A Ray of Hope

I have a special friend that GOD has sent into my life. She is always e-mailing me with words of inspiration just when I need them most. When I fall and feel like giving up, she is there with a message that picks me up and inspires me to go on. She has walked the walk I now walk. She KNOWS! For her, I will be eternally grateful.

On her advice, I have mailed an application in for an adoption grant. I ask that the Lord speaks to this couple and they feel compelled to help us bring our child home. They are an adoptive family, so I know that they understand the strong desire for a child.

I have found an agency that I really like. When I talked to the Waiting Child coordinator, she feels confident that together we will be able to find our son.

I ask, if you are reading this, that you please say a small prayer (or send some good thoughts) that these wonderful people will be able to help us reach the child at the end of our rainbow. Or, if not, for the strength and courage to accept their decision with gratitude.

Is this Possible?

First let me begin with saying that I might have found an agency that is a 'Good Fit' for us. I had been trying to find a way to adopt from Taiwan without employing an agency, since independent adoptions are allowed there. Independent adoptions are considerably less expensive. Unfortunately, after sending inquiries to 4 orphanages, I have received no response. So, while I still would consider doing an independent adoption, I had looked into some agencies that work there.

One of the things that has drawn me to Taiwan is the thought of pursuing a special needs adoption. We have discussed this and Jon is open to it as well. While there are some special needs that are over our heads, so to speak, there are a lot that we would be comfortable with. For example, cleft-affected, strabismus (crossed-eyed), clubfoot, premature, or low birth weight. I discovered from this one agency that I had inquired about, that ADD is a commonly diagnosed special need in Taiwan. As some of you know, Jon not only has ADD, he has "one of the worst adult cases" that his doctor has ever treated. We have had many, many ADD challenges and are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. SO......I wonder, who better to adopt a child with ADD. We have an intimate knowledge of this special need. We embrace it on a daily basis.

So now you see our challenge. A child is out there....waiting, fidgeting in his or her seat. But, we need to find a way through the financial jungle to bring this 'active' child home. Between Jon having to change careers and, now his furthering his education to make him more employable, we have very little left over to cover adoption fees. I am going to set up something on E-Bay so that I can auction off some handmade(and if I might add, cute)things as well as some items that I purchased when we were hoping to adopt from Viet Nam.

I will post a link here, once I set it up.

Thinking of ways to bring you home

I was finishing a quilt that I started, well, it seems like years ago and I had an interesting thought. Why not try to auction off a couple of these handmade quilts. Not that I expect to get too much for them, but anything would help. So, I am going to try and finish the two Christmas quilts and the Burgundy and Green one, that I, oh so, love. They are not professional quality, but maybe someone will think they are pretty and want one. Now, I just have to figure out how to auction them here.

This is Quilt #3


Christmas Quilt #1


Christmas Quilt #2


I do not have exact measurements yet, but, they cover a couch from end to end, top to bottom. So they are a good size to snuggle up with. I haven't decided on whether to put flannel or cotton on the backside. Flannel is SO cozy!

This is the Kitty Quilt that I just finished for myself.

Dear Baby,

I don't know if you are out there, or if you will ever know about me, but I just had to tell you how I feel. I have such an ache in my heart for you. You have become a part of me, deep in my soul, as real as my arm or foot. When I look outside, I dream of you play in the sunshine with your big sister, Natalie. The two of you running and laughing, chasing each other. I think about you riding a bike, or teasing the dog. Or of me finding a frog under your bed. These thought make me smile. It's a sad smile, but yet still a smile.

I want you to know that I will do anything - ANYTHING - to bring you home to us. I will search the world over to find you. I will not give up on you.

Jousting at Windmills

I am beginning to feel as though I have been fighting battles that can not be fought. This adoption has been fraught with one barricade after another. We have switched countries three times, worked with three different agencies, and even tried four different orphanages. And still we are at square one. Nowhere!

How can it be that a family that wants so dearly to give a child a home (and unconditional LOVE) can not find anyone willing to help? I know that there are children out there. So many children are parent-less, lonely, scared. Why is it so impossible for the two of us to meet?