this and that... again. Again.

I really want to say something clever about these photos, but I got nothin'. Not sure what my problem is. Maybe it has something to do with minimal adult socialization and the 1,000 degree temperature outside. Not sure. But anyway, here are some photos. Jonah is cute. That is all.

I wasn't torturing him. He wanted my camera. The camera is a definite off limits. And not many things are, so I don't feel bad about it. Even when he gives me the old "life is so unfair" fake cry. I'm an oak.

______________________________

I haven't heard from Courtney today. I texted her but haven't heard back. I know she's completely overwhelmed, but if I get any update I'll let you know. I'm assuming things are the same meaning that Tripp is in excruciating pain unless on mega doses of pain meds. A huge prayer movement has started (continued?) for him. You can join Facebook prayer groups HERE or HERE and check out the Prayer Vigil Facebook/Real Life event for him HERE.

In less sad news, John (Ivan) and Carson are orphans no longer! The Cannells returned to Eastern Europe after their 10 day waiting period, and the boys are both in their custody now (per her FB update; the blog hasn't been updated yet). They will soon get to finally come home. You guys were instrumental in getting them there. Thank you so very much. Words sound cheap. You've helped change (and save) their lives.

It is important to remember in the good and bad, that God is good. All of the time. Things in this world do not make sense. Tripp should not have to be suffering so much. Carson and Ivan should not have been abandoned and left in orphanages for the first parts of their lives. But God can bring good out of anything as he proves over and over and over again. I'm glad to serve a God who knows our journeys and has already gone before us. We could never do it on our own. Praise God we don't have to.

i can't think of a title

Nothing much new to report. Jonah's bottom is looking some better. It's now healed over enough that I'm not having to use the stomahesive powder, as I can get the creams to stick on their own. Still a long way from healed, but an improvement. I found about three new little blisters on his butt cheeks today, but hopefully they won't grow anymore now that I've drained them. This heat right now is killer. I will not even let him step out of the house unless there is an errand that we just have to run. We will have to get out tomorrow, but today we didn't leave the house. I can't believe it's this hot already. What are we going to do??? Grrr. Contrary to popular opinion, summer sucks.


I think Matt and I are taking off a night from organizing tonight to watch our Netflix movie. I said, "What is it?" He said, "Hereafter." I asked, "What's it about?" He said, "It's Matt Damon." Alrighty then. Nuff said.


Oh, I wanted to point you to this post about John and Carson from "No Greater Joy Mom". She gives a great summary of their story, has a chip-in where you can donate, and is offering a Nook Color to one donor. Pretty sweet! Just in case you need a little extra motivation. :) I did receive two checks in our PO Box today for the Cannells. Thank you so much! If there are those of you who prefer donating by written check, please make it out to Donnie Cannell and send it to our PO Box (right sidebar) and I'll be sure to pass it along to them. Thank you guys so much!


I wish I had some cute photos or something to post, but we have literally done pretty much nothing all week. Oh well. There are certainly worse things than heat. At least we have an air conditioned house to keep him safe. I'm thankful.

IMPORTANT

You guys are so amazing. The fact that your donations raised about $4,000 in just a few days to bring John and Carson home just blows my mind.


There's big news. Karrie and Donnie's dossier was submitted in Eastern Europe today. They could get their appointment and have to travel in one to four weeks. Because the boys are separated and in two different regions, they have to pay for two adoptions. AND they have to stay longer in the country. That means more expenses over a longer period time and more time that Donnie is out of work.


They still have so much to raise - 
facilitator fees - $18,000
plane tickets for the four of them - $7,000
medical checks for the boys before they can leave the country - $300
passports for the boys - $2,000
the boys' visas - $808
housing while there (8 weeks) - $4,480
food while there - $1,680
in country travel (the boys are 400 miles apart) - $3,000


With the $12,500 they've already raised for this part of the process (they've already had to spend thousands on the stuff that came before this), they still have around $25,000 to raise before they can travel. And that's not including the money that would be helpful to raise for Donnie's lost wages while they're gone. All of that to say, it's a lot. The fact that there are two boys and they are so far apart and in different regions makes the process much more expensive.


They are running out of time to raise the money. The boys know they are coming. They are waiting.

They need better care. Many of the wounds they have could be prevented. From the looks of their photos, I'd say they're most likely anemic. And they may have infections too. So much of it could be prevented and fixed if they could just make it home.

There is no reason the boys should be suffering these huge, deep wounds. With the right bandaging materials and daily care, they will have a life they've never known. One filled with the love of friends and family, the hugs of parents and siblings, the safety and warmth of a real home, and some of the best medical care in the world.

I know $25,000 to $35,000 sounds like an overwhelming amount. But just think if we all shared this story everywhere we could think of (you can direct them to this post if you don't have the time to write one up yourself) and donated anything we could, just think how quickly we could raise this money?

My God is so Big, so Strong and so Mighty, there's NOTHING my GOD cannot do!

I know there are critical people out there (I got a snide comment from one just this week) that think, "Well, if they're going to make it so expensive to adopt the kids they don't even want, why don't we just say no? When is enough enough? Take care of your own kids." 

I didn't respond (trust me, it was better that I didn't), but my thought was, "Well, I guess we say no when we've determined that when Jesus commanded us to take care of the orphans, he only meant the well ones, the convenient ones, and/or the American ones... or maybe when we decide that that command doesn't apply to us at all." The Cannells have stepped up to do an amazing thing. Families like them step up every day to do the same kind of amazing things. What if we took "bear one another's burdens" to heart and did all we could, as a community, to bring these sweet boys home?

What a testimony. What a story we'll have to tell, Friends.  

A couple practical thoughts on raising funds quickly - collect change from your coworkers, ask to hold a special collection at church, get a dollar from everyone you know, post about it on Facebook and/or your blog and ask everyone to give $5, email all your friends and family and ask them to donate (give them a direct link), ask for donations to the Cannell boys instead of gifts for upcoming birthday/graduation gifts, participate in the Cannell's puzzle fundraiser, give your leftover PayPal balance if you have a PayPal account, host a meal for friends/church family and ask them to bring donations, offer your skills/services (photography, organizing, sewing, whatever) for donations instead of payment (if you can afford that)... the list can go on.

Now, please, I know many of you have already donated all that you can. Please know how much I appreciate that and I'm not trying to guilt you into donating more. But if you have felt this tugging at your heart and haven't yet donated, now would be the time to do so. And if you have already donated, we just ask that you please spread, spread, spread the word... anywhere you can think of. (I just emailed a short version of their story and a link to this post to everyone in my contact list. Yep. Sure did.)

You can donate HERE or HERE. Of if you'd feel more comfortable writing a check, you can send one made out to Donnie Cannell to our PO box (right sidebar) and I'll be sure to forward it on to them.

May God bless you as you bless those in great need. Thank you, Friends. I love you all (even you, Snarky Comment Guy).

Peace and love.

our saturday

Yesterday we went to Holly Springs to celebrate Katie's youngest daughter, Quinn's, second birthday. She may just be the cutest (female) two year old in history. She is so laid back and super sweet and got so excited about every present (like fake hyperventilating). I just loved watching her. She has such a sweet spirit, and I have to say, I wouldn't be mad if she ends up being my future daughter-in-law. 


(But for that to happen her future husband is going to have to get over his bad-birthday-attitude blues and learn to share. No nap did not work in his favor yesterday.)

Well, we're off to church. I would have been more than happy for Jesus to have come back yesterday, but since he didn't (shocker), that means He is still has work for us to do. Hope you enjoy your beautiful Sunday and find a way to love on others.

**And if you can't think of anything, I know of two little boys who could use your  $5.00.** :)

john and carson update

Y'all, I wish you could see the impact you are having on John and Carson's parents. Reading Karrie's Facebook statuses is making me tear up. You should see her giving the updates as the funds go up and giving all the glory to God! You are literally helping them save their boys' lives and bring them home! 


Do you know that between your donations and I'm sure donations of others we don't even know about, we have raised around $2,500 in 24 hours. My God is SOOOO big! Can I get an Amen???!!!


Do you think we can get it to $9,000 (it's at $8,872 now) before midnight? 


You guys are so amazing (whether or not we get one more cent). Thank you for loving these boys! I am (once again) blown away.

john and carson

This is John. He is an orphan with EB. He is in an institution (too old for the orphanage) in Eastern Europe.

This is his brother Carson. He is also an orphan and has EB. He is still in the orphanage but not for much longer. He will soon be institutionalized.

Carson just turned eight in April, and I believe John is a year older. 

This is their family. The Cannells from Lodi, CA.

Donnie and Karrie are an amazing couple. They are a "his, mine, and ours" family. Karrie had four children from a previous marriage, Donnie had two, and they have two together. Yes, EIGHT! To add to that, Donnie's 20-year-old daughter has EB, so they have lots of Butterfly experience. They have been in the process of trying to adopt Carson for a long time, but in the last few months found out he had a brother and of course, decided to adopt him too! The boys are currently separated and, needless to say, are living in conditions that are not exactly EB friendly. We need to get them home fast!

Get this - the Cannells are paperwork ready. Their final forms are in route, so all they are waiting on now is an appointment to go meet the boys for the first time. Here's the deal though, adopting both of them is even more expensive than it was going to be. We are talking $30 or $40 thousand dollars. They have $6,300. 

I know I've asked a lot of you guys lately. But I also know that if EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU who reads this clicks HERE and donates just five dollars, we can make a HUGE dent in their expenses. They are praying that God will do something huge, and I know that He will. And wouldn't it be cool if we could be a part of it? 

Please, for one day, if you have anything extra, give up your McDonald's or your Starbucks or your Chick-fil-A (pointing to myself on this one) or spend five less dollars at Target (again, me) and go give just five dollars. You can help change these boys' life and bring them home to their big, wonderful, eager, loving family.

Those boys deserve to come home. And that Mommy deserves to finally give her boys a hug.

Will you help them? Please? You can click HERE to make a secure donation through PayPal, and you can follow their journey HERE.

Thank you.