Finding all of our Fish Sticks: April 2013

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Dates and Waits

Yesterday was somewhat of a special day concerning our adoption. It was one year ago that we filled out our application for our agency and were on the fast track to filling out paperwork to begin our adoption.

Last week on the 14th of April was our 3 month mark for our 3-6 month investigation by the US Embassy. We were told that we were one of the first ones to begin the new system of this additional investigation. We pray every day that the investigation will have no glitches and that it will be complete soon. Once it's complete and they confirm again that our boys are true orphans, we will be given an embassy appointment.

As you know, we initially planned on traveling to Africa to pick up the boys. Then in November, there were some threats on the capital city that could have put travel on hold and we were advised not to travel. It was then that we made the decision to use the escort service that our agency offers. Last month when some escorts were leaving Africa to bring home some adopted children to their families in the US through our agency, they were stopped in country and not permitted to leave. They were told that there is a new policy that only adoptive families may exit the country with their children. Upon investigation, our agency found that this policy is correct and all families must plan on traveling. As exciting as it is that we will get to travel to Africa and experience the country of our boys for ourselves, leaving our big family behind for a few weeks can be a bit tricky, not to mention having my husband leave his business for that long.

We trust that this change in plans did not take the Lord by surprise and when we receive the call that we will need to travel, we trust in His timing and the details that go along with this big trip.

So all the blogs of fellow traveling parents that I have ignored up to this point, I am now reading and re-reading so that we can be ready for the trip. What to pack. What not to pack. What to wear. What to eat. What not to eat. Tips and tricks.

And while all of this is going on stateside, our little guys are growing up way too fast. We got our monthly photos this week with stats. One of the boys weighs what our little Lydia weighs. The other little fella is 5 pounds HEAVIER than she is. They are both about 2 -3 inches shorter than Lydia (who is 4 years old). They clearly don't have the SHORT genes that the other Fish Sticks have. :) Big brother, Caleb, has high hopes for their professional careers in sports, based solely on their color. I keep preparing him for the fact that they might be musicians instead. Orchestra or NFL, we just can't wait until they come home.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Blessing the Fostering Community

We have some good friends at church who are foster parents. They have 3 children of their own, homeschool their children and have taken a baby and a toddler into their family this past year. It hasn't been easy adjusting to life with 2 more children, especially children who have come from hard places. This family is my hero.

Today they had to say goodbye to their toddler who was placed in another home due to some pretty complicated reasons. It's been hard and sad to send him off. God is good though and He answered their prayers and sent their little toddler to a family who loves Jesus like they do. They can rest in knowing God has a plan for this little guy as they mourn their loss.

When I got this email from Lifesong for Orphans (the organization who so generously gave us our matching grant), I wanted to check out this ministry they have. I have only learned about fostering and the needs of fostering families through my friends just being real to us. I wish I had known earlier on how I could have blessed them more when these 2 cuties joined their families.

Read about this ministry and ask God to show you how you can minister to foster families too!

The Forgotten Initiative (TFI), foster care ministry of Lifesong for Orphans, is bringing joy and purpose to the foster care community by LEARNING the needs, SHARING the needs and EQUIPPING the local church to meet those needs.

Check out what TFI is doing to serve the foster care community...

PROJECT SUNSHINE: FOSTER HOME EDITION

Project Sunshine: Foster Home Edition is a fundraiser & service project all in one!
After foster children are removed from their homes, they often wait for hours in agency rooms. These same rooms are also used for weekly visitation between the birth parents and their children while they are in care. Project Sunshine was birthed out of a desire to create friendly spaces for kids during this dark time in their lives.

Project Sunshine: Foster Home Edition simply takes the Project Sunshine concept and applies it to a foster parent's home and at the same time raises funds for The Forgotten Initiative!
Check out this video to meet the families we are serving this year in Peoria, IL on May 17-18 and click here to see how YOU can play a part in serving the foster care community!

How can YOU help Project Sunshine: Foster Home Edition?

Volunteer
Participate "in-spirit"
DonateLearn more about Project Sunshine: Foster Home Edition>>

WHAT WE DO...

Watch our new vision video to get a better idea of how The Forgotten Initiative, as a whole, seeks to minister to the local foster care community by bridging the gap through Forgotten Advocates.

Learn more about Forgotten Advocates & how you can help >>

UPCOMING FOSTER CARE MENTORSHIP TRAININGS

Mentors Needed: Step into the lives of children of vulnerable adults affected by foster care through relationship building, tutoring, job/life skills training, etc.

Register for the next Mentor Training>>

Tuesday, April 23, 2013
6 - 9 PM
Richwoods Christian Church, Peoria, IL