I've wanted to write about our family's passionate pursuit of purpose......about my radical notions of orphan care and adoption as the responsibility of all who are believers and followers of Christ.....and also about the goofy, sticky, exhausting, day-to-day operations involved with keeping our sweet, surly, sassy kids clothed, fed, away from online sewage, and out the door on time each day for school. My goals are simple.
This is my first public anything.... and I'm nervous about sharing this kind of intimacy with anyone who stumbles upon this blog. I don't claim to have a success formula, and certainly would not want to give anyone the impression that we have it all together, or that we are special in any way. We are trying hard to listen to what God tells us, and to honor him with our lives.....we fail everyday, and we keep trying.
I hope to be authentic and to write what's real. I've decided just to trust, and allow this blog thing to roll.....
The first two posts I wrote have to do with our adoption process-- sort of a narrative timeline. I promise, I'll strive to liven things up as we go.
Wishing you blessings as you pursue your own pathway-- and if you are considering adoption, I'd love to hear from you-- it takes a village..... and a lot of other people think people like us are nuts.
See the miracles in the madness with us.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Thankful.....
I've done an inadequate job of thanking people for the financial and spiritual gifts they've given in our adoption process, and although this post is only a start, it is important to share how much Sylvain was cherished from the start, through the love and support so freely given......
Miraculously, my family supported our crazy idea of adopting a 5 year old boy from the very beginning. Although I expected my mom and dad to eventually warm up to the idea of us adopting a child from Africa, I didn't expect that their acceptance of a child with a difficult background, with special needs, would be immediate and unconditional. Right way they loved our boy, and saw him as their own. If they had fears or misgivings, they kept these to themselves. I believe that God opened their hearts to His will right from the start.My sister, Karen, and her family, who seek to know God's heart, were excited for us-- they shared our family news with friends immediately, even though I didn't "come out" with our news publicly for a while. I see now that this bold proclamation is how God would want it, and it was something that God gave to my sister to do.....it is like a bugle calling to the cavalry to start praying,talking, and loving this boy a world away.
Within a few weeks, Karen and her friends flew into action-- adoption advocates and believers in God's plan for the orphan, they made plans to host a fundraiser at their ranch.
When April came, we were overwhelmed at the generosity, love, and hard work that these families gave to our "Pizza Day at the Ranch". Although in our hearts we've committed to anything that they should ever need or ask of us in the future, we know we can never hope to repay the kindness they showed, and that their children gave so freely as well-- These kids, a dozen in all, gave their day with servants' hearts-- waiting tables and making pizzas.
In April, we had more than 200 people join us for a day of homemade pizza, go-carting, music, a silent auction, and a gorgeous day in the sunshine! Friends, family, colleagues, and total strangers donated their money and spent their day with us-- all to bring our sweet boy home. In all, nearly 1/3 of the total money needed for our adoption was raised in this one day.
We are so very grateful to all, and we can't wait to introduce you to our sweet boy-- whom you already know and have loved.
BFFs with Homeland Security-- (Timeline Update)
Sept.15, 2013
February 8, 2013
We received our I800-A approval letter.....it took only 34 days. We hear that 4-6 weeks is about average. We worked hard to complete our dossier-- which is a packet of papers containing our life's story, and then some....and prepared for this to make it's way to Burkina Faso. This dossier is sent to the Burkinabe version of child welfare, called , "Social Action", where Very Important People hold our fate and future in their hands, and determine whether or not to approve us as Sylvain's adoptive family. Although we've followed all of their guidelines and meet their qualifications, there is a chance that they will find something that they don't like, and may reject us.....
March, 2013
Our dossier is hand-carried by our US adoption worker, Gay, to Burkina, and is also scanned to our in-country facilitator, Ruth, who will have her staff translate into French.
April 3, 2013
Our dossier is at Social Action!! We wait for it to be reviewed, and then to receive the next sliver of hope-- a letter of approval. This is expected to take 30-60 days. Meanwhile, we've arranged to pay for Sylvain to get new glasses, and we will also be sponsoring his tuition for preschool. Making these steps makes us feel a little closer to him. We are pleased that he's got new specs, but Ruth has shared that, new as they are, they are not adequate, and the care in Burkina Faso cannot meet his needs....we just can't wait to get him home, and know this his life, with such poor vision, must be such a challenge.
May 17, 2013
We received an important letter from Social Action, where they ask us to request to adopt Sylvain. This is a preliminary approval, but not the brass ring..... We sign and approve a letter requesting to adopt Sylvain, specifically.
Interestingly-- we've had our hearts broken for a little girl who lives in another orphanage. Ruth knows her. She is 11 and waiting, waiting, waiting for her family. She's had many disappointments in her young life, and endures many hardships. We've asked family and friends to pray with us....for God to bring her family to her. We've also asked Ruth if perhaps WE can adopt her.....right now she has no one. HOW could we say no, if this was a possibility? Social Action will consider this option, but it is unlikely, as their policy is that only one child may be adopted. In my heart, I pray that God will move mountains for this girl to join our family.....it would truly be miraculous! All the cards are stacked against this happening. Ruth assures me, that we need to rely on God and trust His plans.....but we can pray!
June 22, 2013
Our two sons have passport appointments.....we are planning for imminent travel, and are still waiting to hear from Social Action. At the end of the month, we also learned that the little girl we were praying for found her family! We are so thankful for God's provision, but can't help feeling that we will miss her-- our hearts had already grown to love her. It is amazing what God gives us.....
June 24, 2013
We have received what is called, the "Demande Poursuite" from Social Action!!!! This means that our application to adopt Sylvain has been approved, and our case will be turned over to our Burkinabe attorney in the next week or two, for the legal process to begin. Elated by this news, we know our case will again be moving forward, but we also breathe a sigh of frustration......as we see that the approval date of this critical document is stamped as "May 30th"! We wonder if the delay in getting this processed was because our dossier was kept in Social Action, for consideration for the little girl we mentioned. Our dossier was with SA for 10 weeks.
July 9, 2013
Another lengthy application to Dept. of Homeland Security-- This time, to submit our I800 Application-- Thankfully, there is no fee associated with this one, but it is quite involved. This application is to adopt Sylvain, specifically, whereas the I800 A was the application for us to adopt a foreign born child. Ruth was so great about gathering and sharing important information about our little one, to help us prepare this application.....Sylvain was born on May 6th, 2008, in Kordie, in the providence of Sanguie....he gets up at 6:30 a.m. every day, and often helps other children to get up and get ready for preschool. He walks to preschool, right next door, and comes home after lunch. There's much to share, and this will come later.....I need to pray about how to write for him, as this is his story, and truly God's story.
July 15, 2013
Wow!! The soup Nazi gave us Mulligatawny, and sent us on our way!! We are pleasantly surprised that we've received our I800 approval so soon! We also received the news from Gay that, like many European and Latin American Countries, Burkina Faso, (formerly a French Colony) basically closes shop for the month of August. No one makes passports or signs visas. Judges and attorneys do not work. The government offices close. Our attorney is working to gather signatures until then, but the process is......s....l....o...w
August, 2013
Ruth has left for the US for a much deserved rest with her family in the mid-west. This is a working vacation-- a furlough. She will meet with churches and take care of the business of Sheltering Wings-securing support so critically needed for her babies' home, the school in Yako, the women who come to her in desperation.
Although our attorney has not gathered all signatures that are needed to set a court date, Ruth assures us that this will re-start in September. Our boys here at home have received their passports......all we need now is a trip to the traveler's clinic for some vaccinations.
September, 2013
We are back to school and things are so busy! Ruth returns to Burkina on the 17th. I can't imagine the time it will take her to catch up with Adiara-- her partner and Social Worker who monitors cases in her absence. She'll also need time to re-acclimate to her job, her babies, her people-- but I sure look forward to hearing from her, hopefully by the end of the month
This is the last leg of our process, but a long stretch......Our attorney, since July has been working on gathering four different signatures from four different government officials. This typically takes 4-6 weeks, but since the country closed in August, we add 4 more weeks to this timeline, at least. After these precious signatures are obtained, a court date will be set. our attorney presents our petition to a judge, who is expected to approve our adoption. We will see our boy one month after this first court date, when we travel to bring him home, and appear again before the judge, as a family.
We have been encouraged by another adoptive mom, Sara. She told us, "believe that our God can keep your child safe and love him while you prepare to come for him". We believe that He can.
We pray everyday, and ask you to join us--
I've come to view the nameless, faceless people at the Department of Homeland Security as the "Soup Nazi" in those old Seinfeld episodes. If I don't fill out my paperwork properly, instead of hearing, "No soup for you!" we will have our application rejected, returned to us, and be delayed in bringing our son home by weeks or months....... Don't get me wrong, completing the forms is not rocket science, but the directions can be unclear and confusing to the novice, so our advice is to seek wise counsel at every step.
February 8, 2013
We received our I800-A approval letter.....it took only 34 days. We hear that 4-6 weeks is about average. We worked hard to complete our dossier-- which is a packet of papers containing our life's story, and then some....and prepared for this to make it's way to Burkina Faso. This dossier is sent to the Burkinabe version of child welfare, called , "Social Action", where Very Important People hold our fate and future in their hands, and determine whether or not to approve us as Sylvain's adoptive family. Although we've followed all of their guidelines and meet their qualifications, there is a chance that they will find something that they don't like, and may reject us.....
March, 2013
Our dossier is hand-carried by our US adoption worker, Gay, to Burkina, and is also scanned to our in-country facilitator, Ruth, who will have her staff translate into French.
April 3, 2013
Our dossier is at Social Action!! We wait for it to be reviewed, and then to receive the next sliver of hope-- a letter of approval. This is expected to take 30-60 days. Meanwhile, we've arranged to pay for Sylvain to get new glasses, and we will also be sponsoring his tuition for preschool. Making these steps makes us feel a little closer to him. We are pleased that he's got new specs, but Ruth has shared that, new as they are, they are not adequate, and the care in Burkina Faso cannot meet his needs....we just can't wait to get him home, and know this his life, with such poor vision, must be such a challenge.
May 17, 2013
We received an important letter from Social Action, where they ask us to request to adopt Sylvain. This is a preliminary approval, but not the brass ring..... We sign and approve a letter requesting to adopt Sylvain, specifically.
Interestingly-- we've had our hearts broken for a little girl who lives in another orphanage. Ruth knows her. She is 11 and waiting, waiting, waiting for her family. She's had many disappointments in her young life, and endures many hardships. We've asked family and friends to pray with us....for God to bring her family to her. We've also asked Ruth if perhaps WE can adopt her.....right now she has no one. HOW could we say no, if this was a possibility? Social Action will consider this option, but it is unlikely, as their policy is that only one child may be adopted. In my heart, I pray that God will move mountains for this girl to join our family.....it would truly be miraculous! All the cards are stacked against this happening. Ruth assures me, that we need to rely on God and trust His plans.....but we can pray!
June 22, 2013
Our two sons have passport appointments.....we are planning for imminent travel, and are still waiting to hear from Social Action. At the end of the month, we also learned that the little girl we were praying for found her family! We are so thankful for God's provision, but can't help feeling that we will miss her-- our hearts had already grown to love her. It is amazing what God gives us.....
June 24, 2013
We have received what is called, the "Demande Poursuite" from Social Action!!!! This means that our application to adopt Sylvain has been approved, and our case will be turned over to our Burkinabe attorney in the next week or two, for the legal process to begin. Elated by this news, we know our case will again be moving forward, but we also breathe a sigh of frustration......as we see that the approval date of this critical document is stamped as "May 30th"! We wonder if the delay in getting this processed was because our dossier was kept in Social Action, for consideration for the little girl we mentioned. Our dossier was with SA for 10 weeks.
July 9, 2013
Another lengthy application to Dept. of Homeland Security-- This time, to submit our I800 Application-- Thankfully, there is no fee associated with this one, but it is quite involved. This application is to adopt Sylvain, specifically, whereas the I800 A was the application for us to adopt a foreign born child. Ruth was so great about gathering and sharing important information about our little one, to help us prepare this application.....Sylvain was born on May 6th, 2008, in Kordie, in the providence of Sanguie....he gets up at 6:30 a.m. every day, and often helps other children to get up and get ready for preschool. He walks to preschool, right next door, and comes home after lunch. There's much to share, and this will come later.....I need to pray about how to write for him, as this is his story, and truly God's story.
July 15, 2013
Wow!! The soup Nazi gave us Mulligatawny, and sent us on our way!! We are pleasantly surprised that we've received our I800 approval so soon! We also received the news from Gay that, like many European and Latin American Countries, Burkina Faso, (formerly a French Colony) basically closes shop for the month of August. No one makes passports or signs visas. Judges and attorneys do not work. The government offices close. Our attorney is working to gather signatures until then, but the process is......s....l....o...w
August, 2013
Ruth has left for the US for a much deserved rest with her family in the mid-west. This is a working vacation-- a furlough. She will meet with churches and take care of the business of Sheltering Wings-securing support so critically needed for her babies' home, the school in Yako, the women who come to her in desperation.
Although our attorney has not gathered all signatures that are needed to set a court date, Ruth assures us that this will re-start in September. Our boys here at home have received their passports......all we need now is a trip to the traveler's clinic for some vaccinations.
September, 2013
We are back to school and things are so busy! Ruth returns to Burkina on the 17th. I can't imagine the time it will take her to catch up with Adiara-- her partner and Social Worker who monitors cases in her absence. She'll also need time to re-acclimate to her job, her babies, her people-- but I sure look forward to hearing from her, hopefully by the end of the month
This is the last leg of our process, but a long stretch......Our attorney, since July has been working on gathering four different signatures from four different government officials. This typically takes 4-6 weeks, but since the country closed in August, we add 4 more weeks to this timeline, at least. After these precious signatures are obtained, a court date will be set. our attorney presents our petition to a judge, who is expected to approve our adoption. We will see our boy one month after this first court date, when we travel to bring him home, and appear again before the judge, as a family.
We have been encouraged by another adoptive mom, Sara. She told us, "believe that our God can keep your child safe and love him while you prepare to come for him". We believe that He can.
We pray everyday, and ask you to join us--
God, please send your army of angels to watch over our sweet boy until we come. Let your hedge of protection guard his heart and keep the enemy from him in all ways. Let our boy know your peace, be treated with kindness, and have enough to eat and drink. Lift up his caregivers and send your love to all of the children in his home.
Another friend encouraged me with this verse, on just the right day.....
He will bring to pass all of his plans. His power is at work within you. Nothing can stop what He wills from coming to pass.
Eph 3:20
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)