Giving Back

Reece's Rainbow annually organizes an "Angel Tree" event where advocates can sign up to help raise money for a specific child. 

 

This time last year, our little "Yana" was chosen. Some very special people committed to helping her raise the money needed to help her forever family. 

 

Our family had fallen head over heels in love with her way before this started; however, as the donations started rolling in, we knew it was God speaking to us. One of the biggest fears most adoptive families face is: How am I going to come up with the money needed?

 

We too felt those same fears as we stepped out in faith to commit to Yana.

 

Then the unthinkable happened....the Russian ban of American adoptions.

 

So many Russian children had been helped by the "Angel Tree" event. Yet now, that money was frozen....not helping any family in need. It was a sad day, but after months of waiting and praying, the team at Reece's Rainbow decided to "gift" this money to other waiting chidren.

 

We couldn't let that money go to waste! So with a kiss and a prayer, we moved forward and found our "Nigel". He is the unexpected blessing through all of this. We are sad to not be bringing home Yana, but we are rejoicing with thought of bringing home a son we had not planned for.

 

God knew....

 

God knew where the money was going, who the next member of "Team Turley" would be.

 

The Angel Tree fundraiser has helped our family in a very large way, and we want to pay it forward. We want to help another child and a family waiting for their "angel".

 

So we are stepping out in faith and committing to be an Angel Tree Warrior!

 

Meet "Malcolm"

 

 His sweet smile and droppy little eye lid caught my attention many months ago.

We are going to be his warriors! We are going to do what we can to help raise some money for his future family. Won't you help us?

 

After we return home, we will be generating ideas on how we can help this little boy. The goal is to raise $1000 for him.

 

We have been so blessed throughout this process! I can't wait to bless others in the same way! More details later!!!

The Hands and Feet of our Little Church...

Before we head off to our son's country, I wanted to share a little bit about the church we call home. 

I grew up in a very big church. Through my teen years and into college, I did not feel very connected to this big church. At the same time my mom drove by a tiny church just a few blocks away from our house. This church had always been there, but for some reason my mom was drawn to the outside marque advertising their quilt ministry. 

The idea of a quilt ministry really drew her in. She visited a few times and fell in love. We followed to see what the big fuss was about, and found ourselves at home. 

About the same time, Adam and I had begun dating. We started worshiping there together, and ended up getting married in that same little church!

We have often felt the comfort that comes from one of our church's "Comforter's Quilts". Our family has been the recipients as well as the givers. Each time we have felt ministered to in some way. 

Another wonderful thing about our church is their love of families....both homegrown and not so homegrown. Many families in our congregation have grown in size by the joy of adopting, and it makes my heart happy to know we will be adding to these numbers. It is believed that our small little church has ben a part of 31 adoptions to date. It is awesome to know that we will soon be adding to this number!

When we decided to move forward with our adoption, I contacted the quilt ministry leader. I asked her if there was anyway I could take a few quilts to our future son's orphanage. She said yes! 

A few weeks later I was handed two bags FULL of quilts. 13 in total! All of these bound for our son's country.  Typically the orphanage "gift" takes place on the second visit, right before you "spring" your child out of the orphanage. Due to the weight of these lovely items, we will be delivery half on the first load and half on the second. 

We are so happy to be taking a piece of our church with us and ultimately blessing so many littles ones as they lay on them and feel the love of Jesus through them. 

Thank you West Greenway Bible Church, for going international, comforting those from the place our son has called home.....

2 MORE DAYS!!

Russia Heartbreak...

A few weeks ago we were shown a very sad and disturbing picture...

To the left is "Kyle" when he was in a baby home. To the right is "Kyle" once more, only this time it is taken where he resided, in a mental institution. Kyle had aged out of the baby house and was transferred. Prior to the ban, it was rumored that he had a family beginning the process to adopt him......but Putin had other plans. 

Today we were told that "Kyle" has passed away. It breaks my heart to know that he never felt the love of a mother or father. Thankfully, he is finally feeling that love in the arms of Jesus!

My Yana is never far from my thoughts. She is in a very good baby house currently, just turning two in May. She has a little bit of time before this is her fate. 

Here is the most recent picture we have of her. Her smile would light up any room and still lights up my heart. She is so very precious to me and I can't imagine her ever transforming into what "Kyle" had become.

Praying for the day when the doors of Russia reopen, and all the mamas and papas can race to bring home their little ones. 

Stay smiling my sweet one, you are loved from afar...We will never give up on you!

My Water Broke!

So much of this process has been parellel to pregnancies. Today was no different. When I say my water broke, I am really saying WE GOT DATES!! We will be leaving in a week! Our DAP appointment is on the 3rd!

 

Thank you all who have helped get us to this point. My heart has not stopped leaping for joy all day.

 

Now on to all the "stuff" I need to get done before we leave.

 

PRAYERS, PRAYERS, PRAYERS please! We need them more then ever! Prayers for safe travel, prayers for our little ones left behind (and my heart as I prepare to leave them behind), prayers for a smooth process, and finally prayers for our little prince waiting for us!

 

PS: Our blog will be going on private soon. While we are in country, we will be limited to the information we can release until we have court. If you are a close friend or family, you can request to be added to our private viewers.

 



The Finished Puzzle!

A few months ago, we had a puzzle fundraiser. We had purchased a 500 piece puzzle and let friends and family know about how the fundraiser worked. 

Each piece was worth $5.00. Anyone wanting to help us get one step closer to our son could "purchase" a piece. 

Once all the pieces were "purchased", I wrote the names of all who had helped on the back of each piece. There were so many names. I can't even begin to share the depth of our gratitude. 

We are DAYS away from finding out when we travel! Oh how my heart aches to hold our little boy!

So here is the finished product! (Adam and I were able to power out this puppy during the kiddos nap time, yay us!) We will be hanging it on our wall as soon as it is dry! 

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! 

We can never say it enough.