Political strife in Thailand

Things are getting tense in Thailand right now. The International airport is closed down and has been for almost a week now. I do know of at least one family with the Mother and her new child stuck there. Due to this situation, bombings have increased in Bangkok.

So far our government has not issued any warnings, etc...about traveling there. Quite honestly it will take something HUGE for us to not go and bring our son home, however we would still appreciate prayers that we are able to travel in January. As I have been reading about the situation with the prime minister and this group PAD, it seems things are going to get worse before they get better. We would really love to get in and out BEFORE the "worse" starts.

Thank you!

Papa Murphy's Fundraiser

For anyone in our town, we have Papa Murphy coupon cards for $10. They are over $25 in value and good at all locations in town.

It is a great time for these discounts with the holidays coming! Save money and no cooking!

Thank you for helping us bring our son home!

M

Prayer request updates

We continue to have struggles with our USCIS paperwork. God willing the papers should arrive there this week, not too sure with the holiday though.

Still waiting on paperwork from Thailand. They know what we need and they don't celebrate Thanksgiving so that is helpful on their part!

Funds are slowly creeping up. Papa Murphy's Fundraiser starting!

Please continue to keep us in your prayers if you don't mind!

M

UPDATES

I am really hoping to be able to update our prayer requests today! We *should* be able to get our first USCIS approval today! And I hope to hear something about our paperwork from Thailand.

On a fun note, we found a VERY reasonable hotel really close to the US Embassy so we can walk rather than have to take taxis or tuk tuks. Walking will help with costs as well as stress to avoid traffic!

On a FABULOUS note, we received our first donation! How exciting!! We are so grateful to those willing to partner with us through prayers and financial help to bring this little guy home to his forever family! Thank you!!

I hope to be back later with more!

God bless you all~

M

Imagine

The four of us were talking yesterday about the fact that Munchkin #3 will never have worn a long sleeve shirt, probably will never have worn pants. We are fairly certain he won't have any idea what socks are either!! Any pics or video we have he is wearing flip flops!

The kids had fun wondering where he would think the socks should go, Bug thought hand puppets was the best guess!

I wonder how many layers of clothes it is going to take to keep the Munchkin warm and how long it will take him to wonder what he got himself into!!

M

Adoption a Second Choice??

In our society, it is assumed you have infertility problems if you are adopting a child. This assumption leads many people to make comments suggesting that adoption is a second choice for a family.

I do know of quite a few families that have chosen to adopt rather than conceive a child.

We are not one of those families. We assumed we would have biological children. Like many, we never felt there would be a problem conceiving a child the "natural" way.

Turns out that wasn't "the plan".

We didn't follow many of the paths often taken for infertility treatments. We moved on to "plan B", adoption.

Does it naturally become a second choice because it is Plan B? Does it mean our children are any less than biological children would be to us?

The answer would be NO because....

With God as part of the equation, there is never a second choice. It is His first choice. His plan A for our family. It was NEVER in His plan for us to have a biological child.

It is not for me to ask Why. The Bible tells us "For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. "
Jeremiah 29:10-12

Would I have known the plans God has for me if we hadn't struggled with infertility? Peanut and Bug would not be OUR children. And they could not be any more OUR children had we "birthed" these 2 Munchkins.

There is no possibility my family is a second choice. I have hope and my children have a future and I can't wait to see His plans continue to unfold.

Faith

I am finding it a struggle this evening to stay strong in my conviction that God wants this adoption to happen.

We stepped out in our faith in God that we would be able to meet the financial needs to travel and bring our son home.

A few unforeseen events this past year coupled with the no-interest loan we had lined up no longer being available, has left us scrambling for fundraiser ideas. A wonderful one came across my path from a good friend and I instantly followed it up.

I just received an email that it is no longer available in our area.

Please pray that a door is opened soon that will relieve our stress during this time of planning that should be a joyous one.

Our Social Worker is AWESOME

So we continue our struggles to get approval from USCIS to go get our son. We FINALLY got our case assigned and she asked for 3 things to be changed on our homestudy.

Our FANTASTIC SW just got the changes yesterday. She emailed this morning saying she made the changes and fed-ex'd them today!!!! UNBELIEVABLE! Thank you just is not enough!

One thing that makes the waiting much more bearable is the people who help you through this process. Our SW has been through all 3 children with us. She is like family to us and I can't wait to send her a picture of our family of 5!

M

Birth Mothers

In the spirit of National Adoption Month, I am going to post about many aspects of adoption that are close to my heart. As an adoptive mother, I think it natural this be the first.


Peanut and Bug were both born in S. Korea. It was 8 years ago that we had just (in Oct.) become homestudy to Korea. In layman's terms that means our necessary paperwork had just been sent over to wait for the referral of our first child. This put us into one of the hurry up and wait moments that have become SO familiar to us. You hurry, hurry, hurry with your responsibilities so that you can sit and wait!

Now that left me with plenty of time to think, pray, learn and read. At the time we didn't even have a computer and adoption wasn't quite as "out there" as a topic of discussion as it is now. Though it still has a long way to go!

We knew at that time, our child was already conceived and growing in his/her birthmother's womb. I assumed (never really a good thing to do!) that abortions* were not readily available in S. Korea. My awe grew immensely for these precious women when I found out that it is rather "easy" to obtain an abortion there.


These women CHOSE life, so that I may be a mother.


In a society that frowns upon unwed women,

THEY CHOSE LIFE

in a society where open adoption doesn't exist so no chance to know or see their child,

THEY CHOSE LIFE

in a society where the child would not be accepted if he/she was adopted domestically,

THEY CHOSE LIFE

to carry that child for 9 months as an outward reminder to all of their "shame and disgrace",

THEY CHOSE LIFE

knowing if they chose to raise their child, poverty would be their future,

THEY CHOSE LIFE


Our family IS, because THEY CHOSE LIFE.

And I believe they loved their baby enough to make a plan, allowing them to have the best life possible. They had big dreams for their child. I believe it is my job to help my children reach for their dreams, for them, and for their birth mothers.

I strive everyday to do my best for Peanut and Bug to honor the choice their birth mothers made.

We talk to our children about Korea, their birth mothers and the different ways God creates a family.

I pray for my children's birth mothers every day. They are heavy on my heart on Peanut and Bug's birthdays. I wonder how they are doing, are they healthy, living, aware that God loves them, know that we love them, do they have other children/siblings to my children.....

I thank God for them always. I thank God they CHOSE life and I thank God He chose me.





I can't imagine one of them not being CHOSEN, can you?












Thank you to all Birth Mothers for making us infertile women MOTHERS. We are blessed beyond anything one can imagine. Please know your selfless act is so appreciated and honored by those of us blessed by your choices.

M


*FYI--We are a pro-life family.

National Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Month

Adoption Month History
The first major effort to promote awareness of the need for adoptive families for children in the foster care system occurred in Massachusetts. In 1976, then-Governor Mike Dukakis proclaimed Adoption Week and the idea grew in popularity and spread throughout the nation. President Gerald Ford made the first National Adoption Week proclamation, and in 1990, the week was expanded to a month due to the number of states participating and the number of events.
During the month, states, communities, public and private organizations, businesses, families, and individuals celebrate adoption as a positive way to build families. Across the nation, activities and observances such as recognition dinners, public awareness and recruitment campaigns, and special events spotlight the needs of children who need permanent families. It also includes National Adoption Day, traditionally a Saturday, which is observed in courthouses across the nation as thousands of adoptions are finalized simultaneously. (INFORMATION FROM ADOPTION.COM)


National Adoption Month, 2008 A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
White House News
During National Adoption Month, we recognize the compassion of adoptive and foster families as we seek to raise awareness of the need for every child in America to have a safe, loving, and permanent home.
Adopting a child is a great joy and also a great responsibility. Parents are a child's first teachers, and adoptive families can help children learn character and values, the importance of giving back to their community and country, and the courage to realize their potential. On November 15, caring parents across our Nation will celebrate National Adoption Day by finalizing their adoptions and bringing home children in need of a hopeful life.
My Administration is committed to helping young people find the love, stability, and support that a family can provide. We have joined with community and faith-based organizations to raise public awareness of foster children awaiting adoption. With the help of the Congress, we are assisting families in overcoming the financial barriers to adopting children through programs such as the Adoption Incentives Program. In addition, the Collaboration to AdoptUsKids project, which can be found at adoptuskids.org, provides guidance and resources for parents exploring adoption.
During National Adoption Month, we honor adoptive and foster parents who have shown America the depth and kindness of the human heart. Their love and dedication inspire the next generation of Americans to achieve their dreams and demonstrate the true spirit of our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2008 as National Adoption Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities to honor adoptive families and to participate in efforts to find permanent homes for waiting children.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.
GEORGE W. BUSH

Please join us in celebrating the way God has created our family. To have a family is precious and so many children around the world never get that experience. Please pray more people are able to experience the wonders adoption offers.

M