Merry Christmas!

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Josiah

Quilt to benefit Forget-Me-Not Children in Liberia

quilt+raffle.jpg (image)

Check out what I'm doing in Liberia this week!!

Go to...globalorphanoutreach.blogspot.com

Anthony

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Check out Global Orphan Outreach's new website!!

Don't forget to click on the Forget-Me-Not Children's Homes link!!

www.globalorphanoutreach.org

SEEKING SUPPLY DONATIONS FOR LIBERIA!!

As you well know, I was in Liberia a month ago, helping get our program off the ground, and to deliver supplies to our nurse and caregivers. Well, we continue to have needs and have compiled a list of the most necessary items that are needed ASAP for our nurse in Liberia. She is working very hard on helping this program become a success. We are working on getting supplies over next month, and again on our next trip. If you, a group or a church would like to contribute any of the items listed below for the Forget-Me-Not Children's Program, that would be awesome! Here is the list of needs...

BABY NEEDS...

Pack and play/portable cribs (the kind you can easily fold up for travel)
Umbrella strollers
Baby walkers
Wind-up baby swings (needs to be sturdy to hold heavier baby, small toddler)
Cloth diapers
Crib toys
Plastic books or thick and chunky books (so they can be wiped down over and over again and not get ruined)
Washable plastic toys (no cloth)
Therapeutic toys/equipment
Sippy cups
Plastic bottles with nipples
Bulb syringes
Large bottles of lotion, hand sanitizer, baby powder and baby soap
Crib sheets
Mosquito nets

MEDICATION AND SUPPLIMENTS...

Pedialites packets
Carnation instant drink packets (for Caustic children)
Children's Tylenol, Ibuprophen, Benedryl, Anti fungal, Hydracortizone cream, and vitamins
First Aid Kit

NEEDS FOR OUR NURSE AND OFFICE IN LIBERIA...

Funds for generator
Two lap tops (internet ability, and do word documents)
digital cameras
Memory card (1GB)
Scanner/printer

You can mail any items to this mailing address...
Christina Hoffman
W8240 County Rd. KK
Ellsworth, WI 54011

After a VERY busy June and July, we finally got out in the boat!!!

One of Our Forget-Me-Not Sponsored Children

Overwhelmed...

I haven't figured out what I want to post yet, about my trip to Liberia last week. There is still so much to process, yet the feeling of being overwhelmed with so much to do, is really weighing heavy on my heart.

The need for the kids we are focusing on, the 'special needs', 'handicapped', is soooo great! There are so many kids that are just abandoned in hospitals, clinics, villages, just because they are handicap. They are left in the hospital, with no where to go. So they wait and languish. But, our program is working on getting these children into Liberian foster homes, who have been trained to take care of their needs, and love them like their own. Who knows what the potential of these beautiful children can be!

BUT...We cannot do this without financial support. Your support can be utilized is so many different ways! Be a sponsor for a child, the nurse, or help with funding for our trips over there, (which are very important to keep the program running), help support a shipment of supplies to keep our caregivers and nurse equipped.

Please...consider being a financial partner in our program...The Forget-Me-Not Children's Homes. You can learn more about us, by clicking the link on the left of my blog. Here is the link with a quick review of our days in Liberia last week...http://www.globalorphanoutreach.blogspot.com/

My week in Liberia...

I will post more later...as I have time. But for now, follow this link...

http://www.globalorphanoutreach.blogspot.com/

1 more month...

Before our Andrew is done with his schooling in Ohio!!!! I can't wait to have him back home!

A Dream and Africa!

It has been such a joy to be able to be directly involved in helping set in motion, the Forget-Me-Not Children's program/homes in Liberia. We already have children in our care there, and will soon be getting more. My good friend and I , will be heading to Liberia very soon, and set in place protocols, staff, homes, etc. Also, we are taking as many supplies as we can this trip. We have been collecting donations as they come in, and are almost prepared. The cost of the trip is a big undertaking itself, and are still trying to raise funds for this. The only way we can do something like this, is with the help of others. If you would like to help defray some of our travel expenses, or learn more about the program,please click on the link here...

http://www.globalorphanoutreach.com/forget_me_not/index.html

and click on the "get involved" button.
If you want to be involved by sponsoring one of our children, that would be awesome too! If you are paying by check, put in the memo line, where you want your funds to go to.
We appreciate any financial help...without it, the Forget-Me-Not program would not be possible.

S'more, Love's Kindergarten graduation, Haircut time!

May

Spring babies, concerts, birthdays...

Wow! We have been busy! Just a few of our happenings here...

Some updates...

A lot has happened this past month...
My dad and step mom are now officially living on our property with their HUGE RV! They are a couple hundred feet away from our front door. What an amazing blessing this change has been to our family. I get to have coffee some mornings with my dad, my step mom comes in and surprises me with the dishwasher cleared out and my laundry washed AND folded!!!! I AM SPOILED!!! I LOVE IT! We also have them over for dinner Monday through Thursday. It is soooo cool to have my kids around their grandparents almost everyday. I have dreamed this for my kids for so long. I grew up only seeing my grandparents maybe once a year. I didn't want that for my kids. They do still get to see their other set of grandparents every couple months too though. So that's a great bonus too!

My oldest baby, Andrew 19, was home for Easter break. It was great to spend time with him. I really miss him. The kids really miss him too. But, they did spend some good quality time with big brother!

Have been spending a lot of time with my 'bonus' teenager! She came into our lives last summer, lived with us for awhile, and is starting to make some great positive changes in her life. She's learning about family life and Jesus! She is also my biggest helper with Josiah. I can trust her with all the kids, and leave! Yep, she's that brave to take on this whole clan! I can't wait to see what God does in her life!

We are anxiously waiting on the arrival of three baby alpacas! Any day now! And...75 meat chicks! That is the boys' project this summer! I'm trying to stay away from THAT one!

Fabulous news on our 'Forget Me Not' Children's Home! I will have to post details later on that! Please keep the prayers coming for all the beautiful 'special needs' kids!

Some other great news is about our house we have listed for sale. We didn't sell it, but we did rent it out for a year, and they are hoping to buy it after that! So that financial burden has been lifted! Thank you Lord!

Josiah has been making some great progress these past few months. We are hoping to have him walking in his walker by the time he turns three. I am still his main source of mobility, when he is not army crawling all over the house! He's got some serious biceps! He is also in the toddler terrible two's!! His lack of communication skills really makes it frustrating for all parties involved. We have been working on signing, using pictures, and some sounds that he can use. Poor baby sometimes can't get his point across without throwing a little tantrum. I'm really hoping that we have a breakthrough with his verbal skills or signing soon.
He has been staying healthy, which is so great to see. He is such a sweet, funny and determined little guy! It was really hard when he was so sick for those six months! It's all good now! He was also approved for state medical care, which will cover everything that our insurance doesn't cover. It really adds up quick when you count all the dr. appointments, surgeries, etc. I must say that our county programs, are by far, the best I have ever heard about. They come to US with ideas and services offered for kids like Josiah. WE don't have to go looking for it! We are so blessed to be in such a supportive community who really want to get families who have special needs kids, into programs and hooked up with services that can benefit all of us! HUGE HUGE praises here!!

Oh, and not ready yet to make any announcements yet! Ha!

CHANGES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS COMING SOON!

Any guesses?

Big accomplishment!

Last night I thought I would try to sit Josiah by himself, and see how long it took him to topple over. Well, we just played, and played, had a few times where he actually caught himself falling and would counter balance with his trunk muscles. HE SAT FOR 30 MINUTES WITHOUT ONE TOPPLE!!!! Yahoo little Joe!!
This is a huge thing for him! I can't tell you how proud I was of our little guy!!!
Gotta get a pic next time!

Beautiful day for a race!

CHOICES...

Would you have made the same choice?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:

‘when not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.

Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.

Where is the natural order of things in my son?'

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they’ll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'we're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.

Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the

plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment & in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.

The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.

Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all teammates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, r un to first!

Run to first!'

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.

He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

B y the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!

Shay, run to third!'

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

(This was forwarded to me by another adoptive mom)

Serious help needed...

If you have been reading my blog, you know that I am involved in helping with a new orphanage/home for 'special needs' kids in Liberia. We are trying to raise funds to be able to start taking kids in that really need us. We have, at least 10 kids in need of our home, RIGHT NOW. I recieved some very sad news today. One of the children that we were going to take in, and hopefully adopt out, passed away last week. His death could have been prevented, with all the proper care and staff in place, our place, the Forget-Me-Not Children's home. It really makes me so sad to hear this, and try to portray the importance of a home like ours in Liberia. What's really hard, it knowing the need and knowing people can contribute. Maybe skip that $5 coffee, bottle of wine, dinner out, and contibute that money for a project that will save a life. This is not some petty request, this is a heart plea. We are ALL going through tough times financially. I am living that! We own two homes, not something we can afford right now, still trying to sell our other home, or rent it out! But that doesn't change the need. As a matter of fact, the need is worse because so many are choosing not to give. We all know how the trickle effect works, and unfortunately, the end of the trickle is a child dying.
I am asking you, please, contact me through my email if you feel like you would want to be a monthly sponsor, give a one time gift, or have us speak about the Forget Me Not Children's Home, at your church or group. You can contact me, or log onto www.globalorphanoutreach.com and click on the Forget Me Not link (on the left).
We need your help, but the children need you more!!! Please pray over this!
Thanks for reading!!

Being BOLD!

Boldness is not something I am comfortable with. I don't like to stand out in a crowd (kind of hard when you have kids of various colors!), I don't like to speak in front of more than a half a dozen people, if there is a corner...I may be in it, I would rather write out my thoughts and hand someone a piece of paper!! Speaking up and out is something I am having to learn in this 'wonderful' stage of life. One thing that I don't have a problem with though, is advocating for adoption. So many people think that you have to be something special to adopt. I will be the first to admit that YOU DON'T! I do feel that a lot of people God calls to adopt, some just go with wanting to help...and God takes it from there. There are also people that don't feel or want to adopt, and that is just fine in my 'small' opinion...BUT I feel strongly that EVERYONE needs to be some tool in helping the 'widows and orphans' of the world. This can mean so many things...being a support for an adoptive family, being a constant prayer warrior for an adoptive family, being a 'relief' worker for mom and dad for date night, coming along side families and organizations that work directly for these beautiful children. There are so many opportunities that truly do help children, orphans of this fallen world, without adoption. Sponsorship programs are everywhere. Churches should all have an adoption grant program to relieve some of the financial burden of adoption. Churches need to be the 'help workers' for these families. Individuals can help coordinated meals for a 'newly' adopted family. Sometimes just asking a family if they need anything, really makes my heart sing. We are all in this together, so therefore, we should all be tools for each other! And yes, financial help is a VERY big tool!!!
More on this later...

We finally have a healthy household. We have been dealing with the flu, RSV, sinus infections, colds, etc. Josiah ended up having to go in for surgery because of his sinus infections! Four months of fevers and infections on his little body, have really taken a toll on him and me!! Hopefully we are done!

Gotta go get ready for church!

The baby on the farm...

More pics!

Our beautiful Blessing!
Birthday girl!

Pics!

Snowboarding with the alpacas!

A lot going on...

Josiah is growing like a weed! Between his therapy and dr. appointments, we had botox injections for his hamstrings in both legs. It seems to be loosening his legs up a bit. He now loves his adapted walker because he can move by himself in it. He is getting the walking motions down, he beams with pride knowing he is doing such an awesome job. He has a whole house full of 'cheerleaders'!!
Because Josiah can only say one word, "hi", he is learning all different signs, (sign language), and doing very well. We have been dealing with chronic sinus infections, so we may be off for another scan for his sinus' if this round of antibiotics doesn't work. By the way, I hate antibiotics!
We are still working on independent sitting. He still does not have enough streangth in his trunk muscles to securely hold himself up.
He really does well with his creeping around at lightning speed! His bicepts are huge!

With the VERY cold weather we have been having, our outside play has been very limited. When it does warm up, (above 10 degrees), the kids go sledding down our hills. We had the whole family out on the hills on Loves 6th birthday. Even grandma! Our hills are steep and fast! I bet all those 'Florida' people just envy us! Ha ha! (I would trade our snow for warmer weather any day!).

We are loving our alpacas! They are so fun to be with, very calming and funny! I really don't mind the twice a day barn chores, even in the -0 degree weather we were having. My time out in the barn is a very good stress reliever. Plus, I always remind myself that very few people are out in this stinkin cold weather, so I may be the only one at that time, enjoying the view God has provided. Our views are just amazing! Since our house is straight up a steep hill, we have views in all directions, for miles!! Our God is just amazing!

More pics!