Thursday, July 23, 2009
Quick Adoption Update
I just received an email from our social worker and she plans to have our homestudy complete early next week. Woohoo! Once our homestudy is finished, it will be mailed off for approval and we will receive our HSTK (homestudy to Korea) date. At this point we will officially be on the waiting list.
A Week With the Greshams
Raleigh's family makes a cross-country trip each year to visit family. This year they left Colorado and their first stop was Birmingham to celebrate the 4th of July and visit Brandon (Raleigh's brother) and Stacey (our sister-in-law). Next they traveled to Florida to visit Raleigh's dad's side of the family. After Florida they drove to Atlanta to stay with us for a few days. Finally, we drove with them to Michigan to celebrate Raleigh's grandmother's 80th birthday. Here are a few pictures of our time with them.
We ordered dining room chairs that were delievered during their visit. Everyone helped out putting them together!
The chairs are all put together and we enjoyed our first meal at our new table!
Enjoying a funny video at Raleigh's grandmother's house.
Raleigh and his little brother Isaac decided to be dress the same for church to be funny! It did create lots of smiles!
Me and the love of my life!
We ordered dining room chairs that were delievered during their visit. Everyone helped out putting them together!
The chairs are all put together and we enjoyed our first meal at our new table!
Enjoying a funny video at Raleigh's grandmother's house.
Raleigh and his little brother Isaac decided to be dress the same for church to be funny! It did create lots of smiles!
Me and the love of my life!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Pictures from Birmingham
We are so blessed that Brandon and Stacey (Raleigh's brother and our sister-in-law) take such beautiful pictures. If you are in need of wedding photography, hop on over to their website or blog and check them out!!
Here are a few of the pictures they took while we were in Birmingham.
Here are a few of the pictures they took while we were in Birmingham.
Korean Tol
Yesterday I posted about one Korean tradition, the wedding ducks. Another important tradition is the Korean Tol, or child’s first birthday celebration. The tradition began long ago when there was a high infant mortality rate. When children reached the age of one, the family has a big celebration, or Tol.
The Tol is typically divided into four main sections.
1.) Prayer and Giving Thanks
2.) Wearing the Birthday Clothes
3.) Preparing the Birthday Table and doing the Toljabee
4.) Sharing the Food with Friends
The traditional clothing for the birthday celebration is a hanbok and I have included a couple of pictures. Many foster families give the adoptive family a hanbok for their child as a gift. When we travel to Korea, we will buy our child a hanbok if we do not receive one from our child’s foster family.
The birthday table can have a variety of foods, but most often has fruit and rice cakes. Many tables often have candy towers. Another part of the Tol is performing the Toljabee. The parents put various items on a special table in front of the child. The tradition states that the item that the child picks up first predicts the child’s future. I’ve listed the most commonly used items below.
bow and arrow: the child will become a warrior
thread: the child will live long
book or pencil: the child will become a successful scholar
money: the child will become rich
ruler: the child will be talented with his/her hands
spoon: the child will be a good cook
We pray that our child will be home before his or her first birthday, so that we will be able to celebrate this as a family. Here is a link to a very elaborate Tol. Obviously it does not have to be this fancy, but I do love the fruit towers!
The Tol is typically divided into four main sections.
1.) Prayer and Giving Thanks
2.) Wearing the Birthday Clothes
3.) Preparing the Birthday Table and doing the Toljabee
4.) Sharing the Food with Friends
The traditional clothing for the birthday celebration is a hanbok and I have included a couple of pictures. Many foster families give the adoptive family a hanbok for their child as a gift. When we travel to Korea, we will buy our child a hanbok if we do not receive one from our child’s foster family.
The birthday table can have a variety of foods, but most often has fruit and rice cakes. Many tables often have candy towers. Another part of the Tol is performing the Toljabee. The parents put various items on a special table in front of the child. The tradition states that the item that the child picks up first predicts the child’s future. I’ve listed the most commonly used items below.
bow and arrow: the child will become a warrior
thread: the child will live long
book or pencil: the child will become a successful scholar
money: the child will become rich
ruler: the child will be talented with his/her hands
spoon: the child will be a good cook
We pray that our child will be home before his or her first birthday, so that we will be able to celebrate this as a family. Here is a link to a very elaborate Tol. Obviously it does not have to be this fancy, but I do love the fruit towers!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Korean Wedding Ducks
One part of our adoption journey is learning about the Korean culture. Raleigh and I want to learn as much as possible so that we can instill a sense of pride in our child about his or her culture. When we travel to Korea, I hope to purchase special items that can be given to our child on birthdays and other special events. One item I hope to find is a set of wooden wedding ducks. There is a tradition of giving a newly married couple a set of carved ducks. One represents the bride (on the left) and the other the groom. After the wedding, they are placed somewhere in the couple's home and their position (placed by either spouse) tells of the couples marital state. Nose to nose means the relationship is good, tail to tail means they are probably having a disagreement.
We know that as our child gets older, there will be questions about his or her birth parents, Korea, and possibly about his or her identity. Will he or she identify more with Koreans or Americans? I pray that God will prepare us along the way for all of the questions that our child may have. One thing that I do know, is that we will celebrate Korea and its culture.
We will be an American family. Our child will never know what it is like to grow up Korean in Korea, but he or she will know what it is like to be Korean American. Our child will be one of the thousands of boys and girls that become Korean American through adoption. Raleigh and I will never know what it feels like to be Korean American, but we want our child to feel comfortable and proud of his or her culture. We will always support our child and cheer him or her on through all of life's adventures!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Our Trip to Birmingham!
We had a great trip to Birmingham over the weekend. We enjoyed spending time with Raleigh's parents, his brother Isaac, his sister Beth, his brother Brandon and Brandon's wife Stacey. We spent the day Saturday at Brandon and Stacey's house enjoying each other's company. We grilled out Saturday afternoon before going to watch the fireworks in Homewood. We watched the fireworks from Shades Cahaba, the school where I taught for two years. It is such a special place and a treasure within the community.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
WooHoo! Keep praying...
The sweet girl I asked you to pray for has a few more days before her file will be returned to China. Yippee...God is good. The deadline has been extended to July 6th because the social worker was out of the office. That means...get on your knees and ask God to soften a family's heart to be open to an older child with special needs. Raleigh and I do not qualify for the China program, because we are not 30 yet. However, there are many families with all of their paperwork complete and they are waiting on the referral of a child. A doctor in the US looked at her file and said there is a lot that could be done to give her a radically different future.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Sweet Girl Needs a Forever Family!
Please pray for this sweet girl. She has been in an orphanage (group home for girls) almost all her life. She is described as bright, determined, sensitive and full of spunk. She has repaired spina bifida and scoliosis. The agency she is listed with will return her file to China if there is no interest in her by June 30.
I should have posted this prayer request sooner, but please pray that a family will be called to express interest in this little girl. Raleigh reminded me that God makes families in lots of ways, and He still has a plan for this sweet girl even if she is not placed in a family in the traditional way we think of. However, my heart breaks to think that she might never have a mom and dad tuck her in bed or encourage her when she is sad. Luckily, there is one Father to the fatherless and He will never leave his children!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Home Visit
Today was our home visit with our social worker. We really did not know exactly what to expect, but I was excited and nervous at the same time. Raleigh and I spent a lot of time cleaning before her arrival.
Prior to our meeting, the doorbell rang. We were not expecting anyone so I was surprised. It was a flower delivery! My parents sent us a beautiful vase of flowers since today was our home visit. It was so sweet and definitely unexpected!
Our social worker arrived at 3:30 and stayed for about an hour and a half. We chatted for the first part of the visit and then she had a home visit questionnaire to complete. She asked us questions such as the distance to the fire department, police department, and local hospital and the names of the local schools. We talked about local parks and the ethnic diversity in our neighborhood. I also had several questions that I asked during this time. After the questionnaire was complete, we toured our home. She looked in closets and the garage for hidden dangers we might not think about. She only had one suggestion. We have two small doors in our bedroom that lead to storage areas. The doors are only half the height of normal doors (I'm sure there is a technical name for them...), so a toddler might be able to reach the doorknob. She suggested changing the doorknobs so that they can be locked to prevent a child from crawling into the storage area. This seems like an easy fix.
I think the meeting went well. Each step definitely makes the process seem more real. She did mention that her prediction for the timeline is now 12-16 months instead of 18-24months that we were originally told. However, the time frames change frequently so I am still anticipating 18-24 months.
Here are the next steps:
1.)Wait for our social worker to complete our homestudy. Her goal is to complete it in the next 30 days.
2.)She will send our homestudy to the corporate office for approval.
3.)We will receive an approval letter with our homestudy to Korea (HSTK) date.
4.)Corporate will mail our homestudy to Korea.
5.)We are officially waiting once we have our HSTK date.
Once our homestudy is complete, Raleigh and I will begin completing the I-600a form and be fingerprinted at the USCIS office. After this form is submitted and we are fingerprinted, we do not have any more "paperwork" to complete until we receive our referral.
We are one step closer to seeing our sweet child's beautiful face!
Prior to our meeting, the doorbell rang. We were not expecting anyone so I was surprised. It was a flower delivery! My parents sent us a beautiful vase of flowers since today was our home visit. It was so sweet and definitely unexpected!
Our social worker arrived at 3:30 and stayed for about an hour and a half. We chatted for the first part of the visit and then she had a home visit questionnaire to complete. She asked us questions such as the distance to the fire department, police department, and local hospital and the names of the local schools. We talked about local parks and the ethnic diversity in our neighborhood. I also had several questions that I asked during this time. After the questionnaire was complete, we toured our home. She looked in closets and the garage for hidden dangers we might not think about. She only had one suggestion. We have two small doors in our bedroom that lead to storage areas. The doors are only half the height of normal doors (I'm sure there is a technical name for them...), so a toddler might be able to reach the doorknob. She suggested changing the doorknobs so that they can be locked to prevent a child from crawling into the storage area. This seems like an easy fix.
I think the meeting went well. Each step definitely makes the process seem more real. She did mention that her prediction for the timeline is now 12-16 months instead of 18-24months that we were originally told. However, the time frames change frequently so I am still anticipating 18-24 months.
Here are the next steps:
1.)Wait for our social worker to complete our homestudy. Her goal is to complete it in the next 30 days.
2.)She will send our homestudy to the corporate office for approval.
3.)We will receive an approval letter with our homestudy to Korea (HSTK) date.
4.)Corporate will mail our homestudy to Korea.
5.)We are officially waiting once we have our HSTK date.
Once our homestudy is complete, Raleigh and I will begin completing the I-600a form and be fingerprinted at the USCIS office. After this form is submitted and we are fingerprinted, we do not have any more "paperwork" to complete until we receive our referral.
We are one step closer to seeing our sweet child's beautiful face!
Monday, June 22, 2009
What Does It Mean to Be Productive?
This summer has really made me think about how I spend my time. During the school day, it is amazing how much I can get accomplished in five minutes. Here is an example. If we have 5 minutes until lunch I can finish teaching my small group, get the rest of the class to clean up their work centers and free centers (such as puzzles and blocks), oh no…someone just had an accident- must clean that up because the janitor is not here, get the kiddos lined up according to their lunch choice, hand sanitizer for all 19 little ones, arrive at the lunchroom with a minute to spare.
This summer, I am not nearly as productive. I can spend five minutes just deciding if I want Cheerios or Raisin Bran for breakfast. I am really enjoying the slower pace of summer. I want to spend the summer refueling my spirit so that I will be ready to roll in August with a new bunch of kiddos!
As I was thinking about how I spend my time, I started thinking about what "productive" really means. Although I feel most productive when I am doing things- teaching, doing laundry, cleaning, organizing, etc, this is not always being productive. You see, my purpose in life is to glorify God and further His kingdom. The days when I am truly most productive, are the days that I spend focusing on my relationship with Christ. Sometimes I treasure a clean house, an empty laundry basket, an organized closet. But God calls us to store up treasures in Heaven.
Angela Thomas puts it this way. "What do you think would be considered treasure in heaven? How about large accounts of forgiveness given? Drawers full of grace extended. A mattress stuffed with sacrifice and service and goodness. A cookie jar brimming with memories made and hugs given and tender looks across crowded rooms. A safe-deposit box packed with the secret life you have devoted to God. Maybe there is an old moving box stuffed with contentment. A scrapbook full of joy you accumulated on the journey. And love- wouldn't it be great to need a garage just to hold all of the love?"
Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6: 19-21
Now this does not mean that the daily routines of life are not important, but do them with a spirit of love, so that your attitude will be glorifying to God.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" Philippians 2:5
This summer, I am not nearly as productive. I can spend five minutes just deciding if I want Cheerios or Raisin Bran for breakfast. I am really enjoying the slower pace of summer. I want to spend the summer refueling my spirit so that I will be ready to roll in August with a new bunch of kiddos!
As I was thinking about how I spend my time, I started thinking about what "productive" really means. Although I feel most productive when I am doing things- teaching, doing laundry, cleaning, organizing, etc, this is not always being productive. You see, my purpose in life is to glorify God and further His kingdom. The days when I am truly most productive, are the days that I spend focusing on my relationship with Christ. Sometimes I treasure a clean house, an empty laundry basket, an organized closet. But God calls us to store up treasures in Heaven.
Angela Thomas puts it this way. "What do you think would be considered treasure in heaven? How about large accounts of forgiveness given? Drawers full of grace extended. A mattress stuffed with sacrifice and service and goodness. A cookie jar brimming with memories made and hugs given and tender looks across crowded rooms. A safe-deposit box packed with the secret life you have devoted to God. Maybe there is an old moving box stuffed with contentment. A scrapbook full of joy you accumulated on the journey. And love- wouldn't it be great to need a garage just to hold all of the love?"
Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6: 19-21
Now this does not mean that the daily routines of life are not important, but do them with a spirit of love, so that your attitude will be glorifying to God.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" Philippians 2:5
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Help Orphans and Enjoy a Sweet Treat!
This weekend, you have a chance to enjoy a sweet treat and help orphans. I'm calling your attention to Wendy's 3rd Annual "Father's Day Frosty Weekend" to raise money for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. For every one frosty sold in the U.S. during the weekend, Wendy's will donate 50 cents to the Foundation that is dedicated to increasing the adoptions of more than 150,000 children in North America's foster care systems. Last year raised $1.7 million for the charity!
And new this year, Wendy's is introducing the "Father's Day Frosty e-card" where you're able to go online to send e-cards. For each card created or sent, Wendy's will donate 25 cents to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.
So...this weekend, get out and enjoy a frosty!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Home Visit
I delivered all of our paperwork to our social worker today. We also scheduled our home visit. Woo Hoo! Our social worker will be visiting our home Thursday, June 25.
This visit will be one more step towards becoming a family of three. Even though Raleigh and I are totally excited about welcoming our child home, we are also enjoying our life as a family of two. I want to enjoy and embrace each day.
This visit will be one more step towards becoming a family of three. Even though Raleigh and I are totally excited about welcoming our child home, we are also enjoying our life as a family of two. I want to enjoy and embrace each day.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Adoption Update
Raleigh and I have finally completed all of our homestudy paperwork. (Raleigh took the picture on his phone. Sorry it is so grainy.) I will be taking the paperwork to Bethany Christian Services tomorrow. Our social worker also contacted us today and she is ready to schedule our home visit. This is a time when she will come to our house and make sure our home is fit for a child. She will also get to know us better during this time. After this meeting, she will write our official homestudy which will be mailed to Korea. The date that Korea accepts our paperwork is our HSTK (HomeStudy To Korea)date.
After the home visit with our social worker, the next step is filing the I-600a form. This form is the Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition. Once we are HSTK and our I-600a has been approved, we will be officially waiting. According to our adoption agency the wait for our referral will be approximately 18 to 24 months. Of course, there are no guarantees about the timing. It is totally in God's hands and He already knows who our child is. It could be less than 18 months or more than 24 months. If the 18 month prediction is somewhat accurate, we could expect our referral around December 2010 or early 2011. Once we receive our referral, we will file the I-600. This is the Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative. There are several other things that have to take place once we receive our referral. The wait between referral and travel is usually between 3 months and 5 months. I think that these will be the hardest months of waiting because we will already know and love the sweet face of our child.
Raleigh and I are really excited and feel humbled that God is trusting us to be parents of a beautiful boy or girl.
Monday, June 15, 2009
The Farmers Market
When Raleigh and I lived in Buckhead, we made a tradition of attending the Peachtree Road Farmers Market. Each week we enjoyed Dancing Goats coffee and something sweet from a local bakery. Our neighbors had a booth each week and sold fresh pesto. If you love pesto, check out their website for some great recipes using pesto at Hopes Garden. It was a fun tradition and we looked forward to our Saturday morning outing.
Since moving to Alpharetta last July, we have not attended a local farmers market...until now. I discovered that there is a farmers market each Saturday from 8am to noon. Raleigh and I had lots of fun walking around and enjoying the summer air. We bought a basil plant and 4 ears of corn. I also had a glass of fresh squeezed lemonade and Raleigh had a cup of coffee. Although I didn't purchase any this week, there were beautiful fresh flowers that would brighten any home.
We are excited about continuing our tradition supporting local vendors.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Customer Service: The Alpharetta Public Library vs. AutoZone
Raleigh and I are really excited to be leaving for the beach Saturday morning with my parents. We are looking forward to lazy days in the sun and the peaceful sound of the ocean.
In preparation for our trip, I had a list of errands to run today. The first stop was the library. Raleigh put books on hold for us several weeks ago. This allows the Fulton County Library system to find the books at any of their libraries. On the designated date, all you have to do is go to the library and check out the books you have reserved. Well, at least that is supposed to be how it works.
I went to the library with a smile and politely walked to the desk. I gave the librarian my name and explained that I was checking out books my husband had put on hold for us. She explained in a very rude tone that I would be unable to check out any books using my husband's library card. Furthermore, since the books were on hold under his name, she would not be able to tell me if the books were ready or not. She said it would violate the library's privacy rules. I nicely told her that I could get Raleigh on the phone and he could give permission for me to check out the books. Another librarian overheard what was happening and said it would be ok for me to at least know whether or not the books were ready to be checked out. As it turns out, the books were not ready. At this point, I was still very calm and understood that the books were not on hold for us, even though Raleigh has completed the request several weeks ago.
I asked if they could please print a list of the books we requested, so that we could see if any of them were available. After much conversation, and pulling a third librarian into the discussion, they agreed. However, they said there would be no way for me to know if the books even existed at their local branch (Alpharetta) of the library. The printed list only had titles, but no call numbers. One of the ladies reluctantly wrote down a few of the call numbers for me. I then explained that this was my first time at this branch, and asked if one of them would be willing to help me look for a few of the books. I thought this was a totally reasonable request. I was at a library. There were three librarians that were just having casual conversation before I arrived. The librarians know the layout of the library better than me. However, they refused to help me. All three of them said no...they could not (or would not) help me locate any books. WHAT??? I was so shocked. In the end, I left the library without any books.
My next errand was to get a replacement windshield wiper for my car. I arrived at AutoZone. After the poor customer service I received at the library, I did not have my hopes up. However, I was pleasantly surprised. After stating my request, the man walked me to the isle and helped me locate the correct wiper. He then took it outside to my car to make sure that it was correct. After purchasing the wiper, he even offered to put on the wiper and refill my car's supply of windshield wiper fluid. I thanked him and went on my way .
Moral of the story... I hope your local library is better than mine.
In preparation for our trip, I had a list of errands to run today. The first stop was the library. Raleigh put books on hold for us several weeks ago. This allows the Fulton County Library system to find the books at any of their libraries. On the designated date, all you have to do is go to the library and check out the books you have reserved. Well, at least that is supposed to be how it works.
I went to the library with a smile and politely walked to the desk. I gave the librarian my name and explained that I was checking out books my husband had put on hold for us. She explained in a very rude tone that I would be unable to check out any books using my husband's library card. Furthermore, since the books were on hold under his name, she would not be able to tell me if the books were ready or not. She said it would violate the library's privacy rules. I nicely told her that I could get Raleigh on the phone and he could give permission for me to check out the books. Another librarian overheard what was happening and said it would be ok for me to at least know whether or not the books were ready to be checked out. As it turns out, the books were not ready. At this point, I was still very calm and understood that the books were not on hold for us, even though Raleigh has completed the request several weeks ago.
I asked if they could please print a list of the books we requested, so that we could see if any of them were available. After much conversation, and pulling a third librarian into the discussion, they agreed. However, they said there would be no way for me to know if the books even existed at their local branch (Alpharetta) of the library. The printed list only had titles, but no call numbers. One of the ladies reluctantly wrote down a few of the call numbers for me. I then explained that this was my first time at this branch, and asked if one of them would be willing to help me look for a few of the books. I thought this was a totally reasonable request. I was at a library. There were three librarians that were just having casual conversation before I arrived. The librarians know the layout of the library better than me. However, they refused to help me. All three of them said no...they could not (or would not) help me locate any books. WHAT??? I was so shocked. In the end, I left the library without any books.
My next errand was to get a replacement windshield wiper for my car. I arrived at AutoZone. After the poor customer service I received at the library, I did not have my hopes up. However, I was pleasantly surprised. After stating my request, the man walked me to the isle and helped me locate the correct wiper. He then took it outside to my car to make sure that it was correct. After purchasing the wiper, he even offered to put on the wiper and refill my car's supply of windshield wiper fluid. I thanked him and went on my way .
Moral of the story... I hope your local library is better than mine.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Yippee Jesus!
God is so cool! It is awesome to know that the God who controls the sky and the sea, also dearly loves his people and desires to know them intimately. Let me back up...As you probably assume, there are lots of expenses associated with adoption, just as there are with having a biological child. Although there are fees due throughout the process, there are a few times when large chunks of the expenses are due. One of these times is at the final homestudy visit when the social worker visits your home. Raleigh and I have been waiting on our tax refund check so that we can schedule this visit with our social worker. Some days I waited patiently, other days I was not so patient. Raleigh always reminded me that this whole process will take place according to God's timing. Since we are just at the beginning of the waiting process, I should not start to get impatient now.
Well...yesterday on our 3 year anniversary, our tax refund check finally arrived. How cool is it that God planned for the check to arrive on our anniversary? I do not think this was a coincidence. No. This was definitely part of God's plan. The God who hears the prayers of people from every nation, also knows my heart. I literally jumped for joy when I opened the mail and saw the check! Yippee Jesus!
Well...yesterday on our 3 year anniversary, our tax refund check finally arrived. How cool is it that God planned for the check to arrive on our anniversary? I do not think this was a coincidence. No. This was definitely part of God's plan. The God who hears the prayers of people from every nation, also knows my heart. I literally jumped for joy when I opened the mail and saw the check! Yippee Jesus!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Beauty for Ashes
The Chapman family has been on my heart a lot recently. Please continue to lift up this sweet family in prayer as God makes beauty for ashes. If you do not know the story, last May, Maria Chapman saw her brother coming home and she ran towards the car to ask him to help her get on the monkey bars. Will Franklin was unable to stop the car.
Will Franklin graduated from high school yesterday on the very stage where Maria's funeral was held, exactly one year ago. God is making beauty, where once there were only ashes. The graduates honored Will Franklin and Maria by graduating bare foot, acknowledging that they were on holy ground. Mary Beth puts it much more elequently than I can so I encourage you to read her blog post from May 24.
Mary Beth's Blog
Will Franklin graduated from high school yesterday on the very stage where Maria's funeral was held, exactly one year ago. God is making beauty, where once there were only ashes. The graduates honored Will Franklin and Maria by graduating bare foot, acknowledging that they were on holy ground. Mary Beth puts it much more elequently than I can so I encourage you to read her blog post from May 24.
Mary Beth's Blog
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Please Pray for the Chapman Family
Today, May 21, marks the one year anniversary of the tragic death of Maria Chapman. Please take a moment to pray for the entire Chapman family. (Steven, Mary Beth, Emily, Caleb, and especially Will Franklin)
Mary Beth wrote a beautiful blog today about her journey through this tragedy. I encourage you to read her blog entry from today as you lift up this sweet family.
Mary Beth's Blog Read the post from May 21, 2009 "A Mother's Heart for Two Very Brave Chapman Children"
Mary Beth wrote a beautiful blog today about her journey through this tragedy. I encourage you to read her blog entry from today as you lift up this sweet family.
Mary Beth's Blog Read the post from May 21, 2009 "A Mother's Heart for Two Very Brave Chapman Children"
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
The Facts About Orphans (source www.showhope.org)
The Facts
What is the need?
* Over 143 million children have lost one or both parents.
* Every 18 seconds another child becomes an orphan, without a mother or father.
* At least 16.2 million children worldwide have lost both parents.
* Every 14 seconds a child loses a parent due to AIDS.
* Conflict has orphaned or separated 1 million children from their families in the 1990s.
What about AIDS?
* More than 14 million children under the age of 15 have lost one or both parents to AIDS, the vast majority of them in sub-Saharan Africa.
* By 2010, the number of children orphaned by AIDS globally is expected to exceed 25 million.
* AIDS is more likely than other cause of death to result in children losing both parents.
* As the infection spreads, the number of children who have lost parents to AIDS is beginning to grow in other regions as well, including Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean and Eastern Europe.
Is there hope?
YES!!! There is something you can do right now...PRAY! Pray for all of the sweet boys and girls that need a family. Pray for the social workers, foster families, and the staff at orphanages across the world that care for these children. Each orphan has a name and a story. Pray for these children to know the love and peace that can only come from God.
"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these." John 14:12
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power at work in us, to Him be the glory" (Eph 3:20).
What is the need?
* Over 143 million children have lost one or both parents.
* Every 18 seconds another child becomes an orphan, without a mother or father.
* At least 16.2 million children worldwide have lost both parents.
* Every 14 seconds a child loses a parent due to AIDS.
* Conflict has orphaned or separated 1 million children from their families in the 1990s.
What about AIDS?
* More than 14 million children under the age of 15 have lost one or both parents to AIDS, the vast majority of them in sub-Saharan Africa.
* By 2010, the number of children orphaned by AIDS globally is expected to exceed 25 million.
* AIDS is more likely than other cause of death to result in children losing both parents.
* As the infection spreads, the number of children who have lost parents to AIDS is beginning to grow in other regions as well, including Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean and Eastern Europe.
Is there hope?
YES!!! There is something you can do right now...PRAY! Pray for all of the sweet boys and girls that need a family. Pray for the social workers, foster families, and the staff at orphanages across the world that care for these children. Each orphan has a name and a story. Pray for these children to know the love and peace that can only come from God.
"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these." John 14:12
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power at work in us, to Him be the glory" (Eph 3:20).
Monday, May 18, 2009
Sweet Sweet Smile!!!
Our adoption agency, Bethany Christian Services, just received referrals of 40 beautiful Chinese children. All of these children are considered "special needs" because of a disability or simply because of their age. I have fallen in love with this cute little boy. His name is Fan and he just turned 6 at the beginning of May. He is the age of the students in my class and it totally breaks my heart to know that he does not have a family to love on him and give him lots of hugs! His only disability is his slightly deformed left foot and his age. Please pray for this little boy and the other children that need a forever family.
Raleigh and I do not qualify for adoptions from China because of the age requirement. The adoptive mom and dad have to both be at least 30 to adopt from China. Raleigh is 28 and I am 26.
I know that the heart of God aches for these children. Please pray for Fan to find a forever family very soon.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Happy Mother's Day to Our Moms!
What is a mom?
By Bridgette
A mom lets you play in the sink and splash water on the kitchen cabinets. A mom makes you homemade playdough and plays with you at the Little Tikes table. A mom spends hours dressing Barbies and fixing their hair for a beauty pageant. A mom is a chauffeur. A mom thinks all then laundry is done…until her daughter cleans her room and brings in a pile of dirty clothes. A mom lets her daughter decorate a dorm room like it is a mansion. A mom does not hear the words “thank you” often enough. A mom helps plan every detail of a perfect wedding day. A mom scratches bird poop off a mailbox with her nails…because it is the mailbox at her daughter and son-in-law’s first house. A mom deserves a loooong vacation. Thanks for being a great mom, mom!
What is a mom?
By Raleigh
A mom is someone who understands. When words won't help, she's there with something even better - comfort. A mom contrasts sharply with the harsher approach of the "real world." She knows better than anyone why things happen, and even more importantly, how they might bother us. She then takes this knowledge and magically "moms" them away. On this earth, we are not capable of understanding a love that is not limited by human weakness, but a mom is one of God's most tangible ways of showing this kind of Love on earth.
By Bridgette
A mom lets you play in the sink and splash water on the kitchen cabinets. A mom makes you homemade playdough and plays with you at the Little Tikes table. A mom spends hours dressing Barbies and fixing their hair for a beauty pageant. A mom is a chauffeur. A mom thinks all then laundry is done…until her daughter cleans her room and brings in a pile of dirty clothes. A mom lets her daughter decorate a dorm room like it is a mansion. A mom does not hear the words “thank you” often enough. A mom helps plan every detail of a perfect wedding day. A mom scratches bird poop off a mailbox with her nails…because it is the mailbox at her daughter and son-in-law’s first house. A mom deserves a loooong vacation. Thanks for being a great mom, mom!
What is a mom?
By Raleigh
A mom is someone who understands. When words won't help, she's there with something even better - comfort. A mom contrasts sharply with the harsher approach of the "real world." She knows better than anyone why things happen, and even more importantly, how they might bother us. She then takes this knowledge and magically "moms" them away. On this earth, we are not capable of understanding a love that is not limited by human weakness, but a mom is one of God's most tangible ways of showing this kind of Love on earth.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Adoption Festival
Raleigh and I went to an adoption festival tonight at a local Korean Church. The church has an English ministry that sponsored the event. I think Raleigh and I were the only couple without a little one with us. The event is an annual gathering of families with children that are adopted from Korea. There was a guest speaker who shared about her life as an adoptee. There was also Korean music, food, and demonstrations. Raleigh and I were definitely glad we went to get a little taste of Korean culture.
Once our child is home, events like this will be even more important so that he or she can stay connected to the Korean culture.
Once our child is home, events like this will be even more important so that he or she can stay connected to the Korean culture.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Katherine's Story
Today marks one year since Katherine's brain injury. I encourage you to take a moment today and pray for her and read her blog update. There is also a link to her updates on the right side of this blog.
If you have read the beginning of our adoption journey you know that Katherine's story was a major factor that began the change in our hearts. As Raleigh and I interceded for Katherine, God began to place the needs of others, especially orphans, on our hearts. Katherine's story transformed our prayer lives.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Why Korea?
Let us hold unservingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Hebrews 10:23-24
"Why did you choose Korea?" is a question a lot of friends and family ask when they learn of our adoption plans. I thought I would do my best to explain how Korea chose us. God put adoption on our hearts in April 2008. Before this time we had never considered adoption and we knew nothing about the logistics. As we began to research our options, several countries were not a possibility due to their requirements.
I traveled to Haiti several times in high school and have a special place in my heart for the people of that beautiful country. However, you must be 30 years old to start the process to adopt from Haiti. I am 26 and Raleigh is 28. There are many, many beautiful children waiting for families in China, but again, you must be 30 to start the process.
We also prayerfully considered adopting a little treasure from Columbia. However, both parents need to stay in the country for at least 2 weeks and then at least one parent must stay for an additional 8 weeks. At this point in our lives, this did not seem like a possibility.
As we continued to research adoption, attend an informational meeting at Bethany Christian Services, and most importantly pray about our decision, we felt peace about pursuing adoption from South Korea. We know that this is God's journey and our best plans do not even compare to his. As it says in Hebrews 10, God is faithful. He began this journey and he will fulfill his promises to us.
Hebrews 10:23-24
"Why did you choose Korea?" is a question a lot of friends and family ask when they learn of our adoption plans. I thought I would do my best to explain how Korea chose us. God put adoption on our hearts in April 2008. Before this time we had never considered adoption and we knew nothing about the logistics. As we began to research our options, several countries were not a possibility due to their requirements.
I traveled to Haiti several times in high school and have a special place in my heart for the people of that beautiful country. However, you must be 30 years old to start the process to adopt from Haiti. I am 26 and Raleigh is 28. There are many, many beautiful children waiting for families in China, but again, you must be 30 to start the process.
We also prayerfully considered adopting a little treasure from Columbia. However, both parents need to stay in the country for at least 2 weeks and then at least one parent must stay for an additional 8 weeks. At this point in our lives, this did not seem like a possibility.
As we continued to research adoption, attend an informational meeting at Bethany Christian Services, and most importantly pray about our decision, we felt peace about pursuing adoption from South Korea. We know that this is God's journey and our best plans do not even compare to his. As it says in Hebrews 10, God is faithful. He began this journey and he will fulfill his promises to us.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Happy Easter!
Easter is one of my favorite holidays. As a little girl, all of my cousins would get together the night before Easter at Mamaw's house (my grandmother) and dye Easter eggs. We each got to color at least one dozen eggs. The following day, we would all gather at Mamaw's after church for a big lunch. After lunch, the adults would hide the eggs for the egg hunt. It was always a lot of fun. Another part of the tradition was homemade cocunut cake. My great grandmother, Mother Lucille, would always make a coconut cake from scratch.
This year my mom and I tried to honor Mamaw and Mother Lucille by having a big meal with family and making a homemade cake. Things have definitely changed since Mother Lucille made the cake, because we had to watch a YouTube video about how to crack the coconut. Once the cake was complete, it made us appreciate even more all the hours Mother Lucille spent over the years making cakes for Easter.
Two of the cousins, Brittany and Courtney, were not able to make it this year because Brittany is expecting her second little girl, Madelyn, any day.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Pollen
This is the table on our patio. 5 minutes before taking this picture I thoroughly cleaned the table. It was shiny, clean, and pollen free. I went inside the house to get a coke. When I returned to the patio to make a grocery list, this is what I saw! There is just so much pollen in the air, it is impossible to keep the table clean right now.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Bring on the Paperwork!!
We had our initial meeting yesterday at Bethany. We met with our social worker and she explained the Home Study process. We received a packet of information to complete and a checklist of tasks to accomplish. The first step is for us to each complete a self study. This is basically a long questionnaire about our life from childhood to the present. Our next meeting is April 24th. Raleigh and I will have individual meetings on this day. If you are curious about the home study process, I've listed a few of the items on our to do list below. We are totally excited!
Abbreviated To Do List:
- Receive clearance from Child Protective Services.
- Get fingerprinted.
- Complete a Last Will.
- Complete 10 hours of adoption training.
- Get physicals.
- Get updated passports.
- Get a letter from the insurance company verifying that our child will be covered.
- Pray for God's continued wisdom and provision as we move forward in this process!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Salt of the Earth
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It's no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men." Matthew 5:13 NIV
"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people see godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage." Matthew 5:13 The Message
Today I was reading a devotional by Angela Thomas. I like how she described the salt of the earth. "In Matthew 5:13, Jesus proclaims with authority that the ones who follow Him are called to be the salt of the earth. Salt preserves and purifies but not inside the shaker. It only works after it has been rubbed into the food. In the same way, to be effective you and I must be rubbed into a dying world, interacting, loving, and becoming right along with them...Get yourselves rubbed into the lives of others so they will be able to taste the presence of God."
This made me stop and think about how often I allow God to work through me so that I can be salt. Am I interacting with people in ways that allow them to see God? It is easy to find ourselves in places that need salt, but we don't allow ourselves to get rubbed in. I pray today for God to open my heart and my eyes to areas of my life where I can be salt. I am so thankful for people that God has placed and continues to place in my life that are salt to me. When you are around the salt of the world, you know that Christ lives in them. They are so full of Christ that it overflows.
"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people see godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage." Matthew 5:13 The Message
Today I was reading a devotional by Angela Thomas. I like how she described the salt of the earth. "In Matthew 5:13, Jesus proclaims with authority that the ones who follow Him are called to be the salt of the earth. Salt preserves and purifies but not inside the shaker. It only works after it has been rubbed into the food. In the same way, to be effective you and I must be rubbed into a dying world, interacting, loving, and becoming right along with them...Get yourselves rubbed into the lives of others so they will be able to taste the presence of God."
This made me stop and think about how often I allow God to work through me so that I can be salt. Am I interacting with people in ways that allow them to see God? It is easy to find ourselves in places that need salt, but we don't allow ourselves to get rubbed in. I pray today for God to open my heart and my eyes to areas of my life where I can be salt. I am so thankful for people that God has placed and continues to place in my life that are salt to me. When you are around the salt of the world, you know that Christ lives in them. They are so full of Christ that it overflows.
Recent Activity
Our references received their requests for letters of recommendation yesterday. We also know that CPS (Child Protective Services) has been contacted to make sure Raleigh and I clear their background check. It is great to know that things have started!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Initial Meeting at Bethany Christian Services
Bethany Christian Services (BCS) received our formal application yesterday. One of their social workers contacted us today and we have an initial meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 1st at 3:30. We are really getting started! Woo Hoo!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Do You Need a Laugh?
Raleigh and I think this shirt is too cute! We might buy it in a 12month and it should fit our little kiddo when he or she comes home.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
We Submitted Our Formal Application!
We submitted our formal application online today and mailed additional documents and a family photo! Raleigh and I are really excited. We both feel God's peace about continuing the adoption process. The next step will be to have an initial meeting at Bethany and then start our home study.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
We Made the 2009 Quota!!
On Monday, February 16th we received the following email:
Hi Raleigh and Bridgette, Congratulations! YOU MADE THE SOUTH KOREA QUOTA!!!! Go ahead and start your formal application, which is on your family portal. I will be in touch soon to get started!
Needless to say, we are beyond excited. We spent this morning filling out most of the formal application online. Now we are busy thinking of creative ways to tell both sets of parents that the adoption journey has officially begun! Praise God for his provision and timing!
Hi Raleigh and Bridgette, Congratulations! YOU MADE THE SOUTH KOREA QUOTA!!!! Go ahead and start your formal application, which is on your family portal. I will be in touch soon to get started!
Needless to say, we are beyond excited. We spent this morning filling out most of the formal application online. Now we are busy thinking of creative ways to tell both sets of parents that the adoption journey has officially begun! Praise God for his provision and timing!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Lord Christ,
You have no body on earth but ours,
No hands but ours,No feet but ours.
Ours are the eyes
through which your compassion must look out on the world.
Ours are the feet
by which you may still go about doing good.
Ours are the hands
with which You bless people now.
Bless our minds and bodies,
That we may be a blessing to others.
St. Theresa of Avila
You have no body on earth but ours,
No hands but ours,No feet but ours.
Ours are the eyes
through which your compassion must look out on the world.
Ours are the feet
by which you may still go about doing good.
Ours are the hands
with which You bless people now.
Bless our minds and bodies,
That we may be a blessing to others.
St. Theresa of Avila
Saturday, October 11, 2008
As of October 7, 2008 we are on the Bethany waiting list to begin adoption. Each year, between April and August, Bethany will recieve their quota of families that are able to begin the adoption process. (ex. complete all of the paperwork and homestudy and begin the wait for a referral) This number is usually 5 or 6 families. We are 15th or 16th on the waiting list. However, some of the people on the waiting list no longer qualify for Korean adoption and thus will not begin the process.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Preliminary Application Complete
Raleigh and I attended an International Adoption Information meeting at the Bethany office in Atlanta June 26th, 2008.
Raleigh and I completed and submitted our preliminary online application to Bethany Christian Services Saturday, October 4th, 2008. We have only been married 2 years and 5 months and the marriage requirement to adopt from South Korea is 3 years. However, we submitted our application in hopes that we can get our names on the Bethany waiting list prior to starting the official process at 3 years of marriage.
Raleigh and I completed and submitted our preliminary online application to Bethany Christian Services Saturday, October 4th, 2008. We have only been married 2 years and 5 months and the marriage requirement to adopt from South Korea is 3 years. However, we submitted our application in hopes that we can get our names on the Bethany waiting list prior to starting the official process at 3 years of marriage.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
The Journey of My Heart April-June 2008
Raleigh and I knew we wanted to eventually have a child, but we never discussed adoption as the means to expand our family. This changed in the Spring of 2008.
In April, Katherine Arnold Wolf (http://www.katherinewolf.info/) suffered a devastating stroke. She was 26 at the time- a young mother and wife. Raleigh and I both attended Samford with Katherine and her husband Jay. We did not know them very well, but did know of them. Katherine was Miss Samford one year and has a personality that lights up a room. Her love for the Lord truly shines through her. Once I learned of her stroke, I began to feel God lead me to pray for her full recovery more than I've ever prayed for anyone. I felt the call to intercede on her behalf without ceasing. Her experience began growing my prayer life exponentially. Raleigh and I had many conversations about what it means to pray without ceasing. Raleigh and I both desire to live our lives in constant dialogue with God as one way to 'pray without ceasing.' We also agreed that there are times when God calls us to be prayer warriors for others and spend time on our knees in uninterrupted prayer for others. This is what God was calling me to do for Katherine. I felt God teaching me how to love others well during this time, but I did not know that this journey of my heart would continue.
In May, the Chapman family's youngest daughter, Maria, died during a tragic accident. The journey of my heart continued as I wept for this family and again felt the call to intercede on their behalf. It was undeniable that God was transforming the way I love and care for others. God continued to stretch my prayer life in ways I had never experienced before as I prayed for this family. During this time, I was reminded that the Chapman family had adopted three daughters. I did not feel called to adopt at this point, but I did desire to learn more about the process.
Raleigh and I went to the beach in June, and I purchased the book The Lost Daughters of China by Karin Evans. As I read this book, I learned about the Chinese population policy that began in the 1980s, which restricted families to one child. This policy was established because China’s leaders believed that the countrywas overpopulated. The result was that thousands of babies, almost all of them girls, were abandoned by their parents and had to be placed in orphanages. My heart wept as I thought about the thousands (maybe millions) of children in Chinese orphanages. I know that God desires to place children in families. My heart felt the call to adopt. Raleigh and I knew we wanted children one day and when we discussed adoption we thought of countless reasons why we should adopt. We kept asking each other Why Not? instead of Why? We have the desire to raise a child, the love to give a child, and the resources to support a child, so WHY NOT adopt a child?
Over the next month God continued to open our eyes and hearts to the needs of orphans all over the world. There are millions of orphans around the globe that need a family. We began researching international adoption and attended an International Adoption informational meeting at Bethany. In big and small ways, God continues to confirm our call to adopt.
Raleigh and I agreed that we need to be in a home before we begin adoption. We close on a house July 3oth. We continue to pray for God to give us wisdom and discernment during this process. It was not what we planned. Adoption takes much longer than the typical 9 months of pregnancy. Adoption does not fit my "life schedule" of when I anticipated I would be a mother. Yet despite all this, I feel a peace about this decision so much that I feel that we might be living in disobediance of God's will if we do not at least continue to prayfully explore adoption.
Our journey continues...
In April, Katherine Arnold Wolf (http://www.katherinewolf.info/) suffered a devastating stroke. She was 26 at the time- a young mother and wife. Raleigh and I both attended Samford with Katherine and her husband Jay. We did not know them very well, but did know of them. Katherine was Miss Samford one year and has a personality that lights up a room. Her love for the Lord truly shines through her. Once I learned of her stroke, I began to feel God lead me to pray for her full recovery more than I've ever prayed for anyone. I felt the call to intercede on her behalf without ceasing. Her experience began growing my prayer life exponentially. Raleigh and I had many conversations about what it means to pray without ceasing. Raleigh and I both desire to live our lives in constant dialogue with God as one way to 'pray without ceasing.' We also agreed that there are times when God calls us to be prayer warriors for others and spend time on our knees in uninterrupted prayer for others. This is what God was calling me to do for Katherine. I felt God teaching me how to love others well during this time, but I did not know that this journey of my heart would continue.
In May, the Chapman family's youngest daughter, Maria, died during a tragic accident. The journey of my heart continued as I wept for this family and again felt the call to intercede on their behalf. It was undeniable that God was transforming the way I love and care for others. God continued to stretch my prayer life in ways I had never experienced before as I prayed for this family. During this time, I was reminded that the Chapman family had adopted three daughters. I did not feel called to adopt at this point, but I did desire to learn more about the process.
Raleigh and I went to the beach in June, and I purchased the book The Lost Daughters of China by Karin Evans. As I read this book, I learned about the Chinese population policy that began in the 1980s, which restricted families to one child. This policy was established because China’s leaders believed that the countrywas overpopulated. The result was that thousands of babies, almost all of them girls, were abandoned by their parents and had to be placed in orphanages. My heart wept as I thought about the thousands (maybe millions) of children in Chinese orphanages. I know that God desires to place children in families. My heart felt the call to adopt. Raleigh and I knew we wanted children one day and when we discussed adoption we thought of countless reasons why we should adopt. We kept asking each other Why Not? instead of Why? We have the desire to raise a child, the love to give a child, and the resources to support a child, so WHY NOT adopt a child?
Over the next month God continued to open our eyes and hearts to the needs of orphans all over the world. There are millions of orphans around the globe that need a family. We began researching international adoption and attended an International Adoption informational meeting at Bethany. In big and small ways, God continues to confirm our call to adopt.
Raleigh and I agreed that we need to be in a home before we begin adoption. We close on a house July 3oth. We continue to pray for God to give us wisdom and discernment during this process. It was not what we planned. Adoption takes much longer than the typical 9 months of pregnancy. Adoption does not fit my "life schedule" of when I anticipated I would be a mother. Yet despite all this, I feel a peace about this decision so much that I feel that we might be living in disobediance of God's will if we do not at least continue to prayfully explore adoption.
Our journey continues...