DOORS

We chose International Adoption because we checked out numerous
avenues for adoption and their was always a reason not to persue.
So we felt that the doors were closed for a reason.  So International
adoption was the only one that had no reason not to move forward.
And the odd thing about the International adoption door, is we did
not end up in the country we wanted to visit or felt comfortable with.
Then to chose a Special Needs child.  WOW !
And all the time waiting (9 months to relicense the orphanage and then
start the adoption process that took another 9 months to bring our
beautiful daughter home.) made us wonder if it was really going to happen.
I realized that Adoption Agencies have no control over anything in
Foreign Countries. (no matter what they tell you)  And I realized that
International Adoption is harder than having a high risk pregnancy and
natural child birth. (just my experience)
DOORS..yesterday we had a possible door opened to us but do not
know what will become of it. Really odd that this came out of the 
clear blue.  Never close a door that God has opened for you.

Yes, we are still waiting for the one paper for our Dossier. 

THIS WEEK ?

I have met some other families who are adopting from In*ia also.
It is really comforting to be able to talk with others who are going
the same thing that you are. We are all praying for some great news
from our Agencies and CARA.  Please let this be the week !!

Still waiting for 1 paper for our dossier before Apostilling everything
and sending to our agency.
And still making hats and thinking about fund raisers.

My husband had a dream this past weekend. Something about
4 children following us around because they needed a family.
 .......teenagers, african american, did u get the number 4 ?
I am ok with all of that.   Step out of that safety zone.!

GOD IS JUST AMAZING !!!!

SOLD TWO MORE HATS ... thank you

                The two infant frog hats have been sold ($10.00 each)

            I made more frog (green) and fish (multicolor)  they sold first

                               I still have  REDSOX  and PATS pillows 
                                (covers R removable and washable)

                              CHECK  OUT  THE  CHILDRENS  HATS  PAGE

MESSY

Yes, it's messy !   first snow then rain on top, it is messy.
Like stepping in poop.  Yup, life can also get messy.
I was thinking about the weather and how life can get
messy also.  Little changes in life are messy struggles.
Then I read this: Think of your struggles.  Do you need
a place to hide ?  Do you need someone to shelter you
from life's assaults ?  Do you need the assurance that
you've been forgiven ?  WE CAN FIND SHELTER AND 
ASSURANCE IN GOD.

When the world around you is crumbling GOD is the 
rock on which you can stand.

I'M LISTENING

   Our sermon on Sunday was about waiting. Not only
waiting but waiting as if you had no tongue (does that
mean: no complaining or whining while waiting ?)
I keep telling myself everyday: waiting but no complaining !!
   Yesterday, David and I went to Na school because his class was
opening chapel for this week. They did a great job !
A new song (new to me) was "Why Worry When You Can Pray"

I am so trying to not worry about the adoption process. It is hard not
to worry when we are still waiting for one paper for our dossier.
A new process with CARA, we also know that the orphanage license
expires in march (9 months to get relicensed last time before the adoption
process could begin) I'm not whining, just telling you why I would 
worry.

Davids shift change has not been easy, but why worry when you can
                                         PRAY.

I have to go wake our blessings up, have a great day !!
 

REGISTERED

Our agency told us that we are registered with CARA.
(meaning they know the girl (HOPE) we want to adopt
and where she is and they have all our family info)
We will see what happens next.   A little glimmer
Hopefully someone will be driving to Augusta tomorrow.
Special needs children are suppose to be a fast track
with the new system. We will find out soon.

This morning the notarizing only cost $20.00 for 22 pages.

But tomorrow will cost $350.00 to Apostille 35 pages, 

and Fedex will cost $64.00.

Then when we do Notarize the Child referral papers we will

have to get 15-20 more page notarized.

 

 

D E J A V U

It is snowing again, got ta love Maine weather.
Na has strep throat....

On the adoption side of our lives.   Our agency did get to
log into the new system that CARA has set up. But that was
only for families that have not  Identified a child to adopt.
We have Identified a child but have not formally  signed a
referral because of the timing of CARA putting everything
on hold.  Still no information for families who have identified
a special needs child....so we wait.......deja vu

Monday we will try to get all papers Notarized.
Still waiting for 2 items for our Dossier. 
 

Thank you to all our friends that helped with the paper work.

NOT YET

Today I have little hope of getting our Dossier finished.
Because we still need to get 20 of  our papers notarized
and then drive to Augusta to get all 30 Apostilled. And
possibly drive to Rochester, NH to get our Birth Certificates
then to Concord, NH to get them Apostilled.  Then we will
be able to Fedex our Dossier to the state of Washington
where our placing agency is.
You ask "why we cann't do that?"  Well dave has been
sick since Monday and he is also on a half first shift and half
second shift schedule. (he goes to work sick) Last week Ro
had an ear infection but she is getting better. Na had a sore
throat yesterday and a headache by bed time and a fever this
morning. which means he stays home from school...........
Older brother kinda  wished he was sick also ??
And tonight we have snow coming in only 1-3 inches but we
will see if anyone has school tomorrow.
oh well, next week a full second shift schedule,  maybe that will help.


Just want to see her (face to face) possibly hold her, give her a
hug and a kiss and tell her I love you little princess .............xoxo

DOSSIER

I received the "get your dossier apostilled and mail it to me."

Most agencies and orphanages do not really know what to expect
with everything changing.


praying for the little one who already has our heart.  But I also
know that GOD  will choose the right one(s) for our family.

ANY NEWS ?

I let our adoption worker know that we took the webnar (sp)
"for adopting a child over 3" that they request we do.
(even though we brought Ro home on her 3rd Birthday)
On Friday she asked me" how our Dossier was going?"
I  thought the question was odd but did not pay much
attention because Ro has an ear infection and she is cranky !
Yesterday I realized things changed on the CARA website.
And today someone posted that their agency received their
password/ ID to the SN listings yesterday

LET'S SEE IF WE GET SOME GOOD NEWS TODAY ?

MAYBE SOMETIME THIS WEEK?

Well off to get Ro and then off to get my oldest daughter
from the airport.

WAITING

Definition of WAIT:

 1. To hold oneself ready for an arrival or occurrence.

  2. to be in expectation or HOPE  of something.

Praying for good news this week while we are waiting

FINALLY

I have 2 each of these hats (fits 2-6 year old)

 

These cute little things are infant hats (19 inches around) they just look bigger

WELL, WELL, WELL

OK, our furnace did not retire and we did not have the funds
to let it retire. So we called a NEW company for a second opinion.
 We called  GARRETT & PILLSBURY , awesome guys.
They were able to fix it.          IMAGINE THAT !


No new news about our adoption.

So we will keep praying and fund raising! new hats coming soon.

THANKFUL

So thankful that it is not 0 degrees outside while our
furnace decides that it is time for retirement ! Hope to get
someone to help us on Monday.  I am sure everything  will
work out.   praying  

United with his family…Forever!

Posted by Mary Beth Chapman President, Board of Directors On January 7, 2012.

It generally happens when you least expect it. Yesterday  Steven and I had a connecting flight in D.C. as we were traveling to New York. We soon found that the man and boy sitting next to us were on the last leg of their trip home. The man’s name was Justin Barnett. What makes this such a remarkable gift of God’s grace is that Justin was coming home with his newly adopted son…an adoption made possible with the help of a Show Hope adoption aid grant.
Justin quickly recognized us and quickly became speechless. He shared how Show Hope had played such a major role in helping their family to come to this glorious day. Our conversations moved in and out of all the ways God’s grace had marked this journey and preserved the life of their son. It was a beautiful reminder of the miracles that happen every day through the work of Show Hope and the sponsors who make it possible.
At the flights end, Steven and I disembarked from the plane and waited at the gate to watch Justin and his new son finally be united to the rest of his family….forever. It was beautiful to watch the mother tremble as she waited to hold her new son. When they finally exited the plane, time seemed to stand still.
Congratulations to the Barnett family, and our deepest thanks to the Show Hope sponsors and donors who make miracles like this possible!


I do remember those feelings on our way home with RO and can not wait until we can do it again.

DOSSIER

We were given the OK to start working on our Dossier.

ONE OF THOSE DAYS

Do you ever get to the point when you just want to cry ?
Because you know it will help you feel a little better after.

adoption..same.. waiting, waiting, waiting..

My husband will be spending our anniversary with Na at
snow camp in New Hampshire. The weekend our church was
going is changed and also Hubby gets to go (instead of me)
because they need a male leader.   I'm all good with it
This morning Ro woke up early, which was a good thing the
furnace kicked out (they were here working on it yesterday)
anyways a new furnace will cost about $5500.00 which is needed
as soon as we figure out how to pay for it. ha, ha, ha,ha
sooo...$13,000.00 for the adoption and $5500.00 for a furnace.

I'll praise you in the storm.  I know it will work out

BACK TO SCHOOL AND WORK

It back to school for the kids ( I kinda miss the laid back
home school days)  They are ready to see their friends.
Ro goes back to WABAN  (we call it school) she is learning
to socialize and gets some therapies.   She has been
home for 16 months and it will take her longer to be where she
should be for her age (the difference from then to now is huge)
She is doing really great at repeating words since our family
trip last month.  And being a little diva princess.

Praying that we will hear from our agency today with some great
news.. please!

JANUARY 1, 2012

Yes, a new year !!
I can look back and say that  we had an amazing year.
But not as good as this year is going to be. Praying that  we will
bring our second daughter home this year and that we will be
fully funded before we travel.

I peeked at the website of the country we are adopting from
and it says they will be giving ID and passwords to the agencies
in the month of Jan.  Sooo excited !! this means they are moving
forward... yes, yes, yes.............
Now if we can still adopt the little one we already fell in love
with. But I am sure GOD will choose the right one(s) for our
family as well as the timing.

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I

ask of him.  1 Samuel 1:27