Announcing our "Perfect Pair" Auction in June!

It is my joy to introduce you to the Robbins family.  They are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to bring Elaina (Alyssa on RR) and Ethan (Beacan on RR) home forever!  Aren't they the "Perfect Pair"?

 

 

Ethan

Elaina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Robbins’ adoption journey actually began in August 1981 with the birth of their oldest son in Mexico and continued to meander through domestic adoption (bringing 5 more boys into their family) after the birth of their biological daughter (in May 1982). The most recent fork in the road came in January 2012 when they made contact with a local family adopting 2 girls from Russia. With that contact they were made aware of Reece’s Rainbow and the plight of children with special needs around the world. Sharon began stalking blogs, especially The Blessing of Verity and No Greater Joy Mom (and Dad). Her heart was moved to become a Prayer Warrior for 3 waiting children through Reece’s Rainbow. As she prayed for those children each day, she heard God begin to whisper that their adoption experience was not over. Initially, Dan and Sharon were led to Elaina (Alyssa on RR) but after a short time realized that Ethan (Beacan on RR) was the perfect “two-fer” and they committed to him also. Ethan and Elaina have lived their entire lives in this orphanage, experiencing both the bad and the better and Dan and Sharon recently learned that they already share a room on the 6th floor. While Ethan is almost 12 years old and Elaina almost 10, they are about the same size as the Robbins‘ 4 year old sons. Ethan, especially, is tiny at 23 lbs and not yet walking independently. This family is so excited to reach the ‘end of the road’ and have these two home and they are so thankful for all who continue to travel with them.

 

 

Our auction for the Robbins family will run June 1st through June 8th.  We stand ready now to accept donations.  Gift cards, handmade items, new items, books, jewelry, electronics, gift certificates for online shops, and craft items all make wonderful additions to an auction. Have another idea?  Please let us know!  Donating is simple.  Send an email to hiddentreasuresauction@gmail.com with a photo and brief description of your donation(s).  When the auction ends and the winner has paid for your item, you will receive an email with their mailing information for shipment.  We ask that shipping costs be a part of your donation.  If you have any questions, feel free to shoot an email to the address above!

 



He Is Risen, Risen Indeed!

Hours before we kick off our 10th Hidden Treasures Auction, I cannot help but stand in wonder of all that has transpired over the past fifteen months.  A place that was a hidden, dark, forgotten, and lonely pit has had the light of Christ focused on it like a beacon.  Children who had no hope are now chosen, cherished sons and daughters.  They now have a name, a lineage, a heritage, and a family.  God has been so merciful. 

Years ago, a colleague of my husband's adopted two boys who shared a crib in Russia.  They were around two years old.  Their life had also been bleak, rarely leaving their cribs, never feeling sunshine or a gentle breeze.  On their Gotcha Day, as they drove away from that horrid place, both boys began wailing, reaching back as they looked through the rear window of the car at the only life they had ever known.  They could not understand what was before them.  They had no comprehension of the joy and rest that they now experience in a family full of brothers.

Isn't that the way we are?
As orphans, separated from God, we clutch at our old life…desperately hanging on to what is comfortable and familiar. When God comes to us, and we reach out in faith to him (as frightened as we may be), a new life that exceeds all that we can even imagine opens up before us. This is why, as some friends of mine say, Adoption is the Gospel with Skin On.

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. ~Ephesians 1:5-6

 

On this Easter Sunday morning, may Jesus be exalted for his precious gift to us.  May He receive as much glory and praise from His children as we can humanly give Him.  He willingly faced the cross so that we would have a name, a lineage, a heritage, and a family.  Now He is the risen Savior, who stands at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf.  Have you accepted His gift of sacrifice?  Have you placed your faith in our risen Lord?  This is the most important decision you will ever make.  It transcends everything else.  Life as a follower of Christ is not  always easy, but it is full and beautiful.  If you have question, please email me .  I would love to tell you more.  hiddentreasuresauction@gmail.com

Be Blessed & Happy Easter!
Amy

 

Meet Our Next Family!

Are you all as excited to meet our next little hidden treasure, as we are to introduce her?  She is absolutely darling, so without further adieu, here is Lisa Matthews of the Matthews family to tell you all about her sweet little girl!

"Carissa (Christiana) turns 5 in September.  She has lived in Pleven since she was just 3 weeks old.  Can you imagine a child who has never known a home... a mother?  She hasn't.
  
Christiana is a beautiful little girl with large eyes and a sweet smile.  

She's very tiny due to several health and nutritional issues. At Christmas she weighed only 18 lbs... the size of the average 1 year old. 

When we committed to adopt her I was amazed to find out that we were the only ones who had ever enquired about her.  It amazed me.  I thought "She's so beautiful...so lovely.  How is it that we are the only ones to ask?"  Then I realized that people are afraid of her main disability: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.  

Many families who joyfully welcome children with Down syndrome, CP, and other disabilities are hesitant (sometimes afraid) to consider a child with FAS or autism.  We aren't.  We understand the she will need lots of therapy and attention.  She'll need accommodations that other children don't. But that's ok.  She's worth it.  

We have 3 sons who are ready to meet her and are excited to have a sister.  We believe that a house full of children is a happy house and can't wait to become the "Matthews 6"."  

Take a look at their perfect little beauty:

Carissa, this past March!

If you'd like to follow the journey along with the Matthews family, please visit their blog: Three Little Birds Plus One More.

 

 "Christiana's Chance" will kick off on October 1st and run through October 7th.  As always, we are looking for donations for this auction.  Handcrafts, New Items, Gift Cards, Collectibles, and Entertainment Tickets have all been popular in the past.  Be creative!  If you have an item(s) to donate or questions, send an email to hiddentreasuresauction@gmail.com.  Thank you in advance to those of your participating -- be it by donating, bidding or praying. It's because of all of you that these auctions are successful!

Meet Makayla!

It is my joy to introduce you to our next family.  The next auction will be, "Mission: Makayla".  I know that many of you may recognize this Bulgarian princess!

Here is Makayla's story in the words of her mom:

Makayla just turned eleven last month. She’s about the size of a five year old and weighs only 22 pounds (half the weight she should be if she were only five). She will join our three children and our grandson as the one who makes our family whole. Her 5 year old little brother doesn’t understand why Makayla has not come home yet. Our special needs daughter knows Makayla’s picture and calls her by name. We need to bring her into our arms and love her, give her the family she deserves. We thank everyone for their love, prayers and support to our family.

We are already receving promises of donations for the June auction.  Remember, we can take donations any time between now and June 1st.  If you would like to donate an item, simple email Amy at hiddentreasuresauction@gmail.com!  Thank you in advance for your prayers for and support of this sweet family!

A Light Shining in the Darkness

  **Update ~ March 6**

Please visit The Blessing of Verity to learn even more about what is happening in Pleven, Bulgaria with the children whose families we are sponsoring.  God is moving!

PLEASE PRAY!

Hello friends.  For months now we've communicated about the children whose adoptive families we are working to support with veiled references and subtlety.  We've identified a "particular orphanage in Eastern Europe" as our focus, and that has been all.  Things are changing. Thanks be to our merciful God, things are changing. 

A very bright light is beginning to shine in this very dark place.  There is hope on the horizon for all 240 children there.  Medical intervention is in the beginning stages. A local hospital will soon begin assessing the children's needs.  Plans are in motion for medical mission teams to support the hospital's efforts.  And, a fund has been established to provide for the treatment that every one of these children will require. 

A look through the photos of our children will tell you that there has been neglect...but there is so much more to the story.  To say the children are neglected is an incredible understatement.  We have permission now to spread the word....and spread the word we shall!

Please visit THIS LINK to learn the truth about this place and these children.  Those of you who have been around from the beginning will recognize some of the photos.  I would ask, if you know the identity of any of the children who are not yet home with their families (whose faces have been blurred in the photos), please do not identify them in any comments. 

~ Consider praying.  As this intervention begins some desperately ill children will begin life-saving treatments, pray that they respond well. 

~Consider giving.  A medical fund has been established.  There is a Chip-In button on our right sidebar.  This fund is established through the Eli Project and donations are tax deductible.

~Consider going.  Do you have a medical background?  Do you have a friend who is a nurse or physician who might want to help?

~Consider our auctions.  Hidden Treasures auctions help to bring these very children home to the families that so desperately want to care for them.  The next auction begins April 1st and will benefit tiny Keith.  Donations of new or handcrafted items, gift certificates, or services are welcomed and needed.  Email  hiddentreasuresauction@gmail.com if you would like more information

Praise God for people who are standing in the gap for some of the weakest among us!

But you must defend those who are helpless and have no hope. ~Proverbs 31:8

Every Child Deserves a Home

A friend posted this video on Facebook, and I just had to share it with my friends whom I knew would "get it".  Thank you for believing with me in the words of this song by Newsong.

Why Adopt?

Tony Merida, professor at Southeastern Seminary and adoptive parent, has written an excellent article on the "why" of adoption for the Christian family. 

He states, "... but I also grieve, when people say to a family, "Why are you adopting? You already have natural-born children. You can have your own kids." They've missed it. They don't see that adoption isn't about infertility; it's about responding to God's grace properly: first with gratitude toward Him, and then with active love toward others. How is He calling you to love the orphan today?"

Adoption is not the calling of every Christian family.  However, every believer is called to orphan care and advocacy.  Read the full article to gain a better understanding of why this is.

Why Adopt?

For Jesus,
Amy

Hidden Treasures Gear Available Now!

I am so excited to announce that Hidden Treasures now has a store over at Cafe Press!  Once I saw our lovely new logo, I thought, "That belongs on a coffee mug!"  This is another wonderful way for us to spread the word about our mission to rescue as many little ones from the darkness of neglect and loneliness as possible!

The purchase of these products will do more than just help us to advertise, though!  A portion of the proceeds from every sale comes back to us.  When a proceed check arrives, we will add it to the funds raised for the next auction that comes along.

There are many options available including t-shirts and hoodies, Sigg water bottles, tote bags, note cards and more.  There is a button on our right sidebar that will take you directly to our Cafe Press Store.  Or, you can bookmark the link directly from here, www.cafepress.com/treasuresinhiddenplaces.  


Blessings My Friends!
Amy


The deepest and strongest foundation for adoption is located not in the act of humans adopting humans, but in God adopting humans.  And this act is not part of his ordinary providence in the world; it is at the heart of the Gospel. ~John Piper, "Adoption:  The Heart of the Gospel"

Flying Free

Welcome to our new, updated, lovely blog!  I am so excited  to give you the grand tour!  First, I want to share the purpose behind our new design.  Some of you, who have been around from the beginning, might have a clue. 

The first child to come home from a particular institution is Katie.  You can read the beginning of her story here.   During her first visit to Katie's former institution, Susanna (who is Katie's mom) was heartbroken over the fragile condition of her 9-year old, 11-pound daughter.   Because of her fragile condition, Katie's family began calling Katie their "baby bird".

Shortly after that trip, Susanna began working tirelessly to advocate for the other children she had seen there and founded this fundraising blog for the explicit purpose of helping families bring those children home.

Our new logo represents this vision.  The bird flying free from its cage is a representation of Katie and all of the other children who are being redeemed and released from the bondage that has previously claimed their lives.

There are so many others.  They are the reason for our efforts.  They matter.

On our sidebar you will see some things familiar, and some things new.  The "Who We Are" information has been updated a bit.  "How the Auction Works"  been updated as well.  There will be a few changes to our next auction format, I will highlight those in a future post.  "Meet Our Next Family"  will highlight the next family to benefit from an auction, at this point you can meet the Archers!  "Child Updates" is brand-new, and I am so excited about this new feature.  I will be keeping tabs on all of the families who benefit from our auctions, and as updates are available, I will share them with you.  Right now you can find current information on Katie, the Burman family (Kelten and Teagan), and the Carpenter family (Lina).  I want you all to see the tangible difference you are making in the lives of these precious bearers of our Lord's image.

UPDATED- Our sharing button is now functional.  You can grab the html code below the image to the right, and install it on your own blog or website!  Please spread the word!!

Special thanks to my friend, Shasta, who had a vision for our update and made it possible.  And, thanks to Jessica who took my abstract idea and made it something lovely.

Blessings,
Amy

Philippians 1:2-4

I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!  Every time I think of you, I thank my God.   And whenever I mention you in my prayers, it makes me happy.

And the Grand Total is...

 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things. Psalm 72:18

$2,120!
Thank you for all of your efforts to help Liberate Lina!

Please meet Moses, Jacob & Noah!  Their family will benefit from our February auction.