I have an additional plea today.

These young brothers were given up at birth because of a genetic disease called Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).  EB causes blistering of the skin from even the slightest amount of friction. It can even cause blistering in the esophagus from the friction created by swallowing food.  Their skin is so very fragile that even the a touch can result in blistering and gaping wounds.  Some people with this condition spend most of their lives in bandages; they are at an extremely high risk of infection.  If left untreated, infections can lead to death.

(You should check out this amazing blog by a single momma of a sweet boy with EB.)

I don’t know how these sweethearts have survived so long in orphanage conditions!

But, there is a family on their way!  This family has a daughter with EB, so they KNOW how seriously the boys need care.  I am so thankful that God has led them…

The problem is that the older brother has been transferred to an facility for older children.  Yes, they have been separated!  My heart breaks for them!  Their family will have to pay DOUBLE the cost to pay the ransom for both boys, since they are in different facilities.  It seems so unfair.

But we can help.  Every gift, no matter how small, helps these wonderful parents get to their boys who so desperately need them.

Please click on the Chip-In to donate.  God sees.  May you be blessed.

http://widget.chipin.com/widget/id/70b814e6db56fd3c

SO…

If you look over to your right, you will see a button for “Kirk.”  If you haven’t already wandered over to Reece’s Rainbow in curiosity, you must.  I will leave it at that.  It is through RR that I am able to be Kirk’s Warrior.  I hope that you will consider even a small donation to his adoption grant!  PLEASE?  You simply cannot spend your dollars any more wisely!

Since I’m late in joining the game, I need your help to make up lost time for this boy.

Thanks!

It loves.

And it raises TONS OF MONEY!

Vanya’s adoption fund is over $16,000!!!

Amazing.

God.  You are SO good.

There are over 100 prizes!

When you read his story, I know you will want to help out.  It’s really NOT about prizes (although they are nice) after all; it’s about God’s Love in us.

Click here to learn more and to donate.  Every single dollar helps!

The mother and father God sent to her are in her country RIGHT NOW!  They have also committed to adopting a little boy named Aaron in the same orphanage.  If you haven’t been following along on their blog, you’re missing out on quite a blessing!

Here’s the link.

You’re welcome.

My New Year’s Resolution, although vague, was to use less plastic.  When I think about how many ziplock baggies I use for the kids’ lunches, grocery bags we bring home, and recyclable bottles we throw away…  it makes me sick.

Articles like this one will testify to the damage we have done to the earth with plastic.  And it doesn’t take much research to find worse tales.

So, in January, I hosted a Tupperware party!  This was totally fun, AND I ended up with around $200 in FREE items from the catalog.  I got sandwich keepers, “midgets,” and other food-keeping items that helped me reduce the number of baggies I send off to school, plastic wrap I pull over leftovers, and freezer bags for dividing bulk items.  I also got cereal keepers, flour/sugar/etc canisters, and a much-needed Cake Taker!  All for FREE.

Another thing I have done is collect grocery bags (and my coworkers bring them to me, too) for crocheting these totes.

Anyway, this was not intended to be an advertisement for Tupperware.  Nor am I an fierce environmentalist who is trying to scold you for your plastic usage.  Well, sort of, I am – more encouraging than scolding.  I just think people can make a huge difference by committing to the “Reuse” part of the 3 R’s.  Remember those from elementary school?

It’s not that hard to set yourself up to easily and safely reuse as many things as you can.  When you see what we have created in the Pacific Ocean, it just seems to make sense!

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch this entire video.  There are some pretty shocking pics.

Today, I thank God for…

a comfortable home

healthy kids

a husband who always tells me I’m “hot”

parents who live close by

friends who truly care

steady work

a car that runs

hand-me-down clothes (not just for my kids!)

a husband who always says that the meals I make are the best he’s ever had (yes, every night – haha!)

medicine and physical therapy

Wildtree food

winter rain (and even a little snow)

movies that make me cry

a husband who changes a LOT of diapers

a daughter who wants to take choir in HS next year

a son who shares my passion for science

another daughter who makes us  laugh until we are in tears

women in my life who have been (and continue to be) incredible examples: Linda C, Ruthann, Treacy, Connie, Carol, Catrina, Linda H, my mom, and the list goes on…

ministries that I support, truly making a difference:  Reece’s Rainbow, World Vision, Toms Shoes, Mocha Club, HEART, Handiwork for His Glory, Heartline for Haiti, and others

home parties and all the free stuff that comes along with them

a husband who helps me clean the house for said home parties

the excitement of NASCAR

the music of Mercy Me (which I get to hear live this Saturday)

gourmet veggie pizza from Papa Murphy’s

coupons

dark chocolate

teachers

blogs

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?

On Earth as it is in Heaven is a chronicle of one Jesus-loving woman living in Uganda.

She’s adopted more than a dozen girls!

She’s devoted her life to healing the sick, loving the unlovely, and sharing her Savior with everyone along the way.

I am totally in awe of what God has done with her willing life.

It’s a MUST READ.

Huge decisions are about to be made in Ukraine.  Decisions which will affect umpteen children and many, many families currently in the middle of an adoption.  Even families in the process of adopting may NOT be allowed to move forward with their adoptions.  Court dates will be denied and families will be sent packing back to the USA.

This kind of thing is not new in the world of international adoptions.  Sadly, we’ve seen it many times before. Many countries have closed their doors to adoptions.  Vietnam, Guatemala, Romania, Nepal, Cambodia, Liberia, to name a few.  We used to be able to adopt children from all those nations–but sadly no longer can.

What can YOU do?

Well, obviously, PRAY.

Then, take a few minutes (seriously, it is SO easy) to email your congressperson and senators about this!  I’ve even got a form letter you can use (stolen/borrowed from another caring mom).

I hope you’ll help.

Here are the links that you can use to contact your legislators:

To send a letter to your congressman
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

To send a letter to your senator just click on the state and follow the link
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

And here is a form letter you can copy/paste:

Dear (name),

I am writing to you today regarding a VERY urgent situation. Many families in the US are currently in the process of adopting children from orphanages in Ukraine. Most of these children are older or disabled. American families adopting these children offer them what may be their only opportunity at a normal and productive life free of crime, prostitution, or institutionalization due to illnesses that are treatable in the United States.

On November 3, 2010, the Ukrainian parliament voted to proceed with voting on legislation that would halt all international adoptions until inter-country adoption agreements are in place (see the State Dept. announcement at http://adoption.state.gov/news/ukraine.html) . At this point, all that is needed for this to become law is one more vote in Ukrainian parliament and a signature by the Ukrainian president. This could happen any day. If it does, many families and innocent children will be greatly affected.

I am writing to you to urge you to act quickly on this matter by (1) Contacting your Ukrainian cohorts and requesting a consideration of revision of the law to allow adoptions to proceed while the agreement is being drafted (as was done in Russia) and (2) Work with your colleagues in congress to begin drafting this agreement so that it is ready to go in the event the law passes.

Thank you for your timely consideration of this urgent matter!