lives be healed

I didn't go to church focused on her today.

But I've been praying lately that God would break my heart for what breaks His.

And as we sang the bridge of Hillsong United's You'll Come, during worship this morning, that's exactly what happened.

Chains be broken
Lives be healed
Eyes be opened
Christ is revealed

Singing those words, specifically lives be healed, caused the floodgates to open and I stood and wept.

For her...

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Just before the service began this morning, one of my sweet friends was asking about how DQ was doing following her surgery on Friday.  I answered as truthfully as I could.  "She's doing great.  You'd never guess she'd been under just 48 hours ago."

It's true.

In fact, within a few hours of her being home on Friday, aside from the obvious patch over her eye, she was back to her spunky little self.  And while the damage that had been done to her eye in the three years before she came home has caused some permanent damage to her optic nerve, Friday's surgery put an end to that.  Her eye is healing now.

Even further than just her eye, so much of her earthly life is healing.

But it wasn't DQ that I wept for this morning.  Don't get me wrong I could (and have before) wept out of joy and relief for her.  Today though, my tears were for a little girl who is, in so many ways, like my own precious daughter.

Both girls have a port wine stain (estimated to affect about 0.1% of the population) that covers large portions of their bodies.  And both have portions of their faces affected with the stain.

Both girls have glaucoma in their right eyes.

And both girls have (had) a very scary label associated with their adoption dossiers.  Sturge Weber Syndrome.  (type II)

But that is where the similarities end.

Because my baby girl is home with a family that loves her to the moon and back.  She's receiving the medical care she needs.  She's got a sister, two brothers, parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins and friends who adore her and will be here if/when she needs support.  She's got a family who looked past the label.

But Mariah (the Western name advocates assigned her)?  Right now she doesn't.

She's waiting for her family in an orphanage.

I've known about her for a little while.  And I tried to advocate for her.  I even got to speak with someone on the phone about living with port wine stains, glaucoma and Sturge Weber.  But there were some unanswered questions in Mariah's file.  A few things that if the answers were known may make a difference for any other family.

So I contacted Ladybugs 'N Love and requested an update.  Just when I was giving up hope of the orphanage answering my questions, I got an email from the update service.

Were my questions answered?

Every one.  And the answers offered encouragement.
(And I took those answers to experts in opthalmology and neurology with more questions and got encouraging answers from them as well).

On top of that?  I received new pictures of her.  And video.

Which means that right now I have priceless information about a precious little girl.  I know how much she weighs, how tall she is, how many teeth she has, her first words, what scares her, what provides her comfort.  I've seen her walk, and I've heard her voice...

Information that should belong to her forever mommy.  I just can't find her.

Until her mother is found, my heart continues to break.

Today I wept for Mariah.  And I pray that her family will find her soon.

More than ever this morning I realized how true David Platt's words (from his book Radical) are.

[We learned that orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore before you see their faces. It is easier to pretend they’re not real before you hold them in your arms. But once you do, everything changes ]

I may not have met Mariah face to face, but I know her name, I've seen her face, and I've met one much like her.

Everything has changed.  Today I felt prompted to share about Mariah here.

Will you join me in praying this one's wait for a family will soon end?

And if you know anyone looking for an older toddler girl to add to their family, would you send them here?

Getting involved

My children totally changed my world.  

Not just the in the way that my washer and dryer now run what seems 24/7; I can't keep enough bananas, milk and bread in the house; or that I am the world's richest woman in the currency of sticky kisses and super tight bear hugs.  

But also in the way that pieces of my heart were left in their homeland.  I've seen the places they've come from.  I've met some that are anxiously waiting for their families. 

noah (currently living at NDFH) is one of the most precious kiddos EVER

eliana (currently cared for by a foster family through NDFH) is ready to have someone of her very own to call mama

lucy (another bundle of joy at NDFH) has one of the most infectious giggles i've ever heard

These children, and the ones that live at New Day that I didn't get to meet, stay in the forefront of my mind.  Oh how I wish they were within a day's driving distance so that we could be part of the team pouring love into them daily.  

But they aren't.  They are an ocean away.  One day we'll get back to volunteer in the home.  Until then we continue to seek other ways to remain an active part of the New Day family.  

So when Hannah emailed me about being part of the miracle for Lydia

 and Tabitha, 

I simply had to get involved.  

These two precious baby girls are in critical need of heart surgery.  (Hannah writes about Lydia here).  

You will probably never meet either of these darling babies.   But I can assure you that one day their forever mamas will hold them in their arms and be grateful to you ~ though they will never know your name ~ for your piece in making their hearts whole.  

Trust me, I know.  I am humbly grateful each time this little man gives me a squeeze...

Hannah and her friend Lindsay have a big, God-sized, dream to raise the $14,000 needed for Tabitha and Lydia to receive their surgeries in memory of two precious little ones that made a forever impact on their lives.  

You can check out their blog, When a life touches yours..., or make a donation directly using the Chip In widget in the right sidebar of my blog.  

I know our family will be looking for a few ways to cut some costs and make a donation.  $14,000 seems like a huge amount, but we have until May 17.   And more importantly than that, we have a BIG God on our side.  One that reminds us to

[Learn to do right; seek justice.  Defend the oppressed.  Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.]  ~ Isaiah 1: 17 (NIV)

Will you join us in re-writing the story of Lydia and Tabatha's lives?

Hope for them as they wait

Just over a year ago I decided it was time to put my passion for orphaned children to work and I filled out an application to volunteer for an amazing foster home in southern China.

What do I do for them?

Why blog of course...

One fun thing about blogging for An Orphan's Wish is that I'm getting to know the kiddos as best I can from thousands of miles away.  In the process of learning all about them, a few have stolen what's left of my heart.

One heart stealer is playful little Olivia.

Her spunk mixed with sweetness drew me in from across the globe when she was featured in our Who's Who Wednesday posts last winter.

With the top quality care she is receiving at the House of Love, Olivia is doing so well.  Yet imagine how she would THRIVE under the undivided love and attention of her very own forever family!  Just yesterday I learned that her paperwork is complete.  Olivia is now waiting for her family to find her...

Another one of "our kids" from AOW waiting for a family is William.

William received treatment for club feet at An Orphan's Wish and following successful treatment returned back to his home province to go into foster care.  This 1 1/2 minute video shows William through the years and highlights his desire to have a family to call his very own.


A grant is being offered by one agency to help defray the costs in bringing William home.

Janie is another AOW club foot graduate.  

This outgoing little girl is waiting for her forever family to come and take her home.  Her caregivers state that a family would be blessed to count her as one of their own.

Lastly, there is Michael.  I don't know a whole lot about him beyond the fact that Lifeline Children's Services currently has his file.  (And I can't say enough wonderful things about Lifeline...)  There is just a tiny bit of info ~ but perhaps more importantly, a photo ~ about him on their waiting child page (he's listed as Charlie on their site).   

Just had to share my excitement about these precious kiddos I have come to know and love from across the globe!  Their pictures are being printed and will go right beside the pictures of our the New Day cuties we're praying for.  We have hope that 2012 will see families step forward for all eight of these precious children.


hope:  The teaching pastor from our church defines hope this way ~ "Hope isn't naivety, it is refusing to believe that the last word has been spoken."

**Please contact  advocacy@anorphanswish.org for further information about Olivia, William, Janie and Michael.  The advocacy team can point you in the right direction to pursue bringing one of these precious children home!**

Sunday Snapshot {waiting their turn}

It truly has been "the most wonderful time of the year."  Our family grew by one in 2011 and here at six months of being "the M6," we've reached a new equilibrium.  On top of feeling that we've caught a groove, this season we enjoyed introducing the wee one to our yearly traditions of attending a small town parade, putting up our tree, baking mass amounts of cookies to share, and going caroling.  We've so enjoyed celebrating the Christmas season as a family.

And yet, as happy as I am, my heart is also twinged with heaviness.

Why exactly?

Because I have seen and can't forget some of those waiting for their turn to "come home."

This summer at New Day I played with, held, and listened to other children as excitedly called out, "Mommy!" to any female who walked in the room.  They may be young, and they may not know much English at this point, but they've watched their friends "go home" to loving, forever families and while they are cared for so well in their foster home, they too long for their own set of parents.

I just know that sweet Noah's parents are out there somewhere.

He seems to know it too!

He is an amazing little guy who has overcome much with the love of his foster mother.  I dare you to check the posts tagged Noah on the New Day blog and not fall for him yourself.  Even if you aren't his forever family, you can join me in praying that they will find him soon.

Another sweetie that captured my heart was little Lucy.

Every time I pulled out my camera while visiting the preschool she had a wry little grin for me.

She seems to have a zest for life and her future forever mommy will cherish her sweet spirit.

And I certainly can't forget about Eliana.

Anytime my lap was open, she was in it.  And she'd happily call out "Mama, mama!" the entire time I'd hold her.

And if she wasn't in my lap, she was doing everything possible to get my attention.  She is a giggly little gal and would add lots of life to a family.

There's one other sweetie who needs a family of her very own, Miss Ella.

I didn't get to meet her in person , but I highly respect one who holds her every day and pours much love into that sweet soul.

Because of her condition, Ella does need a very special family, but I have no doubt that they are out there.  Would you help spread the word?

These precious four children ~ along with many others ~ are so well cared for right now.  New Day has done amazing things for their health and spirits.  And yet, as wonderful as their current home is, nothing can quite replace the dedicated love of a forever family.

Will you join in with me in praying that 2012 will see them have their turn to go home? We're putting their pictures on our fridge and will pray over them daily.  And oh!  How will we celebrate when we see the much longed for "*" beside their name on the Our children page that signifies their family is on the way!

**If you think one of these darlings may fill out your family, email me at fireworksandfireflies@gmail.com and I'll put you in touch with a contact from our most recent adoption agency.  I'd be willing to bet she can help you get your dossier together "lickety-split" so you can bring your newest family member home.**

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Don't know what Sunday Snapshot is? Stefanie, the creator, describes it as:

"Sunday Snapshot is just a way to capture that special someone or something right now, because we all know time is fleeting... right now will be a distant memory before we know it!"

To join in, stop by her blog to get details.