Fourth of July 2010

Today we had a wonderful fundraising event in Historic Powder Springs, Georgia. Facepainting was our theme for this event. We met so many wonderful families as the festivities went on. This was our first event of such magnitude and we are so grateful we were given the opportunity to share the heart of our ministry with others.

We were also blessed with some great volunteers who generously shared their artistic talents and make this day a success. I am really looking forward to planning more events as time permits me to. I pray that God will grow our ministry to facilitate additional grants for families committing to adopting a special needs child.

A special thank you also goes out to the parents and grandparents who permitted me to share their child's image on this post. If you see your child or family picture in the following slideshow and would like a copy of the photo e-mailed to you, you may request it at t_wollschlager@yahoo.com.

Feel free to pass this link on to your friends, co-workers, family....

We are currently selling tickets to our flapjack breakfast fundraiser. It will be held on Saturday, July 17th at the Applebees on Dallas Hwy @ Barrett Pkwy. in Marietta.
The breakfast is hearty and includes beverage of your choice.Tickets are $7.50 each . There are two seatings 8-9:00am and 9:00-10:00am. Please specify when requesting tickets which seating you would like.

Please mail your request for tickets along with a check or money order made payable to :

Theresa Wollschlager
2332 Targa Lane SW
Marietta, GA 30064

Tickets will be sent out promptly upon receipt. Please include your e-mail and phone number so that I can confirm receipt of your request. Orders and payments for tickets must be recieved by July 14th as I must give the total amount of guests to Applebees by the 15th .


Patrons who attend the fundraiser will also want to have the "apple" on their ticket punched by their server to enjoy the added benefit of $5.oo off your next visit to Applebees. It's really a wonderful deal for everyone.

Our goal is to sell the maximum tickets allowed of 400. Please help us achieve our goal.

TOREZ CHALLENGE GRANT

MEET THE CHALLENGE AND PASS IT ON TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.iorphan.org/projects/torez_challenge.asp

Challenge Grant

I sincerely apologize for my absence the past few months. With school back in session and added weekly therapies for Christopher, Blogging time has been falling off my top ten for the day to accomplish.

Time. Such a powerful gift. How we each choose to spend our time can change our lives and the lives of others in ways we cannot fully imagine. Wisdom is also a tremendous gift, although often I feel lacking in such a grace, I thirst for her presence in my daily life. As a parent of an exceptional child who does not communicate verbally and sometimes, not at all, I need every ounce of wisdom I can get, just to survive the day. When I ask my son a question and he turns his head away and stares off into the dead space, I wonder what or if he is thinking about anything. Tell me, tell me too, my heart screams out, but there is a deafening silence. It makes me wonder if his little spirit was broken so many times in the poor conditions that he remained in for the first 7 1/2 years of his life, that he just determined that no one was listening to him anyways, so why bother asking or telling. I imagine many of the orphans living in poor conditions and without the constant love and sense of belonging have decided that it doesn't matter if they have a need, it won't be met anyway.

Fortunately, Christopher is learning each day, that things have changed in his life and his needs do count and will be met to the best of our abilities. Thankfully, those blank stares are becoming less frequent and he is making purposeful eye contact more often. It is truly food for my soul.

Yesterday, I learned of a Challenge Grant that is running out of time to be matched. This grant can provide for some significant needs for the non-ambulatory children who spend their days and nights lying in a toddler bed. The Challenge Grant will purchase desperatly needed therapy equipment that can facilitate a child's movement out of a no win situation and into an opportunity for physical and mental wellness. The transformation we saw in just a few weeks when our son was home with us and no longer flat on his back and becoming atrophied in every way, was astonishing. These children need to be moving and growing while they wait for their forever families to find them. Think about it for more than a moment and then pass this on to someone who may be able to contribute to this project today. Time is running out for this MATCH opportunity. The deadline is October 31, 2009. Go here now to help:http://www.iorphan.org/projects/torez_challenge.asp

Evidence. Christopher went from lying down all day to "freedom and mobility". Take the Challenge Today! Change a life forever! "Expand your heart and watch a miracle grow" http://www.iorphan.org/projects/torez_challenge.asp

If everyone reading this could commit to sending $5.00 to the Challenge it will be met in a miracle minute.

More little miracles..........

A BIG THANK YOU to all of you who so generously gave to the pajama drive. There were over 20o pairs of pajamas collected for the children of Torez Special Needs Orphanage. We also want to express our gratitude to the Knights of Columbus Council 4599 for their committment to host the drive and ship the donations to Ukraine.

Pajama Drive for Special Needs Orphans Extended

Our Pajama Drive has been extended to August 10th as our host organization, The Knights of Columbus are collecting donations at Saint Joseph's church in Marietta, GA on August 8th and 9th.

I also want to extend a very big HUG and THANK YOU to those of you that have already sent in donations. I know these "jammies" will all be gratefully and joyfully received. We look forward to making this an annual event.

The truth about HIV+ and Aids orphans

For families called to adopt a child who is HIV+ there is an incredible organization committed to assist you, educate and support you in your process to adopt a child or children with this special need. Here is the link: www.projecthopeful.org.

Alexei is officially a Reed

Congratulations Reed Family!!! Rejoicing with you and your new son, ALEXEI MATTHEW REED. Safe travels. Our prayers and thoughts remain with you.

Balloon Race for Kyle

This is such a cool fundraiser I just had to include it in my post today. Please follow the link and consider this awesome event to help bring Kyle home to his Forever Family.


I had no idea how much prospective adoptive parents in England must go through to adopt Internationally. It certainly will make me all that more grateful as I begin our next dossier to get Yulia.

http://www.britishadoptionhelp.co.uk/

Here is the e-bay item number as well. You can go to e-bay and place this number into search to purchase a ticket. Tickets are three dollars and some change. 320393786923