Inspiration

There is no end to the news about those who are running for office or winning trophies or making bazillions.  There are pop stars and actors/actresses and even those who choose a life of crime making news constantly.  But, my favorite stories are about real, live, everyday, imperfect folk.  Here are a few of those that inspire me.... (don't have their permission, so using initials.  if you recognize yourself and want me to remove your snippet, let me know)

***By faith, D and TB went to Eastern Europe to bring home 2 girls who needed a family; when the girls couldn't leave someone close to them, D and T opened their hearts to another girl, V, who had been praying for a mom and dad.  D, T, and V arrive home in the US today to begin their new lives here together.  They inspire me!!

***By faith, G and SB went to EE to bring home 2 boys, one of whom they weren't sure would return with them.  They went for him anyway.  He did.  They inspire me!!

***By faith, T and JC  went to Africa last week to bring home their son. This is after a challenging month of loving two girls from EE who couldn't accept their love.  They are still giving even though grieving.  They inspire me!!

***By faith, J and ND went to EE to bring home a son.  He loves them, but loves friends there who are like family too.  He said yes, he said no, yes, and no.  They were willing at every point.  They understand how hard this has been for him.  They love him anyway.  They are coming home without him. They inspire me!!

***By faith, JB and JH went to EE for their daughter.  They brought her home.  She has changed her mind and wants to go back.  They have given all they are to her for each day of her life with them.  Her life has been changed forever, no matter where she lives.  They inspire me!!

***By faith, the H family called more than 80 adoption agencies before they found one who'd help them get their daughter home.  But they found one!  They inspire me!!

***By faith, B and JC told their story on facebook.  They hosted and then adopted a girl from EE.  We saw their story, hosted too, and are now adopting.  They inspired us!!

***By faith, many boys, girls, young men, and young women choose to accept new families who offer love through adoption - even though they have suffered so much with their current or earlier families.  They are willing to trust and to hope and to give up the little that they have to try again, to start fresh.  They inspire me!!

And there are SO many more!!!  

In the Bible, there is a section called Hebrews.  In chapter 11, there is a list of men and women who lived very differently from those around them - Noah, Abraham, Enoch, Rahab......  God used them to do amazing things.  By the way, they had "issues" - a prostitute; killed by a brother; liar; adulterer - to mention a few.  What they, and the people on my list, have in common, is that they allowed/are allowing their lives, despite their issues, to be shaped by God - no matter the cost and no matter the consequences.   They inspire me!!

Thoughts on the "F" word...

Not sure which word you were thinking of, but my thoughts have been revolving around the word FEAR.

...a four letter word that shows itself repeatedly in the adoption process, at least in my experience.  Here are a few places where it has been sighted:

*What if the orphan says no to the adoption?  FEAR
*What if my other children have trouble adjusting?  FEAR
*What if we don't have enough money to pay for the costs of adoption, therapy, and whatever else unknown lies ahead?  FEAR
*How will I work full-time, care for my hubby and three other boys, and nurture a relationship with a new child, especially a teen, plus keep my sanity? FEAR
*What if friends and family think we are crazy and are not supportive? FEAR
Just to name a few....

Well, I've spent years fearing a variety of people and situations.  It is exhausting, sapping hope and joy and potential.  Fear isn't welcome here any more!  Instead... I'm embracing FAITH.  It is much more powerful and much less debilitating.  All of the questions above and so many more can be asked, but when the answer is FAITH, nothing is impossible and mountains are moved.  A much, much better way to live!

So, if you want to join us in this journey of faith, please consider resisting FEAR and embracing FAITH by:

*praying for V and the other kids who need families - even if you don't normally pray
*hosting one of the kids or providing a scholarship - even a little - through the New Horizons link to the right or another hosting agency, whether you think it makes "sense" or not
*donating to help us bring V home - button to the right - still need about $7,000 for first trip - see - does that bring FEAR or FAITH to mind? :) ...whether the money is set aside for something else or not, just try it
*finding your own questions where FEAR reigns, rejecting it, and welcoming FAITH - even just a little

peace be with you on the journey,
sue

Mama Mia! Many Mini Morsels to share today....

Table of Contents - in case you have limited time or interest :)
1. Waiting for...
2. Shopping list
3. Plastic recycling - not what you think!
4. Leftovers
5. Summer is coming!
6. Fly with us
7. Teens on the streets
8. Peace

*1.  Waiting for... Latvia to review our papers and ask us if we want to adopt V (well yeah!), then invite us to come to stay with him for 2 weeks to transition before coming home!  American side has said we are good to go!

*2.  Shopping list - When we go to Latvia, there will be many other kids who'd love a small item from you!  We are saving room in our suitcases to take these little gifts with us.  If you make a list when you go to Target or Safeway or wherever AND you'd like to make a child's day - here are a few ideas:
   yarn                                                           matchbox cars
   cross stitch supplies                                    polly pockets
   fun bandaids                                               playing cards
   puppets
   coloring books and crayons

Local folks, just let me know and I'll pick up or you can surprise me and drop them off.  Others, you can send or let me know what you want to contribute and i'll pick up your items for you.  Easy, right?  Think of the smiles over something so small!!

*3.  Plastic recycling - Nope, not the help- save- the- Earth kind (though that is fine too).  Just wondering if anyone has a gift card lying around unused from a birthday or Christmas or....  If so, we'd love to gather some up and raffle them off, with proceeds going to the adoption.  If you don't want it or need it, please consider sending it along.

*4.  Leftovers - The cool Latvia t-shirts (whose story should be a post itself - thank you Clearys!!) have been sold to many folks in many places.  Now somehow or other we have a few remainders.  If you or someone you know would like one, contact me at pittcrew1@comcast.net or see our last posts for details.  $12.50 each.  Sizes that remain:
    Men's - 2 of the Large, 2 of the Extra Large
    Women's - 1 Small (these run smallish and are fitted, so may be good for a child or tiny lady).
If someone wants to order 12 or more of either design, we can order again.  Price is crazy high if we have less though.

*5.  Summer is coming!  And have I got a wonderful option for you :)  Instead of a vacation or _____, how about inviting an orphan child or two from Ukraine or Latvia to spend a month with you?  Or take a child on vacation with you.  See New Horizons for Children link to sign up for photos of available kids.  No obligation for looking.  If you can't do that, might you give a few dollars for a scholarship so that another person or family can?  Easy and quick! Choose a child and donate.  I've given $10 that gets combined with others and it really adds up!  Let me know if you have questions.  www.newhorizonsforchildren.org

*6. Fly with us!  Now this can mean two things.  One, for the second and third trips for paperwork only one parent must go to Latvia with V.  If you would like to see firsthand the process and have a chance to tour with a native, you may want to come along.  Let me know if so!

BUT, it could also mean that you would like to sponsor 1 mile of our trip by donating 1 dollar.  An estimate I found shows that it is about 4438 miles from DC to Riga, Latvia.  So, yep, one dollar will go a loooong way.  God multiplies money the same way He has multiplied bread and fish!  So, if you'd like to fly one (or more) of our miles with us in spirit, hit the donate button on the right of the blog.  You could obviously do this in person too.  You could save change in a jar and see how many miles of the journey you add up to with just your pennies and nickels.  Wouldn't it be fun to see how many folks it would take to "fly" the whole way to Riga??


*7.  Teens on the streets - a friend who is a missionary in Latvia works with teens who haven't found a family before being sent out from the orphanage at 16.  Many end up on the streets.  She and her helpers love these kids (and they are still kids) regardless of what they have had to do to survive.  Please check out the link to learn more.  You can give to Jaycee so that she can reach more kids.  Or, she has requested lotions and yummy smelling soaps like from Bath and Body.  If you have more of those than you'll ever open, how about getting one or two to me before we leave.  We'd love to hand to Jaycee some love in a bottle for her girls from you! Her link can be found at
http://web.me.com/jayceeleigh/Jaycee_in_Latvia/Welcome.html

*8.  If you've actually taken the time to read through all of this, who knows how you feel!  I hope that you feel that there is a great need for helping these little ones.  I hope that you see that $1 here or a box of crayons there is something that everyone could do.  I hope that some of you will have crazy courage and invite one of these kids into your heart and home.  I hope that you'll come along with us on our journey to show Vitaly how much we want him to be a part of our family.  And I hope that you will pray for peace for us and for V. through each and every step - no matter what comes.

Wouldn't you want to come all the way from Latvia for this mom???  V loves goofing around so he knows what he is in for :)

Whew, think I'm done for now.  Bet you are relieved if you've made it this far!

Excited, exhausted, curious, thankful, and at peace,
Sue

church, adoption, and education....one perspective

Okay friends, first before I dive into troubled waters, my apologies to our dear friends in Tennessee!!  I have updated my last post to reflect that, yes, there will be Latvia t-shirts worn in there :)  And proudly so!

Now, last post was pretty much "where are we."  But, a different kind of post has been brewing and can't be held back any longer.  Remember, this is my perspective.  Just put over the edge by email and phone calls from friends yesterday who are struggling with "impossible" requirements.  So, here we go....

Church, education, and adoption have a lot in common these days.  They are the three areas that my heart and my family revolve around.  Hope and help are available through them.  Children and families are united; minds grow and form and discover; life has meaning and freedom is found.  But, as I have walked the paths of all three, I grow more and more frustrated and sometimes angry.  The love and discovery and freedom are being twisted and strangled and threatened.  They survive because I think that God has a lot of patience with us, but what a mess!!!

All three areas have made requirements and acceptance and rules and standards impossibly high for your average, imperfect person.

Church:  If we are not perfect (or pretend to be), we are not welcome and certainly not able to lead!  (I realize that this isn't everywhere, but seems to be the overriding requirement.)  This is not what I read in the Bible.  The leaders there were a bit of a mess, but God used them!  And yes, my hubby is a pastor.  He cringes when I write sometimes, but loves me anyway :)

Education:  If the children and teachers are not perfectly able to pass a particular test, we fail.  Doesn't matter if the children have come from a situation where they may not have help at home, speak English at home, have a home, or make a year's worth of progress in 3 months - fail.  Doesn't matter if teachers work every evening and all weekend, cry over kids who are neglected, struggle to meet demands and still make learning fun - fail.

Adoption: If a family doesn't have big bucks in savings (talking tens of thousands) with a history of perfection, the ability to spend hundreds of hours filling out forms and chasing down stickers for those forms - rejection.  If a child hasn't made it through horrific experiences without visible behavior issues and unusual social tendencies - rejection.

This is just what I see....  It isn't all that is out there!

There are churches and leaders and believers who love and live imperfectly but are full of hope and forgiveness and joy!

There are teachers and students who refuse to give up, who love learning and discovery!

There are families and children who will make it through the hoops and obstacles to be united!

Part of me wants to give up on all three "systems" because they are such a mess.  No winners there though.

So, I go out the door this morning...to a school where I will love and teach to the best of my ability.  I will worship with our community this weekend, thankful that there is a place to go where I am accepted with all of my imperfection.  And I will give and listen and pray for every family and child who is kept apart by papers and money and regulations that form mountains of separation.

I can despair and reject or I can hope and fight with weapons of joy and truth and peace.  With God's grace - much of it - I choose the latter.

Feels good to get that off my chest!!!

Battle ready,
Sue

February 2nd, 2012 Adoption Update

    

Celebrations:

**CIS approval!  Much to our coordinator's surprise, the immigration processing went really, really fast!  Approval was in my hands on Friday, 1/27, just 40 days after submitting and a week after fingerprints.  It has been notarized, scanned, county certified, and apostilled.  A family in Connecticut has it and will fly to Latvia this weekend, delivering to our lawyer there.  SO, America says all is ready!

**T-shirt fundraiser is making me smile!  So far, the shirts will be worn in Tennessee, Missouri, Texas, Maryland, Georgia, Alabama, New York, Colorado, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and even Latvia itself!!  I hope and pray that folks will see them, ask about them, and consider hosting/adopting themselves.  

Next up:

**Translation and court referral must come before we can get our travel dates.

**My leave from work is complicated, plus V must be homeschooled until he is a citizen after the third trip.  Those pieces are tough to make progress on until we have travel dates though.  No clue how these will work out, but they will.

Really just want V home.  He is missed an awful lot.....

Waiting with anticipation,

Sue