Randomness..

First off, I apologize that this may not flow smoothly like it should, it's late and I'm a wee bit tried (maybe that has something to do with the fact I went to bed at almost 1am last night, and was up at 7:30 this morning, and I was chasing kids all day.. :)).

While my parents are gone, us kids are splitting up between several people. Anna, Rebekah, and Rachel went home with my grandparents on Sunday. My parents had to fly out today, so before they left they brought Isaac, Elijah, and me to our friends house which isn't far from the airport. They have 2 little girls with DS, Ruby (age 4) and Lilya (age 6). Lilya came home from EE last summer! And these are the very special people we found out about RR from! So I wouldn't be here at their if they didn't exists on earth. (And that made point zero sense...) They have a 7 yo son, who is a Star Wars Lego fanatic just like Isaac. They also have a girl who is a few years older than me who is Autistic. So anywho... Oh nevermind, I don't know what the point of this is, probably explaining where I am. (See, I'm tried! :) But Rachel would tell ya that I'm like this all the time, which is probably true - I'm tried a lot. But I should stop blaming it on being tired and just tell you that this is what I'm really like.. ok not really but close.) Aren't I confusing? sigh.. So anyways, oh forget it. :P LOL I just read what I wrote, and I am debating whether or not to delete it... Mom will probably tell me to, but hey, she's busy with other things right now.. :)

Other thing I wanted to tell you about - my packing. (This will confirm any thought you've had of me possibly being crazy.) So I normally don't have a hard time packing light. The problem is I am so paranoid I'm going to forget something or need it and not have it. I was packing the other night, and I was looking around my room for things I needed. I saw my slippers and I seriously thought "Maybe I should bring those in case it gets cold." I'll have you know that the thought was there for 0.2 seconds, and that I did not bring my slippers. But still the thought was there.. sigh... Oh and then I was in the pantry (not packing, getting something), and I saw my tea. I decided I should bring some. Then I thought "I hope 3 bags will be enough.. omigosh, what if I go into a tea drinking spree and I run out of tea! Then what will I do!" Yeah, that would be me... sigh..

Ok, enough babbling, Sarah. For all my readers (if you still are a reader after reading this ;)), I HIGHLEY commend you if you have made it this far! :)

Night night!

'Mazing Monday - Liza

So I'm starting a new series of days - 'Mazing Monday. After my complete failure at Faithful Friday's (I'm gonna keep trying, I promise!), I don't know why I'm doing this.. But I thought since I have a day for Waiting Kids (Waiting Wednesday), and a day for families in process (Faithful Friday), I should have a day for kids who are already home! So introducing "'Mazing Monday"! All these kids that I feature are amazing, home, and thriving with their loving families, instead of sitting in an orphanage or institution. :)

This Monday, meet Liza!

LIZA for The Lorenz Family–Locust Grove, VA

The Lorenz family

Liza from Ukraine

Follow the adoption journey of the Lorenz family on their blog athttp://www.journeytoapromise.blogspot.com/

In a few of my Waiting Wednesday posts (Logan, Ryan, and Brody), I have mentioned that they were at the orphanage I was at on my mission trip last summer. Out of those 3, I only got to play with Logan, but that doesn't mean I didn't hold any other RR kids! :) One of the other ones was Liza! I didn't know until we got home that she had a family coming for her, or even that she was on RR, but luckily I got quite a few picture of her like the one to the left. She finally came home the middle of November! :)





A recent post from her mama's blog -


So, we're out having lunch today and this is what takes place.

Liza is sitting beside Rick on the booth seat across from me. She is eating nothing but french fries and he wants her to eat her chicken. (BTW- how did she turn into a typical American kid so fast?)

Rick tells her to eat her chicken and then gives her a stern look as she picks up another french fry.

She looks at him as if to say, "what?" That doesn't work so she puts on a cute face and shakes her ponytail at him.

He almost smiled, but didn't quite crack. He says, "Liza eat your chicken." and tries another stern look.

She leans behind his back and kisses his shoulder.

Dad eats the chicken and she eats her french fries.

Liza 1 / Daddy 0




Little sinker! :) Feel free to go to their blog (link above) for more pictures! But for now, I'm just happy my sweet girl is home! :)

Yep, that would be Elijah...

Yep, that would be Elijah who put the stuffed zebra on the changing table and got out a diaper...

The result (with a little help from Mama) - a diapered zebra!

Yep, I agree with the wise words - "At least now the zebra won't be pooping all over the house." :P

Yep, that would be Elijah who was moving as fast as lighting, so he is to blame for the quality of the pictures, not me.. Sorry!

And yep, the would be Elijah who just trashed the World puzzle again... sigh... Please don't forget to check out our Puzzle Fundraiser, so it will be worth it when I put it back together again! :)

the Journey

*A repost from the Journey. Please take some time today to go read her blog, you will be blessed!

This week. Mother's had their babies blown from their arms, the storm too strong. Other's clung tight as their infants breathed their last in my best friend's back seat, blood transfusions and machine-oxygen not enough to revive.

I hold the hearts in my thoughts and I pray harder. I lock eyes with this one momma, baby growing cold in her lap and I whisper, "I know." And I murmur a prayer over her but there really aren't words so we just cry and we hold each other all the way home. I remember too well what it feels like to go home without your baby. To wake up the next morning fuzzy and notwant to be this woman because things like this only happen in movies and on new stations, not to me. Please, God, not to me?

And no, it won't be ok, but it will be glorious one day when you lock arms in Heaven. And it only hurts this deep because you loved so deep and that memory, that love is what you live on some days.

So we bow down and we pray for you mothers. We snuggle close the babes still here. And while the head spins, "where is God in this mess," the heart knows the answer, "right here."

God is right here with us. And He knows.

This pain, this is what He did for us. Willing. He knows this hurt because He chose it to save us.

And that love is what we live on every day.

Waiting Wednesday: Mark

Today, meet Mark!

Mark (Latin America)

Boy, Born August 2006

609-02 This gentle boy has smooth, baby soft skin. He has dark skin and dark hair, potentially from an African/black parent. He is just darling, with a round chubby face. He was born on 8/2006. He enjoys playing with toys and with other children. His legs are rather weak so he scoots around quickly to reach his destination. He smiles brightly when he is spoken to. He waits for his loving family because he has Down syndrome. His family will be so lucky to be able to help this angel reach his fullest potential!

• Parents must be 25-55 years of age
• Single women up to 55 
• Couples must be married a min of 3 years 
• Parents must be healthy, both physically and mentally 
• Totally clean criminal background 
• No more than 4 children at home 
• Both parents travel for 10 days 
• One can return home, the other must stay an additional 3 weeks 
• Total cost about $25k 

$1170.00 is available towards the cost of my adoption!

Help me reach my 5/5/5 goal:

$178 / $5000.00 raised

Mark has always been one that caught my attention. His sad little face is hard for anyone to turn away from. But he doesn't have a family yet!

Fact: He is 5 and has been waiting, alone way to long.

Fact: He is one of the only ones listed in Latin America, and once he is adopted, others will most likely be listed on RR, and have a chance to be adopted.

Fact: He needs a family NOW!

Fact: YOU can help make that happen! PLEASE consider donating to his grant, or even better - go call the home study agency!

Opinion: I think you would make a great mama or papa!