The Poppies' Blog

P robably nowhere near where I am now... but some 4 years ago the direction of our lives changed. With a simple sentence... the doctor's words... our lives completely changed. An angel was dropped into our life.

The following video is an excerpt from a documentary that I hope the world sees. I hope the ENTIRE world sees this. It made me think about where my life was headed before our doctor said those words to us... Down's Syndrome (in the US it is Down syndrome).

I was in the hospital ward proudly watching as the doctor was examining Little Poppet before what I was hoping would be the approval to go home. It isn't that I don't like hospitals... it's that I HATE them. I wanted to go home and sleep in my own bed and not have 3 other babies in the room with their Mum's and Dad's and goodness! brothers and sisters!

There was a student nurse that had asked if she could basically give us a survey for her work to become a nurse practitioner sitting beside me and I was absolutely beaming with pride. The gorgeous little girl in the cot next to me was mine... ours... and I was so happy. For one thing, we were so sure she was going to be a he that I was tickled pink, literally!

The doctors were looking at her and very hushedly speaking so I asked them if something was wrong. They wanted to wait and have the Paediatric Head come examine her rather than they tell me. I very politely (we British are polite you see) explained that I'd rather know than not know so please tell me... so they did. They said there were some things that made them think our perfect baby was in their eyes, not perfect.

I had a most unusual reaction to their words. For one, my husband was on his way there so I had this information thrown at me by myself. The seemingly now invisible student nurse made her way out of the room barely noticeable... and the photographer was also told not to visit me. Instantly the faces of the people surrounding me went from smiles to averted glances or pitying condolences.

In less than a minute it felt like the room shrank. Many people will tell you that they grieved the child they thought they were going to have in the first hours and days of finding out before that grief was replaced by amazing joy and love. That isn't what happened to me. I never grieved anything about her. I had held her the entire day before. She was an angel and I already knew it. Nothing they said made me think any less of her and she hadn't changed. She was still the beautiful little girl I held all day the day prior and I had already felt the amazing power that she had... tiny, titch little thing but there was something you could just feel when you held her.

What I did cry about is that I worried that people wouldn't realise how amazing she was and that they'd miss that because of a label that they were trying to put on her. So, I didn't grieve a loss of something I'd hoped for... I had what I'd hoped for, a beautiful baby. A gift from God... what I grieved was what others would think of her. And that is what I cried about that day. I cried for what the rest of the world would potentially lose if they chose to reject her.

The midwife that delivered her came to see me the next day to say she'd heard and how sorry she was for me. I am very thankful that I said what I said, especially with what I've learned since... but I told her there was no need to be sorry, she was the same baby that she delivered and she was still just as beautiful and I loved her just as much. She was actually a lovely midwife and I know she meant no harm at all.

So, where were we headed? The Mr. and I are different people now. I was shy, I was very close to God (or so I thought), I led worship at church and prayed for people. I wrote teachings for the worship team and thought you could never have too many pairs of shoes...

But we thought we were good Christians. We went to church, we loved music and worship and I did my art and things and the Mr. worked long hours and played guitar and cycled. We weren't necessarily going down the wrong path, we just weren't going down the right path. We were what we used to consider good Christian people.

But in the blink of an eye... that changed. Initially you could say we turned down the academic pathway, learning everything we could about Down's Syndrome. And of course, we printed it all out and handed it out to family members lol. Just in case they ever thought they would come near our perfect child, they needed to read the 2,000 page manual.

We had lists of things they test for and worried because no one had suggested we have them. Fact is, she was perfectly healthy and she didn't need all of that. If I'm honest, ours has not been difficult in regards to health. We have allergies to contend with, and not to trivialise those, but that is all we've had to manage.

After awhile, though... we stopped printing things out and we learned about Reece's Rainbow. We saw the video of the Serbian Institutions that literally broke our hearts. We wept when we saw it. I think that is what we grieved the most. Seeing how children that are deemed imperfect are thrown away for the same reason the doctors and nurses in our hospital changed how they looked at our baby.

It is the sort of thing that as the shy person I was couldn't look at before. I wouldn't even let someone tell me about an animal that was hurt let alone a child. But now I saw these children and I couldn't look away. I had to watch it because I needed to know what fate my daughter escaped by being born British.

Whether there was any strength within me prior to that day or not, my daughter gave me the strength that day and every day since to do the work that I do with Reece's Rainbow.

When I first saw the video and read about the existence they 'live' until they escape to Heaven, my heart broke, shattered into a million pieces... and they haven't been put together the same... we will never be the same. I've said it before but there isn't really any other way to say it... we've been ruined for this world. We know God's heart for orphans... at least a glimpse of it anyway. We long for families for the children in orphanages and institutions around the world.

And when I saw the Reece's Rainbow web site that first year, God put an image in my head... a tree. Significant I suppose if you are a Christian... the tree and Christmas... but this tree was the Angel Tree. The logo made into a tree. I can't take credit for designing it, I only put it on paper so to speak after God put it in my head. He does that sometimes. So, I made it and emailed it to Andrea. That was the door opening to the new path we were now on. One that may have different twists and turns but one we are sure we will not part from.

2010 Angel Tree Graphic

My husband makes it so that I can work as much as possible on things for RR and the adopting families. He cooks for us almost every night. He even makes my lunches so I don't have to make them during the day. That way, if I need to do some work during the day, I can do it at that time. Little Poppet is first priority... but then the orphans are next. And it isn't just for those precious children that I'm working... it is for my daughter and your children and any other children with Down's Syndrome. Because if I stand by and do nothing whilst other countries are throwing away their precious children, how long before they do this in my own country? How long before they do it in your country?

Just in case you haven't heard this yet, Andrea of Reece's Rainbow is the recipient of the 2010 Congressional Angel In Adoption Award. More news on that to come... It was also her birthday on Tuesday so Happy Birthday, Andrea! You can still donate to her birthday wish if you haven't yet (I think)!

I'm so proud of Andrea and all she's done... all I do is make pictures and promote what she is doing... and I'd not have it any other way.

Enjoy this video, if it doesn't play for you here, double click it to watch it on youtube. You may want to do that anyway so you can SHARE this everywhere you are able! Let's get the TRUTH out there!

Click to read Dave's post in its entirety

T his post I'm going to share part of is possibly the best post about the 'R' word that I've seen. I can only suggest you go read the entire post and share it, as well.

When I read it, I realised that we have truly NOT said enough about the misuse of the word. I realised that it is and does attack the future for any persons with cognitive delays or disabilities.

So, please go to Dave Hingsburger's blog. He VERY KINDLY gave me permission to quote part of this here but honestly, go read it in it's entirety. It is far better. Thank you, Dave!

The people who 'ARE' what the 'R' word refers to have a long history.

They have been torn from families and cast into institutions.

They have been beaten, hosed down, over medicated, under nourished, sterilized, brutalized, victimized.

They have been held captive, have been enslaved, have had their being given over to the state.

They are the group in society most likely to be physically, sexually and financially abused.

They are the group least likely to see justice, experience fair play, receive accommodation or support within the justice system.

They are the group most likely to be bullied, most likely to be tyrannized, most likely to be the target of taunts.

They are the least likely to have their hurt taken seriously, physical hurt, emotional hurt, spiritual hurt.

They are most likely to be ignored when they speak of pain, have their words diminished by an assumption of diminished capacity.

They are the least likely to ever be seen as equal, as equivalent and entirely whole.

They are the victim of some of the most widespread and pervasive prejudices imaginable.

They are those that the Nazi's thought unworthy of life, they are those targeted by geneticists for non-existence, they need fear those who wear black hats and those who wear white coats.

They are educated only under protest, they are included as a concession rather than a right, they are neighbours only because petitions failed to keep them out.

They are kept from the leadership of their own movement, they are ignored by the media, their stories are told to glorify Gods that they do not worship.

That they are a 'people' is questioned even though they have a unique history, a unique voice, a unique perception of the world.

That they are a 'community' is questioned even though they have commonality, they have mutual goals, they have a collective vision of the future.

That they are have a legitimate place at the table is questioned simply because no one's ever offered a seat.

They are a people.

They ask for respect and receive pity.

They ask for fair play and are offered charity.

They ask for justice and wipe spittle off their face.

They ask to silence words that brutalize them and their concerns are trivialized.

They ask to walk safely through their communities and yet bullies go unpunished.

They ask to participate fully and they are denied access and accommodation and acceptance.

And this is NOW.

This is the people who have walked the land of the long corridor, who have waited at the frontier of our bias to finally be here, now. They have survived. They have come home. They have continued, silently and without fanfare, to take hold of freedom and live with dignity. They have given everything they have for what others take for granted. Their civil liberties are perceived as 'gifts' as 'tokens' and as 'charity'. Their rights are seen as privileges. Their movement is, as of yet, unacknowledged. They are a people recently emancipated, new citizens, who are tentatively discovering their voice.

It is a voice not yet heard.

It is a voice not yet respected.

It is a voice not yet understood.

But it is speaking.

And when it is finally heard. The world will change.

The 'R' word is an attack on a people who know discrimination. Tremble when you say it. Because those who should know better will be held accountable to those who know best.

*The above quote is from Dave Hingsburger's blog. It was used by permission but go read it in it's entirety! Thank you!

H elp these families getting closer to being able to go bring their children home?

This little boy is absolutely precious! His family could use some help in the final leg of their fundraising! I can't wait to see him at HOME with his family! If you are in a position to help them, please please do, if you can't give financially, please add their button to your blog. Every blog that carries these buttons gives them that many more chances of someone who IS in the position to give financially to their adoption!

In fact, I know there are many many more families in need right now, I'm going to add some buttons from some of the ones I know of to hand (simply because I did their blog design but each of these blogs has buttons from many other families so have a look and see who you feel led to help if you are able, OR add as many buttons as you can to your blog or site!)

Yana

Grab This Button

Erika and Ilya (Scarlett and Reed)




Lera




Fedia

Grab This Button

Kullen





Magda and Arianna

Grab This Button

Nathan




Liam




An Extra Leaf





Nadya




Remember to check their fundraisers as well! You can help and either be entered into a chance to win something OR you can actually buy something that in return supports their adoptions. There are lots of ways to help, and remember, there are other families besides the ones I've designed blogs for that need help so be sure you look at the other buttons on the Reece's Rainbow Button Blog or in these blog's sidebars for more!

I meet a lot of families that are adopting children in Eastern Europe and around the world by my work with Reece's Rainbow. When I say meet, I mean, through technology because as yet, not a single one of them has flown back to the US via London! lol I do try to convince them the extra cost would be worth meeting us at the airport for 15 minutes when they are exhausted, spent emotionally and just.want.to.get.home. No takers yet! lol

But I DO get to know so many of these families and I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I've never met such amazing people. They ARE truly heroes. As much as I try to get people to see the precious children and to choose to adopt them, I'm not completely unaware of the challenges involved. The fact that some 300 children have found their families since Reece's Rainbow began 4 years ago tells me that it is definitely something that can be done but as is the case with anything of value, there is sacrifice.

One of the families I have designed a blog for is The Stratton Family. They are in country right now adopting Ivanna, a beautiful little girl that doesn't yet realise just how much her life is going to change. She won't have to fight for food or toys or attention. She will be loved, unconditionally and forever by her new family. She is getting a mama and papa...

I saw this on their facebook page today...and asked if I could share it...

Great visit again today. Playing with all the kids and loving on them all while we are there HEART BREAKING. They were explaining to Sasha (little boy) that we were Ivanna's momma and papa and he said "I want a papa". Yep tears filled my eyes. Not enough words to describe feelings here.

 It breaks my heart to read about what I already knew... that these little people, who have known nothing else instinctively know that they want a Papa. Our Creator made us with an intrinsic need for our parents and these children are no different and no less deserving to be loved.

I am so proud of the work that Reece's Rainbow does. Andrea, the Director and founder, has fought tirelessly to be able to say that 300 children have found their families since they began. So tirelessly she has fought that she and RR have been awarded the Congressional Angel in Adoption Award! This October she will go and meet the politicians that make the award possible, as well as possibly rubbing shoulders with celebrities! How exciting! But, I know this much about Andrea, she'll be there smiling and sharing with them all about Reece's Rainbow and the plight of the orphan, but she will want to be at home, fighting for them... working to be able to answer the Sasha's when they say they want a papa, that theirs will be there soon...

It breaks my heart, it is things like this that have literally ripped my heart from me. I will never be the same person I was 4 years ago before I knew about the little Sasha's. I would encourage you to read Andrea's post today on the RR Blog.and then will you share it? Help find papas for all the Sasha's out there!

I promised if I ever found an actual episode of the Zing Zillas online I'd post it for you! Well, here is probably our favourite episode lol. The music is actually really good on it... the characters are um... primates. So, here you go! The Zing Zillas!

IF YOU GET AN ERROR MESSAGE, JUST DOUBLE CLICK ON THE YOUTUBE BOX AND IT WILL TAKE YOU TO YOUTUBE TO WATCH THE VIDEO.

AND PART TWO


And just because... here is part of Gigglebiz... with Justin Fletcher (he does the Makaton show 'Something Special' and is absolutely so wonderful with kids with special needs!), who has been awarded an OBE from the Queen for his work with special needs.

URGENT PRAYERS NEEDED AGAIN!!

All about the Enskats: It happened again...: "Timofey is on his way to the hospital again. This time, the line busted somewhere inside his body and blood was pouring out of the opening ..."

All about the Enskats: Prayers for Timofey...again!: "Poor little Timofey...it seems like I am always asking you to pray for him in some way. Well, today we had another incident. Somehow, Timofey..."

AND THE UPDATE:

All about the Enskats: Timofey Update: "God is SO good! The paramedics were able to stop the bleeding from Timofey's line on the way to the hospital. When they arrived, the doctor..."

Thank you, prayer warriors! How differently things could have gone without you. Thank you! Michelle is a very very good friend of mine. As close as you can be living across an ocean from each other. I'm blessed and so very thankful that you would join me in prayer for her son!

God is good, His LOVE endures forever!

I f you can stop what you are doing and join me on your knees right now, this little boy needs our prayers!

Grab This Button

In case you haven't seen it, the Reece's Rainbow ministry video has been updated! Just in time for Buddy Walk season!

We don't have those here in London though I've heard there may be a couple of places outside of London that have something similar. But if we did, I'd surely be telling people about this video! lol As it happens, I'm posting it here for you to see but you can also click the link to see it on the Reece's Rainbow Blog!

T his is something that for some reason I sort of made up yesterday and it was a brilliant surprise! Meaning it was NICE lol! It helped that I only thought it up and the Mr. actually executed it.

Now, I have to say, I think I've seen variations of this on cookery shows so I don't think I can fully take credit for it but the ingredients we chose were my idea lol.

SO, with all of the disclaimers out of the way, here you go... a recipe! And I'd love to hear if you make them and what you thought...

Here is what you need:

• Mayonnaise (optional)
• Chicken (already cooked, can boil it or bake it or roast it - your preference)
• Sweet Corn
• Pepper
• 6 Rolls or baps (that is a hamburger style bun to you in the US)
• Sliced Mature Cheddar cheese
• Your Own Choice of Herbs and seasonings
• Bacon already cooked (optional)
• Margarine or Butter (optional)
• Crisps (or in the US you call these chips)

Firstly, put the grill on (I don't know what you would call this in the US, or if you have them. In the UK the hob is what you call stove, a cooker has the hob, an oven and in between there is a grill. Heated from the top and high temps rather than the oven heated from below)

Then, in a mixing bowl put chunks of chicken, mayo, sweet corn, seasonings and herbs, and if you want, Bacon chunks. Mix them all together.

In another bowl take the crisps and crush into tiny tiny pieces. Set this aside...

Then, take the rolls and slice in half and then if you want to use margarine or button on them, go ahead. You can also pre toast them... but not too much.

Add roughly one tablespoon of the chicken mixture on the open rolls. So, if you have 6 rolls, you will have 12 of these as each one is half the roll.

Put under the grill until the rolls are the crispness you prefer and the chicken mixture will be warm.

Remove from under the grill and put a slice of the cheddar cheese slice or you could also grate the cheese on top.

Put back under the grill until cheese is melted.

Then, put the crushed crisps on top of the melted cheese. Not more than a teaspoon unless you want it very crunchy lol.

Anyway, you are done! All that is left is to tidy up, lay the table and EAT THEM!

Unless you just want to eat them and leave the tidying up til after lol!

I should have taken photos of them. I'm sure we'll make them again, though and then I will.

In only four years, Reece's Rainbow has found adoptive families for more than 300 children  with Down syndrome and other special needs around the world!  The next step in the growth of our ministry is to educate and empower the birth families of children with Down syndrome living abroad.  This is the only path to social change and inclusion for our children!  We need the support of our national Down Syndrome parent groups to help us with this mission! "Connecting the Rainbow" is our birth family outreach program.  It is led by Shelley Bedford (family pictured above), who is a member of the RR Leadership Team, a former special education teacher, and adoptive parent of three children with Down syndrome from Ukraine, Serbia, and Bulgaria.   CTR provides fellowship, support, education, and therapeutic resources for the birth families of children with Down syndrome in foreign countries.  We already have a strong program in Bulgaria, and are building a relationship in Ukraine now as well!  Ukraine is our largest and most successful adoption program, so our efforts there are vital.   Please read more about Connecting the Rainbow here! "In my heart there’s a passion, in my mind a realization of the possibilities, and in my living room, proof of the combination of the two." --Meredith Cornish, RR Director of Family Adoption Services for Ukraine, with her adopted son, Micah Reece's Rainbow will be attending the DownsEd Convention on September 22, 2010 in Kiev, Ukraine!  Your donations towards the cost of this trip will make it possible for our leadership team to: Meet the members of the Down Syndrome Association of birth families in Kiev Celebrate their brand new Down syndrome therapy clinic Build a partnership with them and DownsEd to further support people with Down syndrome throughout Ukraine Reach out to families living in rural Ukraine who have even less access to information and services Meet with a special needs “club” in one region that provides therapies and aid to families raising their children with Down syndrome and other special needs.  Visit several orphanages and finally meet the directors, caregivers, and children in person Plant the seed of truth about the potential and value of our children with Down syndrome Educate the staff on simple techniques to better stimulate and encourage the children Bring toys, therapeutic items, and translated literature for the staff to use with all of the SN children Share photos and stories of the children who have already been adopted from Ukraine and how well they are doing now Improve the quality of care of our orphans with Down syndrome while they are waiting for their "forever families". Solidify our relationships there to improve the process of adoption going forward You can not put a price on the value of a face to face meeting , and we pray this trip will open doors and hearts for future trips, including ones where other volunteers and missionaries can join us!     We estimate the cost of this trip to be approx $10,000, so we need your help!   Even $10 or $20 from each person who recieves this e-mail will go a long way!   We also encourage all of our DSA's to consider a larger gift, to show your support for these courageous families abroad. Click here for more details about this trip, and to DONATE NOW!

Reece's Rainbow Down Syndrome Adoption Ministry | PO Box 4024 | Gaithersburg | MD | 20885

  

I Say Something Against Someone and MY Religion Becomes Worthless?

I n a word, yes!

James 1v26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

The very next verse, 27, is possibly one of the most quoted by families adopting orphans. But how many of us read that previous verse?

In chapter 2 he goes a step further to say this...

James 2v10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,

13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

If you carry on to chapter 3 we see this...

James 3v9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.


10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.


17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.


18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Believe me when I say this is the very abbreviated version of the book of James, but in chapter 4 we find this...

James 4v11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.

And before I explain just what it is that I'm saying here... look at this from chapter 5...

James 5v9 Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

I am desperately saying that which I do not want to say, if you must know.

Have you ever witnessed two people disagreeing? One may not say a thing, will keep schtumm as we would say here in England. The other will rubbish the other one all over the place, and these days that includes facebook.

Well, firstly, I would NEVER involve myself in another's disagreement. That is something left for the foolish lol... But when I see someone trying to ruin the other's reputation over a disagreement I will more than likely think the other party is the one more in the right. If you feel the need to degrade someone publicly than surely even YOU know you will be the one seen as wrong.

God is pretty clear about our talking about each other. He even goes so far as to tell us to bless those who curse us, so not only are we not supposed to speak negatively about our brothers and sisters, but those who curse us should receive blessings from our lips, as well!


And what effect will our words have if we aren't careful? Who will be affected?

I've always felt, because that is how my dad was, it was important not to speak negatively of people. He never did and if someone spoke negatively of someone to him, he'd either stop them or let them know that he will give that person the same chance that he did them, regardless of what anyone says. It was probably one of the best things I learned from my dad.

You never know the full extent of your words. If you speak negatively about your work colleagues, just what affect will that have on their job? Their family? You may not know their circumstances and you may not have properly understood the situation you are speaking about. Careless words are destructive...

In my case, if I were to speak negatively about my 'work colleagues' (and I never would, praise the Lord I would never need to!) it would quite literally, cost orphans their lives. If people were to lose confidence in the people that make up the organisation I work with, then they would lose confidence in the organisation itself and that, my dears, would cost children their lives. I am very proud and honoured to be part of an organisation that is served by such amazing people. People who love God and want to help these precious angels and sacrifice much to do so.

And the same is true for anyone. Not everyone you could potentially talk about could end with orphans dying, I do realise that. But gossip and slander and careless words only bring hurt and damage.

Perhaps that is why Matthew says this...


Matthew 12v36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken.

I just had to share this fundraiser with you. For two reasons really, no make that three... or four...

Firstly, this little girl is getting a great family! And, they need one last fundraiser to help them with their in country expenses. So, you know all that 'help the orphan' this and 'help the orphan' that that God said? Well you get to get in on that! So that is a bonus...

Secondly, it involves artwork. I love seeing other people's artwork. I love artwork full stop lol because obviously as someone who has labelled herself as such, I enjoy art and enjoy seeing beautiful things or things that challenge me... so the fact this involves someone's artwork, I'm thrilled. (And he is a humble man, his artwork is brilliant!)

Thirdly, the post he wrote about their fundraiser made me laugh. I also like funny things. Given the work I do to help families rescue orphans I do a fair amount of crying... so laughter is my second most expressed emotion and therefore am drawn to it... that word... 'drawn' is a clue btw...

And lastly, I wanted to give both all of my blog readers the chance to win this! Because the artwork is really good!

So, here it is (what was that? Did I hear a 'whew, finally!'?)

If you go now to Joel and Marianne Fick's blog, you will see the details of how to win your own very professionally drawn, but not by a self proclaimed professional artist, pencil drawing of a photo that you have the rights to have drawn by not said professional.

Here is one of his recent drawings of his parents... or one of his recent drawings that happens to be of his parents. I think he draws other people too.

So, go see how you can win a drawing of your own of maybe your own parents! You don't have to just have a picture of his family. You could even have a drawing of your children or your pets... I may be speaking out of turn here but I think he could draw anything you wanted.

And here is their blog button so if you want to spread the word about this drawing you can!