Last night I got the most exciting phone call from our case worker. She told me the investigation on that little girl in Uganda is complete. She was about to send an email with her information to us. I was SO excited!
It was so amazing to finally get to see a photo of this beautiful little 3 year old girl! I had no idea how emotional that moment would be for me. I couldn't stop looking at her. I kept thinking, "this is going to be my daughter. This is my daughter". (I realize she will not technically be my daughter for several more months, but I already think of her as my daughter now.) She appears to be healthy in the photo and she has the BIGGEST smile on her face. Her hair is very short. I think the orphanages shave the girls heads to keep hair care to a minimum. I can't wait to let her hair grow out. I will learn how to do adorable braids for her.
Unfortunately I cannot share any identifying information about her on social media until after we adopt her. But basically we learned that she has been in an orphanage most of her life. Her name is so perfect. I absolutely love it. Jeremy and I are planning to keep her given first name and we will give her a middle name. We haven't quite decided yet.
Our case worker also told me the court date in Uganda will be set for sometime between February and July. I can't believe how fast this is all going. God is so good!
We are almost done with the home study. And we are frantically working on our Dossier. The Dossier is similar to the home study as far as paperwork but ten times more! I am so thankful for our friends and family who have promptly written reference letters.
There are some days I feel so overwhelmed. I know it will all be worth it.
"I believe that God totally, absolutely, intentionally gives us more than we can handle. Because this is when we surrender to Him and He takes over, proving Himself by doing the impossible in our lives." written by Katie Davis in her book "Kisses From Katie".
This is the most inspirational book I have ever read. It's Katie's story of how she moves to Uganda after finishing high school, adopts 13 girls, and cares for hundreds more. It is truly amazing how much difference just one person can make for so many. I highly recommend reading this book.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Paperwork and more paperwork
It has been a crazy busy time since my last post! With both boys in Soccer, school starting up again for the year and working on the Home Study, life has been hectic to say the least. The Home Study is a process of checklists of paperwork and more paperwork. We have had fingerprints for FBI checks, police reports, child abuse background checks, and medical clearances. We have completed numerous applications and extensive questionnaires. Now that the paperwork part of the home study is done (WOOHOO!), we will have home visits from a social worker.
We also completed a 10 hour online course that was specific to adopting a child who has been neglected. It is very sad to learn how much neglect can affect a child. Neglect can mean many things. Maybe she doesn't get food/milk when she is hungry, or her diaper is not changed for long periods of time or she is not held and loved when she cries. For every 3 months a child is neglected they are delayed 1 month in brain development. So that means if our daughter comes home at age 3, chances are she will be developmentally closer to a 2 year old!
The course also explained how neglected children need a different type of discipline and parenting than a child who has had all their needs met since birth. For example, instead of placing her in time out in a corner, the course suggested time out between the parents legs on the floor. This helps the child not feel rejected. Or if the child is hungry before dinner, it is better to feed them than make them wait.
And now for the good news; after researching and calling about 25 different international agencies, we finally found one. (YAY!) And it is very possible they have a 3 year old little girl waiting right now in Uganda! They are currently waiting on an investigation on her to be complete before they will release any information to us. This was not exactly what we expected. We thought we would be on a waiting list for months maybe even years before a child was offered to us.
We are trying not to get too excited yet. From what we've heard, adoption can be an emotional roller coaster. Sometimes a child is offered to a family, then the offer is taken away later. For now we are just praying for Gods will to be done. We will be happy with whatever happens.
"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21
We also completed a 10 hour online course that was specific to adopting a child who has been neglected. It is very sad to learn how much neglect can affect a child. Neglect can mean many things. Maybe she doesn't get food/milk when she is hungry, or her diaper is not changed for long periods of time or she is not held and loved when she cries. For every 3 months a child is neglected they are delayed 1 month in brain development. So that means if our daughter comes home at age 3, chances are she will be developmentally closer to a 2 year old!
The course also explained how neglected children need a different type of discipline and parenting than a child who has had all their needs met since birth. For example, instead of placing her in time out in a corner, the course suggested time out between the parents legs on the floor. This helps the child not feel rejected. Or if the child is hungry before dinner, it is better to feed them than make them wait.
And now for the good news; after researching and calling about 25 different international agencies, we finally found one. (YAY!) And it is very possible they have a 3 year old little girl waiting right now in Uganda! They are currently waiting on an investigation on her to be complete before they will release any information to us. This was not exactly what we expected. We thought we would be on a waiting list for months maybe even years before a child was offered to us.
We are trying not to get too excited yet. From what we've heard, adoption can be an emotional roller coaster. Sometimes a child is offered to a family, then the offer is taken away later. For now we are just praying for Gods will to be done. We will be happy with whatever happens.
"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21
Friday, August 8, 2014
Getting Started
Jeremy and I are SO excited to finally start the process of adoption. We have been talking about doing it for many years!
Jeremy has been ready for a while now and I have been saying "in 5 years from now". However, in the last 6 months God has been working in my heart in a way I have never experienced. I know now is the time to get started.
Getting started has been quite the task. We recently met a lovely couple who adopted a beautiful little girl from Africa through our church. I thought we would just follow exactly in their footsteps and everything would go perfectly smooth. Boy was I wrong! I have spent the last 5 days researching and calling agencies across the country. I have already hit many roadblocks because of programs being closed or "not taking new families at this time".
We are now trying to pick which country we would like to adopt from.
11 years ago I did a medical mission trip to Africa. Our team stayed at an orphanage in Mozambique. My heart was forever changed. I wanted to take all of those beautiful little babies home with me.
Unfortunately, like most countries in Africa, Mozambique does not allow international adoptions. Sadly, there are only a handful of countries that do allow international adoptions.
At this time we are looking at Ethiopa or Uganda programs. Surprisingly, the wait for a younger child (we are hoping for a 2 to 4 year old) is very long. It's possible we will have to wait up to 4 years!
It doesn't make sense that there are literally millions of orphans in Africa and the wait time is that long.
But for now, that is where I feel God has led us to adopt. We have a lot of hope, faith, and love for the little girl that will someday be ours.
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV)
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