Imagine How You Can Make a Difference...

 

Every 2.2 seconds another orphan ages out

 with no family to belong to

and 

no

place 

to call

HOME.

think about that.

When you are done thinking...

do something...

everyone can do something.

Here are a few ideas...

pray 

(ask God what He would like you to do)

seek out an agency (adoption)

and ask how you can help.

find a family who is adopting and support them

choose to adopt...take the steps to make it happen

offer to help a family post adoption...a night out without children can be so refreshing to a family

do Foster Care

call your local Foster Care office and ask what you can do to get involved

sign up to do respite care (babysitting for foster care families)

collect unused suitcases that are in good condition to give to the local Foster Care branch 

(often children are taken from their homes with their clothing stuffed into plastic bags.)

pray and take action!

Faith without works is dead. 

 just saying.  

That statistic upsets me, makes me angry and makes me want to cry all at the same time.

What about you?

When Adoption Fails (A Mother's Heart)

 

Once upon a time nearly 8 years ago...

a little baby named Juan was brought into our lives through foster care.  Juan was on the road to finding a permanent family and we thought it was us.

We loved this boy and couldn't wait for him to be ours.  

However, God had different plans. 

 Though it felt like my heart was being ripped out when we learned he had siblings in another home

 and

 they trumped us, it was devastating.  The system failed us, the system was NOT truthful or forthcoming. How often in life does this happen with whatever system we are putting our hope in?  Systems fail, people fail, sometimes our hearts are dashed to the dust, but what we have learned is, "God never fails!"

God asked, "Do you trust me?"

We also had two adoptions to Guatemala never come to completion, thousands of dollars were lost.  God reminded us in our deep sorrow that the money was never ours.  He continued to whisper, 

"Do you trust me?"

A week ago, after over 18 months of waiting for our state to give us special permission to adopt again (we are over our states limit of 6 children). We received our waiver!!  It has been a long quiet road to this wee one. However, we know that God has a purpose and a plan and we are in expectation/waiting mode.

We are expecting a baby.  Though she has yet to be identified.  The Lord has said her name to us, it means 'wholeness.'  He has told her she will be rescued from death; she will not be aborted as planned.  We continue to wait the long wait and believe that the God that we have learned to trust, through thick or thin, 

has a plan.

Sometimes life has many twists and turns, sometimes tears, sometimes  laughter-however we KNOW that God is for us and that no matter where He leads us that His paths lead to peace, goodness and that it is for our good.

Jeremiah 29:11

One of our Beauties

 What a transformation this one has had, from catatonic to peace filled. 

We are amazed how God took this broken little 3 year old and transformed her into a kind-hearted, helpful, sensitive, loving young lady.  It seems like just yesterday that she became part of our family.  That she had her first sleep-over to help her transition from foster care into our family.  

Brokenness is something that God does wonders with.  He takes it and holds it close to His heart.  He picks it up and shapes it ever so lovingly and gently back into the creation He intended it to be.  Oh how in awe of His transforming power we are.

Miss Sunshine you are a beauty both inside and out!  

May God hold you in the palm of His hand 

and may you bring Him joy as you continue

 to follow Him into all of your tomorrows.

Blue Sky Reflections

Oh, that childhood could go on forever. That the sky would be so blue everyday and that joy and thanksgiving would be always on our lips.

How blessed I am to have been given such beautiful children. Who enjoy each others company always, who truly love one another, who rarely fight and always are ready to add another to our crew.

So good to see each of them blossom and come out of the sorrow that they carried from earlier days of their lives.

Our God is a healing God, He takes great joy in touching us, in blessing us and in occasionally giving us a pretty blue sky.

Prayer Request Sunday

Hi friends and soon to be friends, how are you today? Hope you are well and you are finding God stretching you in your faith and in your walk with Him.

I'd love to pray for you this week. Please leave me a comment or send me an email (in my sidebar)...to let me know how I can cover you in prayer. Don't be shy, I love to intercede for you!

This is what I heard the Holy Spirit speak to me today:

'Oh Sister Kimmie~

Come blow your horn

My Orphans ...

they are many and are forlorn

Where is my Church, who look after these?

...They're sitting in churches,

fast asleep.'

How this word, makes my heart ache. I am sad, that this is too true. Can you say ouch with me?

If this speaks to you, as well as to me, rise up, Rise up oh, sleepy one. Rub your eyes, the Spirit is calling. He is calling His Church to wake up to the need of orphans.

You see God is passionately in love with not only YOU, but the poor, the hurting, the orphans...they are not very far from you. Some are in your very state, our government has become their parents. Oh, Church how can this be. Where did we go wrong in letting the state to become parents of our orphans. Please, please, please, today-ask God the question the Holy Spirit is asking His people, His Church, "What would you have me do for orphans."

Remember, the world will know us by our LOVE.

Faith without deeds is dead. Put your faith to work, ask God, "how". He has all the answers, but we need to ask Him.

Let me know if you will be asking Him, "Lord, what can I do? How will you use my life for orphans."

Feel free to pick up your horn and blow it, I am praying that the Church wakes from its slumber and takes what God is saying serious.

Enough sleep already, let's get busy for REAL!

The Baptism of Princess Sunshine

Sharing a moment of great joy with you...Princess Sunshine (9) told us this summer, that she'd like to be baptised. We wait for our kids to come to us on their own. We had been praying for our Miss Sunshine for many years. She had so much fear, honestly I wasn't sure when she'd be ready.

The day of our annual church picnic, her Uncle David, who is also one of our 4 Pastors, baptised our sweet girl. I don't know if you heard them, but chains fell off her...stepping out and trusting God has brought her one step further along her path of faith. You can imagine, my Knight and I rejoiced and are rejoicing greatly.

No one should have to live under the shame of child abuse and neglect. Our God is a healing God, we just need to come to the point where we can put ourselves into His loving arms.

Princess Sunshine came out of that water a new girl-

How great is our God.

Prayer Request Sunday- Am I called to adoption?

Morning friends! Can I pray for you this week, leave me a comment or send me an email and I will be happy to pray for you.

Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement this past week. It truly blessed my heart to know that God has sent so many to believe with us not only for the adoption of *Little Beauty*, but for being intercessors for the orphans and the situation with adoptions worldwide.

Have YOU asked God if he wants you to adopt?

Have you ? Yesterday's post won't leave my head or spirit, I feel as if God has called me to be a cheerleader for adoption. Do you know that an adoption through your state system (here in Connecticut it is called Department of Children and Families: D.C.F.) is very affordable. Our adoption of Princess Sunshine cost all of $150.00 the day at court when we were sworn in as her new parents. Our 'triplets' adoption (our three wee ones) was no cost at all. The state also offers the kids insurance. even post adoption. While you are doing foster care (prior to adoption) the state gives you a monthly stipend to help you to care for the children. Sometimes this continues even after adoption, depending on the needs of the children.

Will you be bold and seek God on whether that 7% that I am praying and believing to come forward, to stand in the gap for the orphans around the world...is perhaps you?

You'd be amazed at how many people tell me that they feel adoption is in their future, but haven't asked God to give them His timeline. I am a firm believer of 'running' straight into it...if God doesn't want you to, He will shut the door. Begin to walk out the steps, call your state agency, go to the first orientation meeting (ITS FREE)...begin praying and see what the Holy Spirit begins doing.

I am passionate about orphans, my friends this week told me that perhaps I will never meet another, who is as passionate as I am about it. So forgive me for 'coming at you' ...but when I look at the situation around the world and my state, I am so angry. I am angry that the devil is going to hold these innocent children in darkness, I am *spitting mad* and I am tired of his evil games.

These are just innocent children, they have suffered all kinds of loss and harm, they just want to be loved, just like you and me. They want to know that they have worth, that someone loves them...we are called to love one another as we have been loved (by God). You can do it, it isn't hard-God will send you support-you won't have to do it alone...I PROMISE. I will be here for you and God will bring others around you to help you walk it out.

BUT

it all starts with you asking the Father if its "YOU," He is calling. PLEASE, ask Him, PLEASE seek Him on it...and please, come tell me WHEN you hear what it is that HE wants you to do. Because as Believer's He does want us to **Do** something...

(here ar 3 versions of the same verse...)

James 1:27 (Contemporary English Version)

Religion (worship) that pleases God the Father must be pure and spotless. You must help needy orphans and widows and not let this world make you evil.

New Living Translation:

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

The Message (1:27)

Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless (widows and orphans) in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.

Please take 5 minutes to listen to John Pipers message on adoption, he is saying what my heart is screaming.

A Proper Perspective

The man who comes to a right belief about God is relieved of ten thousand temporal problems, for he sees at once that these have to do with matters which at the most cannot concern him for very long.

-A.W.Tozer

I am pondering this and also applying it to my friendship study, want to come along with me?

My sweet boys

King Meemer (5)

Reading sentences Mama wrote in his notebook-trying hard!
Sounding out those blends!
A homeschool interruption by Tobin the kitten.
Hurray~we read the whole page by ourself! Good job son!

Amazing how God can change your heart and put you on a totally different road (full of joy!)

I didn't think I wanted a son, you see God gifted me with a daughter and I was so in love with her and all the sweet things that come with little girls, that I wanted more girls.

My Knight told me terror stories of his childhood as a boy with a younger brother. The details of his boyhood, convinced both of us, that girls were nice (and safe).

Up until last year I had 3 daughters, one homemade and 2 adopted.

Well, last year God officially gave me TWO sons, at ONCE through a foster care adoption. (God even threw in their beautiful sister as a bonus!)

I couldn't have been more wrong about boys, they are cuddly, sweet, gently, affectionate and eager to please (well, mine are anyway). I am so thankful that God has put me in a new place of understanding and flooded me with his amazing goodness. I couldn't be happier (blessed) and I am so thankful.

Thank God for little boys!

King Bonkie (4)

Artist at work (in the next picture you will see his brilliant artist hairstyle!)

Guess What Today is?

One year ago today, we were doing this, do you remember?

It has been a busy day, I will try to post some celebration pictures tomorrow.

God is amazingly good.

The pictures in this post were from the 10 days we had the kids for respite care (babysitting for another foster care family-who we never met before!). Little did we know, that the three tiny kids who walked up our bricked sidewalk that day, with their wee little suitcases, God intended to be our children. God meant 10 days to be forever and ever, amen!

The 'suddenlies' of God are amazing...our story is here, if this is the first time you're reading our story and want a better picture!

A Look at Last Weekend...or...A Baby Fix!

We were blessed with a 'respite' baby, through foster care, for the weekend. Her foster parents had a wedding out of state and needed us to fill in as caretakers. As you can see it is a family ministry and we love each time God gives us this opportunity. Little baby J. wasn't a sleeper, so she and I had lots of time together, I think I used it wisely, as I was praying over her future.

I ask God to bless her, that she would know Him and would grow to love Him more and more....we have seen God move in awesome ways in some of our other respite/foster babies over the years, so we know He hears us and is ready to move on their behalf!

I'd like to add that my Knight is "the man", he is a hands on guy with all our kids and stepped right in with this Little Princess. He has the "touch" too, as whenever the colic time hit, he would get her quiet and would bless her with times of peace.

a six month mini-celebration...looking back at my first entry Feb. 2006

Joshua 24:15
Choose this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.

A brief introduction of my family and we will be off and running with this new means of sharing our story. 

We are (currently) a family of eight-a Papa, our knight in shining armour, a Mama (that would be me), a homemade daughter who recently turned 16-!, a 12 year old daughter adopted from Budapest, Hungary (at 14 months old), a 8 year old daughter adopted from foster care (came at 3 adopted at 5), a sibling group of 3- ages 5, 4, and 3 who joined our family in August and will be adopted in the next few weeks...then we believe we will once again jump back to our adoption that was interupted when we discovered the need of our three wee ones.

Originally they (the 3) were to stay for 10 days of respite care back in May, but when we learned that they needed an adoptive home, we jumped ships and began to pursue becoming their forever family.

Our adoption to Guatemala had to be put on a temporary hold, as we were not allowed to have what they refer to as a "dual license." Guess that being licensed as a foster family and to be licensed with a private adoption agency is considered 2 licenses and is against the law here in our home state. However, they will allow you to hold a license (go figure) to do respite care (babysitting) for other foster families-so this is how God brought the "triplets" to us and how our family doubled!

We are excited and eager to see what the Lord has planned for us.


I am exceedingly blessed, as after having my oldest I was diagnosed with secondary infertility. Which basically means for me that I was able to have one pregnancy and then my womb closed. I personally believe that it was the hand of God that closed my womb, for he had other plans for us. Today I can say that with boldness and great confidence, but the road to here has been paved with many a tear. My faith has grown, as has the love for my heavenly Father, as He wiped each tear and held me close.I am thankful too that my sweet husband is a man of God, he has been my rock through the many years of sorrow and has stood in the gap in prayer, when I just couldn't. He is the ultimate optimist and refuses to let any gray cloud linger over us.


I hope to be able to encourage others who may find themselves on a similar path. I hope our story will reach out and bring God glory. After all, that is why I am here ;-)My hope is to be transparent. I enjoy putting down my thoughts, though haven't been very consistent. Someday I hope God will open the door to writing books, I think that would be a fun adventure.We haven't yet numbered our family, we wait on God and see what He will do next in our lives.


We are eager to see where this race we run will lead us. Our desire is to get our foot off of the brake and to allow God to "drive" this vehicle we call our lives, our family , our home. Time is so brief here on this earth, we don't want to live a life of "could of's or should of's," but a life that is free of regret (if that is possible ;-) and one that is filled with the Holy Spirit's guidance each step of the way.

After all, we are not adding children to our lives, children are our lives.

originally published Feb. 2006-my very first entry into the blogging world!