Heart-Gripping Adoption Story

If you want to read a really heart-gripping adoption story from the perspective of

an adult adoptee, go read our friend Bill's story HERE.

You'll be so blessed...and moved to do something!

fun, fun!

Having tons of fun with the Lewis family!

More to come!

a fun weekend ahead!

I'm sooooo excited to tell you what's happening here this weekend!

Our great friends Bill & Lynsay (and their daughters)

from Morning Star Foundation

are staying at our house for the weekend!

I cannot wait to visit, LAUGH, and have a blast with them! 

Bill, Lynsay, and their girls.

 

We haven't seen them since 2009 when we adopted Macy...

Here's a pic of Corrie and me at Starbucks.

She's the sweetest little thing!

And has grown a ton since this pic.

AND she's up for adoption!!!

I'm so stoked about that.

I'll have lots to post about!

In the mean time, check out their website!

Morning Star Foundation

great opportunity to help!

Hey, ya'll!

My dear friend Gayly is leaving next week for China
to meet her sweet little girly Clara.

But first she is going to spend a little time at
Morning Start Family home!

She is working hard to fill up two big suitcases of
much needed supplies to bless them with.

Please swing over to her blog to see how YOU can contribute!

Thanks!

rejected

Would you please stop by Lynsay's blog?


She and her husband Bill have an amazing ministry in Beijing,
if you don't already know that...
and they have some pretty darn AMAZING babies
that need families.

Her latest post is completely heartbreaking to me.
Please go read it...

and pray about what God would have you do
with what He puts on your heart.

corrie {in all her glory!}

I can't think of a single better thing to do to occupy my time of
waiting.waiting.waiting.
than to advocate for one of my very favorite
little girls in the whole world.

Corrie

She is just precious and lovable beyond words.
Beyond words, I tell you.

I know first hand just how stunning she is....
we chatted over lattes at Starbucks in Beijing.
And my love grew.

That was almost two years ago when we went to
adopt Macy.
Corrie has no doubt grown a ton since that picture.


The thing is...she needs a family.
Can you please go over to Lynsay's blog and read all
about it?

I think your heart will be tugged.

I know it will.

an urgent need

Please jump over to

Morning Star Project

to read their latest news.

They are in an urgent situation to find a new home
for their critically ill babies.

Urgent.

Please pray.

And give what God puts on your heart.

baby luke

Sweet little Luke,
who is very lovingly cared for by our friends
Bill and Lynsay
at
The Morning Star Foundation
is finally having heart surgery this week.
He is in Israel for the complicated
operation and your prayers
are VERY much needed.

Sweet baby boy, he was not doing well during our visit.

My goodness he's grown since these pictures were taken
seven months ago!

Friends, would you please join us in flooding heaven
with our prayers for Luke?

Spread the word!

Blog Shower Update!!

You guys are awesome!! We have put a nice dent in the needs for Morning Star Foundation's new home! Lynsay has updated the list, which is posted below. THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH for helping these little ones get comfortable in their new surroundings. It's not too late to participate if you would like. If you need information about how to donate, just scroll down to previous posts.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! for letting God work through you!!


Morning Star Foundation Needs List September 2009
We are renovating a 10 room house. All the furnishings for 3 bedrooms, a dining room, kitchen, bathroom and laundry are needed.

Items in RED have been received!!! THANK YOU!

Bedrooms-

* Cribs- 8 cribs needed. Working on getting a better price, will probably have them made. Worst case means purchasing from major store-$100 each. 6 gifted!!
* Bedding- Sheets, bumpers and blankets. $20 each crib
* Artwork for walls- $40 per room (3 bedrooms)
* Changing table- $20 x 4
* Dresser- $100 x 3
* Window Coverings- $60 x 3 bedrooms

Dining Room-

* Dining table and chairs- $100
* High chairs- 4 at $20 each
* Wall art- $25
* Window coverings- $25

Kitchen-

* Stovetop- $100
* Refrigerator- $375
* Misc. Kitchen supplies including Knives, 2 wok ($30,) utensils, plates and bowls.
* Sink- $125
* Sterilizer- $250

Playroom-

* Artwork- $50
* Window Coverings- $40
* Small indoor play toys- currently working on price, probably around $150
* TV- $150
* Bookshelf- $50

Isolation room/clinic-

* Locking cabinet- $125
* Window covering- $30

Storage room-

* Wire Shelving- $25 x 8
* Rubbermaid style boxes for storage- $5 x 20

Office-

* Desk- $50 x 2
* Laptop computer (for purposes of being able to take with us to avoid theft and so that we always
* Have info with us) ? Unknown cost. Around $800? Would like to purchase outside of china.
* Futon- $90
* Window coverings- $30

Dorm room-

* 4 beds- $100 each
* Nightstands- $15 x 4
* Lamps- $10 x 4
* Shoe rack- $10
* Bedding- $40 x 4
* Window Covering- $30

Laundry room-

* Sink- $50
*

* Hot Water Washer- $350
* Clothes drying rack- $100
* Shelving- $75

Bathroom-

* Shelving with individual locked cubbies for ayi storage- $200
*

* Towels and washrags- $50 for all

Yard-

* Sod- Unknown price
* Playground- also working on price

Day to day needs-

* Diapers- $28 for box of 170 (working on better pricing)
* Formula- $14 per can, need 2-3 cans a day with 12 kids
* Money for staff and baby food- Approx $10-15 a day (with new home staff)
* Medicines- Spend approx. $50 a month on local meds, donated meds always needed.
* Wipes- $2 per pack

Large Items-

* Air Conditioning units- 6 units, 4 small units, $350 each, 2 large units, $750 each
* Heating system- currently unknown, greater than $3000
* Yearly heat and electricity cost- estimate- $3500
* Safe- $400
* Time Stamp- $150

running over

We are starting a new adoption ministry at our
church and our very first project is
raising money for the Morning Star Foundation!
We are taking all the proceeds from our
coffee bar (last week and this coming week),
and buying much-needed items for the precious
babies that Bill & Lynsay are caring for.
K-man and I simply can't wait
to delivery it all!

Well, I gotta tell you...
last Sunday being Labor Day weekend
did not help in our attendance at church.
At.All.
We go to a small church anyway,
but over a big holiday weekend...
not many people show up.

But,
I didn't even let that phase me.
God is GOD!
I sat and watched the donation
jar get stuffed FULL.

All together we raised
(from last week ONLY),
$415!!!!
I was SHOCKED.

Well, not really.
Our church family is VERY generous.
Our pastor has taught over and over on
how important it is to GIVE...
give, no matter what.
To trust God's plan...not our worldly economy.

So, here are just a few of things we have purchased
so far!

I have a feeling we will run out of space
way before we run out of money!!!
Don't worry...
I've got another suitcase!

Isn't that just like GOD?!

THANK YOU
to my Family of Faith friends!!

"Give, and it will be given to you.
A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over,
will be poured into your lap.
For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Luke 6:38

Golly, I simply can't wait to see what God
will do this Sunday!!

exciting opportunity

As we prepare to travel *soon*
I am nervous and downright giddy, all at
the same time.

I simply cannot wait to meet Shu Li.
A dozen scenarios have gone through my mind
on how things will be in those first few days.
From horribly difficult to sweetly smooth.

The unknown can be exciting and nerve-wrecking!

I have carefully gone through all of Shu Li's new clothes
and items that we have purchased over the past
few months and chosen various styles and sizes to
bring with us.
All of these things are now nestled neatly and tightly
into her hot pink suitcase.

I already feel so blessed to be her Mama!

But a separate excitement is churning in my heart
about going to Ch*na...
I simply can't wait to go to BJ.

No, not to climb the Great Wall,
or go to the Forbidden City, etc., etc.

Been there and done that.

What my heart is leaping to do is to hug the necks
of our sweet friends Bill and Lynsay...
and to hold and pray over the babies they care for.
And I can assure you,
I will take a gazillion pictures to share with you.

But for today,
I have a challenge for you.
Would you prayerfully consider "holding" these babies
yourself??
What I mean is,
maybe you can't go and directly have them
in your arms....

BUT,

you CAN (oh yes you can), "hold" them by supporting
them with a donation.
Even committing to monthly sponsor one of these
beautiful babies.

There are so many large ministries who care for
orphans...and GOD BLESS THEM!!
They all make a huge difference and if that's
where God has called you to give your funds,
then by all means, continue to do so.

But if you feel a tug at your heart for this
little ministry, a ministry that God has blessed so greatly
and performed miracle after miracle through,
take a leap of faith and give.

Maybe you think your little donation won't
make a difference.

Please don't think that way!!
Remember what Jesus did with a little
boy's sack lunch that he was
so willing to share.

Jesus Himself told us that in this life we would
have troubles.
And certainly, in this lean economy many of
us are having troubles.
But never once did Jesus say,
"During difficult times, hold on tight to your
money....look out for your own bank account.
Every man for himself!"

HARDLY!!

Even in difficult times....especially during
difficult times, is the time to give.


Please do yourself a favor,
pray, go read their blog(s), pray,
look at those precious babies, pray,
read about the miracles of God's provision,
and pray.

Then do what God calls you to do.



Simply click on the picture!

Urgent....an orphan needs her family to come forward

Oh my stars.

Please read Lynsay's post about baby Corrie.

She needs a family....

perhaps YOUR family.

Urgent News!!

I feel like I have a lot of things to chat with you about today but it may not all come to mind right at the moment! So please check back in later....

FIRST....If you haven't read Lynsay's blog, please do!! They have some exciting news and really need our help if at all possible. For those of you who don't know, Bill and Lynsay have started a ministry in Ch*na, taking in special needs orphans. It has been a hard mountain to climb as they have had a lot of obstacles but WOW! God has answered prayers and performed miracles right before their eyes. You simply must follow their journey! They are on the verge of getting 5 more children!!!! THEY NEED A VAN!!! There is just no way around that...you can't fit that many people in a taxi. Thankfully, they are only a few thousand short! PLEASE, please let me know if you can help financially.

Ok, another URGENT need to share. Our agency (WACAP) has a 13 year old girl (Ch*na) who is turning 14 NEXT MONTH and MUST be adopted. She is in their Promise Child program, which means that MOST of the adoption fees (including orphanage donation) will be waived. If you have your dossier in Ch*na right now and are interested, please let me know and I will help get you to the right person, or simply call WACAP. **Whatever fees you have already paid so far will be reimbursed or put towards your travel fees if you choose to adopt this girl!! Her only SN is that she had an elbow deformity but it has been surgically corrected.

As a follow-up to our saga, there's nothing new to report! As of right now, our agency has tried to call, fax, and email the Consulate...with no response. Nice. But since we are still within the time frame that it normally takes to get these documents back, we aren't taking any further measures yet. Thanks for the idea of a courier....we may do that if we don't hear something soon but our agency was uncertain that they would release any information to a courier who had not previously been involved in our case. (Kim H. please email me...I don't have your email address).

Ok, I gotta run for now! I hope to post good news later regarding any of the above! And perhaps some pics from our basketball awards ceremony last night!

And don't forget to read Lynsay's blog AND the Morning Star Project blog!!!

FOR GOD'S GLORY ONLY

As of today, our GRAND TOTAL is, $2,480!!! Wow!

Today is our last "formal" day of our fundraiser. Though I will keep something on the sidebar to give info on where to send any future donations.

A HUGE THANK YOU to each and every one of you who donated....whether it was $10 or $500, your generous sacrifice is very appreciated and God will honor you for your part in this growing ministry.

If you are here for the first time...please read below to see what our fundraiser is all about!

Ok Ya'll...this can only happen with God's favor & your generosity....here we go!

I have mentioned several times my friend Lynsay who is in Ch*na with her husband, Bill, and darling daughters. Their call to Ch*na to open a home for Special Needs orphans is a passion in their hearts. They have given up so much to do what they are doing....sold their home, cars and pretty much EVERYTHING in order to serve the Lord. In this Babylon-type society we live in...you just don't see that kind of giving. Sure, we all find it rather easy give out of our surplus but how many of us GIVE ALL we have? Don't worry, I'm not asking you to give ALL but I want you to get a real grasp on what the Lord asked these precious friends to do. Their love for the Lord and for caring for orphans was so great that they saw it as the least they could do. Now I know Lynsay would want me to say...it's NOT about THEM...this fundraiser isn't for their reward or comfort...it's about the LORD...giving ALL GLORY to HIM through all they do.

Here's the scoop....they got their very first baby to care for recently!!!! Little Corrie. She has proven God's power already in her little frail life. She wasn't expected to live...her situation was grim, grim, grim. BUT GOD!!! Corrie is now out of the hospital & in the loving home of Bill & Lynsay. She isn't out of the woods yet but she is getting better day by day. PLEASE continue to PRAY for Corrie.

And finally, that leads me to my plea to all of you....until now B & L have relied on bicycles & public transportation to get around. The problem is, you can only imagine how difficult this is with now three little ones AND how problematic this is if they need to get to the hospital quickly. If you have never been to Ch*na...trust me, there's no getting anywhere quick on a crowded bus (when I say crowded, I mean sardine-crowded...seriously. Can you imagine taking a sick baby to the hospital on a bus loaded with coughing, sneezing people? AAAHH!!). And a taxi gets very expensive. SO....they NEED THEIR OWN CAR!!! I asked Lynsay how much they needed...she reluctantly told me that they need around $10,000 for a small car, which they would be pleased as punch to get. BUT, we all know how hard it is to get kiddos in and out of a CAR, right? AND, they WILL be getting more orphans VERY SOON! What they REALLY NEED is, a VAN! So look, you can see this is a big time fund-raising campaign. I dont' have any prizes to offer you, I have no way to give you recognition for your generosity, short of thanking you on this blog. PLEASE give for the sake of HELPING...because in your heart you KNOW it's the RIGHT thing to do...because you BELIEVE in James 1:27. We aren't all called to adopt, but if we call ourselves CHRISTIANS, we are ALL called to care for orphans...this is a BIG WAY you can HELP!!!

I have shared their blog link before but I would also encourage you to visit their website that tells more about their ministry....click HERE.

I know it is Christmas time & money is tight for all of us...but would you please prayerfully consider what God would have you do to help? You can contribute through ChipIn or if you would rather mail a tax deductible check, please send to:

Morning Star Project

PO Box 2143

Bend, OR 97709

**Make checks out to RIVER CHURCH...in memo put "Morning Star Project - Car"

Please comment or email me with questions!!! BloggerLori@aol.com YIPPEE JESUS!!!

Our goal of $15,000 was decided upon based on the average cost of a larger, used vehicle in Ch*na. What we are trusting God for is generous donors and a generous seller so that the actual funds raised will be exactly what is needed to buy a vehicle, no matter what the cost turns out to be!

Thank you in advance for your generosity!!!