Beloved by God

Do you remember this line?

"She kept asking 'And Tania? And Tania?' She would sob when we would leave her with the groupa."

Tatiana won't be left behind much longer... she's going to have a family! She's on MFFM! Praise God!

Will it ever happen for Daniel--almost 4 years old, calm, likely has Down Syndrome.

Beloved by God. His son.

When God adopted me, my prognosis was pretty poor. I was already a sinner. Likely no matter what my Father did to help me, I'd be a sinner still. I wouldn't ever get better from it. But he decided that I was his daughter, and he didn't care that I wasn't perfect. He wasn't looking for a perfect child. He already is perfect... He wanted a child to love.

That's what Daniel deserves. Not a family who wants a perfect child, just a family with more love to share. Maybe that's your family.

Little girl with HIV

Sabrina needs a family who have medical insurance, because she will need medication to control her HIV.

That's it. She's a 4-year-old girl who needs medication and quarterly doctor's visits. She has a normal life expectancy, no known emotional issues or cognitive involvement. She just needs a family.

Another pair of siblings

Alyssa and Yates are 9 and 8 years old. One of them has HIV. They are sweet kids who just need a family.

Sweet 4-year-old boy

What an adorable kid! Jeffrey has HIV but he has so much potential. He probably turned 4 just recently (his exact birthday is unknown or not public). Jeffrey needs a family to help him reach his full potential--which is likely the same as any other kid. He is in a "decent" orphanage and has excellent medical care. He still is a four-year-old boy who needs a family.

Precious jewels

This sweet little girl is another who was born in the same month as my son. She is HIV+ (which is really a minor, easy special need that poses little if any danger in ordinary life to other children--since the new drugs were introduced, there have been no cases of those receiving medication spreading the virus in ordinary family life. None.)



2-year-old Jewel also has a 7-year old sister, Jessica. No photo of her is available. I believe both girls are HIV+.

There have been reports that children with HIV in their country may not be able to continue receiving the medications they need... At any rate children with or without medical problems all need the love of a family! Are you the family that can make Jessica and Jewel daughters instead of orphans?

Stretched

Sometimes God wants to stretch us.

For some that may mean considering the adoption of an older child... a child with severe special needs... a child who seems incapable of loving you back. And those children need homes desperately.

But for others, just thinking about adoption is a stretch, let alone the adoption of a child with special needs. If you fall into that camp, that's okay too. Maybe you are thinking HIV sounds pretty uncomplicated, but blindness, Down Syndrome, spina bifida, arthrogryposis... that's more than you can handle. Maybe you just want to adopt a baby girl, maybe a toddler.

15-month-old Brenna needs a family too. She's HIV+ and in a country where young children are available for international adoption. She needs a family as badly as any older kid or kid with severe special needs. Maybe she's your daughter.




Praise God, the Evensons have been granted custody of their beautiful, precious sons! Gideon and Micah are now no longer orphans but sons and brothers! This is only the beginning of a journey that will last all their lives, but I am so glad to see these boys granted their family.

Five years old

In the US, five years old means kindergarten. It means being a big boy. It means big boy clothes instead of toddler clothes.



For Meade, five years old means something more profound... a better chance at adoption.

I mentioned a few days ago that in one Eastern European country, children weren't available for international adoption until five. Meade, like Jenny, has HIV, and so he wasn't available to be adopted internationally until his fifth birthday, sometime last month.

Children with HIV are sometimes adopted in his country, but with the option of being adopted internationally, Meade has that much more chance of a family of his own. Maybe you could be his mom?

Happy Valentine's Day!

What could be sweeter than adopting siblings?

Jenny and Jordan both have February birthdays; she is turning 8 this month and he will be 4. They can be adopted together because Jenny is over 5; in their country only children older than 5 are available for international adoption unless they have disabilities on a certain list.


(Jordan's picture is not available.)

Jenny has HIV. As far as is known, her brother is healthy.
HIV is a very manageable need--kids take twice-daily medication and have quarterly blood draws to make sure their medication levels are correct.

Any of you Canadian?

I don't know if I have any Canadians who read my blog, but some of the children on RR are only available to Canadian families.

Timothy, who just turned 4, is HIV+ and needs a Canadian family to adopt him.

(Many of the children are available to citizens of other foreign countries, such as Spain or France, as well; but RR is a ministry that concentrates on the US and Canada, so they aren't really trying to find families in Europe, though some military families living overseas have connected with their children through RR. If you happen to live in some other country, feel free to inquire about whether you could be Timothy's mom or dad.)



Timothy's availability is uncertain, but if an interested family inquires RR or his agency can find out more. If international adoption is an option for Timothy, his family needs to find him!

More about Tatiana

Tatiana is now facing transfer. She seems like a sweet girl who is doing very well... and she desperately wants a family and needs one.
I am not sure what kind of a facility she will be transferred to: an orphanage for schoolage children where she will receive an education, or a mental institution (or maybe, if she is very lucky, something in between).

Tatiana needs a family soon.

Tatiana also has older siblings who are available for adoption. I do not know much about them--they are not listed on RR and do not have special needs. Tatiana could still be adopted by herself, or with her siblings. I do not know how much additional cost there would be to adopt her siblings. I do have some photos of 3 of them which I'm going to share. I'm going to use RR-style pseudonyms because I don't want to post too much personal info about these kids. If you want more information, though, contact me in the comments and I will get it to you. To my knowledge none of her older siblings are diagnosed with any special needs. In this country FAS is always a strong possibility, though, and the fact that Tatiana has been diagnosed with this makes it seem more likely it would be a situation one or more of her siblings face as well. Their pictures are probably not high enough quality to assess them for signs of it.

The eldest sibling, "Ava," was born in 1993. She is now over 18 and no picture of her is available. In Tatiana and Ava's country, children who turn 16 are only available for adoption if they are part of a sibling group. It may be that at 18 Ava is no longer available at all. In general orphans who age out of the system in this country have nowhere to go. They are given a paltry amount of supplies and money and sent out. This likely happened when Ava was 16 after she had finished her school year. There are some ministries that help orphans who age out, but there's no way of knowing if Ava connected with one of these groups. Even if she is no longer available for adoption, there may be a way for her to emigrate if she wishes if she has siblings in the US. At 18 or 19 she still needs permanency and parents--we all do--and she will always be Tatiana's sister.

"Charles" was born in 1994. He is now 17 or 18. If he will not be available for adoption once he turns 18, his time is very short. It seems likely he is also no longer able to live in an orphanage. This picture was taken when he was 15.


Tatiana's sister "Valencia" was born in 1998, so she will turn 14 sometime this year. Her picture was taken when she was 8:



"Connor" was born in 2003, so he is most likely 8. He was 6 when this picture was taken:


I don't know if any of Tatiana's siblings are together, what age they came into care, or how well they remember each other. I don't know whether all of them are in the same region (if not, there is a significant increase in cost and difficulty). I don't know anything about Ava's status. For me--Tatiana was a child we seriously considered, and knowing she had siblings might have thrown us for a loop. She was on the older side of what we were considering, and adopting a child born before we were married--which would include all of her older siblings--was a line that my husband really doesn't want to cross. But maybe adopting a sibling group of 3, 4, or 5 sounds good to you... maybe you saw one of those older kids' pictures and knew that was your son or daughter... maybe you have compassion for the situation Ava and Charles are now in... maybe you've adopted older children before. Maybe this confirms Tatiana is your daughter rather than scaring you off. Maybe there is someone out there for whom this situation--with all its unknowns and challenges--is exactly the right situation for your family. Or maybe God is telling you that just Tatiana is your daughter, and he has other plans for her siblings. Please don't let money stand in the way--God loves orphans and will be thrilled to bless your socks off if you decide to adopt any or all of these siblings. He cares deeply about Ava, Charles, Valencia, Connor, and Tatiana--because they are his children too. If God is calling you to this, though, please start quickly, because they need a family soon.

Three-year-old girl

Stacia, 3, is described as calm.


She has HIV, and is on medications for that, but has no other health concerns.

HIV is a very manageable need--quarterly doctor's visits, daily medications, but children with HIV will have a normal childhood and have a normal life expectancy. HIV is not a death sentence.

She was born in April 2008, one month before my daughter. I bet she is a lot of fun.

Is Stacia your daughter?

Broken heart

My heart is broken for these children who so deserve a home and a family.

Some of them will get it.

Remember Sergey?



He has a family coming--praise God!

Doyle not only has a family coming, but they are adopting a baby as well--Fischer, a healthy 7-month-old with Down Syndrome.



They are a large adoptive family and I'm sure they will bless these boys and the boys will be a blessing to them.

Right now my heart is especially broken for 4 kids who have Apert Syndrome (which involves craniofacial differences and fused fingers and toes).

Ivan, who I posted about not too long ago, now has this medical update:
"He needs surgery very soon or he will miss the window of opportunity to correct the fusion of his skull bones before it damages his brain. The webbed fingers and toes seem to have all of the bones present by the pictures, but we would need an x-ray to be sure."



Reading this made me wish I could go and bring him home tomorrow... I just can't. Realistically it's unlikely we will be restarting the process before 2013. And I fear Ivan needs a family before that. Please pray for his family to find him soon! Even better, pray about whether you are that family.

There are three other kids with Apert Syndrome on my heart as well. I've posted about all of them before but I am doing it again.

Remember Sammy, who has always been one of my favorites?

Sammy is growing up, losing that toddler look and starting to be a big boy... which is great to see, but makes me wonder if it's that much less chance he has of finding a family. Look at that crazy hair, that sweet face.



This picture also shows his hands, which gives you an idea of how those are affected with Apert Syndrome. Doesn't he look like he would be a blessing to any family?

Then there is Mandy. Apert Syndrome is not an official diagnosis in her file, but she does sound and look like that may be what's going on.
She's young, she's a girl (girls are much more likely to be adopted), she's cute as a button, and she even sounds relatively on target developmentally... why is Mandy waiting?


Sweet Kacey has a new picture too, and a lot more info.

Her hands and feet look good, and before that she was keeping up despite her limitations. She is determined. She's due for another surgery soon, probably on her skull. And she desperately wants a mommy. From a mom who met her a few months ago:
"Every day she'd walk up to me and say, 'Mama?' It broke my heart to tell her no."
Imagine being able to tell her yes. That would make every dime, every scrap of paperwork, seem worthwhile.

There are a few other kids on RR with Apert Syndrome, but these 4 are the ones I would bring home if I could... and Tatiana.

Five children who desperately need the love of a mommy and daddy. Could you be the one to bring one of these home? Or could you help Sergey or Doyle and Fischer come home?

Please pray with me:
God, you set the lonely in families. You are a father to the fatherless. As much as it breaks our hearts that Ivan, Sammy, Mandy, Kacey, and Tatiana do not have families, you are more broken. As much as we rejoice that Doyle, Fischer, and Sergey will have mommies and daddies who love them, you are more joyful still. And you are watching over the little ones who are not yet spoken for, working out their lives for their good. You love them as much as you love us. Father, please bring them home to their families. In Jesus' name.

Sweet, sweet girl

Tatiana is a sweet, gorgeous little girl who desperately needs a family. From her Reece's Rainbow profile:
"Tatiana is a sweetheart, and she wants a mama so badly. When we'd go to get our kids, she kept asking "And Tania? And Tania?" She would sob when we would leave her with the groupa. Out of all the kids there, she was the only that I saw playing pretend – eating pretend food, taking care of baby dolls. She is very emotionally fragile, and she seems to get overwhelmed. She is very small and thin. She has big blue eyes, and she desperately wants to be held and cuddled."

Tell me this girl doesn't break your heart... when we weren't sure we were equipped to be Genesis' parents and still thinking we could adopt this little girl was one of the top two children we considered (the other was Mandy). I don't know how I haven't posted about Tatiana before. She sounds very sweet and high-functioning and needs a family oh so badly. She is HIV+ and diagnosed with FAS (which has a very broad range of effects on kids who are diagnosed).

Today I saw her new profile picture.



Please, someone go rescue this sweet girl.

Same age as Hannah

Gaia is the same age as my daughter, born in the same month of the same year. Sweet, sweet little girl. She is HIV+, and orphanage life has led to a speech delay. She will blossom in a family.

Children with HIV

I read a great article on adopting a child with HIV on Friday, from a family who were in process to adopt an Indian infant when they discovered she had HIV. They didn't have up-to-date information on children living with HIV at first; I remember that long night of internet searching myself.... I was willing to adopt these three little children, one of whom had HIV, even not knowing the life expectancy of that youngest child, who looked so much like my Peter. But I cried tears of joy when I found out how GOOD things were for people with HIV, how much things have changed. The little boy will likely live a long, healthy life and grow up to do whatever he wants with his life.

By the time we called to inquire about these three siblings, however, they were no longer available. Lots of people who are adopting know that HIV is just not a big deal.

(For the record, M. does not have HIV. But it is a special need we are open to.)

Here are three children who are living with HIV and doing really well:
















I am always struck by how Marjorie, Christian, and Octavia look like they could be siblings, but all three were born in different months of 2002. They are nine years old, born in April, June, and September. It's quite possible they could all be adopted together; they are in the same orphanage, and have likely known each other quite a while if not all of their lives. Their country allows the adoption of unrelated children. Of course, it's also possible to adopt any one of them separately. There's not a whole lot of information on what they are like. Marjorie is smart and wants a family. Christian is well-liked. Octavia has ADHD (and possibly fetal alcohol syndrome too, or instead). She is noted to have a mild delay.

These kids are likely in a very good home--children with HIV go to school and sometimes are adopted in their country. They would probably do very well in a family. Is one of these three your son or daughter?

Older kids need families too

Jack is 11.
He still needs and wants a family. The fact that he wants a family could make a huge difference in how he adjusts to a new family. It's not "easy" to adopt an 11-year-old, but lots of these kids grow up dreaming of families... families that will never come.

Here's what Jack asked one visitor to his orphanage:

"Do you know anyone who would like to take a boy like me. I would really like for a visitor at least, because I am all alone and I have no one."

All his life he has watched mommies and daddies come... for younger children. Crying, he asked one adoptive family:

"What do I need to do for a Mom to come? Do you know where she is? Is she looking for me?"

Are you looking to adopt an older child? This boy needs you. HIV is a very manageable need (comment if you want to know more). He IS NOT likely to die young or pass the infection to other family members.

Rough start, bright future

Lianne was born with Down Syndrome. She was also born to a mom who was HIV+. All children born to moms who are HIV+ have antibodies for the virus in the blood, and looking for these antibodies is how doctors determine whether a person has HIV. But after 18 months or so, babies of HIV+ mothers will usually stop testing positive unless their mother passed the infection to them (which is rare with proper medical treatment to prevent transmission at birth). Lianne now tests negative for HIV--lucky for her! She will not need any medication to control HIV now, and it will be one less thing for her family to worry about. Lianne is probably between 18 months and 2 years old--still very young.

Do you have a place in your heart for a sweet little girl with a rough start and a bright future if you adopt her? She has so much learning and growing ahead of her. Wouldn't you like to be a part of that? She doesn't ever need to be transferred to an institution.

Being abandoned by your parents, raised in an orphanage by hired workers, and sometimes transferred to a mental institution is a rough start to life. But if you adopt Lianne--or any of these kids--they have such a bright future. Will you give this little girl the family and the hope she deserves?

"Older" kids need to be adopted too

Someone requested a post on an older girl with HIV, and this sweet girl showed up on the Reece's Rainbow boards recently because she may be transferred soon.

Alicia is 6 or 7 years old. (Where else but adoption does that make her "old"?)

Alicia loves attention. She wants lots of hugs and kisses. Somewhere I bet there is a mommy who can give her those! She has fetal alcohol syndrome and is HIV+. She is in the same country as the little girl I hope will be my daughter. You could bring her home next year and start learning about her needs, her personality, and how to love her. She needs someone. She is loved at her orphanage--which is a privilege not every orphan has--but she needs a family. And love may be in short supply where she is sent next.

I've said about everything

I've said a lot on my blog post--about adoption, about international adoption, about children with special needs. Not everyone can or should adopt. But if you want another child, if you have room in your heart and your home--if that's what God has for you--I hope you will step out in faith.

So here's a picture of another little boy with HIV: Xander.

Advocating for kids with special needs

Sometimes, when you look through a huge list of children, it's hard to personally remember each one. You see one or two who stick out to you, and the rest fade into the background of "other kids." It doesn't mean they aren't important, or that you won't be happy when someone chooses them, but you can't advocate for every one of them. That's why Reece's Rainbow has prayer warriors, orphan warriors, and others who advocate for a specific child. Kids are showing up daily on the "My Family Found Me" page. I was thrilled when Harry and Ras and Oleg were found; I was excited when Patrick was found. I was happy for Landon, Ella, and Shane too... but I didn't really remember them. And it's worth noting that Oleg was not a child I had really taken to the first time around, but one a friend had noticed... and because he was her favorite, he became one that I watched too.

So when you see one of these children that particularly touches you, show people their picture. Post them on facebook. Don't just say "They're on RR, people will see them there." Kids get lost in the crowd on huge photolistings, but if you present them one at a time, people notice them. That's why I try to do just one (or sometimes a few) at a time--on FaceBook (I'm Jessica Jane Cooper), on Twitter (I'm GlorifyHisSon), and other places I go (sometimes I'm Young Christian Woman... don't know how much longer I can use that one though ;). I try to pick different kids, but when someone says to me, "Look at this guy. He's special." I notice him. I remember him. Even if I never pass on that picture, I rejoice a little more when I see they have a family coming for them. And maybe if you pass on that picture of Vanessa, or Sammy, or Peter, even if they don't find their family, someone will go to Reece's Rainbow and fall in love with a different child. (And, yeah, I linked to a whole bunch of profiles... each link is for a different kid... you don't have to click on them.)

Yesterday someone posted on the (private) RR message boards about two little boys. One was Max:



Max will turn 2 in November. Look at the personality in this little guy! He totally needs a home. I can't believe he didn't stand out to me. But he didn't. I've probably looked at his picture before--briefly--but I didn't remember Max. But if you're reading this, you'll remember Max. And if you post Max on facebook, your facebook friends are going to remember Max. Especially if he's the only little kid from Russia you ever post to facebook. Especially if Max's mommy or daddy happens to read it. So if you browse the photo listings and see someone who stands out to you, go ahead and pass the picture on. Not everyone who goes to the HIV 0-5 waiting kids page on RR is going to fall in love with Max. He's not going to stick out to each person that goes there the same way. But Max is special! They are all special.

I also pray for every child when someone asks. So today I ask you to say a prayer for Max. Pray that he will find his family.