A Day to Save Olga

I don't know if I've ever posted a post like this.
A dear friend and guest blogger sent me this.
I know it is long, but please take the time to read.
Thanks.

Dear friends,
So many of you already know this beautiful little face....



Olga turned five last month. She has spent the last five years in an orphanage in Eastern Europe, without the love of a mommy and daddy- simply because she arrived in life exactly as God designed her. One chromosome too many, and her fate was sealed from birth.





Sealed, because in Eastern Europe, babies who are born with Down syndrome are deemed unacceptable at birth. They are discarded as cast-offs of society, and when they turn five they leave the only home they've ever known...




And I wish I could say that for most of these children, leaving that home meant going to a place of safety, a place of happiness, a place where they would finally know the love of a family...know what it meant to be cuddled or sung to or read to, tucked in at night, prayed for, loved.

Instead, they are taken to a place that most people wouldn't leave their family pet.


A place of living hell, where they will never know the tenderness of a parent, never know the security of being raised in a family, and there they will stay, one ugly, pain-filled day at a time...until they die.






I read a post last December that stayed with me to this day. It was called from baby dolls to bedstraps.
The blog author wrote about Elizabeth, an orphan on Reece's Rainbow who had been transferred to a mental institution, waiting for a family to step forward for her. Her words still haunt me.

I wonder where she thought she was going as they led her out of the orphanage that day. Did she think that maybe it was finally her turn? That they were taking her to her forever Mommy and Daddy?

And when they instead took her inside that dreadful place, when they shaved her head and tied her to a too-small metal crib

when they turned their backs and

walked

away…



when they left her confused, terrified,

in a room where the wails of schizophrenic adults echo through the cold air

what was going through her young mind?



Did she wonder if she was being punished?



How long did she hold out hope that this was only temporary?

That any minute, they would come and take her back to the baby house

to her baby dolls and teddy bear,

to her best friend, Angelina?


Did she long to free her arms from the restraints

to cover her head with her hands to drown out

the scary noises

the scary sights

the scary smells?



That could be my Lily….


It could be your child.

And what if it were?

What if you woke up one morning

and by some hellish, twilight-zone twist of fate

your child wasn’t still tucked into that warm bed down the hall,

what if your child was trapped

across the dark sea

in that nightmare that is

the institution?

What

would

you

DO?

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. Proverbs 24:11
Elizabeth is being rescued today, thanks to the efforts of that blogging mama, and others like her.

Olga is being rescued today, thanks to so many of you...you gave so much and created such a large grant that a family was able to step forward and start the process of adoption.

The Abells have done so much already, towards rescuing Olga. I can't even imagine all the paperwork and prayer and emotion and finances that goes into an international adoption. They have done numerous fundraisers, and will continue to do so until they can bring Olga home.

Through the help of so many, a grant of over $13,000 has been raised for Olga's adoption. That grant is set aside for the final travel costs and fees that it will take to bring Olga home. It will take every penny of that and then some.

Right now the Abells are in need of raising the $7,000 that is needed to submit their dossier for Olga. Without that dossier we don't even know if Olga has been transferred yet. Here in America you just pick up the phone and ask these questions. But here in America we don't tie five year old girls to cribs to keep them from climbing out.

The Abells need to submit that dossier as soon as possible- at the very least to find out if she has been transferred already- because I know an army of prayer warriors who is going to want to know that piece of information as well. And at the very most, it could be able to hold Olga at the baby house until the Abells can rescue her. I wish I could say with certainty that she won't be transferred- truthfully we just don't know that.

Olga has been so heavy on my heart for months- friends, I want you to know that I DO trust that God has a plan here.

I prayed like crazy for a way to help the Abells. I truly believe that there is a network of people who love Olga here in blogland...a net that is woven by God and is stretching out across this blessed country we live in, and even beyond to generous hearts in other nations. I really cannot express enough how thankful I am to be a small part of what God has already done for Olga, Peter and Kareen. But I don't think our job is done.

Olga needs us.

I don't want her to spend one more forsaken day in that place than she has to.

We're not doing a giveaway here today. I don't even think we need to do one- I know so many just have a heart to help and to give, and prizes were never the real reason we all gave anyway.

So I'm just asking- for one day- for you to do whatever you could to help Olga. Whether that's $10 or $20 or even a hundred...if you are able to help raise this money for the dossier, please do so HERE......every single dollar goes to the Abell's adoption fund, and every single dollar will help.

We're calling this A Day to Save Olga, because there are about 17 of us blogging mamas who have set aside this day to blog, post on Facebook, pray, give and spread the word to SAVE OLGA.

Will you help us?

I know you will:)

Love,

Patti

Hijack!

Anne here just wanted to say that Pressed Petals is the bestest and has left her blog open for me to post...
running away giggling....bha hbha hahahahaha

Day 29-3 Wishes

i won't get too deep here.

photo from search

i wish my house stayed clean.
i wish my kids always got along.
i wish i had more wishes so i could get to the deep stuff.

Day 28-Something that stresses you out

man this list could be a long one.

i will keep it short.
i need my sleep, or i get grouchy.
but the biggies are:
kids fighting non-stop
hubby can do it to me ;)
doctors
doing something/being coerced into something that makes me feel uncomfortable
having too much on my plate can stress me out too
learning new things

day 27 pets

pets...we've had a bunch.

growing up it was cats, fish and dogs, oh i even had a horny toad.

since marriage we've had:

dogs

cats

fish (killed them all)

a tarantula (STINKY!)

bird

hamster (STINKY and GROSS!)

currently, we have one dog.

dolly

a basset hound mixed with springer spaniel (?) who dirties our windows.

maybe we should've called her picaso.

day 25 & 26

the next few posts have been pre-written.
my brother and his family are here.  we are their last stop before they leave on their missionary life.

i must confess that i don't have an ipod.
i do have an mp3.
that has been taken over by two children/teenagers and a hubby.

day 26 is supposed to a photo of my family.
i am typing this in bed on the laptop.
all of the pics are on the pc in the office.
so the blog header will have to do.
sorry.

Day 24 What I Have Learned

So, I have been thinking a lot about this one.
I mean you don't realize what you've learned until you actually give it some thought.

I should've carried a list around with me as the ideas came to me as I was brushing my teeth, driving, cooking, etc.

I am going to give it a try...
*when mom (me) is in a bad mood, the whole house is in a bad mood. (so true on monday!)
*i can handle more then i thought possible.
*i can't handle as much as thought possible.
*my mom/dad was right, about so many things.
*to be kind, you never know when someone's really going through it.
*holding hands with spouse can make the anger/hurt go away.
*everything will get done, don't fret.
*if things get done late, don't fret.
*don't fret, it's not worth it.
*a child's note, hug, touch or kind word/deed can brighten even the hardest of days.
*it's okay not to follow the recipe sometimes.
*God's grace humbles me.
* tomorrow is a new day.
*putting others first is not always easy or convient, but well worth it.

there i think that's it.

day 23...fave vacay/our story

While I have LOVED every trip to Mass/New England, I would have to say my favorite vaction was when hubby, then boyfriend, took me back home.

It was a month long.  It was the first time I had been to the east coast.  It was a first for so many things.

warning: We could've been on what not to wear, but we were in love! 

And it was 1991.

Matching military jackets...sweet.  On the ship to Nova Scotia.  We went with his mom and sister.  We also saw Halifax, Canada and went to a Scotish Fest.  Nova Scotia is where he proposed, sort of.  I believe we were in these hip jackets.

It's a good thing the rest of the pics got cut off...heehee!  This was taken in Halifax, Canada too.

I really married up, wouldn't you say.  For the first fews months (and sometimes still) I would just look at my hubby and think "Wow.  How did I get someone SO good looking".

The note in my photo album says this is in Plymoth. Mass., but it looks like the public gardens. hmm...

 In front of the John Hanncock building in Boston.  Made me dizzy looking up.

 I HAD to see a lighthouse.  Here we are in Maine.  That is his dad.  To imagine that those bangs used to be a mile high in high school.

Opps, this is a bit out of order.  This is back in Canada.  We took a walk by our hotel, The Bluenose, and found our "future cars".  I don't know what is better the paint job or the short cut offs.

My first corn field.  Illinois.  We visited his grandpa.  We drove there from Ma. with his parents. 

Oh.what.a.drive!  While there we went to an amish place.  Also, the reversing falls.  Very interesting.  Ate the BEST corn on the cob and had rhubarb pie with a very sweet old lady.

Niagra.  My hubby doesn't stand like that.  Don't know what was going on there.

I saw SO many things and places.  I honestly couldn't take it all in.  I met his friends and family.  Got impersed in New England culture, tasted blue berries, had Moxie, drove through every state from Mass to Canada.  Had candy at Bah Habah (bar harbor), fell in love with the Red Sox, and ALL things Mass. 

Oh, hubby was in the marines then, so while on vacation he let his beard grow.  And boy did it grow. 

Day 21 Photo of Me

It was Minnesota.
It was my 5th (?) birthday.
Don't know what's in the package, but I sure am excited!

Notice the sugar dispenser.  My mom had that for YEARS.  The story (fact or fiction?) was that she stole it from a restaurant!  More then likely fiction knowing my mom.

Day 22...what's in my make up bag...I am going to skip...it's nothing exciting.

Day 20 Nicknames

I had some nicknames, but I'd rather keep them off the blog. 

They weren't all that nice.

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But I do have a group for you to listen to.

I actually found them doing a cover of the "Bed Intruder" (news report) song...heard it?

Then I found Vector/Skeye's version.

Well worth checking these out.

Anyway, I LOVE her voice.  He is wicked talented.

Now they aren't christain, but I could really listen to them all day.

One of my favorite covers.

Watch, the guy plays all of the music in the song.

These guys are not "famous" yet, still underground.

Days 18-Regrets & 19-Something I miss

day 18 Something I regret...

need I say more?

day 19 Something I Miss...

Family.  We have no family here in this state.

Day 17 Something I look Forward to

This is VERY easy...Heaven.

Importance of Quiet Time

I just woke up from a big, fat nap (one that could've been fatter). 

And no I don't make it a habit of napping (only on Sundays).

As soon as I was out of my room the kids started in on their chores.

Thank God for the kids were quiet while I napped.  I am fighting a cold.

Anyway, my mind was drawn to the need of quiet time.

The need of teaching our kids to be quiet and enjoy quiet time.

While I am no expert on child rearing, I have been a parent for over a decade.

From I very early age we have taught our kids to be quiet, to learn to do quiet things.

We didn't set out on doing this.  It didn't even dawn on that we were even doing this until years later when I read about it on a blog.  It just happened, maybe because I tend to be more of a quiet person.  Maybe because my parents knew how to be quiet. 

This concept was again sparked by a conversation I had in WalMart (the offical meeting place in our town) with a dear homeschooling friend.  We talked for like two hours!  (Both of us needing time away!)  Ugh the stares we got for blocking people's way!  I digress, we got on the topic of "hyper" kids.  We both have known kids how would or do fall under the catergory of ADHD, at times my own.  My thoughts ran quickly to classmates our kids had, etc.  I thought these kids just don't know how to be still and quiet.  (Please understand I am speaking in generalizations here, your child may be totally different.)

I don't really have a step-by-step/how-to guide but I do know that it does start when they are really young.

Here's what we did:

We always read to them.  Of course the younger they were the shorter the book and brighter the pages.  One of the highlights of our day is me reading to the kids to this day.

We took them outside.  I remember the walks we took.  Alot of walks while they were in the stroller.  We'd stop and talk to neighbor sometimes. 

I also would pick flowers with them, pick up a pile of leaves and watch them fall. 

We would sit watch birds.

My hubby and I each had our own quiet thing we did, in front of the kids.

I even do quiet things now even if there's laundry or dirty dishes.  Sometimes I need to sit and be quiet (read or blog) before tackling the house work.

We haven't overbooked our kids.  They have plenty of time to explore on their own.  For our daughter that has been coloring, writing, reading, and now music.  For son, it is playing outside (he has just spent almost two days on the roof), legos, drawing, reading (he will take the encyclopedias to bed).

We made them sit still in church.

I took them to story time for YEARS at the library.  I was sad when they didn't want to go anymore!

They don't have cell phones or tvs.

They do listen to music and/or stories.

We listen to stories on the radio as a family, like the old days.

Like I said "quiet time" was never an official time or thing in our house more of a learned behavior. 

To me it has given them a balance in our fast paced life. 

It has given them a chance to get a better sense of who they are. 

When you're quiet you have to focus, which can be hard in this media drenched world. 

You have to be alone with who you are. 

You also learn self-control and respect for others' space and time.

Everyone needs to unwind, if you can't be quiet and or have some quiet what will you do.

I hope this helps you.  I also, know you can start this with older kids.  The older they are the harder it may be, but well worth it.  Just don't tell them you're doing it. 

Again, thanks for reading!  You guys are great!  P.S. all photos from the internet.

Day 16 Dream House

Only kidding!

My dream house...hmmm...

While I could wish for a colonial style, two-story house that has just the right little nooks and crannies to add character, big kitchen and plenty of room to entertain, etc...I would want to live anywhere with my family as long as we were in the will of God.

But here are some photos for good messure!

Day 14 Picture I Love

(I sure hope you're not tired of seeing my layouts.)

This picture of my nephew ALWAYS touches my heart.

He will be here in a few days, to see us before they move to America Samoa.

LOVE this boy.

it's very late...or early

my hubby is away with work, and i am up WAY too late.

i actually did some scrapping.

i will come back with credits.
goodnight!

Day 13 Goals

hmmmmm...

What are my goals?

Good question.

I don't think I set big goals.

Is that wrong?

I guess this is another short post.

Important Info

First, I failed to mention that we have running water.

2 1/2 days without water was NOT fun.

Our son was cleaning the bathroom and came running out..."We have water!!!"

 Then I was all over the house turning on water.

(would've thought I never saw running water!)

Anyway, we are all back to normal.

*********************

Also, I need your help.

I know the whole music thing was voted off the blog, but I LOVE love music, so I am going to play it just for a short time for Valentine's Day.

Here's where you come in...What are your favorite love songs?

********************

And one more item.

I just peeked at my followers and know that some of you are awesome crafters, etc.

If you'd like to promote your goodies here with a giveaway, I'd love it.

You can contact me @ pressed24petals at yahoo dot com.

Day 11 Favorite Tv Shows

We don't have TV.  So I don't know all that is on.

I do know that I LOVED and would still watch FAME.

"I wanna live forever..."

My dream was to go to a school like fame.

Oh Leroy! and Bruno singing Shorofski.

We have caught Decoded on the computer and really like it.

Catch you all later.

Thanks for reading.

Day 10 What Are You Afraid Of

Today is a bit of a harder subject.
What am I afraid of.  Fear.  It's something I am all to familiar with.

If I wrote this post about 8 months ago I would have written a much different post.
My fears have really been brought out and laid bare on the table these last 8 months.

Eight months ago I was dealing with a REALLY bad abdominal pain.  The doctors ran some tests and didn't know what it was.  All signs (in my mind) pointed to cancer.  Well, those signs/thoughts started to consume me.  It got so bad that I let fear take over.  Part of me said "whatever is wrong I am going to fight and beat it."  Another part said "I am going to die and leave me family."

Don't get me wrong I don't fear death, I know I am heaven bound, but I am not "ready" to go.

To make a long story short since I let fear take over, I had many more health problems, which feed that fear.  It was like a spinning top.  I was getting my blood taken every three days at one point.  I have been "worked over", to quote a specialist.  I heard three different types of cancer, heart issues, kidney problems, etc.  At times I was in a great deal of pain.  I even told God "If you're going to take me, just take me."  I was worrying about my worry.

God has become more real to me.  While I am still dealing with some of the affects of it all, I am learning (slowly) to completely trust God.  He has a habit of telling me "Trust Me" in many of my situations.  I'm learning to make it a habit of letting go and trusting Him.  As I let go, the symptoms are going away. 

So in closing, what do I fear...I am learning to not fear, learning to completely give everything to God, learning to trust Him.

"Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving...and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Phil. 4:6,7 

"For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of a sound mind." 2 Tim. 1:7

Day 8 & 9

Trying to get on track with everyone else.

Day 8: Places I've traveled.

California
Arizona
Oregon
Washington
New Mexico
Texas
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Maine
Niagara Falls
Minnesota

England
Scotland
Mexico
Canada

I have lived in the RED states.
The GREEN I have visited because of hubby.

We got engaged in Canada.

Some of the places I have been to.
Dodger's Stadium
Fenway Park
Quincy Market
All over Boston
The London Dungeon
Ben and Jerry's factory
Yankee Candle (the real place...oh the smell)

I know there's more, but that's all I can think of right now.

Day 9 Friends
Now I wish put all of my friends here, but to spare you I will post a few. 
I kept it to real life friends, just to keep it simple.

This one's for fun.  Oh the 80's.

Now for my closest friends in no particular order.

Anne...what is there not to say?  We are close, but who isn't close to Anne.  I know that if I needed anything I have to just pick up the phone and sees there.  She has seen me at my worst and still loves me.  She knows how to nail someone and then hang them back all pretty where they are supposed to be.  We used to be next door neighbors.

Gina...she is a "newer" bestie.  We are so much alike, yet so different.  She helped us yesterday in these crazy temps. 

Our daughters are best friends.

Michele...sorry for the photo.  I really need one of you!  This lady is a rock in my life.  She too has seen me in my worst.  She let me take a shower at her house yesterday because our pipes froze.  She's like that.  I call her my other half. 

Clara...my follow up buddy.  She ALWAYS listens when I need to vent or whatever.  I admire her dearly.  I know she has my back in prayer. 

Amy...my little sis.  She is not only my friend, she is our neighbor.  Funny how my neighbors end up being long time friends.  She always comes over with a smile.  I need that.

I feel very blessed by my real life friends and my online friends too.

Skipping Day 5 and 7

I am sort of skipping day five, well, because I am lazy and it has been a crazy few days!
If you want any of my favorite recipes you can click
Biscochitos
Buttermilk Syrup
Sweet Potato Casserole
Coffee Ice Cream Pie. 
Do you see a pattern?

Sorry, onto day 6.
This photo makes me happy for more then one reason.

Day 7 is favortie movies.
I am not a big movie watcher.
But I did love Fever Pitch.

A New 4 Letter Word

Sorry for the bad quality photos and for the weird way this post is laid out.

Sometimes Blogger and I get along, sometimes not.

My MIL says that in New England they have a four letter word we don't (or should I say didn't) have here in NM....SNOW.

We could add a new 4 letter word to that list...COLD.

Yesterday NM was the coldest state in the US! 

Now that doesn't happen too often.

We are on day 2 without running water.  Our pipes are still frozen.

Thank God for friends who let us shower, gave us firewood and let us fill up our 5 gallon water jugs.

It was a bit of an adventure, survival of the fittest the first day.

Today, we are not digging it at all.

We need to do laudry, dishes and the house is a MESS (just found another 4 letter word!).

Our city is shutting of power/gas, forced black-outs to save energy. 
We have not had any of our stuff shut off thank God. 
Our electric heaters and fireplace is what is keeping us warm.  (Gonna hate to see the electric bill!  Yikes!)

How cold is it where you live?  Did this last snow storm hit you?