2013~Go Out With A Bang!

As you know, we've had an AMAZING 2013!!!!
New child added to our family--TOBY!
And a calling to become a family to yet ANOTHER child--ESTY!!!
And all the approvals and funds flowing in as abundant goodness from the Father Himself!
I have a friend who is leaving for China when we are and is bringing home TWO beautiful treasures!!!

These orphans will be named Ella and Natalie…
So sweet!!!!!
They are 7 years old and 2. Aren't they precious????
The Rubenstien family has EIGHT children already…5 of whom have been grafted in by the gift of adoption.
Four of whom hail from China! Their most recent adoption from there was in 2011. One of their sweet ones was adopted from America.
I am writing to see if you would spread some of your joyful 2013 happiness to their family?
They leave in 9 days…and still need to raise $3,500.
They have already fundraised themselves crazy…their total need WAS $40,000!!!
{Take a pause here.} 
AMAZING. God has blessed them with SO MUCH!!!
I am writing believing that my amazing team of orphan loving Jesus followers will help Ella and Natalie join the Rubenstein family!!
$3,500---I can SO SEE us raising this!!!!! Can we do it, TONIGHT?????
You can give for these sweet girls' home going here: on Reece's Rainbow where gifts are tax deductible and all of your gift goes towards adoption expenses.
I'm going to see this family in Guangzhou…won't it be AWESOME to know you had a hand in ALL these orphans joining their families?!?!
YES!!!!
Thank you for this incredible year and ALL you had to do with it. Thank you for continuing to bless orphans and families…
A PHENOMENAL END to  2013!!!!!
Happy New Year!!!

Pleading Prayers for Matthew

I have advocated for several orphans over the past year.

Usually I choose the ones that particularly grab my heart, and in some cases completely break me.

Matthew is one of those.

Ever good natured and kind, Matthew needs you!

I want nothing more than to find his family.

I have sought God's face intensely about him becoming a part of OUR family, but God's answer was no.

There MUST be someone else.

Where are you, sweet family?

If you are like me, my precious Toby was advocated for by many, many bloggers and I never saw it.

So you, future family of Matthew, may never see these words.

But friends, prayer is POWERFUL.

You are seeing this.

You can pray.

"Oh Lord of heaven and earth, please bend your ear and hear our prayer! We call on your defensive nature of the fatherless. Your child, Matthew, has grown up without the love of a mother and a father. He is a fine young man. You have blessed him with a great experience at a camp for orphans and then beautifully orchestrated Rob's following summer to reunite them. Lord God, please draw his family to him! We pray with all our hearts that you will bring them quickly. Allow the doors to blow open between them and Matthew. Allow the time to work out. September is coming so fast, Lord. Yet you know you have plans you have for him. Plans to give him a hope and a future. Please provide a loving family for this treasured young man. Please do not allow him to enter the world alone...at age 14.   We ask these things in Your Name, Jesus, Amen."

"The prayer of the righteous person is powerful and effective." James 5:16

"Defender of the fatherless, defender of widows--this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families and sets the prisoners free and gives them joy." Psalm 68:5-6

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves...speak up for the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:8 and 9

Please, I beg you to share the story of Matthew with your friends. Keep on talking to Jesus about him too! Here are a few places you can go to read about him: Reece's Rainbow (donate here towards his specific adoption even though his family has not been found, the money will be held for him in particular!); Rob's blog sharing about personal time with Matthew: here, here and here.