When I tell people we are adopting I often am asked, "Isn't int. adoption expensive?" The short answer is, yes. The long answer, for those who are interested, is that we have a very detailed list of where each and every dollar is going. We pay our wonderful adoption agency for many, many, specific services they provide. They are non-profit, but do have expenses that must be covered. We pay our home study agency (also non-profit) for their services. We pay the US govt. for immigration services (they generously return this money with our 2011 tax return). We pay the Chinese Govt. a small fee (under $1,000) for the work they do on their end. We pay about 20% to the orphanage for the care they have provided our daughter from the last 2+ years. Airline tickets, both international and in China, hotels, and food are a large chunk of the costs. Then lots of extraneous expenses I won't go into. So while it is expensive, it isn't as if we are buying a baby, we are paying for necessary services - and we will end up with another child in the end. The costs are MORE than worth it! We've felt all along that if God wants us to adopt, he will open every door and help us to overcome every obstacle along the way. So far we've been amazed by how He has provided, it seems that he has multiplied all our efforts. This summer and fall we budgeted, saved, sold things, etc. We received much help from friends and family who have gifted us with time, effort, toys, clothes, baby equipment, finances and much prayer. We will be forever grateful for the love shown to us, and to Grace. Then, on Monday we learned we had received a $3,000 adoption grant from Sho Hope (Steven Curtis Chapman's adoption foundation.) That completely blew us away. We think we've figured out that we have paid for everything but our plane tickets to and from China and Grace's homecoming ticket. My sister Ellen has gifted us with some beautiful China-inspired jewelry to offer to friends and family to help with travel expenses. If you are interested you can check out the jewelry at:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=81785&id=1053959850&l=ab65505027
You can email me (phsjwade@hotmail.com) if you are interested in a piece, and pay in person, through the mail or through paypal (wade522@yahoo.com). I can mail the jewelry to those of you who live far away.
Thanks for all of you who have helped us out in any way!
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.James 1:27
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Our Decade in Review
So many changes from 2000-2010. (Technically it's been 11 years since Jan. 2000, but that's okay.)
*Paul began his career in law enforcement.
*We bought our first home.
*We became parents for the first time with 3 days notice through the foster care system.
*We learned what it *really* means to trust God anew each day.
*I left my first teaching job teaching middle school special ed. and started a new job teaching preschool special ed. Loved both jobs.
*Had a miscarriage.
*Had our first bio. baby.
*Completed our first adoption.
*I became a stay at home mom. (Working only a couple hours a week.) Learned how to pinch each penny until it screamed.
*Had preemie twins.
*Experienced life with twins with asthma and four boys four and under.
*Became a working mom again at the special ed. preschool.
*Then became a stay-at-home mom again, and began homeschooling.
*Paul left his job at the JCPD and went to the ATF acadamy for six months.
* I was home alone with four kids five and under for 3 months, then moved in with Paul's mom (bless her heart!)
*We left my family, our friends, dogs, church and the south to move to Michigan, near Paul's family for Paul's new job.
*We bought our dream home.
*We made wonderful new friends and started a wonderful new church.
*We lost my dear grandmother, Granny Faye.
*We watched our boys grow too quickly. Attended 100's of sporting, music, and other events.
*We've fallen more in love and become better friends with each other. (Sappy but true.)
*And lastly we've began the process of adopting a little girl.
I feel overwhelmed and blessed as I see God's faithfulness through this last decade. I can't wait to see what the next has in store.
*Paul began his career in law enforcement.
*We bought our first home.
*We became parents for the first time with 3 days notice through the foster care system.
*We learned what it *really* means to trust God anew each day.
*I left my first teaching job teaching middle school special ed. and started a new job teaching preschool special ed. Loved both jobs.
*Had a miscarriage.
*Had our first bio. baby.
*Completed our first adoption.
*I became a stay at home mom. (Working only a couple hours a week.) Learned how to pinch each penny until it screamed.
*Had preemie twins.
*Experienced life with twins with asthma and four boys four and under.
*Became a working mom again at the special ed. preschool.
*Then became a stay-at-home mom again, and began homeschooling.
*Paul left his job at the JCPD and went to the ATF acadamy for six months.
* I was home alone with four kids five and under for 3 months, then moved in with Paul's mom (bless her heart!)
*We left my family, our friends, dogs, church and the south to move to Michigan, near Paul's family for Paul's new job.
*We bought our dream home.
*We made wonderful new friends and started a wonderful new church.
*We lost my dear grandmother, Granny Faye.
*We watched our boys grow too quickly. Attended 100's of sporting, music, and other events.
*We've fallen more in love and become better friends with each other. (Sappy but true.)
*And lastly we've began the process of adopting a little girl.
I feel overwhelmed and blessed as I see God's faithfulness through this last decade. I can't wait to see what the next has in store.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Is that my chubby girl crying??
It sure does look like her! Complete with scratched right cheek. This is from the blog of another family who is in China now. They visited the orphanage and posted some random pics. I think it is her!Thursday, December 2, 2010
She's Perfect!
We were SO excited to wake up to 15 new pictures of Grace!! She is SO cute! She looks very healthy and happy in all her pictures.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Pictures coming soon!
Another email from another mom:
"Hi all!
We went to the orphanage today, and I got pictures for everyone. Everyone's children are precious and I will send the pictures as soon as I can. I can't upload anything tonight, not even pics for our own blog...internet PAINFULLY slow and it keeps stopping before they're uploaded.
Just wanted to let you know to expect them :)"
"Hi all!
We went to the orphanage today, and I got pictures for everyone. Everyone's children are precious and I will send the pictures as soon as I can. I can't upload anything tonight, not even pics for our own blog...internet PAINFULLY slow and it keeps stopping before they're uploaded.
Just wanted to let you know to expect them :)"
Happy, happy update!!
We sent a care-package for Grace to be shared with her friends at her SWI (social welfare institute) via a family going to get their little boy at Grace's orphanage. This morning we had the following email in our inbox! We should be getting pictures from her and another mom soon. I am overwhelmed. Thank you Lord!
"Hello fellow mamas!
We visited the orphanage today and got to deliver your care packages!I had my husband snap as many pictures and some quick videos for each child. Unfortunately, this morning I was replacing the 'blank' memorycard into my laptop (its a place holder to keep the slot from gettingdusty) and it somehow slid in incorrectly and now will not come out.So I can't read files off a memory card tonight, and I didn't bring my cord to download directly from the camera. I am SO sorry... we will head out to the store tomorrow to find a memory card reader sohopefully, I'll be able to send them off to you tomorrow. I know thatDonna was able to get shots of every child she had on her list, so I'm sure she'll be sending them along.All of your children look healthy and well loved. The orphanage doesn't seem to have a lot of means... BUT, the children look very well cared for... and my son and Donna's son have been doing amazingly this week. We feel like they were both well prepared andseemed familiar with our pictures and what was happening. I'm convinced that its Half The Sky's influence which is allowing this orphanage to do so much with the little they have... you should be reassured that your children will be well taken care of until you can come and get them. My older daughter came from a SWI which had a lotof means, the place was immaculate and looked wonderful. But many ofthe children coming out of there showed signs of neglect and malnourishment. These children fare so much better, do to the quality care they are receiving. I told each on of your children that their family loves them and will be coming soon. I will send pictures/videos as soon as I can."
One thing you can pray for, the orphanage does not have heat and it is very cold there.
"Hello fellow mamas!
We visited the orphanage today and got to deliver your care packages!I had my husband snap as many pictures and some quick videos for each child. Unfortunately, this morning I was replacing the 'blank' memorycard into my laptop (its a place holder to keep the slot from gettingdusty) and it somehow slid in incorrectly and now will not come out.So I can't read files off a memory card tonight, and I didn't bring my cord to download directly from the camera. I am SO sorry... we will head out to the store tomorrow to find a memory card reader sohopefully, I'll be able to send them off to you tomorrow. I know thatDonna was able to get shots of every child she had on her list, so I'm sure she'll be sending them along.All of your children look healthy and well loved. The orphanage doesn't seem to have a lot of means... BUT, the children look very well cared for... and my son and Donna's son have been doing amazingly this week. We feel like they were both well prepared andseemed familiar with our pictures and what was happening. I'm convinced that its Half The Sky's influence which is allowing this orphanage to do so much with the little they have... you should be reassured that your children will be well taken care of until you can come and get them. My older daughter came from a SWI which had a lotof means, the place was immaculate and looked wonderful. But many ofthe children coming out of there showed signs of neglect and malnourishment. These children fare so much better, do to the quality care they are receiving. I told each on of your children that their family loves them and will be coming soon. I will send pictures/videos as soon as I can."
One thing you can pray for, the orphanage does not have heat and it is very cold there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)