I needed some good news today

Well, friends, as you may imagine, I've been feeling sort of "blah" lately...one might even call it mildly depressed.  The new investigation procedures and potential delays, and weirdly enough, the new photos of B, have had me in a sad state of affairs emotionally.  She just looks so wonderful in the new pictures, my heart aches to hold her!  and I can hardly stand the thought of additional delays in this already far-too-lengthy process!

So, I've been sewing her a dress, but then I get discouraged and stop.  I start thinking things like, is she going to be too big to wear this by the time we get her?  is this even the right size for her right now?  ugh.  This simple little dress is taking me a really long time to finish!

We had a note from our agency this morning that they are hoping to have her birth certificate this week, and our court hearing next week!  This is big positive news!  After we pass court, she's technically "ours" -- our last name will be on her new birth certificate and everything.  And I think we can post photos of her at that point, too.

Our attorney in the DRC is going to a meeting at the Embassy tomorrow, and will hopefully know more about how the new procedures will affect us at that point.  We're hoping and praying it doesn't delay us too terribly much!  Come home soon, B!  We miss you!!

delays and such

We received an email from our agency on Friday, saying that the US embassy has instituted new investigation procedures in all adoptions in the DRC.  Investigators will be looking more thoroughly into the “orphan” status of each child, which could require travel into some of the less stable/ difficult to reach areas.  Bottom line, this could delay adoption processes by 3-6 months.   I've been really bummed by this news!  We were really hoping to be able to travel this spring/early summer, but if things are delayed it could be as long as a whole year from now before we can go.  

About a week ago, they sent us new pictures of our B.  She’s smiling in some of them and looks so healthy…and looks like she’s grown since our September pictures.  I have her framed on my desk, and my heart aches to see that sweet face in person!  I hate the thought of her growing up even more before we can hold her.  

Most of our part is finished at this point – we will have a few more documents to submit down the road, but we’re just waiting.  This is the hardest part, I think.  When we were working on our homestudy and dossier, we were working toward something…now it is in the hands of the courts and immigration offices…

B's toes

In John 14:18, Jesus tells his disciples:  “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”   I know He loves our girl so much more than we do, and I pray every day that He will be close to her and take care of her…  

Some general thoughts on adoption…

I've wanted to adopt for what feels like forever.  I remember hearing stories about many, many unwanted baby girls in China in the 1990’s (due to China’s one-child policy, most families seemed to prefer have a son).  I remember my young heart longing to take care of those girls as my own. 

I've traveled a bit –visited places in India, Nepal, Sierra Leone, where poverty is high and orphans are plentiful.  My heart continued to be broken for these “unwanted” children. 

Our time in Sierra Leone was particularly pivotal in this process – our experiences with children there solidified my desire to adopt from Africa. 

I've struggled with international adoption some, though.  It is such an expensive process – couldn't that money be better spent to care for the children in their own country?  Shouldn't we be supporting families in those countries to be able to care for their own children? 

I would say in general, yes we certainly should support efforts to keep children in their own country with their own family, but that also doesn't mean that it is "wrong" to pursue adoption as well.  There’s another adoption blogger who perhaps addresses this issue better than I could.  Her post is long, but it’s worth reading if this is an area of interest for you.  (Click here to read more) 

A couple general thoughts:

1.  Adoption is GOOD:  For those of us who are Christians, we have all been adopted into the family of God.  We are mandated over and over again to care for the widows and orphans.  Also, adoption brings a forever family to a child in need.  I can’t imagine a better investment than providing a loving home to a child.  

2.  International adoption is good: God’s family is diverse – he wants people there from every tribe, tongue, and nation.  I think it would be beautiful for our family to mirror this great big family of God on a small scale.  

3.  Orphans:  according to one source, there are an estimated 53 MILLION orphans in sub-Saharan Africa  Another source estimates 132 million orphans in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean (2005 stats).  That’s a lot of orphans!  Many of these countries do not have the financial or human resources to provide for all of these children.  Our daughter is one of these millions. 

4.   Costs:  Wow, adoption is expensive!  Rates for domestic newborn adoptions are on par with what it costs to adopt internationally (right around $30,000 for either, give or take $10,000!).   I don’t know many families who can pull together those kinds of funds from their personal resources very easily.

5.  Fundraising:  Well, since costs are so high, that’s where fundraising comes in.  It is hard and humbling to ask people for money.  It is a lot of work to apply for grants or to put together creative fundraisers, and then humbly ask people to participate.  I've thought at times:  “why would you choose to adopt if you can’t afford it?” Which is a good question in some ways!  However, we, like many families, have the resources to provide for a child (we can afford food, clothing, shelter, etc), but coming up with the initial investment for the adoption fees is a little overwhelming...   

6.  Extravagant grace:  our God is a gracious God, an extravagant God.  He owns the “cattle on a thousand hills.”  Children and orphans are close to his heart.  Ultimately, I feel like Keith and I are following his “calling” in pursuing this adoption.  Just as God poured out his extravagant grace on us, he is providing for us in crazy extravagant ways to be able to bring little B into our family.

Looking back on this post, I feel like this is a bunch of random ramblings… but if you've made it this far, thanks for sticking with me.  If you have any questions or want to dialogue on these issues more, please let me know (leave me a comment or something).  

With love and respect, 

lp

various updates

Hey, friends --
I've been a bad blogger recently...  I guess you could say that we've been busy (which would be true!), but I think I could have added a few little updates here and there.  so, anyway, here's our list of updates:

1. We accepted a referral for a little girl!  She's somewhere between 2 1/2 and 3 years old.  We'll call her "B" on here. We are hoping to go get her this spring.  

B's toes!
(We're not allowed to post real pictures of her until we pass court, so this will have to suffice for now!)

2. We completed our dossier (crazy packet of documents that will travel through the court system across the ocean), and filed the first of our forms with US immigration.

3. We are having a fundraiser this Saturday!  If you've been following the blog or my facebook page, you'll notice that I've been sewing quite a bit lately.  I'll have many of these items for sale on Saturday at our house, from 1-4.  Leave me a comment if you want more detail!

4. New "donate" button for the blog!  I finally have the ability to take donations and payments online -- if you  feel inclined to donate toward our adoption fund, click on the "donate" button to the right!  We have about half of what we'll need for this process, which is amazing! (but also means we still have quite a ways to go...).  If you've ordered owls or turtles, you can also use the donate button to pay for your purchases.

Well, that's about all for now!  thanks for following along!

(unofficial) good news!

This is all very unofficial, but we've been matched with a little girl!  We're so excited and overwhelmed.  We still have quite a bit of paperwork to gather, and about 7-12 months before we can go get her, but we're feeling really hopeful right now.  I wish I could share pictures!!

So, in the meantime, we have a good chunk of money to raise so we can bring our girl home.  I've been busy "owling" this weekend.  I've sold several -- 5 more and we have our application fees covered!  Here are some more pictures, to tempt you!  :-)

Here's the scoop!

I'm so happy about all the interest in the owls!

I'm asking for a $20 donation toward our adoption fund for each owl (2 for $35). Depending on how many orders I get and if I have supplies on hand,  I probably need a couple weeks turn-around time.   You can pick colors -- if I don't have the right color fabric on hand, I can get it, it just might take me a little longer.

So, if you want an owl, send me an email (lucybelle712 at yahoo.com or facebook message) letting me know:
1. how many you want,
2. what color(s) --if you like the ones in the pictures, I can pretty closely replicate those. I also currently have pink, brown, and teal fuzzy fabric for the bodies, and some fleece and flannels, too...and others to come!
3.  when you'd like to have it, so I can prioritize if you need one in time  for a baby shower or birthday or whatever.  
4. if you live in Columbus, we can arrange a delivery or way to meet up; if you need it shipped to you, send me your address.  

Checks can be made to me and all funds will go straight into our savings account for our upcoming adoption expenses.  I will email you with my address and any follow-up details.  Let me know if you have any questions!

Whoooo wants an owl??

Not much to report these days...just waiting!  We're hoping for a referral soon, but until then we just wait.

I had a long weekend this weekend -- took Friday off to add to my Labor Day Monday.  I think I would be much more productive in general if I had a 4-day weekend every week!   We took pictures of some of the nicer items left over from our yard sale and advertised them on craigslist this morning.  If you need a desk, dining table, weight equipment, a vintage salon hair dryer chair, a JOBOX, or a nice Ikea coffee table, let me know!  We'll make you a deal!  :-)

I also worked on gifts for 2 special little friends of mine.  I'm planning on selling these owl guys (well not these exact ones -- I will need to make more!).   $20 each and all proceeds will go to our adoption fund.  If you're interested, let me know! You or a little friend of yours needs one of these.  I know it's early to start thinking of the holidays, but these would be great Christmas gifts!