MERRY CHRISTMAS ANASTASIA!!

Merry Christmas "Anastasia"!!

I just love this girl, since I first saw her listed on Reese's Rainbow and now she has had an incredible gift of life in a family.  If the Son of God can come down from heaven to live in a family, then the fact that Anastasia gets her family during the Christmas Season reveals the glory of God and the majesty of his Kingdom.

Anastasia - before she had a family

and after!!!

"Anastasia" recently was visited at the orphanage by her parents and her adoption is final and she will be home soon.   I am so excited for her.  Many people have prayed for a family for this little girl.  You can see her little bubbly personality, which is so typical of kids with arthrogryposis.   In a few days we celebrate the birth of a child who first adopted us - his name - Jesus the Christ.  Merry Christmas!

For: Samuel and Sara! update!

Samuel and Sara have a family! yes! they are being adopted together. This is the original post, below.

This lovely girl is listed on Reese's Rainbow website. 

Sara

Samuel

and this is her brother, who is also listed on Reese's Rainbow website here

Julia Nalle, who is a strong advocate for orphans has these children on her heart in a very personal manner.  She searched for and found these children who were institutions in E.Europe. The little boy is in a mental institution because he was in a wheelchair.  That is all - he is typical in every other way.  He doesn't have a family and so he is put into an adult mental instituion.   The little girl is his sister who is in an orphanage.  She has HIV.  Please read Julia's blog about these precious children here.

SCREAMING and YELLING for KYLE!

KYLE

I have very exciting news.  We have another baby from Africa who has arthrogryposis and he is available for adoption.  He is listed as Kyle.  I copied the following from Bringing Hope to 12 in 2012 blog.  The lovely ladies over there have this information about Kyle:

Kyle is also in Africa, but we have not confirmed if it's the same country as Francesca was. Kyle was barely four pounds at birth and has been given a feeding tube through his nose to help him gain weight. He is now three months old and was born on August 18th of this year.

To adopt from Kyle's country you need to be:

*at least 30 years of age

*have been married at least 5 years

They are flexible on the number of children already in the home if you are adopting a child with special needs. Also this is a Hague accredited nation which is only important for the fact that you have to fill out certain paperwork for it.

Based on Kyle's picture his lower body looks very similar to both of my children who both now walk. He has clubfeet, knee contractures and possible hip involvement. Kyle's AMC is presenting very typically so we can recommend to any potential families a treatment plan to get him standing and taking steps. They do not mention anything with his upper body, but I would assume contractures affect them, but maybe not. His wrist (the one visable in the picture) looks straight (not bent down) and his elbow is bent. Those are great signs. So if his upper body is affected at least he's in a good position to start with.

Right now Kyle's biggest obsticle is not his joints (AMC), but is his rumered lack of stimulation. He's fed and changed, but like my son, he has received very little human interaction for the first part of his life as an orphan, much less than babies in families. Thankfully he has been listed so young (three months old) and his future is bright.

Please share his information! Let's find his family!

Contact Ruth Cox for more information on Kyle. Her email isyakorphans@gmail.com. 

Bringing Hope to 12 in 2012 is here.

FOR NICO!

This is Nico! Isn't he the cutest little guy and I love his red hair! 

He is in great need of help bcause conditions have changed in his orphanage and he has to lay in bed all day.  Please pray for him, and his family so that they can finish the adoption quickly. they need money also you can donate here
He is being adopted by this very loving family:

NICO for the McIntee family — AZ

http://reecesrainbow.org/46526/sponsormcintee

When Kara discovered Reece’s Rainbow, it was like a dream come true. She has always been called to orphans and especially the work of Mother Teresa, but didn’t know how to help. So, having a tangible way to advocate for these children was amazing.

Then Kara saw Nico and everything changed. She fell head over heels in love, but because they were not able to adopt at that time, she vowed to advocate as hard as she could for him, in hopes that a family would find him. Things changed very quickly once that “yes” was on both Kyle and Kara’s hearts, and they have been blessed to walk through each door as it has opened. They are praying that they will be able to give Nico the home and family that he deserves soon.

They are thankful for this opportunity and hope you will pray for them as they go through this process.

Their blog is here

You can donate to their adoption here

PLEASE VOTE!

for Reese's Rainbow. Here's how it works, go to the link, scroll all the way to the bottom, click vote.  It will ask you to login with fb.  Click again. Done.  You can do this today and tomorrow until midnight. Please vote each day.  Thank you


http://www.cultivatewines.com/cause/49260/#vote_button

Victoria Again!

Can you tell how happy I am?  I posted to fb several times, shared my blog.  Many people worked and prayed and donated and advocated so Victoria"s family would find her.  I want to thank the great bloggers and friends from whom I got my hope that she would be adopted.  Thanks to Reese's Rainbow without whom I would never have seen her and fell in love with her.  Here is Julia's post about Victoria.   http://covenantbuilders.blogspot.com/2012/10/sweet-victory.html

VICTORIA HAS A FAMILY! VICTORIA HAS A FAMILY!

She is on Reese's Rainbow MFFM page!! Thank you to everyone who has worked, prayed, donated and read about Victoria.  I am really looking forward to find out who her family is and also I want to see her with hair.  I hate that the only photos are of her with her hair cut off.  She is always smiling in each one though.

http://reecesrainbow.org/1725/victoria110

from a friend: Arthrogryposis: Against the Odds: My legs in the Sun.

Arthrogryposis: Against the Odds: My legs in the Sun.: Now the sun is shining in my city and the summer is getting closer and closer, I have a collection of over 30 dresses waiting to be worn. ...

RITA for the Mayr family — CO

Arthrogryposis Adoption: Rita's new family!: 

The Mayr family

The Mayr family

Rita

Paul and Kelly got married in 1997. At the time Paul was and engineer and Kelly was a special education teacher. Their first child came in 1998 and it has been a world wind ever since. With a total of five children they knew that they were done birthing children, but not done growing their family. So when they heard that there was a homeless teen that needed a family…..we said….we can always fit one more. A year later we began fostering infants and toddlers. Our journey into the world of special needs began in 2000 with the birth of our daughter Grace. She was diagnosed with Noonan syndrome at one year of age. So they are already connected in the special needs community. We knew that if we were going to adopt, that we would adopt a child with special needs. We saw sweet Rita’s profile and knew that she would be a perfect fit for our family.

http://reecesrainbow.org/48907/sponsormayr

Victoria pics

Some more photos of Victoria

SCREAMING and YELLING for Spina Bifida!

On my blog here I scream and yell for kids with arthrogryposis who live in orphanages in Eastern Europe.  Today I found an awareness campaign for Spina Bifida, that has beautiful pictures of people who were born with Spina Bifida.   Spina Bifida has also touched my life.  There are children in EE who have Spina Bifida who need homes.  In this post I am screaming and yelling for them.   I found this link of the Awareness campaign.  Please check this out!

Victoria and Emmit

Victoria and Emmit

COULD YOU BE MY FAMILY?
You can read more about Victoria and Emmit and donate to their adoption funds here

These three children below are eligible for a matching grant of $500 each from a generous donor.  You can read more about Aubree, Raymond and Elizaveta here.

For Aubree to receive the bonus $500,
                  her grant fund needs to read $615. 
Right now she has $115 in her account. 
If we get it up to $615 then a donor will put her over a     
        $1000. 

Aubree

For Raymond to receive the bonus $500, his grant fund        needs to read $1,700. 
Right now it is at $1,202.60.
Getting this matching grant would put him over $2000! 
He is close to aging out of his orphanage and be transferred! 

Raymond

Elizaveta  has a hundred bucks in her grant fund right now. If we get it up to $600 then a donor will put in $500 more! 

Elizaveta

Rita has a family! More about her here

Rita

Screaming and Yelling again for Victoria

There is a fundraiser for Victoria on facebook to raise funds for her adoption fund.  I think Victoria is beautiful and deserves to have a home of her own in a family who loves her.  All of that is totally possible. This is the link to her Reese's Rainbow  listing http://reecesrainbow.org/1725/victoria110
Over on fb there is a Bag-a-thon where you can bid on fun theme bags that were put together by supporters of Victoria.  Please go to https://www.facebook.com/events/411568358898824// and put your bid in on your favorite bag.  The Bag-a-thon lasts until October 14.

Arthrogryposis Adoption: About Aubree from those who have met her

Arthrogryposis Adoption: About Aubree from those who have met her: The following was written by Laurel's father. They were able to interact with Aubree a lot while in her birth country.  Aubree ...

Micah Six Eight: Porter Update

I am advocating for a little boy named Porter who is being adopted.  The Nalle family has a giveaway that you can enter.  Each $5 donation is one entry.  There is an iPad as one of the prizes.

Micah Six Eight: Porter Update: For the last two weekends (and this next weekend too) Ben and Elijah have been participating in drama which means that Aaron has been h...

Roland Wesley

       I may not have been very clear about what I am "screaming and yelling" about.  I have met many families through a online support group who have adopted children with arthrogryposis.  Many more children are still abandoned in EE orphanages.  These children need to get out of there quickly and get the best care possible, first in a loving home, and then with the best doctor in the world,Dr. Harold van Bosse ( I say that with great affection, because he is my daughter's doctor also).  I have screamed and yelled for several children already, which means I borrow material from another blog, so hopefully, someone who reads my blog will read their story.
          A friend has adopted an adorable little boy from Ukraine.  Theirs is a wonderful story of hope, love and faith (and a lot of money, it costs $25,000 to bring an orphan home, totally worth every). penny).  Roland is cute beyond belief and yes, he has arthrogryposis.  His mom has an amazing blog which tells the whole adventure of their adoption of Roland.
           Her latest post is about the good, the bad and the ugly :) of adoption and his treatment for arthrogryposis.  Not only did they travel to Ukraine to adopt him ( two months ago), but this weekend they flew to Philadelphia to see the aforementioned world expert Dr. van Bosse.   They have a very happy ending to this trip.  They ended up having a good times with friends, two happy children (daughter Laelia) and the beginning of treatment to get Roland to be able to walk.
     So please read her blog post http://www.laeliasky.com/2012/09/23/first-trip-to-philly-with-rolly/.  This will really make you smile on a Monday, which is always useful.  Please say prayers for other children who are waiting in EE, who need families to adopt them.
   I have videos at the bottom of this page if you want to learn more about the situations in the orphanages.

Roland Wesley, isn't he the cutest!!!!

Roland and his new family! 

I am so happy to SCREAM and YELL for this family and wish them everlasting happiness.  Roland will be getting treatment for his arthrogryposis in Philadelphia where the amazing Dr. Harold van Bosse practices at Shriner's Hospital for Children, the same place where his sister goes.

Igor's family

I first saw this face a couple years ago.  I prayed for him and donated to his fund and started this blog because of him.   He has his own family now.   I am so excited for him and his family .  Their blog is here
http://hiskindness.wordpress.com/2012/09/14/igor-home-priceless/

fundraisers

http://change-for-a-chance.blogspot.com/
http://bibleorphanministry.blogspot.com/

Arthrogryposis Adoption: A post from Raymond's Prayer Warrior

Arthrogryposis Adoption: A post from Raymond's Prayer Warrior: As we end August and the month for Raymond we share a blogpost from his prayer warrior, Samantha! She will continue to pray for and advocat...

SCREAMING and YELLING!! for Porter, Everett and Owen!

Today I cried for my friend Julia, who made this post about three little boys who need saved. Literally saved, from a hell on earth.   Please use this post to SCREAM and YELL for these little boys.  But first PRAY and ask others to pray.  Please share on facebook to everyone you know.   Today, pray for these three little boys, Today, share their story with everyone you know.  Today, today, today....... and tomorrow, for all of their tomorrows.

Micah Six Eight: Down On My Knees: Grief overwhelmed me a few weeks ago.   It completely caught me off guard. Grief for two little boys I have never met but who have ...

ELIZAVETA!!!

Screaming and yelling for Elizaveta: ..and praying
for her to have a good family who will bring out the smile in this young lady.

                    http://reecesrainbow.org/1690/elizaveta, more information about Elizaveta's adoption is at Reese'e Rainbow.

Elizaveta needs a good home, because in here home country in Eastern Europe, she is living in an orphanage.  I hope someone who reads this post recognizes her as the daughter who would complete their family.  She has arthrogryposis and there are resources to find out more about arthrogryposis here http://traceyschalk.webs.com/apps/auth/login?why=mpw&try=1&wp=1&next=index.htm. 

Tracey knows just about eveything about arthrogryposis.  She lives a very full and active life with arthrogryposis.

Elizaveta was the focus of 12n12 adoption blog for children with Arthrogryposis, here http://arthrogryposisadoption.blogspot.com/2012/06/introducing-our-focus-for-june.html

A young lady also blogged about Elizaveta here Things of Beauty: She needs a family:

Screaming and Yelling for the Pattersons!!!

Two years ago Darrel and Amanda Patterson had been married for about 17 years and had 4 children. They were happy serving the Lord first as missionaries in Mexico and then in their local church in Indiana. Theirs was a normal life until they were introduced to a special little boy through Reece’s Rainbow.

Igor is the boy’s name and the Patterson family has not been the same since God placed this precious child on their hearts. Darrel says, “Even though Igor is not home with us yet, he has already changed each one of us for the better. He has opened our eyes to the world of orphans with special needs. We can’t rest until we do what we can to make Igor a part of our family.” Each one of the Patterson children have been praying for Igor and raising funds for orphans since they first became aware of the need. Amanda has never given up hope of adopting Igor even though it has taken so long. She has been his prayer warrior and has worked hard to make Igor’s adoption a reality.

Igor has waited so long for a forever family. The Pattersons are praying and trusting God for the funds to finally be able to welcome Igor home! Two years ago Darrel and Amanda Patterson had been married for about 17 years and had 4 children. They were happy serving the Lord first as missionaries in Mexico and then in their local church in Indiana. Theirs was a normal life until they were introduced to a special little boy through Reece’s Rainbow.

Igor is the boy’s name and the Patterson family has not been the same since God placed this precious child on their hearts. Darrel says, “Even though Igor is not home with us yet, he has already changed each one of us for the better. He has opened our eyes to the world of orphans with special needs. We can’t rest until we do what we can to make Igor a part of our family.” Each one of the Patterson children have been praying for Igor and raising funds for orphans since they first became aware of the need. Amanda has never given up hope of adopting Igor even though it has taken so long. She has been his prayer warrior and has worked hard to make Igor’s adoption a reality.

Igor has waited so long for a forever family. The Pattersons are praying and trusting God for the funds to finally be able to welcome Igor home!Two years ago Darrel and Amanda Patterson had been married for about 17 years and had 4 children. They were happy serving the Lord first as missionaries in Mexico and then in their local church in Indiana. Theirs was a normal life until they were introduced to a special little boy through Reece’s Rainbow.

Igor is the boy’s name and the Patterson family has not been the same since God placed this precious child on their hearts. Darrel says, “Even though Igor is not home with us yet, he has already changed each one of us for the better. He has opened our eyes to the world of orphans with special needs. We can’t rest until we do what we can to make Igor a part of our family.” Each one of the Patterson children have been praying for Igor and raising funds for orphans since they first became aware of the need. Amanda has never given up hope of adopting Igor even though it has taken so long. She has been his prayer warrior and has worked hard to make Igor’s adoption a reality.

Igor has waited so long for a forever family. The Pattersons are praying and trusting God for the funds to finally be able to welcome Igor home!   http://reecesrainbow.org/41836/sponsorpatterson-2

http://reecesrainbow.org/41836/sponsorpatterson-2

Screaming and Yelling for the Wesleys

Roland Wesley's family has worked very hard to bring their son home from EE.  He also has arthrogryposis.  Here is his picture.  Isn't he darling.  Congratulations to the Wesley family.  He will be home very soon

Here is the fb post his mom, Alexis wrote today when she walked out of the orphanage with her son.

Early this afternoon I carried my son out of an orphanage where he was left the day he was born and has not had a single visitor since. Tonight I sang my little guy to sleep. Gave him his first real bath. Watched fear turn to splashy fun! Tried to teach him to chew with his teeth. Handed him his first toy that belongs to him. Helped him overcome his fear of the scary umbrella in the rain. Took him

 for a walk in the city to find diapers and he got so overwhelmed and hid his face in my chest the whole time, then spit up down my shirt. Poor guy. Did some light stretching and OT. He raises his hands and I cheerfully take him into my arms. He wants down right away so he can hold his arms up and be picked up over and over again. Right now we're holding hands and I'm watching him sleep. Just one day and his life is changed. He is loved. He will never be left again.

This is an update on three orphans who I have been screaming and yelling about.  

ALEXIS - FOUND! 

and praying for

IGOR - FOUND!

Thank you Lord, for watching over your dear ones.  

VICTORIA - Waiting for her forever family.  

I am committed to screaming, yelling and praying for Victoria.  

Micah Six Eight: Mulligan Babes

I love it when I have goods news to scream and yell about! A few more orphans come home!



Micah Six Eight: Mulligan Babes: On this Monday morning when the work to-do list is beyond reason and I'm getting nowhere on history curriculum writing... When th...

Lora from Bulgaria 1998

In 1998 this little girl was found in an orphanage in Bulgaria in this condition.  She was adopted by a loving couple and with proper nutrition and loving care,  she has grown to be a healthy woman.  In this picture she is 7 years old.

Lora Foundation is the organization that her parents founded to help care for the orphans in Bulgaria .

This is Lora in 1998.  This picture looks like it could have been taken during the Holocaust of WWII

Lora  - this isn't the best quality but you can see that she is getting healthier.  Her parents had her admitted to a hospital in Sophia to save her life.

Lora was adopted and it saved her life.
You can find the Lora Foundation here

http://reecesrainbow.org/38546/temperance-15h

$200 for Igor

$30 x 3 = $90  I gave up haircuts for 3 months
$ 1 x 10= $10  I bought 10 shirts at Wal-mart for $1.00 each, savings of $120
$200 donated to Igor

The Ironic Catholic: The great big giveaway for a new life for Harper! ...

The Ironic Catholic: The great big giveaway for a new life for Harper! ...: May 20 PM UPDATE : Since the adoption grant for Vera's family is within a hair's breath of being fully funded (THANK YOU) with Vera's bles...

Amazing Alix

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Katie: a life, from orphanage to her family.

Katie is a little girl who was under state care in an orphanage in Eastern Europe.  This is how she looked when a family saw her picture and decided to go get her

This is a nine year old girl in her orphanage  -  2010

This is the same child. She is nine years old and weighs nine pounds.

This is Katie the day that her family from America came to take her home  in late 2011

Katie in the hospital where she is getting nutrition  in America, 

And this is beautiful Katie, an orphan no more. She is healthy and happy thanks to the loving family who adopted her.

Shouting!! for Igor and Victoria

Please remember Igor and Victoria today, that his family finds him.  Laurel has been so fortunate to have found a family, but now that leaves little Igor and Victoria who still need to find their families.  We have a video below where we can see how healthy Victoria looks and we also can see she is a bright happy child who needs a home to live in instead of the orphange.  The only chance she has for walking is to be adopted and get treatment in America.

Isn't he the sweetest little boy.   He would do so well if he could be part of a familyl

Victoria has the most wonderful smile and appears to be a happy child and she needs  a family.

Arthrogryposis Adoption: I can't adopt them, but I want to help.

Arthrogryposis Adoption: I can't adopt them, but I want to help.: Author's family, San Diego Alexis, Eastern Europe I sat down to write about Alexis, who is Bring Hope to 12 in 2012's featured ...

IGOR

Igor's situtation is very urgent because he has been transferred to an institution for disabled persons.  Now that he is there he spends his days in a bed.  This is not a good institution in U.  An institution where they hide the disabled away so everyone can forget that they exist.   This is Igor's institution.  Click the link below.

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Then go here: http://reecesrainbow.org/1379/igor-1 and donate to his adoption fund at Reese's Rainbow and then go here: http://arthrogryposisadoption.blogspot.com/ and comment that you donated to Igor and you will be entered in the giveaway for Igor and Victoria.

Victoria

She is in the same institution that Igor is in, her only space for her to experience childhood is in her bed.  You can see the bed behind her in this picture.  You can also see her featured in the same link as above.  She is also part of the same giveaway.  If you go here; 
http://reecesrainbow.org/1725/victoria11 to donate to Victoria's fund and then go back here:
http://reecesrainbow.org/1725/victoria110 to be entered in the awesome giveaway.  Each donation of $ 5.00 is one entry.


If you have any questions about this post or the give away please  contact me at https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.schalk/info

Laurel has a family!!

I can't wait until this beautiful young lady gets HOME!

My Feet

My Feet:

My feet are made for walking.... 

But that's not all they can do...

Coloring in my Pooh Book is one of my favorite things to do...

I'm terribly careful to stay inside the lines...

Whatcha think?

Don't I have some pretty fancy feet?