Sunday, August 30, 2009

blessings

Well,

My friend moved me to tears with the last post. Biruk is getting a little fed up with all my crying. He says, "Why you cry when you happy? Give me a break!" Apparently he though I was stronger than that.
I did not expect her to write anything. I just wanted her to add the button with Bianca's picture and remove the picture of the quilt. She did so much more. Thank you Melinda!

It felt weird to have a link where I was essentially asking people to give me money. Give Me money. I have absolutely no problem asking people for money 'for Someone else'. But this is actually to benefit me. Well, Bianca and subsequently, me. Am I asking for money really? I think it is more like allowing the opportunity. Because really, most of you who read this blog are in the same boat as me. Stepping out in faith and waiting for God to provide the way. I assure you, He will ALWAYS provide the way. I have never had a personal "GIVE" button before, but I have ALWAYS had the funds when I needed them. (not always when I wanted them...)



Ok, enough of that.



How are things going for you? Are you encouraged today, or is your heart discouraged? I pray for you all, my dear friends:



Precious Lord,

Thank you for your mercy and love. Thank you for hope. Thank you that we can know in our hearts that you love us. That if You are for us, no one can be against us.

Please Lord, strengthen our hearts today. Give us courage to look forward- past all obstacles. Help us Lord to find our joy in your strength.

No may God Himself, the God of Peace, make you pure, belonging only to him. May your whole self: spirit, soul, and body be kept safe and without fault when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. You can trust the One who calls you to do that for you.- I Thessalonians 5:23

Amen



Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Help change the life of a child.

This is Traci's friend Melinda writing this post. She gave me her password so I could add the picture of Bianca for her and a link so I decided to write this little post as well. :)
Traci and Scott have decided to step out in faith once again to adopt a precious little girl that needs a mommy and daddy. Even though they have only been home for 6 months with Hanna and Biruk, even though their plates are already full, they have decided to be obedient to the calling God has placed in their lives. This is one of the verse's that Traci has found so meaningful during this time, it comes from Isaiah 54:1-2 "Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor;because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,"says the LORD. "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.
The Heim's have adopted all 5 of their children. They have never done any type of fundraising for any of the other adoptions. This time is different. They were not expecting to adopt this soon. They thought they would wait at least a year before they would add another child to their family, but as God often does, He laughed and told them He had other plans for their family.
I am asking on their behalf for you to be a part of this miracle called adoption. Not everyone will adopt a child, but we are all called to be a part of orphan care. What better way to do that then to financially support a family that is changing the life of a child. On the side of the blog their is a picture of one super adorable little girl that goes by the name Bianca. If you click on her picture it will direct you to a site that allows the Heim's to fund raise for her adoption. The donations go straight into an account specifically for Bianca. All donations are tax deductible and will be there only for Bianca.
I am so thankful to God for bringing this family in my life. I love these guys and want to see how God completely amazes them with his blessing's for this adoption.
Would you consider being a part of changing a life?

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, `Give them up!' and to the south, `Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-- --- Isaiah 43: 5-6

I'm only one. But still, I am one.I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something.And because I cannot do everything,I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.-- Edward Everett Hale

Sunday, August 23, 2009

The Anouncement

Drum Roll Please.....
The Heim Family has officially begun the process to adopt a four year old girl named Bianca (not her real name), from Ukraine. I will go further to say that she is one of the precious angels that Project Hopeful has been advocating for. http://www.reecesrainbow.com/newsite/angelhiv.html hit this link and scroll to the end of this page and you will see her.
The site proclaims, "My family found me!"

We sure did.

My prayer is that more of these children will be found by their families, and soon.

The kids are excited and have no qualms about sharing the fact that she is coming home, as well as her HIV status. We realized right away that God is calling us to bring HIV into the light and dispel the fear it brings. It is a lot to put on a little girl, but God has a plan for my little Sunny, as I like to call her, and we will obey his will.
As you can imagine, along with this news are the usual comments, only they have stepped up a notch.

"You're going to heaven for sure"

This was said with utmost kindness, and the person meant well. The thing is, I am going to heaven for sure. Not because I adopted some children, but because my Heavenly Father adopted me.

Ephesians 1:5
He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will...

I don't adopt the children so I'll go to heaven, I adopt them because I am going to heaven.

James 2:14-18
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

Dear friends, God is asking each of us to do something. To evidence our faith through our deeds.

He asks me to mother his children.

What does he ask you to do?

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Successful Fundraiser

Just wanted to share with you that we have raised enough money to pay for the fence around the Covenant Village property. The quilt featured to the right has been won, and our Tattoo fundraiser raised $1010!!! Rich was so busy that there was never time to do one for me. I guess I dodged the needle this time. The other Project Hopeful ladies and I are considering a design so a tattoo is still probably in my future. Thanks again to Rich and Bridget Kocis at Peace of Art Tattoos. http://www.peaceofarttatoo.com/
While this specific fundraiser is now over, we are constantly in need of funds to cover our office expenses, so feel free to continue to donate generously.

Exciting news also here at the Heim house. I will share soon, but please keep us in your prayers.

TTFN

Thursday, August 6, 2009

The Blanket

I have a couple of friends who have come home with older children recently, and they are struggling with the adjustment- both the children and the parents.
Nobody can quite understand why it is so hard and so they call me. I do my best to explain what is going on but until now, I have been only marginally successful. I woke up with this story in my head and I think I can explain it now.

THE BLANKET

When every baby is born they are given a blanket. This blanket is supposed to be warm and soft and protective. It usually has beautiful colors and satin edging. It is wrapped around the baby and the baby is at peace.

Sometimes, the blanket is old. It hasn't been washed and it is made of burlap, but it is wrapped around the baby, and even though it is a little smelly and scratchy, the baby is at peace.

The blanket for this baby has big problems. There are big holes in it. It looks like it had satin edging once, but that has been torn away. It may have had soft pastel colors, but it is now a dull and dirty brownish grey. It is wrapped as best it can be around the baby, and the baby clings to it for peace. But the baby is cold and can't get comfortable. Now, both the baby and the blanket are dirty and smelly, but it is the baby's blanket, and baby holds on to what little comfort it knows, and tries to have peace.

Suddenly, the blanket is ripped away. Baby cries and reaches for the blanket, but it is gone. Baby knows it wasn't a good blanket, a warm and soft blanket, but it was baby's, and with it, baby knew the only peace that baby has ever known. Someone has wrapped a new blanket around baby. It has pretty satin edging and soft fleece. It smells fresh and inviting, but baby throws it off. That is NOT Baby's blanket. Where is baby's blanket? Baby cries and cries as the new blanket is wrapped back around baby's body. Baby notices warmth that baby has never felt before. This is a trick. Yes is is warm, but IT IS NOT MINE!!!!! Baby had better not get used to this. Baby doesn't have a warm, soft blanket. Baby only knows the scratchy, dirty and cold blanket. Baby kicks it away.
Baby is cold and lonely and misses the old blanket.
Baby toys with the edge of the new blanket. Baby feels that it is soft and inviting. Baby can tell it is warm. Maybe baby will just hold the edge of this blanket for a while. It is not baby's blanket, but it is here, and baby is sad and needs comfort.
Someone keeps trying to wrap the whole blanket around baby, but baby still throws it off. Baby will only hold the edge. Why won't baby take the blanket? Can't baby see how much better this blanket is? It is warm, it is soft. Come on, it is polar fleece!! What is baby's problem? It is such a great blanket!!
Baby continues to reject the entire blanket, but is still holding on to the edge. Eventually, baby can cover one arm and rub baby's face with more of the blanket, but baby stops short of wrapping up in it. The new blanket providers have stopped trying to force baby to wrap up in the blanket, and have accepted that baby can't or won't use the whole thing, and have settled on waiting on baby. Sometimes baby brings the blanket to them and asks them to drape it over baby's arm in just the right way so that the satin edge touches baby's face the way baby likes it. This continues for a time and baby realizes that even though baby misses the old blanket, baby has a peace that baby has not known before. Baby thinks it might be this new blanket. Baby is torn. Baby misses old blanket, but old blanket didn't protect baby like new blanket does. New blanket is warm. New blanket smells good and is so very soft.
Old blanket is gone.
One day, baby needs help with the new blanket. Baby takes it to the ones who gave it to baby and they wrap it gently around baby's shoulders. Baby holds on tight to the blanket and baby is at peace.

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I know I talk about a baby in this story. I do it so you consider just how long your baby has had that old blanket.