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Team Iris!

Sometimes I can’t believe my life.  Sometimes I can’t believe how incredibly well our children have fit right into our family, and as we try to bless them, they truly, honestly bring us more joy and happiness than we can believe.

I’m not being sappy, I’m being serious.

And it kills me to think of how many kids are waiting in their buildings, surrounded by other kids, nothing to anybody.

We didn’t have much to offer, but we offered what we could, and I tell you that these two kids who came home from orphanages are brand new people with bright futures–it blows our minds.  An honor to be a part of.

So, it had me thinking, can we work together and make it happen for one more?

I know, I know most people want the babies for whatever reason, I mean, I love my two poop factories and all, but the older children are often so overlooked, when they need families the soonest.  (Plus, Maria is kind of the most fun…plus no car seats or diapers, PTL!)

The statistics are real and daunting for the children who age out of the orphanage system, and the fact is that there is no life for the majority of them, which is just sick.  (Towards this end of this post, I spelled out the statics, none of which are pretty)

Which brings me to Iris.  And you!  (And us)

Let me introduce:

Iris is a lovely young lady; she is described as curious and enthusiastic.
(I love an enthusiastic kids, maybe that’s why doing even the smallest of things with Maria makes everything so fun!  WAHOO!!  YAY LIFE!)

More information will be provided upon request for families making serious inquiries.
From someone who met Iris in 2012:
Iris is a sweet girl who loves attention and physical affection. She loves to be hugged and will play with your hair and sit in your lap. She is a big helper within her group, and is a good friend (more like a big sister) to many of the other kids in her group. She is very affectionate with those kids, and will play with them and try to pick them up. She has great play skills, and loves dolls. She also enjoys playing with balloons (hitting them back and forth to other people), and coloring with markers. I have been told she was not burnt, but that she has a birthmark. She is taking medication for her hiv. Her cognitive abilities and social awareness are not what you would expect from a child of her age, and I am not sure how much of this is due to orphanage delays.
Large families welcome. Married couples only; travel required.

Oh  my goodness, if that doesn’t sound like our Maria, I don’t know who does! She sounds like a blessing for a family just waiting to happen.

*She is in Ukra*ne, a fast program, 7 months start to finish.  One trip.  Yes one.  Which cuts the cost to almost half that of an adoption from R….what the heck! Haha, sheeeesh!*

***

So here’s our goal, well, our big-we-really-hope-so goal:

Iris gets a family before this Christmas.
Did you know that often times, there are many family, wonderful families willing to adopt an orphan and raise them in love, but the funds are a huge road block.  It is no question that when a child on Reece’s Rainbow gets a large adoption fund is when families step forward….  “Yes, we can make it happen for that one…”

So let’s make this happen for Iris.  (please!)

Maria and I are looking for 200 people to give $100 dollars.  No really, let’s just try.

Ok, so some people may just have $100 that they can give right now, yes!  Thank you!

The rest of us, let’s brainstorm.  First pray, “God, I want to give this little girl $100, can you help me make it happen?”

Second, look around at what you can make happen.  Maria and I are thinking of selling scarves we make from tee-shirts we already have to get our $100, or selling stuff on Craiglist (I am thinking of selling some baby items, that might get us to our $100 pretty quick, plus less clutter, my dream come true, always 😉  (Update, just sold my diaperbag for $35!  I love the Craiglist app)

“Grandma, can I have $100 to help an orphan get a family?”

I promise, whatever you pick to do, it will be such a good use of your time, of your effort–and even when you are doing it for her, it may just feel great for you.

Adoption will change this little girls life forever.  Who knows, maybe she will be reading her very first book in English with her parents, running through the sand on the beach, opening presents at her birthday party, be told she is loved each night, winning an art award in her classroom while her mama hangs it on the wall, not just Maria.  Maybe she will give her mama ‘best friend’ bracelets, too.

Maybe you have $100 you got from your birthday burning a hole in your pocket.  I promise you, your birthday will come again, as well as more stuff, but she doesn’t have a whole lot of time left to get out into a family.  Time is a crazy thing.

I can see Iris fitting in to so many different families.  A family with two little ones like ours, or a family with a little girl who would love a sweet playmate, or a family with older kids where she could be the baby.  I love how tender and loving she sounds, a little caregiver full of love like our Maria, what a little angel.  I can’t wait to see her with her hair grown out, not the orphanage buzz cut.

So let’s do this.  Look around your house, look around at what little efforts you can make to help one little one.  If you’ve ever wanted to help, if you’ve ever thought children deserve families, and were uncomfortable with the fate of children to leave orphanages, this is the moment.  Help us!

For all of my Dave Ramsey friends, I know everyone’s doing their budgets this week and will have all the left over money to save and give, please this month help Iris.  She has missed out on being in a family for so long, let’s change it just this one month.

Please, allow your kids to be involved, let them her face, explain her reality.  Children have such a huge capacity to help one another, such a huge capacity for compassion and action.

Give some now, maybe more later.

Yay team Iris!  Hold on little one, we’re trying our best!

 ***

I am thinking of sweetening the deal.  If you share about Iris on your facebook or blog, or when you reach your $100 (both=two entries), leave a blog comment or email me: amy@tinygreenelephants.com and I will pick three people to receive Kisses from Katie, which is our favorite book!

Donate to Iris Here: http://reecesrainbow.org/52215/iris

Thank you for reading, thank you for helping, cause every child deserves to be loved, and every child deserves to bless their families socks off.

Every girl needs to have pizza parties with their families
Everyone deserves a childhood
“From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.”
 ~ Arthur Ashe

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  • Patty January 28, 2013, 11:30 pm

    We’re in! Iris needs a forever family, too! 🙂

  • Kate January 28, 2013, 11:39 pm

    totally in for Iris! We don’t have any extra in the budget BUT I am pretty sure we can sell something for Iris and we will pray for a family for her!

    • The Tiny Team January 28, 2013, 11:43 pm

      YES! If anyone has a voice for orphans, it’s YOU! xoxo

  • Amber Pilsner January 29, 2013, 12:22 am

    I have a Facebook page and I sell hairbows and fun girly stuff.I can share some of my pfofits! I will also share your blog on my page and my personal page…

    • The Tiny Team January 30, 2013, 10:23 pm

      Thank you so much, Amber! That’s an awesome idea!

  • ~CCC January 29, 2013, 5:50 pm

    im in! Let’s do this!!!

  • Autumn January 29, 2013, 6:58 pm

    Done. Go Iris!

  • Natalie January 29, 2013, 10:45 pm

    I apologize for the confusion lol, I commented somewhere asking if that top photo was of her when she was younger, because I knew someone had some photos of her from when she was younger and was going to give those to Patty and didn’t realize she has a whole team of advocates! Patty is giving you my email address! Thanks for advocating for her! 😀

    • The Tiny Team January 30, 2013, 10:25 pm

      Yay, thanks Nat, can I use some of the photos from your blog of Iris? They are beyond precious!

  • Mandi January 30, 2013, 3:33 am

    I must tell you thank you so much for this opportunity! I actually DID have $100 in birthday money sitting in my wallet. (That NEVER happens!!!) I had not been able to bring myself to break it and buy something. Finally, on Saturday, I prayed that God would show me if He had a specific place he wanted me to use it. On Sunday, I watched a movie that involved the horrible plight of girls involved in human trafficking and prostitution. I told my husband and prayed about how this just laid so heavy on my heart. God has also been breaking my heart for orphans in so many ways recently. Then this post Monday brought it all together! So thank you for giving me this opportunity to DO something! There is no doubt in my mind that God led me to your blog (which I enjoy tremendously!) for this purpose. Iris will be in my prayers!! Please keep us updated on her.

    • The Tiny Team January 30, 2013, 10:26 pm

      Wow. That made my day. I was nervous about advocating for whatever reason, but I love your heart and thank you for giving!

  • Kimberly January 30, 2013, 8:04 pm

    Totally in in PA!

  • Jen January 30, 2013, 10:16 pm

    I didn’t have time to read the whole post, but the Nunn fam from NC is totally in!! Go, “Team Irsis”– I can see this on a t-shirt….. ? 😉

    • The Tiny Team January 30, 2013, 10:27 pm

      I know, right?? Someone is thinking about making a memory book for her of everyone who helped her that she can save once she comes home to her family 🙂

  • Kath February 1, 2013, 3:52 pm

    I’m going to put 25 dollars in a month for the next four months – just done my first. Go team Iris!

  • riseandshinelifeblog February 2, 2013, 2:30 am

    I’m in! I have no idea how I’m going to do this, or if I will have all the money in by the end of February, but I am definitely (and prayerfully) giving it my all!

    I had already decided to share this on my blog before even reading of the book giveaway! 🙂 I just wrote my post & it is scheduled for early tomorrow morning!

  • Lauren February 7, 2013, 5:44 am

    I’m in! This has been a particularly blessed month already for my business and I know God meant for some of it to help sweet Iris. Praying she finds her family soon! Thank you for providing the blessing of being a part of such an amazing effort. 🙂

  • Diana February 7, 2013, 2:23 pm

    I donated and prayed for her as well. I read Kisses for Katie last year and thought it was very good (and convicting!).

  • Corrie February 7, 2013, 9:49 pm

    Thank you Jesus that we are blessed enough to give. Donated $100 and posted her video on my FB page. Thank you for advocating!

  • figwittage February 9, 2013, 4:34 am

    I just have to say, that I lOVE your blog! I’m totally in for donating $100 to Iris, but I don’t have the full amount at the moment. I’m hoping it’s okay to donate $25 a month until I reach the goal 🙂 I know it sounds silly to donate like that, but I just have to help this beautiful girl! xx

    Oh, if you’re selling scarves, I’m totally in for purchasing one! 🙂

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