We have been having a lot of fun working with our friends at Threads of Hope this week to bring you some great deals and giveaways! We hope you are having fun as well! :) I think I can speak for the Threads of Hope family and say how grateful they are for each purchase and donation that has brought them one step closer to bringing their little one home.Threads of Hope is one of several individuals, groups or organizations we support that specifically has a heart, purpose and drive to help children....orphan children. We're a family that absolutely adores children, so it's a real honor to be able to contribute in any way to the protection, betterment or adoption of a child in need of love and a family.
The Threads of Hope family, the Littles, has a special burden for the Waiting Children of China. Of their 4 amazing children, their biological daughter is autistic and their youngest was adopted as a waiting child from China in 2007. He was considered "special needs" because he has a heart defect known as ToF. His heart was repaired in China, and he is a thriving and beautiful child who brings an abundance of joy and laughter to all those who know him!What is a "Waiting Child"? Waiting Children are orphans who have special needs or are considered hard to place. There are thousands of Waiting Children all over the world, including right here in the US, where in 2006 we had 129,000 children waiting for a family. The special needs of waiting children can range from things as simple as age, sex, skin color or number of siblings to more serious lifelong physical or mental disabilities. Healthy infants who are registered for adoption get matched to families very quickly. Unfortunately, this is not the case for children with special needs. These children wait for a family to choose them. Many are never chosen.
The label "Special Needs" can be frightening and intimidating. But when the label is peeled off, it becomes clear that these are just children - children who want to be loved and cared for - children who cling to the hope that a family will choose them. When someone adopts a waiting child, they decide what special needs they feel comfortable adopting. They are able to make the list of needs they can accept as short or as long as they would like. They have the opportunity to meet other families who have adopted children with similar special needs and even discuss the health records of a child they may be considering with a physician who can advise them on the potential condition and care a child's specific needs may require. This allows adoptive families to be better prepared and informed, which is obviously best for both the parents and the children in the long run.
This video gives a beautiful glimpse of some of these SPECIAL kids!
Whether adoption is something you've ever considered before or whether it is the right fit for your family are very personal things to explore if you feel so led. However, helping these children, waiting children worldwide, is something within the reach of us all! Educating, advocating, donating, supporting others are all necessary and important ways to make a difference in the lives of children.
So now you understand a bit more about our love and support of Threads of Hope! We pray your hearts have been touched as ours have, and your are able to find a personal way to make a difference in someone's life today!
