iPad2 Giveaway!!! I love Alexander!!!!

So, when we went to get Stas we met this precious boy....Alexander. 

If you have seen this video of him you know why we fell for him. He is so darn innocent and has been moved to a mental institution several months back. That is awful.  Pure innocence in a horrific place such as that. Look at him:

http://ready4ross.blogspot.com/2010/07/alexander-hes-keepergo-get-him.html

 Love, love, love him!

Even if you don't want an iPad....will you please just give something? If you want an iPad then I personally think you should give a whole lot!!!!! Make sure you leave a comment with how many chances you get.

Here is Christie's explanation and blog post:

iPad2 GIVEAWAY!!!!!

We are hosting our very own iPad giveaway. Shawn and I have talked this over, and prayed about it too. We have friends praying as well that God will bless this giveaway with an outpouring of funds. We must have our adoption costs covered quickly; unfortunately, time is not a luxury Alexander has. Alexander was still in a baby house/orphanage last year in July 2010--however, our son has been transferred to a MENTAL INSTITUTION and we need to get to him as soon as possible which means we need our fund to be full quickly also. Literally, every, single day he spends in the institution is robbing him of his achievements. He will regress quickly with little or no stimulation. Pictures of the institutions are not pretty. Some kids are tied to beds all day long, some are drugged to keep them quiet, some are left to their own devices and become nearly feral. His safety is at risk; his life depends on us rescuing him and GOD providing a way. While we do believe God will bless this journey, we also know we must be diligent in seeking what he has to offer us.

Sooo, here is what our package will offer:

iPad2 (choice of white or black)

16 GB with Wi-Fi

Your color choice of polyurethane sleep cover for the iPad2 (gray, blue, green, orange or pink)

Apple iPad2 Dock

THIS PACKAGE WILL NOT BE PURCHASED UNTIL AFTER THE GIVEAWAY CLOSES ON APRIL 17, 2010. WE WILL RUN THIS FUNDRAISER FOR ONE FULL MONTH. DRAWING WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 21, 2011. THE iPad2 WILL BE SHIPPED DIRECTLY TO THE WINNER. APPROXIMATE SHIPPING TIMES (RIGHT NOW) ARE 4-5 WEEKS.  

The person selected as the giveaway champion will receive an electronic receipt of the purchase and delivery information as soon as we have communication as to where to send the information. 

Now, how do you get your chance at this package? First donate at least $10 to our Family Sponsorship Page (there is a donation link right here on my blog) just look for the Alexander for the Taylor Family Donations box with link to the right of this post you are reading right now.

If you do not have a paypal account you can mail a check to Reece's Rainbow with "Alexander for the Taylor Family" in the memo line and send it to:

Reece's Rainbow

P.O. Box 4024

Gaithersburg, MD 20885

Then you can come here to my blog and leave a comment, your name and entries will be tallied and added to our bucket to select the winners. This fundraiser will be live ONLINE and we will also be doing direct-face-to-face entries as well. What that means is this, my husband will be gathering entries through donations to Reece's Rainbow as well around town. 

For $10 you will get 1 entry (and 1 chance for a freebie entry)

For $25 you will get 3 entries (up to 3 chances for freebie entries)

How do you earn a freebie chance?

Once you have made a monetary donation, PLEASE share this blogpost for another entry. If you donate enough for one entry, you can only earn one freebie entry by reposting. BUT if you earn 3 entries you can earn 3 freebies. Facebook it for another entry. Tweet it for another entry. Blog it for another entry. SHARE, SHARE, SHARE. Momma said it was good to share, right? Come back here and let me know that you shared it and we will add to your entries for this giveaway. If you donate money multiple times over the weeks this giveaway runs--you will get entries for that too.  YOU MUST LEAVE YOUR NAME and, please, do not post just anonymously because I won't be able to find you if you are the winner.

So keep coming back to see how many entries are going in the bucket and watch the blessings unfold!!

Thank you!!!!!! You are BLESSING AJ and BLESSING our family too!!!!!

MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!

You can read this post HERE or just read below......honestly it is probably better that you go to Renee's site to get the best effect!!! Below comes from my friends blog. She is bringing this beauty home....but she needs the money first! She is supposed to travel soon. Look at that face!!!! Oh my!!!

 

 

 

Nine more days.... $1,295 to go.  Paisley has $2,245 in her FSP.  God is bigger than that, right?  If you've already donated, thank you. If you can't donate, please spread the word on your blog or facebook or twitter or carrier pigeon.... We need your help!!

PLEASE!!!

UPDATE... IF WE REACH ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS I AM PUTTING A PIE IN STEVE'S FACE....  WE MIGHT NOT REACH $2000 BUT DADGUMIT THERE WILL BE PIE!!!

Four pieces, four prizes.  For every five dollar donation you make you get a chance to win!  Leave a comment either on here or on the chip in when you donate to let me know which one of these fabulous pieces has stolen your heart.  I asked, you answered and here are the pieces ya'll picked for this here giveaway...

First Up....

This Beautiful Charm Bracelet

Isn't it gorgeous?  You could slip this on with a white t-shirt and blue jeans and the fabulous would just take over... I love it!

What's next, you say?   

Crystal and pearl bracelet

                   

All you have to add is the little black dress and Lawd have mercy on your husband.  I bet you could hear a stiletto drop when you walk in the room!  Cha Ching!

I know, I know, there's more...

Edwardian Button Ring.  The pearls, the black, the flowers, the gold, and it's adjustable.  Think water weight.  Nuff said.

Finally, the Pièce de résistance or that fine looking cross necklace we all liked...

Can you feel it?  It just got a whole lot fancier in here..

These four fabulous pieces will make you feel as fine as frog's hair and twice as jumpy.  But in a good way.  Now if that ain't enough to get ya'lls blood pumping and ya'lls checkbook smokin, how about this.

Okay, here's where it gets good... Ya'll ready?

 If someone makes a 100 dollar donation there might be a little of this going on...

That's right, if someone makes a one hundred dollar donation, I, Renee Tam, will take a pie in the face and post it on my blog.  Paisley, I love you. :) 

DONE!

Now, ya'll all know if I'm going down I'm bringing the two amigos with me.  So, here it goes:

If our total gets up to 250 dollars, Mama Grits, the Kim Houser, otherwise known as that other crazy Alabama woman, gets a pie in the face and yes, I will be posting that picture when it happens.

250 dollars people, let's wipe that smile off her face.  I'm thinking she needs a little makeover. 

DONE!

Oh no, I didn't forget about Menskat.  Michelle Enskat, not really Miss Alabama 1992, the current reigning Miss Crazy Britches Alabama 2011.  Well, let me give ya'll a hint about what we got in store for this blonde bombshell...



If our total reaches 500 dollars then Michelle Enskat will dye her hair pink.  You just thought I was crazy, you ain't seen nothing yet.

DONE!

Good-bye Blonde, Hello Bombshell...a big pank colored Bombshell.  I just love pink, don't ya'll? 

Have ya'll had enough crazy yet?  No, I didn't think so either.

See these three guys...

My husband, Steve.  Hi Steve that sure is a cute baby
 you're holding....



Wait, Grits is married? 
What up Eli?
Otherwise known as Pa Grits...





Noah, that would be Menskat's better half.  Noah, I feel for ya...




If our total reaches 2000 dollars these fine specimens of manliness have promised us to go out in public, make that to dinner, looking a whole lot more like this...



Steve "Pigtails for Paisley" Tam, Eli "Sugar Lips for Sveta" Houser, and Noah "Queen for a Cause" Enskat.

Now, because crazy loves company I am giving Grits and Menskat part of the proceeds from this Fundraising Gone WILD jewelry giveway.  As ya'll all know Grits is adopting a precious little one and Menskat said she'd give her share back if we reach the 2000 mark but she has like 20 kids so there's no tellin with her...

So there you have it.  Our Jewelry fundraiser gone wild.  A five dollar donation gives you a chance at fabulous.  Be sure to tell me which one you're hankering for when you donate.

We have until March 26th to raise 2000 dollars.  Don't let Sugar Lips down.  Do it for the kids, do it for the inner badonkadonk beauty that lies in each of our husbands.

The countdown starts  NOW!!

Make it happen.

You still have today...

...to get some YUMMY treats AND help bring Brian home!!

http://missyb-itsawonderfullife.blogspot.com/

I guess I messed up....the auction ends at midnight tonight. Hope I didn't mess anything up for anyone!

Hurry, hurry!! Go bid and read my yesterday's post to learn about this little sweetheart you are saving! Brian is just absolutely precious!

Thank you!!!

A Sweet Deal!!

http://missyb-itsawonderfullife.blogspot.com/

Go to this site above, scroll down, look for the long list of yumminess and bid bid away on some treats to help bring Brian home.

As you eat each yummy cookie, or bon bon or whatever tickles you palette, you will remember that you helped bring this sweetheart home!

Today is the last day....QUICK! Some very kind people are pouring their love into each yummy treat that is made. Don't look at the going rate for a cookie! Don't look at the going rate for a pie! What is the price of a child? This little guy just turned 5! Yes 5!! Do you know what that means? It means any day he could be saying good-bye to the only home he knows and heading to an institution. Why? Because he has Down syndrome.

I look at my boys and want to curl up in horror when I picture either one of them in a place such as that. A mental institution for a little tiny boy. An innocent tiny boy. Doesn't that KILL you? It does me.

Look at my boys! Look what love does.

Go back up and look at Brian and see his potential and the financial burden that his family has to bring him home. It costs a lot! It is worth it but SOOOO difficult. Can you help ease the burden just a little (or heck--a lot if you want!!)?


Please pray.....please bid....and if you are on a diet....FINE...don't bid on the cookies, just give them a donation on their site. It is so easy to do. Look for anything on there that says you can donate on-line. Or send a check to Reece's Rainbow marked for the Burger Family Adoption Grant.

Fascinating!

 

I find the human brain fascinating. We do what we have to in order to take care of ourselves and protect ourselves. 

Since Stas has gotten home we have been enthralled by some different things that he does. What you see above is one of them. When something makes noise he has to "check it out." This is what it entails. First if he hears noise he goes running to it.  If it is something within reach like the vaccuum, washer, dryer or the hairdryer or this nebulizer, he puts his chin on it, followed by his ear, then his teeth, top and bottom separately. It I have the blender going, or something else out of reach he will do the same thing to the cabinet or floor, wherever he can get the vibration. 

Fascinating!

What do I think this is from?

One of two things....maybe both things.

When he came to us on his third birthday from a Ukrainian orphanage, his ears were so filled with fluid, and likely for a very long time it appeared. Perhaps he couldn't hear well and he did this to help "hear." Or, I think because he lived in a crib much of his life and was deprived of proper stimulation, he is trying to create as much "feedback" as he can from his world around him. (You would THINK that 9 other  people in the house MIGHT be enough feedback at this point, huh :-) I was told that the chin and teeth are bony structures so they conduct vibration well and quickly.

Anyone else have a child that does that? I would like to hear from you.

And then there is this:

I'm open to suggestions here. I'm told he never learned to constructively play with things. Hmmmm. How do I teach him to constructively play with a piece of furniture.....or that furniture belongs upright. My father-in-law suggested putting all of the furniture upside down at the start of the day and maybe by the end it will actually all be in place. Worth a try!

Not sure how to discipline this at this age.

Feedback welcome!!!!!

PS:  This is a very sweet little boy who I absolutely LOVE!!!!!!!!!!! He is just a tad bit destructive in all of his cuteness.

PPS: While I took the time to post this......this is what happened...

Getting the word out where we can

The Reece's Rainbow gang

 When you have a passion for something, you want to get the word out however you can. Today we were blessed to go to the high school that my older two children attend---Totino-Grace High School--- to do just that.

Toma and his dad, Rich (aka "Richy" to me :-)  and big brother Shane (Isn't he handsome ...and very nice, too.) I think any kid that treats their younger siblings so sweetly is extra cute!! Toma and Stas were in the same orphanage :(

Leah and her Axel, who is such a doll! I could take him home in a heartbeat. Axel was born in Serbia and has been with his family now for only 2 MONTHS....I can't believe it. He has learned so much in such a short period of time.

Becky and Alina. What a beautiful girl and beautiful family. Alina spent her first years in another orphanage in Ukraine.

Each year the Respect Life group sponsors a Games 4 Life day where they raise awareness and some funds for an organization. This year is was RR.

While the 16 teams of 4  were settling in for lunch,  I couldn't help but play this video....they loved it. This boy rapping with no front teeth about his little sis with DS....I mean really....too much.

It is difficult to sum up what RR is, what it does, what it means to be an orphan in Eastern Europe, etc.... It is hard to do it justice. Hopefully looking at each of these 4 children whose lives are forever changed is enough to do something within them. Each family spoke a little bit about their experience of adopting. Wish their was more time.

It looks like so far they raised a total of $300 towards the adoption of a child from the RR site. I don't know who they will choose yet. They will decide. The moderator of the group said it is so difficult to go on that site and choose one child, so they will have to try something creative I guess.

If you haven't been to Reece's Rainbow, please click HERE  and go check it out. Follow families' journeys to their child. Let your heart be moved and support a child. I know one person right now who is having a "give-a-way" (Living in the Light) with some awesome items and another who is begging for money in a more unique way (Chasing Moonlight)...she is the witty one!

Thanks Rich, Shane, Toma, Becky, Alina, Alina's two brothers, Leah, Axel and all of the TG staff and students that made this happen.

My Valentines!

 

They look a little bit like mug shots. This was what they did at Occupational Therapy for their mother for Valentines. Ricky is giving his cheesy smile, Stas is just wondering why he is doing what he is doing.

I love my Valentines. I asked St. Valentine, many times amidst my crazy, hectic day, to teach me how to love better. I ask God for that all the time. I thought I would ask this friend of God for some extra prayers....every little bit helps in the LOVE department.

Sorry I have been such a lousy blog poster. My sister and I are working on yet another component to our program--PUREly YOU. That means more time at the computer....but not blogging...rather Powerpointing and Keynoting. Hopefully, in the end, we are able to reach everyone's needs in getting the courage and know-how of talking to their kids about growing up...with the perspective of how it all fits into God's plan for our lives. That is the goal of the program. Check it out if you have nothing better to do.....www.PurelyYou.org