We received a packet of information from Holt yesterday. I thought I would share the specifics of the process with everyone. The main steps are-
- Family applies to program ( we have done this)
- Home study is reviewed by Holt and approved for country ( we have chosen the agency for our home study but thats it so far)
- Family files I600A immigration form
- Dossier is prepared by family and sent to Holt (family can compile dossier while simultaneously waiting for I171H approval)
- Program staff review dossier and obtain state certifications
Holt forwards Dossier to the U.S. Sate Dept & the Ethiopian Embassy for authentication
- Dossier is forwarded to Ethiopia representative in Addis Ababa who has a dossier translated and prepared for court
- Child is referred to family
- Paperwork is submitted to Ethiopian court
- Court order is issued, subsequently the birht certificate is issued
- Child is issued visa and ready to travel
- You receive information on post placement requirements and schedules
- Once we return home to the U.S. we will finalize the adoption here in the U.S.
- The last step is to naturalize our child as a U.S. citizen
These are the main steps of the process according to Holt. Obviously all of this takes time. Please pray for us as we begin all of the work involved in this that it would go smoothly.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Quails, Gas Prices & Faith
As I have watched the news for the past several months about the economy here in the U.S. and all over the world for that matter, I have thought about all of the costs involved with adopting. Of course our biggest obstacle right now is the up front funds, but then it will be years of caring for our new son/s or daughter/s. Just driving my girls now to softball every night of the week is quite the expense with the gas prices what they are. I have pondered the wisdom in all that we are pursuing, should we really be doing this. We have 4 children already, etc etc, you fill in the rest, you get the picture.
The other night my wife and I were at calling hours for one of our dear friends who's mother just passed away. We sat in the back of the room just wanting to be there for support for the family. I think just being there is a comfort, we dont always have to have something to say to share our love and care. Well while there, a few ladies from the church were sitting with us. They were asking questions about the adoption etc. One of the ladies spoke up and said something like, " I just dont know where all that money is going to come from". I was struck by those words, how little our God is to us all at times. How we lack faith that he will provide for what he has called us to do. Of course, we need to make sure its him that is doing the calling. I for one sometimes think he is calling me to buy a new motorcycle, after all I could minister to the biker crowd right? Haha.
This all leads me to what I read today. I decided some months back I wanted to read through the Bible and simply treat it like a novel. I typically stop and do all sorts of cross reference checks etc and it becomes more of a deep study. While that is good, I really wanted to read it all through without that sort of study. I finished the New Testament first and now I am in the Old Testament. I was reading today in Numbers. I believe I read chapters 9-11 today. I love how the Bible is filled with stories that can teach us so much today. In chapter 11 the Israelites have begun to complain. They are in the wilderness after being set free from slavery in Egypt. God is providing them with a bread like food called manna every day but they want more. They were used to meat and other things that they ate in Egypt. Isnt it funny how we are just like them. We get enslaved in some struggle/sin in our lives and we think its satisfying us. Anyway, God decides he is going to provide them with some meat. Lets pick up the story in Numbers chapter 11 verse 21, God has just told Moses the peoples leader he will provide meat for all of the people. Listen in-
21 And Moses said, “The people whom I am among are six hundred thousand men on foot; yet You have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat for a whole month.’ 22 Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to provide enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to provide enough for them?” 23 And the LORD said to Moses, “Has the LORD’s arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not.”
Lets skip down to verse 31-
31 Now a wind went out from the LORD, and it brought quail from the sea and left them fluttering near the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and about a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the ground. 32 And the people stayed up all that day, all night, and all the next day, and gathered the quail (he who gathered least gathered ten homers); and they spread them out for themselves all around the camp.
Isnt this amazing. Picture this scene in your minds eye. God uses a great wind and brings quail from the sea and drops them all over the camp of the Israelites. Could you imaging what that was like? Do you see how God provides for his people? Do you realize we are just like those Israelites? God loves us and cares for us just as much as he did them. We are just as special to God as they were! So just remember the next time you begin to doubt God, that he will take care of his own.
One last question- Is Gods arm to short to reach your need?
The other night my wife and I were at calling hours for one of our dear friends who's mother just passed away. We sat in the back of the room just wanting to be there for support for the family. I think just being there is a comfort, we dont always have to have something to say to share our love and care. Well while there, a few ladies from the church were sitting with us. They were asking questions about the adoption etc. One of the ladies spoke up and said something like, " I just dont know where all that money is going to come from". I was struck by those words, how little our God is to us all at times. How we lack faith that he will provide for what he has called us to do. Of course, we need to make sure its him that is doing the calling. I for one sometimes think he is calling me to buy a new motorcycle, after all I could minister to the biker crowd right? Haha.
This all leads me to what I read today. I decided some months back I wanted to read through the Bible and simply treat it like a novel. I typically stop and do all sorts of cross reference checks etc and it becomes more of a deep study. While that is good, I really wanted to read it all through without that sort of study. I finished the New Testament first and now I am in the Old Testament. I was reading today in Numbers. I believe I read chapters 9-11 today. I love how the Bible is filled with stories that can teach us so much today. In chapter 11 the Israelites have begun to complain. They are in the wilderness after being set free from slavery in Egypt. God is providing them with a bread like food called manna every day but they want more. They were used to meat and other things that they ate in Egypt. Isnt it funny how we are just like them. We get enslaved in some struggle/sin in our lives and we think its satisfying us. Anyway, God decides he is going to provide them with some meat. Lets pick up the story in Numbers chapter 11 verse 21, God has just told Moses the peoples leader he will provide meat for all of the people. Listen in-
21 And Moses said, “The people whom I am among are six hundred thousand men on foot; yet You have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat for a whole month.’ 22 Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to provide enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to provide enough for them?” 23 And the LORD said to Moses, “Has the LORD’s arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not.”
Lets skip down to verse 31-
31 Now a wind went out from the LORD, and it brought quail from the sea and left them fluttering near the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and about a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the ground. 32 And the people stayed up all that day, all night, and all the next day, and gathered the quail (he who gathered least gathered ten homers); and they spread them out for themselves all around the camp.
Isnt this amazing. Picture this scene in your minds eye. God uses a great wind and brings quail from the sea and drops them all over the camp of the Israelites. Could you imaging what that was like? Do you see how God provides for his people? Do you realize we are just like those Israelites? God loves us and cares for us just as much as he did them. We are just as special to God as they were! So just remember the next time you begin to doubt God, that he will take care of his own.
One last question- Is Gods arm to short to reach your need?
Monday, June 16, 2008
Here we go!
Well I wanted to update everyone on where we stand. We received a prelimnary approval from a home study agency here in Ohio that works with Holt International. We believe we will be approved to adopt. We have mailed in our application to Holt. We are off and running once again. Please keep us in your prayers, we will have much to do in the coming months. Lots of paperwork, fund raising etc etc. I cant wait! God bless you all and please please keep us in your prayers.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
The innocence of childhood
As I mentioned a few posts ago, my daughter recently gave me an ipod shuffle that I have fallen in love with. I download for free podcasts and have it loaded with all sorts of music. Many of the songs I added are songs from when I was but a wee lad. Its funny how just hearing certain songs can take me right back in my mind to my childhood. The absence of so many worries and resposibilities we all have as adults. The freedom to pursue every day only fun. Make new friends, experience new things. There is just something about the innocence we feel as children.
I recently added a photo of the exterior of my home to my desktop pc at work. I noticed the first few times when I went to my desktop to open a program or find a file, how that picture made me feel secure, safe, a place to go and leave all of the world behind. It made me want to leave work and go home to see my lovely wife and the great kids I love so much. I have so many blessings.
As I have been thinking about these 2 thoughts the past few days I have wondered what it is like to be an orphan. Your parents dead, or having been given away to be cared for by strangers by your parents. What it must be like for them to make it through each day. When they grow to be adults, assuming they even live that long, I wonder what memories they will have of their childhood. Will songs or certain smells or holidays bring back a rush of beautiful memories. Will they have this deposit of love imparted to their souls to help them get by the tough times. Will they have memories of loving parents sharing with them how much they love them but even more important how much God loves them. Its thoughts like these that continue to motivate me to adopt. I want to be able to give the types of memories that I have to my new son/s or daughter/s. I want them to know they were loved by our family, but as I said even more so, that a loving God cares for them.
If you get the chance today, spend some time remembering all the blessings in your life and pray for an orphan somewhere in the world. We are so blessed arent we?
I recently added a photo of the exterior of my home to my desktop pc at work. I noticed the first few times when I went to my desktop to open a program or find a file, how that picture made me feel secure, safe, a place to go and leave all of the world behind. It made me want to leave work and go home to see my lovely wife and the great kids I love so much. I have so many blessings.
As I have been thinking about these 2 thoughts the past few days I have wondered what it is like to be an orphan. Your parents dead, or having been given away to be cared for by strangers by your parents. What it must be like for them to make it through each day. When they grow to be adults, assuming they even live that long, I wonder what memories they will have of their childhood. Will songs or certain smells or holidays bring back a rush of beautiful memories. Will they have this deposit of love imparted to their souls to help them get by the tough times. Will they have memories of loving parents sharing with them how much they love them but even more important how much God loves them. Its thoughts like these that continue to motivate me to adopt. I want to be able to give the types of memories that I have to my new son/s or daughter/s. I want them to know they were loved by our family, but as I said even more so, that a loving God cares for them.
If you get the chance today, spend some time remembering all the blessings in your life and pray for an orphan somewhere in the world. We are so blessed arent we?
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