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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
(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 am praying that one day my daughter will finally be allowed to come home.
Nutrition Facts
Servings12.0
Amount Per Serving
calories67
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 2g
2%
Saturated Fat 1g
3%
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol0mg
0%
Sodium205mg
9%
Potassium97mg
3%
Total Carbohydrate16g
5%
Dietary Fiber6g
25%
Sugars5g
Protein6g
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.
