Happy 10th Birthday RR!

Birthday shout out to Reece's Rainbow!

Reece's Rainbow Celebrates 10 years today!!

In one decade, Reece's Rainbow has helped find families for 1,585 orphans no more. 

But their work is not done!

"As long as there are children with disabilities being abandoned, left in orphanages, we will be working to find families for them."

For the first 10 months of her life Sara had no one or nothing to call her own, not even this crib because before she occupied it another child did and after she abandoned it, another child moved in. At 7 days old, she entered an orphanage. All because she was born with something extra, something different. On May 7, 2012 we relied on our faith and committed to adopt this bright ray of sunshine! We knew we could make a difference and that our work wasn't done. And lucky for us we discovered that her something extra was something wonderful! On October 10, 2012 she became an orphan no more! And today she is cherished and loved and enjoys the blessing of a family!!

Olen is an orphan who also deserves the blessing of a family! Sadly his "home" for the last 3 years  is still a metal crib. Maybe he is the one who filled Sara's. Please don't let his diagnosis, his difference scare you. He is worthy of love and should be sleeping in a home not an orphanage. Please see him! Please consider adoption. Maybe your work isn't done either. It won't be an easy road but it will be worth it! I promise!  

Click here to read more about Olen. Share his story, pray for him, and blow kisses to him in the wind tonight. Hang tight little fella, your mama and papa will see you. You will soon know what it feels like to be "home"!!  

We found our pot of gold at the end of our Reece's Rainbow! We are blessed beyond measure for our found treasure! Thank you Reece's Rainbow. Happy Birthday and here's to another 10 years of raising awareness and finding families for more children!! 

Even When......

Every now and then, oh geez who am I kidding? Too often I go throughout the day feeling like I've missed something. A few days ago was one of those days. Then I realized it was Liam's adoption day. Wednesday April 27th was Liam's 4 year anniversary becoming an official Lutkin. How could I forget something so special? How could I not remember a day that changed our lives forever? Well it's because each day since Liam's adoption has been filled with perpetual chaos. Chaos in a good way mostly but still chaos nonetheless. And it's not because of Liam personally, it's just life with 4 then, 5 now is busy! So as I lay next to my sleeping baby boy who just woke up from his second night terror tonight let me express how this little boy changes my heart every day. Liam has so much love to give even when it's not deserved. He loves me even though I feel inadequate to be his mom. He loves me even when my patience fails. He loves me even when I silently sob "I can't do this any more." He loves me even when I have to ignore him because it's the only other option left in my parenting bag of tricks. He loves me even when I have to hold him tight and won't let go until he's calmed down and counted to 10. He loves me even when I take his favorite toys away after he's thrown them in anger. He loves me even though I shout. He simply loves me no matter what. I sometimes feel like I'm not the mom God or myself intended me to be. Then I realize I am becoming something more and Liam is helping me. I am being stretched beyond my limits some days but it is up to me to either break or keep stretching. So I choose to keep stretching. I may not be the perfect mom but he is the perfect one for me. He is right where he needs to be and I am forever grateful it's in my heart. We have a long way to go until we figure out this parenting business. We're not even sure what the future (his future) will bring. But I do know that I will continue to love this boy because he loves me even when..... and even though......... Happy adoption day Liam!

Spread The Word......

......To End The Word!

"Mentally retarded". "Mental retardation". Terms once used by medical professionals to describe those who had intellectual disabilities. Today, these terms are being used to degrade and make fun of those who have significant intellectual impairment. Additionally the r-word has become a common word used by society as an insult for someone or something stupid. For example, you might hear someone say, "That is so retarded" or "Don't be such a retard." When used in this way, the r-word can apply to anyone or anything, and is not specific to someone with a disability. But, even when the r-word is not said to harm someone with a disability, it is hurtful. Please take the pledge today to end the word by clicking the blue link below! Pledge to show respect to everyone!

http://www.r-word.org/r-word-why-pledge.aspx

In addition to taking this pledge, let's use people first language as well. What is people first language you might ask? Here is a reminder to help you understand.

"Remember: a disability descriptor is simply a medical diagnosis; People First Language respectfully puts the person before the disability; and a person with a disability is more like people without disabilities than different!"

For example it's not polite to say "the Down syndrome girl" or she is "the downs kid" or "she's downs", or "my Down syndrome kid". She is Sara (people first) who has Down syndrome. Her name is Sara not Down syndrome. Sara has Down syndrome but it is not the Down syndrome that defines who she is. She is Sara! Likewise you shouldn't say "the autistic kid", he is a boy who has autism. You wouldn't call somebody Autistic Sam or Down syndrome Sara. You would call them Sam or Sara. Hope this clarifies what people first language means. It's just another way to show respect to everyone!

Today is also Dr. Seuss' birthday! So in honor of him as well as educating others about spreading the word to end the word, I would like to share this pic and quote.

Caring is another word for respect! Respect causes change and change begins with you! 

Blessings Not Burdens

Hi there and welcome to Love Doesn't Count Chromosomes! A blog that is sure to bring a smile to your face and warm fuzzies to your heart! Liam and Sara will be your hosts. You can read a little more about them on the side panel of this blog. As for me, the author, producer, and editor of this  blog let me introduce myself. My name is Jodi. I am a 40 year old wife, mother of 5, daughter, sister, friend, and much more. I live in a beautiful valley, surrounded by mountains. I love to sing, bake, hike, travel, spend time with family and friends, and I love Jesus! My husband and children are my reason for breathing! And although two of my children are not of my flesh they have captured my heart. I am so grateful to be a mother and I am grateful my heart is capable to love with no boundaries. I am grateful for my faith and knowledge that families are forever!

We are an ordinary family hoping to do extraordinary things for others as we walk hand in hand on our journey to forever! Special Needs Adoption is one way we knew we could help! After we had our first 3 children, we knew our family wasn't complete. Our hearts were pricked and we knew that we should, could, and would adopt. Little did we know how much adoption would change our lives! We became foster parents in 2009 and Liam was our first and only placement a year later in 2010. We were able to foster him as an infant (from 27 days old) and he became part of our family in April of 2012. That same year, same day of his adoption in fact, we chose to adopt Sara. On October 10, 2012 we brought Sara home at the age of 10 months. She had resided in an orphanage, 6000 miles away and was given up at birth because she was born with Down syndrome. Liam (age 5) and Sara (age 4) bring so much joy and happiness into our home and we can't imagine life without them. Saying this doesn't mean that it has been easy. Oh believe me it has been tough at times, like super frustrating, faith testing tough. But love always prevails, we are always humbled, and we soon remember why we are on this journey. We are here to help and bless the lives of others. We are here to help others understand the plan of happiness. We are here to help them become who our Heavenly Father knows they are and can be. We are here to love and be loved! Families allow us to be a part of something grand, where we learn and grow, experience joy and sorrow, and can just be! I am grateful that my children have a place to call home and love being their mom. It truly is the greatest yet hardest job ever but I sure am glad I applied!! Family is one of life's greatest blessings and I thank my lucky stars that mine include such lovely people!

My hope for this blog is to brighten your days by sharing stories, thoughts, pictures, and things that make you go hmmm. I also hope to raise awareness for those who are living with disabilities, and help others realize that Liam and Sara are not burdens but great blessings. And although this blog will highlight their happenings and such, I will share tidbits about our other children (Cole age 14, Beck age 9, Kate age 7) and family too! I will share our faith, hope and love as we travel down this path less traveled. It's guaranteed to be scenic but will also have bumps and boulders along the way. But it is a path that is perfectly designed, wonderfully made, and beautifully meant to be just like them.You will soon discover like we did that love doesn't count chromosomes!!