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Let today be the day!

// January 25th, 2012 // 5 Comments » // Loux Family News

“Love God more than life, walk by faith in his Son Jesus Christ, and pour your life out for the orphan.”
John Piper

Proverbs 24:12 tells us that”Once our eyes are opened we cannot pretend we do not know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows we know and holds us responsible to act.”

You know.

I know.

It’s our job to make sure others know too….and it’s our job to act!

My heart aches and is so burdened for God’s people to realize the responsibility we have, not to just “talk” about caring for the orphan but to really step out and to choose that this day will be the day we actually do it. When I’m made aware of one more child whose been abandoned, orphaned, sexually abused, sold into sex slavery or even killed, my heart just breaks. I wonder why more isn’t being done by God’s people? What is is going to take for our eyes to truly be opened so that we will act and not just think about how sad all the little orphan stories and pictures are….. and then go about our day?

I believe that the majority of the Church does care, sometimes they just don’t know where to start. Some however, keep putting the stirrings of Jesus off….thinking they’ll take those steps when the time is more convenient, when there’s a little more money in the bank account…. when they aren’t so tired and busy.

There’s a quote by an anonymous person that says this. “Sometimes I would like to ask God why he allows poverty, famine and injustice in the world, when he could do something about it, but I’m afraid He’ll ask me the same question.” Scripture is clear that we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the orphan and the widow. Even I, as a recently widowed woman with 12 children (10 adopted) am not off the hook. He still expects me to act and to do my part to help more orphans and other widows, in whatever ways I can. There are millions of orphans around the world who have absolutely no hope. Jesus expects us to act! It’s not optional…it’s God’s mandate.

Some of you are not able to travel to another country to see for yourselves the reality of the suffering these priceless children go through. You might be thinking that orphans only exist in other countries around the world, so that gets you off the hook (said with respect). Did you know that there are hundreds of thousands of children who have been abandoned, abused, uncared for and left alone, in our U.S. Foster Care system? To adopt out of your state’s foster care system is free! There is no reason why God’s people should not be stepping up to the plate, taking these children in and making them a part of their family, or, facilitating help for those who are taking children in. I don’t believe that everyone is to adopt. But, I absolutely believe that everyone is to help in some way. You will need to pray about what that all looks like for you.

There are families I know of who are in the middle of trying to adopt. They need help with finances, so that they can save a child. Maybe you are called to sew into their adoption costs. Do you know of anyone who has already adopted… someone who lives near you? If so, they will need help with your time. All of that counts to Jesus, as doing your part.

A child suffering may break our hearts but the truth is, unless we come face to face with that suffering child, unless we walk in their ‘shoes’, unless we experience some of their pain-we often times just go on living our lives, feeling bad for them, but not really knowing what to do. I’m imploring you to let this be the day that you will take that big step, with God’s help to make a difference in the life of at least one child.

If any of you would like to give financially to families who are in the process of adopting, but need financial help to do so, please let me know. I would love to pass their information on to you. These families are amazing and have already adopted many children. Their hearts are to walk out James 1:27 in the most radical ways and I love that! Please, I ask you to not walk away from this post thinking…Oh wow, just another person wanting my money. That’s not what this is about. It’s about you making a difference in the life of a child, by helping families who are reputable and who are really using that money to put towards the cost of saving a life. By helping these families, you will be the hands and feet of Jesus, rescuing a child who is God’s child…priceless to Him in every way. For information on how you can help these families, please contact me at reneeloux@orphanjusticecenter.org. Thank you so very much!

I want to stand before Jesus one day, knowing that I did my part. I know you do to.

God bless you!

Much love in Jesus,

Renee’

“I’m just here to love”

// January 20th, 2012 // No Comments » // Loux Family News

My friend Ruth Armbruster Bergen is reading a book by Katie Davis called “Kisses from Katie.” She shared a portion of it with me. I know that so many of us who are working to see God’s justice walked out, feel this way sometimes. I love this and it’s such a good reminder to us all…of why we do what we do! I thought I’d share it with you..

“Sometimes working in a Third World Country makes me feel like I am emptying the ocean with an eyedropper. And just when I have about half a cup full of water it rains:: more orphaned children from the north migrate to where I live, more abandoned and dead babies are found, more people are infected with HIV. It is enough to discourage even the most passionate and enthusiastic person……love is the reason I just keep filling up my little eyedropper, keep filling it up and emptying my ocean one drop at a time. I’m not here to eliminate poverty, to eradicate disease, to put a stop to people abandoning babies. I’m just here to love.”
~katie davis

~katie davis

Let your light shine…

// January 20th, 2012 // 1 Comment » // Loux Family News

‎”Let your light shine. Be a source of strength and courage. Share your wisdom. Radiate love.”

Wilferd Petersen

We need your justice Jesus!

// January 18th, 2012 // 3 Comments » // Loux Family News

Jesus, we cry out for your justice for the orphan! God, cause your Church to rise up and not just talk about helping the orphan…not just dream about it saying, “Well maybe one day….” Jesus help your Church to understand that the time is NOW. No more will we wait for a “convenient time” and stand by as millions are sexually and physically abused…starved and neglected…losing all hope, not knowing their Creator and Savior. Jesus, we cry out for your mercy Lord! Cause faith to rise up in the hearts of your people! We want your justice for these priceless ones Jesus. Open up the store houses of Heaven Jehovah Jireh! Make a way, where it might seem there is no way. I ask that you would raise up “Josephs” in the market place, who would give radically through finances, with joy, to those who are adopting and fighting for justice! We need you Jesus to move on behalf of your people…your children. Massage hearts back to a place of life….Raise up a Justice Revolution oh God, in the precious and mighty name of Jesus we ask this…

CBS NEWS VIDEO on Iraqi orphans (along with an update)

// January 15th, 2012 // 1 Comment » // Loux Family News

Here is the video link to the CBS News story (on the Iraqi orphans) that I just shared with you. You’ll learn more about what happened to the orphans after they were discovered. For some reason I couldn’t imbed the link on this site.

Click below:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=2946323n%3Ftag%3Dfacebook

Will you be His hands and His feet?

// January 13th, 2012 // 16 Comments » // Loux Family News

Many of you probably saw the CBS news report a few years ago, regarding a scene that was so shocking that it even stunned soldiers hardened by trial and conflict – naked, listless, emaciated Iraqi orphans lying unattended in their own excrement while covered in flies and tied to cribs on a concrete floor. Meanwhile, in the adjoining kitchen of this government orphanage in Baghdad, three ‘caretakers’ were cooking themselves a hearty meal while the twenty-four special needs children were starving to death in the next room.

Even more troubling is that the orphanage storeroom was well stocked with food and brand-new clothes, yet the staff was allegedly selling these items to local markets instead of providing them to the children.

Sadly, it’s just another example of the exploitation and abuse that can occur in government-run orphanages, especially those in poverty, disease and war-ravaged countries where accountability is non-existent and corruption is extreme. Below, are photos and they will shock you. I think sometimes it’s good that we are shocked into the reality of what’s going on in our world. We, as the church are going to have to rise up and walk out what we are “preaching.” Christ is the only answer for these horrifying injustices. We must link arms together to bring awareness, to give financially and through our time, to be the hands and feet of Jesus to these ones who are His priceless children!

Please don’t turn away, thinking there’s someone else out there who will act….let this be the year that YOU will act.

Instead of writing anymore, I’ll let the photos and captions speak for themselves…

“They thought they were all dead, so they threw a basketball to try and get some attention, and actually one of the kids lifted up their head, tilted it over and just looked and then went back down.”

- Staff Sgt. Mitchell Gibson

“I saw children that you could see literally every bone in their body that were so skinny, they had no energy to move whatsoever, no expression on their face”

- Staff Sgt. Michael Beale

“The kids were tied up, naked, covered in their own waste – feces – and there were three people that were cooking themselves food, but nothing for the kids”

- Lt. Stephen Duperre

Iraq_a

“There was a boy with thousands of flies covering his body, unable to move any part of his body. We had to actually hold his head up and tilt his head to make sure that he was OK, and the only thing basically that was moving was his eyeballs.”

- Staff Sgt. Mitchell Gibson

“There were hundreds (of flies) in his open mouth. They were crawling out of his nose and ears and anywhere they could feed on his flesh and bloody, open sores from sleeping on the concrete, in what appeared to be the last few hours of his life.”

- Staff Sgt. Mitchell Gibson

Iraq_orphanage_2

“The smell was so bad, that you could smell it from outside in the street. It even overpowered the smell of the food cooking in the kitchen.”

- Anonymous soldier

“How could you take the most vulnerable children and subject them to such torture?”

- Lara Logan, CBS Correspondent

“Two women working there posed for pictures in front of the naked boys as if there was nothing wrong.”

- Lara Logan

“I can only imagine they (the caretakers) thought this was absolutely normal. Or that these special needs boys, who could not talk or communicate properly, were not human to them.”

- Lara Logan

Iraq_orphanage_6

“Violence is creating widows and orphans on a daily basis, many of whom are left to struggle for survival. Iraq’s children, already casualties of a quarter of a century of conflict and deprivation, are being caught up in a rapidly worsening humanitarian tragedy.”

- UNICEF

Religion vs. my Jesus…….

// January 11th, 2012 // 7 Comments » // Loux Family News

I’m writing a book and would love your prayers! I have someone collaborating with me on the project. Her name is Bette. She is wonderful, amazing, funny, deep and very “real.” It was refreshing to hear her heart and I love it that we’re on the same page with the things that definitely matter the most!

Bette wanted to know what I would like to accomplish through my book? My answer was this. ”People are sick of religion. They are broken and desperately hurting and some of them are at the end of their rope. They want to know why we, as Christians, are offering Jesus to them as the answer? I want to give them a million and one reasons (through my story) of why Jesus is the answer and yet I want to be gut level honest and real with them. Jesus can’t be put in a box. Bette and I discussed the fact that He does not always “feel” safe. He doesn’t particularly feel comfortable all the time….and He is not always predictable! I lost my father (he was only 57), my son (at 2 and 1/2) and my husband (at 37). I still don’t have all the answers to the “why’s, but I have a story to tell of God’s grace that has not only carried me but given an amazing hope for mine and my children’s future! I want to share that hope with you.

Now on to the subject of Religion vs. my Jesus….I hurt for those who are bound by religion and for those who feel they have to be religious for God to love them. I found that in reading the Bible, Jesus reserved his harshest words for religious leaders. Jesus reprimanded them for falling short of the standards of God’s Kingdom. Jesus pronounced “woes” on religious leaders like the chief priests, the scribes, the Pharisees and Sadducees. While he labeled these religious leaders as blind guides and hypocrites, he mingled with tax collectors, prostitutes and others that he considered the very worst of sinners. I love that!!

Jesus was tough on religious people because he was NOT one of them. Jesus placed Himself and His new way of relating to God far beyond the reach of “religion!” Religion kills! Religion likes to wage war. Religion traffics in power plays, discriminates and promotes slavery. Organized religion comes up with hoops that we are told we have to jump through for God to love us…produces rules, rules and more rules about how we should dress, who we should get to know, where we should sit to be seen and known by the “who’s who” crowd.

I’ve found that my beautiful Jesus is a very glaring contrast to everything religion stands for. Amazing isn’t it that the Christian religion has itself become as Anti-Christ as any man made system can be? Religion is a barrier and a stumbling block in getting to know Jesus. Jesus came not only to save us and to set us free from our sin, He came to break the chains of bondage that religion has held over our lives.

I’d like to share a portion of Bette’s email to me.

“The Christian walk is one of mystery, of balance, of patience. It is not one of manipulating God to do as you wish, or of “ten ways to transform your husband,” “Nine ways to deepen your walk with God.” My walk with God (now more than 37 years) has been both rich, and terrifying. It has been at times, lonely, confusing, and difficult. I’ve had health issues, depression, and marriage troubles (big ones), and yet, I can say with confidence that I have come to know how much I don’t know about God. And yet I follow him.

I don’t really believe that being saved will rescue you from all your deepest difficulties. In fact, it seems to me that being saved most often drops you over the edge — into territory where the difficulties aren’t “out there” but rather in your face — or worse, in your soul.

I am awed by the passage in Exodus where God leads his children down a blind alley. In the text, it says clearly that he led them to that place where the Red Sea was in front of them and their enemies were behind them. It was intentional. He did it. It must have been terrifying — both in the outward (what if they get us?) but also in the inner man (what kind of God have we decided to follow? Can he be trusted? If he led us here on purpose, what ELSE will he do to us?)

We Christians tend to look at God as some benevolent old man, that we can understand, control, explain, and perhaps worst of all, write about and sell to the masses.

I’m a doubter (by nature) in that I doubt people’s explanations for God. I stick to the text (Bible), but I don’t have much faith in charts, and liturgical explanations. But at the same time, I’m a server in my deepest heart. The Lion of Judah must be respected, obeyed, whether we understand or not. He wants us to know him, as much as we are able in this life. As much as an ant can know the man who builds his house on his nest, perhaps. But we will never ever completely explain him, or understand him. Nor, will we ever direct him.

He is God, after all. All we can do is to try to love him back.”

Thanks Bette, for letting me share this portion of your email! I love how real and honest you are!

God is beautiful and limitless! It will take all of eternity to continue to get to know the beauty and majesty of who He is. His love for us is outrageous…seriously outrageous!

You are precious and priceless to Jesus, no matter where you’re at. He loves you and wants you to get to know the fullness of His amazing love for you…a love that drove him to the cross to set you free. It would be pride for you to think that any sin you’ve committed is too great to be forgiven. There is no sin too great that He is not there waiting for you, to bring you freedom but most of all to say, “I love you. Let’s run this race and finish it together!”

Much life and hope for you today, through Jesus’ most committed love for you!

Two years….

// December 23rd, 2011 // 15 Comments » // Loux Family News

It is said that absence makes the heart grow fonder; but in death, the absence of one as dearly loved as my precious husband Derek, causes the heart to ache with a depth that is unimaginable.

Two years later, the hole that is in each of our hearts as we find ourselves remembering the anniversary of Derek’s death today (December 23rd) remains very deep. There really are no words to describe how this loss has affected our family. Every morning, the reality of my precious husband’s absence is there in such a real way. We sit at the breakfast table without him. We have family devotions without him. We celebrate birthdays without him. I tuck my children in bed each night and pray for them, without him. Every night I get into bed alone and wish I could touch his face, hold him and pour out my heart to him just one more time. I miss his voice, his laugh, his passion for life. I miss everything about him. The pain is very, very real and yet so is God’s grace.

My beautiful man

Our family's last trip together with Derek. What a beautiful blessing from God this was!

Two new priceless children added after Derek's death (baby Judah and precious Joanna)

On July 2nd, Teyolla and Keyolla’s biological mom Rosalie, and I, walked our beautiful twins, Teyolla and Keyolla down the aisle. Tey and Key were married in a double wedding ceremony to twins named Eric and Shawn Crow. I was desperately missing Derek and I was hurting for my girls because it should have been Derek escorting them down the aisle. I carried a wallet sized photo of him, tucked in my gown, because I wanted a part of him with me and our daughters. It was a beautiful celebration of redemption, but we missed Derek so much. I am blessed to be Teyolla and Keyolla’s mother and thrilled beyond belief that the Lord has blessed them with amazing spouses in Shawn and Eric. I am sure Derek was beaming that day, but with all my heart I wish I could have seen his face.

This year we pressed on with our fight for justice, to see redemption come to the lives of precious children who need fathers and a family of their own. With my own children now fatherless, my passion only grows deeper. Every time I see a child step into the arms of a loving family, my heart leaps inside of me. I am blessed by so many families who have linked arms with us to rescue, adopt and restore orphans. I am so moved by the emails that I still receive, sharing about how Derek’s life and passion have spurred others on to walk out the journey of redemption in their own lives.

As real as the pain and loss are, and as deeply as we still grieve, the love of the Father remains as our steady and constant hope. He loves us. This we know! He is watching over us, He cares for our hearts, and without Him, this journey would be impossible. I cling to my Jesus and lean hard on His unfailing Love.

As we honor Derek’s memory on this, the second anniversary of his death, I am grateful for the mercy of God. I am grateful for children who love Jesus and press on in the midst of pain. I am so grateful for those who have loved, supported and prayed for our family in so many ways. And, I am grateful, more than I can say that the mission God gave Derek and I together, still carries on. Our staff at the Orphan Justice Center are amazing and I am so thankful that they too, have an undying passion to see justice walked out for children around the world. They have worked tirelessly to see children restored through the love of their Creator, the One who considers them priceless and beautiful and so worth fighting for!

A few weeks ago The Orphan Justice Center released a beautiful children’s book “Redemption,” written by our dear friend Tiffany Larson and illustrated by another precious friend, Bethany Hackman. This book tells the story of our journey to Ukraine to adopt our three boys, Ethan, Silas, and Sasha and was inspired by Derek’s “Redemption” blog post written in 2008 while we were in Ukraine. It was three years ago yesterday (on December 22, 2008) that a Ukrainian judge decreed that three precious little boys would become our sons forever. Yesterday, we celebrated their adoptions. Our eyes filled up with tears as we looked into each precious face and saw in their eyes, the reflection of a daddy who fought hard to rescue them and fought even harder to see them restored.

You can read more about the book release and purchase it if you’d like, HERE. Any profits from the book (above and beyond the printing costs) will benefit our work at The Orphan Justice Center.

We are also thrilled to announce that in the next month or so, we will be releasing an album that Derek had been working on months before his death. This is a priceless treasure to us as a family. This album is full of the depth and passion of what the Lord was doing in Derek and speaking to his heart in the last year of his life. We can hardly wait to share it with all of you.

As we prepare to celebrate Christmas this year, I ask you to join our family in truly reflecting on the power of redemption that is offered to us because of Christ’s humble birth, His death on the cross and His resurrection. Because He loved us so well and sacrificed His very life, we have been made his sons and daughters through the spirit of adoption. He redeemed us, restored us and calls us His own.

Derek’s life was a challenge to many, to walk out the message of the gospel by literally living it, by rescuing and restoring orphans through adoption. I’ve included (below) a video that our precious friend and partner in justice, Marci Lewellen, put together last year in memory of Derek. It is a true celebration of so many of the lives that have been rescued.

God’s heart for justice is beyond what we could begin to imagine. His love for the orphan is priceless and I know that each time a child is rescued, all of Heaven rejoices!

Thank you again to all of you who have loved us so well. Your prayers have carried us far and we are so humbled by the love and the support you’ve shown our family. We are truly rich in love….

“Redemption, a TRUE Adoption story” (A book on 3 of our boy’s adoptions)

// December 12th, 2011 // 2 Comments » // Loux Family News

Ethan made the cover!!

As most of you know, Derek and I founded the Orphan Justice Center to do our part to help the over 143 million orphans around the world. I am so blessed by our staff who have tirelessly, served along side us to do their part to walk out God’s mandate to care for the orphan (James 1:27).

The Orphan Justice Center’s new hardback children’s book called “Redemption, a true adoption story,” has now been released. You can buy it for $25 and all royalties will go to the Orphan Justice Center. Please, won’t you think about buying one as a Christmas gift? It’s a beautiful book about the adoption of mine and Derek’s three boys from Eastern Europe (Silas, Ethan and Sasha). It will move your heart and will help children to understand more about God’s heart for his priceless ones…the orphan. And please help spread the word! Thanks so much! Lulu has a sale right now 25% of any order through the 14th of December! Use the coupon code: COUNTDOWN at checkout.” CLICK HERE TO ORDER!

As a family, we are approaching the 2nd anniversary of Derek’s death on December 23rd. The pain of his loss is still very real and yet we are so thankful for the fruit of the message that God challenged him to carry. Our OJC staff and I, still carry this message in our hearts and through the efforts of our labor. We would so appreciate your prayers as we continue to help orphans from around the world to be rescued, adopted and restored. We want to see these priceless ones come to an understanding of what it means to be loved by their Creator, and by parents, who with God’s help, will do whatever it takes to see them restored. We need God’s strength, his wisdom and finances as we link arms with other ministries, organizations and families, to make a difference in the lives of these precious ones who are living without much hope.

This book is a labor of love by Tiffany Larson and Bethany Hackman, two of our Orphan Justice Center staff and very dear friends. Tiffany drew the story line from Derek’s “Redemption” blog post which many of you are familiar with. I’ve included it below. Tiffany also was one of our family support staff volunteers, who helped care for Silas when we first adopted him. Bethany is the illustrator for this book and her work is beautiful! She also serves and volunteers with our family one morning a week. We pray and trust that this book will be a tool that will reach the next generation and capture their hearts with passion to love and care for the orphan.

God bless you all!

From Derek and Renee’s Blog
Friday, December 12, 2008

REDEMPTION

“Renee’ and I are sitting in the office of a telephone company in Novograd Valenski, Ukraine, using wireless internet. We are in the middle of adopting three special needs boys from an orphanage here. Two of the boys have Down Syndrome. Roman is high functioning, energetic and happy. Dimitri has serious mental retardation, failure to thrive, and though he is five years old, he is the size of a 1 year old. He has sores on his face, a distinct smell of death on him, and yells out if we try to do anything with him other than hold him. Because he has less ability to respond and learn, he naturally gets less attention and care from the orphanage workers in this world of limited resources. The harsh reality of the “survival of the fittest” principle is a life and death struggle that this little boy is losing fast. Our third boy Sasha, is a brilliant six year old who has Spina Bifida (the condition our son Josiah died from in 1996). He is like a learning sponge that can’t get enough! He is happy and alert and thirsty for knowledge and experience. So with two of our boys, we get an immediate return on any investment we make. With Dimitri, there’s not much immediate gratification. In fact, it’s unknown when and if there will be a return at all. This is the kind of situation that makes the carnal, fallen, human reasoning think, “Why try? What’s the point? What will this produce? What good will this do? Why not select a boy who has more potential? This looks like a lost cause.

Two days ago we drove for hours into the Ukrainian countryside to the village where Dimitri was born. We met with officials there and signed papers and answered their questions. We also went and saw Dimitri’s house. The day had been long, we were still recovering from jet lag, I was beginning to really miss my six daughters at home and all the familiar things our fragile human hearts entangle themselves with in feeble attempts to feel secure. Sitting in the dark on our very long drive back to Novograd that night, the Holy Spirit began to whisper to my heart, and new understanding about redemption began to take shape.

I was thinking, “Man, adopting this little boy has been so much work. This is exhausting, expensive, uncomfortable … and it doesn’t feel very rewarding right now.” What am I doing in some little Soviet car in the dark, in the middle of rural Ukraine in frozen December, as the driver dodges cats and potholes? What if Dimitri doesn’t improve at all? What if we get “nothing” out of this? … Ahhh, there it was; that dark, fallen, unreedemed, selfish human love, rooted in the tree of the knowledge of “good and evil”. The love the Greeks called “erao” love. The love where we treat someone as precious and treasured for what we can get out of it. This is unlike “agapeo” love, the God kind of love that treats someone as treasured and precious for their good, not for my good. It’s when I love a person in order to meet their needs, having no expectation of them meeting any of my needs. At a whole new level, God is working His kind of love into my weak heart, and He’s using little Dimitri to do it.

On the drive home that night, the Lord whispered in my ear, “This is Redemption. Derek, do you know how far I travelled to get you and bring you back? I had to be separated from my Son, in order to get you, just like you are separated from your children in order to get these boys. Do you know how expensive it was for Me to purchase you? It cost me everything. Do you know how broken, sick, damaged, twisted, dirty, smelly, and hopeless you were? And at the end of it all, you had nothing to give me or add to me. I did it for you. I emptied myself and became nothing so that you could have it all. This is redemption.

My friends, adoption is redemption. It’s costly, exhausting, expensive, and outrageous. Buying back lives costs so much. When God set out to redeem us, it killed Him. And when He redeems us, we can’t even really appreciate or comprehend it, just like Dimitri will never comprehend or fully appreciate what is about to happen to him … but … he will live in the fruit of it. As his Daddy, I will never expect him to understand all of this or even to thank me. I just want to watch him live in the benefits of my love and experience the joys of being an heir in my family. This is how our heavenly “Papa” feels towards us.

Today, settle your busy heart down and rest in the benefits of redemption. Enjoy the fruits of His goodness, and stop trying to “pay Him back”. You’ll never get close you goofy little kid.”

Happy Birthday to our precious Sasha!

// December 6th, 2011 // 2 Comments » // Loux Family News

The first picture we took of Sasha at the orphanage

Eskimo kisses

Daddy lovin on his new son

This pic was taken at the airport when we arrived home with Sasha and our two other boys. As most of you who have been following our blog know, Derek and I adopted Sasha, Silas and Ethan from the same orphanage, at the same time. Sasha was 6 when we adopted him. Most children in orphanages, in the area of the world where Sasha was, are sent to institutions once they turn 5 because they are considered less likely to be adopted. We call Sasha our little Moses because he was hidden away until we arrived to adopt him.

Sasha and Mommy with a favorite book during a week long hospital camp out

Beautiful Boy.....

"Blue eyes"

My handsome and priceless son

Sasha with some of his school friends that attended his birthday party

On November 4th, our priceless son Sasha, turned 9 years old! It was so much fun to see him interacting with all his friends who showed up at his party to celebrate him! It was obvious to us all that Sasha’s friends love him very much. Even Sasha’s teacher, Mr. Boggs, came to join in on the celebration. It’s been wonderful to think back on how far Sasha has come and to celebrate all God has done to bring restoration to his little life.

Sasha has Spina Bifida and hydrocephalus and is paralyzed from the waist down. He is such a beautiful boy, with bright eyes and a very smart mind. Sasha also has an incredible sense of humor and keeps us laughing all the time.

We fell in love with Sasha the moment we met him. He was very inquisitive about everything. When we were at the orphanage, my husband Derek would always play his guitar and Irish penny whistle for the kids. Sasha begin to fall in love with music and although he didn’t know how to sing, he would listen to us sing, and it would always bring a smile to his face.

Sasha was severely malnourished when we adopted him and was small for his age. He was extremely afraid of the dark and never wanted the lights to be turned off. I bought out all the night lights at Wal Mart, hoping to remedy this issue a bit. Our precious Sasha had so much fear in his heart and even when the lights lit up his room like a Christmas tree, he was afraid, and not at peace in anyway. He would claw at his face until it bled and then he’d claw at ours, pinching and scratching us anytime he felt afraid. He had been through so much trauma and confusion in the first few years of his life. I’m sure he was wondering what in the world was going on when Derek and I whisked him away from the orphanage in cars, trains and planes across the world, to his new home. Bless his heart. I can’t begin to imagine what was going through his little mind.

Through lots of prayer, snuggles and time, reassuring Sasha of our love and God’s love, we began to see a change. That change became more evident as each day passed, and our family is amazed at who our son is today. Sasha is a little boy who is at peace. He is joyful. He is radiant. He is a beautiful boy who shines with the light and love that his Creator has worked into his little heart. And….Sasha LOVES to sing…..at church, in the car, at school and just wheeling around in his wheelchair! Any of you who have heard him sing can testify to the fact that he lifts his voice without any hesitation or fear. His songs are beautiful and they bring a smile to this mama’s heart.

Sasha was very close to his new daddy (Derek). His daddy always included him in everything he knew Sasha would love to be a part of. When Derek was killed in the car accident (December 23rd of 2009), I had a really hard time trying to explain the fact that “Daddy” had died. Sasha was still learning English at this point, so I had to try to explain the car accident through the language of charades. He looked very confused and I’m not sure to this day that he really understands. One day his new daddy went on a short trip and he never came home. That part he gets. It’s been almost 2 years now and just the other day I said to Sasha, “Honey, do you remember where Daddy is?” He shook his head yes and replied, “He’s in heaven talking to Jesus and when he’s done he’s going to come back.” My eyes filled up with tears and I told him again what had happened and that we would not see Daddy again until we were all with Jesus, but that Daddy missed him and loved him so much. That all to familiar look of confusion showed up on his face again. I keep praying and asking the Lord to make it known to Sasha that he’s not been abandoned and that his daddy didn’t leave him “on purpose.” I know Derek continues to intercede for his little boy, believing for God to heal him and to bring continued restoration to his beautiful little life.

Yesterday, I took Sasha to one of his yearly doctor’s appointments. His doctor informed me that his kyphosis (excessive outward curvature of the spine, causing hunching of the back) has gotten worse and is beginning to cause severe pressure on his lungs, nerves and other organs. His major spine surgery will most likely be in the Fall of 2012 now. It’s a very dangerous surgery but his life would be cut very short without it.

Would you please join our family in praying for a miracle on Sasha’s behalf? We’re asking Jesus to completely heal him. Thanks so much to those of you who will commit to pray with us for his healing. Sasha is such a beautiful child who lights up our lives with his joyful spirit. I love him so much and am very blessed to be his Mommy.

I would like to thank all of you who have had a part to play in Sasha’s life. Whether you’ve helped through your time or your prayers, you’ve all played a role in seeing our son restored. I can’t tell you enough, what a blessing you have been and still are to our family.

Hugs, love and blessings to each of you!

Renee’ and tribe