Orphans Deserve Better

Those that know me know that I DO NOT like freaky movies and I just stay clear of them. But when I heard what kind of negative impact the new movie "Orphan" was going to have on the millions of orphans world-wide, I decided to act.

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. ~ Psalm 82:3-4

I encourage you to sign the online petition with me. Below is what the petition says so you have an idea of what I'm talking about. Hollywood has it's own version of perverse reality and I don't want it to distort and sell-short the true reality of the orphans in our world.

http://orphansdeservebetter.com/
Mr. Barry Meyer, Chairman and CEO
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Dear Mr. Meyer,

We desire to express together—respectfully but firmly—that the portrayal of orphans conveyed by the Warner Brothers film Orphan is both misleading and unhelpful to the millions of children growing up without families today.

The film delivers a distorted picture of the difficulty and pain these children often carry. It also sells short the great love they so often return to those who reach out to them with care and compassion.

We assume you did not intend this, and we recognize that the film could be described as merely a far-fetched thriller. But the power of such a film to subtly shape attitudes and perspectives remains. In that regard, the movie Orphan does no favors to the many children who share its name.

For the sake of the world’s more than 140 million orphans, people deserve to know better. They should have an honest understanding of the deep needs orphans face—as well as the satisfaction and beauty that can be found in embracing orphans as a mentor or adoptive family, foster parent or nonprofit volunteer.

We urge you to take steps to help convey this message robustly, just as its opposite was conveyed through the film—perhaps as a message following the film. In addition, given that the profits from this film will likely come at some expense to orphans, we encourage you to contribute a portion of those profits to aid orphans across America and around the world.

We respectfully await your response.

Signed,
Tara Balcom

Growing like a weed!!

Katelynn had gotten this growth chart for her 1st birthday and I hadn't put it up until Christmas time...Then, out of sight, out of mind. Then the other day I realized we hadn't done it in a long time so I had her go stand by the door so I could measure her......WOW!! An inch and a half in 5 months!! No wonder her clothes are getting short! :) Of course, if you see in the 2nd photo down, she had grown almost an inch in just 2 months before her birthday!!!


She was trying to not see the flash, so she'd close her eyes.....

Then I finally caught one before she could put her hand up and block the flash! :) What a cutie!!


However, I don't think any of our kids will have a hope of being less than average height. The photo below was taken at a family reunion on my dad's side, in May. Everyone in this photo is a blood relative, except my mom. She was put in the photo for "height perspective." (for those that don't know, she's average height.) And if I'm not mistaken, the lady on the far right in the pink was Miss Tall USA when she was in college. :) Add to that, the height on Kevin's side...Yeah, our kids don't have a chance of being short! :)

Today Show Clip

Here's a clip from the Today Show that highlights one of Kristen's playmates and his family and new baby sister.

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There Will Be A Day

Last October I heard a song late one night while I was driving (I still even remember where I was!) and I took a moment to listen to the words. I had heard it quite a bit but never really listened. I came home that night and instantly tried to post it to our blog but it was too new at the time and it wasn't yet available to post. I hadn't checked in a while and when I heard it again this morning I decided to try again. It's now added to our playlist which plays in shuffle mode. So it will either come on in a bit or you can just skip ahead at the bottom of our blog.
It's been amazing how God has spoken through music in new ways since last fall. What a gift we have to listen to this music freely without fear of persecution.
Here are the words to the song:

Artist: Jeremy Camp
Song: There Will Be A Day

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
That we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face, But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long, You feel you're walking on your own
But there has never been a step, Where you've walked out all alone

Troubled soul don't lose your heart, 'Cause joy and peace He brings
And the beauty that's in store, Outweighs the hurt of life's sting

I can't wait until that day where the very one I've lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I've faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery, oh this is why, this is why I sing.

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we`ll see Jesus face to face

There will be a day, He'll wipe away the stains, He'll wipe away the tears, He'll wipe away the tears...there will be a day.