***If you are reading this after the fact, please scroll through the Cliff category and read about how this fundraiser progressed. Our final fundraising tally was a whopping $9,458.00 and a family is currently working hard to bring Cliffy HOME!!!***
I’ve sat here staring at my fingers resting on my keyboard for about ten minutes now.
Willing them to begin their clinking and tapping.
But try as I might, my brain comes up with…nothing.
Absolute, clear, utter silence.
Highly unusual.
Tap, tap, tap…delete.
Blinking little cursor.
Big blank screen.
How do I begin to tell you about the maelstorm swirling through my head the last month?
How do I begin to make coherent the crazy that is my brain and heart?
How do I begin to tell you all about the BIG BIG BIG holiday fundraiser I’m launching?
How do I begin to convey to you how excited and terrified I am to do this thing?
How do I begin to tell you about a sweet boy who needs YOU?
I will begin with a picture.
Of the sweetest, squishiest, yummiest little baby boy ever.
Of little Cliff.
Just 3 months older than my girls.
Cliff who has Down Syndrome.
Cliff who lives in an orphanage in Eastern Europe.
Cliff who is not a statistic.
Who is not a stock photo.
Who is a real, true, living, breathing precious babe.
Really, truly living in awful conditions.
Alone.
No mama to kiss a feverish forehead.
No daddy to throw him high in the air.
No amazing pediatricians to give him a sticker and a lollipop after a shot.
I’ve been tortured by this sweet face.
Every night I lay my own babes down in their cozy beds in footed pajamas.
Every night I kiss them with a “mama loves you. see you in the morning. i’ll miss you.”
Every night I crawl onto my own pillowtop mattress and cover myself with my plush down comforter.
Every night I think: “Cliff is still laying in a disgusting, stark crib in a government run orphanage on the other side of the world.”
Cliff is real.
Cliff needs a home.
Cliff needs a family.
But for a family to bring home little Cliff, they need money.
And a lot of it.
And sometimes, it is simply that pesky issue of dumb, dumb, dumb money that keeps a sweet baby like Cliff in a vile government run orphanage.
Practically untouched.
Yet, I am encouraged by the fact that while Cliff may not have a cooing mama…he has a Father who loves him more than any of us can dare to imagine.
A sweet boy perfectly and wonderfully made by the same Creator that made your own little bundles.
Loved and as precious to God as we are.
Is your heart as broken and yet encouraged as mine?
Do you want nothing more than to scoop up Cliffy and hug him and kiss him and sing silly songs to him???
I do too.
My insides ache thinking abou t it.
Cliff is one of 143 MILLION orphans in the world.
Million.
Please stop reading right this second.
I want you to let that sink in.
143 million. Babies. Toddlers. Kids. Teens.
Children.
And Cliff is just one.
And that is crazy and overwhelming.
And it makes me want to throw up.
It makes me want to look the other way and walk away.
Pretend like I never saw it and go back to my turkey prepping, Christmas shopping, crafting, and wrapping.
There’s nothing I can do. It’s too big. It’ll never go away.
Right?
“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 what we know, and hold us responsible to act.” -Proverbs 24:12
WE can help Cliff.
One by one. Little by little.
I’ve teamed up with Reece’s Rainbow to be Cliff’s Christmas Warrior this season.
Here’s the scoop:
We are going to band together to help bring Cliff home.
I don’t know where home is, but we will make that easier for his family.
Donations will go directly to Cliff’s adoption grant fund. Not the general Reece’s Rainbow fund. Not spread out among 100’s of kids.
It will all be for Cliff.
So that when a family steps forward to take him in…some of the finances for his adoption will be covered.
Making it that much easier for them.
Because not all of us are called to adopt a baby.
But we are ALL called to serve, love and give.
“Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.” -Psalm 82:3
It’s right there. No bones about it. God makes it ultra clear.
It’s not about the perfect gift. A melt in your mouth turkey. Crafts. Or Martha-esque table settings.
THIS is what we are called to do.
I have some great guest bloggers lined up.
Fabulous videos. Thoughts swirling over the next couple of weeks.
So if you are new here today, please consider subscribing to my blog.
Not because I want more followers.
But because I want you to see what a bunch of little bits from a lot of us grow into one great BIG.
Because He wants more followers.
Because this isn’t for me.
And really, this isn’t for Cliff.
To God be the glory.
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YOU are an inspiration!!! I re-posted your info, linked to this post, and posted Cliff’s button on my blog. http://www.littlebirdiebaby.blogspot.com Thank you for being such a kind, caring person so that Cliff’s story could be shared with the world!
Chipped in, and gave another $30 directly through the Reece’s Rainbow website. I hope this little man finds a home!
Eileen´s last blog post ..And the winner is…
Just wanted to let you know I gave $100 for Cliff directly thru the Reece’s Rainbow site. Praying for Cliff :)
If you get two comments from me please just roll your eyes and laugh at my inability to figure out fancy computer things. :)
A friend sent me this post when (ironically) I posted about our desire to adopt a second kiddo with special needs; this time one with Down’s syndrome.
I have lurked on Reece’s rainbow looking at all the sweet children and praying that God would help us with the timing (and finances).
Praying for Cliff and all the other orphans around the world!
Andrea
http://munciemenn.blogspot.com
Andrea Mann´s last blog post ..Another little one
i would like to mail a check..could you please tell me where to send it. thank you and God bless.
I “chipped in” $10… thanks for organizing this! Also I wanted to let you know that I use Firefox as a browser and the “Chip In” box/button doesn’t shop up for me… I opened the page in Chrome and it was there. Just FYI! :)
Cameron´s last blog post ..Favorite Photo Friday-Lightness
Thank you for this opportunity to help!
He’s adorable. I hope his mommy finds him soon!
Kyla´s last blog post ..Top 10 Posts of 2010
I found out about what you’re doing through momentswithlove. I think this is so great. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to give to something so beautiful.
Sarah´s last blog post ..2011 Goals- Refined
We are in the process of adopting two little boys from Ukraine – Nikita & Dusty (Alexei) – God made sure we found them through Reece’s Rainbow! This New Year’s Eve my extended family – ten of us – decided to each pick a child from Reece’s Rainbow to pray for during 2011 and beyond! My niece, Emily, who is 16 years old picked to pray for Cliff. He is precious! It is wonderful to see how much you have raised for his adoption! I want to follow your blog – but don’t see a follow button. Let me know how to do it. If you are on Facebook – so am I -please look me up! Thanks and God’s blessings to you.
godsarrowsinourquiver.blogspot.com
hi! I just read a friend’s blog tonight, she posted about your fundraising efforts for your son, Cliff. I don’t see how I can contribute. The ‘chip in’ box with this post says the event has ended. Are you guys at your goal? Yay if you are….
Do you have your son now? :)