Behind the scenes of Sochi Winter Games 2014

While Sochi Winter Games are currently going on, there are hundreds of orphaned children across Russia who are in need of loving families. Why is it Russian president Putin puts on a big show, spending hundreds of dollars into Olympics? While many of the country's children are suffering in poor orphanages... It's been a year now since the Ban from allowing Americans to adopt Russian orphans.

We would like to share a link, with in depth insight into lives of children being cared for in Russia's orphanages.

http://tinygreenelephants.com/2014/02/sochi-olympics-beyond-the-stadiums-the-grim-behind-the-gold.html

I came across an article that touched my heart. I'm sharing because couples like this see beyond the physical body of the child. Children are innocent, who need love just like any children out there.

 

 Couple adopts baby whom others called a curse

by Nancy Flanders

Adam, Raja, Elliot, and Jessica.

For nine months, Adam was carried in his biological mother’s womb. He was safe with her, until the day he was born. Shortly after his birth, in a hospital in India, Adam was abandoned. He had been born with severe physical deformities.
No one in his family wanted him. Not one of them opened their heart or home to him. He was a child whose life many in this United States of abundance would deem unworthy of living.
When doctors told Adam’s family that they could not just abandon their child, their response was quite frank. His family said they would kill him. His village said they would poison him. So Adam stayed in the hospital and waited for his true family. He didn’t have to wait long.

Within the same hospital as Adam was a young couple, married for just six months – Raja Paulraj, a psychiatrist at the hospital and Jessica Cooksey Paulraj, a nurse and nursing teacher. They heard about this abandoned baby, and they went to him.
The Paulrajs loved Adam upon first sight. Doctors told them that he wouldn’t live long, maybe only a few weeks. But the young couple adopted him anyway. As Jessica writes on her blog:

As we were reading thru Paul’s letter to Rome in chapter 8 we were confronted with our own adoption as His sons and daughters. And when Adam was abandoned at our hospital due to significant physical deformities, we were awakened to the reality of our own spiritual condition before our adoption and His extravagant, sacrificial Love that adopted and redeemed us.

Adam was diagnosed with Bartsocas-Papas, a rare condition that brings with it physical abnormalities. He was born without eyelids or a nose, with a severe cleft palate and lip, with major hand abnormalities, and with legs which were fused together. His brain, lungs and heart are healthy. Most people with this condition die in the womb or shortly after birth. There are only 24 known cases. Raja and Jessica were told to simply keep Adam comfortable.
But the couple reached out to their friends, and an email to a one such friend at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill brought about the miracle they were seeking. Within two months of his birth, Adam was in North Carolina having his first round of surgeries which included one to give him eyelids to prevent him from losing his sight, and one to fix his cleft lip.
Surgeries, however, are expensive. Yet within days, the Baby Adam Fund was established and over $140,000 was quickly raised to help Raja and Jessica provide Adam with the health care he needs. In fact, despite the poor prognosis Adam was given, he will turn two years old in a few weeks. He has also become a big brother.
Just this week, Adam had surgery to give him a palate. This brings about the hope of being able to eat and speak. In the future, Adam will have the use of prosthetic legs and hands. But even without those gifts, Adam – a child his own family saw as a curse – has love and joy. He is full of energy, he squabbles with his brother, and he is like any other little boy.
In an interview with their local ABC news channel, Raja says:

I just see Adam as someone so beautiful. Often we kind of look at the abnormal things, but we kind of miss the beautiful things that lie behind this abnormal, so-called, abnormal thing.

Jessica and Raja are ordinary people who followed God’s calling for them. They saw a child in need of love, of a home, of a family and they provided for him. In this act, the couple is the perfect example of a truly pro-life spirit. A spirit that holds all life as precious and worthy and beautiful.
Everyone is wanted by someone.
Adam will need many more surgeries, but since he is not yet a U.S. citizen, he does not have health insurance. To help Jessica and Raja continue to afford Adam’s care, you can donate to the Baby Adam Fund.

Cookie Fundraiser

My cookie fundraiser is coming to a close on Nov 22, that is in 3 days!

Thank you to all of you who have bought a cookie dough tub! This has helped the fundraiser for our adoption, so from our hearts, thank you!!

Here's a reminder of what we are selling:
We are selling 6 different flavors which are: Choclate Chuck, Oatmeal Raisin, Sugar dough, snickerdoodles, Triple chocolate, and White chocolate Macadamia Nut.

They are $16 a tub, and will be shipped directly to your door! Please order now, if you are still interested in getting some cookies to cook for christmas!!

They are from Crazy about Cookies company.  Please include your name, address and phone number when you email me your selection, and I can get back to you with your order. Please email me at smileybear00@gmail.com with your order, and we can figure out the money in the email.

Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
Sincerely,
Troy and Leanne

Seatbelt Safety

Seatbelt Safety

I came across a post on a blog, about the young girl's bout with seatbelt tangled around her neck, to point of stranglation. Wow! I'm passing this on, please please have a seatbelt cutter or sisscors in your vehicle. You never know when you'll need it. If you become stuck in an accident and need it to get out.

Wow! I didn't realize how "inside the box" I do things in my life. We all need to try to "think outside of the box" as far as having seatbelt cutter or sisscors in our cars.

Here's the link of the blog and read her experiences. Here's the link: http://www.sallycphotography.com/archives/2005

Harrop Adoption chip-in

I added the chip-in at the request of  a friend. You are welcome to use the chip-in, and it securely sends money to my paypal account. I thought this would be easier for those of you who want to do it this way. Thank you for your contribution.

Cookie Fundraiser

We're Raising Money for adoption!

Harrop Adoption Home Delivery Cookie Dough Tubs Fundraiser is starting soon and we need your support to reach our goal.

We will be starting: Oct-22-2012 We will be ending: Nov-22-2012

Participants will be coming to you with a brochure full of some great products for you to choose from. You can view the brochure that we will be using by clicking the link to your left. If you would like to see all of the information on this fundraiser you can view it on this website

The cookie tub can be delivered directly to your home, which is easy for you who live far away.

Please take a look and consider using cookies for your upcoming birthdays, holidays, and any other events! There are many different kinds to choose from. Please click on the link for more informaiton.

Thank you for taking time to look!! :)

Please let me know if you need more help or information. My email is smileybear00@gmail.com

Thanks so much!

"He is not deadbeat dad"

             For the last few years, I have researched alot of topics in the
adoption world. Among many blogs, is a blog  that writes so profound about
adoption. Why do people adopt when they don't have the funds?
Often, money comes with hard work, making something and selling. Also prayer and faith goes hand in hand along with wondering how to come up with the next dollar, just to bring a child home.

            Please read the post written by an adopting family! Their post is worth your time to read. Here's the link....

http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/2012/09/he-is-not-deadbeat-dad-part-1.html#comment-form