Friday, May 30, 2014
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Mama Bears Have Reared Up
There has been so much to blog about lately regarding our adoption and one day I hope to sit down and write it all out for my boys and their story. Much of the details I have journaled but today is not a day to catch up on all that has transpired in the last month.
To summarize it is to say that God stirred our hearts and things are moving. Not quite moving so that we are grabbing our plane tickets but moving in that we are no longer sitting, twiddling our thumbs and waiting.
We had a conference call over spring break with the Department of State, the US Embassy and all adoptive parents. It didn't offer us hope. It didn't encourage us. It really lacked in every area. They had sent a US delegation in country and basically came back to tell us nothing had changed and no solid dates had been set for my boys' country delegation team to come to the US. BLAH!
Through a snowball of events after that call, we made contacts that led to other contacts that led to forming a secret FB group of other families in our boat to the best news ever this past Monday. Both Ends Burning Campaign agreed to take on the entire adoptive community of families with their lawyer, a renowned adoption lawyer who specializes in cases like ours, to represent us and lead us in fighting to get our kids home. I'm still in awe of what God has done in one short week!
The Department of State does not have a list of the families that they supposedly have been advocating for but our new team is on a mission to get that list in order to better represent us. What originally was thought to be 100-200 families is over 500 families now. The response from families has been overwhelming! We have banded together to advocate to get all of our children home regardless of agencies. It's a beautiful thing.
Right now this is what you can do for us:
1. Pray!!!! Pray that our voices will be heard as we approach our Congressman and make them aware of our need for help. Pray for the delegation team from in country who is expected in the US on April 14. Pray that God would move mountains through our efforts of banding together to be heard.
2. Sign this petition and send letters (part of the link) on our behalf and on the behalf of all the 500+ children who deserve a family and have a family but are being prevented from coming home.
http://www.petition2congress.com/14960/please-help-resolve-pending-adoptions-from-democratic-republic-co/?m=5272303
3. Share the petition through FB, instagram, twitter, email (#DRCstuck), blogs, etc.
Our boys deserve to be with their family. We have been in this process (which originally took 9 months when we began) for 2 years on April 22. 500 Mama bears have reared up and are joining together to get our kids home. Will you help us?
To summarize it is to say that God stirred our hearts and things are moving. Not quite moving so that we are grabbing our plane tickets but moving in that we are no longer sitting, twiddling our thumbs and waiting.
We had a conference call over spring break with the Department of State, the US Embassy and all adoptive parents. It didn't offer us hope. It didn't encourage us. It really lacked in every area. They had sent a US delegation in country and basically came back to tell us nothing had changed and no solid dates had been set for my boys' country delegation team to come to the US. BLAH!
Through a snowball of events after that call, we made contacts that led to other contacts that led to forming a secret FB group of other families in our boat to the best news ever this past Monday. Both Ends Burning Campaign agreed to take on the entire adoptive community of families with their lawyer, a renowned adoption lawyer who specializes in cases like ours, to represent us and lead us in fighting to get our kids home. I'm still in awe of what God has done in one short week!
The Department of State does not have a list of the families that they supposedly have been advocating for but our new team is on a mission to get that list in order to better represent us. What originally was thought to be 100-200 families is over 500 families now. The response from families has been overwhelming! We have banded together to advocate to get all of our children home regardless of agencies. It's a beautiful thing.
Right now this is what you can do for us:
1. Pray!!!! Pray that our voices will be heard as we approach our Congressman and make them aware of our need for help. Pray for the delegation team from in country who is expected in the US on April 14. Pray that God would move mountains through our efforts of banding together to be heard.
2. Sign this petition and send letters (part of the link) on our behalf and on the behalf of all the 500+ children who deserve a family and have a family but are being prevented from coming home.
http://www.petition2congress.com/14960/please-help-resolve-pending-adoptions-from-democratic-republic-co/?m=5272303
3. Share the petition through FB, instagram, twitter, email (#DRCstuck), blogs, etc.
Our boys deserve to be with their family. We have been in this process (which originally took 9 months when we began) for 2 years on April 22. 500 Mama bears have reared up and are joining together to get our kids home. Will you help us?
Saturday, February 8, 2014
A Day to Celebrate
Dear Jeshua and Jedidiah,
Today is your birthday. I don't know if you know that or not, but we celebrated today even though you are not here. Last year we did not celebrate your birthday. We were told you would mostly likely come home 2 weeks later so we decided to wait until you got here in person. Wish we would have known that another birthday would pass without you here.
We used to call you "Baby Brothers" but then I told your siblings that you weren't babies anymore. After the last set of measurements we got on you this month, I realized I have to sell the baby swing and Jedidiah's car seat. You've outgrown them both.
It's been hard this past year not having you home. I know it's hard for some people to understand how we can love you so much when all we have are photographs. I didn't know I could love you so much from just photographs, but it feels like we know you. Our hearts long for you so much. You are ours.
Although we have never gotten to touch your precious skin, hug your neck or kiss your sweet lips, we are family. We know you boys love to swing outside. We have a play set in the back yard that you will love. All your siblings can't wait to push you both. We know you love to play cars and trucks. We have lots of those too and Josiah is already picking out the best ones to show you first. We know you love casava leaves and beans but milk is not your favorite. Mommy will do her best to find casava leaves for you and cook them the way you love. You just might like our milk - it comes straight from a cow from a local farm.
Your room is all set up for you. I decorated it in a cowboy theme because your big brothers used to like that. Caleb and Josiah wanted to give you their teddy bears because they match so they are waiting for you on your bed. Nonie crocheted you both blankets because all the Fish Sticks have "Ba-Ba's." One is green and one is blue. You will love to snuggle with them, especially during Saturday morning cartoons.
Jeshua, we know that you are a little shy and quiet. You'll be the first in this house. I hope that our noise level won't scare you. We'll try to break you into the chaos softly. You can hide with Daddy in his Man Cave with the NFL if you need to. He'd love another quiet soul to bond with in there. Jedidiah, we know that you love to talk. You will fit right in. I hope you don't get frustrated trying to get all your words out. We can't wait to hear you jabber away. Maybe you can teach us some words from your birth country.
I have a scrapbook of all the pictures we have gotten of you boys since you became ours. We have 147 photos of you. Every month when we get new photos we inspect them so closely. Jeshua, we love your ears that stick out. They are so cute. Your smile is so beautiful and your teeth look so white. Jedidiah, your eyes are so big. In the first photo we got of you, Lydia asked why your eyes were so sad. They did look sad, but since you moved into your foster home, those sad eyes turned bright, big and happy. The ones we like the best are when you are both giggling. Your siblings like the 2 we have when you raised your arms laughing and we can see your belly. They can't wait to tickle your sweet bellies.
So today since you weren't here to blow out your candles, eat your cake and open any presents, we had a party. We want you to know that when you do finally come home, we sure did miss you on your birthday. We want you to know how much we thought about you and longed for you to be here.
Mommy tried Chicken Moambe - the national dish of your country. We ate it over rice with plantains fried in palm oil. We loved it. I promise I will make it next year on your birthday when you are here with us.
Anna Blair made you one of our favorites, Eclair Cake. We sang Happy Birthday to you and blew out your candles for you.
Grandma and Grandaddy surprised us by coming over with 2 cakes - one for each of you. It was a special day. We thought about you both all day long and wished you were with us. We sure do love you!
Today is your birthday. I don't know if you know that or not, but we celebrated today even though you are not here. Last year we did not celebrate your birthday. We were told you would mostly likely come home 2 weeks later so we decided to wait until you got here in person. Wish we would have known that another birthday would pass without you here.
We used to call you "Baby Brothers" but then I told your siblings that you weren't babies anymore. After the last set of measurements we got on you this month, I realized I have to sell the baby swing and Jedidiah's car seat. You've outgrown them both.
It's been hard this past year not having you home. I know it's hard for some people to understand how we can love you so much when all we have are photographs. I didn't know I could love you so much from just photographs, but it feels like we know you. Our hearts long for you so much. You are ours.
Although we have never gotten to touch your precious skin, hug your neck or kiss your sweet lips, we are family. We know you boys love to swing outside. We have a play set in the back yard that you will love. All your siblings can't wait to push you both. We know you love to play cars and trucks. We have lots of those too and Josiah is already picking out the best ones to show you first. We know you love casava leaves and beans but milk is not your favorite. Mommy will do her best to find casava leaves for you and cook them the way you love. You just might like our milk - it comes straight from a cow from a local farm.
Your room is all set up for you. I decorated it in a cowboy theme because your big brothers used to like that. Caleb and Josiah wanted to give you their teddy bears because they match so they are waiting for you on your bed. Nonie crocheted you both blankets because all the Fish Sticks have "Ba-Ba's." One is green and one is blue. You will love to snuggle with them, especially during Saturday morning cartoons.
Jeshua, we know that you are a little shy and quiet. You'll be the first in this house. I hope that our noise level won't scare you. We'll try to break you into the chaos softly. You can hide with Daddy in his Man Cave with the NFL if you need to. He'd love another quiet soul to bond with in there. Jedidiah, we know that you love to talk. You will fit right in. I hope you don't get frustrated trying to get all your words out. We can't wait to hear you jabber away. Maybe you can teach us some words from your birth country.
I have a scrapbook of all the pictures we have gotten of you boys since you became ours. We have 147 photos of you. Every month when we get new photos we inspect them so closely. Jeshua, we love your ears that stick out. They are so cute. Your smile is so beautiful and your teeth look so white. Jedidiah, your eyes are so big. In the first photo we got of you, Lydia asked why your eyes were so sad. They did look sad, but since you moved into your foster home, those sad eyes turned bright, big and happy. The ones we like the best are when you are both giggling. Your siblings like the 2 we have when you raised your arms laughing and we can see your belly. They can't wait to tickle your sweet bellies.
So today since you weren't here to blow out your candles, eat your cake and open any presents, we had a party. We want you to know that when you do finally come home, we sure did miss you on your birthday. We want you to know how much we thought about you and longed for you to be here.
Mommy tried Chicken Moambe - the national dish of your country. We ate it over rice with plantains fried in palm oil. We loved it. I promise I will make it next year on your birthday when you are here with us.
 |
| AB put cake on her teeth just to make you laugh. |
Happy Birthday, Sons!
Friday, January 17, 2014
From Another Crazy Adoptive Parent
We have been so blessed by family and friends who have supported us, loved on us, served us, cared for us, gave to us, asked about us, prayed for us and cried with us through this adoption journey....that is still far from over.
I read this adoption blog today that I am posting for you to read. It's beautifully written and although I am so thankful that I had not had any friends or family ostracize me in this crazy journey, this blog describes me in many ways. I'm posting it so you can understand more of why I can act like a adoptive lunatic sometimes. :)
It's mainly for the group of friends at that child's birthday party almost 2 years ago that I told in excitement about the incredible opportunity to adopt children quickly, painlessly, and ethically from the Marshall Islands. There were plenty of children needing families and I assumed they all would have been interested. I quickly realized from the looks I got from them that maybe I was becoming a bit unusual and hard to connect with. Ha!
http://amomentcherished.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-to-support-family-who-is-adopting.html?m=1
I read this adoption blog today that I am posting for you to read. It's beautifully written and although I am so thankful that I had not had any friends or family ostracize me in this crazy journey, this blog describes me in many ways. I'm posting it so you can understand more of why I can act like a adoptive lunatic sometimes. :)
It's mainly for the group of friends at that child's birthday party almost 2 years ago that I told in excitement about the incredible opportunity to adopt children quickly, painlessly, and ethically from the Marshall Islands. There were plenty of children needing families and I assumed they all would have been interested. I quickly realized from the looks I got from them that maybe I was becoming a bit unusual and hard to connect with. Ha!
http://amomentcherished.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-to-support-family-who-is-adopting.html?m=1
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Monthly Care
The end of the this month marks our 21 months since turning in an application to begin our adoption process. We had no idea at that time that all of our speed bumps would put us here, almost 2 years later, without our boys home. I think the Lord knows we probably would not have started this path had we known. He knew our boys needed a family, that we would need our boys, and we were the ones he chose.
That being said, we are still waiting for this hold-up to pass. The initial call from our adopting country was "up to 12 months" and that was end of September that this statement was made. So we wait as patiently as possible, trying NOT to get caught up in the countless numbers of rumors that fly around in the adoption world about opening up sooner than said.
As we wait, we still have a financial responsibility to our kids. They have the luxury of being in a foster home and not an orphanage - to which we are TRULY thankful!! I honestly don't know how I could sleep peacefully each night if I didn't have this assurance that they are in a loving home being hugged, kissed, fed and clothed. When we purchased our flight tickets (twice!), we paid our last statement to our agency. Now that our travel plans are postponed, we still have a monthly responsibility for foster care for each son. When it's time to bring them home, we will have our travel expenses (this is not a cheap place to travel to) and then a $1000 re-adoption fee to a local adoption lawyer here. That is the remainder of our expenses.
This week I got our January bill for foster care and as I have for the last many, many months, I forwarded it to LifeSong. If you don't remember who LifeSong is, then you can read this post about this amazing ministry from last January. Today I received notice that the remainder of our LifeSong funds only paid for one third of our foster care bill.
I have started selling infinity scarves on Facebook that has been a HUGE help in raising funds for our adoption, but if you feel so led to donate to our adoption through an organization who provides your gift to be tax deductible, you can make a check to Lifesong for Orphans with our family number on it and mail to:
Lifesong for Orphans
That being said, we are still waiting for this hold-up to pass. The initial call from our adopting country was "up to 12 months" and that was end of September that this statement was made. So we wait as patiently as possible, trying NOT to get caught up in the countless numbers of rumors that fly around in the adoption world about opening up sooner than said.
As we wait, we still have a financial responsibility to our kids. They have the luxury of being in a foster home and not an orphanage - to which we are TRULY thankful!! I honestly don't know how I could sleep peacefully each night if I didn't have this assurance that they are in a loving home being hugged, kissed, fed and clothed. When we purchased our flight tickets (twice!), we paid our last statement to our agency. Now that our travel plans are postponed, we still have a monthly responsibility for foster care for each son. When it's time to bring them home, we will have our travel expenses (this is not a cheap place to travel to) and then a $1000 re-adoption fee to a local adoption lawyer here. That is the remainder of our expenses.
This week I got our January bill for foster care and as I have for the last many, many months, I forwarded it to LifeSong. If you don't remember who LifeSong is, then you can read this post about this amazing ministry from last January. Today I received notice that the remainder of our LifeSong funds only paid for one third of our foster care bill.
I have started selling infinity scarves on Facebook that has been a HUGE help in raising funds for our adoption, but if you feel so led to donate to our adoption through an organization who provides your gift to be tax deductible, you can make a check to Lifesong for Orphans with our family number on it and mail to:
Lifesong for Orphans
Attn: Fish Family #3227
P.O.
Box 40 / 202 N. Ford St.
Gridley,
IL 61744
We can't tell you how much we appreciate your love and support during the last 21 months. I can't wait to tell Jeshua and Jedidiah the myriads of people (friends, family and strangers) who prayed that the Lord would bring them safely and quickly home to us. You are all part of this story. Don't give up, please. We aren't!
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Christmas Reminders of the Reality of our Situation
One the 8 days of Christmas, without our 2 boys home, we had
8 Turkish Stockings
7 Toys to send them
6 Fish Sticks waiting
5 Nativity Figures
4 Packed Suitcases
2 Christmas' without them
And 1 Hope Necklace so we don't lose hope!
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