Submission=Fail

Two other families were submitted this week, we weren't.

Praying for next Thursday or the following Thursday now.

Please don't ask why the family whose dossier arrived in country after ours was submitted---the only answer I have is our CSP's aren't done yet. We need them first, then dossier can be submitted to SDA to have a referral issued.





"I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." Isaiah 45:2-3 (NIV)

Swiftly?

Our adoption has moved in hyper-speed really since mid-May. Our homestudy was completed in 23 days, immigration approval in 33 days total, our 171H arrived just 8 days after fingerprinting, and our dossier arrived in "country" in 2 days. TWO DAYS!!!!

Our dossier has been there for exactly one week today, I am praying God is still moving swiftly and that our dossier will be submitted tomorrow.

Will you join me in that prayer?

I am thanking God for it all, even the very ugly parts of this adoption process and if we are not to be submitted this week then I still pray we hear SOMETHING about STUFF.

Join me? Please?

"I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." Isaiah 45:2-3 (NIV)

Sterling's 5th Birthday Blitz!!!!!!!!

I have a challenge for you all!!!!! Time for another $21 for a sweetie with an extra 21st chromosome!!! This challenge is to help the Hinz Family fill up their adoption fund.

Erin and her hubby are adopting Sterling from an orphanage overseas in the same country we are headed too. Sterling is turning 5 this week, this is his LAST birthday EVER in an orphanage. Can you help this family? They will be shipping their dossier off tomorrow for the country Sterling is surviving in right now. It should be there by the end of the week AND then they wait for a travel date to be issued.

In just a few weeks, they will be traveling to meet Sterling, adopt him and bring him home. They are $2000 shy of a full fund right now, can you help? Do you have an extra $21 for a boy sporting an extra 21st chromosome? Any amount will help, but if we can get 100 people to donate $21 bucks the Hinz fund will be full! And what better gift to give Sterling than a family?

you can donate here HINZ FAMILY SPONSORSHIP PAGE  
click on Sterling's picture to see his mommy's blog

"I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." Isaiah 45:2-3 (NIV)

The difference an ocean can make

Today, we had a family reunion for my Grandma's side of the family...the Schaeffer side.

At any rate, there were a few family members did not know about our adoption and so we shared of course.

While I was talking about how children with disabilities (child with Down syndrome) are often abandoned at the hospital and that their birth parents are ENCOURAGED to leave their babies...

At that moment, it hit me, my cousin Michael, who was born with Spina Bifida, would be on that same list of "unwanted" as Joseph if they had been born "over there". Michael is witty, funny, a bit of a rascal and all boy and a wonderful young man. It hurt my heart even more to know that somewhere, over there, he would not be valued and left in a laying crib day in and day out.

The Godlessness is so heavy sometimes. Disabilities are nothing new to me. I have a cousin who is cognitively delayed and I have loved Patty always. My first husband has a brother who suffered a brain injury following birth and had grand mal seizures daily and was profoundly cognitively delayed. Jeffy was raised at home, I have so much thankfulness to their family for showing me how to LOVE and RAISE a child with disabilities at home.

I am so grateful to be born in a place where I am allowed to openly LOVE my child and advocate for those considered less than perfect and unworthy in other countries. I am so grateful God has called me to this mission of adoption, even though it has been rough--very rough at times. I am so grateful for this journey and the people I have met that are willing to walk this treacherous mile too.

God bless you all.






"I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." Isaiah 45:2-3 (NIV)