I feel like I have sent in a ton of grant apps. I have gotten responses from a few that they are out of money for the year, some we do not qualify for, some are for the immediate area they are located in, some are for only when adopting OLDER kids (we are adopting a 7 year old, so older than that obviously), some are for children with SEVERE special needs.. (I feel that any child adopted internationally could have unknown SEVERE special needs because adoption is a leap of faith) and other reasons that we have been turned down are not coming to me at this time.. but there have been other reasons.

I know money is tight for most folks right now... everyone is seemingly feeling the crunch. BUT I also know that I have two girls sitting in China right now that need to bring home. It would be so much easier if I was giving birth to them because I have insurance that would pay for the majority of it. BUT, insurance will not cover adoption. My spirit tugs at me to do what God is calling me to do. And that is... work, work harder, worker harder than ever... to give our two new daughters the chance of LIFE. Not just a BETTER life... but a chance at eternal life through knowing God. Faith.... it is all I have at this moment. Don't even need a lot... just using what little I've got... :)

Ok.. here is an UPDATE list of fundraisers... :)  Please think about the upcoming holidays and CLICK and SHOP! :)  All of the links listed earlier (on earlier post) are still open and viable.  Just added a few more! :)  Thanks & God Bless!!

Scentsy Lovers:  https://fivetreasures.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Home?partyId=206360237

My Wild Tree Lovers:   http://www.mywildtree.com/COURTNEYLE/

31 Lovers:  https://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/eventhome.aspx?eventId=E3881190&from=DIRECTLINK

Avon Lovers:  http://butterflybargains.avonrepresentative.com/eparties/APADOPT2013   

 

Tupperware Lovers:  http://order.tupperware.com/pls/htprod

And a HOST of gifts from around the world!  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=628571297164054&set=a.628163420538175.1073741830.135757726445416&type=3&theater

 

Fundraisers, Fundraisers, Fundraisers and MORE Fundraisers!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are a list of fundraisers we have going on right now with links! 

We will be adding:

•  Tupperware
•  Origami Owl
•  Paparazzi jewelry
•  Scentsy

and a few others this week!! 

Thanks for shopping with us!!! 

We have a $2500 grant we are trying to match!!! 

God bless y'all!!!

31 Lovers:
https://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/eventhome.aspx?eventId=E3881190&from=DIRECTLINK

Avon Lovers:
http://butterflybargains.avonrepresentative.com/eparties/APADOPT2013

Mary & Martha Lovers:
You can shop online at www.mymaryandmartha.com/spagnotti by clicking the "Shop" button and selecting the "Rubenstein Family Adoption Fundraiser."

Usbourne book Lovers:
https://x3295.myubam.com/27758

Pampered Chef's Lovers:
http://pamperedchef.biz/blessedx7?page=product-order-how-to-purchase
Simply put my name in the host section (Desiree Christopher) and all profits from this event will go towards their goal.

Trades of Hope Lovers:
http://www.mytradesofhope.com/parties/1601

There is a story behind our $1.47 project. It is called that because if we all invited everyone we know to help out and send even just $1.00 plus the cost of a stamp we could raise enough to help bring a child home to their forever family.And we all know how hard and humbling it is to have to fundraise. Ruth Coats, Kim Rudasill and Desiree Christopher would like to make it a bit easier on families that are struggling.

Instead of going to get your daily Starbucks ect. Why not mail the money you would have used to Kim Rudasill:

 

Kim Rudasill
643 Hicks Hill Rd
Lawndale,NC 28090

Or you can also use paypal to this address: ruthi@midwestingredients.com

We will keep a running tally and update the group as donations come in....

Here is a brief intro on our second featured family: (remember our first family was fully funded!!)

Many of us in the adoption community know Karen well. She has stepped out and helped so many of us. In addition to that she is owner/moderator of most of the adoption groups we all belong to.

They are the parents of 8 beautiful children, 5 adopted. They are in the process of adopting Ella Kate, 7, with special needs of frenulum linguae, pstosis, and patent oval foramen and also Natalie Rose who is 2 with Cleft Lip/Cleft Palate (Unrepaired) III Degree.

Travel is for the first week in December. They are currently 28k short. Any amount you can donate would be wonderful.

And we also have an anonymous donor that will match the amount up to $1000!!

 

Learning along the way that if God will bring you to it... HE will bring you through it!! :)

So today's post is not about adoption.  It is about my cousin's book tour.  :)

Please click on the link and check it out.  She has been a tremendous help to me promoting my book... so I am "paying it forward".  :)

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1b5Hcsvf0qRT5xRzJADxCA8Ch5pBH4VlicAMH7gL4ayc/viewform

Love, Karen

For those that like timelines.... here are ours:

LID: August 3, 2013
LOA: Sept 11, 2013

YEP.... we are....

WOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO

Looks like travel will be in December..... We are ready to have our girls home....

Love and blessings,
Karen

Glad I don't believe the news media....

So it seems that on the Today Show this morning there was a segment on Disruptions of adoptions or "Rehoming". This might not be a popular post but here goes my opinion on the matter. When we first started adopting in 2001, I was very much against disruptions. I thought it was the most horrible thing you could do to a child. Then... one day I was given details about a child that someone was looking to "re-home". They asked me to help them find a home for the child. I listened to both sides of the story and it was like a light bulb went off for me. I figured out that sometimes the child adopted from another country was NOT meant for the family that adopted them. I figured out that maybe, JUST maybe, they were the vehicle to get the child home to find their real forever family.

So do I feel it is the most horrible thing you can do to a child? 1000 times NO. I have seen children re-adopted and thrive and do wonderful in the second home for a number of reasons. Would I ever adopt from a disruption? ABSOLUTELY.

So although NBC "thinks" they know the story... and they "think" it is all illegal, etc., almost 99% of ALL disruptions that I am aware of and help rehome, the families have homestudies... they are approved by the state. They have lawyers involved. They are not just meeting in a parking lot and picking up a "discarded" child. There is a LOT of talking, meeting, praying and consideration going on before it gets to this level.

What am I trying to say? I am saying... before you believe every thing you hear or read in the news... talk with someone involved in the process. Sounds to me like the reporters found a couple of bad instances and decided to ramp it up. (Not that I am trying to say that the bad instances didn't happen and that they are truly sad).

If you know of someone disrupting, please pray for them. Pray for the child. Pray that God will direct and guide them. Because I can promise you... I have seen more GOOD come from a disruption than bad. And before you JUDGE someone that is disrupting, take a step back and remember that there is only one Judge and HE does a good job of it... All we are commanded to do is LOVE and pray for others.

I hope and pray that this all dies down before it ends international adoption all together. I cannot imagine my life without my children from China. They are a HUGE blessing to us... and they are without a doubt, some of the most amazing kids in the entire world who without adoption would be rotting away in an orphanage somewhere... never knowing about God, family or love!!!

Beautiful Custom Necklaces or Keychains .... Fundraiser to bring our girls home!!!

We have been blessed with a great friend that custom designed necklaces and keychains for our fundraiser to help bring our two daughters home from China! :)

Two different designs: 
1. For this child I prayed
2. Father to the Fatherless

Thanks for your love and support!  We are ready to get our girls home...

If you share this link and let me know... I will enter your name in our Ipad drawing!

To order or view, please click on the links below:

http://jubileesjewels.com/for-this-child

http://jubileesjewels.com/father-to-the-fatherless

God Bless You All!! :)

Miracles... do you believe in them?

Just reflecting back over my life, I think of all of the prayers I have prayed and prayers that others have prayed for me.  I think of all of the answered and unanswered prayers.  I do love the song, "Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers".   At the time, it doesn't feel so great when my prayers aren't being answered and it feels like the heaven's have closed to me.  But then, usually in the short distance, I can see where God was just looking out for me... and His will came before mine.  I realize that God sees the bigger picture.  He sees what is coming down the road... and He knows before I do what I need and when I need it.  He orders the steps of a righteous man.  Not that I claim to be righteous but I strive to be righteous.

So, back to my question... do you believe in miracles?  Do I believe in miracles?  Every day when my feet hit the ground and I start my day off with good health, that is a miracle.  Every night when I tuck my children into bed and kiss them goodnight, that is a miracle.  I know where they came from... I know the odds of them being in our house in Louisiana.  But I also know that when they were still in their moms womb, that God knew where they would end up.  He knew who they would come home too and yes, that my friend, is a miracle.

Sometimes we pray for things that we think we need or want... but God has a different plan.  It is hard to trust Him when we want or need so desperately.  But more times than not, His plan is better than ours. 

Trust.  Believe.  Know that ALL things work together for the good of those that love the Lord...

Is Miralax the next Vioxx?? Wow. Just Wow.

Read this article and it freaked me out a bit.  My 14 year old daughter takes Miralax as well as my FIL.  This is pretty scary...

http://www.gutsense.org/gutsense/the-role-of-miralax-laxative-in-autism-dementia-alzheimer.html

Born without a left forearm....

Ms. Iowa was born without a left forearm.  I hope Max is as creative as she is when he gets older.  She has great come backs when folks asks her what happened to her arm.  My little guy tries to hide his because he doesn't like being asked what happened to it.  It breaks my heart.  Gary and I tell him every day how amazing and special he is... and how God made his special arm.  Max can do most of what you and I can do.  He is pretty handy with his arm.  He amazes us daily. 

Thought I would share Ms. Iowa's "blog" with you all.... pretty inspiring stuff..

http://missiowa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=176&Itemid=558

Teresa is getting a new heart... Praise God!!

Teresa is getting a new heart!!  Right now.  As we speak.  Please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers and please remember the donor's family as well.   

Here's the link to their blog to follow along....

http://ourplacecalledhome.blogspot.com/
 

A Father To The Fatherless....

Happy Father's Day to my husband, Gary.  Thanks for being a father to the fatherless.  Thanks for sharing and supporting me in my advocacy of adoption.  Thanks for seeing the bigger picture.... hope we made your father's day a special one....

 

Thank You Lord for being a PRAYER answering God!  You alone are worthy of ALL of our praise.  Prayers have been answered and we have peace.  God always has a plan.  Might not be the one we thought it would be.... but HE has the master plan. 

So this morning... I am giving praise and thanksgiving. 

I refuse to get in the blame game.  It is not about blame or questions... it is about worship and praise. 

With that said, we are back on track.  ALL things work together for the GOOD of those that LOVE the LORD! :)  I am standing on His promises... and HIS word... the only sure foundation we have in this life.  Praise God.

Prayers Needed ....

Prayers needed today.  Our family has been devastated by news we received last night.  Our entire lives are on hold for the moment.  God knows our hearts desire and we trust Him for the outcome.  I have always been taught when you don't know what else to do... to just Stand. 

Lord, I am standing on YOUR promises and YOUR word today.  I am placing this entire situation in YOUR hands.  You know our hearts and you alone are in control.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

Introducing.....

Introducing our girls... Ella Kate and Natalie Rose.  Can't wait to have them home!! :)

He Leadeth Me....

I once again find myself in a place of which I am very familiar.  I have been in this place before.  I have felt this tugging at my heart, and it is not so subtle.  I have learned that when I feel what I am feeling, I cannot ignore it, because it will not go away... it only intensifies.  My spirit is restless.  My heart is pulled away to another place.  I am not sleeping well at night and I know that I must answer this call that I am feeling. 

This time, the pulling, although familiar, is leading me down a different path.  A new road.  At this time, all I can do is cry out to God that I feel His tugging and I know that He is working in my life.  I know that HE has a place and a work for me to do.  I know that I cannot get comfortable where I am and with what I am doing.  I know there is more.  So.much.more.

My soul is crying out to my maker... to use me, to lead me, to guide me.  The human part of me questions.  Why is He dealing with me?  Why am I the one that feels this tremendous tug.  I do not have the answers to this.  I do not know.  But I do know that I trust Him. 

Stay tuned... and please remember us in your prayers.  God Bless You All....

Adopting Two At The Same Time & More

Got to get this off my chest...

What is it with folks that judge others... Ok...so you adopted two children from China at the same time and one of them gave you fits.  You all of a sudden are the authority on "adopting two at the same time" and state how you should NEVER no matter what, adopt two at the same time.

Well, Gary and I have adopted two at the same time twice and it worked out fine.  Actually, better than fine.  It turned out great.  No ripples... no problems... so, please before you make a blanket statement how, "you should NEVER adopt two children from China at the same time", please... get your facts straight... some of us adopt two at the same time and it works out great.  So great that we do it again... and again... and again.  And for what it is worth, there are many more disruptions with families that adopt one at a time than there are with families that adopt two at the same time. 

And, another thing, please, don't lock a child in his room and only let him have contact when you bring him food.  That is barbaric and just not accepted behavior.  I was really sad when I read that.  :(  I would have acted happy to be adopted too if you agreed to let me out of my room.  Lord have mercy!!! 

And if you are considering adopting two at the same time, I can give you a list of parents that have done it... had great success and are doing it again or would like to do it again.  And some of them are older children adoptions.  So, as I said before... what works for some doesn't always work for others.  Individually, you know what works for your family better than anyone else.   Thanks and have a blessed day!

Our Family (Missing Terris, Jared & Jillian)

Are we crazy????

Well, I am sure some would say that we are.  When I was in China I knew that I would be going back one more time to adopt.  When I left the US to go to China, I honestly thought that we were finished ... that our family was complete.  When I walked down the street of Guangzhou, it hit me that I would be back again.  I even told Connie, our guide, that I would see her again.  She hugged me and said, I knew I would.  When?  I don't know.  Am I sure that we will be doing this again?  As sure as I know my name is Karen.. yes, I am sure.

Are we crazy?  Maybe we are... but then again.. maybe we are just trying desperately to be in God's will, desperately trying to give another child a forever family, desperately trying to love like Jesus loves.... if that is crazy... yep, then I qualify.