Empowered To Connect Conference
5 years ago
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Love this quote by Derek Loux
“My friends, adoption is redemption. It’s costly, exhausting, expensive, and outrageous. Buying back lives costs so much. When God set out to redeem us, it killed Him. And when He redeems us, we can’t even really appreciate or comprehend it, just like Dimitri will never comprehend or fully appreciate what is about to happen to him … but … he will live in the fruit of it. As his Daddy, I will never expect him to understand all of this or even to thank me. I just want to watch him live in the benefits of my love and experience the joys of being an heir in my family. This is how our heavenly “Papa” feels towards us. Today, settle your busy heart down and rest in the benefits of redemption. Enjoy the fruits of His goodness, and stop trying to “pay Him back”. You’ll never get close you goofy little kid.” - Derek Loux
Friday, November 12, 2010
Our Family Photo!
Just wanted to share our family photo.....it is now complete. Thank you Janene at http://www.aboutfacephotographyofgreenwood.com/ !!!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Keep Changing The World (With Lyrics) - MIKESCHAIR Feat. Lecrae
Beautiful - I dedicate this song to all those out there who are fighting to change the world for the children who have no voice!!!!!!!!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Meant to Be - Steven Curtis Chapman
Absolutely beautiful!!!!!! This is the message I want children all over the world to know...God had a purpose for their life...they were not a mistake. They are all beautifully and wonderfully made.....
I want to dedicate this song to all of my children and to all the children who do not have someone to tell them how special they are.
I want to dedicate this song to all of my children and to all the children who do not have someone to tell them how special they are.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
What It Means To Have A Family by Katelyn (adopted from Ukraine)
You should be grateful for what you have even if sometimes it’s not the best thing you can think of. I know its great to have a family because before I didn’t and I kind of felt abandoned, but here today I am as happy as can be. I love my family because they are always by my side. My family never lets me down and that’s why I am proud of them. It makes me sad when I see kids alone and know they do not feel loved.
If you have a family, be proud of where you are and who you’re with because they will keep u safe and loved!!!
To my mom and dad, thank you for giving me a beautiful home and a beautiful family. I know sometimes I can be out of control and selfish but most of the time, I remember that you taught me it is wrong and I promise for the rest of my life I will try to be better.
What It Means To Have A Family by Payton (adopted from Ukraine)
A family makes you feel happy and makes you feel like you’re safe. You will maybe have wonderful brothers and sisters. A family is awesome, they give you love and that is important. Some people don’t have families and that makes me want to cry. Everyone should have a family.
When you have a family, you may get nice clothes and nice bed sheets. Who cares if you have a poor family? Nobody is perfect. We make wrong decisions. You guys should adopt. Kids are so sweet! And yes they make wrong decisions, too. All that matters is that they love you. Every should have a family to love and care for them.
God created us so we can have a family and love. I love kids and they want a family, so someday I am going to adopt a kid. Some of them are praying so hard to God to get a family and that is terrible that they don’t have one. Just let God into your heart. I am praying that every kid gets a family and God is praying, too. When I get older I’m going to adopt 8 kids because I love kids and God let me into his heart.
What A Family Means by Graceson (sister to 4 adopted siblings from Ukraine)
A family and God is everything we need. Having a family is to have a full life. If we didn’t have a family we would feel lost and alone. You might say you have friends and do not need a family but friendships don’t always last. A family lasts a lifetime.
We may think people in our family aren’t that important and sometimes forget how lucky we are to have them in our life. There are kids in the orphanage that would trade you places any day. They are alone because their family made different choices or had problems that could not be fixed. If you have the time to go to an orphanage and spend time with those kids, it would mean the world to them. Maybe you could give them a family if you felt that is what God wanted you to do.
A family is to have the inside of you bursting with love. So every time you fight with a family member, think of how lucky you are to have them. Because all over the world there are kids wishing they were you.
Having a family by Lauren (adopted from Ukraine)
God created my family and I am so glad that I have them. My dad, my mom, my brothers and my sisters all care for each other, because that is what a family does for each other. I am proud of my family because they help me through everything - friends, homework, and a lot of other things. A family is a special blessing, it's being loved.
I am proud of my mom because she works to find children families. That is exactly what she did for me, my 2 sisters, and my brother! My mom is always happy when somebody gets adopted. Sometimes my mom has us pray for a family she knows or the children she is trying to help. I wish that all children had families that love them.
Having a family is being together when it matters. My family is crazy, and we argue, but we still love each other. Most families DO NOT ALWAYS GET ALONG GREAT!!!!!! They fuss, they whine, they hit, they smack, they kick, ... (Totally not perfect) but they are there for each other. Parents teach you what is important, everything from manners, God, and how to behave.
Families are great, and what I really like about families are the members of the family. The whole gang is what matters. They love you no matter what you do (even if you even broke something). My family is the best and I love them very much.
Monday, August 30, 2010
The Most Vulnerable Orphans
I love my job... and I especially love working with the children! It is such an incredible feeling to see children coming home to loving families. Even more wonderful is when I have the opportunity to witness the changes in the lives of the children - how they blossom with the love, security and opportunities a family provides.
Despite the positives my job provides, one of the most difficult challenges is knowing there are the children that I may not be able to help find families. The ones that are overlooked because they are not perfect. They are the most vulnerable; the older child, the ones with disabilities, the large sibling group... How do I help them?
I know of a beautiful 18 month old girl; a healthy, smart and handsome six year old boy needing an operation and prosthetics; a sibling group of three boys ages 5-10; a sibling group of four; a six year old girl with developmental delays… all of them in such need for a family. How can we help them?
At MLJ ADOPTIONS, INC. we are developing a special needs program because it is our heart to make families aware of these precious children and do all we can to connect them to families. If you are open to a child who may need extra love and care, or if one of the children mentioned above pulls at your heart, please email me. Who knows what may happen?
Monday, August 23, 2010
Thousand Lives by Doug Johnson
Beautiful song about reaching 1000 lives for Christ. My goal is to reach 1000 orphans and help them to find loving Christian families. Enjoy!!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
International Adoption Updates
( http://hopefororphans.com/Display.asp?Page=June2010#June10Article5 )
In light of the ever-changing world of international adoption, we want to highlight some of the recent changes and issues related to adoption in six countries in particular: Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Russia and Swaziland.
Ethiopia
The U.S. State Department issued a Notice on April 13, 2010, that The Federal First Instance Court of Ethiopia has issued an announcement that as of May 9, 2010, adoptive parents must now be present at the federal court hearing in order for the adoption to be approved. That means two trips must now be made instead of just one as before. This new ruling affects all pending and new adoption cases. For the complete statement, please click here.
Kazakhstan
The U.S. State Department issued an Alert on May 21, 2010 stating that on May 17th, the Kazakhstan Government has instructed its Embassy and Consulate General not to accept any new intercountry adoption dossiers until Kazakhstan becomes compliant with the Hague Adoption Convention, which it hopes to be by September 2010. For more information, please click here.
Kyrgyzstan
The U.S. State Department issued an Alert on April 28, 2010 discussing the ongoing investigations of corruption and fraud which caused the Kyrgyz government to stop processing all inter-country adoptions in October 2008, including at least 65 adoptions by American families that were already in process when the halt was announced. Recently, the Kyrgyz Parliament passed a bill that, if signed by the president, will affect international adoptions, though its actual impact is unclear. For more information, please click here.
Nepal
The U.S. State Department issued an Alert on May 26, 2010, strongly discouraging prospective adoptive parents from pursuing adoption of Nepalese children due to what it calls “grave concerns” about the adoption system in Nepal. It even goes so far as to encourage families that are already in the process (but who have not yet been matched with a child) to consider pursuing adoption from a different country instead. For more information, please click here.
Russia
The U.S. State Department issued a notice on June 18, 2010, announcing that an American interagency team had been involved in meetings in Washington, DC in mid-June for a third round of meetings an adoption agreement. The discussions were reported to be productive and positive, with the hopes that inter-country adoptions between Russia and the United States will continue in the future with proper safeguards in place. For more information, please click here.
Swaziland
The U.S. State Department issued an Alert on March 1, 2010 stating that the government of Swaziland had informed the U.S. embassy in February that it is reviewing its adoption procedures and will cease processing inter-country adoptions until the review is completed. Cases that were already with the High Court at that time will be allowed to continue. For more information, please click here.
Please check out the countries we currently have programs in (www.mljadoptions.com )
Bulgaria, Congo, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Ukraine - all are currently open!
In light of the ever-changing world of international adoption, we want to highlight some of the recent changes and issues related to adoption in six countries in particular: Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Russia and Swaziland.
Ethiopia
The U.S. State Department issued a Notice on April 13, 2010, that The Federal First Instance Court of Ethiopia has issued an announcement that as of May 9, 2010, adoptive parents must now be present at the federal court hearing in order for the adoption to be approved. That means two trips must now be made instead of just one as before. This new ruling affects all pending and new adoption cases. For the complete statement, please click here.
Kazakhstan
The U.S. State Department issued an Alert on May 21, 2010 stating that on May 17th, the Kazakhstan Government has instructed its Embassy and Consulate General not to accept any new intercountry adoption dossiers until Kazakhstan becomes compliant with the Hague Adoption Convention, which it hopes to be by September 2010. For more information, please click here.
Kyrgyzstan
The U.S. State Department issued an Alert on April 28, 2010 discussing the ongoing investigations of corruption and fraud which caused the Kyrgyz government to stop processing all inter-country adoptions in October 2008, including at least 65 adoptions by American families that were already in process when the halt was announced. Recently, the Kyrgyz Parliament passed a bill that, if signed by the president, will affect international adoptions, though its actual impact is unclear. For more information, please click here.
Nepal
The U.S. State Department issued an Alert on May 26, 2010, strongly discouraging prospective adoptive parents from pursuing adoption of Nepalese children due to what it calls “grave concerns” about the adoption system in Nepal. It even goes so far as to encourage families that are already in the process (but who have not yet been matched with a child) to consider pursuing adoption from a different country instead. For more information, please click here.
Russia
The U.S. State Department issued a notice on June 18, 2010, announcing that an American interagency team had been involved in meetings in Washington, DC in mid-June for a third round of meetings an adoption agreement. The discussions were reported to be productive and positive, with the hopes that inter-country adoptions between Russia and the United States will continue in the future with proper safeguards in place. For more information, please click here.
Swaziland
The U.S. State Department issued an Alert on March 1, 2010 stating that the government of Swaziland had informed the U.S. embassy in February that it is reviewing its adoption procedures and will cease processing inter-country adoptions until the review is completed. Cases that were already with the High Court at that time will be allowed to continue. For more information, please click here.
Please check out the countries we currently have programs in (www.mljadoptions.com )
Bulgaria, Congo, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Ukraine - all are currently open!
Guest Bogger Paul Pennington
NOTE FROM PAUL PENNINGTON
Executive Director, Hope for Orphans
Behind A Frowning Providence
Some of the very best things in my life have happened as a result of some of the hardest things in my life. There was a day that Robin and I learned that we had lost a baby and the ability to ever have a biological child short of in-vitro fertilization. It was a hard day. It was hard to pray or understand. But little did we know that as this was happening a little girl was soon to be born. This little girl was our daughter Kit whom God brought to us just 6 months later. Not only was she a gift we could not have imagined, but also through her, the Lord led us to more of our children, some born on the other side of the world, and ultimately to this ministry.
In his new book about Ruth, A Sweet and Bitter Providence, Pastor John Piper shares a quote from William Cowper, an 18th century poet and hymn writer:
“Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.”
Joseph experienced this frowning providence when his brothers sold him into slavery. But as you know, God knew this very act would bring about the rescue of those same brothers from famine and His grace would be demonstrated through the centuries like a chain in His word to us in the 21st century.
Every adoption begins in hurt of some kind. Sometimes being the parent of a child through adoption involves a lot of hurt. We all come from a hard place because of the first Adam’s fateful choice in the garden. Thankfully, the second Adam also made a choice in a garden, a choice not to save Himself, a choice made so that we might receive adoption as sons of God through Him.
As we consider with eyes wide open the road of adoption and loving the fatherless, let us remember why Ruth the Moabitess was able to say to Naomi in Ruth 1:16-17 that she would follow her from all that was familiar and safe…how she committed herself to this widow to the point of saying that Naomi’s God would be her God and Naomi’s people her people.
Ruth was grafted into this family and met her kinsman redeemer because as Piper says, “Here we have a picture of…faith in God that sees beyond present bitter setbacks. Freedom from the securities and comforts of the world. Courage to venture into the unknown and the strange. Radical commitment in the relationships appointed by God”. In this case, a relationship that led to line of David and The Messiah.
May those called to adopt, or to love a foster child, or to serve churches overseas in loving orphans be likewise radically committed to the relationships appointed by God for them. May we see the world as the work of God, and that we are privileged and blessed to be invited to join Him in His work. May we see God who sometimes uses frowning providence in bringing about His will, as the very One in whom we will very soon see His smiling face.
Blessings,
Paul
Complete Hope for Orphans newsletter: http://hopefororphans.com/Display.asp?Page=June2010#June10Article5
Executive Director, Hope for Orphans
Behind A Frowning Providence
Some of the very best things in my life have happened as a result of some of the hardest things in my life. There was a day that Robin and I learned that we had lost a baby and the ability to ever have a biological child short of in-vitro fertilization. It was a hard day. It was hard to pray or understand. But little did we know that as this was happening a little girl was soon to be born. This little girl was our daughter Kit whom God brought to us just 6 months later. Not only was she a gift we could not have imagined, but also through her, the Lord led us to more of our children, some born on the other side of the world, and ultimately to this ministry.
In his new book about Ruth, A Sweet and Bitter Providence, Pastor John Piper shares a quote from William Cowper, an 18th century poet and hymn writer:
“Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.”
Joseph experienced this frowning providence when his brothers sold him into slavery. But as you know, God knew this very act would bring about the rescue of those same brothers from famine and His grace would be demonstrated through the centuries like a chain in His word to us in the 21st century.
Every adoption begins in hurt of some kind. Sometimes being the parent of a child through adoption involves a lot of hurt. We all come from a hard place because of the first Adam’s fateful choice in the garden. Thankfully, the second Adam also made a choice in a garden, a choice not to save Himself, a choice made so that we might receive adoption as sons of God through Him.
As we consider with eyes wide open the road of adoption and loving the fatherless, let us remember why Ruth the Moabitess was able to say to Naomi in Ruth 1:16-17 that she would follow her from all that was familiar and safe…how she committed herself to this widow to the point of saying that Naomi’s God would be her God and Naomi’s people her people.
Ruth was grafted into this family and met her kinsman redeemer because as Piper says, “Here we have a picture of…faith in God that sees beyond present bitter setbacks. Freedom from the securities and comforts of the world. Courage to venture into the unknown and the strange. Radical commitment in the relationships appointed by God”. In this case, a relationship that led to line of David and The Messiah.
May those called to adopt, or to love a foster child, or to serve churches overseas in loving orphans be likewise radically committed to the relationships appointed by God for them. May we see the world as the work of God, and that we are privileged and blessed to be invited to join Him in His work. May we see God who sometimes uses frowning providence in bringing about His will, as the very One in whom we will very soon see His smiling face.
Blessings,
Paul
Complete Hope for Orphans newsletter: http://hopefororphans.com/Display.asp?Page=June2010#June10Article5
Monday, May 17, 2010
Back from Haiti...from devastion to hope.
http://www.facebook.com/lydia.taylor.tarr?ref=profile#!/album.php?aid=49099&id=1656337289 I hope this link works for you - these are some of the photos from Haiti.
I guess I can begin with how I felt about going to Haiti...I was afraid to go to such a hard place and to see such devastation. I knew it wouldn't be easy or comfortable. I think the thing that shocked me most was how anesthetized I was to seeing what I saw. I expected it to be harder than it was and me more emotional. I think in today's society, that we have seen so many images on television that we really don't feel the impact of the harsh reality. It became more personal when I heard the stories from some of the people we met and how the earthquake changed their lives.
Upon leaving the airport, I saw rubble everywhere, buildings that were pancaked, leaning over the street ready to collapse, tents everywhere - even on medians in the street. I saw people that had to shower and bathe out in public places because that is where they found water. It is almost hard to describe the conditions. Where I saw the ruins, it was contrasted with such breath-taking beauty. The mountains, the valleys, the coast...so amazing....
What I also saw in this country that faced this nightmare, was such hope. I saw a beautiful people - who despite what they were going through and the circumstances they were living in taking pride in their appearance. Looking fresh and clean in spite of how they were being forced to live, taking pride in themselves.
Instead of being angry at God or questioning what was happening in their lives - I met people that had such tremendous faith. One woman I met, Marie had such a glow on her face when she talked about what happened during the earthquake and how God had held her in His hands and how she could trust Him to take care of her no matter what. A pastor, Jean Claude shared how they had cleared the rubbage from his church and were now holding church on the remaining floor and how they fed over 500 children there each week. We met girls at the orphanage who greeted us with kisses, sang beautiful songs, played games with us and had the most beautiful smiles. So many people, who had been through the worst, making the best of it and doing so with such amazing grace!
It is easy to have faith when things are going your way, when you are comfortable...but how easy is it to maintain that faith when everything around you falls away? I would hope that in the face of such pain and tragedy, that I could maintain my faith and my trust the way they have. Tanya from House of Blessings orphanage thanked us for showing them our love by coming - if only for a few days. It was humbling for someone to reference us as God's hands and feet.
I hope in the dark times I may face, that I will react with as much grace. I bought a small bracelet that one of the ladies at the orphanage was selling and put it on as a daily reminder to pray for the people and orphans of Haiti. I pray that God will continue to give them strength to face each day, the comfort that only His arms can give as they continue to rebuild their lives. I pray that God will use me to help the orphans of Haiti to find loving Christian families who will show them what it is like to be loved....
Leeland - Follow You with special guest Brandon Heath (official video)
This is my new favorite song! It reminds me of my trip to Haiti last week! I hope you enjoy it! I will be posting about Haiti soon and try to do a slide show of photos!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Great Bible Study on Connecting with your child.
http://empoweredtoconnect.org/created-to-connect-study-guide/
I have had a couple of opportunities to hear Dr. Purvis speak and have each time come away with something. I like that her encouragement is scripturally based. I hope you enjoy!
Blessings,
Lydia
I have had a couple of opportunities to hear Dr. Purvis speak and have each time come away with something. I like that her encouragement is scripturally based. I hope you enjoy!
Blessings,
Lydia
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Kay Warren speaks on caring for orphans.....
Don't call yourself a believer if you're not caring for orphans, said Kay Warren. "If we are doing little to nothing, how dare we, how dare we claim to be followers of Jesus Christ," she said Friday. "Followers of Jesus Christ care about widows and orphans and they understand that it is a litmus test. "It is not an option."
The weighty words were delivered to thousands of church and ministry leaders on the final day of Catalyst West, a three-day conference designed to challenge leaders to be change agents in the culture. Stripping the leaders gathered in Orange County, Calif., of their excuses, Warren said caring for orphans is not just for infertile couples or middle-aged folks who have a little discretionary money and time.
"It has nothing to do with personality, it has nothing to do with spiritual gifts, it has nothing to do with economic status, it has nothing to do with your season in life," she stressed. "It has to do with accepting the responsibility that God will one day hold us accountable." And it's not just a matter of personal responsibility either, she indicated. There is a theological reason all Christians are to do something to help vulnerable children.
Warren highlighted: "What our Heavenly Father does for us spiritually, He expects us to do physically." What God did was not only save sinners but also bring them into His family.
"You and I were all spiritual orphans," she said. "We're not just cleared of the guilt of our sin. We belong in God's family. He has taken us and made us part of Himself. "Now He shares with me everything that He has. Everything that belonged to Jesus belongs to us."
While Christians have a spiritual home, there are 143 million children around the world who don't even have a physical home. Yet many believers likely are unable to name the names of five orphans, Warren noted. "This is sinful," she asserted. "This is shameful. This is reprehensible."
Warren drilled into the thousands of Christians gathered that caring for orphans is not just one of many things they should be doing. "When you understand the theology of it, you will not be able to push it away; you will not be able to put it on the backburner," she said. "You need to understand that adoption represents the heart of what Jesus Christ has done for ... us."
The orphan advocate clarified that the Bible isn't necessarily calling every person to adopt a child. She and her husband, renowned pastor Rick Warren, have not adopted, she noted. But, she added, the Bible does say Christians have a personal responsibility to do something, whether it's contributing to the fund of a family trying to adopt, providing house cleaning for a family that adopted, or getting involved with church sponsorship of children.
At the same time, it's not enough to simply send some money or place children in orphanages. "God is a relational God," she said. "And orphanage is an institutional solution." "What's the best?" she posed. "For children to be in homes with their own families."
Warren challenged every Christian family to ask themselves: "God, do you want our family to adopt?" In the United States, if one family out of every four churches adopted a child, there would be no orphans in the country, she highlighted. "You guys, that's doable."
The weighty words were delivered to thousands of church and ministry leaders on the final day of Catalyst West, a three-day conference designed to challenge leaders to be change agents in the culture. Stripping the leaders gathered in Orange County, Calif., of their excuses, Warren said caring for orphans is not just for infertile couples or middle-aged folks who have a little discretionary money and time.
"It has nothing to do with personality, it has nothing to do with spiritual gifts, it has nothing to do with economic status, it has nothing to do with your season in life," she stressed. "It has to do with accepting the responsibility that God will one day hold us accountable." And it's not just a matter of personal responsibility either, she indicated. There is a theological reason all Christians are to do something to help vulnerable children.
Warren highlighted: "What our Heavenly Father does for us spiritually, He expects us to do physically." What God did was not only save sinners but also bring them into His family.
"You and I were all spiritual orphans," she said. "We're not just cleared of the guilt of our sin. We belong in God's family. He has taken us and made us part of Himself. "Now He shares with me everything that He has. Everything that belonged to Jesus belongs to us."
While Christians have a spiritual home, there are 143 million children around the world who don't even have a physical home. Yet many believers likely are unable to name the names of five orphans, Warren noted. "This is sinful," she asserted. "This is shameful. This is reprehensible."
Warren drilled into the thousands of Christians gathered that caring for orphans is not just one of many things they should be doing. "When you understand the theology of it, you will not be able to push it away; you will not be able to put it on the backburner," she said. "You need to understand that adoption represents the heart of what Jesus Christ has done for ... us."
The orphan advocate clarified that the Bible isn't necessarily calling every person to adopt a child. She and her husband, renowned pastor Rick Warren, have not adopted, she noted. But, she added, the Bible does say Christians have a personal responsibility to do something, whether it's contributing to the fund of a family trying to adopt, providing house cleaning for a family that adopted, or getting involved with church sponsorship of children.
At the same time, it's not enough to simply send some money or place children in orphanages. "God is a relational God," she said. "And orphanage is an institutional solution." "What's the best?" she posed. "For children to be in homes with their own families."
Warren challenged every Christian family to ask themselves: "God, do you want our family to adopt?" In the United States, if one family out of every four churches adopted a child, there would be no orphans in the country, she highlighted. "You guys, that's doable."
Friday, April 23, 2010
So Excited to Announce our Bulgarian Adoption Program!
I am so thrilled to announce the start of our Bulgarian adoption program! I just returned from Bulgaria and I am so excited about the possibilities that I see for families! I found Bulgaria to be a beautiful country and the Bulgarian people were so friendly and tried to use English when they could. I found our staff there to be very professional, friendly, experienced, connected and knowledgeable!
Michele Jackson, the executive director of MLJ Adoptions, Inc. and I were able to visit 3 orphanages during our visit. The orphanages were well staffed and the children well cared for! We saw some incredibly beautiful kids - all anxious for families! There was a baby as young as 10 days old at one orphanage and we met a fun group of 3-6yo children!
The changes in the family code will have a great impact in the future of adoption from Bulgaria. In September, they are expecting things to really take off! An influx of new referrals will make Bulgaria a great option for many families! They are open to single men and women as well as married couples. There is a restriction is that a parent has to be 15 years older than the child they are adopting but otherwise it is a fairly flexible program.
I can not wait to be a part of this wonderful program and witness the plan that God has for these beautiful children! Soon we will be leaving for Haiti - and explore the possibilities there! God is giving me children all over the world now! How awesome it is to be a part of His plan for the orphans of the world!
The changes in the family code will have a great impact in the future of adoption from Bulgaria. In September, they are expecting things to really take off! An influx of new referrals will make Bulgaria a great option for many families! They are open to single men and women as well as married couples. There is a restriction is that a parent has to be 15 years older than the child they are adopting but otherwise it is a fairly flexible program.
I can not wait to be a part of this wonderful program and witness the plan that God has for these beautiful children! Soon we will be leaving for Haiti - and explore the possibilities there! God is giving me children all over the world now! How awesome it is to be a part of His plan for the orphans of the world!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Response to Lady in TN returning adopted Russian boy to Russia
I wish I had more time to put in to this - but I want to quickly address the issue that has hit the headlines about the woman in Tennessee who had adopted a Russian boy, and then sent him back to Russia alone on an airplane with just a note.
It first angers me - that this woman did not understand that adoption should be viewed as permanent, just like giving birth to a child. However, as an adoptive mother I do understand the frustration that one can experience in the adjustment of an adopted child. There have been times I have questioned what I have done by adopting my 4 children - it isn't easy and requires alot of sacrifice. Some days are good and some aren't, but you have to learn to get through it and if you can't do it by yourself then it is the responsibility of the parent to seek professional help and other resources.
Next, it saddens me that Ms. Hansen was unaware of the resources she had available.... If only she had known that she could have contacted an adoption agency (she should have been able to contact the agency she used to adopt the boy) and let them know of the urgent situation and sought help, an international incident could have been avoided. A professional adoption agency, like MLJ Adoptions, Inc. which is state licensed and Hague Approved, would have tried to arrange respite care for the boy to give the mother a needed break, discussed the help that was available, and tried to offer workable solutions. If there were no resolutions that were agreeable, a disruption of adoption could have been done, and a family could have been found to adopt the boy - a win-win situation. I feel sorry for Ms. Hansen who probably entered the adoption process with stars in her eyes and a "happily ever after" in mind.
Lastly, my heart aches for a little boy that once again has been abandoned, and found not worthy. Too young to understand that it is not his fault, he will once again try to figure out his place in this life and how to handle the rejection. My prayer for him is that someone will find him worthy of investing their time and love. Unfortunately the past can not be undone and there are hundreds of thousands of orphans in Russia and families that are waiting that will likely pay the price. In the heat of the moment, Ms. Hansen's judgement may have sentenced all of them to a life without the love of a family.
My advice to pre-adoptive families is to seek education. As a Hague approved agency, MLJ Adoptions requires for our clients to have at least 10 hours of adoption education. Seemingly an inconvenience to many, but if you are investing the kind of money that an adoption requires - common sense would dictate that a family should at least be made aware of what they are getting in to and want to be prepared. Also, follow up with a newly adoptive family is important, helping them to get off on the right start, making sure they are finding ways to relieve stress and cope and connecting them to others that are going through or have gone through the same situation all give families a better chance of a successful adoption. Families need to do their homework before hand to ensure success on the other side of the adoption journey and agencies need to be there to support them.
It first angers me - that this woman did not understand that adoption should be viewed as permanent, just like giving birth to a child. However, as an adoptive mother I do understand the frustration that one can experience in the adjustment of an adopted child. There have been times I have questioned what I have done by adopting my 4 children - it isn't easy and requires alot of sacrifice. Some days are good and some aren't, but you have to learn to get through it and if you can't do it by yourself then it is the responsibility of the parent to seek professional help and other resources.
Next, it saddens me that Ms. Hansen was unaware of the resources she had available.... If only she had known that she could have contacted an adoption agency (she should have been able to contact the agency she used to adopt the boy) and let them know of the urgent situation and sought help, an international incident could have been avoided. A professional adoption agency, like MLJ Adoptions, Inc. which is state licensed and Hague Approved, would have tried to arrange respite care for the boy to give the mother a needed break, discussed the help that was available, and tried to offer workable solutions. If there were no resolutions that were agreeable, a disruption of adoption could have been done, and a family could have been found to adopt the boy - a win-win situation. I feel sorry for Ms. Hansen who probably entered the adoption process with stars in her eyes and a "happily ever after" in mind.
Lastly, my heart aches for a little boy that once again has been abandoned, and found not worthy. Too young to understand that it is not his fault, he will once again try to figure out his place in this life and how to handle the rejection. My prayer for him is that someone will find him worthy of investing their time and love. Unfortunately the past can not be undone and there are hundreds of thousands of orphans in Russia and families that are waiting that will likely pay the price. In the heat of the moment, Ms. Hansen's judgement may have sentenced all of them to a life without the love of a family.
My advice to pre-adoptive families is to seek education. As a Hague approved agency, MLJ Adoptions requires for our clients to have at least 10 hours of adoption education. Seemingly an inconvenience to many, but if you are investing the kind of money that an adoption requires - common sense would dictate that a family should at least be made aware of what they are getting in to and want to be prepared. Also, follow up with a newly adoptive family is important, helping them to get off on the right start, making sure they are finding ways to relieve stress and cope and connecting them to others that are going through or have gone through the same situation all give families a better chance of a successful adoption. Families need to do their homework before hand to ensure success on the other side of the adoption journey and agencies need to be there to support them.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Great messages on adoption! Listen and enjoy!
If you have been praying/thinking about adoption - take the time to listen to some of the messages from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Russel Moore was the main speaker and wrote the book, ADOPTED FOR LIFE, which is a wonderful book!
http://www.sbts.edu/resources/ (be sure to check out pages 2 and 3 also) I hear that David Platt's General Session 3 was amazing!
Blessings,
Lydia
http://www.sbts.edu/resources/ (be sure to check out pages 2 and 3 also) I hear that David Platt's General Session 3 was amazing!
Blessings,
Lydia
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Dear Orphan by Guest blogger
Found this on a blog of a friend - who it looks like may have borrowed it from someone else. It is a sad statement of how self-centered we live our lives. It sounds almost funny - but I hear these excuses almost daily from people I talk to. It is so sad that there are only a few willing to sacrifice the cost to make a difference in the life of a child - and give them not only a chance at a future, but eternity! Feel free to pass it on!
Blessings,
Lydia
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 http://k6comehome.blogspot.com/
Dear Orphan~
I saw your photo today. You are so adorable!
You're eyes are so deep and full of hope.
I love your little smile,
I know it must be hard some days to find
the strength to smile.
I have heard how little food you have,
but you are still willing to share
with your friends.
What a sweet little person you are!
But, I am writing this letter to tell you that I will
not be able to help you.
You see, my family is happy with the life we
are living.
I know that we could get bunk beds and you could
share a room with one of our bio kids,
but really,
that is no life for either of you.
We have so much going on around here and
life would just be too chaotic.
Our neighbors just got a new TV and game system,
we really think we need to have one too.
I have a 'ladies night out' next week and
I have nothing to wear.
I really need to purchase a new outfit.
I guess I could sponsor you...
but,
it will have to wait til next month,
I really need that new outfit
and my kids are dying for some fast food tonight.
Good luck to you!
(Thank you, Jodi, for letting me copy this post)
Blessings,
Lydia
Dear Orphan~
I saw your photo today. You are so adorable!
You're eyes are so deep and full of hope.
I love your little smile,
I know it must be hard some days to find
the strength to smile.
I have heard how little food you have,
but you are still willing to share
with your friends.
What a sweet little person you are!
But, I am writing this letter to tell you that I will
not be able to help you.
You see, my family is happy with the life we
are living.
I know that we could get bunk beds and you could
share a room with one of our bio kids,
but really,
that is no life for either of you.
We have so much going on around here and
life would just be too chaotic.
Our neighbors just got a new TV and game system,
we really think we need to have one too.
I have a 'ladies night out' next week and
I have nothing to wear.
I really need to purchase a new outfit.
I guess I could sponsor you...
but,
it will have to wait til next month,
I really need that new outfit
and my kids are dying for some fast food tonight.
Good luck to you!
(Thank you, Jodi, for letting me copy this post)
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Guest Blogger - Yura Became a Son by Nate McNeil
This is a great post that I came across - I hope you enjoy it!
Blessings,
Lydia
http://mcneilladoption.wordpress.com/2010/02/21/the-new-normal/
We have watched Yura over the last days change from an orphan into a son.
There were six or eight people in the room when they brought Yura in for the first time into the orphanage director’s office where we were sitting. The director, a social worker, us, our facilitator, and a couple of others whose function I don’t know. Yura looked down most of the time. He didn’t smile. He didn’t speak except when asked questions. He let us hug him, but did not hug back. We talked to him for a few minutes through our translator about how we wanted him to be our son. It was like he knew that the verdict was in, but the sentence was not yet pronounced. Our facilitator asked him whether he wanted to be adopted. He said ‘yes’ but was not very convincing. We walked around with him for a little while afterwards through the orphanage. He didn’t know what to think. We didn’t know what to think. We could speak only in two-word phrases, but I think he knew that we loved him and that we wanted him as our son. And wanted him to love us back in time.
It was awkward and joyful all in the same moment.
On the way back from Balta (yes, the same trip where we ran out of gas), I sat next to Yura in the back seat with Caleb’s car seat. About an hour into the trip, he leaned his head on my shoulder. I put my arm around him and he relaxed. No one knows who Yura’s father was and I didn’t see any men at the orphanage, but was thankful for this small token of trust.
The next night, after a long day of little adventures, I asked Yura if he would like to wrestle. His face lit up like a sunrise. We wrestled and laughed and laughed and wrestled for half an hour with Owen joining in. It was like Yura had been waiting his whole life for someone he could jump on who would catch him.
Today, after another wrestling match, I was sitting with Yura and Owen in an arm chair watching a cartoon (I had never seen “The Rats of Nim” in Russian). I told Yura I loved him in Russian (Ya Tibya LooBloo) and Yura turned to me with a little smile and said for the first time, “Ya Papa LooBloo”.
Adopting Yura has been the most extraordinary adventure, and yet at times it seems strangely ordinary. Yura is our son. He sometimes disobeys, but we love him. He gets frustrated when Owen takes away his cars, but helps him up when he falls down. He can be silly and a little wild one minute and ready for bed the next. It is the craziest thing in the world that we are over here adding an eleven-year-old to our family, but it’s ordinary and normal and everyday. Why wouldn’t we give a home to child who doesn’t have one? What sense would that make? It wouldn’t be normal. I’m sure that the other foot has yet to drop. There is more to know about Yura. More to endure and much more joy to be gained.
I believe in the end that our story has two parts: Our adventure, and Yura’s life. Without this trip, our lives would have bumped right along as normal, but his would have been in peril.
And try as I might, I can’t rationalize how “normal” for us could have included leaving Yura in danger. Lord forgive me for the hundreds of other ways I have given up walking by faith for the sake of normal.
Blessings,
Lydia
http://mcneilladoption.wordpress.com/2010/02/21/the-new-normal/
We have watched Yura over the last days change from an orphan into a son.
There were six or eight people in the room when they brought Yura in for the first time into the orphanage director’s office where we were sitting. The director, a social worker, us, our facilitator, and a couple of others whose function I don’t know. Yura looked down most of the time. He didn’t smile. He didn’t speak except when asked questions. He let us hug him, but did not hug back. We talked to him for a few minutes through our translator about how we wanted him to be our son. It was like he knew that the verdict was in, but the sentence was not yet pronounced. Our facilitator asked him whether he wanted to be adopted. He said ‘yes’ but was not very convincing. We walked around with him for a little while afterwards through the orphanage. He didn’t know what to think. We didn’t know what to think. We could speak only in two-word phrases, but I think he knew that we loved him and that we wanted him as our son. And wanted him to love us back in time.
It was awkward and joyful all in the same moment.
On the way back from Balta (yes, the same trip where we ran out of gas), I sat next to Yura in the back seat with Caleb’s car seat. About an hour into the trip, he leaned his head on my shoulder. I put my arm around him and he relaxed. No one knows who Yura’s father was and I didn’t see any men at the orphanage, but was thankful for this small token of trust.
The next night, after a long day of little adventures, I asked Yura if he would like to wrestle. His face lit up like a sunrise. We wrestled and laughed and laughed and wrestled for half an hour with Owen joining in. It was like Yura had been waiting his whole life for someone he could jump on who would catch him.
Today, after another wrestling match, I was sitting with Yura and Owen in an arm chair watching a cartoon (I had never seen “The Rats of Nim” in Russian). I told Yura I loved him in Russian (Ya Tibya LooBloo) and Yura turned to me with a little smile and said for the first time, “Ya Papa LooBloo”.
Adopting Yura has been the most extraordinary adventure, and yet at times it seems strangely ordinary. Yura is our son. He sometimes disobeys, but we love him. He gets frustrated when Owen takes away his cars, but helps him up when he falls down. He can be silly and a little wild one minute and ready for bed the next. It is the craziest thing in the world that we are over here adding an eleven-year-old to our family, but it’s ordinary and normal and everyday. Why wouldn’t we give a home to child who doesn’t have one? What sense would that make? It wouldn’t be normal. I’m sure that the other foot has yet to drop. There is more to know about Yura. More to endure and much more joy to be gained.
I believe in the end that our story has two parts: Our adventure, and Yura’s life. Without this trip, our lives would have bumped right along as normal, but his would have been in peril.
And try as I might, I can’t rationalize how “normal” for us could have included leaving Yura in danger. Lord forgive me for the hundreds of other ways I have given up walking by faith for the sake of normal.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Guest Blogger Missy - I don't want my kids to be happy....
I loved this when I read it and wanted to share it with you! As an adoptive parent I too have had well-meaning people with all their wisdom asking me if I knew what I was doing to my children (biological of course!). I feel the same way as Missy does in that I do not owe my kids a college education - although I am praying that God will provide for them and He may use us to do that. What I do owe them is to show to the world that orphans are on God's heart and they matter. That life is not about accumulating but giving.
I hope that someone else is touched by this letter and it gives them the courage to throw away their children's happiness! :)
Blessings,
Lydia
http://itsalmostnaptime.blogspot.com/2005/11/sleepy-me.html
Dear Shepherd, Sissy, Maggie and Ikey,
Recently we were told by people whom we love and respect why they oppose our plans to adopt. One of the reasons given was that we would not be able to pay for your college education.
It's true.
You all have college funds - college funds which recently took a terrible hit - but "they" say that by the time you're 18, college will cost anywhere between $200,000 to half a million dollars each. You might as well know now, we won't be covering that. I'm telling you now, babies.
The people said that the day would come when you would look at us with resentment because you had to apply for school loans while many of your friends got a free ride from their parents.
Maybe you will. Maybe you'll resent us. I really hope not. But maybe I should tell y'all now why your dad and I have decided to do what we are doing.
I know you're going to think I am going off topic (I do that a lot) but several years I saw a story on a TV show about how the latest trend was for parents to give their daughters boob jobs for high school graduation (I don't know what they gave their sons.) When interviewing one of the moms, she said, "I just want my daughter to be happy." And as I tossed a throw pillow at the television, this really huge thought occurred to me: I don't want my children to be happy.
My goal as your mom is not your happiness, sugars. In fact, I spend at least half my day making you unhappy. If I had a nickle for every tear that falls in this home on a daily basis, we wouldn't need to worry about college tuition at all.
Happiness is fleeting, sweet babies. That means it doesn't last. It's a quick feeling that comes from a funny movie or a heart shaped lollipop or a really good birthday present. It's great. I love to be happy. But happiness is a reaction that is based on our surroundings. And our surroundings are so very rarely under our control. Even when - especially when - we think they are. So no, I absolutely don't want you to spend your life chasing something that has so little to do with your own abilities. You'll just be constantly frustrated.
There are two things I desire for you, precious loves. There are two things that I spend most of my time as a mother trying cultivate in you. Happiness ain't one of them. (This means, sorry, no boob jobs for you.)
The first is, I want you to be content. Being content is so much different from being happy. Being content is not based on your surroundings. Being content comes from within. Contentment is a spirit of gratitude. It's the choice you make to either be thankful for the things you do have, or to whine about the things you don't have.
As you know, because I've told you lots of times, Paul talked about being content. Paul said that he had "learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." And Paul was in some rotten situations, kiddos, really rotten.
How could Paul be content whether he was in prison or if his life was literally a shipwreck? Because Paul was constantly seeking to be in the will of God instead of his own, was constantly sacrificing his own comfort for the sake of the gospel, and was constantly being confirmed, strengthened, and blessed by God because of his obedience. He was given a supernatural power - that means something kind of like magic, God magic - to do things that most other humans could not do. And guess what? The bible tells us (in Ephesians 1) that God will give you the exact same power! If you want it!
Which leads me to my second desire for y'all.
I don't want you to be happy. I want you to be holy. That means, I want you to seek that God-power to make you content. I want you to want the Kingdom of God more than your own kingdom. And that's hard, babies, that is so hard. And that usually means passing up a lot of what the world considers happiness. But it means that you will achieve blessings directly from God that most of the world never dreams of because they are too occupied with the achieving the perfect birthday present!
This means you may be poor, 'in want' as Paul said, and that's okay. It will never, ever be okay with the world for you to be poor. So you'll be up against the world. But not your dad and me, loves, because it was never our goal for you to be wealthy - at least not in the way that the world considers wealthy.
Darlings, we love you so much. You will never even grasp how much we love you until you have children of your own, and then you'll get it, and then you'll apologize for the ways you treated us ;) But our goal is not to please you. Our goal is to please our Heavenly Father. And nowhere in the bible does the Lord command that we save our money to send our kids to college.
But the Lord does command us to care for the orphan around fifty times. He does tell us to care for the poor around 300 times. He does tell us that when we care for the neediest, we are caring for Jesus Himself. And in chapter six of the book of Matthew, He tells us to seek His kingdom first, and let Him worry about the rest, like college tuition. Because it's all His anyway.
They said that one day y'all would resent us for using 'your' college money to go and get your sister out of an orphanage in Ethiopia and bring her home to you.
But I know my babies. Even at your tender ages, I know your hearts, and I have already seen you weep for the least of these. I know the prayers I offer up to God that He and not the world would shape the desires of your hearts. I am trusting Him to answer those prayers.
So, sugarbears - I just don't believe those people.
Love,
Mommy
I hope that someone else is touched by this letter and it gives them the courage to throw away their children's happiness! :)
Blessings,
Lydia
http://itsalmostnaptime.blogspot.com/2005/11/sleepy-me.html
Dear Shepherd, Sissy, Maggie and Ikey,
Recently we were told by people whom we love and respect why they oppose our plans to adopt. One of the reasons given was that we would not be able to pay for your college education.
It's true.
You all have college funds - college funds which recently took a terrible hit - but "they" say that by the time you're 18, college will cost anywhere between $200,000 to half a million dollars each. You might as well know now, we won't be covering that. I'm telling you now, babies.
The people said that the day would come when you would look at us with resentment because you had to apply for school loans while many of your friends got a free ride from their parents.
Maybe you will. Maybe you'll resent us. I really hope not. But maybe I should tell y'all now why your dad and I have decided to do what we are doing.
I know you're going to think I am going off topic (I do that a lot) but several years I saw a story on a TV show about how the latest trend was for parents to give their daughters boob jobs for high school graduation (I don't know what they gave their sons.) When interviewing one of the moms, she said, "I just want my daughter to be happy." And as I tossed a throw pillow at the television, this really huge thought occurred to me: I don't want my children to be happy.
My goal as your mom is not your happiness, sugars. In fact, I spend at least half my day making you unhappy. If I had a nickle for every tear that falls in this home on a daily basis, we wouldn't need to worry about college tuition at all.
Happiness is fleeting, sweet babies. That means it doesn't last. It's a quick feeling that comes from a funny movie or a heart shaped lollipop or a really good birthday present. It's great. I love to be happy. But happiness is a reaction that is based on our surroundings. And our surroundings are so very rarely under our control. Even when - especially when - we think they are. So no, I absolutely don't want you to spend your life chasing something that has so little to do with your own abilities. You'll just be constantly frustrated.
There are two things I desire for you, precious loves. There are two things that I spend most of my time as a mother trying cultivate in you. Happiness ain't one of them. (This means, sorry, no boob jobs for you.)
The first is, I want you to be content. Being content is so much different from being happy. Being content is not based on your surroundings. Being content comes from within. Contentment is a spirit of gratitude. It's the choice you make to either be thankful for the things you do have, or to whine about the things you don't have.
As you know, because I've told you lots of times, Paul talked about being content. Paul said that he had "learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." And Paul was in some rotten situations, kiddos, really rotten.
How could Paul be content whether he was in prison or if his life was literally a shipwreck? Because Paul was constantly seeking to be in the will of God instead of his own, was constantly sacrificing his own comfort for the sake of the gospel, and was constantly being confirmed, strengthened, and blessed by God because of his obedience. He was given a supernatural power - that means something kind of like magic, God magic - to do things that most other humans could not do. And guess what? The bible tells us (in Ephesians 1) that God will give you the exact same power! If you want it!
Which leads me to my second desire for y'all.
I don't want you to be happy. I want you to be holy. That means, I want you to seek that God-power to make you content. I want you to want the Kingdom of God more than your own kingdom. And that's hard, babies, that is so hard. And that usually means passing up a lot of what the world considers happiness. But it means that you will achieve blessings directly from God that most of the world never dreams of because they are too occupied with the achieving the perfect birthday present!
This means you may be poor, 'in want' as Paul said, and that's okay. It will never, ever be okay with the world for you to be poor. So you'll be up against the world. But not your dad and me, loves, because it was never our goal for you to be wealthy - at least not in the way that the world considers wealthy.
Darlings, we love you so much. You will never even grasp how much we love you until you have children of your own, and then you'll get it, and then you'll apologize for the ways you treated us ;) But our goal is not to please you. Our goal is to please our Heavenly Father. And nowhere in the bible does the Lord command that we save our money to send our kids to college.
But the Lord does command us to care for the orphan around fifty times. He does tell us to care for the poor around 300 times. He does tell us that when we care for the neediest, we are caring for Jesus Himself. And in chapter six of the book of Matthew, He tells us to seek His kingdom first, and let Him worry about the rest, like college tuition. Because it's all His anyway.
They said that one day y'all would resent us for using 'your' college money to go and get your sister out of an orphanage in Ethiopia and bring her home to you.
But I know my babies. Even at your tender ages, I know your hearts, and I have already seen you weep for the least of these. I know the prayers I offer up to God that He and not the world would shape the desires of your hearts. I am trusting Him to answer those prayers.
So, sugarbears - I just don't believe those people.
Love,
Mommy
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Do you think it is a mandate for Christians Adopt? Guest blogger - Heidi Weimer
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
A question I get asked a whole heck of a lot...
QUESTION: Do you think it's a mandate for all Christians to adopt?
[I just got asked this question again on Facebook today. Here's my response:]
OOOOH, a question i get asked quite a bit. :) And one that people try to stump me on!
Here's what I say:
Preface: I can't say what every person should or should not do nor will I judge a person who doesn't supposedly "get it." That's wrong...
1) Scripture says that if we see someone in need and we have something that would fill their need yet DO NOT fill it, we do not have the love of God in us. [We have a family; orphans don't; we therefore should share with the orphan what we have that they do not.]
2) Scripture says that we must do to others what we would want done to us (or our own biological kids, for that matter). If we were orphaned, we would want to be adopted. Period. Not just visited or taken care of in a group home. Adopted into a family. And we would want the same for our biological kids.
3) Jesus didn't just come to visit us or care for us in our orphaned state; He came to lay down His life to adopt us. James 1:27 uses the phrase "visit orphans." The word "visit" there is the same word used for when Jesus came to "visit" us. He didn't leave us as orphans; He adopted us. He didn't see us in our orphaned state of despair and say, "Oh, poor things...I wish someone would do something about that." No, He adopted us. Changed our futures; our destinies; our families. We are to follow Him and do as He did.
4) How can we not? How can we look at the children in the world without families and say, 'No, not worth it.'? Our lives are not our own. We are called to pick up our crosses and follow Him. Not our own plans or desires or conveniences. Ain't nothin' about this whole "following Jesus" thing that is supposed to be convenient. Ask Jesus if the Cross was "convenient" or glamorous.
So, should every Christian adopt? Well, I like to turn that question on its head...What is a good reason a Christian SHOULDN'T adopt? Most reasons are self-focused if we are really honest with ourselves.
[Obviously, many people are not "fit" to adopt right now, but that is usually due to our own messes we've made with relationships, finances, life choices, etc, and not something put in our way stopping us from adopting.]
A question I get asked a whole heck of a lot...
QUESTION: Do you think it's a mandate for all Christians to adopt?
[I just got asked this question again on Facebook today. Here's my response:]
OOOOH, a question i get asked quite a bit. :) And one that people try to stump me on!
Here's what I say:
Preface: I can't say what every person should or should not do nor will I judge a person who doesn't supposedly "get it." That's wrong...
1) Scripture says that if we see someone in need and we have something that would fill their need yet DO NOT fill it, we do not have the love of God in us. [We have a family; orphans don't; we therefore should share with the orphan what we have that they do not.]
2) Scripture says that we must do to others what we would want done to us (or our own biological kids, for that matter). If we were orphaned, we would want to be adopted. Period. Not just visited or taken care of in a group home. Adopted into a family. And we would want the same for our biological kids.
3) Jesus didn't just come to visit us or care for us in our orphaned state; He came to lay down His life to adopt us. James 1:27 uses the phrase "visit orphans." The word "visit" there is the same word used for when Jesus came to "visit" us. He didn't leave us as orphans; He adopted us. He didn't see us in our orphaned state of despair and say, "Oh, poor things...I wish someone would do something about that." No, He adopted us. Changed our futures; our destinies; our families. We are to follow Him and do as He did.
4) How can we not? How can we look at the children in the world without families and say, 'No, not worth it.'? Our lives are not our own. We are called to pick up our crosses and follow Him. Not our own plans or desires or conveniences. Ain't nothin' about this whole "following Jesus" thing that is supposed to be convenient. Ask Jesus if the Cross was "convenient" or glamorous.
So, should every Christian adopt? Well, I like to turn that question on its head...What is a good reason a Christian SHOULDN'T adopt? Most reasons are self-focused if we are really honest with ourselves.
[Obviously, many people are not "fit" to adopt right now, but that is usually due to our own messes we've made with relationships, finances, life choices, etc, and not something put in our way stopping us from adopting.]
Friday, February 5, 2010
ADOPTION FUNDRAISING 101 - Guest Blogger - Gwen Oatsvall (see blog list on side bar)
I am posting this because so many families I talk to are so intimidated by the cost of adoption. Many never considering that God can and does provide!
Look at this statistic: 34% of Christian families have thought about adoption - only 1% actually do. Sadly, I think alot of them do not realize how much God longs for us to turn to Him for provision! Imagine how many children could find homes IF they could trust God's desire to show us how big He is!
I hope you are inspired and enjoy the post below.
Blessings,
Lydia
I can't tell you how many emails I get about adoption fundraising, so I thought I would do a post and see if I can put all my thoughts into one place ... This will not be a quick or easy fix to hurdles of raising funds ... I do cling to a saying my husband uses - "GOD WILL FUND WHAT HE FAVORS!" ... And we know HE favors the LEAST OF THESE !!!
So here are a few bullet points that I hope will make your journey clear and encourage you ...
1. Prepare your prayer life and be prepared to work really really HARD !!!
2. Do you believe what the scriptures say ? We are all called to care for orphans, speak up for those with no voice, where your heart is there also lies your treasure, whatever you did for the least of these you did for ME !!! And there are many more that call us to stand up for the FATHERLESS
3. You need be to share your story and the journey you are on ... God calls us to be prepared to give a TESTIMONY of what He is doing in our life ... How can people come along side of you when they don't know where you are on your journey ...
4. What are you talents ??? My husband is a coach and during our 2nd adoption he did a few special sports camps to raise money ... Use what God has gifted you w/ to raise funds ...
5. Don't ever be embarrassed to write letters to any and all who you are in contact w/ about your adoption and the RANSOM needed to bring your children home ... I can not tell you the people who have come along side of us financially because that was their part in our journey ... God called them to aid us and we are proud to say that they have a hand in bringing our children home and when they see Emily, Maggie, Joseph or Daisy at the gym playing, running around the yard, or at church they can know they are part of our legacy !!!
6. Katie has taught me about saying YES !!! Her life has showed us how to live more radically for Christ ... How amazing and peaceful it is to be in the center of God's will ... I will be honest and say on a teacher's salary and 6 kids (4 adoptions, 2 special needs angels, and all the medical) it doesn't make sense on paper ... We have even had people ask us HOW, WHY, and SAY WE ARE CRAZY ... but I will also say that we have never missed a meal, a house payment, gone cold, or needed anything, so how crazy really are we ... WE HAVE ROOM AT OUR TABLE, WE HAVE ROOM IN OUR HEARTS, WE HAVE ROOM IN OUR HOUSE, WE HAVE ROOM IN THE CAR, WE HAVE ROOM IN OUR DAY ... so why wouldn't we !!!
7. WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE UP ??? cable (gave that up a year when bringing Maggie home), TIVO, texting, STARBUCKS, dinner out (gave this up for 3 months when raising funds for Joseph/Daisy), Target new shoes, Magazine habit (gave this up when raising funds for Joseph/Daisy), concession at the games, or stick to a strict grocery budget ... We have done all these at one time or another ... It is not a sacrifice when you think of the eternal blessing you will receive when holding your child !!!
8. ACCEPTING HELP ... Katie Jo is a prime example of a selfless, gracious, and precious friend, who truly understands how precious it is to bring home a child and how hard that can be ... I can't tell you the amount of help she has been to me in raising funds, spreading the news about 147, and just down right getting in the dirt to get the job done ... She is an adoptive mom raising funds herself and yet, she has helped countless others do the same ... IF YOU HAVE A FRIEND WILLING TO HELP YOU, THEN LET THEM BECAUSE WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST NOT AN ISLAND !!!
9. check out the following for additional help ... LifeSong, Both Hands, and Show Hope
10. Last but not least ... After creating my first tee to fundraise and God completely blessing my efforts, Suzanne and I created 147 Million Orphans with a 3 fold purpose - 1) Bring awareness to the Orphan Crisis, 2) Feed Children in Uganda in Katie's program, 3) HELP FAMILIES FUNDRAISE. We know we have a great product ... We have sold to over 35 states in the United States along w/ British Columbia, Canada, Costa Rica, and Europe ... We have been and are helping over 15 families raise funds w/ all of our products (we are now offering the Ugandan Necklaces for fundraising efforts). IT IS OUR HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO WALK THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU ... I have been there ... I UNDERSTAND YOUR HEART ... We have worked out most of the kinks in the process and it seems to be running very smoothly ... We have moved all the gear back into our garages (Jan's to be exact ... She is a whole other post ...Angel sent to 147) ... We are mom's helping other mom's to bring home the children God has for them !!!
Don't be afraid to SHOUT ... Tell the world your desire to see a LONELY PLACED IN A FAMILY! YOUR FAMILY !!!
You won't be alone ... God will send the troops !!!
Look at this statistic: 34% of Christian families have thought about adoption - only 1% actually do. Sadly, I think alot of them do not realize how much God longs for us to turn to Him for provision! Imagine how many children could find homes IF they could trust God's desire to show us how big He is!
I hope you are inspired and enjoy the post below.
Blessings,
Lydia
I can't tell you how many emails I get about adoption fundraising, so I thought I would do a post and see if I can put all my thoughts into one place ... This will not be a quick or easy fix to hurdles of raising funds ... I do cling to a saying my husband uses - "GOD WILL FUND WHAT HE FAVORS!" ... And we know HE favors the LEAST OF THESE !!!
So here are a few bullet points that I hope will make your journey clear and encourage you ...
1. Prepare your prayer life and be prepared to work really really HARD !!!
2. Do you believe what the scriptures say ? We are all called to care for orphans, speak up for those with no voice, where your heart is there also lies your treasure, whatever you did for the least of these you did for ME !!! And there are many more that call us to stand up for the FATHERLESS
3. You need be to share your story and the journey you are on ... God calls us to be prepared to give a TESTIMONY of what He is doing in our life ... How can people come along side of you when they don't know where you are on your journey ...
4. What are you talents ??? My husband is a coach and during our 2nd adoption he did a few special sports camps to raise money ... Use what God has gifted you w/ to raise funds ...
5. Don't ever be embarrassed to write letters to any and all who you are in contact w/ about your adoption and the RANSOM needed to bring your children home ... I can not tell you the people who have come along side of us financially because that was their part in our journey ... God called them to aid us and we are proud to say that they have a hand in bringing our children home and when they see Emily, Maggie, Joseph or Daisy at the gym playing, running around the yard, or at church they can know they are part of our legacy !!!
6. Katie has taught me about saying YES !!! Her life has showed us how to live more radically for Christ ... How amazing and peaceful it is to be in the center of God's will ... I will be honest and say on a teacher's salary and 6 kids (4 adoptions, 2 special needs angels, and all the medical) it doesn't make sense on paper ... We have even had people ask us HOW, WHY, and SAY WE ARE CRAZY ... but I will also say that we have never missed a meal, a house payment, gone cold, or needed anything, so how crazy really are we ... WE HAVE ROOM AT OUR TABLE, WE HAVE ROOM IN OUR HEARTS, WE HAVE ROOM IN OUR HOUSE, WE HAVE ROOM IN THE CAR, WE HAVE ROOM IN OUR DAY ... so why wouldn't we !!!
7. WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE UP ??? cable (gave that up a year when bringing Maggie home), TIVO, texting, STARBUCKS, dinner out (gave this up for 3 months when raising funds for Joseph/Daisy), Target new shoes, Magazine habit (gave this up when raising funds for Joseph/Daisy), concession at the games, or stick to a strict grocery budget ... We have done all these at one time or another ... It is not a sacrifice when you think of the eternal blessing you will receive when holding your child !!!
8. ACCEPTING HELP ... Katie Jo is a prime example of a selfless, gracious, and precious friend, who truly understands how precious it is to bring home a child and how hard that can be ... I can't tell you the amount of help she has been to me in raising funds, spreading the news about 147, and just down right getting in the dirt to get the job done ... She is an adoptive mom raising funds herself and yet, she has helped countless others do the same ... IF YOU HAVE A FRIEND WILLING TO HELP YOU, THEN LET THEM BECAUSE WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST NOT AN ISLAND !!!
9. check out the following for additional help ... LifeSong, Both Hands, and Show Hope
10. Last but not least ... After creating my first tee to fundraise and God completely blessing my efforts, Suzanne and I created 147 Million Orphans with a 3 fold purpose - 1) Bring awareness to the Orphan Crisis, 2) Feed Children in Uganda in Katie's program, 3) HELP FAMILIES FUNDRAISE. We know we have a great product ... We have sold to over 35 states in the United States along w/ British Columbia, Canada, Costa Rica, and Europe ... We have been and are helping over 15 families raise funds w/ all of our products (we are now offering the Ugandan Necklaces for fundraising efforts). IT IS OUR HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO WALK THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU ... I have been there ... I UNDERSTAND YOUR HEART ... We have worked out most of the kinks in the process and it seems to be running very smoothly ... We have moved all the gear back into our garages (Jan's to be exact ... She is a whole other post ...Angel sent to 147) ... We are mom's helping other mom's to bring home the children God has for them !!!
Don't be afraid to SHOUT ... Tell the world your desire to see a LONELY PLACED IN A FAMILY! YOUR FAMILY !!!
You won't be alone ... God will send the troops !!!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Adopted for Life . . . and in Death
Please click on the link below - it is a tragic but beautiful story.
Adopted for Life . . . and in Death
Adopted for Life . . . and in Death
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Amazed by the Outpouring of Love for Haitian Orphans
Yesterday was an absolutely crazy day! I guess I should back up a bit to say it started at 9:30pm on Tuesday night when I got a call from a friend telling me that there were 300 Haitian orphans arriving the next day and they were looking for families to host them. I quickly got on the phone, sent out emails and prayed...before I went to bed I had $5000 pledged by a church, and 14 host families all in about a 2 hour span.
The next morning, my phone began ringing around 6:30 am and rang non-stop until 8pm last night. I also received about 100 emails, all wanting to help, to host or to adopt the 300 orphans arriving from Haiti. After a grueling day of fielding phone calls and emails, it came to light that the children were not coming right away as expected and that the details were not quite as we had been informed. However, it was wonderful to be a part of the response that people had. People from all over the United States were calling and emailing - it was touching to hear people's heart through their voice messages and emails......so many people wanted to help.
One thing I pointed out to Michele (our executive director) is that while the Haiti crisis is huge, there is an orphan crisis EVERY DAY. When there are over 145 million orphans needing care and families it is a crisis. Unfortunately, the response there is less than stellar...........I talk to so many people that call about hosting the Ukrainian children that are willing to host but when the full details are shared, they are not willing to do anything that truly costs them.
For some, the financial aspect of adoption is a deal breaker while for others it is the investment of their time, their emotions or their comfort that keeps them from being willing to give a child the future they deserve. I wish that people would truly grasp what Jesus was saying when he shared that the two greatest commands were to love God with all you heart, your soul and your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. If people were truly able to wrap their minds around that then there would be no obstacle to adopt.
While the response to the Haitian orphans was wonderful and real, I wonder how many would have committed to being willing to adopt if they knew it would cost them...........their money, their time, their emotions, their comfort........I would like to think all would still want to, but past experience has taught me that there are few who are truly willing to pay the price.
My prayer is that the crisis in Haiti will continue to touch hearts, and that the global attention on the Haitian orphans will shed light on orphans all over the world and their need for love and care. I pray for families to find the courage to adopt, to trust in God's provision for their finances and to see the orphan through God's eyes.
The next morning, my phone began ringing around 6:30 am and rang non-stop until 8pm last night. I also received about 100 emails, all wanting to help, to host or to adopt the 300 orphans arriving from Haiti. After a grueling day of fielding phone calls and emails, it came to light that the children were not coming right away as expected and that the details were not quite as we had been informed. However, it was wonderful to be a part of the response that people had. People from all over the United States were calling and emailing - it was touching to hear people's heart through their voice messages and emails......so many people wanted to help.
One thing I pointed out to Michele (our executive director) is that while the Haiti crisis is huge, there is an orphan crisis EVERY DAY. When there are over 145 million orphans needing care and families it is a crisis. Unfortunately, the response there is less than stellar...........I talk to so many people that call about hosting the Ukrainian children that are willing to host but when the full details are shared, they are not willing to do anything that truly costs them.
For some, the financial aspect of adoption is a deal breaker while for others it is the investment of their time, their emotions or their comfort that keeps them from being willing to give a child the future they deserve. I wish that people would truly grasp what Jesus was saying when he shared that the two greatest commands were to love God with all you heart, your soul and your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. If people were truly able to wrap their minds around that then there would be no obstacle to adopt.
While the response to the Haitian orphans was wonderful and real, I wonder how many would have committed to being willing to adopt if they knew it would cost them...........their money, their time, their emotions, their comfort........I would like to think all would still want to, but past experience has taught me that there are few who are truly willing to pay the price.
My prayer is that the crisis in Haiti will continue to touch hearts, and that the global attention on the Haitian orphans will shed light on orphans all over the world and their need for love and care. I pray for families to find the courage to adopt, to trust in God's provision for their finances and to see the orphan through God's eyes.
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