9-11

I could tell yall what I was doing 10 years ago today. I could tell you how I felt that day and the weeks and months to follow. I could tell you how how this impacted my life. I probably did all that last September 11th. What I want to do today is talk about today and our future.

You know the Bible says we are not guaranteed tomorrow.

James 4:14
New International Version (NIV)
14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Proverbs 27

1 Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring.

Because we are not guaranteed tomorrow we should make sure to live each day with purpose. Today, on the 10 year anniversary of the most horrible American tragedy in my lifetime so far, I think it would be a good day to understand that we really don't know what tomorrow will bring. So we should answer God's call today.

I am not going to tell you that God doesnt call everyone to adopt, because I would be lying. I believe there is no calling but rather us choosing to obey or not obey. Does this mean that you who have not adopted have not obeyed....short answer yes. The Bible is clear. James 1:27 is just one verse related to orphans. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

I am going to tell you as much as I know about a little girl who is called Lyla. This is what is wriiten by RR :

Girl, born November 2009
Lilianna survived!! She had an adoptive family previously, but they were not permitted to adopt her at the time because she was in the hospital and not expected to live. But she DID! We are thrilled she is healthy enough to be relisted!

Sweet little Lilianna has a congenital heart defect (ASD and VSD) and possible pulmonary issues. She is also missing her left forearm entirely. Lilianna has bright blue eyes and needs a family right away. We have many pictures of her!

This is what is written by the family that wanted to adopt her:

On May 17, 2010 I found the most Beautiful Little Girl on Reece's Rainbow and I knew with all of my heart and soul I was her MOM!!! I would do whatever it would take to bring this precious princess home!! On June 8, 2010 our family committed to this little girl with Down syndrome listed as Lilianna.We decided we wanted to name this sweet little girl LYLA and our blog would be titled
"Lucky to Love Lyla"!!
As a family we were so excited to bring this little girl home! We had so many plans for her and for us as a soon to be complete family. We had thought she would probably be home in November and since her birthday was in November it all made perfect sense.

On September 9, 2010 we received an e/m from Andrea at Reece's Rainbow that Lyla was very ill. She was in the hospital and they were not sure if she would SURVIVE. Our World Crumbled!!!!! On September 29, 2010 we found out that we would NOT be able to bring her home. She was too sick and it was thought that her next home would be HEAVEN. Our hearts were in a million pieces and I just wanted to get on a plane and be there for her, by her side, loving her until she went to HEAVEN!!!! I remember feeling responsible that I had PRAYED so many times for her to come HOME but that GOD must of misunderstood what "home" I meant - I did NOT mean with HIM - I meant With US!!!! So we had to decide what we would do. It was our plan to adopt another little girl with Down syndrome and return in the Spring if Lyla survived to bring her finally home!! There was no way I could choose another child. No way. I had stayed up all night just starring at all the beautiful children needing a family and it was impossible. So when Dave woke up that morning, I told him he had to do it!!! And he sure did!!!! We were so BLESSED to adopt Isabelle December 30, 2010 and bring her home January 2011. There is no question about it that LYLA SAVED BELLE &
Lyla also SAVED me. In December A family that was adopting from the same orphanage as Lyla had asked the caregivers about her while they were there. They were told that she was critical and she would be going to HEAVEN very soon. I had PRAYED that JESUS would just take her HOME as she has obviously suffered enough. This poor sweet little girl, she had turned 1 and was as tiny as a newborn. I believed it was time for the suffering to STOP!!!!

We were a very happy family of 8 - we were all head over heals in LOVE with Belle!!! And we couldn't imagine life with out her. But it never was far from our HEARTS knowing that if it wasn't for Lyla - Belle wouldn't be here. Lyla was always on my mind and in my HEART.

So Spring came and I contacted Reece's Rainbow but they had not had an update on Lyla! So we waited and then May came around again and I had the crazy obsession that we needed to adopt again, another little girl with Down syndrome from Ukraine. So we asked about Lyla and still no update.

I grieved the loss of Lyla as I was sure she was in HEAVEN. I mean how could she of survived??? It was almost unbearable to let her go!!! But I did!

In June I was scrolling Reece's Rainbow and I found a little girl listed as Macie. We committed to her on June 8, 2011. (The same day last year we committed to Lyla). Macie was adopted by a family outside of Reece's Rainbow so we needed to make a choice. Maybe if we had waited.........Well, I could maybe all day and night. Anyways, we decided to continue with an adoption of a little girl with Down syndrome. But I couldn't choose - No Way!!!! So I again, left it up to Dave. He chose a BOY!!!! Oh my, I didn't see that coming. A beautiful little boy who coincidentally was in the same orphanage that Lyla had lived. I did not tell Dave that it was the same orphanage, he had no idea. We committed to Gavin on June 25, 2011 and we were all so excited to bring home a little boy!

July 28, 2011 I received word from Andrea (RR) of an absolute MIRACLE!!!! Lyla was ALIVE and able to be ADOPTED!!!! The beautiful little girl that I LOVED with all my heart and SOUL and GRIEVED the Loss of was ALIVE!!!! Oh MY!!!! I couldn't Believe it!!! How in the world did she SURVIVE. She is obviously a FIGHTER and SHE OBVIOUSLY Didn't GIVE UP. Sadly, I had given up on her!!! How could I??? I had promised that I would do whatever it would take to bring her home!!! I promised to FIGHT for her!!! I know it probably seems obvious that we should just adopt Lyla while adopting Gavin. Especially since they are in the same orphanage!! But it is NOT that easy. We can NOT adopt another child. We just Can NOT!!! So do we turn our back on Gavin??? That doesn't make any sense either. We are all heartbroken and so TORN!!! We are over the moon GRATEFUL that she is ALIVE. As this is the most important part of all of this!!! It's not about us - I know!! It is about HER!!! But I am sick with GUILT - How do I turn my back on the ONE person that SAVED ME and more importantly SAVED my Beautiful Daughter Belle????? Oh Friends - We need Help with this one for sure!!!!So what will we do?????
Well, We will FIND her a FAMILY!!! We will advocate for her like crazy!!! I will BEG all of you to please do the same!!! PLEASE??? Blog about her, Facebook about her, Twitter about her, tell everyone you know about the little Miracle Girl who is simply meant to do BEAUTIFUL things in this world. She has done so much already - and she has done these things living in an orphanage and ICU!!! Imagine what she will do when she is in the home of a LOVING FAMILY?????? Oh My!!!! Just HUGE!!!!
Oh Please, Please, Please GOD
Find Her a Forever Family


This family loves Lyla. They also know that she was put on their hearts and in their minds to save another child, their Bellie. I feel for them. I understand a bit of what they are going through seeing as 2 children saved Noah.

So I am asking you to search your hearts. I am asking you to pray. Ask God what He would have you do with the life He has given you. We are all here for a reason, for a purpose greater than this world. Dont talk to me about excuses ok, Im not listening. Money? Itll get paid. I just dont want to hear you arent called. Adopting a child isnt a call its a command. You either chose to obey or you dont. If you feel like the Lord is leading you or even if you dont try at least try. You will never know the miracles God can do until you welcome His little children in His name.


Lord, please find Lyla a home and a family that she so richly deserves. Please find Faith and Diana homes as well. I want every child to have a home, every orphan to be cared for and every person out there to shut up about how they cant do it. But Lord not my will but Yours be done. Set people on fire for adoption, for special needs, for children Lord. Lord bring our next child to us God, let us know exactly who we are to adopt, exactly who our next son is. Thank you for loving me in spite of my faults, thank you for loving these children more than any of us every could. Heal them and please God dont let them die alone. In Jesus name. Amen


If you want to chat with me about Lyla or other kids needing homes, how to adopt or anything really feel free to leave a comment or email me at ashleelinnea at gmail dot com. Please pray Lyla will find her forever family.

Be blessed