New Commitments
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Because every family deserves the blessing of a child with Down Syndrome... |
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LENNY for the Nap family — WA
The Nap family found Lenny in June of 2013 on Reece’s Rainbow. While compelled to be his prayer warriors, the Lord had not yet moved them to pursue his adoption. Through a series of events and confirmations from the Lord in the beginning of 2014, they sent in their application to adopt Lenny themselves the beginning of March 2014. He will be joining 4 brothers and 2 sisters that are so excited to be getting a new brother!!! Please help them bring Lenny ho me. He is greatly loved.
4/24/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at www.napclan.com
LILY for the Thomas family — TX
Rob and Donna had the wonderful blessing of meeting “Anastasia” in Russia in September of 2012. Having four days to be her Mama and Papa was a joy beyond words. After the adoption ban, it has taken quite a while for them to discern what their next steps should be. Although they would go back to get Anastasia tomorrow if possible, God has given them a peaceful release and a new direction – with the promise that He will continue to guide them.
So it is with great joy for the future that they are going to be headed to Asia to adopt 5 year old “Lily!” What a blessing she will be to her new family!
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8
4/23/2014—HOMESTUDY IN PROGRESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at hemmedinbyHim.blogspot.com
ANTOINETTE for the Oden family — OK
Jeff and Shanda got a bit of a non-traditional start. When Jeff and Shanda met, Shanda was a divorced single mom of two boys. They quickly merged into one tight knit family though, and were thrilled to soon celebrate the birth of a little girl. A few months after the princess joined their family, they realized she wasn’t developing at the typical speed and began seeking answers. The princess was soon diagnosed with Chromosome 15q Duplication Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. Not long after that, their family expanded again, this time with the addition of an 8 yr old through kinship foster care. They were later blessed to adopt this sweet boy, who fit perfectly into their family from day one. But God wasn’t done – Jeff and Shanda then welcomed the newest addition to their family – a sweet baby boy was born in December 2012! Their family now has 4 boys, ages 15, 12, 11, & 1, and one sweet little 3 year old girl. Their family was complete – so they thought. One day they read an article about the plight of special needs kids in other countries. Their eyes were opened and their hearts were broken. Children just like their sweet princess, routinely abandoned to spend their lives in institutions. The magnitude of that injustice was beyond their comprehension. Their journey parenting a special needs child and also adopting had taught them many things. It brought their family closer together, it made them stronger. It made them realize that the important things in life are smiles and love, not IQ and test scores. They learned that every child brings pride and joy and blessings, regardless of a diagnosis or a biological connection. As a family who had seen first hand the blessings of both adoption and special needs, they had to do something. So, they prayed. They knew that it was their job as Christians to join the fight against this injustice. So they prayed about how. And soon God gave them an answer – their part is to adopt. So they made plans to adopt. Someday. But God changed that plan when they ran across a picture of sweet Antoinette! They took some time and prayed over it, and God confirmed that she is their child. God has already begun moving mountains – after a long search, they recently bought a big house that could easily accommodate another child. The purchase of the house has depleted much of their savings and made the process of adopting at this time very daunting. But God promised – if they just said “yes”, that He would provide. So they enter into this adoption completely on faith that God will move the mountains and they will soon bring home another sweet little princess.
4/23/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog 15milesfromnowhere.blogspot.com
EVAN for the Orta family — GA
Christie and Raymundo met in June 2000 while they were both living in Hilton Head, SC. It was a chance meeting that changed their lives forever! Two people who probably would have passed each other on the street and not given it a second thought, were now on a path that neither would have predicted.
Raymundo (Mundo) was born in Mexico and always had a passion for learning English and traveling to the United States. When the opportunity arose to come to the US, he seized it! The hardest part of the trip was leaving his family. However, they were (and still are) very supportive of his dreams and urged him to go. Christie is also from a loving family and, at the time had been moving around the country working for Marriott.
Skip ahead almost 14 years later – Christie and Mundo have been married for 11 years and have biological daughter named Laura. Laura is 7 years old and in the 1st grade. Christie now works for the public school system in Savannah, GA as a special education teacher and Mundo works within the hospitality industry. They had been thinking of expanding their family for several years, but wanted to do it through adoption. They both felt that there were too many children who were already here in this world that needed a home and a mom and dad to call their own. They thought of fostering to adopt and made several attempts through the local social services, but it just wasn’t the right time or place.
In September, Christie welcomed a new student into her classroom who had been recently adopted from Ukraine. After getting to know his family and learning about the conditions that children with disabilities face and the grim outlook for their future if not adopted, Christie felt the calling to find a child for she and Mundo. Upon finding Reece’s Rainbow and searching for children with Down Syndrome, Christie and Mundo found Evan! After much discussion, tears, and prayer, Christie and Mundo made that first step to bring Evan home to live with them. Their daughter, Laura, is beside herself with excitement and cannot wait to be a big sister! Every day she talks about the things that she is going to teach Evan to do.
The Orta’s believe that they were led to Evan and that God is calling them to adopt this sweet boy into their family. Many fund-raisers have taken place with LOTS of support from friends, family, and the community! They have loved getting updates on his progress and seeing his pictures as he has grown the past several months. However, no update or picture could ever take the place of holding your child in your arms. They are anxiously waiting for the day when they can board the airplane to bring their son home.
4/23/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at evan4theortas.weebly.com
CARRIE ANN for the Davis family — LA
As the years passed and many miles between them both had married other people and lost touch. In 1989 Denise’s husband Tim had passed away and a few years later while shopping once again they both crossed paths and fell back in love. With Gary being a single parent they raised 6 children who are now grown. During the years the Davis Family mission in Ukraine and brought medical supplies to orphanages.
During 22 years of marriage the Davis Family raised 4 children from Denise’s first marriage, two children from Gary’ first marriage and have 15 grandchildren they love. Through years of infertility treatments, IVF, several miscarriages, the loss of twins Gary and Denise decided to adopt. After studying adoption for 10 long years they decided on Ukraine. After visiting the many orphanages they knew in their hearts their children were waiting for them.
In May of 2001 they took a Leap of Faith and went independently to Ukraine. They compiled all their own paperwork and visited the National Adoption Center in Kiev.
They traveled to Odessa where they met their precious Makayla. At that time Makayla could barely walk nor could she talk. Makayla is now 16 years old dances and does not shut up. Makayla’s diagnoses are Beckweider Syndrome and NF1.
The Davis’s decided to return to Ukraine to adopt a child they met during a visit to an orphanage in Uzhgorod and they returned on May 2002 where they adopted their son Patrick. Patrick weighted less than 8 pounds at age 2 years and Patrick now age 14 years weighing almost 100 pounds. His diagnoses are Aspergers, Mild CP, Epilepsy and seizure disorders. Both children are beautiful and loving children which the Davis’ thank the Lord daily for his blessings.
As time passed they met Andrea the founder of Reeces Rainbow and viewed her site over and over. A few years later as much heart searching they decided to adopt a child Reeces Rainbow had listed. With their hearts for children with special needs they knew this was the organization to find their next child. As both their hearts lead them to travel to Bulgaria to adopt the most beautiful little girl curly headed, silly girl there was. And they decided to named her Chrissie after a dear friend’ daughter Chrissie that passed. And on May 2012 they brought home Chrissie from Bulgaria and their lives have never been the same.
With their hearts still in love with the many children in Bulgaria they returned to adopt Jake and Gennie in 2013. Both Gennie and Jake have cystic fibrosis and very malnourished. Shortly after their arrival home their precious baby girl Gennie has passed from CF complications and her small heart had failed. During this pass year their hearts have ached for their little daughter Gennie. As her bed sits filled with dolls and teddy bears they knew it was now time to adopt another little girl.
With three precious little Angels in Heaven they have led us back to go back to Eastern Europe and decided to chose another little girl off of Reeces Rainbow name Carrie Ann. Little Carrie Ann has Spina Bifida like the Davis’ daughter little Chrissie. With their being over 147 million orphans in our world our Lord has guided our family to this little girl to bring home. Please follow the Davis’s Adoption Blog and follow their journey in bringing home this precious little girl Carrie Ann.
4/17/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at bringinghomealittleangel.blogspot.com
TIMMY for the Abrams family — CA
The Abrams have been married for 22 years and have been blessed with 3 amazing daughters age 20, 16 and 12. They live in San Diego, CA where Tim is a firefighter and Michele homeschools their daughters. They are a silly family with lots of joy and they have always wanted to adopt. The Lord opened a door when their 16 year old daughter, Ember went to China on a mission with close friends. The Abrams fell in love with all of the disabled orphans Ember cared for. But one sweet blind boy stole their heart and the Lord began to give them faith to adopt him. They are working hard to get their dossier finished and bring their son home.
4/14/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at www.adopttimmy.com
HALLIE for the Preciado family — TN
Ryan and Carmen knew since their first date they would choose adoption to begin their family. Ryan was adopted from birth, and always knew he wanted to provide a loving home to a child in need the same way his parents did to him, and Carmen has always had a heart for children with special needs. She remembers volunteering her recesses in elementary school to work with the precious students in her school’s special education classroom, and kept her love for helping others through her life, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Special Education. (Fun fact: first date was June 28th 2012, engagement was August 4th, 2012, and their wedding was on January 19th, 2013!–even “funner!” fact: the daughter they are adopting’s birthday is Jan. 18 (2004) (that time of year is going to get way more expensive for Ryan!).
Their adoption process began sooner than they imagined thanks to a dream Carmen had been having since before her and Ryan were married (or even knew each other!). Carmen had the same recurring dreams for several years where she arrived home to the Nashville airport with her newly adopted daughter. The beautiful girl had gorgeous darker skin and dark wavy hair on her sweet head, she also had significant special needs, and was met with tears of joy and prayers by Carmen’s family at the airport. Fast-forward a few years after having this same dream over and over again, and while looking at the sweet children on an adoption advocacy site, THERE SHE WAS! THE SWEET GIRL CARMEN HAD BEEN DREAMING ABOUT! Thankfully, she already had a family coming for her, but Ryan and Carmen took her to be their sweet little angel who was telling them now was the time to begin their adoption journey. And so they did. One day while praying for the children and families of Reece’s Rainbow, Carmen scrolled down a page to have her husband grab her hand and exclaim, “Why hasn’t anyone adopted her yet?!” he repeated this several time until Carmen smiled and said, “I don’t know, maybe because we’re supposed to?” And that was it-the beginning of the journey to bring “Hallie”/Lu (soon to be Lucy if she wants a new name!) home. (fun fact: Carmen and Ryan are not actually that big of “I love Lucy” fans, they just thought giving her the name “Lucy” would be a great way to keep her Chinese name incorporated into a name given to her by her forever mommy and daddy)
See, Carmen is the weepy emotional sort and Ryan is the confident strong one–it makes for a great balance in this crazy little journey of life and adoption. Carmen is also the fiercely outspoken passionate one and Ryan is the gentle humble one–making yet another perfect balance in the crazy little thing called love. Carmen traveled to Afghanistan a year and half after 9/11/2011 to teach in newly gender-integrated classrooms, she has also been to Burma to set up day medical clinics in secret house churches, rocked babies in Ethiopia, Rwanda, and lived briefly in Uganda. After having seen so much pain and suffering, she decided she was either part of the problem or part of the solution–impassioning her even more. Once when talking to a friend about how she could possibly maintain a quiet and gentle spirit (1 Peter 3:4) when she’s seen so much injustice and suffering she was handed this ditty: “if you see suffering and injustice, you better shout it from the rooftops”-and that’s what she’s been doing ever sense, shouting it from the rooftops. (“fun” fact: while teaching in Afghanistan, Carmen had the taliban sit on on several of her classes; luckily she doesn’t scare easily, unless it involves spiders-then her life is over 
)
Ryan is the operations manager for the Home Depot and is always looking for ways to bless the immediate community around him, from donating crates upon crates of watermelon to the homeless mission to doing workshops with individuals with special needs. He is generous and humble-hearted: whenever Carmen approaches him with a way to “save the world (for somebody)” he listens and plans with her on how to do just that. (fun fact: Carmen sometimes convinces Ryan and a few of his coworkers to come and do a mini-workshop with her preschoolers, and one time they made bug catchers and told Ryan they wanted to catch black widows and poisonous snakes in it–Carmen did the important thing and taught them later that snakes are actually referred to as “venomous” and explained the difference–there is always a learning opportunity!).
Since Ryan and Carmen had only been married a year when they began the process to become a forever mommy and daddy to a sweet child on RR, they had to write a letter requesting a waiver (China requires you be married for 2 years). Remember how Carmen has a knack for writing with tons of emotion and being weepy and incredibly impassioned, well she wrote such a letter and pled her (and her husband’s) case, and…it was approved! Then a few weeks later the PA came, and now their are giddy new parents-to-be of a sweet 10 year old. (fun fact: Carmen and Ryan’s first dance was supposed to be to “Fools Rush In”–because, well, that’s what happened, remember the first “fun fact”?, but someone started the playlist before they got to the reception, so they didn’t)
They feel truly blessed, and look forward to walking through this journey with such a beautiful community (Carmen wants to make sure you know that is you!)
Change the world, for somebody.
4/11/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at beforeievenknewyou.blogspot.com
EDMUND for the Hinz family — FL
Brian and Erin have been happily married since August of 2008. After a wonderful honeymoon cruise with family friends, they decided that they wanted to start trying for a family. However, God had other plans. After two years of battling infertility and a year of infertility treatments, the Hinzes gave up on having children naturally and began to research adoption.
After weeks of adoption research, Erin came upon the Reece’s Rainbow website and immediately became sold on the idea of adopting a child with Down syndrome. However, she kept this a secret for several weeks while she figured out the best way to approach Brian with the idea. Then, one day, she found a picture of a little boy she knew was meant to be hers. She approached Brian and, after months of research a prayer, they commit to adopting Sterling.
Sterling has Down syndrome and was adopted from Ukraine in October 2011. Now 7, Sterling has been home for over two years and is thriving in a loving home. He has been the greatest blessing the Hinzes could ever imagine. He has helped them to become better people and has given them a love that they never knew existed. You can read all about Sterling’s adoption here: bringingsterlinghome.blogspot.com
Now, the Hinzes are pleased to announce that they are adding another little man to the family! They cannot wait to get him home and they hope you will join them on this mission.
4/11/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog: twolittleketchupcrocodiles.blogspot.com
TEMPERANCE for the Willock family — MD
Brad and Becky first met in 7th grade, their lockers were nearly side by side. Throughout middle and high school they became good friends and eventually on graduation day they started to date. They dated long distance through college and then married just after their college graduation in June in 1999.
In the past several years God has blessed the Willock family with 8 children, 5 boys and 3 girls. Their second son has a rare genetic disorder that limits his mobility but not his personality. In 2006 they were blessed with the opportunity to adopt their daughter who shares the same disorder as their son. Then in 2012 God once again blessed them with the addition of their youngest son through adoption.
This time the Willock’s are looking to adopt internationally and they girls (who are outnumbered 5 to 3) have requested they bring home a little girl and they are prepared to head halfway around the world to bring her home.
The Willock’s are trusting in God to open doors for this adoption as He did in the past and can’t wait to share the amazing miracles He works in this process.
4/10/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at willockadoption.blogspot.com
KOEN for the Gomes family — HI
Joanna and Paki have been married for almost 5 years and have been blessed with 3 children. From the time they met said they’d like to have a “larger” family and had talked about adoption. In late 2012, Joanna and Paki felt God’s call for them to look into adoption. Paki reached out to a friend that had recently adopted through Reece’s Rainbow and she informed them about the website. After much contemplation, they saw a little girl who truly stirred their hearts, but were frustrated when they realized they could not begin the adoption process until Paki came home from a military deployment. Shortly after Paki returned, baby #3 was born and life became a bit more hectic. With their youngest turning 5 months old, Joanna felt God again, gently stirring the desire to adopt. Joanna and Paki returned to Reece’s Rainbow website and were devastated to learn the they little girl they had hoped to find again had passed away.
Paki continued to look through the little faces and came across sweet Koen. Surprisingly, he looks a lot like their oldest son and they absolutely fell in love with this him. They are so excited for God’s calling to bring this little boy into their hearts and family! Please pray for this family as they move forward in this exciting journey.
4/8/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog gomesohana.blogspot.com
KAMDYN for the Rosencrants family — GA
Scott and Lydia met in 1996 and married two years later. They moved to their current home when Lydia took a job as a college professor and Scott began taking classes to complete his college degree. They had planned on waiting to have children until Scott was done with school, but God had other plans. They felt called to adopt in 2001 and brought home their first two children, two boys, from Kazakhstan that same year. They were both 2 at the time. Scott and Lydia were deeply touched by all the children they left behind, so they returned to Kazakhstan the following year and adopted two brothers, who were 4 and 3. With four little boys under 5 to care for, Scott quit school and became a full time dad. In 2004, they adopted three sisters from Russia, who were 8, 7, and 7. After that, Lydia and Scott felt that they needed to focus on the needs of their children. They never forgot those left behind though. In 2011, they had a biological child, who is very spoiled by his older brothers and sisters. In 2013, they brought home a sweet five year old girl from a notorious orphanage in Bulgaria and she is doing very well! They are excited to add another precious girl to their family.
4/8/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog eightisnotenough2012.blogspot.com
BRECK for the Murray family — TN
Having already adopted 6 children with special needs before committing to Breck, Ernie and Jennifer are not only excited about their newest addition but also well prepared for the challenges of special needs adoption.
Ernie and Jennifer first decided to build their family through adoption 15 years ago soon after they were married, but after looking into the requirements of various agencies and countries they realized they would have to wait several years to meet the age and length of marriage requirements for adoption. During this time they gave birth to a precious son while continuing to research adoption with a strong interest in the children who waited the longest for a family due to their special needs. When their son was just 7 months old they made the decision to adopt a 12 year old girl from Russia, thus beginning the journey of adoption for their family.
Their first adoption was by far the most difficult, not only because of the difficulties that continued to arise in the Russian process but also because of the difficulties they faced in dealing with their new teenager who was affected both by having grown up in an orphanage and also by fetal alcohol exposure. Nonetheless, Ernie and Jennifer stood firm not only in their love for their daughter but also their desire to adopt more special needs children.
Next to join their family was a beautiful little 2 year old boy from India who had been waiting for a family due to heart defects. Then while praying for children who continued to wait they were led to adopt a 3 year old girl from China who had waited many months to be chosen for adoption due to her multiple birth defects, the result of a rare genetic syndrome that causes many different issues and places her at very high risk for childhood cancer. While working to bring her home they continued to pray for the many children still waiting for families. They were especially drawn to a teenage boy who was about to age out of eligibility for adoption, but they were using an agency that NEVER allows the adoption of 2 unrelated kids at the same time. After fighting an incredible battle with their agency and receiving a miracle from God they were finally granted permission to adopt their new son. He turned 14 immediately after they got him. A year later their children’s prayers for a baby sister were answered when they heard about the need for a family for a baby girl waiting in New York City who had the same rare genetic syndrome as their daughter from China. They brought her home at just 3 months old, and the next year they brought home a 2 year old daughter from China who had cleft lip/palate. Now they are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their new son, “Breck” from China, and while they are happy the adoption process is moving much faster than normal this means they have had very little time to come up with the money for the adoption.
Ernie and Jennifer have worked hard and made a lot of sacrifices, but after paying for so many costly adoptions and dealing with many expensive medical bills they have come to a point in which they would welcome the financial support of others who want to help get little Breck home. They stepped out in faith knowing God would provide the funds to bring this precious child home, and they are very appreciative to those who so generously give so little Breck can know the love of a family.
4/7/2014—LOA RECEIVED on MARCH 20
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog: mysonsfromafar.blogspot.com
DON MICHAEL for the Munn family — VA
The Munns have been married for 10 years and are blessed to be parents to 4 biological children. They live in the picturesque Sheandoah Valley – near Washington D. C. – where they have numerous “pet” goats, sheep, horses, and a Mammoth Mule named Leona. Completely by chance – and blessings – they came across Reece’s Rainbow last month while advocating for another child for a friend of theirs. While on the site, Mrs. Munn found Don Michael and was so taken with him and his profile that she could not forget about him. He is an amazing child who works hard to be the best he can and will age out on May 1st. The family networked and advocated for him for a few weeks, hoping and praying that someone already paper ready for adopting from China would step up and be his family before he aged out. No one did. After many prayers it was clear that Don Michael was to be in their family – a loved brother and son – and they jumped in head first to try to adopt him before his birthday. They have made great strides time wise and God has opened many doors along the way.
4/11/2014—DOSSIER APPROVED; I800 RECEIVED
ARIC for the Kojak family — FL
Chris and Ali have been married for 7 years and have two beautiful children already entrusted in their care. Their spirited little girl is three, and they have a sweet man cub who is one. Adoption has always been on Ali’s heart and a number of years ago she somehow found Reece’s Rainbow. The babies on this site haven’t left her thoughts since. You can’t unknow what you know — and they both felt convicted to ACT as a result of what they learned about children with special needs in other parts of the world. God has been working on growing their family biologically the last couple years, and recently made it clear that NOW was the tie to pursue adoption. They are over-the-moon to be adding this little love muffin to their family, and would sincerely appreciate your prayers for him and their family as they learn and grow and stretch over the course of this journey.
4/2/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog therighttoholdyou.com
RHYS for the Holland family — FL
James and Patricia met at church and began dating in 2005 and married in 2010. They have a daughter, Gracie, who was born in May of 2012 and a son, Joshua, who was born in November of 2013. They have always sensed a calling from the Lord to adopt, but just did not know when. God has made it very clear that the time is now and that the child is Rhys. They see children as a blessing and as a gift from God. They are beyond thrilled to add another blessing to their growing family. Down syndrome holds a special place in their hearts for many reasons. They can not wait to wrap Rhys in the arms and show him a lifetime of Christ’s love. It pains them to think of him being in an orphanage, but they pray daily for God’s peace to bring him comfort. They so deeply wish that they could tell Rhys, “We are coming as soon as we can, buddy.” This is an exciting journey that God is taking them on and as Jeremiah 29:11 promises, they can not wait to see the wonderful future God has planned for all of them.
4/1/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog
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ABC NEWS: Hidden Angels
Diane Sawyer reports on the adoption of Mia Cox:
