Today I'm proud of...LEAH!

Yes, I started this thing last Thanksgiving when I wrote this post. I intended to finish a post for each family member in just a few months. Turns out I only managed to write two blog posts in a full 12 months. Lame!

Well anyway, this is the 3rd installment, and hopefully the rest are coming soon!

Today I'm thankful for...my sister Leah.

I'm so thankful for her heart for others. I'm truly amazed at Leah's tireless efforts to find families and raise funds for children on the other side of the world through her work with Reece's Rainbow. She is an advocate, prayer warrior, cheerleader, funds-raiser, volunteer, and awareness-raiser. I sometimes get overwhelmed thinking about all the need in the world. Countless children have been abandoned, institutionalized, and neglected simply for having an extra chromosome or other disability. What can one person really do? But Leah doesn't give up! She is tireless and refuses to give up hope that every precious baby will find a forever family. From consignment sales to change drives to awareness walks to blogging to garage sales to giveaways, she's constantly trying to think of new ways to raise money for these kiddos and their families. While I'm busy thinking about myself, my needs, my kid, my husband (my, my, my), she's focused on the world outside our comfortable surroundings.

So to honor her, let me share these two cuties with you. Leah is always helping other families and other kiddos, but these two girlies are special to her. She has committed to advocate for them, especially Celine.

She has helped raise thousands of dollars for Celine over the past couple of years (check out Leah's blog here), and Celine's adoption grant is almost $30,000! That means when a family finds Celine and wants to adopt her, most of the costs will be covered. This is a huge blessing for this dear little one.You can help by donating to her fund or by sharing her story. Maybe you know someone who will end up being her family? Or maybe it's you! Leah has a goal of raising $1000 this Christmas for Celine (she is her Angel Tree Warrior). Donate $35 or more to get an ornament honoring this special child. Just click on the link and use ctrl+f to find her name on the page. Donations to this cause are Leah's main Christmas gift request this year. Leah is also always on the lookout for items (electronics, handmade items, gift cards) to be donated for benefit giveaways/auctions...let me know if you are interested!

Cora Lynne is also dear to Leah's heart, and your support for her is also much appreciated. Both girls are getting older (6 and 7 I believe) and are facing the move from the orphanage to the institution. As much as these babies fail to develop in their existing circumstances, they face even greater detriment once they are transferred. I wrote a little about the conditions in these institutions in my post about Sarah.

I'm also thankful for Leah's love for all things baby. She was such a huge help to me getting ready for Joshua's birth, and she's already a wonderful aunt! We had a great time sorting through clothes, putting together all his gear, and making plans. I'm proud of how she's stepped up at her church by faithfully volunteering in the nursery. It takes a special person to hang out with crying infants and dirty diapers by choice. :-)

She also spends a lot of time volunteering at and fundraising for the Alternatives Pregnancy Center. She wants to make sure these mommas and babies have nice things to "buy" at the little store they have. She's a serious bargain hunter and makes a beeline for the clearance racks at almost every store she's in, just to look for new cute clothes to provide for the center.




I'm truly inspired by Leah's selfless attitude and desire to make a difference in the world around her, as well as her faith. She's a special sister and I couldn't be more proud. I only hope that my post today might help those causes that are so near and dear to her heart.

I miss you girly, and I can't wait to see you at Christmas!

Love, Rebekah