Little tough guy

Here's Nathan.

With his buzz cut, he looks like a "man's man."  I bet he would like helping his Dad with projects around the house and yard.  But I know he would love having a Mom to hug him and read to him too. 

What kind of life could Nathan have outside the orphanage? 

still waiting...

Valentin is home forever! 

But Kirill is still waiting. 

(Kirill has cerebral palsy--like Valentin.  He is in an institution--like Valentin would have been.  The picture doesn't show the smile that lights up a room.  Kirill needs a mom and dad.)

But...

Callum is waiting. 

(Look at those glasses--pretty irresistible!  Callum is seven.  He was born prematurely and has many developmental delays.  But he likes to build and construct things, and do puzzles.  Callum needs a mama.)

But...

Irina is waiting. 

(Big dark eyes!  Irina is seven.  She has a cleft palate and is cognitively delayed, but she's a lively little girl.)

But...

Edward is waiting.
 

(Look at that expression!  You can tell this one is full of fun.  Edward is seven.  He is small for his age, and has developmental delays, but he's making lots of progress!  Edward needs a mama to smile back into those sparkling eyes.)

Kristopher is waiting. 

(Kristopher has cerebral palsy--like Valentin--but see how his spirit shines!  His smile would light up your day.  And who knows what progress he can make, with the love of his parents and family to help him?

Sawyer is waiting.

(Sawyer turns five this month!  He should be getting ready for kindergarten...He needs a mama to look into his blue eyes and say, "You're mine.")

Valentin is home. 

They all need to come home too. 

Home!!

 Like a dream ...

 But then you awaken and find that it's true!!

Valentin is home forever. 










(Look at that smile and the peace in his eyes!  And see how he's sitting up, on the carpet!)

My heart rejoices...

...because he is going home.

Valentin is going HOME!!!

Alleluia!

Praise Him with tambourine and dancing, praise Him with the strings and flute...  Ps 150:4

A wonderful thing happened over there...

...Valentin was legally declared to be a son. 

I was going to say he became a son.  But it wasn't the judge's word that did that. 

From the time they determined to bring him home, Tyler and Jamie became his parents.  When they met him they were already his mom and dad, and as he got to know and trust them he began to become their son.  

But now a judge has confirmed what began in the hearts.  Valentin is legally their son.  He has brothers and a sister.  And when the ten-day waiting is over, when all the papers have been chased down--

Valentin will be going home. 

He loves bubbles!

Valentin loves bubbles!

Look at the wonder and delight on his face.

On his family's blog, you can see a video and hear him laughing, too!  Go see!

I'll bet Sawyer would love bubbles too...



I'm sure Emmitt isn't too old to enjoy tossing a ball with mom and dad, or watching bubbles float in the air...

And Ivan.  Wouldn't you like to see him break out in chuckles?



Pray that their families will come for them soon.

Sweet faces...

This is Kristopher.

His smile could light up your day!  Kristopher has cerebral palsy, like Valentin.  We don't know how severely he's affected.  But it doesn't seem to have kept him from finding joy in life!

Since he's sitting in a stroller, it's likely that he can't walk, or not very well.  Physical therapy could make a big difference for him.   And surely Kristopher's smile would be a delight to his family.

This is Galen.  He turned seven this month.

Galen has cerebral palsy, but he is able to walk and get around.  He likes people and enjoys helping.

Galen would love to have a family of his own!  He could benefit from physical therapy, and glasses to help with his strabismus.  But most of all his heart would blossom in the love of his own mom and dad.

Brandon also has CP.

What thoughts are going on behind those eyes?  Brandon isn't able to share his thoughts very well.  His speech is delayed, and he's said to have mental delays.  He is able to walk on his own, though.

Brandon could probably benefit from speech therapy.  But most of all he needs a mom and dad to look into those eyes and tell him how much he is loved. 

And this is Joey.

Joey has CP, but as you see he can walk.  But Joey is going to be someone's brother!!

Can you guess whose? 

Beautiful smile...

Valentin's smile will light up your day.

 

But go to his parents' blog and see.  (They have videos!)

They have met!!

Valentin's family is in country now, and they have met him!!

I am so glad.

Can't wait to see that little heart blossom.

Sweet Tamara and beautiful Kacey

This is "Tamara." Look at that smile! Isn't she a cutie?


Tamara is said to have Crouzon Syndrome, a craniofacial condition similar to Apert syndrome. She has some syndactyly of her fingers, and is missing some toes. She is very physically able, though.

Tamara likes people and enjoys being helpful--and she seems to be quite a charmer! An adoptive mom who met her declared, "we would have taken her in a heartbeat!"

(You can also see some more pictures of her in this blog post from another mom who met Tamara.)

But now Tamara's situation is growing more urgent, as I learned from this blog post. A family that hoped to adopt Tamara wasn't able to complete the process. And soon this little one may be transferred to an institution.

This little girl needs to be in a family. How she would delight her mom and dad with her smiles!

And you may remember Kacey. Look at this new picture!

Dressed up like a princess--but such a serious little face!

Wouldn't it be fun to watch her grow up? To help her discover her world?

Read this post on Catherine's blog to learn a bit more about Kacey from someone who met her. (Catherine's little girl Francesca has Apert Syndrome, too.)

And pray for Tamara and Kacey.


Their mamas are out there somewhere.

Another glimpse of Chase! and Sawyer!

Here's a new picture of Chase! Hasn't he got the greatest grin?


I can imagine him coming along with his mom or dad on hikes...pointing out the spotted woodpecker high in a tree...entranced by a praying mantis crouching on a leaf. Discovering his world with people who love him. I think he would like that.

And Sawyer is growing up too! The camera caught him in mid-blink, maybe holding back a laugh.


Wouldn't he like to have a mom and dad, maybe a brother or sister to make him laugh?

I think he would.


(Update, May 4...I just learned that Chase is not on RR any longer.  Apparently he's no longer listed as available for adoption in his country.  I hope this means he is home now!)

Is this your son?

This is Chase.


Chase is 7 and a half years old. He is said to be smart and well-behaved. Chase appears to have Treacher-Collins Syndrome, which affects the bones in his face.

Chase needs a family. Is he your son?

This is Carter.

Carter is seven. He has spina bifida, but he doesn't let that keep him from walking. (On his RR profile page you can see him using a walker.)

An adoptive mom who met him recently says he is polite, funny, sweet and smart, with a twinkle in his eye. She has more to tell about him here: (You'll need to scroll down the page to see what she says about Carter.)

Could Carter be your little boy?

This is Emmitt.


Emmitt is fourteen now. He has spina bifida, and can't walk. He has lived in an institution for several years. But he would still love to have a family of his own. Could he be your son?

Little Ivan is still waiting!


He still needs his mama and papa to come for him, and make it possible for him to have the surgery he needs. Is Ivan your son?

And don't forget Sawyer.

He's still waiting for a mama to come and look into his eyes and say, "You're mine."

Mama, Papa--where are you?

Dancing again!!

Just a quick note to say...

Bernadette has been found!!



I'm dancing!!

Just wait till this girl sees her very own mom and dad coming for her...

Dancing today

I've been dancing on the inside today!

I was working on a post to introduce you to a young man called Duncan, who is the same age as Samuel and also needs a family soon. But then this morning I went to the "Found" page and there was Duncan's face!

So I'm rejoicing!

For these two teen-age boys to now have committed families, against all odds--contrary to what you would usually expect--it is wonderful!

If this can happen, who knows what else God can do?

He can bring a family for Ivan, soon, so that Ivan can get the surgery he needs. Can't He?


He can bring a family for Sawyer.


He can bring a family for Bernadette, who will be sixteen in November--but who is more like a little girl still--Can't He?


He can bring a family for Laurel, who will be sixteen in August. He holds all those days in His hand.


I'm hoping eagerly to see these two girls, and many others too, found and claimed and coming home.

And then I'll be dancing some more.

Samuel

Several days ago I learned about a young man we'll call Samuel.

An adoptive family met him while they were in-country to get their daughter. Samuel is friendly, intelligent and respectful. Doesn't he just glow?


Samuel's "special need" is very mild--he has malformed fingers. Other than that, he is healthy. He has been doing well in school and knows some English.

Samuel will turn sixteen in May. He needs a family quickly! In his own country he will have few opportunities--most importantly, he won't have a family to encourage him and help him.

The adoptive mom who met him promised to help find a family for him. You can learn more about him here (and see more pictures!).

The time is short, but we know there is a family out there for Samuel! Will you pray for him?

Is he your son?



Update: Look!!

Ten for Ivan K!

Wow, I guess February went by in a blur...

This month is an important one for Ivan, though he doesn't know it.


This month Ivan is the featured child on Ten for Orphans.

The idea is that if 2500 people will give just $10, Ivan's adoption expenses will be fully covered.

Who wants to help?

Who wants to help pray that his family will realize he's theirs, and start on their way to him before the month is over?

Come get Ivan! He's waiting for you.

Happy birthday, little girl!

It's Mandy's birthday! She is two years old today!

She's a little young for a party, but she's not too young to enjoy cake (with lots of icing!). She's not too young to know the singing is for her, the twinkling candles are special, and just for her.

But the thing is, she probably won't have a cake, or candles. Because she doesn't have a mom and dad who think she is the most precious two-year-old ever.

Where is Mandy's family?

Mandy will need surgery to separate her fingers, and to make sure her brain has room to grow. She has a heart condition called "patent foramen ovale," which might need treatment.

Living in an orphanage, she has some delays, and she'll need parents who can enjoy letting her do and experience all the things she's missed out on--exploring all the cupboards, saying "mine!" about everything, throwing her dish on the floor when she's finished with it. Just being a toddler.


Will you say a prayer for Mandy today, on her birthday? And maybe put something in her grant fund? Pray that she will grow and be healthy. Pray that her family will find her soon.

And remember Ivan, too.

Two little girls...

Today I wanted to tell you about two little girls.

This is Kacey.
Kacey has Apert Syndrome. She just turned three in November.

A family who met her last summer says, "She is very active despite her limitations with feet and hands- she kept up with the whole bunch. Very determined, a bit shy."

She does look determined, doesn't she? A little shy, but ready to take on any challenge!

This is Mandy. She will be two on February 1!

Her profile doesn't specifically say Apert Syndrome, but she has "multiple skeletal anomalies, including fused/webbed hands."

Mandy is a happy little girl, interested in toys. Isn't she a doll?

Mandy and Kacey may not have as urgent need for surgery as Ivan, at least not right now. But they do need families! Kacey longs for a mama. Mandy needs a mom and a dad to smile back and encourage her.

Ivan so needs to come home!

And little Sawyer needs a mom to look into his beautiful eyes and tell him he is special, he is loved.