blog overhaul to come

have not posted here much at all but reason is there is no news to post.  we are in a waiting phase.  this blog will become more active this spring.  we will be finding out more information in the next few months.  i look forward to updating when we have information on the new program we will be applying for. it IS very exciting.


this is no longer an Ethiopia adoption blog. as mentioned before, ETH sadly slowed down their adoptions to an abrupt crawl.  i have not changed the header on this blog however once we announce the new path i will be redesigning the header !!

note to blog

updating this blog!!!!   we have decided to go with another country program for our adoption.  ethiopia was turning into a long long wait with their new procedures that went into affect this year.  we have been waiting on another program and got some good news on it recently.  as we know more we will share it here.  when it gets closer to announcing which program we are applying for i will be able to write about it.  for now we continue to try and do our fundraisers and save money for early next year when we will be applying to the program.  good things to come!  stay tuned.

an august post

just to keep this blog from getting stale, here is another monthly post!
with ALL the uncertainty and confussion coming out of Eth this entire year, it seems nothing has resolved in how they intend to go forth with adoptions.  for now we have decided to opt out of this program as it seems too scattered and unstable as of now.  we have known for some time but i had not posted.  we have been focusing on another personal chosen path these past few months.  and perhaps a different international program next year.  we will see what is to come ;)

a June post ;)

no updates here. just an update that there is no update. LOL!!  the international adoption system of eth seems to be mucked up in all directions.  and yes that is mucked up with an M , lol.  we have put that on very distant hold and have come to find ourselves enjoying some other  good decisions we have made that are all-good.  not revealing too much here now.  will one day update with time ; )   till then, have a good June!

not good? (turns better !) an update

update: when the post below was rumor milled it was a truth. but what has occurred since, the head of MOWA and some of their employees (those in charge of implementing such drastic changes) were fired two days after announcing what caused such a stir. we hear this from other wonderful blogs so this info has been made available so it can be shared. Eth adoptions are still processing and mowa settles into thier new administration. the change seems to not be as drastic as the recently fired head of M had proposed yet they remain unsure of the changes to the program as far as the qaunity of adoptions. agencies continue to update as they are informed on the final flow of things. that's all anyone knows : ) but it is something. we continue to see how this palys out - we follow our inner voice, continue to do what we need to do as a family.
and for us, in the meantime we have made some Very Good decisions recently. good and real ones. while keeping this other door open still. the answers will reveal and come with time ; )
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ethiopia has been placed in the 'rumor-mill' as having tentative plans to cut down its adoptions by 90% starting this month. 90% ! we are stunned. while i generally pay no attention to here say, i have researched this one, and for now it appears to be. how a country can disregard its orphans and close 45 of its orphanages knowing the children will die or be placed on the streets is horrifying. once on the wait list (which takes 4-6 months) the wait for a child would now be an additional 3 years! - compared to 3 months as it currently stood. it is too hard to think or write about Ethiopia right now as it only causes mixed & hurt feelings; we may not be continuing with this particular path and possibly need to refocus on another path. SO this blog will be post-free for awhile while i focus on keeping sanity.

multi-colored Binoculars

hush; now...

lyrics of her songs certainly do pull on heartstrings and interpretations by the
ones listening.  in particular, words from this are humbling;  singing dual
Hope to the ears of Both this waiting adoptive mama & our future son.

" [and, the world thought had it all But was waiting for you;  Hush, now see a light in the sky, it's 
almost blinding; can't believe been touched by an angel with love; Let the rain come down, wash
away tears, Let it fill soul, drown fears. Let it shatter walls for a new sun. 'a new day has come', oh] "

upon our Gotcha day i look forward to linking back to this post,
as a reminder of the calm of musical peace it offered. and as reference
to a song i already knew would be used within our family video.

trump!

 
photo source: beautyinthegutter

... this post causes a step back with pause & thought searching. it is a question many want to know about adoption.  yet also very personal.  but it is at the forefront of thought.  people are curious by nature.  we all know adoption is not cheap.  heck, it is downright expensive.  but up until now i have hesitated to even post about the totality of expenses involved because i do not like to give power to money.   the paper dollar is not the forefront of adoption, it is only the tangible token to pass go.  and because i do not like to empower the deception of the green bill, i still Must recognize it in adoption.  before continuing, it cannot be stressed enough that for an adoptive parent, adoption is not about money but it is required to proceed.  whether one has '$' or not, adoption is about love. and to be fair, the agencies involved in adoption are not money hungry; not the majority.  they do genuinely want to place children with families.  but there are guidelines, there are fees, there are fees in each direction of the compass.  that is just how the ball rolls.  domestic , international, government, foreign, you name it the fees add up.  i have found myself in anger visualizing a waiting child half way across the world,  turning my eyes to us as the prospective adoptive parents also sitting here waiting,  and in between are - green bills? is it fair? No!  and it has hurt my feelings that this power facade of the coin must be recognized to reach a waiting child . and that bothers me. deeply. hard core bothers me. yet,  learning now to accept this 'unfairness'  has given calm and as quick as those hurtful feelings come- no is the answer!  'don't go there'  comforts my mind and  my focus turns to God knowing He will provide.  money is just the illusion to scare and create doubt.  this is when my Faith rises and i know that God has placed adoption in our hearts for a reason.  it is a path we are to follow. nothing can smother our feelings of Love for our journey.  Faith does conquer the green dollar and trumps doubt.  and that is what keeps us focused.  to sum this up, we have been asked in subtle ways, 'how much will your adoption cost overall'  and today i will answer that question because grace in truth opens doors for peace in Faith.  the cost- 30,000.  do we have that sitting in the bank?  nope, not at all. will we be taking the path of sacrifice , fundraising and Faith to fulfill our path, yes we will. to humble oneself in being open is a good thing.  and being open about this here is a learning experience for i do not enjoy that when we talk about adoption, money has to also be discussed.  it is part of the package.  money may have its palms up hand  in adoption but we have the greater hold of faith.  it makes us appreciate each and every struggle, step forward, step back, and everything in between that takes us toward that goal we reach along the way.  it is the journey that defines and strengthens us, not the destination.
As others have inquired, we will share:

• our adoption total will be 30,000 +
• the small fees start in the beginning.
• the fees grow as the adoption progresses.
• there are hefty lump sums due to move forward.
• each fee  must be met to progress onto the waiting list.
• more fees upon acceptance of referral
• in country fees
• travel alone will cost us 10,000.

that was a very basic outline.  there is so much more detail than that but maybe that will help others understand and get some idea of the process. something i have not liked to discuss, is now here written out like a bad sticky note tucked away.  but now i feel moved in my humble validation of how money plays it part in this process.  that sticky note can now cling to the frig in view and no longer receive my growl but my smile.  it no longer is a deterrent but a mirror of our accomplishments . 


others may wonder?  why are you doing this if you don't have 30,000 in the bank.  now lets get real!  the truth of adoption is about 1/2-3/4 of committed prospective adoptive parents do not have that kind of cash.  most adoptions consist of fundraising, refinancing homes, loans, etc.  it is all about sacrifice for the children.  those of us who have to work hard toward paying these fees are parents who are truly in this with the appreciation and humbling grace knowing our efforts will be validated in  form of a sweet little boy. all  the obstacles and patience of our journey to get to him will be shown in the reward of love and grace.

 

photo source: xospislovexo

conclusion?  Truth!  money won't get you through adoption
nor anything else. only inner strength will endure and ones Belief
system sustain! money sucks- the good out of Hope and the Truth
out of what is real. within adoption it is not the green dollar, it is
Convictions that get that token to pass Go! now, when  invisioning a
waiting child and then us also waiting, green bills are no longer part of
the in between.   now,  Faith, Love, Hope, Courage, Stength and
Conviction are what are in between the present and the future.
Faith trumps all stinkn thinkn every time  ; )