Overwhelming Positivity

Since getting back into the blogging groove a little under 2 weeks ago, things have been on the up-and-up here at S4TS. A huge thank-you to 4Girls4Christ over at Rainbow of Hope (formerly John 14:18) for helping us get word about ourselves circulating again so when can move back into what we love doing most: Speaking for the Silent!

First and foremost in the news, BRIGITA HAS A FAMILY!!!!!!! YAY Brigita! Thank you for all who were praying, spreading the word, etc. And thank you Sarah B. for making sure I knew ;)

Now the three S4TS musketeers are down to one- sweet little Ilya P! Plenty of posts about/for this guy coming in the future.

Speaking for the Silent has crossed so many landmarks in just the last two weeks! The Spitz family is
finally home with their precious Gavin! woo hoo! Congrats Spitzes- I am SO looking forward to playing with Gavin and all of his brothers and sisters this summer!

If one family home isn't awesome enough, the Eubanks family passed court! They are so close to being home with our precious Shawna and Lindsay! They have remained so positive and energetic throughout their entire month-long stay, and I give them SO much credit for it. Please pray for them in the coming week. Gotcha Day will be some time mid week, and they desperately hope they can get the girls' passport process complete so they don't have to take their two lovely new daughters out into the freezing cold weather expected the week after this one. Regardless, we could not be more excited for the end of a very long journey to two precious little girls and for the Eubanks' new life as a family of 7 to begin!

In an attempt to fulfill a promise I made almost a month ago, head on over to the Guardian Angel group blog to support their T-shirt fundraiser to help bring home little Rush Gustafson, formerly Mary on RR! The project ends January 31st! So if you read this post before then, PLEASE hop on over and help out!

While the full story is a post for another time, I am beyond happy to say I got to reunite with The Hinz family down in Washington D.C. a week ago this monday. So great to see all of them, and beyond surreal to think that this time last year, two of the little lovies that brought my family and theirs together were sitting in an orphanage.

Well, while there's still PLENTY of page updates to do, followers to gain, and orphans to advocate for, we're finally getting back into the swing of things here at Speaking for the Silent! And all the while, we being surrounded by Overwhelming Positivity.

The Change of a Year

A year ago today, January 17th, a little blog was started.

For a couple little kids on the hearts of one teen and a couple friends of his.

In answer to what that teen thought was a call from God to answer Proverbs 3:18 to the fullest.

A year ago.....

It feels like the last time I wrote was about a year ago as well. I had NO intention of letting 3 months go by with nothing said. November, NATIONAL ADOPTION AWARENESS MONTH. December, the month when Baby Jesus was born! And January, the first month of a New Year: 2012. Oh well. I'm a human with a crazy schedule. I've also been blessed to know most of the families I advocate for here personally, giving my support in other places.

In my wildest dreams, I never imagined I'd experience all the things I have in the past year when I started this blog. Starting it, for one. Advocating constantly. Sonya and Dusty getting a family. Shawna and Lindsay getting a family. That I would start and successfully complete a campaign to up the likes on our Facebook page, but, more importantly, spread the word about the Plight of the Orphan. That I'd get to reunite with Sonya and Dusty, PLUS their fantastic new family. And for all that, I NEVER thought I'd have the courage to give a talk in front of 300 people.

And I NEVER would have believed the amount of adoptive families I've had the privilege of watching, walking with, and praying for.

The Eubanks Family is facing court in HOURS. I'll update the post once verdict is reached.

The Gibsons have been home with their precious Carter for two months. You can read their latest (and awesome!) post to see how they're doing.

The Rogers Family has been home for  almost 3 months! Amazing!

The Spitz Family is on their way back to pick up their precious Gavin. woohooo!

The Whiteakers got to go meet Danny!

The Lindquists got to meet their precious Ethan!  

And, drumroll......

LILIANNA HAS A FAMILY!!!!!!!

1 down, two to go on the S4TS Picture of children we're praying for!

I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to work with all the people I have, meet all the people I've met, go all the places I've been able to travel, accomplish all the achievements I listed. But none of it is to say that I'm an amazing person or that "I've" accomplished so much. God, and God alone. He gave me the opportunity to travel to Ukraine. To meet Sonya, and help my dad bring home Julia. He gave me the call to start this blog, and to have the level of success I have.

Thank You, God.

Of course, the BIGGEST blessing besides seeing so many Orphans come home is the support that you, my readers give me. Without you, there would be no 270 likes on Facebook. No encouraging comments. For those and so many more things, I am forever indebted to you.

WOW. Amazed by what one year has brought us, cannot WAIT for the new one!