Thank You

I want to thank everyone who puts up with my repeated requests for prayers and donations to help "my" little orphans and the families who rescue them. I know that just because this is my passion, doesn't mean that it's yours. I have gotten many great comments from friends and family, complimenting me on what I am going to try to help. But I'm guessing there's some who just get annoyed and wish I'd leave them alone. And that's ok. If you are one in that group, feel free to not follow my blog, unfriend me on Facebook, tell me to stop sending you emails. I'm ok with that. Because guess what?! I'm NOT GOING TO STOP asking, begging, YELLING for these children who have been given NO chance at a life!! This could easily be my Kellan, and wouldn't you want to help him?

 Does he not deserve a loving family? If he does, then why doesn't Lilly? Or Sutton?


I "met" some great gals over the Christmas time fundraising on a special Facebook group RR arranged for us to network. And it was great! We worked together so well, I think there were about 150 of us on there, some young teens, some not-so-old grandmas. Some with no children, some pregnant that delivered new babies while fundraising! Lots of awesome fundraisers went on: jewelry of all sorts, neat picture-on a-bottle cap-keychains, quilts, even iPads and cameras! LOTS of money was raised. Totals are posted. Go check it out...pretty amazing!


Let me end this post by saying the vast majority of donations came from folks like you and I; $5 here, $10 there.  I would never ask anyone to give up their life savings, just a Starbucks, or DVD rental.  (note: if you happen to win the lottery, then be prepared for me to bug you for a little bit more!)

Katelyn has a family!!

Yes! Katelyn was my 5/5/5 child over the summer, which was Reeces Rainbows BIG fundraiser for all the children over the age 5. She is already transferred to an adult mental institution, so time is of the essence for saving her. As soon as I know who her family is, I'll share! Het photo is along my right side bar, she's so cute, but looks so terrified in her photo! Hang on baby girl, your momma and/or daddy's coming!

Half way there baby!

I started fundraising as Stacy's Christmas Warrior on November 1. Today is December 2, half way thru the Christmas Warrior event, and I am pleased as punch to say we passed the $500 mark! Half way through and half way there! Now, it has not been easy. I did a craft show at a church that raised much less than the time and effort was worth. But I bounced back with a bake sale at the hospital where I work that raised $200 in less than 4 hours, and I had some fantastic coworkers (and mother) who helped me bake so it wasn't a huge amount of work. I created a Facebook page for Stacy that I have donated items for sale. My mom gave me aprons and pillow cases, my aunt gave my adorable stockings she makes, my daughter donated beautiful prints of an angel painting she created, and my kids and I had lots of fun creating beaded angels. Well, I'd had TWO sales in a month! So I decided to have a birthday sale and cut all my prices in half! I admit, the prices may be a bit high, but they cover shipping costs, and look what a great cause it's for! A beautiful little girl, who lives in an adult mental institution all because she was born with an extra chromosome and deemed "unfit" for society.
Now that I've gotten to the halfway mark for Stacy, I feel the need to help some of those who are having a hard time fundraising. So I am going to direct donations from Stacys store to other orphans for part of the next month. I've asked warriors on my Facebook group to let me know if they want my help. I will just ask that they spread the word on the store, and try to get buyers. I feel like the way it's gone for Stacy, I'll be left with all my stuff at the end of this, and I'd rather the money go to someone. So watch for me to announce who will be the first orphan to benefit! If you haven't donated yet, please consider doing so, even $5 makes a difference, believe it or not!
Last but not least, my little Kellan is making BIG progress in the walking department! His PT is going to put him on the treadmill next week! So watch for photos there too!

Christmas Angels

To the right is my Christmas Angel, Stacy. My goal is to raise $1,000 for her by Christmas. If you would like to help, click the "donate" button which is below Stacys photo. All donations of $35 or more will receive an ornament with her photo on it! What a great way to "give" this Holiday season! All donations are tax-deductible. I'm so excited that ALL the RR children with Down syndrome have warriors this Christmas! I'm not sure how many are listed, but there are dozens! I'm hopeful that lots of new families are found through all of our efforts! My plan for fundraising is: a couple of bake sales at the hospital I work at, which several of my coworkers have graciously agreed to help bake for, and at least one craft show, next weekend. I have my pillowcases from my mom and aunt to sell, my aunt is going to give me some other things she makes as well, Christmas stockings, and stuffed chenille bunnies and bears. Another aunt of mine was in town last weekend with her extensive bead collection, and we made several angels that can be used as cell phone charms, key chains, or zipper pulls, like on a purse or jacket. I'll post photos of everything on here soon, so if anyone is interested, let me know!

Updated info on Lilly...not good

This breaks my heart...
http://reecesrainbow.org/lilly-3g

Guess whose family found them?!?

Vanessa 3G


Yep! She's now listed in the MFFM on Reeces Rainbow!!

To save Lilly and Vanessa

Wow, it's been a while again since I've posted! I'm really good at keeping up with all my blogger friends to the right, but not so good at keeping up with my own! The past month or so I have seen some amazing things happen in blog and facebook world. I saw my friend Renee reach what some may have thought was the unreachable goal to bring home her sweet Paisley, who she gets to meet in less than 2 weeks!! We watched that meter rise that final $8,000 in a matter of weeks, and I for one was speechless! Now, I didn't win any of her fabulous prizes, but that doesn't matter!! Ok, I did win Renee's yummy toffee, but I couldn't have her making and sending me that when she was supposed to be focusing on bringing home her girl! She can make it for me when I come to LA to meet them!!

The next awe-inspiring event took place on Adeye's blog. Her mission was to save a sweet little girl named Liliana who is in Bulgaria. http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2011/08/because-it-is-our-problem.html Adeye collected, overnight, some great prizes, including 2 iPads, and with that proceeded in the next 24 hours to raise over $23,000 for Liliana!! And the word on the street is now she also has a family!

Most recently, God's work was done through many to help Amy bring Liam home. http://amyandsons.blogspot.com/ What sets this story apart is that there were no prizes to be claimed upon reaching her goal, only the knowledge that we did something good, something really good. Because really, she is adopting her 3rd son with Down syndrome as a single mother, and let's face it, that is REALLY GOOD!! She had some awesome people on earth and in heaven working for her Liam, and it only took a couple days to reach that seemingly unreachable bar! It amazes me how many people are willing to spare a few dollars to help the helpless. I know there are so many more who would open their hearts and homes to these special orphans, if they just had the money it takes to adopt. Who has that kind of money just laying around??

So that brings me to Lily

and Vanessa

These two girls have a whole lot in common. They are both beautiful blonde-haired, blue-eyed girls who happen to have Down syndrome. They both have heart conditions and need to see a cardiologist ASAP. They both are listed on Reece's Rainbow. They are both in the same region in Russia. They are very close in age, Lilly is 4, Vanessa is 2. They both have very little money in their adoption grants. They are both living on borrowed time. They both have no mommy or daddy to call their own. They both have no one to love them, tuck them in at night, cuddle them when they are hurt, sick, or scared. But the biggest and best thing (I think) they have in common, is a whole lotta people who pray for them, love them from afar. I have encountered many a momma, and sisters, who love these two and want nothing more than to see them find a home, yesterday.

Now the problem is this: none of us have an iPad or fancy camera, or lots of gift cards to give away. And most of us have blogs with not too many followers. We don't have the traffic, but we have the voices. Together, I believe we can be heard. I believe that people will give, even without the prospect of winning a prize. That being said, I know that great prizes also help alot, so if anyone has any to donate, contact me!! I would love to put together an awesome give-away, or help someone else host one. I believe the key to finding their forever family is to pour money into their adoption grants. I believe their forever family's are already out there, and already know it, they are just trying to figure out how to pay the ransom. That's where we come in. I am asking, no begging, for your help. I am putting Lilly's picture as my profile picture on Facebook for the next week or so, then Vanessa's, then back to Lilly's. Will you change yours too? I am adding a chip-in to my blog. I am starting with just Lilly, frankly because I am scared, scared no one will donate, scared no one will share. But I am even more scared for these girls, that they will not live to see a family if someone doesn't do something soon. Never done this before, but I am taking a deep breath and jumping in. I am donating the first $10, will you give too?
(all chip-ins go to Reeces Rainbow via paypal and are tax-deductible).

BTW, there are 2 awesome girls that are working hard to help Lilly as well, http://www.handiworkforelijah.blogspot.com/. Check them out!!