***UPDATE: We raised $6,152.00 for Xander’s Adoption Fund!!!! You guys are amazing!!! While this fundraiser is over, you can always still donate to his adoption fund directly through Reece’s Rainbow by clicking HERE.***
Hello my sweet friends.
I’d like for you to meet Xander.
The squishiest, sweetest, most delicious little face you ever did see.
Xander lives in an orphanage in Eastern Europe with no Mommy and no Daddy.
Those almond eyes, a sign of Down Syndrome…and likely much needed medical care.
Once when Henry was a bitty baby, I found myself in his nursery in the wee hours of the morning consoling his whimpering and kissing his feverish little forehead. I remember thinking: of all the people in the entire world, I’m the only one who can make him feel even remotely happy. All he wants is his mama. No one else will do.
And suddenly, out of the blue, in the glow of a new mom’s overwhelming love for her first baby, I was crushed at the thought of the orphan crisis.
How, if my life were different…if one of millions of things weren’t exactly the same as they are now…
I was devastated at the thought of a feverish and sick child whimpering in a crib alone.
No mama to stay up and whisper sweet nothings and coo in his ear.
No daddy to chase him around the house and throw him high into the air for no reason but to elicit squeals of delight.
No cherry flavored Tylenol and cool washcloths for his head.
In that moment, in the middle of the night, sitting in a gliding rocker, in a perfectly decorated nursery, I sobbed.
And truth be told, I’ve never really stopped sobbing over it, you know?
Something happened that night, or really the moment I became a mother, that made me look at the entire world differently.
The world is a much smaller place the moment you have children.
I think we all break in some way for the orphan crisis…but we have no idea where to start or what to do.
After all, little Xander is only one of 143 million orphans.
Read that number again. Roll it around in your brain.
Horrific.
And let’s not forget all of the other issues of our broken world. The cancer, the poverty, the dirty water, the child trafficking, the abuse, the wars, the AIDS pandemic, the….name it.
I’m tempted to shut down in an overwhelmed panic.
Because the truth is, we can’t save the world.
We can give and give and advocate and try, and it still won’t be enough.
Right?
But you know what?
It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.
It doesn’t mean it’s a good reason to sit back and do nothing.
We must try.
We must do our part.
We must.
Do not buy into the lie that your portion does not matter.
Do not allow yourself to believe that you cannot make a difference.
Do not give yourself permission to throw up your hands in frustration and then cover your eyes with them.
Because today my friends, we will do something.
It may not be much, but we will do our part because it’s the right thing to do.
Because God calls us to do it.
After all, last Christmas, $5 at a time, we made a difference for Cliff and raised almost $9,500…Cliff who is now Joshua and has a mama, a daddy, three brothers and a whole host of grandmas and aunts and uncles.
I know your heart breaks for orphans. I know it does. And I know that it may not be possible for you to adopt. But a family out there would love to. And you can help.
Together we will combine our portions for Xander’s adoption fund. So that when a family steps forward to adopt him, a gift of funding will be awaiting them.
International adoption is expensive. And is hands down the biggest deterrant to would be adoptive families.
Not desire. Not extra bedrooms. Not politics.
Just stupid, awful money.
So let’s bless a family today. Let’s bless Xander.
Let’s make this Christmas be about more than wrapping paper and twinkling lights.
Consider making a tax deductible donation to Xander’s adoption fund through Reece’s Rainbow.
I know life is expensive and times are tough. I know.
But ask yourself this: Can you afford not to?
Read HERE to find out more about an incredible matching grant and some absolutely MASSIVE giveaways. You’ll love it.
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I don’t think I could say these words any better…so I’ll be directing people to your site throughout this fundraiser.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again- I’m so glad I found your site, Jeannett.
Awe.some. Beautiful, compelling words, Jeannett! Way to go!
Beautifully written! Excited about the fundraising opportunities!
Very beautiful story. When I was pregnant with our second son, we had to have special testing because they thought he might have down syndrome. His name is also Xander :) He didn’t, and is healthy, thank God, but I remember my mother saying that children born with down syndrome get the opportunity to know only love. I pray he finds the love that he deserves as well.
so well put. i was just thinking that exact thing today. I was thinking: I get so overwhelmed by the hugeness of it all that i get paralyzed and do nothing, or make the mistake of believeing the lie that i have nothing to give. but i’ve been praying that god would just lead me and guide in the small things i can do, that he calls me to do. and your post. he always, always leads and guides when i’m willing and open. thanks for this reminder jeanette.
I remember having the EXACT experience, many times over, especially after a cuddling session or after comforting for a cold/illness. No child should NOT have a mommy and daddy to love them as much as I love my kids.
What a great idea. I’ll see what we can do.
I shared on facebook. Your heart and generosity amaze me.
YOU are a blessing!
I don’t have children (yet) but lately my husband and I have been talking about only adopting when we’re ready for a family. Because there are so many kids out there who need good homes. Stories like this make me feel like that is the right decision for us.
I posted the fundraising link on my FB page!
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=724076652
Sweet Xander is such a cutie and I’ll pray that he finds a wonderful family. :)
My feelings exactly. You expressed them beautifully and strong. I would love to donate. :)
I shared about this on FACEBOOK… was able to give too. I hope other’s can dig even when the pockets are deep…
Shared this on facebook. You have a way with words. Love reading your blog.
Wishing you all the very best success in helping Xander. Your post reminded me of this story:
The Starfish
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they will die.”
“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf.
Then, smiling at the man, he said “I made a difference for that one.”
I shared on FB about Xander’s fundraiser.
Karen Diebolt´s last blog post ..A Fundraiser for Xander
I donated to Xander’s fundraiser.
Karen Diebolt´s last blog post ..A Fundraiser for Xander
Just donated with a wish and a prayer for the New Year to bring the perfect family for Xander. The visualization you created about a child with no Mama to help him through a hard night broke my heart. You’re doing good and inspiring things.
Also shared this on Facebook!