Dressed for Success

Under-where?

Big shoes to fill

Shirt on the top; shirt on the bottom

I wonder why I have this funny tail...

Hair by God; styling by Wade

Um, I seem to have lost my kilt.

How to make a hood

All in a day's work

Fire chief

The better to see you with, my dear!

The Children Who Are Chosen

Antonio...Evan...Dariya...Darren...Vanessa...Graham...Wilson....Rachel...Phoebe...Warner...Hunter...

.....What do they all have in common?

They all have Down syndrome, they are all from orphanages in various countries, and they are all waiting to be adopted.

They may have been abandoned by their birth parents, but there are other parents, other families, whole long lists of families wanting and hoping to adopt a child with Down syndrome.

And now you're thinking what wonderful families these are, what a sacrifice they are making, what a gift they are giving to these poor orphaned children.

Yes, maybe so.

But I'm guessing the greatest gift is to the families themselves whose lives will be enriched beyond measure.

Reece's Rainbow is a charity that raises funds for the international adoption of children with Down syndrome. Hundreds of families in the US and Canada are waiting for funds to adopt these children. Reece's Rainbow has already found homes for over 400 children with 350 more children still waiting.

We have a family in our local support group who adopted a darling little boy from Bulgaria through Reece's Rainbow. See more of their story here. I especially like the Dad's comment in the video that even if Gabe would do nothing else in all his years, his life would have been worthwhile just by the change he brought to their family.

We often think that if we had a gift to bestow on the world it would be to wish each family the Essence of Wade.

Here is the beautiful blog of another family who had three boys and then discovered the Essence of Hannah-Claire, Haven, Hailee, and Harper.

And when I read the stories of families like these, I'm reminded of the words of the Greatest Man who ever lived...."Let the little children come to me....for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

Okay, OKAY, I Get the Point!

I thought Wade's nap was too short and tucked him back in.

He didn't agree, but solemnly cooperated.

After a while I heard faint crying.

I relented and got him back up to snuggle in the rocker while he finished sobbing pathetically.

Then he got down off my lap, went and got a book, and pushed it under my nose.

I think I got the message.

Hush....Hush...Whisper Who Dares

Prayer and Wade are good buddies. He crawls off his trike and blesses his snack, even if it's just a bread crust and milk.

Dear Fah-der, Dear Fah-der,

Mank you b'essings,

Amen, Amen.

(He doesn't know how often I pray the same "mank you" to the Father for the blessing of Wade.)