I was going to post a tutorial about frosting cupcakes, but I just can't do it today, not after reading about this.
This sweet family adopted two little girls from China one year ago, Mackenzie from Shanghai, the same orphanage that Eliana was in, and Lily who has severe heart condition. They have spent months in the hospital with their little ones in the past year. Now they had to say "good-bye" before they ever got to say "hello" to their baby, the fifth little Rancourt girl.
Many of us have followed their journey and prayed for them and rejoiced in the miracles God has worked for their little Lily, and now our hearts are bleeding and broken wondering why God has called them to walk this path of heartache and grief. Please lift them up in prayer.
China Bound!
4.30.2013
When we were in China for Eliana's adoption we visited the orphanage where she spent the first 3 1/2 years of her life. It was an emotional, life-changing experience that made us more determined than ever to do what we could to be a voice for the children who have no voice.
Now, a year and a half later, I am making plans to return to China in an attempt to do exactly that. I am planning to travel with a team from SuperKids Charity. We will be spending two days working with children in the Shanghai Children's Home, where Eliana lived. Then we plan to travel to JiangXi Province where we will spend several days working with children in several orphanages there. From JiangXi we will head to Hunan Province and go to the Changsha #1 orphanage.
So what does SuperKids do exactly? and more specifically what will I be doing? SuperKids is an organization that sends doctors and therapists to orphanages worldwide to work with children and to train caregivers in order to improve the children's quality of life and to make it more likely that they will find forever homes.
More recently the focus has also been on advocating for waiting children and I guess that is where I come in (because we all know I'm not a doctor or a therapist!). I will be taking pictures of children who are available for adoption in order to more effectively advocate for them and of children who have a family working to bring them home. (If you have ever adopted you know what a gift that is!) I'll also be spending time learning to know the children (holding, cuddling, playing, drawing pictures,etc.) as much as possible. One of the most important parts of advocacy is to help people see the child beyond the written file. It is so easy to get lost in the details and strange translations of a file and forget that it represents a precious, unique child!
I am really excited about this opportunity and especially excited to be able to travel with Pat Marcus, the waiting child advocate extraordinaire. She met Eliana before we did and willingly spent time talking to us about her. Later she took gifts from us to her and sent us an update on how she was doing along with pictures.
As we all know, international travel is expensive, so I am raising funds to cover some of these costs here or you can donate to SuperKids Charity here (there is a donate button on their sidebar). Thank you so much for helping in this way! You can also help by sharing these links and telling others about SuperKids! Together we can truly make a difference!
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| Entrance to the Shanghai Children's Home |
So what does SuperKids do exactly? and more specifically what will I be doing? SuperKids is an organization that sends doctors and therapists to orphanages worldwide to work with children and to train caregivers in order to improve the children's quality of life and to make it more likely that they will find forever homes.
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| Some of the children in Eliana's group |
I am really excited about this opportunity and especially excited to be able to travel with Pat Marcus, the waiting child advocate extraordinaire. She met Eliana before we did and willingly spent time talking to us about her. Later she took gifts from us to her and sent us an update on how she was doing along with pictures.
As we all know, international travel is expensive, so I am raising funds to cover some of these costs here or you can donate to SuperKids Charity here (there is a donate button on their sidebar). Thank you so much for helping in this way! You can also help by sharing these links and telling others about SuperKids! Together we can truly make a difference!
In Context { Texas Trip Part 3 }
4.29.2013
Keith says one of his favorite things about visiting Texas is seeing me with my family in the culture I grew up in. It sort of puts me "in context" so to speak! :)
I grew up in West Texas, near the little blink-and-you-miss-it town of Merkel. My family moved there when I was 6 and moved away when I was 15 so the vast majority of my growing up memories are centered in here.
My parents had this house moved on to this piece of land. It was wild, rugged country (still is!). We grew up checking everywhere we went for western diamond-back rattlesnakes. I've pulled many a prickly pear spine from every body part, including my tongue.
Anyway, when we were in Texas we decided to extend our trip by a day in order to go visit my grandparents who live near San Angelo. And we decided to go through Merkel on the way. It was amazing to visit that area again where everything is both familiar and foreign all at the same time. Everything seemed so small and so much closer together than I remembered and yet the sky was so expansive and so blue!
We went from there to Mertzon where my J and Nan-Naw live. We were so glad to be able to spend a little time with them and to see their place. Of course, as with anywhere they live, it is beautiful. They will always have things green and blooming, living in the desert simply dictates what they have blooming.
From there we headed home. As always, we had a wonderful time! We love you all and look forward to our next visit!
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| Josiah, me, Jesse, Joshua. 3 of my 4 brothers. |
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| Sarah, me, Keri, Sarah, Shauni, and Hannah. 3 of my 4 sisters and my 2 sisters-in-law. |
I grew up in West Texas, near the little blink-and-you-miss-it town of Merkel. My family moved there when I was 6 and moved away when I was 15 so the vast majority of my growing up memories are centered in here.
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| The home place. |
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| The playhouse J built for us one Christmas. |
My parents had this house moved on to this piece of land. It was wild, rugged country (still is!). We grew up checking everywhere we went for western diamond-back rattlesnakes. I've pulled many a prickly pear spine from every body part, including my tongue.
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| The view from the front of the house. |
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| Castle Peak, a local landmark. |
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| J and Nan-Naw coming out to meet us when we arrived. |
We went from there to Mertzon where my J and Nan-Naw live. We were so glad to be able to spend a little time with them and to see their place. Of course, as with anywhere they live, it is beautiful. They will always have things green and blooming, living in the desert simply dictates what they have blooming.
From there we headed home. As always, we had a wonderful time! We love you all and look forward to our next visit!
Bluebonnets { Texas Trip Part 2 }
4.26.2013
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| Angel Baby (aka Brooklyn) |
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| Karis |
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| Karis with Aunt Julie (my sister-in-law's sister) |
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| Karis with Hannah (my youngest sister) |
When another sister wanted to get some pictures of her one-year-old daughter (Angel Baby) I knew we had to go back as the sun was setting again. We loaded up a bunch of ladies and as many of the younger kiddos as we could lay hands on and headed over. We weren't disappointed!
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| Cassie |
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| Cassie (all dressed up) |
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| Sammie (Cassie's sister) |
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| Savannah & Jason |
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| Aliha (Angel Baby's sister) |
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| Elizabeth (also Angel Baby's sister) |
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| Roseanna (also Angel Baby's sister) |
Now I know y'all are wondering how it is that all of these adorable children are in one family. What can I say? Whether by birth or adoption we Sams "done good" in the baby department! (We can cook too! Y'all jealous yet?)
Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, Annika and Eliana were there too, but you get to see them all the time, so I thought I'd save those pictures for another day.
Also in case you were wondering, this is only a fraction of my nieces and nephews. There are soon to be 25 in the Sams family.
Texas trip to be continued...
I linked this post over at The Long Road to China for Favorite Photo Friday.
Important Announcements
4.25.2013
#1. Kayley has a family! There are few things that make me as happy as checking Gladney's photo list and seeing "MATCHED!!" as a child's status!
So... Congratulations to her family, I hope all goes quickly and smoothly for you!
#2. Gladney has a webinar tonight at 7 EST to advocate for waiting children in China. Pat Marcus will be speaking and Juliette Howard, a Gladney adoptive mom, will be telling their story. These webinars are a wonderful way to find out more about adopting from China and about specific children who are available for adoption. You can register here to join.
So... Congratulations to her family, I hope all goes quickly and smoothly for you!
#2. Gladney has a webinar tonight at 7 EST to advocate for waiting children in China. Pat Marcus will be speaking and Juliette Howard, a Gladney adoptive mom, will be telling their story. These webinars are a wonderful way to find out more about adopting from China and about specific children who are available for adoption. You can register here to join.
It Is Party Time! { Texas Trip Part 1 }
To say that my family loves a good excuse to plan a party is an understatement. We certainly got in for lots of partying in this trip.
You see, we arrived on my Papa's 60th birthday.
Then there was my sister-in-law's baby shower.
And Annika's 6th birthday.
Texas trip to be continued...
You see, we arrived on my Papa's 60th birthday.
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| Papa with a few of his many grandchildren. |
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| Karis giving Grandpa a birthday hug. |
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| This cake actually tasted as good as it looks! |
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| Papa and Josiah. |
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| Jalapeno poppers. YUM!! |
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| Josh keeping an eye on supper. |
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| Levi was very popular among the younger set. |
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| Cousins |
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| Eliana |
Then there was my sister-in-law's baby shower.
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| The little sweater my mom crocheted. |
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| Do not separate a girl from her punch for something so silly as a picture! |
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| Offered as proof that I was also there. |
And Annika's 6th birthday.
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| Sleepy birthday girl. |
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| My Kazakh princess holding up the Kazakh flags she received. |
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The New Kids
4.09.2013
You know how it is, the new kids are always so popular. These two are no exception.
The girls race outside in the mornings to play with them.
Eliana rocks them, kisses them, and sings to them.
Freeland, our son who loves animals, is always there to be sure that the girls are being careful and gentle.
And, of course, he enjoys some snuggle time too.
Generally speaking the mother goat makes sure that Toliver keeps his distance!
All in all, I think the new kids feel well accepted, what do you think?
By the way, we have one billy and one nanny. Name suggestions anyone? Their mother's name is Marabelle, if that helps at all!
The girls race outside in the mornings to play with them.
Eliana rocks them, kisses them, and sings to them.
Freeland, our son who loves animals, is always there to be sure that the girls are being careful and gentle.
And, of course, he enjoys some snuggle time too.
Generally speaking the mother goat makes sure that Toliver keeps his distance!
All in all, I think the new kids feel well accepted, what do you think?
By the way, we have one billy and one nanny. Name suggestions anyone? Their mother's name is Marabelle, if that helps at all!
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