tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45370440940801983312024-02-20T11:17:33.495-05:00Gather From NationsIn Jeremiah 29, God tells us, "I will be found by you..." and "I will gather you from all the nations." This blog is the outreach of prayer for orphans and others around the world to know that God loves them.Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-67057601995786438622012-01-26T20:57:00.001-05:002012-01-27T09:31:22.061-05:00What is different?Tonight, Henry fed himself mashed potatoes. He sampled some chicken and blueberries before letting his plate fly (which means "no more" at our house, whether the thrower intended such or not). Later, he went potty, got his teeth brushed (fighting all the way) and went to bed. <br />
<br />
Though he didn't utter many distinguishable words, between his signs and word approximations, I knew what he meant. I knew he needed to go potty. He signed "yes" when I asked if he wanted a stuffed animal in bed with him. He signed "dog" and said "wuf wuf" when our pup came bounding into his room. White dog, Henry signed. Yes, I thought and signed. <br />
<br />
He gets it. Our dog is white with brown spots, and Henry's class has been studying the "Brown Bear" book all week, and so of course "white dog" is now part of his lexicon. He is learning so much. He can even write an H to start his name. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVn1e5tEOBb-_xy_OV5Uf4y2_RW-_w-wNMYOZ3DT10kx-KDbh_ptQ75IHBVjlkj26ccEA-oRq8fp6zBjmPs4vyA-5najs4-gIt43aMlWJbGvZllyhrectuBDaD33Zi_qgYhnxiv68ePI/s1600/Lovin+school+lunch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVn1e5tEOBb-_xy_OV5Uf4y2_RW-_w-wNMYOZ3DT10kx-KDbh_ptQ75IHBVjlkj26ccEA-oRq8fp6zBjmPs4vyA-5najs4-gIt43aMlWJbGvZllyhrectuBDaD33Zi_qgYhnxiv68ePI/s320/Lovin+school+lunch.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Vx7SaLfweVgTChMK41IZedIMKLUHC66gXyEgKyoRvMutHnbvFEc5BRy5Vkm0KwImcc8Q3u4AO2eotZoOxgK02X6XQuB6lBtQ-gDG4Nh4zTe1Ev63U-FZU4cgp0_y6b6_HpEU1Xt62v8/s1600/Henrycircletime.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
To me, this is normal, and also wonderful. For too long, kids with Down syndrome were considered not able, not capable to do many of the things I listed above. <br />
<br />
Feeding himself. Toilet training. Throwing food. Snuggling with stuffed animals. <br />
<br />
Sounds just right to me!Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-78648475885977735632011-12-10T21:11:00.002-05:002011-12-11T16:31:39.300-05:00It Was Bound to HappenAs I sat in the restaurant last night, my goal was twofold: (1) keep the kids quiet and entertained, and (2) eat food that is relatively warm. During the first course (aka, waiting for the food), my five-year-old mini-me was fooling around and said in her silliness, "I'm retarded."<br />
<br />
Oh, wow. Talk about a pause. I couldn't even believe it. <br />
<br />
From where had she heard this word? This is a child who is relatively sheltered, I admit it. She is homeschooled. We live on some acres in what is considered one of the most conservative areas ever (land of Rep. Eric Cantor). Her Internet usage is heavily monitored, with only daddy pre-approved sites like Starfall.com getting any viewing time. We go to church, ballet, and homeschool group. And Kroger. And the library. She can sing songs about Jesus, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and various Veggie Tales characters. <br />
<br />
And then it hit me. It could have been from anywhere. Television. Other kids. Overhearing something at the store or while out and about. <br />
<br />
We are not safe. Things creep in from our culture that we do not like. <br />
<br />
This isn't a post bemoaning television or culture or whatever.<br />
<br />
It's more of a wake-up call. For me, in particular. While I do what I do for the glory of God, I admit that there is some hope that my actions and intentions will bear good fruit (and, yes, I have examples of that).<br />
<br />
But we live in a fallen world, where words like "retarded" creep into the lexicon of a five-year-old whose brother once would have been labeled as such without the blink of an eye.<br />
<br />
Yet when I said to her these words, she changed. "Sweetie, I know you mean to be funny. But that word is not nice. It means to some people that they are acting like Henry and need extra time to do things But then people use it to make fun of people with disabilities. I know you don't mean it. But please don't use that word again."<br />
<br />
Her face went ashen. She was sorry. She didn't want to make fun of Henry. She loves him, totally, unconditionally. But in the moment, she just wanted to be silly, and she said a word she had heard. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Pray, church. Pray for the words we speak and the words in our minds and hearts. Let us truly open ourselves to let the Spirit talk and work through and within us. Amen.Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-43450822863027671522011-12-01T16:28:00.000-05:002011-12-01T16:28:16.339-05:00Why Orphans?<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">(Reprinted with permission from Trish Hatton-Jamison This woman thinks like I do. Love her!)</span></i></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">As I become increasingly vocal about my passion for the orphan, I occasionally get some blatantly honest questions from people. I like that. I like it because I have a feeling that more people have those questions and are afraid to start the awkward conversations. So here it goes. My best shot at answering the questions that have (and haven't) been asked. <br />
<br />
<b>Question 1: </b></span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><b>Why Orphans?</b><br />
I don't think I know anyone who would say, “Why would you help an orphan?” Regardless of your stance on faith, I believe the innate goodness in people makes them feel sorry for the orphan and think (in principle, anyway) that someone should help them out. Someone else, that is. <br />
<br />
<b>Yet according to UNICEF there are 165 million orphans in the world. <br />
Clearly someone else isn't doing enough. </b><br />
<br />
As a believer who wants desperately to be more Christ-like, I have to take my cues from God's Word. And the Bible clearly shows that God has a heart for vulnerable children. Scripture references orphans a lot. Sometimes by name like this: <br />
<br />
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27, NIV)<br />
<br />
and sometime more like this:<br />
<br />
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40)<br />
<br />
So in response to my prayer “to make my heart look more like Yours,” God has broken my heart for these children. Is it because I'm a mom now? Maybe. Perhaps I can't imagine my Addie Jane laying in a bed, often sedated, living off of 600 calories a day, with no hope of ever having a Christmas with a family. Perhaps I can't imagine my runny nosed Reese rocking and self-soothing herself to sleep because there is no one to hold her and tell her that she is loved. <br />
<b><br />
So why do I love orphans? Because God loves orphans.</b></span></span></h6><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMHxMMBmQeXhAMRg6GsQp5mCgvz0Z6JzqamJYY_mXcdCSE0NkSDPJSzWIzK77fLLTlms1GFutoOMvX-mBz3-dHOwzKNZZKYvffmKdMFJZ2navQyxXN5HTL2tDCuH9SRQCScf0msCq6DE/s1600/russell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMHxMMBmQeXhAMRg6GsQp5mCgvz0Z6JzqamJYY_mXcdCSE0NkSDPJSzWIzK77fLLTlms1GFutoOMvX-mBz3-dHOwzKNZZKYvffmKdMFJZ2navQyxXN5HTL2tDCuH9SRQCScf0msCq6DE/s1600/russell.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Russell</td></tr>
</tbody></table><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> <br />
<br />
<b>Question 2:<br />
Ok, I get the orphan thing. But why international? And why in the world are you advocating for kids with special needs?</b><br />
<br />
I get this first question a lot. I love the “God bless the USA,” “Made in America,” strong sense of nationalism people seem to have. And I get it, I really do. But in my mind, God didn't create political borders, man did. And while I absolutely 100% support the adoption of vulnerable children in the US, the waiting children have a VERY, VERY different life in this country. <br />
<br />
Yes, there are waiting children in the US. Though it is an imperfect system, waiting children in foster homes have advocates and social workers and protection laws and sibling visitations. And did you know that there is a list of over 200 families waiting to adopt an infant with Down Syndrome from the US? These children, when given up in the US, are wanted. Cared for. Cherished. <br />
<b><br />
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for waiting children with disabilities internationally. </b>The community of children I feel called to advocate for have lives that we would not subject our pets to. They are living in orphanages from birth because they were born into a culture that does not see them as special, but as a waste. Into a society that does not offer intervention or support. And to parents who, for whatever reason, do not have the strength to raise a child with extra needs without help.<br />
<br />
Children with Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida, Cerebral Palsy, HIV, cleft palates, missing limbs, visual or hearing impairments, facial deformities, etc. often have no one to advocate for them. They are left without intervention or services. With no physical therapy, outside stimulation, or even education, many spend the first few years of their lives in an eerily quiet baby house... where rooms full of babies do not cry because by a few months old they have realized that no one is listening. They say that it is one of the most haunting things to see/not hear. <br />
<br />
When transferred to an older child home, some cannot walk yet because there was no early intervention. So they spend hours in cribs, sedated so that they do not fuss, laying in their own filth because frequent diaper changes are too expensive and time consuming to waste on such children. So they are changed once a day. Once.<br />
<br />
And then the dreaded transfer. If not adopted before 4, many children with DS are transferred to mental institutions. Yes, you read that correctly. Mental Institutions. When asked about the life expectancy of children with Down Syndrome born abroad, Andrea Roberts, founder of Reece's Rainbow, replied, “They are transferred to mental institutions at 4 and a great many of those children do not survive their 5th birthday.”<br />
<br />
But it isn't just children with Down Syndrome at risk. Children who cannot walk because of Spina Bifida, cerebral palsy, or missing limbs are often left in their beds in rooms called “lying down rooms.” They do not go outside. They do not receive therapy. They are not visited and talked to. They just waste away, gagging on the food that is hastily thrown at them, unable to move enough to relieve the pain of the bedsores plaguing their bodies. Can you imagine living a life in that hell?<br />
<br />
I don't tell you this to upset you or make you feel sad. I actually hate commercials like that. But I'm trying to make it clear why these children need to be rescued. And why it's the Church's responsibility to love people like Jesus.<br />
<b><br />
Question 3:<br />
The need is so great. How can you make a difference?</b><br />
<br />
You're right. The need is overwhelming. Daily I read the stories and names of children whom I can never hold, never kiss, and never whisper softly that everything will be all right. Children who are days away from transfer that I cannot scoop up and bring to safety. <br />
<br />
<b>But I can help one.</b> <br />
<br />
There are families who would like to rescue these children. But adoption is expensive. (ridiculously so). By the time a family travels twice (and sometimes 3 times) to a foreign country, staying in a small flat to complete in-country paperwork and jumping through Hague Convention hoops, thousands upon thousands need to be spent. <br />
<br />
It takes almost $30,000 to ransom a child that nobody wants.<br />
<br />
That's pathetic. <br />
<br />
But that's how it is. </span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2pOZ7TgnPB8DwzfuE8gkEEsORe5OaDBk0KlRVrP5h2jWHx5SpfNe70VBga5Jt-dVHvrKQp0syQw6H8kOqMJ4jKTEzfx1eBZuxoXrV4wta2hQy315RQB4-Mb6Mvddt21b1w533ocnahY/s1600/Isaiah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2pOZ7TgnPB8DwzfuE8gkEEsORe5OaDBk0KlRVrP5h2jWHx5SpfNe70VBga5Jt-dVHvrKQp0syQw6H8kOqMJ4jKTEzfx1eBZuxoXrV4wta2hQy315RQB4-Mb6Mvddt21b1w533ocnahY/s1600/Isaiah.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isaiah</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> </span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">*****</span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><br />
And so this season, I am raising a ransom for an orphan (<i>Trish is raising funds for Russell. I, Gwen, am raising funds for Isaiah)</i>. Our goal was $1000 by Christmas, but let it be known that I'll be continuing to raise funds until the 25th even if we meet our goal.<br />
<br />
Every dollar he gets increases the chances that a family will look at his adorable little cheeks and say, “Oh my. He is my son” instead of “Oh my. That's just so sad... we could never afford to get him out of there.”<br />
<br />
And I hear you. Times are tight. But I refuse to accept that you cannot spare $5.00. We are among the most wealthy people in the world. We spent $6.8 BILLION dollars on Halloween this year as a country. ON HALLOWEEN. Really people? <br />
<br />
<b>We spent $52.4 BILLION last weekend on Black Friday sales. We have cars, and cell phones, and this Christmas our children will ask for DS's, iPods, and Smartphones. <br />
<br />
All Russell <i>- or Isaiah - </i>wants is a family.</b><br />
<br />
Merry Christmas!</span></span></h6>Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-2058821422307459662011-11-09T15:49:00.000-05:002011-11-09T15:49:09.833-05:00The Gift of Family<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">(reposted with permission from Reece's Rainbow) </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">The </span><a href="http://static.reecesrainbow.org/angeltreekids/">Reece's Rainbow Annual Christmas Angel Tree</a><span style="font-size: 16px;"> is here again! </span></span><br />
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</div><div id="ctrl-4172793"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">The <a class="userlink" href="http://static.reecesrainbow.org/angeltreekids/">Angel Tree </a>is Reece's Rainbow's biggest fundraiser of each year, from November 1-December 31. It is a very special time to share in the future of an orphaned child with Down syndrome.</span></span></div><div id="ctrl-4172795"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">In only five years, donations have made it possible for more than <b>500+ children</b> with Down syndrome and other special needs to find their "forever families". That is PROOF that your gifts truly are <span style="color: #ec008c;">saving lives and changing hearts</span> around the world.</span></span><div id="ctrl-4172802"><br />
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<tr><td><a class="userlink" href="http://static.reecesrainbow.org/angeltreekids/"><img alt="" class="pngfix" height="263" id="ctrl-4172804" src="http://www.vpweb.com/em/0/a/4/0a4c0383-a01c-450c-8ec5-1b8ad5b9865e/0_0_0_0_247_263_csupload_575843.png" style="float: right; height: 263px; margin: 0 0 7px 7px; width: 247px;" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a class="userlink" href="http://static.reecesrainbow.org/angeltreekids/"><b><span style="color: #5d1e79; font-size: 18px;">Donate $35 or more </span></b></a><span style="font-size: 16px;">to a waiting child's adoption grant, and you will recieve a beautiful photo ornament of that child. </span></span><div id="ctrl-4172808"><br />
</div><div id="ctrl-4172809"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">These are <b>great gifts</b> for friends/family/teachers/therapists, and your money will truly help to save a child's life. Gift cards are also available with your donation.</span></span></div><div id="ctrl-4172810"><br />
</div><div id="ctrl-4172814"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Nobody wants more scented hand lotion! </span></span></div><div id="ctrl-4172815"><br />
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</div><div align="Left" height="188"><table align="Left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td><a class="userlink" href="http://static.reecesrainbow.org/angeltreekids/"><img alt="" height="188" id="ctrl-4172818" src="http://www.vpweb.com/em/0/a/4/0a4c0383-a01c-450c-8ec5-1b8ad5b9865e/0_0_0_0_250_188_csupload_635605.jpg" style="float: left; height: 188px; margin: 0 1.5em 7px 0; width: 250px;" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><b><a class="userlink" href="http://static.reecesrainbow.org/angeltreekids/">GIVE THE GIFT OF A FAMILY </a></b>to a child with Down syndrome. Ornaments are limited in quantity, get yours today!</span></span><div id="ctrl-4172822"><br />
</div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="tabrow-1" style="margin-bottom: 15px; width: 100%;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding-right: 10px;" valign="top" width="50%"> </td> <td style="padding-left: 10px;" valign="top" width="50%"> </td> </tr>
</tbody></table><div id="span-bottom" style="color: #17824a; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px; width: 100%;"><div align="center" id="ctrl-4172829"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Give online with Paypal or send a check to: </span></span></div><div align="center" id="ctrl-4172830"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Georgia;">Reece's Rainbow, PO Box 4024, Gaithersburg, MD 20885</span></span></div><div align="center" id="ctrl-4172832"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">All donations are tax deductible! </span></span></div><div align="center" id="ctrl-4172833"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tax ID 20-5466141</span></span></div></div>Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-35571175038100163662011-11-01T11:16:00.000-04:002011-11-01T11:16:51.008-04:00Another Year on the Angel TreeFor the second year in a row, our family will be prayer and fundraising warriors for Isaiah. As I wrote in <a href="http://gatherfromnations.blogspot.com/2010/12/writing-from-heart.html">THIS POST</a> about a year ago, Isaiah is a young boy with Down syndrome living in an orphanage in Eastern Europe. He is not with his birthfamily simply because he has one extra chromosome. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0dR9Nt5brYSk_qHN5PCd9BgHsSWUGg4CbXGoL1MrlXBPLwCnC6U30RVZNnVdHBQj5qFAOGFy_p8oakVESl6-fiHF-1y5EJp0XToruKHkTMxQOAMd8DRVa1iM7SjWtCClyecMAscoUAc/s1600/Isaiah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0dR9Nt5brYSk_qHN5PCd9BgHsSWUGg4CbXGoL1MrlXBPLwCnC6U30RVZNnVdHBQj5qFAOGFy_p8oakVESl6-fiHF-1y5EJp0XToruKHkTMxQOAMd8DRVa1iM7SjWtCClyecMAscoUAc/s1600/Isaiah.jpg" /></a></div><br />
My hope and prayer is that this year will be the LAST year for Isaiah to be on the Angel Tree. My family and I pray DAILY for him to know God and to know the peace and love of a family. (And due to regulations in Russia based on my health history, we are not able to adopt him ourselves.)<br />
<br />
Our goal is to raise $1000 in the next 60 days. He already has a grant of $1418. The total cost to adopt a child in Eastern Europe is over $25,000. I know that there are MANY people who might want to bring him home, but the issue of money is a huge stumbling block. Together, we can help lessen that burden and show our love and support to this sweet boy and his future family!<br />
<br />
In the sidebar, you will see a donation box. This is a link directly to Reece's Rainbow. All donations are tax deductible! <br />
<br />
I do not see the list of donors. However, if you are comfortable and as a favor to me, please leave a comment or send me an e-mail if you have donated, so that I may thank you personally. May God bless you richly for your prayers and support for this little boy!Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-26358057053199130852011-09-26T20:23:00.000-04:002011-09-26T20:23:57.072-04:00Q & A with VCU Medical School StudentsRecently, I was blessed to be a part of a small group of parents and children who had the opportunity to speak to students at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. As parents, we all shared a common bond of having a child with Down syndrome, ranging in age from 2 to 30. The students were all in their first year of med school, having just finished a week on genetics.<br />
<br />
On a Friday afternoon, the class of 100+ viewed a terribly outdated video about Down syndrome, and then each parent (and in some cases, a young adult w/DS) had a chance to speak. In many ways, we were the first human faces these students saw in a somewhat clinical sense -- they had spent their first several weeks getting acclimated to Richmond, to med school, and to the rigors of learning about the human body. We parents of T21 kids each shared our stories in different ways -- the joys, the challenges, the positive and negative interactions we have had with the medical community through parenting a child with unique needs. <br />
<br />
After class, several students congregated around each parent/child group and asked questions. I am so grateful for the thoughtfulness of these folks. For my own memory's sake, I want to keep these questions in mind for the future -- and I thought others would be willing to read this and humor me after a long blog-posting desert.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>What is the toughest thing about having Henry?</b><br />
Umm...he's a boy, and I was used to girls! Seriously, most things about Henry are such a joy. But to answer the question, the hardest thing has been seeing the children near his age do much more than him, well before he does so. A dear friend of mine's child was born the day before Henry, and I have several other close friends whose children are within a few weeks or months of Henry's birth. These children were walking, talking, eating, etc., well before Henry. So, yes, there have been times when it has been hard to see what they are doing. It is hard sometimes to remember that Henry is on his own timeline. But...that is OK. Henry is Henry. Every child, whether they have an extra chromosome or not, achieves milestones on his or her own terms. I have learned that with Henry, he may take longer, but such an achievement is a huge celebration. <br />
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<b>You seem to have a very positive outlook. What advice could you offer on dealing with parents who see their situation as the glass half-empty rather than full?</b><br />
As I reflect now on this question, I wish I had answered better than I did. That Friday, I recommended that the physician be a listening ear, but also that he/she be prepared to refer their clients to helpful resources, such as Early Intervention, counseling, etc. But I missed something big in my own life: I deal daily with the shadow of depression, and have for several years, since the post-partum issues I had after Emma's birth in 2006. So to hear that I am "positive" is a testament to God's healing power, and the work He did to bring clinicians into my life that properly diagnosed me and have helped me through a subsequent birth and postpartum adjustment, and to do so positively.<br />
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Each of us faces struggles in life. How do we handle them? Do we cry and gnash our teeth and boo-hoo to everyone around us? Or do we lean on God, rally supportive friends around us, and make the best of what we are given? And, honestly, "the best" is very much a part of Down syndrome. Who doesn't want extra hugs, love and attention? I could be sad, but honestly, it is hard to stay sad around Henry very long. He exudes life, unconditional love, and joy. There is only fullness around Henry -- nothing half-empty about it!<br />
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<b>What are some things that a doctor has done that are positive and helpful? </b><br />
More than anything, treat Henry first and foremost as Henry. A boy who is busy and curious, and who also has Down syndrome. I want them to joke and call him "tiger" and "sport" and interact with him like they would any patient.<br />
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At the same time, I am appreciative of those things that clinicians have done to make Henry's situation both normal and special. For example, in my pediatrician's office, each doctor or nurse practitioner uses a tablet computer versus paper records. But the problem has come up that the tablet does not have the Down syndrome growth charts loaded into the main system. So one doctor just wrote down Henry's stats and suggested I look them up at home on the DS growth chart. Umm...no, I will not be requesting you again.<br />
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Contrast this with two others in this large practice -- one carried in a book with the DS charts in them, so that she could accurately place Henry on charts appropriate for him. Another doctor downloaded the DS growth charts onto his personal tablet. These are small, simple acts. But they make a world of difference. <br />
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<b>(To all the parents/kids) What did you think of the video? It seemed very negative. </b><br />
Henry clapped. I don't think he likes the video, either. Truly, a video that uses words like "retarded" over and over again can perhaps be updated, I am sure. <br />
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<b>You said that Henry uses sign language. How many signs does he know, and how hard is it to teach him sign language? </b><br />
I used simple signs with each of my kids, such as eat, milk, and more. It is amazing to see what children can communicate before they are able to speak. With Henry, this goes beyond mere "baby signs" to a true need to communicate long term.<br />
<b> </b><br />
Henry knows and uses more than 25 signs, and he recognizes even more. He watches a "Signing Time" video once a day. We have Signing Time on DVD, and we also DVR shows that air on PBS. For Henry, Signing Time is his favorite show -- he requests it every morning after breakfast (and most of the day afterward). <br />
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Stay tuned for more Q&A! And thank you so much to the VCU medical students who were so enthusiastic!Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-71323873536952200482011-08-20T11:20:00.010-04:002011-08-20T12:24:53.666-04:00Fun fundraiser!With back to school time approaching, the quest for the perfect lunchbox once again comes to the horizon. Remember years ago those metal lunchboxes we had? Rusty Scooby Doo and Barbie squares carried our WonderBread PB&J to school.<br />
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Now we have so many better choices! And I am thrilled to share my favorite with you: <a href="http://www.easylunchboxes.com/?AFFID=64892">Easy Lunchboxes</a>!! (Yes, I mentioned these in a previous post). These are so simple and versatile, and they are a great way to pack a quick, healthy lunch. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>These pictures here shows the whole package. Four <a href="http://www.easylunchboxes.com/?AFFID=64892">EasyLunchboxes</a> containers...plus a cooler if you wish. Think about the possibilities! Two kids..two lunches a day...just wash each set as needed. Or, family picnic? Three of the <a href="http://www.easylunchboxes.com/?AFFID=64892">EasyLunchboxes</a> containers fit into one cooler. Easy, simple. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlXB9qggWLB9l-JqM-Vs2OQrdiL4-GzIGHmE84o1HwKRTUF00e8Lq-pKMSnNLOJPjOJmiASMrSAvQWC4eJt-6Y4DPpiQ1NlO99ZlobAZMNc7mUws4qdT1ncGtmryVukPByqQt3cCjg5A/s1600/994932974_wwS3H-Th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlXB9qggWLB9l-JqM-Vs2OQrdiL4-GzIGHmE84o1HwKRTUF00e8Lq-pKMSnNLOJPjOJmiASMrSAvQWC4eJt-6Y4DPpiQ1NlO99ZlobAZMNc7mUws4qdT1ncGtmryVukPByqQt3cCjg5A/s200/994932974_wwS3H-Th.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90yGlRB2hapP2ipJPZCPlxBjhPWhDYksVqfpOSLJOm2Nq73kDZ5rRSHFwGU2Ic4wjcZ6CDu2KcuKA1DGC4e7PR9RPjNTxxbVgGTHLSwM6vagcLab1HGhNUK8SKtnVNsYk1tAICAl_s84/s1600/729129305_6U5wv-Th-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90yGlRB2hapP2ipJPZCPlxBjhPWhDYksVqfpOSLJOm2Nq73kDZ5rRSHFwGU2Ic4wjcZ6CDu2KcuKA1DGC4e7PR9RPjNTxxbVgGTHLSwM6vagcLab1HGhNUK8SKtnVNsYk1tAICAl_s84/s1600/729129305_6U5wv-Th-2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Another great idea -- wraps, veggie straws, fruit, cucumbers. Voila! Lunch. <br />
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</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAHm65Bd-fv1Nx_-AFHfMOW4B5142_J-t4C6G2wqT0guFL3uHpQCP9M_1TwK5i5zu2UxNYzxZvrdUpdX7WLuYollrPYDR25EbFBrmBLd_uqgS2fCrnx_J5VPnJYVMJJu9gljLIyUb8J0/s1600/1138923466_j79C2-Th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAHm65Bd-fv1Nx_-AFHfMOW4B5142_J-t4C6G2wqT0guFL3uHpQCP9M_1TwK5i5zu2UxNYzxZvrdUpdX7WLuYollrPYDR25EbFBrmBLd_uqgS2fCrnx_J5VPnJYVMJJu9gljLIyUb8J0/s200/1138923466_j79C2-Th.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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Or get super creative -- dips and veggies round out a fabulously fun lunch!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYROB9IjGtDwJXSCf8BG6_1dfVCu_Vsc9Vq17UReyWJ3759FiE1y6oqsDCGy8Jm7sXrmdVGAQHmKUsqTtKFloGjmilcY9SZEvEMa-87AOjrFwp2hGIHZcHLPVxxUL3kIBrJaMpHDyvf8/s1600/creative.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYROB9IjGtDwJXSCf8BG6_1dfVCu_Vsc9Vq17UReyWJ3759FiE1y6oqsDCGy8Jm7sXrmdVGAQHmKUsqTtKFloGjmilcY9SZEvEMa-87AOjrFwp2hGIHZcHLPVxxUL3kIBrJaMpHDyvf8/s320/creative.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The best part of these <a href="http://www.easylunchboxes.com/?AFFID=64892">EasyLunchboxes</a>? You can help raise funds for Vilis and Isaiah while you pack a great lunch for yourself or your family.<br />
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Local friends -- I'm hosting a fundraiser through September 1. The bonus is that I'll cover the shipping for you! Send me an e-mail at gwensmith93 at gmail dot com for a flyer, or post a comment below and I'll send you one!<br />
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Friends across the globe -- clink on the pic/link to the right or click <a href="http://www.easylunchboxes.com/?AFFID=64892">HERE</a> to place an order any time!! <br />
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One lucky person will earn a FREE SET of containers and a cooler. Just post a comment below, and I'll pick a random winner on Sept. 1. If you share on your own blog or Facebook or Twitter, please post an additional comment saying so for extra chances to win!<br />
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Remember, the proceeds will go to the grant funds to help Reece's Rainbow boys Isaiah and Vilis!!<br />
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Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-2761577495419169942011-08-18T20:47:00.001-04:002011-08-20T12:39:26.353-04:00They aren't on vacationI've been on vacation this week, which has been awesome. I left my laptop at home. Tried to unplug. But tonight, those little boys tug at my heart. Isiah and Vilis. My girls prayed for them tonight, like they do every night. The boys don't get a vacation from loneliness and longing. <br />
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So I will break from my vacation to make a new post (coming soon) that won't be perfect, but I can't wait until I get home...or, more exactly, those boys cant wait!!<br />
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Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-90188685611246888182011-07-25T22:45:00.000-04:002011-07-25T22:45:10.168-04:00Praises and prayers!Thank you so much for praying for the Warner family! Their son, Joshua, was declared safe to travel, and they are ALL coming home. A week ago, they were threatened with the thought of having to stay 6-8 weeks in country, all due to a single X-ray. <br />
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Praise God from whom all blessings flow. May God continue to bathe them in His strength and perseverance. Unfortunately, when the Warners disembark from their flight, it will be to attend a funeral. We live in a fallen world, and it is sad that such a sad event must juxtapose the arrival of a new blessing. (Reminds me of Claudius' first speech in <i>Hamlet</i>, but that is the English teacher in me -- sorry). <br />
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I have been praying for this little boy for so long -- I knew him as "Cliff" on Reece's Rainbow last fall. I am thrilled that this little boy -- now Joshua Warner -- will have a forever home and a family who loves him. Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-34804271773492606712011-07-23T14:09:00.000-04:002011-07-23T14:09:33.557-04:00A Steakhouse with Steak?<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Many thanks to my friend Cindy Shufflebarger, who is our guest blogger today. <span>Cindy is the author of <em><span>Dancing in the Rain: Finding Joy in the Midst of the Storm. </span></em>Her writing, inspired by God’s healing hand following the death of her daughter, encourages and offers hope for rediscovering the joy in living. A homeschooling mom of three, she now views life as an adventure with God and invites others to join the journey. Visit her at <a href="http://www.cindyshufflebarger.com/" target="_blank">www.cindyshufflebarger.com</a>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="entry"> My husband scheduled his annual company Christmas dinner at a local steakhouse. And all was going well until it came time to order. The waiter informed us that they were all out of steaks. No steaks of any cut. We could have chicken. We could have pork. We could have seafood. But no steak.<br />
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The entire party looked at the waiter not knowing how to respond. Was he serious? It was only 6pm. And we were in a steakhouse after all. How does that happen? I shot a quick glance at my husband, trying to assess how he might respond. I knew he would be embarrassed, but how would he handle it? He managed to contain his irritation and all decided to make light of the situation, viewing it as a funny mishap and minor inconvenience instead of a major crisis.<br />
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That steakhouse is no longer in business, but I will never forget that night. I still shake my head and laugh when I think about it. I felt bad for the waiter actually. How hard his night must have been telling each customer the news with a straight face – thank you for coming to our steakhouse where we have no steak.<br />
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So, my steakhouse experience begs the question: What about us? Are we steakhouses with no steak? Are our churches ones without evidence of God? Are we a temple of the Holy Spirit without yielding any fruit?<br />
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I know it’s not a pleasant thought, but I think we need to seriously consider it. If we are the hands and feet of Jesus, what evidence do we show to our community and our fellow brothers and sisters that God is present in our midst? Are we gracious and forgiving or quick to judge? Are we snippy and always pushing to get our way or do we kindly yield? Do we attend church for the entertainment value, always wanting to be fed, yet never serving? Are we open to the leading of the Holy Spirit? Are we committed to growing in our relationship with God? Are we reaching out to others in the community as Jesus would have done?<br />
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I challenge you to consider your spiritual health. Then, ask God to reveal to you one way He wants you to reach out to someone to demonstrate His love. I pray that we’ll never find ourselves in a position that someone would say that we’re a godless house of God, personally or as a body. Let’s not be that steakhouse – let’s show some real meat and substance with our lives.<br />
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Blessings, my friends, as others see Jesus in you!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them. John 14:20-21</em></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span> </div>Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-65328366504104078332011-07-20T15:52:00.001-04:002011-07-20T15:59:11.299-04:00G-Free Girly!Thanks again for all of your prayers for Emma. She is doing OK but is still complaining often of stomach pain. Hopefully the diet changes I describe below will help! <br />
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The results of her tests were somewhat inconclusive. Blood work showed high levels for celiac disease (gluten intolerance). Her endoscopy showed intestinal inflammation but no damage to the small intestines. This could mean that she DOES have a gluten intolerance but it hasn't had an effect on her intestinal walls yet, or it could be something else going on. And X-rays show that she needs to, um, get moving in the bowel area, which is also a possible cause of stomach pain (and we are giving her meds to help get things going).<br />
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But though the tests were not completely clear in pointing to gluten intolerance, she does show enough of the antibodies and the complaints that we decided to try her on the gluten-free diet for a few months and see if she feels better. Changing her food intake can't hurt her and may even help, as we are all trying to eat more fruits and vegetables, things like hummus as a dip, and get creative with sides and desserts (we had a great g-free dessert "fruit pizza" thanks to Granny!). <br />
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I decided to go "g-free" with Emma to support her and be her buddy (and if I lose my muffin top, even better!). This past weekend, we headed to the bookstore to get cookbooks and then to Whole Foods to stock up on foods and flours that will allow us to be g-free. Next, she and I rearranged the pantry so that she has her own "g-free" section of safe treats. However, Emma has been a picky eater for a while, perhaps because of her stomach pain, and so getting her to eat a variety of healthy foods is definitely going to be challenging. <br />
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Going g-free is not easy; it's not just a diet but a true lifestyle change. You can't go through a drive-through and expect something g-free AND kid friendly, for example. So we are being more purposeful about bringing our own snacks and lunches when we are out and about, which is healthier and cheaper in the long run. Emma and Bella love Lunchables, which are neither nutritionally substantial nor g-free, and I'm thinking of getting these cool <a href="http://www.easylunchboxes.com/">Easy Lunchboxes</a> things to make our own:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEEAqj4IkUwFt390pcfoLOMdJHbkVtQoj0flm221cw54kVkbuc4j9q4j6UOpF2Duul97HAno-KVUN1_fS25LjRdWWTXMRWMFRK5h69H0YyfbejgTLMskpuyiLH9B_-XNimlONLwc9Yquo/s1600/easylunchbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEEAqj4IkUwFt390pcfoLOMdJHbkVtQoj0flm221cw54kVkbuc4j9q4j6UOpF2Duul97HAno-KVUN1_fS25LjRdWWTXMRWMFRK5h69H0YyfbejgTLMskpuyiLH9B_-XNimlONLwc9Yquo/s1600/easylunchbox.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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We're also keeping a running list of g-free foods and restaurants. Thankfully, there are several phone and Ipad apps that are helping us as well. Check out <a href="http://glutenfreeregistry.com/index.jsp">Gluten Free Registry</a> -- this is how we found a place to eat out last night. We tend to avoid chains when we go out, though there are several that do offer g-free and other allergen-free menu options. We ended up at a cool cafe that had a gluten-free menu and a kids menu (thank you, <a href="http://xtrascafe.com/">Xtra's Cafe</a> in Carytown, you were AWESOME!). <br />
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We are blessed that we live close to a metropolitan area that has many g-free food and grocery options. And I am grateful that gluten intolerance is manageable, requires no medication, and won't put Emma in anaphalytic shock if she is exposed. My heart goes out to the many folks whose allergies (or those of their loved ones) require supreme vigilance.<br />
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We are also blessed with many friends and supporters near and far. Thank you for sharing this journey with us!<br />
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Please be in prayer for the Warner family. They are in Eastern Europe right now to pick up their son, Joshua. He is very sick and suspected of having either pneumonia or TB. If it is the latter, they may be stuck in country for weeks. On top of it all, mom (Lisa's) sister died two days ago. Oh, my heart aches for them. They are stuck in limbo, grieving, running very low on funds, and parenting a child just out of the orphanage who is sick and not used to his new surroundings.<br />
<ul><li>If you want to read more of their story, click <a href="http://buildingourvillage.blogspot.com/">HERE</a>. </li>
<li>If you want to contribute to their Family Support Fund, click <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/sponsorwarner">HERE</a>. (Donations go through Reece's Rainbow and are tax-deductible. Every little bit helps.) Thank you for your prayers!</li>
</ul>Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-33428843980722458622011-07-12T11:23:00.000-04:002011-07-12T11:23:55.681-04:00Thank you!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPwm1muvxJPsEla8gZ4o_GVp77BPvz3VksHBRcCH19GaxvN8Nb7QkeEaSTN8d1aT5hakqCRQb3Tjobjo3V0EqK37aQS8IBJdVqRZ-YZ5uoU2w4G9THK8fafiWpgVobPTnG6PD1PUWl24/s1600/Emme+endoscopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPwm1muvxJPsEla8gZ4o_GVp77BPvz3VksHBRcCH19GaxvN8Nb7QkeEaSTN8d1aT5hakqCRQb3Tjobjo3V0EqK37aQS8IBJdVqRZ-YZ5uoU2w4G9THK8fafiWpgVobPTnG6PD1PUWl24/s320/Emme+endoscopy.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Emma was so cute waiting for her procedure -- some of the nurses called her "Shirley Temple."</i></td></tr>
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Thanks for all of your prayers for Emma. She did so well yesterday! We should know the results of her tests soon. <br />
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One of Emma's prayer requests each day is for orphans to find families (sweet girl!). As a favor to me and Emma, would you please be PRAYING for the many families trying desperately to raise the ransom to adopt children all over the world. Every single one of these children need a family!<br />
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Adeye's blog has a great list and series of photos <span id="goog_2012773570"></span><span id="goog_2012773571"></span> <a href="http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2011/06/please-link-in-share-pray-donate.html">HERE</a>. Would you be willing to pick a child (or three!) and pray for them and their families? Many of them are in need of funds and have some great giveaways and raffles. Let's all consider skipping our lattes today and sending in a few dollars to one of these precious waiting children. <br />
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Thank you, and Emma thanks you, too!Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-87511622234240331692011-07-10T21:04:00.000-04:002011-07-10T21:04:23.163-04:00A Prayer for EmmaTomorrow, my middle child, Emma, will be having an outpatient medical procedure, and I would appreciate your prayers that all goes well. <br />
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She has been complaining for a while that her stomach hurt, often when we would all sit down to dinner. So for a while, we thought she was trying to get out of eating dinner. But one day I called her bluff and asked if she wanted to go to the doctor, and she surprisingly replied "yes.". (And, as a side note, I hate that the ignorant iPad programmer adds an extra period after quotation marks--drives this former English teacher batty.)<br />
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So we saw a nurse practitioner who has three daughters with celiac disease (gluten intolerance). She checked out Emma thoroughly, even bringing in a fellow ped to check for appendicitis. When the NP heard that my mom has celiac, she ordered a blood test for Emma. Emma's blood work showed a high level of antibodies, meaning it is very likely that she is gluten intolerant. Tomorrow's test will help us know for sure.<br />
<br />
What does this mean? Well, it may mean that we need to change Emma's diet significantly, and by association, that of the whole family. Wheat is in many things, and even sneaks its way into soups and salad dressings and things we don't think about. But we are certainly better off eating apple slices versus Cheez-It's, in any case.<br />
<br />
I am in prayer that the procedure goes well tomorrow, that the doctors and nurses find what they need, and that Emma doesn't react badly to the anesthesia (she is my drama princess, after all!). <br />
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Thanks to all for continuing to lift us up!Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-86056303593746192382011-06-29T22:07:00.000-04:002011-06-29T22:07:05.179-04:00Three Years AgoPlease forgive my lack of posting lately. I have been caught up in many things -- the end of the school year, start of summer, focusing on family issues, kid sickness -- in other words, life as usual. I also worried that I didn't have anything "profound" to say in a sea of many bloggers who bring God's truth to the world every day. And so please excuse some of my rambling...which I'm sure I'll do tonight since this is my first post in over a month!<br />
<br />
But today, I realized that words aren't always profound -- sometimes they are laid on our hearts, maybe to share, maybe to reflect, maybe just to abide in the One who put them there. <br />
<br />
So tonight, I was thinking about all these things while Henry and I were having our usual before-dinner ritual, where he swings in the swing, the kids and I push him, and I let dinner sit or bake until daddy is done with work. Watching Henry smile and giggle is always enjoyable, every night.<br />
<br />
And I realized that, three years ago, I received the news that Henry had a high risk of having Down syndrome. I was scared. I didn't know what Down syndrome meant, really, since I knew few people with DS. But I knew I loved my son, and more than anything, I wanted the best for him. I did my best not to worry and wait for the birth of our first son!<br />
<br />
The pediatrician who met with us after Henry's birth exuded kindness...and tiredness. It was 5 p.m. on a Friday, and I'm sure she wanted to go home to her own family. But she calmly explained the signs that showed her why she thought he had Down syndrome. <br />
<br />
Reflecting now...she described<br />
- A extra space between the first and second toe....which I now see as adorable<br />
- Low muscle tone...which I could tell right away holding him, as he was like a rag doll. Now, of course, he's dancing and walking and climbing on furniture<br />
- Eyes spaced a little far apart, nose a little flat...which makes him Henry<br />
- No palmar crease...which is a single line on the hand which some kids w/DS have, but Henry doesn't.<br />
<br />
What did I see? A sweet, teeny boy. Born early but never spent a day in the NICU. Born with an extra chromosome, and loved every moment from birth. <br />
<br />
I admit -- I did cry. Who wouldn't? Our world touts perfection, normalcy. But it didn't take long for Mama and Papa Bear fierceness to come in. We loved this boy. We didn't know where life would take us. But it was going to be OK. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaO69MEaXngQsRUixwLPPHxQWBkk-a9ahbmwxo74lDkzb4bFrUIWBoyrUpqEc4uJqCKJOshH9Vfl1FAzZapHClJdi5N3cTOcDEEXxoo3krDtKXtM6vPNh7rw92apt0xVjPVHp6Pg5Z3k/s1600/206.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaO69MEaXngQsRUixwLPPHxQWBkk-a9ahbmwxo74lDkzb4bFrUIWBoyrUpqEc4uJqCKJOshH9Vfl1FAzZapHClJdi5N3cTOcDEEXxoo3krDtKXtM6vPNh7rw92apt0xVjPVHp6Pg5Z3k/s320/206.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Today? I feel a little silly for worrying so much. All those blood tests and ultrasounds and doctors visits and days on bedrest were important -- but they don't define what it is to have this child. I am SO LUCKY to have Henry. Our family is so immeasurably blessed by Henry -- and because Henry has Down syndrome. There is something just special and unique about this little guy, and I am grateful every day that Kevin and I have been blessed with two and a half years with him.<br />
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There are many parents that would give anything to have a child, or to have their child with them a little longer. Meanwhile, I have this amazing bundle of happiness, plus two big sisters who adore (nearly) everything he does.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHj45L4_LD2_BHAN0Ak4HNdH-LD2ODjkIiRHWi3fo3utpxw7D5sU0Ntt4Kl84N9N0kkelfaLgg1ketezpUtS6vxOn2Hah5y-fV6mjKbQzkKh4VbSidsz6wN3ZUThU7g4hlgdUAylk7inM/s1600/May+2011+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHj45L4_LD2_BHAN0Ak4HNdH-LD2ODjkIiRHWi3fo3utpxw7D5sU0Ntt4Kl84N9N0kkelfaLgg1ketezpUtS6vxOn2Hah5y-fV6mjKbQzkKh4VbSidsz6wN3ZUThU7g4hlgdUAylk7inM/s320/May+2011+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Thank you, God, for sharing all of your blessings with us. Forgive me for worrying so much, and for not trusting You. Forgive me for not savoring the blessings I have. May others feel the call to share -- and savor -- your blessings.Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-54718026905057252952011-05-24T21:14:00.000-04:002011-05-24T21:14:07.755-04:00Household NamesAll praise and glory to God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ. For what we did not understand, what we could not comprehend, has been all for your glory. Kirill is coming home. <br />
<br />
For those who wonder, who is Kirill? Yes, he is, like many in our family, almost a household name, and so my apologies for using his name so freely. He, along with Isaiah and Vilis, Mandy, Kareen, and so many others, have a place on my lips and that of my family. <br />
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Kirill's story is <a href="http://oureyesopened.blogspot.com/">HERE</a>. I've written about him before. His family was denied the chance to adopt him time and again, but after prayer and perseverance and the power of God Almighty, this beautiful little boy with an extra chromosome is going to be in the US of A very soon!<br />
<br />
And I praise God tonight for Kirill's story. And for <a href="http://kareensjourneyhome.blogspot.com/">Kareen's</a>. Check out her link and see the beautiful hairdo's the orphanage workers have given her each day her parents visit -- she is obviously loved by them, and she is loved by her family. And, this week also, the Hartmans have their <a href="http://happyhartmanfarm.blogspot.com/">Brady</a>, whom they will name Judd Denis. <br />
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All rescued. All loved. All who suffered immeasurably in waiting, as our fallen world crumbles around them. Why must they have been put aside? Why can't our world value difference? Thank goodness their families have bared their souls and crossed oceans to defy the world -- to say, "Let the little children come" and "Here am I, send me."<br />
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I pray tonight for these families, and for so many others who have crossed oceans or highways or barriers, and also for those waiting to cross. Be still and know that God is with you. Be imitators of God. Run the race toward the prize. Your God is with you, and your God will not forsake you. <br />
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And for those of us who are not adopting right now -- I challenge you (us), too. Make these precious little ones part of your hearts. Go to <a href="http://www.reecesrainbow.org%20/">www.reecesrainbow.org </a>or a similar site and pick one or two or more children and pray for them every day. Make them household names, the ones you pray for when you rise up and when you walk along the way. Let your kids ask if they can have a party to raise money for Isaiah and Vilis, like my little Emma did recently (and yes, we hope to have a fundraiser party soon!). <br />
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My heart is so touched tonight by watching God work. Please, God, keep us humble. Keep us focused on You and Your glory. Let us revel in your goodness and pray through joy as well as adversity. <br />
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To God, be the glory, great things He has done. <br />
Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-80501573814305547672011-05-14T14:28:00.004-04:002011-05-14T17:26:48.336-04:00Rockstar morningToday was a fabulous morning. It is SO important to celebrate good times, even seemingly little things, to share joy with each other. Here's what made it great!<br />
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<ul><li>I got to sleep until 8:30. Any mom of young kids knows this is huge. For me, I've not been sleeping well lately due to allergies, and so I've been up a lot at night. So getting some much-needed shut-eye was awesome. Many thanks to my dear husband for herding kids and dog so I could rest!</li>
<li>Breakfast was to die for at <a href="http://www.martysgrill.com/">Marty's Grill</a>! California omelet -- 3 egg whites, turkey, avacado, goat cheese, and fresh salsa. Yum. Girls had pancakes. Henry <strike>ate</strike> threw toast.</li>
</ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xSI2AKlZELhFoBQat0LPWsfoU7O0QBZCEW80XZ2k9W3EBMnCH1xsGGjCCC0Bns0g4rmf02XDvKKA3D2VVj3iKc8t-AEnmZ6akb8CGrcGPu1xQIWHZLBU9kFS1PEGslt9tvWmTJaKMQo/s1600/Henry+Martys+grill.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xSI2AKlZELhFoBQat0LPWsfoU7O0QBZCEW80XZ2k9W3EBMnCH1xsGGjCCC0Bns0g4rmf02XDvKKA3D2VVj3iKc8t-AEnmZ6akb8CGrcGPu1xQIWHZLBU9kFS1PEGslt9tvWmTJaKMQo/s320/Henry+Martys+grill.JPG" width="191" /> </a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry rockin' his bed head at Marty's Grill</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li>We went to the <a href="http://6fishies.wordpress.com/">Fisher's</a> yard sale for VANYA. Despite the drizzle, there were lots of people there. Many neighbors and friends came out to support them. Praise God! Kristin and Mat are great people, and I am thrilled for them as they hope to travel this summer. </li>
</ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FQ_iTRKTRU-kMnqMniBLzL5TTvcoJTbK0fdnOfqSJonk634_Bgd4gojgFp6QaYItDGfF60e8qHWy4QsKGQ-tJetMN8n6c1kfVc5Vw_VmRuYQd5Gxhi1DQjZcaLeTXb2TpEgdfAiYNv0/s1600/fisher+yard+sale.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FQ_iTRKTRU-kMnqMniBLzL5TTvcoJTbK0fdnOfqSJonk634_Bgd4gojgFp6QaYItDGfF60e8qHWy4QsKGQ-tJetMN8n6c1kfVc5Vw_VmRuYQd5Gxhi1DQjZcaLeTXb2TpEgdfAiYNv0/s320/fisher+yard+sale.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fisher's Yard Sale at New Highland Baptist Church Pavilion</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li>My girls found some great books and things at the yard sale. </li>
<li>I got to meet ADEYE!!! And all her precious kiddos. Adeye is beautiful, inside and out, and her kids are so sweet. Adeye advocates for many orphans, and she helped bring Vanya's situation to light. If Adeye's name is unfamiliar, then please check out her awesome blog <a href="http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/">here.</a> </li>
</ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqt9yq7d3EFeirgzfB5h_wSsLgojfzv7Z9FzL2CQpoCUIvoI8DhhGsB81m-DMYT9Y_hWGMWuGF9WjzIeAbWASAvh5wpWwCbRox_l-VjOGxAyHJyePmnz6MISOJNrbMtKk0WLT6Pkhuy10/s1600/adeye+%2526+kristin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqt9yq7d3EFeirgzfB5h_wSsLgojfzv7Z9FzL2CQpoCUIvoI8DhhGsB81m-DMYT9Y_hWGMWuGF9WjzIeAbWASAvh5wpWwCbRox_l-VjOGxAyHJyePmnz6MISOJNrbMtKk0WLT6Pkhuy10/s320/adeye+%2526+kristin.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adeye Salem and Kristin Fisher</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li>Kevin fulfilled a dream that many a man has -- he is now the proud owner of a (to-be-delivered) John Deere. Congratulations, honey!</li>
</ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6HoFZ7RwGuGB7Ja_qC_jvcw6z1lpLK_ZwiUG23-YbKlyMcRA9tsZaEuVs7eUoIm1gp1Qlwao5zZw5oK29bJqGTCZK6FCGNoFsN9BMoikBqEUhIW-yon4mxM_HtvHYBcB2fDzTGFAeys/s1600/Kids+john+deere.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6HoFZ7RwGuGB7Ja_qC_jvcw6z1lpLK_ZwiUG23-YbKlyMcRA9tsZaEuVs7eUoIm1gp1Qlwao5zZw5oK29bJqGTCZK6FCGNoFsN9BMoikBqEUhIW-yon4mxM_HtvHYBcB2fDzTGFAeys/s320/Kids+john+deere.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think the kids "drove" every vehicle on the lot. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Now I'm at home, hanging out with the dog and listening to Henry babble in his crib as he settles down for a nap. I may not be a rockstar with a seemingly glamorous life. But I'll take a pleasant morning and be very thankful!! I have a rockin' Savior, and I am learning to celebrate joy where I find it. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEb_5ZMP5c9uC43JHDTbPWFA2DVQNQcqwhhOS6Z54VU6j72StXtAmjQEq69hEEIELZbqyON_9AjlrX7Aay0xx_4XxKZddiuLvYukU6PlRcVC80kD92NhSrRQmfK_KBcH7Z1w9uGd2Gos/s1600/Taylor+cows.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEb_5ZMP5c9uC43JHDTbPWFA2DVQNQcqwhhOS6Z54VU6j72StXtAmjQEq69hEEIELZbqyON_9AjlrX7Aay0xx_4XxKZddiuLvYukU6PlRcVC80kD92NhSrRQmfK_KBcH7Z1w9uGd2Gos/s320/Taylor+cows.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new dog, Taylor, checks out the cows in a pasture near our house. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-1269375210136621442011-05-06T08:37:00.001-04:002011-05-06T08:38:03.001-04:00Myth of SupermomI was graciously asked to write a guest blog for my sister in Christ, Cindy Shufflebarger. Cindy has an amazing testimony, and I hope to feature her work here soon. <br />
<br />
The post I wrote is about how many women try to be "SuperWoman" or "SuperMom." I get caught up in this mythology sometimes, too. So catch a glimpse of a day in my life -- a not-so-super-mom who is learning to laugh at my imperfections and celebrate Jesus' love. <br />
<br />
Check out my post at Cindy's blog here!! <a href="http://cindyshufflebarger.com/blog/">http://cindyshufflebarger.com/blog/</a> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhULy4_n3nALrRaMGfJS-02z3wzU3hCjOiZTrXb8P5gFjKm9MfO86feDVyalYmNe6HihIVVA2tB_Es4yJ5i67BYio3BapvjJD4vkUAMbpaiiccoMDAmkpXbPIwiU0Cocde1bN4bmPagWM/s1600/November2010+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhULy4_n3nALrRaMGfJS-02z3wzU3hCjOiZTrXb8P5gFjKm9MfO86feDVyalYmNe6HihIVVA2tB_Es4yJ5i67BYio3BapvjJD4vkUAMbpaiiccoMDAmkpXbPIwiU0Cocde1bN4bmPagWM/s320/November2010+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-63762261490920678842011-05-04T22:32:00.000-04:002011-05-04T22:32:01.310-04:00Bubbles TherapyThere are days when I focus too much on milestones yet to come rather than those Henry is reaching right now. Guess I just need a little bubbles therapy to get me laughing and -- as always -- recognize that I am amazingly proud of my son. He may take longer to get where he is going, but each moment, each achievement, is a celebration. Go Henry! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxx0kggg15E0LjiusgjqgMZdb6rZG_PR7soi5GhIxr4dBmXX9fUSk565nJfDulVJV1TBFRLby-cJqwCSbZKBQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-67794771298701732632011-05-01T21:44:00.001-04:002011-05-02T21:11:05.677-04:00Our Children's Words and HeartsI can take no credit for the brief item I will describe in a moment. It is all about God, who changes hearts, in this case starting with mine. Because nearly three years ago I learned I was pregnant again (surprise at 38!!!) and months later learned that my special one had an extra chromosome. Through this amazing little guy, our family has learned about kids with special needs and orphans and Reece's Rainbow and so many other things.<br />
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Such "things" led up to a quiet moment in church this morning as we were in line for communion. Every now and then, instead of having kids off in a children's worship area, our church has families all gather together for prayer and communion with elders and pastors, each family at a time seeking prayer. As we waited our turn, I asked little Emma, age 5, if she wanted the elders to pray for anything for her.<br />
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"Isaiah and Vilis," she whispered. <br />
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My heart. She could have prayed for a Barbie, for her upcoming birthday party,or even said nothing. But she has learned, in her own little way, that she is not the sole person on Earth -- quite a feat, as most of us feel the universe should revolve around us at all times. <br />
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Isaiah and Vilis. We pray for them. Emma also prays for Mandy, a little girl on RR who has fused fingers.<br />
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Moments later, it was our turn to approach the elders. Henry, in true boy fashion, leaped for the wine/juice tray and grabbed it, promptly raining Welch's on the elder holding the tray. Oops. So, so sorry.<br />
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But he and the pastor took it in stride. This is what kids do. They make messes. They are exuberant. Let the little children come.<br />
<br />
And let the little children pray. Emma shared her prayer request -- Isaiah and Vilis. They are on her mind -- and mine, and all of ours -- every day. <i>(As I have shared before, due to my history of postpartum depression, we cannot adopt in certain countries, and so we are praying and exploring what our role is to be for these particular boys and other orphans in the world). </i><br />
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But what a blessing this morning to have my quiet little girl, the one who usually is off in her own, independent world, think of Isaiah and Vilis for whom to pray. Thank you, God, for turning her heart toward those in need, and for helping us all see that prayer isn't about "gimme" .... but about so much more.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rh7PyfNxwsWg93NRWhLR5G2fGg2XnYfvy7JFHLMdFGMGvH_WLgUb5HKLAAC3oG42es6u0ZhIvda0hctJe08gVkN1HFi7E9ftzoE_SFy4Rj8v8ejBMUdJaPWxLoM4JZZYgvuSaoboheQ/s1600/November2010+159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rh7PyfNxwsWg93NRWhLR5G2fGg2XnYfvy7JFHLMdFGMGvH_WLgUb5HKLAAC3oG42es6u0ZhIvda0hctJe08gVkN1HFi7E9ftzoE_SFy4Rj8v8ejBMUdJaPWxLoM4JZZYgvuSaoboheQ/s320/November2010+159.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Emma and T21 brother Henry at Buddy Walk, Oct 2010</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i> </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-6814622468353219102011-04-28T20:33:00.000-04:002011-04-28T20:33:32.801-04:00A Smile, A Laugh, a BlessingI am learning to be grateful for many little things in life. A dish brought to the sink instead of left on the table. A pair of pants put in the laundry basket rather than left on the floor. Simple things, basic things, yet I am learning to appreciate them. <br />
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And then I look at Carrington. Follow the link <a href="http://carringtonscourage.blogspot.com/">HERE</a> and watch how this little girl has blossomed. How she smiles, finally home with her family. <br />
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This is a horrifying picture of what neglect and institutionalization can do to a child. In this picture, her parents have just released her from the orphanage and brought her straight to a hospital in the US. She is thirteen pounds. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAu3OXMvpGGrk72GjsxqMX3phwthoQupuZJzMgUlKsx7B7-6B1bugEkzb7tRMQFkUihlJ3ADb1IYerlpfgequ5MgR6uf7ZeXlQkdfpQgiUU4LME2q6gtRU704FkNPJZZqmR1rIOaYKqg/s1600/carrington_-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAu3OXMvpGGrk72GjsxqMX3phwthoQupuZJzMgUlKsx7B7-6B1bugEkzb7tRMQFkUihlJ3ADb1IYerlpfgequ5MgR6uf7ZeXlQkdfpQgiUU4LME2q6gtRU704FkNPJZZqmR1rIOaYKqg/s1600/carrington_-1.JPG" /></a></div><br />
I can't even imagine what this family has been through -- what this child has been through. And what many others are experiencing each day. Starving -- for food and affection, for warmth and family. I mean, she is older than my Henry, who also has Down syndrome, and he weighs 28 pounds!! (Granted, he has never, ever missed a meal....but this discrepancy is huge). <br />
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Thankfully, Carrington had parents who felt the call to love her (and to bring home another sister as well!). And there were many others praying for her, contributing to her adoption fund, and raising awareness of orphans with special needs everywhere. <br />
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Thankfully, Princess Carrington is home now, learning to love and thrive. <br />
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Asleep, resting, knowing that God loves her!Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-15891077738206684172011-04-04T20:51:00.000-04:002011-04-04T20:51:36.129-04:00Prayer and homeschoolingWhile I originally intended for this blog to be mostly about the plight of orphans and people with special needs, I do have other aspects of my life that I'll share to give all (15!!) of my faithful followers a wider perspective on the Smith household. Yes, <b>we do try to pray for orphans every day, and specifically Isaiah and Vilis by name. </b> Part of how we do this relates to our school time. <br />
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Four days a week, my kids and I do school at home (the other weekday, we attend an academic group, <a href="http://classicalconversations.com/">Classical Conversations</a>). And in the past few months, I have made a special effort to have each day start with some form of Bible reading and/or verse study, plus prayer. <br />
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<b>Though I had prayed a lot before starting homeschooling, and though I pray now while engaged in it, I didn't always start our homeschool day with prayer <i>with my children</i>. </b> If going to God is the most important thing I should do, and which I want to teach my children, how did I think they were going to learn this if I didn't model the right way? <br />
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<b>Conviction. We needed to pray each day at the start of school. </b><br />
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At first it seemed awkward. "OK, kids, we're going to pray." They are used to us praying at dinner and before bed, and when someone is sick, but before school? It was a new thing. But then I started adding Bible reading, and sometimes including the Bible memory verse from either Classical Conversations or AWANA, the program we do at a local church on Wednesday nights. It seemed natural to add prayer at the end of the reading and study time. And it honors God and blesses us to have our focus first on Him.<br />
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I'm heartened by how my girls are responding. They will sometimes pray out loud with me, and other times keep silent. Sometimes they will remind me to pray for Isaiah and Vilis, and other times will add their own prayers, such as for Japan, or their brother, or others. <br />
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<b>Now for those who are wondering, </b><i><b>How does this happen? How do you homeschool kids of different ages, including a toddler with Down syndrome?</b> </i>Well, I will discuss some of those details and organizational tips in the future. Truthfully, there are some days when it is amazing, when everyone appears to listen and Henry hasn't yelled or filled his diaper during the few minutes focused on the Lord. Other days, the cliche of herding cats come to mind (like the day I left my Bible on the floor during prayer time, and the next thing I heard was Henry ripping out pages!!!). <br />
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Keeping one eye open during prayer time is sometimes my only option, while other times, I feel God's Spirit of peace as we focus first on what really matters in life! <br />
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I encourage you, no matter where you are in life, whether you are married or single, whether you have children at home or not, whether you homeschool or do private/public school --- pray. Pray with your spouse. Pray with your kids. <b>Pray with God -- talk to God and give God your day.</b> This is a lesson which I am learning now, and it is bearing much fruit. <br />
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Blessings to you all!<br />
GwenGwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-60936729646583933692011-04-04T20:06:00.000-04:002011-04-04T20:06:34.549-04:00Life With My Special Ks: A Seven Day Blitz for Kirill!A group of moms w/T21 cuties are sponsoring a fundraiser for Kirill's family to help pay the expenses of their appeal. For more information, please click below: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.myspecialks.com/2011/04/seven-day-blitz-for-kirill.html?spref=bl">Life With My Special Ks: A Seven Day Blitz for Kirill!</a>: "On March 17, 2011, the Davis family sat in a Russian courtroom and listened as the judge rejected their plea to adopt Kirill, an orphan with..."Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-25951283625962306542011-03-30T19:59:00.000-04:002011-03-30T19:59:43.482-04:00Time to Tweet!I have never been on Twitter before. Curious, but never went there. Facebook is enough of a time-waster, I mean, interactive zone for me. <br />
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But then I learned that I could help Reece's Rainbow just by agreeing to follow them on Twitter!! Patricia Heaton (the actress) is donating $1 to Reece's Rainbow for every person who becomes a follower on the Reeces Rainbow Twitter page, up to $10,000 for 10,000 followers! If you are a Twitter person, go <a href="http://twitter.com/ReecesRainbow">here</a> to follow along. If you don't Twitter, would you consider signing up, just for this great cause? <br />
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<i><b>From the <a href="http://reecesrainbow.blogspot.com/2011/03/everybody-loves-reecesrainbow.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ReecesRainbow+%28Reece%27s+Rainbow+Blog%29&utm_content=adoption+special+needs">Reece's Rainbow blog:</a></b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchvzxLryBXG3wTjhznBwZzlbDgKMoouw-jjCrVVCPdVZ4hliq8blhOlmVZY5bB1odS-n1nVBdSPEYuuwkq8DcS0HgDwi8r5rfGnIv69tUpHHjS2wQblxUhc5wO8K-2PII-3_d_z9LJJU/s1600/atpatriciaheaton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="94" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchvzxLryBXG3wTjhznBwZzlbDgKMoouw-jjCrVVCPdVZ4hliq8blhOlmVZY5bB1odS-n1nVBdSPEYuuwkq8DcS0HgDwi8r5rfGnIv69tUpHHjS2wQblxUhc5wO8K-2PII-3_d_z9LJJU/s320/atpatriciaheaton.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
EMMY Award winning actress, Patricia Heaton, from ABC's "The Middle", after learning about Reece's Rainbow on twitter, has generously offered to donate $10,000 when we reach 10,000 twitter followers. What a blessing to our ministry she has been and in less than two days, <a href="http://twitter.com/reecesrainbow">@ReecesRainbow</a> has already reached 3002 followers!<br />
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You can also tweet any of the children or families on the<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/"> Reece's Rainbow website</a> to help them to find their 'forever families'!<br />
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Please join in and if you aren't following <a href="http://twitter.com/patriciaheaton">@PatriciaHeaton</a>, be sure you follow her, as well!<br />
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We are proud to welcome Sean Hannity, Sarah Palin, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and many others who are also committed to raising awareness for our ministry and our orphaned children with Down syndrome and other special needs!<br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Thank you, Patricia, for all you are doing for our angels! And thank you to all of our <a href="http://twitter.com/reecesrainbow">@reecesrainbow</a> followers!</i></b></span> <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Also: Please remember to keep in prayer the Davis family (Kirill) and the Hook family (adopting Evan). The Davis' are appealing a judge's denial of their adoption of a child w/DS, and the Hook family is facing the same judge in just a few hours to plead their case with her for their daughter. <br />
</div>Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-34911104002981480392011-03-29T19:06:00.000-04:002011-03-29T19:06:40.078-04:00New Ministry Video and Prayer updatesReece's Rainbow has come out with a beautiful new ministry video. Please take two minutes, five minutes, or all twelve minutes and view it and pray for the many children in need!<br />
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Link to the video is <a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=b286b09fd78b4ab61b5491&skin_id=1901&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url">HERE</a><br />
<span id="goog_2081615070"></span><span id="goog_2081615071"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><br />
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<span id="goog_2081615070"></span><span id="goog_2081615071"></span>Prayer updates and praises:<br />
<ul><li><span id="goog_2081615070">Please continue to be in </span><span id="goog_2081615071"></span>prayer for the Davis family as they wait for their appeal to be processed for Kirill. Tomorrow is a dedicated day of prayer and fasting for the Davis family and the two other families headed to the same region. The Hook family is supposed to be in a hearing Thursday. Click <a href="http://covenantbuilders.blogspot.com/">HERE</a> for Julia's blog, which gives more information about these families and the day of prayer and fasting.</li>
<li>Praises! I received a message from someone today who came to the blog for the first time. She saw the blog in my signature in a post at Richmondmommies.com. This great person won her company's NCAA pool and, after reading about Reece's Rainbow here, has donated her pool winnings to RR!!</li>
<li>There are several families in countries right now to adopt. I pray that they have positive visits with their children and that paperwork and other issues be handled smoothly and quickly.</li>
<li>Carrington, whose picture is on the sidebar, is doing better but still needs prayer. She was immediately hospitalized when her parents brought her to the states. Pray that her body heal and grow!</li>
<li>Pray for healing for some dear friends whose adoption in EE did not work out, and they returned home with empty arms. Pray for their hearts to be filled with Jesus as they process their journey.</li>
<li>Pray for Lois' family, the Hogans, who are coping with her loss while still celebrating her short life. </li>
<li>Praises for my own little T-21 cutie, who learned to sign "Jesus," "mama," and "dad" this week!</li>
<li>Pray for Isaiah and Vilis and many others to have a family! </li>
</ul>Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537044094080198331.post-33834802442998150702011-03-20T21:00:00.000-04:002011-03-20T21:00:52.490-04:00Praying for KThose of you who are my Facebook friends may have seen a few recent posts about a family trying to adopt a child from Russia and how the judge recently denied their case. It is HEARTBREAKING. They have crossed the ocean -- TWICE -- to see their son. And a judge has said no. <br />
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This family loves their son. They have held him. Snuggled with him. They have appealed their case, and it will take several weeks to know the result.<br />
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His picture is on the sidebar -- what a cutie in his glasses! <br />
Go here to see them and read more of their story from one of their many supporters: <br />
<a href="http://covenantbuilders.blogspot.com/2011/03/kirill.html">Pictures and story of K and his family </a><br />
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Or go to the family's own site, where they beg us to pray for God to be glorified, no matter what the outcome. What faith. <a href="http://www.oureyesopened.blogspot.com/">http://www.oureyesopened.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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All Christians are called to care for widows and orphans. Let's do our part and pray this little boy home!!Gwen Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04789368745437031951noreply@blogger.com0