Thoughts From A 3 Year-Old

God knows just what ya need when ya need it.  A's random nuggets of wisdom and thoughts that has totally brighten my day.   

The people who made my lunch box are called Tree-Kenzie.

The sun used to have a smile but it isn't smiling today. The smile is gone. (Today is cloudy and rainy)

Why did God give me this brown baby sister, M?

 And my personal favorite....

 I don't want to eat Cheerios. Cheerios gives me gas. I don't eat gas because I'm not a car.

We Can Do This Together

I'm pretty certain there are very few out there that read this blog regularly but for those that do, I pray that you hear my urgent cry for help through my words.

In the past few days the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been, and continues to be, under attack by a rebel militia called the M-23. They are made up of men who steal, murder, turn little boys into children soldiers and rape children and women as their weapon of choice. They have entered Goma, an eastern city in the DRC and within the past 48 hours have taken over the city. Tens of thousands of people have tried to flee their homes, the United Nations who have over 1,500 soldiers there have withdrawn and let the militia take over, the Congolese army fled leaving their weapons with young men and boys in the community. And when all of that news was not hard enough to digest I found out that orphans in Goma that are supposed to be flying out of Goma to west Congo for adoption are trapped in their orphanage literally hiding under their beds with their pastor.

And here comes the kicker...R and my child could be there right now. Helpless. Your nephew, niece, grandchild, cousin, neighbor, church member could be there. Please let that sink in. Soak it up. Hold on to what that means to you, to R, to me, while you hear my cry for help below.

I have spent much of the past two days praying, crying, pleading with God, pacing and looking up every possible government official to call and email to make it known that there are people in the US that care about what is going on in Goma and praying that if enough people call and email that someone in power will step up and take action. I haven't been very good at tracking who I've called and emailed but towards the end of this afternoon I figured I should keep track (so I can keep pestering the same people and get their information out to others). I've pasted some websites and phone numbers below. It is super simple and will take just a few minutes. Consider this your Christmas gift to me and my family.

 You can look up your state officials and call and email them on this website. http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?State=CT http://www2.americanprogress.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=244&link=1

 Call President Obama -- 1-888-542-4146 - script: “My name is _____, and I’m calling about the current violence in Democratic Republic of Congo. I urge you to call for the immediate de-escalation of the M23 rebellion in Congo and demand an end to external support of M23 by Rwanda and Uganda. Please work with our international partners to pressure ALL parties to this conflict, including Congo, Rwanda and Uganda, to resolve the crisis through constructive negotiations.”

 Call Ambassador Rice 212-415-4062 -- same script as above.

 https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/demand-rwanda-cease-all-support-m23-and-remove-rwandan-troops-congo/JmYRbzJ8

Pray!

What if this was your child? My child? What would you do? This is a picture from Goma after M-23 entered.

This a group of people taking all they have and fleeing in hopes of finding safety.

Home Study Complete!

From what I've gathered, there are MANY steps to this adoption process but our first big step has been completed. YAY!!! Our home study is complete. Check. One thing done in the list of to-dos before we get to meet our sweet sweet baby. We have been cleared by the State and the US that we are fit to bring another little munchkin into our family. We are now on a waiting list to be referred a/our child. WOW!! When we started this process I thought it would be many, many more months until this would happen so I am both nervous and EXCITED to be that much closer to knowing about and seeing our little one. It's a crazy feeling knowing our baby is out there and not being able to be there for him/her yet.  I've never missed and longed for someone more in my life.  I woke up this morning thinking about him/her. So thankful to have a God that can watch over and protect our little one far better than we can! Can't wait to meet you our little Congolese baby!   We love you!

 Lord, do not withhold your mercy from our children, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect them. Amen Psalm 40:11

Oh How 3-Year-Olds Have No Filter

Yesterday I was helping A put on her jacket as we were leaving her OT's (occupational therapist) office. There was a little boy, who I shall call Timmy, that was in the waiting area with us. He walked by us and A said to him, "Timmy, I don't like the smell coming from your body."

Gotta love the honestly that flows from a three year old.

Run For Congo Women

As R and I have begun to research more about Congo we have been so blessed to find people across the world working together to bring relief and healing to a forgotten nation. We found out about an organization, Women for Women International that supports the efforts of Run For Congo Women. It gives people like you and me the opportunity to support women and families in Congo through a variety of avenues. I was SO excited to learn there was a Run for Congo 5K run/walk in NYC so Ramon and I planned to attend in support of these amazing Congolese women. As we walked over to the registration booth I was COMPLETELY SHOCKED to find my BFF, C and her fiance J standing there waiting for us. R was in on the secret but I was beyond surprised to have them join us for this awesome event. It's not ever day you have friends wake up before the sun to join you for a run. This was the first of many events R and I plan on being apart of in support of a nation that has become our life long passion and we couldn't have been happier that they were there to support us. To learn more about this organization go to http://www.runforcongowomen.org/

Time to Pick Some Apples

Earlier this Fall we went out and enjoyed the beautiful Fall weather at the Apple Orchard.

Wordless Wednesday

Hurricane Sandy

The winds and rain of Hurricane Sandy hit our city and surrounding towns/cities in horrific ways. We are very thankful that our house and yard went unharmed with no flooding, tree damage and electricity intact. It even gave the girls a chance to try out their new rain gear!