The Reality .......

Having a passion for the orphan is not something "new" to my heart.  I can remember as a young girl being moved by the then, limited exposure I had to the crisis of the orphan.  However I did grieve back then, not like I do today. But for sure probably more than most kids my age.  I remember having conversations with my mom about the unfair unjust and the "why" behind those children with extended bellies and flies on their faces and skeleton like bodies.  Why mom, why does it have to be this way?  She did her best to answer my tough questions with age appropriate words.  I remember then a period in my life when I was torn for and trying to advocate for children with special needs.  I always felt that God was going to give me a baby one day with Downs Syndrome.  At that time in  my life I was specifically drawn to children with Progeria and Downs Syndrome.  For those of you who don't know about Progeria ,it is a rare, fatal genetic condition characterized by an appearance of accelerated aging in children.  You can learn more here .  And Downs Syndrome children just captured my heart.  I am fairly certain that while I was a pretty mature thinker at that time, I did not realize how special these children really are.  I did not know then that what God was doing in my heart was going to prepare me for what was to come.  In my mid-late 30s I was a part of a ministry at church for children with special needs.  One little boy (who is so grown up now) who captured my heart was Noah.  Noah taught me allot.  He taught me to see him... .to see that special needs really are just special qualities that God uses to draw us to others.  (We all have allot to learn about appearances and things that make us uncomfortable but I will save that for another time ) One thing that Noah taught me that I carry with me to this day is the ASL sign for "I love YOU".  Every time I saw him and we couldn't speak, we did the sign.  A treasure! He is a treasure!

Now here I am in my LATE 40's and God is blessing me with more children.  These two boys have "special needs". They are diagnosed as having Cerebral Palsy.  I love that God always completes what He starts in us.
Philippians 1:6
....being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

God was planting seeds and placing desires in my heart that are HIS some 30+ years ago.  None of what I am or have that is good is because of me! It is all because of Him! We can all look back at our lives and see places when God planted seeds for our futures.  God has blessed our family with children from my womb and we are thankful for each of them!  He has also called our family to care for Levi and now David and Jonathan.  3 children who were orphans, but are no more. This is all part of Gods plan for us. This is what He whispers into my heart. This is what stretches me in my faith. This is what gives me joy. This is ministry to not only children, but to others as well. This is not always easy. There are many days that melt into the next.  But this is who we are!  We are Gods. We are a family that is responding to what God has placed before us.  AND...this is the reality of why..........

A friend and adoptive mom has given me blessings to share pictures of some of those that wait.  Maybe you follow her blog from my sidebar... But please prepare yourself.  These pictures will make you cry. These pictures will stir your hearts. These pictures will cause permanent change in your brain! This is the first time I have posted pictures of these precious little ones who just need to be loved!  Yes there are medical issues with all of them. Yes they will need intentional parenting. Yes they will be stared at in public. Yes they will require extra work.  BUT what they need we can give!  Anything we can do for them here is better than a life in an orphanage! I know there are people, families out there that God is nudging along.  Mommies who have a heart to care for another child.  Daddies who are mostly willing, but a little scared of the unknown.  PLEASE PLEASE seek God for what He wants you to do!  Not everyone is supposed to adopt.  BUT everyone is supposed to care for the orphans. Whatever that looks like for you..... please please seek God to find out what that is!  Most of all....we can all ~YES all of us~ pray for them.  Copy and print their pictures and post them in your house or in your bible or on the bathroom mirror so that each time you see them you can offer prayers up for their forever families to move forward to come and get them!  I know from personal experience that God will call us to pray for a specific child to be brought home to another family! I have done that!  God hears all of our prayers! 

Please know my heart on this....  I am not saying that we are all called to adoption...but I am asking each of us to seek God for what HE will call us to!  Regardless of what that may look like for your family..... prayer warrior, serving a family that has adopted, foster care, financial support for those adopting, OR to adopt.... don't be afraid to do what He places before you!  Remember, God doesn't call the qualified...He qualifies the called!  Just do what He calls YOU to do!  Whatever it is!

Jeremiah 33:3
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

you can read the full post here but here are those calling for their families! and YES the ages listed are their ages....they are not typos!



this is Zoey!  She has cerebral palsy. She is severely malnourished, and weighs less than ten pounds at six years old.
Zoey is in desperate need of parents with selfless motives.
Please email Andrea Roberts with your serious inquiries about adopting Zoey! This darling girl’s parents need to step forward quickly! andrea@reecesrainbow.org


Jeremy, not yet two years old, needs selfless parents. He is waiting and his agency will hold his file until January. Jeremy’s record states that he was born prematurely and has moderate external hydrocephalus and chronic bronchial asthma. Email Nina Thompson about adopting Jeremy: nina.thompson@chiadopt.org


Harvey, age 3, needs selfless parents to take him home from the orphanage, and none have yet come forward! His file was sent back to his government! Please email Andrea Roberts about adopting tiny, malnourished Harvey: andrea@reecesrainbow.org



Owen, age 4, is waiting and has a bleeding disorder that is controlled by medication. He needs selfless parents, but none have come forward! His file was just sent back to his government!
Please email Andrea Roberts about adopting Owen: andrea@reecesrainbow.org



Brandi, age 6, is alive and wants to live! I have seen her on video! Do not write her off as undesirable! For goodness’ sake, her head is shaved and she is ignored in her crib in the orphanage all day long every day and has been all her life! No parents have stepped forward for Brandi! Her file was sent back to her government! She needs selfless parents to give her a chance to respond to love and therapy! Email Andrea Roberts about adopting Brandi: andrea@reecesrainbow.org



Kramer, age 8, needs selfless parents to carry him home and love him into thriving life and health! Like our Tommy, Kramer has cerebral palsy but has not received the therapy that he has so needed! No parents have stepped forward to adopt Kramer! His file was sent back to his government! Please email Andrea Roberts about adopting Kramer: andrea@reecesrainbow.org



Chad, age 9, needs selfless parents to see his potential and say yes to adopting him! Nobody has yet come forward for Chad! His file was sent back to his government, but he has had his file requested again by an agency who chooses files out of compassion and not for any lesser motive! So he is on Reece’s Rainbow once more! Please email Andrea Roberts about adopting Chad   andrea@reecesrainbow.org



Garnet, age 10, tiny, lovely Garnet, waiting! She has not had a family commit to her, so her file was sent back to her government! Please pray for selfless parents to see obstacles come down so they can make that commitment to bring Garnet home! Email Andrea Roberts about adopting Garnet: andrea@reecesrainbow.org


Look what God did!!!
Theodore, age 10, HAS A COMMITTED FAMILY!!!
HALLELUJAH!!!