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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!
It’s only been 9 months since Angie and Jason brought their first daughter, Claudia, home after finding her on Reece’s Rainbow, but once again, they feel God calling them to abandon their plans, and to bring their son Chance home. Neither thought that they would be pursuing adoption again so soon after the first, but after seeking God’s will, and with the counsel of their close friends and family, they are ready to once again step out in faith.
12/10/13—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at followingourcallingdaily.blogspot.com
Dale and Buffey have been married over 13 years and have two, handsome boy’s. Aaron is 13 and Andrew is 9. Buffey has always felt the calling to adopt, since the age of 10 years old. She would sit with her grandmother and watch Feed The Children on TV. She told her grandmother , that one day she would have a big house and help all of those children in need.
In 2002, Buffey and Dale were 5 1/2 months pregnant with a daughter, and they sadly miscarried. God had different plans for them and they knew, that one day, they would see their precious daughter again. Buffey and Dale then got pregnant with their youngest son Andrew, at the end of 2003′ and had him in June of 2004′, but with complications during the pregnancy and after. Andrew was a “Blue Baby”, with the cord wrapped twice around his neck, and wasn’t breathing, when the doctor delivered him. The doctor was a wonderful Christian woman (who wasn’t supposed to be there to deliver), who believed in the power of Prayer (as we do) and between her (THE DOCTOR) and GOD, their son’s life was saved. They decided after that pregnancy, that Buffey’s body could not endure another pregnancy, so Dale had a vasectomy done and they could no longer have children.
In 2009, they started thinking about having more children, and that their family wasn’t yet complete. They contemplated adoption many times over, but it just wasn’t coming together financially or spiritually, at that time. A year later, they decided to go and have a reversal done and tried to have more of their own biological children for two years following, but sadly found out, that the reversal didn’t work and they could not have anymore children of their own. They believed God again, had different plans for their lives.
Buffey and Dale believe that God has called them to adoption. On this journey, that they are about to embark on, they need to believe and have Faith with their whole hearts, that God will provide for them, a daughter, that they so long for…one that they can love unconditionally and cherish for the rest of her life. God says in “HIS WORD” to take care of the orphans(his beloved children) and the widows.
They truly believe God has a special plan for their lives and with all of the love, and support from their family, friends and Reece’s Rainbow, that their daughter will be with them, sooner than later. They have two big brothers and many family members that are elated to add a new member to their family.
12/9/13—HOMESTUDY UPDATE in PROCESS
After two years in process to adopt a child from Russia, John and Amy Jupin finally met their little boy in December 2012. They were elated! Davis was sweet and funny and wonderful. Excited and head over heels in love, the Jupins returned home to wait for a court date. One week later, Russia passed a ban prohibiting Americans from adopting children from Russia. The Jupins were devastated.
Almost a year since losing their sweet Davis, the Jupin family has decided to give adoption a try again. This time their hearts have found a young man from Eastern Europe who desperately wants a family. He is 11 and endearing and kind and so very deserving of the love only a family can give. Lord willing, he will finally get his wish and join the Jupins’ three other children, Joshua, Anna and Benjamin.
12/3/13—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the Jupin family’s adoption journey on their blog at jupinfamily.blogspot.com
Jody and Julie have been married almost twenty years and have three children: Hannah-17, Joshua-15, and Caleb-7. Over the years, they have seen God’s faithful hand of redemption in their marriage and family, and believe that he is now writing the next chapter of this beautiful story: ADOPTION.
After feeling God’s call to adopt in 2012, Jody and Julie began researching agencies and searching photo-listings for the child that they felt would be a good fit for their family. However, God had greater plans than theirs. Over time, God began opening their hearts to the possibility of adopting an older child, one with special needs. When they saw Jackson’s photo on Reece’s Rainbow on April 26, 2013, he took hold of their hearts and hasn’t let go! They know that Jackson will need lots of patient instruction and unconditional love to overcome the delays he has experienced from spending six years in a crib, but they also know that God has called them to be his family and do whatever it takes to capture his heart and meet his needs. They are trusting God to provide both the financial provision to bring him home and the wisdom to parent him. Jackson’s older brothers and sister are preparing for his arrival by raising money, and even learning Mandarin and sign language to help him learn to communicate. The Simmons family won’t be complete until Jackson is finally home!
12/2/13—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at simmonsadoptionjourney.blogspot.com
If you remember Ben and Kathy after almost 33 years of marriage have two bio children and three of his brothers children they took in when his brother died and 9 grandchildren when they adopted Harrison. Well Ben and Kathy had only been home two months after adopting Harrison from Ukraine. Their adopted son had a best friend they were able to meet and the few times they were able to spend with him and their son they grew to love him. One day as they were leaving from a daily visit with Harrison, he and Theodore ran up and ask if we could adopt him also, they did not know what to say because their home study was only for one child, how to you respond to this? There were a few times that Theodore was able to sneak in and would spend time with Harrison and when the workers would come to get him, he and Harrison would grab hold of each other not wanting to be separated. The day the Dailey’s were able take Harrison from the facility it was with bitter sweet tears because these two young men held to each other knowing they may never see each other again.
Recently as they were praying about whether or not to try and adopt him, it was Harrison that God used to direct their decision, you he came and asked them if they could adopt Theodore so they could be brothers like twins. That was all the answer they needed so they are again two months home with Harrison and ready to go back for Theodore. They ask that you pray for them that they are able to raise the needed funds they will need to go and bring Harrison brother, Theodore, home.
11/27/13—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at bddailey.blogspot.com
Jason and Emily have been married for 19 years. They have 4 children who make them very proud: Hannah (18) Julia (16) Noah (12) and Gracie (5). Jason has a heart for ministry and Emily is a stay-at-home mom. (i.e., she homeschools the kids and shows them love by taking them all over the world and back for the sake of their growth through various activities). While Jason and Emily had talked about adoption before they were married, it wasn’t until recently that they were confident that it was now time.
Jason and Emily ask that you would join them in prayer as they walk this journey to bring home the children God has for them. They also thank you for prayerfully considering supporting them through this process.
11/26/13—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
This journey has many beginnings. By His grace, God called Jim and Tisha each to new life in Christ and brought them together in marriage. From 1998 to 2011, He taught them selflessness and provided an object lesson on the infinite nature of love through the blessings of eight biological children. By making these blessings all girls, He showed them how delightfully fun life could be.
In 2012, as He called the couple to adopt a special-needs child, God taught them about the obedience of faith and the unexpected joys that accompany even modest (but genuine) sacrifices. Most recently, He has graciously taught them that following Christ in faith and in joyful obedience is a journey that doesn’t end … at least, not yet. There is always MORE … more to pray for, more to do, more to give for His glory.
As they pursue a second adoption, Jim and Tisha are thankful to their local church for its compelling call to “90 Days of Generosity,” to their nine girls for the encouragement they have given to such imperfect parents, and to their Heavenly Father for His great grace and the living hope He has given us in Christ.
11/20/13—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at addingtoourblessings.
Gary & Karen have been married for 15 years. They have 3 biological children and have adopted 5 children with special needs. 4 of those children were from China and the other from Louisiana. They are the midst of adopting 2 more girls from China with special needs. Karen & Gary were at a Bible Study at a friends house and met a little boy newly adopted from Korea. God smote both of their hearts that night and they knew that they would adopt. A year later, God blessed them with their first son from China. They now have 3 sons from China and a daughter from China. They feel that God has instructed us, as Christians, to care for the widows and orphans.
This is their 4th special need adoption 2 years. Funds are tight but God has lead them down this path and they know that His grace is sufficient for them!
11/19/13—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at fromlouisiana2china.blogspot.com
The Smith family is happy to announce they are making room for one more! While they will always wait for their sweet girl in Russia, they knew they had room in their home and hearts for a brother and son. Seriously, look at that smile! They can’t wait to bring him home to their family and community. They appreciate all of the prayers and support over the past two years and they specifically ask for your prayers for this adoption.
His advocate shouted – “Barry is so bright, funny, cute, charming and above all else he is loveable and has so much love to give too.”
God whispered- “What about you?”
We questioned- “But what if?…. An older child?”
God whispered- “You have prayed for a child, I will give you a son.”
We prayed- “Can we?”
God whispered- “Will you? Will you be my hands and feet?”
We answered- “Yes, yes we will!”
Floodgates open…. love pours forth…. a brother…. a son…. a family knit together by our Maker
He is ours…. We will go.
11/18/13—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Jon and Carly Duvall have been married for 9 years, and have three wonderful children ages 7, 6, and 5. They met at the small Christian school they both attended and got married after 4 years of dating. They live in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where they were both born and raised.
The Duvall’s talked about their desire to adopt early on in their marriage, but ended up having three children very close together and were caught up in the busyness of raising a young family. As their children have grown, God has been bringing the call to adopt to the forefront. They did not set out to adopt a child with special needs, but God had a different plan. When they found Asher (Jimmy), they knew he was their son and it began to make perfect sense. Carly had lost a younger sister who had Down syndrome and died from a hole in her heart. God was completing His perfect plan!
Jon, Carly, and family are so excited to bring Asher home and give him the love and family he deserves. They are trusting in God’s provision in the financial aspect of this process and would be so grateful for any support as well as prayers.
11/13/13—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the Duvall family’s adoption journey on their blog at bringinghomeasher.blogspot.com
Rick and Kim have been blessed with 8 children (his, hers, and ours) ranging in age from 35 down to their youngest who just turned 7. They are no stranger to adoption or special needs. Kim had 3 children when she met Rick, two of whom were adopted. Her oldest son was adopted from US foster care as a baby and her next son was adopted from an orphanage in Lithuania. Fully aware of all the medical unknowns of this child, she was NOT aware of how much this child would change her life…….for the better! Cole was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and is autistic. He has taught, and continues to teach, their whole family whats most important in this life.
When God began stirring Kim’s heart again in 2010, she was pretty certain what He was asking her to do. About that same time, Kim “accidentally” came across Reece’s Rainbow and couldn’t believe the stories she was reading. She began sharing her heart with Rick and showing him what was happening to children with special needs in these foreign country orphanages. Children, just like their Cole. After much prayer, and continued prompting from God, they took a leap of faith and said “yes” to stepping out of their comfort zone and taking God’s adventure.
Their journey to Gabe began in Jan. 2011 and they brought home their little Russian treasure in Aug. 2011. Gabe has down syndrome and is quiet a little firecracker!! What a joy he is to this family and to all he comes in contact with. While in Russia, Rick and Kim saw with their own eyes what these children face, day in and day out. And although there are many people, and many reasons that it might seem crazy to do this again……..they believe there is not ONE good enough reason, in the Lord’s eyes, not to.
So following His lead, once again they are headed into the world of unknowns….international adoption! This time they will be going to China to bring home another little treasure who also has down syndrome. They know the path that lies before them is not an easy road to take, but they are totally confident in the One who has led them there.
They would love for you to come along for the journey, and would really appreciate your prayers for their new son, and for all of their family. Also, if you feel so led and want to donate funds to help bring their little guy home, they would be forever grateful.
“Once our eyes are opened we can’t pretend we don’t know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know and holds us responsible to act.”
11/13/13—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the Decker family’s adoption journey on their blog at wheremercymetgrace.blogspot.com
Tom and Mary have been married nearly 16 years and have 9 beautiful children, 2 of them adopted internationally. The year after bringing their two children home, God moved on them to host an orphan from their same birth country for the summer. After a while of praying, they obeyed and were led to Stanley. Their family got to spend four weeks with him that summer getting to know him. After he went back home, Tom and Mary decided to add him to their family. Everyone is very excited to bring him home to stay! We would appreciate any gift that someone is led to give. Thank you in advance.
11/12/13—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Robert and Mary Jo met over 30 years ago while both serving in the military in Florida. It wasn’t long after that they married and moved to Arizona. In 1986 they welcomed their first daughter, who is now the mother of 2 little boys herself. A move to North Carolina brought more change when in 1993, they welcomed their son Joseph who just happened to have Down Syndrome. Life settled down until Robert retired and the family moved to their present home in Massachusetts. Here their life changed again with the adoption of a daughter from Belarus. With plans to grow their family again, they were referred a little boy from the same orphanage as their daughter. Plans were brought to a halt when Belarus closed down all international adoptions. Wanting to continue, the family changed course and found their next two daughters living in China.
Discovering Reece’s Rainbow years ago, Mary Jo fell in love with Caleb, a little boy in Asia. Time and again she would go to the site and see that he was still waiting. After more then 3 years and no one stepping forward, Mary Jo approached Robert with the idea of bringing him home. After 19 years of being part of the Down Syndrome community, Robert and Mary Jo are fully aware of the delays and medical issues they may face but are willing to move forward and bring Caleb home into their family. Finally Joseph will have a brother, and the girls couldn’t be any happier.
11/11/13—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Our family heard about Naomi through our pastor’s own adoption. He told us his story when we approached him with questions about adopting. He then asked if we knew who we wanted to adopt and we said no. He said I have the perfect little girl. So we prayed and God spoke to us and said we need to bring the little girl to her forever home. We have raised nearly 17 thousand dollars since January in donations, yard sales, tamale sales and online auctions. We really need every little bit of help we can get. We currently have been approved by Ukraine and only waiting for the date to travel letter. We are being told there is a possibility we could be traveling before Christmas. Thanks for your prayers and donations. God Bless.
11/24/13—APPOINTMENT DECEMBER 18
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at thenewsadoptionjourney.wordpress.com
John and Joanne met through mutual friends in 2001. They were both musicians and enjoyed playing guitar and collaborating with other musicians. They began writing songs together, and quickly became close friends. They soon fell in love and in 2005 were married. They always knew that they wanted a family, and it had been a dream of theirs to grow their family through adoption. In 2008, that dream came true when they were blessed with a wonderful son, Zachary, who is from Vietnam.
The visit to Zachary’s orphanage in Vietnam had a profound impact on John and Joanne. It was very difficult for them to see so many special needs children being overlooked for adoption. At that moment they knew they would be adopting again. They just weren’t sure when!
In December 2012 John and Joanne decided it was time! They signed with an agency and started the adoption “paper chase”. They intended to complete their dossier and wait for a referral for a daughter with special needs. However, one day Joanne began looking at photos of waiting children, and immediately was drawn to a beautiful baby girl name Layne who has hydrocephalus. From the moment they saw her, John and Joanne knew that Layne was meant to be their daughter…and they can’t wait to be her parents! Zachary is so excited to be a big brother and asks every day when they will be able to travel to bring Layne home.
Thank you for your help in bringing Layne home.
11/7/13—DOSSIER SUBMITTED
When Gideon and Anne Moore were dating in 2001, they shared with each other that adoption was something that they wanted as part of their family. They just weren’t sure how and when.
They started life together in 2002, and they have been blessed with a beautiful baby girl and two amazing boys along the way. They also experienced three painful miscarriages of four unborn children.
Through that journey of joy and pain, they felt the strong call to adopt and to open their home to the children God has for them no matter where they were born. They started the process to adopt in 2008 and have successfully completed multiple home studies and dossiers along the way. Unfortunately, as they waited, there were numerous setbacks and delays along the way (including most recently the bankruptcy of their initial adoption agency).
In those delays and setbacks, God was at work. In February, they came across the most beautiful little girl with Down syndrome on a waiting child list with their new adoption agency. They immediately sought and obtained preapproval to adopt this little angel and have now completed and submitted yet another home study and dossier.
Over the last 5+ years, the setbacks, delays and costs have been difficult to bear at times, but as they wait to bring their daughter home from China, there is a realization that but for those setbacks and delays, they likely would not be bringing home THIS little girl … this daughter that they can’t imagine their future without.
11/1/13—DOSSIER SUBMITTED
Stephani has always wanted to be a mother. Since she was a little girl, she knew she would have a big family and at least some of her children would arrive through adoption. She thought her family was going to be starting in 2009, when she found out she was pregnant. Sadly, God had other plans and her daughter Emma was stillborn.
Stephani found Reece’s Rainbow in 2011, through a friend that was adopting, She would spend hours looking at the children, reading their stories, hoping that soon, the time would be right to adopt. When a friend posted about “Zola”, Stephani knew instantly that hits little girl was meant to be her daughter.
Stephani was raised by a single parent and understands the struggles that lie ahead but knows that with God’s blessing and the love and support of her family, she is ready to provide “Zola” with a bright and happy future.
A sincere thank you to everyone for your prayers and financial support.
11/1/13—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at snowandhotcocoa.blogspot.com
John and Kathleen Lorenz met each other 8 years ago when they discovered each other living in the same apartment building behind a donut shop. Shortly after Kathleen moved in, they started dating and have been together ever since. This spring will mark their 5th anniversary!
John is an industrial engineer and Kathleen is a midwife, having attended more than 200 births. In their spare time, John plays every instrument he can and Kathleen reads up a storm. They both enjoy camping, skiing, and anything outdoors.
John and Kathleen are overjoyed to welcome Billie into their home. Also eagerly awaiting her arrival is a large extened family, including doting grandparents, lots of aunts and uncles, and 14 cousins!
12/2/13—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at adopticafilia.blogspot.com
Here they go again! After experiencing the blessing of adoption firsthand about a year ago, Carson and Jill are eager to expand their family once more. They seek to bless two older children who are at risk of aging-out and have special needs with a family. They currently have four children (one through adoption), and have come to realize the weighty and eternal impact they can have as parents. Carson and Jill seek to teach their children not only the stories in the bible, but how to seek justice and love mercy in their daily lives, attitudes, and actions. They can’t wait to shower their new children with kisses, hugs, good nutrition, loads of fun, and medical care.
10/30/13—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at oneorphansrescue.blogspot.com
