Why we adopted...
First off, I do not believe I was put on this earth to please myself.
Mother Teresa said it best when she said “At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done.
We will be judged by "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.”
― Mother Teresa
First off, I do not believe I was put on this earth to please myself.
Mother Teresa said it best when she said “At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done.
We will be judged by "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.”
― Mother Teresa
1. I do not feel the need to be childless. To have children hurry up, grow up, and get out of the house. I love my children, I miss them when they do grow up and move.
2. I LOVE being a mom. I feel it is one of the most important jobs in the world. I was made to be a mom.
3. I miss my kids being little.
4. I never have felt like our family was "finished"
5. I have enough love to go around. It will not run out, I have love to give in abundance
6. I want to give a baby the chance to have a family that will encourage them, help them grow to their fullest potential, teach them about God, foster a love of learning, and show them every day how much they are loved
7. Because my kids have always wanted a younger sibling
8. Because I think Mark is an amazing dad and I would love for him to be able to see ALL the stages of childhood, not just the crabby and sassy teenage sides
9. Because God calls us to:
"You are the helper of the fatherless. LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.
They are people, just like you and me, with feelings and thoughts, hopes and desires. They are not less then we are. In fact, they are a little bit more.
Psalms 10:14,17-18"
"Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.
Isaiah 1:17"
"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
James 1:27"
10. Because we believe that God is leading us in this direction.
Why a special needs Adoption?
We believe that God has showed us signs and wants us to adopt a child with special needs. That God has a plan for all of us and it is up to us to listen and follow his plan.
Q) Why orphans?
Because of the overwhelming need and because God directs us to do so in scripture:
There is no greater gift, one that goes 3 ways, than to adopt a child, with or without special needs. You honor God, you are blessed with an angel in your own life, and you change the course of a child's life forever. If you have any doubts about it, please read below:
"Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, "Give them up!" and to the south, "Do not hold them back." Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth" Isaiah 43:5-6
"A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. God sets the lonely in families. (Psalms 68:5-6)
"He defends the cause of the fatherless" (Deuteronomy 10:18)
"In you the fatherless find mercy." (Hosea 14:4)
"You are the helpers of the fatherless." (Psalm 10:14)
"It is not the will of your Father that one of these little ones should perish." (Matthew 18:14)
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress." (James 1:27)
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." (Luke 18:16)
"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:18)
"Whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." (Matthew 18:5)
"And Jesus took the children in his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them." (Mark 10:16)
"Remember those…who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." (Hebrews 13:3)
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us…let us not love with word or tongue, but with action and in truth." (I John 3:16-18)
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." (Matthew 25:35)
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves…defend the rights of the needy." (Proverbs 31:8,9)
"He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me, declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 22:16)
(because this is answered so perfectly on their site this has been copied directly from Reece's Rainbow)
Q)Why do you feel so moved to act?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1kbayAdlgg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCCZgYNvXTQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDMq6qYR_Ho&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6RMgCc44hA&feature=related
Does this not break your heart?? Do you not feel the need to MOVE?
Ok, so you hear all this and you think to yourself... maybe you can do that, but we can't. Common Objections...
John 3:16
King James Version (KJV)
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God gave his son up, so that we may live an everlasting life. Is it too much to ask of us, to give up eating out every day, or giving up Starbucks coffee, or that trip to Hawaii to save a child? To offer a child a family?
Matthew 18:5“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.”
Maybe you do not want more children but you want to help. What can you do?
Donate to Reece's Rainbow. If you can not bring home a child, will you please help another family?
Some simple facts you might not know about Down Syndrome
1. 80% of children with Down syndrome are born to women under 35 years of age.
2. Many children with Down syndrome have health complications beyond the usual childhood illnesses. Approximately 40% of the children have congenital heart defects.
3. With appropriate medical care most children and adults with Down syndrome can lead healthy lives.
4. The average life expectancy of individuals with Down syndrome is 55 years, with many living into their sixties and seventies.
5. Down syndrome occurs when an individual has three, rather than two, copies of the 21st chromosome. This additional genetic material alters the course of development and causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome.
6. There are more than 400,000 people living with Down syndrome in the United States
7. People with Down syndrome attend school, work, participate in decisions that affect them, and contribute to society in many wonderful ways.
8. All people with Down syndrome experience cognitive delays, but the effect is usually mild to moderate and is not indicative of the many strengths and talents that each individual possesses.
9. Quality educational programs, a stimulating home environment, good health care, and positive support from family, friends and the community enable people with Down syndrome to develop their full potential and lead fulfilling lives.
10. A large percentage of adults with Down syndrome live semi-independently in assisted living facilities and group homes. Adults with Down syndrome often hold jobs and have romantic relationships.
11. Recent US studies have indicated that when Down syndrome is diagnosed prenatally, 84-91 percent of those babies will be killed by abortion.
12. Some people with down syndrome have grown up and learned to drive a car
13. People with down syndrome can have many different kinds of jobs, there have been actors with down syndrome, artists, musicians http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/famous-people-with-down-syndrome.html
