Most of you reading our blog have probably read our posts on facebook and the news that we have accepted a referral to adopt a little girl. While we would love to share the details publicly, we aren't allowed to at this time and are awaiting the official approval that says we can pursue the adoption. However, we can tell you we simply love her already!
Our church recently began a new small group study called: What On Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren. If you have read any of his studies, listened to his sermons online or heard him speak, you know what a wonderful man of God he is. If you haven't, I highly recommend finding time to do so. In the study we just began, on the very first page of the study it states...
You were made by God and for God's purposes, and until you understand that, life will never make sense.
This is a powerful statement for anyone created by God, which is well...ALL OF US! But it especially rung true to me when thinking about all the orphans in the world! God made each of them and has a purpose for them all! We pray the Lord has it in HIS will for us to adopt this little girl and to see just what HIS purposes are for her life! We also pray for other orphans that God has it in His will for them to become part of forever families.
As the study continued, it also had this excerpt which brought me to tears. Regardless if you are an orphan, know someone who is, feeling unimportant or just needing some encouragement...these are powerful words...
You are not an accident. There are accidental parents, but there are no accidental births. There are illegitimate parents, but there are no illegitimate children. There are unplanned pregnancies, but there are no unpurposed people. God wanted you in this world. You are not an accident.
This especially struck my heart with our adoption process. As you are aware, we chose to adopt a child that is considered "disabled". (I really do not like that word and understand now why parents who have children that fit into this category choose other words to describe their child.) As we are able to reveal more things online, we will share more about our little girl's "uniqueness" and traits that make her so special! Until then, just trust us when we say she is absolutely precious! Anyway, the excerpt above has been repeated in my mind all week, since I read it. Each of us were created for a purpose and were not accidents. Everything that makes us unique and special are things God thought of and knew we would have long before we were born. You, (God), saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book. Psalm 139:16 If I get the chance, when we go to pick up our future child, I promise to pray this over other children I see that are orphans. Granted, they may not understand my English speaking prayer, I pray they feel it being said in love and know how truly special they are...they are unique by God's design and purpose! I pray this for each of you reading our blog as well, that you would know how truly special you are and that God made you on purpose and wanted you in this world! You are not an accident!
Friday, September 13, 2013
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
A 10 Step Understanding of Our Adoption Process
Our adoption agency, Amercian World Adoption Agency (www.awaa.org) has been incredible! The adoption process is complex and lengthy, but our future child is worth it!
We've had lots of questions on the adoption process, so here is our simple explanation of it...
1. Select and apply to adoption agency: We felt led to AWAA off of a recommendation and its reputation with Chinese adoptions!
2. Pick a country to adopt from (China for us!!)
3. Begin Home Study Process (Your home study is the written report by a social worker "assessing your ability to provide a loving home to an orphan, your motivation to adopt internationally, and your expectations of your adopted child. The report includes information about your background, current family life, and how this new child will be integrated into your family. This is designed to be a non-judgmental and fun process!" ~excerpt from AWAA)
4. Begin Dossier Process. (Your dossier is all of your completed paperwork put together to mail overseas. i.e. copies of insurance, police/background checks, recommendations, medical records, marriage and birth certificates, financial records, employment letters, random letters, pictures, biographies, etc. Find a special notary, you'll need them a lot!)
5. Prayerfully Select a Waiting Child. (For China this means specifying what age, gender, mental or physical health issues you are comfortable in considering. China's Waiting Child program allows for a quicker adoption process of older healthy children and younger children with special need. Some children cannot be considered until your paperwork is officially sent to your adoptive country. In China the waiting period for a healthy child now stands at 7.5 years.).
6. Send Complete Home Study to USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) for approval to adopt from a "Hague Adoption Convention Country. (a 1.5-2.5 month process).
7. Certify Your Completed Paperwork through Your County, State, Secretary of State, and Chinese Embassy/Consulate for a certification process.
8. Send Certified Paperwork to Your Adoption Agency & Adoptive Country
9. Continue Adoption Training and Education (We have to spend 20+ hours on training videos plus read 5 assigned books concerning adoption. Assignments vary somewhat between adoption agencies.)
NOTE: Steps 1-9 usually take a combined 6-7 months at least! Sometimes a prayer-filled child selection takes a lot longer!
10. GO and get 'em!! What some refer to as 'gotcha day'...go and pick up your child on a 1-2 week trip!! (Some countries require two trips, but China requires one 2-week trip).
Don't worry! The process is actually a lot more complicated than this! :) But we've had an awesome social worker, Family Coordinator (contact at adoption agency), supportive family and friends, and other adoptive parents to support, encourage, and pray with us along the way!!
Where are we at now? We are at steps 3, 4, 5, & 7 simultaneously (told you it is complicated)! We are praying to be complete with 1-9 by Christmas (we started in May)...but we'll see what the Lord's timing is!
Meanwhile, we look and pray forward to step 10! :)
We've had lots of questions on the adoption process, so here is our simple explanation of it...
1. Select and apply to adoption agency: We felt led to AWAA off of a recommendation and its reputation with Chinese adoptions!
2. Pick a country to adopt from (China for us!!)
3. Begin Home Study Process (Your home study is the written report by a social worker "assessing your ability to provide a loving home to an orphan, your motivation to adopt internationally, and your expectations of your adopted child. The report includes information about your background, current family life, and how this new child will be integrated into your family. This is designed to be a non-judgmental and fun process!" ~excerpt from AWAA)
4. Begin Dossier Process. (Your dossier is all of your completed paperwork put together to mail overseas. i.e. copies of insurance, police/background checks, recommendations, medical records, marriage and birth certificates, financial records, employment letters, random letters, pictures, biographies, etc. Find a special notary, you'll need them a lot!)
5. Prayerfully Select a Waiting Child. (For China this means specifying what age, gender, mental or physical health issues you are comfortable in considering. China's Waiting Child program allows for a quicker adoption process of older healthy children and younger children with special need. Some children cannot be considered until your paperwork is officially sent to your adoptive country. In China the waiting period for a healthy child now stands at 7.5 years.).
6. Send Complete Home Study to USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) for approval to adopt from a "Hague Adoption Convention Country. (a 1.5-2.5 month process).
7. Certify Your Completed Paperwork through Your County, State, Secretary of State, and Chinese Embassy/Consulate for a certification process.
8. Send Certified Paperwork to Your Adoption Agency & Adoptive Country
9. Continue Adoption Training and Education (We have to spend 20+ hours on training videos plus read 5 assigned books concerning adoption. Assignments vary somewhat between adoption agencies.)
NOTE: Steps 1-9 usually take a combined 6-7 months at least! Sometimes a prayer-filled child selection takes a lot longer!
10. GO and get 'em!! What some refer to as 'gotcha day'...go and pick up your child on a 1-2 week trip!! (Some countries require two trips, but China requires one 2-week trip).
Don't worry! The process is actually a lot more complicated than this! :) But we've had an awesome social worker, Family Coordinator (contact at adoption agency), supportive family and friends, and other adoptive parents to support, encourage, and pray with us along the way!!
Where are we at now? We are at steps 3, 4, 5, & 7 simultaneously (told you it is complicated)! We are praying to be complete with 1-9 by Christmas (we started in May)...but we'll see what the Lord's timing is!
Meanwhile, we look and pray forward to step 10! :)
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Unique, Special and One of a Kind
I am special!
I am unique!
I am lovable and worthwhile!
The above is a creed my middle school Home Economics teacher had us recite in her class. While I don't remember it all, I do remember, what I would like to think is the most important part! As Jonathan and I prayed about where the Lord was leading us to adopt, we felt Him leading us towards China. To adopt a healthy child from China, it takes 6-8 YEARS. To adopt a child with some form of what they call a "disability" it takes 1-2 YEARS.
While we would love to have a healthy child, just like the two girls God has already blessed us with, we also felt led in another direction. The term "disability" is loosely used when referring to children needing a forever home. Many are labeled this due to needing a simple surgery or a child born with a low birth weight. Children in China and many other countries alike do not have the medical services available or the means to provide the services needed. Some children are simply getting older and will "age-out" of being adopted and remain in an orphanage or foster care system until they are of age and able to take care of themselves. The label "disability" can also mean something more serious, such as cerebral palsy or loss of hearing or eye sight. Regardless of the difference in the child, they have been placed up for adoption for one reason or another. China's strict guidelines of how many children a household can have and the desire for a son to carry on the family name and property don't help the matter of children being placed in adoption situations either.
All of this being shared to tell you we are choosing the 1-2 year approach of adopting from China. The thought of a child not being wanted simply because of limitations they may have, however big or small, makes my heart ache! And as I scroll down the lists of "waiting children" longing for a home and someone to love them, I am quickly reminded of the creed my Home Economics teacher taught me many years ago...You are special! You are unique! You are lovable and worthwhile! I cannot wait to share this important message with our future son/daughter. More importantly I look forward to sharing the message that a God who loves them created him/her just the way they are and He has awesome plans for their life!
I am unique!
I am lovable and worthwhile!
The above is a creed my middle school Home Economics teacher had us recite in her class. While I don't remember it all, I do remember, what I would like to think is the most important part! As Jonathan and I prayed about where the Lord was leading us to adopt, we felt Him leading us towards China. To adopt a healthy child from China, it takes 6-8 YEARS. To adopt a child with some form of what they call a "disability" it takes 1-2 YEARS.
While we would love to have a healthy child, just like the two girls God has already blessed us with, we also felt led in another direction. The term "disability" is loosely used when referring to children needing a forever home. Many are labeled this due to needing a simple surgery or a child born with a low birth weight. Children in China and many other countries alike do not have the medical services available or the means to provide the services needed. Some children are simply getting older and will "age-out" of being adopted and remain in an orphanage or foster care system until they are of age and able to take care of themselves. The label "disability" can also mean something more serious, such as cerebral palsy or loss of hearing or eye sight. Regardless of the difference in the child, they have been placed up for adoption for one reason or another. China's strict guidelines of how many children a household can have and the desire for a son to carry on the family name and property don't help the matter of children being placed in adoption situations either.
All of this being shared to tell you we are choosing the 1-2 year approach of adopting from China. The thought of a child not being wanted simply because of limitations they may have, however big or small, makes my heart ache! And as I scroll down the lists of "waiting children" longing for a home and someone to love them, I am quickly reminded of the creed my Home Economics teacher taught me many years ago...You are special! You are unique! You are lovable and worthwhile! I cannot wait to share this important message with our future son/daughter. More importantly I look forward to sharing the message that a God who loves them created him/her just the way they are and He has awesome plans for their life!
Monday, September 2, 2013
Home Study Details
CONFESSION TIME...I have always wanted to do a blog, but never really had a good reason to. Never felt like I had much to share that others would read. Jonathan was worried I would get too busy and not be able to keep it up. Well...I finally found a great reason to start one and Jonathan was correct in his thinking because here we are weeks/months later with an adoption update. I'm sure you all are thinking...FINALLY!
First, let me say thank you to everyone for your prayers and concern with wanting to know how the adoption process is going! It truly means a lot to us for people to ask questions and want to know how things are coming along. Your prayers are being felt and we appreciate you lifting them up to God on our behalf. Our prayer is that we are right in step with God's will every step of the way...not just in the adoption process but life too!
So...here's the update! The home study portion of the adoption process consisted of three visits with our home study case worker. The first meeting was just an initial introduction to the adoption process where we had some Q & A time and were presented with a huge binder full of information to read and paper work to complete. It was very intimidating I have to admit! The second meeting was an actual interview process where Jonathan and I were interviewed individually about our childhood history as well as if we were on the same page with parenting techniques, why we want to adopt, etc. The third and final step of the home study and probably the most stressful for an OCD momma like myself...the inspection of our HOME! Those who know me, know that I am very organized and like for everything to have a place. Add several safety requirements and the need for a food supply should there be a natural disaster and this OCD momma was a bit nervous! (For example, we had to have an escape ladder from the upstairs bedrooms? I mean really? Who has those?) Well, we did purchase a fire escape ladder, extra food and water, and some fudge from The Sweet Shoppe here in town (to bribe our case worker) and were all set. I kid you not, the inspection took a total of 15 minutes walking through the house, him writing a few notes and taking pictures and we PASSED! All the stress for nothing! I'm convinced it was the fudge!
All the home study paperwork is finished, online courses are complete and now we wait for our case worker to basically write a biography about the Carl's. We will proof the finished piece of writing compiled from all the notes our case worker made through our visits and paperwork and once it is finished, it will be sent through the immigration process. People who call this a "paperwork pregnancy" weren't joking at all!
First, let me say thank you to everyone for your prayers and concern with wanting to know how the adoption process is going! It truly means a lot to us for people to ask questions and want to know how things are coming along. Your prayers are being felt and we appreciate you lifting them up to God on our behalf. Our prayer is that we are right in step with God's will every step of the way...not just in the adoption process but life too!
So...here's the update! The home study portion of the adoption process consisted of three visits with our home study case worker. The first meeting was just an initial introduction to the adoption process where we had some Q & A time and were presented with a huge binder full of information to read and paper work to complete. It was very intimidating I have to admit! The second meeting was an actual interview process where Jonathan and I were interviewed individually about our childhood history as well as if we were on the same page with parenting techniques, why we want to adopt, etc. The third and final step of the home study and probably the most stressful for an OCD momma like myself...the inspection of our HOME! Those who know me, know that I am very organized and like for everything to have a place. Add several safety requirements and the need for a food supply should there be a natural disaster and this OCD momma was a bit nervous! (For example, we had to have an escape ladder from the upstairs bedrooms? I mean really? Who has those?) Well, we did purchase a fire escape ladder, extra food and water, and some fudge from The Sweet Shoppe here in town (to bribe our case worker) and were all set. I kid you not, the inspection took a total of 15 minutes walking through the house, him writing a few notes and taking pictures and we PASSED! All the stress for nothing! I'm convinced it was the fudge!
All the home study paperwork is finished, online courses are complete and now we wait for our case worker to basically write a biography about the Carl's. We will proof the finished piece of writing compiled from all the notes our case worker made through our visits and paperwork and once it is finished, it will be sent through the immigration process. People who call this a "paperwork pregnancy" weren't joking at all!
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