To purchase a copy of the book use this Amazon link. It is an affiliate link and does not cost you extra to us but the money earned from it is donated to Downside Up along with proceeds earned by Katrina Morriss on the book.
From The LifeBeats Project Podcast! Please listen and share!
Have you been waiting and working toward a happy ending that hasn't come yet?
Katrina Morriss of the blog Operation Orphan No More shares her story of trying to find beauty in the rain while waiting for her rainbow during her 5 year fight to bring home her special needs daughter Natasha from Russia through adoption.
She tells of the beautiful experience finally visiting her in Russia and of completing all of required paperwork only to be cruelly separated from her due to the Russian ban on adoptions from American families. Katrina has marched on Washington, spoken in front of Congress, been on Russian & American news and documentaries, and has organized letter writing campaigns – all in an effort to not let these children who have been caught in the ban become forgotten.
She shares how she always has loved happy endings and how she has had to work hard to be happy where she is at even though she has not received the happy ending she was expecting.
She tells of a miracle in which strangers helped transport Christmas gifts from the US all the way to Natasha’s orphanage and how this story has now become a children’s book Natasha and the Christmas Wish.
Katrina tells why she has now shifted her focus to what she can control, supporting organizations in Russia that provide resources to families with Down Syndrome children, and how this book is doing just that, and that the best way to help orphans is to keep them from becoming orphans in the first place. One of most touching parts of the podcast is when Katrina tells of reading their children’s book to her other daughter Nevaeh who did not understand why this story didn’t have a happy ending either. Katrina teaches her the importance of sad stories getting told and how sad stories have good parts in them too. .
Listen and be inspired to focus on the happy things in your life instead of the unfairness or heartaches in the world, to see what you can do in your circle of influence, and how you are making a difference.
Available in English and Russian, this beautifully illustrated children's book tells the story of Natasha, a little girl with Down Syndrome who lives in an orphanage in Russia, an American family's journey to adopt her and the strangers they now call friends who help get their love to her while they wait.
Your purchase helps to support Downside Up in Russia making it possible for more children with Down syndrome to stay in their families instead of being left in orphanages.
"...when I first read Katrina Morriss' Facebook posts about an adorable little girl stuck in an orphanage in Russia because of a political ban on adoptions by Americans, it struck a chord in me. I'm no stranger to the heartbreak of a failed attempt to adopt, but for Katrina and her husband, the fight to bring Natasha home has been going on every day for the past five years. Her story speaks straight to the heart of everyone who has ever longed to be a parent, or bonded with a child. Natasha is Katrina's child, regardless of who gave birth to her, or where she resides, or even what the law says is currently possible. There's a hope and faith and ferocity in this mother's love that sees an obstacle and instantly takes action to overcome it."
"Though I can't change the laws and fulfill Katrina's desire to bring her little girl home, I could offer up the words to help her tell her story and share some of the gratitude (yes, gratitude) that she feels toward the countless strangers, both American and Russian, who have stepped forward to help her maintain contact, send gifts, and improve the quality of life for orphans with Down syndrome like Natasha."
When ordering multiple orders just use the coupon codes......2for26, 3for39, or 4for50 (in any combination of English and Russian versions). A single copy is $14.
I spend time on FB and do post things there but usually forget about my sad little blog.
I am going to try to be better to share the updates I get about Natasha here.
I was able to send her Birthday/Christmas Presents again in December
and I have photos from the very sweet people that delivered them for me.
I will also include a sweet short dance video of Natasha and some of the
other girls in her orphanage.
Prepare for photo overload because I don't feel like deciding which ones are the best
and should be shared.
Quick story about her outfit and the little doll.
I purchased them but then decided it would cost more to ship them to my friend
in Maryland than it would for her to just go to Walmart and pick something out for me.
But standing in line in Walmart I had a meltdown and just couldn't take the gifts I had picked
out myself back.
So I ended up paying more to overnight the package than it did to actually purchase
the outfit and the little doll.
But in my mind I could picture Natasha lovingly taking the little pacifier and
putting it in and out of the doll's mouth.
Well, in the pictures below I have exactly what I imagined and am so glad I
decided to send my handpicked items instead of just having my friend pick something out.
Also, the sweater dress I sent had black leggins with it.
I guess leggins aren't big in Russia because they didn't put those on her
making her dress look really, really short.
Oh well. I will remember no leggins next time and am just so grateful
for the sweet friends who get my gifts to Natasha every year
and for the wonderful photos I get of her as I watch her grow up
healthy and happy.
And here is the most adorable dance video ever.
The girls all did an amazing job
and my heart is so grateful to all the wonderful orphanage
caregivers who love and care for the children.
On one final note I have some very exciting news!
The story about Natasha and the Christmas Hats is finally
going to be a Children's Book and should be
finished by the first of April!!!!
For my next blog post I will share more about the book
and the amazing illustrations that are included in it.
