Attachment

I've said it a million times: Attachment is not love, it's trust. I just read one of the best posts on attachment. I highly recommend reading it if you are adopting or have already adopted. The mom has a wonderful grasp on what it means.

Click HERE to read the post at Bringing our Boys from Haiti to Home.

If you are looking for a way to Help...

This post is copied from sea salt Mosaic. Their 2 children that they are adopting from Haiti have not been found yet. The information comes from Urban Ressurection. You can find out how you can help different orphanages in Haiti. Most of all, keep praying.

Strategic Plan to Help Haiti in Crisis
Background: On January 12, a 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, leaving nearly 3 million people without water, food, and electricity, with estimates of 50,000 to 100,000 dead.

Effects Locally: This has hit home in Miami, with a population of 400,000 Haitians. There has been desperation to reach relatives, send supplies and/or go to Haiti. Our hearts have been very heavy for the people and country of Haiti, but also for our many Haitian friends here. People have been mobilizing in all kinds of efforts to help and we have been trying to discern the best ways to do this.

The Plan:
Urban Resurrection is joining with the McCormicks, who have been serving in Haiti for three years with Fellowship International Mission, along with other local and national organizations to carry out a plan of action.

The McCormicks live only 10 minutes from the Dominican Republic. They are proposing is to raise funds, enlist people to help them in the D.R. to round up supplies and bring them back to Haiti. There is an airstrip on the border where planes could be loaded and flown directly into Port-au-Prince (PAP). Alternatively, supplies could be trucked to PAP. The goal is to get the right aid into the right places, relatively quickly. A number of people in the McCormick’s community can also be employed to help shuttle supplies to their fellow countrymen in desperate need.
[excerpt from the McCormicks blog, “Highway to Haiti”]-
“As we begin to find our niche in the relief effort, I need to explain how your help is critical to make this effective. Right now in Port-au-Prince the US military is calling all the shots. They have been given control of the nearly impossible task of getting emergency help and supplies to residents.

Through various networks, we are connected to hundreds of ministries in and around Port-au-Prince. Prior to the earthquake these ministries provided essential services to people with all kinds of needs. Due to the magnitude of the destruction many of these caregivers and service-providers are on the brink of evacuation. But, these people are among those best situated to provide emergency care at a time like this. We should try to do all we can to help them keep their doors open and staff in Haiti—a nearly impossible task as well.

Probably the most difficult aspect of dispensing aid is injecting the right resources, in the right places, at the right times. This is our “niche” in the relief effort—we want to simplify the logistics as much as possible, so follow along closely.”

How You Can Help:
If you are associated with a ministry in Port au Prince (PAP)—like an orphanage, medical missionary, etc., you have probably been trying to contact them to find out what they need. The problem is that getting anything to them will be almost impossible for you. So, we are currently building a supply chain that starts in the Dominican Republic, routes aid items into northern Haiti, and flies them into PAP.

Here is how we work together: Find our what your ministry in PAP needs. Don’t guess; they need to tell you. Get specifics on foods, medicines, hygiene items, etc. (Use the form attached here) At the top of their list is probably water and fuel. Water is becoming available in Port-au-Prince, and fuel will follow on the black market. This brings up a very important aspect of our effort. Since banks have been wiped out, your ministry is probably running out of cash and has no way of getting more. We could transport cash directly to them. The only thing they would need to do is find a way to meet us at the PAP airport.

So, by supporting us, you’re in effect supporting your ministries in PAP. We cannot do this without your help! Find out what they need, tell us who they are, and get us funds quickly. We are working on generating a form for you to use to streamline the logistics. Additionally, we still need money just to keep the supply line greased. If you don’t know anyone in PAP and just want to help, please donate to the Haiti Relief Fund. Every dollar in this account will go towards facilitating what I explained above and be accounted for by FIM.

-You can donate immediately by:
- Going to www.fim.org
- Going to www.urbanresurrection.org
- Mail checks to: Fellowship International Mission – 555 South 24th Street – Allentown, PA 18104 (memo: Haiti Relief Fund)
or
Urban Resurrection – 3158 Carter St. – Miami, FL 33133 (memo: Haiti Relief Fund)
- Call Matt McCormick at 011-509-3900-3105 and 011-509-3663-6520or Michael and Erika Philip at 305-562-7714 and 305-562-7716 or email at Erika@urbanresurrection.org to give directly to them (which would get the money to Haiti the quickest)

-Commit to pray for the people and country of Haiti and all of those affected. Please let us know if you want to be included in a regular prayer updates.
By supporting us, you’re in effect supporting your ministries in PAP. We cannot do this without your help! Find out what they need, tell us who they are, and get us funds quickly. Additionally, we still need money just to keep the supply line greased. If you don’t know anyone in PAP and just want to help, please donate, pass the word, and pray.

In faith and works,
The Haiti Relief Team; a joint venture of FIM, Kids Alive, and Urban Resurrection

Emergency Prayers Needed

I cut and pasted this from Linny's blog. All of us who have adopted or are in the process can certainly relate to the feelings these families must be going through. Also, it's an amazing example of God's grace to the orphan's of Haiti!

I just received a phone call from a fellow adoptive mom, Susan, who is also a doctor. She had a prayer request. Today, the State Department is meeting with a group of adoption agencies that handle adoptions from Haiti. They are pleading with our State Department to issue Emergency Refugee Visas for the children who have families paper ready to bring their children home.


Susan and her husband are in the javascript:void(0)process of bringing two children home from Haiti. Susan talked to one orphanage director and heard that the day of the earthquake the nannies heard the rumbling and carried all the children outside the building to the street. There was a second rumble and with that second rumble the orphanage walls collapsed. The children were spared because of the nannies quick action prompted, obviously, by Almighty God!


There is no doubt that God's heart is for the orphan. Could you please stop and pray for this horrific situation? Could you ask God to move mountains with the United States State Department and allow them to show mercy to these little ones waiting for their families? Please pray for wisdom as many try to go to meet the needs of the Haitian people. Who can know the magnitude of the suffering and devastation? We must pray! And some must go! Please join Dw & I in praying....

Pray for Haiti

Click to view The Devastation

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

I can't believe she's 4! More birthday pictures soon.

Trick or Treating Fun

Lots of fun was had last night gathering tons of candy! Olivia has been counting down the days for a month. She was so serious going door to door and had a blast!!! We got about an hour in before it started raining. I'm glad we started early!

Olivia has been asking about the order of holidays for a while and she knows that her birthday comes next. So, this morning when she woke up she yelled down the stairs "Is it my birthday?!"

The picture doesn't do her justice! She was stopped by people over and over again commenting on how cute she looked. The tutu is from Cutie Patutuz.

Looking thrilled to have his picture taken!

Joe was supposed to be Bumblebee but lost his costume! Thankfully, we still had Peter the Great from last year.

Jackson's favorite part is coming back home to give out the candy!

Puppet Theater

This one of Olivia's Christmas gifts (shhh....don't tell her!) and I can hardly wait to give it to her!! I love that it is portable so we can take it anywhere we go! I think Jackson and Joe will enjoy it as much as Olivia! I can't wait to see some of the show they come up with.

Click HERE to go to Sew Shay and order yours!! You will be supporting an adoption fund while you shop!

Boutique Bottoms

I love these pants SO much...and so does Olivia! I just listed them in some new fabric at Livi Lu Originals.

Here's a Peek

At my newest listing at Livi Lu Originals.

Olivia is really enjoying being my model now. She ham's it up! This morning she was dancing so much I had a hard time getting a picture!

Shopping With A Cause

The Harlow's are traveling to China in NINE days!! They are holding an auction to help raise the funds for travel. Go HERE to do some fun shopping and help a great family!

Cleaning Gets Old!

I just saw this on another blog and it's hilarious! I think most of us moms can relate, especially those with little ones, boys, girls who change outfits 28 times a day and teenagers! Wait....that's pretty much all of us!

Boys

This is my favorite wall in the whole house. I put this up a couple of years ago between Ben and the boys' room. It took about 2 hours but it was so worth it!

In case you can't read it, it says:

Why God Made Little Boys
God made a world out of his dreams, of magic mountains, oceans and streams,
Praries and plains and wooded land.
Then paused and thought, "I need someone to stand on top of the mountains,
to conquer the seas, explore the plains and climb the trees,
Someone to start out small and grow, Sturdy and strong like a tree and so...
He created boys...full of spirit and fun,
To explore and conquer, to romp and run,
With dirty faces, banged up chins, with corageous hearts, and boyish grins."
When he had completed the task He's begun
He surely said, "That's a job well done."

Playing Catch Up

I'm SO far behind in posting things we've done in the past few months. A week after we got home from the beach, Joe's baseball team played in the USSSA World Series in Charleston. While there, we did some sightseeing. We had a great time and the team won 1st in their division.
First we visited Drayton Hall. Jackson did a project on William Henry Drayton in school.

This is Drayton Hall. I love how you can see it in the reflecting pond.

It was the end of July and there was no air conditioning in the house. I can't imagine living in that kind of heat!

The highlight of the tour was when Blake convinced the boys that he was going to wrestle this alligator! It was on the bank of the pond and he actually got pretty close to it before it jumped in the water. I think Blake was getting more nervous with each step he took! :)

We also toured the USS Yorktown. The boys absolutely loved it!

Blake and Jackson rode the flight simulator. Joe gets way to motion sick to try it. After seeing it, I think he made a wise decision.

Olivia was quite worried about her Daddy and brother!




Jackson and Joe LOVED this because they thought it was from the movie Transformers!
Going down into the submarine




Secure in his manhood, he offered to carry my heavy purse for a while.
Like father like son! I had to add this picture!

We had fun walking on the pier at Folly Beach. It's the 2nd longest fishing pier on the East Coast.

We always try to get a picture when we find a restaurant or store with the boys' name on it.

No, my name is not Rita, but Jackson thought this would be a cool picture!


I think I could use one of these!

Sad News

Josh's body was found about an hour after they found his backpack. You can read about it HERE. This family will need more of your prayers.

Urgent: Update on Josh Gulvas

Copied from Linny's blog:

This is Emma. Mom sent a message for me to post: Please pray now. We are with his family and have been all day. They just found Josh's backpack.
The helicopter is transporting trained rescuers in. There is also a 30 mile wide thunder storm band and a second storm behind it. Please pray it disperses and the rescuers can get in. Josh's family is so thankful that you, sweet bloggy friends, are praying.

Urgent Prayer Request

I am copying this request from Linny's blog. As the mother of a teenager, my heart just aches for this family...and for Josh.

We need you to pray now!!! Rand is an electrical engineer that Russ (our director) discipled years ago as a college student. He is now an electrical engineer and came out last week to help with all the electrical systems at the Great Commission Training Center. Yesterday, he and his son Josh, who is 18 or 19, went for a hike in the mountains above the Ranch. They were at a tree line and were supposed to meet last night but Josh never made it. There is a huge search going on right now for Josh. The Colorado Mounted Rangers and other search teams are out along with Russ. These guys have been using their vacation to come and work on the Training Center and they need your prayers. They are in the Weminuche wilderness which could make rescue efforts complicated. Pray right now for Josh's safety, for the teams to find him, for God's peace to be surpassing for Rand and for God to be glorified in this situation.

La Mult Ani Joe!

Last Saturday our baby boy turned 9! He had his usual swimming party which he just loves. He ended up with a boatload of money and gift cards so he bought a Play*station and some games. He's now in Hog Heaven!!


Joe received a very special gift this year. A card and money from his foster parents in Romania. At first, Joe was SO excited. Then when he realized how much Mama Gina and Ta Ta gave him he got really quiet. Then I looked over and tears were streaming down his face. He was so sad because they sent him so much of their money and he was afraid that they wouldn't have enough for themselves. My heart ached for him and also swelled with pride for my tender hearted little boy. I explained to him how much they loved him and that they truly wanted to give him the money. I also assured him that they had enough for themselves, but I don't think he was truly convinced. What a sweetie.

Could This Be a Message For You?

Sweet, Sweet Elizabeth. You simply MUST read her tender words. They are the reason we have adopted our children.

It's Hard To Believe

That Summer has finally come to an end. Today is the first day of school already! The boys were both really excited. Joe actually wanted to go yesterday! They both got the teacher that we had hoped for. Joe got Jackson's teacher from last year, who we just love. They were both a little tired when they got up but they were dressed and ready to go within minutes. Let's see how long that lasts! It's interesting too to see how they dress now that they are older and can choose what they like. Just like their personalities, their choices are as different as night and day.

I woke Olivia up when it was time to leave and she sleepily said "What now Mom?" Too funny!! She barely noticed that the boys got out of the car at school thanks to Nick Jr and her headphones. However, she wasn't happy about having to eat breakfast all by herself. She will miss them today. Me too!

World Series

EDITED TO ADD: The rankings just came out and we are still #1 in our state but we are now #6 in the Nation! That's out of 200 teams!! Go Bombers!!

Our team did GREAT! We were first place in our division. Joe played really well and the last game he was on fire! He got the game ball too! More pictures to follow but I wanted to get this post up today because a very special person from R*omania will be looking at it!