Advocacy Thankfulness Post

Thankful #1

.One of the things I am most thankful for this year is the direction God led me in.   I am thankful that I answered the calling He has for me right now.   I am thankful he has given me the resources to help the children that spend every day of their lives alone in an orphanage.  No, I'm not fishing for credit or compliments, just truthfully saying "Thank you" to God for giving me this desire to do the little bit I can to help someone in need.  I am so grateful that he has opened a door for me to be the voice for some of the voiceless.   I just play a small role in helping innocent children that don't have anywhere, anything or anyone to call their own.   They don't know love, they've never celebrated their birthday's and they haven't ever had a safe place to call home.  Some of the things we take for granted almost everyday.  That is why this Thanksgiving I am simply saying that I am thankful God has opened my eyes to this situation and given me the resources to do what I can to help.   It may not be very much, but it's a start and when you live a life full of nothings, everything counts.  Big or small.    So number one thankful this year would be the passion God has placed in my heart and the resources to help, even if it's just a little bit. :) 


Thankful #2

I am extremely grateful for all the wonderful adopting parents!  Whether I know them or not, every one of them are incredibly special to me!  They've chosen to give second chances to lives that were abandon and given them a family.  A home, a place to sleep and people to call family!   There's almost nothing greater than this.  I am personally so thankful for every adopting parent(s).  <3  


Thankful #3

Zeke.  Yes, the precious orphan I have been shouting, tweeting and posting about for the last month!  He has brought me so much joy and happiness.  I am grateful for his photos and that sweet smile that reminds me every time I'm feeling low that what I am doing matters.  He keeps the fire in advocating going and can spark flames in me when I need it.   His Angel Tree ornament hangs right where I can see it on the tree while I blog.    He has added something special to my life that I need right now.   He's given me a hope and fuel to continue advocating for orphans, adoptions, etc.  


Thankful #4

My family and best friend!   Oh my goodness, I would be lost without them both.  My parents have been so supportive and encouraging in my advocating journey since day one!  Along with my sisters, best friend and mom's parents!  They all have donated their money, efforts and time to me when it comes to helping these children.  They've never failed me or discouraged me and that is something so rare and precious.   Because in the world we live in most people ignore what I do, think it's pointless and I'm sure that don't say it, but they think I'm crazy.  To have a support team around me is the biggest blessing!  I will forever be grateful for them.

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So there's a few of my top things that I am incredibly grateful for this Thanksgiving!  Comment and tell me some of yours!  I'd love to know! :)

If you are (or know someone that is) a Christmas Warrior this Angel Tree don't forget to check out my Angel Tree Tee fundraiser that ends in TWO DAYS!!  I need one more order before they can be printed!  Please share! :)   CLICK HERE TO GO TO TEESPRING AND SEE THE SHIRT!

Angel Ornaments For Zeke

My fantastic grandma is at it again!  As if the beautiful owls weren't enough, she made these gorgeous petite angel ornaments!

They are handmade and one of a kind.  You won't find these in any department store.   She makes everything with such a special grace and care.  She always goes to extra lengths to make sure everything she is making is the very best it could be.  
She actually told me the other night "You know what amazes me, Kaite?"  I asked her what and she said "That people are actually wanting the things I've made." I smiled and told her it was obvious why.  You can just look at the creation of hers and see the love pouring from it.  I hope that one day I can be as skilled and passionate like she it. :)   I know everyone here buys my stuff to mostly help Zeke, but I think you should know how much it means to me sweet grandma as well. :)  




Onto it though!  Here are the choices I have!  I'm limited on blue, red and the soft green.   So if those are your picks hurry! :) 

 

And here's how I've set pricing up.  When you donate any amount of $10 or more to Zeke
 you will get to chose a set of four, whatever colors you'd like!   

These make great little Christmas presents, or even keepsakes.  

Each angel represents something special, blue stands for HOPE,  Soft green stands for PRAYER, Checkered green stands for JOY and the red stands for LOVE. 

Please share with your friends!  :)  

Before you donate you can email me your order @ Ksizemore16@gmail.com or if we're friends on Facebook just pm me!  I'll try to reply asap! :)  

 

A Forgotten Pretty Face

Over the the last couple of years or so I have watched one particular child wait and wait.
This is somewhat understandable for me, simply because she is an Asian beauty and almost all of them look similar in ways, but not her.. at least not for me.  There has always been something incredibly special about this one little girl, Fern.

She's unique.  Precious.  And well deserving of a wonderful family that will tend to her every need.  
Oh!  By the way..did I mention she's been an orphan her entire life?  Yeah, you read correctly.   This little girl has never known real love.  She has never been held and hugged, told she is a priceless little gem. 

Fern is a diamond in the rough.  Her hair has continuously been shaven, instead being grown out into gorgeous long locks of silky black hair. She's always been dressed in mismatched clothing.  She's never been properly cared for.  No one has ever been there to guide her, to walk with her through these precious first years of life. The things we all took for granted as young children, she has never felt or known.  

 Read this from an adopting mother that actually met Fern:

 "Let me start by saying my heart broke for this little one. She is unable to sit up or feed herself. She cannot walk. She was brought to me in the crib. She smiled when I spoke to her and she grabbed my hand when I placed mine in hers. She laughed when we tickled her and she seemed to enjoy my attention. The nannies say she can smile and laugh when tickled. She can chew and swallow food. She has a familiar caretaker and smiles when she is with her. She is described as a very content child. She is easy going."

...She is wasting away in an orphanage.  Her most wonderful toddler years have been spent rotting with no one that can give her a motherly love that she so desperately needs to help grow.
I want so much to lift her into my arms and tell her how adorable she looks, kiss those chubby cheeks and tickle her tummy just to watch her giggle.  She needs that.  She needs someone to care for her.


I get it!  Not all of us can hop on the adoption bus today and snatch her, but hear this: You  don't have to adopt to help!  Take it from someone who has spent four years advocating, praying and watching God perform miracles in each little one's life.
Prayer is powerful and you have the power to do that anywhere at anytime.  Take advantage of that and say a daily prayer for not just Fern, but all the many orphans in this world.  Whether you believe it or not, you are making a big difference. The Creator of the universe is listening to your prayers and will do what He knows is best. 
Unless someone has handed you a print-out copy of this post, then you have the power to share this and other orphan related things right now.  Copy the link and paste it onto your Twitter, Facebook, email and virtually anywhere.  Hashtag the heck out of it with things like #orphan #help #makeachange #pray #retweet #share...it helps!  You never know when someone that is following you on social media is the future mother or/and father of the orphan you're sharing. 
Almost every child listed on Reece's Rainbow has a donation button setup on their profile.  Through that you are able to make a donation towards that child's adoption grant.  Which makes a HUGE difference.  There are so many wonderful stories I could sit here and tell you about families who expressed how helpful the adoption grants are to their adoption process.  Since international adoption can cost anywhere from $14,000-$50,000.  Not so cheap, right?

Baby Fern..(SO CUTE)

Fern is just a drop in the bucket when it comes to overlooked orphans.  There are 147 MILLION orphans in our world today.  147 children that need a voice.  You can be their voice.  Speak up for those who can't speak.  Close your eyes and just put yourself in an orphans shoes, you would want someone to speak for you, wouldn't you?  And what words would you want someone to say, to save your life?  Think about those questions today. 

Fern needs a family.  She's 4 years old.  She doesn't need to wait any longer!  Share this post! Retweet, screen shot it for Instagram and hashtag is like wild!  She needs out!  And you can help! :)

If you would like to make a donation and read more information about Fern please click this link.


Thank you for reading and please don't hesitate to comment or email me with any questions you have!  And even comment and tell me about how you helped an orphan (It can be Fern too.. ;) ), I would LOVE to hear your stories.

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#WheresMyMom?

Tomorrow is the day you hug your mama, tell her how much you love her and appreciate all the many things she's done for you.  It's another day where you take some time to really think about how big you're blessed.  And you do know, you are *really* blessed if you have a mom.  No matter how many times she gets on your nerves, makes you angry, tells you things you don't want to hear or think you already know, she is a huge blessing that I personally take for granted too often. 

Today I had to opportunity to give my mom some special treatment for her special day (which isn't until tomorrow, but one of my brother's turn 9 that day as well and she'd much rather celebrate him)
It wasn't the grandest thing you'd ever seen, but she was so grateful and excited.   It made me so happy to see her so happy about something so small.

I forget how much God has blessed me with.   I have the world's best mom.  She would do or give anything for one of her kids.  She's always looking for ways to make us happy and to give us all she can,  I am so much more blessed than I deserve.  She is so wonderful and I can't imagine my life without her.  She's my best friend, there isn't a thing that she doesn't know about me.  I tell her everything.

On this day when I count my blessings a little more than usual my heart breaks for the 147 million children in this world today without a mom to call their own.

No mom to kiss your booboos when you've fallen, no mom to tell you how much you are loved, to hug and comfort you.  No getting rocked to sleep while she sings a sweet song in your little toddler ears.  No laughter together, no shoulder to cry on when life hits you hard.   None of anything.   Nothing.

365 days alone inside the orphanage walls just waiting and wondering, "Where is she..where's the sweet lady they call "mom"?...you know, that one that comes in and takes you outside of this everyday of striving to survive and clinging to what little life I have.  The one that rescues me."

These precious children don't know what love is.   Some of them as old as 16 and have never felt one ounce of it.  Not a mother's love.  Which is something entirely unique and overwhelming.  Someone that is always there for you no matter what.   

This Mother's Day I want to encourage you to consider making a donation of amount to any of the waiting children listed on Reece's Rainbow.  Or ANY adoption connection you have.  Chose at least one to pray for today and share on your social media and hey, why not church?  It is on Mother's Day! ;) 
Spread that child's name and photo EVERYWHERE.  Help them find a mom this Mother's Day.  Tell your mom what you're doing, I bet she'll think it's fabulous!  

 Here are the three I will be shouting for all day! :)



                      My gorgeous sweet Talia: Click here to donate, share and read more about her.:)

 

My little soft Fern: Click here to donate, share and read more about her.

 

My oh so loveable Joe: Click here to donate, share and read more about him.

You might have noticed the hashtag theme going on here, I'm hoping that everyone that reads this will go share a photo on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #WheresMyMom in the description box.    Let's see how many people we can get to spread this hashtag everywhere!

This is an easy free way to help someone today!  You could be response able for one orphan (or more, you never know..) finding their mama!  YES.  I'm talking to you!  

Please don't ignore this, do it!  Help someone, like I said before, get your mom involved!  She'll love this!  

And maybe, just maybe, you might be one of these beautiful babies mama? Aye? ;) 

Thank you for taking the time to read this post, sorry it's a little bit of a rambling mess. Please comment and tell me which child you chose to share on our #WheresMyMom day!  I'd love to know! 

Visit ReecesRainbow.org to chose a child to share on #WheresMyMom day May 11 2014!

  
 

Keep Calm and Love an Orphan | For All Three

So I know there are a million and one tshirt fundraisers going on right now, so this one might already seem boring and same old same old, right?   And yeah, you might have ten shirts for adoptions, orphan advocating and such, but you can never have too many clothes right? ;)

Point is, I don't have a lot of money to spend on fundraisers and prizes right now, but I want to raise at least a little bit for one (or possibly all three) of "my" chickadees.

This shirt on the left is $17.  In order to get the company to print them out I have to sell at least 10 of them. I haven't decided which one of the kids will get the money raised yet.  If I sell ten I will have $45 to donate to one of them, which isn't a whole lot but it's better than nothing. 
 Every single penny of the money raised will go into a child's adoption grant. :) 

I wanted to keep it as affordable as possible for everyone so that it would be appealing, because I know how tight money is for so many families.

I understand if you can't purchase one, but if you can.  Please do!  It's perfect for every orphan advocate!  I made the colors neutrals so it can be for both genders. :)

Click here to read more and purchase to shirt if you'd like! 


Thank you for reading and please let me know if you have any questions!  I'm happy to answer them!  

Gettin' Crafty...(Maybe)

It's funny how your whole life you're the same person, but not really.  I mean, I'm not exactly the same spunky eleven year old I once was.   And I'm not certainly not the same girl I was when I was thirteen.  Granted that I was never a wild child and did outrageous things, I'm still not the "same girl" I was.  But everyone goes through this.  When I was little my grandma tried over and over again to get me into sewing, but that was something I knew I never wanted to do.   It wasn't the "cool" thing when you're like ten.  It just wasn't.   I thought sewing was for old people.  It wasn't near as much fun as jumping into her swimming pool, riding a scooter or walking around the neighborhood.  Why would anyone even need to know how to sew?  There were plenty of everything we needed in our local Wal-mart.

However.  I have changed my mind over the last couple of years.
Now as an eighteen year old young woman, I find myself understanding why people do the things they do.  I think a lot about how I want my children to be raised and the kind of wife I want to be for my future unknown husband.  I'm learning more about what's really important in life and that I need to make good use of my time.
And I've even uncovered that I have a desire in my heart to become a little bit more..crafty.  

Silly little me, people don't sew because there isn't enough of clothes, and whatnot to go around, but because it gives them joy.   It gives someone the feeling of accomplishment and being proud of their own creation.

I remember a lot of how you sew, mostly because for the last two or three years I have been doing a little bit of sewing.  My grandma gave my sisters and I sewing kits one Christmas then later on taught us a few easy sewing projects.   

I love the feeling you get when you actually *make* a present for someone.  And I absolutely love the feeling of getting a gift that someone made just for me.  It makes it so much more special!   With a little advice and help along the way, I have decided that I will attempt to make one of my child's keepsake...on my own. I've yet to master the skills of using a sewing machine so I will be doing this by hand (which by the way, my grandma said was the best thing to do with this little project)  

I'm going to be making a little security blanket for one of "my" three chickadees!  
Now...take a look at the fabric and try to think of who this would be for! :) 

 

Pretty ribbon,

I tried so hard to make it all match up.

After seeing the fabric has a pretty butterfly pattern you must have guessed it isn't for little Joey. Correct. It isn't for him, or at least not this one. ;)

That narrows it down to Fern and Talia.  

If you guessed Talia, you're right!  This cute fabric reminds me of her spunky cute facial expressions.  I've also been told that it *might* be possible to send her a care package also, so I didn't want to wait! :)   I plan on making something for each sweet child of "mine" eventually, but Talia just happens to be the first to get something made for her.  Please be praying she finds her forever family soon!  I worry so much about each child I advocate for, but Talia makes me worry a little bit more.  She's so medically fragile and tiny, it breaks my heart.  I would adopt her as my daughter in a heartbeat if it were possible.  But to any family interested in adopting her, I will gladly become your family warrior!  I have every intention to help bring her home! <3

I'm pretty sad and pathetic when it comes to sewing (or anything crafty related...) so bare with me as I attempt to sew a very special security blanket. 

I will most defiantly be posting updates!  So be sure to follow or subscribe so you can see it. :)

Thank you for reading and I hope that you will stick around and learn more about "my" three cuties. :) 

(There's a tab page you can find above ^) 

 Click here to visit Talia's listing on RR or make a donation to her adoption grant. :)