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Because every family deserves the blessing of a child with Down Syndrome... |
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These are the families who have taken a leap of faith and committed to adopt one or more our orphaned children most recently.
We are thrilled to have them, and so grateful for this life-saving step to rescue our angels!
Your continued financial support will give them the strength and courage to continue this journey!
The Dewberry’s are a family of 5 and have 3 amazing adopted children from Ukraine. Joe and Nicole have a heart for aging out youth and special needs children as two of their children have HIV. Serving others, working with youth and serving in Ukraine has been the heart and passion of this family. This last year has been whirlwind for the Dewberry’s as they set out to adopt aging out teens in which none made it home for different reasons. They had their dossier submitted in April 2014 and the day it was submitted the teen they prepared it for Brodie made the decision to stay in Ukraine being he wanted to be an only child in a family. The Dewberry’s could not offer him that. The decision for the Dewberrys came down to do they remove their dossier which had already submitted or trust God that He got it in before Brodie said no for a reason other then they clearly could not see. The night before they went to request to have their dossier pulled Nicole was in prayer asking God for clarity in this decision being they were over half way funded to bring Brodie home and their dossier submitted and yet no child to bring home. Then an email came in from a friend of the Dewberry’s who has been a huge prayer warrior for them through every battle and she mentioned all the many children still in need of homes in Ukraine because people were scared to go with all the political unrest in the country. She did not mean for them to go on and look to adopt but God meant them to. Two boys that are HIV positive jumped out at Nicole that she had seen advocated for by friends. She had thought they had families but they did not. After many exchanges of emails about the boys with their friends and the RR team it became clear the direction God was asking them to go this one last time. The Dewberry’s for their family specifically they know this is this last time for them to adopt, this is their last dossier as they are ready to be home with their children and focus on their family. They will continue as God leads for missions work in Ukraine as a family as Ukraine is their second home and ever so dear to their heart.
So please follow their journey as they return to Ukraine trusting God to bring home safely Anthony and Murray to their family waiting for them with open arms.
3/9/14—DOSSIER SUBMITTED
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at www.andthisonematters.blogspot
Kiril has waited so long! It’s finally his turn to have a family of his very own! Kiril’s family cannot wait to bring him home where he will be treasured and loved unconditionally. The family greatly appreciates your prayers and financial support as they follow God’s calling to bring him home.
3/7/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
This adoption is one that is just awaiting it’s fairytale ending. Colleen travelled in June with another family that was adopting and while there they saw the little boy that they knew as “Gage” every single day of visits. Gage had previously had a committed family when he was listed in the fall of 2012, but the adoption couldn’t be completed and he needed to be relisted, it broke their hearts to see him everyday and know he was still waiting, especially because he was listed at the same time as the 3 children that Colleen and her friend were at the orphanage visiting. She would see him in passing and know she needed to find him a family when she arrived home, never in her wildest dreams would she have believed it would be her though!
On Thursday afternoon, the second to last visit before flying home, they were leaving the orphanage and he was sitting in the lobby with his baba, it was with heavy hearts and high hopes that they walked passed him with a promise to find him a family. What happened next though, it made Colleen’s entire trip make sense. “We didn’t want to bring all our toys home with us, we planned to just leave them in the playroom but when we saw a large group of children with their babas outside, I knew I had to walk over. I walked up, and motioned to the toys and tried to hand them the bags. They wouldn’t take them, they insisted that I pass them out and give them to children myself, I was on cloud nine and feeling so blessed for this moment in time. A short time later the rest of our travelling party came over and enjoyed the presence of these amazing little blessings, very shortly after though, out strolls Gage…. We really hadn’t had much interaction with him other than admiring him in passing until that moment, I grabbed a ball and went over to him…. I bent down and gave him his ball, he reached for me, grabbed on tight to my fingers, locked eyes, and smiled the most gorgeous little smile at me. His baba loved him so much, I couldn’t understand the majority of what she had to say but she has A LOT to say about her sweet little “grandbaby.” Then she spoke words I knew well, “Nay Mama, Nay Mama” with tears streaming down her faced. I promised we would find a family for him, I stayed kneeling down with his tiny little fingers clutching mine for over 45 minutes, tears silently streaming down my face. I literally had to pry his fingers from mine, hugged his baba with an understanding and promise that didn’t need words, we would be back for him, we cried together and said goodbye. I skyped Dan from the hotel that night and all I said was “I met our son today” and he said “Then we better get started”, no questions asked.
3/6/14—DOSSIER EN ROUTE
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at iwillcometoyou-john14-18.blogspot.com
Michael and Julie Snow were married in 1999. They became foster parents in 2000. They spent the next eight years actively fostering children of all ages with a variety of needs. Their eyes were quickly opened to the many children in need; so they set aside any pursuits to conceive biologically. They became aware of the unplanned pregnancy of a foster child’s birth parent, which led to their first adoption of a domestic infant in 2001. While most of their foster children did not remain in their home permanently, they also adopted four children through foster care from 2005-2008. In 2006, they felt God stir their hears in a new direction and began the process to adopt internationally from Ethiopia. Having eight children in the home closed the door on their foster care ministry; the diversity of their adoptions and family gave them a worldview vision of the need. Julie’s involvement in and connection to the adoption circle provided an opportunity to reach out to other adoptive families. Serving in that role brought three more Ethiopian born children into their family, whose first adoptive families had decided to dissolve their adoptions. The Snows completed two more domestic processes to finalize these adoptions making their own family now a family of thirteen!
The Snows have parented over sixty children in their home. Michael and Julie have found that helping to heal children who have suffered trauma is what they do best. They have dedicated their lives to this purpose. They don’t believe they are special, but that God has called them and equipped them through education and experience.
Michael and Julie previously explored adopting from China, but it wasn’t until a friend traveled to China in late October, 2013, and met this little angel, that they felt compelled to respond. the Snow children are very excited to welcome a new sister! The Snows also hope to adopt a second child. Well aware of the work and sacrifice involved, they know they will be the most blessed by this. They have total trust in God’s provision, but would like to invite others to share in the blessing by having an opportunity to give.
2/26/2014—HOMESTUDY COMPLETE
Jeromy and Stacy have been googly-eyed since 1995. They started married life in 1996 in Anchorage, Alaska, college sweet hearts and best friends. After moving back home to Idaho, they decided to begin a family. After falling in love with their first 2 little girls and having very difficult pregnancies, they decided that building their family through adoption would be a wonderful idea.
By the grace of God they brought home their first little boy in 2005 at 16 days old through the foster care system. He was diagnosed with Arthrogryposis, a birth defect the family had never heard of but soon became very familiar with. Two years later, they got a call about another precious little boy with anoxic brain injury. They waited several days to find out he survived and was in need of a family to care for him. After attempts at reunification with his birth family they were able to become his permanent parents through guardianship.
After getting more involved in the adoption community and feeling led by God to be part of reaching out to older orphans, the Scheels found out about a beautiful teenage girl in Eastern Europe. She was 10 days away from aging out and, like their son, had arthrogryposis. This began their first international adoption on the fast track. She has been home almost 2 years and the Scheels are now stepping out in faith to add to their family once again through international adoption. They are excited to add Raymond to their family knowing the very special blessing each child brings.
2/26/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
The Parker family is so excited that their dream of adopting is finally becoming a reality!
Sean and Amy have always had a heart for adoption, and decided in Jan 2013 that it was time to start taking the first steps towards adopting a child . Once Sean and Amy decided to adopt from Bulgaria, it wasnt long before they found Deliya on Reeses Rainbow. That was it, she was their daughter and they began to pursue her! Sean and Amy have 4 biological children who share in the excitement, they cant wait to meet their new sister!
Deliya has several special needs, but the Parker family is so excited to bring her home and to help her face any and all challenges she faces in regards to her vision and development. The Parkers hope is that they will have their precious little girl home with them sometime in the Spring of 2014.
2/25/2014—TRIP 1 JANUARY 2014
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at newteammember.blogspot.com
Adam and Chastity have been married for 15 years. They have six children. There have always been children in their lives – even their first date was surrounded by neighbor children playing in the snow. In 2002, the Vargas family began a Christian adventure camp that is held at their home twice a year. The camp has grown to approximately 34 children from both city and rural communities. Camp IGUANA (In God’s Universe Accepting New Adventures) encourages children through hands-on activies and trips to look at everytyhing in their lives as adentures. This has also become how their family looks at each day as well. Their family has hosted 9 children from orphanages in EE over the last 4 years with the hope to adopt that grew more and more. They eagerly look forward to adding to their family through adoption and are grateful for your prayers and support.
2/24/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at beyondwhatmyeyeshaveseen.blogspot.com
Kerri and Dan have some very exciting news to share!!! This adorable munchkin will soon be part of their family! Kerri and Dan have many reasons to be thankful for the internet. They met on Match.com four and a half years ago, and knew right away that they had found “the one.” They have been married for two and a half years now, and thanks again to the internet, they have fallen in love with a baby on the other side of the world. They knew right away that she was “the one.”
Dan has a 6 year old son and a 9 year old daughter, who is also lucky enough to have Down Syndrome. While Dan’s children live far away, they get to visit with them as often as possible. They are excited that their new munchkin will have such a wonderful big brother and sister, to help her become the newest member of the McLean clan. Kerri and Dan live on a small family farm, which is home to 5 dogs, 2 cats, 2 horses, 2 goats, and a handful of chickens. They also both have large extended families who all live nearby. Everyone is looking forward to welcoming this much anticipated member of the family, as soon as they can get her home! Thank you for all your support!
2/24/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at soundscrazyoutloud.blogspot.com
Rachael and Tyler and their little ones are beyond excited to be adding another precious child to their family through adoption. After having two biological children (3 year old and 4 year old) they added a 5 year old girl to their family in November 2013. Knowing they had more room in their family, and lots more love for the children left behind, they fell in love with a little princess and are adopting again! After initially having their eyes opened to the awesomeness of adoption, they knew they’d adopt again, but didn’t expect to move so quickly! However, they say that the love that makes you cross an ocean will make you do it quickly too.
Rachael and Tyler ask that you pray for their whole family and the sweet little girl waiting for them. They are forever grateful to those that donate toward bringing Gianna Natalia home and truly believe that each person who prays, donates, encourages, etc are a part of making an orphan into a daughter.
2/19/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at www.flylikeabee.com
Mike and Anita have been married for 28 years. Anita was adopted at 11 months old. Her dad was also adopted but at the age of 3. He actually was one of the last orphans to ride the orphan train. Anita and Mike had a heavy heart to adopt as it’s always been a part of Anita’s life. They have 4 children all adopted from China and began the journey back in Dec. 2000 when they brought home their first daughter Emmi from Nanchang at the age of 12 months with the nsn program. She is now 14 yo. In 2003, they found their second daughter Maggie on the first sn listing. Her need was cl/cp. She is filled with energy and bounces through the house twirling and doing cartwheels. Not even thinking about a son, they felt the call again to adopt. But this time, God had a different plan for them, it was a son. They found Jacob at the age of 3 also on a sn list. He had a club radial hand. Anita advocated for him and didn’t even realize he was to be their son. Then God layed it on her heart and she knew!!! Trusting in Him, they started the journey to bring him home. Again, what a joy he has been to their family. In 2009, their heart became heavy for the older child. With prayer and trusting in God, in 2010 they found their daughter, Faith, age 12 yo. She was listed with Sequalae from a brain injury, cp. Since coming home, Faith has adjusted very well and is learning with leaps and bounds. It is with great joy that she is coming to know Jesus and attends a Friday night Chinese worship group and then of course on Sunday too. Now as the Vantrease family starts the journey again to their second son, the entire family is giddy to get him home. As with the previous 4 children, Keegan will be loved and adored. He will grow and learn about the love of Jesus in a home where He is present everyday.
2/17/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at adoptmilesoftheheartoneless.blogspot.com
Chris and Julia started their adoption journey 2 weeks after they were married. They brought home their daughter from Saint Petersburg, Russia, 9 months later. After she had been home 2 years, they welcomed the birth of their son. Julia says the first child taught her patience, and the second child made her a better mother. Chris and Julia are eager to learn what new lessons will be in store for them with the addition of their third child. They appreciate your prayers and support as they continue on this journey.
2/17/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
