Yesterday we were at the life stand and I watched Libbie as she held this sign and all I could do is thank the Lord for the biological Moms of Libbie, Kimmie and Opal that gave them the chance of a family! Our little girls are such blessings to our life!!! And I then began to think of all those precious children that didn't have that chance....

LAST CHANCE!!!!!!

Try to imagine the following scene. A young couple wraps their newborn daughter in red cloth and leaves her at a crossroads in a major city in Southern China. While the details may change, it is a scene that will play itself out over and over again throughout China as well as many other places in the world for that matter. Since child abandonment is illegal, this scene usually plays out under the cover of darkness as the couple lingers quietly in the shadows until the baby has been discovered by a passerby and taken to safety. I'll be honest with you. As both a mother and a grandmother, my heart breaks every time I imagine this scene in my mind. It is a scene that literally drives me to my knees and makes me weep.



While this post is not intended to address the often complex social, economic and cultural issues that frequently influence birth parents to abandon their children, it is meant to help one of those innocent babies who was left behind. You see, thirteen years ago, the adorable young girl in the above photo was wrapped in a piece of red cloth and left at a busy crossroads. She didn't ask to be born. She didn't ask to be abandoned. She didn't ask to spend the last thirteen years of her life in institutionalized care. Despite her circumstances, she has grown into a bright, independent young girl with a warm and loving heart. She likes to sing and dance and enjoys dolls and handicrafts. She reportedly has a diligent and methodical nature and wants to be a kindergarten teacher when she grows up. What I want most for you to know about "Julie", however, is that she has only eight months left to find a family before she becomes ineligible for international adoption. This is where you can help! I urge you to please share this link with at least two people and encourage them to do likewise. Using the power and speed of exponential "doubling" I challenge everyone reading this post to please help the search to find this little girl a family go "viral". If you have a blog please re-post. Please share on Facebook, RQ, Tweet or whatever social networking site you use. If the plea of a 700 pound man to lose weight can go viral withing 24 hours, surely we can help a deserving little girl find a family in equal time. Please understand that time is running out for "Julie". In order to meet the adoption deadline of November 15, 2012, families will need to complete and submit their dossier to China as soon as possible. I have been told that due to the urgent nature of this child's case, China may show some flexibility in eligibility requirements. In order to help interested families needing financial assistance, adoption fees have been reduced and a "SPECIAL BLESSINGS" grant of $5000 is being offered. For additional information, please contact Erin Mower at erinm@holtinternational.org