~Welcome to the story of our journey to save another Eastern European princess with down syndrome and an older child! In 2010, we traveled half way around the world to adopt a twenty month old (now three years old) precious girl with down syndrome, Gabby. Now, less than two years later, we are on a mission to adopt another precious little girl that is in the same orphanage Gabby was in, Ava. Not only Ava, but yes....one more "Elaine". That means we are trying to adopt two more children!!!! If you are unaware of the situation in most, if not all Eastern European countries, please continue to read. In these countries children with down syndrome and special needs are most often placed in orphanages and if not adopted by the age of four or five (depending on circumstance), they are transferred to institutions where the likely-hood of them ever seeing outside of the institution walls remain slim to none. Many will live very short lives due to lack of appropriate care. Please don't allow this to happen to our sweet Ava! "Elaine" was fortunate enough to escape a very bad institution but nonetheless is in an institution and is an older child whose chances of coming home if we can't adopt her are not good. Having adopted and fully funding ourselves the previous adoption such a short time ago, we will need all of the help we can get to reunite these two angels and bring their big sister home. We utilized all extra resources with our first adoption and so fundraising is essential with this adoption. Whether it be from your prayers, helping to fundraise, buying from fundraisers, donations, etc...your help is much appreciated and is very much needed in order to make this dream a reality. Thank you so much for following our journey~

Sunday, April 1, 2012

~SO THANKFUL~

I can't tell you just how thankful I am today! I'm thankful to GOD to be alive, for my family to be healthy and happy, and for his guidance throughout life and this adoption.  I'm also thankful that we were able to commit to Ava ("Yulia)! I'm thankful that she was posted to the RR website today and our family sponsorship page was set up. I'm thankful to the couple of people who donated today!  As I sit here and watch Gabby sleep, I can't help but be emotional and so very thankful for her!!! She has been the greatest blessing of my life. People tell me all the time how we saved her and I can't help but think of how she also saved us!  She changed our lives and made us have a whole new perspective on life. She has taught us so much so fast.  I also can't help but to think about our other sweet girl an ocean away! Is she sleeping right now? Is she wondering where her daddy and mommy are? Is she hungry? Is she crying? Is she sick? So much goes through my head, not just for her but for all of the babies.  It seems so unreasonable to think that these babies have to lie there and go through what they go through with so many of us able to change their lives.  Sometimes I wonder if people take the time to think about how much they really can do instead of what they can't do. If you can pray, if you can send a message or comment, if you can repost a message to spread the word, if you can help fundraise, if you can participate/buy from a fundraiser, if you can even donate a $1 you have contributed!  Everything counts!!!!  I've had people tell me that I am going to make myself miserable if I keep thinking about "those orphans" all the time.  Well, "those orphans" are human, they are babies, and they need us.  I don't understand how you can ignore the facts once their eyes have been opened to the harsh reality that lies ahead of these precious children.  If you have been blessed with a healthy and happy family, please take time to make a difference. 

~Sylvia~
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1 comment:

  1. BeckyApril 2, 2012 at 7:21 AM

    Sylvia

    I mentioned your story to a friend of mine who advocates for Reece's Rainbow. Her blog is new so it doesn't have a lot of followers yet, but it will soon as she has another popular blog called The Little Catholic Bubble.

    http://orphanreport.blogspot.com/

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