Jack,
There are some things your father and I would like you to know. We have loved you from the time that we received your referral. When we first saw your shining eyes in your picture we knew you were are son. We knew that God chose you to be part of our family. In so many ways God brought you to us.
We are about three weeks away from meeting you in person. So far the journey to you has been nothing short of amazing. The people we have met and the things that have happened have been trully inspiring. You have already touched us and inspired us to be better people.
We can never express the gratitude that we have to God for allowing us to take this journey to you. We cannot wait to meet you...our son.
We are so blessed that we will be able to watch you learn and grow. We're so excited to be able to share all your joys. We also know that we will be the ones to share your rough times and your sorrows. These times will allow all of us to grow and gain perspective. Your father and I want you to know that you can share the bad times with us too. They are not a burden to us, they allow us to be closer to you. We want you to know that it's okay to be sad about your birth parents, and it's okay to wonder about them. It's also okay to wonder about China and the people there. It doesn't matter if you are angry, sad, or mad we will always love you and be there for you. Please know how blessed we feel that you are our son. We love you so much.
Mommy and Daddy
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Why adoption?
So a question we've been asked a lot is why did we choose adoption? Which by the way we don't mind the question, as long as it's asked in a kind way, which it usually is. The problem is it's sort of hard to answer. All I can really say is that it's what God intended us to do. I guess I could say it's because I've always wanted to, or because Cam had so many issues at birth, or because I hate being pregnant. These are all true staements, but really it's because it's what God had planned for us all along. Most people have their children grow inside them, our chosen child just happens to be in China.
Another question we sometimes get (not as often) is why special needs, why cleft lip/palate? Again all I can really say again is it's God's plan. We are supposed to be Jack's parents, that is all I know for sure.
I can tell you that this has been the most amazing, incredible journey. I have never felt so close to God, nor have I questioned one decision that has been made. We have been given so many signs that we are on the right path. This process, which is just at its beginning ,has taught me so much. It has given me faith in mankind, it has inspired me, and it has adjusted my perspective.
Through this process we have received a free freezer from a total stranger (as an adoption gift). We've met other people with children that have cleft lip/palate. These perfect strangers have spent the time to communicate with me with words of knowledge and encouragement. We've spent time with an agency that only cared about money, and another one that really cares about kids. We have gained a further appreciation of the fact that money is really not everything. We have been amazed by the support of our friends and family. We have learned what faith trully is.
Beyond that from the moment that we saw Jack's picture both of us completely knew he was our son. There really was no questions or doubts. God set it up to be just like that. He put us on a journey where we hit many walls and lots of frustration just so that we would have Jack. It's so easy to see now. We started with a China adoption seeking a healthy girl. As the wait climbed and climbed. The bug of special needs adoption came to me. Meanwhile our neighbors received a referral for a special needs girl from Vietnam. We decided we could handle some minor special needs. We started to sign up for the waiting child's program. On our list were a variety of things not including cleft lip/palate. We weren't sure we wanted something that involved. Just then the program changed and we were not comfortable with it. At that point we decided to do something else. Try to adopt from another country. In comes bad agency. We started our Kaz adoption. We hit every wall possible. It never felt right to me. All the while I was researching special needs. I learned about the many children who never got cleft lip/palate repaired, and about how many babies died from malnutrition. I cried over the pictures of starving infants, all because they didn't have medical care. I talked to others who explained that it was a lot of work, but never regretted it. I felt a calling. Meanwhile, I also learned that there were way more boys than girls that needed adopted. I found out that 98% of Americans adopting want girls. I thought a girl would be nice since I didn't have one, but I knew that I wouldn't ask for one. How could I? Knowing that there were all those beautiful boys needing a home. In the midst of my researching, we learned that all of our paperwork for Kaz was going to expire before it even made it to Kaz, and we found out they only had four year olds available. We decided we were going down the wrong path (duh, wrong country). We went back to our other agency where they had adjusted the waiting program to something we were comfortable with. We updated our list of special needs, including cleft lip/palate. We also included either gender. I was pretty sure we'd end up with a boy with cleft lip/palate, and that was totally fine with me! One day later (yes, that's right) we received our referral for Jack. From there on our process has simply flown by. We received pre approval a week later, LOA less than two months later, and TA after about a month. We will leave in three weeks. The entire process took about 4 months. Quite amazing after the year and a half of nothing going right. But, not really that amazing it was just what God planned. He wanted us to be ready for Jack, and we are!
Another question we sometimes get (not as often) is why special needs, why cleft lip/palate? Again all I can really say again is it's God's plan. We are supposed to be Jack's parents, that is all I know for sure.
I can tell you that this has been the most amazing, incredible journey. I have never felt so close to God, nor have I questioned one decision that has been made. We have been given so many signs that we are on the right path. This process, which is just at its beginning ,has taught me so much. It has given me faith in mankind, it has inspired me, and it has adjusted my perspective.
Through this process we have received a free freezer from a total stranger (as an adoption gift). We've met other people with children that have cleft lip/palate. These perfect strangers have spent the time to communicate with me with words of knowledge and encouragement. We've spent time with an agency that only cared about money, and another one that really cares about kids. We have gained a further appreciation of the fact that money is really not everything. We have been amazed by the support of our friends and family. We have learned what faith trully is.
Beyond that from the moment that we saw Jack's picture both of us completely knew he was our son. There really was no questions or doubts. God set it up to be just like that. He put us on a journey where we hit many walls and lots of frustration just so that we would have Jack. It's so easy to see now. We started with a China adoption seeking a healthy girl. As the wait climbed and climbed. The bug of special needs adoption came to me. Meanwhile our neighbors received a referral for a special needs girl from Vietnam. We decided we could handle some minor special needs. We started to sign up for the waiting child's program. On our list were a variety of things not including cleft lip/palate. We weren't sure we wanted something that involved. Just then the program changed and we were not comfortable with it. At that point we decided to do something else. Try to adopt from another country. In comes bad agency. We started our Kaz adoption. We hit every wall possible. It never felt right to me. All the while I was researching special needs. I learned about the many children who never got cleft lip/palate repaired, and about how many babies died from malnutrition. I cried over the pictures of starving infants, all because they didn't have medical care. I talked to others who explained that it was a lot of work, but never regretted it. I felt a calling. Meanwhile, I also learned that there were way more boys than girls that needed adopted. I found out that 98% of Americans adopting want girls. I thought a girl would be nice since I didn't have one, but I knew that I wouldn't ask for one. How could I? Knowing that there were all those beautiful boys needing a home. In the midst of my researching, we learned that all of our paperwork for Kaz was going to expire before it even made it to Kaz, and we found out they only had four year olds available. We decided we were going down the wrong path (duh, wrong country). We went back to our other agency where they had adjusted the waiting program to something we were comfortable with. We updated our list of special needs, including cleft lip/palate. We also included either gender. I was pretty sure we'd end up with a boy with cleft lip/palate, and that was totally fine with me! One day later (yes, that's right) we received our referral for Jack. From there on our process has simply flown by. We received pre approval a week later, LOA less than two months later, and TA after about a month. We will leave in three weeks. The entire process took about 4 months. Quite amazing after the year and a half of nothing going right. But, not really that amazing it was just what God planned. He wanted us to be ready for Jack, and we are!
Friday, February 27, 2009
PAINT!!!!!
So the pizza and paint party was well, messy. There were 9 children, 7 different colors of paint, a bunch of brushes and rollers (plenty of alcohol for the adults). Put that together and what do you get. A very interestingly painted room. Just what we wanted and anticipated. I think fun was had by all the children. I mean how many times do you get to actually paint on the walls using any color paint and any painting tool (or body part). Luckily we don't have any butt cheek marks. Although I think a few of the men were tempted. After the party was through we sent the children home through our garage to theirs', most left in bare feet (Lower Teakwood style!) I'm pretty sure everyone got good baths, and now we've guarenteed that everyone will wash their tubs this weekend! The playroom is almost finished.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Our TA is Here!!!!!
Our Ta arrived and we found out we will be leaving March 18th!!!! Holy ******. That's really soon. We are so excited!!!! We're coming to get you, Jack!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Jack's Room
Here is Jack's room! It is complete in Ethan's chosen airplane decor. We were able to decorate the whole room for about $250. I thought that was pretty good considering we didn't have any furniture. Thanks to Craig's list and some creativity, we did pretty good! Another update...we are actually ready for our pizza and paint party. We will be holding this fun event on Friday around 5:30. Bring any old paint and brushes. Wear clothes that you can trash! It should be interesting and hopefully fun. We almost have a play room!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Waiting...Still Waiting
Okay I don't have much to add. I'm just ready to be done waiting. Hoo Humm...I want my baby boy!
On a good note Jack's room is finished!!! He has a crib and everything. I will add some pictures later!
On a good note Jack's room is finished!!! He has a crib and everything. I will add some pictures later!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Freaky
Did you ever feel like your just in constant wait mode. We just keep getting to the next step...then wait. Then a new excitement and a new step and wait. It hasn't been bad because at least after almost two years of paperchasing, money spending, wall hitting, country switching, I finally feel like we're getting there. However, as the wait goes on the stress goes up a bit. It's like OMG we're almost to the finish line. Now what? We are finally going to meet this child. Now what? Then there's all the what ifs? Like we said we've never had a question about Jack we know he's supposed to be ours, but it's still a little freaky. Soon we'll be traveling across the world to meet a little boy who has no idea who we are. Then we'll travel back home on a very long flight with a little boy who doesn't know us. Then we'll deal with his medical issues. Exciting, meant to be, wonderful, and FREAKY.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Care Package
We did find out that our care package indeed arrived in China and has gotten to the orphanage. This is good news. I was afraid we might get there before it!
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