Emptiness... Compassion fatigue is real

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School has started. Kids are getting back into the swing of school, schoolwork and their activities. I know we are. My two oldest are both in soccer! This may be the last season for Hunter but he does have other activities that he is interested in. Hudson is really getting into it and it has been fun watching him practice this season so far! Last season was REALLY hard to watch LOL We have food, each other, friends, family, a home. We are blessed.

But we are missing some very important pieces to our family puzzle. And all four of them are halfway across the world in a very scary area right now. And while the situation tends to be front and center on the news, it is getting harder and harder to help. Currently, I have done and continue to do what I can to help my kiddos, but because of Martial Law (which has been extended through November), R, N, Y and S cannot come here. I still can't adopt. But we talk. And I get to see their faces on occasion. 

So how else can I help? Through the United 4 Ukraine program that is being offered by the US. People apply to "sponsor" people to come here for two years from Ukraine. This program has helped thousands of people flee their homeland to come safely to the US. Some want to stay but many want to return to Ukraine when it is safe to do so. So, what does all this mean? I have been working with this individual who does an excellent job explaining this process. 

And what does it mean to "Sponsor" an individual, family or group? Check it out!

Please do not let compassion fatigue set in. It is affecting our abilities to help these amazing people. Russia continues to invade a country that did nothing to provoke them. And this has been going on well before Feb 2022. 

So many emotions... Joy, fear, sadness, love and fixing their BOMB shelter

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These last few weeks have been very busy with work, school, activities, events and my fundraiser. My kiddos' orphanage's shelter needs to be repaired before they can return. However, the Ukrainian government will not help with the repairs and so people are fundraising to help cover the costs. My kids have been refugees in their own country for the last 4-5 months, moving from one location to another. They have been able to stay at the locations for a short period of time, but they are still having to move. They so want to return to their orphanage and return to some sense of normalcy. I get it. But this is what needs to be repaired:

Can you believe it? This looks like an old dungeon. But this is their bomb shelter. That is the first time I have said it. Bomb shelter. If you look at all of my posts, I have referred to repairing their "shelter". I can't imagine that I am helping children halfway around the world repair their bomb shelter so that they can return to it. My kids here in the US do have scary things to worry about (someone just posted in our neighborhood app that a creepy guy was following kids in another neighborhood in our area), but not surviving bombs. I was talking to Y yesterday and all of the sudden, he had to go. This is the message he sent me. 

They had an air alarm. He is 12 years old. His sister is 7. His older brothers are 14 and 17. These kids have been through so much. And all we want is for them to be with us. A few days ago I had the pleasure of "meeting" and talking with N and Y's older brother, R. He is considered an aged out orphan. Fortunately, the director has allowed him to stay so that he is not separated from his younger siblings. We had a wonderful conversation. He does such a great job looking out and taking care of N, Y and S. They have told me that they love me. They have told me that they want me to be their mom. I hope and pray that this will happen. 

The fundraisers that are currently happening to help raise funds for my kiddos:

My Pampered Chef fundraiser (ends Aug 12) - pamperedchef.com/go/teresamccann0804 Thank you for your support! 

Another family's Pampered Chef fundraiser (ends Aug 14) - https://www.pamperedchef.com/party/angelaoverholt0808

Another family's T-shirt fundraiser - https://www.catholictshirtclub.com/collections?fbclid=IwAR2uBESm3XxWFRXgDkPoXbYwlfksY1_QskFIweci1Ev3AmsqsYo-8XKz1e8