Today’s tears (iPad giveaway and more!)

I tried really hard to post about Wesley’s birthday without any tears.  I might have succeeded.  Maybe…

Then I tried to hold them back as James signed “More” to me and, though he wouldn’t touch the cup, he trusted me to give him just enough.  And he drank the full 3 oz of Pediasure and filled his belly up just a little bit.  I might have succeeded.  Maybe…

But then, I started making lunch for my kids and thinking about Wesley and how HUGE it is that he’s no longer an orphan!  I was praising God for that, and trying not to let any tears slip through.  And I began thinking about this iPad giveaway post… about sweet little Masha (click the link to learn more about her on the Eli Project site) that’s still there in an orphanage waiting to be transferred to the mental institution where she would spend the rest of her life… inevitably shortened by the lack of care and nutrition generally available. 

And I turned on the radio.  Actually, I turned on Pandora (Internet radio) and selected my “Matthew West” channel… And this song is what came on as the first “random” song.  Then, the tears just came… (it’s short… I promise!)

 

But Masha will be an orphan NO MORE!  She has a family that is on their way to get her!  Their dossier has been delivered and they may travel as early as next month!  And Masha will know the love and security of not just any family, but one which I hold a special love and admiration for.

The Dickinson family (follow that link to view their Family Profile at the Eli Project who they’re adopting through!) stepped out in faith to adopt a child with Down syndrome who just so happened to be the little boy that was posted on my refrigerator as my very first “prayer child” through Reece’s Rainbow.  Now named Marcus, (in the halo above) he’s in the very best family!  They didn’t have any children with special needs, but are friends of the Malones and through their son Eli saw the joy and delight… and the need for homes.  You’ll also remember the Malones as the ones in UA RIGHT NOW adopting the sweet TINY 6 year old with Down syndrome and a colostomy, and as the parents who are loving “our” sweet Misha—now Micah—who we met during our first adoption trip for Aleksa.

So can you see the fondness I have for both of these families already??  Even more love for the Dickinson family came when they visited Orlando for the National Down Syndrome Convention last summer and spent some time with us here at our home and at our hotel in Orlando.  It was just the girls of the family- Meghan, Taylor (who is celebrating sweet 16 today and shares her birthday with Wesley!) and Macy.  Macy was an ‘unknown’ referral they received when they went for Marcus and she, too, has Down syndrome.

Now, as I said, they’re on their way for another sweet child named Masha who will join their family very soon!

And once again, I’m writing to you all because there is a NEED, but one you can FILL!  They are in need of finances for their trip…

It’s been no secret that I really really would like an iPad for our family :).  It’s one of the new techno gadgets which I know benefit kids with special needs—and let’s face it they’re really handy for Moms and Dads and typical kids too :).  But more than I need an iPad, little Masha NEEDS a family.

And so… this is a give-away for a brand new iPad to one of the people who donates to the Dickinson family through this ChipIn (or, if you have a large donation please email me about sending a check so there are less paypal fees! meredithcornish at gmail dot com).  We will wait a while longer for our ‘own’ iPad because we believe God provided this money for an iPad for us to help the Dickinson family bring Masha home!

Our goal, lofty as it is, is to pay for the Dickinsons PLANE TICKETS to go get their Masha and bring her home!  That means that we are setting out to raise $5,000 for the Dickinson family!!

Here’s the details:  (ALL donations are tax deductible through the Ukraine Outreach/ Eli Project!)
$10= 1 entry
$25= 3 entries
$50= 8 entries
$100= 20 entries
$150= 35 entries
$300= 80 entries!!!!

Ok, there’s more… Because this is a high goal (but with God all things are possible!!) we need some help with publicity.  No question that the more a giveaway (and a need!) are “out there”, the more people will see it and be able to pitch in (and get a chance to win an iPad!).  So… those of you with blogs and/or FaceBook, we have another give-away for you!

Shelley Bedford has donated a $25 gift card for Target (or another store if there’s not a Target near you!).  Every person, whether or not they have donated to the iPad giveaway, can earn up to TWO ENTRIES PER DAY by posting a link to this give-away on their blog and/or FaceBook!  Yep, you could get $25 for posting a link :)  So… leave a comment here with a link to your blog post or letting us know you posted it on FB for EACH TIME that you do!  (Winner’s links will be verified).  Encourage your friends to post as well! 

USE THIS LINK: http://cornishadoptionjourney.blogspot.com/2011/02/todays-tears-ipad-giveaway-and-more.html

IPad give-away and Gift-card give-away end FEBRUARY 25th!!! So HURRY!  Donate, repost, link, and bless sweet Masha who needs to come home quickly!