Great News!!!

Psalm 111:2

How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!

All who delight in him should ponder them

 

 

Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!

For your prayers.....and sharing the need!

 

The battle still wages for the home for

children with special needs....

BUT.....

 

Brandon and Mikah's families have found them!!!

YES

Both boys have a family committed to bringing them home!

 

 

 

 

Please keep praying....and sharing.....

if you can and as you are able, would you consider helping Brandon's family

with an amazing matching grant!

Follow the link to learn more!

http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/-5-000-adoption-match-/310712#.VOiwsaq0y3E.facebook

 

OH how amazing is our God! 

HE builds families through the loving Body of Christ!

 

I am beyond overwhelmed!

In His Embrace,

laurie

Coming Back...........With a Request!

Hello!

I have to admit I am surprised that I have not been back to blogging on a somewhat "regular" or even "irregular" basis!  Home is filled..... to the top....over flowing....  But more on that later.

 

Right now there is some serious business to tend to! 

There is a battle going on.....

The stakes are high....

Life and Death..... LITERALLY!

 

I will remind you all (ever so briefly) of the place where David and Jonathan spent most of their lives. see how they have changed here!!

 

 

A place that was cold, and I am not talking just about the temperature!

The lack of care, attention and compassion for all of the children in this orphanage was 'nill, to say it mildly.  We saw child after child suffer from the horrendous conditions.  We saw some get rescued to their forever families just in the nick of time.....and others.........who ran out of time.

you can read and be reminded of what it was like before the new director came in and made great changes...not only in staff but in management and care!  check it out here

I cannot ever forget the pictures of the children....they are forever etched in my mind .....

they just need a family to love them for who they are... for their own limited expectations....really! 

Really....just to be looking into the eyes of someone who could give them a smile, hold them (as rigid as their little bodies are) wrap them in a blanket that smells fresh and of love.....or just wrap them up in a set of loving arms.

 

We have also seen over and over the continued transformation of these little ones....and some big ones! 

Oh What Love can do!

No doubt about it.....no ifs, ands or buts..... the power of a family to call their own is immeasureable!

 

BUT......there are some children who have not had that chance yet.... they will never get that chance because of age rules and policies.  Oh but our God is a mighty god!  He has plans to care for those who remain.... A group of people are working to build a place for those older children to call home!

HOME......

it will not be a home with mommies and daddies per say, but a place where they will be cared for by people who want WANT to care for them....who see them as precious and valuable and worthy of a dignified life!  There is a plan to make this happen....

As you will read below, there is also a group that wants to thwart this plan.....to take these children into their own hands..... the same hands that dished out the neglect, abuse and suffering they experienced just a few years ago.  Since they were "let go" of their positions.....and replaced by those who care.....they have an axe to grind.....

 

The letter below explains the situation more completely....

Will you please consider fasting tomorrow with me to offer this up to Him! Whatever you can do...fasting, praying or writing a letter.... you can make a difference!

Words from Grace Knuth....

Today I had to send the following email to parents of precious children who’ve been adopted from Pleven. This is just an excerpt, but you get the drift.

Hi there fellow Pleven mama. I hope and pray you and your family are doing well.

I received word this morning of a situation happening right now in Pleven, and I am writing to you on behalf of Shelley, Toni, and the Pleven Project to ask for your help.

Today we received word that a group of former orphanage employees, who we know to be unsafe for the children, have banded together to start their own group home for the older children of the Pleven orphanage. They have funding from a EU non-profit organization who provides no accountability or oversight.

They are scheduled to move our beloved children to their new facility on Tuesday of next week. We know this to be an unsafe, inappropriate environment for the children. We also know that the staff have ulterior motives.

I know this is a lot to take in, so I am contacting each Pleven parent privately, not only to inform you, but also to tell you, that if God would move you to do so, there is something you can do…

********************************
You caught that, right?
The former director’s right hand man, and her former cronies. The people who abused my children and hundreds more. The people who intentionally, criminally stole the life out of these, the most sweet and vulnerable of souls. The people who put a huge cement building filled with tiny humans through a true holocaust…..have swooped in and undermined the work many people have been doing to ensure their better future.
We won’t stand for this. I hope you won’t either. These children deserve so much better.
********************************
I said it to my precious Pleven parent friends, and I’ll say it to you. There’s something you can do.
Actually there are 2 somethings.

You can PRAY with all your might that we can take back control of this project. Today through Tuesday, anyone who is willing is invited to fast and pray that the Lord would intervene, as he has for these precious little ones time and time again. That He would rescue and provide more than we can even think to ask or imagine.

You can WRITE A LETTER that will be sent to the US Embassy in Bulgaria, The County of Pleven, and the Minister of Labor and Social Policy. The goal in writing these letters is to express our interest as a community to fund a private group home for the older children of Pleven who cannot be adopted. We also want to specify that we want to make sure the children will be appropriately cared for and that money will not be given to people we know to have abused funds and children.

I hope you can see what a difference you can make...

won't you please consider doing something for these children? 

 I am!
In His Embrace,
laurie

 

Below is a sample form letter if you are moved to write one and information on 2 of the 12 children who will be transferred..... these 2 are still available for adoption....

BELIEVE ME when I say.... these children are miracles that happen right before your eyes!

 

February 12, 2015

To whom it may concern:

[Please start by briefly explaining what you know of the abuse and neglect of children you know from the Pleven orphanage, as well as changes you have seen in them since their arrival home.]

[Then, feel free to edit the following or copy and paste it as it is.]

I understand that 12 older children from the Pleven orphanage are scheduled to be moved to a group home that will be run by the very people that abused___________________ and many other children. The same people that abused them year after year before the new director came to care for them. They are being handed over to their abusers. This should not and cannot be.

I, with many hundreds of people behind me, am willing and eager to fund a private group home for the older children from the Pleven orphanage who have lived through a true holocaust. We want the opportunity to make right the wrongs that have been done to these children for so many years. Please, help us to help these children live out the rest of their lives with the dignity all humans deserve.

We, under the supervision of the Pleven Project, are specifically requesting that we be allowed to fund and manage a private group home where the children can be properly cared for. This will ensure that all authority and financial responsibility be removed from the individuals who have criminally abused children and misappropriated government funds, and put into the hands of a board with oversight and accountability for the future.

Sincerely,
John Doe
1111 Street Ave.
Lincoln, Nebraska 68951
United States of America

All letters should be signed and scanned to Shelley Bedford at shele337@gmail.com.

Shelley will send letters to Toni, our attorney, to be translated and delivered.

********************************

Of the 12 sweet children who will be transferred on Tuesday, there are two who are still available for adoption. And for them, this would be their absolute best chance. Redemption in the truest sense of the word. Will you share their beautiful little faces today? Or everyday until they find their families? If we find these babies’ families soon, we can save them from a whole world of additional heartache.

This is Brandon,



and Mikah.



I’m sure you already know, but it has to be said. Each of these boys is beyond precious. Diamonds in the rough. They would do so, so, so well in families.
Thank you for standing with us in believing that God will make all things right. Thank you for seeing these children’s worth. Thank you for your hearts that say “yes” to God, even when the things coming from his hands, at times like this, bring difficulty and heartache. Thank you.

Now, if you feel so led, will you share this post all over social media? Send it to anyone and everyone who might be able to help. Especially to people who will pray. Like, really pray. We need whole armies of angels in the coming days. These kids need God to fight for their lives. And the power that raised Jesus from the dead is inside of each of us believers, so we must pray. Will you comment here and let me know that you’re joining the fight in prayer? Or that you’re sending a letter?

Don’t you just love watching God win? Here we go again…
Lots of love to all of you.

Grace

Resting in Faith.....

  Living a life of faith means never knowing where you are being led....                                                  

But it does mean loving and knowing the One who is leading.

The final stage in the life of faith is the attainment of character, and we encounter many changes in the process.  We feel the presence of God around us when we pray, yet we are only momentarily changed.  We tend to keep going back to our everyday ways and the glory vanishes.  A life of faith is not  a life of one glorious mountaintop experience after another, like soring on eagle's wings, but is a life of day-in day-out consistency; a life of walking without fainting.  It is not even a question of holiness of sanctification, but of something which comes much farther down the road.  It is a faith that has been tried and proved and has withstood the test. Abraham is not a type or an example of the holiness of sanctification, but a type of the life of faith-a faith tested and true, built on the true God.  "Abraham believed God...." Romans 4:3  (taken from my daily devotional book)

 

Truly without faith in Him who reigns in all things we would be at the doorstep of despair daily.

I am learning to rest in the promises of God.

I know that might seem like an elementary thought or ideal.  Realistically, I know that I have always been someone who tries to "do" more than someone who "rests".  I struggle with knowing what to and when to leave things to God.  Oh do I struggle with the "why"......

It seems to me that God has been showing me that I don't need to do it all..... and that He doesn't expect me to. I place those expectations on myself and then when I am completely spent and worn out I go to Him and ask "why"?  I am a planner and I love things to be in order. 

I think that everything should have its place...  right?

 

God in His goodness and loving mercy is showing me that there are things that I am trying to do that are truly not mine to do.  There are battles that are not mine to fight.  There are hearts that are not mine to change. There are accomplishments, both physical and spiritual that are not mine to plan and bring about.  There are some things that are not mine to harvest... even the souls of my children.

Over the past 6 months I have been on my knees for each one of my children...even the ones who no longer live in our home!  I have cried a million tears and prayed thousands of prayers for their hearts and their souls.  Yet.....my heart wants more.  I want to KNOW the condition of their hearts and that they are well on their way to a life of living for and to glorify the Father.

YIKES..... It appears that I forgot something.....or really someONE!

The Father

The ONE who loves them more than I do.

The ONE who has the pleasing and perfect will for each of their lives.

The ONE who does all things well.

 

Like I said..... I am a work in progress...

 

So I will keep loving my children with a passion.

I will continue to pray for them on my knees before the great ONE.

I will continue to grow in my understanding of Him who knows all things.

I will trust in Him in times of testing.

I will praise Him for the mercy and grace He affords me everyday as I grow.

AND

I will continue to look for and rest in the promises of the ONE who is faithful in all things! 

I know that my Father sees me! ......Even when I don't see Him in the day to day all of the time.

I know that He loves me........Even when I fall asleep forgetting to praise Him for all He is!  

I know that He is with me!....Even when I am knee deep in diapers, toys and cooking!

I know that He is the one bringing change into my life and allowing for things to happen that are "unexpected" and even sometimes "painful" because it is all for His glory! 

I am blessed beyond what I deserve!
I know that He is continuing to make me more like Jesus and that is enough!

In His Embrace,
laurie

Don't you love the new pictures of the boys!

 

 

 

        

 

A Little Help for our Friends and 2 Very Special Little Girls!

1 John 4:19

We love because He first loved us!

 

This post is long overdue!  I have been wanting to share this story with you all for months....

So without further ado.....

 

I want to tell you about our dear friends!  They are a family of 7 soon to be 9!  They are answering Gods call for their family to adopt 2 sisters from an Eastern European country.  I know they will be an amazing family and welcome their girls home with arm loads of love!

 

They desire to share God's love with those who God holds so dear to His heart! 

They have been "in process" for a while now but hope to be traveling in a few months to bring their

treasures home.  I encourage you to read their story and follow along as they bring the girls  home! you can do that here

 

Check this out!  I LOVE this shirt!

One of their children designed this t-shirt to help raise funds for their adoption! 

Cost~  Just $15!

they also have some other fundraising going on too!

you can find info on the blog side bar or email Amy over here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In His Embrace,

Laurie

PURE JOY

Psalm 100:1-3

 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
     Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

 

Levi lost a tooth this morning....

He thinks it is "fun"! 

Innocence........

 

In His Embrace,

laurie



Updates on the Hebbe Family!

 

It hardly seems possible that it is already the 2nd week in February! Seriously, I do not know where the time has gone.  The days melt into each other.  They go by so  quickly! Each one has its own agenda, very seldom is it mine!  I am tired and sleepy by 9pm almost every night....and it is sometimes really REALLY hard to get up at 5:30...but God gives me my portion...He delivers exactly what I need to do each day... and sometimes that can be as simple a thing as a nap!

Lots of "firsts" for all of the boys in our home!

Sam and Jacob  had their first ever "week of finals" a few weeks ago.  They came away from the "drama filled week" with some pretty good grades! 

Levi had his first full day of sledding!  It might seem strange that will all of the snow we have had that he is NOW just getting to really enjoy it....  he goes outside here and makes his own little hill to slide down, but until last weekend he had not been to a "hill" for sledding!  Our friends happen to have a great one in their back yard!  So while we have had a lot of snow, it has also been really cold!  Too cold for him to really spend a whole day outside....at least until last weekend!  I surprised him with a "play date" for sledding at our friends!  He had a blast!

here is Levi at our house off the deck....in the air!

 

 

 

David and Jonathan had their first haircuts from Daddy!

What in the world?

 

Jonathan  all handsome!

 

David just as sweet!

 

 

AND NOW WE KNOW WHAT TV TRAYS ARE REALLY FOR!

SLEDDING IN THE LIVING ROOM!

 

Bath Time was not always so much fun..... just ask Jonathan!

 

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!

This is what they did when I told them it was

time for a Tubbie!

 

 

 

The boys LOVE bath time now!  All I have to say is

"time for a TUBBIE" and they run up the stairs right to the bathroom!

It is one of my most favorite things to do with them! 

In the water.....everyone is happy!

 

JONATHAN

 

 

 

DAVID

 

He looks so serious here....

he is figuring out how to fill and empty this container.....

 

 

Some things that we are working on....

communication....both boys are starting to repeat, or at least try to repeat

words that we speak to them.  It seems that they have a hard time with the

really simple instructions...like stop or no (ha!)  but I can tell them

to "bring mom your shoes"  and they TOTALLY UNDERSTAND AND DO IT!

I don't know why....but it always amazes me what they "get" and don't "get".

We are also working on the boys feeding themselves with a spoon and fork.

OH it is interesting...

I do feed them for the most part..... but they do drink out of a cup and a sippy cup now.

Sleeping..... well they started out going to sleep really well....now....

NOW they like to fool around up there if I leave...so I stay in the room with them for about 30 minutes or so and they are out!  David is usually the first one to be completely out....Jonathan is a much "lighter" sleeper.  They are in separate cribs in our room. 

 

This past week we took the boys for their first doctor visit..... it went pretty well!  Daddy went first with the blood pressure and heartbeat and height and weight.... that seemed to help!  David has gained 4lbs and Jonathan 5lbs.  That is pretty good for 2 months home!  They are really really good eaters! I do not know where they put it all!...... well.... I know where it comes out...they are really really good with that too! 

 

I just "cleaned" up my SD card for my camera....so I should be able to get more pictures more often!  Honestly.... I have seen so many really good "picture moments" but they are SO fast!  I can't always get to the camera quick enough!   Like yesterday.....Jonathan was sitting in a plastic container that they use for their "play kitchen toys" and David was pretending to give him a bath..... he washed him and then washed his hair!  It was SO cute!  And there are the times when they are laughing so hard they are giddy!  Falling down and just laughing a deep belly laugh!  LOVE IT!

 

Getting ready to take the big boys to school...... they LOVE to get their coat and hat on!

 

pretending to do "Nappy Time"!

 

 

 

I hope to post again later in the week....

In His Embrace,

Laurie

 

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ 

If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast

but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday David and Jonathan!

we had a very LOW key birthday for the boys...

BUT they did love the cake!

 

Love these faces!

 

Jonathan Daniel!

 

David Ezekiel!

 

 

David was all for the party!

Bring it on!

 

Jonathan....not so much!

 

 

 

But then.....

Taste and See....

it is good!

 

 

 

Levi trying to get some high 5's!

 

 

 

Life here is seemingly non-stop....

it seems like the days just melt into each other

for the most part the boys are doing really really well

they are eating, sleeping and playing great!

the language is probably the one issue that we are

working on the most....  just trying to understand

what they want when they grunt and wine...

we have taught them some signs for things like

please, more and all done.

 

it is funny to watch them change on a dime from

wining for something to saying please...

I tell them "what do you say" and they do the sign for please and

say "peas"! 

So sweet!

 

the days go by so quickly....

I usually get up by 5:00-5:30am to have time with the Lord

and then the big boys get up by 6:15...

then it is packing lunches, then making breakfast and getting little ones

dressed and up for the day, then get things cleaned up and head to the living room

for a little play time with the boys.... have a morning snack and then

start to prepare for lunch..... feed them all and then get them down for an

afternoon nap, after they go down I get to eat lunch  myself...and then clean up

and maybe do a few loads of laundry and then get ready for the big boys to

come home!....get the little ones up and do it all again for the last meal of the day!

David and Jonathan go to bed at 7, Levi at 8 and Sam and Jacob at 9...

then....if I am lucky...and don't fall asleep on the couch... I go to bed at 9:30 or at the latest

10pm...... and get up the next day and do it all over again!

I remember this season very clearly from when Sam and Jacob were little.... the only

difference is that I only had 1 other child...well...teenager.. Matthew was 15 when the boys were 2.

It is definitely an adjustment....and it definitely has changed things up in this house....

BUT it is all for good!  We know that God plans all things and this is not outside of His plans.

We are so thankful for all of our children! 

We give thanks for all that God has done for us in and through the growing of our family.

While we would never have imagined our lives to look this way 20 years ago when we first met,

we are more than blessed to be following Him in all of it!

 

Psalm 119:30-32

I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
    I have set my heart on your laws.
 I hold fast to your statutes, Lord;
    do not let me be put to shame.
 I run in the path of your commands,    for you have broadened my understanding.

 

We wish you all the joy, peace and hope that comes in the birth of our Savior!

Merry Christmas!

 

love,

the Hebbe Family!