Gifts

Wow!  I got a beautiful message today from Lisa in Texas, who sent in $125 directly to Life 2 Orphans!  And I got TWO cards today!  One from Sherri in Florida for $20 and one from Nancy in Rochester ( the sweetest town) for $25!   So thus far we have raised $755!  We only have $1245 to go to have the $2000 for the well for the Druz Orphanage!!!!

You can give by sending a check to

Grace Church'
7060 Berry Road
Zephyrhills Fl 33540
mark it Orphan Fund

 

or directly to L2O

 http://life2orphans.net/make-a-monetary-donation.html please write in Druzhkovka (Druz WELL  fund)just let me know so I can know when we reach our goal!  Please mark that you'd like for it to go to the WELL project!

 

https://www.facebook.com/Life2Orphans

 

 

 

I'm so happy to be helping out by raising money for this great cause.  I guess I should rename it the Clean Water Bucket Challenge.....

 

Thank you for all your giving! 

 

I think of how life is and how God orders our steps.  Had we not said YES to God when He brought Sarah across our paths, then we would have missed out on Selah and all the wonderful people we met in Ukraine.  Obviously we never knew what was ahead for Ukraine, but God knit us together with others and now we can help those ones while they are going through hard times.  We are so glad to be able to do something for the people we care about in Ukraine.  The orphans have our hearts.  I can not think too deeply about the dangers facing these children that we know and care for or I find I can not hardly stand it.  All we can do is pray and do what we can from afar. 

 

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Today was a better day for me.  Grief is like a riptide.  Riptides happen in Florida all the time and we're taught to not fight it, go along with it and evidently you can get pass it and make it to shore.   The waves of grief do pass, and get smaller so they are bearable, thank God.  Thank you for your prayers and thoughts.

 

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Do any of you have any contacts that could help out a little girl in the Philippines?   She is 5 years old and has Ewings Sarcoma.  It is in her arm and she is in much pain.  I'm in a group trying to get her medical help.  Do you have any contacts in the US that could operate and give her cancer treatment?????  Or do you have any contacts that could help her get to the US?  she has a family, she is not an orphan but a ministry called Maya's Hope is the ones who found out about her desperate situation.  Please contact me if you can help in any way! 

theclanton5@aol.com

 

 

Hope you are having a good week.  We are back to school/work/walking.....I like a schedule, I find we all function so much better with one:)

 

 

 

 

 

Waves of Grief

This morning I woke up missing Selah.  Missing the funny little girl who loved to eat, play with toys, follow Sam around, look in the mirror at all her new clothes.  The little girl we only learned about 6 weeks before we left for Ukraine.  The surprise for a mama who was used to having 3 boys....and who ended up with 2 girls....  We live in limbo....we still have Selah here, but in so many ways she is not here.  I feel I've missed out on the past two years, the time we would have been bonding and I know Selah has missed out. 

If you would have told me that I'd have to deal with a near drowning of one of my kids and live like this, in this limbo world, I would have never thought I could have stood it.  There are times when the waves of grief sweep over me in such a way I just want to go and cry, I feel like I can't breath or even stand.  Today, I don't know anything that triggered it.  It's a holiday long weekend, I slept in instead of going walking because I got to bed too late last night.  Steve was out with some friends and I can't sleep till he gets home.  Nothing bad is going on.....but the wave came as I opened my eyes this morning.  Maybe I had a half remembered dream.....but I woke up remembering the accident.   I just laid there and prayed that God would heal her.  That He'd bring her all the way back to us.  Then I worried if God healed her, she'd have a leg that is shorter than the other due to the hip surgery.  Then I though if God heals her mind, He can take care of the leg too. 

You may wonder how or why I am not angry with God about the accident or that she hasn't been healed but I really am not.  Don't know why but the Grace of God....

Funny thing, I dream about Selah more than any of the other kids.  She is always in my dreams, whole and back to her normal little self.  Sometimes there are just glimpses of her that I remember of the dream, sometimes the whole thing focuses on her....

She was our surprise child, we were going to add a little boy to our adoption of Sarah and then he got adopted before we left for Ukraine and Selah's info was given to us.  Jon fell for her immediately.  I was a tiny bit hesitant because she wasn't blind and I didn't know how to deal with a delayed child who wasn't blind.  Ok I know that sounds crazy but.....   It only took me a couple of days for the joy to set in of having two little girls.  Me, who'd been the only girl ever in the family!  After three boys, having girls was like a dream! 

Then getting them and everything being so wonderful....then the accident....

It's always seemed like a fairytale gone wrong.... and I've said over and over that "this can not be the ending"  I'm waiting for the fairytale ending, the little princess waking up......

We as a family go on, we live, we love, we do life....but there is an empty spot there.  Even tho she is home with us, it's nowhere near the same.  There is like a dark cloud hanging over us.  Oh we cope, because of the grace of God but it's there.  Having nurses in our home 24 hours a day is a blessing and at times hard.  We've never had the luxury of being alone since the day of the accident.  Then we were staying at Ronald McD House....it's not like I could just have an emotional breakdown and go screaming down the halls.

I said in the beginning, that I never would be truly happy again on this earth and it's true.  I have joy and love but happiness, a feeling that all is perfect, will never be mine again. 

Today must have been a hard day for several families, I noticed on FB that one of my friends who has a daughter who was in a near drowning had a hard day as well as a friend who lost his son to a rare disease both made comments about their situations. 

Life can be so hard.

God's hand still holds me tightly and I cling to the hope of eternity.  I really cling, that's my hope.  There is something beyond this life, there is a day coming when every tear will be wiped away and there will be no more death.  Everything will be made right. 

I'm not the best apologist (a person who offers an argument in defense of something controversial.  or a Christian theology which attempts to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defending the faith against objections.)   Which means I don't have all the answers but I KNOW in my heart that God is REAL and that His word is true.  And I'm so very thankful for that knowing.....

I still ask you to pray for Selah.  Pray that God will restore her to us.....  thank you....

Don't Forget!

Great news!  $585 has come in for the WELL Challenge!  I'm trusting that the remaining $1415 will come in this next week!  I want to see $2000 raised so the orphanage can have a well!  A reminder you can give by sending a check to

Grace Church'
7060 Berry Road
Zephyrhills Fl 33540
mark it Orphan Fund

 

or directly to L2O

 http://life2orphans.net/make-a-monetary-donation.html please write in Druzhkovka (Druz fund)just let me know so I can know when we reach our goal!  Please mark that you'd like for it to go to the WELL project!

 

https://www.facebook.com/Life2Orphans

 

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Busy Sunday as always.  Sundays are NOT days of rest for a pastor's family!  But I'm glad that tomorrow is a holiday and everyone is off so we can relax together.

 

Hope you've had a good weekend and a restful day tomorrow for my US friends!

 

 

 

 

Sweet Sarah

Usually I sit on the floor and fed Sarah in my lap.  When she first came home, I put her in a high chair but she hurt her legs one time with a teacher because it was so hard to lift her up and out.  she was too little to sit at our table so it just seemed natural to sit on the floor and put her in my lap.  I feel like she is getting "emotionally fed" at the same time I'm meeting her physical needs.  I'm not sure she had anyone hold her while she was being fed in the orphanage. 

Well this morning, I had fed her breakfast late and was getting lunch for everyone else and she scooted into the kitchen.  First of all she moves herself by doing a hop/crawl which is fine in the living room as there is nothing she can bump into but the kitchen has the big table and chairs.  Also the cabinets and the floor are almost the same color and I think that confuses her as we believe she can see colors/big objects.  PLUS she HATED the wooden floor and tries to avoid it when possible.  So for her to come ALL the way deep into the kitchen, scooting on her bottom was just adorable.   I said her name and she answered me back with her little noise that sounds like "Unhuh"  she had never done anything like this before and we just loved it!   I sat her in the big chair and fed her lunch early:)  I thought she needed a treat!   She was smiling the whole time. 

I love to see Sarah do new things and to see her happy.  We have such a bond, I'm so blessed to have this little sweet girl as my daughter.  Unless you are around her, it would be hard to believe how easy going and sweet natured she is.  When we brought her home, in the back of my mind I did wonder "when was the honeymoon going to be over?"  Well after 2 years....it's still on:)    I'd love her no matter what, don't get me wrong, but there is something so unique about Sarah.   Who would have known that the little blind girl in the "bedridden" room had so much love inside of her to give? 

If I sit down in the living room, Sarah comes straight to me to sit on my lap.  It used to be she wanted to be in her favorite rocking chair, now she just wants to be on my lap.  We kid around that we will have to buy one of those massive Lazy Boys recliners/rockers as she gets older so we will have enough room!   I feel VERY loved!   Sometimes I'll try and be really quiet when I come in but we think she sees enough shadow/light to figure things out and she'll come hopping/crawling to me.   What a treasure she is!

It amazes me how she has such a capacity to love.  With everything she went through, and including her very low IQ, the way she handles emotions and love is just amazing.  There is no other word for it.  It's like she was totally unscathed by the years of neglect.  There are things she doesn't know how to do, like kiss or even hug but she snuggles up into my arms. And she pats us on the back constantly. She loves to touch my face and will rub it. It is so sweet. 


One other thing about Sarah and Sam both, they respond to Christian music and preaching in an unique way.  Sarah twirls on the floor and claps her hands BUT only to Christian songs!  We have tested her over and over again.  The only song she has responded to that was not a Christian song is the song that begins the  Duck Dynasty show LOL.....I think that is a ZZ Top song LOL

Sam LOVES preaching.  He likes the old time Pentecostal preaching with all the extras added in:)  I have seen him sit for a solid hour watching a DVD of someone preaching.  He particularly likes Tommy Bates, a fiery Church of God preacher.  He also likes to hear his daddy who is not quite that loud or exuberant.   Sam will get upset if there is a guest minister UNLESS the minister is a very loud one! 

It is so unusual to see this type of response in children with all of their challenges. It's like there is something inside of them that yearns for God.   Jon and I really hold these things in our hearts, not quite sure of what to make of them but very humbled and grateful for these sweet glimpses into their little souls.


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Please don't forget about the WELL CHALLENGE!!!!!

 You can give by sending a check to

Grace Church'
7060 Berry Road
Zephyrhills Fl 33540
mark it Orphan Fund

 

or directly to L2O

 http://life2orphans.net/make-a-monetary-donation.html please write in Druzhkovka (Druz fund)just let me know so I can know when we reach our goal!  Please mark that you'd like for it to go to the WELL project!

 

 

Life2Orphans has already sent $1200 to help with the food shortage!   L2O is right in there as always doing everything that can be done for the orphans of Ukraine.  I'm so thankful for this organization!!!!!

 

My goal is to raise the $2000 needed for the well repairs and their goal is to raise $3000 to help with the other needs just for the one orphanage alone that our girls would be at right now if we had not adopted them. 

 

Right now I have $300 towards the $2000 goal!!!!  I have the faith it will all come in and come in quickly!!!!!

Ukraine on my mind......

So much on my mind, that I don't really know if I have a blog post in me.....

Heartbroken over the escalating fighting in Ukraine and the acknowledgement of our POTUS (president for non Americans) that Russia is behind it.  I'm heartbroken it has taken so long for our president to acknowledge the influence of Russia.  I think losing Crimea just might have given him a hint something was going on......

For some reason I love the one guy, he is the prime minister of Ukraine

 

this is not his best picture but he speaks clearly (and slowly for our leaders who need to understand the situation)  Tonight he was on the news explaining how Ukraine had been fighting and taking back territory  from the separatists but they (Ukraine) can not win against Russia.  He speaks with such dignity. 

 

That's how I think of Ukraine.  A country that was ruled by Russia for so many years, just free since 1991, a country that in spite of all the problems it had, still it had dignity and still does. 

 

 

My prediction is that Russia will overtake Ukraine....and then go on to take back other nations who were once part of the Soviet Union.  I hope and pray I am wrong and will be very glad to be wrong!    I don't necessarily think that Putin wants to bring back Communism but he does want the land that the Russians think is theirs. 

 

Wish we had some faith healer that could raise Ronald Reagan from the dead......  but since that is not going to happen, we better do some praying!

 

What do I think we should do as a country outside of trying to bring Reagan back from the dead and lots of praying?  Thanks for asking.....

 

I think we should slap Russia with many REAL sanctions, bring in US advisors to Ukraine, give Ukraine lots of money and equipment to fight with, put our missile shields back up in Eastern Europe....allow NATO and the UN to send in troops (some would be US troops).....that's what I think should happen.  I doubt it will happen because our president is a weak man and the world knows it. 

 

 

For those of you who hate to give money to other countries just know in a situation like this, by helping them, we are in essence allowing them to fight the battle for us.  We give so much money to things/countries that may end up hurting us.  Helping Ukraine would only help us!

 

IMO, Ukraine's freedom or lack of it, is a reflection of what is going on in Putin's mind.  If you see he is going after Ukraine, other countries may be in his sights too. 

 

I'm just a mom, my college degree is in theology and counseling (funny I've not used my counseling degree very much wonder why??  LOL)  I'm not a political major but I read....a lot.....a lot of boring books....I've been places, talked to a lot of folks....watch news, not just American news.  I feel I have a grasp of things.  I pray that God will bring peace to Ukraine and protect her as a sovereign country. 

 

 

Don't forget the WELL challenge of digging a well for the orphans of Ukraine.  These are real people, many I know personally, ones I've held and played with......

 

  You can give by sending a check to

Grace Church'
7060 Berry Road
Zephyrhills Fl 33540
mark it Orphan Fund

 

or directly to L2O

 http://life2orphans.net/make-a-monetary-donation.html please write in Druzhkovka (Druz fund)just let me know so I can know when we reach our goal!

 

 

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My heart is so heavy for the news out of Iraq and Syria.

Pray for protection for the people from ISIS

 

We are being threatened right here in our homeland.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/08/28/al-qaeda-magazine-urges-terrorists-to-hit-vegas-military-academies-and-stores/

 

 

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There is no real answer for this world but Jesus and I know that

I also know that the bible says that troublesome times will come on  this earth.  It's hard for me not to think the coming of the Lord is near and that these are signs of His coming.  I don't know when Jesus is coming back, but He is coming again.  Then there will be real peace....

 



Supper and my heart

Do you want to use Apple Cider Vinegar, which is all the rage right now  but hate the taste?  Try this dressing....1 part apple cider vinegar and 2 parts Olive Oil and this wonderful little flavor packet that has nothing bad in it....I put a few drops of lemon juice too, mix and shake well and YUM!  This salad dressing could not be any more healthier than what it is and it is soooo good!  The first time you try apple cider vinegar it might be a bit strong but NOW I crave it!  The Heinz unfiltered is supposed to be the very best type to use. 

 

 

 

 

So tonight was salad with the wonderful dressing above

garlic bread

lasagna

Pepperoni roll ups

 

 

 

I try and make it as healthy as possible

the garlic bread is Alexis brand, no perseverative

 

Lasagna

 

Brown 2 pounds of ground chicken

add jar of tomatoes sauce

1 cup of pureed carrots

package of flax seeds

 

boil box of noodles (tried whole grain just couldn't hack it!)

layer casserole dish with noodles

add meat mixture

then add 1/2 cup of ricotta cheese

sprinkle mozzarella cheese & parmesan cheese

THEN on about 1/2 add cooked spinach

layer and repeat

on top layer cover with pasta sauce

then mozzarella and parmesan cheese

bake at 350 till bubbling! 

 

 

Pepperoni Roll ups

 

take  left over lasagna noodles

add pepperoni, pasta sauce and mozzarella cheese and then roll it up

stick a toothpick to hold it

fill up casserole dish

cover with pasta sauce and mozzarella and parmesan cheese

cook at 350 till bubbling!

 

 

My tricks to make it healthier...

ground chicken instead of beef (and vegetarian fed chicken only no antibodies)

pasta sauce READ the label no preservatives or oils other than olive oil!

All cheeses are low fat/skim and I try to buy organic when I can

pepperoni is NATURAL no nitraides

I sneak in the cup of pureed carrots and no one is the wiser

Same with the flax seeds....no one knows it is there

the spinach is for me and Jon can't hide that LOL 

 

 

 

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I hope you enjoy the recipe I shared.  My heart is heavy for the suffering in the world and this seems like a very trite blog post but there is so much in my heart it is hard to share in a short time. 

Pray for our brothers and sisters throughout the world.

 

 

Please help out with the WELL CHALLENGE! 

Today I got offered an old car and we are going to figure out how to get the most out of it to be able to give to the well challenge. 

 

I have to say when I write about orphan needs....my blog falls strangely quiet.  Don't feel bad, so does my facebook posts.....  I know there are folks who care and give so thank you so much but I don't understand the quietness.....

 

I LOVE to give to good works and even if I can't always give, I support by reposting or sharing on my blog or something.......

 

Is Orphan care not sexy enough?  I don't mean that in a bitter way.....I'm all for giving to find cures to help fight diseases (if given to an ethical organization)  The first fundraiser I ever did was when I was in 7th grade and raised a few hundred dollars for the Jerry Lewis Telethon by going door to door and asking people to give.  I was so excited to turn it in at the end of the day to the Women's Club and I got to be on the radio for a minute.....

 

I get so excited about giving to the things I've shared about on this blog.  Whether it was to a specific family to adopt or whether it was to help support a little girl's surgery in Ukraine, or medical orphan care in China or helping Christians fleeing from ISIS or Ukrainians fleeing pro Russians....it's all good and just thrills me to be a small part of helping others. 

 

Helping THESE particular orphans, is so close to my heart.  My girls would be there with them right now if we had not adopted them.  Their are two children there right now that we had HOPED to go back and adopt....there is another girl who I held in my arms, we support her monthly and pay for her care giver....these are kids I KNOW, ones I've touched and played with.  Ones who have brought me to tears having to leave them.  Oh I wish we could have done more than what we did......

 

PLEASE help us reach our goal of $2000 for building a well for this orphanage as they have little water being brought in to them and almost 500 to care for....plus caregivers.....

 

You can give by sending a check to

Grace Church'
7060 Berry Road
Zephyrhills Fl 33540
mark it Orphan Fund

 

or directly to L2O

 http://life2orphans.net/make-a-monetary-donation.html please write in Druzhkovka (Druz fund)just let me know so I can know when we reach our goal!

 I would really appreciate it!  I'm pledging $100 personally!  I have gotten a check for $200 and hopefully we will be able to sell this car, even if it's just for scrap....

 

 

PS.  We gave to the Monier family for their daughter Grace.  They are home with her now and she is doing pretty good for an older child adoption.  Pray that her transition will continue to go well! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The WELL challenge - A WELL for our birthday!

Well I'm the kind of friend who will help you spend your money but instead of clothes, eating out or going places, I can help you find wonderful projects to give to......


One that is dear to my heart is Life2Orphans!   They provided care for both our girls while they were in Torez Mental Institution.   I do not know if my girls, especially Sarah would have lived had it not been for L2O.

https://www.facebook.com/Life2Orphans  This is their facebook page.  If you look at the cover picture I know all three of those girls.  The one of the left is still there....we played with her almost every day.

This is what L2O wrote.......

SAVING ORPHANS LIVES; WATER, FOOD, FORMULA... THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE FOR DRUZHHKOVKA

WE ARE SHARING THE REALITIES OF WAR AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THOUSANDS OF ORPHANS IN UKRAINE

$5,000.00 NEEDED
...
Bless these orphans with your love and PLEASE DONATE http://life2orphans.net/make-a-monetary-donation.html

Please write in Druzhkovka (DRUZ) Fund (we are always thankful for recurring donations).

We all know what is going on in Ukraine. It’s a scary, scary situation. People are terrified and panicked, running from their homes.

Now, can you imagine trying to move 145 children out of their home? Many of whom are special needs? Some of whom are Bedridden? Along with caregivers? Me either, but that’s exactly what’s happened in Donetsk

 

The kids from the Shakhtyorskiy orphanage had to evacuate. They had to leave because the fighting in Donetsk was too dangerous.

Many of these Bedridden Orphans came from the Torez orphanage. A few weeks ago the Torez orphanage was bombed. Blessedly, none of the children and adult orphans with special needs who live there were hurt (although, a few of the caregivers were). They did survive, though, Thank God!

But war does not know boundaries, and there are a lot of people in a lot of trouble. I received this e-mail from Life2Orphans: STATE OF EMERGENCY AT THE DRUZHKOVKA ORPHANAGE, DONETSK, UKRAINE, Druzhkovka orphanage is now overwhelmed with 375 orphans in an orphanage that did house ONLY 230. The Shakhtyorskiy orphanage had to leave the area of fighting and evacuate their 145 orphans and caregivers to the Druzhkovka orphanage. They are now bursting at the seams and need our help immediately!!

After transferring the orphans from Shakhtyorskiy the children are now sleeping on the floors on mattresses side by side. They had no additional beds, but they have found enough mattresses for all the orphans. The caregivers are sleeping wherever they can in the orphanage.

Please note these are the former Bedridden boys and girls from Torez, and they are now together at Druzhkovka. So happy to say, The Individual Orphan Caregivers are still with their children.

THEY HAVE MANY NEEDS THAT ARE URGENT:

Water – The water delivery system for several cities in the Donetsk Region has been damaged by war activity. They are having difficulties with their water/well and they need to have clean water. It is an expensive project because the water is in an area that is deep into the soil. Druzhkovka has a need for $2,000.00 to be used for digging, materials and costs of fixing their well.

Sanitary - Washing Powder, Toilet Paper and Cleaning Sponges

Hygiene - Toothpaste/Toothbrushes, Brushes, Potties, Hand and Body Soap, Bath Sponges

Food - Oats, Vegetables, Meat, Fruits, Juice, Flour, Oil, Canned Meat/ Beef, Macaroni, Rice – If you would like to choose the food -DONATE FOOD http://www.life2orphans.net/food-project.html

Formula - Formula, Specialized Formula - Peptamen and Clinutren, Baby Cereals, Fruits and Vegetables

Diapers

Sanitary Napkins

We have estimated a cost of $5,000.00 to help the situation at Druzhkovka. $2,000.00 is for the well and the other $3,000.00 is for formula, food, sanitary needs, hygiene, diapers and other related items.

No one can deny these children and caregivers are desperate! Water, Food, just the necessities of life is needed to help them survive this crisis.

Bless these orphans with your love and PLEASE DONATEhttp://life2orphans.net/make-a-monetary-donation.html

Please write in Druzhkovka (DRUZ) Fund (we are always thankful for recurring donations).

THANK YOU, KRISTI! WITHOUT VOLUNTEERS LIKE YOU, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SO MUCH FOR THE ORPHANS OF UKRAINE!!!

Thank You from the Chief Lyudmilla and Deputy Chief Olga of the Druzhkovka orphanage! And another huge Thank You from Chief of Shakhtyorskiy, Natalia for this emergency aid for the orphans of both of their orphanages!!!

 

 

 

So to explain to you, after we adopted the girls from Torez, all the kids under 16 were transferred. The boys went to  Shakytorskiy and  the girls went to Druzhhkovka  and  now the boys also have been transferred and they are all together at Druzhkovka.

 

The older girls (16-90 years old) were transferred out of Torez a few weeks ago when it was shelled and are now in Slavyansk.  Life 2 Orphans has yet to hear from them.  Please pray!

 

 

So let me tell you what Shad and I want for our Birthday (Sept 18th)
A WELL!!!!!

I would be thrilled to raise $2000 for this project.  You can give through their link
 http://life2orphans.net/make-a-monetary-donation.html please write in Druzhkovka (Druz fund)
Or you can send a check to:
Grace Church'
7060 Berry Road
Zephyrhills Fl 33540
mark it Orphan Fund

 

If you send through their website, will you just drop me a line and let me know?  I'd love to know that we all together gave enough to build a well. 

Water is sacred in Ukraine.  Mostly you can only get it an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening.  Our apartment had a water tank and we were in town so it was a bit better but if we hadn't had the tank, we would have only had water for 2 hours a day!  AND that was NOT when there was a war going on!!!!!!!!!

Near the orphanage, they only could get water by the water truck!  Can you imagine????

 

We have a hand well in our yard.  Since we are on a well system (ran by electricity) I was worried if the electricity was off for any amount of time we'd need water so we had it installed years ago.  Water is so important!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

This is a recent picture of some of the sweet little girls.  Sarah and Selah would be there now facing shortages if we hadn't adopted them.  PLEASE help out if you can!  The little girl we sponser is living there as well as the boy and girl we had hoped to adopt.....so our heart is there with them!

 

 

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/23/world/europe/ukraine-donetsk-siege-alpeyrie/

here's a link to pictures of Doneskt taken recently, shows the killing of innocents

 

 

http://maidantranslations.com/2014/08/24/separatists-force-ukrainian-pows-to-parade-through-downtown-donetsk/

this shows the POWs paraded through Doneskt on the very street/park we ate lunch at....so very sad!!!

 

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Today I took Sarah to the specialist for her orthopedic problems.  I was determined to bring her walker so he could see how she walks with it.  As you can see "if there is a will, there is a way"  LOL  It was quite the undertaking but me and her "got it done"

 

So the doctor was great, really kind.  He wants us to try and ankle brace but is not sure if that will help her.  She only has mild CP when examined but she puts her limbs in various odd poises at times.  It's hard to explain and must go back to not being up and weight bearing much on her legs.  He was conservative about thinking of surgery which is good because I didn't think it would help much from what I read and he agreed with me. 

 

You can laugh at the pictures but I was by myself with a non walker and we had to figure out how to get everything in!  There was NO way I was going to try and get her to walk in, we'd still be there, she is quite slow!

 

 

 

 

 

I thought this was ingenious!  LOL

good thing her walker has a steering handle for ME!

 

My sweet Sarah Joy