This past Friday night we had our first official adoption fundraiser. My amazing friend, Heather, sells Premier Design Jewelry, which is a faith based direct sales jewelry company. Heather committed that all the proceeds earned from two shows, mine and my mothers, would be donated to our adoption. Well, my show is officially closing in just a few days and we have meet our goal for our first show!!!! We have raised $1,500 towards our adoption!!!!
When Heather and I were talking about working together to raise money for Dale and my adoption I really started praying and seeking the Lord about how much we should set for our goal. For our first show I set a goal that I thought honestly might not be achievable, but knew that God could do it! It has been amazing to see how people have really rallied around Dale and I as we sell our heart out. The first day I took the jewelry catalog to work it was amazing how people kept asking when they were going to get to see the book. They were so excited to support us! God has certainly been our provider.
Thanks you all for your prayers and please pray as we move into our next two fundraisers, my mother's jewelry show and a garage sale in Aug. My mother's show is on Aug. 10th in Easter Wisconsin and our Garage Sale is on Aug. 17th, 18th, 19th. Between these two fundraisers we are hoping to raise another $3,000. Please pray that God will be at the center of our fundraisers and that his name will be glorified. I am confident that he will provide!!!
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Sunday, July 8, 2012
My daughters mother
Recently, I have been praying for our daughter. I don't know who she is or what her story will be, but my heart has been burdened for her. Furthermore, my daughters mother. Who is she, what is she like, what is her currently life situation? My heart has been moved for this mother.
Typically, with the Congo program if you are adopting an infant, like we are, they will come home around the age of 7 -10 months. That means if you add 7 months to 9 months of pregnancy that our daughters mother could be pregnant with her right now. Between now and when our daughter is born something will prevent my daughters mother from being a mother to her. My heart swells up as I think about the reasons. Will she pass, will she not financially be able to take care of the baby? What could bring a mother to give up her daughter for adoption.
As a mother my mind races with the emotions and the devastation this mother will go through at some point in her life to bring her to give up her daughter. The fear that she might feel of her child's future. I imagine her thinking "Who will care for my child? Will my child survive?" The fear that would run over my body to know I could not care for my child is overwhelming. I want that mother to know that I will love her and cherish her as if she was my own. She will be a part of a loving, caring family and we will bring her up to love and cherish her culture and her heritage.
I pray for both my daughter and her mother daily that God would give the mother peace and that He would protect mother and daughter. I will be eternally connected to my daughters mother. I hope and pray that some way some how I will be able to write my daughter's mother a letter of hope and encouragement of her. I also pray that by some miracle that my daughter would be able to have a letter or something from her mother that will reminder of her homeland and heritage.
I know that if Dale and I are fortunate enough to be able to travel to get our daughter that we will do everything we can to bring back trinkets and culturally important items home for our daughter. That when she reaches milestones in her life, like marriage, she can have something of her culture. To reminder her of her roots.
Typically, with the Congo program if you are adopting an infant, like we are, they will come home around the age of 7 -10 months. That means if you add 7 months to 9 months of pregnancy that our daughters mother could be pregnant with her right now. Between now and when our daughter is born something will prevent my daughters mother from being a mother to her. My heart swells up as I think about the reasons. Will she pass, will she not financially be able to take care of the baby? What could bring a mother to give up her daughter for adoption.
As a mother my mind races with the emotions and the devastation this mother will go through at some point in her life to bring her to give up her daughter. The fear that she might feel of her child's future. I imagine her thinking "Who will care for my child? Will my child survive?" The fear that would run over my body to know I could not care for my child is overwhelming. I want that mother to know that I will love her and cherish her as if she was my own. She will be a part of a loving, caring family and we will bring her up to love and cherish her culture and her heritage.
I pray for both my daughter and her mother daily that God would give the mother peace and that He would protect mother and daughter. I will be eternally connected to my daughters mother. I hope and pray that some way some how I will be able to write my daughter's mother a letter of hope and encouragement of her. I also pray that by some miracle that my daughter would be able to have a letter or something from her mother that will reminder of her homeland and heritage.
I know that if Dale and I are fortunate enough to be able to travel to get our daughter that we will do everything we can to bring back trinkets and culturally important items home for our daughter. That when she reaches milestones in her life, like marriage, she can have something of her culture. To reminder her of her roots.
4 Weeks Out!
Well, it has been about 4 weeks since we decide to start this journey of adoption. Where are we at?
Emotionally: If anyone knows Dale and I you know we are opposites. If I had it my way we would have our little girl next week. If it were up to Dale it would be a bit longer. I am defiantly a go getter and Dale waits for it to come. This can cause some tension, as you can imaging, however I think it is a good compliment. We balance each other out. Dale teaches me to wait for God's timing. Currently, I am really learning how to allow God to take control and to wait on His timing and be at peace with His pace. I have been praying daily for wisdom and patients as we embark on this journey. I pray that God will be at the center of this journey and that He will be leading the way. I know that without Him leading we would surly get lost.
One verse that has been of particular comfort and encouragement for me has been Psalms 37:5 - Commit your ways to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
Dale has been focusing on leading our family and seeking the Lord for guidance and wisdom. I know that as he seeks the Lord will answer.
Financially: Currently, we have three fundraisers on the horizon. This month I am hosting a Premier Design Jewelry Show. One of my close friends, Heather Clark, sells Premier Design Jewelry and has agreed to donate the proceeds earned to our adoption. The show will be at our house on July 20th at 6PM. If you are interested in coming please let me know. All are welcome! Also, next month my mother is hosting another jewelry show with the proceeds being donated to our adoption. Lastly, on Aug 17th, 18th, and possible 19th Dale and I will be having a rummage sale. If you are interested in donating please let me know. So, those are our currently fundraisers. Our first milestone is to raise $2,500 so we can start the home study process. We are hoping to be able to start it by the beginning of September so we can get the ball rolling. Also, once we get our home study complete we can begin to apply for grants.
Adoption Process: As I just mentioned we are hoping to start the home study process by the end of the summer. This process can be a quite long and invasive. We will have to submit finical records, health records, background checks, have our home evaluated, and go through several interviews. Once this is complete we then have to submit documentation to the federal government and get approval from them to adoption internationally. From here we wait around 2-4 months for our referral. A referral is the process in which you are matched with a child. With the Congo program they have referred children as young as a few days old. Typically, from here we would travel or have someone go and get our child. This typically happens within 6 months of receiving our referral. Once we bring the baby home we will have to go through several more post adoption visits and officially adopt our baby in the US.
As you can tell it is quite the process, but it will be well worth it when we bring our little girl home!
We humbly ask for your prayer. Some areas would would love prayer in:
- Please pray that the Lord will give us great wisdom and decrement of His leading.
- That we can raise the money needed so we can bring our little girl home.
- That Kristie will continue to allow God control of the process.
- Pray that as a family we will have joy and peace in this process.
Thanks you all for your love and support!!
Emotionally: If anyone knows Dale and I you know we are opposites. If I had it my way we would have our little girl next week. If it were up to Dale it would be a bit longer. I am defiantly a go getter and Dale waits for it to come. This can cause some tension, as you can imaging, however I think it is a good compliment. We balance each other out. Dale teaches me to wait for God's timing. Currently, I am really learning how to allow God to take control and to wait on His timing and be at peace with His pace. I have been praying daily for wisdom and patients as we embark on this journey. I pray that God will be at the center of this journey and that He will be leading the way. I know that without Him leading we would surly get lost.
One verse that has been of particular comfort and encouragement for me has been Psalms 37:5 - Commit your ways to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
Dale has been focusing on leading our family and seeking the Lord for guidance and wisdom. I know that as he seeks the Lord will answer.
Financially: Currently, we have three fundraisers on the horizon. This month I am hosting a Premier Design Jewelry Show. One of my close friends, Heather Clark, sells Premier Design Jewelry and has agreed to donate the proceeds earned to our adoption. The show will be at our house on July 20th at 6PM. If you are interested in coming please let me know. All are welcome! Also, next month my mother is hosting another jewelry show with the proceeds being donated to our adoption. Lastly, on Aug 17th, 18th, and possible 19th Dale and I will be having a rummage sale. If you are interested in donating please let me know. So, those are our currently fundraisers. Our first milestone is to raise $2,500 so we can start the home study process. We are hoping to be able to start it by the beginning of September so we can get the ball rolling. Also, once we get our home study complete we can begin to apply for grants.
Adoption Process: As I just mentioned we are hoping to start the home study process by the end of the summer. This process can be a quite long and invasive. We will have to submit finical records, health records, background checks, have our home evaluated, and go through several interviews. Once this is complete we then have to submit documentation to the federal government and get approval from them to adoption internationally. From here we wait around 2-4 months for our referral. A referral is the process in which you are matched with a child. With the Congo program they have referred children as young as a few days old. Typically, from here we would travel or have someone go and get our child. This typically happens within 6 months of receiving our referral. Once we bring the baby home we will have to go through several more post adoption visits and officially adopt our baby in the US.
As you can tell it is quite the process, but it will be well worth it when we bring our little girl home!
We humbly ask for your prayer. Some areas would would love prayer in:
- Please pray that the Lord will give us great wisdom and decrement of His leading.
- That we can raise the money needed so we can bring our little girl home.
- That Kristie will continue to allow God control of the process.
- Pray that as a family we will have joy and peace in this process.
Thanks you all for your love and support!!
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