Newt's Goals for Orphans Chose HOPE!

Goals for Newt is an effort by 12 year old Newt to raise funds for children who need families!  It’s a fun and simple way to help. You pledge any dollar amount for each goal scored by his team. For example, if you donate $2 per goal - and the team scored a total of 7 goals - then YOUR total is $14. You then head to the child’s FSP page (Hope's page, in this case) and donate $14. Simple!!  

Pledges may be made online at the Goals for Newt’s Facebook page, or by email to britgirlus@aol.com.

This next weekend (Oct 3rd/4th) Newt and team Galaxy Black will be heading to the NSC Cup in Blaine, MN. This is the first tournament of the fall, so we’re hoping it will be a wonderful, high scoring tournament !! They will probably play 3 games, with the possibility of a 4th if they get to the final. 

All pledges for goals scored by Galaxy Black through this tournament will be credited to Hope’s adoption!  What a fun way to encourage this young man in his advocating and help bring home Hope at the same time!

Match MET!

The matching grant was met and happily exceeded!  Thank you so much for loving Hope and helping bring her home.  I will have an update soon on the paperwork status and maybe even a new picture to share! Also, there's an unusual and heartwarming fundraiser coming up that I'll tell you about tomorrow. 

MORE Good News!

The Lord is working so incredibly!  We have been chosen as one of this months 5/5/5 Families!  5/5/5 is a wonderful way to help five families every month, all who are close to traveling to pick up their children.  As little as $5 (or as much as you want, of course) can given monthly, pooled with all the other donations made by participants.  They grow to large amounts with so many pitching in, which are split evenly by the families.  We are honored to have been chosen!  

You can give to 5/5/5 using this link: 

5/5/5 Families

There's a little box you can mark to make your donation a reoccurring monthly donation rather than a one time donation.  Most people won't notice the small amount, but truly, they add up and make a world of difference to adopting families and the children they are bringing home! 

Katie's Cookies

I have MORE delicious news, and this time it's TRULY delicious!

Katie's Cookies from Visalia, CA is stepping up to help bring Hope home. From today until October 31st, they will donate $5 for each dozen cookies ordered!  They have all the traditional and familiar favorites, like Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Raisin,  and premium choices, like Cookies and Cream, Salted Milk Chocolate Caramel Pretzel, and Toffee Cookie Crunch. They even offer gluten free cookies!

Go like their Facebook page and see what you may want to order!  Thank you, Katie, for your support and for loving Hope!

Katie's Cookies on Facebook

Matching Grant!

I have delicious news!  We have been offered a very generous matching grant of $1,500!  We are blessed by the timing of this match as we have agency fees due and flights for which to pay.  We just arrived back from our visit with Hope and are praying to travel on pickup trip within a few months 

Please help us get this matched by donating and sharing. It will be funded when our FSP reaches $11,181.59.

http://reecesrainbow.org/94973/sponsorhorton-3.

Hope Is Eternal

We climbed the same long flight of stairs.

Beautiful Fragrant blossoms and lush foliage....so pretty. So well cared for.

We entered the same double doors.

Smelled the same smells.

Heard the same muffled cries interspersed with a complete and eerie silence....

and again we held a little girl, who, but by Gods endless grace, should not be alive.

We again held back tears.....sadness, anger, regret. Feelings  of injustice and helplessness. Tears of thankfulness and love. 

Hope is fragile.

Hope is strong.

Hope is eternal.

We were able to visit her twice a day for four days...each time the orphanage workers brought her to us we still felt a sense of shock.  It really is impossible to explain, impossible to comprehend.....her frailty.

We were so pleased that she was willing to make fleeting eye contact.

She definitely is going to be a daddy's girl; she seemed to seek out glimpses of him. She has a cleft lip and palate, partially repaired, and she loves to keep her finger in the little "divot" of her lip....so cute! 

She is very alert ....huge dark eyes that don't miss a thing. But she is too weak to do much other than quietly watch. We were able to observe her being fed via her ng tube.....it is a very quick process and seems to be uncomfortable for her. She cried and tightened her little body and so the feeding was cut short. Very concerning as her caloric intake is significantly low anyway.

This little one loves rocking and movement. I held her on my lap facing me and rocked her and I could feel her body relax. 

On our very last visit she fell asleep as I held her. It was the best feeling.

Hope is fragile.

Hope is strong.

Hope is eternal.

Her country is so beautiful. The weather was perfect and we were able to get out and see some of the history and the beauty and interact with the wonderful people.

We are counting the days until we can return, Hope! We love you so very much! 

Final Visit

Preparing for our final visit with Hope.
I keep telling myself she has made it seven years she can make it a few more months....she can...she can...she will! But she is so fragile, so very fragile and tiny and weak. Seven years...ten pounds...unreal.
Your prayers and support mean everything. Thank you all. heart emoticon
http://reecesrainbow.org/94973/sponsorhorton-3

Reality Hurts

Don and I are in country with Hope right now.

Words are hard but I will try.

Fragile.

Tiny.

Precious. 

Gorgeous.

Sweet.

Cherished.

More when I can...

Halloween Costume Auction

Fall is nearly here, and it's beginning to feel cooler in my neck of the woods.  This is the perfect time to get a jump on Halloween by visiting "The Lost Get Found"'s costume auction!  The proceeds will go to help us bring home Hope, or to grow Heavenleigh's fund.  Go over and see the great items!

The Lost Get Found Costume Auction 

We also have a JamBerry Party going on!  Jamberry's are the best nail covers and come in such fun designs!  Have you tried them yet? If not, this is the perfect time to treat yourself! If you are a seasoned user, stock up on all the beautiful autumn designs and get a jump on the season!  

If you are local, we have a Car Wash and Bake Sale going on this weekend.  It's at KeyBank Mohawk & Olympic Branch, 1625 Mohawk Blvd in Springfield.  Come stop by and get some goodies and get your car sparkled!