Some adoptive parents get offended when asked about the cost of adoption.
"Is it expensive?" "It's really expensive, isn't it?" These are the regular questions.
I never look at these questions as intrusive. I look at them as an opportunity to share God's goodness to our family and His love of the orphan.
Today was a perfect example - twice!
First, I was at the hairdressers getting my makeover.... *grin* pictures later! As I was sitting there with my girlfriend and the hairdresser discussing what I wanted my girlfriend told her I had 'lots of kids' and had two girl coming in a couple weeks. This prompted a conversation on how I could look so good when I was due with two girls *grin*.
As usual, the inevitable question: "Isn't it expensive?" came up.
I was able (as always) to say, "Yes," and then follow this with, "But we have a strong faith, and when we stepped out in faith, God met our needs." I then went on to share with this lady how our financial needs had been met all the way - right up to this morning when I discovered the mysterious bank deposit in time for the hotel.
She was clearly amazed. She said that her and her husband had boys and her husband's dream was for a little girl. I told her that if she had the faith to step out that God would honor that. It was a really rewarding talk and whether or not she is a believer, she was very receptive to everything I said and she made it clear she could see that faith had a lot to do with our success.
She wants me to bring the girls in when they 'are settled in' - as she said.
Later that day, while in a parking lot, I ran in to an old acquaintence. Upon seeing each other I told her I was off to Africa in 18 days.
What for? she asked.
To get our little girls. I replied.
This prompted a big chat. She quickly confessed that her house was big and empty and she would love to have more children in it. (She has raised six children, but is yet young enough to have more children).
She proceeded to ask me the financial question and again, I had the opportunity to share how God was faithful.
You know, I am not one to walk down the street sharing my faith, but God has given me a platform to share His goodness. I cannot believe how many people have heard of our blessings from God, simply because they ask me if adoption is expensive!
I can only pray that some of these people will consider adoption and in the process come to know our loving Father!
At the end of our talk I told this lady that I would be doing a dessert evening and slide show to show our meeting of our daughter, our work in Ethiopia, and Ethiopia itself. She immediately asked if she could help me. How wonderful!! It is amazing where this adoption is taking us!
I shall continue to love the question: Is adoption expensive?
Answer? Yes!! But let me tell you how God has met our needs the whole way!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Update on Missions Trip
We have been very grateful to receive donations from absolute strangers, as well as friends! It has been a real blessing to see people who don't even know us reach out and through us touch little children all the way around the world!! Thank you to those that have been able to share.
Today, I received a call from our local teachers/educational toy store. The owner wanted to know how much space / weight I had that he could fill with his donations. We arranged that I would pop by in the later afternoon and pick up his items.
You can imagine my surprise when I arrived at his store to find two large boxes of quality puzzles, Knex, Zoids, large cardboard building blocks,slinkies, kalidascopes, baby shape sorters, science kits, tinkertoy, you name it! Over $400 worth of great donations!!!!!
Today, I received a call from our local teachers/educational toy store. The owner wanted to know how much space / weight I had that he could fill with his donations. We arranged that I would pop by in the later afternoon and pick up his items.
You can imagine my surprise when I arrived at his store to find two large boxes of quality puzzles, Knex, Zoids, large cardboard building blocks,slinkies, kalidascopes, baby shape sorters, science kits, tinkertoy, you name it! Over $400 worth of great donations!!!!!
As well as this toy store, I have received donations in the amount of $1100!!!! This will be added to the more than $1200 that our three oldest sons have saved, and then my hubby and I have about $1000 towards this also. All told with donations, toys, and school supplies, we have nearly $4000 going!!!
We still have another week to collect donations, so please consider donating - even if only a few dollars. It all adds up so quickly!!
Our local newspaper is putting an article in the paper regarding our upcoming missions/adoption trip. I allowed this story, because I have given them the donations letter that I wrote, and I am hoping to gather more supplies before we leave!!
Next week, I will be packing the donations. We have received more money than anything else. So if we don't receive the items on the list that we need for the orphanages, then I will be going shopping with some of the donation money to buy school supplies, vitamins, and medical supplies.
Also, Ray had an idea of buying hand tools for the men that he will be working with. So that will be his personal 'share'. He will buy hand saws, hammers and tape measures. He is really looking forward to having an area that is his forte to work in.
The balance of over $2500 will go in cash to buy food, formula, and diapers. We are so very excited about this!! I'll keep you posted as things move forward!!
God is GOOD: ALL - THE - TIME
The other night, my hubby and I were chatting about the adoption. I informed him that our adoption fund now held $38. We had a little laugh about this. Until last week it had over $14,000 in it. But now that we have paid for our airfares we are depleted.
I was not concerned. As I told my husband with absolute confidence, "God will provide. We have three weeks to pay for the rest of the trip. The money will be there."
I figured we needed about another $3000 - $4000 to comfortably pay for the balance of everything. We had been researching hotels/bed and breakfasats etc. and had come to the conclusion that the one that our agency often uses is way overpriced. It might be wonderful - as everyone who stays there attest to, but the price is twice what others are charging. I am sure when an establishment realizes that they are getting a steady clientele there might be the tendency to raise the prices.
We realized that with four of us going and then picking up our girls, we would need two rooms. That pushed us up to $170 per night! So I did some research. The hard thing is that we are not there and cannot see what these places are like. That is a concern, and that is also why it is a safe bet to reserve rooms in the regular B&B our agency uses. But still! That would be over $2000 for our 12 night stay! A lot of moolah!
So the research continued. I narrowed it down to a little place called Oziopia. Everything I have seen about this place sounds great. It is run by an Australian family and an Ethiopian mum and her three children. It caters to Australian adoptive families and now some American families. They have a teenage son who will responsibly take our teenage boys places. I think that is a wonderful thing! All the correspondence we have had has been quick, courteous, and very helpful.
We were very pleased with everything and we have booked with them. They have given us three rooms and we will only be paying $90 a night and that includes breakfast! If we wish dinner it will be an additional $5 per adult - the girls are free! Not too shabby!
The location is not central like the other choices, but both Ray and Dane wanted this one as it was NOT central. They liked the idea of being in a residential *real* Ethiopian neighbourhood versus downtown. The family has a bonfire, dancing, and drums two nights a week.
They have also told me that they know of a few small orphanages that need help. This is wonderful, as that is a huge part of our trip!
So now on to my $38 bank account story.
I booked the B&B this morning. Confirmed. Done. I had emailed them yesterday asking how to pay for the room. They had not gotten back to me yet, as they have to go to an internet cafe to do their correspondence and they only do that in the mornings.
I decided to do my internet banking before I went to do my errands this morning. As I was updating my bank book I noticed an unusual entry. There was a deposit from the Government in the amount of $1100.63. Very odd. I wracked my brains trying to think if I was owed any money. Nope. Certain there is nothing coming my way.
I knew this was God providing for the next step of our Faith Walk. This will cover our hotel. Our B&B cost at $90 a night for 12 night adds up to $1080. Our deposit will cover that!
I can only wonder if this might be the beginning of the GST windfall?! I will watch the mailbox to see when I receive some sort of statement from the government telling me what this money is. But in the meantime, God provides when you step out in faith. Go back and read my journey and see how God has paid the way!
1) We began with about $1500. We stepped out in faith and sent this away as our application money.
2) We had a good friend send us $500 towards our adoption expenses.
3) We went to the seminar and needed $650 to cover the seminar. That day we picked up the mail and there was a $650 cheque from the government there. We had no idea what it was from.
4) We won an adoption grant - first we had to qualify, then there was a draw. 1 chance in 50 to win. We won $10,000 cash towards our adoption.
5) My husbands income increased significantly allowing us to pay for the balance of the adoption with no financial strain.
6)We just received $1100 - the day we needed $1080.
God is good - All the time. Step out in faith and see that I am right!
To God be the Glory!!
I was not concerned. As I told my husband with absolute confidence, "God will provide. We have three weeks to pay for the rest of the trip. The money will be there."
I figured we needed about another $3000 - $4000 to comfortably pay for the balance of everything. We had been researching hotels/bed and breakfasats etc. and had come to the conclusion that the one that our agency often uses is way overpriced. It might be wonderful - as everyone who stays there attest to, but the price is twice what others are charging. I am sure when an establishment realizes that they are getting a steady clientele there might be the tendency to raise the prices.
We realized that with four of us going and then picking up our girls, we would need two rooms. That pushed us up to $170 per night! So I did some research. The hard thing is that we are not there and cannot see what these places are like. That is a concern, and that is also why it is a safe bet to reserve rooms in the regular B&B our agency uses. But still! That would be over $2000 for our 12 night stay! A lot of moolah!
So the research continued. I narrowed it down to a little place called Oziopia. Everything I have seen about this place sounds great. It is run by an Australian family and an Ethiopian mum and her three children. It caters to Australian adoptive families and now some American families. They have a teenage son who will responsibly take our teenage boys places. I think that is a wonderful thing! All the correspondence we have had has been quick, courteous, and very helpful.
We were very pleased with everything and we have booked with them. They have given us three rooms and we will only be paying $90 a night and that includes breakfast! If we wish dinner it will be an additional $5 per adult - the girls are free! Not too shabby!
The location is not central like the other choices, but both Ray and Dane wanted this one as it was NOT central. They liked the idea of being in a residential *real* Ethiopian neighbourhood versus downtown. The family has a bonfire, dancing, and drums two nights a week.
They have also told me that they know of a few small orphanages that need help. This is wonderful, as that is a huge part of our trip!
So now on to my $38 bank account story.
I booked the B&B this morning. Confirmed. Done. I had emailed them yesterday asking how to pay for the room. They had not gotten back to me yet, as they have to go to an internet cafe to do their correspondence and they only do that in the mornings.
I decided to do my internet banking before I went to do my errands this morning. As I was updating my bank book I noticed an unusual entry. There was a deposit from the Government in the amount of $1100.63. Very odd. I wracked my brains trying to think if I was owed any money. Nope. Certain there is nothing coming my way.
I knew this was God providing for the next step of our Faith Walk. This will cover our hotel. Our B&B cost at $90 a night for 12 night adds up to $1080. Our deposit will cover that!
I can only wonder if this might be the beginning of the GST windfall?! I will watch the mailbox to see when I receive some sort of statement from the government telling me what this money is. But in the meantime, God provides when you step out in faith. Go back and read my journey and see how God has paid the way!
1) We began with about $1500. We stepped out in faith and sent this away as our application money.
2) We had a good friend send us $500 towards our adoption expenses.
3) We went to the seminar and needed $650 to cover the seminar. That day we picked up the mail and there was a $650 cheque from the government there. We had no idea what it was from.
4) We won an adoption grant - first we had to qualify, then there was a draw. 1 chance in 50 to win. We won $10,000 cash towards our adoption.
5) My husbands income increased significantly allowing us to pay for the balance of the adoption with no financial strain.
6)We just received $1100 - the day we needed $1080.
God is good - All the time. Step out in faith and see that I am right!
To God be the Glory!!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Pack Your Bags... You're Going to Ethiopia!
I woke early this morning and immediately remembered it was Monday morning. Monday morning is the day we can hope to hear if our agency has received our Visas from the High Commission in Nairobi.
I immediately though, "Ohhh, if the phone doesn't ring this morning, then I shall have butterflies for the next week every time the phone rings!!" I have been super relaxed about each and every step of this adoption, but a week ago I made a decision, which was the cause of my butterflies.
I was contemplating how long our Visa might take. We have seen Visas take from 3 - 7.5 weeks. I knew that our son was home from Cadet camp on August 17, at 2:00 am. If I booked our flight for August 18th, we would have time for him to get in the door, get some sleep, do some laundry, pack his bags and catch the plane to Vancouver.
August 18th was also the 8.5 week mark - a good chance that it would be a safe bet for booking flights. So I did it. I knew I was taking a chance, but my friend, Denise said to me, "You've walked by faith this whole way, why not continue." (paraphrased *grin*)
Good point!!! God certainly honours faith! So I did it. I knew that if the worst came to the worst and the visas did not come in before we left, then we would be in Ethiopia for two weeks and would be there for the 9.5 week Monday, and the 10.5 week Monday. So we were pretty safe.
But the butterflies were getting me, knowing I had booked and knowing I took a risk! Last night at our Couples group we prayed that the Visas would be in today.
Back to my story *smile* - (gotta keep it interesting!) I drifted back to sleep and about 15 minutes later I was awoken by the phone. It was now 7:14 am. As I *scrambled* blindly across my bed to find my glasses and the phone, Ray yelled upstairs to me. I knew it was either a contractor or Imagine. Noone else calls at 7:00 in the morning!! And with Ray yelling, I knew it had to be the agency.
I grabbed the phone - the useless, can't hear the person, the person can't hear me - phone- and said, "Hello." And of course, we couldn't hear each other so I had to tell her to hang on while I stumbled down the stairs barely awake, looking for the decent phone.
Finally, I hear a lady's voice and I knew it was Levina. She said, "Can I speak to Justine?" When I identified myself, she said, "Guess what?" I knew right away. I had been *waiting* for this call for 5.5 weeks!
She said, "You can go get your girls. Their visas are in!" She was so sweet and so excited for us. I asked her if there were any other visas and she said that yes, other caseworkers were making their calls this morning too. I could hear a hubbub of voices in the background and I have never heard any sounds when I have talked to her in the past. Must have been an exciting morning in the office!
As it turned out, I think about 6 visas came in today!! YEAH!!! Lots of babies and children going to their forever families!!
This was the email I received a few minutes later from Levina:
Hi Ray & Justine,
CONGRATULATIONS!! The visas have finally arrived for Gadise & Mesay!
I’m so happy for both of you! You can travel anytime now, so when you’ve made your travel arrangements and finalized everything, please send me your travel itinerary. We can then book your accommodations for you once we receive that. Please confirm for me how many people will be travelling with you as well.
I am absolutely THRILLED that you will finally be able to meet your beautiful girls!
Congratulations, once again – and please call or email me if you have ANY questions at all.
Have a super day!! ~ Levina
I can only say again and again, how happy I am with our agency!! I love the enthusiasm that our caseworker has for our situation!
Tonight, as I was working here, I just punched in my travel dates of August 19 departure and return September 1 - and the exact flight we are on is now at $4500!!! And we were blessed to pay $2775 per flight, a mere week ago!
I am SO thankful I stepped out in faith. Sadly, I have heard families that are trying to book flights, and so far I am hearing August 30 and early September for flights because of full planes and high August fares. I am so happy to know that we are booked for 3 weeks from today! Praise God!!!
Mesai Raine Ayana and Gadisae Song Savannah - your mummy and daddy and big brothers are coming to get you!
Friday, July 25, 2008
My Mosaic
There are twelve questions to answer, thus twelve squares on the mosaic above.
What is your first name? Justine
Where did you go to high school? Aldergrove
Favorite color? Red
Celebrity crush? Dirk Benedict (Starbuck in Battlestar Galactica) A Young Roger Moore was a close second.
Favorite drink? Decaf Mocha with whipped topping
Dream vacation? Somewhere in the Carribean where I can sit in a beach chair with a good book, and a cold drink, while I watch my hubby and big boys surf, scuba dive, and play, and my little boys and girls build sand castles and splash in the water. Do you notice the little black child in the sea? That could be my daughter. *smile* We are hoping to take a holiday in the Dominican Republic in about 1 1/2 years, before our big boys leave home - all ten of us. How wonderful will that be! Our first real holiday as a complete family!
Favorite dessert? Black forest cake.
What do you want to be when you grow up? A mummy of many children
What do you love most in life? Raising my children with my husband. I also love the unexpected surprises that God presents me with - such as our adoption of two little girls!! Who knows what is going to happen next in our lives! When God is the conductor...
One word to describe you? Fulfilled
Hobby? I am a memory maker. I am constantly taking photo, scrapbooking, blogging, journaling, keeping my children's history alive!
If you want to do a Mosaic, go to Flicker and do a search for each of these 12 questions (put your answer in the search and pick your favourite picture from the pictures you are offered.) Then put the url in one of the 12 spots in the Mosaic page. Then save to your computer and upload the picture to your blog.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Beautiful Pics - What Can I Say!?
I was unexpectedly blessed with new pictures of the girls today. This has to be the best picture of the two of them together. Gadisae is wearing a little necklace that I tucked into a purse in my care package I sent her. She has the cutest little grin on her face, while Mesai has her quiet, gentle look that I am becoming accustomed to.
I love to see how their little afros are coming in so nicely. This is the message that I received about our girls today:
Here are the pictures I was able to take of your girls. They were so excited to have their pictures taken, knowing that they were going to their mother. What lovely girls. They and the rest of the toddler group sang beautifully to us just before I took their pictures. You would have been so proud of them. Hope these pictures help to make the wait a little easier.
I have to tell you when another parent takes the time to lovingly take a picture for another waiting adoptive parent they bless them immeasureably. This wait is not nearly as long as it could be because we have gotten to 'know' our girls through video and photos. We are incredibly blessed.
If I had never seen a photo other than the agency photos, which nice as they are to receive, are not natural, such as the 'parent taken ones' are, I would not know my girls' characters. When they are asked to smile for the camera for parents who are picking up, they just seem to understand that this is an exciting day and they just shine. Whereas, the pictures that we gratefully receive from the agency, seem more plain. We don't see their personalities popping out. Perhaps it is because they have spent time with these people who are picking up their own children and so they *want* to have their pictures taken at that particular moment. I don't know. I just know that we are eternally grateful for these pieces of the last three months of our girls lives. There are less blanks to fill in.
When we pick them up I really feel like I will not walk in there blind. I think I know a little bit about our girls and who they are. I expect - and hey, I may be way off base! - that Gadisae will be quite exhuberant, and Mesai will be more reserved and quiet. But when it comes to *their* big day, perhaps Gadisae won't be quite so outgoing. It is exciting to think that it won't be long before we find out!
Friday, July 18, 2008
Doing Stuff
I have been absent for a while because I have been so busy doing 'stuff'. Ray says to me that I have had a year. Not so! I only did what had to be done. When it had to be done. Never before!
This last two months have shot by! We got through Court on May 16 and then I left on my Road Trip two days later. I was gone on that for nearly 3 weeks. From there I moved onto cleaning, organizing, and decluttering the house for a week. From there I moved to planning the girls' room, ordering, painting, painting, etc! Finally it was done. Then I had company visiting each week for the last three weeks.
Now we are into a season of the boys going to summer day camps for the month of July. Busy, busy!
I began our packing. I have a long list and have begun to conquer it. A trip to the pharmacy and a $100 later I have a little medical kit. Nix, scabies cream, antifungal creams, Immodium, Dimetapp, No Jet Lag, antibiotic ointments, eyedrops, ear drops. You name it, I got it! I HOPE I am covered!! LOL!!
I have one suitcase full of odds and ends and that is about it! I will not even think of packing for me and Ray until the last minute. It is all the 'stuff' that I have to be sure I have that takes time!
I have begun packing the donations. I went to a town near us the other day and had a blast filling a shopping cart to the top with school supplies! This dollar store is amazing in that everything is $1 and there are so many quality things and great brand names! I was able to buy decent 24 packs of crayons, flash cards, 10 packs of pencils, glue and so on. All for a $1! I must have gotten at least $400 worth of stuff. When I came home I took all the plastic wrappers off everything and very carefully packed it into one of our smaller suitcases. I jammed everything in there and then carefully balanced it on the scale. Forty pounds! Room to spare.
So I may end up juggling things around and putting some of the lighter things in a bigger suitcase and fill up the gaps with heavier things. Have to take advantage of every pound available to me! And boy, was it heavy! My dear husband told me this sounded like it was going to be worse travelling to Africa than it was travelling to Europe 16 years ago. Yup, he's right!! *laugh*
That trip was before I learned to travel light. By the time we came home the poor guy had arms like an ape!! He lugged these great big suitcases around before we had wheels on bags!!
This last two months have shot by! We got through Court on May 16 and then I left on my Road Trip two days later. I was gone on that for nearly 3 weeks. From there I moved onto cleaning, organizing, and decluttering the house for a week. From there I moved to planning the girls' room, ordering, painting, painting, etc! Finally it was done. Then I had company visiting each week for the last three weeks.
Now we are into a season of the boys going to summer day camps for the month of July. Busy, busy!
I began our packing. I have a long list and have begun to conquer it. A trip to the pharmacy and a $100 later I have a little medical kit. Nix, scabies cream, antifungal creams, Immodium, Dimetapp, No Jet Lag, antibiotic ointments, eyedrops, ear drops. You name it, I got it! I HOPE I am covered!! LOL!!
I have one suitcase full of odds and ends and that is about it! I will not even think of packing for me and Ray until the last minute. It is all the 'stuff' that I have to be sure I have that takes time!
I have begun packing the donations. I went to a town near us the other day and had a blast filling a shopping cart to the top with school supplies! This dollar store is amazing in that everything is $1 and there are so many quality things and great brand names! I was able to buy decent 24 packs of crayons, flash cards, 10 packs of pencils, glue and so on. All for a $1! I must have gotten at least $400 worth of stuff. When I came home I took all the plastic wrappers off everything and very carefully packed it into one of our smaller suitcases. I jammed everything in there and then carefully balanced it on the scale. Forty pounds! Room to spare.
So I may end up juggling things around and putting some of the lighter things in a bigger suitcase and fill up the gaps with heavier things. Have to take advantage of every pound available to me! And boy, was it heavy! My dear husband told me this sounded like it was going to be worse travelling to Africa than it was travelling to Europe 16 years ago. Yup, he's right!! *laugh*
That trip was before I learned to travel light. By the time we came home the poor guy had arms like an ape!! He lugged these great big suitcases around before we had wheels on bags!!
Granola Bar Suitcase
I have packed this one suitcase with granola bars and baby sleepers. A store was selling sleepers for $2.50 per!! I will be going back for more. The granola bars are so when we visit the children at the Liga School we can give one to each child. There are 244 kids in that school. And many days they don't get anything to eat at all at home!
Then of course, we want to have a supply of granola bars to hand out to children on the street. Each box carries 32 bars, so we are looking at 8 boxes for the school, and then however many more for the street children. I can probably get 14 boxes in this one suitcase. It will be so worth it! I just wish I could take 20 suitcases! It is so wonderful to be able to go on this trip. I wish we could do more.
I was very happy to pop into our local quality toyshop this week and have the store owner tell me he wants to be involved in our donations trip to Africa. He asked me how many pounds a suitcase can be. I told him 50 lbs. So I am very excited!! He also asked the ages of the children that we would be helping in this school. They are grades 1-3. I can't wait to see what he is donating!
Our local paper heard about our trip and the editor talked to me. She said she will be calling me to do a story and a follow-up later. I have told her that we really don't want this article to be about us (having six boys making us an interesting story apparently! *grin*), but that we want to take advantage of the press exposure in the hopes of gathering donations to take with us. We shall see.
People are often not willing to send things to something far away. Or unfortunately people often think, "I can't afford to give much. I might as well not send any." But what they don't realize is that if everyone reading this blog donated simply $10 - that would buy SO MUCH food, or vitamins, over the counter pain relievers, antibiotic ointments, anti fungal creams etc!
So please do consider giving. Even if it is only $1. Each dollars adds to another. And it will all make a difference to children across the world!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
A Chance to Make a Difference
Long ago, within a month of our family making the decision to adopt from Africa, our hearts were opened to the desperate plight of the people that live there. We had been aware of the situations before, but now we were *really* watching, listening, to all events in all countries.
We began watching movies and seeing them through newly opened eyes. Suddenly these people had become so much more real to us. For instance: It is easy to think of the planet Mars as so far away, because it is. It is somewhere that we are not likely to ever go. But what if you had a friend that went to Mars. Suddenly, it becomes a real place. You become more aware of what is going on there. Even if you don't ever get there.
Well, Africa became personal for us. I got defensive once when a guy tried to tell me that in Africa they are 'backwards'. Backwards?! There are so many factors as to why they are poverty stricken, and ravaged by AIDS. But not because they are backwards!! And no, most Africans are NOT having lots of children. Would you, knowing that you might not be there to raise them? Or that they would likely die of AIDS?
When we began our adoption we were informed that finding siblings close together in age was rare. Why? Because women are not *trying* to have babies!
Africans are not backwards as that man so ignorantly stated. They are doing they best they can with what they have and with the cards that life has dealt them!
Much of this is due to government issues - not the people's choices! The point here is that for the first time when I heard an ignorant comment it struck my heart, because now the continent - the whole continent - of Africa is my children's homeland!
Maybe it takes adoption to open our hearts and eyes to other places. Bad? Yes, perhaps. But at least they are now open and will not be shut!
We always knew that when we went to get our girls we wanted to do a power-packed missions trip while there. It is an opportunity of a lifetime to get to be in Africa. It is a two-fold trip. Adoption and missions.
It is our goal to accomplish as much as we can in as short a time span as possible! I have written a letter to give in our church bulletin next Sunday. I am posting a somewhat edited version here for your viewing.
I hope that if it is in your heart to give that you will do so. If every person that reads this blog gave only $10 we could raise a lot of money. Please know that it is our intent to use very wisely any money or donations given to bless those in desperate need.
There is a PAYPAL tab on the top sidebar of my blog. This can be accessed for those with Pay Pal accounts. Those that wish to donate items or mail cheques for this endeavor may email me at:
mum2boys@telus.net
When we return we will be posting pictures of all the work that we were blessed to be able to do.
Thank you in advance. (Following is the letter we gave to the church)
Ray and I, and our two oldest sons are going to Ethiopia sometime in August to pick up our newly adopted daughters. While we are there, we want to take advantage of the opportunity and do as much missions work as possible. We want to give back to a country that has blessed us greatly by allowing us to adopt two of their children. Children that we would not have if it were not for famine and AIDS.
Right now Ethiopia is in crisis. Two successful years of failed rains have precipitated a severe drought – the worst in a decade. The farmers have lost their spring harvest. Due to this, what little food there is is now costing 2-3 times the original price. According to UNICEF, six million children are at risk of malnutrition. They have said they need food aid in the amount of $197,000,000 (US dollars) to get through these next months.
We have contacted an organization called Canadian Humanitarian. They have projects that provide care to 500 children in 400 families. We will have the privilege of doing home visits where we will be able to see the needs of some of these families and then meet these needs by going to the local markets and purchasing food for them.
In addition, Ray with our boys, is arranging to teach construction skills to an organization called SSCM – Support Street Children and Mothers. It is may also be possible for him to build some playground equipment at an orphanage (this last option will be dependent on materials being available).
A third plan is to help the Liga School. This school has 244 children with children in grades 1-3. Canadian Humanitarian built them a new school three years ago. Prior to this, they had a dirt floor and tarps that provided walls. Canadian Humanitarian supplies school uniforms and shoes for the children, plus the teacher’s salaries. An education is a big factor in these children having a future. Unfortunately, the school operates with very little in school supplies.
A friend recently visited the Liga School and donated art supplies to them. While she was there, she noted that they had only one shelf with teaching aids. They are in desperate need of the following items:
* Flashcards
* Pencils
* Construction paper
* Crayons – packs of 24
* Erasers
* Scissors
* Paint brushes
* Pencil crayons
* Broad tip markers
* Calculators
* Glue sticks
* Protractor sets
* Water colour paints
* Tempera paint powder
* Easy readers (stories that cross the cultures: animals, bugs, simple stories)
One adoptive parent that I know went to the LIGA School. She took bananas that day. She noticed the children ate half their banana only. The teacher told her that they would take the other half home, as that was probably all they would eat that day. It is our hope to buy boxes of granola bars to take to these children on our visiting day!
We began watching movies and seeing them through newly opened eyes. Suddenly these people had become so much more real to us. For instance: It is easy to think of the planet Mars as so far away, because it is. It is somewhere that we are not likely to ever go. But what if you had a friend that went to Mars. Suddenly, it becomes a real place. You become more aware of what is going on there. Even if you don't ever get there.
Well, Africa became personal for us. I got defensive once when a guy tried to tell me that in Africa they are 'backwards'. Backwards?! There are so many factors as to why they are poverty stricken, and ravaged by AIDS. But not because they are backwards!! And no, most Africans are NOT having lots of children. Would you, knowing that you might not be there to raise them? Or that they would likely die of AIDS?
When we began our adoption we were informed that finding siblings close together in age was rare. Why? Because women are not *trying* to have babies!
Africans are not backwards as that man so ignorantly stated. They are doing they best they can with what they have and with the cards that life has dealt them!
Much of this is due to government issues - not the people's choices! The point here is that for the first time when I heard an ignorant comment it struck my heart, because now the continent - the whole continent - of Africa is my children's homeland!
Maybe it takes adoption to open our hearts and eyes to other places. Bad? Yes, perhaps. But at least they are now open and will not be shut!
We always knew that when we went to get our girls we wanted to do a power-packed missions trip while there. It is an opportunity of a lifetime to get to be in Africa. It is a two-fold trip. Adoption and missions.
It is our goal to accomplish as much as we can in as short a time span as possible! I have written a letter to give in our church bulletin next Sunday. I am posting a somewhat edited version here for your viewing.
I hope that if it is in your heart to give that you will do so. If every person that reads this blog gave only $10 we could raise a lot of money. Please know that it is our intent to use very wisely any money or donations given to bless those in desperate need.
There is a PAYPAL tab on the top sidebar of my blog. This can be accessed for those with Pay Pal accounts. Those that wish to donate items or mail cheques for this endeavor may email me at:
mum2boys@telus.net
When we return we will be posting pictures of all the work that we were blessed to be able to do.
Thank you in advance. (Following is the letter we gave to the church)
Ray and I, and our two oldest sons are going to Ethiopia sometime in August to pick up our newly adopted daughters. While we are there, we want to take advantage of the opportunity and do as much missions work as possible. We want to give back to a country that has blessed us greatly by allowing us to adopt two of their children. Children that we would not have if it were not for famine and AIDS.
Right now Ethiopia is in crisis. Two successful years of failed rains have precipitated a severe drought – the worst in a decade. The farmers have lost their spring harvest. Due to this, what little food there is is now costing 2-3 times the original price. According to UNICEF, six million children are at risk of malnutrition. They have said they need food aid in the amount of $197,000,000 (US dollars) to get through these next months.
We have contacted an organization called Canadian Humanitarian. They have projects that provide care to 500 children in 400 families. We will have the privilege of doing home visits where we will be able to see the needs of some of these families and then meet these needs by going to the local markets and purchasing food for them.
In addition, Ray with our boys, is arranging to teach construction skills to an organization called SSCM – Support Street Children and Mothers. It is may also be possible for him to build some playground equipment at an orphanage (this last option will be dependent on materials being available).
A third plan is to help the Liga School. This school has 244 children with children in grades 1-3. Canadian Humanitarian built them a new school three years ago. Prior to this, they had a dirt floor and tarps that provided walls. Canadian Humanitarian supplies school uniforms and shoes for the children, plus the teacher’s salaries. An education is a big factor in these children having a future. Unfortunately, the school operates with very little in school supplies.
A friend recently visited the Liga School and donated art supplies to them. While she was there, she noted that they had only one shelf with teaching aids. They are in desperate need of the following items:* Flashcards
* Pencils
* Construction paper
* Crayons – packs of 24
* Erasers
* Scissors
* Paint brushes
* Pencil crayons
* Broad tip markers
* Calculators
* Glue sticks
* Protractor sets
* Water colour paints
* Tempera paint powder
* Easy readers (stories that cross the cultures: animals, bugs, simple stories)
One adoptive parent that I know went to the LIGA School. She took bananas that day. She noticed the children ate half their banana only. The teacher told her that they would take the other half home, as that was probably all they would eat that day. It is our hope to buy boxes of granola bars to take to these children on our visiting day!
Our final plan is to reach a few of the orphanages that have little to no support. In Ethiopia, there are hundreds of orphanages, and many, many of them are run lacking the most basic supplies. They sleep 3-4 babies per crib, and barely have enough to feed and diaper the children.
Our hope is to be able take money with us to buy formula and diapers for these little ones. They are also desperately in need of over the counter medication. This is hard to come by in Ethiopia, and therefore we will be taking those items with us.
We will buy what we can there to help the local economy, and because we simply cannot carry very much with us. We have only five suitcases available for filling with donations. Please help us fill them.
Needs for Orphanages and LIGA School:
* Underwear
* Socks
* Children’s pain relievers
* Children’s multivitamins
* Antibiotic ointment
* Cough and cold medications
* Antifungal creams
* Bandaids
* Gauze and tape
* Toothpaste
*Soccer balls – please donate a pump with one or two balls, as they will not have a pump in the orphanages.
We would ask that you prayerfully consider donating items from the above lists, and / or cash with which we can purchase food items, blankets, diapers, and formula while we are in Ethiopia.
We will be taking many photos while we are gone and will be thrilled to share with you what your generosity has accomplished. If you would like to send your family picture or a picture of yourself that we can give to the people at the LIGA school or the orphanages. Then they can see all the loving people who cared about their children.
Just to show you how impacted these people are by other's generosity, let me tell you this: One girl I know told a story of a grandmother that cried when she was given a blanket. She couldn't believe that someone way over in Canada cared about her.
Thank you for being part of our exciting adventure!
Please Pray - We Could Use a Blessing
As I mentioned a couple months back, it was revealed to us that we had been overpaying a certain department in the government for the last seven years. I always wondered why this department didn't audit us! LOL!! Because they were quite happy thank you!!! LOL!!
When this overpayment was revealed to us it was by an accountant. The first one we had ever hired. I find the timing very mysterious. This could have been found any time over the last seven years, or anytime in the future. The fact that this was revealed 2 days before we were to go through court - I consider that there is a miracle at hand here.
We have waited for two months for our accountant to get on with this. Unfortunately, it was tax season so they had to finish those first. Quite understandable. But now they have begun working through this they have discovered it is a bit of a tangle. And then they were held up by long weekends. I just want them to get on with it and sort it out!
I am not the least bit concerned. I know that this can, and I expect will, work for our good. If they agree to return all of this money to us it will most likely cover the outrageous August airfares that we are likely to be hit with. With four of us flying out, and six returning, we are talking about $16,000 in airfares. That is based on fares 3 weeks ago. I was looking today, and some of the flights are creeping up over the $3,500 mark! Thankfully! my sister in law is a travel agent and is able to get us some deals. (And that will include you too, D, if you do come with us!)
But she has said to me that the flights are really booking up. Unfortunately, we cannot know ahead of time when we need to book for.
On one hand, I want to book for August 18 or 19, the second our oldest son walks in the door, as that will be eight and a half weeks waiting for Visa, so I am sure it will be in. And if we don't book in advance then we are looking at even higher rates. But on the other hand, the flights drop by hundreds or even a thousand dollars per person if we wait til the first week in September.
I am not stressing about this. I am just beginning to 'look' into dates. I know God is in control and He will make it quite clear to me what I am to do when the time is right.
But in the meantime, please pray that the government shines favour on us and very quickly reimburses our money with no hassles. This would be greatly appreciated!!
When this overpayment was revealed to us it was by an accountant. The first one we had ever hired. I find the timing very mysterious. This could have been found any time over the last seven years, or anytime in the future. The fact that this was revealed 2 days before we were to go through court - I consider that there is a miracle at hand here.
We have waited for two months for our accountant to get on with this. Unfortunately, it was tax season so they had to finish those first. Quite understandable. But now they have begun working through this they have discovered it is a bit of a tangle. And then they were held up by long weekends. I just want them to get on with it and sort it out!
I am not the least bit concerned. I know that this can, and I expect will, work for our good. If they agree to return all of this money to us it will most likely cover the outrageous August airfares that we are likely to be hit with. With four of us flying out, and six returning, we are talking about $16,000 in airfares. That is based on fares 3 weeks ago. I was looking today, and some of the flights are creeping up over the $3,500 mark! Thankfully! my sister in law is a travel agent and is able to get us some deals. (And that will include you too, D, if you do come with us!)
But she has said to me that the flights are really booking up. Unfortunately, we cannot know ahead of time when we need to book for.
On one hand, I want to book for August 18 or 19, the second our oldest son walks in the door, as that will be eight and a half weeks waiting for Visa, so I am sure it will be in. And if we don't book in advance then we are looking at even higher rates. But on the other hand, the flights drop by hundreds or even a thousand dollars per person if we wait til the first week in September.
I am not stressing about this. I am just beginning to 'look' into dates. I know God is in control and He will make it quite clear to me what I am to do when the time is right.
But in the meantime, please pray that the government shines favour on us and very quickly reimburses our money with no hassles. This would be greatly appreciated!!
Ready For Our Girls
I was at Surplus Herbies one day where I was buying skipping ropes and frisbies to take to Ethiopia for 88 cents each! While there I found the perfect little suitcases for the girls. I do NOT like Barbie. Sorry people. Barbie is out in my house. *smile* These little bags were Hello Kitty and they were in the colours that we have chosen for the girls: purple and pink.
For those that don't know me, we have a colour for each child. Thankfully IKEA makes dishes in 6 colours. This worked until we decided to adopt. We have towels in each colour as well. It makes it very easy to find the culprit when you find a towel lying around or a dish outside. You know exactly who was responsible!
I have packed the girls' clothes and also their backpacks. I bought a bunch of fun stuff for their packs. Then I bought a few new things for the hotel room: playdough, and fun flashlights, and then a few more things for the trip home. More than they need I am sure. But it was fun buying it and I have been quite modest when it came to stocking up their room with toys.
Packing
Packed
Gadisae is the blue bed and Mesai the pink. The bedding I chose has other pastel colours so I bought a bunch of pillow cases and some alternate colour sheets, so we can have fun changing the scheme when we want to.
I looked everywhere for the perfect rug and couldn't find anything that I liked. Finally, in my own tiny town, as I was leaving the carpet store I saw this rug hanging on a hook. I said to the lady, "That is perfect!" And then I saw the price tag. I inhaled sharply and said, "Oooh! Wow!" It was $249!! The lady immediately said I could have it for $99! Whoa! I took it home to see if it actually went with my room. When my sister came to visit she told me she felt that it made the room. Another meant to be thing. A little blessing from God to perfect our girls' room!
The beds turned out beautiful even with the repainting job I had to do. I was so fortunate because I was trying very hard to find a bookcase that I could use for toys, display, and of course, books. The only one I could find online (living out of range of stores like I do) was at IKEA. Days before my sister was to make a trip into the store for me to pick it up I fell across a little out of the way store in a town near me.
It was a mattress store, and lo and behold, it had unfinished pine furniture!! I snapped up the beautiful bookcase immediately. Well, actually, I had to take another trip back cause I had to leave the kids at home as there was no way I could get it in there with five kids on board!! If you look carefully you will see that the back of the bookcase is all slats, just like the pattern on the head and footboards of the bed. A meant to be find, no doubt!! And of course, I *joyfully* (dripping with sarcasm) jumped right back into painting furniture again!!!
I found an old wooden fruit box in a junk store and took it home and painted it up. It is now a pretty pink laundry box. The boxes on the shelves were all from JYSK. They were unfinished pine and my hubby found them for me when he was on a trip out of town. I painted them the same colour as I painted the little table and chairs. That table and chairs was bought at a garage sale when our oldest was 4 years old - when I had a preschool.
I went through all our pictures of our girls and found some really good ones of them with friends at the Transition House. I then put them in a collage frame. I am sure I will have more to display in frames before they come home!
For those that don't know me, we have a colour for each child. Thankfully IKEA makes dishes in 6 colours. This worked until we decided to adopt. We have towels in each colour as well. It makes it very easy to find the culprit when you find a towel lying around or a dish outside. You know exactly who was responsible!
I have packed the girls' clothes and also their backpacks. I bought a bunch of fun stuff for their packs. Then I bought a few new things for the hotel room: playdough, and fun flashlights, and then a few more things for the trip home. More than they need I am sure. But it was fun buying it and I have been quite modest when it came to stocking up their room with toys.
Packing
Packed
I have also finished the girls' room. There are a few little leftovers to complete, but nothing worth mentioning.
Gadisae is the blue bed and Mesai the pink. The bedding I chose has other pastel colours so I bought a bunch of pillow cases and some alternate colour sheets, so we can have fun changing the scheme when we want to.
I looked everywhere for the perfect rug and couldn't find anything that I liked. Finally, in my own tiny town, as I was leaving the carpet store I saw this rug hanging on a hook. I said to the lady, "That is perfect!" And then I saw the price tag. I inhaled sharply and said, "Oooh! Wow!" It was $249!! The lady immediately said I could have it for $99! Whoa! I took it home to see if it actually went with my room. When my sister came to visit she told me she felt that it made the room. Another meant to be thing. A little blessing from God to perfect our girls' room!
The beds turned out beautiful even with the repainting job I had to do. I was so fortunate because I was trying very hard to find a bookcase that I could use for toys, display, and of course, books. The only one I could find online (living out of range of stores like I do) was at IKEA. Days before my sister was to make a trip into the store for me to pick it up I fell across a little out of the way store in a town near me.
It was a mattress store, and lo and behold, it had unfinished pine furniture!! I snapped up the beautiful bookcase immediately. Well, actually, I had to take another trip back cause I had to leave the kids at home as there was no way I could get it in there with five kids on board!! If you look carefully you will see that the back of the bookcase is all slats, just like the pattern on the head and footboards of the bed. A meant to be find, no doubt!! And of course, I *joyfully* (dripping with sarcasm) jumped right back into painting furniture again!!!
I found an old wooden fruit box in a junk store and took it home and painted it up. It is now a pretty pink laundry box. The boxes on the shelves were all from JYSK. They were unfinished pine and my hubby found them for me when he was on a trip out of town. I painted them the same colour as I painted the little table and chairs. That table and chairs was bought at a garage sale when our oldest was 4 years old - when I had a preschool.
I went through all our pictures of our girls and found some really good ones of them with friends at the Transition House. I then put them in a collage frame. I am sure I will have more to display in frames before they come home!
Cooper had lots of fun helping me set up the doll house. It is funny. As soon as I started putting that thing together old memories started cropping up. Not really memories - more of the warm fuzzies from playing with my little sister's dollhouse. It was a tiny one - four rooms. But she was 7 years younger than me and so I, at age 12, would tell her all kinds of interesting stories about the adventures that the characters had. You know, there is something to having a daughter. I am sure I am going to experience little warm fuzzies in ways that a father experiences with a son.
I have not ever bought my sons a dollhouse. Not because I don't think it's right. Because the manufacturers insist on selling 'girly' dollhouses. I object to that! Boys love to play house too. Well, this dollhouse is Calico Critters and it is wonderful. Since I have put it up I have had everyone want a turn from the 3 year old to the 11 year old. There are so many little bits and pieces, furniture, and all the little critters. Lots of fun imaginations coming out!
Little Touches in the Room
A Beautiful African Family
I was picking up a prescription the other day and while I was waiting, I browsed through the magazine and book section. I was thrilled to find some remarkable finds!! A complete volume of Hans Christian Anderson stories that I loved as a girl. I remember just drinking in the words from those old fairy tales. Then I found a beautiful large illustrated book of The Secret Garden, and a really nice picture book about spring time animals. Plus, I had already collected a complete set of The Bobbsey Twins, Anne of Green Gables, and Little House on the Praire! I hope I have little girls who like to read!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Gifts for Our Girls
We got beautiful new pictures of our girls. A fellow adoptive mum was so kind to take a package to our girls. They were having nap when she arrived with her gifts, and so the caregivers woke the girls up. She said "they were very excited and soooooo cute!!"
They each received their tshirt with our picture, a pack of little markers, and a little stuffed cat. You might notice that Mesai's hair looks rather short. I can only guess that they had to cut it again. Well, when once she is home her hair will have a chance to grow long and beautiful! It seems to grow rather quickly, where Gadisae's hair seems to grow very slowly.
Then our agency took our photo albums that I had made for the girls. There is always so much 'stuff' in the background when pictures are taken, so it was fun to play with the photos a little and remove the excess.
Gadisae
Mesai
Such delicate little fingers. This little girl is such a petite little thing! She'll fit right in with our skinny genes!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Games in Africa
Please scroll to the bottom and hit the pause button on my music. You can then watch the video of the children playing in Africa. I wonder which of these games our little girls played before they entered the Transition Home?
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