Yesterday we spent the day driving to and from Pittsburgh for a memorial service for a very close friend. Roy lived a great life and had wonderful stories to tell. We are blessed to have known him.
During the drive, Jim and I spent a lot of time talking about the adoption process, Ana, and decisions that still needed to be made. It was a nice time to talk. We had each other's attention and all four kids were plugged into something in the suburban's other 2 rows.
The question of taking the kids has come up often and there were many things to think about: How could we afford it - four extra plane and train tickets, more food, lodging, etc? Would it be safe? Would there be enough for them to do? Yesterday morning before we left for Pittsburgh Jim talked to our agency director, Teresa. She discussed this with Jim again telling him what a great experience this would be for our kids, that they will have plenty of mission work for us to do on our down time and many other things to keep the kids entertained, and she started taking her kids (5, I think) on the mission trips she has done there when they were 8. She is encouraging us to do it! In our previous situation - this was not even up for discussion.
As we were talking we came to the realization that - how could we not take them? This is an amazing life journey for all of us and leaving them at home is leaving them out of the best part of the entire adventure - actually being part of bringing their sister home!
Will it cost more money - yes, a lot more money but, it just seems that this should be a family event. And the experience all four kids will get from helping with His Kids, Too! mission projects will be amazing! Of course, if you have talked to me about our adoption, you know, that I have said leaving my kids behind while I travel around the world makes me sick every time I think about it. I have left them for no more than 3 days at a time in 16 years and I think that has been only about 3 times. This makes the trip even more exciting and joyful! Working as a family to do something good in a world that desperately needs it - truly priceless!
Just when we thought that we were set for the adoption financially, we are now wondering where the extra money will come from. But know that through this process we have thought many times, "it can't be done" but God has proved that we were wrong! And it is an important part of the journey. So, this weekend I will be looking through adoption grants and filling out paperwork. This way, the money we have set aside for the adoption can go towards travel expenses for the kids. Our agency is great and will help us apply for grants and their acceptance rate is fairly high. We are also tossing around the idea of fundraisers but thinking we only have time for one BIG one. And by time I mean time before we travel - but do we really even have time to plan one? - not sure! If you have any ideas or would be willing to help us in the planning - please let us know!
Quick update on the actual process - we are sending a Letter of Inquiry to the SDA through our in country facilitator. This letter asks for preliminary permission to adopt and also asks for a wavier of the dossier submission date. If this is approved, as soon as our dossier is complete is goes to the SDA. So, our travel date might be closer than we thought! We are still waiting to get our fingerprints appt in Pittsburgh hoping to hear about this in the next week. I have to add here that our agency is amazing! The knowledge they have of working in 28 + different orphanages in Ukriane, the connections to many mission opportunities in the region and just the fact that they were a mission outreach group first, then decided they could help find forever homes by becoming an adoption agency tell me they are in it for the right reasons!
Whew! A lot to process in one blog! I, once again, ask for your prayers as we continue on this wonderful journey with our FAMILY!
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