Waiting Wednesday: Lilly's Birthday!

This is serving as my Waiting Wednesday post today! :)

My friend Rachel and I have a blog where we sell things that we've crocheted to earn money for orphans - Handiwork for Lilly. I haven't really posted about it a lot here, but I'm also very busy over there posting!

Today, I'm copying over part of my post from Handiwork for Lilly. PLEASE take the time to read this and participate in Lilly's Birthday Bash! Let's make this her LAST birthday without a family!

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Lilly's Birthday Bash!

Sometime during the month of February, Lilly had a birthday. We don't know what date, just that it was in February. She turned 5.

She has waited FIVE long years for a family to call her own, and 5 years is way to long. There is a very good chance she has already been transferred, and time is ticking down, fast!

I've said it a million times, and I'll say it a million times more - SHE URGENTLY NEEDS A FAMILY!!! URGENTLY!!

We've been fundraising and advocating for Lilly here for almost 9 months, and she hasn't found a family. We have raised more for her than any other child so far - over $1000 and climbing, and she still hasn't found a family. She has over $6500 in her adoption fund for any family who adopts her, and she still hasn't found a family. She has waited FIVE YEARS, and she still hasn't found a family!!!

So we are begging you to help us!! We need your help!! She doesn't have much time left. Lilly  needs your  help!!

In honor of her birthday this month, which hasn't been very happy for her because she is still stuck in her crib all day long, we are hosting Lilly's Birthday Bash!

It starts today and will go until March 5th, since she is 5 years old. Almost one whole week! And we are praying AMAZING things will happen for Lilly in that week!

So what exactly is her Birthday Bash going to be about?? And how can you help?? Great questions! :) Here are your answers!

Please consider doing a couple or ALL of the things listed below to help save Lilly! She is depending on YOU!!

1. Adopt!! We know not everyone is called to adopt, but there are MANY people who ARE called to adopt but are saying no to God. Are YOU Lilly's family??? Let us know if you are, and we'll celebrate with you and put you in touch with those who will help you get the process started! :)
2. Donate!! Money is the biggest thing that stand in the way of families adoption. $10,000 is usually the amount that will find a family for a child. Right now, Lilly has $6563.50 in her grant. Only $3,500 more!! Can we get her grant that high by March 5th?? I don't think that's too big of a goal for our BIG God! But we still need your help!! There is a secure Paypal donate button on our sidebar.
3. BUY!! We have many, many items listed, and we'll be listing many, many more over the next week! 100% of your total will go to Lilly's account! We don't even take out shipping (for that matter, we don't charge it!)! See the post below this one for more info.
4. SHARE SHARE SHARE!! Blog Lilly, email Lilly, facebook Lilly, tweet Lilly, pin Lilly, and share Lilly on any other social media device you can think of! Please also try to link back to our blog as well!
5. Grab our button!! ...and add it to your blog! You may have noticed I changed our header to a temporary birthday theme. The code is below the available and sold items on the sidebar. Let us know if you need help adding it to your blog!
6. Follow this blog!! Or be sure to check back often.
7. And MOST IMPORTANT... PRAY!!! Pray for Lilly, pray that she will be able to hold on, pray that a family will step up and adopt her, and pray that she will be able to feel all the love from half way around the world for her. Let us know if you want several prayer cards to post around your house to remember to pray for her!

There you go! 7 great ways to save Lilly's life! Yes, her LIFE! She will die if we do not team together and find her a family that can give her the medical care and love she needs to survive! It's her life at stake, and that's why we need your help!

If you did ANY of the above, please comment or email us (handiworkforelijah (at) gmail (dot) com) and let us know! For each of the different things you do (the different ways of sharing are counted separate), we'll enter you once into a drawing. On March 6th, we will draw a winner and they will receive a prize (to be determined)!!!

And to add to the fun... for every $25 worth of items you buy from us, you will receive $5 worth of your choice free!!!

Oh and be SURE to go read Rachel's birthday post about Lilly... very moving! - Lilly's Birthday

Okay! Lots of great stuff going on, we did our part (and will continue to), now it's YOUR turn!! Let's make this her last birthday in an orphanage!

TOGETHER we can SAVE LILLY!

Are you with us??

Exciting Stuff!!

Has it really been almost a week since I posted?? Guess I've been a little busy.... busy watching Star Wars and doing borders on blankets! :)

BUT GUESS WHO MET HER MAMA AND PAPA TODAY!!!! Sweet Katie Ruth!!!

A picture they had before -

And pictures from today!!!

After months or waiting and praying, and a rough start to the trip, today was the day!!! Isn't she absolutely PERFECT??? I won't lie, I skipped reading and scrolled down to see the pictures... and I cried. A lot. :) She is soo beautiful and soo amazing!! I am soo HAPPY for her family!!! Congrats Simpson Family!!!

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And guess who else has a family to call their own!! Mr. Caleb!!

He met his parents yesterday and today he officially became a Prevost!!!! He is soo stinkin' cute and will fit right in!! :) CONGRATS PREVOST FAMILY!!! I can't wait to meet him!!

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And I have to include this adorable picture of handsome Mr. Dax!! He's getting so big since when I was there in January! Miss you buddy!

Waiting Wednesday: Maxim

I know I have posted about Maxim for WW before, but he really is in desperate need of a family! Natalie, a missionary who visited him many times made this video for him.

Oh and I have to add, the video says he was diagnosed with rickets. Rickets sounds scary but really it's not! I wrote a paper on it recently for school, so email me if you want to read it! ;)

I'm going to ask you, no beg you, to share the video of him, his picture, and/or his profile!! He has soo much potential, he just needs a family who will look past his scary looking list of diagnosis's and love him unconditionally!!!

Here's is Maxim's profile:

Maxim

Boy, Born September 15, 2004

Maxim is a precious little boy who has already been sent away to the institution. He needs a family immediately!! He is 6 years old, with blonde hair and blue yes.  He struggles with strabismus in both eyes and a significant tongue thrust, but surgery/glasses and OT will help with that!  Please give Maxim the chance to grow up in a loving family, so he can realize his full potential!!  We have already had a family adopt from this institution, so Maxim still has an opportunity to be saved and to live the life he so richly deserves!

 

From one of our adoptive families who visited with him in October 2010:   I don't know if I can openly share how the whole encounter went so I will just say that we were able to go and while we were there I was able to see Maxim. To hold him and love on him. To laugh as he passed gas and laughed about it. That was one of the best parts of the visit, how he thought "tooting" (is it called that when boys do it?) was just the funniest thing – just like any other 6 year old little boy would. He was so sweet and so alert and attentive to those who had come to visit with him. Here's a little rundown of his abilities that I witnessed first hand:

• He can pull up to stand and walk with assistance.
• He knows his name and responds to it.
• He has a sweet nature, personality, and sense of humor
• He copies hand motions (I believe he could learn to sign)
• He can crawl
• He likes cars!  They said he crawls through the window to look out when the car comes to their building.

In the one pic above where  you see his hands, he kept touching his thumbs together and so I put his pointers togehter to make a heart and after that he kept trying to do it himself. His worker was a really sweet lady who obviously believes that people with DS are capable. She hopes to see change in her country someday. That really touched my heart to know that he is being cared for by someone who believes that he can be something if given a chance. AND HE CAN!

 

Maxim's Mom and Dad? Where are you? I've seen him. I've held him and kissed his sweet face. He is waiting patiently for you to come for him. I KNOW, I just KNOW, that he will be the biggest blessing to his family. Please hear the call – for Maxim.

 

UPDATE OCT 2011:  

Maxim is one of the sweetest little boys I've ever met. He pats my arm in the most adorable, gentle way, and it absolutely melts my heart! He is now walking with very minimal assistance, and crawls faster than any other child I've ever met. He is a smart boy, and will follow directions (for example, come over to the carpet). He has an amazing attention span, and will bounce a ball back and forth with me for at least 20 minutes straight. He has the most wonderful laugh, and is a very joyful little guy! He has so much potential, someone please choose Maxim!! 

 

A video of Maxim!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOPay2kKX6Y 

 

$4715.00 is available towards the cost of my adoption!

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

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?

Talya and Keirsten

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?

Gabrielle and Nana

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?

Raymond and Valery

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...

Margaret and Angela

They are precious children!

Sheldon and Janie

They are waiting for spring!

 Camille, Jordan 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!

Tina

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!

Keaton

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!!