For those of you who already have been following this blog, you have read a little glimpse into why I felt we should adopt a child. When we were in court, in Russia, the first time, I was asked how many children did I intend to have/adopt? I answered without thinking. "Sir we only intend to adopt this one child and we do not intend to give birth to any others." But I instantly regretted my hasty words. I really wasn't being dishonest. However, as soon as those words were out, I had the thought, "What about A?"
We had fallen in love with him from the moment we were introduced. But I knew intellectually that we could not adopt him. First, we were only approved for 1 child in our homestudy. If we had tried to add another child at that time, we would have had to get a homestudy update which would have required lots of time and money. Secondly, Russia required a complete set of documents for each child. Those documents had taken us literally months to gather. (Not because we wanted it to take that long. And not because we didn't work hard at getting them all. It was just that we needed so many documents and many of them hinged on procuring other documents first.) Thirdly, we were dependent on other people to do their job to get the documents to us. And last but not least, it would have required lots of extra money up front. Which of course, we did not have.
But still what about A? We prayed, we talked, we schemed "how" and we even begged and pleaded with friends, family, and even strangers who would listen, to adopt him. But then the adoption ban against Americans adopting from Russia, came. And that seems to have halted our quest for A for now.
But that did not end my avid following of other peoples adoption related blogs.
In fact, a former student of Trent's began the adoption process, with her husband, of a child in China who desperately needs heart surgery. I have followed their progress on facebook mostly. But one day she posted a picture of her hoped for daughter and with her in the picture, was a fellow orphanage mate. The instant I saw his picture, I was in love.
This child is just under 2 years of age and also has congenital heart defects. He has had one surgery provided by generous USA doctors and by a donor from the US who paid the costs (at least to my understanding that is what has occurred.) But he will need another heart surgery at some point in the future.
Did I mention he is under 2?! I really wasn't intending to adopt a toddler. I am getting up there in years. Actually, many of my friends and peers who are around my age, have or are eagerly expecting grandchildren not to adding more babies and toddlers of their own! But than I look at pictures of him and feel jealous at the prospect of someone else raising him. I know that sounds ridiculous. Afterall, he isn't my son in any sense of the word nor have I even met him. But who can really explain love?
Those of you who know Trent and I, know we always make everything a matter of prayer. We are still praying for the best thing to happen. For us and for this child. We have begun the first tentative steps for fundraising.
Honestly, because of the huge amount the last adoption cost (just the average cost for Russian adoption was huge and we had huge added on expenses for extra documents and an extra trip to Russia, Just the plane tickets and hotel costs were huge for that extra trip. Not to mention the huge cost for tickets and hotels for the other 4 trips!!!) we are needing help to pay off the last chunk of money for that extra trip and start saving for the next one.
So we hope to have some fundraisers where everyone will find something they can buy (and benefit themselves with) and help us as well.
The first fundraiser if for Pampered Chef. So we hope you will join Team Daniel and check it out!! www.pamperedchef.biz/blessedx7. Make sure you put Jeannie Logan as the host so we will get the money!
