Donations on our Reeces Rainbow Family Sponsor :O)))

What a good week we had two donations of $10.00 each on our Family's Sponsorship.
We are up to $195.00 and we are still greatly needing donations but with every donation
not only monetary is that someone is thinking of our little ones. I can see the funds on our
account go up but I also ask for some prayers for both Braska & Zach.  This has been a very
hard winter in Eastern Europe. So many little ones have perished not because of malnutrioument
but from this winter's coldness.  Many orphanage rely on the resources they have but it is never
enough.  Food in some orphanages is scarce and medical for a child even with a special need
is limited.  Sad to say many children die during these months.  Lets' pray during these winter months
that these children stay healthy.  Each day I wonder whether Braska and Zach receive the necessary
medical treatments and nutrition.  Both children have digestive problems and require a special diet
and physical therapy needed to keep them both walking and active.  Thank goodness in Bulgaria in
some orphanages there are "Granny Programs" for children.  Some children are fornuate to have a
volunteer Granny Or Poppa to come in a few times a week to assist in their care. Children that are
chosen have no other visitors outside of the orphanages besides caregivers.  Daily they help bath and teach them daily things to grow.  Chrissie was fornuate to have a Granny and she was very socialable and caring.  She learned alot from just the additional one on one and was able to adjust well once in
our home.  She had fewer illnesses and emotional issues during her stay.  Once in the US she was able to learn quickly and her daily health has been good. 

This year marks 14 years of our journey in bringing our children home.  And during this time 12 of those years involved traveling and visiting orphanages.  Every orphanage different and every caregiver
difference in caring for the children.  I found many directors kind and caring but there were the ones
where it just did not matter.  I received daily from and advocate of pets needing homes. Each day a photos of several pets are listed for adoption. And if they are not adopted they are put to death at the end of the day.  As the photos each day are posted I pray in my heart for a home for them.  If only one knew that the photos of children that are available are actually the same.  Some days they may be also placing the same death on them.. Neither child nor animal deserves to die this way.  I recall April of 2002 I visited an orphanage in the mountains of Ukraine.  There was 3 particular girls and one small boy. I held one girl as she struggled to breath yet nothing was doen by any staff member nor did they care.  As she took her last breath I knew then this was not a life any child should ever endure.  Each and every day as I was greeted the workers nor did they seem to care.  They knew like others before me I was there only as a temporary visitor.  For the next following days one by one the other two little girls laid in their beds.  Each in the same clothing, same diaper, and in the same position.
Neither child with a blanket to cover them and soiled in feces and urine.  I could tell the staff that worker around them were busy caring for the chidlren that were mobile and older.  As I picked up one girl I noticed she had already stiffen and her small body was cold and blue.  Yet again unnoticed by staff members and as I tried to speak to a staff member nor did they seem to care.  An hour or so later the small little girl with hair of gold was carried away.   The next day like the first and the second like a repeated nightmare of what his orphanage was like.  I often wondered what Hell would be like and finally in juet a few days I knew.  I knew this was not a place for any animal more or less a human.  How could God I ask place these children in these conditions and how could this happen.  These were only three children but what about the many before this?  The smaller child he had no name or birthday.  Did his biological parents know that they had left him to die in this place? Or did they think
he would be cared for?  How could they walk away knowing that part of them was to be lefted in a holding cell like a mad dog to die?  As I held this guy day after day he had no movement or did he even acknowledge I was there.  One day he finally raised his eyebrows and I knew inside there waited a child needing some hope and a chance to survive.

So many children laying in bed after bed, some tied to chairs.  Some rocking, some banging their heads on walls and floors.  Nothing I wanted to see and honestly till this day I still have visions of these small girls asking me why.  Why when there are so many families waiting for a child.  Oh how I hate money some days.  The lack of money is why alot of families can not adopt.  Many families are
loving caring families but do not have the funds to pay the upfront adoption fees or all the necessary fees to bring their children homes.  Once home again there is the medical bills involved.  Not like a healthy child just born but a child with major health issues like DS, CP, CF or Spina Bifida.  The list goes on and on.  Why adopt a sick child some may ask.  Because noone else will and this may be these
particular child's only hope.  Why I ask for prayers for these children.  If hurts me deep inside we can not at this moment about little Debbie.  I cried knowing there is nothing we can do.  At this moment in time we have to have the funds for Braska and Zach first.  So I will advocate for little Debbie till she finds a home... Like Zach Debbie has only to age 4 years and then she will be moved to an mental institutional setting.  A setting where there is adults mixed with children.  I can say in words what a place like this looks like.  For it is nothing any word could describe not even Hell itself can be this awful...

Again I pray and not ask God why but what can I do to make things differently..
In Gary and my age starting over again raising two small children will be difficult and hard. 
But it is not nothing we have not given alot of thought and prayer.   I feel in my heart God has lead
us to these children to bring them home. Each day I think to myself that each of their friends also
find loving homes with families who will cherish them. Giving a child medical and basic care is one thing but having a parent to love them is another..  Even if a child has a terminal illness they deserve
a parent, a family and their own place to call home.  This is what I want for these two children is for them to be in our family and be held and loved.