Last weekend we took a trip to Harrisburg to have our dossier sealed (it's like- notarizing the notary lol). And now... it is on its way to the country we are adopting from! Now we wait for it to be registered in country, and then get some travel dates!!
This week we also had some big fees due- and I have never been so excited to part with $9,000.
When we first seriously considered adoption- one of the biggest things holding us back was the cost. It is expensive.
But ask me now- how I feel about the cost.
Without a doubt, it is the thing I am the least worried about. And I am so glad we didn't let that fear stop us from answering the call to adopt.
We are so grateful for all of the support our friends and family have given us, and I thought this would be a good time to give an update on where we are financially.
We have fundraised 9,100. That is phenomenal and we are SO blessed by the generosity of our community.
This is tricky to write- but I find honesty is always the best way to deal with a touchy subject, like money.
We would like to fundraise 15,000 (so far grants have not come through). We now have a better idea of how much this adoption will cost- and we expect it to fall within 30- 33 thousand.
The thing with adoption- and international adoption in particular, is there are many variables. And as much as it is tempting to plan for the cheaper end- it is not wise.
If we do not raise another cent- money will not prevent us from bringing Marla home. We will, if necessary look into a small loan. As a parent- what wouldn't you do for your child?
I feel since we are asking for monetary support, we should be completely transparent with our adoption finances. Timmy and I have now officially saved 20,000- and we are absolutely prepared to use it all.
But here comes some tough honesty... the costs don't stop when the adoption is finalized.
We will have to submit post-placement reports (think mini homestudy by a social worker) to Marla's birth country, at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months. The studies along with translation can be costly.
When we arrive home- we do not know exactly what to expect. But very likely, Marla will have immediate and significant medical needs.
We would like to have set aside a small buffer (2-3,000) for her immediate care- once she is home.
We are not, in any way worried about this. We are fully confident in our ability to properly care for all of our children. I tell you this- to be completely honest about what Timmy and I talk about.
The great news, if I haven't turned you all off with my bluntness, is we are only 6,000 away from our- I hate to say goal... but goal of 15,000.
This goal could change- it could lower or please no, raise, depending on travel and in country expenses beyond our control.
The best news is we know who is in control!! So pray for us!! We serve a God who listens when we pray.
We are in the very very (I seriously can not stress that word enough) early stages of planning a fundraising event!! ... I figured if I put a lot of explanation marks I could trick you into excitement. Did it work?
Haha I'm kind of kidding- we are hoping to keep it very simple- and something that would be fun enough- you almost forget you're doing us a huge favor by participating.
We are thinking a dance and snack event. Family friendly.
We can't feed you dinner... because well the point is to raise money. BUT dancing is a lot of fun- and we have a potential free/ or super cheap venue!! And they might not know it yet... but our family is hopefully going to help us make some yummy snacks :).
I think there is potential there- but I am, quite possibly, the worst at planning things. Friends let me know what you think!! Please.
Plan is to have the event after our first trip!
Friday, March 18, 2016
Monday, February 22, 2016
Wanted, Chosen, Loved
Before I write this, I wanted to mention, my writing is coming from a person who believes in Jesus. That person is me. Ha. There was some very questionable grammar just now- and I am not going back to fix it.
We live in a world where- like it or not- people are valued based on whether other people like them (want them, choose them, love them). You see it everywhere- and it makes some sense. I mean who wants to choose to hang out with a jerk- or even a super annoying person. It makes some sense. (Worldly sense).
This attitude is deceptively destructive and too easily expressed toward- unborn babies, orphans, the disabled, the lower class, the upper class (probably just the opposite of the class you find yourself in...)
And not because they are all jerks, or annoying (although I'm sure sometimes that is the case( to be clear- I still don't think those reasons make it ok not to love someone. I just wanted you to know- I understand the struggle of loving jerks and annoying people)), but because, for whatever reason, it is inconvenient to value them. To want them, to choose them, to love them.
And when we choose not to want them, not to choose them, not to love them. We devalue them. We see them as less than what they are. Less than eternal. We see them as temporary. A temporary problem.
As a Christian, my biggest challenge is to love.
My biggest challenge has been-- to want, to choose, to love-- the eternal.
And to let go of the temporary, when it gets in the way of that.
We are bombarded with a worldly view of what love is. In every show, movie, commercial, song, news cast- we are told what it means to love. You fall in love, you fall out of love, just love yourself, love is elusive, love is temporary..
But we know what love looks like. It looks like a Savior coming into a world that has turned away from Him. It looks like Jesus dying on a cross- after being viciously beaten, and ridiculed. It looks like a Father turning away, and letting that happen, so we can have eternal life with Him. (Even the really annoying people)
Does it look easy? Does it look temporary? Does it look convenient?
No, it looks unimaginably hard.
It looks like a choice.
Our value is found- at the cross. Where we are- so wanted, so chosen, so loved
People are not temporary. They are eternal. They are valuable.
Our value is not determined by anything or anyone, physically present on Earth.
Our value was determined a long time ago- on a cross.
We don't get to determine anyone else's value- that has already been done.
We get to love- because He first loved us- we can love.
That ridiculously annoying person- we can love them, that child with HIV- we can love them, that homeless man, that bitter acquaintance... we can choose to love them.
It is hard to love. But it is a privilege to love. It is a privilege, as Christians, to be a part of God's will.
I recently was added to a closed Facebook group- full of people adopting kids listed on Reece's Rainbow.
I am humbled by the love I see displayed. Tough love. Love that chooses the child who is 8 yrs old and has lived their entire life in a crib. Love that brings home the 3 yr old with such a severe infection- from medical neglect- that the infection will take their life. Love that knows it will be hard, knows it will be uncomfortable, knows it would be so much easier to see people as a temporary problem...but they look- and see Jesus.
They see themselves, unwanted, unchosen, unlovable- and they see a Savior- who came, and chose, and loved.
We are the hands and feet.
Someday every wrong will be made right. And I cling to that promise.
But here on Earth, right now, we are given the honor- given the privilege- of being the body of Christ.
We all remember those trendy- WWJD bracelets... And no one likes to say it anymore because...well it's just not cool.
But seriously... WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
I know I could be inconvenienced a lot more often- be made a lot more uncomfortable- let go of a lot more temporary..
And, I could love people a whole lot more than I do.
We live in a world where- like it or not- people are valued based on whether other people like them (want them, choose them, love them). You see it everywhere- and it makes some sense. I mean who wants to choose to hang out with a jerk- or even a super annoying person. It makes some sense. (Worldly sense).
This attitude is deceptively destructive and too easily expressed toward- unborn babies, orphans, the disabled, the lower class, the upper class (probably just the opposite of the class you find yourself in...)
And not because they are all jerks, or annoying (although I'm sure sometimes that is the case( to be clear- I still don't think those reasons make it ok not to love someone. I just wanted you to know- I understand the struggle of loving jerks and annoying people)), but because, for whatever reason, it is inconvenient to value them. To want them, to choose them, to love them.
And when we choose not to want them, not to choose them, not to love them. We devalue them. We see them as less than what they are. Less than eternal. We see them as temporary. A temporary problem.
As a Christian, my biggest challenge is to love.
My biggest challenge has been-- to want, to choose, to love-- the eternal.
And to let go of the temporary, when it gets in the way of that.
We are bombarded with a worldly view of what love is. In every show, movie, commercial, song, news cast- we are told what it means to love. You fall in love, you fall out of love, just love yourself, love is elusive, love is temporary..
But we know what love looks like. It looks like a Savior coming into a world that has turned away from Him. It looks like Jesus dying on a cross- after being viciously beaten, and ridiculed. It looks like a Father turning away, and letting that happen, so we can have eternal life with Him. (Even the really annoying people)
Does it look easy? Does it look temporary? Does it look convenient?
No, it looks unimaginably hard.
It looks like a choice.
Our value is found- at the cross. Where we are- so wanted, so chosen, so loved
People are not temporary. They are eternal. They are valuable.
Our value is not determined by anything or anyone, physically present on Earth.
Our value was determined a long time ago- on a cross.
We don't get to determine anyone else's value- that has already been done.
We get to love- because He first loved us- we can love.
That ridiculously annoying person- we can love them, that child with HIV- we can love them, that homeless man, that bitter acquaintance... we can choose to love them.
It is hard to love. But it is a privilege to love. It is a privilege, as Christians, to be a part of God's will.
I recently was added to a closed Facebook group- full of people adopting kids listed on Reece's Rainbow.
I am humbled by the love I see displayed. Tough love. Love that chooses the child who is 8 yrs old and has lived their entire life in a crib. Love that brings home the 3 yr old with such a severe infection- from medical neglect- that the infection will take their life. Love that knows it will be hard, knows it will be uncomfortable, knows it would be so much easier to see people as a temporary problem...but they look- and see Jesus.
They see themselves, unwanted, unchosen, unlovable- and they see a Savior- who came, and chose, and loved.
We are the hands and feet.
Someday every wrong will be made right. And I cling to that promise.
But here on Earth, right now, we are given the honor- given the privilege- of being the body of Christ.
We all remember those trendy- WWJD bracelets... And no one likes to say it anymore because...well it's just not cool.
But seriously... WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
I know I could be inconvenienced a lot more often- be made a lot more uncomfortable- let go of a lot more temporary..
And, I could love people a whole lot more than I do.
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
i800a
It's Tuesday night, which means I am sitting outside of Bea's dance class. Timmy got home in time for me to leave the other kids at home- which means I have a solid half hour of free time. Wahoo!
We are still waiting for i800a approval(USCIS). We were finger printed Friday, which was quicker than we expected (yay!). BUT last Tuesday we got a dreaded pink paper in the mail from USCIS- Request for Evidence.
Which means, there was something more they needed from us to complete our application.
It turns out there were two things left out of our home study. Two silly little statements- but they are required to be in our home study.
SO that Tuesday began a really long week for me.
I am very aware that any delay with USCIS- can become a long delay- so upon getting the- pardon me- stupid pink paper- I flew into action. Contacting USCIS- our home study agency- and our placement agency. So that we could (and I say we- but really there is nothing I can do to get this done...which is super annoying, frustrating, sad...pick your depressive adjective... for me)- get this sent in asap. And avoid, hopefully, a delay.
Well, it has been a week and there is pretty much no chance this won't delay us by a couple weeks. Which unfortunately can have a bigger consequence, because the ministry in Marla's country, closes from mid July to end of September... And with no delays...We could have been so close to making it.
We have to travel beginning of April- if we have any chance (still a long shot) of getting her in July. If not... October will be the soonest we can bring her home.
I know everything will work out in perfect timing. It doesn't stop me from wanting to hurry the process along.
I am feeling tired this week. Drained, actually. Constantly checking my phone- waiting for our social worker to tell me our updated home study has been submitted.
It seemed like they were going to mail it last Friday- but now it is Tuesday- and despite several emails yesterday- a phone call this afternoon- and finally a (not as nice) email sent this evening- when it was clear- no one would be getting in touch with me today... there's been no word of when/or if they have mailed in the additional evidence to USCIS.
Don't worry, the email wasn't mean. Just no exclamation marks... and an admission that I am worried... which for me, is a pretty cool email.
So if you want, pray for a speedy process in getting this approval. And my sanity, while I struggle with waiting on other people!
I laugh, but I am really struggling, and would appreciate some prayers.
Bea's class is over, and she is headed my way. I will try to write again soon!
We are still waiting for i800a approval(USCIS). We were finger printed Friday, which was quicker than we expected (yay!). BUT last Tuesday we got a dreaded pink paper in the mail from USCIS- Request for Evidence.
Which means, there was something more they needed from us to complete our application.
It turns out there were two things left out of our home study. Two silly little statements- but they are required to be in our home study.
SO that Tuesday began a really long week for me.
I am very aware that any delay with USCIS- can become a long delay- so upon getting the- pardon me- stupid pink paper- I flew into action. Contacting USCIS- our home study agency- and our placement agency. So that we could (and I say we- but really there is nothing I can do to get this done...which is super annoying, frustrating, sad...pick your depressive adjective... for me)- get this sent in asap. And avoid, hopefully, a delay.
Well, it has been a week and there is pretty much no chance this won't delay us by a couple weeks. Which unfortunately can have a bigger consequence, because the ministry in Marla's country, closes from mid July to end of September... And with no delays...We could have been so close to making it.
We have to travel beginning of April- if we have any chance (still a long shot) of getting her in July. If not... October will be the soonest we can bring her home.
I know everything will work out in perfect timing. It doesn't stop me from wanting to hurry the process along.
I am feeling tired this week. Drained, actually. Constantly checking my phone- waiting for our social worker to tell me our updated home study has been submitted.
It seemed like they were going to mail it last Friday- but now it is Tuesday- and despite several emails yesterday- a phone call this afternoon- and finally a (not as nice) email sent this evening- when it was clear- no one would be getting in touch with me today... there's been no word of when/or if they have mailed in the additional evidence to USCIS.
Don't worry, the email wasn't mean. Just no exclamation marks... and an admission that I am worried... which for me, is a pretty cool email.
So if you want, pray for a speedy process in getting this approval. And my sanity, while I struggle with waiting on other people!
I laugh, but I am really struggling, and would appreciate some prayers.
Bea's class is over, and she is headed my way. I will try to write again soon!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)