I cannot believe we leave for Haiti in a little over three weeks. No this is not to get our child (I wish!), but rather to work at the orphanage--a one week mission trip. I keep hoping the God will make a way for us to meet our son, but I also know that that is unlikely at this time. Dr. Bernard, the orphanage director, said it's not impossible to have a referral done before the final paperwork arrives, but it's not recommended. Either way I'm going to hug and kiss each little guy and take lots of pictures!!
As far as the paperwork, it is coming along really well. We are nearly finished with the homestudy, and before I leave for Haiti, all the documents should be gathered for our dossier. God willing they will be sent off to the Secretary of State for Apostille before we leave. It should not be long before the paperwork is complete and the REAL waiting begins. But I try to think of it as an opportunity for the Lord to refine my character and make me a more patient person. : )
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Unavoidable Issues
Today, like everyday, we worked on our requirements for our home study and dossier. In the beginning the paperwork seemed overwhelming, but now it has become part of our daily routine. Everyday I have to get at least one item crossed off my list. Today that item was taking an online course with my hubby.
For the state of Wisconsin we have to take several courses through Adoption Learning Partners (see link in the list on the left). At first I thought the idea of taking parenting courses seemed like a joke because we've been raising our children for the last 14 years; however, there is a lot that we haven't really considered. The idea of having a child with a detachment disorder is a real possibility, one that we've been avoiding. Also, we know we are not racist nor are our family or friends, but our child may have to deal with race issue when he enters a white family. People are going to know he's adopted without even asking. These are conversations we need to have as a couple and with our children. We know we will love him if he's any color under the rainbow; that is not an issue for us. But unfortunately not everyone feels this way. I'm glad we took these courses, not because we learned anything new, but because it enabled us as a couple to talk about issues that are sometimes are taken for granted or avoided.
For the state of Wisconsin we have to take several courses through Adoption Learning Partners (see link in the list on the left). At first I thought the idea of taking parenting courses seemed like a joke because we've been raising our children for the last 14 years; however, there is a lot that we haven't really considered. The idea of having a child with a detachment disorder is a real possibility, one that we've been avoiding. Also, we know we are not racist nor are our family or friends, but our child may have to deal with race issue when he enters a white family. People are going to know he's adopted without even asking. These are conversations we need to have as a couple and with our children. We know we will love him if he's any color under the rainbow; that is not an issue for us. But unfortunately not everyone feels this way. I'm glad we took these courses, not because we learned anything new, but because it enabled us as a couple to talk about issues that are sometimes are taken for granted or avoided.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Thank God for Helpful Hearts
I cannot say how thankful I am for the people who have been helping us navigate this process. Paperwork...paperwork...paperwork. And not all of it is easy to follow or understand. But God has blessed us with friends who have adopted from Haiti and other countries and are willing to share their experiences and knowledge. I don't know what I would do with out them.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
The Journey Begins...
The desire to adopt a child had been eating away at me for years. When I first brought it up to my husband, Jerry, he thought I was crazy. He said he liked having older children; we had more freedom to be a couple without worrying about car seats and diaper bags. Today Joey is in fourth grade and Rosey is a freshman.
This was hard for me because the nagging desire to have more children would not go away. I cannot have more of my own children, and even if I could I knew I wanted to adopt. My husband and I spend time every year working in schools and orphanages in third world countries, and I just knew this was from where we should adopt.
I brought up the topic several times, before feeling it was hopeless. Finally, the last time my husband said he would pray about it. But I didn’t ask him if he was really seeking God on this issue. I just prayed. Finally, after about six months of praying, begging God to change my husband’s mind, I told God that if He intended us to adopt He would have to change Jerry’s heart; I surrendered my desire to Him.
The day after the earthquake in Haiti Jerry looked at me and said, "It’s time. Let’s do it." I must have asked him six billion times if he was serious, and each time he said he was; he said that this was the Lord and that we should adopt a child from Haiti.
Our children Rosey and Joey were so excited. Right way Joey said he wanted a little brother and bunk beds. He blathered on and on about teaching him to play basketball and skateboard and all the endless things they would do together. Joey has been asking for a little brother for years.
We wanted to get started right way. And because of the work I’ve been doing in Haiti since 2006, it wasn’t difficult to find an agency. We are working with New Life Link (their website is listed under ‘Adoption Links’ on the left side of the page). We requested a boy between the ages of one and three years old because by the time he gets to the United States he could be as old as five.
Next, a friend recommended the Children’s Hope Network as a place for us to contact regarding the home study. This is a huge process and takes at least six to eight weeks, if not more. We also submitted our i600a form to the government right away, and next week we will travel to Milwaukee to get our fingerprints taken.
I’ve never been so overwhelmed by paperwork in my life. But the Lord is faithful and my husband is a constant encouragement. Last night we divided up some of the paperwork and phone calls, and today we registered for the online classes we have to take for the state of Wisconsin.
I trust God that all this will flow smoothly, and before we know it, we will bring our son home.
This was hard for me because the nagging desire to have more children would not go away. I cannot have more of my own children, and even if I could I knew I wanted to adopt. My husband and I spend time every year working in schools and orphanages in third world countries, and I just knew this was from where we should adopt.
I brought up the topic several times, before feeling it was hopeless. Finally, the last time my husband said he would pray about it. But I didn’t ask him if he was really seeking God on this issue. I just prayed. Finally, after about six months of praying, begging God to change my husband’s mind, I told God that if He intended us to adopt He would have to change Jerry’s heart; I surrendered my desire to Him.
The day after the earthquake in Haiti Jerry looked at me and said, "It’s time. Let’s do it." I must have asked him six billion times if he was serious, and each time he said he was; he said that this was the Lord and that we should adopt a child from Haiti.
Our children Rosey and Joey were so excited. Right way Joey said he wanted a little brother and bunk beds. He blathered on and on about teaching him to play basketball and skateboard and all the endless things they would do together. Joey has been asking for a little brother for years.
We wanted to get started right way. And because of the work I’ve been doing in Haiti since 2006, it wasn’t difficult to find an agency. We are working with New Life Link (their website is listed under ‘Adoption Links’ on the left side of the page). We requested a boy between the ages of one and three years old because by the time he gets to the United States he could be as old as five.
Next, a friend recommended the Children’s Hope Network as a place for us to contact regarding the home study. This is a huge process and takes at least six to eight weeks, if not more. We also submitted our i600a form to the government right away, and next week we will travel to Milwaukee to get our fingerprints taken.
I’ve never been so overwhelmed by paperwork in my life. But the Lord is faithful and my husband is a constant encouragement. Last night we divided up some of the paperwork and phone calls, and today we registered for the online classes we have to take for the state of Wisconsin.
I trust God that all this will flow smoothly, and before we know it, we will bring our son home.
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