After morning coffee with my new friend, Tessy, I am feeling renewed about this adoption journey. I know it seems hard to believe that I already needed renewal after just a few months of this process, but I am starting to realize the roller coaster of emotions that everyone talks about. I guess I didn't expect it to begin so soon.
I was thrilled to meet Tessy and her sweet family at our first adoption fundraiser, which I must mention was awesome! Our church hosted a fundraising meal for us and raised $1,582 for our home study! Whoo hoo! The check has been sent to our agency and we are patiently (okay, anxiously!) awaiting a call from our social worker.
This morning was exactly what I needed. Connecting with another family who knows the adoption process is so exciting for us. Just to be able to talk about my fears, anxieties, and hopes with a friend who has been there was encouraging. It is easy to feel like you are alone in this process, but alas, we are not! Having these friends by our side will be just as important as making sure all our paperwork is filled out correctly.
I was so comforted to hear Tessy talk about her experience in the Congo and know that someone else out there feels what I feel. We talked about these third world countries and how different their day-to-day lives are than ours. I felt relief knowing that I am not the only one who doesn't feel "normal" in this world. It is not "normal" in our society to be so consumed by social injustice. It is not normal to feel the actual need to do something. I find myself listening to the daily complaints of others, including myself, and wondering how we are so bothered by these "problems" that others could only hope for. Why don't the real problems bother us more?
It is a scary thing to ask God and allow him to break your heart for what breaks His. Sometimes I wonder if I really know what I am getting myself into when I pray for that. We decided this morning that "ignorance is bliss" is probably one of the most true statements ever made. If you remain unaware of the troubles of the world you can go on living your life without a heavy heart. Once you ask to see the truth, it is a whole different story. I find myself in turmoil wondering how I can let myself feel comfortable living in this culture when I know how completely opposite the world is for orphans in Ethiopia. I know that I cannot go back to acting like I don't know the truth. It is an uncomfortable feeling to know that millions of children will not see their first birthday, others will not have food to eat, a safe place to sleep, the chance to be educated, or loved. I also know that if I ask God to open my heart to these things that He will provide the tools and opportunities to do something about it.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Paper Chase
I promise I have not given up on blogging, though it may seem that way. I've been putting off writing a new post until I had something "postworthy" to write. If you're looking for that now, I still don't have it. Not a whole lot new and postworthy over here.
We are at the beginning of our paper chase. I can't begin to explain just how daunting this phase is. It is like being at one end of a very long tunnel...you know there has to be another end somewhere, but who knows how far away it is or what you might come across in the darkness until you get there. Don't get me wrong, we are super excited about this adoption and all of the paper work will be SO worth it in the end. It just feel like starting any new process. Although we aren't hitting any big milestones at the current time, we are really enjoying the community the adoption world has opened up to us.
About 7 months ago we moved to a fairly small town (to us, at least) of about 5,400. We thought for sure that we were the only ones in this community going through an international adoption. I think it is pretty normal of the human race to feel like the only one. Anyway, we have been attending a local church since we moved here and really enjoy it. When I met our friend, Karen, at church one Sunday and found out she and her family had adopted 5 times I was thrilled! I have since then been picking her brain about adoption topics. A few weeks ago Matt and I were approached by Karen and Julie, the serving team leader, after church. They offered to host a dinner for us at the church to fundraise for our home study fee. Can I just tell you, we are so blessed that we are a part of this community! It is so true that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him." He puts us right where we are supposed to be, surrounded by people He has chosen to put in our lives. Everyone in our church community has been so supportive. We have had several people at church introduce themselves and ask about our adoption or give encouraging words. This community has already been building a heart for adoption and they are just so sincere in their encouragement for us.
One question most people ask, if they don't already know, is where are we adopting from? When we tell them Ethiopia they often ask what led us to choose that country. My answer is usually the same, "I don't know exactly." For some reason, when Matt and I talked about adopting in the past I always had Ethiopia in mind. I think God has subtly been preparing my heart for Africa for a long time. I have always been drawn to its cultures along with its many needs. Every adoptive family we have heard from has just loved their time in Ethiopia. They are a culture who is friendly and compassionate. The country also faces many significant challenges. There are about 75 million people living in Ethiopia...a country about twice the size of Texas. There are also an estimated 4.3 million orphans. When you hear that number it is overwhelmingly sad. I think it is also easy to feel helpless. How can one couple adopting one child make a difference? Well, I can guarantee it makes a difference to that one child who can now grow up with a family who loves them. Alternatively, that child would most likely not get the chance to grow up and any growing they did would be in an orphanage or on the streets. It is estimated that 1 in 8 children in Ethiopia die before they are 5 years old. One less orphan makes a difference.
Not to be a downer or anything. Those are some reasons we are adopting from Ethiopia. Or as Karen put it, that's just how we picture our family. When I think of what our family will be like, I imagine an Ethiopian child in the picture. It feels right for us. I know that God will continue to prepare our hearts for this child.
Our next big step is our fundraising dinner and the home study! The home study is about $1,800 (out of our estimated $25,000 total). We will most likely have to update our home study before the whole process is over since it does expire.
Check back for updates! Thanks for reading, Laura.
*If you would like to help support our adoption check out the link to our fundraising page. We also have a Just Love Coffee shop for all you coffee lovers*
We are at the beginning of our paper chase. I can't begin to explain just how daunting this phase is. It is like being at one end of a very long tunnel...you know there has to be another end somewhere, but who knows how far away it is or what you might come across in the darkness until you get there. Don't get me wrong, we are super excited about this adoption and all of the paper work will be SO worth it in the end. It just feel like starting any new process. Although we aren't hitting any big milestones at the current time, we are really enjoying the community the adoption world has opened up to us.
About 7 months ago we moved to a fairly small town (to us, at least) of about 5,400. We thought for sure that we were the only ones in this community going through an international adoption. I think it is pretty normal of the human race to feel like the only one. Anyway, we have been attending a local church since we moved here and really enjoy it. When I met our friend, Karen, at church one Sunday and found out she and her family had adopted 5 times I was thrilled! I have since then been picking her brain about adoption topics. A few weeks ago Matt and I were approached by Karen and Julie, the serving team leader, after church. They offered to host a dinner for us at the church to fundraise for our home study fee. Can I just tell you, we are so blessed that we are a part of this community! It is so true that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him." He puts us right where we are supposed to be, surrounded by people He has chosen to put in our lives. Everyone in our church community has been so supportive. We have had several people at church introduce themselves and ask about our adoption or give encouraging words. This community has already been building a heart for adoption and they are just so sincere in their encouragement for us.
One question most people ask, if they don't already know, is where are we adopting from? When we tell them Ethiopia they often ask what led us to choose that country. My answer is usually the same, "I don't know exactly." For some reason, when Matt and I talked about adopting in the past I always had Ethiopia in mind. I think God has subtly been preparing my heart for Africa for a long time. I have always been drawn to its cultures along with its many needs. Every adoptive family we have heard from has just loved their time in Ethiopia. They are a culture who is friendly and compassionate. The country also faces many significant challenges. There are about 75 million people living in Ethiopia...a country about twice the size of Texas. There are also an estimated 4.3 million orphans. When you hear that number it is overwhelmingly sad. I think it is also easy to feel helpless. How can one couple adopting one child make a difference? Well, I can guarantee it makes a difference to that one child who can now grow up with a family who loves them. Alternatively, that child would most likely not get the chance to grow up and any growing they did would be in an orphanage or on the streets. It is estimated that 1 in 8 children in Ethiopia die before they are 5 years old. One less orphan makes a difference.
Not to be a downer or anything. Those are some reasons we are adopting from Ethiopia. Or as Karen put it, that's just how we picture our family. When I think of what our family will be like, I imagine an Ethiopian child in the picture. It feels right for us. I know that God will continue to prepare our hearts for this child.
Our next big step is our fundraising dinner and the home study! The home study is about $1,800 (out of our estimated $25,000 total). We will most likely have to update our home study before the whole process is over since it does expire.
Check back for updates! Thanks for reading, Laura.
*If you would like to help support our adoption check out the link to our fundraising page. We also have a Just Love Coffee shop for all you coffee lovers*
Monday, December 3, 2012
Wait, Don't Panic...
We filled out all of our initial paperwork and after about a hundred signatures it was ready to mail! I took it to the post office after school and I have to admit... I was a little nervous! This is how it happened: Went into the post office only to realize that I had left the address in the car. Went back to the car to get it, into the post office again. Picked up a letter size envelope and after I sealed it realized I forgot to include the check! Open the envelope, replace with new one and proceed to write the sender address in the return address section. I mean, seriously! At this point I am starting to feel like others around me think I am suspicious looking and are wondering why this girl can't address a darn envelope. But here I am writing this post and our paperwork is successfully off in postal land waiting to be mailed to Virginia. Phew.
I'll give you one guess as to what I was most nervous about. Any guesses? No? Okay, I'll tell you. How about that check for the first program fee?! It may not seem like a ton of money to some people, but let me tell you, it's not every day that this girl writes a $2,500 check. I think it also had something to do with the fact that this is only the beginning of big check writing in this process.
During our time researching adoption and different agencies, I was fortunate enough to hear many families adoption stories. These people are amazing. They were (and are) patient enough to answer all of my questions...and believe me, I had a LOT of questions. One question that was holding us back for a while was "how do you fund a $25,000 adoption?!" I just kept thinking that these people were not like us. We are both in our first real jobs after college and while we are both thankful and blessed to have them, we don't exactly have an abundance of disposable income flowing in. Then I talked with more families, including one in our small town church! First of all, I was excited just to meet someone else in the area who had been through this experience! Then to hear that they too could not have funded their adoptions without fundraising gave me some hope. She shared incredible stories of the funds arriving just in time or in just the right amount. I was amazed and knew this had been the work of a gracious God. Still, I thought, those things happen to other people...not to me. Hello...point of revelation.
Who am I, the created, to determine what my Creator can and cannot provide? More often than I like to admit, I find myself doubting God. I KNOW that he is almighty, he is the creator of the universe, beginning and end. Why, then, do I end up here? I'm telling you, it is a good thing that I am redeemed through Christ and not by my faithfulness on any given day. When I find that I am doubting, that I am trying to be in control and make plans, I am always reminded of this verse in Matthew:
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
~sigh of relief~ If I take a moment to think of this and remember that I am not in control anyway...it becomes a little easier and even comforting to put it in His hands.
So after all of that, I may not know where the funds for the next payment will come from, but I know that my God will provide. I am sure I will have to remind myself of that many times throughout this process.
On an end note I must insert a shameless plug for our fundraising website. It is up and running, for real, now. Check it out and please share it with your friends and family.
Thanks guys.
http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/Kloster-Family-Adoption/36169
I'll give you one guess as to what I was most nervous about. Any guesses? No? Okay, I'll tell you. How about that check for the first program fee?! It may not seem like a ton of money to some people, but let me tell you, it's not every day that this girl writes a $2,500 check. I think it also had something to do with the fact that this is only the beginning of big check writing in this process.
During our time researching adoption and different agencies, I was fortunate enough to hear many families adoption stories. These people are amazing. They were (and are) patient enough to answer all of my questions...and believe me, I had a LOT of questions. One question that was holding us back for a while was "how do you fund a $25,000 adoption?!" I just kept thinking that these people were not like us. We are both in our first real jobs after college and while we are both thankful and blessed to have them, we don't exactly have an abundance of disposable income flowing in. Then I talked with more families, including one in our small town church! First of all, I was excited just to meet someone else in the area who had been through this experience! Then to hear that they too could not have funded their adoptions without fundraising gave me some hope. She shared incredible stories of the funds arriving just in time or in just the right amount. I was amazed and knew this had been the work of a gracious God. Still, I thought, those things happen to other people...not to me. Hello...point of revelation.
Who am I, the created, to determine what my Creator can and cannot provide? More often than I like to admit, I find myself doubting God. I KNOW that he is almighty, he is the creator of the universe, beginning and end. Why, then, do I end up here? I'm telling you, it is a good thing that I am redeemed through Christ and not by my faithfulness on any given day. When I find that I am doubting, that I am trying to be in control and make plans, I am always reminded of this verse in Matthew:
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
~sigh of relief~ If I take a moment to think of this and remember that I am not in control anyway...it becomes a little easier and even comforting to put it in His hands.
So after all of that, I may not know where the funds for the next payment will come from, but I know that my God will provide. I am sure I will have to remind myself of that many times throughout this process.
On an end note I must insert a shameless plug for our fundraising website. It is up and running, for real, now. Check it out and please share it with your friends and family.
Thanks guys.
http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/Kloster-Family-Adoption/36169
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Adoption and Thoughts on Mommyhood
So here it is. My first blog post. If you don't already know, we announced our journey into the adoption process recently! So a little bit on that. Here are some questions we've been getting.
Q: Where will you adopt from?
A: We are adopting from Ethiopia. It could be a boy or girl, he or she could be alive already or not even conceived. Either way, he/she is in our hearts.
Q: How long will it take?
A: Right now, it could take 3, 4, or more years. That could always change, but we are prepared for a wait.
Q: So, can you not have biological children?
A: As far as we know that is still a possibility for us. Adoption is not a second choice for our family. It has been on our hearts for some time.
Here is a VERY brief overview of our thoughts on adoption.
We are adopted sons and daughters through Christ and we believe that we are called to defend the orphans of the world. Sadly, we live in a broken world where there are millions of orphans in need of forever families. Some are called to adopt, others to support those who do adopt. There is one thing I know; I can't look at the number of orphans in the world and do nothing.
If you know me at all, you know that I stinkin love kids! Did you know that I have wanted to be a teacher since Kindergarten? Kindergarten, people! I can't remember ever really wanting to be anything else...oh except one thing, a mom! Growing up, I pretty much thought that my mom was the best, greatest, most wonderful thing there ever was. I mean really, she drove countless road trips for twirling competitions, hosted the best sleepovers, and put up with two daughters through crazy teen years. That kind of love is something I can't wait to experience. I have no doubt that I will feel that kind of love any less for an adopted child than a biological child.
So there is a short introduction to this blog. Keep following to hear updates about our adoption. Much more to come!
Q: Where will you adopt from?
A: We are adopting from Ethiopia. It could be a boy or girl, he or she could be alive already or not even conceived. Either way, he/she is in our hearts.
Q: How long will it take?
A: Right now, it could take 3, 4, or more years. That could always change, but we are prepared for a wait.
Q: So, can you not have biological children?
A: As far as we know that is still a possibility for us. Adoption is not a second choice for our family. It has been on our hearts for some time.
Here is a VERY brief overview of our thoughts on adoption.
We are adopted sons and daughters through Christ and we believe that we are called to defend the orphans of the world. Sadly, we live in a broken world where there are millions of orphans in need of forever families. Some are called to adopt, others to support those who do adopt. There is one thing I know; I can't look at the number of orphans in the world and do nothing.
If you know me at all, you know that I stinkin love kids! Did you know that I have wanted to be a teacher since Kindergarten? Kindergarten, people! I can't remember ever really wanting to be anything else...oh except one thing, a mom! Growing up, I pretty much thought that my mom was the best, greatest, most wonderful thing there ever was. I mean really, she drove countless road trips for twirling competitions, hosted the best sleepovers, and put up with two daughters through crazy teen years. That kind of love is something I can't wait to experience. I have no doubt that I will feel that kind of love any less for an adopted child than a biological child.
So there is a short introduction to this blog. Keep following to hear updates about our adoption. Much more to come!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)