Friday, August 17, 2012
Waiting...
For those of you that know me, you know that patience is really not a strong point of mine. I like order, routine, a schedule, and generally to know what I'm waiting on or how long I will be waiting. With adoption, all this goes out the window. We are approved for a child under the age of our youngest son (3 years) and have no specifications on gender or race. We could get a child up to the age of three or an infant. We could get called with a referral of a toddler up for adoption to come and start visits. We may get called today and be told there is a baby that's born and we have to leave immediately to pick him/her up. We may get a call today to say we have been chosen by a birth mother and she is due in April of 2013. We may not get chosen for weeks, or months, or... ever. I trust that God has placed us on this adoption journey because He has a child in mind that He wants to be in our family. But, I don't know if this child is yet born or even conceived. It really doesn't go well with my personality. I want to know. I want to plan. I want to know how much we need to save and what color to paint the baby room. If I really let myself think, I can get very stressed about the small details. Oliver, our youngest, is three. He has been out of diapers for over a year. It will be hard to go back into diapers and bottles. I really don't know how much of a gap I want in the ages of my kids. Owen is 8, Wyatt is 5, Oliver is 3. They are all about 2.5 - 3 years apart. That was unplanned, we had fertility issues. It all worked out. We survived. I need to give it to God to worry about and when I do, I feel better. I need to focus on the child that needs us and on the baby that doesn't have a home. I will be very happy with an infant just as I would be happy with a toddler. I went from no diapers to diapers with each new child we brought home. This is not a new thought for me. It is also not a secret that I am not a huge fan of the first few months of life. God gives an unconditional love to parents that allows us to think the screaming bundle of joy is still cute. I am one of the strange people that would rather try to comfort a crying baby than hold a sleeping baby. I enjoy the challenge. I guess my point is God knows what is best for my family and He knows who needs us as much as we need him or her. He knows if it will be an infant or toddler and a boy or girl. It is the unknown and waiting that I have a hard time with.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
"For This Child" - 1 Samuel 1:27
Guess WHAT!? My husband and I, along with another couple from our church, are starting our own adoption fund as a branch of LifeSong for Orphans called "For This Child"! We came up with the name from 1 Samuel 1:27- 'For this child I prayed, and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him'. To find out more about LifeSong adoption funds, you may follow this link. www.lifesongfororphans.org/adoptFund.html Basically, we will set up the parameters and do the fund raising, and LifeSong will take care (100% free) of the taxes, receipts, paperwork, and even review and make recommendations of applicants for us. We, of course, will have the final say and can adjust according to need or funds coming or going. The great part about this fund is 100% of donations will be used towards adoption funding and any amount over $250.00 given yearly is eligible for a tax-deductible receipt. There is also a 'preferred donation' option in which a donor can mark on their check whom they would like their gift to go towards and it will go into that person's "For This Child's" account to be used toward their adoption. This is an option that is not available through many other avenues. Through this fund we will be able to offer matching grants to potential adoptive parents and even offer zero interest loans. That is a huge benefit to many couples adopting when the average cost is $35-60+ THOUSAND dollars. Another very cool fund raising option available is 'Both Hands- one for the orphan, one for the widow'. Essentially, one would raise funds for their adoption by doing a significant home improvement project for a widow. Here would be more information on this great ministry. www.lifesongfororphans.org/bothHands.html
This was a quote taken from LifeSong's Facebook page. I find it very convicting.-Today, ask God that of the 2 billion Christians in the world, 7% would show hope to a single orphan, looking after the child in their distress… Ask the Lord to convict the church around the world that if we did this, there would effectively be no more orphans. Ask the Lord to show each of His followers that we can each do something. - We CAN all do something. We may not ALL be called to adopt, but we ARE all called to LOVE and FIGHT for the oppressed. Isaiah 1:17- Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the Fatherless, Plead the case of the widow.
James 1:27-Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.
If you would be interested in helping us adopt or helping others reach their goal, please comment and I will forward you the information needed.
This was a quote taken from LifeSong's Facebook page. I find it very convicting.-Today, ask God that of the 2 billion Christians in the world, 7% would show hope to a single orphan, looking after the child in their distress… Ask the Lord to convict the church around the world that if we did this, there would effectively be no more orphans. Ask the Lord to show each of His followers that we can each do something. - We CAN all do something. We may not ALL be called to adopt, but we ARE all called to LOVE and FIGHT for the oppressed. Isaiah 1:17- Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the Fatherless, Plead the case of the widow.
James 1:27-Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.
If you would be interested in helping us adopt or helping others reach their goal, please comment and I will forward you the information needed.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Job
SO.. I love the book of Job. Almost everything about it. I am not a bible scholar, so this is MY interpretation. It may not be 100% correct but it is the way that I see it. I love the beginning when Job is introduced as a very, very rich and blessed man. I like that his family is a close family and enjoys being together. I love that Job offers sacrifices for his family, just in case they have sinned.
I think it is interesting that the sons of God and Satan came to present themselves before the Lord. The Lord asked where they were and Satan replies 'From going to and fro on the earth and walking up and down on it'. I find it interesting that that Lord is SO pleased with Job that he points him out to Satan to show him, 'look, Job is such a great man. Do as you want to him and he will still worship me.' He allows Satan, not once, but twice, to take all he owns and his family first and then his own health! Job then, covered in painful boils, gets to deal with great loss- the loss of riches, the loss of his sons and daughters, the loss of his possessions, but also his wife to tell him to 'curse God and die'. He has three "friends" come in his time of need to counsel him and tell him there is obviously something that you have done to provoke the wrath of God!
What has really struck me is after Job has listened to his friends and defended God's righteousness throughout, in 29 he begins to defend himself. He starts with when God was watching over him and he talks about how others respected him because of his deeds.
Job 29:12-17- Because I delivered the poor who cried out, the fatherless and the one who had no helper. The blessing of a perishing man came upon me, And I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban. I was eyes to the blind, and I was feet to the lame. I was a father to the poor, and I searched out the case that I did not know. I broke the fangs of the wicked, And I plucked the victim from his teeth.
I do not know if Job financially supported or physically adopted the fatherless that he speaks of. I find it interesting that he twice in these verses states that he 'delivered the fatherless and the one that had no helper' and 'I was a father to the poor'. Supporting the fatherless has really been jumping out at me lately, since and before we have officially decided to adopt. I guess it is something I had not really noticed before in Job.
Anyway, Job goes on to get frustrated with God. He knows he did not do anything to anger God, yet he feels baffled by God's silence through his trials. And again, I am not trying to pretend I understand all of the book of Job. This is my interpretation. And Job's friend jumps in again with the wrath of God on a self-righteous man. And then.. My favorite chapters in the bible. Although I would not want to be Job that God is talking to in the whirlwind, I cannot help but think that these verses have been aimed at me many times!
Have YOU ever wondered "why ME, or Why God, is this happening?
Job 38:3-"I will question (insert your name) and (insert your name) will answer GOD!"
Scary? My bible states on the side "the one that cannot answer these questions about the universe dare not correct the One who planned and maintains it". How true.
Job 38:4-11- Where were YOU when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if YOU have understanding. Who determined it's measurements? Surely YOU know! Or who stretched the line upon it? Or to what were it's foundations fastened? Or who laid it's cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for Joy? Or WHO shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued from the womb; when I made the clouds it's garment, and the thick darkness it's swaddling band; When I fixed my limit for it, and set bars and doors; when I said 'This far you may come, but no further, and here your proud waves must stop!'
I love the remaining chapters in Job! I stoped at verse 11 but I encourage you to read the remaining chapters to see the power of God. He speaks of walking in the treasury of hail and snow reserved for the time of troubles, and entering the springs of the sea or searching for the depths of the oceans. How amazing. The power and majesty of God is revealed but also His love for Job and us all. God gave Job the power to offer a sacrifice to ask forgiveness for his friends. He restored Job his losses and doubled all he had originally had. What a wonderful and loving God we serve!
I think it is interesting that the sons of God and Satan came to present themselves before the Lord. The Lord asked where they were and Satan replies 'From going to and fro on the earth and walking up and down on it'. I find it interesting that that Lord is SO pleased with Job that he points him out to Satan to show him, 'look, Job is such a great man. Do as you want to him and he will still worship me.' He allows Satan, not once, but twice, to take all he owns and his family first and then his own health! Job then, covered in painful boils, gets to deal with great loss- the loss of riches, the loss of his sons and daughters, the loss of his possessions, but also his wife to tell him to 'curse God and die'. He has three "friends" come in his time of need to counsel him and tell him there is obviously something that you have done to provoke the wrath of God!
What has really struck me is after Job has listened to his friends and defended God's righteousness throughout, in 29 he begins to defend himself. He starts with when God was watching over him and he talks about how others respected him because of his deeds.
Job 29:12-17- Because I delivered the poor who cried out, the fatherless and the one who had no helper. The blessing of a perishing man came upon me, And I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban. I was eyes to the blind, and I was feet to the lame. I was a father to the poor, and I searched out the case that I did not know. I broke the fangs of the wicked, And I plucked the victim from his teeth.
I do not know if Job financially supported or physically adopted the fatherless that he speaks of. I find it interesting that he twice in these verses states that he 'delivered the fatherless and the one that had no helper' and 'I was a father to the poor'. Supporting the fatherless has really been jumping out at me lately, since and before we have officially decided to adopt. I guess it is something I had not really noticed before in Job.
Anyway, Job goes on to get frustrated with God. He knows he did not do anything to anger God, yet he feels baffled by God's silence through his trials. And again, I am not trying to pretend I understand all of the book of Job. This is my interpretation. And Job's friend jumps in again with the wrath of God on a self-righteous man. And then.. My favorite chapters in the bible. Although I would not want to be Job that God is talking to in the whirlwind, I cannot help but think that these verses have been aimed at me many times!
Have YOU ever wondered "why ME, or Why God, is this happening?
Job 38:3-"I will question (insert your name) and (insert your name) will answer GOD!"
Scary? My bible states on the side "the one that cannot answer these questions about the universe dare not correct the One who planned and maintains it". How true.
Job 38:4-11- Where were YOU when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if YOU have understanding. Who determined it's measurements? Surely YOU know! Or who stretched the line upon it? Or to what were it's foundations fastened? Or who laid it's cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for Joy? Or WHO shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued from the womb; when I made the clouds it's garment, and the thick darkness it's swaddling band; When I fixed my limit for it, and set bars and doors; when I said 'This far you may come, but no further, and here your proud waves must stop!'
I love the remaining chapters in Job! I stoped at verse 11 but I encourage you to read the remaining chapters to see the power of God. He speaks of walking in the treasury of hail and snow reserved for the time of troubles, and entering the springs of the sea or searching for the depths of the oceans. How amazing. The power and majesty of God is revealed but also His love for Job and us all. God gave Job the power to offer a sacrifice to ask forgiveness for his friends. He restored Job his losses and doubled all he had originally had. What a wonderful and loving God we serve!
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Funding
As I mentioned in my previous post, finances was our big mountain that kept us from adopting. We finally, with the urging of God and family, decided to take the leap of faith and started our process last August. We completed loads of papers and passed inspections on our home, well water, and family. January 6, 2012, we were officially Homestudy approved for a child under the age of our youngest child. We have chosen to adopt domestically (from the USA) because there are many children in need of homes and we are not required to travel multiple times leaving our kids behind as we would have with international adoption. Our social worker does not recommend changing the birth order by adopting an older child, and also claims that at times for attention the younger child will get abused. It is for this reason that we are approved only for a child younger than Oliver (3). It would not be fair to adopt a child and treat him/her differently or have something terrible happen to our innocent children. When they are older my goal is to adopt a child from a state waiting program but we are not approved for it at this stage of life.
I believe that it is through this that God was working. We had researched adoption cost and knew we couldn't afford it. We found that we could afford state waiting tho! I also really wanted an older child. I am really not a lover of the first 0-6 months of life. My babies seem to do nothing but eat, puke, and scream. Notice I didn't put sleep? They didn't. Naps? At night? Nope. Just screamed unless they were held, then they were happy little angels. Anyway, we talked to our agency and signed up. We paid the initial fees and started our process. Pretty soon, we paid some more fees and did our Homestudy. It was during our Homestudy that we realized that the $12,000 state waiting program with most back through government grants was really not an option for us. By this time, we were hooked on the idea and could not back out of the child that we had been praying for daily. We do not have the amount of money that is needed to adopt a child, however, and we waver from trusting in God to trying by ourselves. I am to the point that I believe with all my heart that God has led me to this and God will lead me through this.
Matthew 17:20- For truly I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this Mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move; and Nothing will be impossible to you.
Luke 12:29-34- And you, do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink; nor be of anxious mind; for all the world is seeking these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Only aim at and strive for and seek His Kingdom, and all these things shall be supplied to you also. Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom! Sell what you possess and give donations to the poor; provide yourselves with purses and handbags that do not grow old, an unfailing and inexhaustible treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also!
The average adoption will cost $30-60+ thousand dollars. That is a lot of money to us. Our adoption will be (estimated) $45-50,000. UPDATE: Sadly, we have exceeded these expectations. Thank you to those that have generously donated money towards our expenses! We strongly feel that Willow was chosen for us by God and we are trusting Him to financially get us through this. We probably spent more on our son's medical bills when he went through chemo. We love Wyatt and it was so very worth it. I feel the same about this child that I haven't met. Somewhere, someone is pregnant with a baby and she doesn't know what to do with it when it's born. God knows. An online concordance tells me (and I didn't verify this myself) that there are 52 verses in the bible about orphans or fatherless children. I believe that there is a huge call to Christians to adopt or help those of us willing to adopt. Our siblings are helping us financially, without them we would not be able to be as far as we are.
I believe that it is through this that God was working. We had researched adoption cost and knew we couldn't afford it. We found that we could afford state waiting tho! I also really wanted an older child. I am really not a lover of the first 0-6 months of life. My babies seem to do nothing but eat, puke, and scream. Notice I didn't put sleep? They didn't. Naps? At night? Nope. Just screamed unless they were held, then they were happy little angels. Anyway, we talked to our agency and signed up. We paid the initial fees and started our process. Pretty soon, we paid some more fees and did our Homestudy. It was during our Homestudy that we realized that the $12,000 state waiting program with most back through government grants was really not an option for us. By this time, we were hooked on the idea and could not back out of the child that we had been praying for daily. We do not have the amount of money that is needed to adopt a child, however, and we waver from trusting in God to trying by ourselves. I am to the point that I believe with all my heart that God has led me to this and God will lead me through this.
Matthew 17:20- For truly I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this Mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move; and Nothing will be impossible to you.
Luke 12:29-34- And you, do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink; nor be of anxious mind; for all the world is seeking these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Only aim at and strive for and seek His Kingdom, and all these things shall be supplied to you also. Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom! Sell what you possess and give donations to the poor; provide yourselves with purses and handbags that do not grow old, an unfailing and inexhaustible treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also!
The average adoption will cost $30-60+ thousand dollars. That is a lot of money to us. Our adoption will be (estimated) $45-50,000. UPDATE: Sadly, we have exceeded these expectations. Thank you to those that have generously donated money towards our expenses! We strongly feel that Willow was chosen for us by God and we are trusting Him to financially get us through this. We probably spent more on our son's medical bills when he went through chemo. We love Wyatt and it was so very worth it. I feel the same about this child that I haven't met. Somewhere, someone is pregnant with a baby and she doesn't know what to do with it when it's born. God knows. An online concordance tells me (and I didn't verify this myself) that there are 52 verses in the bible about orphans or fatherless children. I believe that there is a huge call to Christians to adopt or help those of us willing to adopt. Our siblings are helping us financially, without them we would not be able to be as far as we are.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Adoption!
Adoption! What an exciting time! We have chosen to take a giant leap of faith and trust that God will provide for us the finances necessary to bring home the child that He is calling us to adopt. My husband and I have been thinking of adoption for a few years now. We have 3 biological children, all wonderful, healthy boys. We are NOT adopting to get a girl! Although we would be fine with one, we would be equally happy with a 4th boy. We are adopting to help a small soul who doesn't have a family, to listen to the word of God in which we are called to defend the fatherless, and to further the Kingdom of God.
I look at the Loving Shepherd, Cancer Redemption Project, or World Vision websites and see such need but am still in need of persuasion. I am afraid to come out of my comfort zone because we will be giving up our a lot to make ends meet for this adoption. Our spending has been put on a freeze, no vacations, no landscaping, no new vehicles in the near future. This adoption has already cost us $26,000 and our agencies are estimating another $12,000 in birth mother expenses, not including legal fees ($4,500) or travel / living expenses while in California to pick up the baby. If you're wondering, we do not have that sort of money lying around. As for California, I should explain. We are with an agency in Ohio. We were matched with a birth mother in California. We paid our and her agency fees, and a few months later her agency found she was not being truthful. They advised us to back out of the contract. We lost a bit of our birth mother expenses, but not as bad as it could have been. Sadly, we cannot be reimbursed our agency fees. They will transfer to another birth mother, but we are locked into that agency in California unless we want to eat the $26,000 and start all over. The worst part is California does not have a limit on what a birth mother can ask for expenses. Ohio has a cap of $3000. BUT, that is okay. God is in control and He knows why we are waiting on a baby from California.
The point of this first post was not to say the overwhelming cost but to say that we are excited to be trusting that God will bring us a child that not only needs us, but that we need. Like our other children, we will not be able to imagine our lives without him/her and there will be no monetary value that we wouldn't pay to ensure health and safety. It would just be nice to get to that point!
I look at the Loving Shepherd, Cancer Redemption Project, or World Vision websites and see such need but am still in need of persuasion. I am afraid to come out of my comfort zone because we will be giving up our a lot to make ends meet for this adoption. Our spending has been put on a freeze, no vacations, no landscaping, no new vehicles in the near future. This adoption has already cost us $26,000 and our agencies are estimating another $12,000 in birth mother expenses, not including legal fees ($4,500) or travel / living expenses while in California to pick up the baby. If you're wondering, we do not have that sort of money lying around. As for California, I should explain. We are with an agency in Ohio. We were matched with a birth mother in California. We paid our and her agency fees, and a few months later her agency found she was not being truthful. They advised us to back out of the contract. We lost a bit of our birth mother expenses, but not as bad as it could have been. Sadly, we cannot be reimbursed our agency fees. They will transfer to another birth mother, but we are locked into that agency in California unless we want to eat the $26,000 and start all over. The worst part is California does not have a limit on what a birth mother can ask for expenses. Ohio has a cap of $3000. BUT, that is okay. God is in control and He knows why we are waiting on a baby from California.
The point of this first post was not to say the overwhelming cost but to say that we are excited to be trusting that God will bring us a child that not only needs us, but that we need. Like our other children, we will not be able to imagine our lives without him/her and there will be no monetary value that we wouldn't pay to ensure health and safety. It would just be nice to get to that point!
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