A Special Day

Many of you may not know it, but today is a special day. Today, March 21st is "World Down Syndrome Day" !  

One year ago today, on March 21, 2012, World Down Syndrome Day was established by the United Nations. One year later, still over 90% of children diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted. Many people are working tiresly to spread the message that EVERY human life has value and should be protected!

When 9 out of 10 of these babies are murdered prenatally ... it's time to celebrate the ones that made it out of the enemy's snatch and proclaim LIFE to those on their way!!!

Some of my fondest memories are during my 6th grade year. At that time Special Education Students were grouped at various schools according to their abilities and needs. My school had a kindergarten class of little ones with Down Syndrome.  I remember volunteering my recess time to spend time in this special classroom. The children were absolutely precious. I still remember a little one named Evan, he was the happiest, most adorable boy ever! So full of life and so willing to give love to anyone willing to accept it! 

In honor of this special day, would you consider helping a precious little one named Karina?? Karina was hosted via New Horizons this winter and her host family is in the process off bringing her home forever!! It was an absolute JOY to watch this precious little girl come to life while here in America. Here's a pic of beautiful Karina while she was here in America...

Isn't she adorable?? Hosting changed her little life. She blossomed right before her host families eyes! 
  
Karina's host mom shares:

We hosted Karina for a month; over the Christmas break via a hosting program. We knew she was special from the picture we saw of her on the hosting site however we did not know how truly special she was until she arrived. The minute our eyes met it was like we always knew each other. She ran to me and said mama, mama, mama and gave me a big hug! I took her to meet my husband and she ran to him and said "papa" and gave him a big hug! When we drove up to the house she started clapping her hands and chanted Karina's home, Karina's home. She had seen pictures of our home and family prior to arriving to the USA. Karina ran to the house, opened the door and immediately connected with our children. To say she was glowing at home is an understatement; she was radiant with love, peace and happiness.

We never saw this girl as a child who has down syndrome rather we saw her as our gift from God; a unique and special child of God as all our children in our family. Karina fit so very well into our family that it was hard to imagine our family without her.

During the time she was with us we shared so many wonderful experiences with Karina. Most of them were new to her; her childhood was unfolding before her eyes.

For one month Karina experienced unlimited love, hugs, guidance, laughter, prayer and most of all she had a special place in a family; for she was a daughter instead of an orphan.

Our heart broke when we had to send her back to her orphanage. It was one of the saddest days in our life when we said good bye; a piece of our heart/family was gone.

We decided we would pursue adopting Karina. She was asked and Karina said YES and that she would wait for us as long as it takes. We talk to her weekly via phone calls. Each time we talk with Karina she asks us over and over when we are coming to bring her home. She tells us how much she loves and misses us. She tells us that she thinks about us all the time and wants to be home. On our last phone call she asked me this "mama you come tomorrow for me". It is our hope that we can bring her home this summer before her next birthday.

Karina has several urgent medical needs and for this reason her family is trying to expedite her adoption, but expediting an adoption also means expediting the adoption fees! An auction has been set up to help raise the funds needed to rescue this cutie! If you're on facebook would you consider bidding on one of the many items on Karina's auction site? You can also donate directly to their adoption agency (tax free of course) by following this link, just be sure and specify your donation is for the EISCHENS FAMILY!! Or if you prefer to mail a check you can mail it to: Open Door Adoption Agency, Inc., P. O. Box 4 , Thomasville, GA, 31799, be sure note the family's name in the memo line! 

I mean, could she get any cuter???

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And just for fun I thought I'd share a special family with you.  This family has gone to Ukraine not once, not twice but THREE times to adopt little girls. I would be impressed by any family that chose to grow their family by adoption three times but it gets better!  All three little girls have Down Syndrome. They are absolutely ADORABLE!! Like, try not to smile when you see their newest addition Sofia, smile, just try! I dare you! Their oldest, Zoya, has the bluest eyes I've ever seen! Sadly, in Eastern Europe children with disabilities are often raised in institutions. Society is not supportive of children with special needs and families are told the children will not amount to anything and they'd be better off being raised in an institution. These precious gifts, who are the sweetest most joy filled little human beings ever, are hidden away because society doesn't want them! So in honor or World Down Syndrome Day I invite you to check out these precious gifts. The family has two blog one is Angel Eyes and the other is A Hopeful Heart which documents their most recent adoption, which was completed in just the last month or two! 

And as if that wasn't enough cuteness for one day I bring you this fantastic video! It's a MUST watch! Guaranteed to brighten your day!!