Wait for it........

Forever Mama and Forever Big Sister have been waiting a long time. 67 days in fact. They were NOT happy campers!

How much more could they endure? Star Fleet Command please come in....Enter star date 12/28/12 (12/27/12 in the misson country) It is almost 5:00pm and Forever Mama's communication device buzzes. Area code 206? Attention Super Hero team, LOA (Letter of Acceptance) has been granted from Little B's country! Our mission is a go!!! Approval for rescue has been granted!! Several steps will still need to be completed before Forever Mama and Forever Big Sister can get on that winged transportation device, but we are 1 major step closer! So now Forever Mama and Forever Big Sister are happy campers!!!

I see starfish....

Sit back and let Forever Mama share with you The Starfish Story- adapted from the Star Thrower by Loren C. Eiseley

An old man had a habit of early morning walks on the beach. One day, after a storm, he saw a human figure in the distance moving like a dancer. As he came closer he saw that it was a young woman and she was not dancing but was reaching down to the sand, picking up a starfish and very gently throwing them into the ocean.
“Young lady,” he asked, “Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?”
“The sun is up, and the tide is going out, and if I do not throw them in they will die.”
“But young lady, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it? You cannot possibly make a difference.”
The young woman listened politely, paused and then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves, saying, “It made a difference for that one.”



So now Forever Mama and Forever Big Sister see starfish everywhere. Did you know that Disney has a plethora of these sea creatures?

These were on the gingerbread carousel at the Beach Club

This one was on one of the Christmas Tree in the lobby of the Beach Club

On the carpet in our room at The Art of Animation Resort

 

Also on our bedspread in our room

The table has one as well!

 

 

On the outside staircases near in the Finding Nemo section

 

How about at the parks? Here is Epcot's Living Seas

 

See the hidden Mickey with starfish ears?

 

Even during the Jingle Jungle Parade at Animal Kingdom. Donald's tree has a starfish topper!

 

At the Magic Kingdom, the New Fantasy land has several in the new Little Mermaid ride and this one just outside the ride

 

Here's one from the Haunted Mansion..

 

Forever Mama has new Christmas ornaments this year...

 

 

 

 

Now Forever Mama and Forever Big Sister are with Forever Papa (Grandpa) at Sanubel. At the beach, all shops have starfish everywhere.

 

And on the beach the first day, one lone starfish withered and forlorn...

Forever Mama was afraid that this little one had perished; but lo and behold, when she gently lifted him from the sand, he stretched his legs and perked up the hairs on his legs. He was alive! He was a bright red color (like the Russian red) and Forever Mama named him Gus after a little boy in Russia who just wants to come home. And I bet you can guess what happened next...Forever Mama threw the little starfish back into the sea saying "There you go Gus, now you are free!"

 

 

You see in the adoption world, the orphans are our starfish. The staggering numbers of orphans worldwide is just so overwhelming. Forever Mama knows that she can't save all of them, but can make a difference for some of them, one at a time.

 

Here is a part of the Star Thrower Story that is often left out. Forever Mama found it just today...

The old man looked at the young woman inquisitively and thought about what she had done. Inspired, he joined her in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and all the starfish were saved.

Will the Starfish Story inspire you? You do not have to adopt to make a difference. You can advocate, donate and pray. If others join us we can make a huge difference to all of our little starfish who are waiting for a family. No matter where they live or disablity they may have EVERY child deserves a family of their own.

Want a place to start? visit www.reecesrainbow.org  My little starfish is there under the name of Nathaniel

The Christmas present that wasn't...

‘Twas a few days before Christmas  and all through the Baird house, Forever Mama was moping and being a grouse.Few decorations were hung in the house with some care, Forever Mama’s arm strength was just not quite there.

Little B’s room was mostly finished, including THE bed!  And visions of LOA danced in Forever Mama’s head. When down in the great room the patience wore thin and Forever Mama wrote an email- she finally caved in.

And so as the weather went from chilly to cold, Forever Mama knew she had to be bold. The email was friendly, giving trip contact info for the beach, but also asking about LOA, even though it’s a reach

A ping from the computer, let Forever Mama know that an email was there. But should she open it? Did she dare? “We have not heard news about your LOA yet.”  We are hoping very soon, but are not willing to bet.

Forever Mama hung her head with a sigh, it was all she could do not to break down and cry. Forever Mama never asks for much, she just doesn’t, but NO LOA became the present that wasn’t.

As Forever Mama sat in a funk and wondered the reason, she began to remember the holiday season. Others are hurting with loved ones now gone, so much pain in the world what has gone wrong?

Forever Mama sent up prayers for those in need. With hopes that the world may now see more good deeds. So let us remember that Jesus is the reason and be kind to each other throughout this season.

So while there is no LOA for this Christmas cheer, Forever Mama and Big Sister look forward to Little B celebrating HERE next year!

For those of my friends who lost those who are dear, they watch over you now and are always so near. Forever Mama is praying for you with all of her might and wishing you a Merry Christmas and a very good night!

And to Little B who waits all alone, Hang in there son, we WILL bring you home!

Sadness....

12/14/12 a day of devastation. Forever Mama started the day by shopping the sales for clothes for Little B and then ran a few errands. All was happy. New clothes for an empty closet. Then Forever Mama turned on the TV and the computer. The world crashed around her. As a teacher, Forever Mama saw her worst nightmare unfold on TV. Tears began to flow. As the updates occured, a Kindergarten teacher and classroom? Forever Mama's heart broke even further. A majority of Forever Mama's teaching career has involved Kindergarten students. Why? How? Disbelief...20 precious innocent children gone as well as 6 of the teachers/staff from the school. Soon after Forever Big Sister arrived home from high school, safe and sound and Forever Mama could breathe a little easier.

Surely no more bad news after that? Wrong! Forever Mama read that across the ocean, in the country where Little B lives, 22 primary school children were injured in a knife attack this morning. Forever Mama melted into tears again. This time Forever Mama won't see someone come through the door to safety, as Little B still waits at his orphanage(where at this point he is safe).

So tonight Forever Mama will give Forever Big Sister a big hug(even if she thinks she is too old for that at 16) and hopes that you will hug all of your children extra tight tonight. Forever Mamas arms are aching even more to hold Little B and her heart breaks just a little bit more at the thought of waiting a few months longer.

Forever Mama sends prayers for all of those involved in both of these tragedies today.

Waiting.....

The wait continues. Forever Mama filled out another mound of paperwork so that once LSC is received, the next step can move forward. Star command did find out that the mission paperwork is out of Translation and in process as of 11/7/12. This does not actually mean much as far as the timeline goes. Some have received LSC in as little as 5 days after moving to in progress others have taken up to 3 months. Forever Mama and Forever Big Sister are hoping for much less than 3 months!

As the holidays approach, waiting becomes harder. On their very last mommy/daughter only Disney trip over Thanksgiving, Forever Mama and Forever Big sister kept thinking and saying "Do you think Little B will like this?", " Mom, can I ride this one with Little B next time?" And the temptation to buy oh so many Disney clothes "But mom, it will look so cute on Little B" and "Mom, he needs this so we can match!" as well as "Taylor, can't you see Little B wearing this?" Yes, we did buy a few things, but that will be for another post :)

On sunday, Forever Mama and Forever Big Sister went to Young Chefs Academy for our traditional gingerbread house making session. Little B, Reece's Rainbow and waiting was the theme this year.

And so the house says it all. This Christmas Forever Mama and Forever Big Sister are waiting for Little B. All Forever Mama wants for Christmas is to receive LSC and to be one step closer to bringing Little B home. Until then, we love and wait for one special little boy who is waiting too on the other side of the ocean.