We found out today that we get both of our boys' referral papers today! We are so very happy and relieved! We have rented a car to get us to their town and are packing up getting ready to go meet S and V. Two long years all leading up to this point - it is beyond exciting. Thank all of you for your prayers and support so far. Tomorrow is the day!
"Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:4-5
All the Kids
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Monday, September 23, 2013
Life Trajectories
We arrived in Kiev a couple of days ago and have been slowly getting the hang of things around here. We are enjoying our little apartment, the food, the people, and especially the weather! Coming from the heat of Mississippi, the cool, crisp, windy weather is so refreshing.
I read a blog post today about the generational effects of adoption. It spoke about how when you adopt, you change the life trajectory of the child's life, but also it changes your own life trajectory. It struck a chord with me because we have found that to be so true. We do think about how different Jocelyn and Ellie Grace's lives could have been. Then we think how much they have changed our family's life. Our big kids now want to foster, adopt, be involved with groups who help underpriviledged kids. We could never imagine how much mine and Scott's life would change when we got that call that a baby girl was being born who needed a home. Our entire life trajectory has changed. And now in a few hours we have our first appointment in the process to adopt two boys. It makes me step back and wonder what changes this will mean for us. I am glad God's plans are always bigger and better than ours and I am excited to see our new trajectory.
I read a blog post today about the generational effects of adoption. It spoke about how when you adopt, you change the life trajectory of the child's life, but also it changes your own life trajectory. It struck a chord with me because we have found that to be so true. We do think about how different Jocelyn and Ellie Grace's lives could have been. Then we think how much they have changed our family's life. Our big kids now want to foster, adopt, be involved with groups who help underpriviledged kids. We could never imagine how much mine and Scott's life would change when we got that call that a baby girl was being born who needed a home. Our entire life trajectory has changed. And now in a few hours we have our first appointment in the process to adopt two boys. It makes me step back and wonder what changes this will mean for us. I am glad God's plans are always bigger and better than ours and I am excited to see our new trajectory.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Packing, Preparing, and HIV/AIDS Information (those things go together, right?)
We are packing, unpacking, and repacking over and over. It is very hard to decide what to take and what to leave behind. Today we are putting together photo albums for each of the boys to show them where we live, where we go to church, their room, our pets, and each of our family members. Overall, we feel pretty prepared (for the trip, at least!).
In the past week, we have had several unexpected financial contributions trickle in that have amazingly been in specific amounts for specific things we need to cover, like visas for the boys, plane tickets, passports for the boys, etc. I picked up a check from our local consignment shop, Forget Me Nots, where we have placed some items that have been donated to us to sell and it was double what I was expecting. One of my doctors called and said our insurance covered more than we had expected so they owed us some money. Things like this just keep happening. It is just very cool to see how God works!
Now on to something that has been on my mind lately - HIV/AIDS awareness. I read a news article about a sibling set in the Arkansas foster care system who are rumored to be HIV-positive and are not being allowed into the public school in their area. This is happening now, not back in the 80's! It is so outrageous! Misconceptions are still so prevalent so I thought I would share some facts on the issue.
direct contact with infected blood through infected needles or blood transfusions
during childbirth
Johnny Carr points out in his book, Orphan Justice, that Jesus spent much of his time on earth caring for the sick, the lame, the outcast. There was no illness that he shunned. "I was sick and you took care of Me. Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me." Matthew 25:36,40. Again I go back to Ephesians 5:1, "Be imitators of God." To me, that covers a multitude of issues.
In the past week, we have had several unexpected financial contributions trickle in that have amazingly been in specific amounts for specific things we need to cover, like visas for the boys, plane tickets, passports for the boys, etc. I picked up a check from our local consignment shop, Forget Me Nots, where we have placed some items that have been donated to us to sell and it was double what I was expecting. One of my doctors called and said our insurance covered more than we had expected so they owed us some money. Things like this just keep happening. It is just very cool to see how God works!
Now on to something that has been on my mind lately - HIV/AIDS awareness. I read a news article about a sibling set in the Arkansas foster care system who are rumored to be HIV-positive and are not being allowed into the public school in their area. This is happening now, not back in the 80's! It is so outrageous! Misconceptions are still so prevalent so I thought I would share some facts on the issue.
- In 2010, there were 3,400,000 children living with HIV/AIDS.
- Every 3 minutes, a child dies from AIDS somewhere in the world.
- Children by the thousands are orphaned daily due to AIDS.
- If a mother is given the proper medication, there is a 95% chance of not passing the virus on to her infant during childbirth.
- With proper medication, an HIV-positive child can live a productive, happy, and fulfilling life.
- There are 3 main ways that HIV is transmitted:
direct contact with infected blood through infected needles or blood transfusions
during childbirth
- One can not contract HIV through casual contact like drinking from the same cup, sharing a bathroom, hugging, kissing, playing together, etc.
- There are no known cases of a care giver of an HIV/AIDS-positive person EVER contracting HIV/AIDS.
Johnny Carr points out in his book, Orphan Justice, that Jesus spent much of his time on earth caring for the sick, the lame, the outcast. There was no illness that he shunned. "I was sick and you took care of Me. Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me." Matthew 25:36,40. Again I go back to Ephesians 5:1, "Be imitators of God." To me, that covers a multitude of issues.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Flights are Booked
We have booked our flights for September 20. That will put us getting into Kiev on September 22 giving us a couple of days to settle in and adjust somewhat to the time difference before our appointment on the 24th. Of course, we all know about the best laid plans.....But as of now, that is our plan.
We had all of our kids home over Labor Day weekend and had a great time just visiting and catching up with them. Jocelyn and Ellie always love when the big kids are home. We even squeezed in some family pictures. I am excited about that so I will have current pictures of everyone to take to show S and V. At church on Sunday, several people pointed out to me that we will no longer fit on our pew when we get back with our boys. I had not thought about that so I guess we will be switching pews when all the kids are with us from now on! One of many, many changes that face us in the months to come.
We leave in 16 days so we are very busy trying to get ready. Seems like a million things need to be done! I have one last set of appointments at MD Anderson this coming weekend before leaving so any prayers for a clean bill of health are truly appreciated. We have been collecting donations for the orphanage and are finishing that up and getting all of it packed. I am trying to update our family calendar so obligations do not slip through the cracks, getting the finishing touches on the boys' room so it will be ready for them when we come home, getting prepared for Christmas since we are anticipating that I will still be gone towards the end of the year (I can not wait to see pictures of how Scott and the kids decorate the house!), and many other loose ends tied up to try to make it as easy for Scott as possible. I do not think it is possible to be completely prepared to leave for so long so I am just doing the best I can and trusting that the rest will just work out. Fortunately, Scott has had a lot of practice juggling the house and kids last year while I was so sick so he will handle all of it fine. And we know that God has his hand on it all.
We continue to be so grateful for all the help and support we have gotten and continue to get in our efforts to bring the boys home. From clothes for the boys to funds to help pay for the adoption to items to give the kids left in the orphanage, the love and goodness in people is overwhelming. Thank all of you so very much!
It is so hard to believe that we will be meeting the boys in less than three weeks! We are praying God will give us the right words to say to them. Please keep us and the boys in your prayers as well as Jocelyn and Ellie Grace.
"God makes a home for the lonely..." Psalm 68:6a
We had all of our kids home over Labor Day weekend and had a great time just visiting and catching up with them. Jocelyn and Ellie always love when the big kids are home. We even squeezed in some family pictures. I am excited about that so I will have current pictures of everyone to take to show S and V. At church on Sunday, several people pointed out to me that we will no longer fit on our pew when we get back with our boys. I had not thought about that so I guess we will be switching pews when all the kids are with us from now on! One of many, many changes that face us in the months to come.
We leave in 16 days so we are very busy trying to get ready. Seems like a million things need to be done! I have one last set of appointments at MD Anderson this coming weekend before leaving so any prayers for a clean bill of health are truly appreciated. We have been collecting donations for the orphanage and are finishing that up and getting all of it packed. I am trying to update our family calendar so obligations do not slip through the cracks, getting the finishing touches on the boys' room so it will be ready for them when we come home, getting prepared for Christmas since we are anticipating that I will still be gone towards the end of the year (I can not wait to see pictures of how Scott and the kids decorate the house!), and many other loose ends tied up to try to make it as easy for Scott as possible. I do not think it is possible to be completely prepared to leave for so long so I am just doing the best I can and trusting that the rest will just work out. Fortunately, Scott has had a lot of practice juggling the house and kids last year while I was so sick so he will handle all of it fine. And we know that God has his hand on it all.
We continue to be so grateful for all the help and support we have gotten and continue to get in our efforts to bring the boys home. From clothes for the boys to funds to help pay for the adoption to items to give the kids left in the orphanage, the love and goodness in people is overwhelming. Thank all of you so very much!
It is so hard to believe that we will be meeting the boys in less than three weeks! We are praying God will give us the right words to say to them. Please keep us and the boys in your prayers as well as Jocelyn and Ellie Grace.
"God makes a home for the lonely..." Psalm 68:6a
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