I ran into a friend of mine. She is from Barbados. Actually her mom was born there, but she was born here. When I first met her I loved her spirit. I thought she must be from Jamaica with her exhuberant attitude about life! Imagine any of those shows showing those happy Jamaicans and you got her! So fun and happy and animated! And then when she told me she was second generation, I said how it showed how the spirit of the people from that area carried in the genes!!
I said to her, "You are going to be an auntie! We are adopting..... one or two little brown babies from Ethiopia!" She was thrilled. She turned to this guy that came out of the fitness place where we were picking up our kids and said all excited, "I'm going to be an auntie! I'm so excited!! I'm going to be an auntie!!!"
It was so sweet! I told her that it will be so important for this little one to have people in her life who also have brown/black skin. And I can't think of anyone with a bigger loving spirit to be an 'auntie' to this little girl!! I told her she would have to show me how to do all those cute little hairdos!
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Blessings and Savings
Our blessings this morning were:
Meeting the new social worker and seeing 'what she was like'. This was 3-4 weeks ahead of schedule!
Our doctor told us that the only fee for the physical and lab test would be the form fee - about $15-$30 per person. She also wrote down 'fatigue' as the reason for the testing. She said they like a reason. Nice lady!! So we are very fortunate to have a medical system that is not privatized! According to what my friends are paying for their physicals, we probably saved $500 + dollars!
Meeting the new social worker and seeing 'what she was like'. This was 3-4 weeks ahead of schedule!
Our doctor told us that the only fee for the physical and lab test would be the form fee - about $15-$30 per person. She also wrote down 'fatigue' as the reason for the testing. She said they like a reason. Nice lady!! So we are very fortunate to have a medical system that is not privatized! According to what my friends are paying for their physicals, we probably saved $500 + dollars!
A Running Morning
Today, Ray and I had to go for our physicals. Oh joy!! I had lots of stops to make as well. You know, when I write what I do, you only see the organized side of it. For real though, I might get a call with one of our reference's address or postal code and I have to pull out the file for that one thing. Then later there might be a signature needed from Ray when he comes home from work. There are always things to file in the correct spot. So it is never as neat and tidy as it appears on this blog!
This morning I made a call at 8:30 to Ray's business associate, arranging to pick up his letter of proof of employment. His wife laughed and said that she and her husband were expecting my call one minute after 8:00 am - I suppose they figured that would the earliest civilized time I could call! *laugh* Actually, I forgot I was supposed to call. So a time was arranged for that morning when I would meet his wife in town for the pick up of the copies of the letters.
I left with three little boys and headed town. I went to the library and met this friend and picked up the letters. I then headed to the Ministry of Families and Children. Ray and I had to get a 'Prior Check' done. This is where they search to see if there are any problems with relation to you and children. *Another* one of those tests, cause we had another one done through the police already.
We got there (and Ray arrived in his work truck) and found that there was a social worker for us to meet. We actually didn't even need to meet her yet. It was 'interesting' cause we had been praying for a good (or Christian) social worker. We prayed that even if one had to move to town, whatever it took! Being we are a small town, we may not have a big choice!! As it turned out, when she came out and introduced herself to us, we learned it was her first day on the job, because she had just moved offices from another town about an hour from us! Interrresssting!!
She had never done international adoptions before (or at least she said she was used to doing ministry adoptions), so she seemed a little lost when I asked her timing questions. Basically the only thing I wanted to know was, "How fast can you get us through the homestudy process?" *laugh* She was very accommodating and seemed that she would work as quickly as we could. She figured, "It's August now. About 2-3 months." Well, that would be great!!
The funny thing is she won't be 'officially' assigned to us until after the August 22-24 seminar! But we have already met her. *laugh*
We left the prior checks for her to do and left the office. I headed to the photocopiers to copy our criminal check for the second agency, and Ray went to the doctor's office for his physical. I met him a few minutes later. I went in first and was *oh, so relieved* when I found out that I didn't have to do the 'icky' test!! The doctor was wonderful and ran through a bunch of tests and gave me a form for the lab tests. She was so reassuring! Then Ray had the joy of going in for his checkups.
While Ray was waiting for his appointment I headed over to the lab for needles. It turned out to be one needle and three vials of blood. They test for HIV, Syphalis, and Hepatitis B and C. After this I went to the Health Unit to enquire about how to go about having a TB test done. Turned out we will have to wait til August 10 for that and then the results will be read (on my arm!) on August 13.
I then left two kids with Ray while I went back to the doctor's office for another harmless test. Back to Ray and picked up the kids and then off to the bank to get confirmation about how much money we have in our savings account. *smile* Aren't I *glad* we finally have a savings account? Or they would wonder how we planned to adopt. I couldn't very well tell them "faith, alone!" LOL! But that is how we plan to do it and we are doing very well, thank you! I mean, where do you think the savings account came from??? Ray has had a fabulous work year!
Ray went back to work and I continued getting groceries and then went by a friend's work to pick up her reference letter, and then by the post office to pick up our tax information.
When I got home, after feeding the kids and picking up one from Sports Camp, I began the paper work. I seem to be getting to the end of the Ethiopia dossier and the Hope application is DONE!! YEAH!
I filed the reference letters in the right dossiers (two of them), finished filling in missing information in the application form, added the financial information to the application envelope, added the letters of reference and the tax information to the Ethiopia dossier, and on and on.
Tomorrow I go and photocopy the entire smaller dossier (for Hope Services) and then pop that in the mail. That will be exciting cause that is what tells if we qualify on the provincial side of the adoption.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
A New Day's Work
Today was a busy day! I forgot to mention the end of yesterday! We left the seminar at 7:30 and headed home. I read a book for a couple hours while Ray drove. Finally by about 10:30 we were both so tired that we pulled off the road for a 30 minute rest. I tell you, the last two hours was the longest! We are going away to see our big boys next weekend and were going to do it there and back in one day, but now I am thinking we probably won't! They are about four hours from here and after we spend time with them we will be too tired to drive home, I think!
After I finally got rolling this late morning, I pulled out my paperwork from the seminar and began...
I began by filling in all the references - pastor, employers, four friends, family x 2. Then I had to gather all the financial information again. This is always a bit more complicated because we are self employed and I am the accountant! So it is not like we can ask our accountant to verify the numbers! There was the marriage certificate to copy and a photo of Ray and I to attach. It is a good thing we have a photocopier!
Then Ray told his family today and that was good news. His dad seemed happy at the thought of finally getting a granddaughter. That was news to warm our hearts! Of course, we realize people will have different points of view, but we really want our families to embrace what we are doing and the child that results from all this effort!
Tuesday, we get to go for our doctor's physical and all the pokes and jabs, chest xrays, you name it!! They want to be sure we are in top shape!
Then we begin waiting again for the next piece of work, so in the meantime I will be painting our oldest boy's room! He will come home from camp to a new room. :o)
After I finally got rolling this late morning, I pulled out my paperwork from the seminar and began...
I began by filling in all the references - pastor, employers, four friends, family x 2. Then I had to gather all the financial information again. This is always a bit more complicated because we are self employed and I am the accountant! So it is not like we can ask our accountant to verify the numbers! There was the marriage certificate to copy and a photo of Ray and I to attach. It is a good thing we have a photocopier!
Then Ray told his family today and that was good news. His dad seemed happy at the thought of finally getting a granddaughter. That was news to warm our hearts! Of course, we realize people will have different points of view, but we really want our families to embrace what we are doing and the child that results from all this effort!
Tuesday, we get to go for our doctor's physical and all the pokes and jabs, chest xrays, you name it!! They want to be sure we are in top shape!
Then we begin waiting again for the next piece of work, so in the meantime I will be painting our oldest boy's room! He will come home from camp to a new room. :o)
The Seminar
The seminar was great. There were about fifteen couples and a couple singles there. It was interesting to see the range. There were two single ladies wishing to learn about adoption and then the range of people wanting to adopt varied. There were some with no children, others with a number of children. Having boys was a common denominator with three couples, looking to adopt a little girl. There was one other family who were 'old foggies' like us. They had ten kids and were investigating adding more to their family. They were also homeschoolers, like us.
When the seminar began the administrator introduced us to the agency. He acknowledged there were people there who were investigating the idea of adoption, others who were looking at the choices of intercountry versus adoption, others who were pretty certain they wanted to adopt, and then the ones who "knew exactly what you want to do, what country you want to adopt from, and how many children you want - so let's just get on with it!"
I had to laugh cause that was Ray and I!! There was another couple in the same boat.
The seminar was great. It addressed many issues. We discussed open versus closed adoption and why open is so much more healing (in the most part). We learned about the homestudy process and what is involved in this. This was a cool part. As our social worker (for the agency) arrived to talk to us I knew that I knew her from when I lived in the area. She was a homeschooler like ourselves. As she walked in I turned around and she made eye contact and said, she knew it was me from my email (I had not sent a photo, but I had made reference to who I was and we had known each other lightly 9 or 10 years ago!). It was a blessing to see a familar face! When she adopted her daughter, it never crossed my mind that I would cross paths in this direction, with her!
We had a really great lesson on grief and loss from a family counsellor. Every child will deal with grief and loss. For one instance alone, think about the fact that they are in an orphanage and new kids arrive and they become friends with those children, and then one day one of the kids is gone, and soon another one replaces that one. And then another day, another one is gone, and then another one replaces that one.
There will be areas like when one of my children is invited to a friend's house and this one isn't, that the thoughts can occur like, "Why wasn't I picked?" Because they have seen others 'picked' ahead of them in the orphanage.
We learned about giving the child a chance to "live, move, and have their being". This gives the child a chance to *feel* the fear or other feelings, which in turn will hopefully stop it from going onto tension, anger, uncertainty, and doubt.
The children want 'safety' from us, not 'love'. The love will come, but they need to feel safe. They need to know they will not be abandoned or rejected. It was really helpful to learn all these things.
We watched some videos and then discussed the legal issues and costs of adopting. What was neat was I didn't go into this blind. I have spent the last month reading and researching and have also got many of the papers about costs and protocol that was handed out yesterday. For many people I am sure yesterday was just the first day of learning about adoption. I am glad I had a chance to learn so much before I went to the seminar. It only enhanced the learning.
When we go back in August for three days we will be learning so much more, and will meet birth and adoptive families and hear their stories. After that seminar we will also have a social worker assigned. Apparently we will have six interviews with him/her - in their office and one at our house. The kids will have their chance to talk, and Ray and I will also be interview separately.
On to the next step!! More paperchasing. *smile*
When the seminar began the administrator introduced us to the agency. He acknowledged there were people there who were investigating the idea of adoption, others who were looking at the choices of intercountry versus adoption, others who were pretty certain they wanted to adopt, and then the ones who "knew exactly what you want to do, what country you want to adopt from, and how many children you want - so let's just get on with it!"
I had to laugh cause that was Ray and I!! There was another couple in the same boat.
The seminar was great. It addressed many issues. We discussed open versus closed adoption and why open is so much more healing (in the most part). We learned about the homestudy process and what is involved in this. This was a cool part. As our social worker (for the agency) arrived to talk to us I knew that I knew her from when I lived in the area. She was a homeschooler like ourselves. As she walked in I turned around and she made eye contact and said, she knew it was me from my email (I had not sent a photo, but I had made reference to who I was and we had known each other lightly 9 or 10 years ago!). It was a blessing to see a familar face! When she adopted her daughter, it never crossed my mind that I would cross paths in this direction, with her!
We had a really great lesson on grief and loss from a family counsellor. Every child will deal with grief and loss. For one instance alone, think about the fact that they are in an orphanage and new kids arrive and they become friends with those children, and then one day one of the kids is gone, and soon another one replaces that one. And then another day, another one is gone, and then another one replaces that one.
There will be areas like when one of my children is invited to a friend's house and this one isn't, that the thoughts can occur like, "Why wasn't I picked?" Because they have seen others 'picked' ahead of them in the orphanage.
We learned about giving the child a chance to "live, move, and have their being". This gives the child a chance to *feel* the fear or other feelings, which in turn will hopefully stop it from going onto tension, anger, uncertainty, and doubt.
The children want 'safety' from us, not 'love'. The love will come, but they need to feel safe. They need to know they will not be abandoned or rejected. It was really helpful to learn all these things.
We watched some videos and then discussed the legal issues and costs of adopting. What was neat was I didn't go into this blind. I have spent the last month reading and researching and have also got many of the papers about costs and protocol that was handed out yesterday. For many people I am sure yesterday was just the first day of learning about adoption. I am glad I had a chance to learn so much before I went to the seminar. It only enhanced the learning.
When we go back in August for three days we will be learning so much more, and will meet birth and adoptive families and hear their stories. After that seminar we will also have a social worker assigned. Apparently we will have six interviews with him/her - in their office and one at our house. The kids will have their chance to talk, and Ray and I will also be interview separately.
On to the next step!! More paperchasing. *smile*
You Can Dress Them Up, But You Can't Take Them Out?? or is this true?
The thing I love about Ray and my relationship is we *laugh*. We laugh a lot. We tease, we poke, we have fun! So I can tell you this story and laugh *with* Ray, cause he knows I tell it in love and also, because I told him I *would* be blogging on it!!! *grin*
You can dress them up, but can't take them anywhere! Well, that doesn't work for this story! *grin* When we were getting ready the night before we left, I was going through my wardrobe looking for the 'right thing'. Ray had no idea or care what he was going to wear. He grabbed a pair of jeans and figured 'good enough'.
I said, "Ray, you can't wear them like that. You'll have to iron them." He looked at the jeans and looked baffled and didn't understand how important this was! I mean, as I said to him, this is like an interview. "Would you visit Donald Trump for an interview in wrinkled jeans? These people are deciding if we should adopt or no!"
Mr. Agreeable agreed to wear those comfortable gym pants instead of jeans, so he didn't have to iron. *smile* He is so indulging of my ways!
He is smart enough to know that this adoption is not linked to how we dress. But I, on the other hand, am thinking - we can make or break it if you wear 'a navy blue shirt with black gym pants."
I have to tell you, as I write this this story you *have* to get this as Ray and I had the conversations or the meaning will be lost. Ray is very agreeable and I am not nagging him. I am just thinking 'how we must look'. *smile*
As we were leaving the next morning Ray is at the door in his nice black gym pants and a nice black tshirt and he looks wonderful. And then I look down. *hee hee* He is wearing sandles! "You aren't going to wear those are you?" He looks at me with a sheepish grin and then grabs his runners.
Off we go. We are dressed and respectable.
And then as we get downtown I realize that *I* am the one with the wrong shoes with my outfit! We both bust a gut that I should be the odd one after all my 'so careful interview dressing'! LOL!
We enjoy our drive and we are in great humorous spirits, making jokes and just enjoying each others company. Like I said, we love to laugh.
I drove to Whitespot and pulled in and Ray hopped out of the van and as I turned to him my eyes opened wide. "RAY you have no SOCKS on!!!!" People must have thought we were nuts the way we kept laughing and giggling our way into the restaurant.
You can't dress them up and you can't take them out!! *grin*
You can dress them up, but can't take them anywhere! Well, that doesn't work for this story! *grin* When we were getting ready the night before we left, I was going through my wardrobe looking for the 'right thing'. Ray had no idea or care what he was going to wear. He grabbed a pair of jeans and figured 'good enough'.
I said, "Ray, you can't wear them like that. You'll have to iron them." He looked at the jeans and looked baffled and didn't understand how important this was! I mean, as I said to him, this is like an interview. "Would you visit Donald Trump for an interview in wrinkled jeans? These people are deciding if we should adopt or no!"
Mr. Agreeable agreed to wear those comfortable gym pants instead of jeans, so he didn't have to iron. *smile* He is so indulging of my ways!
He is smart enough to know that this adoption is not linked to how we dress. But I, on the other hand, am thinking - we can make or break it if you wear 'a navy blue shirt with black gym pants."
I have to tell you, as I write this this story you *have* to get this as Ray and I had the conversations or the meaning will be lost. Ray is very agreeable and I am not nagging him. I am just thinking 'how we must look'. *smile*
As we were leaving the next morning Ray is at the door in his nice black gym pants and a nice black tshirt and he looks wonderful. And then I look down. *hee hee* He is wearing sandles! "You aren't going to wear those are you?" He looks at me with a sheepish grin and then grabs his runners.
Off we go. We are dressed and respectable.
And then as we get downtown I realize that *I* am the one with the wrong shoes with my outfit! We both bust a gut that I should be the odd one after all my 'so careful interview dressing'! LOL!
We enjoy our drive and we are in great humorous spirits, making jokes and just enjoying each others company. Like I said, we love to laugh.
I drove to Whitespot and pulled in and Ray hopped out of the van and as I turned to him my eyes opened wide. "RAY you have no SOCKS on!!!!" People must have thought we were nuts the way we kept laughing and giggling our way into the restaurant.
You can't dress them up and you can't take them out!! *grin*
A Date???? What is THAT?????
After we had done Walmart we still had about two hours to kill. We decided to try to get something to eat before the seminar, so off we went. HOW do you find a good restaurant when you have never been out for dinner in that town? Yes, we used to live there, but when we lived there we had a handful of little ones and going out to dinner was a very rare treat!
While we were looking for somewhere to eat I suddenly saw Mr. Lube and remembered I needed an oil change in my car. I love those places!! You drive in and they tell you what they are doing as they fix your car. No need for sitting in a mechanics shop and no long waiting with kids! We were out of there in good time and off to find somewhere to eat.
We decided to go to the good old standby - White Spot. I love that restaurant. It is a family restaurant that I used to go to as a child. So when Ray and I were sitting there deciding what to order I suddenly had a thought and told him, "This is not an adoption expense!! This is a DATE!!" *roflol* We don't GET dates!! Now that we are in town we will be able to. Things are closer and we can leave the kids, but when we were in the country the drive was just too long to leave them alone.
So there we were having a date. It was a nice lunch and didn't cost the adoption fund a penny, since we could pretend we were back home on a date! LOL!
When we finished up there we headed to our seminar. We were early, but then so were many other people.
While we were looking for somewhere to eat I suddenly saw Mr. Lube and remembered I needed an oil change in my car. I love those places!! You drive in and they tell you what they are doing as they fix your car. No need for sitting in a mechanics shop and no long waiting with kids! We were out of there in good time and off to find somewhere to eat.
We decided to go to the good old standby - White Spot. I love that restaurant. It is a family restaurant that I used to go to as a child. So when Ray and I were sitting there deciding what to order I suddenly had a thought and told him, "This is not an adoption expense!! This is a DATE!!" *roflol* We don't GET dates!! Now that we are in town we will be able to. Things are closer and we can leave the kids, but when we were in the country the drive was just too long to leave them alone.
So there we were having a date. It was a nice lunch and didn't cost the adoption fund a penny, since we could pretend we were back home on a date! LOL!
When we finished up there we headed to our seminar. We were early, but then so were many other people.
Donut Blessings and Small Sacrifices
I will write this in pieces as there are a few things to write about.
We left yesterday morning at 5:30 am and headed out. We were blessed because a coworker of my husband's gave him a pack of coupons for Tim Hortons (our famous donut/coffee shop). Therefore, we stopped enroute and had a complimentary breakfast!! *smile*
I drove to the coast, cause I knew Ray would sleep in the car, and I wouldn't have been. I would have been chatting or certainly not sleeping! We arrived good and early, kind of like I knew we would. I didn't want to leave when the kids were just waking up, so we left earlier than necessary. It turned out to be good as I got a few errands done.
I went to Wal Mart and returned about six items of clothing that I had bought on my last trip. It is interesting how your 'needs' change!!! When I was on my last trip I went clothes shopping, because I *could*. Ray was working and it was spring and it would be nice to have some new clothes. Not a real 'need'. Right after I got home, we realized what we wanted to do, and I knew that by returning these clothes I could put $120 back in our 'pot'. So I did!
You can save so much by just not spending!!!! All the little things add up. It is amazing. Simple things like Ray and I used to splurge on a fancy icecream. It was our treat at the end of the day. Well, we stopped buying that and do your math: $8 a week x by 52 weeks = $416 at the end of a year!! One simple sacrifice! See how so many of our adoption costs can be recouped from things we can just do without for a season!
We left yesterday morning at 5:30 am and headed out. We were blessed because a coworker of my husband's gave him a pack of coupons for Tim Hortons (our famous donut/coffee shop). Therefore, we stopped enroute and had a complimentary breakfast!! *smile*
I drove to the coast, cause I knew Ray would sleep in the car, and I wouldn't have been. I would have been chatting or certainly not sleeping! We arrived good and early, kind of like I knew we would. I didn't want to leave when the kids were just waking up, so we left earlier than necessary. It turned out to be good as I got a few errands done.
I went to Wal Mart and returned about six items of clothing that I had bought on my last trip. It is interesting how your 'needs' change!!! When I was on my last trip I went clothes shopping, because I *could*. Ray was working and it was spring and it would be nice to have some new clothes. Not a real 'need'. Right after I got home, we realized what we wanted to do, and I knew that by returning these clothes I could put $120 back in our 'pot'. So I did!
You can save so much by just not spending!!!! All the little things add up. It is amazing. Simple things like Ray and I used to splurge on a fancy icecream. It was our treat at the end of the day. Well, we stopped buying that and do your math: $8 a week x by 52 weeks = $416 at the end of a year!! One simple sacrifice! See how so many of our adoption costs can be recouped from things we can just do without for a season!
Friday, July 27, 2007
So What Happened to Briton?
He probably dislocated his elbow! And apparently he put it back into it's socket or something between the car and the hospital. I think it was when I was getting out of the car and before I could get to his seat he had dropped out of his chair onto the floor, forgetting his arm was hurting. He *shrieked* and after that he was fine.
He is right as 'rain' today!
He is right as 'rain' today!
I Have Butterflies
I have been excitedly waiting for July 28 for over three weeks now. Ever since Ray and I made the life changing decision to step forward and try to adopt from a foreign country I have been waiting. Our official 'homestudy' does not begin until we clock in at the educational seminar, on Saturday, July 28.
But since we decided to step out in faith, we have done a ton of paperwork. But that was all for the Ethiopian side of things. Now tomorrow we begin the provincial side, which will tell if we are accepted for adoption on the Canadian home front.
I have butterflies! Over the last week or so, as I would think about this first face to face meeting with the people that could begin to change our lives, I would get butterflies. It is so exciting!!! We have talked over the phone a few times, but tomorrow is the Big Day! We get our seminar and then our application forms, medical forms, police check, etc.
Last night our friend was to come by and see Briton. This was so that he would see her and be comfortable with waking up and finding her in our house! Typical of my life, thirty minutes before she was to arrive, Briton came in from play holding his arm and shrieking. If I touched it he cried and winced. Having seen him with a broken wrist when he was 14 months old, I wasn't taking any chances. I took him down to the hospital to get an xray. I left Cassidy here for our friend to take back to her house. We would have to have our little meeting later that evening.
So off I went. As I was sitting in the emergency room waiting for a doctor, my old doctor walked in. About six months ago I found out that she had stopped being an 'active doctor', as she has three tiny children. I have to tell you, I admire this woman! My doctor from 9 years ago, also 'stopped being a doctor' when her four children became young teenagers. Much as I missed her, she was my hero! Any woman that would put her career on hold for her children is an amazing woman.
So here I was and I was so thrilled to see her. I am sure that you who have children and have given birth to children will understand my feelings. You share your feelings and your children with a woman/or man and therefore that person takes on a special significance in your life!!! To them, perhaps, you are just one of many, many patients. But to us, they are *one*. One doctor with whom you entrust yourself and your children. So you can see why I was pleased to see her.
I felt so blessed because I was able to say goodbye to her. When I had found out she had left her clinic, it was when I went for a visit and was handed a letter when I asked where she was. Yesterday was a real blessing to be able to say goodbye and wish her well in her future!!! And I think it is ironic that the two doctors that have been so important in our family's lives have both put their careers on hold for their children. No wonder we thought so much of them both!!!
We need more doctors like that! Now of course, there is a sadness in our hearts, but we know that our needs will be met through the doctors office. Just not the same way!!! I am thankful for that unexpected hospital visit yesterday!! *smile*
But since we decided to step out in faith, we have done a ton of paperwork. But that was all for the Ethiopian side of things. Now tomorrow we begin the provincial side, which will tell if we are accepted for adoption on the Canadian home front.
I have butterflies! Over the last week or so, as I would think about this first face to face meeting with the people that could begin to change our lives, I would get butterflies. It is so exciting!!! We have talked over the phone a few times, but tomorrow is the Big Day! We get our seminar and then our application forms, medical forms, police check, etc.
Last night our friend was to come by and see Briton. This was so that he would see her and be comfortable with waking up and finding her in our house! Typical of my life, thirty minutes before she was to arrive, Briton came in from play holding his arm and shrieking. If I touched it he cried and winced. Having seen him with a broken wrist when he was 14 months old, I wasn't taking any chances. I took him down to the hospital to get an xray. I left Cassidy here for our friend to take back to her house. We would have to have our little meeting later that evening.
So off I went. As I was sitting in the emergency room waiting for a doctor, my old doctor walked in. About six months ago I found out that she had stopped being an 'active doctor', as she has three tiny children. I have to tell you, I admire this woman! My doctor from 9 years ago, also 'stopped being a doctor' when her four children became young teenagers. Much as I missed her, she was my hero! Any woman that would put her career on hold for her children is an amazing woman.
So here I was and I was so thrilled to see her. I am sure that you who have children and have given birth to children will understand my feelings. You share your feelings and your children with a woman/or man and therefore that person takes on a special significance in your life!!! To them, perhaps, you are just one of many, many patients. But to us, they are *one*. One doctor with whom you entrust yourself and your children. So you can see why I was pleased to see her.
I felt so blessed because I was able to say goodbye to her. When I had found out she had left her clinic, it was when I went for a visit and was handed a letter when I asked where she was. Yesterday was a real blessing to be able to say goodbye and wish her well in her future!!! And I think it is ironic that the two doctors that have been so important in our family's lives have both put their careers on hold for their children. No wonder we thought so much of them both!!!
We need more doctors like that! Now of course, there is a sadness in our hearts, but we know that our needs will be met through the doctors office. Just not the same way!!! I am thankful for that unexpected hospital visit yesterday!! *smile*
Thursday, July 26, 2007
My Soul Mate
When this walk with the adoption began, something struck me right away. My best friend Denise, was not on this walk with me. Denise and I have a special relationship. We met nine years ago when a toddler put a pair of little blue boots in the toilet! That was the beginning of a soulfilled friendship.
We have encountered so many of the same situations in our past lives - before our friendship even emerged - that would cause us to connect and know that we could talk about and share anything and know the other one would understand, like noone else ever could.
Through the course of the next nine years we have both been on the same page for each and every adventure the other one has had. Both of our families lived in suburbia and decided, basically overnight, to 'move to the country and homestead'. She moved hundreds of miles across America and we moved hundreds of miles across Canada. Both of us were hoping when this was happening that perhaps we might be moving closer to each other. It didn't happen that way. We moved further north and she moved only slightly closer.
While others thought we were all nuts, moving to who knows where, with no jobs lined up and no idea where we would all settle - we had each other. We would get the same encouraging bible verse on the same day; we would have words to encourage each other all along the way. We cried and laughed for each other.
I was to see her house in Florida before she moved to her country home. Then six years later I was to see her home in Tennesse, and while I was visiting I had the privilege of being there when an overnight decision was made to move to town - away from the boonies. I was there to see the huge, run down house that Denise was to later turn into an elegant home fit for a king!
My fourth son was born on her birthday - after she stated in early April when we thought he was going to be born - it was too early: "it's not my birthday, yet!" This happy child was to be the blessing to our friendship.
Later, she was to visit us in Canada just months after we made the decision to move to the town. The same decision she had made 10 months previously! So we were blessed that she was able to see our home before we moved on (just two months later).
While Denise and her daughter were visiting us on this spontaneous trip, last January, we made the sudden decision to take a month and head south, to Tennessee! So off we all went - Denise flew home and we followed about 2 weeks later! What an awesome time that was! We moved into the carriage house and lived the life of Tennessee homeschoolers for one month.
So up to that point we had been blessed to see each and every house that we had both lived in during our friendship; we had moved from city to country together; and then from country to town.
The next thing we did together was our family decided to build a house. We thought we would be doing that by ourselves. But it wasn't to be that way! After we left Tennessee, Denise's family made the decision to basically rebuild their house. They turned their beautiful big house into two homes, so that Denise could have the blessings of having her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren living on her property.
Then to top-off all these simultaneous walks, last year both she and I made a life changing decision to put one of our children into school. I don't think either of us would say we saw it coming!! I certainly never intended to put one of my children (my oldest) into school! And we have both been blessed by what we did!
So again, we walked a new walk together. It has been something so comforting to know that a good friend is encountering these new days together. So you can imagine how odd it seemed when our adoption adventure began and WHAT? Denise is not adopting?? Nope! I'm doing this one alone! It felt a little sad.
I was talking to a new friend one day, saying how I missed that Denise and I were not sharing this journey. When we both moved to the country eight years ago, we wrote to each other daily and shared so much encouragement (when the world thought we were looney) that we easily filled 700+ pages of journaling! I was telling this girl that I appreciated her words of wisdom that she had dropped. I told her about Denise and how those were the types of things Denise would say. Courtney spoke of 'friends for a season'. I fully believe she is right in this. (Denise is not for a season though; she is for a life-time - my soulmate.)
Today, the most remarkable thing happened. Denise and I were talking about someone who had adopted and she mentioned some of this woman's names of her children. When she dropped one name I said, "I love that!!" I *know* that name (which is so symbolic and beautiful) *will* be one of our girls' names (if we are blessed to get two). That would be just like God to bless us with Denise being the one to suggest the name - the same as Austin being born on her birthday - just another way to bond us.
Then when we were talking about going to Ethiopia, Denise said she would go with me. And I was thrilled at the idea. We had a laugh when I said I would have to take Ray, too. *grin* She said, "We'll let him come along."
Later tonight, I wrote to Denise and said, "Were you serious about going to Ethiopia with us?" And her reply so blessed my heart!
"Sure, I'll go to the ends of the earth with you." Through things Denise has told me this seems to be a personal journey for Denise, too. God is reaching her heart for Africa - 'through the eyes of these children.'
So where I thought that I was walking without Denise, I was too hasty. I should have realized that God had surprises in store.
This is such a blessing for me. It is rare to find a friend who reaches the depths of your complete soul - but I have found that in Denise. Thank you, Lord!
(Denise, this paragraph formatting is *especially* for you. *laugh* Love ya!)
We have encountered so many of the same situations in our past lives - before our friendship even emerged - that would cause us to connect and know that we could talk about and share anything and know the other one would understand, like noone else ever could.
Through the course of the next nine years we have both been on the same page for each and every adventure the other one has had. Both of our families lived in suburbia and decided, basically overnight, to 'move to the country and homestead'. She moved hundreds of miles across America and we moved hundreds of miles across Canada. Both of us were hoping when this was happening that perhaps we might be moving closer to each other. It didn't happen that way. We moved further north and she moved only slightly closer.
While others thought we were all nuts, moving to who knows where, with no jobs lined up and no idea where we would all settle - we had each other. We would get the same encouraging bible verse on the same day; we would have words to encourage each other all along the way. We cried and laughed for each other.
I was to see her house in Florida before she moved to her country home. Then six years later I was to see her home in Tennesse, and while I was visiting I had the privilege of being there when an overnight decision was made to move to town - away from the boonies. I was there to see the huge, run down house that Denise was to later turn into an elegant home fit for a king!
My fourth son was born on her birthday - after she stated in early April when we thought he was going to be born - it was too early: "it's not my birthday, yet!" This happy child was to be the blessing to our friendship.
Later, she was to visit us in Canada just months after we made the decision to move to the town. The same decision she had made 10 months previously! So we were blessed that she was able to see our home before we moved on (just two months later).
While Denise and her daughter were visiting us on this spontaneous trip, last January, we made the sudden decision to take a month and head south, to Tennessee! So off we all went - Denise flew home and we followed about 2 weeks later! What an awesome time that was! We moved into the carriage house and lived the life of Tennessee homeschoolers for one month.
So up to that point we had been blessed to see each and every house that we had both lived in during our friendship; we had moved from city to country together; and then from country to town.
The next thing we did together was our family decided to build a house. We thought we would be doing that by ourselves. But it wasn't to be that way! After we left Tennessee, Denise's family made the decision to basically rebuild their house. They turned their beautiful big house into two homes, so that Denise could have the blessings of having her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren living on her property.
Then to top-off all these simultaneous walks, last year both she and I made a life changing decision to put one of our children into school. I don't think either of us would say we saw it coming!! I certainly never intended to put one of my children (my oldest) into school! And we have both been blessed by what we did!
So again, we walked a new walk together. It has been something so comforting to know that a good friend is encountering these new days together. So you can imagine how odd it seemed when our adoption adventure began and WHAT? Denise is not adopting?? Nope! I'm doing this one alone! It felt a little sad.
I was talking to a new friend one day, saying how I missed that Denise and I were not sharing this journey. When we both moved to the country eight years ago, we wrote to each other daily and shared so much encouragement (when the world thought we were looney) that we easily filled 700+ pages of journaling! I was telling this girl that I appreciated her words of wisdom that she had dropped. I told her about Denise and how those were the types of things Denise would say. Courtney spoke of 'friends for a season'. I fully believe she is right in this. (Denise is not for a season though; she is for a life-time - my soulmate.)
Today, the most remarkable thing happened. Denise and I were talking about someone who had adopted and she mentioned some of this woman's names of her children. When she dropped one name I said, "I love that!!" I *know* that name (which is so symbolic and beautiful) *will* be one of our girls' names (if we are blessed to get two). That would be just like God to bless us with Denise being the one to suggest the name - the same as Austin being born on her birthday - just another way to bond us.
Then when we were talking about going to Ethiopia, Denise said she would go with me. And I was thrilled at the idea. We had a laugh when I said I would have to take Ray, too. *grin* She said, "We'll let him come along."
Later tonight, I wrote to Denise and said, "Were you serious about going to Ethiopia with us?" And her reply so blessed my heart!
"Sure, I'll go to the ends of the earth with you." Through things Denise has told me this seems to be a personal journey for Denise, too. God is reaching her heart for Africa - 'through the eyes of these children.'
So where I thought that I was walking without Denise, I was too hasty. I should have realized that God had surprises in store.
This is such a blessing for me. It is rare to find a friend who reaches the depths of your complete soul - but I have found that in Denise. Thank you, Lord!
(Denise, this paragraph formatting is *especially* for you. *laugh* Love ya!)
A Thought
In the last two weeks, I have had a number of people suggest or talk to me about putting a donation link on our website. This felt a bit odd to me (and still does!), but having spoken to these different friends at length, I have come to understand their reasoning. As I mentioned in a previous post, what has been impressed upon me by one friend is that this is not about helping *us* get a daughter. It is bigger than that. It is about these friends getting to be part of something life changing. Something wonderful. It is about helping to bring a little girl across the world to be part of a family that is wanting to be her 'forever family'.
It is with that thought, that I humbly place this donation link on our website.
Yesterday, one friend specifically asked if there was any way other than Pay Pal, for her to give. She also thought there might be other people, like herself, who weren't familiar with the online method of sending money. So, for those that might wish to donate other than thru Pay Pal, please contact us for our address and then a cheque or money order could be sent.
Please, please do not give unless you truly feel led to give!
It is with that thought, that I humbly place this donation link on our website.
Yesterday, one friend specifically asked if there was any way other than Pay Pal, for her to give. She also thought there might be other people, like herself, who weren't familiar with the online method of sending money. So, for those that might wish to donate other than thru Pay Pal, please contact us for our address and then a cheque or money order could be sent.
Please, please do not give unless you truly feel led to give!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Stop Teenage Affluenza
I have to say how proud I am of my son. For his Leadership class in highschool he chose to put on a 30 Hour Famine. His team raised $1000 for hungry children. But at the same time, this video rings so true and makes me feel disgusted at what our society feels that we need. Powerful!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
The Missing Puzzle Piece
Today, when I was telling Cassidy that I had to write a letter to the Ethiopian government telling them why we wanted to adopt one of their children, he gave me this reply:
"Tell them, Our family is missing a piece of our puzzle."
What a wonderful way of putting it! Our family is missing a child. A piece of our puzzle.
How simplistic - in the eye's of a child!
"Tell them, Our family is missing a piece of our puzzle."
What a wonderful way of putting it! Our family is missing a child. A piece of our puzzle.
How simplistic - in the eye's of a child!
An Amazing Opportunity - Ethiopia
Today I had to write a letter to the Ethiopian Ministry of Women's Affairs. In this letter I had to state why we wanted to adopt a child from Ethiopia. When I first read that I would be writing this letter I was rather intimidated. I mean, why Ethiopia? What would I say? But as the days have gone on and I have been reading so much about Ethiopia I have learned so much. Just last night when I was thinking about this letter that I would have to write, I thought about Why Ethiopia? And this time the answer was easy. It just flowed.
(But, before I go on, I have to say - Do you know how hard it is to write to a government and say the 'right' words - to follow the letter format they are after, rather than flowing from your heart? I finally did let the pen just 'go' and didn't worry about saying the professional words. HOW do you limit yourself to a page when explaining why you want the honour of being able to adopt a child from a country!? Who am I to get the privilege of adopting one of *their* children?)
Ethiopia is a country that has endured incredible hardships for so many years. The first time that Ethiopia came to my attention was when I was about 18 or 19 years old. It was the year I worked at the mall as a Santa's Helper, taking pictures for Santa. That was the year the music industry made the song about Famine and Ethiopia. I forget the name now. As we have grown up we have always heard jokes and comments about "Eat your dinner. Don't you know there are starving children in Ethiopia." These comments are callous and it wasn't my parents that made these comments; these comments were on tv and all around you. They just 'were'...
When Ethiopia became a country in question for us, it was initially because the adoption restrictions weren't too hard and the cost was one of the lowest. That was how it started. But as the reading and research have gone on, I have become so fascinated by these people! They are the most remarkable people! They have endured so much, but yet they smile, smile, smile. Ethiopia is known as the "Land of 1000 Smiles". And they love their children so much. They want the best for them.
When I see how civil wars and Aids and famine have devastated this country and its people, it shocks me to think of all these children that have been left homeless and alone. But the beautiful thing about Ethiopia is the overwhelming love these people have for their children! The reports I read are so touching. People walk down the streets and the children are loved on, patted on their heads, spoken to, touched... This is a country that values its children.
As time has gone on and I have learned more about this land and it's people I can see that this is more than an adoption of a child from a foreign land. To paraphrase what my 10 year old son said, "So now we will be part English, Canadian, and Ethiopian, right?" Yes!!!! HOW can you bring a beautiful child, so rich in culture and heritage of her own, into your family and NOT become part Ethiopian? I am so excited to read of the countries festivities, holidays, foods, and culture. I am so looking forward to embracing these customs as a family and 'becoming' Ethiopian!
And one day, I hope that we, as a family, or just some of us, can go back to Ethiopia to see the people and the country again. To live there for a period of time and help them. Perhaps something so wonderful might happen that our children will be drawn to adopt from Ethiopia, because they feel "Ethiopian" and it feels 'right' to bring home another child from a country that they have come to know through their sister.
I have heard amazing stories of parents going to collect their children and while there for the ten day period they have encounters with the orphanages and the local people. What a wonderful opportunity!! I am *so* looking forward to that! One mum told how she met a 13 year old boy living in an alley, and while she was there he asked her for a notebook because he wanted to go to school. She, as a school teacher, was touched. Daily she would visit him and bring him food. Before she left, she met his aunt, and through sponsorship, through her adoption agency, she intends to help him. He will be able to afford to live with his aunt and go to school. That is beautiful!
Another story was of one mum meeting an Ethiopian mum, of two young children. The Ethiopian mum was dying of Aids. She said she really wanted to find a home for her two children before she died. The adoptive mum spoke to her (my) agency and they took the children into their orphanage and now there is hope for these two children. All because an adoptive mum took the time to see what was around her - and not just her own adoptive situation.
When we go to Ethiopia, I envision us bringing as many suitcases as they will allow us to bring. We will take as little clothes as possible to get by. The rest of the room will be filled with things for the children and the orphanages. First aid supplies, school supplies, toys. At that time we will put out a request to any of our friends that want to help fill these suitcases with love! It will be such an amazing thing to share our love with these children. When adoptive parents go to get their children it is such a great opportunity to do a 'short term mission trip'! First hand!! What an honour! And that is another thing that I have always wanted to do! God is good!!
(But, before I go on, I have to say - Do you know how hard it is to write to a government and say the 'right' words - to follow the letter format they are after, rather than flowing from your heart? I finally did let the pen just 'go' and didn't worry about saying the professional words. HOW do you limit yourself to a page when explaining why you want the honour of being able to adopt a child from a country!? Who am I to get the privilege of adopting one of *their* children?)
Ethiopia is a country that has endured incredible hardships for so many years. The first time that Ethiopia came to my attention was when I was about 18 or 19 years old. It was the year I worked at the mall as a Santa's Helper, taking pictures for Santa. That was the year the music industry made the song about Famine and Ethiopia. I forget the name now. As we have grown up we have always heard jokes and comments about "Eat your dinner. Don't you know there are starving children in Ethiopia." These comments are callous and it wasn't my parents that made these comments; these comments were on tv and all around you. They just 'were'...
When Ethiopia became a country in question for us, it was initially because the adoption restrictions weren't too hard and the cost was one of the lowest. That was how it started. But as the reading and research have gone on, I have become so fascinated by these people! They are the most remarkable people! They have endured so much, but yet they smile, smile, smile. Ethiopia is known as the "Land of 1000 Smiles". And they love their children so much. They want the best for them.
When I see how civil wars and Aids and famine have devastated this country and its people, it shocks me to think of all these children that have been left homeless and alone. But the beautiful thing about Ethiopia is the overwhelming love these people have for their children! The reports I read are so touching. People walk down the streets and the children are loved on, patted on their heads, spoken to, touched... This is a country that values its children.
As time has gone on and I have learned more about this land and it's people I can see that this is more than an adoption of a child from a foreign land. To paraphrase what my 10 year old son said, "So now we will be part English, Canadian, and Ethiopian, right?" Yes!!!! HOW can you bring a beautiful child, so rich in culture and heritage of her own, into your family and NOT become part Ethiopian? I am so excited to read of the countries festivities, holidays, foods, and culture. I am so looking forward to embracing these customs as a family and 'becoming' Ethiopian!
And one day, I hope that we, as a family, or just some of us, can go back to Ethiopia to see the people and the country again. To live there for a period of time and help them. Perhaps something so wonderful might happen that our children will be drawn to adopt from Ethiopia, because they feel "Ethiopian" and it feels 'right' to bring home another child from a country that they have come to know through their sister.
I have heard amazing stories of parents going to collect their children and while there for the ten day period they have encounters with the orphanages and the local people. What a wonderful opportunity!! I am *so* looking forward to that! One mum told how she met a 13 year old boy living in an alley, and while she was there he asked her for a notebook because he wanted to go to school. She, as a school teacher, was touched. Daily she would visit him and bring him food. Before she left, she met his aunt, and through sponsorship, through her adoption agency, she intends to help him. He will be able to afford to live with his aunt and go to school. That is beautiful!
Another story was of one mum meeting an Ethiopian mum, of two young children. The Ethiopian mum was dying of Aids. She said she really wanted to find a home for her two children before she died. The adoptive mum spoke to her (my) agency and they took the children into their orphanage and now there is hope for these two children. All because an adoptive mum took the time to see what was around her - and not just her own adoptive situation.
When we go to Ethiopia, I envision us bringing as many suitcases as they will allow us to bring. We will take as little clothes as possible to get by. The rest of the room will be filled with things for the children and the orphanages. First aid supplies, school supplies, toys. At that time we will put out a request to any of our friends that want to help fill these suitcases with love! It will be such an amazing thing to share our love with these children. When adoptive parents go to get their children it is such a great opportunity to do a 'short term mission trip'! First hand!! What an honour! And that is another thing that I have always wanted to do! God is good!!
Don't Judge a Book By It's Cover
I had an appointment on Friday at 10:00 am to go the lawyer's office and have the second half of our papers notarized. Then I found out that I would have to take two trips into town that day, as I will be dropping one son off at my parent's for two nights, while we are at the seminar. I will also have a friend coming over that early evening, as she will be staying for the two nights we are away. So it was turning out to be a hectic day or running around and trying to be in two places at once.
Then out of the blue, my husband came home from work at 4:00 pm. He was stopping in between jobs and announced he would be going to town. That got me thinking, so I quickly called the lawyer's office and asked if they would be able to fit us in before 5:00 pm closing. They could! I love this office!
It is easy to judge a book by it's cover. When I was first looking for a lawyer for our house sale I chose a 'lawyery looking lawyer' - if you know what I mean. All polished and professional looking. And he was fine.
But when I was needing a lawyer for our adoption, I remembered that there was this blue jeans wearing lawyer, with a greenhouse looking office (read: nowhere to sit except between tall greenery and interesting ornaments such as a stuffed cow that sounds like it was on some kind of drugs, when you pushed it's hoof!), and two dog running up and down the hallway. (Though at the time of our house sale I had thought, "How unprofessional!" and had chosen to go with the 'other' lawyer.
I remembered how easy the 'blue jeans' lawyer was about getting a last minute appointment, versus the professional guys that needed advance booking of days! So I thought I would give 'blue jeans lawyer' a call.
That was two weeks ago, when I first began needing my papers notarized for the agencies. He was also the lawyer that did my paperwork for free. Well, today when he so kindly fit me in without an appointment I was reminded of how we shouldn't judge a book by it's cover! He and his office staff are so kind! And I have adjusted my brain to remembering that just because one wears a suit versus blue jeans does not make a person a better lawyer! I like this lawyer. When I visit him he is so down to earth, you don't feel like a 'little uneducated person' beside the 'professional'. You know what I mean?
As I was leaving his office today I went up to pay and the receptionist (I think she must be his wife) waved me away and said (like last time), "No! But I will ask you to do something - come and see us with the little ones when you get them!"
You can bet I will!
And like I told the receptionist and her lawyer, who was standing there - "This is bigger than two little girls or us. This will affect other people too!" People have shown through words and donations that *they* want a hand in bringing these two little girls home. It makes *them* feel good! So thank you for your kindness and may God bless you for your generousity
Such incredible kindness! More of God's provision. Thank you!!!!
Then out of the blue, my husband came home from work at 4:00 pm. He was stopping in between jobs and announced he would be going to town. That got me thinking, so I quickly called the lawyer's office and asked if they would be able to fit us in before 5:00 pm closing. They could! I love this office!
It is easy to judge a book by it's cover. When I was first looking for a lawyer for our house sale I chose a 'lawyery looking lawyer' - if you know what I mean. All polished and professional looking. And he was fine.
But when I was needing a lawyer for our adoption, I remembered that there was this blue jeans wearing lawyer, with a greenhouse looking office (read: nowhere to sit except between tall greenery and interesting ornaments such as a stuffed cow that sounds like it was on some kind of drugs, when you pushed it's hoof!), and two dog running up and down the hallway. (Though at the time of our house sale I had thought, "How unprofessional!" and had chosen to go with the 'other' lawyer.
I remembered how easy the 'blue jeans' lawyer was about getting a last minute appointment, versus the professional guys that needed advance booking of days! So I thought I would give 'blue jeans lawyer' a call.
That was two weeks ago, when I first began needing my papers notarized for the agencies. He was also the lawyer that did my paperwork for free. Well, today when he so kindly fit me in without an appointment I was reminded of how we shouldn't judge a book by it's cover! He and his office staff are so kind! And I have adjusted my brain to remembering that just because one wears a suit versus blue jeans does not make a person a better lawyer! I like this lawyer. When I visit him he is so down to earth, you don't feel like a 'little uneducated person' beside the 'professional'. You know what I mean?
As I was leaving his office today I went up to pay and the receptionist (I think she must be his wife) waved me away and said (like last time), "No! But I will ask you to do something - come and see us with the little ones when you get them!"
You can bet I will!
And like I told the receptionist and her lawyer, who was standing there - "This is bigger than two little girls or us. This will affect other people too!" People have shown through words and donations that *they* want a hand in bringing these two little girls home. It makes *them* feel good! So thank you for your kindness and may God bless you for your generousity
Such incredible kindness! More of God's provision. Thank you!!!!
Monday, July 23, 2007
It Came! It Came!
Last week, while I was visiting the post office, I said to the lady that worked there, "You and I are going to get to know each other really well! You'll be handling a lot of important mail for me!"
She had a laugh when I told her that. And then I told her we were trying to adopt and handed her the "very important" fingerprints envelope.
Today, I went to the post office, hoping that the retainer agreement had come in. When I opened my box I could see the envelope from Kidslink, plus a slip that said I had a package. YEAH!
When I entered into the little office, I said to her, "See! I told you you'd be seeing a lot of me!" She went and got the package and came back and looked at me with expectant eyes.
"YES!! Another IMPORTANT piece of mail!! Thank you!" She gave me a great big understanding smile, while *probably* thinking I was a bit looney!! *laugh* But who cares?!! This means that Kidslink has accepted our application and now we move onto the next step in our application process.... more paperchasing!!! My favourite! *grin*
She had a laugh when I told her that. And then I told her we were trying to adopt and handed her the "very important" fingerprints envelope.
Today, I went to the post office, hoping that the retainer agreement had come in. When I opened my box I could see the envelope from Kidslink, plus a slip that said I had a package. YEAH!
When I entered into the little office, I said to her, "See! I told you you'd be seeing a lot of me!" She went and got the package and came back and looked at me with expectant eyes.
"YES!! Another IMPORTANT piece of mail!! Thank you!" She gave me a great big understanding smile, while *probably* thinking I was a bit looney!! *laugh* But who cares?!! This means that Kidslink has accepted our application and now we move onto the next step in our application process.... more paperchasing!!! My favourite! *grin*
I am savouring the envelopes for tonight when all the children go to bed, and then I will open the envelope and then begin to pull our papers together.
I Love Those Comforting Little Moments
Yesterday, I was feeling a bit like I had a wasted day. I mean, there I was with all this great stuff to sell and the wrong crowd came by. I needed young people and got old folks, instead. That was *our* opportunity to raise money and I felt we had been let down where we were capable of raising a sizeable chunk of money.
Besides things like garage sales and cutting back on buying and finding ways to save, we are relying on God to provide. Now, to the nonbelieving and even some of the believing crowd - that sounds very irresponsible. But you have to have been on a 'faith ride' to understand how it works. When you get the irresistable urge and feeling of an invisible pull to do something and you are pretty darn certain it is a 'God thing', you can guarantee that God will meet your needs. And it is so exciting to see how it happens.
For instance, when I went to the lawyer two weeks ago and he told me he was providing the notary fees for free, because he thought what we were doing was 'great'. Or when the woman at our agency told me I could pay for the seminar on the 28th of July, rather than mailing a cheque or doing it by mastercard. I was so thankful for the time needed to see how God would provide. Well, our garage sale netted us enough to pay for the convention. I wonder how she will like getting all those loonies, toonies, and quarters! *laugh*
Another example is when we had the vision to move up here. We needed $1000 + to put in our new laminate flooring. One day, Ray came home with a $1000 bonus cheque from a customer. He had never had a bonus over $100 (and even those were rare) before. We knew that was God providing. Where He gives a vision, He makes provision.
Recently when we had the vision to move from the country to town, we put our house on the market. We priced high knowing that if this was God's will our house would sell, regardless of price. We sold very high - $25,000 more than the realtors told us we would get! God is good!
Anyway, back to my disappointment in the garage sale. I don't want only God handouts. I want to do what we can to. So that was why I was disappointed.
But then, as if to perk me up, I got a call from my dad and he told me that he and my mum would be able to take one of our children during the seminar, after all. They had been tied up with surgery dates and now it wasn't going to be a problem. This is great because this little boy is such a happy, chatty soul that he would keep the babysitter hopping and she already has to look after a very busy two year old, as well as two other children!
And after that phone call I got a very sweet email from a good friend showing such joy in what we are doing. It was so wonderful to get such a celebratory email.
I read a blog yesterday about people's responses to adoption announcements and it was so true!! She basicaly said you get a variety of responses from people. They range from the rare response of "absolute unfathomable joy where they are so thrilled for you and want to know everything", to the "oh, wonderful" response, as if you have just said you are buying new lawn furniture and they know they are supposed to be happy for you, but can't quite wrap their mind around the idea of going to Africa or even wanting to add one more child to a family of 8!
The "true joy" one is the most rare, but the most beautiful, and the "lawn chair" response is the most typical. I have not had one single negative comment and I actually haven't even have a problem with people's reactions. It was just neat to read how she put it, cause I think that is exactly how it feels when I tell people.
Besides things like garage sales and cutting back on buying and finding ways to save, we are relying on God to provide. Now, to the nonbelieving and even some of the believing crowd - that sounds very irresponsible. But you have to have been on a 'faith ride' to understand how it works. When you get the irresistable urge and feeling of an invisible pull to do something and you are pretty darn certain it is a 'God thing', you can guarantee that God will meet your needs. And it is so exciting to see how it happens.
For instance, when I went to the lawyer two weeks ago and he told me he was providing the notary fees for free, because he thought what we were doing was 'great'. Or when the woman at our agency told me I could pay for the seminar on the 28th of July, rather than mailing a cheque or doing it by mastercard. I was so thankful for the time needed to see how God would provide. Well, our garage sale netted us enough to pay for the convention. I wonder how she will like getting all those loonies, toonies, and quarters! *laugh*
Another example is when we had the vision to move up here. We needed $1000 + to put in our new laminate flooring. One day, Ray came home with a $1000 bonus cheque from a customer. He had never had a bonus over $100 (and even those were rare) before. We knew that was God providing. Where He gives a vision, He makes provision.
Recently when we had the vision to move from the country to town, we put our house on the market. We priced high knowing that if this was God's will our house would sell, regardless of price. We sold very high - $25,000 more than the realtors told us we would get! God is good!
Anyway, back to my disappointment in the garage sale. I don't want only God handouts. I want to do what we can to. So that was why I was disappointed.
But then, as if to perk me up, I got a call from my dad and he told me that he and my mum would be able to take one of our children during the seminar, after all. They had been tied up with surgery dates and now it wasn't going to be a problem. This is great because this little boy is such a happy, chatty soul that he would keep the babysitter hopping and she already has to look after a very busy two year old, as well as two other children!
And after that phone call I got a very sweet email from a good friend showing such joy in what we are doing. It was so wonderful to get such a celebratory email.
I read a blog yesterday about people's responses to adoption announcements and it was so true!! She basicaly said you get a variety of responses from people. They range from the rare response of "absolute unfathomable joy where they are so thrilled for you and want to know everything", to the "oh, wonderful" response, as if you have just said you are buying new lawn furniture and they know they are supposed to be happy for you, but can't quite wrap their mind around the idea of going to Africa or even wanting to add one more child to a family of 8!
The "true joy" one is the most rare, but the most beautiful, and the "lawn chair" response is the most typical. I have not had one single negative comment and I actually haven't even have a problem with people's reactions. It was just neat to read how she put it, cause I think that is exactly how it feels when I tell people.
25 cents
The second day of our garage sale I decided to stay home from Church. Ray took all the younger boys, except for Cooper. He was to stay home and run his Koolaid stand. Two hours later Ray came home and asked me how much money I had made. My answer? 25 cents!! *ROFLOL*
That's what you get for staying home from church! Seriously, I had said that if I sold it all (or a great deal) the day before I would go to church and tell how well we had done. But it didn't happen that way. It was a lousy day on Saturday, but the people came. Sunday we had three people come and only one bought a glass of Koolaid, but nothing else.
Oh, well! It was a restful morning with just one child at home. It does mean, though, that I had to put an ad in the paper today to try to sell the big items. That cost me $53, so I need to make at least that much to pay for the ad! I will obviously be having another garage sale in a couple weeks. I was hoping to be done with it, but there is no way all that good stuff is going to the second hand shop. All the families must be camping, cause all I got was old people who wanted china cats and old rolls of wallpaper! *grin*
That's what you get for staying home from church! Seriously, I had said that if I sold it all (or a great deal) the day before I would go to church and tell how well we had done. But it didn't happen that way. It was a lousy day on Saturday, but the people came. Sunday we had three people come and only one bought a glass of Koolaid, but nothing else.
Oh, well! It was a restful morning with just one child at home. It does mean, though, that I had to put an ad in the paper today to try to sell the big items. That cost me $53, so I need to make at least that much to pay for the ad! I will obviously be having another garage sale in a couple weeks. I was hoping to be done with it, but there is no way all that good stuff is going to the second hand shop. All the families must be camping, cause all I got was old people who wanted china cats and old rolls of wallpaper! *grin*
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Dreams
I think that only a person who is going through what we are, can truly understand what I am about to say.
Up to this point I have not 'allowed' myself the luxury of thinking too hard about having an adopted daughter. A lifelong dream fulfilled. I do not want to have it collapse. So, I do what I can and do not think too hard about the end result.
One PAP (prospective adoptive parent) talked about allowing herself to think about what her little girl might be doing right now; what she might look like; how old she might be; how she might be feeling.....
That is a luxury I do not allow myself. It is no different than thinking that you are pregnant, but having to wait for the pregnancy test to confirm it. That is the stage that we are at. When our dossier is complete, which means our homestudy has been done, and Ethiopia has approved us - *then* and *only* then will I be allowed the luxury of *knowing* there is a little girl who God has chosen for us. At that point I can allow myself to immerse myself in those absolutely wonderful, warm, fantasy feelings of having a daughter.
Until then this is what I let myself have:
I go to bed at the end of a long day of housework, taking care of little children, cooking meals, and the paperchase. The days that have more paperchase are the best ones!! Those days make me feel I am getting somewhere. Life is a big calendar right now.
At the moment I am waiting for a number of things: The retainer agreement to come from Kidslink, the fingerprints to come back from processing, and July 28. That is the day when we do our first educational seminar and when the Home Study officially begins. It has to clock in for three months, to be official. So though I have been doing paperwork for the last 2 1/2 weeks, it won't officially begin until the local agency has us 'on the clock'.
So, at the end of a day's work I have the fun of I spending time living vicariously through bloggy friends, who are adopting. I do my research and read, read, read. Then I fall into bed and dream....
When I lie down in my cozy bed I know that the work is done for the day. Another day is over. Tomorrow will bring new exciting things to work on and learn about. But now that the children are all asleep - now, I can 'think'. There is nothing to distract me and nothing to do. As I curl up in bed I have this warm feeling knowing what we are working towards. It is not the luxury of thinking about 'the child'. That would be dangerous to my heart! No. I just think about the steps that we are taking. Because they, in themselves, are exciting. They show how far we have already gone. Farther than we would have ever dreamed of going in the past. Way beyond the beginning! So I know we are on this exciting journey and there are new things to think about each day!
Then the sleep begins and as I sleep I dream. I dream wonderful thoughts. I can't even put it into words. All I know is when I wake in the night I feel *good*. I feel *happy* about this journey we are on. And I have memory clips of dreams that I was dreaming and in these dreams there are children or people that are on this journey with us. And it feels so good.
About 5:00 am I wake and then from then on I doze, and think, and feel good, all over again. But now I am feeling good about today - what am I working on today?
If you could compare this to a pregnancy it is the same but different. I love this feeling!! I am not getting heavy and feeling sick. I can still wear my own clothes! *laugh* But you DO fall in love. You do! You fall in love with this child that is waiting. You don't know the child 'out there' any more than you know the child in your womb. But you know, you know that it is 'your child'.
When I was pregnant I didn't allow myself to dream *too much*, because there is always the fear of miscarriage. It wasn't until the later three months that I would allow myself to really believe this child might happen. This is the same thing. But in the meantime, there is that wonderful warm, cozy, hard to explain (except, perhaps to an adoptive mother) feeling. A child of mine is out there and waiting....
Up to this point I have not 'allowed' myself the luxury of thinking too hard about having an adopted daughter. A lifelong dream fulfilled. I do not want to have it collapse. So, I do what I can and do not think too hard about the end result.
One PAP (prospective adoptive parent) talked about allowing herself to think about what her little girl might be doing right now; what she might look like; how old she might be; how she might be feeling.....
That is a luxury I do not allow myself. It is no different than thinking that you are pregnant, but having to wait for the pregnancy test to confirm it. That is the stage that we are at. When our dossier is complete, which means our homestudy has been done, and Ethiopia has approved us - *then* and *only* then will I be allowed the luxury of *knowing* there is a little girl who God has chosen for us. At that point I can allow myself to immerse myself in those absolutely wonderful, warm, fantasy feelings of having a daughter.
Until then this is what I let myself have:
I go to bed at the end of a long day of housework, taking care of little children, cooking meals, and the paperchase. The days that have more paperchase are the best ones!! Those days make me feel I am getting somewhere. Life is a big calendar right now.
At the moment I am waiting for a number of things: The retainer agreement to come from Kidslink, the fingerprints to come back from processing, and July 28. That is the day when we do our first educational seminar and when the Home Study officially begins. It has to clock in for three months, to be official. So though I have been doing paperwork for the last 2 1/2 weeks, it won't officially begin until the local agency has us 'on the clock'.
So, at the end of a day's work I have the fun of I spending time living vicariously through bloggy friends, who are adopting. I do my research and read, read, read. Then I fall into bed and dream....
When I lie down in my cozy bed I know that the work is done for the day. Another day is over. Tomorrow will bring new exciting things to work on and learn about. But now that the children are all asleep - now, I can 'think'. There is nothing to distract me and nothing to do. As I curl up in bed I have this warm feeling knowing what we are working towards. It is not the luxury of thinking about 'the child'. That would be dangerous to my heart! No. I just think about the steps that we are taking. Because they, in themselves, are exciting. They show how far we have already gone. Farther than we would have ever dreamed of going in the past. Way beyond the beginning! So I know we are on this exciting journey and there are new things to think about each day!
Then the sleep begins and as I sleep I dream. I dream wonderful thoughts. I can't even put it into words. All I know is when I wake in the night I feel *good*. I feel *happy* about this journey we are on. And I have memory clips of dreams that I was dreaming and in these dreams there are children or people that are on this journey with us. And it feels so good.
About 5:00 am I wake and then from then on I doze, and think, and feel good, all over again. But now I am feeling good about today - what am I working on today?
If you could compare this to a pregnancy it is the same but different. I love this feeling!! I am not getting heavy and feeling sick. I can still wear my own clothes! *laugh* But you DO fall in love. You do! You fall in love with this child that is waiting. You don't know the child 'out there' any more than you know the child in your womb. But you know, you know that it is 'your child'.
When I was pregnant I didn't allow myself to dream *too much*, because there is always the fear of miscarriage. It wasn't until the later three months that I would allow myself to really believe this child might happen. This is the same thing. But in the meantime, there is that wonderful warm, cozy, hard to explain (except, perhaps to an adoptive mother) feeling. A child of mine is out there and waiting....
Encouraging Words
I like to read a number of devotional books - my favourites are Streams in the Desert, My Utmost For His Highest, and Daily Power Thoughts.
These were my encouraging words yesterday:
"Make Thy Petition Deep." Isaiah 7:11
We must keep on praying and waiting upon the Lord until the sound of a might rain is heard. There is no reason why we should not ask for large things; and without doubt we shall get large things if we ask in faith, and have the courage to wait with patient perseverance upon Him, meanwhile doing those things which lie within our power to do so.
I am doing the paperchase. I am doing the garage sale. I am doing the research. I am learning all I can about Ethiopia. And I am waiting on the Lord
An Interesting Garage Sale
The first day of the garage sale is over. I was praying that everything would sell on Saturday, so that I could go to church on Sunday and say what a success it was. The interesting thing is the people that came around bought all kinds of small, odd things that I would have figured would have ended up in the second hand shop next week!
We did very well for a day selling small things. We made $205. That is $5 more than we needed for the educational seminar next weekend. We now need to make $350 for the application fee, plus if at all possible $150 for the gas and expenses on the way down. This convention is 5 hours from where we live.
Last night after we had shut down and were having dinner our doorbell rang and it was a young lady who had been by earlier. She had commented that she could use a freezer (and ours was priced very low - $50). She said she wasn't moving in for two weeks, so I said I could store it for her. I am not one to let a sale go that easily! Sure enough, she came back with her money.
So now we are up to $255!! Not bad, when you consider we have all the great stuff left, plus tons of toys and small things!!! I will definitely be running the sale again today, plus in two weeks when we come back from the seminar and visiting our big boys at camp.
We saw so few people we know - no homeschoolers - that I have to think that since it is summer, people are away. Therefore running it more than once makes sense!
We had a few people we know drop by with donations for our sale and that was nice as it helped our profits. We do have a pair of budgies and a cage for $40 if anyone wants them! Very nice, but I am not into having birds. They were also a donation!
The big things we have left are some top condition baby stuff: exersaucer, swing, carseat, rocker chair, netted baby carry bed. Plus we have Little Tikes sandbox and easel. And then some decent furniture, and a ton of toys, camping stuff etc. So there is lots more money making potential.
Our kids had lots of fun with their Koolaid stand also. They did well netting over $9.00 and it was a windy, cool day. But people were kind. They only sold 1 1/2 jugs of Koolaid, so that shows the generousity.
We did very well for a day selling small things. We made $205. That is $5 more than we needed for the educational seminar next weekend. We now need to make $350 for the application fee, plus if at all possible $150 for the gas and expenses on the way down. This convention is 5 hours from where we live.
Last night after we had shut down and were having dinner our doorbell rang and it was a young lady who had been by earlier. She had commented that she could use a freezer (and ours was priced very low - $50). She said she wasn't moving in for two weeks, so I said I could store it for her. I am not one to let a sale go that easily! Sure enough, she came back with her money.
So now we are up to $255!! Not bad, when you consider we have all the great stuff left, plus tons of toys and small things!!! I will definitely be running the sale again today, plus in two weeks when we come back from the seminar and visiting our big boys at camp.
We saw so few people we know - no homeschoolers - that I have to think that since it is summer, people are away. Therefore running it more than once makes sense!
We had a few people we know drop by with donations for our sale and that was nice as it helped our profits. We do have a pair of budgies and a cage for $40 if anyone wants them! Very nice, but I am not into having birds. They were also a donation!
The big things we have left are some top condition baby stuff: exersaucer, swing, carseat, rocker chair, netted baby carry bed. Plus we have Little Tikes sandbox and easel. And then some decent furniture, and a ton of toys, camping stuff etc. So there is lots more money making potential.
Our kids had lots of fun with their Koolaid stand also. They did well netting over $9.00 and it was a windy, cool day. But people were kind. They only sold 1 1/2 jugs of Koolaid, so that shows the generousity.
Please pray that today is a great success also.
What doesn't sell today (the big items) I will be posting on the radio this week. We have about a week or so before I need the $350 for the application fee, so I think that should give me enough time, if people are buying.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Oh Me of Little Faith
Today I had my first customer. Oh yeah! LOL! Seriously, I am so the character, "Oh ye, of little faith." Yup! That's me! For instance regarding my garage sale. I figured I would have it all sold before the garage sale even opened. HUH? LOL! Well, seriously I called a few people and told them about all my baby equipment and thought, There! That's done. Now I will make $285 before the garage sale even opens!
It didn't happen that way. None of the people called back for baby equipment. Oh well. Then I emailed everyone I knew about the garage sale. Do you know how many people are away this weekend? LOL! Just my luck.
So here I am thinking my garage sale is going to be a dud, even before I have opened the doors! Kick me. *grin* I need to have more faith!!!!
Then today, a girl I knew stopped by and looked at all my beautiful stuff and said she really didn't need more stuff and so she only bought three little things. I was happy to see one of the items she bought go to her. It was a knitting bag my mum bought me years ago. I like this girl, so it was nice to see it go to a 'good home'. And one of the other things she bought was this stool. I put 25cents on it. Then I saw it in the store for $10.00. What a hoot! We SO overpay for new things!!!! What is with that? Overall, her purchases were $2.25 and she paid me $10.00!! She said the cause was so worthy. Praise you Lord!
I spent tonight making posters for the neighbourhood and then some big ones for our yard. They will let people know what we are saving money for.
It didn't happen that way. None of the people called back for baby equipment. Oh well. Then I emailed everyone I knew about the garage sale. Do you know how many people are away this weekend? LOL! Just my luck.
So here I am thinking my garage sale is going to be a dud, even before I have opened the doors! Kick me. *grin* I need to have more faith!!!!
Then today, a girl I knew stopped by and looked at all my beautiful stuff and said she really didn't need more stuff and so she only bought three little things. I was happy to see one of the items she bought go to her. It was a knitting bag my mum bought me years ago. I like this girl, so it was nice to see it go to a 'good home'. And one of the other things she bought was this stool. I put 25cents on it. Then I saw it in the store for $10.00. What a hoot! We SO overpay for new things!!!! What is with that? Overall, her purchases were $2.25 and she paid me $10.00!! She said the cause was so worthy. Praise you Lord!
I spent tonight making posters for the neighbourhood and then some big ones for our yard. They will let people know what we are saving money for.
Cassidy drew a nice poster for the koolaid stand the boys will have. This also thanks people for supporting our adoption. Hopefully it doesn't rain! It tried today. Tonight the sky is clear!
I just want to get past this garage sale and get on with more paperwork!!!! And again I went to the mail box and the retainer agreement and notary papers were not there. Wait, wait, wait....
Please pray our garage sale is a rip roaring success!!! A sweet friend of ours, who our boys call, "Gramma" is coming over to help with the 'rush'. *laugh*!! Our little boys are so excited about the garage sale tomorrow. Austin figures he will have the crowds 'line up' so they won't get disorderly! *laugh*
So please pray that their (our) hopeful little hearts are not disappointed!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Looking Forward to Weekdays
Weird isn't it? Usually I love weekends, but since this adoption thing has been going, I live for weekdays! You see, on weekends I can't make phone calls or check the mail, or go to the doctor's (that appointment is not for another 10 days or so), or go to the lawyers, accountants, police station or anywhere that I need to be to get paperwork done!
Right now, though, I am living just to get through this weekend and the garage sale. And wouldn't you know it! This week it had to rain. I am TRYING to get through my sale and put it behind me and now it is raining - no, actually it is HAILING today! Can you imagine? Here we are in the middle of July and I had a pile 2" deep of HAIL! We need sun so I can have my garage sale. There I was out there today piling and pricing and cleaning and organizing and so it BETTER NOT RAIN!!
A friend's husband came by tonight to pick up his son, who was visiting at our house and he mentioned he had a bike and did I want it? He saw a water cooler in the foyer and suggested we trade - cooler for bike. I had to tell him that I was only dealing in hard cold cash. *grin* He must have thought I was batty when I told him I had to raise $25,000 (and I was doing this at a garage sale???? LOL!!) and that water cooler was only going to give me $75! *laugh* But HEY! $75 is $75!!! It all adds up!
A friend's husband came by tonight to pick up his son, who was visiting at our house and he mentioned he had a bike and did I want it? He saw a water cooler in the foyer and suggested we trade - cooler for bike. I had to tell him that I was only dealing in hard cold cash. *grin* He must have thought I was batty when I told him I had to raise $25,000 (and I was doing this at a garage sale???? LOL!!) and that water cooler was only going to give me $75! *laugh* But HEY! $75 is $75!!! It all adds up!
On MONDAY I can begin the paperchase all over again. I love that part. Cause then I feel like I am going somewhere! Our criminal checks came back in A OKAY! I knew I wasn't a criminal, but Ray? NAH!! LOL! Now I am WAITING with baited breath for the retainer agreement to come in the mail from Kidslink. I have already mailed in the application and the retainer (money). Call me anxious, but I mailed the money in before they sent me the form! LOL! Well, I wanted to get things going and I knew we were on board! I have been hot footing it to get things done as soon as I can. I KNOW there might be a holdup later, from some department, but at least I can get my end done! When the retainer agreement comes in there will be another list of things I have to get notarized.
This week I have had a couple good friends write up letters of reference for Ray and I. I am surprised that they only ask for two!? Plus I this week I have spent taking pictures of all the rooms in the house, the outside of the house, the yard, Ray and I, and of course, our wonderful boys! They want to see where the little girl will get to live!
Austin announced he wanted his room painted pink, because he wants 'my sisters' to live with me. And every meal time the children pray that "our sister's" are getting good food' where they are living. They also pray at bedtime for their safety, good food, loving people around them and that their hearts would be prepared to live with us.
This week I have had a couple good friends write up letters of reference for Ray and I. I am surprised that they only ask for two!? Plus I this week I have spent taking pictures of all the rooms in the house, the outside of the house, the yard, Ray and I, and of course, our wonderful boys! They want to see where the little girl will get to live!
Austin announced he wanted his room painted pink, because he wants 'my sisters' to live with me. And every meal time the children pray that "our sister's" are getting good food' where they are living. They also pray at bedtime for their safety, good food, loving people around them and that their hearts would be prepared to live with us.
Our Social Insurance cards came in the mail last week. We didn't need those, but they were both missing and it was good to get them updated so we can have extra I.D. in case we need it. What I find interesting is how many people have not got papers that we will ultimately need. For instance many people adopting don't seem to have: life insurance, wills, birth certificates, copies of marriage certificates etc! I am thankful that the only thing we had to wait for was Ray's passport. And that will be in in good time, because I got that off last week and it only takes about 8 weeks to get back.
Waiting, waiting - I love to be doing!! In the meantime, I live vicariously through other Prospective Adoptive Parents and their blogs. There is so much to learn about and educate ourselves in!
Just today I was looking at kid's books and music that is written about African children. There are lots of books on Ethiopian children. Just wait til we get a go-ahead!! I will be buying books!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Garage Sale for Ethiopia Fundraising
Just this morning I picked up my Bible to read and opened to Psalm 68:5, 6. It reads:
"A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His Holy habitation. God sets the solitary in families."
What great confirmation! This weekend we are having a garage sale. I have been saving stuff for a while. Unfortunately we got rid of a lot of stuff in the last two years because I hate clutter! But last summer we didn't have the garage sale we planned, and the stuff got transported to this house. We dug it all out and the kids and I cleaned out that disaster called a garage. When we moved in here it was mid December and we put everything into the garage and then moved it in - box by box. That garage was the last place I had yet to organize. I was dreading it!!! Oh, I will be glad when the garage sale is over!! I don't even like doing them!! But the last garage sale we had was when we had the vision to move here. We sold good stuff and lots of other things.
We made over $1000!!!!
This garage sale is to help bring our little girl(s) home from Etiopia.
I am considering baking before it, but don't think I have time or desire. I just have so much to do and I *know* that if I put this garage sale off for another two weeks, it might not happen.
It is one of those things you *know* you have to do, but don't want to! *smile*
Next weekend, we have the educational seminar and so can't do it that weekend, plus the weekend after that we are driving to the town our big boys are staying at for the summer. We are going to take them out for the day and give them a real meal!! *laugh* So this is really the only weekend we have to do the sale! And of course, I missed the newspaper advertising cutoff dates - so if it is going to be a success, it will be because we all prayed! *laugh*
A friend was kind enough to bring over a few boxes of things to add to our garage sale.
So, today I make posters and then on Friday I will be posting them around the neighbourhood. We are praying for a good turnout. We are praying for the impossible - that everything sells and sells high!
"... with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Want to Pull a Few Heart Strings?
All God's Children International is an organization that has done amazing things for orphans around the world. These videos are not depressing - they are uplifting! They made Ray and I realize just how far reaching a few of our dollars can go. These beautiful orphanages are built on love alone! Faith builds them. How you say? Well, God moves the heart of people and they donate. I can tell you, that we will never be the same after seeing these centres for children. We may not all be able to take one of these precious children home with us, but we could all give, even on a monthly basis, to help raise these beautiful children.
Please watch the videos and see how All God's Children International was born!
http://www.allgodschildren.org/about/videos/
Come Near and Rescue Me -
This is the story of Hannah (a little ten year old girl who narrates the story of how she was rescued and because of her, her family has become All God's Children International- She has a major hand in the buildings)
Hopes Embrace -
a summary of what they do - inspiring! See how different these children look 'before' and 'after' they are adopted. It made us literally cry to think we might have the privilege to see this joy resound in a child's heart!
Hannah's Hope - Ethiopia -
this will bring tears to your eyes as you see the absolute heart wrenching joy of a little boy when he is given a pair of shoes! Can you imagine! We could all give a pair of shoes, and when you see his joy you should never be the same again!
The other videos are priceless too!
My tough guy hubby has become a real softie because of these children!
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Answered Prayer - Babysitter
I am so thankful, we managed to find a babysitter for the 28th of July! This last week, as I have been calling around looking for an adult friend to come and stay, I had no luck. Two of our friends, who are both the wonderful motherly type, were moving on the very weekend that we needed care. Then family was all tied up and other friends were just not available. Yesterday, I was feeling a bit low for a moment. I knew it would all work out, but I was feeling a bit dejected cause it wasn't falling into place and usually I have big kids to help babysit, but right now they are away at camp for the next 5 weeks!
I could have brought in a teenager to watch the kids, but since we had to leave so early and come back so late, it was getting really complicated. I also had options to send the kids out, but Briton is an escape artist and he, alone, was my big concern and no friends had real fenced yards!
Then today, I was talking to a lady from our church and asked her if she would consider watching the kids and she was so wonderful! Not only did she say yes, she also said she would come over here for the entire time, which means our kids don't even have to leave their own beds, and there is a fence to keep Briton safe!!! To top it all off, she won't even accept a penny! Every little bit is a blessing in financing this adoption!
Why did I doubt! God is good ALL THE TIME!
Friday, July 13, 2007
Why Africa? Here's a Good Reason
This article really speaks volumes about why Africa:
http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/noticia-e.asp?ID=385126
I pasted it below for those that want to read it here:
Poverty hits hard on Ethiopia`s vulnerable kids
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 10/21 - Their personal accounts of survival in poverty are emotionally gripping and profoundly disgusting, yet Ethiopia`s street children are avowedly determined not to go back to their countryside roots.
Many of them are orphans, but in their ranks too are those who have been abandoned by parents or close relatives after being intentionally subjected to cruelty, including maiming.
Others simply find the streets as the only haven where they can strike up friendship that actually gives them the strength to survive as they forage for food.
"I don`t want to go back home. My parents are very poor. I know they are enduring hardship."
They have three other children and there is nothing they can do for me," said 12-year-old Gutama Zombiye (not his real name) who hails from Arba Minch, some 400 km south of the capital, Addis Ababa.
Gutama was brought to the city by his uncle on a false promise to find him a good school.
"When I arrived here I had the impression of starting a new life," he recalled. But soon he was thrown into a terrible confusion, as he had to come to terms with the deception of his uncle.
To his disappointment, Gutama ended up being one of the uncle`s child- labourers in a backyard shawl-weaving factory located at Shoromeda in the city.
For one year, he was paid two birr as his daily wages to buy himself meals. He slept rough and the uncle never talked again about his school promise.
Colourful, traditional shawls made by the child-labourers sell for 17 up to 30 birr apiece ($1 is equivalent to 8.67 birr) and they have become part and parcel of the nation`s cultural image.
However, tourists and other foreign visitors flocking to Shoromeda market to buy traditional Ethiopian dresses as souvenirs pay no attention to the plight of children forced to work on shawl looms.
Like Gutama, these children lead a horrible life in shacks behind the shops, where they toil to fill the pockets of their callous masters.
Besides starvation, they are exposed to confinement, physical violence and overwork.
"My uncle has a penchant for booze. As a result of his hard drinking, he did not give me food. He was beating me for no reason. Several times he threatened to kill me if I reported the matter to the police," said Gutama, narrating his ordeal at a child protection unit, jointly run by Forum on Street Children-Ethiopia (FSCE) and the city police.
FSCE, a child rights NGO formed in 1989, strives to create supportive conditions for urban disadvantaged and street children.
With support from Save the Children Sweden, the NGO works to protect child victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse and exploitation, trafficking as well as separation from families.
"Thousands of young girls and boys from destitute families in rural Ethiopia are taken to the cities every year just like commodities," explained Sammo Sima of FSCE.
"They are trafficked by brokers who make deals with bar owners, `baluka` (brothel) operators and other occasional employers. They think city life is wonderful but the reality turns out differently.
"In the case of girls, FSCE officials explain, the most distressing experience they face is sexual abuse and exploitation.
According to UNICEF, child labour is a common phenomenon in Ethiopia and there are large numbers of child sex workers.
A host of factors drive Ethiopian children into the streets, sex work and bonded labour against their will.
An assessment carried out at the end of 2004 by UN agencies, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, came up with a figure of 4.6 million orphans in Ethiopia.
This is the largest number of orphans in any country in the world, according to UN agencies.
Of these, about 800,000 have been orphaned by AIDS. Given the current HIV prevalence rate of 4.6 percent, the orphaned population is expected to grow.
Up to 70 percent of Ethiopia`s orphans live with immediate family members, 20 percent live with other relatives and the rest live alone or with friends.
Around 65 percent of all orphans come from households with a monthly income of less that 100 birr (about $11), showing a clear correlation between household poverty level and the social status of children.
Most of the households taking care of orphans were female-headed. It is estimated that half of the orphans in the country lack adequate food.
With regard to education, UNICEF officials say school attendance is one aspect of the problems facing orphans.
Confronted with shortages of daily meals, clothing, school uniforms and supplies, many orphans drop out of school at an early age.
Government and UNICEF officials admit that the situation is far worse for girls who are taken out of school to look after their younger siblings or sick adults in the household.
"The fact that they are not going to school makes orphans more vulnerable to abuse, neglect, dispossession, exploitation and stigmatisation," said Alessandro Conticini, head of Child Protection and HIV/AIDS section at UNICEF`s country office in Addis Ababa.
"While orphanhood increases children`s vulnerability, it would be wrong to equate vulnerability exclusively with orphanhood," Conticini added, pointing out that the number of vulnerable kids was higher than the identified orphans.
http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/noticia-e.asp?ID=385126
I pasted it below for those that want to read it here:
Poverty hits hard on Ethiopia`s vulnerable kids
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 10/21 - Their personal accounts of survival in poverty are emotionally gripping and profoundly disgusting, yet Ethiopia`s street children are avowedly determined not to go back to their countryside roots.
Many of them are orphans, but in their ranks too are those who have been abandoned by parents or close relatives after being intentionally subjected to cruelty, including maiming.
Others simply find the streets as the only haven where they can strike up friendship that actually gives them the strength to survive as they forage for food.
"I don`t want to go back home. My parents are very poor. I know they are enduring hardship."
They have three other children and there is nothing they can do for me," said 12-year-old Gutama Zombiye (not his real name) who hails from Arba Minch, some 400 km south of the capital, Addis Ababa.
Gutama was brought to the city by his uncle on a false promise to find him a good school.
"When I arrived here I had the impression of starting a new life," he recalled. But soon he was thrown into a terrible confusion, as he had to come to terms with the deception of his uncle.
To his disappointment, Gutama ended up being one of the uncle`s child- labourers in a backyard shawl-weaving factory located at Shoromeda in the city.
For one year, he was paid two birr as his daily wages to buy himself meals. He slept rough and the uncle never talked again about his school promise.
Colourful, traditional shawls made by the child-labourers sell for 17 up to 30 birr apiece ($1 is equivalent to 8.67 birr) and they have become part and parcel of the nation`s cultural image.
However, tourists and other foreign visitors flocking to Shoromeda market to buy traditional Ethiopian dresses as souvenirs pay no attention to the plight of children forced to work on shawl looms.
Like Gutama, these children lead a horrible life in shacks behind the shops, where they toil to fill the pockets of their callous masters.
Besides starvation, they are exposed to confinement, physical violence and overwork.
"My uncle has a penchant for booze. As a result of his hard drinking, he did not give me food. He was beating me for no reason. Several times he threatened to kill me if I reported the matter to the police," said Gutama, narrating his ordeal at a child protection unit, jointly run by Forum on Street Children-Ethiopia (FSCE) and the city police.
FSCE, a child rights NGO formed in 1989, strives to create supportive conditions for urban disadvantaged and street children.
With support from Save the Children Sweden, the NGO works to protect child victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse and exploitation, trafficking as well as separation from families.
"Thousands of young girls and boys from destitute families in rural Ethiopia are taken to the cities every year just like commodities," explained Sammo Sima of FSCE.
"They are trafficked by brokers who make deals with bar owners, `baluka` (brothel) operators and other occasional employers. They think city life is wonderful but the reality turns out differently.
"In the case of girls, FSCE officials explain, the most distressing experience they face is sexual abuse and exploitation.
According to UNICEF, child labour is a common phenomenon in Ethiopia and there are large numbers of child sex workers.
A host of factors drive Ethiopian children into the streets, sex work and bonded labour against their will.
An assessment carried out at the end of 2004 by UN agencies, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, came up with a figure of 4.6 million orphans in Ethiopia.
This is the largest number of orphans in any country in the world, according to UN agencies.
Of these, about 800,000 have been orphaned by AIDS. Given the current HIV prevalence rate of 4.6 percent, the orphaned population is expected to grow.
Up to 70 percent of Ethiopia`s orphans live with immediate family members, 20 percent live with other relatives and the rest live alone or with friends.
Around 65 percent of all orphans come from households with a monthly income of less that 100 birr (about $11), showing a clear correlation between household poverty level and the social status of children.
Most of the households taking care of orphans were female-headed. It is estimated that half of the orphans in the country lack adequate food.
With regard to education, UNICEF officials say school attendance is one aspect of the problems facing orphans.
Confronted with shortages of daily meals, clothing, school uniforms and supplies, many orphans drop out of school at an early age.
Government and UNICEF officials admit that the situation is far worse for girls who are taken out of school to look after their younger siblings or sick adults in the household.
"The fact that they are not going to school makes orphans more vulnerable to abuse, neglect, dispossession, exploitation and stigmatisation," said Alessandro Conticini, head of Child Protection and HIV/AIDS section at UNICEF`s country office in Addis Ababa.
"While orphanhood increases children`s vulnerability, it would be wrong to equate vulnerability exclusively with orphanhood," Conticini added, pointing out that the number of vulnerable kids was higher than the identified orphans.
A recent research by Ethiopia`s Population Council found that more than 30 percent of girls aged 10-14 years in Addis Ababa were not living with their parents.
Some of them lived with supportive relatives but a large number were living in potentially exploitative situations, on the streets, working or begging.
"While this crisis of vulnerable children deprives them of their rights to human development, it also proves to be a growing burden on the already impoverished communities," Conticini observed.
It is against this background that UNICEF and the Ethiopian government will on 25 October 2005 launch a three-pronged `Campaign for Vulnerable Children` to raise the profile of orphans and vulnerable children.
The first part of the drive focuses on hearing the children`s dreams through a nationwide consultation.
In the second part, headed by Olympic champion and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Kenenisa Bekele, the campaign would seek to raise funds for organisations supporting Ethiopia`s most vulnerable children.
The third part will focus on candidates for `woreda` (district) council elections across Ethiopia in January and February next year.
Candidates will be asked to sign up to the `call to action` before the election, committing them to work towards fulfilling its goals.
Making the dreams of Ethiopia`s vulnerable children come true will, indeed, save them from alienation to shake off the shackles of poverty and make a name for themselves.
Valid Questions
I have been pleasantly surprised that we have not heard one single negative comment!! A common question we have heard is why would we go to Africa when there are children in our country waiting for adoption.
Quite simply, we have chosen Ethiopia, because we feel led there. Recently we saw a movie called "Blood Diamond", and both of us were stunned by the absolutely horrific situation in Sierra Leone and what those children have to endure - if they live! Those children, though thousands of miles away, are just as precious as our children in our country, but those children don't stand a chance against disease, unsafe living conditions, and war. As our hearts began to open to adoption we were specifically led to Ethiopia.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3189299.stm
Quite simply, we have chosen Ethiopia, because we feel led there. Recently we saw a movie called "Blood Diamond", and both of us were stunned by the absolutely horrific situation in Sierra Leone and what those children have to endure - if they live! Those children, though thousands of miles away, are just as precious as our children in our country, but those children don't stand a chance against disease, unsafe living conditions, and war. As our hearts began to open to adoption we were specifically led to Ethiopia.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3189299.stm
children working in mines
Another question that was asked was regarding disease and health of the children. Before the children are placed for adoption they are tested for HIV. They are again tested before they are placed with a family. They are also tested for Hepatitis and STDs. They are also given a complete medical exam before they leave their country and again, once they enter our country.
When a person adopts one of of these children they realize that there are going to a number of poverty level medical conditions to be rectified - usually simple medication, clean hygiene, good nutrition, etc.
We do understand that there are risks, but when God sent each of our six children to us, we took them sight unseen and loved them while in the womb. We loved them and we refused to test for abnormalities before they were born, because we would have done nothing to change the situation if we had known they had problems.
If God chooses to bless us with a daughter we will love her and help her through adjustment and health issues - small or big.
Another question that was asked was regarding disease and health of the children. Before the children are placed for adoption they are tested for HIV. They are again tested before they are placed with a family. They are also tested for Hepatitis and STDs. They are also given a complete medical exam before they leave their country and again, once they enter our country.
When a person adopts one of of these children they realize that there are going to a number of poverty level medical conditions to be rectified - usually simple medication, clean hygiene, good nutrition, etc.
We do understand that there are risks, but when God sent each of our six children to us, we took them sight unseen and loved them while in the womb. We loved them and we refused to test for abnormalities before they were born, because we would have done nothing to change the situation if we had known they had problems.
If God chooses to bless us with a daughter we will love her and help her through adjustment and health issues - small or big.
First Seminar Prayer Request
On Thursday (yesterday) I ran into town and picked up Ray's passport from the church, checked the contents and sent it off in the mail. One more document 'on the way'. We are now waiting for the passport and the fingerprints to come back.
That could be 2-8 weeks.
We have our first educational seminar on Saturday, July 28. This seminar commences the educational part of our homestudy. This is a one day seminar is an orientation for adoption. It begins to cover the issues that adoptive families and adoptees will face. The seminar is in a town that is a five hour drive from where we live, the seminar is 8 hours longs, plus, we intend to drive home the same night (to save hotel costs and because of babysitting issues). It will be about an 18 hour day.
Please pray that we can find childcare that will come into our home (much easier than taking the little ones out) and that Briton will be comfortable with. He is very sweet, but he is not used to being taken care of by other people and his big brothers (14 and 16) are away at camp and cannot look after him. At the moment all avenues have been closed due to two friend's moving that weekend, family with a surgery, etc etc! But God is bigger than this!
That could be 2-8 weeks.
We have our first educational seminar on Saturday, July 28. This seminar commences the educational part of our homestudy. This is a one day seminar is an orientation for adoption. It begins to cover the issues that adoptive families and adoptees will face. The seminar is in a town that is a five hour drive from where we live, the seminar is 8 hours longs, plus, we intend to drive home the same night (to save hotel costs and because of babysitting issues). It will be about an 18 hour day.
Please pray that we can find childcare that will come into our home (much easier than taking the little ones out) and that Briton will be comfortable with. He is very sweet, but he is not used to being taken care of by other people and his big brothers (14 and 16) are away at camp and cannot look after him. At the moment all avenues have been closed due to two friend's moving that weekend, family with a surgery, etc etc! But God is bigger than this!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Express Mail Fingerprints
Ray is fortunate that I enjoy paperwork and also *love* being organized!! *laugh* So all he has to do is show up where he is supposed to and sign on the dotted line! Yesterday, I picked Ray up from his job site and took him into town. He went to get his fingerprints taken and then had his passport pictures taken.
Then it was off to see our pastor to have him sign all the papers and the photos. Those will go off as soon as we get them back from him.
Today I packed up the fingerprints in an Express mail envelope and wrote INTERNATION ADOPTION in large, red, bold letters across the front. We had been advised to do this in the hopes it greases the wheels at the police services office at the other end! They say it will be 2-4 weeks before those are back.
I also had to run back to the accountant today to pick up business statements and given there was a date error I will have to run back there again tomorrow, and then the financial part will be done. Then it is simply a matter of putting it in the dossier envelope and waiting to mail it off with the rest of the papers.
We will probably be waiting for about four months before the dossier can be mailed off to Kidslink, as we have to get the homestudy done first. That is the longest part and that doesn't even begin until the 28th of July
This morning when I was having a moment of doubt - (boy! I hate it when it happens!) I read "Streams in the Desert" and got this:
"Unbelief sees God through circumstances as we sometimes see the sun shorn of his rays through smoky air; but faith puts God between itself and circumstances, and looks at them through Him."
I have to remember this when I think of those prayer requests - they could be mountains or they might be molehills. I just need to remember to believe!
Then it was off to see our pastor to have him sign all the papers and the photos. Those will go off as soon as we get them back from him.
Today I packed up the fingerprints in an Express mail envelope and wrote INTERNATION ADOPTION in large, red, bold letters across the front. We had been advised to do this in the hopes it greases the wheels at the police services office at the other end! They say it will be 2-4 weeks before those are back.
I also had to run back to the accountant today to pick up business statements and given there was a date error I will have to run back there again tomorrow, and then the financial part will be done. Then it is simply a matter of putting it in the dossier envelope and waiting to mail it off with the rest of the papers.
We will probably be waiting for about four months before the dossier can be mailed off to Kidslink, as we have to get the homestudy done first. That is the longest part and that doesn't even begin until the 28th of July
This morning when I was having a moment of doubt - (boy! I hate it when it happens!) I read "Streams in the Desert" and got this:
"Unbelief sees God through circumstances as we sometimes see the sun shorn of his rays through smoky air; but faith puts God between itself and circumstances, and looks at them through Him."
I have to remember this when I think of those prayer requests - they could be mountains or they might be molehills. I just need to remember to believe!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
A Praise and Prayer Requests
Right now we have one praise! When I called the agency about getting the criminal check done in England, I was told that for certain reasons I wouldn't have to get the check done! Great! That saved me one piece of paperwork and possibly a big headache!
What we do need prayer for are three things:
1) That our finances would be considered adequate.
2) That there would be no problems from our medical exams
3) That we would have a Christian social worker.
4) That God would provide the necessary finances.
I will update as we know things. At this moment though, we will not be getting a social worker until after our second seminar (the educational meetings where we learn about adoption) near the end of August. As far as our medical exams go - we will be having those tests etc at the end of July. And our finances will be sent off to the agency when the dossier is complete - so that answer might not be forthcoming until months from now. So please, as you feel led, pray.
Thank you!!
Children - Hope for the Future
We watched a movie the other night. It was recommended to us by someone. I would *not* recommend it! I found it depressing and violent and not the greatest story! It was called 'Children of Men'. But there was one redeeming moment in the whole movie that summed up what this adoption means to us.
For those that are not aware what this movie is about - it is 2027 and there have been no children born since 2009. A young woman is pregnant and it is up to this man to get her to a safe place where she can have her baby. The last 'youngest' person ended up getting killed. He was basically idolized because he was 'Baby Diego', even though he was 18 years old. The future would not be good for this baby.
Very near the end of this movie when the scene is similar to that of a civil war, the girl is walking through the war zone carrying this 'just born' baby. It is crying, and as she walks by people they reach for her and try to touch the baby. People follow her.
Soldiers come running in, waving guns and shooting, and then suddenly, when they hear this baby, they stop dead and say, "Cease fire! Cease fire!" The soldiers take on these reverent expressions as one by one they show their feelings. Some remove their berets out of respect, one drops to his knees, others make the sign of the cross on their chest. Their emotion is evident.
The moment is a holy moment. This scene shows the 'holiness' of the child. This child is their only hope for a future.
It was a remarkable scene. It opens a person's eyes to show what the world would be like without children. No hope. No future. No tomorrow.
Each child in this world should be a wanted child. They are all our hope for the future.
For those that are not aware what this movie is about - it is 2027 and there have been no children born since 2009. A young woman is pregnant and it is up to this man to get her to a safe place where she can have her baby. The last 'youngest' person ended up getting killed. He was basically idolized because he was 'Baby Diego', even though he was 18 years old. The future would not be good for this baby.
Very near the end of this movie when the scene is similar to that of a civil war, the girl is walking through the war zone carrying this 'just born' baby. It is crying, and as she walks by people they reach for her and try to touch the baby. People follow her.
Soldiers come running in, waving guns and shooting, and then suddenly, when they hear this baby, they stop dead and say, "Cease fire! Cease fire!" The soldiers take on these reverent expressions as one by one they show their feelings. Some remove their berets out of respect, one drops to his knees, others make the sign of the cross on their chest. Their emotion is evident.
The moment is a holy moment. This scene shows the 'holiness' of the child. This child is their only hope for a future.
It was a remarkable scene. It opens a person's eyes to show what the world would be like without children. No hope. No future. No tomorrow.
Each child in this world should be a wanted child. They are all our hope for the future.
First Small Blessing
This morning (Tuesday) I took my package of certificates, papers, and licenses and headed for the lawyer's office. I had popped in yesterday, to find out that they would allow me to just stop in - no appointment needed. How nice was that. It makes it so much easier to get things done quickly and keep the ball rolling.
Before I did this though I took the application for Kidslink, with the retainer cheque, prayed over it and then mailed it off. As soon as they get it, they will send us the rest of the dossier instructions.
While the receptionist was photocopying the pages she and I were talking about stuff. I didn't tell her why I was copying the papers. Somehow we got off on the topic of kids and she found out we had six boys and she said I was brave. And she told me she had four. Two of each. Still I did not tell her what we were copying these pages for. *smile*
When she went in to the lawyer for him to notarize all the pages, he asked me where they were going, so he would know what stamp to use. I told him and said they were adoption papers. As I said this I looked at her knowing what she was going to be thinking (after our conversation about family size). She gave me a big grin and we had a laugh. Then we had a chat about the fact that we want a little girl from Ethiopia. The lawyer was so impressed. He kept saying, "That's great! That's great!" The receptionist thought it was the neatest thing too.
When I went to leave and gathered my papers and cheque book to pay, the receptionist shook her head, and said, "Not necessary! Put it towards all that you have to do!"
What a blessing!!! Those are the kind of people that help this whole adoption process along!
After the step of faith of sending off that cheque this morning, I felt that this was a little sign that all would be well. Our needs will be met.
"God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work."
2 Corinthians 9:8
Some of the Documents
Before I did this though I took the application for Kidslink, with the retainer cheque, prayed over it and then mailed it off. As soon as they get it, they will send us the rest of the dossier instructions.
While the receptionist was photocopying the pages she and I were talking about stuff. I didn't tell her why I was copying the papers. Somehow we got off on the topic of kids and she found out we had six boys and she said I was brave. And she told me she had four. Two of each. Still I did not tell her what we were copying these pages for. *smile*
When she went in to the lawyer for him to notarize all the pages, he asked me where they were going, so he would know what stamp to use. I told him and said they were adoption papers. As I said this I looked at her knowing what she was going to be thinking (after our conversation about family size). She gave me a big grin and we had a laugh. Then we had a chat about the fact that we want a little girl from Ethiopia. The lawyer was so impressed. He kept saying, "That's great! That's great!" The receptionist thought it was the neatest thing too.
When I went to leave and gathered my papers and cheque book to pay, the receptionist shook her head, and said, "Not necessary! Put it towards all that you have to do!"
What a blessing!!! Those are the kind of people that help this whole adoption process along!
After the step of faith of sending off that cheque this morning, I felt that this was a little sign that all would be well. Our needs will be met.
"God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work."
2 Corinthians 9:8
Bible Camp and Fingerprinting
Monday morning I was up and running. Like I told Ray, there is only so much we can control. We can get the paperwork done quickly at our end, but we can't speed the officials along in their jobs!
First thing in the morning I had another little boy to drop off to camp. Austin was going to his first week long Bible camp. He was so very thrilled! We rose early and got him there just after 8:30am.
After I dropped him off I had lots of stops with two little guys in tow. First,I had to go to get passport pictures taken for my visa and for the Ethiopian dossier. Dossier is the word for the huge file that we are beginning to compile with all our life story in it. After this, I headed to the police station, to get my fingerprints taken and fill in papers for a criminal record search and a vulnerable person's check. This will all be done all over again for the second agency, in about three weeks!!
I don't look at this as a pain, though. As a wise friend told me on Sunday, "Enjoy the journey." If all of this falls into place, it will have been just like a pregnancy - just a different kind of delivery! One made up of adventure and travel and culture! Unbelieveable. The stuff that I love!
After the police station, I headed home to get our marriage certificate, birth certificates, driver's licenses, health insurance, life insurance, and citizenship papers. All of this had to be either photocopied for the dossier, or some of it had to be taken to the notary to be photocopied and then notarized by the lawyer.
I spent the rest of my afternoon getting the business books up to date, so that I could take them to the accountant to get a letter stating our business affairs.
That evening I filled in the application form to Kidslink. This asked us such questions as whether we wanted a male or female child and why? Also, what age were we looking for and why. I wrote our reasons for wanting a little one. If we only get one child, then we want a little one of about 18 - 36 months, so we can see all her 'firsts'. Just like Briton, yesterday, when he put his sandles on for the first time.
If we were to get a sibling group, then we would be open to the second one being between 36 months and 7 years. We have not decided to take a second child. Right now there are pros and cons to having one or two. For the sake of the child, though, having a sibling would probably be more comforting when she is brought to a strange land, where she doesn't speak a word of English! Also, having another person of her skin colour and culture might be nice. I also think that having one little girl might be overwhelming to her in a sea of boys! And to me as a mother, one little girl might be more difficult than two, as they can play together! And of course, we all know the reasons why two would be more difficult than one. We just want to leave the door open, so that if God intends us to have a second child we are ready for it.
I know of two adoptions (out of three, that I know of personally) where after they had committed to their child, they found out there was a sibling, in another orphanage. That would be devastating to be legally bound by red tape and to have to leave a sibling in the orphanage, just because you hadn't left the door open! We just want to be open to the Lord's leading
First thing in the morning I had another little boy to drop off to camp. Austin was going to his first week long Bible camp. He was so very thrilled! We rose early and got him there just after 8:30am.
Picking His Choice of Bed
Saying Goodbye to Little Brother
After I dropped him off I had lots of stops with two little guys in tow. First,I had to go to get passport pictures taken for my visa and for the Ethiopian dossier. Dossier is the word for the huge file that we are beginning to compile with all our life story in it. After this, I headed to the police station, to get my fingerprints taken and fill in papers for a criminal record search and a vulnerable person's check. This will all be done all over again for the second agency, in about three weeks!!
I don't look at this as a pain, though. As a wise friend told me on Sunday, "Enjoy the journey." If all of this falls into place, it will have been just like a pregnancy - just a different kind of delivery! One made up of adventure and travel and culture! Unbelieveable. The stuff that I love!
After the police station, I headed home to get our marriage certificate, birth certificates, driver's licenses, health insurance, life insurance, and citizenship papers. All of this had to be either photocopied for the dossier, or some of it had to be taken to the notary to be photocopied and then notarized by the lawyer.
I spent the rest of my afternoon getting the business books up to date, so that I could take them to the accountant to get a letter stating our business affairs.
That evening I filled in the application form to Kidslink. This asked us such questions as whether we wanted a male or female child and why? Also, what age were we looking for and why. I wrote our reasons for wanting a little one. If we only get one child, then we want a little one of about 18 - 36 months, so we can see all her 'firsts'. Just like Briton, yesterday, when he put his sandles on for the first time.
If we were to get a sibling group, then we would be open to the second one being between 36 months and 7 years. We have not decided to take a second child. Right now there are pros and cons to having one or two. For the sake of the child, though, having a sibling would probably be more comforting when she is brought to a strange land, where she doesn't speak a word of English! Also, having another person of her skin colour and culture might be nice. I also think that having one little girl might be overwhelming to her in a sea of boys! And to me as a mother, one little girl might be more difficult than two, as they can play together! And of course, we all know the reasons why two would be more difficult than one. We just want to leave the door open, so that if God intends us to have a second child we are ready for it.
I know of two adoptions (out of three, that I know of personally) where after they had committed to their child, they found out there was a sibling, in another orphanage. That would be devastating to be legally bound by red tape and to have to leave a sibling in the orphanage, just because you hadn't left the door open! We just want to be open to the Lord's leading
Ethiopia or Liberia?
The other question we needed to answer before Monday, was which Ethiopian agency to go through. One agency was more expensive, initially, but if you took a sibling group the price didn't go up. It was also a Christian company, whereas the other one was not.
Again, it didn't make much sense as to why I was drawn to Kidslink, but I was. Our number one concern, of course, besides having a good agency, is financial. Therefore both these 'feelings' didn't quite fit with our financial needs.
I knew our choice of agent in our province was working on Saturday, so I didn't have to wait til Monday to start getting some answers. And believe me, I wanted to get this ball rolling. I knew it could take 1 - 2 years to go through all the paperwork!
I called the agent and she was refreshing her memory of us, because I had only talked to her one other occasion. She said, "You were interested in Liberia, right?" And I told her, "No, for some odd reason we are both being drawn to Ethiopia." To which she replied, "There is a reason. Our government is closing it's doors in Liberia. They aren't happy with.... "
Wow!!! Talk about confirmation!!!!! There was a *reason* why we were both being drawn inexplicably towards Ethiopia!!
After a number of other things were discussed she told me she really wanted to help me. She then volunteered that another family had gone through our 'other' choice of Ethiopian agency two times and next time wanted to go through Kidslink. Apparently, they were not totally happy with things and also wanted a Christian agency.
Wow! More confirmation! Now I was getting excited. The two things that Ray and I could not make a decision on. We had a feeling towards certain choices and then on one phone call it was confirmed that our choices were the right ones!
So now we knew. We would go through Kidslink and apply to adopt from Ethiopia.
"In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. " Proverbs 3:6
Again, it didn't make much sense as to why I was drawn to Kidslink, but I was. Our number one concern, of course, besides having a good agency, is financial. Therefore both these 'feelings' didn't quite fit with our financial needs.
I knew our choice of agent in our province was working on Saturday, so I didn't have to wait til Monday to start getting some answers. And believe me, I wanted to get this ball rolling. I knew it could take 1 - 2 years to go through all the paperwork!
I called the agent and she was refreshing her memory of us, because I had only talked to her one other occasion. She said, "You were interested in Liberia, right?" And I told her, "No, for some odd reason we are both being drawn to Ethiopia." To which she replied, "There is a reason. Our government is closing it's doors in Liberia. They aren't happy with.... "
Wow!!! Talk about confirmation!!!!! There was a *reason* why we were both being drawn inexplicably towards Ethiopia!!
After a number of other things were discussed she told me she really wanted to help me. She then volunteered that another family had gone through our 'other' choice of Ethiopian agency two times and next time wanted to go through Kidslink. Apparently, they were not totally happy with things and also wanted a Christian agency.
Wow! More confirmation! Now I was getting excited. The two things that Ray and I could not make a decision on. We had a feeling towards certain choices and then on one phone call it was confirmed that our choices were the right ones!
So now we knew. We would go through Kidslink and apply to adopt from Ethiopia.
"In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. " Proverbs 3:6
The Paper Chase Begins
It has been a crazy week!! 4:30 Friday morning, Ray took Cassidy to the bus station, to catch a custom coach, with his scouts. They left on a week long holiday about five hundred miles away, on an island! Big adventure for a ten year old!
Then the next day, I picked up Colt from Bible camp, where he was a counsellor, brought him home for a mere 10 hours, and then took him and Dane to the bus station to catch their bus to cadet camp for the summer!
While I was waiting for the time to leave for the bus station (1:00 am), I sat up and began the Paper Chase. I downloaded the application forms to sponsor a child. This is what you fill in with Immigration to ensure that you will properly support the child when it arrives in our country.
The only question that I couldn't fill in on the paper was - What country? We were torn between Liberia and Ethiopia.
This form will take about four weeks to come back - once we mail it
At this point, I knew that I would have to do a criminal check in England, because I had lived there for at least six consecutive months. I knew this might be a pain because 'how on earth do you do a criminal check in a foreign country?'
I hit the pillow at 2:45 am with my mind running.
The Birth of a Dream
Ever since I was a little girl I have had a deep desire to adopt. And ever since I have known Ray he has always wanted a little girl. After each of our boys were born, people would suggest that we were trying for a girl. I would always deny it. Because I wasn't. I just wanted another baby. But deep down in my heart, hidden away from everyone, was this yearning for a daughter.
“….. But there’s where things have to start – with a dream. Of course, if you just go on dreaming, then it stays a dream and becomes stale and dead. But first to dream and then to do – isn’t that the way to make a dream come true?”
"Like a little boy with a kite, start running and see if your dream can catch wind. Before you know it, your dream will be flying. People will come to your support that you never dreamed would help. It’s true. Positive ideas and dreams attract support from the most unexpected sources! "
I know that in the Bible it says that God knows the desires of your heart. I also know that each desire that has been born in Ray or I up to this point has been fulfilled. And so I have great faith that this desire which has risen so strongly to the surface will also be fulfilled. A lot of circumstances lined up this last two weeks that made it very clear to us that we were to apply to adopt. My heart was so quickly wrapped up in it - it made it hard to think straight!! I had to lean on God as hard as we did when we moved here from the coast 8 years ago. That was a major move and some people thought we were nuts - selling our house, putting our furniture in storage, and heading out to find land and build and start a new life - in the country, hundreds of miles from anyone we knew, to a place where our boys could run free. No job lined up or anything. But that was a faith move and I have discovered when you take drastic steps because you feel led by God you will be honoured! He will come through!
"For I know the plans I have for you,... plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
When we are called to do something radical it usually means we have to take risks. But who likes the boring life anyway? Not me! I'm the one that travelled solo to Europe as a teen, and then took my husband and 7 month old baby on a cross Europe trip a few years later. I thrive on adventure! Through numerous signs it became apparent that we were being led towards adoption. Or so we believed. We had a choice - to take the chance and have faith or be chicken and play it safe!! We like risk - so we took the chance and grabbed the faith!
“….. But there’s where things have to start – with a dream. Of course, if you just go on dreaming, then it stays a dream and becomes stale and dead. But first to dream and then to do – isn’t that the way to make a dream come true?”
"Like a little boy with a kite, start running and see if your dream can catch wind. Before you know it, your dream will be flying. People will come to your support that you never dreamed would help. It’s true. Positive ideas and dreams attract support from the most unexpected sources! "
I know that in the Bible it says that God knows the desires of your heart. I also know that each desire that has been born in Ray or I up to this point has been fulfilled. And so I have great faith that this desire which has risen so strongly to the surface will also be fulfilled. A lot of circumstances lined up this last two weeks that made it very clear to us that we were to apply to adopt. My heart was so quickly wrapped up in it - it made it hard to think straight!! I had to lean on God as hard as we did when we moved here from the coast 8 years ago. That was a major move and some people thought we were nuts - selling our house, putting our furniture in storage, and heading out to find land and build and start a new life - in the country, hundreds of miles from anyone we knew, to a place where our boys could run free. No job lined up or anything. But that was a faith move and I have discovered when you take drastic steps because you feel led by God you will be honoured! He will come through!
"For I know the plans I have for you,... plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
When we are called to do something radical it usually means we have to take risks. But who likes the boring life anyway? Not me! I'm the one that travelled solo to Europe as a teen, and then took my husband and 7 month old baby on a cross Europe trip a few years later. I thrive on adventure! Through numerous signs it became apparent that we were being led towards adoption. Or so we believed. We had a choice - to take the chance and have faith or be chicken and play it safe!! We like risk - so we took the chance and grabbed the faith!
A few of the 'words' that came our way this week - convicting us.
"What idea is nesting in your mind today? What beautiful possibility is God seeking to bring to your attention? "
"It’s easy to get cold feet when you have to risk something. But if your faith is going to grow, you must successfully pass through the investing phase of faith."
One of the risks for us is reputation -
"What are you nuts? Six kids and you want MORE? How are you going to feed and clothe them all? Can you afford an international adoption? Why do you want to adopt a child of another race? What about your own kids? Is this fair to them?"
And the list goes on.
But we decided not to worry about risk. We really feel led by God in this choice. Our own children are thrilled to bits at the idea of adopting a little girl. Each and every one of them. They actually think we should adopt *two*! As to feeding and clothing them? Our children have never gone hungry or been without clothes. And the colour of skin means nothing to our children! As our eight year old so wisely put it - "If Jesus loves them then why can't we?" Yes, international adoption is extremely expensive, but our believe is that if God gave us this idea He will also finance it. Sounds radical doesn't it? Well, we have had such evidence of this in the past.
A 'word' I received on this just today:
"When we choose to trust God even when we don't understand what He is doing, we will find Him faithful to meet our needs in every situation."
Our old pastor came to visit our church last week and he preached on 'growing faith' and things he said rang so true of our situation. I had just read about the word 'invest' when it came to making our dream come true! More confirmation!
"What idea is nesting in your mind today? What beautiful possibility is God seeking to bring to your attention? "
"It’s easy to get cold feet when you have to risk something. But if your faith is going to grow, you must successfully pass through the investing phase of faith."
One of the risks for us is reputation -
"What are you nuts? Six kids and you want MORE? How are you going to feed and clothe them all? Can you afford an international adoption? Why do you want to adopt a child of another race? What about your own kids? Is this fair to them?"
And the list goes on.
But we decided not to worry about risk. We really feel led by God in this choice. Our own children are thrilled to bits at the idea of adopting a little girl. Each and every one of them. They actually think we should adopt *two*! As to feeding and clothing them? Our children have never gone hungry or been without clothes. And the colour of skin means nothing to our children! As our eight year old so wisely put it - "If Jesus loves them then why can't we?" Yes, international adoption is extremely expensive, but our believe is that if God gave us this idea He will also finance it. Sounds radical doesn't it? Well, we have had such evidence of this in the past.
A 'word' I received on this just today:
"When we choose to trust God even when we don't understand what He is doing, we will find Him faithful to meet our needs in every situation."
Our old pastor came to visit our church last week and he preached on 'growing faith' and things he said rang so true of our situation. I had just read about the word 'invest' when it came to making our dream come true! More confirmation!
He said, “If you have the opportunity to invest in someone’s life, the impact is immeasurable.”
When I started getting cold feet and thinking negative thoughts:
“When thou goest, thy way shall be opened up before thee step by step.” Proverbs 4:12
The Lord never builds a bridge of faith except under the feet of the faith-filled traveler. If He builds the bridge a rod ahead, it would not be a bridge of faith. That which is of sight is not of faith.
This was showing us that we needed to 'step out' and take a chance. So we are off on our very thrilling adventure.....
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