The Darya Project

I am an advocate for Down syndrome.

I am an advocate for international adoption.

I am an advocate for international adoption of children with Down syndrome.

And so is Lydia.

Although Lydia is just 11 years old, it seems we have a lot in common. She has two siblings that have Down syndrome ... one biological and one adopted.

And she loves them with every ounce of her soul.

Seven days ago, Lydia spear headed The Darya Project.

Meet Darya ...


Darya is an orphan in Eastern Europe. She has Down syndrome and she is waiting for her forever family. Is she not the cutest little thing?!

The Darya Project is Lydia's mission to raise $20,000 by Thanksgiving to fund the adoption of Darya.

Lydia has fallen in love with little Darya's picture. She made a pact with her parents that if she could raise the money to fund Darya's adoption, then they would adopt her.

Isn't that amazing?

Now you might be wondering how in the world an 11 year old little girl is going to raise $20,000 by Thanksgiving. It sounds inconceivable, until she put it like this ...

If 200 people donated $100 each, she would meet her goal. Or even if 600 people donated $33 each, she would meet her goal. Even $5, $10 or $15 donations go so much further than you think!

When you consider all the people in this world ... and all the people that are reading these words ... is it really that inconceivable?

I don't think so ... and I'd love to see it happen.

So far, Lydia has raised $7,021 in seven short days. She has had a car wash, three bake sales and a Christmas picture day ... and she has more planned!

A local news crew is ready to interview Lydia on Thanksgiving day ... let's help this 11 year old little girl meet her goal so that we can hear her say ...

Darya is coming home!

PS ... please spread the word!

Click here to read more about Lydia and her family. Monetary donations can be made by clicking on the paypal icon in the upper right corner of their blog.

Yet Another Great Cause

You know how much I love me some adoptive families. Meet
Jacob ...



Isn't he sweet? He is currently in Eastern Europe waiting for his forever family to bring him home. Lucky for Jacob, Brigitte and her family are raising money to bring him home!

Jacob is blessed with an extra chromosome ... just like my girls. If he is not adopted by age four, he will become institutionalized. Let's help Brigitte and her family get him home ... soon!

So how can we help? Why, I am so glad you asked!

Right now, Brigitte and her family are hosting a $10 raffle to win a Wii. I know for us ... we already have a Wii, but I'm thinking that would make a pretty nice gift for $10! Click here to get more information about this great cause.

They need our help ...

The Newbold Family lost their first angel with Down syndrome to leukemia. Thereafter, they felt led to adopt two children with Down syndrome from Eastern Europe, one of which is already home. The Newbold Family is now back in Eastern Europe trying to finalize the second child's adoption. However, they have hit a financial road block. Please click here to read more about their story.

Reminder: $5 Challenge

Just want to remind everyone of the $5 Challenge I'm hosting for McKenna. The challenge is to see how much money we can raise by Christmas with $5 donations from anyone and everyone that has just $5 to spare. How? Use the chipin widget you see to the right. The cause? Help bring this beautiful little girl home where she belongs ...

Thank you to everyone who has already contributed ... you guys blow me away with your generosity! Tis' the season, right?!

I need your help ... please!

As you know, I am very passionate about adoption ... especially adoption of children with special needs. You might remember me talking about my friend McKenna ... click HERE to check out her blog, which happens to be exactly the same as mine right now (we think A LOT alike), so don't be fooled.

Anyway, McKenna and her husband are adopting little Reese from Eastern Europe. Reese has Down syndrome, a cleft lip and a cleft palate. I think McKenna and her husband are pretty amazing for adopting this little angel ... don't you agree? It is imperative that they get Reese home as soon as possible to get her clefts repaired. We suspect that the officials in Eastern Europe will NOT repair her clefts, as she is probably not seen as worthy of this surgery since she has Down syndrome. Pretty sad, huh?

If you followed my adoption blog, then you are aware how much INCREDIBLE support we received throughout our adoption. Now it is my turn to try to help others that are following in my shoes and right now, I want to help McKenna. BUT ... I need your help. ;)

I just checked my statcounter and I have hundreds of readers of my blog everyday. I got to thinking, "Self ... wouldn't it be cool if every person who reads your blog donated just $5? Imagine if 300 people donated just $5 ... that would be $1,500 to get McKenna and her husband that much closer to bringing Reese home!" It is amazing how just $5 can add up and when you are adopting, every single penny counts!

So what do you think? I know the economy pretty much sucks right now and I totally understand if you do not have just $5 to spare. But if you do, would you consider donating it to help get Reese home to her forever family? Let's see if we can get to $1,500 by Christmas!



PS ... If you are not Paypal savvy and would like to mail your donation in, please contact me at bethanybalsis@mac.com so I can give you an address.

Oh my gosh ...

We're not quite sure how to express our gratitude quite yet, but the girls over at The Mom Crowd launched an incredible fundraiser for us today. For every $5 raffle ticket that is purchased, your name will be entered into a drawing for a ton of awesome prizes {see the slideshow below}. The prizes that have donated are valued at over $1,500 ... whoa! Click here to check it out!

Can you help us?

Remember Emma? I am thrilled to say that she made it through her heart surgery better than anyone could have expected! She is still in the hospital in recovery, so please continue to lift her up in prayer.

Many people in the online community have expressed an interest in getting Emma's family {mom's name is Meredith} a special something ... perhaps a new triple stroller since their old one was ruined. Do you have a dime to spare to help us reach our goal?

Please stop by Meredith's blog and let them know you are praying for them!