On June 16th we received the news that our adoption was finalized in Ethiopia!!!! WE have a son! The next opportunity is for his TB test to come back clear and than we will have date for travel!
This journey has been one of the most exciting of our lives. At times it can be discouraging if you do not hold on to Hope. Hope is believing even when the outcome can not be seen. It is courage to endure when the quiet and waiting are deafening. To know that in God's time an answer will come.
Our faith has grown during this time. It has been amazing to see the hand of God move in the financing of our adoption. The people whom we have come to love that walked this path with us. To see our character grow and develop and learning how to fill in lots of forms :)
We will keep you posted as news comes in on travel dates.
Thank you for your support and prayers. We covet those and continue to ask you to pray for our son and all the transition he will face in the days, weeks and months ahead.
May God richly bless you as you have blessed us.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Thankful Praise
Summer is here and we have news! A court date has been set for June 16th and if all goes well we could travel in July or early August! This is an answer to much prayer! We still need to get approval and are praying that all paperwork is to the satisfaction of the court.
Another amazing answer to prayer is we received another grant! Our God is so good!
We are in a tizzy of excitment and gratitude to our Father for all he has done and continues to do! So join us in thankful praise!
Will keep you udated in the days to come.
Another amazing answer to prayer is we received another grant! Our God is so good!
We are in a tizzy of excitment and gratitude to our Father for all he has done and continues to do! So join us in thankful praise!
Will keep you udated in the days to come.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Discovery
As spring fades and summer approaches I am beginning to feel that our approval will come to late to travel in July. So my heart now looks to October. Enduring the summer with out him will be odd, as we had hoped this would be a summer of discovery for our new son. Time spend on sandy shores, gardening with his new mother, exploring the forest and eating ice cream. I know that God's timing is perfect! Armed with that knowledge I patiently wait. The waiting room of life is one of trust and peace.....IF we allow the Lord to minister to us during this time. Otherwise the waiting room is painful and full of anxiety.
So today I will work in the garden and allow my imagination to feel him here next to me. When my toes touch the warm sand, I will sense his delight at the sensation. The song that fills the forest with life, I will hear for him. Someday soon he will walk here with me and listen intently for the birds thrill of life.
So today I will work in the garden and allow my imagination to feel him here next to me. When my toes touch the warm sand, I will sense his delight at the sensation. The song that fills the forest with life, I will hear for him. Someday soon he will walk here with me and listen intently for the birds thrill of life.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
You may say it is hopeless......
This is our motivation for adoption.
Some people tell me it is to overwhelming, what can helping one orphan do?
I believe we can all make a difference....
One child at a time!
Based on the story by Loren Eisley...
I awoke early, as I often did, just before sunrise to walk by the ocean's edge and greet the new day. As I moved through the misty dawn, I focused on a faint, far away motion. I saw a youth, bending and reaching and flailing arms, dancing on the beach, no doubt in celebration of the perfect day soon to begin.
As I approached, I sadly realized that the youth was not dancing to the bay, but rather bending to sift through the debris left by the night's tide, stopping now and then to pick up a starfish and then standing, to heave it back into the sea. I asked the youth the purpose of the effort. "The tide has washed the starfish onto the beach and they cannot return to the sea by themselves," the youth replied. "When the sun rises, they will die, unless I throw them back to the sea."
As the youth explained, I surveyed the vast expanse of beach, strectching in both directions beyond my sight. Starfish littered the shore in numbers beyond calculation. The hopelessness of the youth's plan became clear to me and I countered, "But there are more starfish on this beach than you can ever save before the sun is up. Surely you cannot expect to make a difference."
The youth paused briefly to consider my words, bent to pick up a starfish and threw it as far as possible. Turning to me he simply said, "I made a difference to that one."
I left the boy and went home, deep in thought of what the boy had said. I returned to the beach and spent the rest of the day helping the boy throw starfish in to the sea.
Some people tell me it is to overwhelming, what can helping one orphan do?
I believe we can all make a difference....
One child at a time!
Based on the story by Loren Eisley...
I awoke early, as I often did, just before sunrise to walk by the ocean's edge and greet the new day. As I moved through the misty dawn, I focused on a faint, far away motion. I saw a youth, bending and reaching and flailing arms, dancing on the beach, no doubt in celebration of the perfect day soon to begin.
As I approached, I sadly realized that the youth was not dancing to the bay, but rather bending to sift through the debris left by the night's tide, stopping now and then to pick up a starfish and then standing, to heave it back into the sea. I asked the youth the purpose of the effort. "The tide has washed the starfish onto the beach and they cannot return to the sea by themselves," the youth replied. "When the sun rises, they will die, unless I throw them back to the sea."
As the youth explained, I surveyed the vast expanse of beach, strectching in both directions beyond my sight. Starfish littered the shore in numbers beyond calculation. The hopelessness of the youth's plan became clear to me and I countered, "But there are more starfish on this beach than you can ever save before the sun is up. Surely you cannot expect to make a difference."
The youth paused briefly to consider my words, bent to pick up a starfish and threw it as far as possible. Turning to me he simply said, "I made a difference to that one."
I left the boy and went home, deep in thought of what the boy had said. I returned to the beach and spent the rest of the day helping the boy throw starfish in to the sea.
There can be fear.
Stand Firm on the Mountain
Exodus 14:13,14 & Exodus 15:17
I stand sword ready to fight the fear.
Fear rose up out of the ebony of night.
Even as the soft grey of dawn approached.
I lie awake, in prayer, my sword, unsheathed.
Refusing to give in to the fear that assaulted me.
I know my Lord,
He is mighty and able to save!
What does being rescue look like?
I do not know the how or the when.
Instead I will climb the mountain.
My feet shall stand on the rock.
The rock of Christ!
On His power, on His resurrection!
Keeping my shield up, to deflect
the arrows of doubt that ping against the metal.
And when I grow weary and must lay my sword down to rest.
The Lord, himself, will fight the fight.
Until I am able to once more.
Karen Winters 2009
Exodus 14:13,14 & Exodus 15:17
I stand sword ready to fight the fear.
Fear rose up out of the ebony of night.
Even as the soft grey of dawn approached.
I lie awake, in prayer, my sword, unsheathed.
Refusing to give in to the fear that assaulted me.
I know my Lord,
He is mighty and able to save!
What does being rescue look like?
I do not know the how or the when.
Instead I will climb the mountain.
My feet shall stand on the rock.
The rock of Christ!
On His power, on His resurrection!
Keeping my shield up, to deflect
the arrows of doubt that ping against the metal.
And when I grow weary and must lay my sword down to rest.
The Lord, himself, will fight the fight.
Until I am able to once more.
Karen Winters 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Dossier
On Friday, April 3rd we dropped off the dossier that needs to be sent to Ethiopia. How can I describe my feelings? Rather like my knitting, there were knots (in my stomach) and neat rows (paper work finally out of my hands and into the hands of those who can DO something with it all) and somehow all this pearl and knit would become something! A son coming home!
I sang as I walked to the car, one major hurdle was done and now I was looking at the race lane once again. Once again waiting........seems there is a lot of that :) this time for our dossier to be transcribed from English to Amharic. Than we wait (more of that!) for approval from the government, followed by an acceptance letter and after that a travel date.
In the mean time we need to continue fund raising and seeking grants. I have made a quilt for his bed and am working on creating a fun room for him to enjoy.
Rob and I seek prayers for the following:
Grace with the government for our acceptance.
Speed in expediting the documents through the court system.
Reasonably priced travel.
Fund raisers to be well attended.
Thank you to each of you who are sharing this journey with us. We are blessed by your support and you heart for one child to come home!
I sang as I walked to the car, one major hurdle was done and now I was looking at the race lane once again. Once again waiting........seems there is a lot of that :) this time for our dossier to be transcribed from English to Amharic. Than we wait (more of that!) for approval from the government, followed by an acceptance letter and after that a travel date.
In the mean time we need to continue fund raising and seeking grants. I have made a quilt for his bed and am working on creating a fun room for him to enjoy.
Rob and I seek prayers for the following:
Grace with the government for our acceptance.
Speed in expediting the documents through the court system.
Reasonably priced travel.
Fund raisers to be well attended.
Thank you to each of you who are sharing this journey with us. We are blessed by your support and you heart for one child to come home!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The steering wheel
Little did I understand how this journey of adoption would be. Yes, all the books and agencies tell you to expect delays, paperwork issues and many other things. Yet reading it and living through it is so different!
That excitement and fear are your companions on the journey. You never know when you wake who will be driving your life that day. Many days they fight over the steering wheel! Than I will feel a calm as once more I see God's hand move in mighty ways and than worry that he will not move again. It defies logic and engages such deep emotions.
I wake at night wondering if all is well for him. Is he hungry? Do his shoes fit? What exciting thing happened in his life that day?
The most exciting thing is this~we submit the dossier on Friday! Unless you have gone down this road you may not quite grasp the significance of this. It is the entirety of our life! Back ground checks, birth certificates and much more. Really it is months of paper trails and finger prints and now it is done!
This weekend is another fund raiser this weekend, friends in Grand Rapids are hosting. This too has been another blessing. How people have joined in this song of adoption. Coming together with help, blessings and prayer.
So even when fear has a turn at the wheel, and that is a scary ride, I know that one day we will look back and say it was the best ride ever!
That excitement and fear are your companions on the journey. You never know when you wake who will be driving your life that day. Many days they fight over the steering wheel! Than I will feel a calm as once more I see God's hand move in mighty ways and than worry that he will not move again. It defies logic and engages such deep emotions.
I wake at night wondering if all is well for him. Is he hungry? Do his shoes fit? What exciting thing happened in his life that day?
The most exciting thing is this~we submit the dossier on Friday! Unless you have gone down this road you may not quite grasp the significance of this. It is the entirety of our life! Back ground checks, birth certificates and much more. Really it is months of paper trails and finger prints and now it is done!
This weekend is another fund raiser this weekend, friends in Grand Rapids are hosting. This too has been another blessing. How people have joined in this song of adoption. Coming together with help, blessings and prayer.
So even when fear has a turn at the wheel, and that is a scary ride, I know that one day we will look back and say it was the best ride ever!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Fire Side
We held our first fund raising event last night at my sister, Kay's business. It as a great success and we are now a step closer to bringing our son home.
I was so happy to see many old friends attend and be of support! Last night refelecting on how the evening flowed; I felt as though I was sitting in a cozy wing back chair in front of a fire. The fire was the heart felt warmth of great friends. As I contempated all this with Rob on the phone (he wasn't able to attend due to work), we both agreed that life's most important and lasting impact is made with family and friends that journey through life with you. The history we share and memories yet to be made. I feel so blessed!
So thank you to those who were able to come and those who were there in spirit. You make my travels in this life richer and full of flavor! Like a great wine it gets better with time.
My favorite saying is "Laugh Often, Live Well and Love Much". I think this sums it all up!
I was so happy to see many old friends attend and be of support! Last night refelecting on how the evening flowed; I felt as though I was sitting in a cozy wing back chair in front of a fire. The fire was the heart felt warmth of great friends. As I contempated all this with Rob on the phone (he wasn't able to attend due to work), we both agreed that life's most important and lasting impact is made with family and friends that journey through life with you. The history we share and memories yet to be made. I feel so blessed!
So thank you to those who were able to come and those who were there in spirit. You make my travels in this life richer and full of flavor! Like a great wine it gets better with time.
My favorite saying is "Laugh Often, Live Well and Love Much". I think this sums it all up!
Monday, February 23, 2009
One child
It is rather amazing the emotions the word adoption can stir in people. I have to say the most often the reaction is positive and warm. Good questions about the country of origin our child comes from or interest in the process.
On the other hand there are times the questions are strongly heated. Why international adoption vs. domestic? The tone challenging and the undertone is that we don't care about children here.
It has made me think about this, after a confrontation today.
It can be difficult to explain how the Lord lays things on your heart. Why has my heart been stirred to the issues of another country? Yes, I care deeply about children here in the U.S. I have taken in and raised 5 children who were not my own.
However even as a young adult I was drawn to children with large dark eyes and skin the color of molasses. Beautiful would be the words that escaped my lips. God plants seeds in every heart. The greater question is what are we doing with those little, life changing seeds? My heart aches that these children go hungry most nights. That they sleep not on a mattress but the floor. They have never experienced new clothes or watched a movie. Have never heard "I love you" followed by a warm embrace.
There is such a great need in this world for any child who is without a home or in foster care. I believe we can change the world! One child at a time. So my challenge is this: What are you doing to change the life of one child?
On the other hand there are times the questions are strongly heated. Why international adoption vs. domestic? The tone challenging and the undertone is that we don't care about children here.
It has made me think about this, after a confrontation today.
It can be difficult to explain how the Lord lays things on your heart. Why has my heart been stirred to the issues of another country? Yes, I care deeply about children here in the U.S. I have taken in and raised 5 children who were not my own.
However even as a young adult I was drawn to children with large dark eyes and skin the color of molasses. Beautiful would be the words that escaped my lips. God plants seeds in every heart. The greater question is what are we doing with those little, life changing seeds? My heart aches that these children go hungry most nights. That they sleep not on a mattress but the floor. They have never experienced new clothes or watched a movie. Have never heard "I love you" followed by a warm embrace.
There is such a great need in this world for any child who is without a home or in foster care. I believe we can change the world! One child at a time. So my challenge is this: What are you doing to change the life of one child?
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Why do you want to adopt!
I hear this a lot, so I thought I would share our feelings on this subject.
Rob and I have already raised seven children, several are married now and we both feel that there is still much we can give as parents. After much prayer and talking it over with our grown children and close friends; we all agreed that this is a calling and passion for us. Actually we believe that our parenting skills are much more honed after raising our own and we have the added benefit of wisdom from going through the child rearing process a few times. Don’t we all wish that as parents we knew back then what we KNOW now! I do! All the great things we did and the mistakes, that as human parents we all have made, to be able to parent armed with this knowledge! Just think how the process of raising a child can be with the seasoning of insight. With age we see life values clearer, no longer trying to accomplish family rearing and the corporate ladder climb simultaneously. To not be swayed by popular culture, well meaning grandparents giving advice or by what the neighbors are doing.
In this season of our lives having more natural children is just not what we want to do. But to be blessed by a child that is older and has been waiting to be part of a forever family, now THAT is exciting! Giving him a home that is established and with family who see him in all his amazing potential and the blessing that he will bring to enrich our lives. We see this as a winning combination. Adoption is not about a child; it is a greater vision of lives intersecting, families being birthed and lives joining together. It is like a patchwork quilt made of many colorful squares of cloth that are placed side by side, each piece telling a different story. A blue square tells of days in the garden, the red square was from Grandmothers favorite dress, and the yellow flowered piece was once a little girl’s sun suit. One square alone does not make the quilt; it becomes a piece of art only when all the parts become whole. Than the maker of the quilt stitches each piece together, when she is done all the patterns, colors and stories come to life. That is adoption and this is why we chose to adopt. Life is about joining together, going through phases of change and growth. It is about becoming a colorful quilt that can warm others as well as our family.
Rob and I have already raised seven children, several are married now and we both feel that there is still much we can give as parents. After much prayer and talking it over with our grown children and close friends; we all agreed that this is a calling and passion for us. Actually we believe that our parenting skills are much more honed after raising our own and we have the added benefit of wisdom from going through the child rearing process a few times. Don’t we all wish that as parents we knew back then what we KNOW now! I do! All the great things we did and the mistakes, that as human parents we all have made, to be able to parent armed with this knowledge! Just think how the process of raising a child can be with the seasoning of insight. With age we see life values clearer, no longer trying to accomplish family rearing and the corporate ladder climb simultaneously. To not be swayed by popular culture, well meaning grandparents giving advice or by what the neighbors are doing.
In this season of our lives having more natural children is just not what we want to do. But to be blessed by a child that is older and has been waiting to be part of a forever family, now THAT is exciting! Giving him a home that is established and with family who see him in all his amazing potential and the blessing that he will bring to enrich our lives. We see this as a winning combination. Adoption is not about a child; it is a greater vision of lives intersecting, families being birthed and lives joining together. It is like a patchwork quilt made of many colorful squares of cloth that are placed side by side, each piece telling a different story. A blue square tells of days in the garden, the red square was from Grandmothers favorite dress, and the yellow flowered piece was once a little girl’s sun suit. One square alone does not make the quilt; it becomes a piece of art only when all the parts become whole. Than the maker of the quilt stitches each piece together, when she is done all the patterns, colors and stories come to life. That is adoption and this is why we chose to adopt. Life is about joining together, going through phases of change and growth. It is about becoming a colorful quilt that can warm others as well as our family.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Form 600-A
Yesterday the USCIS form was filled in and went out in the mail today! Another baby step closer to bringing our son home.
Have you ever felt doing taxes was a daunting task. Than you will understand the feelings of those who adopt. The paper work is mountainous and being precise is not even an option. One peice of critical paperwork took me 3 tries before it was right! What was worse was the paper had to come from another state!
These are the trials, but it does keep you busy as you wait. The waiting is hard. Probably the hardest part for me. I have begun to work on his room and am starting a quilt for his bed. Biding time really. I wonder what he is doing right now and when I know he will be going to bed.
Would I do it again? Absolutely!
Have you ever felt doing taxes was a daunting task. Than you will understand the feelings of those who adopt. The paper work is mountainous and being precise is not even an option. One peice of critical paperwork took me 3 tries before it was right! What was worse was the paper had to come from another state!
These are the trials, but it does keep you busy as you wait. The waiting is hard. Probably the hardest part for me. I have begun to work on his room and am starting a quilt for his bed. Biding time really. I wonder what he is doing right now and when I know he will be going to bed.
Would I do it again? Absolutely!
Friday, February 13, 2009
Waiting
This is my first attempt at blogging, except for facebook. We are in the waiting pattern, our home study is done just waiting for one more background paper to arrive. Adoption is like being pregnant only I am not craving food nor gaining weight. However all the emotions and excitement are there!
This is our journey into the wonderful, confusing world of Adoption.
This is our journey into the wonderful, confusing world of Adoption.
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