William Shakespeare said, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. Isn’t that the truth? But in the play Romeo and Juliet, I’m told that Shakespeare was referring to Juliet’s argument that it doesn’t matter that Romeo’s surname is ‘Montague’ from her family’s rival’s ‘house of Montague’. It made me think about my name – or, my ‘names’. I was born Dawn Ellen Bean, but have been known by variations of that name, or completely different names according to my relationship with others.
Continue reading the "July, 2017 – What is in a Name?" »
I am excited to be returning to ‘the other land that I love’ (Romania!) on July 6 – landing in Frankfurt, Germany on the 7th – and then, to Bucharest – and finally up into the Transylvanian Alps to Brasov. Lord willing, I will be hands-on in the work until the first week of October. I can hardly wait.
Continue reading the "July, 2017" »
I would never have dreamt in a thousand years that I would be using this space this month for the following:
Jesse Diauto – Born January 21, 1977 – Died unexpectedly May 22, 2017
Continue reading the "June, 2017 – Tribute to a Young Friend" »
I am so excited to be headed back to ‘the other land that I love’, Lord willing, on July 6. I miss my babies! I miss my kids! This summer will mark seventeen years in Romania – and I truly feel after all this time that I am their ‘Mama Dawn’. In a couple of weeks, or so, when it begins to warm up, the big kids at Barza Mica sit on the little rock wall outside the orphanage and stare up into the sky looking for planes. Every time they see one, they say, “I wonder if this is the one that is bringing ‘Mama Dawn’? Oh, I can hardly wait to get there – and love and hug them all. And to be able to minister to our little Severe/Profound ones at Albina!
Continue reading the "June, 2017" »
I always loved going home for the breaks during my college years. It was HOME! With all its familiarity, I could have navigated through our old New England colonial blindfolded. Nothing ever changed. Everything was right where it supposed to be. The butter and condiments were in the same cupboard. The towels right where they should be in the hall closet. The dog’s dish to the left of the kitchen stove. And my left over high school memoirs still right in the draw where they were first placed. Everything was the same. I loved it!
Continue reading the "May, 2017 – Jesus Loves Me This I Know" »
It has been a busy first month back in the States –
Thirty-nine year old Alina, who has non-Hodgkin’s’ lymphoma for the second time in her face endured days of painful stem-cell removal in preparation for cancer treatment. The doctors couldn’t find enough healthy stem cells to set aside and freeze, so Alina had to have a complete blood-transfusion. Her test results have been sent to a medical center in the States for a second opinion. As of this writing, there is no word from them. Please keep praying over this precious godly woman for God’s best for her and her family.
Continue reading the "May, 2017" »
It is common knowledge that every major religion has a symbol. I’m sure that we all would recognize each one. My favorite television quiz program, Jeopardy has had a category more than once covering ‘world religions and their symbols’. I came across an article recently that put together these religions with their visual symbols in the following succinct manner –
Continue reading the "April, 2017 – The Cross" »
Six weeks in my beloved Romania passed like a flash before my eyes. That was a result of being extremely busy at both orphanages, Barza Mica and Albina, and also, without having even one day off. I arrived in Brasov in February just in time to help with some dire financial needs at Barza. Praise God for His perfect timing. More reconstruction needed to be done on the building in order to pass inspection – and only five days after I arrived!! We – that’s you and I – were able to provide financially what needed to be done. And, Barza passed inspection! We prayed – pleaded with the Lord to give us at least a three-year approval. We’d worked so diligently towards this for two years. And then He surprised us, as only He can. He gave us a five-year approval! Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!! Also, I have such respect for the director who never gave up the fight to keep the casa for ‘our’ kids. She is an amazing lady!
Continue reading the "April, 2017" »
“Not everyone can say (it), but I count myself lucky to have a birth mother who loved me enough to know she wasn’t ready to be a mom. I’m lucky that I have wonderful parents who chose me. I often say adoption is a full-circle blessing and I truly believe it. Adopted children were not abandoned, we were chosen. – Kristen Chenoweth
Continue reading the "March, 2017 – The Fatherless" »
On a personal note, I was so blessed to be able to spend two months in Georgia to be with my 4 beautiful grandchildren there – Isabelle, Noah, Lily and Rowan. It was the first time that I had felt like a real grandmother, and not just a guest or a visitor. I love being Mammie! It was also great getting out of the snow and bitter cold in MA. I then, spent two weeks with my little grandsons, Liam and Jace, in Michigan. I am blessed.
Continue reading the "March, 2017" »