Our adoption: Where do I begin?

Where do I begin is a good question.  I guess I should start with our adoption has not gone anywhere yet.  Benny and I have very different opinions about this.  I won't go into the details here.  Long story short: we haven't received ANY financial support as of yet.  So, once again, I ask that anyone who feels led to donate to our adoption... PLEASE do so. I really can't tell anyone how much I HATE to ask others for money.  Some might say if you need to ask for money then why are you even trying to adopt?  Well, it's not that we can't afford to care for a child...we just don't have an extra 30K in our pockets to pay for the entire adoption.  It is actually a very common thing for people who are adopting to ask for financial support and do fundraising.  I am attempting to do some things to raise money...it just isn't happening!  I am feeling a bit incompetent to tell you the truth.  I told Benny recently I have decided that I am "ok" at a few things, but not great at anything.  A bit discouraging I tell ya!  Anyway,  I cannot tell you the countless number of times each day that I think about the precious children who need homes.  I cannot tell you how much I long to go and meet our next child.  But, without the funding to get started......  Do I sound desperate?  Well, I am.  There are 3 absolutely precious little angels that I look at every day that are in need of a home.  They each have special needs...the main one being that they need someone to love and care for them.  All these children are in orphanages.  Most have been there their entire life for one reason or another.  Some it is due to severe poverty and others because the child has some kind of medical need that they are unable to afford.  So, please search your hearts, pray, meditate,...whatever and consider sending any donation that you feel you can or should.

On a brighter note:  One of my internet friends brought her daughter home a couple of weeks ago and another visited her new daughter last month and should get to bring her home in a couple of months.  I am so happy for them!

Chip-In added to blog

I still haven't figured out how to put my chip-in where I want it, but you can click on the link in the previous post and go to the secure chip-in page and make a donation.

 We have been viewing a couple of children that are available through the special needs list.  Several have touched my heart and made me wonder, is that the child for us?  So, at this point we are praying for God's confirmation on what child is to be ours.  We (Benny and I) know that it is all in His hands and in His timing that we will know what child is ours and have everything in place to move forward with the adoption.  Please search your heart and see if God is prompting you to help bring this child home in way of a donation.

Have a great week.  Ours has started off with SNOW!

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A cold January

If you think it is cold here, it is equally, if not more so, in Bulgaria.  Many of the orphanages don't have the proper heating and warmth for the children.  Unfortunately, many of the frail and fragile children won't survive this winter.  I just read another mother's blog that a child she had been helping raise money for had died. 

Benny will be running a marathon next weekend in Charleston, South Carolina.  We are asking anyone who will to sponsor him in whatever way you see fit.  For those who don't know, a marathon is 26.2 miles.  You can sponsor him by a lump sum donation or a per mile rate.  If you want info. about where or how to send the money please e-mail me at specialcricket@yahoo.com and I will happily give it to you.  My goal and prayer is to have our son or daughter home by the end of this year.  It will take nothing short of a miracle for this to happen since we haven't been able to start most of the paperwork.  But, as most of you know, God is all over miracles every day!  Have a great day and I look forward to hearing from you!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone!  I will be working NewYear's Eve and New Year's Day night so I thought I should go ahead a post.  I hope everyone had a joyful Christmas and kept the true meaning in the center of it all.  2010 has been a very busy year with lots of changes and activities.  2011 will probably be even busier with just as many activities and hopefully bring a new child into our family.  For all of you reading this, please consider making a donation to our adoption fund.  It doesn't have to be a lot.  If everyone donated $10-20 that would make a huge impact and get things rolling along.  I still haven't figured out how to add a "chip-in" account on here yet.  But, I am still working on it.  So, for now I guess sending a check will be the easiest option.  If anyone wants to do this please let me know and I will give you the information.  Or, if you see any of our family members you can give them the money.  We are already receiving pictures and information from our agency about special needs children that are available for adoption.  It breaks my heart to see these children who are so in need of homes.  There are a couple that have really touched my heart and I would bring them home in a heartbeat.  But, without the money all I can do is dream and keep working toward that dream.  Thank you all for your prayers because they are equally, if not more, important than the money.  Have a great and safe Happy New Year!

What's the hold up?

Let me start by catching up those who don't know what is going on.  Benny and I are going to adopt from Bulgaria.  Some of you may be saying, "where on earth is Bulgaria?"  Bulgaria is located in Eastern Europe near Romania, Greece and Turkey.  Is is a very beautiful country that has many beautiful children that are waiting to be adopted.  The children live in orphanages and many have been there all of their lives.  So, God has given us the desire to adopt one of these children and provide them with a loving and caring home.  No, we are not crazy!  We are very excited and can't wait to bring our child home.  He or she will most likely be between 2-3 years old when arriving home.  Unfortunately we can't just say we want to adopt and go pick up our child. There are many steps involved and most all of them involve money.  We have decided on the adoption agency and homestudy agency.  Those are two of the easier, but very important, decisions we have made.  The harder decisions involve deciding what child fits best into our current family.  That comes later.  Right now the big thing is getting all the paperwork completed and being approved to adopt.  Before we can get started we have to get all the financial issues out of the way or at least semi-planned out.  As you can guess, it is very costly to do an international adoption, much like completing a domestic adoption here.  It is more than worth every penny though! 
So, for those of you who have always thought it would be a good thing to support an orphan in another country or make a difference in their life....here is your chance.  You can help to bring a child home to a loving family where they will have good food and a warm bed to sleep in.  The Bible tells us we are to care for the orphans and the widows.   Soon there will be a place on here to make donations and also buy some things for our fundraisers.  I just have to get it all figured out.  If you are really itching to send money NOW, then just contact me and I will give you the information you need.  But please consider donating to bring our baby home.  The faster we have the money the faster we can bring them home.  All fees must be paid in advance.  Thanks for reading!