FINALLY! I can post an update.

I've been having some troubles with blogger lately and haven't been able to sign in.

Our baby girl was submitted for her Emmigration Permit 5/20/11.  That means that as long as the paperwork goes through correctly we should receive her in July. 

My friend C was recently in Korea picking up her son.  She took several pictures of our daughter.  There is no way to repay her for her kindness.  Her and her husband took time out from sightseeing and spending time with their new son to take pictures for me.  I am so honored and blessed by her love.  What a priceless gift in friends like these.  

She's so beautiful. 

Psalm 36:7  How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Chosen

Yesterday, I had a patient that asked, "Do you have any children?"

I said, "Yes, I have 3 boys and a little girl we are adopting right now from South Korea."

She said, "We have an adopted son, but he never says he's adopted.  He always says, 'I was chosen.' And he is 40." 

I said, "Oh, I hope my daughter feels that way."

She said, "Just tell her."

I said, "I will."

Amazing grace!  I love when God brings people like this into my path.

All of my children have been chosen for me to temporarily care for. What blessings God has given. 

You're Going to Get an Earful

Warning:  I am not asking for money, I am encouraging you to give to others.  Give the most to the least of these.

My rhetorical question is this:  if you are in a certain tax bracket is there a set of children that are only open to you?   For example if you make over $150,000 you get the "healthy" children, but if you only make $100,000 you get the not so healthy children, etc.  Or reverse the order, whichever way you like.  Thank God we are not matched this way, biologically or through adoption. 
You can play god if you want to, but I didn't have a whole lot of "choices" in adoption.  I was told which countries I could/could not adopt from, I was told the age they would prefer us to adopt, I was told that we couldn't choose gender.   I even get told when my child will come home.
We did choose the special needs we were open to in the beginning, however that didn't exactly turn out as "planned/chosen" either. 
I wouldn't normally donate money for someone getting an IVF (or other fertility treatments) either.  In my eyes adoption and fertility treatments are two separate, not-at-all equal subjects.
I have several people in my family that don't understand why we are adopting.  They also don't understand why we would pay fees for a WC.  We tried a "more affordable" route of adoption and that path was not ours to take.
God tells us to speak the truth in love according to His Word.  Our sermon today was subtitled, "Why Should I Care?".  It just so happens that this was one of our Bible verses during the sermon today:
Romans 13:8   Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
Does God only call the rich man to adopt?  Adoption is a leap of faith and a leap of love.  Adoption is for God's glory and not ours.
Why does fundraising for adoption have to have a negative connotation?   Especially, if it is raising money for it is no way illegal or unethical.  Asking for money for any God chosen path (whether it be missions or adoption) is humbling.  When did helping orphans turn into something that is not a mission?     I see the helping an orphan mission ending in one of two ways 1) they stay with their birth family (or extended family) or 2) they end up with their AP.  I guess there is the 3rd way of aging out of care, but that path is not a choice of mine.  Speaking to mission #2:  I view the mission of helping an orphan stopping the minute they are your child (for me that happened even before we were referred a child because I view her as being created for me to raise).

Matthew 25:45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' (NIV)
Why can't we celebrate those who want to help get a child home?  Should they not only turn their back on adopting themselves, but also turn their backs on others who are willing to open their homes to orphans?  I would hope not.

Why be a reason to cause more orphans by discouraging others not to adopt?    Why is money a big factor anyway?  AAAAaarrggghhh!
So should we not give money to organizations that help families afford adoption that helps a "specific" family/child in the end? 
I agree that it is not a good thing if you ask for donations and then you take a trip to Disney World.
Once we are slightly more financially able, my mission is to help others afford adoption, as well as, donate to help children stay with their birth families.
 James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.  (NIV)
I care because God cared first.  I hope you can soften your heart and share with the needy.

So, give.

I Stomp My Feet (From Frustration to JOY)

So, I'll be honest with y'all.  This week has been a heartbreaking week for me.  I know that a majority of people will not understand where I am coming from.  I have countless blessings.  This was a hard week because we found out that it might not be until the end of July until Faith comes home (or later because we have no concrete idea of timing in the adoption world).  We weren't submitted for an Emigration Permit in April. 

If you grew up with me, you know that I am an expert at whining.  My mantra as a child was, "it's not FAY- YER."  I didn't stomp my feet physically on Wednesday, but I did cry some crocodile tears.  I asked my Mom, "Why does God choose such hard things for me?"   I tried extremely hard not to cry.  I tried to keep my emotions in check.  I had to call my sister and my SIL (she's been through it), too.

My whole being KNOWS to trust in God.  TRUST in His timing.  But my heart was just sad.  I yearn for my baby girl.  I don't want her to be a full blown toddler by the time she gets here.  I want my boys to have time to attach and bond with her before they have to go back to school.

I know from the time that I was battling with infertility (prior to my first born son) that the long wait is worth it.

I praise God for the other women who are going through the same trials as I am and/or have gone through them before me.

I'll stomp my feet because God CHOSE me.  Isn't that fantastic?  God chose our family to be Faith's family.  God chose Faith to be our child.  She may not be in my arms yet, but she was mine from the day I first saw her.  I will lean on Him.  She'll be here when He wants her to be here.

I can't wait until I get to STOMP MY FEET WITH JOY, with her in my arms.  We'll dance.   I can't wait to praise God as I watch her sleeping, as I hold her when she's sick, as I watch her laugh and play, and through the rough stuff that comes with being a parent.  I hope you'll STOMP your feet with joy when she comes home, too.

So, I'll wait and BELIEVE in the promises of God.

Psalm 25:3  Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed;
         Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.

I have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.
Where?
Down in my heart.
Where?
Down in my heart. . .

Bless You!

Finally, Some Adoption News

So I am a little slow about this post.  I have been tired from working full-time and having a family.  I come home and I am like a zombie.  Thank God for my SIL, who came over yesterday to take care of my kids and she cleaned our house.  What a fantastic gift!

Now EP news.  We weren't submitted and I was completely o.k. with that.  I was excited to see EP news for several reasons 1) they were notified 2 weeks after they were submitted, so there is a shorter wait until they are approved and a shorter wait until the next batch is submitted, 2)  EP's are moving  3) We are getting closer to getting to hold our preciousness in our arms. 

I-600 news:  we were APPROVED to bring our baby girl into the U.S.A.  This wait only took 15 days from them receiving it until we were approved.  We were notified Wednesday.

Overall, I am overjoyed about the progress of these two things.  On the other hand, I hope to see MANY more adoptive parents traveling in May.  This month was pretty slow for those types of calls.  I hope to see a TC explosion.

I pray that my friend Cindy travels to pick up there little boy in the next 2 weeks.  They have waited so long.

Praise God for the gifts He gives.  Bless you!

"I Hate Easter"

Today when I was at work, one of the Doctors walked by and said, "Happy Easter."
My co-worker exclaimed, "I hate Easter." 

I looked at her, gave her an uneasy smile, turned my head and stared at my computer waiting for the first patient to arrive. I didn't have time, nor did I have the energy to tackle the whys of her statement.

My first question in my mind was, "You hate the fact that Jesus is risen from the dead and He is the giver of life?"  "Do you hate the secularism of the holiday?" "Did something bad happen to you on Easter?"

I've been dealing with a lot of stress pertaining to situations at work, so I couldn't handle this situation.  Keep in mind that I work at an oncology clinic, so there are some sad situations (some miracles), but a lot of bad news when you're dealing with many cancer patients and many other diseases that are lifetime ill-health diagnoses. 

I had to focus on my work day (I'm still new) and it wasn't an appropriate time to discuss our beliefs due to we were on work time.  Once the day gets started at our clinic, there is no time to sit around and slack off.  Even lunch yesterday was about 15 minutes long.

Please join me in praying for my co-worker and all the others that "hate" Easter.  It's sad for whatever reason she and they "hate" Easter.

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"  John 11:25-26  (NIV 1984)

My heart mourns for the people that don't believe this.  I love Easter because my Savior died on my behalf and rose from the dead.  He's ALIVE!

What Do YOU Figure?

So, you think you have the timeline of adoption figured out and then they change it up on you.  Why?  I don't know.  Keeps us guessing.  I am a planner (sort of).  I would like to know when my little girl will be arriving.  Summer around our house is EXTREMELY busy and it goes by fast.  When our little girl gets home, I don't want to do much for a while.  I want to spend time getting to know her. 

I thought EP's would be submitted Friday, but no news.  It really doesn't matter if we are submitted this month or next month.  I just want to know a ballpark of a month of when she'll be here. 

Maybe, (hopefully) we'll hear something next week.  

A picture would still be nice. 

I am glad no one asked about her at church today.  Praise God through all blessings that flow!

Have a fantastic week.