We got an email last night with the official approval! Now we wait again to be contacted by the Ethiopia Program Director, who will guide us through the next steps!
We are also cleared to begin the home study process, so we will be calling our social worker today to set up our first meeting. The home study segment of the process is approximately $1650, so we will also be working our butts off to scrimp, save and fundraise!
YAY YAY YAY!!!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Money Money Money Money
Today has been filled with research (21c translation: googling) and brainstorming (21c translation: facebook poll) on how to fund our adoption. The first result is direct from our super awesome friend Laura. She suggested we add a paypal donation button, and sent me all the links and such I needed to do so. So, now you will see it in the top right corner.
I got lots of other great ideas form friends, like t-shirts and letters and lemonade stands.
Then I asked Ellory Sue. At almost 4, this girl is loving and giving, and thoughtful beyond belief.
Our conversation went something like this:
Me: Ellory Sue. It's going to take a lot of money for us to bring our baby home. I'm trying to think of some ways we might raise money. You got any?
Ellory Sue: Well, you can have all my money.
M: Ellory, that's beautiful, you are going to be such a great big sister to your brother or sister! I can tell you love them already.
E: Well, I do, and I just want to help. So you can have it all.
M: Do you have any other ideas?
E: We could go to the bank.
M: We might end up doing that, They might let us borrow money to bring our baby home, and we can give it back.
E: I could sell my things.
M: You have things you would want to sell for your new baby? That's a great idea. Maybe we could have a yard sale, and you could have a lemonade stand!
E: YESSSSSSSSSSSSS! I'll say, 'Get your lemonade, take it home! Get your lemonade so we can bring our baby home!"
Then she proceeded to go into her room and emerge with the contents you see in the photo. I halfheartedly apologize if something you gave her is in this pile. You see that big pink tutu? I worked too many stinking hours on that thing, because I wanted to give Ellory a homemade gift for Christmas two years ago. I Made it the BIGGEST, FLUFFIEST, PINKEST tutu this side of the Mississippi, and the girl has touched it a total of 6 times, usually to tell me she doesn't like it. When she brought the pile of things out, there was this urge in me to say, "No, Ellory, not these things, not your things, not the thing I MADE!" And that heart translation would have said: "Our things, my time, this STUFF...it's more important than people. That tutu is more important than your brother, your sister."
How sick is that!? From the mouth of babes I tell ya! My sweet girl understands sacrifice more than I do. And I love that this new Coffey, and Ezra have a sister who would give up everything she had for them!
Tutu anyone?
Closer...
So it's not official-official, but we got an encouraging call from our agency yesterday! In addition to the application, photos, tax documents and contract, we had to have a medical letter sent from my doctor that outlined some medication, treatment, prognosis, etc...Thankfully, they received all the information they needed, on the proper letterhead, with proper signatures...Whew!
And so, yesterday, they called...well, I'll be honest, they returned my call--I might be a total freak when it comes to aiding the process as much as I can--So, they returned my call to let us know that they had all they needed, and they would continue to review all the information and send it on to the Ethiopia Program, whom we should here from "in the next few days." Agh! (I've never been so thankful for concrete dates and times for the pre-natal appointments I had with Ellory Sue and Ezra.) At that time, they will pass on all the information and document checklist of the things we need to complete and gather to compose our dossier.
I should note how thankful we already are for the way this process is stretching us and growing us. First and foremost, we are blown away as we reflect daily on our own adoption through Christ Jesus, as God's children. Not kinda of children, or second thought children, or children-for-now-but-don't-you-mess-up children, but really really God's own. It's one of those things that as Christians we've "known," but are now being blessed with the parable of our own lives.
I had similar feelings when Ellory Sue entered into her 2nd year of life. I felt like I was bombarded by pictures of our Father's perfect, gentle, gracious parenting. On several occasions, I'd set out a "station" of shiny new toys and books for Ellory Sue to play with, and walk to the back of the house to switch the laundry, or prepare lunch. Inevitably, I'd reenter the room to here rumbles and baby talk coming from the bathroom, where Ellory had forgone my "good gift" and opted to play in the bathroom trash. I'd flip, and then beg God for forgiveness, as clear images came to mind, of how I was doing the same--seeking garbage, wallowing in filthy, when His good gifts were before me.
Three weeks into this adoption process, God has been so gracious in showing us that while we have the best intentions and desires, and we are fighting hard for our child, we are still sinful humans. God, however, and His love, desire, intentions and fight are nothing but holy and pure. And he really did wage war to complete our adoption!
We are also learning that even though this child, in our hearts, is already really our baby, as much as Ellory and Ezra were in those first hours we knew they were growing inside me, people will say, or insinuate, or in some other way communicate doubt. The same way we doubt that God could really save "that person." The same way we think there is something we can do to be more of God's child that we already are. As we venture down this road to our child, I am all the more confident in God's free gift of grace on our lives, unwavering in our screw ups and our own doubts, or the doubts of those we encounter--we REALLY ARE GOD'S CHILDREN!
And so, yesterday, they called...well, I'll be honest, they returned my call--I might be a total freak when it comes to aiding the process as much as I can--So, they returned my call to let us know that they had all they needed, and they would continue to review all the information and send it on to the Ethiopia Program, whom we should here from "in the next few days." Agh! (I've never been so thankful for concrete dates and times for the pre-natal appointments I had with Ellory Sue and Ezra.) At that time, they will pass on all the information and document checklist of the things we need to complete and gather to compose our dossier.
I should note how thankful we already are for the way this process is stretching us and growing us. First and foremost, we are blown away as we reflect daily on our own adoption through Christ Jesus, as God's children. Not kinda of children, or second thought children, or children-for-now-but-don't-you-mess-up children, but really really God's own. It's one of those things that as Christians we've "known," but are now being blessed with the parable of our own lives.
I had similar feelings when Ellory Sue entered into her 2nd year of life. I felt like I was bombarded by pictures of our Father's perfect, gentle, gracious parenting. On several occasions, I'd set out a "station" of shiny new toys and books for Ellory Sue to play with, and walk to the back of the house to switch the laundry, or prepare lunch. Inevitably, I'd reenter the room to here rumbles and baby talk coming from the bathroom, where Ellory had forgone my "good gift" and opted to play in the bathroom trash. I'd flip, and then beg God for forgiveness, as clear images came to mind, of how I was doing the same--seeking garbage, wallowing in filthy, when His good gifts were before me.
Three weeks into this adoption process, God has been so gracious in showing us that while we have the best intentions and desires, and we are fighting hard for our child, we are still sinful humans. God, however, and His love, desire, intentions and fight are nothing but holy and pure. And he really did wage war to complete our adoption!
We are also learning that even though this child, in our hearts, is already really our baby, as much as Ellory and Ezra were in those first hours we knew they were growing inside me, people will say, or insinuate, or in some other way communicate doubt. The same way we doubt that God could really save "that person." The same way we think there is something we can do to be more of God's child that we already are. As we venture down this road to our child, I am all the more confident in God's free gift of grace on our lives, unwavering in our screw ups and our own doubts, or the doubts of those we encounter--we REALLY ARE GOD'S CHILDREN!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
I'm not barfing...
But we are expecting a baby. Or child.
We think.
We've submitted all our application work, pictures, tax documents, contracts...
Basically we've taken the "test" and now we wait. Wait for 1 line or 2. Wait weeks, not minutes to figure out if we are "expecting."
We eagerly await to shout it out, but for now we cautiously pray, that the desire to grow our family through adoption would move forward. We trust that our great God, our own adoptive Father has given us this desire!
So we ask that you join us too, in hopeful expectation that our baby, already born, or perhaps yet conceived, somewhere in Ethiopia would someway know that they are loved, prayed for and hoped for, and we that we can't wait to bring them home.
I've always wondered why a blog in the process of adoption, and 2 weeks in, I know. It's a lot of information. There are many questions from all our friends and family...and (although we really have nothing to share at this point) we are happy to share this adventure with all those who love us. However, the reality is, I can't be on the phone 30 hours a day sharing every detail with every friend and family member. So, we have revived this blog to consolidate all the information and all our thoughts here.
We welcome comments and questions. And we covet prayers as we embark on the unknown!
In every joy and in each heart ache along the way, we pray that all glory be given to Christ Jesus our Lord, who made our own adoption into God's family, our reality.
More to come!
Terri for the Coffeys!
We think.
We've submitted all our application work, pictures, tax documents, contracts...
Basically we've taken the "test" and now we wait. Wait for 1 line or 2. Wait weeks, not minutes to figure out if we are "expecting."
We eagerly await to shout it out, but for now we cautiously pray, that the desire to grow our family through adoption would move forward. We trust that our great God, our own adoptive Father has given us this desire!
So we ask that you join us too, in hopeful expectation that our baby, already born, or perhaps yet conceived, somewhere in Ethiopia would someway know that they are loved, prayed for and hoped for, and we that we can't wait to bring them home.
I've always wondered why a blog in the process of adoption, and 2 weeks in, I know. It's a lot of information. There are many questions from all our friends and family...and (although we really have nothing to share at this point) we are happy to share this adventure with all those who love us. However, the reality is, I can't be on the phone 30 hours a day sharing every detail with every friend and family member. So, we have revived this blog to consolidate all the information and all our thoughts here.
We welcome comments and questions. And we covet prayers as we embark on the unknown!
In every joy and in each heart ache along the way, we pray that all glory be given to Christ Jesus our Lord, who made our own adoption into God's family, our reality.
More to come!
Terri for the Coffeys!
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