Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Prayer Request & Prayer of Thanksgiving
We have a prayer request & a prayer of thanksgiving for a couple we have met that are also adopting from Russia. They received a referral for a beautiful little girl. Please pray that God will continue to watch of our friends and their little girl. You can see their blog under the section marked "View my complete profile." It is called "Oh the Places We Will Go."
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Good News
Don't get to excited....it isn't the big news, but it is good news.
Our original home study agency was removed from the "blacklist." So what does this mean? Has anything changed? Well, not really, except we do not have to redo our home study. We are still on the wait list for a referral, but the good part is if we get a referral our original home study will be accepted in Russia. In our hearts we are hoping that by our agency's name being removed, it will somehow help us move closer to a referral.
I will say that around Monday I had this gut feeling or intuition, you may call it, that something good was about to happen with our adoption. Hum...maybe this was it...... and......the feeling isn't completely gone. Let's just pray good things keep happening.
Thank you for all your prayers. Prayer is powerful! Please continue to pray for God's will and for our baby's safety.
Our original home study agency was removed from the "blacklist." So what does this mean? Has anything changed? Well, not really, except we do not have to redo our home study. We are still on the wait list for a referral, but the good part is if we get a referral our original home study will be accepted in Russia. In our hearts we are hoping that by our agency's name being removed, it will somehow help us move closer to a referral.
I will say that around Monday I had this gut feeling or intuition, you may call it, that something good was about to happen with our adoption. Hum...maybe this was it...... and......the feeling isn't completely gone. Let's just pray good things keep happening.
Thank you for all your prayers. Prayer is powerful! Please continue to pray for God's will and for our baby's safety.
Friday, May 15, 2009
4 Months of Waiting
Yesterday marked 4 months of waiting for a referral. I wish we had more to tell.
I will share this one thing with you all. It is amazing the wisdom grandparents have, if you just sit and listen. My Gran, a very special woman in my life, had a way with words yesterday. There are days when she says very little, but yesterday she was full of conversation. She asked how our adoption was going, so I explained we are waiting on a referral and that we have been waiting for 4 months. She then asked how long we will have to wait. So I explained it could take up to a year or more. She sat quietly for a minute and then said, "That may seem like a long time, but I guess it is a good process." "If it were to easy and you could just go pick up a baby any time, imagine how many people may adopt that would not necessarily need or deserve to."
OK, I know that isn't any great revelation, but she may have something. Adoption requires a lot of patience, faith, and commitment. If the process was different, if all you had to do is fill out an application, buy a plane ticket, and go pick up a baby; think of how many babies may go to less that ideal homes. Every child deserves to go home with parents who love them and truly want them.
Another adoptive mom shared with me last week,
"Your little one is not ready for you yet. Though it might not seem like it, God is weaving a perfect story for your family...He really is."
So we continue to wait for God to finish weaving our story.
I will share this one thing with you all. It is amazing the wisdom grandparents have, if you just sit and listen. My Gran, a very special woman in my life, had a way with words yesterday. There are days when she says very little, but yesterday she was full of conversation. She asked how our adoption was going, so I explained we are waiting on a referral and that we have been waiting for 4 months. She then asked how long we will have to wait. So I explained it could take up to a year or more. She sat quietly for a minute and then said, "That may seem like a long time, but I guess it is a good process." "If it were to easy and you could just go pick up a baby any time, imagine how many people may adopt that would not necessarily need or deserve to."
OK, I know that isn't any great revelation, but she may have something. Adoption requires a lot of patience, faith, and commitment. If the process was different, if all you had to do is fill out an application, buy a plane ticket, and go pick up a baby; think of how many babies may go to less that ideal homes. Every child deserves to go home with parents who love them and truly want them.
Another adoptive mom shared with me last week,
"Your little one is not ready for you yet. Though it might not seem like it, God is weaving a perfect story for your family...He really is."
So we continue to wait for God to finish weaving our story.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Adoptive Families need Support
I am not sure how much each of you know about adoption. There are many parts from paperwork, parent education classes to very large payments. Currently there is a federal tax credit that adoptive parents can use once the adoption is final that can really help with the cost.
Today we became aware that this tax credit will expire in December of 2010 unless our congressmen work to keep it available. This is an important piece for adoptive parents. Adoption can cost families anywhere from a few thousand to $50,000. Please help us advocate to keep this tax credit. Children all over the world and here in the US need forever homes and this tax credit helps many families make this possible.
The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2009, H.R. 213, would keep the adoption tax credit from being repealed, and may make the tax relief measure permanent.
It only takes a few minutes to email or call your senators and congressmen — it’s important for them to hear from families impacted by the tax credit.
Write your U.S. Representative
Write your U.S. Senator
We recently had the opportunity to visit with another couple who too will be adoptive parents. This couple has had the wonderful opportunity to travel to a Russia Orphanage on mission trip. Their stories and pictures spoke a thousand words to explain the need for families to continue to adopt. If only we could all see the faces of those children, they who would give anything to have a mom and dad. Please take a moment to write your congressmen. Let's keep helping families save the orphans of the world.
Today we became aware that this tax credit will expire in December of 2010 unless our congressmen work to keep it available. This is an important piece for adoptive parents. Adoption can cost families anywhere from a few thousand to $50,000. Please help us advocate to keep this tax credit. Children all over the world and here in the US need forever homes and this tax credit helps many families make this possible.
The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2009, H.R. 213, would keep the adoption tax credit from being repealed, and may make the tax relief measure permanent.
It only takes a few minutes to email or call your senators and congressmen — it’s important for them to hear from families impacted by the tax credit.
Write your U.S. Representative
Write your U.S. Senator
We recently had the opportunity to visit with another couple who too will be adoptive parents. This couple has had the wonderful opportunity to travel to a Russia Orphanage on mission trip. Their stories and pictures spoke a thousand words to explain the need for families to continue to adopt. If only we could all see the faces of those children, they who would give anything to have a mom and dad. Please take a moment to write your congressmen. Let's keep helping families save the orphans of the world.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Is time going by fast or standing still?
It is amazing how fast time goes by, but yet at the same time it seems to stand still. Just yesterday I realized we were at the end of the month. We have almost 4 months behind us in our waiting. Wow, time goes by fast, right? Well, it does seem that time goes by fast, but it still seems we have a life time of waiting ahead of us and time is standing still.
We are currently awaiting our home study to be updated which includes having our background checks and child abuse registry clearance updated. I pray this process will not take to long.
I guess I don't have to tell you, but I will. I can't wait to know if our baby will be a boy or girl, how old will he/she be, what color hair he/she will have, and will they love us immediately or will it take a while. To those of you with all those 4D ultrasounds, I am jealous. Your babies haven't been born but you get to see your baby's facial features. I am excited for each! Cherish those ultrasounds. Keep praying for us, our baby, and that God will bring us together soon.
One other prayer request... A friend of mine has a little girl with Muscular Atrophy. They will be traveling to China in July for Stem Cell Treatments. Please remember little Rayanna and her mom in your prayers.
We are currently awaiting our home study to be updated which includes having our background checks and child abuse registry clearance updated. I pray this process will not take to long.
I guess I don't have to tell you, but I will. I can't wait to know if our baby will be a boy or girl, how old will he/she be, what color hair he/she will have, and will they love us immediately or will it take a while. To those of you with all those 4D ultrasounds, I am jealous. Your babies haven't been born but you get to see your baby's facial features. I am excited for each! Cherish those ultrasounds. Keep praying for us, our baby, and that God will bring us together soon.
One other prayer request... A friend of mine has a little girl with Muscular Atrophy. They will be traveling to China in July for Stem Cell Treatments. Please remember little Rayanna and her mom in your prayers.
Friday, April 17, 2009
3 months of waiting.
It has been a little while since we last updated everyone. Partly because there hasn't been much change and part due to Internet problems.
We have had an interesting few days. We received a very long, very complicated email update from the Russia Dept at our Adoption agency. It indicated that our wait could be up to a year or more. It also addressed that many children being referred have some medical issues, but all may not be serious. This information was given to make us more aware of the need to have the file reviewed by pediatric doctors. The email also included an update on the in country foster care system. It is because of the use of foster care that referrals have slowed down.
OK, with all that said, it is important to say that our adoption agency has a good standing in Russia and continues to receive referrals. We are now 3 months into our wait. We still have many months to wait, but we will make it. Here is a thought to ponder.....if it is a year from when we were registered, we will be traveling to Russia in January....... bitter cold Russia.
Our home study is being updated and revised to meet the latest requirements. Our social worker has worked hard to ensure that our home study will not be a problem. Our original home study agency has not yet been removed from the "list", but our social worker is contracting with another agency in order to meet the current requirements.
We have had an interesting few days. We received a very long, very complicated email update from the Russia Dept at our Adoption agency. It indicated that our wait could be up to a year or more. It also addressed that many children being referred have some medical issues, but all may not be serious. This information was given to make us more aware of the need to have the file reviewed by pediatric doctors. The email also included an update on the in country foster care system. It is because of the use of foster care that referrals have slowed down.
OK, with all that said, it is important to say that our adoption agency has a good standing in Russia and continues to receive referrals. We are now 3 months into our wait. We still have many months to wait, but we will make it. Here is a thought to ponder.....if it is a year from when we were registered, we will be traveling to Russia in January....... bitter cold Russia.
Our home study is being updated and revised to meet the latest requirements. Our social worker has worked hard to ensure that our home study will not be a problem. Our original home study agency has not yet been removed from the "list", but our social worker is contracting with another agency in order to meet the current requirements.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Thoughts on Waiting
There is something that adoption does for a person. Something you might not think of. It brings out a child like quality of wanting to ask "are we there yet?" Except our question would be "When will they call?" or "Did we get any news today?"
Do you remember when you were a kid and you couldn't wait for Christmas morning. You would shake all the presents hoping to get a hint of what was to come. You knew it was going to be great, but you just couldn't wait. Maybe you begged your mom or dad to give you a hint. Or, there is some we know who would sneak a peek..........we shouldn't name any names.
Well just take all those child like memories of impatience, apprehension and excitement and apply it to adopting. Every day we check the email, discussion boards, and JCICS website for just a hint of what is to come. Imagine all those things are presents and we have shaken each many times.
We know that we have a long wait ahead. Unfortunately there isn't a set day for us to count down to. So it is truly like what a kid thinks..."Will Christmas ever get here." except it is ....."Will they ever call with a referral?"
Just some thoughts for today. Again thanks for all of your support and encouragement. It means more than each of you will ever know.
As we go into this Easter week lets us all remember how great our Lord is and how much he loves each of us; as He has already given us the greatest gift of all, Jesus. This is one gift we don't have to wait for; it has already be given to us. We were reminded of this wonderful scripture and promise this morning Romans 5:8 " But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Do you remember when you were a kid and you couldn't wait for Christmas morning. You would shake all the presents hoping to get a hint of what was to come. You knew it was going to be great, but you just couldn't wait. Maybe you begged your mom or dad to give you a hint. Or, there is some we know who would sneak a peek..........we shouldn't name any names.
Well just take all those child like memories of impatience, apprehension and excitement and apply it to adopting. Every day we check the email, discussion boards, and JCICS website for just a hint of what is to come. Imagine all those things are presents and we have shaken each many times.
We know that we have a long wait ahead. Unfortunately there isn't a set day for us to count down to. So it is truly like what a kid thinks..."Will Christmas ever get here." except it is ....."Will they ever call with a referral?"
Just some thoughts for today. Again thanks for all of your support and encouragement. It means more than each of you will ever know.
As we go into this Easter week lets us all remember how great our Lord is and how much he loves each of us; as He has already given us the greatest gift of all, Jesus. This is one gift we don't have to wait for; it has already be given to us. We were reminded of this wonderful scripture and promise this morning Romans 5:8 " But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
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