It's for the children

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'  Matthew 25:40

Don and I have a friendly little joke we refer to when we spend money or time for a cause that is somehow related to children.  For example, when Don goes and participates in a golf tourney on a Saturday morning or afternoon instead of attending to the Honey-Do list, he'll say, "It's for the children..."  How do you say, "no" and pout about that when you know children are being helped?  When 22 boxes of thin mints enter my house on an annual basis, we look at each other and our chocolate-covered teeth and proudly proclaim the hit we're taking to our non-existent diets is--say it with me--"for the children."  When I would go into some crazy bidding war on a silent auction for a local Christian school,  I'd remind him it was "for the children."  Long before we had a child, we had a soft spot for helping children.  When we found out our Lindy had been taken care of so well in foster care because of VERY generous donations through FTIA, we knew we'd always continue to help children...

I'd like to let you know about a way YOU can help the children, more specifically the orphans, of China.  My dear friend and fellow adoptive mother, Michelle, is having a wonderful giveaway on her blog to promote the 2011 Red Threads calendar.  EVERY penny raised from the sales of these calendars will go to charities which support children in China such as Half the Sky and Love Without Boundaries.  I might add that Michelle is an incredible photographer and was the photo editor of the calendar, so I'm sure it is beautiful.  I missed the deadline to get Lindy's mug in the pages but I know there are several other cuties represented!  PLUS, it is also filled with authentic Chinese recipes...

I know times are tight but please consider helping this wonderful cause either by promoting the calendar and/or purchasing a calendar or six.   Go to her blog and see all the fabulous prizes and many ways to win.

And remember, "it's for the children."

Introducing our Bamboo Baby

Lindy (2 months old) in her foster mother's arms July 2005

"...learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the cause of the widow." Isaiah 1:17

I will admit, I'm not a natural born fundraiser and I'm not really very good about asking for help. I'm typically not one to publicly advocate for things and I like to keep what I'm involved with kind of quiet. However, lately, I've been reconsidering things. After a lot of prayer, I believe I'm called to do things that aren't second-nature for me and to step out of my comfort zone. Thus, the reason for this post.

There are some who think the fact we adopted Lindy and are waiting to adopt again makes us special; we've even been called, "heroes." While we appreciate the kind words and sentiments we have received through the years, we don't feel like we're special or heroes because we adopted Lindy. We desperately wanted to become parents and we fulfilled our desires through the avenue of adoption. Truthfully, it is not something we had ever dreamed of doing and it was not really an easy road getting to that point.

Insert GIGANTIC however here! Adoption is now something we're completely convicted of and feel very strongly about. Our hearts have been pricked and verses that have been in the Bible for over two thousand years now leap off the pages and have greater meaning. It is heartbreaking for us to think about the millions of orphans in this world and Don and I both agree that adding children to our family to fulfill a desire and void isn't enough.

A couple months ago, a good friend of mine went to work for Pearl River Outreach. Up until about two weeks ago, I hadn't had the chance to check out the work they are doing. I was so excited and nearly jumped for joy when I found out they were helping children who are from the same orphanage Lindy was from in Changsha, Hunan. Their funds go to help the children in the orphanage, as well as those in foster care. Lindy was in foster care from two months old until we met her at just shy of 11 months. We are eternally grateful for all those who had generously donated funds to her foster program so she could receive such wonderful care and love.

We have decided to sponsor, "Lili," one of the children from Changsha. We loved the red thread connection we have with her--her birthday is one day (and three years) off of Lindy's (May 8, 2005) and May 9, 2005 was our log-in date for Lindy. It is our prayer that it won't be long until Lili meets her forever family. Until then, we hope she'll be taken care of extremely well, just like we know our sweet Lindy was.


Pearl River Outreach is still looking for some sponsors for their Bamboo Babies. If you're interested in helping, go to their blog or web.

On another exciting note, if you feel called to help but can't commit to a sponsorship, there is a fundraiser taking place right now for the orphanage in Changsha. The Meadows Family is trying to raise enough money to send 88 care packages to the children there. They are trying to raise $1000 by December 1st or they're requesting items such as socks, hats, mittens, toothpaste, and coloring books. If you'd like to know more about this special collection, please read about it here. What a wonderful teachable moment it would be to involve young children to help collect simple items for other children thousands of miles away.

I am excited about the special work being done in Changsha! I hope you'll join us in helping out these wonderful children. If you can't financially, they sure could use your prayers!

Thank you!

Many blessings~
Lisa

First and last meme

I was tagged by my friend Tamra at variety is the spice of life...

First & Last

First Memory - I think it was having to stay in my room all day on my second birthday while my dad and Grandpa Caples worked to finish building a homemade toybox for me. IF for some reason that is a figment of my imagination, my first memory would be when I was two years old and left our home in the early morning and walked to my grandparent's and knocked on their door. Chiquita barked but no one answered, so I walked back home.

First Real Kiss - Scott Roth

First Love - Besides Mom & Dad, it was definitely Jamie. He was not a crush like the many other boys I thought I "loved" before him.

First Concert - Genesis at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia

First Thought In The Morning - Here we go again...

First Book You Loved - a VINTAGE Golden Book entitled Hush, Hush it's Sleepytime by Peggy Parish. I also loved any Amelia Bedelia book and basically anything I could get my hands on. I was reading at four years old and was quite the bookworm.

First Question You'll Ask In Heaven - Really...why does it take so long to adopt from China?

First Thought When Hearing "Vacation" - Hmmm...I'm not sure I am familiar with that word. Oh I think, "Have a great time!!!" because it is usually someone else going, not me.

First Best Friend - I think it was Jack Nadler in Kindergarten and first grade. He was Jewish and taught me the Dreidel song.

Last Food You Ate - Watermelon with dinner

Last CD Purchased - Do you mean compact disc or certificate of deposit??? Ha ha! I bought Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration during the holidays. More recently I (we) bought a short term certificate of deposit to make more interest than our money market account.

Last Good Book You Read - I Love You Like Crazy Cakes. I don't read too much for my pleasure anymore.

Last Time You Cried - Watching a repeat of Oprah today. There was an amazing story of the Chinese twins (both named Mia) who were abandoned and found a week apart and subsequently adopted by different families. DNA testing revealed they are siblings. The mothers both credited God with PERFECTLY orchestrating their reunion. I get emotional when it has to do with adoption, what can I say???

Last "I love you" Said - To Lindy

Last Funny Thing You Did - Funny is all relative when you have a two year old. I sang in opera voice while wearing one of Lindy's hats. Don't ask...

Last TV Show Watched - The Singing Bee

Since Tamra tagged just about anyone I know with a blog who reads mine, I tag my cousin, Karen, at Mommy of Boys and anyone else who might want to play.

What a great week

This has been such an incredible week for so many reasons--really too many to explain.

A highlight has been seeing three of my special adoption friends Diana, Jill, and Shauna (and their husbands) get to meet each other in China and then finally meet their children--after many, many months.

Just as women who have birthed children empathize with other pregnant women and often swap labor and delivery stories, women who have traveled down the road of international adoption empathize with others traveling the same road. We cry when the news is not good, we rejoice when the news is great, we pray for peace, patience, and protection, and we just listen when there aren't really any words to say.

This week MANY prayers have been answered for these special women and I am honored to have them in my life, pray for them, and now celebrate their new additions.

It is with great happiness I present my new "cyber" nieces and nephew...

Ruby Mei Rouse, 9 months

Proud parents: Jeff & Diana Rouse and big sister, Ainsley

Kylee Hope Oswald, 8 months

Proud parents: Joel & Shauna Oswald

Samuel Sebastian Borrowdale, age 4

Proud parents: Ken & Jill Borrowdale and big sisters, Erica & Liz

News from the Osborns

On April 9, 2007, we began the process to adopt another daughter from China. We will chronicle our journey to her on our blog Make room for mei mei.

Please pray we can complete the paperwork in a speedy and efficient manner and that we will be approved. There will be many other future prayer requests but for now we just want to get a quick jump on this part.

Thank you!!!

With love,
Don & Lisa