Links Worth Your Time

OK, some really good stuff is out there in blog land right now, so I have to link it up!! :)

First of all, there are only TWO days left for New Day's Surgery Fund drive, and the awesome part is that EVERY DOLLAR you donate will be TRIPLED!!! (Yep, your $10 becomes $30, $25 becomes $75, your $100 becomes $300....you get the picture).

Of course this cause is close to my heart because without donor's to New Day's surgery fund, Cooper would not have had the surgery that saved his life and allowed us the amazing blessing to be his parents. Would you consider donating? Maybe donating in Cooper's name so that other kids can have the chance at life that he has been blessed with? I've been at New Day. I've seen the difference they make. Skipping dinner out once this month to donate $30 will truly help to save a child life. Would you consider being part of that?

If you need further convincing, several parents of New Day kiddos are guest blogging over at Carrie's blog,  Signs of Hope. Carrie and her husband served at New Day for a few years, and I had the privilege of meeting her when we were there picking up Cooper. Her heart beats for these orphans....and she longs to see them whole in every way. Now back in the states, she is working to help raise funds for these life-saving surgeries. In fact, in order to give, you just click on the Chip-In button on Carrie's blog to donate online (you'll see it at the top of the side bar of Carrie's blog). If you'd prefer to write a good, old-fashioned paper check, she tells you how to do it here.

I had the privilege of sharing Cooper's story to kick off the last 7 days of the fundraising drive. But every story shared over the last few days has been AMAZING- and none of it would be possible without donors willing to give up dinner out or going to a movie or some other thing to help save a child like Cooper!

He's so worth it.

To see the kids who are currently waiting for life-saving or life-changing surgeries, check out the list of kids New Day has that are waiting for surgery (and the cost associated with those surgeries).  Your donation would go directly to helping one of these precious kids.

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Changing gears completely, I read a blog post recently written by Dan, who is the husband of my friend, Rachel. It resonated so deeply with me for several reasons, but mostly because I can SO relate to the cycles that children go through when they are in the process of attaching to their parents, and the tenacity it take for parents to weather those cycles some days. We definitely see cycles of deep grief, withdrawal, and self-protectiveness followed by periods when we feel we see the real Cooper. The Cooper who is beneath all the loss. Like Dan says, we've also seen those cycles move from being cycles of days, to cycles of weeks. And, that's REALLY encouraging. I don't think we are "there" yet (if there is a "there" and assuming we will actually ever get there), but the cycles seem to get longer. And, since we are currently on the mountain and not in the valley, it feels really good right now. 

But, like Dan pointed out, "there were frustrating and heartbreaking days, with tears and sometimes a great deal of fear, where commitment over feeling is what ultimately carried the day". 

We've so been there. And, we'll surely be there again. 

It scared me a little to hear Dan say that the most recent "valley" (as we've come to call them) for their daughter was harder, longer, and more intense than ever before. Because, this last cycle was like that for us, and I feel that there is more of that in store for us in the future. 

But, I am so thankful for the raw honesty of his post- because it provides encouragement for those of us who are also walking that road- that we are not alone.

I'm also thankful that we are currently standing on a "mountain top" able to look back at the valleys we've already traversed and the bigger heights we've been able to reach as a result. 

Because, once again, he is SO worth it. 

And, whether he trusts it completely yet or not, he is deeply, deeply loved.

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Completely changing gears again.....I've told you about the Orange Parent's blog. It's seriously good stuff for the heart of parents. I LoVe it.

But, I just discovered something else about it that's awesome: every month, in the sidebar, they post a podcast that you can listen to. It's short, but free, and it's GOOD stuff. The podcast for September is all about how we can teach our kids forgiveness. Really good stuff. 

Today, when the kids were in school, I put Cooper in the tub (like his FAVORITE thing to do), and while he played, I listened to it on my iPod. It was time well spent, and what I can tell you is that the "Orange People" have never wasted my time. If you are trying to raise kids who follow God well, this is a resource you don't want to miss! 

You're welcome! :)