A Way to Make a Difference

There is some seriously exciting stuff going on at my friend Kim's blog - www.catecomeshome.blogspot.com
This is NOT an adoption fundraiser, but this IS about helping orphans.  Please take a look, pray, and then DO SOMETHING!

Advocating for Jason

 

Jason - waiting for a family since 2000

 

I was asked by Xiaoqing, the SN coordinator for BAAS, to advocate for her Journey of Hope children.  I have great respect for Xiaoqing as she helped us bring home both Hudson and Leiney Grace, and she found Mei Mei and Di Di on the shared list. She also willingly released them to another agency so they could be adopted together by our friends, the Queens. (BAAS does not allow the adoption of 2 unrelated children at the same time.)  Of course, I agreed to advocate for these mostly older children who are male, but I will admit that advocating takes its toll on me emotionally.  It is so hard for me to look at these sweet faces and read about these children yet know that in all likelihood, many of them will age out of the orphanage system in China and have very uncertain earthly futures as well as eternal ones.  My heart is truly burdened by the orphan crisis in our world.  God commands His church to care for orphans yet so many in the church (ie Christians) seem to view the orphan crisis as a distant problem and not one that is worthy of their attention or their dollars.  If every Christian family adopted 1 orphan, there would be No. More. Orphans. - well at least for a little while - then sadly, the cycle would continue.  Adoption is not the cure for the orphan crisis.  To solve it, we have to get to the core reasons of why children are orphaned in the first place and then work to resolve those issues.  But as long as there are orphans and there is breath in my body, I suppose I will be longing to bring another child home, and I will be here advocating! 

 

So let's talk about JASON!

Abandoned as an infant

Fostered at age 4 years

Has repaired cleft lip and repaired cleft palate

Is Hep B positive

Is doing well in school

Makes 90% or above on his scchool exams

Described as introverted, not talkative, and likes to do handiwork

Speaks more now than when younger

Speech is clearer now

Likes to take small toys apart and

then likes to put them back together.

This cute little boy needs a mama and a daddy.

I can just see he and his dad, tool boxes in tow, working on a project around the house.

 

Please spread the word - copy this post or parts of it  to your blog or post about Jason on Facebook, etc.  Jason only has 2 years left ,and then he will never have the chance to be adopted.  EVER!

 

And We're Off. . .

To School That Is!

 

Life might be a little simpler if all 8 kiddos were under 1 school roof.  Homeschool roof or traditional school roof.  No such luck. 

 

#1 Chinese Immersion Charter School

 

Ellie - an excited 5Ker!

 

 

Lilly - an eager 1st grader!

 

 

Leiney Grace - a super excited 2nd grader.  This is her first time attending a traditional school.  In China, due to to her orphanage's rural location, she  went to school in the upstairs room at her orphanage.  We have homeschooled since February - for bonding and to catch-up academically.  It was such a joy to watch her pick out her backpack and lunch box- more firsts with my precious 9 year old little girl.

 

 

 

Ethan - minimally excited 3rd grader.  School is not his favorite activity, but he did admit to having a little bit of excitement on Day 1 (wish it would have lasted!).

 

 

Nihao, school!

 

 

 

#2  Christian School

 

Katie - social butterfly who flits around in 8th grade.  "What's not to love about school?  It's where all my friends are!"

 

 

Fulton - very eager 6th grader who could not wait to flee from prison homeschool.

 

 

Katie adequately warned Fulton to act like he didn't know her when they were at school.  I was appalled.  Growing up, I always wanted a sibling close in age to share school life with.  Obviously Katie does not desire that!  We always want what we don't have - sad but oh, so true.

 

#3 Homeschool

 

Shelby - content (being in prison  homeschooled) and very studious 10th grader.  Shelby does attend a wonderful bi-weekly co-op for English II, Algebra II, and Chemistry.  Unfortunately, it's an hour away thus the need for a 3rd carpool - sigh!

 

Hudson - mostly happy, occasionally reluctant preschooler.

 

So my days are filled with juggling 3 carpools, homeschooling Hudson, teaching Spanish I to Shelby and minimally assisting her with other subjects, and coping with chaos in the afternoon when 5 of the above mentioned children want help with homework! Is it May yet? 

In Honor of Cailey

"Almost Forgotten"

Found at 2 years
Left by a gate - alone and afraid.
Almost forgotten.

 Orphanage life - 4 years too long
Spina Bifida, deformed feet yet trying to walk.
Almost forgotten.

A glimmer of hope
Pictures taken, a file ready, a family - maybe?
Almost forgotten.                                                                               

          

Two more years come and go
Parents arrive and her friends go away.
Almost forgotten.

                                                                                             

An update prepared, new pictures taken
But another year passes - no family for her .
Almost forgotten.

Now 9 years old and lost among many

Her hope is fading

Forgotten - maybe?

Please help spread the word about this little girl who has waited far too long for a family of her own.  Cailey waits on the shared list.  Please email me if you might be her family dfbjhb@windstream.net

Hope For Another. . .

My friend through bloggy land, Connie and her amazing family, are setting off on their 6th adoption journey to China to adopt their 11th child!  I have followed Connie's blog since the beginning of our family's adoption journey back in 2006.  Connie is always encouraging her readers through sharing from her heart - even about difficult situations - and through sharing God's Word on her blog.  If you have never been to Connie's blog, take a look www.k6comehome.blogspot.com .
You'll be glad you did! 

And you might want to take a look like. . .now because Connie is having an adoption fundraiser to help them bring home their sweet girl.  She is giving away a Nikon D5100.  Now I could really use one of those to take fabulous pics of all of my kiddos!  You better hurry, the give-away ends in only a few days.  

147 milllion orphans - 3

Sweet Ainsley is no longer on my sidebar because she has a family!  Praise God for 1 less orphan.

 

Mei Mei and Di Di are still in Leiyang SWI, but they have a family working hard to bring them home.  If you are new to our family's blog, these 2 were Leiney Grace's best friends - her sister and brother - her family before she came to us.  They are currently about $800 short of having their homestudy paid for.  Please consider donating.  It will cost an estimated $45,000 to adopt these 2 precious little ones.  There is a link on my sidebar where you can donate to their adoption.  Your donation will be tax- deductible.   Also, their parents-to-be are selling their camper in an effort to raise funds.  Here is a link to their blog where you can find more information about the camper as well as their other fundraisers!  www.lovesredthread.blogspot.com



Dedicated to my dear friend Amy who has recently shared with me - via a few lengthy phone conversations along with innumerable interuptions by one or more of our 13 children - the blessings of a large family as well as the extra work that inevitably comes with the blessings!  Constantly being in the kitchen cooking, cleaning, repeat, cooking, cleaning, repeat - over and over and over again - is just one example. 

Hats off (and happy cooking) to my fellow M.O.M.s
(Mother of Many)!

Too Funny Tuesday

It's VBS week, and I am helping with 3rd grade.  Today I had the funniest conversation with 2 of the girls.  It went something like this. . .
After seeing numerous kids come up to me in the halls and say "Mom, . . ." one of the girls approached me. . .

GIRL: Mrs. Jan, how many kids do you have?
ME: Guess!
GIRL: 4
ME: Nope
GIRL: 5
ME: Nope
GIRL: 3
ME: Nope
GIRL: 1
 ME: Nope
GIRL: 2
ME: Nope
GIRL: I don't know! (quite exasperated!)
ME: I have 8 kids!
GIRL: (eyes quite large and in complete shock) You DO?
ME: Yes, I really do.

Girl returns to the line and shares this amazing info with several other 3rd grade girls.  Girl #2 comes up to me. . .

GIRL #2: Mrs. Jan, do you really have 8 kids?
ME: Yes, I do.
GIRL #2: (in absolute seriousness) Well, how many HUSBANDS do you have?
ME: (trying not to fall on the floor laughing) Oh, I just have 1 husband!

Giving Thanks!

Wonderful News:

These 2 precious children, Leiney Grace's best friends from Leiyang SWI, have a family pursuing their adoption!  Yes, 1 family for both of them! And our God allowed that family to be only 45 minutes from us.  And the 3 will attend the same Chinese immersion school.  How cool is that? Thank you, Jesus!

Mom's on a Mission received it's first donation towards Mei Mei's (now Di Di's too) grant fund. Please consider giving if you have not.  Even if it's $10 - God can and will multiply each and every donation. Thank you, Jesus for the kind friend who gave from her heart to "the least of these"!

Oh, and thank you, sweet Jesus, for notes such as this one from my children.  This one is from Lilly, and it is so special!  She had it on the floor of the hallway to my bedroom.  I saw it when I woke up one recent morning staggering to the coffee pot.  What a wonderful way to wake up!

Thank you, Father in Heaven, that tonight as we shared one thing we were thankful for during family devotion, this precious child  said in a whisper "Jesus".  That is why I adopt again and again, and moments like that make me forget all the sweat and tears over paper work as well as the sacrifice it took to afford another adoption.  Also a big thank you to Jennifer O. who took this beautiful picture of Leiney Grace on very short notice.

Thank you, Father, for laughter!  I had a good chuckle when I saw all the pictures my silly son took of himself when he "borrowed" my camera! 

Blessed and Thankful

Happy Mother's Day Ya'll!

                                           It was Mother's Day.
                                           I asked for a few simple things.
                                           My hubby did good.
                                           Kisses from Katie - so excited to read this book!
                                           And my current favorite tee from 147 Million.
                                           Lots of cute homemade cards.
                                           But when I asked for a picture. . .
                                           Well, I guess that was asking for a little too much!
                                           It was painful and long and  loud
                                           and the result - not what I was hoping for.
                                           But, on this Mother's Day,  I am blessed
                                           and thankful just the same!

Blessed and thankful for Mamas in China who chose life for these 3 beautiful daughters of mine.  I can't imagine my life without them. 

 

And so blessed and thankful to have this adorable and stubborn silly son of mine. All because a mom in Inner Mongolia chose life!

 

And on this Mother's Day, praying for Mei Mei to have a Mama to love and call her own!