Lina

I don't remember when I first saw a picture of Lina, but it was love at first sight. She's a beautiful baby now languishing in an orphanage. She has so many medical needs, but what she needs more than anything is a Momma to cradle her, a Daddy to kiss her, and a family to shower her with love and the attention she needs. It breaks my heart to know she's in the situation she is. 

Please get the word out for her!

Please donate to her fund to make it easier for someone to adopt her!

To donate, go to Reece's Rainbow and search for Lina 3F or the link below should take you there! http://reecesrainbow.org/41427/lina-3f

If you asked me.....

If you asked me, I would tell you we miss Daddy.

A. Lot.

He had to go back to the states a week ago.

We'll be apart for four more weeks.

On some days,

it feels like an eternity.

Bee is all out of sorts without him here, like not being "able" to walk because she scratched her leg. Evidently even sliding out of bed was physically impossible.

I took it as a cry for more Love and Hugs and obliged her need to be carried around.

Thankfully, she realized this morning that she could walk though only on her tippy toes.

If you asked me, I would tell you about my visit to the orphanage yesterday. So many new faces since I was there 5 weeks ago. Both in the Toddler house and the Baby House.
So many precious adorable faces.

Some familiar faces weren't there. Like little EQ. I really wanted to see him again. I'm praying the reason he wasn't there is that his Mommy and Daddy came for him.

If you asked, I'd tell you that secretly I wanted to be his Mommy. He grabbed my heart and I haven't stopped thinking about him for the last 5 weeks.

If you asked me, I'd tell you that I don't know what our future holds once we are back in the states. But I do have a Peace.
Peace that God will provide.
He will give direction.
He will open doors.

That Peace enables me to continue every day.

Adoption

A beautiful video shared with me from a friend.

Get the tissues out.

A beautiful family following Gods' leading.

"EQ"

I walked up to the boys toddler house; the house mother (who will now be called Ann though I don't know her real name) was talking to someone when I approached. "Can I help you today?" I asked. Her eyes grew big, jaw dropped. "ME? You want to help ME?" (insert smiley face here...being where you are wanted and appreciated feels so good) 

She led me in where it was potty time in the house. And I quickly realized most everyone was wearing the exact same outfit...now I'm really going to have to be creative telling them apart! Ann directed two little boys in my direction and instructed them to stay with me. I never got the name of the little boy with scar on his forehead, but I did get the other who I'll call EQ. That's what it sounds like at least. The boys held tight to my hand and led me around the play ground. We found some animal statues and climbed on top. There I taught them "high five"; they caught on quick. We walked till we saw another volunteer doling out balloons and joined in.

After a bit of balloon play EQ grabbed my hand and led me away from the group. I suggested various play things but could tell he was looking for something. Something important. Ahh, he saw what he wanted and quickly led me over. A porch swing. After I sat down he climbed on my lap and I held him close while swinging and singing "I love you a bushel and a peck". He was so quiet and so calm, just soaking it in. Holding my arm, snuggling close, and hoping it could last forever. 

Me too EQ, me too.

It was then I looked at his hands and noticed he has a "thumb sucker callous" that looks just like my Bee's. Talk about pulling my heart strings. Right then I knew I'd never forget this little boy. And the porch swing he took me to? That's the area where adoptive parents sit and meet their kids. Yeah, I didn't realize this till after the fact. Precious boy. Dear God, please bring EQ home. Please bring his family soon. Godly parents to love him and hold him close on the swing singing "I love you".

Viengping Orphanage

I've been twice now with my friend to volunteer in the Baby House for 2+ hours every Thursday morning. I've been reluctant to post anything as I've still been trying to process it all my self. So, at the suggestion of my friend, I will just share what we do there. We arrive usually by 9:30 a.m. and after signing in we'll walk to the Baby House. The babies here are under the age of 2 though I really don't think any are older that 18 months. There have been around 20 babies each week and I only know this because there are 20 beds in the room we work in and they're always full. We have been told that new babies stay in a different area in "quarantine" for a week while he/she is being checked out and to avoid getting the other babies sick.
It's been so heartbreaking to me knowing that these babies cry out for a Mama to love and hold them. To wipe their runny noses and rock them when they're sick. One little boy last week had just arrived and was brought in by his grandfather. I don't know the whole story but I do know he misses his family, and cries constantly. If I could take him home I would. In a heartbeat. But all I can do is love him while I'm there. Rock him to sleep. And pray his new family will come soon. A Mama to hold him close, wipe his nose, and tell him she loves him.
About 10:30 to 11 all the babies are put to bed with bottles in their mouths propped up by a blanket or pillow. By 11:30 all is fairly quiet as they're drifting off to sleepy land. During this time I'll help with washing bowls and dishes from their lunch, sweeping and mopping of the outdoor play area, and then folding of laundry. Huge piles of laundry. Mostly rags that are then folded into cloth diapers.
I've noticed there are the same women who work in this baby house. The job they have is never-ending, repetitive, and yet they love each baby and show care for each one. This job is not easy and aside from volunteers who come and go, they are quite outnumbered. But they do it and do it well.
From my understanding every one of the 600 children in this home are available for adoption. And many of them are girls. Ending up here either abandoned or orphaned. It's not easy for an American to adopt from Thailand unless you live here. But please pray for these children. Please pray for their protection, for their soul, and for a Momma and Daddy to bring them HOME....

Update:
I found some new information since writing this. Only 300 of the children are on site here. The others are in Foster Care around ChiangMai.
And I want to clarify my statement "It's not easy for Americans to adopt". I mean that in the sense that it will take possibly longer (about 2 years) and the Thai government is more picky that other countries. However, I've come across a Thailand Adoption Blog website with blog links to a number of families that have or are in the process of adopting from Thailand as well as talking to families here. Also, if you don't use an agency and were able to come to Thailand and live here, you would be able to foster your child first while paperwork is being processed and you could have it all wrapped up in a year, sometimes less. And pay a fraction of the cost.  Note to self..... =)

Service Project

I had the opportunity to visit an all girls orphanage on Sunday with the church we're attending here. It's taken me a few days trying to decide what I would say about that afternoon. My heart has always been pulled toward orphans; one verse my Dad shared often was the verse "care for the widow and orphans". I'm also halfway through Kisses From Katie which I challenge you to read and then do something to make a difference in the life/lives of the orphaned and fatherless.
This home is 45 min from where we are staying. When we arrived we all gathered in a large room where we had singing, group games, story time, and a prayer before breaking up into three groups and rotating through stations of bible lesson, crafts, and outdoor games.
I didn't take many pictures because I didn't want to make them even more shy with some white girl snapping pictures. So here are just a few along with a video of singing that gave me the goosebumps.