29

We've dropped down to 29th place!  Just thought I'd let you know.

To explain more about the waiting list, this is the order in which families within our agency have completed all necessary steps to become approved for a child.  This is NOT necessarily the order in which the adoptions will happen, as those are dependent on various factors, mostly having to do with age/gender specifications.

Stuart and I have been "provisionally approved" for up to 2 children of either gender, between the ages of 8 months and 5 years, with some special needs.  If ten of the families ahead of us on the waiting list have requested children under the age of two, in a sense that would mean we're 19th on the waiting list for any child(ren) over the age of two.  That's the simple explanation, but know there is more to it than that.

I'll keep updating as changes occur.  =)  Thanks for all the prayers and encouragement!

Thirty-One.

Thirty-One.

That's the magic number right now.  31. 

For those who haven't heard, we received our i-600a approval from immigration on November 8th, 

which means on November 9th we were placed on the waiting list for our adoption!  And we're #31.

Then today we received our third set of fingerprints, needed for our dossier.  That's a big sigh of relief as it's the last bit of paperwork we needed to have processed.  

So that's our current update!

We have a date!

If you check out our timeline page, you'll notice I finally updated it.  You'll also notice I updated it into the future.  That's right friends - we have our biometrics appointment set!  I'm not sure what is normal as far as timelines go, but we were told this whole process is backlogged and could take several months.  So far, it seems as though we're moving along just fine...  =)

Stage #3!

Stage #1 is the picking the agency and applying.  Check.
Stage #2 is the home study....paper chasing, home visits, interviews, etc.  Check.

We received our finalized home study in the mail last week and officially moved onto...

Stage #3 yesterday: send in application to USCIS!  Moving onto this step alone drained our adoption account by thousands of dollars.  I cannot tell you HOW THANKFUL we are for all the donations of prayer, money, yard sale items, etc from our friends and family that enabled us to pull this off.

We'll be waiting 2-3 months for approval from USCIS and then we will be officially approved to be matched with a child.

BRACELETS!
In the meantime, we're still selling our "Pearl of Africa" bracelets!  So far we've sold over 50 bracelets so a HUGE THANK YOU to those of you sporting these beauties for our cause.  We now have new colors available...TEAL and AUTUMN RED (pictures coming soon!).  Feel free to visit my etsy store to purchase, or arrange with me via email or facebook.

MONSTER BAGS!
I'm also selling these cuties!  Hand-made by me (please don't analyze the stitching), these little guys come with 5 twistable crayons and will perfectly fit coloring books or construction paper (not included).  My kids are currently using them for their art supplies.  =)  Below are the monsters I have one hand, but I can make a limited number more, with your choice of bag color and monster color.

Pink Monster...$10  -  Qt. 1

Freckled Monster...$10 - Qt. 1

Blue Monster...$10  -  Qt. 1

Leave a comment or email me at beecurrency@gmail.com to let me know if you're interested in a bag!  Thanks!

Yard Sale #4

With the combination of cash donations and yard sale earnings, we made $352!  We also sold another 5 bracelets last week, for a total deposit of $402.  Yay!!

When it rains, it pours....

....in a most wonderful way.  =)

Since my last post, we've sold another 8 bracelets and received two checks in the mail, one from wonderful friends who continue to encourage us, and another from a complete stranger.

Thank you, thank you!!

BAM.

If you've been watching our little (actually, it's rather big) thermometer to the right of our page, you may have noticed it jump up over $1000.  =)

I deposited all the bracelet money plus a very generous donation from my younger sis plus money we personally had set aside and BAM....it totaled $1031!!  We've almost reached our half-way mark!!

Drum roll please...

As of today we have sold THIRTY-TWO bracelets!!  And many have been sold to people we've never even met.  Speaking of, if your bracelet led you to this site,welcome!  I just want to thank everyone who has already purchased a bracelet (or two...or five...or eight..).  It truly means a ton.

Oh, and again, a big huge thank you to my friend, Michelle, who spear-headed this fundraiser and took on all the costs of the materials so that 100% of the proceeds would benefit our adoption.

Bracelets, home study and finances...

I know you all have been waiting on pins and needles for these bracelets.  ;)  With a HUGE thank you to my amazing friend, Michelle, we finally finished our leather and pearl bracelets.  Oh, and because she donated ALL the supplies for the bracelets, 100% of the purchase price will go towards our adoption costs!!!  


Visit my etsy store here or visit my "Store" page to get one for yourself.  

As far as where we're at in our adoption process, we are about 5 pieces of paper away from finishing up our home study.  We've had our interviews and home visit so now its just a push to finish the required paperwork.

However, we received an email this past week informing us that a portion of the fees have gone up by $1,000.  This is both sweet and sour for us.  Sour, obviously, because of the extra expense.  However, one of the biggest issues with adoption in Uganda is the ethics that many people overlook.  These fees are the result of the extra work our Ugandan attorney is doing to ensure that the adoptions he's involved with remain legal and ethical.  Despite the added costs, it is also reassuring to know that his fees are still HALF of those of other attorneys because, while this is his career, it's also a ministry for him.

That's where we're currently at.  Thank you to all those who have sent letters and emails of encouragement, random donations, prayers and verbally given your support!  We really appreciate you all.

Where we're at now...

I gave you fair warning that it could take a month to update my blog again.  Now that I'm WAY overdue, here is a quick update:

About a month ago, the back portion of our house flooded.  This required lots of remediation that took nearly four weeks to finish.  We're almost done with our home study, minus a handful of paperwork and our social worker visits, but with half of our house out of commission we couldn't do the visits.  We also went through some rather big business changes, put on a bridal shower, taught Sunday school for the month, and went camping.  We were busy.

Now, with all that out of the way, we've fully resumed the adoption process and met with our social worker yesterday.  That meeting went great and we scheduled the rest of our visits.  I'm optimistic that our home study will be finished in early July.

On another note, my friend Michelle has come up with a fantastic awareness fundraiser that we'll be getting off the ground really soon.  Uganda is known as the "Pearl of Africa" because of its beauty, so we'll be selling these freshwater pearl bracelets for $10 a piece.  All of the proceeds will benefit our adoption.  Once our adoption is fully funded, we will continue to sell them to support other Ugandan adoptions.  The bracelets are an excellent way to be visually reminded to pray for the orphans in Uganda and (hopefully) to keep our own adoption in your prayers.  Let me know if you're interested in purchasing one (or more..)!

Last of all, I want to thank everyone who continues to ask how we're doing and who supports us in our process.  Adoptions can take a really long time, especially since you can't stop the rest of your life to focus on it.  We have been really encouraged through conversations we've had, prayers, encouragement, and a few generous gifts.  A very big thank you to all who have provided that support.


love, jessie

Changes

Wow.....it's been one month since I last posted any update.  ONE MONTH.  Sorry guys.

In case you're wondering, yes, my husband and I are still adopting.  =)  However I am contemplating deleting this blog and simply writing updates on my main blog (beecurrency.blogspot.com) since adoption is all about hurrying up and waiting, and somehow that gets boring in the blogging world.  Although I have to say I've been reading a few adoption blogs and getting quite anxious about reaching the finish line!  My friend Alexis is mere weeks away from meeting her little boy and my stomach is in knots due to excitement for her.  If you have a sec, you should check out her blog here.  Oh, but don't be jealous of her beautiful caseworker....I'm pretty sure she's been photoshopped.  And don't write anything rude, as I'm in the habit of doing, since I didn't even ask her permission to link to her blog.

Is that a blogging no-no?

Anyhow, for the tiny weeny updates on what's happened so far:

1. We're just about done with our 10+ hours of education.  We added an extra class that applies to us, so it's more than the required 10 hours (more like 12).
2. We've switched agencies for the remainder of our adoption (still finishing our home study with our first agency), which involves nearly twice the paperwork, of which we've done a decent amount.
4.  The new agency also requires (and we've completed) much more detailed physicals.  So detailed, in fact, that I've been referred to an audiologist because apparently I have hearing problems.  I'm 100% convinced it was a combination of their lousy machine (hey, Stuart was simply whispered at) and my recent traveling.  However, the visit also confirmed I have better than 16/20 vision.  When the adoption's over, I'm becoming a pilot.
5. Oh yeah, and we've switched countries.

WHAT?!?!?  Switched countries?!?

Yes, switched countries.  Through lots of prayer and discussion and then some more prayer and research, we made a decision in late January to switch countries.  We still have the desire to one day adopt from Russia =) , but it won't be happening this time around.

For now our eyes are set on Africa.   [cue Toto]   More specifically, Uganda, in eastern Africa.  I'll hopefully write more about the changes involved in this, but that'll be another time.

Perhaps in a month or so.  ;)

A phone call and a letter

Yesterday we spent over an hour on the phone with our agency, and hung up the phone feeling slightly overwhelmed with our to-do list.

Two hours later, this came in the mail (along with a very kind donation):

The timing is what totally blesses me.  I spoke with our agency for the first time in a long time on Friday (the 30th), to schedule our Monday phone call.  This note was received the same day as our phone call, but check out the date it was written.

I love how God works through His people.  (Thank you Emily!!)

Thinking...

A few days ago I posted the viral Kony 2012 video.  I watched it, was moved, and wanted to help Invisible Children in their cause to bring Kony to justice.  As a mom working towards adopting a child, I'd say I have a soft spot for disadvantaged children, and I wanted to do something.  I checked Charity Navigator and their finances left me a bit unconcerned, so I chose not to give anything financially.  But post the video, I did.

In the week since I did that, I've read a ton of articles and tried to educate myself on both the positive and negative aspects of the campaign.  Here's where I currently stand:

I believe Invisible Children, as a whole, has been unfairly and harshly judged.  The underlying goal of IC is to raise awareness and make positive changes in Africa.  You guys...they've done that.  They've done more good in Uganda than 99% of those criticizing their actions.   See projects here.

I believe Invisible Children is unwise with their money.  One friend said it the best..."When you get the chance to set your own salary with other people's money, most people don't have any restraint."  I'd say that's a fairly accurate summary of their actions.  Complaining about what they do with their money, however, doesn't do much.  It's like complaining about what kind of eggs Trader Joe's sells.  The best thing you can do is to vote with your money.  If you don't like the white eggs, buy the brown eggs.  If you don't like what IC does with their money, give to another charity you feel comfortable with.  Stressing about a ministry that you don't even donate to is a bit, well, silly.  Unless your goal is to control where other people give.  Then I suppose it isn't.


I believed Invisible Children's Kony 2012 campaign was worthwhile and creative.  Key word: believed.  I think Kony should be well known; I believe he should be caught and tried in the International Criminal Court; and I believe he should be punished for his awful crimes against humanity.  As for selling merchandise to make it happen?  I read this article....click here for article ...and I saw what Ugandans sees.  Duh.  Of course there would be a public outcry if another country, in their attempt to support us in the midst of our 9/11 attacks, made Bin Laden famous through t-shirts and bracelets.  What idiocy.  It's one thing to make him well-known, quite another to make him look like a presidential candidate.

In retrospect, my biggest problem is not the unwise use of the finances, the ill-thought out marketing attempts, or the evidence against the plausibility of the campaign.  My biggest problem is that we are way too ready and willing to judge poor actions (no lie, I'm often holding the biggest stone), while lacking the love to do so correctly.   I have been criticized a number of times for having three children so close together, and now for adopting from an international country rather than my own.  If I've learned one thing from the criticism, it's that judgement without love is defeating and unproductive and accomplishes nothing.

So sure, judge rightly, but please do so with a shot of mercy.

We have a name...or not.

My 5-year-old daughter just ran up to me, ecstatic that she figured out what to name her baby brother when we finally bring him home.

"Justin Bieber!!"

I choked.  "What did you say??"  


"Justin Bieber!"

"Uhh.....why Justin Bieber, sweetie??"

"Because I like that name.  Or Lucas."

I love you but - baby, baby, baby - no.

Hanging out with snails...

...or at least that's what it feels like.  We've been working - just ever so slowly - collecting necessary paperwork, downloading parenting classes, making phone calls, etc.

But we've also been doing a lot of praying.  And intentional waiting.  This is probably the biggest reason for a lack of updates - so if you think of us and wonder how we're doing, would you mind saying a prayer on our behalf?

In the meantime, we've also added a couple hundred dollars to our adoption fund, part of it coming from good friends and family.  It's always humbling to be on the receiving end of a gift, but we are very thankful.

Guess that's about it for now.

A gift.

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God loves children.  It also says He loves those who cheerfully give.

I can only imagine His thoughts on this gift from a 7 year old girl:

Thank you Ella.

Progress and a Set-Back.

For the good news, we have reached another goal - raising all our agency fees!

Work-wise, this past Christmas season was not what we expected at all.  My husband hired a great crew of guys in expectation of a heavy work-load.  Though the work never did more then wave a hand in our direction, and despite seeing next to nothing in the first two weeks, we did manage to make some money.

My husband also had the pleasure of dealing with a rock thrown through a rental truck window, a diesel spill requiring a haz-mat team, and an employee who left a gash in the side of a rental before it was returned.  Oy.

But the good news is still good:  we were able to add over $1,800 to our fund.  I can't help but be happy about that!  And at the same time, we got another small donation from our Memorial couple who continue to bless and encourage us in our journey.

However, we're now facing a complicated situation: health insurance.

Since my husband is essentially self-employed, we have to provide our own health insurance.  That's fine - we've been doing it for years.  But apparently when you adopt a child, they want a letter from your health insurance provider saying your child will be covered when the child is placed in your possession.  I called our health insurance company and asked about getting that letter, and they said, "No, you have to apply ahead of time for insurance for the child.  How old is he?"

Uhh.....really?  We don't know and we won't know until we can get proof of potential health coverage.

She's kindly sending me our entire policy (which apparently states on page 8 that our policy allows us to apply for coverage for adopted children, something they've since changed, so this is actually good), though I've asked that the information be put into letter form in hopes that they'll accept that.  Meanwhile I am avidly searching for a way to combat this issue, assuming a measly letter on being allowed to apply for insurance doesn't fly with them.  We can't be the only ones who've faced this, right?

I'll keep you posted on what I find out, but any thoughts are welcome.  =)

Saving Little Roland...

Yes, Stuart and I are still working on our adoption process.
No, we are not adopting Roland.

But a friend of ours is and she needs support!

Stuart and I went to college with Alexis (her cousin and I were comm majors together).  She was valedictorian of our senior class, and if I remember correctly, she dyed her hair pink before graduation and it made some of the higher-ups pretty mad.  =)

She's awesome like that.  So awesome, in fact, that she and her husband have committed to adopt an incredible little boy, Roland.

But they need some serious support - both spiritually and financially.

You see, Roland was born with Arthrogryposis - a condition that deforms his limbs.

Alexis and her husband know this condition well, as their absolutely adorable (and hilarious!) daughter was born with it.  And despite being told by several doctors that their daughter would never walk, these two parents allowed God to work through their dedication to produce a miracle - at the young age of 4 years old, she is a walking machine.  Visit http://www.laeliasky.com/ to see what I mean.

Watching how they've raised their daughter Laelia has me convinced that little Roland needs to get into their arms as quickly as possible.  Every day he stays in an orphanage in another country is another day he goes without necessary therapy.

Well, and another day his mommy goes without holding him.

So if you have a dollar or two to spare, or a minute or two to pray, please jump on over to their blog and do what you can.  Because they're working with the organization Reese's Rainbow, all donations are tax-deductible.

Roland's blog:  http://gettingawesleyinedgewise.blogspot.com/

P.S.  They are currently running a fundraiser (until January 25th).  Instructions are on the blog and there is some neat stuff to be had!

On another note, I am not doing this post to gain any entries.  This post is solely dedicated to bring awareness to an orphan who is separated from his home merely by finances.