How I celebrate my birthday:

I am celebrating today by donating to Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree.  I think I'll donate to Tory today.  She looks very much like I did at that age (yes, boy haircut and all...)  She is facing imminent transfer to the institution.  Or maybe Suzanne, who also reminds me of myself as a little girl.  Suzanne has already been transferred to an institution.  That is NOT good!  How might my life had been different if I grew up in an orphanage in Eastern Europe, or worse an Eastern European institution, rather than in a loving home?  I shudder to think.

I hope and pray that both of these girls, and all of the other little ones on Reece's Rainbow's Angel Tree will get to have a day like our family had this past Friday when Super-T's adoption was finalized, legally making him a member of our family for life.  He is an orphan no more!
 
Thank you!

P.S. To see pictures of Super-T's finalization and hear how else I am celebrating my birthday, go to my other blog.

Adoption Finalization and $5 Friday!

Today, at long last, Super-T's adoption is going to be legally finalized here in the USA.  The country I adopted him from grants the adoptive parents custody and then, after six months and all the post-placement visits have been made, they grant permission to finalize the adoption.  Well, for one reason and another, we had the perfect storm of delays (paperwork lost in the mail, our attorney in a serious car accident, court system losing paperwork, etc. etc.) and now, just two months shy of two years later, we finally have a court date.  Super-T will legally become my son today!  His name will be changed to what we have been calling him for the past two years, and he will become a U.S. citizen!

In honor of Super-T's adoption I am having $5 Friday.  All the money raised goes directly to Jovie's grant fund (honestly, I can't even see who donates, but we'll all be able to see her total grant go up).  Jovie is an orphan with Down syndrome who lives in the same child care home that Super-T lived in for three years.  Jovie has a family that recently committed to bringing her home, and I know by experience what an arduous process that can be.  Please help me celebrate Super-T's adoption by helping another orphan come home.

Thank you!

Jovie has a family!!!

The goal of the Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree is to raise $1000 for each orphan on the tree and to hopefully find families for many of these treasures.  The money raised goes into the childrens' individual grant funds and will go to their new family to help pay their adoption expenses.

Adoption is expensive.  Let me rephrase that:  adoption is EXPENSIVE!  Of course the life of a child is priceless, so it is all worth it.  Still, the one thing that most often stops families who want to adopt from following through, is the money.  It can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $45,000 to adopt internationally.  A nice-sized grant can make it possible for a family who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford an adoption (but can definitely afford supporting a child) to give a child a home.

A few days ago a family committed to Jovie and to the expense of bringing her home.  It absolutely made my day to see Jovie's name in the "My Family Found Me" section of the angel tree!  I am so excited that Jovie has a family going for her!!!  I would like to bless them by getting as large a grant fund as possible.  Will you join me in helping Jovie?

Thank you! 

Jovie!

Jovie is a sweet little girl with Down syndrome who needs a family.  The Reece's Rainbow Christmas Angel Tree is dedicated to raising grant funds for orphans ages five and under who have Down syndrome.  I am the "Christmas Warrior" for Jovie.  That means that I committed to raising money for her adoption grant.  The goal for each of the Christmas Angels is to have $1000 raised.  You can donate directly to Jovie's grant fund via the donation box on the right.  If you would like to see the entire angel tree or donate to another angel, click on the Angel Tree button just below the donation box.  No gift is too small, but if you donate at least $35, you will receive a Christmas ornament to hang on your tree. 

Thank you!