More info about How this all came about!!

Well I know many of you are asking how this all came about so here goes. This post has been on going since Thursday of last week!!

As we have posted before God had opened our eyes to all the waiting children that have down syndrome. The Lord put it on our hearts to learn more about down syndrome and our love for these children grew every day. Tyler would call me from work and say " What are you doing?" and I would replay..."Looking at Reece's Rainbow". Than he would tell me about the new children on there or that he loved this about this one. We both just fell in love with these kids.

Like I posted in one of the earlier posts, we knew that God was putting it on our hearts to adopt a child with down syndrome, but since our paperwork was already in Ukraine it would be to late to change it. Well on Tuesday night we got an email from Ludmilla saying that our travel to Ukraine was most likely going to be delayed because they wanted to make sure we received a referral on our first trip. We were alittle disappointed but at this point seeing God is in control of all this, we were at peace. That night I prayed that if this delay meant we had a chance at adopting a child with down syndrome to please show me. The next morning, Wednesday, during my daily Reece's Rainbow check in I saw there starring at me a 2 month old baby girl who was named Marlena. She need a family really quickly because she had a whole in heart that need to be prepared quickly!! So I emailed Andrea Roberts at Reece's Rainbow and she said that little Marlena already had a little family who wanted her!!!! So again, alittle disappointed but still knowing that God was going to guide us, we called CWA and spoke with Ludmilla. She said that she was familiar with Reece's Rainbow and that they were a wonderful organization. I also told her that we have always been praying for 2 and we would like to try and adopt 2 children. I think she was alittle surprised, but God wasn't. She than said that it could be possible!!!! but she would have to talk with Serge in Ukraine to see and that it might take 24 hours for her to get back with me. So after 10 minutes Ludmilla called me and said "Yes"!!! Serge said this was absolutely possible. He also happens to be the facilitator for Reece's Rainbow!! So CWA and Reece's Rainbow and Serge in Ukraine were all on board in a matter of 4 hours. Later that night Tyler and I called Andrea from Reece's Rainbow and she said everything is great "now you just have to pick your kids". When we looked through all the children we listed 11 that we just knew could be ours. ELEVEN!!! But we knew we couldn't get eleven...but we could pick just 2. To be honest it was the easiest and best decision we have ever made. It was hard because we are picking our forever children from looking at 1 picture and getting one sentence about their medical diagnoses. That's it!! It was easy because, after Marlena, we knew that God would make our children known to us and that they would be available....FOR US!! So right there in Tylers office we chose Caleb and Beth from Orphanage 41. We had no idea where Orphanage 41 even was. We picked 2 little babies that are blessed with down syndrome, that have little issues in their hearts, that have issues with their eyes. One has no hair, the other has enough hair for a great comb over!! They are 3 months apart and are not even aware that the kid in the crib next to them is their new twin brother or sister. At the end of the call Andrea said the most precious words I have ever heard " They are yours!!!!" God had given us the 2 children we had always prayed for!!! He had given them to us as little gifts to watch over and care for until He brings them home as their Most High Father.

Here were are not even 24 hours and I have realized by Christmas we are going to be blessed with 3 children!!! God has been so amazing!

Since our dossier is already in Ukraine, we only needed to get a home study amendment stating we are approved for children with down syndrome as well as a CSP, or child specific petition. This would involve more documents needing to be notarized and than sent to Washington, DC for apostille and than off to Ukraine. Fast forward Thursday night. In a matter of 10 minutes we received amazing news...I know how could there be more!!! Well I received an email from Ukraine stating "you do not need to make CSP. We have talked to the SDA and they confirmed that they'll give you referrals for these children without new CSP. All you need to do is to have your home study addendum stating that you are approved for adoption of special needs children (gender, age) including DS." YAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!! That is so wonderful!!! Then I skyped Ludmilla about the CSP and she informs me that CWA and serge came to an agreement about our fees. We were going to get both children for the cost of one international fee!!! And they were taking off some of the other fees!!! When Tyler and I asked for 2, it was purely faith because we did not have the money for 2. But again, God in all His glory showed us that He is the great provider and that this is His adoption. Take a look at all the stuff we have gotten in just 5 days!!! This doesn't include the high chair and double stroller and 2 infant car seats as well as a crib!!


You know Tyler and I have heard from many people since this all happened that we " Are great people, or amazing people". Please know that without God, we would have never picked these kids. God is the one that is great and He is the one who is awesome. All Tyler and I did was a simple act of obedience. Another thing we keep hearing is how hard this is going to be for us. Well my question back is "Where do we get life is supposed to be easy". God says "He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing." Deuteronomy 10:18, and "'Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow.' Then all the people shall say, Amen!'" Deuteronomy 27:19 and "He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor." 1 Samuel 2:8 and "because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist him." Job 29:12 and "Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay." Psalm 40:17 and "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling." Psalm 68:5 and "He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor." Psalm 72:4 and "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." Psalm 82:3-4 and "But he lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks." Psalm 107:41 and " So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me,' says the LORD Almighty." Malachi 3:5. These are but a few of the verses in Gods word about the the orphan, the fatherless God calls us to protect.

Thanks for all of the prayers and we please ask that you continue praying for us. But most importantly please pray for these beautiful children who need families, these are God's children!!!! And He will protect them and care for them, why don't you be apart of it some how. Also November 1st kicks off our Reece's Rainbow Christmas warrior project, and we are sponsoring Simon, the cute little guy whose picture is a couple posts back!! Please help us raise funds to help his forever family be able to bring him home!!! Maybe his forever family is you!!!!!