Children of the State Free to view on Youtube for limited time

The complete documentary Children of the State can be viewed by clicking on this link http://bit.ly/2hZ8Jjj and is only available for free on youtube until midnight December 19, 2016 PST or it can be seen in Russian only with no English Subtitles here  

Please share this short video clip below and post asking President-elect Trump to make bringing the orphans caught in the Russian Adoption Ban home a top priority. They have been waiting over 4 years. Information can be found at Parents United for Russian Orphans on how to help by writing your local congressman.

#PleaseTrumpUsAMiracle #RussianAdoptionBan

Dear President-elect Trump,

In December 2012, the Russian Government signed a law banning all Americans from adopting Russian children in response to a law the US Government signed called The Magnitsky Act. When the law passed, over 300 children who had met their potential families were left orphans once again. One of these children is Natasha, who will turn 11 on December 19th. She was only 6 years old when she met her American family and has lived 4 additional years in an orphanage because of the ban.

Since the ban Katrina Morriss has worked ceaselessly with other parents in the same situation to find a way for their intended children to come home either to America or to adoptive families in Russia.

Please help to finally make their dreams come true by negotiating with President Putin to make finalizing the adoptions of the orphans stuck in the Russian Adoption Ban a top priority.

Sincerely,

Parents United for Russian Orphans

Bring Our Children Home - A look into the 2012 Russian Adoption Ban

Dear Friends/Family,

I urgently need your help in assuring we have congressmen and senators at our upcoming congressional event to discuss our children caught in the Russian Adoption Ban. Below you will find 6 things you can do to help us out. Even if you can only do one of them it will be extremely helpful.

#1 This Weekend email your local congressman and state senators. See sample letter below or change to make it more personal.

#2 Tuesday - call your local congressman and state senators to see if they received your email and if they will be attending the event. See sample phone call below.

#3 Ask your friends and family to help us out by doing the two things above.

#4 Share the trailer of the film To the Moon and Back helping us reach 15,000 views and showing our government there is interest in our cause.

#5 Report back to me either by commenting on this post or messaging me privately letting me know what you have done and the response you have received.

#6 Allow me to personally deliver a letter to your representatives while I am in DC letting them know you would like them to attend the event or thanking them for RSVPing saying they will attend. I will send you a copy of the letter to make sure you approve.

We have less than 2 weeks to pull this off so I am in desperate need of an army to help make sure we actually have an audience at the event. You all have been amazing during the last 4 years and I thank you very much for all the support you have given to try and help get our children home.

Sincerely,

Katrina Morriss

Sample email to send and links on where to send it.

http://www.contactingthecongress.org/

Dear Congressman/Senator......,

This week you will be receiving an invitation from Congressman Collin's office for an event titled Bring Our Children Home - A look into the 2012 Russian Adoption Ban. This issue is very important to me and I urge you to make it a priority to attend the event scheduled for June 22nd.

I have a friend who still desperately wishes to adopt the child their family was in the process of adopting when the ban happened. There are approximately 25 children still living in orphanages 3 years after the ban because no one else has come forwarded to adopt them. Many of these children have special needs and have been emotionally tortured due to not knowing why the families they thought they were finally getting never came back for them. Some have even been adopted in Russia only to be returned back to different orphanages and separated from siblings or sent to live in horrid mental institutions.

My friend is trying to work with congress to find a humanitarian solution that will finally allow these precious children to come home where they belong.

Please contact Katie in Congressman Collin's office to let her know you will be attending this very important event. I would also appreciate an email back letting me know you have RSVP'd.
Sincerely,
Your Name
City, State

Tuesday's Phone Call

Hello, my name is ......... and I recently sent Congressman/Senator ....... an email asking them to attend a very important event titled Bring Our Children Home - A look into the 2012 Russian Adoption Ban. I was calling to find out if they received my email and if they have had a chance to RSVP to Katie at Congressman Collin's office. If not, please remind them that this issue is very important to me and ask them to kindly notify me regarding their ability to attend. Thank you.

Petition and Banana Muffins

CHANGE IN MUFFIN RECIPE!!!!!
Well, not really a change in the recipe but a change in which Fuel category
it belongs in.
When I made the recipe I was new to THM and thought because the carb and fat content
fell under the requirements of an FP my recipe was an FP.

I have since learned that Bananas and Apple Sauce are always an E Fuel
no matter how much you eat of them.

So I am changing the Fuel on this recipe to E.

Please sign our petition that we plan on taking with us to the
congressional screening of To the Moon and Back.

If you are here for the Banana Muffin recipe it is at the very bottom.
My blog is mostly about our journey in the Russian Adoption Ban.
Which is the reason for all my weight gain and the reason I joined
THM. So the two go together for me. Most my readers don't care
about my weight loss journey but they do care very much about my sweet little
girl stuck in Russia :)



I have had so much going on since December when I blogged last. 

I had surgery the beginning of February (hysterectomy) 

and then I went to the Sedona Film Festival the end of February. 

The festival was amazing and the film 

To the Moon and Back was extremely well received. 

It received a 4.75 out of 5 star rating. 

It was the 3rd place documentary as far as audience ratings went.
There were about 75 documentaries entered in the festival. 

Next it is going to the Nashville Film Festival in April.

We are also trying to get a congressional screening and I will 

keep everyone posted as to when that is and how you can  

help get your senators and congressmen to attend. 

For those who have not seen the trailer you can view it below. 

I was much more impressed with the film than the trailer

as I feel the trailer is kind of dry and focuses too much 

on the political side of the ban. 

The film is very different and I feel like Susan Morgan Cooper

did a very good job of pulling all the stories that led up to the ban together. 

We started a new petition to take with us when we go to the 

congressional screening. 

Please take a moment to sign and share. 

We need our government to understand that these children 

have not been forgotten even though it has almost been 4 years since we last saw them. 

The Russian documentary Children of the State can now be seen with English Subtitles
on Vimeo for $3.99 to rent.



If you speak Russian it can be seen for free here.

As far as updates on Natasha go I recently found out why she was no longer

on the database.

Someone had guardianship over her but she still lived in the orphanage. 

She did go home a few times with them on the weekends 

and I was so excited for her to finally have someone to 

love her like a daughter. 

But then I found out they will not be renewing their guardianship after March.

I am so grateful they didn't take her from the orphanage only to return her. 

I have a friend who found out the little boy she loves and still 

desperately wishes to adopt had that happen to him. 

He was taken home to a Russian family but returned to the orphanage

a few months later. 

His brother was adopted by a different family. 

We keep praying that someday these two boys will finally end up together.

That's all the updates I can think of for now. 

Thanks to everyone who has supported us with their kind words

and prayers over the past 4 years. 

I know I stay quiet on my blog but there is not a day that goes by

that I am not contacting someone or trying to figure out some way

to get our children into families. 

Please continue to pray for us as no matter how much time goes by

the hole in our hearts has not healed. If anything the ache to see and 

hold Natasha again has only grown larger as we continue to watch 

her grow up in an orphanage when she could be growing up in a family instead. 

Banana Muffin Recipe

CHANGE IN RECIPE
Well, not really a change in the recipe but a change in which Fuel category
it belongs in.
When I made the recipe I was new to THM and thought because the carb and fat content
fell under the requirements of an FP my recipe was an FP.

I have since learned that Bananas and Apple Sauce are always an E Fuel
no matter how much you eat of them.

So I am changing the Fuel on this recipe to E.

To my new friends joining me because you really want some 

yummy FP muffins I am so glad you stopped by. 

I am very grateful to THM for helping me get down to my 

pre failed adoption weight. 

I still have lots to lose though and so I am grateful I finally 

perfected my banana muffin recipe. 

Oh how I have missed a good banana muffin. 

I was so anxious to get this recipe out to everyone that I only 

took one photo. 

Sorry, 

this really isn't a food blog but I will 

do my best to make sure your muffins are really yummy. 

I do have an affiliate link to THM. 

You can substitute any of the THM items

for other things. So you DON'T have to use THM products

to make the recipe. 

Any money earned from them will help me with my trip 

cost to film festivals and to DC to speak with congress.

Here is the pin link for Pinterest. 
I am afraid I haven't learned how to add that to my photos yet. 

Ingredients needed

Wet

2 medium ripe bananas

3 Tbsp, Natural Apple Sauce No Sugar Added

3 Tbsp, 100% Liquid Egg Whites 

6 Tbsp, Almond Milk, Unsweetented, Vanilla

1/4 Cup Triple Zero Vanilla Greek Yogurt

1 tsp, Vanilla extract

4 Tbsp(s), Erythritol and Stevia Blend  (I use THM Sweet Blend)

Dry

1 tsp Aluminum Free Baking Powder

1 tsp Baking soda

1/4 tsp, Salt

1 1/2 cup, THM Baking Blend

 1 scoop, THM Pristine Whey Protein Powder

(You can find recipes online that tell you how to make your own. It is basically almond flour, coconut flour and oat flour. If you search pinterest for Brianna's baking mix you can find a nut free version too. I use the THM because I am lazy and I don't think it cost any more than mixing it together myself)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

place 12 cupcake liners in cupcake pan

Smash the 2 ripe bananas and then add all the wet ingredients together along with the sweet blend. 

Add all the dry ingredients together and mix well. 

Combine the dry and wet ingredients together and mix well. 

Scoop mixture out into cupcake liners.

I used an ice cream scoop and filled them about 3/4 way full. 

Bake for 25 minutes but check after 20 just in case they start to get too brown on top. 

Muffins should feel spongy to the touch when you take them out. 

I have posted below the nutrition information that myfitnesspal says

about the muffins. 

I plan on eating one tomorrow with my bacon, eggs and a little butter on top of it. 

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

P.S. If you get a chance please sign our petition. 

I am praying that one day my daughter will finally be allowed to come home. 

Nutrition Facts
Servings 12.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 67
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 2 g	2 %
Saturated Fat 1 g	3 %
Monounsaturated Fat 0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg	0 %
Sodium 205 mg	9 %
Potassium 97 mg	3 %
Total Carbohydrate 16 g	5 %
Dietary Fiber 6 g	25 %
Sugars 5 g
Protein 6 g	11 %
Vitamin A	1 %
Vitamin C	3 %
Calcium	6 %
Iron	3 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.

You're Here for a Reason

You're Here for a Reason (just part of the poem that I love)

Nancy Tillman

You're here for a reason, you certainly are. 

The world would be different without you, by far....

Even the smallest things that you do 

blossom and multiply far beyond you....

It travels much further than you'll ever know...

under the treetops....over the snow...till it's wandered...

and fluttered....and floated....and twirled -

making things happen all over the world.

You're here for a reason. 

It's totally true. 

You're part of a world that is counting on you.

So don't be too worried if some days fall flat. 

Good things can happen, even from that.

You're here for a reason. If you think you're not,

I would just say that perhaps you forgot -

I was in Kohl's the other day when I saw this book

by Nancy Tillman

(affiliate link money earned goes toward AT child)

I have always loved her books.

I read the book

Wherever You Are: My Love Will find you
to Natasha in the Documentary Children of the State.

(affiliate link money earned goes toward AT child)

And I love, love, love that book. 

So I knew I was in for a treat. 

But I didn't expect to sit down and cry as I read it. 

So many times we can feel so insignificant in the world. 

So many times we can feel like what we do does not make a difference

and the world would go on just fine without us. 

Like I have said in previous post

December is a very hard month for me. 

Natasha just turned 10 on Saturday. 

She was 5 when we first committed to her and 6 when we finally met her. 

She should have been home in 2012. 

She should have celebrated her 7th birthday at home with us. 

I have so many she should have moments in December that sometimes

it makes it hard for me to even function. 

So it is hard for me to focus on how I could be Here for  Reason right now. 

but

"You're part of a world that is counting on you.

So don't be too worried if some days fall flat. 

Good things can happen, even from that."

This month it feels like everything I have tried to do has fallen flat. 

The Russian producer worked so hard on a documentary about the ban and

no matter how hard I have tried no one in the US seems to have any interest in it. 

Fortunately it has been seen in other countries all over the world.

And I got the flu last week so I have fallen short in our goal of raising $1,000 

for our AT Child. 

We have raised almost $350 for her by selling bracelets and necklaces

but Christmas is here in a just a few days so I don't think we will

raise the rest before the end of the year.

You can still purchase our beautiful bracelets.
They just won't make it to you in time for Christmas.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.617270988413214.1073741830.219257711547879&type=3

So I start to really get down and wonder if I really have anything to contribute

that can really make a difference in this horrible world. 

Then I remember the wonderful Russian citizens who worked hard to 

orchestrate the deliver of Natasha's gifts for her birthday. 

And the ones who randomly contact me and tell me how sorry 

they are that the ban happened and our two governments have not

been willing to find a solution to help Natasha and about 25 other children still living in 

orphanages even though they have families in American who love them.

I try and remember how I pulled it together and cleaned my house and put on make-up

even though I was running a fever and not feeling that great

so a reporter from a German TV Station could come over to my house 

and interview me because a Russian couple living in Germany had been denied

the opportunity to adopt a sick little girl and they wanted to hear 

about how we still very much wanted to adopt Natasha and had also been denied. 

Most likely the interview will never air because shortly after 

they were here the Russian Supreme Court overturned the ruling and the couple

in Germany will be allowed to finish their adoption. 

So wonderful that this little girl will now have a loving family instead of

being left to grow up in an orphanage. If only we had an option 

to bring Natasha home. 

So although I can sometimes feel like everything I am doing seems to fail

or fall short of how I wish it would turn out I know 

I am Here for a Reason. 

Thank you to all the Russian citizens who have 

shared, commented and contacted me about Natasha's story. 

Knowing how much you care about her and the other 

children who could have families right now if the politicians 

would think about the children's best interest

means a lot to me and helps me to keep going on really rough days. 

For anyone else who might be reading this blog

please consider donating to Prudence's account or sharing her 

photo and story with others. 

She is available for adoption and was born the same month/year

as Natasha. So she too has been living without a mom and dad for 10 

long years. 

Every child deserves a family so please help Prudence find hers. 

One last request. 

If by chance anyone has any connections with Netflix or Amazon Prime

please ask them to consider showing the film 

Children of the State on December 28th for the 3rd anniversary of 

the Russian Adoption Ban. 

Children of the State can be rented/purchased on Vimeo

but I think it would do better if people didn't have to pay extra to watch it

or download it. 

Things can only change if people know there is something

that needs to be changed. 

Please share our story. 

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/childrenofthestate/108227844

And if YOU ever doubt if YOU are Here for a Reason

Just remember

You're here for a reason. If you think you're not,

I would just say that perhaps you forgot -

Angel Tree Child

December is such a hard month for me. 

If I had my way I would just stay in bed and wake up in January. 

Put I try to put on a brave face and pretend that my heart is not shattered 

in pieces and advocate the best I can for the film and the stuck 

Russian orphans. 

I try to find ways to make the holiday special for my family

even when a part of my heart is stuck in Russia. 

This year my daughter asked to sign up to help one of the orphans 

on the Angel Tree. 

I don't know what I was thinking when I said yes 

because I have also been frantically trying to get the film

Children of the State seen. 

But my sweet little 8 year old daughter has a heart of 

gold and she really wanted to find some way to help another orphan out. 

Nevaeh knows what it is like to be adopted as she was adopted after we fostered

her from San Diego Foster Care for over 2 years. 

She is crushed when she thinks of a child without a mom or dad. 

So we have been working hard making bracelets for Prudence. 

We choose Prudence because she was born in December 2005 just 

like our sweet little Natasha. 

Both girls will be 10 years old this year. 

That's 10 years without a family to call their own. 

Ten years without a mom or dad to tuck them in at night

and tell them they are loved. 

Natasha is stuck in Russia due to the adoption ban so all I can 

do is hope and pray she finds a Russian family. 

But Prudence can be adopted. 

My heart belongs to Natasha and the thought of trying to replace

her if she doesn't have a family is not an option for me. 

But someone out there would be so blessed to have this amazing young

girl in their lives. 

Here is the link to the bracelets and necklaces were are selling and

a sample photo of our Down syndrome Awareness bracelet. 

They sell for $7.00 plus shipping. 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.617270988413214.1073741830.219257711547879&type=3

Facebook has this thing it does where it shows you your memories

for years passed. Here is the one that pop up on me today date

December 7, 2013

This was posted on an adoption group tonight. So this Christmas season as you fret over getting the perfect gift for your child/family member or worry there isn't enough money to purchase them what they really want take a moment to think about those who more than anything just want a family to love them. If you have one you really have all you need for Christmas. Take a moment to be so grateful for what you have and read this poem. 

Last year at this time our court documents sat submitted in St. Petersburg, Russia and we anxiously awaited our court date. We knew we should be getting the call any day and that could very well mean spending Christmas in Russia. We only had 12 days notice when we went for our referral trip in July. So we decorated the house and hung the stockings. I had all the presents purchased and wrapped. I even had purchased things for Natasha's stocking. I knew it would still be almost 2 months before she was home with us but had planned on keeping the stockings up until she got home. 

Then on December 19th, her 7th birthday, I woke up to the most horrible news. A bill banning American adoptions had been submitted to the Russian Parliament and they had signed it. I thought "Surely this law will not apply to us. Surely the courts would not make a child who had waited 7 years for a family and finally met one not be allowed to go home to one now." I will never, ever understand the injustice that was dealt to those children and families that day. I will never understand the apathy and hatred portrayed by American citizens who feel that it was a good thing because Russia needs to deal with their own "problems" and the US with theirs. My heart breaks ever night. Our stockings still hang on the fireplace. The small gifts for Natasha still inside. This year I have made contact with volunteers from her orphanage and they have agreed to let me send hats for her birthday to all the children in her group and a Christmas dress for her. I am up late once again trying to figure out how two governments can act so cruel to children who have already had so much pain dealt to them in their short lives.

The documentary our family is in is finally able to rent on Vimeo. 

Please take the time to watch it as it has so much information 

in it on how Russian citizens feel about the ban,

those for and against it. 

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/childrenofthestate/108227844