he showed up every single time, every single penny of the way. One of our favorite cheerleaders was a lady named Sandy from Texas. She didn't know us but God sure set a fire in her to put out the word to God's people to help us in any way they could. What an awesome prayer warrior she is! Her daughter (who also didn't know us) made a donation to Anna's adoption grant that Christmas as a Christmas gift to her mother Sandy. She printed Anna's photo and wrapped it up and gave it to her for Christmas. Sandy went to our blog and read all about our family and took it upon herself to help us. I cry, as I sit here thinking about it. This sweet and dear lady sat down and typed up an email about our family and our adoption of Anna. She sent it to her family and friends who have email. Those friends who don't use email received letters in the mail from Sandy. I don't even know how many thousands of dollars that Sandy helped us raise, but she sure helped raise a lot and she also donated herself. What a selfless act she took upon herself. I will never, ever forget this sweet lady for all that she has done to help our family.
So see, maybe you can help an orphan. Maybe you can't adopt. Maybe you donate even $5. But you can spread the word and be a cheerleader for other families who are going through the same process that we did. I beg you to do what you can. Pray. Share. Donate. Adopt. Anything is better than nothing!!
Another angel that God sent our way was a lady name Katherine. We didn't know her personally either. I am not even sure how she found us. But she jumped into action and helped raise money for Anna's adoption too! We now both know that God put her in our path for a very specific reason. You see, in March of 2012, about 8 months after our Anna came home, she gave birth to a baby girl with Down syndrome! How amazing is it that God put our paths together before she ever became pregnant with her daughter? Now she also knows the amazing love that comes with that extra chromosome blessing!
One of Anna's former orphan buddies has an amazing mom coming for her! Her name is Jody and she is an awesome Christian woman who wants nothing more than to make Oksana her daughter. Maybe you can go visit and donate a few dollars. Maybe you can donate more or maybe you can share her story?
Right now, Reece's Rainbow has an amazing fundraiser going on during the Christmas season. It is called the Christmas Angel Tree. The orphans listed on this page have Christmas warriors who are trying to raise funds to go in the orphans grant fund. The goal for each child is to have at least $1,000 in their grant during this time. For a donation of $35 to one child, you will receive a Christmas ornament with that child's picture on it to hang on your Christmas tree! This fundraiser will be going on through December 31st.
Thank you for helping orphans in any way you are capable!
