Monday, November 28, 2011

Be still my heart!

The other day I was wishing we could have another baby....

and I thought if we did....and it was a girl...I'd name her Savannah.  I've always loved that name.
I told Rich that...and he said he really likes that name too.  But then he said he wants to adopt another child instead....

Then today....I went to Reeces Rainbow and scrolled through the sweet faces....which I haven't done in a long time...because we aren't in the position to adopt again and it just makes me long to when I see their faces.

But today...there was a baby...a baby named SAVANNAH!  and...this is a huge AND...she's in TOMA'S orphanage!!!  I've always said if we can go back, I'd sure like it to be in the same city..so we can spend time with our wonderful friend Alexander again.

And there she is....a baby...named Savannah...(yes, I know this is a screen name, but I don't care) ;)  AND in the same orphanage.

You have no idea how I wished this was Gods way of saying 'Go get her!!' 

But alas....real life comes into play....

And sometimes it stinks.

The need is so great....yet it is so hard! 

So anyway....there you have it.

Take a moment and go look at these sweet faces....that long for a family of their own.
www.reecesrainbow.org

Saturday, November 19, 2011

More pics of my visit with Ollie :)

Here I am trying to figure out how to use this thing....doesn't Ollie look sweet with his sucker <3


Poor Kiddo was SO tired this afternoon...he had a fundraiser that morning...and was all done with visiting, then he gets home and I show up!  :)

I really love this one of Ollie and Summer <3  REALLY LOVE IT.

Going through the goodie box....

michael brought him an Indiana Jones action figure...Ollie LOVES Indiana Jones :)


See??  This is the effect I have on people!  hahaaa.....


This wasn't from our visit...but I wanted to share it because it's SO CUTE!!!  Ollie is having SUCH a good time with silly string!  I LOVE seeing him laugh <3 

Please keep him in your prayers...and please pray for a miracle for Ollie.

And thank you to the Briggs family for thinking of him <3

If anyone else would like to send him a card...his address is as follows:
Oliver Palmer
417 Oaklawn Ave
Waterloo, IA 50701

Friday, November 18, 2011

He's home :)

And even played with papa for a while :)  He's doing very well...watching his train movie on the recliner right now :) :)
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!!!

Artiom is doing well :)

He had a rough time of it for a while...

 But then he'd get more morphine...and be feeling better....funny how that works ;)
He had to have 3 mini root canals along with caps put on....and of course the cleft palate.
So, he was all done in.  And he hated the thing on his arm...he kept holding it up for me to take off.


 He wouldn't put this (urinal) down though...try taking it away and you would get the wrath of TOMA! 


Michael showing his baby brother a little love :)

Hopefully he'll come home today....Rich is down there with him right now.
Thanks for your prayers!!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Toma's having surgery tomorrow

He's getting his cleft palate repaired and his cavities filled.....please keep him in your thoughts and prayers <3

And I can't believe I have to get up at 4:30 AM!!!!!  That's going to do me in ;)

Monday, November 7, 2011

I went to visit Oliver!!!

Saturday morning we left Minnesota and drove nearly 5 hours to get to Waterloo IA...

 To visit with the sweetest little boy I've ever met.....Oliver <3


 For those of you that don't know...Oliver is a 10 yr old boy that is battling DIPG...a rare form of brain cancer...


 He's the bravest, most courageous boy I know.  He's also very funny, sweet, tenderhearted... and loves to joke and laugh :)


 He was very tired on this day....so we just sat and talked...I did most of the talking...and he showed me his sweet smile. <3


 That would be THIS smile :)


 Awe... <3 <3 <3  This day meant SO MUCH to me....


 We went through a goodie box we brought...he liked the whoopie cushion ;) 


 He likes wrestling...he was showing me his wrestling figure...

 Here's that sweet smile again....I would tease him and say that he was really thinking something like 'when is this crazy lady gonna leave, anyway!'   hahaaaa and THEN he would smile :)


 Here's his mom and his brother and sister.....

 When I got there he was reading letters from people, that's what's in the basket...I'll post his address if you'd like to send him a letter...he LOVES getting them...


I'd sure love to drive down and see him again...he has touched my heart in such a huge way.  I love him so much.
Please pray for him...for his healing...for God to touch him with His healing hand.  Ollie needs our prayers now.  He wants to be here for Christmas...to drink hot chocolate with his family and feel the wonderful Christmas spirit in his heart.  (his words)  Please pray for him.

Oliver Palmer
417 Oaklawn Ave
Waterloo, IA 50701

Friday, November 4, 2011

Fatherless Friday

Share 118
When Derek died in a car crash in December of 2009, Orphan Justice Center team lost an amazing mentor, friend and visionary leader. He was funny, loving, compassionate, and uncompromising in his love for Jesus, his family, and for those trapped in injustice. We have yet to meet someone who knew Derek Loux who was not touched by his wonderful spirit.
When the OJC team felt God’s urging to write (SOTK) Strength of the King, A call to pure and undefiled religion, we knew we needed to try to capture the thoughts and foundations behind Derek and Renee’s unending passion for vulnerable children. So many have learned so much from this amazing family and their message needs to continue. It has taken almost two years, and although this book does not tell their personal story it outlines the foundational aspects that gave them vision and strength to persevere and go to the ends of the earth to rescue and restore children.
Derek was known as one who prayed and studied daily. He was a doer of the word. Derek spoke at churches, wrote songs, wrote blogs, and whatever else he could do to share the message about God’s heart for oppressed children. He grabbed people in coffee shops, in the airport or wherever anyone would listen, urging them to walk out true religion as outlined in James 1:27.
“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”
Derek walked in the revelation of this verse. He was always doing something to make a difference. The ripple effect from Derek’s life continues to go on and on. We recently heard from a girl that Derek and his team rescued from sex trafficking. She is now in a loving and nurturing environment. She has given her life to Jesus and is being helped, healed and restored. Not only is she doing well but she is helping others be free. Her testimony in court helped to shut down three sex trafficking rings! Derek was a burning and shining lamp who was always working to rescue those in need and his message is still inspiring us to action.
The OJC team has prayerfully put together the scriptural basics that were Derek’s motivation. From Genesis to Revelation these scriptures call for a Justice Revolution that brings redemption and restoration to the millions of children around the world in need of love and protection. These scriptures are the fuel that urged Derek to write:
“ I wanted something to live and die for. I wanted something to breathe and to bleed for. I’m not interested in trying to figure out ways to make my life safe and preserve my comfort.”
SOTK also highlights some beautiful points from the book of Job that show us how to live an upright and blameless life before God. As we have watched Renee’ Loux walk through these past several months without her husband and best friend we have seen unwavering faith and trust in the midst of grief and challenges. Her strength and commitment to helping others, even when she is in need, has caused us to look at the book of Job in a different light. Her determination to walk upright before God has given us a more eternal perspective on life and death. We have seen how Renee’ has not given up and how she is going forward to keep the light of justice burning. Her love for Jesus overcomes her grief and she is determined to walk in her destiny and calling. She has set her sights on the hope set before her and she has not stopped in her efforts to rescue, adopt and restore children.
Derek and Renee’ have been relentless in bringing God’s love and grace to children in need. We hope that this book, Strength of the King, A call to pure and undefiled religion, will be a resource for you as you take your part in the Justice Revolution. For those of you who knew Derek, this book will encourage you! You will be reminded of his message and his commitment to the fatherless, and you will again be inspired to follow his example.




You can order your book at:
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-strength-of-the-king/18549147
Blessings to you as you go in the Strength of the King!
Orphan Justice Team
Please remember all the fatherless children waiting for someone to come for them...

www.reecesrainbow.org



FacebookTwitterEmailDeliciousGoogle BookmarksPosterousBlogger PostStumbleUpon

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Halloween wrap -up


The kids had fun on Halloween....here's my little tiger on his second Halloween :)



My little gator with my little tiger...still trying to figure out the food chain thing....hmmm...I think Toma better watch out!

Michael was a spooky Alien! (and I DON'T like Aliens..they creep me out)

Summer was a skeleton again this year....but as short as it's getting on her, I don't know if it will make it to next year :)


Here are the kids trading candy the next morning...and Summer was surprised at getting caught in her undies ;)

And here they boys were still trading...and then Alex said 'I'm all done, I'm closing up shop Michael' hahahaaaaa that boy cracks me up!


this was Michael's not happy face when he thought he messed up his pumpkin....

But he fixed it, so all was well :)

It's Jack Skellington from Nightmare Before Christmas :)