Forever Family

You Love Me Anyway

2012-02-14T04:59:00.000-08:00

It's Valentine's Day and love is in the air. This song from Sidewalk Prophets says it best!

The question was raised
As my conscience fell
A silly, little lie
It didn’t mean much
But it lingers still
In the corners of my mind
Still you call me to walk
On the edge of this world
To spread my dreams and fly
But the future’s so far
My heart is so frail
I think I’d rather stay inside
But You love me anyway
It’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known
Yes You love me anyway
Oh Lord, how You love me
It took more than my strength
To simply be still
To seek but never find
All the reasons we change
The reasons I doubt
And why do loved ones have to die?
But You love me anyway
It’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known
Yes You love me anyway
Oh Lord, how You love me
I am the thorn in Your crown
But You love me anyway
I am the sweat from Your brow
But You love me anyway
I am the nail in Your wrist
But You love me anyway
I am Judas’ kiss
But You love me anyway
See now, I am the man who yelled out from the crowd
For Your blood to be spilled on this earth shaking
ground
Yes then, I turned away with a smile on my face
With this sin in my heart tried to bury Your grace
And then alone in the night, I still called out for You
So ashamed of my life, my life, my life
But You love me anyway
It’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known
Yes,You love me anyway
Oh Lord, how You love me
You love me, yes You love me
How You love me

Life is Good

2012-02-11T11:38:00.000-08:00

In Case You Missed it

2012-02-06T16:47:00.001-08:00

Super Bowl Winning Coach Tony Dungy Halftime Video for AdoptionJourney.org from Adoption Journey on Vimeo.

Soccer

2012-01-22T16:16:00.000-08:00

It was a beautiful weekend to win the championship! Way to go Parker!

A Land Haunted by Ghosts

2012-01-16T16:26:00.000-08:00

The devastating earthquake in Haiti was two years ago last Thursday. Port-au-Prince was left under a pile of rubble and life in Haiti, already the poorest nation, became nearly impossible. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to spend time with some of the youngest victims. Progress is being made by some amazing organizations who refuse to give up on a Nation many feel has no hope.

Haiti: Reflections On Overcoming 2 Years Of Disaster

by JASON BEAUBIEN

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January 15, 2012

On Thursday, Haiti marked the second anniversary of the devastating 2010 earthquake. NPR's Jason Beaubien was back in the Caribbean nation for the quake memorials and he sent us this reporter's notebook about covering Haiti over the last few years.

Haiti is a land haunted by ghosts. My translator, Jean Pierre, won't shut up about the ghosts. He points toward some men plodding up the dusty street hauling huge bags of charcoal on their heads.

"Zombies," he declares. "Dead dudes are everywhere."

Haiti makes you believe in spirits, in resurrection. Fallen presidents rise up, they return in waves. Baby Doc Duvalier; Jean Bertrand Aristide; Ousted into exile but now home.

When I first came to Haiti in 2008, the city of Gonaives was under water. Over the course of a month, Gonaives was hit by two hurricanes, two tropical storms and it flooded twice.

When I came back in 2010, Port-au-Prince was under piles of rubble. Entire hillside slums had slammed down onto their neighbors below. Grey powdery dust covered everything; fires burned across the city.

Two years later, I still can't pull into the driveway of the Hotel Villa Creole without seeing the ghosts lying there. Right after the quake, the hotel driveway was covered with dying and injured Haitians. Children lay on sheets and blankets on the ground. A visiting gynecologist was sewing up a girl's head wound by flashlight.

As a reporter, some quotes get burned into your mind. "There isn't a family in Haiti that isn't crying right now," a woman told me in English.

Maybe those words stuck with me because I'd been crying myself. That morning my translator and I had been standing on a field of earthquake debris talking to an old woman. Tears streaked all our faces as the woman recounted how the walls of her house had started to wobble, and how her grandchildren didn't get out.

And then there were the bodies — piles of bodies — stacked like cord wood beside the road, dumped at the morgue, burned in the streets, shoveled with front-end loaders into trucks and dropped into mass graves at an old gravel pit just outside the city.

Just days after the quake, people gathered in front of destroyed churches to sing, to pray, to praise a God that appeared to have abandoned them.Some of the men clearing debris could have been zombies, ghosts who'd wormed their way up to the surface. They were everywhere, stoically pounding away with sledge hammers at what looked like insurmountable piles of rubble.

Over the coming weeks and months, spaces cleared. Tarps and tents went up. Shacks were built.

But like the double flooding of Gonaives, Haiti can't seem to get just one catastrophe at a time.

A cholera outbreak spread across the entire island, sickening a half a million people and killing thousands. More dead; more ghosts.

There's a lot of bad news in Haiti. Earthquake victims — 500,000 of them — are still living in squalid camps. There are entire neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince with no toilets, no electricity and no clean water. Cholera is now endemic.

But I left this time feeling like the country is at least moving forward. New universities, hospitals and hotels are being built. There's a government in place.

Haiti's ghosts seem to hang over the country whispering about its long tragic history. But even so, the streets of Port-au-Prince fill every day with chaotic traffic jams and freewheeling commerce.

It's reassuring that despite everything, people have somewhere to rush to. They have things they need to do, lives to live.

My Little Princess

2012-01-16T10:10:00.000-08:00

My little Russian American Princess is growing up so fast! She is so much fun. She knows how to laugh and boy can she laugh! She has a strong will and a sense of adventure and wow can she voice her opinion! I feel so blessed to have such an amazing daughter, two amazing sons, a house filled with noise and laughter, great friends and the opportunity to make 2012 the best year yet!

This is Good!

2012-01-07T18:07:00.000-08:00

This blog post was recently published by The Christian Alliance for Orphans. It is great news for the millions of children around the world who need love and support. It is encouragement for all those who work with, volunteer with, care for, and love orphans!

http://www.christianalliancefororphans.org/2011/12/30/as-2011-ends-three-amazing-affirmations-of-a-growing-movement/

Preparing for Christmas

2011-12-17T06:15:00.000-08:00

In spite of the many benefits God has blessed us with, how many times do we complain about little difficulties and trials? We lose sight of the big picture and fail to appreciate the really important things. Just as we cannot benefit from a wrapped gift under a Christmas tree until we open it, so gratitude can be seen as our way of opening the gift of God's love intended by all the small and big positive events of our lives.

~Ronda De Sola Chervin

I can hardly believe it is only one week until Christmas! I am so grateful for this time of year. It has been a relaxing month leading up to Christmas. The children and I have enjoyed decorating, cooking, spending time with friends. I have felt less pressure to be busy and make the season perfect. I am so thankful for my children, my job and my friends. It has been a year of transition. I have grown closer to my children and discovered my true friends. I can rest in God's love and promises. Life is truly a gift!

Black Friday

2011-11-25T13:45:00.000-08:00

Forget getting up early, sales, and crowds. This is how we spent Black Friday!

Pumpkin Carving

2011-10-29T16:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!

Orphan's Table

2011-10-04T15:53:00.000-07:00

Orphan Sunday is Nov. 6th.
It is a great way for individuals and churches to come together and be a voice for the orphan. It can be something as simple as a short video raising awareness for adoption, foster care or global orphan care or an entire sermon focusing on God's heart for the orphan. The church that I am attending is launching an Orphan Ministry on this Sunday and I am so excited! It is something we have prayed about and planned for since April. The Christian Alliance for Orphans has put together a website that is full of resources. One of the resources is "The Orphan's Table" It is an easy, inexpensive way to raise awareness for global orphan care. It is a simple meal that can be shared with the youth, small groups or the entire church. For a small donation, Christian Alliance will send pre packaged, easy to prepare meals with discussion and prayer guides related to orphans and our response to the crisis.
What is your church doing for Orphan Sunday?

Ready for Soccer

2011-10-01T12:29:00.000-07:00

Fall is here and that means its time for soccer! Let the fun begin!

Island Time

2011-09-24T11:56:00.000-07:00

When you live year round in South Florida, twenty minutes from Sanibel Island, you tend to take it for granted. This weekend the kids and I decided to live on Island time. I am writing this from a lounge chair overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. We are spending three nights at Sanibel Harbour Resort and Spa in a condo. We have a wrap around lanai with an amazing view

Last night we swam and watched the sun set over the water. The sunsets over Sanibel are amazing!

Today has been spent on the boogie board, collecting coconuts, making sand castles and shelling.

Tonight our biggest decision will be chocolate or mango ice cream. Life is Good!

Abba, Father

2011-09-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

Romans 8:14-16

The last few weeks have been a time for me to really reflect and cry out to God, my Abba Father. I have been thinking a lot about orphans, adoption and how God loves us. It breaks my heart to know that there are millions of children around the world who feel unwanted and unloved. Often when I talk to people about orphan care they have a similar response. "I can't imagine adopting an older child, they are damaged" It is true, many of these children have lived through terrible tragedy. They have lost parents due to disease and starvation. They have been abused and abandoned. They deal with attachment issues and anger. They often have disease or disabilities. Despite this, they deserve love. Many families adopt these children into their families and love them unconditionally. Families make the decision to love and accept a child even if they are not "perfect".

We were all orphans and have all been adopted into God's family. I don't have to have it all together. We don't have to be "perfect" for God to love us and accept us unconditionally. There will always be those who only see the damage, the past, the disease and disability; but that is not how God sees his children. How awesome is it that I have a Father that loves me like this and not the orphan that I once was.

Two Years with Grace

2011-08-19T17:06:00.000-07:00

Two years ago today, the beautiful little girl who was born in Pskov Russia, became an American citizen and met her family for the first time. We love you Grace Albina and are so blessed to have you in our family!

Look at her now!

God's Mercies in Disguise

2011-08-11T17:16:00.000-07:00

Out of the Chaos Came the Promise

2011-07-06T18:05:00.000-07:00

Selah is one of my favorite worship bands. Their music is inspiring, uplifting and full of hope and promise. This is their first single "Hope of the Broken World" Their new CD comes out in August. Check it out!

They Grow Up Too Fast

2011-06-03T16:40:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that my first born is heading to a dance. He is growing up so fast. I am so proud of the young man he is becoming!

Project HOPEFUL

2011-05-23T11:23:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate to meet Carolyn Twietmeyer and hear her speak this year at the Summit. What an amazing family. Carolyn Tweitmeyer founded Project HOPEFUL after her eyes were opened to the outdated and seriously-flawed immigration procedures facing adoptive families of international (and especially HIV+) children.

With a strong desire to adopt children most in need of a family, Carolyn and her husband Kiel decided to adopt a sibling group from Ethiopia- consisting of an older child, a child with HIV/AIDS, and a baby. When they came up against unyielding immigration delays, they partnered with other families facing similar issues and were eventually successful in reforming US immigration policy pertaining to international adoption and HIV.

Project HOPEFUL was born out of this effort. Carolyn's mission in life is to educate, enable, and encourage families to open their minds to the possibility of adopting HIV positive children.
Her burden for these children was further fueled by the subsequent adoption of Selah, a child in the end stages of AIDS. Selah has a now vibrant life and the Twietmeyers were also able to bring home Andu and Eyerus, Selah's teen-aged brother and sister.

A blog post by Jennifer Fulwiler has a great summary related to adopting children with HIV. Here are some interesting facts:

1. HIV-positive orphans often have almost no chance of being adopted in their home countries
Even though there’s still plenty of misinformation about the subject here in the United States, our understanding of HIV/AIDS is much further along than that of many countries. Unfortunately, many of the areas of the world where there are the highest numbers of HIV-positive children needing homes are areas where people with the disease face the biggest stigmas.

2. Children with HIV who have access to good medical care usually have normal life expectancies
HIV is no longer considered a terminal illness, and is thought of by the medical community more as a chronic condition like Type I diabetes. According to the National Institute of Health, the life expectancy of HIV-positive people who have access to medical care is about the same as non-infected people.

3. There has never been a case of someone contracting HIV through normal household contact
You cannot get HIV from sharing food and drinks or using the same bed or toilet as an HIV-positive person. You also can’t contract it from changing diapers, hugging, kissing, or from bathing or swimming with someone who’s infected with the virus.

4. Modern drug therapies can render the HIV virus almost undetectable
My friend who is the mother of two HIV-positive children tells me, “On average, only one week after beginning HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy), 90% of all HIV in the body is gone; within one month, 99% is gone.” Related to the above, this also makes the disease much less likely to be transmitted, even in cases of blood contact.

5. It is usually possible to get health insurance for HIV positive kids
In most situations, it’s required by law that health insurance cover adopted children the same as biological children, regardless of pre-existing conditions. Also, employer-sponsored group plans usually cover HIV. In addition, most states offer assistance for the medical care of HIV-positive adults and children.

6. The laws have recently changed to make it easier to get HIV-positive children in the country
It used to be the case that adoptions of HIV-positive kids were complicated by the need to obtain a I-601 waiver, but a recent change in the laws took HIV off the list of the Centers for Disease Control’s List of Communicable Diseases of Public Health Significance. This means that parents adopting HIV-positive children can expect similar timeframes for the visa process as there would be with any other adoption.

7. You can see pictures of HIV-positive children currently in need of homes
One thing that made me really begin to pay attention to this issue was seeing pictures of kids with HIV who are currently in need of homes, like the ones here at Project Hopeful. To look into the eyes of a little human being, rather than simply reading about statistics and data, made me understand why an increasing number of people are opening their hearts and homes to this challenging but deeply rewarding call.

8. Regular people (not just saints) adopt HIV-positive kids
One thing I’ve noticed about all these families is how normal they are. As you can see from thelist of testimonials here, many of the parents of infected children had never considered such a thing before, and had plenty of fears and hesitations. My friend once told me of her decision to go this route: “I’ve learned that while perfect faithfulness should be what we all aspire to, one-foot-in-front-of-the-other faithfulness is often the best I can give, and thankfully, it’s often enough. You do not need to be extraordinary; you just need to keep going. As I daily remind myself, I may not know where the path I walk is headed, I may be fearful along the way, but I know Who walks beside me. And all roads walked in faithfulness lead to Him.”

The Truth Pandemic featuring the Twietmeyer family:—-

Saturday and Sunshine

2011-05-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

I think summer is here. It is getting hot and humid. It could be worse! Like many Saturdays, the boys had a friend over and enjoyed the pool. The kids swam, fished and went crab hunting. Just another day in paradise!

Although it is 90 degrees, it is never too hot for the hot tub

CAFO Summit VII

2011-05-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

What an amazing few days! We brought home beads... lots of beautiful African beads!

The Orphan Summit is a time to surround yourself with people who share a common passion: Caring for orphans in distress. There are families with adopted children from all over the world, families who provide foster care or mentoring, adoption agencies, agencies dedicated to global orphan care, organizations who rescue children from trafficking and individuals who work within their churches to provide hope for orphans. The compassion and energy is motivating. I attended sessions on trafficking and how it is directly related to orphan care, adoption and care of orphans with HIV, how to pass my heart for orphans on to my children, strategies for church orphan ministries and fundraising. We left feeling a little overwhelmed but re-energized and with a clear focus!

There was another theme that struck me deeply this year. I realized that the reason we love these precious children, defend them, rescue them, fight for them, and adopt them is because God first loved us. He defends us, rescues us, fights for us, and adopts us. I have always known this truth but this year as I thought about these kids; the ones who are hurting, lost, and desperate for a mother and father to love them unconditionally; I realized that this is all of us. This is how God loves us. This is how God loves me. I can rest and find peace in that kind of love!

Happy Mothers's Day

2011-05-08T06:08:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day Mom. I love you!

Swaziland

2011-05-06T18:39:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to be leaving for Kentucky next week for the Christian Alliance For Orphans Summit There are some awesome speakers and great breakout sessions. I'm hoping to learn more about how we can really make a difference for children who live in extreme poverty and live everyday with the reality of HIV.

The small country of Swaziland has the highest rate of HIV in the world and nearly 9% of the population is orphans. This is from Children's Hope Chest :

This small country in Africa has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the world, giving it the name, “Nation of Orphans”. Generations of people in this country have been decimated by AIDS leaving many children orphaned and alone, without anyone to call mom or dad. The average person in Swaziland only lives to be about 46 years old.

Because there are virtually no orphanages in Swaziland, these children are literally left to fend for themselves without any means of survival. Widely held myths and misunderstandings about AIDS have left many girls vulnerable to sexual abuse and infection of HIV. Young children throughout Swazi are often found to be the head of the household, caring for all their younger siblings and other children who have no one. Orphans are left susceptible to malnutrition, disease, and abuse. Children roam the streets unclothed and hungry looking for answers and for someone to care for them.

Is there hope for a problem that big?

Freedom

2011-05-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

he abundant life of blessing.

We are free...
Life is hard. There are struggles and heartache. Tough choices and pain.
But we are free. Free in Christ.
Free to enjoy enough food to eat, clean water to drink, education and opportunity.
Free to make choices and live.
Free from slavery and trafficking
Free from the poverty that enslaves millions around the world.

There are orphans desperate for food and clean water to drink. Children traded into sex slavery.
Far from free...

We can help make a difference!
The Free To Live Tour kicks off May 11th in Louisville Kentucky as part of Summit VII.
Will you be there?

2011-01-18T18:53:00.000-08:00

“It doesn’t matter, really, how great the pressure is; it only matters where the pressure lies. See that it never comes between you and the Lord–then the greater the pressure, the more it presses you to His breast.”

(Hudson Taylor)

Haiti, One Year Later

2011-01-12T18:26:00.000-08:00

It is hard to believe that one year ago today was the earthquake in Haiti. The news today is filled with stories of how Haiti remains devastated. Americans gave nearly 1.5 billion dollars in relief aid and little has improved. It makes me so sad to think of all the children who continue to suffer in a country full of corruption and diminishing hope. The orphanage that we visited, Danita's Children, has done amazing things for the orphans of Haiti. I am reminded today to continue to pray for this country. Despite the failures, corruption, and seemingly hopeless situation, these children need our prayers!

The Fort

2011-01-02T17:12:00.000-08:00

The boys (and girl) found a spot in "the woods" to start building a fort. So far, they have a stick nailed to a tree. Let the adventure begin!

Justice is Not A Noun

2010-12-29T18:39:00.000-08:00

Tom Davis talks about caring for orphans.

!C//ORPHAN Tom Davis on Justice (Part 1) from The Idea Camp on Vimeo.

Through a Child's Eyes

2010-12-25T18:22:00.000-08:00

This was Grace's second Christmas since becoming part of our family. It is so much fun to experience Christmas through her eyes. She has been waiting for weeks to wear her red dress and loves to talk about Jesus being born. She is convinced that Jesus was born in Africa and nothing that I say will convince her otherwise. I hope she never loses that child like anticipation and wonder! Merry Christmas!

Christmas Hope

2010-12-18T05:07:00.000-08:00

During our trip to Ethiopia, we met a mom and her three children living on the streets of Addis Ababa. They lived under a tarp and were struggling to survive. We stood in the rain and listened to their story as we tried to comprehend what life must be like for this family.

That night one member of our team could not sleep. We decided that we had to do something to help this family. We had been given a small amount of money from friends who wanted to help but didn't know how. We pooled our money and gave it to MCMDO, a great organization that is helping to reduce poverty and support sustainable development for woman and children living in Ethiopia. In total, we provided about $400.00 for this family for shelter, food and to help the mother find a way to support her children. It seemed like the least we could do.
I learned this week that because of the money we provided and support from MCMDO, this family has rented a one room house in the city. Mom has started a small business selling candy, gum, biscuits and paper. She is providing for her family and is able to send her children to school. MCMDO is working with this mom to teach her about saving money and they believe that she has a chance at a future!

This Christmas season, amidst the hustle and bustle, it is a reminder of God's love for us and how we can make a lasting impact in the life of a family half way around the world!

Happy Birthday!

2010-12-11T18:43:00.000-08:00

My first born is turning 14. I can't believe how time flies! He is such a great kid and I am honored to be his Mom. What more could a teenage boy want for his birthday than cereal?
Happy Birthday Austin!

Five Month Selahbration

2010-12-05T13:21:00.000-08:00

Last week we reached the five month mark of our dossier being in Ethiopia. Every month we celebrate this day with a "Selahbration." I have had a much easier time with the wait during this adoption but Christmas is a challenge. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, my favorite time of the year, I think about Selah a lot. This is a season to spend time with family. We have one empty seat at our table. I can't help but wonder how my little African Angel will spend Christmas. Is she with her birth mother? Is she being cared for by a relative or sibling? Is she living in a tiny hut or under a tarp? Is she in an orphanage? Did I meet her when I visited in September? Despite not knowing where she is or how she is doing, there is one thing that I do know. God loves her, sees her, and protects her. He holds her in the palm of his hand and when the time is right, Selah will take her place at our table!

Spread the Truth about HIV/AIDS and Adoption

2010-11-29T09:38:00.000-08:00

December 1st is World Aids Day . Please watch this video by Project Hopeful and help spread the truth.

Every orphaned child hopes for a family and a home. The reality for many children with HIV/AIDS and other special needs is that the chances of having that dream materialize are slim. Time and again, Project HOPEFUL has witnessed that with education, encouragement, and assistance families and individuals can be enabled to advocate for and adopt children with HIV/AIDS.
What began as a group of mothers on a mission to advocate for their children living abroad with HIV was developed by God into Project HOPEFUL. Today Project HOPEFUL exists to Help Orphans and Parents Eliminate Further Unnecessary Loss… of time, dignity, and life

Gratitude

2010-11-25T11:03:00.000-08:00

This Thanksgiving as we gather around the table with our friends and family to celebrate all the blessings in our lives, let's not forget how much we really have to be thankful for. Most of us are preparing our turkey in an oven, we have a roof over our heads, sitting around a table and using nice dishes. We will likely have enough left overs for days and complain about the extra pounds. We are so fortunate to live where we do and today is a day for gratitude! I will enjoy my family and the amazing food but I won't forget...The mother who prepares her food on the floor

The family living under a tarp

And the little boy who doesn't know where his next meal will come from.

Yes, we have a lot to be thankful for! I don't believe that we should feel guilty that we have so much while they have so little. I think that we have these things for a reason. We have the honor and privilege to make a difference in the lives of others. That is something to be thankful for!

Advent Conspiracy

2010-11-18T04:55:00.000-08:00

We are taking part in the Advent Conspiracy at CCF this year. I will admit, this is hard for me. It flies in the face of how I have celebrated Christmas in the past. Christmas has always involved finding the perfect gift, one more decoration, a few more lights. This leaves me tired and stressed and needing to work more to pay for it all. I would love to teach my children a different way to celebrate Christmas. One that is less about gifts and more about compassion. Any suggestions on ways to get them involved? This Advent Conspiracy video says it all!

What Now?

2010-11-14T16:27:00.000-08:00

Orphan Sunday has come and gone. What Now? Let's not feel bad for those kids and then forget them, until next Orphan Sunday. Let's be his hands and feet, not turn away and think there is nothing that we can do. We can adopt, take a mission trip, raise money, provide medical care, sponsor a child, support a foster family, buy a bunk bed, help fund an adoption, provide respite care.... It is not about feeling guilty because we have so much. It is about providing hope and opportunity. It is religion, pure and faultless.

Orphan Ministry

2010-11-10T19:28:00.000-08:00

This weekend we officially launched our orphan ministry. Introducing Impact127......

They are Worth It

2010-11-04T05:30:00.000-07:00

This weekend is Orphan Sunday. It is a day to recognize the millions of children around the world that are growing up without the love of a family. I believe it is also a day to ask the hard questions. It is not enough to just feel bad. God calls us to respond. All of us. James 1:27, Isaiah 58:10, Isaiah 1:17, Psalm 82:3-4, Matthew 25:40. The need is huge. There are over 150 millions orphans, some live in orphanages, some in foster care and many on the streets. These kids are in desperate need of support. They need food and water, clothing, education, and medical care. Most importantly, they need the unconditional love of a family. Adoption is such a blessing. I believe it is at the heart of God. I also believe that if God calls you to adopt, he will provide what you need. There are thousands of children in the foster care system in the US who are in need of consistent, loving care from a foster family or adoptive family. There are children around the world struggling to find their next meal or clean water. They dream of going to school and having a future. Millions of children die every day from things that could have been prevented if they had access to medical care. Millions more have never heard about Jesus or that they were created with a purpose. Orphan Care is about providing hope and opportunity. It seems so overwhelming, the need is so great that it is easier to look away. There is hope, and there are so many ways to change the life of a child. I have been blessed and changed by the opportunity to spend time with orphans in Russia, Haiti and Ethiopia over the past year and a half. I can tell you, these kids are worth it!

Boo!

2010-10-31T17:23:00.000-07:00

We carved pumpkins

Austin, my too cool to hang out with parents on Halloween kid, went to a Halloween party dressed as a biker. Don't ask me where he got the idea and awesome Harley jacket.

Parker, aka scream, went with his Dad to fight the crowds for the good candy at Sandoval

Tinkerbell/princess/fairy (the girl costume thing is still new to me) and I trick-or-treated around the neighborhood

Now if everyone would go to bed so I could eat their candy.....

Ethiopian generosity

2010-10-24T17:53:00.000-07:00

This morning at CCF we walked 4.5 miles to church to show our gratitude for what we have and to recognize the hours that people in Ethiopia walk to attend church every week. Our church is supporting church planters in Ethiopia and while we were there, one family walked 4 hours, with a 10 month old, just to say thank you. It is difficult to express the gracious, generous spirit that so many of the people in Ethiopia have. One of the days that we were meeting children and families who need sponsorship, we visited a mother and son who live in an 8x8 shack. They have NOTHING. Everything they own sits on a bed against the wall. I asked the mom where she cooks and she pointed at the floor. She shared with us that it is not the size of your house, it is the people that you get to spend time with. She brought out the last of her coffee beans and insisted that we take part in a coffee ceremony. She wanted to share the little that she had with us. The second day in Ethiopia, there was a wedding celebration happening at our hotel. We felt funny being in the way (wedding crashers) The wedding party, all their guests and family make a point to welcome us. They insisted that we be first in line for the food, even before the bride and groom. Unfortunately the food was raw beef so we had to politely refuse but the generosity was amazing. The day that we visited the Sebetta HIV Center, we sat on a bench and listened as people shared stories, hopes and fears with us. At one point, the sun came out from behind a cloud and it got rather warm. One of the woman rushed over to us with her umbrella to provide shade. I have been thinking a lot about those amazing people. Despite their circumstances and unbelievable poverty, they are generous and think of others. What an awesome way to live. Rather than looking out for number one, holding on to all that they have, they choose to give it away. I want to be more like this. More like the incredible people I met in Ethiopia!

Acts 4:32-35 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything that they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

Selah is Waiting

2010-10-21T05:24:00.000-07:00

This morning Grace woke up early and crawled in bed with me. Thursdays are our day to do girl things, lounge in our PJs and have tea parties. I have been slowly introducing the "big sister" concept to Grace. She knows that she has a little sister in Africa. We have been praying for Selah and talking about how important big sisters are. She tells her teachers that she has a mom, dad, two brothers and a sister. When they ask her who her sister is, she tells them that her sister is in Africa. This morning she snuggled up with me and said "You need to go to Africa and get my sister, Selah is waiting" I told her that Selah is not ready yet. God decides when I go to Africa to get her and God knows what is best. It got me thinking about how difficult the wait was for Grace. I realize that when we started that process, we were expecting a 4 month wait after dossier was registered but waited 9 months. This time we were told about 10 months of waiting. I have such peace about this adoption. I imagine what my daughter will look like, what will make her smile, how will she react when she meets Mike and I for the first time. I can't wait to hold her and tell her that she is going home. I have also developed a love for her birth country and it's people. But I also know that God loves her more than I do and has her securely in his hands. Grace will meet her sister soon, in God's perfect timing. Until then she will have tea parties, watch her big brothers play soccer, jump on daddy and cuddle in bed on Thursdays!

I love your hair!

2010-10-19T11:01:00.000-07:00

Saturday Soccer

2010-10-16T12:20:00.000-07:00

Life is Good!

2010-10-12T05:45:00.000-07:00

Fall is here and the lazy days of summer are definitely over! I love this time of year. The weather is cooling off and we can finally open the windows. Grace and I have been planting mums and trying to remember to keep them watered. Parker had a birthday party this weekend. He had kids for a sleep over and pool party. It was very loud and crazy but the kids had a blast. My little boy is 11. I can hardly believe it. Austin spent the weekend in Ocala on a middle school retreat with the youth group. He is growing up so fast that it is scary! Soccer has started for the boys and Mike is once again coaching both their teams. Between practices and games, they are at the field 4 nights a week. Mike had yesterday off and spent the day golfing. There are advantages to working for the government! I am working to balance my two "jobs" My job as a speech pathologist (the one that helps pay the bills) is getting busy with the snowbirds heading down. I have been working on helping to find sponsors for the children that we met in Ethiopia through CWF and heading up the orphan ministry at our church. We are planning Orphan Sunday as well as an "African Experience" event after Christmas. I am also doing a one year internship through our church in missions. Our founding pastor has committed to working together to discover specifically how God is calling me to missions. I am very excited about the opportunity. It is providing me feedback with the orphan ministry and things that I am already doing. It is also introducing me to other areas of missions such as church planting and local opportunities. I am learning more about planning, budgeting and prioritizing missions as part of a larger church. Finally I am receiving leadership training on a weekly basis which will help me in many areas of my life. I am excited to see where God leads! Our dossier has been in Ethiopia now almost 4 months. It will likely be another 6-8 months before we receive a referral. Life is good and I thank God every day for the blessings!

Farewell to Ethiopia

2010-10-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Our last night in Ethiopia we were treated to dinner out and dancing by the CWAE staff and the director of MCMDO. We had an amazing time! Our trip was filled with sadness, joy, despair and hope all wrapped up into one week. Our night on the town was the perfect ending to an unforgettable adventure. We laughed so hard that I actually bruised my cheeks! We began the meal by having our hands washed.

We were then served injera, an Ethiopian staple

During dinner we were treated to Ethiopian dancing. I don't know quite how to describe it, you need to experience it firsthand!

After dinner, we danced. I made a promise to not post any dancing pictures. We are called "ferngi" which means "white people" These ferngi can dance! We taught our Ethiopian friends how to "raise the roof"

They taught us how to eat spicy food.

And fed us injera

Friendships were formed

Our new friends gave us gifts and thanked us for coming and caring about Ethiopia.

What a beautiful country with amazing people. I miss our new friends and can't wait to return. Thank you CWAE for an amazing opportunity!

Abeselom

2010-10-05T16:49:00.000-07:00

I want to tell you about Abeselom. He was our driver while we were in Ethiopia. He was amazing. He is 30 years old and a single dad. The traffic in Addis was unbelievable! Cars were bumper to bumper with people walking between them, horns blaring and goats in the road. I thought traffic was crazy in Russia, but Addis was a whole new experience. Abeselom would say, "not sorry, safe" as we were asked why we were a little late to an appointment. He guarded our stuff, made sure we were safe, and helped negotiate a good deal at the market. He explained culture and helped me with my Amharic. He made the time traveling enjoyable! We learned on our second day that Abeselom had lost his wife and newborn two months ago. It is common in Ethiopia for a woman to die during child birth. Abeselom's baby lived 2 days and his wife died one week later. He is now a single dad with a 4 year old daughter. It broke our hearts as he told us about his wife, how she was so full of life and loved to dance. He was struggling to explain death, Jesus and heaven to his daughter. He knew that he would see his wife again in heaven but struggled to remain strong for his daughter. He wants his daughter to go to a Christian school and learn to trust God. We asked him if we could see his home and meet his daughter. One afternoon, on our way back to the hotel, he took us to his home. He has a picture of his wife hanging on the wall. She was college educated and the love of his life. He told us how his in-laws never felt that he was good enough, he just drove a cab, but his wife loved him dearly. He said, "my house is cold now, it was never cold." The day after we returned home was Abeselom's wife's memorial service. We would have loved to stay one more day for the service. Abeselom drove us to the airport on our last day. He hugged us and cried and told us that we had made him laugh for the first time in two months. We won't forget him or his daughter. I hope to see him again when I return for my adoption. Life is not always fair and bad things happen to good people. Abeselom was one more reminder of that. Despite it all, God is good!

Ethiopia Vision Trip Video

2010-10-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

Acacia Village

2010-09-30T15:35:00.000-07:00

Another reason for our team traveling to Ethiopia was to see Acacia Village. Acacia Village is being built by Christian World Foundation to provide housing, medical care, education, and spiritual support for orphans and families. Acacia Village will serve orphans, and woman and children in Addis Ababa and the surrounding community of Sebetta. The first building, the Children's Home, was recently completed. We were blessed and honored to be present when the first children moved in. The nannies and children were so excited to leave the foster homes for this beautiful new building. If you have ever been to Addis, you know about the smog in the city. Acacia Village is built 20 km out of the city and is surrounded by clear skies and acacia trees. We took part in a welcome ceremony in which the staff and children sang and praised God for the opportunity to live at Acacia Village while they waited for their Forever Families. I am not able to show any of the children's faces, but they were all smiles!

The next phase of Acacia Village is a Medical Center. Our church is partnering with Christian World Foundation to help build this medical center. It will provide care for women and children, both living in the Children's Home and the surrounding community. Thousand of woman and children die each year during child birth in Ethiopia. Our driver, Abeselom, lost his wife and new baby two months ago. I will tell you about him in another post. One part of the vision for the medical center is to provide care for pregnant woman so that they can have a healthy pregnancy. Sponsorships, similar to the program with MCMDO, will provide financial support for women to care for their babies. The medical center will also provide an opportunity for medical mission teams to serve in Ethiopia. To learn more about how you can get involved, visit Christian World Foundation.

We also had the opportunity to visit the Sebetta HIV Center. This center is located near Acacia Village and it's purpose is to raise awareness of HIV and provide support for those with the disease. Pregnant woman with HIV have a low risk of spreading the virus to their unborn child if they are on the proper medication. Due to the stigma of HIV, many people in Ethiopia will not seek treatment or be educated about the disease. We were able to meet about 25 people living with HIV. CWA has provided this center with food in the past and is seeking ways to provide support that could make a lasting difference for these people. We heard about the people helped by the center, about their hopes and dreams, and their struggles. Although many were sick, they became concerned for us when the sun came out. One lady brought us her umbrella to provide shade. It was heartbreaking to listen to these men and woman speak and realize how little hope they had. HIV is something that we don't like to think about. We associate the disease with homosexuality and drug use. I have read that only a very small percentage of Christians will get involved with helping to stop the spread of HIV because of the stigma. I can tell you that the men, woman and children with HIV that we met had families, dreams and a hope for the future. It is a terrible disease and destroying millions of families in Ethiopia. I won't forget their faces. As we were leaving, we heard a scream and watched as a woman fell to the ground having a seizure. After a few minutes, she lay motionless. People rushed to her aid but we were told that getting her to a hospital was not likely, there are none in the area.

They Need our Help

2010-09-28T16:55:00.000-07:00

One of the goals for our trip was to meet children living with a parent or sibling in need of sponsorship. It is almost always best for a child to be able to live with their family in their birth country. It is a goal of CWA to provide funding which would allow a family to remain together. We were blessed to meet 50 children and their caregivers. This was sometimes a parent, but often an older sibling, as many had lost both parents. Three of the children that we met lost their remaining parent the week that we were there. We took pictures of these children and gathered information about their situations, their interests and aspirations. CWA partners with MCMDO to sponsor these beautiful children. It is a wonderful sponsorship program and will change a child's life forever. After meeting these children, we were invited to see some of their homes and experience first hand how they live. I am still struggling to comprehend this kind of poverty. Most of these families make less than $15.00 a month. They live in 8x8 mud and tin shacks. They often go to bed hungry. I asked one mom where she cooks her food. She pointed at the floor. Despite their poverty, they went out of their way to make us feel welcome. We were invited to participate in coffee ceremonies and were showered with hugs. One mother told us that the size of your house is not important, it is the friendship that counts. We noticed the flowers that were planted around many of the tiny shacks. It seemed that these people had pride in the small space that they called home. Unlike what I saw in Haiti, the streets were not filled with trash and there was beauty surrounding the poverty. We visited one of the sponsored children and were shocked to learn that this mother and three children live under a tarp. It was raining when we got to their "home" and we stood in silence trying to figure out what to say to this precious family. I pulled some toys out of my backpack and the children giggled and began to play. The look on Mom's face was priceless as she watched her children. That night one member of our team could not sleep thinking about the family living under the tarp. We decided that we had to do something for them. We were able to pool our money and pay one years rent for this family to move into a shelter with a roof and a door. We were also able to work with the social worker who is now helping this mother start a small business to provide for her family. All of this cost us $450.00. I am telling you this not to take any credit but to emphasize how much can be done with so little. These children are worth it. They deserve to attend school and go to bed with a full belly. They live halfway around the world but they are real. Real children with real dreams. We returned home with a burden to find sponsors for each of these children. Can you help? Is God calling you to be the hands and feet for one of his children?

No Words Yet

2010-09-27T12:55:00.000-07:00

I returned home from Ethiopia last night. I don't have the words to describe this trip yet. Ethiopia is an amazing country. The people are kind and generous. We saw such beauty and so much pain. I left a piece of my heart there and can't wait to go back! I am going to share some stories over the next week so keep checking!

Lord, Break our hearts for what breaks yours

2010-09-16T11:24:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow morning five of us leave for Ethiopia on a vision trip to experience what life is like in one of the poorest countries of the world. Our prayer is that God would show us what he wants us to see, break our hearts with what breaks his and give us vision in order that we can help make a difference. Please pray for us during our trip. Pray that we will experience Ethiopia fully and be able to see the beauty as well as the suffering. Pray that we will have a clear vision of our purpose. Pray for our safety as well as for our families back home. I hope to be able to update the blog from our hotel. I would love if you would leave comments with suggestions or encouragement. I am so excited to see what God has planned for us! We leave Florida tomorrow around 1:00 and arrive in Addis Ababa about 9pm on Saturday. Yes, that is about 25 hours of travel!

Chou!

Ukraine Adoption

2010-09-14T19:04:00.000-07:00

My friend Ines and her husband arrived in Ukraine today to complete their adoption. They have their SDA appointment tomorrow and will hopefully meet their son or daughter. Please stop by her BLOG to follow their journey. Keep them in your prayers as they make difficult decisions and experience the joy of adoption!

1st Annual Hope For Orphans Golf Tournament

2010-09-11T18:29:00.000-07:00

It was a great day for golf. Today was our First Annual Hope for Orphans Golf Tournament. I have never organized a golf tournament before so really did not know what to expect. We had about 40 golfers and raised approximately 3,000 dollars for orphans in Ethiopia. It was a lot of fun. The prizes were a hit and the food was delicious. Not bad for our first year!

Let's do it again next year!

It is not OK

2010-09-07T13:54:00.000-07:00

The Village of Korah is a trash dump in Ethiopia where thousands of children, many with HIV and leprosy live. They dig through the trash to find their next meal. There is no soup kitchen or government assistance. I don't know what you think or feel when faced with the reality that people, human beings live this way. I know that it makes many uncomfortable to see such poverty. It could have been me or my children, had we been born in Africa instead of the United States. If our parents had died or couldn't care for us. No chance at an education. No opportunity to build a better life. God loves these children, just as much as he loves me. I don't understand why they must live like this but I believe that God expects us to act, to be his hands and feet for the least of these. I want to share a video of Korah. I have had the opportunity to talk to an adoptive mom who has seen it first hand. It is not OK with me. I hope that it is not OK with you.

Dayda Bob

2010-09-05T16:29:00.001-07:00

We are so blessed to have Bob and Chris for neighbors. They are the kind of neighbors who we can count on for anything. They watch the dogs, let us borrow their car, help us with projects around the house, and encourage and support us during our adoptions. Bob is "Dayda Bob" to Grace (Uncle Bob in Russian) We spent Labor Day with neighbors at Bob and Chris' pool. Thanks for a fun afternoon Dayda Bob!

Lukewarm

2010-08-31T08:08:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan for the second time. This book asks some hard questions. It has challenged me to look at how the Bible calls us to live our lives. Has my relationship with God actually changed the way I live? Chan asks if the goals of American Christianity are things like a nice marriage, children who don't swear and good church attendance. Taking the words of Christ literally is for "radicals" and Christians who go "overboard." Shouldn't the goal be for a balanced life that we can control, that is safe and does not require suffering? These are hard questions that I am just beginning to answer. The book asks the question, "Do the words, halfhearted, lukewarm and partially committed fit better?" I have decided that I don't want to be Lukewarm. I want to step out in faith and do what God is calling me to do. That involves trusting that God's plan is better than mine. I have found myself trying to explain my choices lately. Why adopt again? Why adopt transracially? Why work less at a secure, good paying job to spend time volunteering my time. Why consider a career change? Why risk my safety to go to Africa? People ask because they care, they are curious, or they think I'm a little nuts. I am learning to take these questions less personally and have confidence that God knows what he is doing. I love Tom Davis' blog today "When Life Deserves an explanation" Check it out! Tom Davis' Blog

August 29th, 1992

2010-08-29T08:49:00.000-07:00

Happy Anniversary to my best friend! We have come a long way in 18 years!

Preparing for Ethiopia

2010-08-21T18:44:00.000-07:00

In less than a month our team leaves for Ethiopia! We are so excited to see and experience Addis Ababa. I can't wait to love on those precious kids and see first hand the work that CWF is doing to make a difference for orphans. I pray that God uses this trip to break our hearts and open our eyes to the suffering that so many of his children experience every day. I pray that we return home changed with a clear vision of how God is calling us to get involved. That we will not just take pictures and tell stories and then slip back into life as we know it, but that we will act.

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with ACTIONS and in truth."

1 John 3:17-18

Prayer request for a friend

2010-08-19T13:07:00.000-07:00

While attending the Orphan Summit in Minneapolis this spring, I met a new friend Tara. She has an amazing heart for God and for orphans. Her family is in the process of adopting a sibling group from Ethiopia. She has had the opportunity to meet these children and they are so excited to become part of a family. Recently, there have been conflicting reports about the age of the oldest child. In Ethiopia, if a child is a certain age they can not be adopted. This may mean splitting up a family and leaving a child behind. This week an xray used to determine age is being analyzed by a physician at the US Embassy. Would you please pray for the Bradford's and the children they are trying to bring home. Stop by their blog to learn how you can pray specifically and show your support. Thank You!

Hot, Hot, Hot

2010-08-14T17:08:00.000-07:00

It is hot! Florida doesn't just get hot for a few days and then cool off, it stays hot from May until November. The heat index has been around 105 and you can fry an egg on the driveway! I am not complaining, just painting a picture. I have always insisted on keeping the house cool so that we (I) can be comfortable. I have slept under a goose down comforter since leaving Minnesota 14 years ago. I like the house "cold" enough to need to curl up under the comforter to stay warm. I have been thinking a lot lately about how we spend our money. I want to be available and obedient to God with my time as well as my money. I suspect my comfort is not his greatest concern. When there are 5 million orphans struggling to survive in Ethiopia alone, it won't kill me to be warm (hot) as I enjoy my television, computer and prepare a big dinner. I got rid of the goose down comforter yesterday and found a great deal on a lightweight comforter that doesn't make Mike and I sweat!

We installed an industrial strength ceiling fan today that, to quote Parker, "blows harder that any fan I've ever felt!" My amazing husband had that thing installed in no time. Just think what we can do with the money that we save on our electric bill!

I have also been motivated to cut back on our grocery bill. We spend way to much on groceries. Yes, I know that I have 3 boys to feed but to be honest, they really don't eat much more than Grace and me. Some times I wonder what I am spending all the money on (with the exception of the 8 gallons of milk and 5 boxes of cereal) and how I can better plan and budget. I was encouraged by a recent post from Jenn about saving money with coupons. She gave me some specific suggestions and I am going to give it a try. Yes, this is new territory for me but it is about time! I never did well with budgets. It always felt restrictive. We worked hard and should be able to spend money how ever we wanted. We don't have a large house, we drive vehicles that are paid for and have no credit card debt. We tithe and sponsor a child in Africa. Surely that is good enough for God. Right? I'm not sure when I started hearing from God on this, maybe looking out the window from the train at the tiny little houses with no plumbing in Russia. Maybe walking through the fly infested market in Haiti or watching the children beside the road with no shoes. All that we have is from God and we are responsible for how we spend our money, all of it. I have a long way to go. I still like my stuff, my technology, our comfortable home, beach vacations with the family, Starbucks iced coffee, and new shoes. I see these things differently though and appreciate how blessed we are to live where we do when so many have so little.
Speaking of keeping cool, nothing like a buzz cut to cool down!

Saying Goodbye to all she had ever known

2010-08-09T16:07:00.000-07:00

When I was waiting to finalize our adoption of Grace, I dreamed of the day that we would walk out of the orphanage and never look back. "Gotcha Day" as so many call it seemed so far away. One year ago, that day came. I really dislike the term "Gotcha Day" The day was amazing for me. I dressed my sweet daughter in new clothes, said goodbye to the caregivers at the orphanage, and drove away toward a new life. When I look back at pictures of Grace from that day, I try and imagine what she was thinking. The only friends she had ever had, the only caregivers she had ever known, were suddenly gone. She was being held by a lady she vaguely knew, who spoke a language that she didn't understand. How scary that "gotcha" moment must have been for her. Although spending the 10 days in Pskov was long and expensive, it was worth every penny. At least I was not a total stranger that day. We will celebrate our first "Family Day" on Wednesday. A day to celebrate the miracle of adoption and the day that Grace became a part of her forever family.

Here is Grace eating her last meal at the orphanage. She saw me standing there and knew something was about to happen.

We began our goodbyes. Goodbye to her caregiver who cried as she walked away.

Goodbye to her bed

Goodbye to her friends

We changed out of the orphanage clothes into the dress that I had chosen months before.

She watched as I put on her new shoes

We stepped out into a new world and said goodbye to the place she had called home.

The next 45 minutes in the car was the first car ride that she had known. The buildings and the trees flying by were all so new.

We finally made it to Ludmila's and Grace spent her first night with her Mommy.

I think it is so very important for adoptive parents to see the journey through their child's eyes. Adoption is a blessing but it begins with loss. Letting go of our expectations and being willing to help our children heal is so important. Grace loves to watch the video from that day (see sidebar). She calls it "Gracie's song" and wants to watch it again and again. I think the scary memories are mostly gone and have been replaced by happy times with her family. She is a resiliant, brave little girl who I am blessed to have as a daughter!

Ready for the Weekend!

2010-08-06T16:52:00.000-07:00

Friday evenings are my favorite night of the week. The pool is a balmy 92 which is perfect for our family. We started the weekend with a swim and plan to spend the next couple days lounging by the pool. Life is good!

Remembering Pskov

2010-08-03T06:50:00.000-07:00

July 30, 2009 was the day that a judge in Pskov Russia declared that Grace was our daughter. It was the end of a long and difficult journey. In Russia, most families are required to wait 10 business days before taking custody of your child. In our case, Mike flew home after court and my mom and I remained in Pskov to wait out the 10 days. We stayed with Ludmila and her husband during that time. I remember those days like it was yesterday. During the week we were able to visit Grace in the orphanage for a couple hours. It was difficult being away from friends and family with little knowledge of what was going on in the world but it was also an amazing time to relax and reflect. Ludmila, one of the kindest women I've ever met, took us sightseeing around Pskov and taught us about history and the Russian culture. Pskov is one of the oldest cities in Russia and believed to date back to the year 903. It is an absolutely amazing city. It is near the border of Estonia and built on the Velikaya River. There were flowers everywhere and wedding celebrations happening throughout the city. Pskov holds a very special place in my heart. I will never forget the sights and the people and plan to return for a visit one day.

Finally, Ludmila and her awesome family, forever a part of our adoption journey!

Take Time, Make Time

2010-07-28T18:49:00.000-07:00

"Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God" Job 37:14

Have you ever noticed how as life gets busy we stop making time with God. Not for God, with God. I am guilty of this. It is all good stuff that I am busy doing. Working, spending time with family and friends, serving in our church, planning a trip to Africa. I get so busy that I have no time to wait on God or listen to his voice. I was reminded by a friend that we can be working so hard for God that we have no time to spend with him. This same friend and mentor emailed me this quote:
Over the years we have developed the idea that being present to people in all their needs is our greatest and primary vocation. The Bible does not seem to support this. Jesus' primary concern was to be obedient to his Father, to live constantly in his presence. Only then did it become clear to him what his task was in his relationships with people.

Saints of all ages have made it their business to be present to God, and out of this has sprung their truest vocation.

It is such a relief that we don't have to figure it all out. I don't have to worry so much about what other people think or their opinions. I can rest and know that God is in control. He will direct my steps and guide me through the day. I just have to take the time to listen.

One down, many more to go!

2010-07-26T18:29:00.000-07:00

I know it seems insignificant to those families who have been waiting for months. We are DTE for one month! Every month from here on, we are one day closer to our African angel!

Thankful

2010-07-21T17:01:00.000-07:00

I am so thankful today. I am thankful for my amazingly supportive husband. I am so blessed to have a husband who knows me, the good and bad, and loves me anyway! I am thankful for my amazing children. They are all a gift from God. They are kind and compassionate and bring so much love, energy and joy to our home. I am thankful for my friends. I don't know what I would do without the support of my friends. It is a true blessing to have friends that share your life, your dreams and your struggles. Friends that tell you if you have green stuff in your teeth or if your priorities are mixed up. I am thankful for "the wait" during the adoption process. I have found few things that grow my faith in God as much as waiting on his timing for a child. I am thankful for rocky road ice cream and sugar cones. What are you thankful for?

What is your church doing for Orphan Sunday?

2010-07-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

James 1:27 commands us to care for orphans. It does not say that only those who choose to adopt or foster children should care for orphans. It does not exclude those of us who are too busy, too tired, too old, or with too many bills. Orphan Sunday is an opportunity to share God's heart for the orphan with your church. If the church (and those of use who make up the church) do not step up to care for these children, who will? The Christian Alliance For Orphans have put together many great resources to assist you in planning an Orphan Sunday event. Things from sermon ideas, music, bulletin inserts, sunday school lessons and ideas to engage the youth. Your event can be as simple as a 5 minute video or include a Friday night concert with Desperation Band. I have included a press release from Christian Alliance for Orphans highlighting Orphan Sunday. I challenge you to involve your church in "defending the cause of the fatherless!"

CHRISTIANS MAKE ADOPTION & ORPHAN CARE DEFINING ISSUE FOR 2010

Orphan Sunday Campaign Aims for 2,000 Local Events Nationwide

MCLEAN, VA — From Christianity Today to Catalyst, the biblical call to “defend the cause of

the fatherless” (Isaiah 1:17) is on hearts and minds of Christians in a way not seen in generations.

Last year, the national Orphan Sunday campaign led by the Christian Alliance for Orphans

helped stoke this movement to a new intensity, including more than 1,500 local Orphan Sunday

events nationwide. The 2010 campaign aims for more than 2,000 events across America the

weekend of November 7, 2010 calling Christians to adoption, foster care and global orphan

ministry.

Each Orphan Sunday event is led by local Christians stirred by the plight of the orphan. For

these advocates, Orphan Sunday is an opportunity to spread their passion in their church and

beyond. It’s also a chance to add echo to a nationwide movement. Events are as diverse as their

organizers, from prayer gatherings and sermons on God’s heart for the orphan to student-led

fundraisers and foster family recruiting.

Alongside these local events, a national concert will be simulcast live from Colorado Springs to

college and high school groups nationwide on the Friday of Orphan Sunday weekend. Featuring

The Desperation Band and other artists, the event will challenge American youth to a vibrant,

Gospel-centered faith that includes real sacrifice for “least of these,” including orphans.

More than 75 national organizations have joined forces in the Christian Alliance for Orphans to

promote the 2010 campaign, including household names like Bethany Christian Services,

Buckner, Focus on the Family, Show Hope and Family Life.

“Orphan Sunday calls the Church to make the Gospel visible,” said Jedd Medefind, President of

the Christian Alliance for Orphans. “When Christians open their hearts and homes in adoption,

foster care and global orphan ministry, we mirror the God who did the same for us.”

The website www.orphansunday.org serves as a hub for the campaign, offering event ideas,

downloadable materials and ways individuals can partner with orphan-serving ministries to hold

local events. The site also contains a map of the country that will highlight local events

nationwide as they are scheduled.

“The need of orphans is so vast that no government, no nonprofit can overcome it,” said Jodi

Jackson Tucker, national coordinator for the Orphan Sunday campaign. “There’s only one

potential source of the love, nurture and belonging that every orphan most needs: that’s the

Church.”

There are more than 500,000 children in the foster system in the U.S. today, with nearly 130,000

waiting to be adopted. Globally, an estimated 15 million children have lost both parents. The

Orphan Sunday campaign invites Christians to be God’s answer to these needs. As the 2010

Orphan Sunday video puts it, “We set the lonely in families because God set us in His.”

Nearly Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

Grace and Liam were adopted from the same orphanage in Russia. I had the privilege of meeting Liam in the orphanage while I was waiting out my 10 days with Grace. He has grown and changed so much since coming home! Our precious little American-Russians from Pskov finally got to meet!

Haiti, Six months later

2010-07-12T06:24:00.000-07:00

It has been six months since the earthquake in Haiti. I am taking some time today to remember the amazing kids that I met on my trips there. Kids that had been through so much. Limbs amputated without anesthesia, losing their parents in the rubble, having nothing to eat or drink for days. The kids were resilient and hopeful. We provided medicine, medical care and artificial limbs but what the kids gave to us was so much more!

4th of July video

2010-07-08T19:09:00.000-07:00

The Girl Effect

2010-07-07T17:57:00.000-07:00

The Forth Of July in Minnesota

2010-07-04T20:37:00.000-07:00

The Day in Pictures

Vacation pictures, Day 3

2010-07-03T20:47:00.000-07:00

Minnesota Mornings

And Mini Golf

Vacation pictures, Day 2

2010-07-02T19:32:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful Day in Minnesota
Today we jumped,

Did some deep thinking,

Played with cousins,

Ran through the sprinkler,

Swam with Mark,

Played with Grandma,

Fished from the raft,

And took a boat ride

Vacation pictures, Day 1

2010-07-01T11:20:00.000-07:00

We are in Minnesota at the lake!

So far today we have picked flowers

Picked berries

Played in the sand

Watched Minnie chase the fish

Paddle boated

Had water fights

Squirt fun fights

and some kayaking

All before lunch!

My Hard Working Boys

2010-06-27T15:08:00.000-07:00

My boys are growing up.

They mow the lawn,

They spray the weeds,

While us girls sit in the shade and cheer them on!

We made it!

2010-06-26T17:12:00.000-07:00

We made it through Vacation Bible School 2010! I unfortunately missed the last couple nights because I was home sick. Mike and Austin did a great job with preschool games. Entertaining 3 and 4 year olds an hour past their bed time is a big job! Parker and Grace had a blast and made some new friends. We are looking forward to starting our vacation next week. The kids and I will be leaving for Minnesota on Wednesday for some much needed R and R. We are ready to stay up late, eat too much and spend time with family. I can't wait! Here is a video from the High Seas Adventure. Enjoy!
VBS video

The Wait begins!

2010-06-21T15:59:00.000-07:00

Our dossier has been sent to Ethiopia. We are officially "waiting" for a referral. The current wait time is 9-11 months but it could be less, could be more. I am determined to wait more gracefully with this adoption. I may need to be reminded that I said this in about 6 months! When we were waiting for our referral for Grace from Russia, our case manager was Anya. I had her number memorized. Every time my phone rang I wanted it to be her. (Yes, waiting is hard for me) I imagined getting "the call" and what she would say. On February 16, 2009 at 10:34, we got the call! It was as exciting as I imagined and seeing Grace's precious face on my email was a dream come true! Some adoptive parents struggle with the paperwork. That is the easy part for me. It is the not knowing "when" that I have trouble with. I know in my heart that God's timing is perfect but I still struggle. I would like to have court before the summer shut down, finalize the adoption before the tax credit expires, on and on. God's timing is perfect but my plans make perfect sense! I learned today that Anya will be our case manager for this adoption as well. She will be the one to call with the news that we have a daughter in Ethiopia. I can't imagine getting the news from anyone else. Let the waiting begin!

Finally the weekend!

2010-06-19T13:24:00.000-07:00

It has been a crazy busy week. The boys finished school on Tuesday and are excited to begin their vacation. My normally slow summer work caseload has not yet slowed down. Louis Fawcett, from Christian World Foundation, spent a couple of days here and we were able to sit down with the pastors at our church to discuss our upcoming trip and future plans. It was a neat opportunity! Last night was time to relax and do nothing for the kids. Grace snuggled with Daddy

Parker achieved "one more level"

And Austin kicked back and did nothing

Today Mike and Austin left for Orlando with the church middle school group for Disney Quest. Mike gets to spend 5 hours on a bus with middle schoolers. Should be interesting. Parker had a piano recital. I was so proud listening to him play! Tonight we are going bowling help raise funds for Sanctuary Children's home in Cape Coral. Tomorrow we get to celebrate Dad!

Monday we start Vacation Bible School. What a week it will be! I am in the kitchen, Mike and Austin are in charge of preschool games, and Parker and Grace are attending. There you have it, a quick update, tired yet?

An Opportunity to Serve God's Children

2010-06-11T19:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Family:

I want to share with you an exciting ministry opportunity that God has presented to me. From September 17 through September 25 I will be traveling with a small group from our church to Ethiopia. The purpose of this vision trip is to experience what life is like for the children in Ethiopia as well as see first hand the work that Christian World Foundation is doing to care for these children. We will see Acacia Village and the recently constructed children’s home. We hope to provide basic necessities for the children that will be moving in this fall and waiting for their forever families. We will see some of the transitional homes for orphans in Ethiopia. Each year, hundreds of children come to these homes without food, shelter, education or adults to care for them. These children have been orphaned due to disease, poverty and abandonment. We will also have the opportunity to spend time with children in orphanages. What an awesome opportunity to share the love and compassion of Christ with children who are alone and feel unloved.

We hope to bring our stories and experienced back to our community to raise awareness and assistance for orphans in Ethiopia as well as around the world.

While God has opened up a door for me to develop a greater heart of compassion for His children in Ethiopia, I am asking for your support. There are several ways that you can support me as I travel to Ethiopia on this journey. First, you can pray for me and our team from CCF. We will need prayers that God will prepare us for our visit and bless our time in Ethiopia. We will also need prayers that our financial needs will be met. At this time I need to raise $3,000 which includes travel expense and donations for the children.

Another way you can be involved is to help provide that financial support. Would you consider supporting me with a donation? If you are able to provide financial support, you can donate in one of two ways. Either a personal check mailed directly to me or a check made out to Cape Christian Fellowship. If you choose to contribute through CCF, please write “vision trip” in the memo and include a note referencing me, Stephanie Karasek. The address to CCF is Cape Christian Fellowship, 2110 Chiquita Blvd S, Cape Coral Fl 33991 Whether you feel led to contribute financially, through prayer, or both, all of your support is appreciated.

I look forward to spending time with God’s children in Ethiopia and sharing his love with the orphan. I am excited to share our experience with you and let you know how God has worked through this team when I return in September.

God Bless,

Stephanie

I'm done paper chasing!

2010-06-08T08:40:00.000-07:00

We received the last document yesterday for our dossier! Of course there had to be one form that we couldn't get right. After preparing a dossier for Russia two years ago, having only one document be a problem was a nice change. Copies of the dossier went to CWA today to be checked. Once I get the OK from them, the dossier goes to Washington DC and then off to Ethiopia. I am hoping that it will be in Ethiopia and translated by July. Once that happens, the wait begins. Our little African angel is out there. We will find her!

Growing pains

2010-06-04T16:47:00.000-07:00

So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Galatians 6:9

I love our church! It is a group of people who love God passionately. We have great pastors that encourage, teach and challenge us to live out an authentic faith in God. CCF has done amazing things for the people in our community as well as around the world. It is a place where people feel loved and valued. There is a strong emphasis on becoming fully devoted to God, discovering your "Shape" and living out your purpose. I have been working with our church now for almost a year to launch an orphan ministry. I have learned (and am still learning) so much about patience, team work, sacrifice and perseverance through this process. We are working together to figure out how a lay ministry functions. There are guidelines, budgets, policies, personalities and limitations. The last few weeks have stretched me in ways I have never been stretched. There have been times that I have asked "why."

Why do I bother? Why is this so difficult? Why can't someone else do this? I know why. God has given me this burden for orphans. My heart breaks for the millions of children around the world who are lonely, hungry and scared. I am convinced that anything worthwhile requires some degree of sacrifice and pain. I like to know how things are going to turn out. It is the control freak in me. I struggle with letting God direct my steps and plans. I am growing through this process. There is frustration and pain but those kids are worth it. Please pray for CCF, our orphan ministry team and leadership. I believe that we are going to do great things for children around the world and in our own back yard.

A Great Day with Friends

2010-05-31T17:16:00.000-07:00

We had an afternoon barbeque with our friends the Harkness' today. Melissa is one of those true friends that makes life better. We share many of the same hopes and dreams. We have been through infertility, adoption and share a passion for orphans. We are both married to kind, loyal and very conservative guys. Matt and Melissa are having baby #4 in 10 days. Their child will be blessed to have such amazing parents. Our families have a lot of fun together. There is always lots of food, laughter and energetic, noisy kids. Thanks guys for spending the day with us!

What Does God Expect of Us?

2010-05-27T17:55:00.000-07:00

This is the subtitle of Richard Stearn's book ""The Hole in Our Gospel". This book is amazing! Richard Stearns was the CEO of Lenox and left his job to become the president of World Vision. He went from selling expensive dishes to wealthy people to serving the poor. He believes that the hole in our gospel represents the belief that many christians have. That the gospel and it's message of salvation is a private transaction between them and God. Similar to a "fire insurance policy" He contends that Jesus Christ had a broader, bolder vision of the gospel. Christians are to be the "hands and feet", "salt and light" in the world. We are to lift up the poor, care for the sick, fight for the oppressed and challange injustice. Our faith was never meant to be a "fire insurance" policy for our security, our "free ticket in". It was meant to change the world. He contrasts "Wealthy Christians" in America to people living in extreme poverty around the world and wonders what God thinks when he looks at the contrast. A large part of the book is the heart breaking statistics surrounding the extreme poverty that many in our world live with every day. One way he personalizes the numbers is by putting them in context. He asks us to consider how we might respond if we woke up tomorrow to a headline indicating that one hundred jet liners had crashed, killing 26,500 people. Understandably, our country would be in uproar – we would utilize every possible resource to not only understand what had happened, but also prevent it from ever happening again.

But it happens every day. And the worst part of all is that it is largely preventable.

After spending time in Haiti and seeing the extreme poverty, learning more about what is happening in Africa with AIDS and starvation, and knowing that young girls are sold as sex slaves in Russia, I struggle with what to do with what I know. I can't ignore it. I have a harder time complaining about our "small" house or the cost of Alaskan salmon. My prayer is that God will use me in some way to make a difference. I realize that this is a dangerous prayer. It may cause discomfort. It may stretch me. Friends and family may think I'm nuts. I think I am alright with that. I wanted to share something that Richard Stearns said at a World AIDS Day conference

"I believe that this could very well be looked back on as the sin of our generation. I look at my parents and ask, where were they during the civil rights movement? I look at my grandparents and ask, what were they doing when the holocaust in Europe was occurring with regard to the Jews, and why didn't they speak up? And when we think of our great, great, great-grandparents, we think how could they have sat by and allowed slavery to exist? And I believe that our children and their children, 40 or 50 years from now, are going to ask me, what did you do while 40 million children became orphans in Africa?"

The Day In Pictures

2010-05-22T15:53:00.000-07:00

I love days like today. Parker had a friend over. We planted flowers and relaxed in the pool. The only thing missing was Daddy who was out of town. We started by planting (and smelling) Mandevilla

From there we moved on to Gerber Daisies

They also smell good!

There is nothing like digging in the dirt.

It was hot today, 90 degrees, so we cooled off in the pool.

The boys spent the morning being boys

And practicing their synchronized swimming routine

Finally they spent some time trading silly bands. If you don't know what silly bands are, count your blessings!

Flowers, friends and silly bands. This is why weekends were made!

What a difference a year makes

2010-05-20T16:59:00.000-07:00

This is the beautiful little girl that we met in Russia in March 2009. She was very quiet and shy. I fell in love instantly with those big brown eyes!

Here is our beautiful daughter one year later. She still has the same big brown eyes but the quiet, shy little girl that we met in Russia is now full of joy and never stops talking!

I added a map to my blog a couple of days ago and noticed that I had a couple visitors from Russia as well as the UK. I would just love if you would leave me a comment when you stop by. It would be great to know who is visiting and find out more about you. If you don't have a google account you can comment as anonymous and tell me your name. Come on, don't be a stranger!

Declining adoptions

2010-05-16T06:53:00.000-07:00

Did you know that adoptions are down 40%? Adoptions have decreased every year since 2004. There are many factors which play a role in this ranging from our economy to new country regulations. Ethiopia, which was a one trip process, now requires two trips. International adoption is difficult, expensive and takes a long time. Thankfully many families continue to adopt these precious kids despite the obstacles. With 150 million orphans in the world and adoptions declining we have to find additional ways to love and support these kids. James 1:47 makes it very clear that we must care for these children. If we don't, who will? I recently learned about a Christian World Foundation project called MITTIN. MITTIN is a high protein nutritional supplement made of 12 Ethiopian grown grains and seeds. Christian World Foundation is providing MITTIN for people in Ethiopia. The project provides employment for farmers, production workers, sales associates and distributers. It is a way for Ethiopians to become self sustaining and reduce starvation. Here is the amazing part, $100 American dollars would provide over 5000 servings. Our family spends about 250 dollars a week on groceries. That is 12,500 meals for children in Ethiopia. It doesn't take huge amounts of money to make a difference in the life of a child. To learn more about Christian World Foundation or to donate to MITTIN, click HERE. Lets work together to care for the least of these!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-12T12:09:00.000-07:00

Saturday in the Sunshine State

2010-05-08T17:44:00.000-07:00

It may be cold up north but it is hot and sunny in Florida! We spent the day lounging by the pool and hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa before the snow birds fly home to Minnesota. I love the Sunshine State!

Summit VI

2010-05-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

We have been home from Minneapolis now since Sunday and have had time to reflect on the SummitVI. I have been to many conferences in the past but have never experienced anything quite like being around 1000+ people with a passion and heart for orphans! So often when I talk to people about adoption or caring for orphans in far away places, I sense that it seems strange to them. Why would we risk taking a child in to our home that may have "issues?" One that may struggle to bond or have learning difficulties. Why would I take a trip to a third world country like Haiti or Africa where the food and language is strange, you can't drink the water, and the people are needy? The Summit helped answer these questions and allowed me to hear amazing stories from amazing people who stepped out of their comfort zone to care "for the least of these." I was reminded that Jesus loves us unconditionally. His love doesn't change because of our "issues." He doesn't say, "No thanks," based on our past and our failures. When we care for orphans, we get a glimpse of God's heart. We were also reminded that adoption and fostering is hard work. We need resources and support. Sometimes love is not enough. Children from hard places need time to heal and this doesn't happen over night. Often the scars never completely go away. Many children will struggle with attachment issues and bonding. This does not mean that the adoption was a failure or a mistake. All children are gifts from God with a unique calling and purpose. We returned energized and more determined than ever that God's call to care for orphans is worth every sacrifice!

Help for Haiti

2010-05-02T16:31:00.000-07:00

We returned home this afternoon from the Summit in Minneapolis. It was an amazing couple of days. It has unified our team and helped clarify the vision for our orphan ministry. I am still processing the experience but will share more soon.
When we made our second trip to Haiti in February we brought an orthotist, John, to fit Jocelyn for a prosthetic leg. Joselyn lost his leg in the earthquake in January. He is the oldest at Danita's Children and suffers from severe post traumatic stress. He so desperately wanted to walk again. I am happy to report that we were able to return John to Haiti today to deliver Joselyn's new leg. I am so happy for Joselyn and grateful for all the people at CCF who worked together to give this amazing boy Hope! Here is Joselyn in February and then today. Praise God!

Orphan Summit

2010-04-27T07:07:00.000-07:00

I am so proud of this kid! My sweet little boy, born 13 and 1/2 years ago, has a huge heart! He is mellow and laid back and so much fun to be around. He has great friends and loves to give Mom hugs. I thank God every day for all my children. I am so blessed!
Tomorrow I am leaving for Minneapolis to attend The Summit VI My goal is to return with a clear focus on how our church's orphan ministry can impact the lives of orphans around the world. I am so excited to meet Tom Davis and John Piper as well as Steven Curtis Chapman. I also am meeting a couple of friends that I have met through blogs to share our plans for orphan ministry. It is going to be a great week!

Preparing for adoption

2010-04-23T18:08:00.000-07:00

Tonight was our home study. I really love our social worker Sharon! She is a great support and very easy to talk to. She did our home study for Grace as well as Grace's first post adoption report. We talked about the process, our expectations and fears. We discussed ways to prepare for becoming a multi racial family and how to deal with the challenges we may encounter. It was interesting to talk to her about the situation going on with Russia after the little boy was sent back to Russia on a plane. You have to wonder what that families social worker is going through. Were there any signs that something was wrong? If not, it is interesting that the mother was able to hide it so well. Why didn't she say something, ask for help? I suspect that her social worker is asking some tough questions as well as answering some from others. It must be a difficult time for her. Sharon and I talked about how important it is for adoptive parents to go in with their eyes wide open. Parenting a child from hard places takes work. We need education and support. Karyn Purvis is an expert on this subject. "Empowered to Connect" just released a video series by Karyn Purvis with some great strategies for adoptive families. Here is the link if you are interested: Empowered To Connect
I think you will find it worth the time!

Facts of Poverty in Africa.

2010-04-19T15:52:00.000-07:00

Daddy's girl

2010-04-18T05:55:00.000-07:00

Grace loves her Daddy! She waits all day for him to get home from work. When he pulls in the driveway, she runs to the door, "Daddy, Daddy!" She also loves the pool and could spend hours splashing and playing. When she gets Daddy in the pool it is a dream come true!

Celebrate Russian Adoptions

2010-04-14T19:05:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is a day designated to tell our positive Russian adoption stories. The media is quick to tell the horror stories and paint a negative picture of Russian adoptions. This is an opportunity for those of us who have adopted from Russia to share our journey. The situation with the little boy being sent back to Russia was terrible, and inexcusable. There have been a few tragic situations related to adoptions over the past few years but there have been thousands of successful adoptions and millions more children sit in orphanages in Russia waiting for their forever families. We need to speak up, tell our stories and fight for those kids! I wanted to share my videos from our adoption of Grace from Pskov Russia. The first video is our time in Russia and the second is having Grace home.