Letter to Kenya from Grandpa and Grandma Dorr

Dearest Baby Girl (our granddaughter),

We have huge smiles across our faces because we are so happy that your Mama and Daddy have created you with God and that you are coming into our world.  Oh so very, very happy! You are oh so special... already and always.  You are the first baby in our Dorr family... the first granddaughter.  An oh so beautiful one!  You have an amazing mother and father with many talents, many gifts and love beyond measure.  We look forward to all the special times and moments we will bring to each other's lives.  Our special times of...
overnight (and hopefully longer) stays/sleepovers, teaching you sports, playing, laughing, adventures together, singing songs, reading stories together, creating stories together, trips, travels and discoveries, dancing together, doing fun, creative projects together and lots and lots and lots of hugs and kisses.  You have stolen our hearts already.  We think of your tiny little feet and how they will be pitter pattering on the floor.  We think of your tiny little hands playing patty cake.  Those beautiful sweet lips giving us a kiss.  Thoes chubby little strong arms wrapped around our neck giving us a big hug.  Your parents are working so hard on making this a better world for you and every other child and person in this world.  They're special too!  You are precious to us beyond belief sweetheart... our beautiful special granddaughter.

Your happy, excited, full of love... for you baby girl... grandparents,
John and Debbie xoxoxoxoxoxo

Sawyer's Run 2012

The 2nd small donation made on behalf of the Kenya Foundation is to "Sawyer's Run 2012".  Sawyer's Run is actually happening today (right now as we speak), but I just got the idea to share about it on the blog.  While it may be too late to get out there and run, it is not too late to pray for this amazing family and all of the people who are running on Sawyer's behalf.

Now to fill you in on the cause.....

This is Brent and Jenny (Smither) Brown.  Beautiful people right?  Believe it or not, they are even more gorgeous on the inside.  I grew up with Jenny's older sister Katie who is a close friend of mine and became to close to all of the Smither family.  AMAZING people.  I could go on and on and on about the Smither family and all they do to make the world a better place (but that would be an entire blog in and of itself).  Katie and some of the others from the Smither family were also some of the first people to reach out and help when we were going through our situation with Kenya.

Though Jenny was a couple of grades below me in school and I didn't have the chance to get to know her as I would have liked to, it is easy to say she is one of the strongest and most beautiful women I have ever met.  You can read her story about the loss of her precious son Sawyer here on her blog - http://www.sawyersrun.org/why-we-run/.  Make sure to have a box of kleenex handy, because it is that moving and that incredible.  Jenny has turned the tragedy she has endured with Sawyer into a beautiful way to help children in need who are in the foster care system, and every year has a whole bunch of people get together to run in Sawyer's honor.  I wish I could be out there today, but want Jenny to know that even though I can't run with her, I am praying for her and her family.  Please pray for Sawyer's Run today, and get involved in other ways that you are able. I know someday I will have the privilege of meeting little Sawyer in heaven as well as my little babes I have lost to miscarriages, and I know Sawyer is a happy boy watching down as his mommy and daddy honor him today by helping so many other children in need.

Thank you again to all of you who make The Kenya Foundation possible.  It is really exciting for us to share and raise awareness about such amazing people and worthy causes out there!  Love you all (and promise to share a Kenya update for you soon too!)

Love,
Kristin, Dave, and Kenya DeYoung

The Kenya Foundation

Hi all,

Sorry it has been forever and a day since my latest update.  Things have been crazy with Dave in the DR and us moving around like a little gypsy family all the time. :)  But we are super blessed, Kenya is healthy and happy, Santa and Dave got home safely, and we continue to be blessed by SO many people who love us, support us, pray for us, encourage us, and of course give sweet little gifts for Kenya!!  I can't even imagine where we would be now without the love, prayers, and financial support that has been poured onto our family, and I can't say enough how your support has helped us SO much to get through these past couple of months.  We have been blessed so immensely that we even have some money leftover for the time being.  While it is tempting to give it all away at once because there are so many great causes out there that are near and dear to our hearts, we are still saving for any future medical needs for Kenya, and because it looks like I will need some surgeries in the future (related to the birth complications) that I don't know will be covered or not.  But in the meantime, we want to put some of the money that was donated to our family into a foundation in Kenya's honor to help other people, especially those in situations like ours.  We are not sure how to start a foundation yet (I am open to ideas and suggestions!), but for now we are going to put some money into a fund where interest can grow so we will have more money to give, so that your gift you gave for Kenya can keep on giving.  Each time we use money from the Kenya Foundation to help out others, I am going to try to put a little post on here with the details for people to read about (please be patient with me though as Kenya's needs come before blogging which makes it slow for me sometimes! :)  The reason I am going to write about the various causes we give to is not to ask you for more money, but so you can see how the gift you gave to help Kenya has not only helped her, but continues to give and help others all the time.  And I will always post a link for more information if you are interested in getting involved with the cause.  Even though we are not able to be in the DR doing the mission work we had planned, we are excited to be able to continue to help others, and it is because of your help that you gave to us!

I got the whole idea to start this the other day when I came across a story on facebook so similar to ours that it brought me to tears.  Here is a short version of the story I found on their facebook page:

This is the Orrange family.

 

"Brent, Courtney, Sam (7) and Brooklyn (8) Orrange moved from Colorado to Sierra Leone in August 2012 to work with a safe house for women/children who are coming out of human trafficking. Brooklyn became ill shortly after their arrival, and did not improve with medicine. On Friday morning, September 14, her kidneys began shutting down. She was flown from a hospital in Sierra Leone to a hospital in Ghana in order to receive dialysis and get her more stable.  The next step is to get her to London for further care. Our hope is that she will be stable enough to go on Monday morning, September 17." 

I couldn't believe when I read this that another missionary family, also in another country to help with anti-trafficking and safehouse mission work, also with a daughter (and a daughter whose name is also a place for that matter), also having to be flown out of country on medical emergency, who is also going through a life-threatening condition, and also having people pour out around the world to help her.  It reminded me so much of Kenya that we just had to help and share, like so many have helped our little Kenya!!

There have been more updates on their facebook page here - Pray for Brooklyn, and it looks like she is starting to heal, just as God has healed Kenya, but the family still needs a lot of support.  So helping Brooklyn's medical expenses was the first small financial donation made on behalf of the Kenya Foundation.  And we are praying for little Brooklyn here all the time, and ask that anyone reading this would stop and pray too!!

To find out more about the Orrange family, you can read their blog at www.fighttrafficking.org.  They have also asked others to wear the color orange to let them know you are praying and support them, and many people are walking and running races in Brooklyn's honor. (I will have to leave the running and walking part to Dave ;)  Please stop wherever you are to say a prayer for little Brooklyn, and feel free to check out these links to find out more about her status!

Kenya and Daddy showing their orange to support the Orrange family!

Thank you again to all of you who have helped to support our family, and have made The Kenya Foundation possible. 

Love and prayers,
Kristin, Dave, and Kenya (and now Santa is with us too! :)

Dave in the DR!

Hey everybody,

Dave is in the DR now picking up our dog Santa, selling our vehicles and some of our other personal things.  He is only able to bring a couple of suitcases so most of our belongings have to go.  The motorcyle has already gone, but if you are interested, we still have a jeep for sale:

*pregnant woman not included

 Anyone who is interested, you can contact Dave at stofue@yahoo.com.  He will give you a good deal, and will only be in the DR one more day so get a hold of him soon! :)  He put a lot of work into getting it up and running.  He is also selling a lot of our personal items at the house today (Sunday) if you would like to stop by for anything.  You can contact him by email to find out the location of our house in Jarabacoa.  Sorry this is late notice but my mother-in-law just gave me the idea this morning and I thought I would hop on it!

Dave is then is flying out on Tuesday on MFI with our dog to Fort Pierce, Florida.  He wants to buy a vehicle there and drive it up to Michigan.  If you know anyone in the area of Fort Pierce, Florida who is selling a vehicle, knows someone who does, or could help him out otherwise, please let him know - email stofue@yahoo.com. 

Sorry for the late notice, but there have been so many people out there who have helped us out in so many other ways, so I thought it was a worth a shot.  If nothing else, just say a prayer for his safe travels por favor. :)  Kenya and I are missing him lots and lots!! 

Thanks for your help!!

Love and prayers,
Kristin, Dave, and Kenya

One and Two Months

Dear Kenya,

Your Auntie Megan bought you these cool sticker decals with the months to put on your onesies and take photos.  You were actually almost 2 months when we took your 1 month photo, and 10 weeks for your 2 month photo.  We're a little behind, but here they are:

Here are some facts about you at 2 months:

*You are 23 & 1/4 inches now and weigh 11 pounds 8 ounces.  We cannot believe how you are growing up right before our eyes!  Everyone always says it will fly by and how fast you would grow, but we never really knew how true that was until now!

*You have already grown out of all of your newborn and 0-3 month clothes and now are wearing all 3 months and 3-6 months, you are a big girl!  You also have graduated both your newborn and size 1 diapers and are wearing size 2 diapers!

*You are sleeping a lot longer now, sometimes for even 4-5 hours at a time at night!  Your mom and dad are loving the extra sleep!

*You love bath time.  You sit in your bath and smile up at us the whole time and don't want to get out.  When it's time to get out, that's when you get mad.

*You still go through TONS of diapers - we think somewhere between 80-100 diapers a week!  We can't believe it.  But now that you are sleeping for longer stretches at night, I think that number just may be starting to drop.

*You love to talk! (just like your momma!)  You are cooing all the time.  It is seriously my favorite thing in the whole world.  I could sit and listen to you coo all day long.  Sometimes you decide when I'm trying to nurse you that you would rather just coo the whole time.  Your daddy says you're just like me cause you would rather talk than eat.  Wanna know my new least favorite thing in the whole world?  When you cry... especially now your little lower lip will turn up and I think I would do just about anything to make it stop. 

You have been busy lately meeting lots of new and special people.  I haven't gotten pictures of them all, but here are a couple of them....

With your Auntie Megan

Cuddling with Grandpa Mexico and Great Grandma DeYoung

 Some other fun times this month...

In your favorite pj's, visiting at your Grandpa and Grandma's house (you are an active girl!)

Celebrating Auntie Paola's birthday

Celebrating Grandpa and Grandma Mexico's 40 years of marraige

In matching Mexican dresses with cousins Zoe, Ana Leah, and Rachel

You were so done with the photo shoot!
 

In matching outfits, mine from Auntie Paola and yours from your Auntie Kaitlyn!

We got a photo of all your aunties, uncles, and cousins from your daddy's side as a gift for Grandparents' anniversary

Lots of visitors also mean lots of gifts for you!  So many people love you and just want to spoil the bejeezes out of you.  You have gotten lots of gorgeous new clothes, accessories, handmade blankets from family, and even a few gifts from afar, like a beautiful tea set from Poland (from Auntie Lauren) and handmade blankets from Panama (from Auntie Melissa).

Since your momma is still technically on bedrest and we aren't able to be in the DR doing our mission work that I've told you about, you and I decided to start "The Kenya Project".  It's been really cool because we get to help people who are in human trafficking, and do it from right here in our bedroom.  We just asked people to help by doing one thing and lots of them did!  I think it is all thanks to you and your adorable photo I put on the project.  Who could ever say no to a baby as sweet as you?

We were lucky to get some beautiful pictures of you and our fam recently from Lauren, who is a girl I used to babysit and now she's all grown up! (and very talented with a camera)  She was so sweet to come over and take these photos of you.  Here are a few of our faves:

Everyone who meets you or sees your photos says you look just like your daddy.  I think these photos confirm it too!

Something crazy happened yesterday.  Yesterday morning at your Grandpa and Grandma Mexico's house in Kalamazoo, a drunk driver ran a stop sign going 70 miles an hour, went right into their yard, flew up 6 feet in the air, went through and over the top of the trees and then flew straight into the side of their conversion van and totaled it!  Crazy story huh?  Hope he gets in trouble.  Thank God no one was sleeping in the van that night.  It's scary to think that we were riding in that van just less than a week ago and your Auntie Pam was sleeping in it!  I'm sure you will be hearing about that story for years, but I wanted to tell you today anyways cause we still just can't believe it. 

 
Then your dad got up today and also saw this (here in Grand Rapids):

Not as bad, but another hit and run!  2 of them to the family's cars in 2 days!  So Daddy and Grandpa are not happy campers right now.  I am scared of the day you will get your driver's license with fools with these ones on the road.  But at least I know you are a smart girl and will never be one of them.  

Well little pumpkin, I think that's all for now.  Not a lot of new news lately.  Your dad is looking for jobs and we are still living with your Uncle James, Auntie Lisa, and all of your cousins.  We are lucky to have them taking such good care of us, as all of your family is.  Your daddy wants to fly down to the DR soon to pick up our dog Santa and some of our stuff we left behind.  We miss Santa a lot.  She was eager to get to know you when we were in the DR and I'm sure she will be surprised at how much you have grown and be excited to play with you.

Love you more and more everyday.  We thank God everyday for the miracle that you are.

Love,
Your momma

The Kenya Project

 Hi again,

As I wrote in my last blog post and shared, at this time we are staying in the states and are not able to continue with our mission work in the DR in the area of human trafficking.  Also, being on bedrest, it is difficult for me to get out and get involved in things here like I really want to.  I know right now my most important job is just being Kenya's mommy, but this has been heavy on my heart since anti-trafficking work is something I am so passionate about and since human trafficking is SUCH a huge world problem.  There are more than 27 million people today in slavery - 27 million!  Did you know that's more slaves than ever before in history?  And 13 million of them are children.

So I have a proposition.  I would like to try to start a project called "The Kenya Project".  I want to continue my work in anti-trafficking through each of YOU reading this blog. (don't go away, this will be easy, I promise - most of it can be done without even leaving your bed :)  Since so many people know about the miracle of Kenya and her story, I want to ask everyone who loves Kenya and has followed her story, if you would be a part of this and it can be one more chapter to her miraculous story that I can tell her one day when she is older.  People who have helped Kenya have given me SO MUCH HOPE and have restored my faith in humanity.  I believe in each of you and know you can, and have, changed the world.  This is how Kenya and I want to pay it forward for all the blessings that have bestowed upon us.  But we need your help to do it.  So here's the idea...

I would like to ask if everyone who reads this blog post would do one thing to help in the fight against human trafficking and do this in Kenya's honor, to help other beautiful little girls around the world who are in need of your help.  It could be big or small, and it doesn't have to require going overseas or taking out your wallet. (though either of those are okay too).  Here are some ideas that I have so far (just peruse on through and pick one):

Like our Alianza facebook page (Alliance against the Sex Trade in the DR)

Check out the Alianza blog and share on your facebook page

Share about "The Kenya Project" on your blog or facebook page

Watch this youtube video I made about sex trafficking in the DR and Haiti and share it with others on your blog or facebook page

Raise awareness by just sharing with a friend, church group, school group, sports team, etc. about trafficking (read some facts about trafficking here - they will shock you and break your heart)

Host an event with a group of friends or church group where you can learn more about trafficking together and discuss how you can raise awareness in your community

Volunteer in your community (there are lots of child victims of trafficking and refugees right here in Michigan, Michigan ranked 13 out of 50 states for human trafficking) You can find out more on how to help through mentoring, tutoring, or foster care by going to Lutheran Social Services of Michigan. (I did this for 2 years when I lived in Lansing and can promise these kids will change your life)

There are also the following Michigan anti-trafficking organizations to get involved with: Hope Project (which has a safe house right here in Michigan) and The Manasseh Project (also fighting human trafficking here in Michigan) and Women at Risk International.  Check them out!

Watch a movie with friends/family about trafficking (such as Taken) and discuss.  You can also find more films about human trafficking here.

Read a book about trafficking and sharing it's message with others (such as Half the Sky which I am reading right now and is amazing) or read it with your book club.  To see a list with more books about human trafficking, click here.

Sign a petition online to help fight trafficking such as this one.

Go to an event in your community, such as the movie Nefarious, which will be at Celebration Cinema North in Grand Rapids on September 6th at 7:00.  Check for events in your area!

Have your church or Bible study or other group pray for people in trafficking.

Other international organizations to check out -Demi and Ashton Foundation, Breaking Chains, Priceless International, and Stop the Traffik.

Anything else you can think of would be awesome - the sky is the limit!

I know time can be an issue, so if all you have time for is a short 10 second prayer asking God to help those in sex trafficking around the world, do pray just that and then let me know - every prayer counts!

  If you need more ideas, just let me know, I have lots of them.  If everyone just does one thing, I can't imagine the impact that we could make together.

Now here's the important part.  Please follow up by letting me know what you and your friends/family did and I can keep a log of this and blog about it.   To let me know about your contribution, please leave me a comment on the blog, send me a facebook message or email me at kristin.deyoung@gmail.com. 

Also, if you are interested in making a big move overseas and feel like you could be called to the DR, we do have a good foundation laid down for starting a safehouse if you feel like you could be the person to help with this project.

Since I wrote my post the other day, I've already had people sign the petition, liked the Alianza facebook page, and share the blog. I'm really excited about this already.  Your participation in this project would mean the world to me.  Even if it save the life of just one person who has been through human trafficking, it will all be SO worth it.  Can't wait to hear from you!

Love you all,
Kristin

DeYoung Family Update

Hi all,

Sorry it has been a while again!!  Thank you to everyone who continues to pray for our family and write with so many words of encouragement.  I seriously cannot believe how many people have reached out to us over these past two months since Kenya has been born.  As I (very slowly) get through each of my thank you's to send out, I just am touched over and over again at how so many people in so many places have blessed in so many ways.  We are one lucky little family.

I know a lot of people have been praying for the items I asked for prayer for in my last post.  So I'll start with some good news... the flu symptoms that I thought were something nasty called C Diff (or another awful parasite that I brought back from the DR or something), that had me sicker than I have been in years, are long gone! (I think thank you to my mother-in-law taking care of me and giving tons of probiotics!)  WOO HOO!  That means I can eat food again... I don't have to take the awful Flagyl medication (I took it a few years ago for a bout of intestinal worms and it is the WORST)... and I can keep on breast feeding Kenya with no problems!  So thanks for all of your prayers!

As for my recovery process, it is still coming along slowly but surely.  Slow progress as in, instead being allowed 20 minutes a day on my feet, now I get 30-60 minutes a day.  So it's poco a poco...  But from talking to doctors here, and just reading medical info., and reviewing what all happened in the DR, I realize more and more everyday how lucky Kenya and I are just to be alive after everything that happened down there.  I have a beautiful healthy baby girl and we are surrounded by so many people who love us and are taking good care of us.  We are so so lucky for that and I just have to continue to keep that in mind.  Someone said recently that my birth complications were the worst she had ever heard of.  And I had totally agreed.  And then I heard about a woman named Katy Hayes.  I know I've been kinda under a rock for the past 3 years, so maybe everyone else already knows this story, but I just have to share it anyways because it is just so amazing.

Katy gave birth to a beautiful baby girl this past February and then developed a rare strain of flesh eating bacteria called Strep A.  Her husband had to decide for her whether to let her die or take the 5% chance of letting her survive by having a surgery which would amputate both of her arms, both of her legs, and remove all of her sepsis organs (uterus, ovaries and bowels).  He decided to take his chances and she survived.  And if you read her story, I think you would be in tears and inspired beyond words like I was.  That's why I just had to share.  Here is a photo of her with her sweet baby girl below.  I was so in awe of her radiant joy and beauty shared between her and her daughter in this photo, that at first I didn't even notice that all of her limbs were missing.

Here's my favorite part of the story.  Katy said that if she could have one wish, it would be to hold her baby girl in her arms. (running for the kleenex yet?)  So Katy's family is raising money so that she might be the first recipient of arm transplants.  Not prosthetic arms, but actual human arms transplanted.  I heard this story because there was a fundraiser for her in Birmingham, Michigan and my dad shared it with me one day when I seemed down about my current situation.  So when I feel discouraged now, I try to remember Katy Hayes and her strength and courage.  I am so inspired by her.  I think if Katy can be strong and let her smile shine through this kind of trial, I definitely can too.  If you are interested, you can follow her blog "Katy is Strong" that her husband writes for her, or donate money to help pay for her arm transplant.

Last item that was on my prayer list... my wedding ring.  Well sorry to say that rock is nowhere to be found.  But what I do have instead is so much better.  I have a rock of a husband who has been there for me through the good and bad, especially these past few months, and is my best friend and soulmate and an absolutely brilliant daddy to Kenya.  So well I don't have my ring, I do have a rare gem in this world filled with infidelity, divorce, and dysfunction.  And while this rock isn't wrapped around my finger (or maybe he is? ;) I am proud to have him wrapped arm in arm by my side.  Yesterday we celebrated 5 years of marriage, and I couldn't imagine anyone else in the whole world I would rather spend 5 years of marriage with.

In other news, Kenya continues to do fantastic.  She is growing so much everyday and it is unbelievable how she is developing.  She smiles all the time, makes lots of cooing sounds, and is always holding her head up looking around at everyone.  I can't believe how the time is flying! 

And, to answer what many of you have asked, what are we up to now and what are our plans?

We are still living at Dave's brother's house in Grand Rapids.  We don't know anything for sure for the future, but as of right now we are not planning to go back to the Dominican Republic.  This was a sad decision to make as there are so many people there we will miss and we have started a life there, and we were so excited about the idea of opening a safe house for victims of human trafficking, and possibly a restaurant too, but we know that for the time being, this is exactly where we need to be.  I need to get healthy again, go to physical therapy, and let my body heal, get back on our feet again, and most importantly, we need to have Kenya in a safe place where she has access to good healthcare. 

Right now Dave is looking for work and applying for jobs.  He has a couple of leads, but is open to any ideas that anyone has to share with us.  We are open to moving out of the Grand Rapids area as necessary too.  Dave is very talented in a variety of areas, from teaching and youth work to art and design to a million other things so just let us know if you know of anything available.  We would be very appreciative.

And what are Kenya and I up to?  I think one of the perks of being on bedrest is that I have an excuse to have as much cuddle and snuggle time as I want.  Dave is always saying "Still nursing?  It's been over an hour Kristin.. " :)  I just never want to let her go.  Can you blame me?  Also rediscovering Pandora radio and singing along with Kenya (loving me some country music after 3 years without it in the DR), reading her stories, being the lucky recipient of her constant smiles and giggles, and also getting lots of visits from family and friends who are eager to meet her and just spoil us rotten.  Also spending lots of time in the blog world, especially baby blog world and praying for other people's babies, as so many people have prayed for my little baby girl!  Here is one baby story I have been following and praying for baby Mason if you would be willing to commit to praying for him too - The Matthews Monologues.  I have lots of others, but will save those for another day.  :)

And I know I just said one last thing, and this is already really long, but there's something else I just thought of while on that subject.  Since we're not able to be in the DR to start the safehouse and continue our mission work in human trafficking, I would like to ask if everyone who reads this blog post would do one thing to help in the fight against human trafficking and do this in Kenya's honor, to help other beautiful little girls around the world who are in need of your help.  It could be big or small, and it doesn't have to require going overseas or taking out your wallet. (though either of those are okay too)  It could be raising awareness by just sharing with a friend, hosting an event, liking our Alianza facebook page (Alliance against the Sex Trade in the DR), or sharing the Alianza blog or video, volunteering in your community (there are lots of child victims of trafficking and refugees right here in Michigan, you can find out more on how to help through mentoring, tutoring, or foster care by clicking here), watching a movie with friends about trafficking (such as Taken) and discussing, reading a book about trafficking and sharing it's message with others (such as Half the Sky), signing a petition online such as this one, saying a prayer, or whatever else to just help raise awareness about this issue.  If you need ideas, just let me know, I have lots of them.  If everyone just does one small thing, I can't imagine the impact that we could make and it would be a great addition to Kenya's story when I share all of this with her someday.  Please follow up by letting me know what you and your friends/family did and I can keep a log of this (If you are interested in making a big move though overseas and feel like you could be called to the DR, we do have a good foundation laid down for starting a safehouse if you feel like you could be the person to help with this project).  I may make a separate blog post just about this (another fun bedrest project! :)

Okay I'm done for real now!  This is what happens when I wait a while to post! :)  Thank you again to everyone for all of your love, prayers, and support.  I feel so encouraged and inspired by all of you!!  Love you all!!

And just have to share a photo of Kenya to finish, from the amazing Lauren Ward! :)

Thank you to all of you for helping me!!

With Love,
Kristin, Dave, and Baby Kenya