Sunday, October 27, 2013

An amazing blog post which provokes many thoughts--

I've never seen this blog before but saw this post linked elsewhere.  This is the story of a man who was adopted out of foster care and now advocates for orphans.  Very thought provoking--

http://stinkytofuandotherthings.blogspot.com/2013/10/thirty.html?m=1

Loved this--  Love brings Hope, Hope brings Healing, with Healing there is Life.

And this---Church ARISE.  Go and be LOVE.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Got me thinking......


"I am only one, but I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I can do something.  What I can do, I should do and, with the help of God, I will do."  Edward Hale

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Where we are in the process---

Right now we are waiting for our home study to be finished, praying that it will be done in the next two weeks.  Here is a description of what a home study is--
The purpose of the home study is personal reflection combined with education; it is a sharing between the adoptive family and the social worker of experiences, expectations, and motivation.  The home study consists of at three face-to-face meetings with the adoptive family, at least one in the home and one in the office. Included in the home study are a biography of each parent, educatioonal hours, financial information, lots of background checks, employment history, medical records and an examination of the home.  


We really like our social worker and have had some great conversations with her to help us prepare our home and our family for the girls.  We have loved reading/watching anything by Dr. Karyn Purvis!  Such an amazing woman and so much wisdom!  So much of what she shares about how to attach with your child is very similar to what we learned from Dr. Jim (Dr. James D. MacDonald from Ohio State) with Nate.   


Once the home study is finished, we will apply for USCIS fingerprinting.  Once that occurs, we will submit our dossier (the paperwork that goes to the girls' country).  The dossier will be translated and presented to the government.  If they approve us, our adoption agency's in-country facilitator will visit the girls, getting information from anyone who is involved in their care and getting more pictures and videos for us.  

I was talking to a friend who is also in the process of adopting.  She mentioned how she feels like she is starting to attach to their daughter (they are at about the same point in the process as we are).  She said that she realized that their families' process of attaching now is similar to what their daughter will feel when she comes home.  I thought about how once  I found out I was pregnant, I would think so often about the baby and the attachment process started.  When we lost the baby before Jenny, it was so hard for me.  I know God is working in all our hearts to prepare us for expanding our family, each of us in the special way He knows we need.  So thankful He is a faithful Father and has a much deeper love for the fatherless than we do.




Thursday, October 10, 2013

Dreaming....

I often find myself dreaming of what life will be like when the girls come home.  I know there will be a period of time when we are all getting used to our new normal, including the girls.  Right now we don't know what their life is like for them--do they have a routine at the orphanage, do they go to school, do they play outside, are their caregivers warm to them, what do they like to eat, what do they like to do..... So many unknowns.

I'm not the only one dreaming--Nate and Ellie had a long conversation the other day about what they are going to do with the girls.  They also asked a lot of questions--have they made snow angels, have they built snowmen, do they know how to climb trees, do they know how to build with Legos???

Dreaming of the day when I can put shoes on these sweet feet---

and take a bouquet from these sweet hands---


Praying they are home before the dandelions appear!

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Special Needs

Bill and I were interviewed and filmed for a benefit concert our church's orphan ministry is having.  While Bill was talking during the filming, God brought the following thought to my mind.

Our girls were listed with some special needs after their names.  A list of things that they can do and things they struggle with.  After we got more information on them, along with the "list" were codes, numbers related to their developmental and physical delays and needs.

While filming, the thought came to me.  Most people seeing their "write ups" would see them as sweet girls with a list of special needs.  But the only special need God sees is the need for a family.  A family in which they will be treasured for who they are---girls fearfully and wonderfully made, made in the image of their Creator.  A family in which they will understand a father and mother's love so that they can understand their Heavenly Father's love.  A family that will love them just the way they are, regardless of whatever lists follow their names.  A family who realizes that we all have our lists---our lists of struggles, sins, and things to work on improving.

We are so thankful we can fill that special need for a family for our sweet girls!  Please pray that our paperwork will be done quickly!