Mama's Little Cowboys

With red hair, freckles & a peanut butter face,
He looks at his mama with wonder & wait.

Those brown eyes a shining & looking so bright.
Just waiting for her to say ok go outside.

With a kiss on the cheek & a hug that’s so tight.
He heads for the door with six guns at side.

There are outlaws to catch, wild ponies to rides, 
Gotta get them doggies before it gets night.

There are outlaws to catch, wild ponies to rides, 
Gotta get them doggies before it gets night.

With rope in his hand & hat pulled down tight, he saddles his pony & gets ready to ride.
I’m the toughest of cowboys! He shouts to his steed.
Ain’t sacred of no outlaw, Indian, or thief!

But even the toughest of cowboys get dumped.
And he came thru the front door with tears & a lump.

His mama was there to ease his pain.

With a kiss and hug it all went away.

With red hair & freckles & a bump on his chin, he was off riding the trails once again.

She knows that someday the time will come, she’ll have to cut the fences & just let him run.

But with red hair & freckles & those shiny brown eyes.
He’s mama’s little cowboy, her joy & pride.

Source: http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/red-hair-and-freckles#ixzz1zJKKYTpz 

These sweet boys have missed that part of growing up, and missed having a mama to be there for them. They are now over ten years old, and have never had the luxury of pretending to be a cowboy and shoot all the bad guys. While they are all over ten, I'm sure they still would love to be mama's little cowboy, because they are still boys. They haven't had the chance to grow up like they should.

But, hope is not lost for them. They still can have that chance. Please give them that chance and save them from being unadoptable, which they all will be soon if mama doesn't go save her little cowboy.

They deserve the chance to be a little boy. Please don't let that chance be taken away from them forever. Click on any of their pictures to find out more about them!

We failed.

Remember when I posted this picture???

Sadly.... All 3 aged out.

They are no longer adoptable because they have reached the age of 16, and they will spend the rest.of.their.life in a mental.institution.

Harmony...

Harmony is in a different country, but she also aged out earlier this year before we could find a family for her. 

Friends, we failed them. We needed to find them a family. We were their only chance at a future.

They are voiceless, they have no voice. It was our job to be their voice.

We weren't their voice. We didn't yell enough.

These 12 children are in the same place/region as Trina, Jared, and Stefan. All of them will age out soon. Let's not fail them too.

Click here for more info

Please share the above picture and this link that goes with it or share this post!!!!

The region these children are in is relatively easy. Parents can be no more than 45 years older than the child, up to 6 children already in the home, total cost approx $35k (reletively "cheap" for this country), and MULTIPLE UNRELATED CHILDREN CAN BE ADOPTED TOGETHER! Not saying if you decide to adopt one of these children, you have to get more than one, but they CAN be adopted together! For more info on this region go here.

Hope, Bartholemew, Joy, and Faith age out next year, but they need families NOW so we can make sure the family can get their in time, but it would be ideal for ALL 12 children to find a family now.

I don't think I'll be able to forgive myself if we fail these children too!! PLEASE help me spread the word!!!

Broken Records (Waiting Wednesday: Sally)

It's been awhile since I introduced you to a sweet child in need of a family... so today I want to introduce you to Miss Sally!

Sally is a sweet little princess who is living in a mental institution in Eastern Europe. She has lived her whole life without a mommy or daddy. Can you even imagine not even knowing what a mommy and a daddy are??? I sure can't.

Will you please be her mama or papa?? Please don't say no and just walk away on those pleading eyes that want a mama and a papa of her own. Please don't say no. She needs out, or she will spend the rest of her life there!

....

I know this sounds the same as every other post... they need out, they need your help, will you be their mama and papa? It all sounds the same and I sound like a broken record, I know.

....

But here's the thing. There might be someone who happens to read my blog. They don't think they are called to adopt, or ready to go back and adopt again, but one day I post a picture of a child who needs a family. That person sees that picture and knows deep down inside that that child is their child. So they talk to their spouse and/or family members, pray about it, and then they take the plunge, and go get that child. After they saw that child here on this blog.

Or I ask my readers to share a post of mine or share a picture of a child. They do, and then the same thing might happen as above.

You just never know who might be reading or looking at anything you post, and it just might be that God stirs someone's heart while they are looking at a picture or reading something. And then there will soon be one less orphan in the world. God works in the coolest ways, and you might the one He uses to find a child a family.

That is why I keep yelling over and over for these children. For Lilly...

For Owen...

For Sergey...

For Tommy...

For Jared, Trina, and Stefan...

For Mark...

For Ekaterina...

(Thank you for voting for her!!! She is still in first at the moment, but not by much! Voting is open a few more hours, please vote for her if you haven't yet!

And for Sally.

Because it just might be that one of the future parents might see them here, or see them when someone else saw them here and shared their picture of their story.

And on top of that... each and every one of these children is special and unique, and no one child is more deserving of a family than another. They all have been waiting too long, and they all need to know what a family is. Because they have never known.

So yes, I still sound like a broken record, but why should I stop trying to find them a family if they don't have one? I will be a broken record until they have families and they are home, because apparently, their parents haven't heard the record yet!

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To close, I want to share with you a post my friend Yvonne wrote about Sally -  

This little face caught my heart from the moment I met her at the girls' institution. Immediately I asked if she was available for international adoption but there were some questions about her status. Evidently, we found she was available. We thought about adding her but were a bit overwhelmed with the girls plus we'd have to gone back to the capital city and started all over and we weren't sure if we had the money to do it. It just seemed too much...

We think about going back and getting her and two boys that we also felt drawn to but we have some great big mountains in the way. For us to even adopt one more child we'd have to get a bigger van, our's is filled, we'd have to have another bedroom, our small house is filled and we'd need the adoption expenses.... Plus we do realize we are only two older (late 40's) people! We have three handicapped kids now who are all about on a 1-2 year old level which means we do everything for them. And we do it GLADLY! We adore our sweet children but we are only two people....and these three will need life long care... So will the three we are drawn to...But then my heart says what will I do when I stand before God KNOWING there was at least one more I could have rescued....I take that seriously!

What am I asking of you? Get her picture out, she is not listed with any organization at this time, pray about including her in your family... Pray that if God wants us to adopt her and the boys that He'll make the path straight for us. And relatively easy. I don't think that is too much to ask this time around... We shown God we would be faithful in our adoptions. Adoptions are not easy, it's emotionally taxing, lots of paperwork. the trip is hard...there are so many aspects where you just have to surrender to God...I know from experience. I do NOT look forward in any way to the process...I know it all too well!

She is on my mind constantly...her face comes before me and my eyes are flooded with tears for her...she needs a family NOW! Please pray that God will provide one!!!! Whether it is us or another family.....

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So I will ask again - Will you be Sally's family so I don't have to play another broken record? (No, that is NOT why I want her to have a family - so I don't have to advocate for her... really, it's not. Just roll with me here, mk?)

Because honestly... records are obsolete these days anyways. And not to many people are willing to keep their record players that only play broken records. I would love to get rid of mine, but I will not until they all have families.

I'm going to need a lot of help before the dump gets to claim another record player. Will you help? One child at a time?

If you are interested in being Sally's family please email me at forhisgloryhandiwork (at) gmail (dot) com, and I will put you in touch with Yvonne and the others you need to contact. :)

**Yes, I know that I'm turning 14, and record players were WAY before my time... to be honest, I've never actually even seen one. I have seen one or two records though. Ahem. I will stop now, so you don't unnecessarily feel really, really old. That's not the intention of this post. Honest. Though, on this note, Sally's country has changed their laws, and now has no upper age limit. Just a thought.... hehe

HOPE or NO HOPE?

"Aging out" is always a phrase that scares advocates.

Children usually age out at the age of 16, but depending on the country it's sometimes 14.

When a child ages out, they are no longer adoptable and have to leave the orphanage.

There are 3 children who are very close to aging out.

****Please feel free to save and share this picture to spread the word!****

They will all be 16 in September and October, and they will then "age out" and no long be adoptable.

They will either get put out on the streets, or more likely, because of their diagnosis of Down syndrome, they will spend the rest.of.their.life in a mental.institution.

When you age out, there is NO HOPE.

These three will soon have NO HOPE.

But they still have time before they age out.

There IS still HOPE left.

But there is NOT much time.

I'm not sure how far along in the process a family has to be before their birthday, but I do know that we need to get them families NOW if they are still going to have HOPE.

So which will it be?

What are we going to give these kids who have done NOTHING to deserve the fate that awaits them?

Which will it be?

HOPE or NO HOPE?

The region they are in allows adoption of multiple unrelated children. If you are willing to be the family that one or more of these three soo desperately need, please do not delay in giving them HOPE. Click here for more info on this region and adoption of these children.

Waiting Wednesday: Trina, Jared, Stefan, Buddy, Gabrielle, Seth, Dahl, Helena, Landen, Abilene, Charlie, Kirk, Bartholemew, Faith, Hope, and Joy

Hahaha I think that earns the record for the longest title in the history of this blog! :)

We've been extremely busy lately with the Jesus Sale that starts tomorrow.... that's why I haven't blogged the past few days, and that's also part of the reason I've decided to take a break from blogging for a little bit. I still may post a few quick posts here and there, but for the most part I'm not going to be blogging.

So, while I'm gone, I want to leave you with this mega WW post of many precious children who need families. They were just recently listed RR, so they haven't been able to get much exposure yet. Unfortunately, they all have very slim chances of finding families. Why? Because most people are scared away by their ages.

And that breaks my heart. Sooo many deserving children, most of them almost my age or older!! So deserving of families, but thrown away by their country. I certainly would not like being stuck in an institution my whole life! Would like want to see me in an institution? No? Well then, you shouldn't want to see any of these children there either.

I want you to please PLEASE consider adding one of these precious children to your family, and if you aren't able to, YELL for them. Beg others to be their families! They don't deserve to age out in a couple years and not ever know the love of a family!

First, here is the requirements for adopting from their region.

Region 09

• MULTIPLE UNRELATED CHILDREN CAN BE ADOPTED TOGETHER (with adequate income level)
• 3 trips
• 1st trip, Both parents for 7 days
• Wait 2-3 months for court
• Both parents travel for 2nd trip for court hearing, 10 days
• This region does not waive the 30 day wait
• Only one parent has to make third trip of 2 weeks
• No more than 6 children at home
• Applicants should be no more than 45 years older than the child
• Total program and travel fees under $35k
• Married couples and single mothers may apply
• No criminal background
• No history of mental health concerns (depression, bipolar, or other mental health issues)
  

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ANY OF THE CHILDREN LISTED BELOW, and to confirm your eligibility and financial preparedness to adopt internationally, PLEASE CLICK HERE!

And here are the precious kids needing mamas (click on their name to go to their page):

Trina 9HA

u8ed-9

Girl, born October 1996

Eyes of Gray

Blond hair

Diagnosis: Down syndrome
Trina is almost 16! Imagine spending most of your life in an institution. She should be home getting ready for the prom, not living in a crib. God help her, she looks so sad. She needs a family asap or she will have no chance at finding a family!

Families considering our older, institutionalized children should be home study approved prior to commitment.

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Jared 9HA

16682-9

Boy, born October 1996

Diagnosis: Down syndrome

Blue Eyes

Nature of fun, not relaxing – he sounds like a busy guy!
Jared will be 16 in October, He needs a family soon or his chances to find a family will be gone. His description says “Nature of fun, not relaxing.” He sounds like a typical 16 year old!!

Families considering our older, institutionalized children should be home study approved prior to commitment.

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Stefan 9HA

t05h-9
Boy, born September 1996

Brown eyes

Hair light brown

The nature of the active

Diagnosis: Down syndrome

Stefan is almost 16! He looks like he’s full of energy and ready to jump into a new life. We need a family for Stefan by September or his chances to be adopted will be lost.

Are you his family??

Families considering our older, institutionalized children should be home study approved prior to commitment.

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Buddy 9HA

6j3e-9
Boy, born December 2001

Eyes of Gray

Dark hair

The nature of communicative

Diagnosis: Down syndrome

Buddy is a handsome young man who will be 11 in December.  Although he hasn’t had a chance to be play ball and be on a team, as you can see he has kept that boy spirit.  Let’s help Buddy be a member of his own team…his family!!

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Gabrielle 9HA

ddl3-9
Girl, born June 1998
Brown eyes
The nature of communicative

Diagnosis: Down syndrome

Gabrielle means “God is my might.”  She is almost 14!  She looks so sad and her mouth looks so sore!  Wouldn’t a family be so wonderful for her?

Gabrielle has some apparent dental issues.  Dental work would make a big difference in her overall health.  Please help our Gabby find a family!!

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Seth 9HA

zodq-9
Boy, born March 1999
Eyes of Gray
Nature of Good

Diagnosis: Down syndrome

Seth is 13!  He has such soulful eyes.  Those baby blues….  He is also confined to a crib.  What 13 year old child deserves to be in a crib for life??  Can we help him break free?

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Dahl 9HA

sh6w-9

Boy, born September 1999

Eyes of Gray

The nature of calm

Diagnosis: Down syndrome

Dahl is 12.  He is another little one that would benefit from a family and the correct nutrition.  It says he is calm.  Let’s give Dahl a reason to be calm, but learn how to play and be the boy he so deserves to be!

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Helena 9HA

hrm1-9
Girl, born August 1999
Blue Eyes

Diagnosis: Down syndrome

Helena is almost 13!  This tiny, beautiful little girl is almost a teenager.  Hard to believe isn’t it?  She has such a beautiful face.  Such beauty hidden away.  Can we help save her so the world can see the beauty we all see in her??

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Landen 9HA

19fs-9

Boy, born February 1999

Brown eyes

Hair dark brown

The nature of aggressive, non-contact

Diagnosis: Down syndrome

Landen is 13!  He is described as aggressive and non-contact.  Maybe poor Landen has never had a reason to be anything else.  Can we give him a reason to come out of his shell?  This boy would surely benefit from the love of a family and some therapy.  It’s hard to understand love when nobody has ever loved you!

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Abilene 9HA

hrly-9

Girl, born February 1998

Eyes of Gray

Hair dark brown

The nature of a quiet, sociable

Diagnosis: Down syndrome

Abilene is 14!  She looks like the light is gone from her eyes.  She is desribed as sociable, which she should be.  Let’s help Abilene get out of an institution and into the social life of a family and friends!!

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Charlie 9HA

wow6-9

Boy, born June 1998

Brown eyes

Hair dark brown

The nature uncommunicative

Diagnosis: Down syndrome

Charlie is almost 14!  He looks so small.  Yet, he finds a reason to smile.  Charlie would make a great big brother to some lucky little child.  If you have any concerns about older child adoptions, feel free to ask us here at Reece’s Rainbow.  We have many people that could give you the information you are looking for!

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Kirk 9HA

q70m-9

Has brothers or sisters

Boy, born July 1998

Eyes of Gray

Hair dark brown

Capricious nature

Diagnosis: Down syndrome

Kirk will be 14 in July.  Wouldn’t it be a great thing to have a family before Independence Day?  Kirk has such a handsome face!  Let’s help Kirk find a family before it’s to late!!

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Bartholemew 9HA

17eh0-9

Boy, born August 1997

Blue Eyes

Blond hair

The nature of Moody

Diagnosis: Down syndrome

Oh, this poor boy.  His lips look so dry.  Our heart breaks for his look of sadness!  Barth is almost 15.  He needs a family fast!  This region allows unrelated children to be adopted.  Please consider him and maybe another child from this region.

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Faith 9HA

mux2-9

Girl, born November 1997

Brown eyes

Hair dark brown

The nature uncommunicative

Diagnosis: Down syndrome

Faith is another girl that is almost 15!  She has the sweetest face.  She looks as if she has quite the spirit!  Let’s help Faith keep the faith and show her the life she deserves!

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Hope 9HA

2hol-9

Girl, born July 1997

Blue Eyes

Blond hair

The nature of calm

Hope’s diagnosis is unconfirmed – it’s believed she either has Down syndrome or Cornelia de Lange syndrome.  An interested family would be able to get further medical information.

Precious Hope.  There are not enough words in this world to explain how our hearts ache for her!  Hope is almost 15!  She has some definite eye issues.  Can you imagine what it would do for her if she was able to find a family and have her eyes checked??!!  Let’s help her to see what this world can actually be like outside the confines of a crib.

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Joy 9HA

251h-9
Has brothers or sisters

Girl, born October 1997

Blue Eyes

Blond hair

The nature of calm

Diagnosis: Down syndrome

Joy is a precious teenager that is almost 15!  Most children when confined to a crib for the greater part of their lives look much smaller then they should be.  She looks like she still smiles even though she has been in an institution for many years now.  Let’s help Joy to keep that “Joy” and help her to become the teenager she should be!

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There are 16 children. I know that at least 3 times that number of people read my blog, so if you all choose one to help or even say a prayer for, we'll be able to do something BIG! Together we can, one at a time! Thank you for helping these gorgeous jewels!!

And let me assure you, this will not be the last time you are hearing from me about these children of region 9! I'm planning on yelling and yelling for them until each and every one has a family!!!

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And as always, be sure to go get a puzzle piece!