92 Valentines

Fighting for the lives in Pleven Orphanage, in Pleven, Blugaria is where my passion lies.  For the past year I've wanted nothing more than to change the current state of Pleven...but I am just one and I can't do much.  Last night after reading some terrible news about a former Pleven child (who is now loved more than anyone could ever, ever, imagine by an incredible family.) the passion and drive in my heart were forefront and not going anywhere anytime soon.  I sat at my desk and cried, I asked God what I was supposed to do about the situation in Pleven, and how in the world I was supposed to do anything at all.  I was out of ideas, heartbroken, in tears, feeling hopeless...but I didn't give up.

Valentines Day is coming up, some are planning special dates for their wife/husband/boyfriend/girlfriend, others may be eating heart shaped candies, and spending the night with Netflix (which is totally fine, cause that's what I'll be doing!).  But what if you could do something more for the holiday that revolves around love, hearts, and all that gushy stuff.  What if (now bare with me, this seemed like a great idea in my head lets just hope it's as successful as I'm praying it is!) you could donate a dollar amount in honor of a child still waiting in Pleven? There are 92 children in Pleven (the last I checked that is.), and there are 92 numbers on the chart below.  If this is intriguing you, and you want to know more....well keep reading.


Pick a number, and which ever number you choose is the dollar amount you'll donate towards Pleven in honor of a sweet child still waiting (Comment after you donate so I know the number has been claimed).  Example: Jane Doe picks the number 21, so she will donate $21 to the donation button labeled Pledges For Pleven on the right-hand side of the blog.  Make sense?  It's literally that easy, no joke!  I've seen people do this fund-raiser before, it's always been successful, and I'm hoping this fund-raiser is just as blessed as others.   Though, I do want to ask you to pray for the children in Pleven when you donate.  I don't have names of all 92 children in Pleven, though I know a few faces, and I would love to see Pleven, and the children in Pleven be lifted up in prayer as a result of this fund-raiser and God's beautiful hand in it all.   I'm sorry that I don't have a spectacular prize for you to win, but I really hope that you'll consider donating out of the generosity of your heart, in honor of a child who is still in Pleven.

Once all of the numbers have been donated, and this fund-raiser ends ALL FUNDS will be donated to The Pleven Project.  These funds will help fund psychologist to evaluate the kids, as well as build the Medical fund.


When someone claims a number, and donates I will cover that number with a heart so we can see which have been claimed.  I will do my best to update the chart as frequently as possible. :)

Thank you, in advanced for every single one of you who opens their hearts, and contributes to the change in Pleven, and for Pleven.  From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

He'll Wiggle His Way Into Your Heart

So, with it being the beginning of the year and giving my blog a "face-lift" I felt like we needed a new 'addition'.  I wasn't sure whether to pick a family, or another child but after some praying I chose another sweet boy to add to I Am His' focus. You'd think that with all the brothers I have that I would be partial to girls, but that is so not the case! Two darlings, two sweet boys, to lovely smiles that will one day have families of their own! :) 

So who is this second little one? Well, I would love for you all to meet Cameron!  I must warn you that his smile is very contagious, and that is not to be taken lightly.  Prepare to swoon, and keep swooning over this gorgeous soon-to-be 3 year old curly boy (you'll understand the curly part when you see his picture).

Cameron's Reece's Rainbow Profile: http://reecesrainbow.org/57168/cameron

If you're not swooning over this absolutely gorgeous little boy, well I feel bad for you.  His darling curls, piercing blue eyes, and that smile! Oh my, I do not understand why or how he is still waiting.  But I hope and pray that he will not wait much longer.  His profile says that he is in need of urgent medical care, which worries my heart.  Cameron, has congenital hydrocephalus, paraplegia and tetraplegia (spastic tetraparesis), partial atrophy of optic discs of both eyes, additional chord of the left heart ventricle, and a hernia.  He will be 3 darling years old next month, and I would love for this to be his last birthday in an orphanage, next year I pray he'll be in a family who adores him to the max!

Do you understand my love for him now?  Or maybe why I've been continually swooning over him on my Facebook, and Instgram?  HE IS DARLING.  If you are interested in Sweet Curls, have any questions, or just want to swoon over him with me, please don't hesitate to email me: AlyssaGoodhue@Hotmail.com I love, love, love, hearing from you guys and I love this boy! :)

Someone see Cameron!  Choose him, be his mama!!  I cannot wait to see what the year holds for Curly Boy (hopefully a forever family!) and the same goes for Charlie Roo.  Let's make 2015 a great year for these boys!! :)

Do You Remember?

Do you remember Abner? I blogged about him here, when I found out that he was soon to be transferred.  No, I don't come baring the news that he has a family, though I wish I could write that post.  I do however come with a new picture of Abner, that I promise will melt your heart.

Abner's profile: http://reecesrainbow.org/36175/abner

That face, his smile, do you have room in your heart for this little love?  Maybe, you're not his mama, but one of your friends is? I don't hold that kind of knowledge. But I do know that Abner matters and Abner is worth it.  Do you have it in you to love Abner?

"Abner is a happy little boy who does not speak but whose facial expressions are east to read.  Those expressions are generally of joy, especially when he is given love and attention. Occasionally I would see a different expression, one that would break my heart.  At 5 years old Abner is spending a lot of time in a wheelchair, unable to participate in playing with the kids around him, and the look of "I want to play too!" on his face broke my heart. When he had the opportunity to participate in playtime he always looked very happy and proud of himself.  This sweet little boy needs a family who will be able to help him reach his full potential!" - Update December 2014

Mexico...Again

13

It's the number of days until I leave for Mexico. 

Though I'll only be gone for short time, I am so over-joyed to be going back. 

Those of you who have followed my blog for some time know that my love for Mexico is great. 

There are very few things that make me excited as Mexico does.  Over the past few months I've prayed a tremendous amount about the ministry in Mexico, and countless times I've asked God if it is where He would like my focus to be.  The answer has been yes, over and over.  And simply because God knows I am stubborn, He reassured me that the answer is yes.  Recently I have been asked to play a part in connecting the Sponsors in our Child Sponsorship Program, with the lovely children at Casa Esperanza Para Ninos in Mexico. Which means I'm headed back down to my favorite place, to be with some of my favorite little ones.  God is always good.  I am excited, it has been almost a full year since I have visited Casa, which is too long.  I am ready for games, lots of games, hugs and cuddles, photos and memories. I am ready. 

And If He Takes...

Photo Cred: Pinterest

This hit me hard tonight. For one reason, September marked three years since my little sister, Addison Ruth, passed away.  Three days before she would hopefully make her appearance in this world, God decided it was time for her to come home, she had already pleased God with her life of 9 months, and her time here was finished.  When we lost Addison we relived the same days for months, we sank into this never ending black whole, and oh the pain was, and some days still is torturous.  We clung to God, knowing that He is the only one that could carry us through such a time, that never seemed to end.

But you see we had a choice to make, and it was not an easy choice, would we choose to praise Him in that time?  Regardless of the fact that most days we didn't have the energy to get out of bed, we didn't want to see people, or deal with the bantering of the exhausted, confused, sad, little ones that still needed to be tended too, eating was out of the question, and well the tears they never stopped, regardless of our tiredness, sadness, anger, and exhaustion, would we choose to praise Him even when He takes away?

Did we want to?  Well I'll speak for myself and say that no, I didn't.  I was angry, furious even, I felt like God had teased me.  He gave me the little sister that I had asked for, for so long, and then had taken her from me, before I was able to truly enjoy her, I felt cheated.  I didn't sign up for this, why me, it wasn't fair.  So, why would I praise Him in that time, it was almost like I was trying to punish God. 

As the days got worse, I knew in the back of my mind that turning away from God, and choosing not to worship Him, and not trusting that He is all knowing, all powerful, and all mighty was only going to hurt me, and damage me even further than I was already.  So, I turned to God and I told Him I was angry with Him, that I didn't understand, and I was not okay with what was happening, but that I would praise Him anyways because He is the God who gives, and takes away all for a purpose and bigger picture that I cannot see.   I clung to Him for dear life, because I was sure that I would not make it through loosing Addison, I was sure that my heart would never heal, I was sure that there was "no purpose" for this, I was sure. 

But here I am, three years later about to celebrate Addison's 9 months of life, and I can look back and see where praising God even when He takes away had benefited me.  Addion's 9 months of life, and God calling her home, have allowed me to share, and witness to other young women who have had a sibling be still born.  I have now been able to be a crutch, a listening ear, a soft heart, and open hand to families, and young women who have suffered the same loss as I have.  Addison's life, changed my life, and God used her to strengthen my walk, trust, and hope in Him. 

Choosing to praise Him even when He takes away is one of the hardest things that I have ever had to do, but it is so worth it in the long run. 

So now I have a question for you, will you choose to praise Him even when He takes away?