PLEASE HELP!!!

If you've ever adopted, or know someone who has.....you know that adoption is EXPENSIVE!!

 But how can you put a price on a soul? Can you see the joy of being in a family picture? Of belonging?  Dima is on the far left, then Teague(bio), McKell(bio), then Slava.

 Even if you adopt in the United States, you are looking at around $24,000.00 for one child.  International adoption is that much PLUS all your travel fees, and orphanage donations.  I am asking for support for Our Brother and Sister in law Kip and Darcy Deaton.  They started their journey by hosting a boy from Eastern Europe(sorry not allowed to name the actual country..but it starts with U.)  A cute 12 yr old boy with a quirky grin.  They went in to it thinking they would give him a great Christmas, and fun 6 weeks.  BUT.........God.....grabbed them by the heart strings and said......."this one is yours".........and they couldn't send him back.....alone......forever. 

 A tearful goodbye between brothers.

 

This was headed to the airport after D's first visit.  He didn't know he would be back.  Can you see the hopelessness?  Break My Heart!

And so the process began.  Then  the opportunity came up for them to host him again for the summer, and they jumped at the chance!  They knew they were planning to adopt him and wanted to get to know him better, to see his face, to love on him some more.  BUT hosting isn't free.......YOU have to pay 2,700.00 to get them here.  They have done this twice. Then the hosting program begged them to host another little guy who's family had to back out on hosting him.  He is 11, in hopes that they could find a family to adopt him............well they didn't find ANOTHER family...........God found theirs.  So they have added S to their family as well :)  This makes a lot of the expenses double.  They are willing and excited about adding these two boys to their home!  BUT............it is costing them everything...........but what price do you put on a soul? on a child?  Whatsoever you do unto the least of these.........you do unto me.

 On top of all the agency fees, home study fees, fingerprinting fees, physicals, etc. etc.  they have had to pay the hosting fees, they have had to do some major updating and remodeling of their old farm house to pass the homestudy safety inspection........expenses they were not prepared for.

Darcy has had a garage sale, a flea market sale......sold her car, (leaving them with one vehicle) emptied her house of most of her decorations......any thing not absolutely necessary to scrape together enough for the next installment.  PEOPLE!!!!!!!!  This is not right!  WE the CHURCH NEED TO HELP!!  We are commanded to care for the orphans and widows.  We are not all called to adopt, but we are all called to HELP CARE FOR.  Kip and Darcy need help.  They still need around $38,000 to finalize everything.  If they don't get help........they are considering selling their house.  They are willing to sacrifice everything to give these boys a home.  BUT lets HELP them so they don't have to.  What does the cost of a meal out cost you?  Stay home tonight, and tomorrow........and send the money to a much bigger cause.  EVERY penny helps!!!!  PLEASE!!!  Pass this on! Share with everyone you know!  Lets show them that they are LOVED!!  Lets show them they are not forgotten! Not alone!!
For the story in Darcy's words and to donate online go HERE:    http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/lost-found-home-our-journey-for-d-s-/65295#.UkWIH15n6Eo.gmail

If you give a girl a trike........

........she's going to want a wagon to go with it.

 Yes this was Wren's idea.

Waiting on her ride.

The driver had taken a detour......

 So she whittled.......and waited.

I posted a video on Face Book.  It works fine there, but goes in fast forward on here.  I don't understand!

Wren update: The school had a book fair this week and asked me to come in and help.  I hadn't told the girls that I would be there.  I was talking to someone, and Wren was working with her instructor in the same room, but behind a divider.  She didn't know I was there, but recognized my voice and signed "mommy?" to her teacher!!!  She recognized my voice!!! with out seeing me!!!!  woo hoo!  I KNOW she said baby tonight too while looking at a picture of one on the computer.   We are rejoicing in each victory! be it ever so small.

And an Iley funny:  She was working on her sticker book and couldn't remember where they were supposed to go.  She says "It's too HARD!........I can't think in my HEAD!"

Let Them Eat Cake

We missed Ella's Birthday........well she was actually gone over her B-day......but we had never got around to "having a party" or giving her a gift.  I bought a gift, and wrapped it and just planned to give it to her the next time I saw her.  Sherman thought it was just awful that we weren't having a party, or at LEAST making her a cake!  I'm not sure if he was really  concerned about her getting a cake...or if he just wanted to make one.  He is fascinated with the show Cake Boss, and has been watching it on the nights he's allowed computer time.  He is forever wanting to Make a cake.  He made a layer cake at G-ma's not long ago......and Ella's forgotten B-day provided a perfect excuse for another cake.  Problem is he didn't plan ahead very well.  He made the cake....baked it......then had to go to football practice till 8:00.......everyone was coming to eat cake at 8:15.......not a lot of time to ice and decorate the cake!  So the sisters iced it for him......with icing that was warmed too long and was running everywhere.

They were dripping it onto animal crackers........

 ..........and amusing themselves by drowning the animal crackers in icing???

 Do you see how crowded my kitchen gets!!  I regularly run people out of here.  Out Out Out if you are not helping... step OUT.

 Thatch and Kyn were fussing over who was going to lick the spatula.

.........and the pregnant lady wins!

 At 5months along....she's FINALLY starting to show!

 The guest of honor:)

 The girls both brought their picture books that we sent to China of the family, over and perched on Ash to look at them.

 They were kissing pictures of Mommy........this makes my heart smile!  When Iley first arrived home, she would do this with the pictures of her foster family in China.  It made me so sad for her.  I feel blessed that she has transferred that love to me.

???

 "Nights at the round table"

 They were chasing their shadows.

Can anyone guess who this is?  It's not one of mine :)  This was at the book fair.