What Now?

Steven Curtis Chapman gets it.  What now?

National Adoption Awareness Month-Protect The Children

In honor of the children of the world, I want to share a talk given by Dallin H. Oaks as a representative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon.) While you may agree or disagree, I believe that it is imperative that we face the issues that he raises with regards to children and that we do our part to make the difference in a way that only we can.  With respect to National Adoption Awareness Month and the goal of this web site, to make the difference to children waiting for adoption, I encourage you to consider your views and share the link along with your thoughts on the issues at hand.

Like them. Love them. Share them,

Craig

National Adoption Awareness Month- Mimi & Healing Homes

In honor of National Adoption Awareness Month, we are featuring children, programs and families.  Tonight's post is about a young girls who has spent almost her entire 7 years in an orphanage with no family and the featured program is another Love Without Boundaries Healing Homes.  Please take a moment to read their stories and share the link or email to friends or families.


Happy birthday to Mimi. Mimi turns 7 this month and is just beautiful. In her video she is overwhelmed with all the noise and the attention but clearly has a very sweet personality.  She has lived in the orphanage for the last 7 years and so needs a daddy to be a princes for.  In many ways she reminds me of the attachment that we have developed with our Emma who after years of working on it, now understands that she is Daddy's princes. And his angel. And his sweetheart.  Little Mimi deserves that chance.  Please take a moment and help Mimi find her family by sharing her link.  I would be so very pleased to talk to anyone about her.  Please email myself (MyFamilyFoundMe@gmail.com), or contact Children's House International (mailto:inquiry@chiadopt.com).  Please use Mimi in the subject line.

Love Without Boundaries has many programs but tonight's special program is called Healing Homes.  Healing Homes takes particularly fragile orphaned children with special needs that can not typically be managed in institutional settings and places them in special homes with specialized nannies to care for them while they undergo specialty procedures to address their needs and prepare them for adoption.  The costs of the care are covered entirely by donations and every dollar makes a difference.  Consider helping out in this program and watch the videos featuring these special children in the Healing Homes.

If you or someone you know needs to know more about adoption, watch this video from Love Without Boundaries and then email if I can help.  If you are not considering adoption, watch this video and consider other ways you can help.

Like them. Love them. Share them,

Craig

P/S/ Don't forget to check out the Patton family fund raisers.

National Adoption Awareness Month-Love Your Children

All children are inherently good. They have life in them that touch those around them in the most unexpected ways.  We try not to let a day go by that we don't remind our children at home that they are good and those who have grown up and moved on receive encouragement every time we talk to them. When you look at your children, make the connection.  Look deep into their souls and pass along the deep love and appreciation you feel for them. Even after a tough day, they need to know that they are good and that they are valuable.  We consider this one of our primary jobs as parents.  In the process of passing on our feelings, we find that those feelings are returned 10 fold in ways only the most innocent child can convey.  The feelings are deep and poignant. And the rewards give us strength to face the next challenge with them.

The lives of 2 absolutely amazing boys are being changed as the family of Kai (aka Joseph) and Eli.  This family is in a rush to raise the final funds for travel to bring them home these two boys in the next few weeks. This wonderful family started their journey thinking they were bringing home one boy but along the way they fell in love with a second young man. Both of these children would be considered hard to place because of their age and special needs but to their family they are perfect. There is little doubt that the family will feel just as blessed to have them as the boys will be to be their family. The family continues to fund raise as the costs have mostly doubled for the second child. Take a moment and review their blog, and support their fund raising efforts as they run this last leg of their journey.

Below are some links to their fund raisers.  Imagine the difference you could make:

http://adventure4eli.chipin.com/adoption-calendar Success Stories Calendar $15 ea (S/H $3.50 + $1.50 ea ad)
http://adventure4eli.chipin.com/in-country-legal-fees Sponsor Puzzle pieces $5 each
http://jubileesjewels.com/adoption-fundraising/faith-believe-necklace Faith Believe Necklace $25
http://www.adoptionbug.com/adventure4eli/ Adoption Bug & Show Hope t-shirts
https://justlovecoffee.com/about/beneficiary/adventure4eli/
http://reecesrainbow.org/42289/sponsorpatton Reece's Rainbow Adoption Grants (Tax Deductible Donations)

Adoption Awareness Month-Kick Off

So today is the first day of adoption awareness month. And it has started with a BANG.

I just learned that Henry has a family who will be able to bring him home in time! How absolutely wonderful this is. Henry has been under the watchful eye of many including Suzanne who has been advicating for him for 3 years! What a lucky family and what a lucky boy.

On the other end of things, winter is coming and thousands of orphans are waiting in inadequately heated orphanages. I also learned of the passing of a young boy who survives heart surgery only to be taken by a virus. There are so many ways to help. Wonderful service groups like Love Without Boundaries, provide basic needs, education, medical support, foster are and nutrition. They are a non-profit organization and really do make the difference in the lives of so many children, volunteers and families.  Your donations are tax deductible.

Imagine the difference you could make.
Make the difference in a way only you can.

Like them love them, share them,

Craig

Liberty Bell

 

Liberty Bell

I love those sparkling eyes and. I can just imagine the joy that she will bring into the lives of one lucky family. Bashful, quiet, and gentle and fairly introverted, nine year old Liberty Bell lost her family when she was a toddler and has been one of the many children waiting for a family ever sense. She watches as her care-takers come and go to their own families. She is taking note. Like so many children, she silently pleas in her pillow at night for a family. Her family. Liberty Bell came very close to having a family but the economy got in the way. I can only imaging the heartbreak for both her and her want-to-be family. But now Liberty Bell waits. Again. You can help.

It is so easy for children to give up and feel that they are not worthy. While I have no doubt she has had those thoughts, Liberty Bell is different. She is one of a kind. She has something to offer her family that no one else can. She loves stories and music and I'm sure she is quite amazing at making do with the most simple things. But she also has a little light in her eyes that speaks of her love for those around her. She will teach her family of gratitude. She will teach them of love. She will teach them of endurance and perseverance because these are the things she has learned during her wait. She has much to learn of family life but the life of her family will never be the same as she fills them with joy beyond anything they can now imagine.

Please take a moment to share about Liberty Bell by sharing this link in your social network, by email or on your personal blog. Convenience links are provided on this blog.

She is an amazing person. Even a child of God. Please contact me (MyFamilyFoundMe@yahoo.com) or Children's House International for more information about Liberty Bell with "Liberty Bell" in the subject line.

"Because I have been given much I too must give."

Like her. Love her. Share her.

Craig

 

Adoption Tax Credit! Please take action

Dear friends.  This is important. 

The process of adoption is expensive. Period. For many years there has been a tax credit that covers some of the cost of adoption that makes or breaks the deal for some families. The bill that makes the tax credit possible ends December 31, 2012. There are several bills drafted to extend the credit and many of the bills make the tax credit permanent.  In many of the bills there is also a clause that makes the tax credit refundable. This is particularly important for family's living on limited income as their tax liability may not be sufficient to be able to recoop the costs that the credit is designed to help with.  This is where you come in.

I hope hope two things. First, I hope you will share this message. It is as simple as sharing this post  by aharing this link with all you can.  Like them. Love them. Share them still applies.  By sharing this message, you will be spreading the affecting the lives of many with minimal effort.  And now my second hope, this time, sharing alone is not enough.  Please take a few minutes today to watch the video, read over the information in this link and call or write your US senitor or representative.  Remind them of the importance of makin this credit permanent and refundable.

For more information check this out:
http://adoptiontaxcredit.org/advocate/

Like them, love them, and share tem,

Craig

P.S.  without the tax credit this family would be much smaller, less busy, and with many fewer blessings: