Did you know international adoptions have declined 80% over the past several years? While adoption advocates, agencies, and families want only ethical practices followed, our own State Department is throwing up all kinds of extra barriers. And in the meantime, real children are languishing in orphanages with no family and no prospect of in-country adoption. Please take a few minutes to read and sign this petition and let's see if we can get some momentum going with our government.
Sign the petition here
For background info, read this article from World Magazine: The End of International Adoption?
Showing posts with label Adoption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adoption. Show all posts
Friday, March 23, 2018
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
One year anniversary of Jacob's adoption!
Earlier this month we celebrated one year of adoption for Jacob! Daddy made banana pancakes for our family breakfast celebration, and Jacob got to eat off the "you are special today" plate. So thankful we get to celebrate this day with our precious boy!!
Friday, March 13, 2015
Adoption Day!
all gathered together to celebrate Jacob's adoption!
great-grandparents
grandparents
uncles, aunts, and cousins
listening to the judge
Uncle Tyler and Aunt Kayla
the Gent and his brother--resemble each other much?
everyone is interested in presents!
great-grandparents
grandparents
uncles, aunts, and cousins
listening to the judge
Uncle Tyler and Aunt Kayla
the Gent and his brother--resemble each other much?
everyone is interested in presents!
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
It's a Boy!
Gotcha there, didn't I? Still on baby watch over here and we are still expecting Munchkin to be a girl.
However!
We are beyond excited to announce that we are--at long last to us but in God's perfect timing--moving forward with JJ's adoption. We started the paper-signing process today and are anticipating a court date in the next two to three months to finalize the adoption decree. At that time we will announce his new name and finally post photos of his sweet little face!
The whole process has been an emotional roller coaster, especially the last 15 months or so. Someday I may write about that whole experience.
But for now we are thrilled to make this announcement and are deeply appreciative of your prayers on our behalf.
However!
We are beyond excited to announce that we are--at long last to us but in God's perfect timing--moving forward with JJ's adoption. We started the paper-signing process today and are anticipating a court date in the next two to three months to finalize the adoption decree. At that time we will announce his new name and finally post photos of his sweet little face!
The whole process has been an emotional roller coaster, especially the last 15 months or so. Someday I may write about that whole experience.
But for now we are thrilled to make this announcement and are deeply appreciative of your prayers on our behalf.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
There's Enough Love
I haven't written much about foster parenting lately because we are in a difficult place with JJ's case. I have lots of thoughts percolating and will try to sort them out into written form over the next several weeks. In the meantime, please pray for our sweet boy. And read this thought-provoking article on adopting out of foster care: There's Enough Love "Foster children are not damaged goods. If adopted into permanent homes that provide loving and appropriate support, they turn out quite well--and infinitely better than their peers who age out of care."
Friday, August 2, 2013
Friday Thought
Each of us is able in some way to help a child know there is hope for the helpless, and we can do that out of love, not guilt. Lawrence Bergeron
Friday, September 14, 2012
Please Help!
I don't make a lot of political statements and calls for action here, but please consider writing your Senators and Representative (you can find your elected official and their contact information here) and asking them not to End the Adoption Tax Credit This credit has helped thousands of families adopt kids who desperately needed a family. There are so many wonderful people with hearts open to kids in need but not the means to pay the adoption fees (especially for international adoptions!) required. This tax credit helps fill that gap. Take ten minutes of your time and speak up for the little ones who don't have a voice. Every child deserves a forever family.
Monday, October 17, 2011
The First Step
Today we are taking the first step on our foster parenting and adoption journey. Our application is filled out and waiting on my desk. I'll drop it in the mail as soon as the social worker calls me back and tells me where to send it. This is something the Gent and I have been praying about and wanting to do for years and we are so excited that the time is finally right to move forward! We can't wait to see what God has in store for our family. At this time we intend to foster with the goal of reconciling families (This is going to be hard, hard, hard. But either we trust the Lord or we don't. And we trust Him.), but I'm sure we will adopt at some point in time. Please be praying with us.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Foster Parenting Thoughts
Remember this post? Although we have a baby on the way, we haven't forgotten to pray about what role God wants us to play in the foster parenting and adoption arena. We looked into foster parenting classes here, but ultimately decided to wait until we make our final (well, final for the foreseeable future) move next summer. We're continuing to pray about the children (biological, foster, or adopted) the Lord would bring into our family, and feel that at this time we will pursue becoming licensed foster parents for infants and preschoolers next fall.
A lot of people have asked me if we'll be able to "give a child back," perhaps to a situation we don't think is best.
The answer to that question is another question: Is God sovereign?
To which we say, absolutely. We trust that the Lord has plans for our good, even if we don't ever understand it.
While we would be open to adopting a foster child who became eligible for adoption while in our care, we look at foster parenting as an opportunity to advance Christ's ministry of reconciliation. This is a long passage, but bear with me:
2 Corinthians 5:11-21
"Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
I'm not sure if this is going to translate well to the written word, but here goes: God is in the reconciliation business. He reconciles our souls to Himself through the blood of His Son. And we hope to reflect that reconciliation pattern in our work with hurting families, in whatever way the Lord can use us.
Sometimes, we hope, there will be happy endings. Mostly we expect a lot of hurt, children going back to bad situations, and things we don't understand.
But if God is really God, if He is really in control, then we'll trust Him to work for our good in all circumstances. We rest in knowing that He is the same - yesterday, today, forever.
A lot of people have asked me if we'll be able to "give a child back," perhaps to a situation we don't think is best.
The answer to that question is another question: Is God sovereign?
To which we say, absolutely. We trust that the Lord has plans for our good, even if we don't ever understand it.
While we would be open to adopting a foster child who became eligible for adoption while in our care, we look at foster parenting as an opportunity to advance Christ's ministry of reconciliation. This is a long passage, but bear with me:
2 Corinthians 5:11-21
"Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
I'm not sure if this is going to translate well to the written word, but here goes: God is in the reconciliation business. He reconciles our souls to Himself through the blood of His Son. And we hope to reflect that reconciliation pattern in our work with hurting families, in whatever way the Lord can use us.
Sometimes, we hope, there will be happy endings. Mostly we expect a lot of hurt, children going back to bad situations, and things we don't understand.
But if God is really God, if He is really in control, then we'll trust Him to work for our good in all circumstances. We rest in knowing that He is the same - yesterday, today, forever.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Please Join Us
The Gent and I are embarking on a special season of prayer, and we'd love for you to join us.
We've known for years that adoption and/or foster parenting are in our future. The topic came up on an early date way back when, and we've returned to it frequently since. We aren't sure what exactly this calling of the Lord will look like.
Foster parenting, domestic adoption, international adoption, older children, special needs, sibling groups? We're not sure yet. We know God has children already destined for our family. We are waiting on His direction.
How do we choose an agency, when should we start the process, can we afford it? Not sure on the first two. Yes, we can afford the children the Lord will bring us. Millions of people get by on much less. We are abundantly blessed.
Will we have the wisdom to know how to handle the difficulties that will certainly arise? We aren't under any illusions that this will be a piece of cake, but with God's help - absolutely yes.
For now we aren't taking any specific steps other than prayer. We feel the Lord is calling us to seek Him at this time, and we are trusting Him with the details.
We invite you to come and seek His direction with us.
We've known for years that adoption and/or foster parenting are in our future. The topic came up on an early date way back when, and we've returned to it frequently since. We aren't sure what exactly this calling of the Lord will look like.
Foster parenting, domestic adoption, international adoption, older children, special needs, sibling groups? We're not sure yet. We know God has children already destined for our family. We are waiting on His direction.
How do we choose an agency, when should we start the process, can we afford it? Not sure on the first two. Yes, we can afford the children the Lord will bring us. Millions of people get by on much less. We are abundantly blessed.
Will we have the wisdom to know how to handle the difficulties that will certainly arise? We aren't under any illusions that this will be a piece of cake, but with God's help - absolutely yes.
For now we aren't taking any specific steps other than prayer. We feel the Lord is calling us to seek Him at this time, and we are trusting Him with the details.
We invite you to come and seek His direction with us.
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