Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!

I logged off my computer at 5:30pm and didn't check it again until 11pm. Here is the latest:

Most of you know by now, our family decided three years ago to forgo giving presents to one another during the holidays. Instead, we reach out and raise money for orphan ministries.

We just finished going through the book, "Crazy Love" by Frances Chan with our kids and decided this year, we wanted to be CRAZY for Jesus! He is so crazy about us, we wanted to share His love with everyone throughout the year, but especially during November and December.

Lydia took "CRAZY" to a whole new level, however, when she approached me (while her dad was on a mission trip in Africa) and asked if she raised $20,000.00 before Thanksgiving, could we adopt a little orphan girl, Darya, who has Down Syndrome in Eastern Europe. (A friend of ours adopted a little boy from the same orphanage and reported that Darya gets no attention at all....no one speaks to her or holds her.)

THAT WAS 8 DAYS AGO! Being a sensible 41 year old, I told Lydia she would never be able to raise $20,000.00 in 8 days.....she is only eleven. She didn't hear me. Instead, she asked again, "But if I do raise the money, will you adopt her?" I responded yes, if she raised that much money in 8 days, we would know God is in it and would travel to adopt Darya!

Tonight, I would like to report that Miss Lydia has raised $26,550.00 and the donations are still coming in. It just so happens, we have good friends who have been planning to adopt a little one with Down Syndrome through Reece's Rainbow, but lack of funds has delayed them. Not anymore, everything above $20,000.00 goes to them.

So, friends, you have been a part of a double Thanksgiving Miracle. Not only will Darya have a home ....but through your gifts, another little angel will be given hope for a family tomorrow too! God is so great, isn't He?

Lydia will be on the local Fox Morning Show tomorrow at 6:45am. I will try my very best to post it to the blog, because I know so many want to see it.

"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say REJOICE!" Phil. 4:4

38 comments:

  1. That little girl of your is absolutely amazing! God Bless and HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Can't wait to hear about your journey pick up your new little girl and see pictures of her with her big sis Lydia!!!!

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  2. This is the Coburns across the street--we are so happy and excited for all of you! Way to go! Thank you for inspiring all of us. God bless!

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  3. That is phenomenal! Hallelujah!

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  4. Praise the Lord!! I found your blog from a link on a friend's blog yesterday and, like many people, wrote about your family on my blog last night. I couldn't get Lydia and Darya off my mind and dreamed about them all night long last night - and prayed every time I would wake up. I have been checking your blog off and on all day and have been eagerly waiting to hear what has taken place today. God is good...all the time!! What a testimony your beautiful Lydia is being! I am rejoicing with you and will continue to pray Darya home!
    Happy Thanksgiving!!

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  5. Absolutely unbelievable!! Praise God!! Thank you for letting us be apart of this. Continue you to blog about the rest of Darya's story. We can't wait to follow it. May blessings abound!

    P.S. We're good friends with the Spencers and go to Grace Chapel. We heard about your story from Amy earlier this week, and are so grateful we did. :)

    Nathan, Mindy, Ellie, & Libby Spradlin

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  6. Rejoice is right. This is amazing, congratulations on bringing your daughter home!

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  7. Congratulations! Im so happy for you guys. Happy thanksgiving!Cant wait till Darya is in your arms.

    Isabelle

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  8. Blown Away... what a miracle!... a DOUBLE one!:)This has been so amazing to watch and so awesome to see people eager to give and share in such a great cause<3 Love you so much and cannot wait to get her here!

    tons of love <3

    cousin Amy

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  9. Praise the Lord! I'm one of those followers out in Washington trying to help spread the news of your amazing family! The tears are flowing and I can't wait to see Darya at home with her forever family! Happy Thanksgiving to your wonderful family!

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  10. PRAISE THE LORD! I stayed up like I promised and I copy my post so I could post it on my facebook so others could read. I look forward to following the story so please don't stop. You know, you do have a gift of writing - and all of these blogs would make a wonderful book. I think of it as "the faith of a child". Tell Miss Lydia "congratulations."

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  11. I am amazed and glad little Darya will now have a family! Congrats Lydia!

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  12. Goosebumps, tears and shouts for joy!!! Prayers are answered and blessings are flowing!!! I can't wait to follow the rest of your journey. Lydia, you are absolutely my hero!!!

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  13. PRAISE THE LORD! I am so amazed by Lydia's faith. I'm speechless!

    Amanda

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  14. Congratulations to Lydia and to all of the Hollis family! You have not only found a way to save a child, but you have also found a way to show the world what God's love and grace is all about. Anything is possible with God. Happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful that I have seen this miracle and can't wait to see another one named Darya.

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  15. HALLELUJAH!!! REJOICING in the LORD!!! I'm so excited [& Thankful] for Darya!!! =)

    Happy Thanksgiving

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  16. Simply amazing.Our family fell in love with two girls ...Vera,who also has found her forever family and your little Darya.We knew it was not our time but we are rallied once again knowing that it is indeed in His time.This is one incredible story.The seemingly impossible made possible through the belief that all is possible with faith and hope.Congratulations to you all!!

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  17. Congrats Lydia. You have proved that with faith anything is possible! I'm sure Darya is going to have a wonderful family.

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  18. I'm CRAZY happy for you guys! With God anything is possible!!

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  19. I won't say I can't believe it, because I can, I do and I *knew* you would do it. But I am just amazed, stunned and in awe.

    Congratulations - I can't wait to see Lydia welcoming her new sister home. My prayers are with you that you are able to adopt Darya sooner rather than later.

    Lydia - you are an amazing and wonderful person. You are a hero and I am humbled by the fact you have achieved more in 8 days than most of us do in a life time.

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  20. Happy Thanksgiving!! Wonderful news and I can't wait to see pics of Darya at home in your family's arms.

    Candy

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  21. Praise GOD!! His Awesome POWER of Provision!!
    Darya is SO SO loved ~ by the Father
    Happy Happy Thanksgiving!!
    I LOVED watching you 3 on TV!!
    What a day of rejoicing you'll have today!!

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  22. Praise the Lord! God is so incredibly amazing, I can't even believe it. We're all waiting for you to come home, sweet Darya. Happy Thanksgiving, baby girl.

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  23. Praise the Lord!! I learned of your family through my daughter, Jennifer Dove's blog yesterday. This morning, I logged on to see how you did raising the money. I had chills when I read the amount that has been raised so far. Praise God!! May He be with you when you travel to get your little girl!! Happy Thanksgiving! Kathy Davis, Milledgeville, Ga.

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  24. Hollis Family,
    Thank you for your unselfish faith. You are an inspiration to us all. Let's keep it going for your friends.

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  25. The tears are just flowing. WOW! Lydia, you did it, you DID IT!! And now you are helping another family fulfill their dream with the extra money - you are just amazing , girl! Thank you so much for sharing your journey, we are forever changed by your example of selfless concern for orphans.

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  26. Thanks for allowing us to be a part of something "epic"! It has been so fun to post Lydia's progress on my Facebook page. Can't wait to say "I told ya so" to all my friends too!

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  27. CONGRATULATIONS Lydia and the whole Hollis family!! I had goosebumps and tears as I read how much people stepped up to help you out in this walk of faith. I simply cannot wait to follow along on your trip to Eastern Europe!! AND, I feel so blessed to have been a small part in this journey:->

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  28. OK, just started reading your blog but you have me in tears. GOD IS SO GOOD!

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  29. I found you a few days ago and have prayed for this dream to be real. All we have to give is prayer, and prayer we have given. I can't wait to see this story unfold!

    Jenni Evans

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  30. Congratulations!! I am so happy for your family! And what a gift to not only be able to bring Darya home, but to help your friends bring their child home!!

    We are a Reece's Rainbow family, adopting a 5-year-old little girl in Eastern Europe! :) I'm so glad we can follow your story, as well!

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  31. What an inspiration your whole family is!! I ran across your blog last night and I cried and cried as I read about your very selfless your daughter Lydia!! What a blessing she is. I told my two boys the story and they were beyond amazed this morning as I told them how much money Lydia raised. I am so very thankful for the families who adopt orphans and I pray that one day God will touch my husbands heart to allow this to happen for us too! God bless you and your family!

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  32. i just started following your blog.. its amazing. I literally gasped when I read your total!!! Your family is SO inspiring. I wish you luck with your journey, and can't wait to hear more about it!

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  33. Wow, I have followed your story just the last several days and I checked first thing this morning and just cried. I ordered dresses from Sallee so the money could go to you, but planned on donating this morning to your paypal although I wasn't sure where I could take it from. I'd still like to help your friends that you are blessing your abundance with!

    We have 4 adopted blessings; 3 from Liberia. We are hoping to adopt from Ethiopia next.

    God bless,
    Jenny at www.oupplansmultiplied.blogspot.com

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  34. What amazing news to wake up to this morning!! God is just so good. I love how HE LOVES to do "exceedingly ABUNDANTLY above all that we ask or think!!" Eph 3:20. Congrats to all of you!

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  35. If I wasn't seeing this with my own eyes I would say it's not possible!! This is unbelievable!!! I just saw the post Renee, put up at Special K's, I am speechless!
    God is good!
    God bless you all and Happy, Happy Thanksgiving!

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  36. This is the best Thanksgiving gift ever!!!!!
    Ephesians 3:20 " Now unto Him who is able to do esceedingly adbundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."

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  37. oh wow. what an incredible story. The Lord is so faithful to provide if we just have faith. Faith like a child. What a wonderful blessing to have children who already know the Lord and trust in his provision whole heartedly. This is such an inspiration to me and so many others. I am adopted and I know what a impact you are going to make on this child's life. She will be so well loved and cared for! May the Lord bless you and your family. Praying for you all.

    Sarah

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