Saturday, July 30, 2011

Our First Little Package

We have been encouraged by other adoptive families and our agency to send Asher a care package.

While we wait and wait for our LOA (it really has only been 20 days since LID), this will help us to feel as if we are a part of his life. I know he probably won't understand much, but his caretakers will. In fact, sometimes I have heard that when they get a care package for a child that is often the first time they "hear" about that particular child being adopted soon. I feel a little sad that they might find out this way. But I have no idea of knowing if they know or not yet, and at least they will see that we desire to be involved.

We could send it ourselves or have someone like Ann at Red Thread do it for us, directly in China.  We opted for this package to come from Ann. She is Chinese and has worked with these orphanages for 5 years now. She has often been able to get photos and updates on the child, often ahead of the US adoption agencies. (We asked for an update from our agency a week ago, but no word yet. I hope that comes soon too.)


She also doesn't charge very much more for doing this than I would pay for to do it myself. She will give me a quick update on when it was delivered and what she could find out about the child for us. She requests this information on our behalf.

For the package we put in a disposable camera (hoping the family will take some photos of him for us and pass it along back on Gotcha Day.) We also put in some tea and cookies as a gift for the foster family.

We added this cute little child's photo album and sent 6 pictures of our family to be put into it.





We put in a child's book.

 
And we sent this sweet little panda bear for him.




Ann also is translating a short little note to the orphanage, that I wrote. I felt some pressure, as I only had a maximum of 400 letters and this is our first personal "communication" to the care takers. I couldn't say much, but I did let them we know feel very honored to be adopted him soon. I told them we already love him in our hearts. I thanked them for the loving and good care they are giving him. I also requested some photos if it was possible. I hope they pass it along to the foster family, but they may not.
  

I hope to have some new news about him so very soon. It has been 5 long months since we had any information, and that was even 3 months old. I am imagining that he looks and acts a lot different from his 9 month old medical report. He is not really a baby anymore, but I am sure has his own personality, with likes, dislikes and little ways that are unique to him. 



I will post our news as soon as we have it.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

LID and misc things

We found out that we were Logged In to China's CCWAA; which is their official adoption agency.
Our LID (Log In Date) was July 11th. We are so excited to be on this part of our adoption journey! It will still take weeks, likely months until we hear from China if we are approved to adopt "Asher". Please pray that things will move along.


I know this little boy has no clue his world will be rocked so very soon. In reality, 5 or 6 months really isn't that long away. I am praying every day that his heart will be soft to us, especially Jay and I. 


I plan to be sending a care package to him as soon as we get our LOA (approval). I am still holding off on buying the so many things we need for this little boy. I do have a few boy toddler clothes, but I got rid of most of them. But right now, I don't even know his size. I am guessing he will be about a size 2. I suppose I am just waiting for that official approval from China. I did buy 2 pairs of pants for him that were on clearance cheap the other day though. I need a crib, mattress, car seat, bibs, and clothes. I also want to find some authentic Chinese toys for him, but I may buy those in China anyway.


Thank you so much for your prayers. We are surviving this paper chasing and waiting, because of your prayers. We also got an update on our grant donations. We are humbled by our friends whom have donated so far. What a joy to see God move in the body of Christ. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all of you who have given to us. 



Saturday, July 9, 2011

Bring Our Children Home...by Cindy Foote

Making Some Things for Asher

While we are on summer break I am trying to do some projects.
Two of them were a tag blanket for Asher (we call it a "Snuggle") and a weighted blanket for him too.
Weighted blankets are known for helping a child with sensory issues feel calm and sleep better. It will almost be a guarantee that Asher will have sensory issues.They sell for up to $200 or more! I knew we couldn't afford that and so I found a few easy on-line tutorials and made one myself. 


Here is a tutorial that I started with.


Pattern


I did add a little bit more to the pattern. I sewed a double edge around the sides, in order to insure that beads won't be all over my carpet. I also folded the top as neatly as I could and sewed that down.


Here is some pictures of Snuggle and the blanket:


                          Lenea is modeling Asher's little blanket with tags, otherwise known as "Snuggle".




                                             Here I am sewing up the Weighted Blanket.


 The finished blanket- it has 4 1/2 lbs of polly pellets in it and feels cozy. It took about 2 hours total to make.


 Lenea is trying it out for you. I was going to let her nap with it, to see if she wanted one, but she is too particular about her own traditions and she refused to take it with her to nap. Oh well, I am glad I made Asher's first.




                                         Funny, she likes to snuggle and play with it though! 

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

10 Ways to Be Involved in Adoption

10 Ways You and Your Church Can Be Involved in Adoption and Orphan Care in 2011

from David Wooten Jan 10, 2011 Category: Articles
Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” James 1:27
There are more than 163 million orphans in the world today. Even in the United States there are almost half a million orphans in the foster care system. Most of these have been abused, neglected or abandoned. These are the ones the Bible speaks of when it mentions the “fatherless.” The Scriptures are clear that the task of caring for these little ones belongs to His people. Christians can not only show the compassion of Christ in caring for orphans, but also display a picture of the gospel.
The question for any believer is not whether to be involved in the ministry of orphan care, but how. Below are ten suggestions to get you thinking about how you might participate in a ministry that can change the lives of children and families.

1. PRAY

Pray for orphans and children in foster care who will go to bed tonight wondering if there is any place they belong. Ask God to meet their needs and provide a forever family for them. Pray for prospective adoptive families who are waiting for children and children who are waiting for families. Seek how the Lord would have you be involved in the work of orphan care. Pray that your church would effectively engage in the global orphan crisis. Thank God for the work of His Spirit in calling out His children to visit orphans in their distress.

2. LEARN

There is much to learn about the needs, resources, and issues concerning adoption and orphan care. Study God’s Word to see what the Bible says about the fatherless. Learn about children in your local foster care system and what needs they have. Discover the plight of orphans in distant lands. Recognize your responsibility to care in practical ways for vulnerable orphaned children locally and globally.

3.  WELCOME

God has opened His heart to the fatherless and wants us to open our hearts as well. Create a climate in your home among your family and cultivate a culture in your church that receives the little and the least. Give them a sense that they are welcomed, loved  and that they belong.

4. ENCOURAGE

The life of a foster or adoptive family can have its challenges. Show appreciation for what they are doing in providing a loving family to these children. Your encouraging words may be just the thing they need to persevere through a difficult time. You can support these families by providing respite care to give them a night out, some time away, help running errands, or bring over meals. Be creative and have fun finding ways to be a wrap-around family supporting them in caring for orphans.

5. GIVE

The cost of private or international adoption and the price of ministering to the fatherless can be high. Your financial support can go a long way to help orphans as you give to ministries and organizations who serve the needs of these children. Many of these ministries depend on the faithful, sacrificial gifts of folks like you. Helping cover the high cost of adoption can help make adoption affordable and accessible for a family that otherwise might not be able to adopt.

6. GO

God commands us to “visit orphans in their affliction.” This word “visit” means “to show care and provision for.” You can do this by participating in a mission trip through your church to an orphanage showing compassion to these children and helping them to understand the special place they have in God’s heart. Become a regular visitor to a local orphanage or group home where children in foster care live.

7. VOLUNTEER

Give your time to an organization or family who cares for orphans or is involved in adoption. You might mentor or tutor a young person in foster care. You might volunteer at an adoption agency by helping with a special event, assisting in their fundraising efforts or using your talents in a way that benefits their ministry. You might help one of the 20,000 teens aging out of the foster care system this year by including them into your family’s activities. Become a Guardian ad Litem for a child giving a voice to the neglected and abused.

8. ADOPT OR FOSTER

While not everyone is called to foster or adopt, some are. Perhaps God is calling you to open your home to a child who needs a family. You may adopt from foster care or an orphan from overseas. Through adoption your family will display the gospel in a unique and dynamic way. Adopting a child from America’s foster care system carries little or no cost at all. Many would step up to adopt if they only knew that.

9. MOBILIZE

Launch a ministry in your church that will impact the global orphan crisis. With the permission and direction of your church’s leaders, you can be a catalyst that can meet the needs of children and families in your church, community and around the world. Your ministry might address foster care, adoption or orphans. Doubtless there are others in your congregation who will want to join you in reaching out through this ministry.

10. ADVOCATE

There are many ways in which the current foster care system needs to be revised to be more family friendly. You can be an advocate to speak out for the best interests of children who have been neglected, abused or abandoned. By learning what the current issues are, you will be better able to speak out on their behalf. Let your voice be heard when you can influence legislation or policy change that will benefit children and families and help improve the foster care system.
The Bible says that “true and undefiled religion in the eyes of God the Father is to care for orphans and widows in their distress” There is no clearer picture of the gospel that that of adoption. God took us when we were slaves to sin and brought us into His forever family to become His children. When you become involved in the ministry of adoption and orphan care, you are displaying the glorious gospel for the world to see. Regardless of how you are involved, by engaging in caring for orphans in their distress, you are practicing true and undefiled religion. Yours can be an investment that can impact many lives and will last a lifetime and beyond.

David Wooten is Director of Operations and Development at Embraced by Grace Inc. Adoption Agency

We are DTC!!!! Yippee.

Found out today that our documents were sent to China on June 30th. I hadn't heard over the weekend and I was so praying and hoping it was already sent. I was relieved to get an email this morning that it was truly sent last week.

Now we wait for a Log In Date (LID) which can be anywhere from 1-3 weeks on average. Each step can feel long but just another closer day to meeting our new son.

As soon as we get our approval (still a couple of months, likely) I can post photos of him for you all to see. He has the sweetest, chubbiest face ever. You are going to melt when you see it.