tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35858379052431613182024-02-19T06:51:45.822-08:00The Greatest Blessing of All!A glimpse into our crazy life of raising 4 children with special needs, adoption, and following God on this amazing journey!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12871173942292020024noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-66372297540740200462013-10-07T17:56:00.002-07:002013-10-07T17:57:18.015-07:00Goodbye My Daughter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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October is Foster Family month here in BC. For twenty three
years BC has celebrated the many families who have opened up their homes to
children in need. As a foster parent myself for the past seven years, I have
often heard remarks like “I could never do what you do,” or “You must be a
super-parent!” The comments are flattering none-the less, but could not be
further from the truth; I am definitely not a super parent. Sometimes, when
kids come into our home, it is HARD work. Often you are dealing with attachment
issues, grief and loss, special needs, and a bureaucratic system. Sometimes you
are given an hour’s notice before a child is suddenly dropped off at your
doorstep, with nothing more than the clothes on her back. We have a motto in
our house though, “when you are with us, you’re family.” Because somehow,
through the struggle, through the grieving, through the midnight wake-ups and
the unknown certainty of their future or yours, a love begins to grow. It
doesn’t grow because I am super. It doesn’t grow because I was placed with a
perfect child filled with perfect tendencies. No. It grows because that small
being in front of you is a child, and more importantly, a child of God. It is a
child who at that very moment does not have an earthly mother or father who can
care for them, and needs someone to step in for that small moment in time and
love them when they need it most. It isn’t always an easy love, but it is an
attainable love. A love that God has shown us so clearly, and teaches us to
show to others, regardless of how hard or difficult it may prove to be. Because
fostering is not for the amazing super-parents, it is for the fighters, the
passionate, and the believers!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some days though are harder than others. Tomorrow I will say
goodbye to my four year old child whom I have called ‘daughter’ for more than
two years. A child, who has known no other family, will leave, without any
guarantee of seeing us or her ever again. I cannot explain the emotions a
parent has when they can no longer protect their child. No longer know if they
are safe and sound; happy. And though there are many unknowns, though there is
heartache and confusion, all these things must be waded through in order to
give that tiny child a family when no other family was there. So this month, I
leave this letter for my daughter, the one who will soon reside only in my
heart, and the one who makes ‘impossible’ worth it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Good Bye My Daughter<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sweet child of mine, you arrived in one swift swoop, taking
us all by surprise. Though our house was full, our hearts were not, and you
quickly became my daughter. Through many tears and also laughter, I too became
your mom. I cared for you. I fed you. I worried about how you did in school, or
whether you ate your vegetables. Your late night terrors made my heart break
for you, yet your resilience made me proud. Your laughter with your brothers
and sisters let me know that everything was going to be alright. Soon, there
was no longer a day I remembered you as anything but my daughter. I was no
longer a mother of four; I was a mother of five. But tomorrow is the big day.
Tomorrow you go home to your mother; your family. I know you’re excited, I know
she is too. But I can’t help but wonder, will someone make sure you brush your
teeth each night? Will someone tell you to eat your vegetables even when you
don’t want to? Will someone know who your favorite stuffy is, and that you like
your housecoat tied just right? Will someone snuggle you late at night when you
wake up screaming, confused by everything that is going on? Will someone throw
you a birthday party with your favorite character Dora, and will they know you
like chocolate cake more than vanilla? Will someone know you love to dance and
that puzzles are really your thing? I wonder how your first day of kindergarten
will be, or the very first time you like a boy. I wonder in school what your
favorite subject will be, and if you will go to university or not. Will you
fall in love and get married? Will you have a baby and start your own family?
Will you think of me as I do you? Tomorrow, though my home will have but four
children, my heart will always have five. Tomorrow, my daughter, I will hug you
once last time; kiss you one last time, and see your sweet smile one last time,
but know this, sweet daughter, I will ALWAYS love you! - <i>Mom</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Though fostering comes with heartache and struggle, we are
not super. We feel the pain. We struggle through it all, but we know, that
despite everything, the good and the bad, for that brief moment in time a
child, had a family. Anything is worth fighting for <i>that</i>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15036824178599412595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-1326420442988140222012-06-27T11:13:00.002-07:002012-06-27T11:13:43.277-07:00Large Families: The Reality!<br />
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On hundred years ago families looked a lot different than
they do today. There was usually a mom and a dad, and typically several
children. Having 5 kids was on the smaller size. In today’s western society,
however, the typical family generally consists of 4: two parents and two
children. Sometimes you see more, sometimes you see less, but this “size 4”
family size seems to be the most widely accepted by the rest of the public.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The question I have, is why? Why does everyone seem to think
small families are the only acceptable form of families, and that large
families are somehow detrimental to all individuals involved, leaving everyone destined to live
a life of doom and regret? <o:p></o:p></div>
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In the following post I would like to look at the joys of
large families, and the reality of what it actually looks like. I in no way am
trying to say that large families are better than small families, since God
chooses each family one member at a time, but I would like to try and diminish
some of the myths that go along with big families. I have interviewed 2 young
ladies who grew up in a family of 10, a mother who raised 7 children, and
myself, currently raising 5 children with the anticipation of more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Why don’t we start and get some of the stereotypical things
out of the way first, some of the “challenges” of raising large families. The one
I struggle with the most, as do several mothers of large families that I know,
would be laundry. Laundry is like that magical beast that cannot be beaten. No
sooner have I conquered the giant mound, taunting me from the top of the
stairs, does a new mound stand waiting for me, ready to strike. So long as I
have young children still at home I am pretty sure I will continually loose the
laundry battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Household chores can be
another challenge, although not as bad as you might think. A supportive and helpful
husband, paired with daily chores for each child, keep most things in check. Do
I have a sparkling, catalogue ready house? No. Often there are days where I
clean up the entire house 3 times over, and it still resembles the aftermath of
a bomb, but at the end of the days everything is put away, bathrooms are kept
clean, and kitchens are wiped and clear of clutter. Come to my house at 10pm at night and we will be ready to entertain :) Another challenge for some
families, although not all, is finances. With 5 kids and counting, food bills
can get a bit high, clothing is grown out of quickly, extra-curricular sports
add up, and a simple night at the movies with the entire family can cost
upwards of $100. I would consider these 3 of our biggest challenges of such a
large family and perhaps a few more tantrums than the average home, but overall
these would be our biggies.<o:p></o:p><br />
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I have heard comments before, countless number of times,
that raising large families somehow leaves the children at a disadvantage. I
would like to argue that it instead simply changes our priorities. Can we go to
Disneyland every single year? Or take our kids out to dinner every single week?
Or buy them every single item their hearts desire? No, of course not. If that
is what is important to you, then perhaps a large family would be considered
detrimental. <o:p></o:p><br />
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With large families, you instead have to change your
priorities to what is important. I somehow don’t think my children are going to
grow up lacking in character or happiness because they didn’t get to go to
Disneyland 15 times. We try and do family camping trips instead, often with
family friends. As one of the young ladies I interviewed remarked, <o:p></o:p><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“When we went on family vacations we would do stuff like go camping, we
would never go on big trips out of the country or anything. But truthfully I
have a lot of great memories from those trips so I don’t remember ever feeling
like I was missing out.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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For us family restaurant visits are kept to once every one
or two months and hand-me-downs are an essential. Our younger kids look forward
to the hand-me-downs, eager to wear their big brother’s cool clothes, and
restaurant visits become a special and treasured outing, not to be taken for
granted. The mother to 7 children that I interviewed put it this way: <o:p></o:p><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“We've had to make choices about what's important to us, and what we
felt like we could afford to spend our time/money on, so maybe they've been
less involved in team sports or music lessons than the typical North American
kids, because those activities weren't a priority to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, then again, I'd say that the kids who
are constantly scheduled and chauffeured from activity to activity are missing
out on just being home and playing with other kids.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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We also make a priority of one-on-one time with each child.
Some days that might mean a specific child gets to go to the store with mommy
or daddy, or perhaps help Dad do a special task in the yard. Other days it
might mean a fun trip to the ice-cream store. We also spend individual time
each and every night praying with each child, reading books, and tucking them
into bed. Bed-times are staggered most evenings, allowing important time with
each child. Snuggles are done on levels, with a child snuggling on either side,
and one child on top of your lap in the middle. No child in our home is ever
left out and gets constant attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another
one of my family participant’s states:<o:p></o:p><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“My parents spent time with us by helping with our homework each night,
always made sure that we had a good day, and sometimes mom or dad would take us
out one at a time on bike rides for quality time. Mom and Dad also loved taking
us on camping trips in the summer time; it was an awesome family bonding time.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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The most common comment I received from the ladies I interviewed,
was how <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">v</i>aluable large families were
to them, and how they always had a best friend nearby. Family became more than
just family to these kids, they became friends. Laughter is a guarantee every
single day and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>support is always a
question away.<br />
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<em>"There's never a dull moment! Sometimes "family rate" means a great deal for us! It's never lonely or boring. Our kids learn great social skills, from getting to know (and get along with) all of their siblings, with all of their different personalities."</em><br />
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Of everyone I interviewed, they all said they would either have
a large family all over again, or themselves grow up and have a large family as
well. Clearly the benefits far outweigh the negatives, and as you can see a
large family, while challenging, is still a family more than capable of all the
same love and attention smaller families have too. I would like to leave you
with some positive attributes to large families that I complied from several
other blogs. Enjoy!<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p> </o:p>Happy situations are more festive, more people to comfort
you in times of need<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>Children become better equipped to handle social situations
after experiencing many different personalities from siblings<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s never a shortage of something funny to
tell someone. Many people go through their day without a single funny thing
that happens to them. I have at least a 25 percent chance of funny just by
getting out of bed every day.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">There is always someone to help
me out. Even when the hubs is at work at night, I have at least one extra pair
of arms to help clean up, chase, or even hold someone down when necessary.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Leftovers in my house are almost
nonexistent.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the middle of winter, little
people climb into bed with me keep me warm.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">My house never feels empty.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">I always have an excuse to watch
cartoons.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Even
their normal squabbles and spats, when refereed by parents, teach them lessons
of fairness, sharing, splitting differences, letting others off the hook,
forgiving and forgetting. This fortifies their moral standards, their lifelong
conscience. (Friction, though irksome and tedious at times, has its uses; it
rounds off rough edges, forms a smooth, resilient surface.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Since
their parents take care of their needs but cannot satisfy their whims (through
lack of money and time), children learn the difference between wants and needs.
They learn to wait for what they want, or to work and earn it themselves. Thus
they are spared the corruptive influence of instant gratification. They
internalize the virtues of patience and honorable ambition. They grow to become
self-reliant self-starters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Through
interactions with their siblings, children more deeply understand gender
differences. From their sisters, boys understand and appreciate femininity;
from their brothers, girls understand and appreciate what's common among males.
All the children are thus better prepared for marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">One
of the mysteries of a large family is the startling differences siblings
display in temperaments and talents and interests. By dealing with these
differences among their siblings, children learn to get along with anyone.
Having to share a bedroom and bathroom and space at the table prepares the
children superbly for marriage and for life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Older
children play with the youngest ones, and thus form a bond of affection with
them. Younger children receive love and learning from several older people, not
just their parents. So older children are pulled out of their egos, and younger
ones are surrounded by love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Each
child journeys through life enjoying the support of his grown-up brothers and
sisters. No matter what befalls them in life, your children will never be
alone. Indeed, the finest gift parents can give their children, the gift
lasting a lifetime, is their brothers and sisters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15036824178599412595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-66203388799321320052012-05-17T10:37:00.005-07:002012-05-17T10:37:59.242-07:00The next adventure...<br />
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I have always had a particular unofficial agreement with
God. In fact I have repeatedly thanked Him that He has never asked me to travel
for His works. I have been happily serving him in my wonderful comfort zone of
Canada and the US for as long as I can remember. In fact I joke about it to my
husband all the time. We foster, adopt, run orphan ministries, all things I can
do from the comfort of my own Country. It just so happens that I am not a fan
of ethnic food, REALLY not a fan of bugs, kind of a germ phobic so DEFINITELY
not a fan of public bathrooms…or strange bathroom set ups. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But above all else, I am TERRIFIED of flying.
I even pondered adopting from a different country just so that I wouldn’t have
to fly (some countries fly the children out to you). So there you have it, I
have been comfy cozy with where God had me (I think that is the problem right
there isn’t it!).<o:p></o:p></div>
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This past year I have started following an amazing blog <a href="http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.nogreaterjoymom.com</span></a> The author is
an adoptive mother and astounding advocate for adoptions; special needs
adoptions to be exact. Many of her posts have to do with children in the
Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Eastern Europe in general where special needs children
remain in orphanages wasting away. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
the age of 4 or 5 they are transferred to mental institutions where they live
out the rest of their lives, no touch, no stimulation, and definitely no love.
Many of them have minor special needs yet so many of them deteriorate to almost
nothing from lack of resources, food, and neglect. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Myself and a few friends recently started the process of
opening a Christian adoption agency. While we plan on facilitating adoptions
from anywhere, foster care and international special needs adoptions will be
our focus, with significantly reduced fees making adoptions more accessible. My
heart is to see the very children in these Eastern European countries come home
to their forever families. I figured this would involve setting up connections
in those countries and merely facilitating adoptions. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Man was I ever wrong! A couple of weeks ago I woke up and
immediately felt God telling me that I needed to go to Bulgaria. That was kind
of strange as God had never asked anything like this of me before, and he knew
our unofficial deal…didn’t He? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I immediately
tried to pass the buck off on my husband and asked him if he might be
interested in going. He of course was, as he loves to travel, yet as I asked
him it felt wrong somehow. I had never experienced these feelings before. I had
never had any sort of inkling towards travelling anywhere! I started to argue
with God. “Come on now, really? Me? Are you SURE?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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But he kept coming back with the same answer that it was ME
who was supposed to go to Bulgaria. Since then I have been a bit freaking out.
I wake up in the mornings terrified and ready to call the entire thing off, then
by the afternoon I am excited and researching hotels and country information
etc. I have been on a major emotional roller coaster! Yet deep down, past all
my irrational fears, I feel confidant and excited for what this trip will
bring! I will be going down the first week of September with a small team from
our agency where we will spend a week traveling around Bulgaria visiting the
various orphanages filled with special needs children, forging relationships
and having our Hearts broken for what already breaks God’s. I am hoping to come
home changed and even more on fire to advocate for these precious and forgotten
children that so desperately need a home! Until then I think some antacid might
be in order <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are interested in seeing a video series of what life is like for these children please click <a href="http://www.ahomeforeverychildbc.ca/2012/03/bulgarias-abandoned-children.html#!/2012/03/bulgarias-abandoned-children.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></span></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15036824178599412595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-84875166633502946672012-04-16T10:24:00.001-07:002012-04-17T23:15:34.078-07:00Do you want a FREE IPAD2??<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6k_L5wH5S_umJoYvw0uy2hlr0XHigvVFGzUCm6A2uBybRgj51x-c_8N8cmmdToh1FoboH42VP0qKXIqdqYfTjYnT7HBrIhaL9ZUxVegwinKgJBJHbtWeyztTSP9Z3jOd5IJ4DhZXaWf5/s1600/ipad2-white.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6k_L5wH5S_umJoYvw0uy2hlr0XHigvVFGzUCm6A2uBybRgj51x-c_8N8cmmdToh1FoboH42VP0qKXIqdqYfTjYnT7HBrIhaL9ZUxVegwinKgJBJHbtWeyztTSP9Z3jOd5IJ4DhZXaWf5/s400/ipad2-white.png" width="307" /></a></div>
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Hi everyone!! We are looking to build up our adoption fund since our Jamaican adoption is moving along and we need a good chunk of money coming up soon to send our dossier out. I have decided to do a giveaway! This is how it will work. Go to my blog and on the right hand-side you will see our chip-in. Donate a minimum of $20 and you will be entered into the giveaway. Come back and comment on this post that you have donated so that I can keep track of who donated (you do not need to say how much). This is the part that I am relying on your genoristy for...the giveaway unfortunately can only happen IF we receiv a minimum of 50 donors, which hopefully shouldn't be hard at all! You can keep track on the comments of this post of how many people have donated. The model I am giving away is: </div>
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<a class="alt" data-evar1="AOS: Cart Page | | cart | Link | MC982C/A" data-evar30="Cart_Page/cart" href="http://store.apple.com/ca_edu_93120/product/MC982C/A"> iPad 2 with Wi-Fi + 3G 16GB - White </a></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;">So Please help us bring our little one home! Multiple entries are allowed, simply comment each time you make a donation. I will keep this open until April 30th at 11pm, and that night by midnight I will make the draw</span>! We thank everyone <span style="font-size: small;">who is able to help us out, and looking forward to bringing our next child home!! Rememer, we can't do this without you!!</span></h2>
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Dan and Amanda!<br />
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PS. DONT FORGET TO COMMENT BELOW ONCE YOU HAVE DONATED SO I KNOW TO INCLUDE YOU IN THE DRAW!</div>
</div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15036824178599412595noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-39363790187529846222012-04-12T11:44:00.002-07:002012-04-12T11:45:42.791-07:00My Caffeinated God<br />
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Almost a year ago exactly, I wrote a blog post <a href="http://www.ahomeforeverychildbc.ca/#!/2011/04/changing-world-one-little-step-at-time.html" target="_blank">“Changing theWorld: One little step at a time.”</a> It was all about taking small steps to accomplish
something big in the name of God. When writing that post I had felt led to sign
up for school to become a social worker, so that I might make changes in the lives
of orphaned children. The article was about turning dreams into a tangible
reality, and that very day I signed up for my first social work class. I had
the expectation that I would chip away at it slowly and complete it sometime in
the far future. I was excited, encouraged, but to be honest, I was a bit scared
and a tiny bit doubtful. Part of me thought “How on earth am I going to do
this? I have 5 kids, 3 with special needs, already run an orphan ministry and
have a husband in school to become a firefighter!” I knew God was calling me to
step-up, but I truly was a bit doubtful. At times, having 5 kids can be
exhausting…truly exhausting. I trusted my Father though, and moved forward,
unsure how exactly my future would unfold.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Almost a
year later, all I can say is God really DOES know what He is talking about.
When He is the one in charge, the Holy Spirit steps in and amazing things are
accomplished. My original though had been one course a semester, maybe even a
year, depending on how I could handle it. Funny how I assumed it was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">me </i></b>who
would have to handle things (we all know who really handled it). Today,
however, thanks to God’s amazing power, I am enrolled in school full-time,
almost done my first year, have somehow maintained an A grade point average and
am quickly on the way to finishing my degree in 3 more years. I often wonder
how it all worked out so well. I am not a coffee drinker, have never even had a
cup my entire life. Yet the way I have managed to somehow get through
everything I have to get through is by staying awake long hours. I basically
put my kids to bed at 7pm, and then spend from 7pm-midnight or later doing
homework, folding laundry, working on ministry things and spending time with my
hubby. By the time I go to bed it is about 12:30 or 1:00am in the morning, and
then I wake up the next day at 6am. I should be exhausted. Prior experience has
taught me that doing such ridiculous things would leave me unconscious and
napping every day. Yet somehow, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">somehow </i>I
feel like I have all the caffeine in the world to get me through each day. I finally
realized what that caffeine was. It was my God. My amazing, powerful, and all
knowing God, who knew from the beginning that He would be the driving force
behind<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>what I do. After all, I am
merely a tool for Him to use. God is my caffeine and the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">only</b> reason I am able to do what I do.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Here’s the
real kicker. I reread my post from that day a year ago, and realized I had
divulged one of those dreams you often don’t reveal to people, or don’t think
will ever come true, like becoming a president, or opening an orphanage, or
something that seems so unfathomable you feel silly even saying it. My dream
had been to one day open an adoption agency, free of charge, to make adoptions
more accessible. Well…as usual….me with my little faith, thought it nothing
more than a pipe dream. But GOD knew it was a reality, He was planting a seed
because He knew it would come to fruition one day SOON! Today, only 12 months
later after having a tiny little dream which I thought would never amount to
anything, I am <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">actually</i> in the
process of opening up an adoption agency with a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">great</i></b> bunch of people! It
is an adoption agency with significantly reduced fees to make adoptions
accessible to so many more people so that so many more children can find their
forever home. All this because I took a step of faith, unsure of where it would
lead me. Why am I telling you all of this? I am certainly not trying to say “look
at everything I have done,” on the contrary; it is hard and extremely awkward
for me to say these types of things. I instead say them to you to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">encourage</i> you! For so many of you out
there who have a dream, a dream you think might come true some day in the
future, or maybe not at all, or have desired doing something but don’t think
you can, or have the energy or time…I just want to say YOU can’t, but GOD CAN!
God will give you unthinkable strength, unimaginable energy, and HE can be your
caffeine! He can give you the passion and driving force to move mountains, if
you only let Him. I hope this encourages you to take a step of faith and do
something scary, uncomfortable, and unimaginable, and wait to be amazed by what
follows!<o:p></o:p></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15036824178599412595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-86066770054261566702012-04-01T14:15:00.004-07:002012-04-01T14:15:31.679-07:00New adoption agency on the horizon.....Do you ever get so excited about something that you can't even sleep? I use to feel this way right before Christmas. Once I had kids I would still feel this way, excited to see my kids faces. Now, I can't wait to wake up because I am truly LOVING what I am doing!<br />
A few months ago the only Christian adoption agency in our province closed down. It was such a sad day, as there was such a huge need for a Christian agency, and now there are only two remaining Christian agencies in all of Canada. Myself, along with some great members of our adoption support group, decided the need was too huge to ignore. After careful prayer and consideration, we have decided to open a Christian adoption agency!<br />
It seems crazy I know, but somehow, amidst the craziness of it all, I have such a complete sense of calm. I know why too. It is because we are following the Lord and HE is the one in control. Whenever he is in control, you know things are going to be ok, and there is nothing to worry about! When people hear what we are doing they look at us like we are crazy. I am not sure why? All of the craziest events in the bible always turned out so well :) Then again, I'm sure people thought Mary was crazy when she said she..the virgin...was having a baby. I'm sure people thought Moses was crazy for wanting to take on the Pharoah, and people HAD to have thought Noah was crazy for wanting to build the arc. But God carried each of them through their journey's, and I am so incredibly EAGER to see where our journey leads.<br />
This won't be your typical agency. We want to see change. We want to see children brought to their forever families. We want to see an increase in special needs adoptions. We want to see an increase in foster care adoptions, and we want to no longer see finances as a hurdle. If you would like to see how our agency is going to be different check it out <a href="http://www.ahomeforeverychildbc.ca/#!/p/adoption-agency.html" target="_blank">here.</a> <br />
It will take a while before we are ready to open. We will be spending the next year preparing, setting up connections, and getting ready for a local, international and domestic adoption agency! If you live in the area please check out our page <a href="http://www.ahomeforeverychildbc.ca/" target="_blank">Home for Every Child Family Services</a> and check out some of our upcoming fundraisers! <br />
Thanks for everyone's continued support and we look forward to see many more children brought home to their forever families!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15036824178599412595noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-76510064409462793562012-03-20T00:05:00.001-07:002012-03-20T00:11:58.816-07:00The Starfish Story<h1 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 10px;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"></span></i></h1>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.starrbrite.com/blog" name="starfish story" title="The Starfish Story"></a></span></i></h1>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">The Starfish Story</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Original
Story by: Loren Eisley</span></i></h1>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">One
day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed<br />a boy picking something
up and gently throwing it into the ocean. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Approaching
the boy, he asked, "What are you doing?"</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">The
youth replied, "Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf
is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them back,
they'll die."</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face"; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>"Son," the man
said, "don't you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of
starfish?</strong><strong> You can't make a</strong></span><strong> <span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face"; font-size: 14pt;">difference!"</span></strong></i></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face"; font-size: 14pt;">After listening
politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,<br />and threw it back
into the surf. Then, smiling at the</span> </em></strong><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face"; font-size: 14pt;"><strong><em>man, he said<br />"I
made a difference for that one"</em></strong></span><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face"; font-size: 14pt;"></span></div>
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I just wanted to share this story because I find it so inspiring. Time and time again I have heard people say "you can't save them all" or "what can <em>I</em> do?" This story reminds me that even if we can't save them all, we <em><strong>can</strong></em> change the life of someone, <u>one by one</u>. To the person whose life is being changed, it is HUGE! God says he knows every single hair on our head, every grain of sand, so doesn't He also care about every single soul? Step by step we can make a difference through our Faith in the Lord!</div>
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<em><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the
least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Matthew 25.40</span></em></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15036824178599412595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-2215189223878251692012-03-10T13:48:00.001-08:002012-03-10T13:48:06.367-08:00The Drama of Women<br />
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(Disclosure: I am not now, nor have I ever been, a
professional or expert at anything I am about to say, simply my personal
thoughts on a subject)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Has your husband every said something to you, nothing of any
consequence, but because of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">way</i> he
said it, you got upset? “You have a tone” you might say. I am pretty sure we
all do it. Husbands, however, are safe. You are stuck with them forever
regardless of what silly attitudes you might give them. Where I find the
struggles arise, are women and their female friendships amongst each other. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I know so many women, including myself, who have been hurt,
hurt someone else, or are just generally confused on the feelings of other
women. I have come to realize a lot of things, many through trial and error,
but this past year in my interpersonal communication class, we were taught that
everyone has their own personal frame of reference. Due to everyone’s unique
past and experiences, we each view things differently. For example, one person
might consider the word ‘angry’ as no big deal, a daily word to express
emotion. Another person, however, who was raised drastically different, might
view the word ‘angry’ as very serious, the kind of word that is used when a
friendship is on the rocks. The same word, yet with completely different meanings
to each person. This can happen with so many things. We each have our own
meanings for words, our own meanings for tones, and even for behaviors. I
remember as a child my dad use to always tell cashiers that he was going to go
home and beat us kids, then laugh. Well for some reason “beating” meant going
home to play the tickle game. Basically the goal was to try and jump past my
dad, and if you were caught, you got tickled. If you made it past, you danced
in triumph! For years the term ‘beating’ was nothing major. To most other
families, however, it could have meant something completely different and more
severe. <o:p></o:p></div>
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What does this mean when it comes to our female friendships?
I think it means we often think the worse when we really don’t need to. We all have
our own pasts and histories that are just never brought into account, causing
so much miscommunication. For example, in my life I have been through some
extremely trying situations with my kids. As a foster parent and adoptive parent,
safety as a family is much different than those with biological kids, everyone
seems to have an opinion and several situations have put us in scary positions.
Because of this past, something not everyone knows about, I react EXTREMELY sensitive
to comments about my parenting, about our kids, or about our family. One wrong
comment could cause me to close up and retreat back into a safety bubble. Not
because I am mad at anyone or do not like them, but more of a protection
mechanism. I was hurt badly and don’t want to hurt again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another common one for a lot of people is shyness. Many
people automatically assume people are being rude or snobby because of lack of
social interaction, when more often than not, that person is just shy! It does
not necessarily reflect their personal opinions of any women involved in the current
social situation! Another one I personally struggle with, all the time (and
continually try to work on) is my confidence in friendships. Growing up we
moved every year and a half, so all my relationships were short and did not go
through the usual ups and downs that long term friendships went through. It
messed me up pretty bad. Because of that, I now associate all the wrong things
together. Not because I am crazy (at least I don’t think so), but because of my
experiences. Now, if I ever think someone is mad at me, I automatically think
they must not like me. If women in my social circles don’t invite me to things
I assume they must hate me as a person. I am aware of this and try to consciously
work through these feelings. How many other people are operating on similar
frame of reference issues? How many people have I offended saying they look so
big in their third trimester of pregnancy, because to me big means far along
and a baby growing, but to them, big might mean fat? We automatically assume
the meaning behind everything based on our own thoughts, and completely miss
what is happening from the person sending the message in the first place. The
result is a lot of drama between women. <o:p></o:p></div>
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At the end of the day though, especially in our Christian
circles, I don’t think the majority of women are out there to intentionally
hurt other women. I don’t believe we are all trying to hint at hidden meanings,
or imply some downfall to each other’s way of doing things. Yes, these things
do happen, but I don’t think it should be where we all go first when reacting
to someone’s response or comments in life. We are all sisters in the Lord, and
should be there for each other, not against each other, and I think we actually
are more than any of us even realizes. Next time someone says or does something
that hurts you, take a moment, and try to think of their real intentions or
motives, and what hidden driving forces might be behind it all. These are just
my personal, random thoughts, by someone who struggles A LOT with
misconceptions. Just sharing my thoughts <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15036824178599412595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-50531594392782385132012-02-12T23:12:00.000-08:002012-02-12T23:12:31.229-08:00A history gone....Growing up we moved every year and a half. I never lived anywhere longer...sometimes we moved even more often than that. They weren't just moves across town (although we did those too), they were moves across country, across oceans even! We moved to England, Toronto, Edmonton, Kelowna, Peachland, Westbank, Abbotsford, Mission, Langley, Oregon, Texas....I think that is it! Every year we would move and every year we would have to make new friends, new routines, new traditions. Every year I was the new girl. Every year I was ripped from the best friends I had just barely made. There was one thing that remained the same each year, however. Every year at Christmas we would drive to my Nana and Grandad's in Peachland, BC, to celebrate with them and the rest of our family. Even when we lived as far away as Texas we would drive the 4 day trip out there just to spend the holidays with them. It was the constant in my life. Every year it was the same: we would see my Nana and Grandad, my uncle David and his kids, my Aunt Leslie and her kids, and before he passed my Uncle Glen and his kids. We ate rumballs every year and always played balderdash. I would stare at all my Nana's english decor: the painting of the English soldier, the statuesque head on her shelf, and the metranome that sat on her piano. We would play in their backyard looking at birds and running around with their dogs. Every year we would come back to it...to them. <br />
I have deep scars, and it bothers me that to this day that I don't have my child hood places to return to. I don't have the house I grew up in, the park where I first kissed a boy, the school yard where we ice skated for recess or the church where I first met the Lord. I can't show my children any of that. What I did have though, was my family. This year though, things have changed. Earlier this year I lost my grandma, then in November I lost my Grandad, and earlier this week I lost my Uncle David. I can't describe how strange it feels to be losing my family because to me it seems like so much more than that. It isn't just my family...it is my childhood. They are the only people and memories I had every single year outside of my own mom, dad and sister.It is as if my history is dissapearing before my very eyes. <br />
I struggle with these thoughts yet I know I shouldn't. I know the Lord has blessed me with a new family. New memories to make and new places to visit. I know the things of this earth are simply that: things! As much as I know that, it is still hard. I guess I just needed a venting post to let these thoughts out. I don't normally blog about anything other than adoption, haha as I'm sure most of you are aware of, but today I felt like switching it up. Perhaps God is giving me a tiny glimpse of what so many of the children who come into my house must feel, moving from foster home to foster home, never living in the same place, and having complete histories unknown. I only pray that our home can be the last stop for these children and that a new history can begin for them!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15036824178599412595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-19632184647140188212012-01-31T13:00:00.000-08:002012-01-31T13:13:36.546-08:00Hello Blog!Hello!! It sure has been a while since my last post! Our family was hit hard with a horrible cold that was going around. We were all down for a week and a half, and just when I thought I was getting better it turned into a severe ear infection! I still can't hear out my ear (which makes for an interesting time when 5 kids are all trying to talk to you!)<br /><br />Last week we had one of our adoption support groups, and as always it was great fun! We were all chatting about the recent closure of the only Christian Adoption Agency in our province and started to half joke about starting our own adoption agency one day. As some of you may know I am currently enrolled in school to become a social worker, and somehow the tiny little joking comment hit me. The very reason I wanted to become a social worker was to somehow offer free homestudy's whenever possible for the adoption process, to help with the mounting adoption fees that parents currently face. I was thinking small. This new idea however, has made me inspired! Why couldn't we open up an adoption agency? We are all passionate adoption advocates and I will talk about adoption any chance I get! I don't know. I am only thinking out loud at this moment. I wouldn't even know where to begin to do such a thing, although I am sure through the next few years as I work on my social work degree that I will make a lot of great contacts in the adoption community through our adoption ministry and such. For now one step at a time, and I will wait to hear what the Lord calls me to do, but I am definitely intrigued. It has definitely got me thinking! There are just soooo many days where I wish I could do more. I wish I could advocate for every child out there. I wish I had a powerful preaching ability to convince more people to adopt. I wish the process for adoption was so much smoother for those enduring it. I wish these poor, innocent children were not in need of a home in the first place! Such a large problem we as Christians are responsible for, and I know sometimes it can feel overwhelming, but one day at a time and one little step at a time and I know huge changes will occur! Praying each and every day for the cause of the orphan, and for all of God's children to know the love of a forever family!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15036824178599412595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-3603817940058450782012-01-15T13:57:00.001-08:002012-01-15T13:58:46.106-08:00A Home for Every Child<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hi everyone! Our ministry, </span><a href="http://www.ahomeforeverychildbc.ca/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A Hom for Every Child</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, now has a </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Home-for-Every-Child/207680842658928"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">facebook page</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">! Please come and like us today and keep up-to-date on new events, support groups, adoption stories and more! Thanks for looking!</span></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15036824178599412595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-41920327109097095352012-01-11T23:46:00.001-08:002012-01-11T23:48:17.797-08:00Adoption Survey<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Would you consider taking a few minutes to answer this short <a href="http://apps.facebook.com/my-surveys/w3yo3iuo">survey</a> on adoption? Help our ministry<a href="http://www.ahomeforeverychildbc.ca/"> A Home for Every Child</a> in discovering what people really think so that we might better support those in our community! Thanks!</span></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15036824178599412595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-39369249771633677462011-12-30T16:33:00.000-08:002011-12-30T16:44:16.615-08:00The Orphan TrainRecently I was watching one of my favourite video series (a wonderful Christmas present) by Jannete Oke. You may have heard of the books, Love Comes Softly. I was on the movie Love’s Unending Legacy in which the main character ends up adopting two children, a common theme in all the videos. I have mentioned this before, but I just can’t get away from how much I enjoy the concept of an orphan train and how often I wonder if we would see more adoptions if we did them today.<br />With an orphan train, the Children’s Aid Society’s would basically send a group of orphans on a train across the country in search of homes. In the movie, they brought the group of orphans into the local church, where many of the members watched and stood up as they felt themselves as a match to each child. At the ending, there was only one child left, a teenage girl. The only church member who remained in the pews was a widowed mother who already had a child, with very little to offer, and who was not there to adopt. She was simply there as an onlooker. However, and this is where the concept intrigues me, when the mother saw the young girl remain, with no one to care for her, and the prospect of being sent back to an orphanage hanging over her head, the mother jumped up and offered her family and her home to this desperate orphan. It wasn’t a choice made to build a family. It wasn’t a choice based on which country she liked most, or which birth mother’s profile she liked. It was instead, what I think adoption should be, a Christian stepping forward to simply care for an orphan. She saw a need and stepped up to fill it. That is what it is all about, isn’t it?<br />So often these days’ children waiting for adoption are forgotten about. They spend their days in far away orphanages or foster homes where people think they are ok. The situation isn’t starring people in the faces the way the orphan train was. I am not saying I think people should make the choice of adoption based out of guilt or desperation, but why aren’t we choosing the path of adoption, right now, today? What is holding us back? Are they our reasons, or God’s reasons? The clip in the movie just reminded me how the care of orphans was entrusted to us Christians, not the world, yet unfortunately that is exactly who is managing this huge pandemic. We have failed, and I think if a change in perception happens, on why we adopt, and what God calls us to do, then perhaps we can see a shift back to Christians caring for our forgotten children and steps taken towards the 147 million orphans actually finding their forever families! I know sometimes my posts might come across as harsh, but does anyone else ever feel this way? Just in pure desperation of wanting to find homes for all these children? My heart breaks when I think of all the children out there desperately yearning for a family. If you would like to see the great advocating works of another adoptive mom, actively seeking homes for the many children waiting, I encourage you to check out <a href="http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/">www.nogreaterjoymom.com</a>. Her posts are great and she routinely posts stories on children in desperate need of a family. A great blog!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15036824178599412595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-85514350319361977612011-12-09T11:33:00.000-08:002011-12-09T11:53:23.864-08:00A Starbucks Coffee<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvd_3e78To8mSJCB6YTOSdXk_Yl2tFrIHRTGiCL8P1fJ3vIUBKccd0FiM0WowqD2_-Cotsi7bha3rzw0JhLUSMuzD_5u8krXBIxQU-Uqj1ORLWXzbAgo2Qol0K5xv8rPXpXxnAJWD1NJkM/s1600/coffee.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 105px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 185px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684219067241651826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvd_3e78To8mSJCB6YTOSdXk_Yl2tFrIHRTGiCL8P1fJ3vIUBKccd0FiM0WowqD2_-Cotsi7bha3rzw0JhLUSMuzD_5u8krXBIxQU-Uqj1ORLWXzbAgo2Qol0K5xv8rPXpXxnAJWD1NJkM/s400/coffee.bmp" /></a><br /><br /><div>Five dollars. That is how much a Starbucks coffee costs these days...well at least the ones my husband buys! That is also the amount we have decided to ask for in our new $5 Campaign, our latest fundraiser! I know, it seems like we are fundraising 24/7, and it's true! If $15,000 was easier to come by more people would adopt! So we have dedcided to see if all our friends and families and everyone who views this blog (which has been a lot lately!) would be willing to donate $5 to our adoption through the chip-in on the right had side, if so we could reach our next goal of $500 to begin our homestudy! I figured $5 wouldn't do too much damage to a person's pocket book this time of year, especially if you swaped it for a Starbucks just one day, but a small number in huge amounts can make big change! So if you are interested in helping us on our journey to adopt from Jamaica, then would you consider donating $5 to us today? We appreciate every penny!</div><br /><br /><br /><div>Also, just a note that the chip-in amount shows how much we have raised just through that chip-in. Our first goal for the application was $800, which we reached after our garage sale, and our second amount, to begin the homestudy, is $2400, and we have already raised $1900 towards that amount! Our grand total of fundraising to date is $2700! We have been so blessed by everyone we know and we continue to thank you all for helping us along this journey, we just couldn't do it without all of you! Thanks everyone!</div><br /><br /><br /><div>(Ps. if you want to read more about adoption, fostering and children waiting for a home check out our ministry page <a href="http://www.ahomeforeverychildbc.ca/">A Home for Every Child</a>!)</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15036824178599412595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-70771773180901982502011-12-07T00:17:00.000-08:002011-12-07T00:21:33.221-08:00Adoption: A Global CrisisCurrently there are more than 147 million orphans in our world today. Many of them reside in orphanages, foster homes, in mental institutions or on the street, living in extreme poverty. Despite these frightening statistics for this often ignored and marginalized group, most people still view adoption as a secondary choice when facing infertility, rather than a “humanitarian activity” (Roby and Ife 662) as it once was. Unfortunately though, children who remain in institutional care end up facing severe and unhealthy problems or are adopted by infertile couples and are often viewed simply as a product that meets the needs of wealthy purchasers in foreign countries who dream of fantasy children (McKelvey and Stevens 17). Although there is widespread corruption and unhealthy practices surrounding adoption, the well-being of orphans and children in need should be viewed as a social problem involving proactive solutions from society as a whole, rather than a supply and demand baby business for infertile parents-to-be.<br /><br />Wikipedia defines adoption as a “process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents.” Once someone has decided to adopt, a person has several options. One of the most polular choices and sometimes even considered “trendy,” is international adoption. In 2004 the US adopted 22,884 children through international routes (Browne and Chou 2008). The majority of children who are adopted internationally come from orphanages or foster homes, with the exception of the United States, where newborn babies can be adopted directly from their birth parents in the hospital. International adoption, however, is extremely pricey, ranging from $15,000 to more than $50,000 and can sometimes take several years to get through the entire process.<br /><br />The next option available to adoptive parents is domestic adoption. Domestic adoption is when a person adopts a child from their local area through a private agency, and usually involves a parent looking for a healthy newborn. Costs average around $10,000 in Canada for a domestic adoption, and the waiting game can vary anywhere from a day to virtually forever, due to the fact that adoptive families must wait until a birth mother and/or father chooses them. This is one of the most common routes for parents facing infertility who choose adoption as their next choice for building a family. There is, however, a large pool of adoptive parents waiting to be matched and a small pool of healthy infants being born that are then placed for adoption. A large reason for this downward trend in domestic adoptions is the fact that there is a “widespread availability of contraceptives and abortions” (Roby and Ife 662), meaning far less children are being born to birth mothers who do not want or cannot keep their infant.<br /><br />Beyond the popular international and domestic adoption options lies the adoption of children in the foster care system. In Canada these children are known as Canada’s Waiting Children. The majority of children available through this route are usually three years old or older (up to the age of eighteen) and usually have some sort of special need; Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) ranking most common. These adoptions are free, with all costs covered by the government, and often include financal assistance afterwards; Known as post adoption assistance, help is provided for such things as speech therapy, special equiptment, specific assessments and supportive help. These adoptions are run through government agencies and operate on a matching system, reducing the waiting period for an adoptive family and child. Although this option is extremely accesible to the general public, it is one of the least utilized due to the special needs and traumatic pasts of the children in search of a home. Although FAS is one of the most prevelant special needs, they can also be included as special needs “because they are older, are members of a minority group, are members of a sibling group that must stay together or are in some way physically or mentally challenged” (McKelvey and Stevens 8). Special needs can also include infants that are drug exposed or HIV positive (8).<br /><br />Where the problem lies in the adoption world is how many children are left unadopted and what ultimately becomes of them. Comparing the earlier statistic of<br />22, 884 children adopted internationally into the US in 2004 to that of the 147 million orphans in the world (including Canada and the US), the numbers just do not line up for children needing a forever family to children getting a forever family. Millions of children are instead left to be raised in foster homes or institutions such as orphanages, having a very poor quality of life.<br /><br />In her report The Development of Romanian Orphanage Children Adopted to Canada, Elinor W. Ames conducted a “longitudinal study looking at children’s development over time” (2) from children adopted out of Romania in which 53% were adopted from orphanages, 33% from hospitals and 14% from private homes. She compared these numbers to “never institutionalized, non-adopted British Columbian children living with their birth parents” (5) as well as children who who had been adopted out of orphanages at an early age (under 4 months of institutionalization) and those who had spent at least 8 months in an institution (4).<br />Of the children studied in Ames’s report coming from Romanian orphanages, “75% of adoptive parents reported that their cihldren did not have enough to eat in the orphanage and 56% reported that their children did not have enough to drink […] and children younger than 1 ½ or 2 years old spent 18-20 hours a day lying quietly in their cribs (15). She continued to reveal that:<br />There was little for them to look at, and next to nothing to hear. Ames (1990), after oberserving for five hours in one orphanage unit for 15 children between 9 and 24 months of age, reported that there was a maximum of three children making noise at any one time. Even though all the children were awake, there were periods as long as five minutes where there was no sound at all. (Ames 15)<br /><br />Furthermore Ames explains that social interactions were minimal, with children uninterested in reaching eachother, and when a child did touch another child, no response occurred (15). Ames’s research shows that 78% of the Romanian children adopted that resided in an orphanage for at least 8 months were delayed in 4 areas of development including: fine motor, gross motor, personal-social and language (18). By contrast, of those that were adopted before the 4 month mark, only 4% were delayed (19). Ultimately “time spent in an orphanage was positively related to the number of areas of delay” (23) and the “number of serious problems they had” (100) as a Romanian adoptee.<br /><br />Children locally in the foster system face equally horrible outcomes. Coming up against social workers who are underpaid and overworkered as well as a shrinking pool of foster families who are qualified to care for their special needs (Mckelvey and Stevens 35), obstacle after obstacle is placed before these innocent children. As well, adoptive homes open to these children, especially those with special needs or of a minority group, are in short supply (36). In Canada there are more than 30,000 children waiting to be adopted out of foster care, and many more in the system waiting in limbo. In America, those numbers are even higher, reaching 423,773 in 2009, with almost 60% of them being part of a minority group (Adoption 2011). What is even worse is that of those staggeringly high statistics in the US, only 13% of the children in foster care are available for adoption (39), the rest are “suspended in a legal limbo by parents who make little effort to regain their children, but refuse to relinquish them fully” (39).<br /><br />Foster children undergo their own range of issues, similar to those in foreign orphanges. An estimated 375,000 children in the American foster system have been exposed to prenatal drugs and alcohol and pay the price with developmental delays and low IQ (39). Beyond development delays, children in foster care also undergo abuse. Ironically the very homes that are set up to protect these children from a dangerous homelife, can often hand out the same damaging abuse, both physically and sexually (41). In Michael Harris’s Unholy Orders, he brings to light the horrifying case at Mount Cashel, where boys in a Newfoundland Catholic orphanage were being sexually and physically abused by their priests. Inside the orphange walls children were “dangled by their heels from a third story window […] and made to walk around the dorm stark naked” (34) as well as forced to engage in sexual relations with priests (218).<br /><br />This startling information leaves the realization that adoption (among a great many other things) is vital in rescuing these children from such diar situations and that children living in institutions and foster care should be viewed as a social problem rather than merely a secondary option in family growing. Roughly 15% of women find themselves infertile. These women “want children-they crave children-but cannot produce them on their own” (Spar 1). In her book The Baby Business: How Money, Science, and Politics Drive the Commerce of Conception, Debora Spar reveals that in “2004 more than one million Americans underwent some form of fertility treatment, participating in what had become a nearly $3 billion industry” (3). Once a woman has “exhausted all other channels of child production” (160) many wander down the adoption route.<br /><br />While there is nothing wrong with infertile couples choosing adoption, the problem arises when the only parents who are adopting are adoptive parents who are in the mind-set of purely building a family and wanting a healthy, normal child. This often “leads to a highly competitive market for healthy babies […] and domestic supply [is] not able to meet the demand in terms of quality or quantity” (Dickens 596-599). Demand for healthy infants can be so extreme that adoptive finders have been known to scour maternity wards offering cash to mothers (Roby and Ife 664). Of course there are healthy infants available for parents of this mind-set, however, since infertile couples looking for healthy infants make up the majority of parents in the adoption process, there are few people left to adopt the majority of children still waiting to be adopted: namely, the children with special needs.<br /><br />The problem of waiting children, here in Canada, the US and around the world, needs to be addressed as a serious crisis. The astonishing 147 million orphans in our world today is a large number of children requiring homes and the much smaller percentage of infertile couples looking to adopt simply does not meet the current need. Governments need to step in and create a more accessible adoption process and increased education and awareness surrounding the need and addressing the two most common fears: finances and special needs.<br /><br />One of the biggest hurdles families find when embarking on the adoption journey, in particular the international route is finances. With costs beginning around $15,000 and surpassing the $50,000 mark in some countries, many people feel they simply cannot afford to adopt. If governments covered the costs of international adoption, the same way they cover the costs of foster care adoption, more families would feel comfortable moving forward in the process. In addition, an increase in education on the various financial options currently available might ease some of the worry. Such options as grants, fundraising, adoption loans and tax credits are a few of the only options available to adoptive parents.<br /><br />Education surrounding special needs is also extremely vital. Education would be best utilized if it was presented to high school and university students, the same way homelessness is currently being presented. Since this problem should be viewed as a social problem, it would not adequately address the problem if education was only directed towards those already in the adoption process. The goal would be to ultimately convince more people to adopt who had not previously considered it. Enlightening students as well as current prospective adoptive parents on the facts of special needs would give more people the confidence to move forward. Currently the average person knows very little about FAS, autism, severe trauma, cleft palates, or transracial child rearing. With the proper education, a well informed individual would know what to do and how to raise a child with such issues. Issues that may be challenging, but not impossible!<br /><br />Once fears are broken down and education and government support is increased, only then can our society start to embark on a massive scale adoption plan, aimed at reaching out to the millions of children undergoing traumatic and unnecessary experiences in institutions and foster care around the world. The needy children of the world need to be viewed as a social problem, with adoption at the forefront of solutions and every day people leading the way. People need to alter their viewpoints, not seeing infertility as the only reason to adopt, and instead seeing a child, the future of our society, as the driving force behind any motivation to adopt.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15036824178599412595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-19922939288974914082011-11-28T09:30:00.000-08:002011-11-28T09:44:44.048-08:00Long time coming!Daniel and I first adopted 6 years ago. Since then we have adopted 3 more times, most of our children having special needs. This has resulted in us being different than most people we know for two reasons: the first having a child (or children) with special needs, something that often leaves you feeling alone. The second, is having children who are adopted. Not only because of some of the unique situations you go through because of it, but also because of the fact that no one else seems to understand, or have the same passion as you.<br /><br />September this year all of that has changed, so I felt I just had to write a post about it. Maybe others have been feeling the same way? In September, we started our first adoption support group. We knew there was a lack of support in the Christian circle. Of course there are supports out there for adoption, but it is a different world. We saw a need and thought we would help. What I didn't know, was how much it would help ME! We have only met a few times, and I can honestly say I want to be friends with these people for the rest of my life. It is like I have finally opened the curtain to a new way of living. I never quite realized how important it is to have other people in your life who care about the same things and who truly understand the trials and blessings you might experience! Not everyone in our group has adopted yet. Some are still in the process, some are getting ready to begin in the near future, others have already adopted once or twice. But somehow, it is exactly what I needed. It sparks a new fire in me to continue with things, knowing I am not always alone in my quests. When we first were in our adoption training 6 years ago, I remember thinking how I wouldn't need a group like that. I would be able to parent my children on my own just fine. But that is not what it is about. I still can parent just fine on my own. But now, when I am having a hard week waiting to hear back from an agency, or we have company over and my kids seem like they were fed mexican juimping beans for dinner, I know these people will understand. I know I will have someone to call and rejoice with when a package of papers is received in a new country. I am so thankful for this new group, and blessed beyond words to have these new and wonderful people in my life. Thank you Adoption Support Group!!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15036824178599412595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-56501691080914586052011-11-08T22:41:00.000-08:002011-11-08T23:04:02.308-08:00Movie NightIt is true what they say: The toirtoise wins the race. Fundraising can definitely seem like watching water boil sometimes, but I know God has a plan and in the end the money will come through. This past weekend we held our movie fundraiser at a local theatre. Originally the rental was only going to be $150, then we sell the tickets at whatever price we like and get to keep the profit. However, later we found out that unless you use the movie currently playing that week, the rental is actually $300 (which we weren't because it was inappropriate). I had heard of other adoptive families in our area do the same fundraiser and make $3000! I was having a hard enough time finding enough people to come to cover the $150 cost! I was worried! So Daniel and I started to pray for a miracle. A packed house. It was days before the movie fundraiser was going to happen, and still very few people were coming. In the end, not only did enough people come to cover the rental cost, but enough people came to make a bit of a profit too. Plus, some unexpected supporters came out, which helped with morale :) In the end we walked away with $250, far more then what I was expecting. Was it the $3000 we had heard of others making? No. But it was one step closer to our final goal of $15,000. Little by little I know we will get there, in His time, not ours. Plus I think this will be great for our ministry (<a href="http://www.ahomeforeverychildbc.ca/">we support others going through the process, providing awareness, information and support</a>). We will be able to show others how to fundraise their money, and not give up when things are slow, or times are tough. In fact, today a friend of mine asked if I wanted to sell my Ugandan jewellery at one of her Norwex parties! It was a huge blessing and I am excited to see where the jewellery business goes. I have 3 parties currently booked for this month, and once the product gets here I am heading out to stores and boutiques to try and get them on their shelves! Who knew fundraising could be a part-time job? I just wanted to post this as a reminder; sometimes miracles aren't big and grand. Sometimes they are the tiny things that remind us God is listening and in control, and that ultimately He will take care of our needs, and the needs of His children.<br /><br />An update on our fundraising so far: Our goal is $15,000 (Canadian fees, and 3 trips to Jamaica)<br />Currently we have raised $2511.00! Inching closer! Our homestudy begins in April, which we need another $800 for, and then our dossier can be sent out by July! (another $3000). So in the meantime we will keep chugging away! If you would like to help we would LOVE and APPRECIATE your help! We have added a handy chip-in online donation feature on the right hand side of our blog. All it takes is 124 people donating $100, or $20 a month for 5 months. That doesn't seem too impossible! (Although we are a family that loves the impossible!)<br />Anyhoo, time to finish some homework (<a href="http://www.ahomeforeverychildbc.ca/2011/04/changing-world-one-little-step-at-time.html">towards my quest for slowly becoming a social worker</a>)!<br />Until next time!!!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15036824178599412595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-76873964755644676032011-11-05T16:29:00.000-07:002011-11-05T16:44:47.139-07:00The Waiting GameSometimes I feel the waiting game is one of the hardest parts of the adoption process. I mean fundraising - you can work harder, country problems - make a few more phone calls, but waiting....what can be done about waiting? I am reading a really good book right now called "When the Heart Waits" by Sue Monk Kidd. Its an amazing book with great analogies, ideas, and I find it really does help with all the waiting. But there are still days. Days that I don't read that book. Days that I don't think about God's timing, but instead think about my own. Even days that I know it is all in God's timing, but it is still hard. Those days can be challenging. Right now we are in the waiting game for our Jamaican adoption. In Canada, there is a required year wait between adoptions so that the child you have adopted has time to bond and form an attachment to you before you bring another child into your home. I think that is a great idea. Just not for me :) You're probably thinking I am impatient (and perhaps I am). But there is a reason! You see, Chloe, the one whom we just adopted in July of 2011, was first our foster daughter whom we have had since birth. She is now almost 3 years old, way past the required year of bonding. So we have to wait until April to even start the homestudy (we had to beg to get it started thats soon), then are allowed to send our dossier by July of 2012 (if our homestudy is completed by then) then wait for everything to go through the Jamaican court system. Adoption there can take up to 2 years or even more, so sometimes...when I think about all the waiting...I get frustrated. Especially when you know kids are waiting around in orphanages. I know I shouldn't let me mind go there, but it is true. For example, if we adopted a 4 year old, who potentially was in the orphanage since birth, our child is spending all these additional years in an orphanage, while we are just over here waiting! It drives me crazy sometimes thinking about it! But that is just me. Playing the waiting game. I know God has a time, a reason, and a purpose for everything, and I try to remind myself of that every day. We still have a long way to go in fundraising as well. Even if we wanted to, we couldn't move on to the next stage at this point anyways. But the time will come, and thinking about it excites me! Well that is my post for today. Kind of silly, a bit of a vent, but most people who read it have been through or are going through the adoption process themselves and probably know what I am talking about...haha I hope!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15036824178599412595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-69751385986478809852011-10-27T13:23:00.000-07:002011-10-27T13:38:49.846-07:00Just a thought...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTjwDL_PodFVOMjXt3BrDmbKxWuzwRX2GM8K2TNNXKy23j_5-ffaV31bQEQVedeXD037RVGub_HnjuY6DBRZkYOjjlRnTQMxZ-DqKWcSR1HTn81T4iKegur9THJUEu-9lXx94CnrzSoOL/s1600/bracelet.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 101px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668273784395678434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTjwDL_PodFVOMjXt3BrDmbKxWuzwRX2GM8K2TNNXKy23j_5-ffaV31bQEQVedeXD037RVGub_HnjuY6DBRZkYOjjlRnTQMxZ-DqKWcSR1HTn81T4iKegur9THJUEu-9lXx94CnrzSoOL/s320/bracelet.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vzZUzIQmwtiG9uOjT_H27WEEXLrPwgaRJYaf_drzSNOezxaD6VngOLARdB_kxcw0xqopbfiAzwSZ6-arroID4WbZz2_QPzbdfnl_VGEZKe5DGqR2tzBkCNBqzdj2XWSS0cKD4ovSBVzf/s1600/necklace+2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 99px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668272855001753858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vzZUzIQmwtiG9uOjT_H27WEEXLrPwgaRJYaf_drzSNOezxaD6VngOLARdB_kxcw0xqopbfiAzwSZ6-arroID4WbZz2_QPzbdfnl_VGEZKe5DGqR2tzBkCNBqzdj2XWSS0cKD4ovSBVzf/s320/necklace+2.jpg" /></a></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSx08E3xZbTNQPvjC85KVRRwEy_EJwQDlKq_Qrv7e93WBdhVfXAHGvSin6EUT4qgFgX39ev89xj06LoMPmKO6kUY96e2qg0HpOXjCtATPNRzBujSVjT5-AfSLaGAVV8sRGk7GQOLokYR8m/s1600/necklace.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 101px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668272610729970514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSx08E3xZbTNQPvjC85KVRRwEy_EJwQDlKq_Qrv7e93WBdhVfXAHGvSin6EUT4qgFgX39ev89xj06LoMPmKO6kUY96e2qg0HpOXjCtATPNRzBujSVjT5-AfSLaGAVV8sRGk7GQOLokYR8m/s320/necklace.jpg" /></a> The last few weeks I have been trying to rack my brain on how to fundraise for our upcoming Jamaican adoption. So far our fundraising has not been as fast as I had hoped...I am sure the keyword there is "I," Im sure God has a specific timing and will make all the funds available when the time is needed! In the meantime, I wanted to figure out how I could raise more money through people outside of my friends and family. I don't know about the rest of you, but I find it incredibly hard to continually always ask my friends and family for money, or to come and pay a lot of money to participate in yet another fundraiser. It is all I have known how to do so far though, so I keep doing it. But after coming across the 147millionorpans website, and seeing their unique ugandan recycled necklaces that they sell and provide to adoptive families at wholesale prices, it got me thinking. What if I could do something BIG with these necklaces? After all, they are recycled, something people are definietly in to today. They are also helping the women of Uganada afford to keep their children, rather than be forced to give them to orphanages for economic reasons. Not only are you helping an adoption, your helping another child AVOID adoption! Weird, but GREAT! So I havde decided to see if I can get these necklaces sold in stores and boutiques, maybe craft fairs as well. There are so many little shops and boutiques where I live, there just HAS to be some stores interested in selling these! This is just the beginning of my process. I am not a business person so I am not sure how this will go. I am going to seek advice from others who know more, and hopefully this will result in some major sucess! Anhyone out there who is business oriented and has any advice I am open ears!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15036824178599412595noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-19005803894700814872011-09-17T14:10:00.000-07:002011-09-17T14:10:55.852-07:00Our first family vacation!Although it happened in August, I wanted to blog about our first family vacation. It was a huge endeavour for us and maybe it will remind me next year to bring a map :) <br />
We were headed off for our first big camping trip with a bunch of families from our home group. It was a cute RV resort off the coast of Oregon, and we had opted to rent a cottage, rather than tenting it. Looking back, I am sooooo glad we did! In fact, I don’t think I will ever tent it again, I have officially been spoiled! Some of you may say “that’s not camping!” Haha fine, it is not camping then! But whatever you call it, it is the way to do it with 4 kids!<br />
Our trip started out the usual way things start out in our family; me planning everything and assuming everything is going to work out perfectly! The camp site was suppose to be 7 driving hours away, so we figured we would leave early afternoon, stop in Seattle at The Cheesecake Factory (my favourite restaurant), then continue on and make it to our destination by 10:30pm that night, happily having our children sleep through the majority of the trip (7pm is their normal bedtime.) I am sure many of you are laughing at me for having such thoughts. I know. I don’t know why I always think it will be so simple!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DukkCL9vw6kACXG6Wz6yeGFD091tAIoOvLgxZLjGakPAqYk0XzDwJ6R3m3fTO3HvvFFe9Mxnwv69yj0S1AoyGOLlCZ-TQ29Zzq6kBRYZb030eMi5XKjgduJPkZ-xHyt1-NU8tQZVC90/s1600/IMG_2566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DukkCL9vw6kACXG6Wz6yeGFD091tAIoOvLgxZLjGakPAqYk0XzDwJ6R3m3fTO3HvvFFe9Mxnwv69yj0S1AoyGOLlCZ-TQ29Zzq6kBRYZb030eMi5XKjgduJPkZ-xHyt1-NU8tQZVC90/s200/IMG_2566.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Our first bump was leaving Langley an hour late. I didn’t think it that big of a deal originally, but boy did it add to the trip in the end! The border, something I forgot to account for, actually I always forget to account for border waits because I am a Nexus holder, added another hour to our trip. By the time we hit Seattle, much later than anticipated (we had hoped to be at the restaurant by 5pm) we hit major traffic. I am not sure if it was rush hour or construction, but it took forever just to get into downtown! We thankfully made it to our exit, drove a couple of blocks, and found our place quickly. There was no parking so we went to drive to the next street to look there. Trouble was, downtown Seattle has a bunch of one-way streets, so we couldn’t turn down the next one. Frantically deciding to go one more block, thinking it would be going the opposite direction, we found ourselves on some sort of one way road with no return. It ended up taking us from downtown Seattle to…well I am not even sure where it took us! It was some sort of Express or something. This is where things turned bad. I had not brought a map. When routing out our trip it was so many pages on google that I decided to just hand write all the directions. This would have worked fine, had we need steered off course!<br />
So after driving around for what seemed like hours (It was actually somewhere between 1 and 2 hours) we eventually made it back to where we wanted to go. By this time it was 7:45pm, our children were tired and starving (we would have eaten fast food had we known where any was) and we were a tiny bit cranky. We made it into the restaurant only to find a half an hour wait. Ok. We had made it this far, we decided to just bite the bullet and wait. The waiting itself was rather interesting, as I almost lost Robby and Alaina, repeatedly, into the revolving door. Those are actually really dangerous! Finally, after what seemed like forever, we went and asked how much longer. Turns out, they had accidentally forgotten to write our names down. Blllaaahhhh!!! Haha yeah, I was a bit frustrated. They thankfully brought us right in, but the table had not been cleaned yet, so we tried to hold all 4 restless children still in the middle of the aisle while waiters carrying trays of food tried to rush past. I was positive one of my kids was going to knock them down! <br />
Finally we sat down and enjoyed a wonderful meal. I am surprised my kids did so well! It was already 9:30pm when we left Seattle, and still had the bulk of our trip to go! We got back on to the highway and a micro second later felt like something was wrong again. The US is actually very annoying for this, all their exit signs are placed right at the exit, and there is no warning! Next thing we know, we are back off the highway again, somewhere near Safeco field, still with no map, and still with no clue how to return home. I suddenly remembered I had placed a cartoon map of downtown Seattle in my purse a couple weekends before at a girl’s weekend away. I prayed it was still there! Sure enough, it was, and we managed, after another long hour, to navigate ourselves back to our restaurant to try again. Finally, we made it out of Seattle, and the rest of the drive from Seattle to Portland went mostly without hiccup. Everyone but Mathieu had fallen asleep, although Robby and Chloe woke up hourly frantically screaming, then falling back asleep. Portland finally came though, and we got ready to take our exit towards the coast. Suddenly we realized the exit was closed due to construction. And it wasn’t just a simple exit, where you can take the next one, Portland was filled with so many loops and twists and overpasses and exits! What now? <br />
I suggested we continue on another hour to Salem, where I had some written directions to our site, because of a day trip I had planned while there, and had included written directions in all my papers. Daniel thought we should pull over and get directions. I thought that might take more time, with all the mind boggling loops. Daniel decided to get off though, and what was almost an hour later we found our way to a gas station, somewhere off the highway, with nothing but a map of Portland, something that would not help us. By this time we were both rather grumpy, needless to say, and decided to just continue on to Salem. <br />
We hit Salem by 1:30am. We were tired. Daniel had managed to down a 5 shot espresso in Portland, but I was barely hanging on. Then we realized we didn’t know what to do next. My hand written directions (I know great idea!) were from the Olive Garden, to our resort. Problem was, we didn’t know where the Olive Garden was, and Salem was way larger than we anticipated! We finally found a gas station, and inside, wait for it…was an Oregon map! Ahhhhhhh! We figured out how to get out of Salem and head towards Pacifc City, where we were headed, and went on our way. <br />
About a half an hour outside of Salem, somewhere in the middle of the forest, we suddenly realized something. In our extreme tiredness, grumpiness, and just plane absent mindedness, we had forgotten to check our gas tank. Yeah. We were on E. I will point out, we own a massive Yukon XL, a gas guzzling beast! But we were in the middle of the woods! The 2 gas stations we even saw were closed! I was terrified we were going to run out of gas and then get eaten by bears. I have an unfounded fear of bears. We did, however, have enough sense to start praying. Finally, after hardly knowing where to go, almost getting lost again, and more than an hour of driving below E, we made it to our campsite! I know we made it there only by the Grace of God, as our tank usually can go through $20 in 30 minutes worth od driving! Thank you Lord!! By this time it was 3:30 in the morning. We unloaded the kids and our truck, and finally lay down to go to sleep! <br />
Despite our interesting and challenging road trip down, the rest of our vacation went amazingly! The kids had so much fun playing with all their friends (there were more than 20 kids from our home group) and we enjoyed visiting as well. It was the first time any of us had been away from home for so long (even our honeymoon was only 2 days) and it felt good to just relax! The kids enjoyed splashing in the ocean, skim boarding in the puddles, and sand boarding down the giant dunes. Back at camp they rode bikes around the site and ran around the playground. It was wonderful. At night we played board games and chatted with friends. Just thinking about it makes me want to go back! There is something so wonderful about getting to just play with your family all day. To have your husband home and have no to-do lists. No housekeeping to take care. Just good old fashioned quality family time!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-5tGDtYaChdak2or7vFvu-_3Awwasqkx2tcB67TwGOHMG8oledjnNqLL9NBAyD6nD8rdGRG4pT5yY4pXAxbyuPrW0XYW4w2hTPRtDj3yx3Ztl7j9SV5nEGXdakpHwTf4sVNoQJYOm9E/s1600/IMG_2654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-5tGDtYaChdak2or7vFvu-_3Awwasqkx2tcB67TwGOHMG8oledjnNqLL9NBAyD6nD8rdGRG4pT5yY4pXAxbyuPrW0XYW4w2hTPRtDj3yx3Ztl7j9SV5nEGXdakpHwTf4sVNoQJYOm9E/s320/IMG_2654.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLyxg8PVM2C6mdXqaWeu1nx6JVm91BNL3f4Twvx-zwfx46Zer8dUksGf6Vt80ZeoAcR88tWFLhON3PbrL23lkBBHeB7b04_AIW1Q-QJF1OUXTsOXcuNO0T_769kkRQaPH9Z6KjuAPHpk/s1600/IMG_2578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLyxg8PVM2C6mdXqaWeu1nx6JVm91BNL3f4Twvx-zwfx46Zer8dUksGf6Vt80ZeoAcR88tWFLhON3PbrL23lkBBHeB7b04_AIW1Q-QJF1OUXTsOXcuNO0T_769kkRQaPH9Z6KjuAPHpk/s320/IMG_2578.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>While there were 2 more incidents of getting lost while driving, the rest of the trip went perfectly, and before we knew it we were heading home! We stopped off at the outlet malls for some back to school shopping and eventually made it back to Canada all in one piece. We did manage to bring home half the beach though :) Despite how crazy our road trip experience was, I am still pondering driving down to Disneyland with the kids next summer, haha what do you think?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTgmsJz5USxS9TVM7AGIW0XDum93AxpI8NUwT4j5WHKVYpgAGhPpWdYMOSscwhTpiggjFS_uSNjKlgvURw2q8wJzY_DbjYtBIYKBEK-AIKf_Nmyk_oezKPcpupDonWXCBqhM_oKz2JaU/s1600/IMG_2631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTgmsJz5USxS9TVM7AGIW0XDum93AxpI8NUwT4j5WHKVYpgAGhPpWdYMOSscwhTpiggjFS_uSNjKlgvURw2q8wJzY_DbjYtBIYKBEK-AIKf_Nmyk_oezKPcpupDonWXCBqhM_oKz2JaU/s200/IMG_2631.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12871173942292020024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-18461833661914922712011-09-15T16:44:00.000-07:002011-09-17T14:19:32.600-07:00Fundraising now online!Hi everyone! As many of you may know, Daniel and I are currently in the process of doing our 5th adoption, but this time through Jamaica! We can't start the home study portion until April 2012 (we had to wait 9 months from when our last adoption went through) so we are now in the fundraising portion! Jamaica, thankfully, does not charge any fees, which makes this much cheaper than other countries. We are basically raising money for the Canadian agency fees and travel expenses. If you are interested in helping out we now have this handy online feature, and we appreciate all the help we can get! Thanks everyone, and I will be posting more about our newest adoption journey in coming days! Although the counter says we haven\t raised any funds yet, at least not through this online feauture, we have currently raised more than $1500! Thanks to everyone that has continued to help us, and don't forget, for those that are local we are still collecting bottles!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12871173942292020024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585837905243161318.post-92224669640794024412011-08-19T09:02:00.000-07:002011-08-19T09:02:37.648-07:00The first one...I know, what a dorky title, haha but it is not the beginning of our lives...not the beginning our kids...really just the beginning of blogging our tales...so the first one it was!<br />
I have decided to start blogging! I currently have a website for our ministry, (<a href="http://www.ahomeforeverychildbc.ca/">http://www.ahomeforeverychildbc.ca/</a>) but the articles on there are more general and geared towards people looking for information on adpotion and or fostering. I thought I would start a blog detailing our crazy adventures! Afterall, we are busy raising 4 kids with special needs, adoption left right and centre, soon onto number 5, and trying to run a ministry aimed at bringing awareness about the plight of the orphan! But mostly, detailing the lives of raising 4 adopted children with special needs. I know for myself, I always find it encouraging when I read someone else's blog and realize I am not alone in something, or get really helpful information on how someone else did something that worked. Especially with adoption and special needs, I often feel alone, with no one who really understands what I am going through. So there it is! Our life is definitely crazy, always has been, so hopefully somewhere along the way it will encourage someone out there, that your not the only one on life's crazy journey!! Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12871173942292020024noreply@blogger.com0