Ragen had her first official field trip today. They went to the zoo ALL DAY. I was a bit apprehensive, but I knew it was best for her and she would have fun. Her teacher is so good with her and I trust her. Ragen has such a strict schedule and regime at home that I was afraid of her being out of her element....lesson learned....TRUST! (But always follow up!) A letter from her teacher....just made my day!!!!!
Deanna,
Just wanted to give you an update on the day!! Ragen did great! She was so busy talking and loved the wind (hope it doesn't bother her ears). When she saw the giraffes she did the sign for the long neck and when she saw the elephant she did the long nose!!!!!!! So that just made my day and the speech therapist was jumping!!! She ate her lunch and said done before she ate it all so we did not push her. She had some crackers and drank her juice. Did NOT sleep on the way home...got kind of crabby so i changed her and left her pants and shoes and socks off (did not take her out of her car seat, in case you were wondering!!) and just sang songs and she quieted down. Then was happy the rest of the way home. I tried to send you a picture at lunch but it didn't seem to want to go through. We were so darn busy and they have the zoo so cut up right now that you have to do a lot of walking. Sure glad none of the kids were walking because I was exhausted and they would never have made it. Great day and a great day for you. Thank you for trusting me with your daughter.
Nancy
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
A Special Drop of Love
A special drop of love was deposited in my womb with care
The unconditional love you give to me is so very rare
When you were born, Oh! What a glorious day!
I never knew there could be a love so strong
I am so blessed, because in my heart there is a song
A song of peace and assurance
A song of strength and endurance
When I look into your eyes, my heart feels your love
A Special Drop of Love came from heaven above
Your smile gives your face that special glow
Whenever you look at me, my love for you continues to grow
The Hugs! The Kisses!
These are moments of pure gold
They are treasures I have hidden deep within my soul
Many told me you would not make it this far
But look at you now, gleaming like a shining star
Every sound you make is like music to my ears
The look you give me helps wipe away my tears
Many have wondered, "Why me?"
I looked at you and wondered, "Don't they see what I see?"
Many have wondered, "What am I going to do?"
But when I look at you, I know I can make it through
Yes, I get tired sometimes and the tears begin to flow
But then you reach for my hand and that's when I know
That healing comes after the pain
And the sun comes after the rain
God trusted me with such a treasure
The joy I feel is beyond measure
As each day turns into night
I feel the strength to continue to fight
As each night turns into day I know that God hears every prayer I pray
My hopes and my dreams are far beyond me
Your encouragement and joy allows me to be free
A Special Drop of Love came from above
A precious little package for me to LOVE
I know I am strong and can conquer any trial
When I look in your face and see your smile
A special drop of love was deposited in my womb with care
The unconditional love you give to me is so very rare
When you were born, Oh! What a glorious day!
I never knew there could be a love so strong
I am so blessed, because in my heart there is a song
A song of peace and assurance
A song of strength and endurance
When I look into your eyes, my heart feels your love
A Special Drop of Love came from heaven above
Your smile gives your face that special glow
Whenever you look at me, my love for you continues to grow
The Hugs! The Kisses!
These are moments of pure gold
They are treasures I have hidden deep within my soul
Many told me you would not make it this far
But look at you now, gleaming like a shining star
Every sound you make is like music to my ears
The look you give me helps wipe away my tears
Many have wondered, "Why me?"
I looked at you and wondered, "Don't they see what I see?"
Many have wondered, "What am I going to do?"
But when I look at you, I know I can make it through
Yes, I get tired sometimes and the tears begin to flow
But then you reach for my hand and that's when I know
That healing comes after the pain
And the sun comes after the rain
God trusted me with such a treasure
The joy I feel is beyond measure
As each day turns into night
I feel the strength to continue to fight
As each night turns into day I know that God hears every prayer I pray
My hopes and my dreams are far beyond me
Your encouragement and joy allows me to be free
A Special Drop of Love came from above
A precious little package for me to LOVE
I know I am strong and can conquer any trial
When I look in your face and see your smile
Ragen is off to school this morning with many smiles as she watches the bus approach our driveway. I'm now left with a little time to post some thoughts and refections that are on my mind this morning.
I was paging through my news feed on Facebook this morning (for those of you not on FB, it's a page that shows the postings of your friends...essentially what's the latest news in their lives) and I feel so blessed to have the friends that I have made because Ragen was born. The countless stories of moms with other children with down syndrome, their struggles, triumphs, losses due to death, their small little milestones that would seem trivial to a family with typical children, I am in awe. These stories are slowly revealing God's plan for me...He knew exactly what he was doing when he blessed me with His precious little girl. He gave me a second chance...and I will be forever grateful.
I was paging through my news feed on Facebook this morning (for those of you not on FB, it's a page that shows the postings of your friends...essentially what's the latest news in their lives) and I feel so blessed to have the friends that I have made because Ragen was born. The countless stories of moms with other children with down syndrome, their struggles, triumphs, losses due to death, their small little milestones that would seem trivial to a family with typical children, I am in awe. These stories are slowly revealing God's plan for me...He knew exactly what he was doing when he blessed me with His precious little girl. He gave me a second chance...and I will be forever grateful.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
God's message to us...
Yes there is a woman I will bless with a child 'less than perfect' She
doesn't realize it yet but she wil be envied. She will never take for
granted a spoken word. She will never consider a step ordinary. When
her child says Mama for the first time, she will be present at a
miracle and KNOW it. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see-
ignorance, cruelty, predjudice- and allow her to rise above them. She
will never be alone. I will be at her side everyday of her life
because she is doing my work.
doesn't realize it yet but she wil be envied. She will never take for
granted a spoken word. She will never consider a step ordinary. When
her child says Mama for the first time, she will be present at a
miracle and KNOW it. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see-
ignorance, cruelty, predjudice- and allow her to rise above them. She
will never be alone. I will be at her side everyday of her life
because she is doing my work.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
“HE HAS MADE EVERYTHING APPROPRIATE IN ITS TIME.” ECCLESIASTES 3:11 NAS
The Roller-Coaster Ride of Life
Giving up in mid-ride isn't an option - it's foolish! A depressed church member told his pastor, "I'm tired of trying. I've been down so long; I can't muster up the faith to believe God for deliverance anymore." The pastor said, "First, you can never justify quitting, because you have the Lord on your side. He won't quit on you, He promised He'll 'never leave you nor forsake you [so]...do not be discouraged' (Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV). Second, His Word says, 'If we believe not, He abideth faithful: He cannot deny himself' (2Timothy 2:13 NKJV). It's not just a matter of your faith; it's a matter of His faithfulness. When you can't seem to believe, instead of focusing on your faith in Him (or the lack of it), begin to focus on His faithfulness to you!" What great counsel for the roller-coaster ride of life. Now, let's add some more encouraging observations. Third, God doesn't owe us an explanation so we shouldn't look for one, but He promises us an exit. He "will with the [testing]...make a way to escape, that ye [might] be able to bear it" (1Corinthians 10:13 NKJV). Until He gets you out of it, He'll get you through it. Your part is to stay on the roller coaster. Fourth, He's producing good in all your circumstances. "And we know that all things work together for good to them...who are the called" (Romans 8:28 NIV). God puts pits and peaks together, and out comes your good. Fifth, while He does so, the Son and Spirit intercede with the Father for you, daily (Romans 8:26-32 and 34-39 NIV). With all that going for you, how can you fail to make it?
Melanie-Reece's Rainbow....I would love to make us her forever family...
MeApril 2010
"Melanie
November 2008
Precious Lera lost her family...
Lera Needs a Family!
Lera is a precious little girl and she is in urgent need of a family. If her face looks familiar, it should. She's been here before and had three families commit to her and now for the third time, that has fallen through.
This is what Andrea has said about Lera today:
Lera has yet again lost her committed family. There is no hope to save her from the institution at this point, but she can still be adopted, assuming the US delegation is able to convince the Russians to leave their program open to American families. Her grant is still over $10,000.
She CAN be adopted by Canadian families, if anyone out there is watching!
Because she has lost so many families, only home study ready families will be considered by her agency. No match can be made on the site until initial agency fees are paid. Very very sad day for our beautiful Miss Lera.
And Jill, from Reece's Rainbow's after adoption support group wrote this about her on her blog:
The basic idea is this: Lera is currently living in a baby house where she is treated like all the other children in the orphanage. They have three meals a day of barely passable quality, they play outside in a crummy little play area, they have a few toys, they nap daily, they probably go to the bathroom in a little plastic pot after each meal, scrubbed down with cold water 'baths' and they don't get lots of hugs.
Doesn't sound nice, does it? I may be slightly wrong about her exact experience, but that is what I saw at Alex's and Vera's orphanages.
It's a garden spot compared to what's coming for her. One day soon she will be plucked out of her little place in the world with no warning and no transition. She will go to sleep surrounded by the kidlets who have been her friends for years and awaken to a world filled with emaciated adults prone to strange outbursts, no playground, just a bed, meals occasionally, baths less occasionally, and caretakers who were overwhelmed with the endless needs of the variously handicapped residents years ago.
Alternatively, she could come to YOUR home. Do you see how much you have to offer her? Think of your home, with a soft bed for her, a warm, nutritious meal (yes, even a kid's meal with chicken nuggets and fries is better than what she had and what she's going to get), a warm bubble bath, medical care from your friendly pediatrician, a toilet that flushes (!), toys of her own, maybe even a baby doll or an stuffed animal. Best of all? YOU! A parent to hug her, bandage her scraped knee, fight for her educational rights in school, tuck her in each night when she's scared, play music so she can dance, give her a new name to call her own, give her a future with a family to catch her when she falls.
Believe it or not, the life you save will be your own.
To see if you qualify please CLICK HERE and read about the financial and other requirements for international adoption.
Please pray for Lera and if you or anyone you may know is able to be Lera's family, please contact Andrea Roberts, Director of RR
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