Children Deserve Loving Families.

Children Deserve Loving Families.

http://heidisommerfeldstevenson.blogspot.com/2011/02/children-deserve-loving-families.html

UPDATE 19 September 2014:

Thanks to a new Facebook friend who has adopted two sons through Reece's Rainbow, today I found out that Carol Ann was adopted by a family in her own country. I no longer have to wonder. I am so glad. The mission to help place these children in loving homes is still ongoing. If you can help, you should. If you cannot adopt, you can offer some financial help so that others can.The following is a link to Jenny's page and her family's story of adotion: Bringing Home Oliver and Andrew

This is a link to offer a little financial boost to a family who is currently trying to bring home two little girls, Nadia and Nancy: To donate to their adoption fund, please go here:http://reecesrainbow.org/79270/sponsorcollier

Originally published 19 February 2011:

Yesterday I came across information about children who are waiting to be adopted. Most of these children currently live in the Ukraine or Russia. Some of them live in China. All that I know about Carol Ann is that she speaks Russian.

Most of the children are normal cognitively, but they either are HIV positive or have a physical deformity that keeps them from being adopted. Some of these children have Down's Syndrome.
Reece's Rainbow offers a way to help families who want to adopt make it happen. While the adoptive families must meet certain qualifications, we can help them defray the costs of the adoption by making a small donation towards it.

Yesterday, I fell in love with a little girl whose picture I saw. Carol Ann. She looks so much like one of my daughters. My father is from Germany, but his ancestry goes to places which are in modern day Russia and Ukraine. This girl captured my heart. I guess that she became the embodiment of children all over the world that need homes and families. If I could, I would take her in a heartbeat. But I don't know if that is possible. Still I want to see her placed in a loving family before she is transferred to an institution.

Please remember to pray for the children of this world. They are so dear to their Heavenly Father. They are so priceless, and they are the future.

I would also ask you to consider Carol Ann as a poster child for the children of the world. Please forward this link to everyone you know. Share the information through Facebook, your blog, or email. We could all make a difference in one child's live. We can be her miracle. I have never met this little girl, but I can tell you that I love her very much. I hope that she can go to the temple and become part of a forever family. It would even be wonderful if someone who has served a Russian speaking mission or has studied Russian would find it in his or her heart to choose this child for their family. But the most important thing would be for her to have a loving family.

Please follow this link to make a contribution towards Carol Ann's adoption:

http://reecesrainbow.org/carol-ann-31

Carol Ann

Girl, Born February 10, 2007

Carol Ann is a darling little girl and an orphanage favorite. YES, she is wearing the same dress as our sweet IVY with Down syndrome. (Ivy has a committed family now, but there are many other waiting children in this same orphanage who could be adopted with Carol Ann).

Carol Ann is totally normal cognitively. She is medically and physically healthy in every way outside of her HIV. She loves to read, sing, dance, and say poems. She will greatly benefit from a loving family of her own, and access to the medical care she needs to manage her HIV.

For more info and parent support on adopting and raising a child with HIV, please visit http://www.projecthopeful.org/

Please follow this link to make a contribution towards Carol Ann's adoption:

http://reecesrainbow.org/carol-ann-31

For more information about adopting these children or to view more children like Carol Ann that our in need of a family go here.

Book Review: The Last Treasure

I just finished reading The Last Treasure, by Janet S. Anderson. Honestly, if you believe in Malachi's promise of the hearts of the children turning to their parents and the parents turning to their children, if you believe in the importance of family across the generations and in the here and now, you will love this book. It's all about John Matthew's family and his desire for them to find the treasures that he'd had in life: his hidden treasures. It said so much more to me than was actually written on the pages. I look forward to reading more books by Janet S. Anderson.

Beginning Personal Progress (Again)

I began working on personal progress with my daughter on 14 February 2011. She has worked on some of these goals and achievements before, but her book has been misplaced. I was excited to learn from the Ensign that all of this can be tracked on-line now.
For family night we read from the First faith goal. We read the first two scripture selections. Yesterday morning I also read two conference talks about faith. Christine already has a habit of saying her personal prayers morning and night. So do I, but I am going to strive to make them more meaningful. President Poulsen has asked us many times to have a morning devotional. I don't have a habit of doing this currently, but I know that when I do so, I am closer to the Spirit, I am happier, and I deal with the challenges of the day better.
Christine wasn't excited that we chose to do this with her for family night. But the boys were at the singles' ward family home evening, and this gave us an opportunity to concentrate on this. For the next while, I want to help Christine get more excited about setting and keeping goals. She is already doing so many good things--especially volunteering at the library Monday and Wednesday mornings and serving as president in her Mia Maid class. She is making so many right choices, but I know that goal setting and achieving her goals will give her more confidence and increase her abilities. It will do the same for me as well.
I was impressed from the reading in Hebrews. Faith really is everything. It is more powerful that knowledge, I believe. I guess it is what even facilitates knowledge. Faith has to do with obedience and trust in the Lord. By and through faith, all things can be accomplished.
I also really liked what I read in a priesthood talk from Elder Oaks. It had to do with faith and priesthood blessings. These messages are so timely and important, especially as I deal with my feelings over the battle my sister has been having with cancer.
I am thankful for my Savior's love for me. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to work on these goals together with my daughter. I hope that I can help to make this project fun and full of growth and learning for both of us. I know that she will have to take charge of her own progress, but it will be wonderful to have some study time together.