Helping Other DRUG ENDANGERED KIDS!

Governor Sam Brownback of Kansas has signed a proclomation making APRIL 26, 2011 DRUG ENDANGERED CHILDREN AWARENESS DAY!

WE have worked closely for years with THE KANSAS ALLIANCE FOR DRUG ENDANGERED CHILDREN and THE KANSAS METH PREVENTION PROJECT.

A couple of weeks ago we went before our county commissioners who have also declared the entire mothe of April as DEC Awareness Month emphasizing April 26 as DEC Awareness Day. A story about our family is included in all the media information being sent out to our state.

I called our local Child Social Services Agency and asked what we could do to help Drug Endangered Children.

She said that they are ALWAYS in need of diapers so we are doing a diaper drive. In addition to that, she said that many kids who come into custody are afraid and lonely so she thought tied fleece blankets would also be a good idea for them to have something to "attach" to.

Our family is collecting diapers as well as childrens themed tied fleece blankets. The kids have had a ball making the blankets.

I think this mission is SO IMPORTANT.

OUR KIDS WERE THESE KIDS

who got taken away from their parents.. They may have benefited from diapers or one of these blankets.. It makes my heart sad.. But HAPPY that God has given us the PASSION to help others out!

Please pray for us as we will be speaking for 3-4 minutes in a Press Conference held on the Capitol steps on April 26th! Pray that God will give us the right words to say. Words that may help someone... Words that may influence someone to adopt or stop using drugs..

Yesterday...

I left the house at 6:30am yesterday and got home at 8:15pm-babysitting gets expensive with those hours and 6 kids. I was EXHAUSTED physically and emotionally when I got home.

My first stop for the day was to meet with a fellow blogger BEKI. Is she gorgeous or what??? Her little man came a long too and we chatted over breakfast at Braum's. Just 2 moms brought together by blogging-that ROCKS! After breakfast, we set out to do what I wanted to come do.... Remember baby CORA? Taken to be with Jesus after a short 3 week battle with cancer. I don't know baby Cora, I don't know her family. BUT IT AFFECTED ME.Beki offered to take me here-to the future site of CORA'S PLAYGROUND. We had some emotional moments and I got tearful many times..over a baby I never knew. We were blessed to chat with the woman in charge of the project who said over $40,000 had been raised so far and all the equipment was already ordered to include a princess castle! THANK YOU SO MUCH BEKI for taking the time out to take me.Then it was on to Wichita to speak at a "substance abuse during pregnancy" workshop. I changed from my capris and T into my standard grey suit, pink shirt and lucky 5 inch heels (which I can't walk in). I'm sure my "PEOPLE" get tired of seeing the same old outfit at EVERY conference!Every time I speak, I get emotional, I can't help it. I am so THANKFUL that MY PERSON-CC was there along with my persons PERSON-LS and a special attorney SC who despite my babbling are ALWAYS in the audience supporting me! Thanks ladies. I also had another special guest. My cousin Sarah came also and we had a great snack & chat at CHIPOLTE afterwards.
I shared my faith as I always do and one guy in the audience asked me how people usually "react" to this. I told him that I spoke in front of a few hundred at the national conference and didn't get ANY negative feedback on the comment cards. Then I shared one of my favorite scriptures with the crowd

"Learn to do good; Seek justice,Reprove the ruthless, Defend the cause of the orphan!" Isaiah 1:17

Another gal told me what a blessing I was afterwards and said "I'm so glad you shared your faith." I said "How could I not? God has given so much to me and if I have a platform, it's my job to talk about HIM! The one who has blessed us OVER AND OVER."

It was a 4 hour drive home after and I was SO HAPPY to see my littles! Felt like I had been gone forever!

Why...We do what we do...

Please keep The Captain and I in your thoughts and prayers as we go before the Kansas House of Representatives tomorrow to testify on House Bill 2333. We will be taking 3 kids with us. Pray that the members of the house will listen and be open to this bill making using illegal substances during pregnancy a crime-putting pregnant moms in MANDATORY REHAB until the birth of their baby.

The video above depicts what some of our children went through at birth. Take a minute to watch.

"He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the JUSTICE OF YOUR CAUSE like the noonday sun." Psalm 37:6

4...ALREADY?

Scared out of my mind....That's what I was 4 years ago when I got the call about MyMy-our first foster baby. Born into some "very rough" even "deplorable" circumstances-AND exposed to methamphetamines and marijuana in the womb. Could I handle a "drug baby?" "What if she had to go home-back to her birth family?" God knew...

The Captain was out of town and I couldn't get ahold of him so I told the social worker "YES, we will take her." I WAS A NERVOUS WRECK!

I had just a few hours to gather ALL things needed for a newborn. Several friends rose to the occasion and helped us out instantly.

We had spaghetti that night..We (The oldest, bean, T and I) were eating when the car drove up. It was the social workers first delivery of a foster child since starting her first job out of college.

This is how she came to us..In the below photo are ALL the worldly possessions she had. A pink blanket and hat, a diaper and a t-shirt.
I asked the social worker "Are you going to stay with me?" She said "No, I have to go home and get supper for my husband." ARE YOU SERIOUS? You just drop her off and expect me to know what to do with a newborn? I haven't had one in 15 years.

She was loved instantly by all of us...ESPECIALLY the oldest..
Daddy got home later that night and I don't think he put her down for days!! The joy this girl has brought into our lives has been phenomenal!Her adoption was finalized just short of her first birthday!She has become a little violinist-something she most likely would not have done if God would not have saved her life that day 4 years ago.Happy 4th Birthday our princess-little MY MY who has become a beautiful young girl right before our eyes.
Most people say "Oh, you have saved those kids." NO...Thank you MY MY for helping "SAVE US!" And for the MANY blessings your life has brought us.

"The Lord will keep you from all harm-he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and your going now and forevermore." Psalms 121:7-8

Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY by 11pm Friday!

IN THE HOUSE!-Me and The Captain.

We got a call from our state representative last week. Last year in February The Captain and I helped initiate, present & testify for House bill 2602 in front of The Kansas House of Representatives.

This bill makes using controlled substances during pregnancy a crime. 15 other states have passed similar bills into law. To find out if your state has this law click here. We will most likely be testifying again sometime in February.

Many bills take SEVERAL times to get from the house to the senate. The main reason this bill did not pass is because the way the bill was written-it gave women a FELONY and put them in jail immediately until the birth of the baby. The reason it was written this way is because it was just copied from another state. The bill is now being revised to make it mandatory REHAB instead of the jail time. Which I think will help it to be passed. Either way, with cut backs and the economy, this will cost our state money-another reason it may not pass. BUT so will raising special needs kids affected by drug abuse in the womb.

PLEASE join us in praying that this bill will pass the house and be moved on to the senate this session and that we are IN THE HOUSE-God gives us the words to speak.

GOD HAS GIVEN ME A CALLING AND I WILL NOT REST UNTIL I KNOW THE UNBORN ARE PROTECTED FROM THE ABUSE THESE 6 SUFFERED IN THE WOMB!

PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO WATCH OUR FAMILY VIDEO-so you can put REAL faces with our children who were abused in the womb!

Goodbye BABY!

BELOW is a picture of "the TRIBE" I had at home in September 2006 when I got THE CALL

16 year old

7 year old

5 year old

2 almost 1 year old

1 almost 2 years old

We were also in the middle of transforming our 1000 square foot home from THISTO THIS-doing ALL the interior work ourselves.
SO I WAS IN NO WAY PREPARED FOR THIS
(yes this is really his birth mama)
But God had other plans and on January 19, 2007 our baby boy joined our already swollen family.

A FULL SIBLING TO MY MY
His gestation and even the day of his birth were filled with methamphetamines, cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana. BUT GOD AGAIN PREVAILED! Protecting our BOY in the womb!
MY MY is so proud of her baby brother-they TRULY have a special bond.
I didn't think I could handle another child with The Captains schedule and all that we had going on-but GOD KNEW!
He is LOVED!BIG SISTER...A BOND THAT CANNOT BE BROKENGOODBYE BABY!HELLO LITTLE BOY!HAPPY 2nd Birthday SON!WE TIP OUR HATS TO YOU TODAY!
You are a true and precious GIFT to our family!

TO READ more click HERE!

UTAH..Beautiful site for Drug Endangered Children's Conference!

My time in Utah was fun and slightly stressful! I got in last Monday night and went out to dinner with a bunch of people from DEC Conference. The types of people that attend this conference are law enforcement, social workers, doctors, lawyers, and psychologists. It was very interesting to sit in on the breakout sessions.

After dinner Monday night, the group went to a dueling piano bar, it was very cool and different entertainment. Since we were in SLC it was appropriately named The TAVERNACLE!

On the walk back to our hotel, I took a picture of the SLC TEMPLE (thanks Holly) Not the TABERNACLE :)

Everyone in SLC was super kind! I was just overwhelmed at the beauty of Utah, it was definitely proof to me that God exists!

Tuesday morning we were treated to a wonderful authentic Indian performance by Little Feathers dancers. I took video and pictures and my kids loved seeing them. Methamphetamines in particular are a HUGE cause of destruction of a lot of Indian families in Utah and all over the country.

Tuesday evening I went out to dinner with several people from the conference including one of the founders of DEC Sue Weber-Brown. We had a nice dinner at the base of one of the mountains. I got to talk to them a lot about the bill I would like to see passed in EVERY state to protect the unborn in the womb from drug exposure.

I went to bed early Tuesday evening about 9pm but was up from 12am to 3am making revisions to my presentation. I was up early and downstairs with "my person" Cristi Cain as she helped me prepare my presentation. She helps me put things in correct order, handles all my video prep and is very "techno knowledgeable" PLUS, she's my friend and great supporter! If it weren't for Cristi, our story and the need to get these unborn kids protected would not be out there. She has connections in the drug world!!!! LOL

My talk went spectacular! It was my 3rd presentation this fall and definitely the best! I teared up ONE time but didn't cry. I really tried to reach out and get this group to help these unborn babies not suffer the abuse my kids did! I hope they heard me. Thanks to Liz and Marjean, I was able to change my presentation to an earlier time and book an earlier flight home with my friends Cristi and Loretta. ME & CRISTI CAIN!

I was able to be home Wednesday night before all the kids went to bed! Cristi thinks I will get a lot of requests to speak after this conference. We will see :)

I am very thankful for a supportive husband and family! I hope to one day get my kids involved in this effort also. I pray the Keller family will make an impact on drugs and drug endangered children!

Now I'm just back at the farm, sitting in my nightie, drinking coffee back to being a normal ol' mom........just the way I like it!

BTW if any of you have ideas on how we can "get our story out there" to get more exposure so we can get this law passed in the spring PLEASE let me know! Thanks

OUR UTUBE VIDEO-Meth-the littlest victims-Keller Family Story.