Once upon a time in a far away land, there lived a beautiful little girl. Her name was Jessica.
There was a family, also in a far away land, who longed to make Jessica a part of their forever family.
The family all lived together in a big pink house.

There was a Mommy and a Daddy who already loved Jessica very much and they couldn’t wait to meet her for the very first time.
There were three brothers and a little sister.
The sister was the only girl and she really wanted a sister to play dolls and dress-up with. She wanted to paint her nails and fix her hair…all the things sisters like to do together.
The family loved each other very much and went on many adventures together, but something was missing.
They knew they wanted another daughter to make their family complete.

One day, the Mommy and Daddy saw Jessica’s picture and it was love at first sight!
The family wanted her to come and live with them FOREVER.
Then it happened…a letter came telling the Mommy and Daddy that Jessica would finally be their daughter.
The family was so happy!

The family looks at her pictures every day and they talk about all the things they will do together when she is finally at home in the big pink house…
And they lived happily ever after!

(text from the family photo book Jessica received this week)

As Valentine’s Day comes and goes, we at Maria’s Big House of Hope have great reason to celebrate this year. Just a few days ago, our sweet Jessica received a very special Valentine gift unlike any other gift she had ever received before; a gift from her forever family. Thank you to the Show Hope sponsors who make her care possible as the hope of a forever family goes from fairy tale to reality for Jessica!

Read more posts about Jessica >

Discussion question: What is the best Valentine’s Day gift you have received? Let us know in the blog comments below!

Happy

On the first day of preschool class, I had a children’s CD playing in the background. Right around track 17, Judah’s eyes lit up and his mouth opened in surprise. It was the song “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” and he was evidently VERY happy about it. After it ended, both he and Jessica said “uh-oh” implying they wanted to hear it again. For the next week, each morning they would come in and say “happy” and we would listen to “If You’re Happy…” over, and over, and over…

The following week we started learning about opposites. In light of their delight in the song, I decided to begin with “happy” and “sad.” I used paper plate faces to show them the difference and had the kids mimic a happy face and a sad face. Then of course, after establishing that we were all happy, we would conclude with a rendition of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.”

Sad

Weeks have passed since then, but to date, Judah still comes to class every day with a huge smile on his face and as I greet him at the door, his first words are always “Becca, happy!” to let me know that he indeed is happy. As I watch him learn and play on a daily basis, I am truly amazed by his ability to be happy all the time. It is quite humbling. Despite the physical limitations he faces as a result of his special need, he has a remarkable way of making things work and still remaining joyful: whether he’s trying over to pick up his marker, or scooting himself over to play with the blocks, or figuring out how to pick up his cookie with his mouth if I am helping Jessica. It is nearly impossible to be around Judah and not feel joyful!

Join the movement to care for orphans! Become a Show Hope sponsor today!

Read more about Judah >

Last Friday we had the opportunity to celebrate yet another exciting occasion here at Maria’s Big House of Hope as Isaac turned 5 years old! As we celebrated with our sweet, joyous, energetic boy, I couldn’t help but think that not only was this a celebration of him turning another year older, it was also a farewell celebration. Although bittersweet for us here, we rejoice that Isaac will soon, very soon, be united with his forever family. In just a few weeks Isaac will meet the sweet family who has loved and prayed over him even though they have not yet met him. He will be united with his “mama,” his “baba,” and his 3 siblings, along with a community of family and friends that has eagerly awaited his arrival. What a sweet union that will be.

When I first arrived at Maria’s, to no surprise, Isaac was one of the first to greet me. For the first few weeks each time I would go into his room he would call out “Becca, come here!” and then he would look at me and say “Becca, no bye-bye” and I would respond “No, Becca no bye-bye.” The time for “bye-bye” is soon approaching, but what a joy to be able to say goodbye with such hope ahead for our sweet boy.

Thank you to all of the sponsors, donors, and friends of Show Hope who have been a part of Isaac’s journey. He has made a lasting mark here and will be truly missed by each of us who have had the privilege to enjoy this bundle of laughter and smiles.

Read more about Isaac >

Read more about Isaac’s forever family >

I love birthdays. I always have and hopefully always will. When I was a child, I loved the gifts. While I still love giving and receiving gifts, birthdays have come to mean so much more the older I’ve gotten: birthdays are a day to celebrate individuals. Yes, we should celebrate and appreciate each other more than once a year, but birthdays just seem to be a special day to celebrate the people we love. The sad reality for millions of orphans around the world is that very often there is not a day set apart to let them know they are special, unique, and loved.

In November, we had the privilege of celebrating the fifth birthdays of Judah and Jessica, two of the children here at MBHOH. We had a party during our preschool class time and were joined by all of our classmates, nurses, and Dr. Steve and his family. It was such a sweet opportunity as we took a bit of time to celebrate and give thanks for these two very special children turning one year older. Yet another reason to celebrate – on the heels of his fifth birthday, Judah also lost a tooth!

My deep desire for Judah and Jessica is that they would each know without a shadow of a doubt that they are loved and that they are worthy of being celebrated. I hope that years from now, no matter where they are, that they would be able to remember these moments and the people that cared for them and love them more than they will probably ever understand. Thank you to all the donors and sponsors who are helping to make this possible! I pray, too, that through this love they would glimpse the love their heavenly Father has for them.

It has been a busy month, but Thanksgiving has given me the opportunity to reflect on how thankful I am for these children and my Maria’s Big House of Hope “family.”  From birthdays, to holidays, to children receiving gifts from their forever families, we have much to be thankful for!

Read more about Judah >

Read more about Jessica >

Discussion: Leave us a comment and tell us what you did in November to celebrate and give thanks.

It has happened like clock work for the past 7 years…

The dreams usually start right around mid-July. Dreams of children running in and out of my classroom completely out of my control. Dreams of kids not listening to a word I say. If you are a teacher, you probably know exactly what I am talking about. Some may call it anxiety, I just like to think it’s something that comes with being a teacher. The “back-to-school” dreams (or nightmares might be a little more fitting)!

This year was a little different. I didn’t have the dreams, but the fears were still just as real, only totally different. There was the fear of leaving the place that had become so very familiar with kids that I adore for a place that was totally unfamiliar. There was the fear of not being able to communicate in the same language as my kids. The fear of caring for their individual special needs was very real too. I felt (and still do feel on many days) totally inadequate. But over all that fear there is a peace…a peace of a certain uncertainty: certain that this is where He has called me to be and serve and love for as long as He has me here, and a peace that although I am inadequate in my own strength, He is the One who makes me adequate.

So the first day came. My stomach in knots, I got out of bed, got ready, fixed a cup of coffee and walked downstairs (a definite plus- I don’t have to drive to work). In the back of my mind I tried to remind myself over and over just to love. That is what He has called me to. Yes, to teach and enrich the lives of His children, but above all things to love.

Thankfully I remembered very quickly that kids have this way of graciously accepting you and loving you just the way you are. Whether you’ve got yourself together or not, whether you speak their language or not, whether you look like them or not. It is a gentle and gracious reminder of how I should view others.

As the first few weeks have gone on, it has become easier as I get more comfortable with my sweet new students. It is a challenge for sure, but a welcomed one, knowing it is straight from the hand of a Father who planned this long ago.

Rebecca McCoy moved to Maria’s Big House of Hope in August 2011 to become the new preschool teacher. Previously, Rebecca taught kindergarten in Alabama. She is excited about this new journey and Show Hope is glad to have her!

QUESTION: What is your favorite back-to-school memory? Share with us in the comments section.

Learn more about how you can impact the lives of the children at MBHOH by becoming a Show Hope sponsor >