Well folks, here is my first blog post! I’m a little nervous about coming up with clever, exciting things to post week after week, but we’ll see how it goes!
There is still uncertainty about home study being approved, or if we’ll be approved to support 3 children, but Josh and I are still moving ahead, trying to do everything we can to ensure things get processed as fast as possible. I truly feel with all my heart, that if we don’t pass financially, we’ll be able to foster, or look to adopting only one child at a time, etc. There will be no completely closed doors, and for that, I can incredibly excited as each day passes. I can’t get these boys out of my head, thinking about all of things we’ll do together, how their rooms will look, what books we’ll collect for their library…even how we’ll endure the challenges of acclimating them to America, to having family and a house of their own, and entering the public school system. I can’t wait to start reading Parenting your Internationally Adopted Child, by Patty Cogen. which Janie H. recommended as being a very helpful guide.
We’re lucky to have such optimistic and supportive friends and family in this process…it’s only the beginning! I think ahead about what speed bumps we might face before this is all said and done. For example, I think about our family-friend, Hilary’s amazing adoption progress that is currently threatened to come to a screeching halt (read about it on her latest post @ http://helmshappenings-ethiopia.blogspot.com/). Please pray for her situation, for the her future baby, and where God will bring Hilary and her family. I ask that you please pray for our 3, wherever they are, and for their caregivers. I am also praying for the children our youth group and I will be visiting at the orphanage in Haiti in about 1 week (YIKES), that God will prepare their hearts (and my fragile one) for our time together there. We will be planning a Vacation Bible School week for them, which I am really excited about. The last time I was involved in VBS…I was attending VBS!
The other day, I happened to stumble on a picture of a 13 year old Russian boy. I couldn’t help but have a broken heart for him. Not knowing his story and how he became orphaned, I can only assume he’s been an orphan for several years. What makes it fair that a boy like him and SO many others, go years and years, without being given a loving family? Why is it fair that I was given a family to belong to, but he isn’t? As I click away and turn a blind eye, he will most likely go on the rest of his teenage years, without being adopted, because how often do parents seek out adding a troubled teenage boy into their family? And I know this is just one story, of the millions of children growing up in hardship around the world. I know God has a plan for everyone, but sometimes his ways are a true mystery to me.
On another note, Josh and I are waiting on a date for our first home study visit. We were told it could possibly happen next week, but are not sure exactly. If it doesn’t happen, it will have to wait until I get back from Haiti and the DR. We’ve been answering lots of home study surveys and typing our autobiographies, which has caused us to think deeply about what we’re doing, about our future, and our past. It’s been enlightening, and has so far, helped me put my thoughts in perspective. We’ve been working like crazy around the house, getting rid of old clutter and furniture, venturing into the 2 upstairs bedrooms we rarely set foot in, and trying to get those spaces to look easily livable. It’s been a long couple weeks of painting off-and-on in between trips, but we’re almost finished! I am not going to want to pick up a paintbrush or roll of tape for a VERY long time when this is over! I was very thankful to get to spend some much-needed time with Sophie, as I used her teen-labor to help with painting.:) We worked and painted until 2am, but we had a good time and got so much more accomplished than I’ve been getting done on my own. Josh has been working all day, then coming home in the evenings, fixing things, helping with painting, and doing little needed projects. I know he’s tired. Here are a few pictures of our messy house as we’re getting things together. Hopefully, we’ll have our first home visit next week. We’re also looking into creative ways to make money for the adoption. Ideas are readily accepted! Grants are available, but from what I hear, nearly impossible to get. We are hoping we might be able to make something to sell on Etsy, and thanks to my friend, Mary, I think we might have a plan!
Till next time,
Jen
couch was hiding out upstairs for a couple years. I cannot WAIT to say goodbye to it!
