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These families are in country now…meeting their child for the first time as a result of your life-saving donations |
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Shelby has always loved working with children. From a very early age, she knew she wanted nothing more than to be a mom. When she was a preteen, there was a little girl with special needs in her church, and every once in a while Shelby would be asked to hold her while her grandmother sang a special. That’s when she grew a special place in her heart for kids with special needs. Though that particular child did not have Down syndrome, Shelby felt a strong tug on her heart to one day adopt a child with Down syndrome from around that age.
A dear friend, who Shelby only knew via the internet, had posted the Reece’s Rainbow profile page of a little girl with Down syndrome. Once Shelby clicked the link, she knew she was brought there for a reason. Shelby could not adopt at the time, but she discovered a deep love for advocating for these children and for the families adopting them. She continued to advocate for many years, hoping that one day, she would be on that journey to bring her own child home. She nannied and worked in a PRTF, researched and reached out to families to learn from their experiences. She did anything to take steps to prepare for the child who would one day come into her home.
Gaining strength from God through an ectopic pregnancy and a messy divorce, she picked herself back up and continued to work towards that goal. On Christmas day, 2021, covid struck hard. Shelby was in the hospital being rushed to ICU to be put on a vent, and wondered if that was the end for her. God saw her through, and she truly believes she’s still here for a reason. The calling that God laid on her heart a long time ago was more pressing than ever, and she asked herself, “Why not now?” With her supportive nanny job boss/friend, she took the first baby-step, and just kept stepping away. With your help (thanks, so much, by the way), she is baby-stepping all the way to bringing her baby home. She can’t help but feel that that dear friend who shared Reece’s Rainbow with her, all those years ago, and has since passed on to be with the Lord in Heaven, would be loving watching this all unfold. If you can’t adopt, advocate…it really does make a difference.
5/7/2026 — AWAITING COURT DATE
The Smith family has met their $5000 Matching Grant from Reece’s Rainbow!
After waiting over 4-1/2 years for China to reopen after they closed due to COVID, the notice was received that they closed their international adoption program permanently on the same day that Kathy’s daughter there turned 18 and aged out. This was devastating – not only to Kathy and the waiting families, but to the children who will never get to know the love and support of a family. Though heartbroken about the loss of ‘Nora’, and after many months of waiting and praying, Kathy has decided to pursue the adoption of another older child who also needs a family. This time from Bulgaria!
Kathy’s bio daughter Stephani (along with her four adopted kids) and her adopted daughter Melayna (Armenia 2018) join in the excitement of adding another sister and aunt to the family. Please pray for a smooth process! The China process was a huge financial loss, so your prayers and financial support are greatly appreciated!
8/9/2026 — FIRST TRIP in AUGUST
The Rice family has met their Matching Grant from Reece’s Rainbow!
Tana is a single mom by choice. Growing up, She always knew adoption would play a central role in building her family. Over the years, she’s poured her heart into that dream—spending five years pursuing IVF, and four years serving as a foster mom to children in her community with complex medical and therapeutic needs.
After years of waiting and hoping, Tana turned to international adoption and was matched with “Nyla,” a five-year-old little girl who has waited far too long—more than three years—for a family of her own. Nyla lives with a 95% disability, and because of that, she’s been passed over time and again.
Nyla is already deeply loved. Tana has been fully approved to adopt Nyla, and she has spent many hours preparing her heart and home for her arrival.
Nyla has been overlooked by many, but in Tana’s eyes—and in God’s—she is not forgotten. She is the stone the builders rejected, yet she is becoming the cornerstone (Psalm 118:22). In the foundation of their faith and family, Nyla is not just included—she is central.
5/14/2026 — AWAITING COURT
The Stewart family has met their $5000 Matching Grant from Reece’s Rainbow!
Josh and Emma are beyond excited to complete their family through adoption! They have been married for 20 years and have been blessed with 3 biological children – Eli, Ollie, and Nora. Adoption has been a topic of conversation for their entire marriage and specifically adopting a child with Down syndrome. Emma started volunteering with her local special needs community when she was in high school and quickly introduced Josh to the idea when they started dating. Josh instantly found his love for those with special abilities too. They love to volunteer as a family and try to get involved with any opportunity they can!
In 2022, the family took a leap of faith and started the adoption process. While it has been a long, difficult road filled with ups, downs, heartbreaks, and triumphs, Josh and Emma made the difficult decision to switch countries in August 2024 and start fresh. They have submitted their dossier and are now waiting to be matched with one of the waiting children in Armenia.
The extensive cost of international adoption has been felt throughout this process. Please consider helping the Thurgood family bring their child home. Your financial contribution is greatly appreciated!
7/14/2026 — FIRST TRIP COMPLETE; AWAITING COURT
The Thurgood Family has also received a $2000 EE4 child grant!
The Thurgood family has met their $5000 Matching Grant from Reece’s Rainbow!
THE THURGOOD FAMILY IS FULLY FUNDED!!
Hello again from the Braddock Bunch! We are so excited to be adding a little boy and a little girl from Bulgaria to our family. Thank you for supporting us on this journey!
4/23/2026 — FIRST TRIP in MAY
The Braddock family has met their $5000 Matching Grant from Reece’s Rainbow!
The Anderson- Hansen family, Charlie, Liz and their seven children (Ethan, Savanna, Nikita, Abby, Nikolina, Emmeline and Cameron) are on a new adoption journey! They adopted their sons, Cameron from DCF in 2021 and Nikita (RR “Bert”) from Ukraine in 2021. They then brought home their daughter, Nikolina (RR “Pippy”) from Bulgaria in 2024. All three of these children have added such joy to the family that the idea of another adoption was never far from thought. Charlie and Liz are both registered nurses and enjoy the field immensely. Charlie works in the Neuro ICU and Liz does Private Duty Pediatric Nursing. Liz has always had the heart for special needs adoption and was thrilled when she met Charlie and realized that his heart also led him to adopt. After scrolling through Reece’s Rainbow for years they found their son, Nikita, and daughter, Nikolina. After getting them home and integrated into the family, they came across a little boy on Reece’s Rainbow who tugged their heartstrings! What an easy decision it was to return to Eastern Europe to make this new little one the baby of the family!
Four adoptions in four years is quite a feat and they need their village now more than ever! They are so thankful and blessed for the village that has grown around them and their children and would love to have everyone along on their next adoption journey!
4/16/2026 — FIRST TRIP in MAY!
The Anderson-Hansen family has met their $5000 Matching Grant from Reece’s Rainbow!
Anna is a single mom who has created her family through adoption. As an adoptee herself she always knew she would “pay it forward” by adopting children from around the world. Toward that goal she became a foster parent at age 25 and has adopted her two special needs children out of that system. A 10-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy. Her son has a limb difference and that is what drew her to these precious little West African girls.
As a volunteer on over 20 church-sponsored mission trips Anna had been able to love on children of all colors and languages and abilities. Where did she serve? South Carolina (4x), Bolivia (2x), Dominican Republic (9x) and Guatemala (5x). She wants to build on those life experiences and expand her family through international adoption.
Anna’s daughter is thrilled to bring these little girls home. Talks about them, asks about them, prays for them. She has remained so focused on these little ones that she asks for extra chores to earn money to contribute to the family adoptive fund. She just knows in her heart that these little girls are meant to be her sisters.
Through her years as a foster mother Anna has gathered community and resource people to surround her family to help raise her children to be contributing citizens and persons of faith. She is not alone in this quest.
Dear God, we praise you. We thank you. We ask you to protect all your children. Help us be your instruments of love to share with people all over the world…especially the orphaned children. May each one find their earthly family through your intercession. Your will be done in each life and in all things. In His name we pray. Amen and amen.
International adoption is a different process than domestic foster and adoption programs. The biggest difference is financial. Anna needs your prayer support and financial support. Help her bring these little girls home to her forever family.
1/20/2026 — FIRST TRIP COMPLETED FALL 2025
The Brown family has met their $5000 Matching Grant from Reece’s Rainbow!
CONTACT
Reece's Rainbow
PO Box 146
Combined Locks, WI 54113
CLICK HERE to contact us.
Your questions will be directed to the appropriate team member.
PO Box 146
Combined Locks, WI 54113
CLICK HERE to contact us.
Your questions will be directed to the appropriate team member.
