Happy and sad...

Happy because my sweet Suzanne has a family that wants her.  Sad because of the Russian adoption situation.  Please read my friend Stori's blog post linked below and pray for Suzanne and Daphne's family and for all the other families facing similar situations.  And please pray especially for the children affected.   Oh, I just can't tell you how this child has my heart.  I have often prayed and asked if she is my child, but I knew the answer was no, and now to have her this close to having a family and it being thwarted by politics...ugh!  It hits so close to home.  I cannot imagine having been told that I couldn't make Baby Girl a part of our family.

http://storilayne.blogspot.com/2013/01/lord-its-now.html

Please pray for Suzanne!

Forty-two and scattered

Yesterday was my birthday, however I am not going to blame the scattered nature of this post on my age (as far as I am concerned forty-two is still very young.)  I am going to blame it on the excited anticipation of happy news within the next week.  I have many lists going and much to do and the High Court Order isn't here yet, but it really looks like Baby Girl will be home for Christmas.  I am so excited!!!!  In light of that fact I though I'd do a catch-all post about several things because time will be even scarcer than normal soon (and I'm not exactly known for frequent posting under the best of circumstances.)

First, a reminder.  I am a widow and I lead a young widows' group at my church.  Being this close to so many losses really reminds me of how the holidays are not always happy times for everyone.  Please take a moment to remember and pray for those for whom Thanksgiving and Christmas are just two more huge reminders of loss and loneliness.  My friend Heather wrote beautifully and briefly about this first holiday season without her mom.  I highly recommend it to get a personal perspective on holidays and loss.  Maybe you have a friend who lost a parent, a spouse, a child, or significant other.  Make some time this holiday season to care about them and their pain.

Next up:  now is the time to support Reece's Rainbow's Angel Tree.  Yesterday the kids and I chose our Christmas angels and donated to them.  There is a button over on the right of my blog or use the link above to donate to your own angel.  This grant money will help their family bring them home.  Maybe one of these angels is supposed to be your son or daughter!  What they need most is a family!

Widows and orphans.  My themes.

If you would rather donate to deserving orphans AND have a chance at a fabulous giveaway go visit The Wannderers.  My friend Stori has a wonderful giveaway going on to support her Angel Tree baby and two older orphans, including my sweetie Suzanne, who I have mentioned a number of times on this blog.  Even if you are choosing another angel baby, go to Stori's blog to see the effects of institutionalization on these orphans with Down syndrome.  Heartbreaking.

Sweet Suzanne, where is your mommy?

Now on to happier thoughts, and why I advocate for orphans...last year at this time Super-T officially and legally became a member of our family.  Here was my birthday post from last year.

Super-T banged the judges gavel on the microphone.
Good thing the papers were already signed.  Ha! Ha!

One final super-happy thought!  Last year I was advocating for one specific little girl, "Jovie" on the Angel Tree.  I set up a separate blog called Joy Down in My Heart for that.  Early in the Angel Tree, Jovie was place on the "My Family Found Me" page.  

I am THRILLED to announce that sweet "Jovie" is now home with her new family!!!    

They just got home last week!  How do I know?  Because Jovie and Baby Girl were in the same orphanage.

The place is emptying out!!!

Baby Girl, mommy is coming SOON!!!

It is so exciting to see God putting families together! 

Won't you say "yes" to whatever "yes" He has for you?  

It could be adopting.

It could be sponsoring.
It could be encouraging those who are adopting.

It could be bringing a meal to a family who just brought their little one home.
 Won't you say "yes" to whatever "yes" He has for you?

A post about four kids, none of them mine...

My fellow Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree Warrior Stori is offering matching grants to two families who travel soon to get their children. I love Stori's heart, and she advocates for sweet Kai (who lives in the same country as Baby Girl) and my little love Suzanne 15H. Kai and Suzanne are two of my very favorite children on Reece's Rainbow...two of the ones I would be SO EXCITED if I saw that they had families coming for them.

The matching grants offered are for two families who are going to be travelling SOON to very expensive countries and need additional funds to be able to travel to get their children. One of the families just received the devastating news that the child they were planning on adopting passed away. This is very real, folks. Kids are literally dying. That family is now pursuing a blind referral. I'm sure they would appreciate your prayers as they grieve and process and move forward.

Go check out Stori's blog to get the details of the matching grants for the families who will be traveling THIS WEEK and prayerfully consider what you read there. Look at what Stori and her husband are personally offering and ask yourself if you could give something to one or both of the families.

And finally, here is a picture of my sweet Suzanne who has already been transferred to an institution. Are you her mommy or daddy? I will help you fundraise if you are!

More than coincidence (and the bathroom)

Thank you so much for all the comments on that last post, and especially for your thoughts and prayers.  They truly mean a lot to me!  For any of you who are interested in knowing a bit more of my story, some parts of it are posted on the "My story" tab at the top of this blog. Or you can just ask me questions.  I don't mind.  :)

I made a little phone call today to the Hague adoption unit USCIS to inquire on the status of my I-800A (immigration preapproval.)  The very nice lady told me that my application was approved on April 10!  (See my last post for the significance of the date.)  Do you think that is more than coincidence?


In other happy news:  the bathroom remodel is FINISHED!!!

I still need to hang the shower curtain and put out towels and a few other things, but otherwise it is done and I am THRILLED!  My favorite part is the tile.  I especially love how the octagons and squares tessellate on the floor (can we say "math nerd"?) and the subway tile is pretty great, too. 

 

I also am really happy with the colors: white, light aqua, chrome, and grey (grout)...so bright, cheery, and peaceful.  I don't know how I would have chosen this if it wasn't for Pinterest and the good advice I got.  Decorating is so not my thing, but I am very happy with the outcome.   Many thanks to the friends and family who weighed in on the tile and color choices! 

Remember before?

Yippee for after!

AND we got a free pizza today, AND I found out that one of our little Reece's Rainbow Christmas Angels has a family coming for him.  Talk about a great day!   I am so thankful!

It's happening...

I am 41 years old.  In so many ways I feel like all my life I have been preparing (or being prepared) for my life now.  It is all coming together:  widows and orphans, orphans and widows, educate and encourage.  I am in a flurry of activity: the new widows ministry at my church, advocating for orphans, paperwork for Baby Girl's adoption, connecting with fellow adoptive parents, sharing my story, talking to widows, receiving amazing gifts, and learning...always learning...about God, His word, his love for the unloved and His grace.

Yet, I feel like there is more to come.  I look forward to it with anticipation.  I smile at the future.

P.S.  Lest you think my life is all blue skies and daffodils, here is a dose of my tangible reality:
This is what my kitchen table looks like as I work on adoption paperwork now that the kiddos are in bed.  At least that is what I am going to be working on as soon as I post this...  

Who is peeking out from behind those immigration forms?  :)

Friend

Look at what my sweet friend Sarah is doing to help with Baby Girl's adoption: 

http://shepherdsgrace.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/trust/

I'll write more about the financial aspects of this adoption later, but I wanted to post the link now.


Updated on Leap Day (Feb. 29, 2012):  All necklaces are spoken for.  I am simply amazed and stunned by people's generosity.  Thank you so much to all who gave!  Special thanks to Sarah for this wonderful gift!

Where am I? (a.k.a. adoption timeline)

Oct. 19, 2011   Found Baby Girl on Reece's Rainbow
Oct. 20, 2011   Wondering if this is not just for advocacy...maybe she is ours.  (See "Rosa")
Oct. 25, 2011   Turned in Application Part 1--approved the same day!!!
Nov. 18, 2011   Super T's adoption is finalized.
Nov. 21, 2011   Turned in Formal application and piles of supporting documents.
Dec. 6,  2011    Formal application approved!
Dec. 19, 2011   First home study visit (we had 3 more visits in late Dec. and early Jan.)
Dec. 29, 2011   Turned in Family Sponsorship Program forms to Reece's Rainbow.
Jan. 9, 2012      Home study rough draft turned in

After the home study is approved, I will send off for immigration approval, and after that my paperwork will go to Baby Girl's country to await official matching approval and finally the court order saying I can come get her.  I will likely put a version of this post on a permanent tab at the top of the page so I can keep it updated.

The beginning stages of this adoption process are moving much more quickly than they did with Super T's process.  His whole process took 18 months.  I know you aren't supposed to compare one process to another because they can all be so different, but I am really hoping that Baby Girl will be home before next Christmas (14 months from the start).  I don't know if that is realistic or not, but that is my hope.  I trust in God's perfect timing, but I am praying for quick approvals.

"Rosa"

Back in mid-October I went to the Reece's Rainbow website.  I was just checking in and browsing around and saw that they needed warriors for the Angel Tree.  I decided to sign up.

I found a sweet little girl "Rosa" who didn't have a picture and who was medically in basically the same situation Super T was in at that age.  I always think the kids from the countries that don't allow pictures are at a disadvantage on a photolisting site, and I sure didn't want this sweet girl to wait nine years for a family like Super T did.  I could tell a few additional facts about her because of her ID numbers at the top of her listing and these things intrigued me.  Also her date of birth caught my eye.  I emailed the person in charge of Angel Tree and said that I would like to be Rosa's Christmas Warrior.  I would advocate and raise money for this baby girl so she could find a family.

By the next day my thoughts had changed...


Here is the link to the information Reece's Rainbow has about Rosa. 

I think the name situation is confusing.  "Rosa" is just a made-up-name for the website.  She also has a legal name, another name that her carers call her, and we will be naming her something completely different from any of these names.  I uses pseudonyms for my kids on this blog so "Rosa" will be Baby Girl.  I do have pictures now, but won't be able to post them here for legal reasons.

If you see me in real life I would be thrilled to share her future name and cute pictures with you!

Just a little teaser...

Back in November I posted that I was "distracted."  Although Reece's Rainbow's Angel Tree was ONE reason I was distracted, it wasn't the main reason.  The MAIN reason is our #1 in our Top 10 for 2011 and that will have to wait until tomorrow.  ;)

Today is the last day for the Angel Tree, so hop on over there and help us get each of these angels $1000 in their grant fund and then come back here tomorrow to see our #1.

Here are some of the sweet kiddos that you can donate to on the Angel Tree:

Many thanks to Sydney at Design by Grace and Faithful Always for the blog redesign.  Didn't she do a great job?

Happy New Year!