Blogs to date:
Human
Who is Valenz?
Valenz’s Need
The Angel Tree
Christmas Tree Ornaments
Valenz and other Angels
It’s probably not too late to get an ornament. Just barely! Donations to Valenz of $35 or more qualifies you for an ornament! Get one. Read his profile. Follow his story throughout the next year. My prayer is that he will be home before next Christmas! Nothing is impossible with God.
Please remember those less fortunate this Christmas. I pray you will be with family this year. And that you will not be in want… of food, of warmth, of love. This year, I have two ornaments on my tree of children without families, without permanent homes, without the present love of a mother or father. One is Valenz. One is Vinnie and one is Valenz.
Valenz
Vinnie in June 2011
Vinnie has a Mama and sisters and brothers and even a nephew waiting at home for him! They have continuing fundraising needs as they pursue the paperwork piece by piece to get him home. Please continue to follow his family’s journey to him and support them as you can. The family blog is here and the adoption blog is here.
Valenz does not have a Mama yet. I have heard that there is a family seriously considering him (you know who you are!!!!), but until they are ready to move the paperwork forward his file needs to remain available. Because it is. He is waiting. Please pray that everything will come together and a family can go for Valenz! He needs a Mama to love him. He needs a Papa to be proud of him. He needs a family who will wait with him and help him through the healing and development in a new home… a REAL home.
This Christmas, remember Vinnie and Valenz to your families. Visualize the rooms they are in. Visualize the looks on their faces. Think of the attitudes of the caregivers around them. (Even if gentle and kind, they are not the orphans mamas. My cousin cares for orphans and she LONGS for families to come forward and permanently adopt “her” babies!) Realize that neither Vinnie or Valenz possess anything that they can call their own. Not even their clothes. Maybe they will have a special treat on Christmas, but maybe not. Consider giving the impermanent money you have left for the season to help one of the waiting children home.
Sponsor Vinnie’s family. Sponsor Valenz. Sponsor another waiting family or child. Support a humanitarian aid organization.
And rejoice! Because… because the LORD has come! Do not let your hearts be cast down. For unto us as Savior has been born. And his name is Jesus. Emmanuel. God with us. He has not forgotten the afflicted. He never has. I have cast my cares on Him, I place my hope in Him, and it is His redemption that I cling to.
Merry Christmas!