Showing posts with label Food for Thought. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food for Thought. Show all posts

Friday, May 11, 2012

Faithful Friday - The Spitz Family

Wow! It's been awhile since I've done a Faithful Friday post! Friday's are busy days for me for some reason! Anywho.... (Gosh, I love that word!)

You know who this is right?? You better if you read this blog!
It's miss Lyla. She has an amazing story! Here it is....
She has had a family fall in love with her and work to get her only to find out she was too sick to be adopted, and might not survive. Still praying for Lyla constantly, that family moved forward to adopt another little girl - Bellie.
While in country adopting Bellie, they tried to see Lyla, but were denied that request. After Bellie was home awhile they felt the call to go back and adopt again, and committed to a little girl who they were going to name Charlie.
Shortly after committing to her, they found out she was adopted by a family in her country. So the mama of that family let the daddy pick out another child. He chose a boy, who they were to name Gavin.
Unbeknownst to him, Gavin was in the same orphanage as Lyla! They worked through the process quickly, and shortly before they were to travel to get Gavin, they found out that Lyla had survied and was available to be adopted again!! They were heartbroken over what to do. They still felt in their hearts that Lyla was their daughter, but they knew Gavin was their son. Adopting both was not an option. Heartbroke, they decided to let Lyla find another family and continue with the adoption of Gavin.

I and several others yelled and yelled and prayed for a family for her, and finally one stepped forward! They started the process to bring her home. Then on Gavin's gotcha day, Gavin's mama, also Lyla's first mama, got to meet her princess and hold her. Whisper in her ear a family was coming for her. She took these two pictures which still make me cry every time I look at them!

Then awhile after they got home with Gavin, we learned Lyla's family was no longer able to continue with her adoption. Everyone, including the family that was going to adopt Lyla was heartbroken. So we all started yelling again, and this time had even more people yelling with us. Soon there 4 families that were serious about committing to adopting her. And one of them did. Guess what family that was! Lyla's original family! The same one that is now Bellie and Gavin's family!

And that family with such an amazing adoption story (did I mention that have also adopted two children through foster care?), is none other than the Spitz's!!
Spitz family minus Dave
I've blogged about them many times here, and I've blogged about them being Lyla's family, but I realized the other day I haven't posted about them for Faithful Friday with this adoption!

The Spitz's are USCIS approved already (they got expedited!!! :D), and just about to send off their dossier to Lyla's country. With this being a back-to-back(-to-back-to-back-to-back!) adoption, finances were the main issue. So the wonderful Colleen has been doing many fundraisers for them! She has two going right now.

The first is this awesome tshirt fundraiser! You can get one that says 'I love Lyla' or one with the Spitz's blog button when they first tried to bring her home that says 'Love will bring her home'. And they are only $15 each!

Click the pictures above to get yours (through Paypal only)! I have mine (I love Lyla) already ordered, and I CAN NOT wait to wear it! :)

The second fundraiser Colleen has going on is a scrapbook fundraiser where you can "buy" a page of a digital scrapbook Colleen is making and write whatever you want on it. Then the book will get printed and Lyla will be able to read it and look at it with her family when she gets home to see all the people who LOVE her! What an awesome idea! Click the image below to go to that fundraiser!

Lyla's family already loves her SOO very much, and her daddy (Dave) was willing to cut his hair into a mohawk and let his little ones put make-up all over his face when they reached a certain amount in their funding.

And Lyla's big brothers were willing to dress up like girls and walk the streets of their town when they hit another amount in their fundraising! Here's the proof!

**Warning... you might not be able to to breathe because you are laughing soo hard after watching this video!


But they need your help to bring her home where she belongs. She is not in good health at all, and needs medical treatment ASAP!

Here is a video that I found the other day that was made the first time they tried to adopt Lyla. I have to admit it made me cry, and not much should be changed if they remade it for now, besides adding 2 kids to their family picture! :)



I hope their story touched your heart like it continues to touch mine. And I pray you will do something to help this beautiful family out!


LILIANNA for the Spitz family — NY

Dave & Summer are a happy married couple that have been BLESSED with 7 children. Taylor, Conor & Nick are biological, while Owen, Belle, Gavin & Sara were chosen. Owen & Sara were placed as foster children when Owen was 4 months old and Sara was just a tiny newborn. The Spitz family was so grateful that they were able to adopt both of them in 2010. Then in June of 2010 the family committed to adopting Lilianna, the most beautiful girl with the biggest blue eyes. They were devastated when they were told in September that she was in the hospital, she was not expected to live and they were not permitted to bring her home. The news was the end to a dream. The family did not give up on the mission to save; they continued their adoption journey. Isabelle was adopted from Ukraine on December 30, 2010 and what a glorious day that was!! The Spitz family had planned to return to Ukraine in the spring if Lilianna had survived. They inquired about her but she was still not adoptable and still not expected to live. The family came to the realization that Lilianna would not be a part of their forever family. The family was heartbroken. The Spitz’s still answered the call to adopt and they moved forward to adopt Gavin. The Gavinator as he is now known was adopted on December 22, 2011. While in the process of adopting Gavin, the news of a miracle was revealed. Lilianna had SURVIVED and was adoptable. Since Gavin was in the same orphanage as Lilianna, Summer asked permission to see her. Summer explains that visit to be the most overwhelming emotional few minutes of her entire life. She told Lilianna how much she loved her and promised that her Mommy & Daddy would come for her soon. Summer left that room not knowing how long the sweet little girl she just held could honestly survive with a failing heart. It was a wonderful day when a family that loved her dearly committed to her. Finally it was Lilianna’s turn to be SAVED and she could have life saving surgery. Unfortunately, they were not able to continue with the adoption to bring Lilianna home. Little did Summer know that on January 19, 2012 the stunning little girl she held was actually her forever daughter!!! So now, 2 years later the Spitz family is working at lightening speed to finally bring home the little girl that they not only LOVE dearly but the girl that had led them to their newest amazing additions, Belle & Gavin!!! Only GOD!!!!!
5/9/12—DOSSIER EN ROUTE
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at http://luckytolovelyla.blogspot.com/
$12687.52 is available towards the cost of my adoption!


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One more thing, not related to this post.... can I ask you to PLEASE be on your knees praying for the the Higbie family.. they are adopting a little girl with Ds named Lera, and their bio little girl with Ds was airlifted to the hospital with a life threatening case of pneumonia. She is not in a stable condition. For more info and more updates, please go here. And PLEASE PRAY!!!

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And as always... remember to go get your puzzle piece! :)

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Every Nation

You say the Gospel is for every nation.


Does your passport show it?
(Taken from WORLD magazine)


Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of ALL nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (emphasis added)

If we become true followers of Christ and lived radically like we are commanded to live... our passports will never be the same.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Start the LOVE!

I saw this amazing video on my friend Stephanie's blog, and had to share it! It's very powerful and moving, PLEASE take the time to watch it and let me know what you think!


Watch Christian Videos and Read the Online Bible at GodVine.com
If the video doesn't work you can watch it here - http://www.godvine.com/Start-the-Love-a-Girl-s-Awesome-Appeal-to-All-Christians-1152.html

It also reminded me of a song I love by Casting Crowns - Jesus, Friend of Sinners.


"Jesus, Friend Of Sinners"

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away

We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Chorus:
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand
Made the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of these
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

Chorus

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

Chorus

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast
Yeah...
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Waiting for SPRING!


John moved to the northern US from a tropical country where the weather was always warm...

The trees were always green and flowers grew year round.

After getting settled into his new job and saving some money, John bought a plane ticket for his dear mother so that she could come to visit him.

Mother had never left her native country.  She was poor and lived in a remote area.  Because she had had no opportunity to receive an education, she knew almost nothing about the world outside of her community.

Mother came to visit in November.  Soon after she arrived, John took her for a drive through the countryside and neighborhoods near his home.

"How did you enjoy the drive?" John asked when they got back.

"It was very interesting, but I have a question...

"I am very puzzled by something I saw!"


"I saw so many dead trees!  Why in the world don't the people cut them for firewood?  I could certainly use some of that wood to cook with back home, but the people here just let them stand around.  They are such an eyesore!"


"Oh Mother", John laughed, "the trees are not dead!


They are just waiting for spring!

Because it is cold here the trees have gone to sleep.

The cold would hurt their tender leaves so they have let them go...

When it warms up they will get new leaves and begin to grow again!


They will be beautiful - you'll see!"


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Why do I tell this little story?

Because it illustrates an important point!

When we see pictures like these...

Bobby and Kiril

How often do we make the same mistake John's mother made?


Do thoughts like...
They are useless, hopeless, and their just too far gone...

Greta and Daphne

Fill our hearts with doubt?

Giselle and Sadie

These precious children have been deprived of the sunshine and warmth of love!

Daniel and Nate

How can they possibly thrive...

Jared and Eric

When they are bedridden and lacking sufficient food?

Lacking basic stimulation and the opportunity to learn about the world?


Are they not letting their leaves fall and hunkering down for the winter?

Nathan and Brent

Protecting themselves from the chilling blast of the winter wind?



When will the winter be over?

 Camille and Paul

When will the warm summer sunshine fill their souls with hope?

Janna and Samson

Who will give them the love they need to grow and blossom?

Hanson and Silas

They are most certainly NOT firewood...


They are precious children!

Sheldon and Janie

They are waiting for spring!


 CamilleJordan and Nathan

Don't you want to see them blossom?


What beauty the world is missing...


By hiding them away!


Think it's too late for them to bloom?

Here's what love did for one little boy!

Seth the day his parents met him...

(After spending the previous 3 months in a bleak institution...)


Seth three months later!


Just look what love has done!

The warmth and sunshine have made SUCH a difference for this dear little boy!

He is blossoming and growing and thriving!

He was just waiting for spring!

You can read more about Seth and his amazing progress on this blog!

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Please don't give up on the waiting ones who are still enduring a frightful winter!

Please consider choosing a child to pray for...

Donate to their adoption grant fund if you are able...

Share their story with others...

And pray about whether you might possibly be the springtime (family)...

A child is waiting for!


Could one of them be yours?
Noah and Jake

To read more about any of these children or donate to their funds...

Just click on their names under their pictures!

It's time for Spring!




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This wonderful post was written by my friend Pam who blogs @ Saving His Sparrows. I thought it was very powerful and wanted to share it. 

Please go give Pam some bloggy world love and let he know she is making a difference!! Her love for these passed over children is AMAZING!!