http://vimeo.com/54807069
https://www.youtube.com/
Saturday, February 16, 2013
A couple of videos worth watching
These videos really touched my heart. I hope you will take the time to listen. This is what family is all about.
http://vimeo.com/54807069
https://www.youtube.com/
http://vimeo.com/54807069
https://www.youtube.com/
Fundraising to bring Monika home
I am waiting (not so patiently) to hear our court date. With all the uncertainty happening in the world of international adoption, I just cannot wait for her to be here with me in our home. Russia was a big issue and it really did make me realize that nothing is final until she is here. Governments change, laws change, there are good and bad judges that can affect the whole process. I am trying to be patient, but have to admit that I am feeling rather anxious at this point in the process. I have heard from enough other adoptive parents to know that others go through these same feelings, but it really does not make it easier. I DO know that God is in this and controls the governments, judges, etc. I DO know that I am following His call in this adoption and I even feel confident that she will be here. I just want it to be over!
I have started 3 fundraisers to try to cover some of the adoption costs. I have approximately $5000 in outstanding costs remaining. I have also financed a portion of the adoption costs I have paid at this point. I was comfortable financing these costs because their was a tax return in the amount of $13,000 that would have paid off all of these costs. Unfortunately the present administration renewed this tax as a refund rather than return. Difference between the two is that if my adoption had completed in 2012 the entire $13,000 would be given back to me to reimburse adoption expenses. The way the law reads now, I will not receive any of this money back. Sorry to divulge all the gory details, but, I wanted you to understand the real issue. I will be trying to earn not only the $5000 but pay off some of the adoption debt and have enough to pay for a full dental and medical check up on her arrival at a clinic that specializes in international adoptions.
Monika is only one orphan in a world of millions. I dream of the day she will realize that she is truly loved. There are so many orphans out there that will never be given that opportunity. The Bible clearly tells us to take care of the orphans and widows. This is an area of the church that is failing. We don't have time to even make ourselves aware of the need and when we do become aware, we are afraid to take action or convinced that the little action we take will not make a big enough difference. I recently read the blog of a family that was trying to earn money to rescue an orphan by trying to get 2000 people to give $5. How many of us cannot afford $5. But that act would give this family $10,000 needed to bring home an orphaned child. I have read and talked to families that have taken in children that had enormous physical and mental needs. It is such a scary step of faith. These families do not "need" another child. They are not trying to expand their families out of need, they are simply trying to follow the calling on their hearts to help the orphans brought to their attention. When Monika comes home, my heart will still be breaking for all the children left behind. It is true that once you see the faces, it is impossible to forget them and their circumstances. It is also impossible to not feel your heart burst as you read the stories of the lives changed through the love of a family. I hope that I can continue to advocate on behalf of those still waiting. If you want to read some of these families stories of life and faith, check out some of the blogs listed on my site. You will never be the same after you open your eyes and heart to this issue. If christians would get behind this problem, we could easily provide homes to every orphan in the world. Not all of us can or even should consider adoption. But all of us can help in some way, by giving money, donating items, giving words of encouragement, providing respite care (babysitting) for tired families that are taking on the exhausting task of raising these hurting children and most of all by praying not only for the families, but for God's leading in what part you should play in this problem.
Well I will stop and get off the pedestal. Sorry, sometimes I just need to let loose of all these thoughts, and now that it is past midnight, it is now my birthday. So maybe you can forgive my birthday diatribe.
Really I need nothing for my birthday. What I really want is for my little girl to be here ASAP.
If you do want to help out, there are three links on the side of this blog that you can click on. One link is to buy a T-shirt, a percentage of each purchase will go directly to my adoption costs. The amazon link is for any purchase you make on Amazon. If you click my link to go into Amazon when you buy, I will get 10% of the purchase towards adoption costs. The last link is an organization called Adopt Together. You can make cash donations into my adoption account. The donations are tax deductible and will be given to me in the form of a grant. The grant will allow me to pay both future adoption costs and reimburse those that I have already paid out of my own funds.
God's richest blessings to all of you reading this tonight. I truly hope that you will feel as richly blessed as I do right now. I do know that not everyone reading my blog believes the same as I do, I love you anyway, and I have to say what my heart is telling me to say right now. The biggest story here, is not Monika, but the story of redemption through adoption. You see, I was orphaned. Not in a physical sense, I have parents, but spiritually I was dead. Jesus paid the price on the cross for my adoption and I belong to His family now. It is the best thing that ever happened to me. If any of you reading this blog have not accepted Jesus, I hope through these true life stories your heart will be touched and you will realize that you are missing out on the most important thing in this life and in the life to come. If you want to message me privately, I would be so blessed to talk to you in more depth.
I have started 3 fundraisers to try to cover some of the adoption costs. I have approximately $5000 in outstanding costs remaining. I have also financed a portion of the adoption costs I have paid at this point. I was comfortable financing these costs because their was a tax return in the amount of $13,000 that would have paid off all of these costs. Unfortunately the present administration renewed this tax as a refund rather than return. Difference between the two is that if my adoption had completed in 2012 the entire $13,000 would be given back to me to reimburse adoption expenses. The way the law reads now, I will not receive any of this money back. Sorry to divulge all the gory details, but, I wanted you to understand the real issue. I will be trying to earn not only the $5000 but pay off some of the adoption debt and have enough to pay for a full dental and medical check up on her arrival at a clinic that specializes in international adoptions.
Monika is only one orphan in a world of millions. I dream of the day she will realize that she is truly loved. There are so many orphans out there that will never be given that opportunity. The Bible clearly tells us to take care of the orphans and widows. This is an area of the church that is failing. We don't have time to even make ourselves aware of the need and when we do become aware, we are afraid to take action or convinced that the little action we take will not make a big enough difference. I recently read the blog of a family that was trying to earn money to rescue an orphan by trying to get 2000 people to give $5. How many of us cannot afford $5. But that act would give this family $10,000 needed to bring home an orphaned child. I have read and talked to families that have taken in children that had enormous physical and mental needs. It is such a scary step of faith. These families do not "need" another child. They are not trying to expand their families out of need, they are simply trying to follow the calling on their hearts to help the orphans brought to their attention. When Monika comes home, my heart will still be breaking for all the children left behind. It is true that once you see the faces, it is impossible to forget them and their circumstances. It is also impossible to not feel your heart burst as you read the stories of the lives changed through the love of a family. I hope that I can continue to advocate on behalf of those still waiting. If you want to read some of these families stories of life and faith, check out some of the blogs listed on my site. You will never be the same after you open your eyes and heart to this issue. If christians would get behind this problem, we could easily provide homes to every orphan in the world. Not all of us can or even should consider adoption. But all of us can help in some way, by giving money, donating items, giving words of encouragement, providing respite care (babysitting) for tired families that are taking on the exhausting task of raising these hurting children and most of all by praying not only for the families, but for God's leading in what part you should play in this problem.
Well I will stop and get off the pedestal. Sorry, sometimes I just need to let loose of all these thoughts, and now that it is past midnight, it is now my birthday. So maybe you can forgive my birthday diatribe.
Really I need nothing for my birthday. What I really want is for my little girl to be here ASAP.
If you do want to help out, there are three links on the side of this blog that you can click on. One link is to buy a T-shirt, a percentage of each purchase will go directly to my adoption costs. The amazon link is for any purchase you make on Amazon. If you click my link to go into Amazon when you buy, I will get 10% of the purchase towards adoption costs. The last link is an organization called Adopt Together. You can make cash donations into my adoption account. The donations are tax deductible and will be given to me in the form of a grant. The grant will allow me to pay both future adoption costs and reimburse those that I have already paid out of my own funds.
God's richest blessings to all of you reading this tonight. I truly hope that you will feel as richly blessed as I do right now. I do know that not everyone reading my blog believes the same as I do, I love you anyway, and I have to say what my heart is telling me to say right now. The biggest story here, is not Monika, but the story of redemption through adoption. You see, I was orphaned. Not in a physical sense, I have parents, but spiritually I was dead. Jesus paid the price on the cross for my adoption and I belong to His family now. It is the best thing that ever happened to me. If any of you reading this blog have not accepted Jesus, I hope through these true life stories your heart will be touched and you will realize that you are missing out on the most important thing in this life and in the life to come. If you want to message me privately, I would be so blessed to talk to you in more depth.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Sadness in the adoption community
There is so much sadness in the adoption community right now. With Russia closing it's doors to Americans for adoption, this left many families in limbo. Many already had matched children and even more had already poured in their hearts, time and money towards an adoption that is now not going to happen. Just heard yesterday of an American adoption agency closing. I don't know the details, but I do know that many parents are now hurting and confused wondering if they will be able to bring their kids home. I really can't imagine their heartbreak. Please pray for these families! Also, please pray for my adoption proceedings. This is a wake up call that even when you think everything is going smoothly, things can change in a moment. Please pray for no delays and that my little girl will come home soon!
Friday, February 1, 2013
Adoption is expensive. Going in to this process I knew it would be costly and gathered as much information as possible. But.....there are many hidden fees and costs that are not told to you ahead of time. Many of these costs cannot be predicted and every adoption is different. At this point I am in the final stretch and need about $5000 of outstanding costs to finalize the adoption and bring my girl home. I have listened to the advice of others that have gone before me in this journey and am going to do a couple of fund raisers to try to raise money for the final costs. There have been 2 links added to the side of the blog (thank you Rebekah!) that give you the opportunity to help. One link is to purchase
T-shirts. Approximately 40% of all sales go directly into my adoption funds. The other link is to Amazon. If you are going to purchase something through Amazon and use this link, 10% of all purchases will go into my adoption fund. Do to privacy policies on Amazon, I will get a list of items purchased along with the % going in to my account, but they do not release the names of those who made the purchase. Just letting you know that, so that when I do not acknowledge or thank you, it is because I have no way of knowing who used the link to make the purchase. I am also in the process of putting up a 3rd link that will give a way to simply make a donation that will be tax deductible. I'll let you know when that is up and running.
Thank you so much for all he prayers and kind words. We are getting so close to the end!
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