Sue H.!!!!!
A HUGE thank you to everyone who donated to the Harlins to help bring home their three precious children!!! Please continue to pray for them all as they adjust to a new life. Thanks so much!
Monday, August 17, 2015
And the Winner Is....
Sue H.!!!!!
A HUGE thank you to everyone who donated to the Harlins to help bring home their three precious children!!! Please continue to pray for them all as they adjust to a new life. Thanks so much!
Sunday, August 2, 2015
UPDATED: LET'S HELP THE HARLIN FAMILY FINISH THEIR JOURNEY!!!
They are coming home today!!! (8/13/15) Last day to donate!!!
The Harlin Family is in final stretches of bringing home THREE Treasures with special needs from Eastern Europe, Dima, Nash, and Natasha. They have passed court, have had "Gotcha Day" for two of the children, and are waiting in-country for the children's passports and visas. Please pray for them! They need some help to finish the journey, specifically with plane tickets to bring everyone home. The trip home should be within the next WEEK! We need to hurry! Donations may be made until they arrive home.
The Harlin Family is the "real deal". I have met them personally and spent time in their home. Their heart for orphans is HUGE, and they are following the Lord's call for their family with everything they've got.
We have a FUN GIVE AWAY to share with you to help raise the final monies needed for plane tickets!!! (Info below!)
My 11 year-old son, Isaac, crocheted this beautiful twin size afghan in colors of the Ukrainian flag - his favorite colors, blue and yellow - the country his three adopted siblings are adopted from. The afghan is stitched in yellow and three different shades of blue. And yes, he did really crochet this whole thing without any help! :-) He specifically made it with LOTS of LOVE for the Harlins. It is very thick and will keep you very warm cuddled up with it this winter.
The GIVE AWAY will be a drawing and work as follows:
*** One entry into the drawing for each time you share this post on your blog or FB page
*** Two entries into the drawing for a $10 donation
*** Six entries into the drawing for a $25 donation
*** 15 entries into the drawing for a $50 donation
*** 40 entries into the drawing for a $100 donation
If you share this post, please EMAIL ME the link so I can verify it (please make your FB post public). Please put your last name in the subject of the email.Thanks!
If you make a donation, please EMAIL ME the receipt. Please put your last name in the subject of the email. Thanks!
Two ways to donate:
1.) Family Sponsorship Page HERE (tax deductible, 3% processing fee)
2.) Paypal (non-tax deductible, no fee). Please email me and I will send you their paypal address.
I will tally the entries, and Isaac will draw the winner on the day the Harlins come home! Winner will be notified via email used to enter the drawing.
Good luck! THANK YOU so much for your help to bring home these precious little ones!
The Harlin Family is in final stretches of bringing home THREE Treasures with special needs from Eastern Europe, Dima, Nash, and Natasha. They have passed court, have had "Gotcha Day" for two of the children, and are waiting in-country for the children's passports and visas. Please pray for them! They need some help to finish the journey, specifically with plane tickets to bring everyone home. The trip home should be within the next WEEK! We need to hurry! Donations may be made until they arrive home.
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| Dima (4 years old) with his new Daddy (He is wearing 12 mo sized clothes. :-( ) |
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| Natasha (5 years old) with her new big sister, Natalie |
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| Nash (2 years old) with his big sister, Natalie |
The Harlin Family is the "real deal". I have met them personally and spent time in their home. Their heart for orphans is HUGE, and they are following the Lord's call for their family with everything they've got.
We have a FUN GIVE AWAY to share with you to help raise the final monies needed for plane tickets!!! (Info below!)
My 11 year-old son, Isaac, crocheted this beautiful twin size afghan in colors of the Ukrainian flag - his favorite colors, blue and yellow - the country his three adopted siblings are adopted from. The afghan is stitched in yellow and three different shades of blue. And yes, he did really crochet this whole thing without any help! :-) He specifically made it with LOTS of LOVE for the Harlins. It is very thick and will keep you very warm cuddled up with it this winter.
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| Isaac received a blue ribbon and a State Fair Award at the county fair on his afghan!!! |
The GIVE AWAY will be a drawing and work as follows:
*** One entry into the drawing for each time you share this post on your blog or FB page
*** Two entries into the drawing for a $10 donation
*** Six entries into the drawing for a $25 donation
*** 15 entries into the drawing for a $50 donation
*** 40 entries into the drawing for a $100 donation
If you share this post, please EMAIL ME the link so I can verify it (please make your FB post public). Please put your last name in the subject of the email.Thanks!
If you make a donation, please EMAIL ME the receipt. Please put your last name in the subject of the email. Thanks!
Two ways to donate:
1.) Family Sponsorship Page HERE (tax deductible, 3% processing fee)
2.) Paypal (non-tax deductible, no fee). Please email me and I will send you their paypal address.
I will tally the entries, and Isaac will draw the winner on the day the Harlins come home! Winner will be notified via email used to enter the drawing.
Good luck! THANK YOU so much for your help to bring home these precious little ones!
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Down Syndrome Awareness Walk - One day left to pre-register
Hope you local folks will consider joining us! October 4th is the date, but if you want to be guaranteed a t-shirt, please preregister by Fri, Sept 26th at midnight.
You can register for our KUTE 'KRAINIANS team HERE. Details below. Hope to see you there!
(I'm shocked how much Elijah has grown in the past 2 years. Check out the 2012 Walk blog post here.)
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Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Jonathan's First Day of School
Yes, today was Jonathan's first day of school. Why so late? Well, since 7 out of 8 of our children are homeschooled, we took a six-day adventure "field trip" around the state of WI the first week of September. All 10 of us living in a rented motor home. We just returned yesterday. Hopefully I'll blog about that soon! (Don't hold your breath though.)
Anyway, Jonathan started Early Childhood Class today. He went two mornings a week last year and will attend all four days offered this year. He does well there (from what I'm told) and enjoys himself. His speech continues to explode, so that is really fun as well! I'm so very thankful for the awesome professional staff that supports him and his individual needs.
And lest you think all picture ops are perfect around here, this will show you that is not the case. He was mad because I actually made him walk out the door...ya know, use his legs and feet. I know, I'm such a mean mom!
He had a good day though. We are all looking forward to getting back into a routine.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
3 Years.....6 Months....
Three years ago today (June 25th), a Ukrainian judge named Jonathan as our 7th Blessing from God! One less orphan!
I had forgotten what a Chunky Monkey he was! Sportin' lovely orphanage head wear.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
AND 6 months ago today, our first Ukrainian Princess arrived HOME on US soil! She has changed so much in six months. It is a privilege and blessing to see her blossom!
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| Four months home (Yes, all that snow is the end of April!) |
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| 6 months home! Due to her "unique" hairline, she had her first necessary bang trim! Her hair is growing so fast. Fun! |
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Happy Easter!
Happy Resurrection Day, from our family to yours!
Hope you had a blessed day, celebrating because our Savior is RISEN!
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Anna's New Endeavor
My beautiful 11 year old daughter, Anna, has started a new blog called "Heart of Missions"!!! This is something she has wanted to do for a long time. I'm so proud of her!
She is handcrafting items to sell in order to help different missions. Her first mission to support is for our dear friend, Max, missionary to his native people in Ukraine. I intend to do a much more involved blog post about my time in his city while I was in Ukraine. But for now, please check out THIS POST on Anna's blog to find out more about his ministry and specifically, the new building to support orphans who are "aging out" of the system. Normally, these kids are destined to a life of crime, drugs, prostitution and suicide, but this building and ministry seek to break the cycle and give hope to these teens.
Here are the first few items Anna has for sale to raise funds for Max. Please check them out and leave her a comment. More items will be added soon, so be sure to come back. Thank you so much!
"Anti-Depression Kits"
Cotton Potholders - This is one of many different beautiful color combinations
She is handcrafting items to sell in order to help different missions. Her first mission to support is for our dear friend, Max, missionary to his native people in Ukraine. I intend to do a much more involved blog post about my time in his city while I was in Ukraine. But for now, please check out THIS POST on Anna's blog to find out more about his ministry and specifically, the new building to support orphans who are "aging out" of the system. Normally, these kids are destined to a life of crime, drugs, prostitution and suicide, but this building and ministry seek to break the cycle and give hope to these teens.
Here are the first few items Anna has for sale to raise funds for Max. Please check them out and leave her a comment. More items will be added soon, so be sure to come back. Thank you so much!
"Anti-Depression Kits"
Cotton Potholders - This is one of many different beautiful color combinations
Monday, March 24, 2014
Celebrating WDSD!
Last night we went to Monkey Joe's (bouncy house place) to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day with our local Down syndrome support group.
We all had fun, and even took some pictures! :)
We all had fun, and even took some pictures! :)
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| Miss Grace wasn't too sure about the loud, crazy, and brightly colored place at first, but our sensory seeker quickly figured out how much fun she could have. |
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| Elijah remembered going last year and had no fear! |
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| Yeah, she really was this red. Playing too hard! lol |
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| Anna and Jonathan |
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| I (Sarah) was looking at my blog the other day and realized that the only picture I have of Grace and myself was from the orphanage and she was bald. So we took a new one. :) |
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| Our Monkey Man is doing pretty well recovering from his surgery (a week today!). He has been drinking well, and was doing really well pain wise till the scabs came off. The past few days have been a little rough, but we'll get there. |
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| "You mean I allowed to dive over this thing and land on my head??" |
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| This is how all pictures of Grace going down the slide turned out. She LOVED it, and would not stop laughing, but always turned to the side coming down. lol |
Friday, March 21, 2014
3-21 - Happy World Down Syndrome Day!
Today is World Down Syndrome Day! 3-21 for 3 copies of the 21st chromosome.
We love our three precious children with Down syndrome. We love you Grace, Elijah and Jonathan and are so proud of you!
Check out this wonderful video from IDSC celebrating Down syndrome!
And with my daughter's permission, I'm sharing her post from today. She's an amazing young lady and writer. I'm so proud of her! I couldn't agree with her more. Please watch the video she posted as well.
March 21st, or 3/21, standing for 3 of the 21st chromosome.
I have three siblings with Down syndrome, and many other little friends with Down syndrome, all who I love to pieces.
But here's the thing.
I'm not here to tell you about how special people with Down syndrome are, and why we should celebrate them today.
Because I don't think today is about celebrating them.
I think today is about making a point of pointing out to people that people with Down syndrome should be accepted like everyone else.
When I see one of my siblings or one of my other little friends with Down syndrome, I forget in the every day that they have Down syndrome.
When I look at Elijah, I see Elijah, not my-brother-with-Down-syndrome. It's part of who he is, not something that makes him different than everyone else.
Obviously, there are doctor appointments, therapies, and challenges that come up because of their diagnosis, but even then it doesn't scream Down syndrome at me.
I don't think it's much different than when I see someone with blonde hair. I notice it, but not every time I look at them, and it's not what I think about when I look at them.
I'm not trying to take away from the fact they have blonde hair by not pointing it out to them, and I'm not trying to take away the fact someone has Down syndrome by not pointing it out to them.
Today is about acceptance. Accepting people with special needs for who they are, and not treating them different than anyone else.
I'm not saying not to be more patient and understanding when they don't behave perfectly, and I know with some things you have to take their diagnosis into account.
But, you don't have to constantly thinking about the fact they have Down syndrome, and treating them like it.
When we are out and about, yes, I still notice if there is an adult across the restaurant who has Down syndrome. But do I need to to go over with one of my siblings and introduce myself? Absolutely not. Sure, I'll smile at them if they smile at me as they walk by, or I'll say thank you and smile at them if they hold the door open for me. But I won't do anything more than I would do anyone else. I don't introduce myself and my sibling with Down syndrome to point out they are both the same and different than everyone else.
Acceptance.
If you see a woman who is a complete stranger with no hair, do you go up to them and tell them that your sister-in-law also had breast cancer? Or smile sympathetically at them and stare at their head? Why should it be any different with someone with Down syndrome?
Be patient, listen carefully if they try to talk to you, but don't act like they are different.
Because they are as different from people without Down syndrome as you are from me.
Do you the same face and body type as me? Nope, and they don't have the same one as you. You accept me for who I am, so accept them as who they are.
We love our three precious children with Down syndrome. We love you Grace, Elijah and Jonathan and are so proud of you!
Check out this wonderful video from IDSC celebrating Down syndrome!
And with my daughter's permission, I'm sharing her post from today. She's an amazing young lady and writer. I'm so proud of her! I couldn't agree with her more. Please watch the video she posted as well.
What today is really about.
Today is World Down Syndrome Day!
March 21st, or 3/21, standing for 3 of the 21st chromosome.
I have three siblings with Down syndrome, and many other little friends with Down syndrome, all who I love to pieces.
But here's the thing.
I'm not here to tell you about how special people with Down syndrome are, and why we should celebrate them today.
Because I don't think today is about celebrating them.
I think today is about making a point of pointing out to people that people with Down syndrome should be accepted like everyone else.
When I see one of my siblings or one of my other little friends with Down syndrome, I forget in the every day that they have Down syndrome.
When I look at Elijah, I see Elijah, not my-brother-with-Down-syndrome. It's part of who he is, not something that makes him different than everyone else.
Obviously, there are doctor appointments, therapies, and challenges that come up because of their diagnosis, but even then it doesn't scream Down syndrome at me.
I don't think it's much different than when I see someone with blonde hair. I notice it, but not every time I look at them, and it's not what I think about when I look at them.
I'm not trying to take away from the fact they have blonde hair by not pointing it out to them, and I'm not trying to take away the fact someone has Down syndrome by not pointing it out to them.
Today is about acceptance. Accepting people with special needs for who they are, and not treating them different than anyone else.
I'm not saying not to be more patient and understanding when they don't behave perfectly, and I know with some things you have to take their diagnosis into account.
But, you don't have to constantly thinking about the fact they have Down syndrome, and treating them like it.
When we are out and about, yes, I still notice if there is an adult across the restaurant who has Down syndrome. But do I need to to go over with one of my siblings and introduce myself? Absolutely not. Sure, I'll smile at them if they smile at me as they walk by, or I'll say thank you and smile at them if they hold the door open for me. But I won't do anything more than I would do anyone else. I don't introduce myself and my sibling with Down syndrome to point out they are both the same and different than everyone else.
Acceptance.
If you see a woman who is a complete stranger with no hair, do you go up to them and tell them that your sister-in-law also had breast cancer? Or smile sympathetically at them and stare at their head? Why should it be any different with someone with Down syndrome?
Be patient, listen carefully if they try to talk to you, but don't act like they are different.
Because they are as different from people without Down syndrome as you are from me.
Do you the same face and body type as me? Nope, and they don't have the same one as you. You accept me for who I am, so accept them as who they are.
Happy World Down Syndrome Day!
Monday, March 17, 2014
Just in the nick of time...
We were all set to stay overnight at the hospital. Jonathan had eaten quite a bit of his baby food throughout the day, but he would not drink anything. Pat brought the all of the kids to see him after supper and then had to run over to his mom's house for a bit with some of the kids. In the short time he was gone, Jonathan drank about 15 oz of fluid! Way to go Little Man! We (us, nurse, doc) decided it would be fine to bring him home.
By this time it was about 7:30pm. The night nurse hadn't done discharges very often. :-) It all went fine and we are HOME!!! Jonathan was glad to be home and made a bee-line for the couch to bounce/bang to get his "vestibular stimulation" for the day, and then off to bed! He fell asleep right away.
Thanks for the prayers! Praying tomorrow goes well too. G'nite!
By this time it was about 7:30pm. The night nurse hadn't done discharges very often. :-) It all went fine and we are HOME!!! Jonathan was glad to be home and made a bee-line for the couch to bounce/bang to get his "vestibular stimulation" for the day, and then off to bed! He fell asleep right away.
Thanks for the prayers! Praying tomorrow goes well too. G'nite!
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