Law Changes in Ethiopia

There has been a big change in the adoption process for Ethiopia.

"Beginning April 9, 2010, adoptive families will be required to attend their court date in Ethiopia. Up until now, we were able to have an agency staff member represent us in court. All the adoptive family had to do was wait for the news to come that they passed. What this means for us is an EXTRA trip to Ethiopia. We will need to travel there twice." (Taken from another blog, but I've seen many posts about this in the last 24 hours.)

I think this is one to sit and watch because I KNOW that "court" doesn't always (or OFTEN) pass on the first try in Ethiopia. It will get rescheduled a few weeks or month later. Sometimes many times.

This means we WOULD have to travel at least twice. (HUGE cost issue.) It could me we would be traveling numerous times. Right now I'm actually glad that we didn't send our formal application in 'yet.' I would like to sit back and watch the process to be sure that people aren't having to travel numerous times to pass court first.

I'm going to look more seriously into child sponsorship for now. I feel the NEED to do something.
(Anyone out there in internet land know of a good child sponsorship program? Specifically for Africa, and preferably an agency that I can send letters and small gifts to the children.)

Good luck to everyone in the middle of the process. I know that this is a HUGE burden financially for many of you.

The For a Day Foundation

Good news! Our chapter finally got the green light to book our first event in 2010! We've been working with Devos Childrens Hospital to put on this event for a few months. What is the For a Day Foundation? It's a "501(C)3 non-profit organization, that aims to counter the debilitating emotional side effects of cancer treatment in children ages 1-21 through positive attention and self-confidence building activities." We have tea-party style events for the girls. We paint their nails, apply make up, take pictures, and do crafts. The girls are crowned, with a real tiara, Queen for a Day! The boys will meet & play with firefighters, get a fire hat, play games, do crafts, and share hero stories.
Updates to come soon! First party will likely be in May!

Blog Title

Last night I woke up & the first thought that came to my mind was "a leap of faith."
I think that should we choose to adopt I will change my blog name to this statement. Then today I read on another blog the words "Leap, and the net will appear."

.. too be continued.

Define Necessity

Define Necessity. A 2 car garage? A fridge full of food? A closet full of clothing? A car for each adult? What's a necessity in America?

It's March 10th. Just over 2 months into a new year. Did you know that 24 MILLION people have died because of starvation this year? THIS YEAR. Did you know that 200,000 kids will die of starvation this week?

"For I was hungry and you did not feed me. I was thirsty and you did not give me a drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite me to your house. I was naked, and you did not give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you did not visit me."

"Then they will reply, 'Lord when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?"

"I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me."

(This is the absolute saddest thing I have ever seen.)

Every 2.43 seconds someone dies from starvation.

Now redefine necessity.

The heart of God

Sunday Mornings

Yesterday I was about to write this process off as something that wasn't meant to be. I'm not sure Dan & I are on the same page. We are reading the same 'book.' I think we both have felt 'the call.' We both understand that God has opened our eyes to the needs of these children. What we do with this knowledge is still up for discussion.

Yesterday I took the kids, along with my parents & nephew Braedon, to the Grand Rapids Symphony's "Picnic Pops" for kids. As you know, we live in a predominantly white community. The church where this was held was no different. As I was sitting there I watched a very young little girl with beautiful black curls play on her mom's lap a few rows ahead. I wondered if she was adopted. If she was a child from Africa. As I was watching this baby another little girl, a few years older, and just as beautiful, walked next to me & sat a few rows behind. She also had beautiful dark skin & curls. Hand in hand with her light skinned mom and little brother. Was she also adopted? Is this a coincidence? Maybe. But in a sea of white faces and blond/brown hair, these beautiful little girls sat a few rows ahead, and a few rows behind me. If God was trying to tell me something, it worked.

Here is a Sunday morning meditation that I found on another blog, linked above in the title.

IS THIS TRUE OF ME?


It is easier to serve or work for God without a vision and without a call,
because then you are not bothered by what He requires. But once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God asks of you will always be there to prod you on to do His will.
You will no longer be able to work for Him on the basis of common sense.
Never consider whether or not you are of use - you are His.

What does 143,000,000 look like?

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8