Life's a Journey.... here's a glimpse of ours.

Matthew 17:20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
He says we only need a mustard seed size. Wow! that is so small. I'm sure I have at least that much. Trusting my faith in God is so hard for me at times. I have it and then the next thing you know it's gone. I can find it again but, so quickly it will disappear. And move a mountain? Really? All I keep thinking is how will we raise the mountain (money), when will it come, do we move forward in faith? I know these answers. He says "Yes" but do I trust I hear those words. He says "I have it in my hands" but will my faith keep me strong? He says he has walked before us but I feel as though I can not see the end. How and when will we get to them, How will we tell them we love them.
Well I've got to say I am ready and willing to walk this journey. I will walk it with my eyes closed and Trust He will see us through. I will began by moving forward with my faith. I will not let discouraging thoughts and actions from me or others take this from me.
He has promised to supply every need we have. The Bible says: "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus". That's Philippians 4:19.
God has promised that His grace is sufficient for us.
God has promised that all things work together for good to those who love and serve Him faithfully (Romans 8:28)
It is through an obedient faith that we have access into the grace of God according to Romans 5:2

In Obedient Faith I will stand before Christ and move forward. Baby girl and baby boy please know we are coming. Know that I pray for you often. And know you were born in our hearts. We love you!

Posted in: on Saturday, July 31, 2010 at at 6:23 PM 0 comments    

The following is a story the Today Show did on the mental institutions in Serbia. These are the same conditions that are in the Russian Mental institutions. This is quite graphic and sad but it is what could become of our babies if they are not rescued. Notice in the middle of the story a small Down Syndrome child in his/her crib. All of these people deserve a life. Not even an animal should be treated this way. PLease concider helping with a donation to bring our babies home.
Proverbs 24:12 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 that we know, and hold us responsible to act."
Please take 5 minutes to view this video, it may open your eyes to something you never seen or knew before.

Posted in: on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at at 7:55 PM 0 comments    

There was a point for the title by the pink polka dotted shoes "Everyday Epiphanies". First of all Webster dictionary definition of epiphanies = : an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being (Christ). So here is today's Epiphany, where I saw Jesus. So I have been looking for an agency that can do our home study/post placement and been hitting a brick wall for two weeks. Average cost is between 1000-3000. The first agency,Bethany "Christian" Service, was 5500.00, second agency didn't do Russian adoption home studies (Russia is too picky), the third made me feel like a child (ohh, didn't like that). Now for the forth agency Adoption Option Worldwide, they were an answer to my prayers 1300.00 and that was the total fee. No application fee or pre-application fee, no consultation fee, pre-placement fees.......just 1300.00. Thank you Jesus. We will begin our home study process the first week of August. Please pray for Gods provision. I am slowing bringing in donations from our $10 for 10 weeks and am starting to get together more ideas to raise money. Pray that I can let go of this fear that has a hold of me. Pray for peace in my trust. Let the fun begin. We are coming my Russian Beauties.

Posted in: on Monday, July 26, 2010 at at 11:15 PM 0 comments    

I added a link in my side bar check it out. This link is to our fundraiser blog. I have posted so far 6 ways you can help us. Some of them will not cost you a dime just a little bit of your time. If you can help in anyway it will be a blessing to our babies. fundraising is so important for us to bring these babies home. Any extra funds will go to support another Reeces' Rainbow family at the end of our journey.

Posted in: on Sunday, July 25, 2010 at at 6:41 PM 0 comments    

My heart feels so heavy these last few days. Not heavy because of this journey but because I can not see the end of the path. It feels so long and bumpy. Last night (early am actually) me and my dear sister were talking on FB and late night conversations can become pretty funny with us. But last night we talked of or fear and our excitement of the journey we are both on. A journey neither if us ever saw coming five months ago (she is going to a police academy in four weeks). We both are strong in our faith and know this is something God has planned all long but that !@#$ doubter can weasel his way in when you don't expect it. The best part of our conversation is when my sister said "I will hop on your back and ride piggy back" meaning she will ride my back through our fears. I told her "If you will carry me?". Thank you as always Jenny for being my encourager of my faith and I will carry you any time....just hop on. Thank you God for giving me my best friend....my sister. I Love you Jenny.

This song is amazing. Thank You Diane it was perfect for me today. Blessings

Posted in: on Saturday, July 24, 2010 at at 11:59 AM 0 comments    

Wow! It's amazing what people think they have a right to say. I wonder if they would if they new Jesus saved a place in our hearts for these two babies. Not just my heart but a grandmas, grandpas, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends hearts too. These are my babies as the three are who sit in our living room watching Beetle Juice. They have a place in our home as the girls move their room together anticipating on the arrival of these beauties.
Yes, We understand the concerns. I say these thing in all sincerity. I pray that I am not offended by such remarks nor offend those. We understand that this journey is going to be tough at times. We know there are no guarantees on our babies health. And yes we do realize this will change our lives forever. But I ask: Do you really know us? Do you know the faith I have and the relationship I have with Christ?
Well, let me tell you and you, as I have, can release your concern and place it with Christ: I walk in faith. I walk in it daily. Is it easy?....no but each day I am learning where I lack in trust with Christ and I grow each day with that. Trust requires commitment and faith. To trust in someone is to rely on them, to believe in them. In Proverbs chapter 3, we are promised that by trusting in the Lord our paths will be made straight, that is to say, we will be given direction for our lives.
I have faith He will take care of us and through all of the tough times the beautiful times with stand out more. My Trust is in Christ.

Posted in: on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at at 9:20 PM 2 comments    

Some of you have asked why this adoption will cost so much. Well this is the breakdown I got from our adoption agency. This can be quit depressing for me to think about.
Adoption Breakdown
$250-application fee just to say we want to adopt Not an application for permission to adopt.
$1,000-Consultation fee
$7,000- Agency Fee/post placement fees
$15,500- Foreign Program fee. Covers processing of the adoption.
$8,250- Fee for second child
$750- USCIS fee (to get permission to immigrate a child.)
Home study- 1600.00
$100-600- State notarization (I have to do in Lansing)
$200-500- Parents Visa (4 total need it for both trips for both of us)
$600-3000- Airline tickets-We go to Eastern Europe twice (4round trips and 2 one ways)
$200-300 Daily expenses (translator,transportation,room/board)
$880-Assistance to us While in EE(paperwork prep for us embassy, pick up and drop off at airport ect.)
$360 2nd trip 3 days in EE(us embassy)
$250- medical exam for our two children
$1500-US embassy (our children's Visas)

That's it. That's all it takes. Wow! typing it out and reading this can really stress a person out. But it's okay I refuse to let this consume me. I know God will work this out. My trust is in Him.

Posted in: on Sunday, July 18, 2010 at at 10:55 PM 1 comments    

It almost seems as though I have a theme going with the number ten. I am sending a challenge from me to you.The quickest I heard some one raise enough money for an international adoption is just a few short weeks and actually I think it was less, and she was 11. So before I began here is my perspective on ten dollars.
$10 what it means to most of us.
* couple of coffees from a fancy cafe
* one movie ticket maybe a super small kids size drink to go with it.
* A large pizza
* 4 gallons of gas
* 6 pack of beer
* 2 movies at blockbuster
* The gamble we take on the local lottery
and on and on.......

Here is what $10 dollars is to our Russian Beauties (I think these deserve to be numbered)
#1 It's being called a daughter/son, sister/brother, grandchild, and niece/nephew.
#2 They will be loved and cherished
#3 They will wake up to hope everyday
#4 they will know they have value
#5 They will feel the sunshine on there face and sand between there toes.
#6 They will eat when they are hungry
#7 They will feel the comfort of laying on a bed at night and know they can get out when they wake up.
#8 They will have a mommy and daddy to call their own.
I could go on and on but I have one last thing.
They will know they are perfectly made and that they are children of God.

So I am asking if you would consider donating $10 for 10 weeks because whats it to us anyway? Would you be willing to give up a few small things to save a life? Please leave a comment with your email or email me at annieplummer@yahoo.com if you are willing to take the 10 for 10 challenge. There will be several ways for you to make payments and you will get two photos for your fridge to remind you of our Russian Beauties. Everyone who donates will be entered 10x in all future raffles (which should be awesome, working on those soon) plus my dear friend will be making a blessings quilt for the babies beds, one square will have your name on it. We want to remember all who gave to save them. Thank you so much and as always prayers are always welcome and needed.
In Christ
Ann

Posted in: on Friday, July 16, 2010 at at 10:10 PM 0 comments    

About Children with Downs Syndrome in Eastern Europe
1. In Russia children with Down Syndrome have no value
2. All children with DS are abandoned at birth only to be adopted by another family from across the world.
3. In most orphanages children with are not held,hugged or loved.
4. They are not taught.
5. Some never leave their crib.
6. Never feel sunshine on their face, or grass between their toes.
7. At age two if not adopted their life is nearly half over. (Mine is not half over yet)
8. At age four or five children still in the orphanages are sent to mental institutions where they will spend their life confined to a crib. Tied to a crib.
9. Most within the first year die due to neglect and abuse.
10. Last thing you should know about children in Russia with DS is you can help save them.

10 Things I want you to know about our Children with Downs Syndrome.

1. They are a gift from God with one special extra chromosome.
2. They have worth and value.
3. They were perfectly made.
4. They are capable of all things.
5. She is a daughter,sister,niece,granddaughter,and a princess of God.
6. He is a son, brother,nephew, grandson, and a worroir of Gods.
7. She has a smile that will take your breath away.
8. He has eye that will make you do anything for him.
9. They are already loved, cherished by all of us.
10. And the last thing you should know is you can help bring them home.

In Christ Ann

Posted in: on Thursday, July 15, 2010 at at 7:59 PM 1 comments    

This is a long post I wanted to share with you how this all began. I want you to know this is a calling from God and I give all credit to him. He is the one who opened our stubborn hearts, He is the one who showed us who was missing in our family.
I can not believe I actually am typing this. The beginning of this journey began at the beginning of February so as you can imagine this reality is so joyful. So here is how it began......
It began with a dream that I was surrounded by a group if little children with down syndrome all wanting to be picked up by me, it is all I really can remember of it. Over the next couple of weeks different things kept coming up so I began think this is something stirring in me. I kept it to myself because to be quit honest it FREAKED me out. But I just couldn't shake the feeling there was a child that belong into our family, a little girl around the age of 3. Still keeping it to myself I began to do some research on domestic Downs Syndrome adoptions and come to find out more than 90% of women abort at the diagnosis of  DS and there is a waiting list of around 200 for DS children in America. We love our children with DS. Yeah!!! So during this search I found a web sight Reeces Rainbow where God showed me our two little darlings. He showed me that in Eastern Europe children with DS have no value (that is another post). This is when it really hit me, I new HE was going to ask me to make a very hard decision. My first reaction was "NO way I do not want to have kids living with me for the rest of my life", "I don't think I am capable of raising a child with DS", "What would people think?" now mind you it is still just one child with DS I hadn't even come to terms of adopting one when I heard God say it's two. "TWO! no way not two." So through prayer and many answered ones I began to see the path before me. Now it was time to share it with my dear husband, my soul mate and best friend. First few times not good results but God asked me to be patient and give him time. For those of you who know me when I make a decision I move. There is no waiting. So over the next several long long weeks God began to open his heart and we had many many long conversations that were filled with mixed emotions, I really began to have doubts. But yet again God reassured me. So I began to follow some stories on line and really began to see our lives with these little munchkins. I have read some amazing stories that truly Rocked my world. I printed the pictures of our children and hung them on the frig. and prayed for them daily. And then on July 11 it happened God said "MOVE" so Jason and I began a long conversation that lasted into the wee hours of the morning and we decided this is something we must do.

Posted in: on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at at 4:18 PM 6 comments