Showing our support for our families of the week..

This is Ana for the Nemes family:

This is Milos for the Stolz family:

A little About The Stolz Family:

Jim & Mary have been married for 25 years & have 8 great kiddo's so far. On Dec. 3rd they have thier appointment for their adoption of #9, handsome young Milos.

The Stolz family is no stranger to DS children with their oldest bio. son being 19 with DS & a little one named Joey who they adopted from Ukraine in 2007. Milos is going to be a great fit in his new family & has alot of siblings who can't wait for him to be home. Please be prayerful in your giving to this great family.

A Little About The Nemes Family:

Tom & Amberlyn are in Ukraine right now!! They'll be meeting thier little angel, Ana in a couple of days :) Even though their in country right now they can still use our help~ after all, they have a second trip to plan with an extra ticket to buy so their Ana can come home with them. I know when we were in Ukraine, our funds were low & the help we got from RR was a HUGE blessing! With out it, our Isaac would be in an institution now instead of here with us :( What a tear jerking thought! This family can really, really use our help to bring Ana home now! Please be praying for them while their away from their 2 children at home and for their meeting of their newest little girl :) What a blessing!!!

Amberlyn has made their blog private during thier time in Ukraine, but you can alway request an invite..she's asked that you do if you want to follow along on thier journey.

http://www.puremommyextract.blogspot.com/

You can give your gifts of support & read more about the families here :

www.reecesrainbow.org/familysponsorshipalmostthere.html

Many blessings to you all! Alysha~one blessed mama :)

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, aka ARND

I am sorry this is late. With it being Thanksgiving, the week got away from me. :)


A common concern of parents adopting internationally is adopting a child with FAS [Fetal Alcohol syndrome], also known as Alcohol-related neuro development disorder.

Facts about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a set of physical and mental birth defects that can result when a woman drinks alcohol during her pregnancy. When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, such as beer, wine, or mixed drinks, so does her baby. Alcohol passes through the placenta right into the developing baby. The baby may suffer lifelong damage as a result. Read more here.

Contrary to popular belief there is no SAFE amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Though the effects of alcohol on a developing fetus are still being studied, and there is much that is not known, there is a lot of good information out there. One of the best resources I have found is the book," Damaged Angels", by Bonnie Buxton. She talks of her daughter with FAS and what her journey has been like.

Another good resource is FASlink. There are so many resources out there. An important thing to remember is that FAS is NOT a death sentence. There are all kinds of degrees of struggles with FAS, and there IS help!

Many children are listed on Reeces Rainbow with FAS. Please take the time to pray for them and if you feel a familiar tug that often happens in teh heart of adoptive parents, consider them becoming a part of your family!

Friday Focus on Down Syndrome - Darya's Hope

Eight Days.

Eleven year old Lydia saw this photo of Darya on the Reece's Rainbow Christmas Angel Tree. She asked her Mum if she was able to raise the $20,000 it would cost for the international adoption, would they adopt her.

"Being a sensible 41 year old, I told Lydia she would never be able to raise $20,000.00 in 8 days.....she is only eleven. She didn't hear me. Instead, she asked again, "But if I do raise the money, will you adopt her?" I responded yes, if she raised that much money in 8 days, we would know God is in it and would travel to adopt Darya!"

Darya's Hope was born. Eight days before Thanksgiving. Eight days to help God send a miracle. Eight days to raise $20,000.

Lydia got her community involved. She leafleted all the homes in her neighbourhood, she babysat and her friends babysat and gave her the money for Darya. For eight days Lydia and her community and friends and family held bake sales, car washes, photo shoots, dress sales, hair cuts, all with the proceeds being donated to Darya's Hope.

You may have read about Lydia and Darya on some of the blogs you read.

An eleven year old girl set out an impossible task. And with child like faith, she told everyone she met about Reece's Rainbow and Darya and the other orphans needing families. Lydia is an advocate.

"Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act." Proverbs 24.12

Lydia has a brother and sister who both have Down Syndrome. Lydia loves her brother and sister so much. It broke her heart to learn that these precious children in other countries were being discarded solely because they have Down Syndrome. She knew they were wrong, she knew these children have worth, great worth. What is more, she knew that God knew she knew and she wanted to do something about it.

Another adopting family who had been to the orphanage where Darya lives mentioned that no one holds Darya, no one gives her any attention at all. She was literally being left to die. Lydia was not willing to allow that to happen.

Her local television station had arranged an interview with Lydia for Thanksgiving morning to find out how close to her goal she had come when they heard of her fund raising for Darya. That interview is below.

So, how much did she raise in eight days? Did she make her goal? Well, yes. Yes, she did! Not only did she raise $20,000 so they can bring Darya home, she raised another $6,000+ by Thanksgiving morning. All the donations over the $20,000 they needed are being given to another family who was unable to afford to adopt and so Darya's Hope is bringing TWO Angels home to their forever families!

As of today, Friday, donations are still coming in. In fact, as the following blog post from Melanie's Blog says, it would appear Lydia may be heading up her own ministry as a result!

$28,000 And Still Counting!

You would think once Lydia announced she had raised OVER her $20,000.00 goal, people would stop giving and just celebrate. At least, in my human nature, that's what I thought.

WRONG!!!

Since yesterday, $2,000.00 more dollars have come in. I am blown away by the generosity. When families learned that Lydia is now raising money to help another family adopt a little one who has Down Syndrome in Eastern Europe, they jumped in and have joined her. Amazing. Well, it is just a miracle, don't you think?

Can you believe it has been suggested several times that Lydia start a ministry called:

"100 FOR 200"

WHAT? An eleven year old leading a ministry effort? I am hesitant to say I doubt anything anymore, so I'll be careful not to voice my doubts and fears.

The ministry would be to gather 200 believers who will commit to donating $100.00 each month through 2010 in order to fund 12 special needs adoptions and save 12 orphans. Lydia would provide a picture of the child each month, details that are known about the child, and fund the adoption. Sounds simple? Yes, unless you are the mother of the daughter who is on a path to save the world. I keep thinking to myself: "she is only eleven."

So, stay tuned and let's see what God is going to do. Lydia keeps saying: "With God, nothing is impossible". All smiles....continuing to skip through the house with Hope in tow right behind her.

To read more about Lydia's family, please visit their blog. You can also read about their adoption of Hope, also with Down Syndrome, in Melanie's book, The Journey for Hope. As well, when you purchase her book, 60% of the proceeds will be donated to the Reece's Rainbow Voice of Hope Fund.

The Journey Fo...

a testimony that bi...

By Melanie Hollis

Book Preview

Christmas Shopping?

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

New buttons!

Praise God!! so many angels have commited families

They are beginning their journey to bring their kids home, please grab their buttons, share their stories, lets join them through prayer and if you could help them with donations Im sure they will be thankfull!

Grab button

Grab button

Grab button

A Voice of Hope at Thanksgiving

Dear Parents and Down Syndrome Advocates, Let us give thanks for the opportunity to share our own bountiful blessings with an orphaned child. Let us not forget those children with Down syndrome around the world who don't have a family of their own. Keep in your hearts those who are hidden away in orphanages and mental institutions out of shame and ignorance.  Pray for those who are left behind, the hundreds who die alone and never know the loving arms of a family here on Earth. ***PLEASE SHARE this message with others you know ***  Let us celebrate for those who now have a VOICE OF HOPE and the CHANCE FOR A FAMILY! Your gifts of sponsorship for the waiting orphans of the Reece's Rainbow Down Syndrome Adoption Ministry SAVE LIVES REJOICE for those who have found their "forever family"! Home in 2006  (2) Home in 2007  (18) Home in 2008  (36) Home in 2009   (96) Coming home in 2010  (74+ and counting!) *** MONEY is the only thing that stands between each of our waiting children and the loving families who are hoping to adopt them *** Donate for the adoption of a child with Down syndrome through our Christmas Angel Tree Project and throughout the year.  Watch your gift, no matter how small, change the course of an orphan's life! "A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.   God sets the lonely in families."  (Psalms 68:5-6)

This email was sent to The Poppies' Blog by Andrea Roberts, Executive Director (. To ensure that you continue receiving our emails, please add us to your address book or safe list. Click here to remove yourself from this mailing list. Reece's Rainbow Down Syndrome Adoption Ministry | PO Box 4024 | Gaithersburg | MD | 20885

  

New buttons!

Grab button here

Grab button here

Grab button here

Grab button here

To see this buttons and others go to http://rrbuttons.blogspot.com

Angel of the week

Meet Artyom!

Boy, Born November 19, 2005

He just turned 5 years!

Artyom is HEALTHY, with a smile that can light up a room. He is an orphanage favorite, and is described as very friendly, affectionate, active, and happy. He has very little time left before being sent to the institution, so someone PLEASE SAVE HIM.

From one of our adoptive families who visited with him in August 2009: "I saw Artyom today, he is such a doll!! He is chunky and walks perfect. We were waiting in the hallway and he came out of the baby room like a little man... walked up to each one of us as if he was saying hello. He pointed at a few pictures they had hanging on the wall, then the nurses noticed he was out of the room and started telling him to come back in the room to the group. He looked at them and shook his hand as if to say "leave me alone!" and we all started laughing. He has got to be adopted! He would bring such joy to any family and looks extremely healthy and very smart."

Please give Artyom the chance to have a family of his own!

Contact Andrea directly for more information

I have $4000in my grant fund towards the cost of my adoption!

As One We Can..Thankful For These Families

What a blessing it is to have family!! What an honor God's given us to be able to extend our hearts and add to our families. I'm ever so thankful for my Isaac & I can't wait to see where God will take our family next & who He may add to it :) These 2 families are getting ready to multiply :) May we be able to be a blessing to them with our gifts of love.

Paul & Jean Briggs have been one of our families in the past, but I wanted to extend the invite to help them out again. They've been waiting along time for these two angels to come home! With 22 siblings all waiting for them to come home money has got to be really tight this time of year :)


Donovan & Diana for the Briggs family:

The Beasley family is getting ready to go! They'll be heading out soon for their Dec. 9th appointment. This family is a blessing and has accepted God's call to bring home not 1, not 2, but 3 beautiful blessings!! What an awesome thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving and what a great Christmas they'll be having too!!

Elisa, Vanessa & Arthur for the Beasley family:

You can find both families here : http://reecesrainbow.com/familysponsershipalmostthere.htm

MAY GOD BLESS YOUR THANKSGIVING AND MAY HE STRETCH OUR GIFTS IN A MIGHTY WAY FOR THESE FAMILIES!

Blessing to you all! Alysha~one blessed mama

So...about that Buddy Cruise!

So it has been a whole MONTH since I returned from 2009 Buddy Cruise. This was my first trip, and I have to say it was amazing! Not only was it a relaxing and enjoyable cruise, but I had an opportunity to share Reece's Rainbow in person for the first time. I debated long and hard about bringing Reece with me, but in the end, was concerned that he would be overwhelmed and unhappy the whole trip. So I took my younger, typical son Owen...should have made him a t-shirt that said "NO, I am not Reece!"...because everyone who saw us said "it's Reece!" lol This was a wonderful time of fellowship, education, and making new friends in the Down syndrome community. There were families from all over the country and the world on board, even several adoptive families. I got to meet several well-known folks, like Emily Perl Kinglsey (writer for Seseame Street and author of "Welcome to Holland"). Sujeet Desai, the amazing musician and self advocate was also there with his family. All of the presenters were wonderful, relevant, and HUMAN :) They are all just moms and dads of children with Down syndrome who are passionate about advocacy, improving the world for their children and others like them, and focused on changing the way the world sees and includes our children. We talked about hearing problems, speech and language education, medical complications, estate planning and future trusts for our kids with special needs, adults with down syndrome, and of course the adoption and rescue part!....just about everything, it was very educational!

What I liked most about the Buddy Cruise was the length of time it gave all of us (5 days of sun and fun!) to meet and spend time with each other in an extended, casual, social setting. It wasn't just a warehouse full of thousands of people milling booths and picking up brochures. We had many scheduled presentations and events, but plenty of individual time on board, time to get off the ship and do your own excursions, and time to have some coffee with a new friend on deck 4 ;) It was a special time to come together with other folks you didn't know and enjoy yourself. Great opportunityt o make life-ling friends and network with each other. I highly recommend this cruise for any other families, no matter how many kids you have. All of us on the cruise...we're all aware of each other's behavioral struggles. We don't have to worry about what others think when my child goes tearing down the hallway ;) I was worried Reece might try to climb the rail while I wasn't looking, but now I know there were so many experienced DS parents there, I would have had about 30 built-in babysitters ;) All of the kids who attended, regardless of age, bonded with each other and really seemed to appreciate the opportunity to share in a trip like this! And even my Owen, who does noth ave Down syndrome, found himself bonding with several others (Anthony Murphy and Pierce and Joshua Hays, to name a few!), to whom he would proudly say "my brother has Down syndrome too!"

We will definitely be going again in 2010, ALL of us, Reece included! It is going to be held in conjunction with the NDSC Convention in Orlando, Fl July 16-18. www.buddycruise.org The cruise leaves Monday the 19th, and returns the 23rd. It promises to be another awesome trip, so I hope all of you who are hoping to come to the convention will save up your duckets and book a room on board the Buddy Cruise too! There are tons of supervised, curriculum-based activities for the children, INCLUDING OURS, so don't hesitate!

The Buddy Cruise is also a registered 501c3 organization, and just like Reece's Rainbow, relies heavily on donations to provide quality educational programs and a special yearly cruise event! Reece's Rainbow was deeemd not eligible for the new Chase $5 Million Giveaway on Facebook because our focus is international. But the Buddy Cruise IS eligible, so you can still support the adoptive families of RR by voting for the Buddy Cruise in this online project.

The Older Child

Adopting an older child presents some unique challenges, but can also have unique rewards. One family has found joy in the adoption of older children. Read some of their story here.

"Families who are willing to adopt any child, particularly an older child, need to accept the child for who they are, helping them grow into successful competent adults," says Collins. "They need to accept and understand that child's sense of loss and need to heal. They need to be persistent and strong advocates for those children."

Here is a blog that seeks to share information about adopting the "older child".

On a personal note: When our son, James, came to live with us 2 years ago at the age of 7, we did not expect him to stay. It was a temporary situation. Now his adoption will be final on Dec. 1st.

I still remember the first week he was here. He slept on one couch and I slept on the other. He was scared to sleep in his room. I never dreamed that those nights of talking for a few minutes before he fell asleep would be the equivalent, in my mind, of the time spent with my newborn in the hospital. But that is exactly what they are. Treasured moments of bonding, and being just what MY child needed.

It has taken a while, but he inhabits the place in my heart that my biological children do. It took prayer. It took discipline [for me, not him], and it took conviction of my belief that "Every child deserves to hold a place in someones heart where if need be, that person would walk through a fire to get to them!"

I weep for the baby he was, the one I will never know. I love babies, everything about them! But....

A child is only a baby for a short while, but they are a human being in need of a family forever!

Friday Focus on Down Syndrome - She Can. She Did!

Sarah Sherman is no more special than any of the 141 other students inducted Thursday night into Blue Valley North High School’s chapter of the National Honor Society.

Her 3.75 grade-point average is high, yes, but they all have at least the required 3.5. Every one of the students worked hard to pull the grades while participating in school activities and logging at least 40 hours of community service.

She is, however, the only one who has Down syndrome.

Rising to the occasion again: Student with Down syndrome inducted into National Honor Society at Blue Valley North 

By GRACE HOBSON of The Kansas City Star

As she was called to walk across the Blue Valley North stage at Thursday night’s ceremony, her achievement was not singled out. Her name carried no extra weight on the program. She blended in. 

She belonged.

“That’s the part of it that’s the greatest achievement,” said Nancy Pence, the faculty co-sponsor of the National Honor Society. “That she’s a part of this group.”

The society’s national headquarters doesn’t keep statistics on how many students with Down syndrome have been inducted into the elite honor society. But Sarah’s achievement is unusual enough that she is the first in Pence’s seven years as a sponsor, and the only inductee with Down syndrome that Carter Burns has known in more than 30 years of being a principal.

Unusual but not surprising to Sarah’s teachers. Or her parents.

They’ve watched their little girl surpass expectations all her life. She’s so social, she runs into friends wherever she goes. So good at memorizing facts, she’s a “Jeopardy” whiz. She’s been in three school musicals. She taught herself sign language.

“People would look at us like, ‘She can’t be doing that,’ ” said her mother, Pam Sherman. “She can. She did.”

Angel of the week

Meet Ashleigh!

Girl, Born January 31, 2007

From a missionary video, they mention how she didnt do much but to lay down in a crib,and with the missionary group, love, care, they could give her while they where there, she soon was rolling, and even sitting!

Ashleigh is completely healthy, with soft brown hair and big brown eyes! She has a smile that can light up a room, and will blossom in a family setting!

Contact Andrea directly for more information

and to see her and other Eastern Europe kids click here

Angel Tree ornament shipment has begun!

The assembly and shipment of the Angel Tree ornaments is in full swing!
Anyone who donates $35 or more to the grant fund of a waiting child on the Angel Tree will receive a porcelain ornament with the Angel Tree logo and the sponsored child's photo on it. These ornaments are beautiful and also make great gifts.

Here's the result of the first 12 days of donations. Over 70 ornaments were assembled and shipped this weekend.

The goal of the Angel Tree is to raise $1,000 for each of the waiting angels on the tree.
A few children have already reached this goal, but many others are still waiting on sponsors.

THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF FAMILIES WISHING TO ADOPT CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME, only a shortage of funds to do so!

Donate today!

BLESSINGS raining down!

In just 13 days, ELEVEN children on the Angel Tree have found families and Timosha is going HOME to his birth family!

In addition to that great news, several children now have large grants:

TONYA has a $4,239 grant
(includes waiting child grant and angel tree grant)

ARTYOM has a $4000 grant
(includes waiting child grant and angel tree grant)

ANNA has a $5000 grant
(includes waiting child grant and angel tree grant)

TANNER has a $5000 grant
(includes waiting child grant and angel tree grant)

ANNA and TANNER can be adopted together, and with their combined grants of $10,000, the facilitation fee is nearly completely paid for! (only shy by $500)

All of these children are in the same country, requirements listed below:

Married couples only may apply
No more than 45 years between at least one parent and child
(one older parent OK)
No stated family size restrictions
Total with travel approx $24k
Both parents for 2 1/2 weeks to attend court
Both parents return home for 3 weeks, and only one must return to complete the adoption for approx 10 days
No history of mental health conditions or infectious diseases
May adopt multiple unrelated children

Interested families should read carefully through http://www.reecesrainbow.org/newfamily.html to determine their eligibility and financial preparedness to adopt internationally.

Serious inquiries and commitments for any of these children can be directed to Andrea.

Blindness....

I have always had a desire to adopt a blind child. Admittedly, when we took that first step and committed to adopting a little girl who is blind we knew very little. I have found this site to be most helpful.

It is full of great articles not only on blind children, but ideas for other disabilities as well. I have been reading a lot about orientation and mobility, something that the little girl we are adopting has not had any focus or help on. Here is a good article to start with.

Orientation and Mobility

Did you know that it's never too early to begin teaching your blind baby orientation and mobility skills? Even if your blind infant is barely holding up her own head, let alone moving anywhere on her own, orientation and mobility is still a key factor to future independence and many of the basic teachings can begin as early as infancy.

Reeces Rainbow has many children with vision impairments waiting for their forever family to find them. Could you be the one God is calling?

Friday the 13th

Usually, we all get silly nervous about Friday the 13th. But so far, THIS Friday the 13th has turned out to be an incredible day. So I had to blog about it!

First, we got confirmation of a committed family for Lera in Russia.

Then TATYA in Ukraine finds her family.
Then LILYA in Ukraine finds her family.
And the most amazing thing...little Timosha's (in Russia) birth family, who I have built a lovely personal relationship with, has decided to take their most loved son home with them.

Every child Reece's Rainbow has had the honor of serving, every child saved has beena reason to rejoice! But for a birth family to be so moved, to see new light and have renewed hope and faith in their Savior and His plans for their family through His gift of their child with Down syndrome...that is a true VICTORY! That is when I am the most moved, and I wanted to share this most joyous news with the world ;)

The message from Timosha's mother, who has also committed to serve the other children with down syndrome in his orphanage, and to help us get new photos and find families for them!:

"Andrea, I thank you for your prayers. Yesterday my husband has told that we will take away Timosha home!!!!!!! Since Monday we will start to make all papers. Also I hope that Christmas we will meet all together. I yet don't know, what will be our life, but I trust the Lord and I believe that with the Divine help at all of us it will turn out. All not casually also can children from our region can find family. I will do the utmost to update photos of other children. This smallest that I can make for them. I thank you, Andrea and if the help which I in forces to render is necessary to you, I will make it with pleasure."

This is why we do what we do!

Andrea Roberts, Executive Director
Reece's Rainbow
bamaroberts@comcast.net

We Were ALL Orphans Before that First Christmas...

Well this is perhaps one of the best posts I could be so privileged to make.

This past week has seen a flurry of blogs and emails posting about a little girl named Lera! As you can see by her photos, she is a gorgeous little girl full of LIFE! She lives in an orphanage in Russia, presently.

But her time was literally drawing to a close THIS WEEK. Without a family committing to her able to move forward quickly with an adoption in Russia her fate would be sealed. Life in a Russian mental institution that does NOT allow adoptions.

Andrea asked people to help and within a couple of days her grant grew from $1000 to $5000 but still she needed a family. The people able to donate the money to her adoption grant were not able to adopt her but thankfully because of that grant another family is!


So, the wonderful news is that Lera has a family! Now that she has that official commitment she will be spared from the transfer to the institution. Her new family were not the ones to bring her into this world, but indeed they are the ones who will be giving her LIFE!

This is a perfect example of how Reece's Rainbow and all of you work. There are families ready and willing; qualified and able to adopt a child with Down Syndrome. Families that share the passion to bring these children home and give them life. The only thing standing in their way are the costs of the international adoption.

The Christmas Angel Tree Project is the biggest fund raising event of the year for Reece's Rainbow and many families find their children through seeing them on the Waiting Angels page.

Lera is a gorgeous and lovely example of how important your donations to these children are! Without her grant, her new family may not have been able to commit to her adoption but because of it, Lera is going to be given the most amazing Christmas gift any orphan could ever hope for, or even know to hope for!

Please, also watch our Official Ministry Video and feel free to share it on your own blogs.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

As well, if you have a blog, have you chosen your Christmas Angel Tree bauble to put on it?

We also have the 2010 FREE 'Redemption' Calendar and this button is another way you can help raise awareness for Reece's Rainbow and these precious angels!




Grab This Button
Those of you on twitter can also put this on your blogs or if you don't have a blog, just follow us on twitter!








Grab this! Be sure to right click on the box below and then select all.



<center><a href="http://twitter.com/ReecesRainbow" target="_blank"><img width="120px" src="http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s62/WilliamtheOutlaw/RRTwitter.gif"/></a></center>

For those interested, the qualifications again for adopting from Lera's Region (2), Russia are:

• 2 trips
• Both parents for first trip, about one week
• Both parents travel for 2nd trip, approximately 14 days (One parent may leave after the court proceedings are finalized, after about 5 days.)
• Total program and travel fees under $25k
• Fee includes a $1000 orphanage donation
• Only one child can be adopted at a time
• Married couples and single mothers may apply

Friday Focus on Down Syndrome - Brought to You by the Letter E

Well, I could hardly do a Friday Focus this week without it being somehow related to Sesame Street could I? If you have been using Google's homepage or reading the Reece's Rainbow blog, you already know what I'm talking about.

10 November 1969 was the very first episode of Sesame Street. One year later a brilliant young woman started her career with Sesame Street. One that would span 39 years and counting!

(Happy 40th Birthday, Sesame Street!)

This woman's name is Emily Perl Kingsley. In 1974 she had a son, she named him Jason. Soon after Jason Kingsley was born, a doctor recommended that his mother institutionalise him and tell her friends that he had died in childbirth. Jason, the doctor predicted, would "never read or write or have a single meaningful thought or idea," he has Down Syndrome, you see. Well, he most certainly is able to walk and talk and he has plenty of meaningful thoughts and ideas AND has also written a book!

Over the years of writing for Sesame Street, she has done much to include children with disabilities on the show. There have been many beautiful children with DS that have been part of the show over the years and many children in wheel chairs (including a character on the show) and other disabilities, as well. She was honoured in October 2008 with a special award from the U.S. Government Department of Health and Human Services in recognition of her ground-breaking work including individuals with disabilities on Sesame Street. She has won 12 Daytime Emmys and 9 nominations through her work with Sesame Street, three EDIs and a Grand EDI from Easter Seals, and an award from the National Theatre of the Deaf.

As well, if you have ever known someone with Down Syndrome you have probably read the very well known 'Welcome to Holland'. It was written in 1987 by none other than Emily Perl Kingsley. This written work has become the face, if you will, of Down Syndrome. 'Holland' has become part of the 'lingo' that parents with a child with Down Syndrome use.

Read 'Welcome to Holland' Here

To know that Jason is also a gifted writer should really come as no surprise and to those with children with Down Syndrome, well, it isn't a surprise. To the doctors that initially told Emily her son had Down Syndrome it may be a surprise.

Jason was on roughly 50 episodes of Sesame Street as he was growing up. He completed High School and he lives in group home and he and his mother have made great strides in changing the perceptions people have of disabilities.

To purchase Jason's book through Good Search so that Reece's Rainbow will be automatically given a donation CLICK HERE

As well, check back for information on how you can see Emily and Jason speaking at the Buddy Cruise in July! As both Meredith and Andrea can tell you, they are absolutely lovely in person and very inspiring speakers!

Lordy, Lordy Look Who's 40!

Happy Birthday to Sesame Street!

As the curtain opens on the 41st season of Sesame Street we wanted to take pause to wish all the residents, past & present, a Happy Birthday!

As an artist, Carroll Spinney is one of my favourites, as he is also an artist! I know this because a little Big Bird told me! This is a lovely interview with him regarding the 40th Birthday!

Please take time to visit their web site and did you know they have an official Sesame Street Youtube channel? You can watch Sesame Street from anywhere!

Find out more this week about Sesame Street and their connection with Reece's Rainbow! (In other words, stop by often!)

So, Happy Birthday to the entire gang at Sesame Street!

Being from England, I thought I would share this interview with the BBC's Kevin Connolly which you might enjoy!

And, for Five Minutes with Sesame Street and  Matthew Stadlen Click Here!

As One We Can Families Of The Week: The Bedford's & The Lackamp Family

100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE GIFTS CAN BE GIVEN HERE: Many thanks!
www.reecesrainbow.org/familysponsorshipalmostthere.html

The week seems to move so quickly! Here we are again with two more wonderful families who can really use our help. The Lackamp family have already submitted their dossier & their famiy fund isn't looking to fat right now. What ever gift amount you can give will be a blessing to them, I'm sure.
Our other family is one that many of us know well. The Bedford's are a family who've given much of themselves and now, with their dossier submitted for their boys I'm hoping we can be of service to them. Please be prayerful in your givings and as always...
****MAY GOD STRETCH OUR GIVINGS IN A MIGHTY WAY FOR EACH OF THESE FAMILIES**** :) Blessing to you and your week! Alysha~one blessed mama





GARRETT for The Lackamp Family--Oak Ridge, MO
The Lackamps were high school sweethearts and married soon after. They live in MO and have a grown daughter, Amber, who works with children with special needs. While doing research, she discovered Reece�s Rainbow. God led her to Garrett and when she showed him to her parents they fell in love with him! They are all very excited to add to their family and are anxious to bring him home!



11/2/09---DOSSIER SUBMITTED, HOPING TO TRAVEL IN JANUARY



I have $0 in my FAMILY grant fund towards the cost of my adoption!







VANDER & RYAN for The Bedford Family---Ft. Rucker, AL
Well, they're going back for a THIRD and FOURTH angel with Down syndrome! Robert and Shelley Bedford adopted our little Naum from Ukraine in August of 2007. Then they adopted Jovan from Serbia in April of 2008. Now they're going back to Eastern Europe for Vander and Ryan!



11/2/09---DOSSIER SUBMITTED



We have $880 in our FAMILY grant fund towards the cost of our adoption!



Follow the adoption journey of the Bedford family on their blog at http://chroniclesofhousehold6.blogspot.com/
MILOS for the Stolz family--Cleves, OH

Achondroplasia / Dwarfism

Achondroplasia is a disorder of bone growth that causes the most common type of growth hormone deficiency.

It affects about 1 in 15,000 to 1 in 40,000 births, and it occurs in all races and in both sexes (1).

People concerned about the condition in their families may wonder, "What causes achondroplasia?" In most cases, this common type of short-limbed dwarfism is related to a genetic mutation in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 gene. However, one or both parents passing the altered gene to their children is also what causes achondroplasia.

***There are currently 3 children listed on Reeces Rainbow with dwarfism. They are all beautiful and very much need a family to give them unconditional love and acceptance!

Friday Focus on Down Syndrome - Kellie's Book

This is one of several artists that I've come to know of over the past few years. She's absolutely lovely!

You can read more about Kellie and her book HERE!

If you'd like a copy of Kellie's Book, CLICK HERE to order through Good Shop, where your purchase will also help raise donations for Reece's Rainbow!

To learn how to order through Good Shop click to

OTHER ANGELS OF THE WEEK...TWINS SANDRA & SLAVKA

MEET THE TWINS : )
Sandra & Slavka
Born Feb. 27th 2003
Twin girls Sandra and Slavka are in GREAT need of a family. Aren't they beautiful. These girls have been waiting for such a LONG LONG time.
The twins were born with WEST SYNDROME. West Syndrome is epileptic seizures. Both girls are on medication and are under the care of a neurologist. With medication neither of the twins has had any seizures.
The twins are very social and loving, and love to be held and played with. Both are significantly cognitively delayed. The twins are non-verbal, but do not have speech therapy. The girls walk independently and there gross motor skills are very good. Both girls attend school for special needs.
Please consider adopting SANDRA & SLAVKA.

THERE IS $18.00 IN THERE ADOPTION GRANT. reecerainbow.org/otherangels/siblings/sandra&Slavka

If you need more information please contact SHELLEY at shele337@yahoo.com

Be Good for Reece's Rainbow! GoodSearch & GoodShop

If you, like me, wish you had more money to donate to Reece's Rainbow and the families adopting, well, here is one way you can donate without having to have any money!


All you need to do is use GoodSearch for your search engine or add it to your search box already on your browser's toolbar! Then, every time you do a search you are helping give money to Reece's Rainbow!

As well, you can use GoodSearch for your online shopping this Christmas and with every purchase you are giving to Reece's Rainbow!


All you do is select Reece's Rainbow, Gaithersburg, MD as your charity of choice and you can either make GoodSearch your homepage or add it to your toolbar! Easy as that!

When you are doing your online shopping, just click on GoodShop and find your shops of choice and with every purchase you make, Reece's Rainbow benefits!

GoodSearch
& GoodShop

YOU SEARCH OR SHOP...
WE GIVE!

Raise money for Reece's Rainbow Down Syndrome Adoption Ministry just by searching the web and shopping online!

Search the web now!

Free coupons at top stores!

Add to your site

You can also click on the Add to your site to spread the word about GoodSearch and GoodShop!

Thank you!

Angel of the week

Meet Anna!

Girl, Born May 26, 2004

What a darling, happy little girl! And a blessed one too, that she has not been sent to the institution yet. YOU can save her from that fate! Light brown hair, blue eyes, and a smile that can light up a room!

"HEY, can you hear me???", she says. "I'm still here waiting for you to come get me!"

Miss Anna was born with an ASD, but that has not slowed her down! She is described as quite high functioning! She can run and jump and climb and is a very active, and social little girl. Anna and Tanner are in the same orphanage and can be adopted together!

As of July 2009, God is still watching over her and she is still at the baby house!! Please don't let her end up in an institution!

I have $3000 in my grant fund towards the cost of my adoption!

Are You a Twit?

If you twitter we'd love for you to follow Reece's Rainbow on twitter!

We'd also appreciate if you can put the Reece's Rainbow tweet on your blog!

Grab this! Be sure to right click on the box below and then select all.

<center><a href="http://twitter.com/ReecesRainbow"><img width="120px" src="http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s62/WilliamtheOutlaw/RRTwitter.gif" width-/></a><br /> <a href="http://reecesrainbow.blogspot.com/2009/11/are-you-twit.html">Grab This!</a></center>

Thank you for helping advocate for these angels with us!

Our As One We Can Families Of The Week: The Maples & The Nemes Families

I love the new look of the blog! Now it's even easier for us to give our gifts :) With the time of year coming when money seems to be just not there, please let's not forget those families who need our help. Remember that ANY amount is helpful and greatly, greatly apprecitated. You'd be amazed at how God can take the smallest amount and turn it big :)

NADJA for the Maples family--Rochester, MN

Our little Nadja finally has a family of her own!

Jonathan and Sarah Maples have been married for 9 years and have four wonderful adopted children. They know that the road is not easy but it's not their road and anything worth while is not easy. Yes there will be many struggles financially, emotionally, and physically but they trust God that He will help them along their path.

The Maples' have already submitted their dossier for Nadja, so your gifts of sponsorship for them NOW will be greatly appreciated!

10/4/09---DOSSIER SUBMITTED

I have $25 in my FAMILY grant fund towards the cost of my adoption!

Follow the Maples family's adoption journey on their blog at http://www.gatheringangels.blogspot.com

ANASTASIA for The Nemes Family--Spanaway, WA

The Nemes family is excited to grow! Tom and Amberlyn have 3 year old Alexis and 10 month old Benjamin. They felt God�s call to add to their family not that long ago and have been in awe of watching Him work. How generous the Lord is to allow each of us to be part of His work is our own way. What glorious change He brings to our hearts as we obey and trust Him.

Please consider helping this family by lifting them up in prayer for their journey!

10/19/09---DOSSIER SUBMITTED

I have $35 in my FAMILY grant fund towards the cost of my adoption!

Follow the Nemes family adoption journey on their blog at www.puremommyextract.blogspot.com

~*~MAY GOD STRETCH OUR GIVINGS IN A MIGHTY WAY FOR EACH OF THESE FAMILIES!~*~

Blessings to you all, Alysha~one blessed mama :)

It's finally here!

After a difficult year personally for me last season, I was so glad to be able to have the time to really plan ahead, prepare well, get the word out, and have everything in place for a true *launch* of the 2009 Angel Tree. When we had our first Angel Tree back in 2006, we had only 24 children in one country. Each had one, handmade/crafty Christmas ornament each, with a computer printed paper picture stuffed inside. Each child could only have one sponsor, because I only had one ornament! This year, with an incredible team of dedicated volunteers, this year's Angel Tree promises to be it's biggest and best ever. We have ordered (650) professionally designed ornaments, with 166 children on this years' tree. I envisioned this in the beginning, but it's still so surreal to see how God has blessed this ministry each and every day.

I am so excited about the Christmas Warrior program (www.reecesrainbow.org/christmaswarriors.html), and I am so hopeful it will mean even greater grant donations for ALL of our waiting kids. We're one day in and already off to a great start. And despite this economy we are experiencing, there has not been any downturn in the number of families committing to adopt these precious children.

We have a new video, a new website, and would you look at this new blog design? (I can't take credit for this, it's awesome!)

Some folks have expressed a sense of total depression and being overwhelmed by all 166 kids on this years' tree. Welcome to my world. But the other side of that coin is this: 225+ children have already found families through Reece's Rainbow. Our success in that regard has opened hearts and minds abroad, and encouraged officials to be more open and cooperative in allowing us to actively seek families for their orphaned children with Down syndrome. THAT is why we have so many listed...because we have FOUND that many...because we have been given access to that many...because we have shown the officials that families really do want these beautiful children.

We have seen an increase in the number of birth families who come to take their children home from the orphanages. We have also seen an increase in the number of birth families abroad who seek us out to help find a loving adoptive family for their own child, to give them the future they know their child deserves, but that could never be afforded them in their home country.

Yes, 166 faces is utterly overwhelming. Hard to scroll through, hard to choose who to sponsor for Christmas. Hard not to cry, hard not to see our own child with Down syndrome in each of those faces, and to know the kind of life our own child would have faced had they not been born HERE. Hard not to think to yourself "what can one person do, this problem is too big, there will always be waiting children, my $20 can't make a difference, I want to adopt them all".

But that is what makes Reece's Rainbow SO powerful and SO effective...everybody's $20goes a LONG way collectively. Just ask those 225+ kids who already have a family! Even if you don't have $20 to give, just one forwarded e-mail to your friends and family can make numerous new connections and open new opportunities for our ministry. So don't ever think that your presence and desire to help isn't enough...because it IS.

Love to all, and God bless each of your for your own passion and advocacy, for your tears and fundraising efforts....

Andrea