Donate for Buddy Walk!

DONATE FOR BUDDY WALK TEAM - GREW BY 2 www.firstgiving.com/meghandickinson
or donate directly from the sidebar to first giving.

We are excited once again to have this wonderful opportunity to participate in Buddy Walk 2010. We have a team, Grew By 2. Last year was our first year to participate as a family with children of our own who have Ds. What a celebration that was. To think just last year Marcus & Macey were in an orphanage with no hope of a family. God called us & we went. Now, a year & a half later we are at a walk to celebrate them. The DSACO has been so good to our family. They are such a great support as a new family learning about Ds & meeting other families too. We were given a wonderful opportunity because DSACO had grants in place to support families wanting to attend the National Down syndrome conference in Orlando, FL. That's right, one year Macey is in a bed in an orphanage & the next she is at the Magic Kingdom meeting a princess, Cinderella. I do feel like we have been given a fairytale but I know better. GOD has given us the gift of Ds with the lives of Marcus & Macey. Our hearts have been opened to another community we were missing out on. I thank God he chose us to rescue M&M. It's our turn to "give back" & help raise funds & awareness for the DSACO. With YOUR help we can meet our goal. Last year we raised $600 in 6 days. Because we have 2 children with Ds to support we raised our goal to $1,000. If everyone gave something we could reach our goal. We have just 10 days to do it. We could reach our goal if everyday we received $100, 10 people gave $100 each, 20 of you gave $50, 40 of you gave $25 you get the idea. We need your support. No gift is too small. Every dollar counts. This cause is near & dear to our hearts. Please won't YOU support Marcus & Macey as we celebrate them & the many others with Ds at Buddy Walk 2010.
Blessings!

On our way to Philly, PA

It was confirmed today that Marcus WILL be seen next month in Philly, PA. We have waited for months to get this far. Let me start a few months back. Marcus turned 4 on March 1st. Time for his well child visit & routine yearly blood work. No problem. Our wonderful pediatrician reminded me that Marcus needed to be tested for AAI/AOI (unstable neck - like a bobble head). This condition is not uncommon for children with Ds & something that we needed to test for at the age of 4. We had Macey tested last year at Saints & it was just awful. First of all she was already 4 when we came home so she was tested pretty quickly, along with her routine work up as well. The pitiful people did not know what they where testing for. It took FOREVER. It did not help that a man was the one holding her still, as was I. That's another story. Anyway, we where going to another facility. One that works with children would be nice. We made the apt. & where literally in & out in an hour. From the time we dropped the car off with valet to the time we picked it up. Score! The x-ray results concluded that we needed to follow up with a neurosurgeon. An appointment was made quickly and an MRI done as well, sedated I might add. With those results we met the ONLY neurosurgeon here in OKC that Marcus would qualify seeing (because of his condition). I took my dear friend Alyson with me to hear all the information I was about to receive. I was told that Marcus needed to be restricted from hippo therapy (horse back riding), moon bounces & trampolines. Also, to let his restrictions be known to teachers. therapists, care givers, etc. Sounded serious to me (us). I wondered if he would need surgery. If he needed surgery, when would it be done? What was the surgery like, the recovery? I was led to believe that if he needed surgery it could be done in a short amount of time, like w/in a couple of weeks. She wanted to consult with another doctor before making the final decision. We waited ALL summer long. No decision one way or the other was made. She told our pediatrician we could contact the doctor she was trained under for his opinion. He is in Iowa. That was it. So as a mom I knew that this could not be left undone. Our pediatrician agreed. She said, "They want you to look for this, then when you find it they don't do anything." I remember visiting with one of my "online" friends. A friend I "met" through the wonderful world of adoption through Reece's Rainbow. Her daughter had this surgery & they too had to go out of their state to receive treatment. She was extremely pleased with the doctor, surgery, staff, recovery, etc. I called Renee' with what seemed like a lot of questions. She was kind & patient with me as I drilled her. She gave me all the information I thought I needed so I made the call. I thought I was calling the office number that evening to leave a message for them to call me the next business day. No, I actually called the doctor himself. He answered his phone, answered my questions & is willing to see Marcus. I was stunned. What an answer to prayer. Why? Because we have met our family deductible sometime this year, have nationwide coverage & can go anywhere in network with BC/BS. How do you find THE right doctor (neurosurgeon) for your child when you can pick from the best of the best? The Lord knew I needed His help. Renee' having a great experience & the doctor answering the phone & answering my many questions personally was enough for me to know God was in control. The doctor agreed to see Marcus. I needed to follow up with the care coordinator who would be in after the Labor Day holiday. I worked on our application this weekend. When seeing a doctor at any Shiner's hospital you have to apply to be seen. There are many Shiner hospital's across our country but only 3 that specialize in the spine. One in Sacramento, Chicago & Philly. This doctor is in Philly. The care coordinator called 8:30 Tuesday morning, after the holiday. She took the application over the phone in just a few minutes. I spent WAY to much time on it over the weekend. :) It helped that I had already talked to the surgeon, had a personal reference & she put in our application electronically as we spoke. The doctor would be in Thursday (today) to determine when he could see Marcus. She called again early, this time with an appointment. The first one he had available. He only sees new patients 1x a week, on Thursdays. So in 4 weeks we will be in Philly being seen for Marcus' condition. Please pray for the details of travel, lodging & family life to be easiest on everyone. We have NEVER done anything like this before. Our kids are healthy & go for their well child visits each year. This is ALL new to us. God is in control & I am not. I will update you with details as our trip gets closer. Please begin praying for the doctor, for wisdom in his decision making. I can't even express to you what it will be like if Marcus does indeed need surgery. God knows the answer to that already. I have to trust & obey. I am doing what needs to be done & that's an apt. with a neurosurgeon for my baby in Philly, PA. Who knows maybe they'll serve a cheese steak in the hospital cafeteria. One could hope!
Thank You for thinking of our family & when you do Thank You for praying for us too.
Blessings,
Meghan

I felt small until I read this...

If blogging makes you feel small
Where have I been? Busy reading other blogs. Therefore, I have not written my own. When I have a free moment, which isn't often, I find myself being inspired by what I read. How to be a better wife, better mom, better friend & better Christian. I'm not sure if better is the "right" word but it means I've been trying harder to do all I can to be MY best. I love reading about the lives of those I know, even those I don't. It's amazing how blessed I feel about reading the lives of others. So much so that I've decided to try this again. No, I'm not the best writer nor the best photographer but I have the heart to tell our story. So please won't you continue to follow along. I promise to be my best. I owe it to my children to document their story. This is a good outlet for me. So here we go again...
Blessings,
Meghan

All HE wanted was our YES!

We have dear friends in Ukraine currently adopting their 10 year old little boy, Erik. They have been corresponding with him for months prior to their arrival. Erik would send letters, pictures he'd drawn & a special request that they would please bring his best friend Sergiy home with them. Michael & Denise did not choose to adopt Sergiy along with Erik. That means Sergiy is still adoptable. After many phone conversations with Denise sharing about Eric & his dear friend Sergiy our hearts were stirred. Denise told us what a sweet but shy boy Sergiy is. It was no coincidence that we were given the opportunity to host him, here in OK for the month of August. We were all excited! Tanner said, "I've always wanted a brother." We explained that he was here for a visit, no promises. All along Wayne & I knew it was possible to adopt Sergiy. Eli Project's website read that he was available for hosting & for adoption. It was always in the back of our mind. We knew that we were doing what God had asked us to do, commit to the hosting opportunity. We proceeded with the process. We knew our family budget was not capable of providing $2,000 in just 3 short weeks. We put a plea out to many of you. Within the first day we received word that our first donation was on it's way. God was at work. It didn't take long before I felt the rug being pulled out from under me. Here we were committed to bringing him here, committed to working hard to collect the necessary funds but most importantly committed to opening our hearts & home to a child in need. We said YES to whatever/whoever God had for our family. It is with a humble heart that I share with you that Sergiy will not be coming to our home in August. He is actually being hosted by a family in Florida & a different family has committed to adopting him. Good News for Sergiy! All we ever wanted was what is best for Sergiy. This is the life of a child.
You ask, what happened? We said YES to what was right in front of us, the opportunity to give Sergiy what they call a holiday, a vacation. With a host program you commit to opening your hearts & your home to a child for a determined amount of time & allow the Lord to work. The rest is up to HIM. We were ready for that. We were not however ready to commit to adopting him today. That's not what God called us to do. Wayne & I decided the hosting program was a great opportunity for Sergiy to meet our family, be loved on & maybe just maybe love us back. We were prepared for whatever God had for each of us. The dynamics of our family is not the same. We have changed in the last year. We now have 2 special needs children who are non-verbal. We have two other children who their lives matter a great deal to us too. We brought Marcus & Macey home as family & we were willing to host Sergiy as a family too. It is in the best interest of our family, as of today, to host a 13 year old boy before choosing to go ahead & adopt him. That in itself is a whole other post. That is why the host program is a wonderful opportunity for our family. It's the best of both world's. Unfortunately for us we are not able to host Sergiy in August. I feel like we are missing out on a wonderful blessing. The opportunity is no longer available for us. Sure we can host Sergiy as of today but we are choosing not to. Why? Because a different family has committed to adopting him. What if we allow Sergiy into our hearts & our home & we fall in love with him? What if he loves us back? What if he wants us to adopt him? It's not a risk we're willing to take. We would have been devastated if someone would have adopted Marcus or Macey after we had already committed to them. Is that possible? Absolutely! It's not over until the judge declares them yours. We watched that very thing happen to some dear friends of ours & it was heart breaking. We can not invite him into our lives knowing a family is ready to welcome him home today. Right is right & God will honor that. This is a time when all feelings have to be put aside & know that God is in control & I am not. I have been told God has something better. God's provision is best. I can not wait to see what God has in store next for the Dickinson family.
Please join me as I pray Sergiy home into his Forever Family!
All HE wanted was our YES!
Blessings!

Heavy hearted for the fatherless...Sergiy!

My heart is heavy today. It is heavy for the fatherless. One young man in particular, Sergiy. Please pray for clarity, wisdom & direction. God is not the author of confusion. We want to be obedient in the what the Lord wants from us. We want what is best for Sergiy. His life depends on it.

We have 3 weeks to raise $2,000!

We have been given a deadline. We have 3 weeks to raise the funds necessary to bring Sergiy to America. We need to raise $2,000 + living expenses in order for Sergiy to visit our home for the month of August. The money pays for his travel, visa & all necessary paperwork for him to be a part of the host program. I can not tell you how excited Erik was that we were working so hard for his best friend to join him here in Moore, OK for a month. This gives Erik another something to look forward to as he makes the transition into his Forever Family. I can just see the boys now as Tanner joins them on the trampoline to play. The freedom, laughter & joy will be a moment I'm looking forward to. YOU can help make this a reality. No donation is too small. It takes everyone reading this doing their part then sharing it with others. Sergiy deserves a Forever Family. What Wayne & I have not offer today is our home, our family, our love & our commitment to work hard to give him a wonderful trip to America in August. Please prayerfully consider your part in helping Sergiy's dream come true. Blessings!

Coming to America?

You have the opportunity to help bring a young boy from Ukraine into our home this summer. His name is Sergiy. He is a young boy living in the same orphanage as Erik, the son Michael & Denise Redman are currently adopting. He is said to be quiet & shy but sweet. I would love to open our hearts and home during the month of August to Sergiy. As many of you know after our own personal adoption of Marcus & Macey we do not have it in our monthly budget to pay the expenses necessary to bring him here. The cost is $2000 + the cost of living for the month he is with us. This is an amazing opportunity for him & for our family. We can not do this on our own. We need your support. If 20 people gave $100 each the initial cost would be covered. If 40 people gave $50 the cost would then be covered, you get my point. If everyone gave something this young boy could have a month of freedom & love. You would be blessed knowing you had a part in the changing of this little ones life. Can you imagine how Erik Redman would feel knowing his best friend would be coming to visit shortly after he made his home in America. What a sweet reunion that would be. Why do we want to do such a thing? Because of Sergiy. Just like with the adoption of Marcus & Macey it was always about them. What was best for them. Will it be easy? Not likely. There will be the language barrier. He will speak very little English, if any. But, we can show him he is wonderfully & beautifully made, valued & adored. This month in our home could change his life. We would love to introduce him to our church family & the love & warmth each of you have to offer. We can share the love of Jesus with him. That to me is the why? How? By each of you reading this giving something. We all have something to give our money to. Know that you will be planting a seed in the life of this child. One that I pray will have eternal rewards. Wayne & I know we can not do this on our own. We need your help. Sergiy needs your help. Please pray & ask God how you can support Sergiy in coming to America. This would be his dream come true. Please do not hesitate to ask me any questions. I do not know a lot of details. What I do know is there is an opportunity & a child in need & we want to be used by God to fill it.
Blessings,
Meghan

1 year ago today we accepted 2 referrals

This is the one and only picture we have of Macey. We saw this picture one year ago today. We saw the picture and chose her before we met her. We knew we were coming for Marcus and had seen his picture before. Today was our SDA appointment. The official day we had been waiting for. It is the job of the facilitator to have their files there for us when we arrived. I was so glad it was the two children we had requested. Nothing is ever done until it's done. All we knew was there was a little girl, 4 years old with Down syndrome available for adoption. We had no medical history or name. We were elated to have a face with the child we had in our mind. The four of us thought she was so beautiful. We couldn't wait to meet them both.
Usually you accept the referral(s) then have to wait a day to have the paperwork processed. I remember after our appointment our facilitator rushing us out the door, into a parked, black Mercedes and off to the notary to have Macey's paperwork completed. The notary was behind a black door with no name or sign advertising this was indeed the notary office. I felt like we were in a scene from a movie. We drove fast through town, waited while they notarized the necessary documents then back to the SDA office. Jamie, our missionary friend took Taylor and Tanner to McDonald's in the center of Kiev for an ice cream cone. They missed all of the excitement. We were so glad to have Jamie with us. She was a huge help when we needed it most. We were asked to come back that evening by 5pm to pick up the completed referrals for both Marcus and Macey. All of this was done on the same day. We were blessed to have it completed. We knew then that the next day we would make the 8 hour drive south to meet Marcus and Macey. As you can tell this was one of the most exciting times of our lives. We were officially on our way to meet the children God called us to and they didn't even know we were coming.

Today is Marcus' 4th birthday!

Today is Marcus' 4th birthday! This is his 1st birthday as a US citizen and as our son. This day has meant so much to me. I have cherished each little detail today as though I could make up for lost time. I wanted him to know how much we love him and how we wanted to celebrate his life. This has been an amazing year for us. This day last year we had arrived in Ukraine and celebrated his birthday with new friends. Today we celebrated as a family of 6. I knew this day was coming I just wasn't prepared for all the emotions. This was the little guy the Lord so adamantly called us to. I'll never forget the day Wayne chose him. He said, he looks like a Dickinson. From that moment on he was. It took us 6 short months to rescue this little guy. We went through a kitchen fire, Wayne's surgery, stacks of paperwork and approvals not to mention traveling around the world to meet him. It all came flooding back to me today. Today he is mine; Home, loved, safe and wanted. I wish I could just bottle him up. He is truly the sweetest, funniest little character I know. He is full of energy and will hardly sit still for a moment. We have rescued him from the bars of a playpen where his name was probably never spoken with endearment to the freedom of a family who cherishes each milestone he has to offer. I tell you he came home and literally hit the ground running. He learned to walk quickly and was given new sight. He hasn't looked back since. He is full-time - All the time. I wouldn't have it any other way. He is loved by his therapists and cherished by his teachers. We have given him an environment that is safe and secure. He is free to explore the world around him. He has the most beautiful big eyes. He looks in amazement everywhere we go. I am enjoying life through his eyes. The things that tickle him or excite him are the small things, the everyday things. He is a joy to watch grow. As I think back to the very first picture we received and think about who I thought he was, I am thrilled that he has exceeded my expectations. Our family is forever changed because of this little guy. When we said yes to the Lord's calling we had no idea the fulfillment we would receive and the blessings Marcus had to offer.
As I reflect on the years missed I am saddened. I wish I could have given birth to him myself. I wonder if his birth mother was excited and held him tight wishing she could care for him herself. I pray for her today and I know she remembers March 1st as though it were yesterday. I pray a special blessing for her and wish I could thank her myself for giving him life. I'll never be able to be a part of the day he was born. But I can from this day forward be the one to celebrate every birthday and always remind him how wonderfully and beautifully made he is.
I love you little Bubba!

Celebrated Marcus' 3rd b-day in Ukraine

We arrived in Ukraine in time to celebrate Marcus' 3rd birthday on March 1st. Our goal was to meet him by his birthday. I had to keep some kind of goal while getting through the adoption process. We may not have met him quite yet but we did celebrate him with our new friends. After landing in Kiev our first stop was the market so we could buy our meals for a few days. Jamie, Yuri & Sveta picked us up and drove us to get groceries. We picked a cake while we were there. We knew we wanted to celebrate Marcus' birthday. We depended on Jamie to read the labels and communicate for us. She is a missionary from the US who is ministering in Ukraine. We arrived at the guest house and began to prepare dinner. We chose a chocolate cake for dessert. We invited Yuri and his wife Sveta to join us. We sang Happy Birthday to Marcus as though he was there with us. It was a bitter/sweet moment, one I won't forget. As we sang, laughed and celebrated why were were there we enjoyed a piece of cake and some hot tea. It wasn't long before Yuri announced that the cake had liquor in it. I wondered why the cake was so wet and soggy. I just thought it was a Ukraine thing. Anyway, I politely swallowed the piece I already had in my mouth then refrained from eating any more. Taylor and Tanner thought this was the funniest thing. They still bring it up today if we order a cake. They make sure it has no liquor in it. Too funny! I knew his next birthday we would be celebrating it together. Praise God!

We left as a family of 4 and were forever changed.

One year ago today we left as a family of 4 and were forever changed. We boarded a plane and were headed to Ukraine to meet our now son and daughter. This was a day we anticipated for 6 short months. God had moved in such a powerful way the day we said, Yes. Now it was time to go! A day we had talked about, dreamt about and wondered of it would ever come. I remember going to the airport late the night before we left to weigh our bags, just in case. I stayed up all night preparing for the trip of a lifetime. Would we have enough money, did I pack everything I could think of, what will it be like to see, then Timur for the first time? The trip itself was OK. We made it to each of our destinations with all our luggage. This was a first for Wayne and Tanner. Neither of them had ever flown before. We had the pleasure of meeting DJ and McKenna Powell and sharing part of our travels with them. They too were headed to Ukraine to adopt their precious daughter through Reece's Rainbow. It was so nice to have another couple who spoke English to travel with. We were all excited for the days to come. I could not anticipate the joy that was about to come into our lives. Marcus and Macey were and still are so much more than I could have ever imagined. I am totally head-over-heals in love with both of them. We are truly the ones who have blessed by their lives. This has been the best year of my life! We Grew by 2 and now the New Dickinson Family is a family of 6. Praise God!

Tomorrow Marcus will celebrate his 4th birthday as a US citizen and as our son. I can not help but be heavy hearted for his birth mother. I am thankful that she gave him life. Without her Marcus would not be at home with his Forever Family. I will again think of her tomorrow as we celebrate the life the Lord has blessed us. I know as a mom to two other children I gave birth to, that it is a day I will never forget. I trust that she too will remember March 1st and think of the child she gave life to. I wish that she could see how well he's doing. He's thriving, growing and has such a sweet spirit. The Lord knew exactly who would be best for our family. I am so glad Wayne chose him and told us he looks just like a Dickinson. I'm proud to say that he indeeed is a Dickinson.

Today's B-Ball game featured an NBA star

We enjoyed Tanner's Upwards basket ball game this morning. We were greeted by a NBA star, Rumble. He is the mascot for the new NBA OKC Thunder team. It was a real treat to have such royalty in our church gym. The kids were all excited. Rumble brought posters that he signed for each one of the kids. We enjoyed watching the half time show when Rumble came out on a skateboard, threw out t-shirts and dunked several shots. Tanner was so excited! Marcus loved Rumble. I'm sure he has never seen such a large bison in his life. Rumble was friendly and energetic. As much as Marcus liked Rumble, Macey did not. She was frightened from the beginning. I'm sure she too has never seen such a thing in her life. She would wave from a distance but that was it. Poor baby. Needless to say this was a high light of Tanner's b-ball season. This is his first time playing on a team. He is doing really well and having fun too!

A Hero Among Us...Andrea Roberts of RR

While standing in the grocery store line please purchase the latest People magazine. (dated March 1, 2010) The founder of Reece's Rainbow is featured on pg.86 as one of People magazines Heroes Among Us. She gave birth to her son, Reece who she found out after birth had Down Syndrome. After researching her son's condition she learned that in many countries, such children are often abandoned and left in orphanages. She launched Reece's Rainbow in 2004 as a ministry to help these unwanted children find Forever Families. This is where we found our Marcus Timur and eventually Macey Tatum too. I am forever grateful to Andrea and the work she does. Marcus and Macey are home because Andrea answered the call and continues to be the voice for the defenseless. I pray the Lord continues to open doors for her ministry and for the children waiting to meet their families they each deserve.
Visit Reece's Rainbow and show your support: www.reecesrainbow.org

Eli Project Video

One year ago today...

One year ago today we received a phone call from our adoption agency, About a Child. We were given our SDA appointment of March 3rd. We didn't quite get to meet Marcus by his 3rd birthday, March 1st but we would be in his country. We would be leaving for Ukraine in 10 days. We made the necessary calls to prepare for the trip ahead. The first call went to Wayne at work, he was thrilled. The second to my best friend Mary in Ukraine. They had just had their SDA appointment the day before. We were both adopting 2 kids from the same country just 2 weeks apart. I remember how very excited, scared and nervous we really were. It was officially time to go! I will never forget the excitement in each of us. The unknown would be revealed in just a short amount of time. We could not prepare ourselves for what was to come. We began packing for the trip of a life time. Those were the days!

Photographed for the DSACO calendar

We had the opportunity to photographed by Mr. Taylor at Taylor Made Photography in Edmond today. Wayne, Marcus, Macey and myself had our pictures made for the DSACO calendar for next year. When we came in Mr. Taylor recognized Macey. He remembered her smile. I reminded him that he took our families picture at the Ds Christmas party this past December. Marcus did well for the first 15-20 minutes then he was finished. Macey wanted to have her picture taken some more. Mr. Taylor offered a red and white, retro, kid-sized sofa for her to sit on. She laid on her tummy with her hand under her chin and gave a great big smile. Then she hopped up put her hand on her hip as if to pose and say, here I am! She was just precious! It really was a great experience. I will have to tell you it felt odd to take a picture without Taylor and Tanner. The picture was to include the parents and children of those who have Ds and were adopted. We will be sharing the month of November, adoption awareness month, with 3 others families who have also adopted. We are excited to be a part of such a fun project. It will be great for others to see that children with Ds were chosen either domestically or through international adoption. This is just one more way that our family is able to continue to share our story. I never want to take for granted the oppurtunities the Lord continues to give us. We are grateful!

The picture included was taken just before we left. There were no personal cameras allowed in the studio so here's a sneak peek from home. I can hardly wait to see just how good they turned out.
P.S. Marcus loves to pull his cheeks when you say smile or say cheese, sounds like cheeks to him.

M & M are in the ad for Sensational Kids

I was asked by Lorraine, Marcus' occupational therapist if she could use Marcus and Macey in her new ad for Sensational Kids. I was excited at the opportunity. When she asked if she could take pictures today I thought she or one of her staff was going to take them. Actually, the publisher of Metro Family Magazine came to their therapy appointment and took pictures of both the kids. This is the same magazine that featured our family in November 2009 for Adoption Awareness Month. It was also the same day that I gave Lorraine and Keri, Macey's therapist a gift. I made both of them a Creative Memories minutes PicFolio album with pictures of them with Marcus and Macey during their many therapy sessions. It was my way of telling them Thank You. We are blessed with therapists who love our kiddos and encourage them to reach their full potential. We have been to Sensational Kids for 9 months now. We see them weekly and they mean so much to us. Marcus and Macey both get so excited when we pull up in the parking lot each week. They squeal, scream and shout! They know they are going to have a good time. They have both come so far! We know it is because of the great team of those working with them to make it possible. We were thrilled with this opportunity and are grateful for the invite.

So, next month (March 2010) look for the latest Metro Family magazine, turn to page 42 and see two precious kids having a great time during occupational therapy.
P.S. MFM actually used both pictures I had taken and added to the gift albums. I guess you can say I'm a published photographer now. Ha!

If your local and need services for occupational or speech therapy you will want to call Sensational Kids, Inc. (405) 840-1686 or visit: www.SensationalKidsOKC.com
tell them Marcus and Macey Dickinson sent you!

A Night to Remember, A Night for Ruslana

This evening was beautiful in more ways than one. We were invited to a banquet for Ruslana. Ruslana is the soon-to-be daughter of Chris and Mary Malone. This was a night to celebrate the life of a little girl who is on her way home to her Forever Family. It took weeks to plan and hours to prepare. It all came together just beautifully. The center pieces on the tables where decorated with Runslana's picture. A sweet reminder of why we had all gathered together. The highlight of the evening for me was the talk given by John and Tracie Loux. They had traveled from Kansas City to be a apart of this evening. They too have experienced the miracle of adoption, 3 times. They are part of a wonderful community who is encouraging and supportive of their ministry. They belong to IHOP, International House of Prayer. The message they brought was both challenging and encouraging. There is always something for each one of us to do to support the life of an orphan or support the family who has just rescued one, or two. They were honest and heartfelt about the mission to do something, get involved. The Bible commands us to do so. I felt inspired to do even more. It was great meeting them and getting to know them in person. Thanks to blog land and Reece's Rainbow we have "met" many families with the same heart and calling to do more for those left and unwanted. It was nice to be with people of like mind. The banquet provided a delicious lasagna dinner and a band led by Chris himself for entertainment. Wayne had the privilege of playing for the evening. They actually sang his song, Tiny Hands. It was a song Wayne wrote inspired by our own adoption. I can't wait until they get it recorded and we can share with each of you. Taylor and Tanner enjoyed their part in the banquet too. Taylor served along side the other Malone children and Tanner enjoyed taking tickets at the door. Everyone had a part one way or the other. It was a night of worship and bringing honor to the call of rescuing a little girl who needs a family to call her own. It was privilege to be a part of something so meaningful. I look forward to the day I can meet Ruslana and snuggle her myself.

The Big Sister turns 15!

WOW! I remember today, 15 years ago like it was yesterday. Taylor was our first born. We named her Taylor from the moment the stick turned pink. It was Taylor whether she was a boy or a girl. She was actually named after a Taylor guitar. A brand of guitar we could not afford at the time. Fortunately for Wayne I liked the name. It's fun to go back and remember all of her "firsts." She has come so far. From a wee little baby to a beautiful young lady. We could not be more proud of her. She is truly a blessing to each of our lives. She is full of compassion and love for the least of these. It was Taylor who began talking about adoption a few years ago. She would mention how she would love to adopt a little China baby and name her Tatum. She would even draw pictures of her. She was inspired by the ministry of Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman of Shohannah's Hope. Little did she know we would answer the call to adopt ourselves. Only it would not be a little China girl but a handsome little boy with Down syndrome from Ukraine. She was thrilled with the thought of adopting a child but she really did have her heart set on a little sister. We began the process of adopting Marcus Labor Day weekend (Sept.08). She was so supportive the entire time. She worked hard to help bring her little brother home. We had an enormous garage sale that she worked tirelessly at and she told everyone we knew and others we didn't that we were rescuing a little boy who needed a Forever Family. Her excitement was and still is contagious. I will always remember her excitement when we were told there was a little girl 4 years old, with Ds, living in the same orphanage as Marcus who also need a home. Macey would become the little sister she always wanted. Therefore we named that little girl Macey Tatum. Tatum means, brings joy. Macey has truly brought us all a lot of joy. Macey and Taylor have a sweet sisterly bond. I think it's because she cherishes her and knows that God truly answered a life long prayer to bring her a little sister through adoption. Taylor continues to work tirelessly to help care for her little brothers and sister. It is a work of heart to her. I hardly ever have to ask her to help before she has already jumped in. I know it's because she feels she is giving to the Lord when she cares for her siblings. I do appreciate all of her help and even more so her unselfish attitude as we have had to all adjust to doubling the size of our family. I know how much she serves and I love to give back to her. We enjoy our time together getting a pedicure or shopping just the two of us. I thank God for Taylor and the beautiful young lady inside and out that she has become. Today, February 4th and all weekend long we celebrate the birth of our first born.

Donate...to save a life!

Today I had the privilege of donating platelets for a family member. I just learned last week that my sister-n-law has Leukemia. Dee Dee Dixon-Rund is the wife of my brother Kevin and the mother of Morgan (16) and Emmery (11). She is fighting for her life! I don't have all the details. What I do know is donating is something I could do to help her in this time of need. She is the president of Oklahoma City Title and Abstract Company in Edmond, OK. They held a blood drive for her last Friday. I was unable to attend the drive due to the weather. I was excited to learn that 25 people donated for her that day at her office. The request now is for 2,000 people to get registered for the National Bone Marrow Registry. I registered today. It really is easy to do. I would encourage anyone in the state of Oklahoma to register on her behalf and donate blood through the Oklahoma Blood Institute. Dee Dee receives $20 credit for every donation given in her name. No matter your blood type or the blood product you choose to give, whole blood or platelets, etc. If you are reading this and unable to donate for whatever reason please pray for Dee Dee and her healing. We serve a Big God and my prayer is that she knows Him as her personal Lord and Savior.
If you are able to donate PLEASE do. It matters!
I would love for Dee Dee to receive the credit for your donation. Please e-mail me and I will give you her name and hospital so she receives proper credit. (meghandickinson@cox.net)

Again, Just Donate!

www.obi.org
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/DeeDeeRund

Thank You!

Sledding our Sunday afternoon away...

We received a warm welcome to join our friends the Hutchins and the Lee's for a Sunday afternoon of fellowship and fun. We enjoyed a warm bowl of chili and a hot cup of tea. We spent time around the lunch table sharing stories and making memories. The girls sat at one table, the boys at the other and Marcus joined the adults as we broke bread together. This is the kind of family and fellowship I dream of for our own family. Wayne reminded me that we'll be this kind of family for our own children and grandchildren as they grow up and have families of their own. You don't realize what your missing until you enjoy a time with others who truly love the Lord and one another. We are invited to join them anytime. I'm sure there will be many more Sunday afternoons enjoyed by our families.

After our warm invite and warm meal we headed outside for an afternoon of sledding. I was only going outside with the guys to take pictures of the kiddos while the ladies watched from the indoors. I was having so much fun watching our kids enjoy the snow and their friends. This was our first time sledding as a family. When I say family I mean I actually got on and slid down the hill myself. I laughed all the way down, twice. It felt so good to have so much fun. Macey was a joy to watch as she enjoyed the snow for the first time. Each time she would ride down with Taylor and before they would get to the bottom of the hill she was already signing for more. She was a real trooper. She was even brave enough to go down all by herself. Tanner had a great time with the boys. They went up and down literally hundreds of times, ALL afternoon. We called it a day when Macey went down for the last time. Let's just say she wiped out, lost a glove and couldn't see a thing. We quickly went inside were we were greeted by a warm fire and something warm to drink. Our family had such a great time together. We thank the Lord for good friends who love us and our children, all of them. (Marcus enjoyed his afternoon indoors taking a nap).