Bringing Home Edgar?

Yes! Edgar! Our Home Study approved us for two. God has approved us for two! What did we do to earn such favor with our heavenly father? How can we possibly be the ones chosen to raise these two incredible little boys? I have no idea! but I am not about to mess it up! We are madly in love with these boys, this process, and the new life God has prepared for all of us. I have lived too many years dissatisfied with life. Like a fish out of water I was uncomfortable, unhappy, near death. I saw the water but chose to stay in the grass instead. The grass is full of others floundering around, gasping for air, dissatisfied. The grass was beautiful, the sky blue, the breeze lovely. I was miserable. The realization? I cannot pretend to be happy. I cannot be all that God created me to be outside of the water. As we take the plunge and navigate the twists and turns of our journey. We realize there is no control, but there is some predictability. We are expecting His Grace and Blessings.
                    Please pray for Dunham and Edgar's safe keeping!

Envelope Fundraiser for Dunham!

                                                                

                               click here ------>  Envelope Fundraiser

 

Check out our virtual Envelope Fundraiser for Dunham! Affordable donations from $1 to $100!!!

 

Choose your favorite envelope, "OWN IT" and donate the amount identical to the number of the envelope. Examples - #3 = $3  #12 = $12, #37=$37 etc! It's easy and FUN! There are many to choose from but they are one of a kind! Pick Quick before someone gets your favorite!

Update on our Fundraising

We have raised just over $1,000.00 towards our $15,000 fundraising! (:  We have a long way to go but this is a great start. We are so blessed to have met such wonderful people in the process. The support from total strangers has surprised and delighted us the most. Thank you for being a part of our Walk in Faith!

                                      Pre-Travel Donation's can be made here

                   Reece's Rainbow Tax Deductible Donations Here

All Consuming Passion...

 

How can I feel such deep love for a child I've never met? He haunts my thoughts day and night. My prayers are consumed with pleas for his safe keeping. He is my inspiration, my strongest desire. He makes me a better person. I work harder than ever before at my job, my relationships, my parenting. I want to be more like him..... closer to God, innocent, .... special. He gives me purpose, hope, peace and direction. Baby Gage is here, safe, loved. While this child is lost. There is no feeling more hopeless to me then knowing my child is a world away and I cannot get to him! This is the thing nightmares are made of. I think of his birth mother. What was so broken within her so frightening about his diagnosis that he was not worth keeping, loving? I would give anything to have him here with us! The doubt and fear that creeps in is quickly rejected. I cannot bear the thought that something would happen to prevent us from bringing him home. I go through the motions like special forces on a mission. I know this is God's Plan for my life. His perfect plan to give me purpose, adventure,  fulfillment, joy, and new lessons. My husband and I do not speak about the magnitude of our emotions. I know him well. I see it in his eyes, his voice, his hard work. I know he is prepared to lay down his time, money, his very life for this child as he would any of our other children. I once read "if there is something you own which you can’t give away,  you don’t own it, it owns you!" Material possessions have no meaning to me. After all would we not give anything to spare the life of our child? Would we not beg the lord to take our very lives before that of our child?
 If I have to sell everything I own I will. God does not say "Do what you can within reason." or "If it is convenient".  I have always had a family rule that the only thing non-negotiable is our family. Where we live, how we live, everything is negotiable but our family. This orphan is a part of our family. Bringing him home is not negotiable. This is the purpose of my life. I will not stop if I discover a closed door. Not all closed doors are really closed…not all barriers are placed there by God…some are mirages erected by the enemy to discourage. I am doing what God has directed me to do at this time. I wont worry about tomorrow. I am finally experiencing an intimate relationship with Christ. This is what he calls us to do. This is what he desires. I want to please him, to do what he asks of me. John 7:17  “Anyone Who Chooses To Do God’s Will, Shall Know It.” As I step out in faith, God offers me his perfect peace. My walk in faith isn't about giant leaps. I have taken small steps and God has continued to guide me, to reveal to me that He is in control.
This is my destiny. I recognize it by its consuming desire that wont let me go. I recognize it by the joy it gives me - “I delight to do thy will, O my God.”  Psalm 40:8 I recognize it by being in Gods favor, and watching the right doors open and the right people he has brought to my life. Fulfilling Gods purpose in my life will be the only way I will hear "well done". Not because of the things I acquired, or the money I made.

                                                                            One Less Orphan

hi ho hi ho.......

 

Started back to work yesterday. I've never enjoyed it so much! I am feeling incredibly blessed and everyday that I work is one more day and one more dollar closer to holding Dunham! Everyone must think I am crazy! I have been cooped up in the house for some time... I must look odd walking around with a giant smile and pictures of my babies. Although I imagine they must be thinking I've had too much coffee, I cannot help but be passionate about saving Dunham. How can I be nonchalant, or casual? There is a life at stake and he is my son!  I wonder what he is doing right now? Is he happy? sad? in pain?  I cannot wait to see Baby Gage and Dunham playing together. The very thought of it fills my heart with joy! I can only imagine how I will feel when they are both here, in my arms!

I offered to get my older kids at least one thing they wanted or needed for Christmas, thinking perhaps I was too hasty. They flat out refused! My son said they had already discussed it and the only thing he wanted was Dunham! This coming from a 15 year old boy? I am so proud of him. As I write this he is rocking Baby Gage. I know he will make an amazing big brother to Dunham as well! When I watch my older children holding him, making faces for him and talking baby talk I know that going back to work to help finance Dunham's adoption isn't neglecting Gage. He is either with his daddy, sister, brother, and if they aren't available he will be at his aunties or grandmas! I am so blessed to have so many people to love and support him! It would be selfish to keep him all to myself! After all he is "their" baby too!

So I am going to enjoy my time out of the house. I really do love marketing and visiting with all of the different offices. They pull their baby pictures out too, their nieces and nephews and grandkids. I just love it! They ask me questions about Dunham, Ukraine, and  the adoption. They tell me their experiences with Down Syndrome. Many of them are nurses and they are a wealth of information. The medical field is full of benevolent people that love others! They care for them everyday. So if I must be away from my family. I cant imagine a more compassionate, group of people to share my adoption journey with.

 

 

 

 Dunham - One Less Orphan

 

 

 

 

 

Teaching Thanksgiving!

 

 

The Biblical meaning of the word “thanksgiving” is not something someone does, but rather it is because Jesus lives within us, a life of thanksgiving becomes a daily expression of His life.

 

This is not self-improvement. It is God manifesting His life through us. We are His hands and feet.

 

 Anytime a child has the opportunity to witness kindness, selflessness, love! It molds who they are. It tunes their moral compass and builds character. Things we as adults see quickly depleting in children and teens. We are disgusted with the language, clothing and behavior of many of them. We shake our heads and roll our eyes when we see the way they treat the elderly and disabled. If children are to become compassionate, thoughtful, respectful, we must set an example. Instead of complaining our children are spoiled we must stop buying them everything. If we feel they are ungrateful we should take them to feed the homeless, donate their toys....Don't make it a punishment! Helping others shouldn't be a punishment. It should be something fun! Let your children witness you handing money or food to the homeless man on the street. Not mumbling "get a job". Because they see and hear everything we do. If we want children to be thankful, thoughtful, compassionate, we must lead by example. Last Thanksgiving we skipped the big dinner and hours of cleaning up dishes and instead volunteered to feed the homeless. It was the best Thanksgiving ever! We didn't just serve others but we sat with them, ate with them, and laughed with them. We pet their dogs and listened to their story's. I saw my teens soaking it all in and I was a proud mama! My son asked me if we could do it again this year. He practically begged me! Let the Holy Spirit live through you. Let others gravitate toward you because they see the light within you. We can never BE Jesus, but we can be LIKE Him. Not just on Holiday's. Everyday, be kind. Show thanksgiving to God, through your life. Let Christ live through you, and your children will too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why do adoptive families fundraise? Why should you care?

 

 

Everyone feels sad or bad when they see injured, starving, disabled, elderly, homeless or the orphaned. Who doesn’t see the picture of an injured kitten and say “Awwww, that’s so sad!” Whether it is an animal or human we all feel compassion. (Well most of us anyway) So what stops us from giving our time, money, home? I believe it is a number of reasons. Sometimes we have the best of intentions and just don’t get around to it. Sometimes we give but just the littlest bit to make our conscience feel better. Sometimes we are so pessimistic and suspicious from negative news reports and our own experience with moochers that we dismiss these individuals.  And here it is the hardest one of all! We are selfish. We use the earlier mentioned excuses to defend our selfishness! We want to eat out, buy the latest fall boots, and hey I NEED new work clothes! After all we work HARD for our money! Why should we give it away?

 

“Why adopt from _____ why don’t you adopt from the United States?”  This is one adoptive families hear all the time. There is no one answer, every family has their own reason. For me personally, I do not see the difference between nations. Children are children. I believe God has called me to this child. It would be easier to adopt domestically and virtually cost free, but that is not what I feel God has asked of me. I have never done anything “easy” and the difficulty of this process is the hardest thing I have EVER done, it forces me to trust in God! I cannot do this alone. I NEED him. I have always struggled with my faith, trusting God completely. This process is forcing me to do so and allowing me to grow in my own personal faith and relationship with God. For me adopting domestically would have been too easy?

“If they want to adopt, they should pay for it themselves!?” This one is not often said directly to the adoptees face, it is usually relayed third party. Let me ask you this, if you added just 1 child to your home what would be the financial impact?

The cost to adopt a special needs child is excessive. Depending on the country, adoption can cost anywhere from 15k-40k. The initial cost of the home study, paperwork, passports, fingerprinting, adoption agency fees, etc are paid up front by the adoptive families. Approximately $5k. The additional $15-20k are raised through fundraising and the adoptive family. Fundraising is NOT easy! It isn’t a matter of sitting back and waiting for the dollars to pour in! It takes effort! A lot of hard work! My husband and I are exhausted! We have found our most generous friends and family are those that have the least. This makes every penny of our son’s ransom that much more valuable to us. My friend circle is being filled with the most incredible, giving, kind, compassionate individuals we have ever known. Strangers have given freely and without regret. Some of those closest to us have remained distant and pessimistic. Those that support us are a part of our hearts and every one of them will be known to our son Dunham and our other children for years to come. We are eternally grateful! It has become so much more than just rescuing this child. It has renewed my faith in people! I pray that those that remain hardened will open their hearts, if not in time for Dunham then in the near future. Every orphan is a part of Dunham’s “family”, we will be paying it forward for the rest of our lives.

 

Once your child is home the REAL work begins. Everyone will agree raising a special needs child is not easy! It is hard work, and takes personal sacrifice. This child is a blessing to us, but we are not naïve in believing every day will be peaches and cream! There will be lots of long nights, tears, frustration…. But there will be love and laughter to give us the strength to get through the more difficult times. Another comment that comes up is “Adoption isn’t for everyone.” I disagree! It is! The timing needs to be considered, but adoption IS for everyone! It is incredibly fulfilling! I cannot express how much this process has filled my spirit with love, joy, and hope! I cannot think of one friend or family member that could not provide the love, stability, and family an orphan needs! That means YOU! Should you ever decide to take that leap of faith that so few are willing to do. I promise you this; Your value system will be challenged. You will never in your life view the world the same again. You will be humbled beyond your limits. You will be blessed beyond your wildest dreams. Your priorities and motives will be shifted violently and you will find God waiting for you with open arms to welcome you on the other side, and he will say “Well done.”

 

This Christmas I wont be buying my kids anything....

This Monday I will be returning to work. Oh how I will miss my Gage man! I know I am leaving him in loving hands..... but I understand him so well. I know his grunts, from his cries, from his whimper and whines! I know what each one means and just how to comfort him.
 I also know that his brother is waiting for us in Ukraine. I know that the money I make will be crucial in bringing him home. I know that as much as I will miss seeing every new accomplishment, I will have a lifetime of knowing I gave him the greatest gift of all! A brother, a best friend, the understanding, compassion, and love he will have for those less fortunate then himself. My other children are 19 and 15 and grew up with the typical spoiled American Christmas. When we broke the news there would be no gifts this Christmas I anticipated some objection. Much to my surprise the children I thought might be spoiled beyond repair, were happy to sacrifice. I realized I did not have enough faith in them, in my parenting, in American teenagers! Somehow in my years of being caught up in Black Friday, I had instilled enough selflessness in my children that they understood the magnitude of the gift they were giving to this child and the gift they were about to receive. I am proud of them, and myself, somehow even when I was lost, I had managed to teach them to put others before themselves. As I walk around my modest home, I cannot help but notice the meaningless purchases I have made over the years. That candle could have been $5 toward Dunham, that flat screen $500, those cute dog outfits, 5 pairs of sunglasses, did I really need 25 pairs of shoes!?!? I walk into Target and see the excess of goods.......... I want to cry, scream at the people around me "Don't you see! Don't you know there are children dieing!" I watch as the man in front of me at the gas station purchases 5 packs of cigarettes..... another wasted $25. *sigh. Do the mom's in the adoption group feel this shame, anger, frustration? They are all so soft spoken, kind, women of God. I want to be like them.... soft, feminine, unending faith. God, how am I to be gentle, how will I learn to turn the other cheek? Now that I SEE I want others to SEE! I want them to know that the self fulfillment you get from loving God and others isn't some crazy thing "Jesus Freaks" made up! I want them to know that the "something more" they are seeking can NEVER be filled with material things, alcohol, or vanity! Then I realized.... just as I could not be reached when I was walking in darkness neither can they. It is up to them to be strong enough to step into the light. Some were blessed enough to be born into the light, families that raised them up in loving Godly homes. But for those of us that weren't..... it is up to us to take that leap of faith to the other side. To take the chance for something "different". and when they do it is up to us to greet them with love, encouragement and praise!


                                               One Less Orphan - Dunham

Give, and it will be given to you...

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." - Luke 6:38

Today I watched Dunham's Angel tree in anxious anticipation....... how could people see that face, that smile and not open their hearts? $5, $10, $50! I was certain when I posted to my facebook and threw my fundraisers out there that people would flood his account with generous donations. *sigh.... its just not that easy. People are apprehensive by nature. Despite my disappointment, I knew God was in control. He would bring this child home.
 I saw that his Angel Tree sponsor had posted a request for donations for a lovely young lady whose account still sadly held $9. The same $9 she herself had deposited in this little girls account months earlier. She challenged our group to raise this to $100 by the end of the day. Although we are thousands of dollars away from bringing our son Dunham home. I knew I must do something! I told my husband and he agreed and we made a small donation of $20. No sooner had we sent the payment but my husbands phone binged notifying him of an update. We looked and low and behold someone had placed a $30 donation to Dunham!!!! I knew God's timing was perfect and that if we continued to give and to have faith, he would continue to bless us! another few minutes and his phone binged again, a second donation! This time for $10! God had doubled our gift! My heart is full of such joy! Every penny of every donation goes directly to Dunham and bringing him home to his family. He's only a year old and has no idea of the horror that awaits him when he ages out of the baby orphanage and heads to the institution in a few short years. The thought of this shakes me to the core! It rips into my heart and beckons at me to hurry! time is of the essence. There are NO guarantees for tomorrow. All we have is today!

These pictures of Kirill tell a powerful story.....

                                                       This is Kirill at the Orphanage

 

 

This is Kirill after one year in the institution, home for 3 days

 

and this is Kirill after 11 months with his new family!

 

 

 

 

"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.'

 - Mathew 25:40

If you would like to make a donation to Dunham you may do so by clicking here:

Donate to Dunham

 

There is no small donation. Every donation is a blessing that we are beyond grateful to receive! Please keep Dunham and these other amazing children in your prayers.

FUNDRAISER FOR DUNHAM

 

This is our fundraiser. Please help us bring this child home. I hope that you will place your decal somewhere in your home where it can be a constant reminder of love, family, hope, faith, and God. For a donation of $25 you will receive a wall decal. I ask that you make your donation here: ONE LESS ORPHAN

 then email me your receipt and decal request/details, along with your address to:

walknfaithquinn@gmail.com

 

Many decals can be customized with your family name or child's name. Font may vary and decals  must be simplistic. We will try our best to honor your request, please understand this is a fundraiser and we have limited capability. (:

 

SAMPLES

 

    

 

Brother's!

These two were meant to be brothers.... my amazing little guys share one thing in common already! ;)

Dunham's Donation Button

                                            MEET OUR SON DUNHAM!!

 

Today we committed to our son Dunham. We will fight with every breath we take to bring him home. In seven or so months he will no longer be an orphan. He is not a throw away, or unwanted, he is loved! He has a Mommy and Daddy and Sissy and Bubba. He has a Nana and Papa, he has Aunties and Uncles and dozens of adoring family, friends, and fans that cant wait to bring him home! We cannot do this alone. We need prayers, donations and support! It takes a village...... please help us bring this Angel home!
                                                           DONATE TO DUNHAM HERE:

                      Reece's Rainbow New Commitments