Hulk Mama

I went to the clinic to get my travel shots for Africa.  $360 later I got 3 shots and a prescription for "expensive" malaria pills (which I still need to fill).  These 2 Fish Sticks got Dum Dums.  It doesn't seem right to me.  I might suggest to the clinic that if I have to pay that much and get that many shots, peanut butter chocolate ice cream might be in order.

On the 14th we hit 4 months passed of our waiting for our investigation to be complete. The US Embassy in country organized a conference call to all adoptive parents on that very day to explain some of these new procedures and the reasons behind implementing them.  It was meant to clarify things to the waiting parents and to nip in the bud the rumors that seem to be floating in cyber space.  The problem was that they didn't anticipate the number of callers that would be participating and many of us didn't make the call.  It filled up at 120.  This drove me to do an insane move.  I joined FB after years of saying I never would.  No need to find me and try to be my friend because truthfully I'm not there to be friends.  I'm there only as a Crazed African Mama Bear trying to keep myself in the know to get my little boys home.  So with the help of another mama in the same boat, I was able to get updates on what was being said on this important phone call.

The gist of it was neither encouraging nor discouraging.  I'm an optimist and so I look for the good.  I was confident to hear that they continued to take cases in the order in which they were received - and it appears we were one of the first in line.  I heard that they are working first also on local cases before traveling to difficult areas.  Our boys' case was local.  So we continue to wait until June 14.  On June 14, when our 6 month mark is complete, the Crazed Mama Bear will come forth once again.  We are all hoping that won't be necessary.  I'm Bill Bixby, the mild-mannered hitch hiker who when he is provoked, huge green muscles rip out of his shirt and you wished you had never crossed him ("You won't like me when I'm mad.").  Just teasing of course, but the feeling of being stuck in the shuffle of paperwork while orphans are waiting is just plain hard.  Not to mention that large, monthly bill that continues to come that we never expected to pay past 6 months of interim care.

In the meantime we pray that our boys stay healthy and strong, we thank the Lord that they are in a loving home receiving lots of hugs and kisses with food and care (unlike so many other orphans), we thank the Lord for an agency who advocates on our behalf, we pray for sufficient funds to finish this process and we refine our packing list in anticipation of traveling to Africa.

Walter's Flying Bus App

Watch this trailor about an animated book you can get on iTunes for 99 cents only during May 5-12.

Inspired by the art and dreams of special needs orphans in Uganda!

One hundred percent of after-tax profits from App sales go to efforts helping orphans with special needs around the world, including advocacy, care, and adoption assistance grants.

 

Just another simple way you can support orphans!

Overview of the End

Thank you all so much for continuing to ask me about our boys and our adoption process.  I just wish I had some great news to share, but not much has changed. We are still waiting.  And waiting.  And waiting.

For those who like bullet points like myself, here's what things should look like from this point on.

*  We began a 3-6 month investigative process by the US Embassy in Country on Jan. 14.  Next week marks 4 months past in this process.  We know of no one who has completed this process yet (as it is a new regulation) but have been told that our paperwork was one of the first in the new process.  We hope to hear soon that we are finished.
*  When we have completed our investigative process, we will be assigned an embassy appointment that someone will attend in our stead.
*  After the embassy appointment, Country will issue a visa to our boys.  We learned this week that due to adoptions taking place that do not comply with the law, they are extending what used to be a couple day process to 1-2 weeks to ensure that all adoptions are ethical and in accordance with the law.
*  Once we have word that we received our visas, we will be contacted that it will be time to travel to Africa and pick up the boys (Probably a 2 weeks notice).
*  Once in Africa, we will be given the boys to stay with us in a hotel while we apply for an exit letter that allows us to leave the country as a family.  This can take anywhere from 7 days to 3 weeks, we've been told.

How can you pray for us right now?

1.  SPEED!  Pray that we will be finished with our investigation quickly.  Pray that we will receive our embassy appointment and then our visa quickly.
2.  HERE & NOW!  That God will be preparing us now for being a family of 10.  That we will use our time wisely with our children now in our home, spending quality and quantity time with each and every one of them.  That the boys will be ready to join our family.  That the Lord will keep them healthy and safe while they wait.
3.  LATER!  That our attachment to the boys and their attachment to us will be smooth.  That God will give us wisdom in parenting.  That our children will adjust well to the new additions.  That God will strengthen our marriage as we finalize this adoption.

Just a note of reassurance....

Right now it saddens me to hear and read that many people in the world see international adoptions as a money maker at the expense of children.  It not only saddens me, but it angers me.  It makes me think of the verse in Matthew 18:6  "If anyone causes one of these little ones--those who believe in me--to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."  It happens everywhere and many countries have had to shut their doors to adoptions because of the corruption that has occurred while orphans fill their streets and orphanages, stripping them of any hope they had to have a family.  As frustrated as I am at the delays in our adoption when it seemed that we were so close to having the boys home, I know that these delays are a result of precautions that are necessary because of the unethical adoption practices that have occurred.  These delays are to not only protect OUR children but the many children out there who have families waiting for them.  I also am 100% confident in the practices of our adoption agency.  Over 140 children have been brought home from our Country through this small agency and not one of them was denied a visa.  All adoptions have be true and correctly completed.  I am confident that these additional investigations will only confirm what we already know...that our boys are true orphans in need of a family.

So add to your prayer list....that the corruptions that occur in adoptions will be revealed and that justice will be done to those who practice such things at the expense of loving families and orphans.

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.

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

Read more from The Forgotten Initiative... 

Project Sunshine: Foster Care Edition 2012 - "My home looks so beautiful. The impact of being gone and coming home to see this is almost unbelievable. I just don't know how to say thank you enough." Watch the Video

American Orphans - "Only a life contemplating the love of Christ becomes a life acting the love of Christ. And love always moves. Loving first and foremost Christ. And loving others." Read Full Story

Perspective from Foster Care Caseworker - A caseworker's job is heart-breaking, challenging, and can be extremely overwhelming.  Read as Jenna shares her heart with us! Read Full Story

Impact of Journey Bags - "Last night at midnight three precious little beauties showed up on my doorstep. They each had with them a blanket, a stuffed animal, and a book bag, their Journey Bags of course..." Read Full Story

Empty Purple Shirts

Happy Resurrection Day!

Today the Fish Family is wearing purple.  Not because it's the "mostest" favorite color of 2 of my girls.  Not to annoy my teenage son who says that purple is for girls.

It's because it stands for royalty.  And this year at Easter we are celebrating the 2 little "kings" awaiting us in Africa as we celebrate that we serve A RISEN SAVIOR!

If you never watched the music video of "Kings and Queens" that I posted a couple of months ago, watch it now....or if you love it like we love it, then watch it again.

Now you see why we chose purple.

There are 2 brand new purple shirts size 2T upstairs that we thought would be worn today, but they are not.  They are empty and waiting to be filled.

Waiting is hard.  My sister sent me this amazing blog post this past week about waiting.  Read it.  It's good stuff!

On Wednesday, My Man and I fasted and prayed for the boys to come quickly.  He asked the kids to consider (instead of fasting) praying for their brothers every time someone called their name throughout the day.  At supper, my eldest hesitantly asked us, "What really is the rush?  We know that they are ours and will be here soon....so why the rush?"  I guess it was a legitimate question although part of me couldn't see why he wouldn't be as anxious as his parents are.  My Man mentioned the parable of the persistent widow found in Luke 18.  I thought about his question and as I tucked him in that night, I told my own little parable, in hopes he could better understand.

Caleb, you know that survivor knife that you have been coveting on Amazon?  Well you know Grandma said she'd be happy to get it for you for your birthday, but you just couldn't wait that long?  Well you know how you worked your tail off last weekend to earn enough money to buy it so you could use it on your camp out with your buddy over break?  So when you ordered it, the confirmation said it would be here on Thursday, right?  And your camp out was Friday, right?  So it was perfect and you were anticipating it and excited about it coming.

Say it didn't come on Thursday and so you called on Friday, the day of your camp out, and Amazon told you that they now have a new shipping policy into effect that will delay your order's arrival by 3-6 more weeks.  Can you imagine how you would have felt after being so anxious for it to come before Friday?

He listened intently and then said, "Yeah Mom.  I totally understand now."  All in middle school boy terms, but he got it.

So we continue to pray that our little "kings" will arrive quickly.  While we wait, we pray Psalm 27:14 - that our hearts will be strengthened - because we know waiting makes us depend more on God.

March 26 - ONE YEAR

Today marks the day that ONE year ago, we made a phone call to our agency to find out about their international adoption programs.  We had pursued domestic adoption for a couple of months and felt we had hit a wall in that search.  I had just researched thoroughly to find a country in which our family qualified as a potential adopting family.  Once again, I kept hitting walls.

Just when I was feeling a bit of despair, our adoption agency name was given to us by an acquaintance of a friend.  She had just joined their Samoa pilot program.  I called on March 26 to find out about their Samoa program.  I wrote 2 pages of notes frantically as I tried to listen to all the good information that our agency was sharing.

As I got off the phone after at least 45 minutes of listening and asking questions, I felt a real peace about this agency.  I also felt a real peace that God was directing our steps and that He would soon reveal the country that we would be adopting from.  The walls we had encountered were merely doors shut by our Heavenly Father as He was guiding our footsteps.  We just had to keep walking in faith. 

And we did.

Keep praying with us that our embassy investigation will go SUPERSONIC fast (as a 3 year old in my Sunday School class likes to say) and that we will hear from them soon.