tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133591605218385462024-02-18T22:14:28.665-05:00Unconventional Love"He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you? But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-50381016157204281562017-09-15T23:17:00.000-04:002017-09-15T23:17:57.517-04:00A fresh cup of courage"The thing that unravels connection...turns out to be shame. In order for connection to happen, you have to allow yourself to be seen, really seen."<br />
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"Vulnerability is the birthplace of joy, creativity, belonging, and love."<br />
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10 years -- 5 years --3 1/2 years --2 1/2 years --1 1/2 years -- 4 weeks --5 days<br />
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<b>10 years</b><br />
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<a href="https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/19467842_10105843889979493_2134630174476990113_o.jpg?oh=937c8cc07528da56f2c83ba1cfd5c5ca&oe=5A5378D6" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image may contain: 4 people, people smiling, people standing and wedding" border="0" height="200" src="https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/19467842_10105843889979493_2134630174476990113_o.jpg?oh=937c8cc07528da56f2c83ba1cfd5c5ca&oe=5A5378D6" width="133" /></a></div>
On June 30th, Evan and I celebrated 10 years of marriage. We. were. babies. But, man oh, man, I <i>still </i>do. This guy fit like an old shoe from the moment I met him. You are going to have to get over the cliche because it is true - he is my best friend. He is the one I confide most in, trust more than any human, and I genuinely enjoy his company most. I'm quite a lucky gal. Rest assured, it's not all sunshine and roses (just keep reading), but having Evan as my companion in life makes the journey a whole lot sweeter.<br />
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<b>5 years</b><br />
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<a href="https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/201738_161562420647769_637211399_o.jpg?oh=d7c484d5e8c20939b20421eeb949692f&oe=5A43C683" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Image may contain: one or more people, people standing and outdoor" border="0" height="133" src="https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/201738_161562420647769_637211399_o.jpg?oh=d7c484d5e8c20939b20421eeb949692f&oe=5A43C683" width="200" /></a>Half of our marriage has been waiting for something very specific, or I should say someone. Evan and I started the journey to adopt in July of 2012. God dropped subtle and then no-so-subtle hints for a couple of years leading up to that point about adoption. We chose our agency, AWAA, first and then the country of Ethiopia (see why Ethiopia). When we began the journey, the state of international adoption was very different. Things were moving faster. We had a projected 18-24 month wait time, but that wait kept extending. The climate of international adoption changing is not necessarily a bad thing. Most don't know (until you are neck deep in it like we are) that there is a TON of corruption in international adoption. Some of the extended timeline is due to addressing these issues, but the rest of the reasons are a bit foggier. Right not, we are officially in our time frame to receive a referral, for the first time ever. However, as soon as we entered in to that window, Ethiopia stopped issuing referrals. Here's where it get's tougher - <u>the Ethiopian government has not closed international adoption, but they have not given any referrals in 9 months</u>. Ethiopian officials are also not answering questions about it. So we are very much in a stuck place. There are many roads to adoption. This is the one that God called us to, and as crazy as it sounds, he has called us to stick this out to the end. If you are asking yourself, why we don't switch to domestic, fostering, other countries, trust not in me, but in the God I love and serve who often asks crazy things and this is one of them. This not the path I would have necessarily chosen.<br />
<a href="https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15203201_10104968477987143_8923567269159205635_n.jpg?oh=c3e790d7f0246019dfc0310e1c8e77a6&oe=5A48688A" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image may contain: 2 people, people smiling, people sitting, child, outdoor and closeup" border="0" height="200" src="https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15203201_10104968477987143_8923567269159205635_n.jpg?oh=c3e790d7f0246019dfc0310e1c8e77a6&oe=5A48688A" width="150" /></a><br />
<b>3 1/2 years</b><br />
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Liv. She is too much and just right. I know I am biased, but this kid is incredible. She is spunky, funny, smart, and unnervingly perceptive. Three is an amazing age, by far my favorite age as a parent yet. Kids at three are curious, discovering and stumbling over language and humor, and are still so stinking cute. She is in school and soaking up everything her wonderful teachers are teaching her. As a former teacher and just simply a very sensitive soul, when she came home and showed me how she can write both an upper and lower case "A," I teared up. I love this nugget so much.<br />
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<b>2 1/2 years</b><br />
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Because we are such fans of Liv and due to a general enjoyment of kids and chaos, Evan and I decided trying for kid #2 (or 3 depending on how you look at it) two and a half years ago. We chose the road to adopt before we had any knowledge of whether or not we would have trouble conceiving. Once the wait time continuing to stretch out for Ethiopia, we tried for Liv and BAM! one month later we were pregnant. So, we were shocked when it wasn't happening the second time around. We are healthy, my cycle is like clockwork, and Evan is 5 years younger than me. What in the world? We have done all the testing. In case you are wondering, it's not super fun and it is more than a little emotional. Long story short, there is no good answer for why we can't get pregnant.<br />
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<i>So, let me serve up a fresh cup of courage/vulnerability for you - I'm not ok with this. </i>Many of us have unrequited longings, and this is mine. I have prayed, fasted, done a year of counseling, and although I feel better and stronger - I still long. In the quiet moments when there are no distractions, I cry. I am still heartbroken. Strong, but heartbroken. I'm laying this out there because I know I need to for my healing. I know someone else needs to read this so they can say, "Me too." I was listening to a TED talk from Brene Brown who studies shame and vulnerability and she said this, "You cannot selectively numb emotion.When we numb the negative emotions, we lose out on joy, gratitude, and happiness." I don't want that. I noticed that I was starting to miss out on joy again, and it's because I was denying that my heartache was still there. After all, can't I just accept this reality and move on? Apparently, no.<br />
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<b>1 1/2 years</b><br />
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A year and a half ago, I stopped teaching. I resigned in the middle of the year (gasp!). I never would have dreamed of this, but the path forward was undeniable, but still painful. I loved teaching and I was pretty good at it. I'm not totally convinced that I won't go back to it at some point, but having more time with Liv right now is pretty sublime. In an end of summer purge, I sold and gave away a bunch of my teaching books which was both tough and oddly freeing for whatever my next adventure will be. I, of course, held on to some of my favorite books and cannot wait to read them to Liv as she gets older (anything Kate DiCamillio anyone?).<br />
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<b>4 weeks</b><br />
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<a href="https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/21015823_10106070176893703_8636682214762101077_o.jpg?oh=f9235e8b07653fce9d60b795da911519&oe=5A4942CB" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image may contain: 2 people, night, child and closeup" border="0" height="155" src="https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/21015823_10106070176893703_8636682214762101077_o.jpg?oh=f9235e8b07653fce9d60b795da911519&oe=5A4942CB" width="200" /></a>Let me tell you about a man named Richard, granddad to me. My beloved granddad passed away four weeks ago from pancreatic cancer at 89 years old. For years, I thought the man didn't age. He was timeless. He had style and personality to spare. He was funny, generous, and always encouraged our dreams. Every Thanksgiving but two in my life have been spent with him, hearing the same stories and laughing at the annual "giving us the bird" joke when the turkey was presented. He savored life, and that is a legacy I wish to continue.<br />
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<b>5 days</b><br />
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" 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Irma. We live in Florida, and 5 days ago the largest record hurricane to originate from the Atlantic <i>spanked</i> Florida. This was on the heals of Harvey wrecking the Houston area. It could have been worse, a lot worse. We had minimal damage, were not out of power for long, but the lead up was excruciating. For two weeks we knew it was coming but not exactly where. Fortunately it slowed down, but it did come right through central Florida. It was our first hurricane and I would say we all handled it well with minimal tantrums and tears (I'm talking about me here, Liv was a champ). A beautiful thing that came of both hurricanes are the stories of the helpers and how communities pulled together. During our first step outdoors post-Irma, we saw a neighborhood family whom we have never met and the first thing they said was, "Is everyone ok?" Beautiful.<br />
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There is a lot of hard, but sweet sprinkles of goodness too. I share because it frees me of isolation. I'm sharing because I know someone else needs to hear this too. There is beauty in the ashes, but we need to release the hurts and sorrows, walk through the pain, into the storm in order to see beauty on the other end (Is. 61:3).Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-85819792150291050202017-06-01T09:26:00.000-04:002017-06-01T09:26:05.187-04:00Choose to Chance the Rapids<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7zARvAiTu-De_Rh8JX9DN0D1wS_GYkjALD5lU_AkhNcoO_cwNKsFDSu4kh52N0ebK-P-U9__3VvntwkOr3docfq1gNZo5FLC5Dm24uG0Hd6shvvdC6CFHtZHHa9yHlXJ5MYqpOpHWNhA/s1600/river.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7zARvAiTu-De_Rh8JX9DN0D1wS_GYkjALD5lU_AkhNcoO_cwNKsFDSu4kh52N0ebK-P-U9__3VvntwkOr3docfq1gNZo5FLC5Dm24uG0Hd6shvvdC6CFHtZHHa9yHlXJ5MYqpOpHWNhA/s1600/river.jpg" /></a></div>
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I, like most, live with opposing forces battling within me. I have always been a fairly obedient person. I tend to follow the rules, listen and respect authority, and desire to meet or exceed expectations.</div>
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However, there is the other side. The side that has diverse interests and desires that go against the norm. I have a major case of wanderlust, I desire to live a creative and spontaneous life, and I want to buck against what is widely accepted and say, "why?"</div>
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These forces tug back and forth like a never ending game of tug-of-war. CONFORM! MEET EXPECTATIONS! KEEP THE PEACE! DON'T ROCK THE BOAT! <i>WAIT, FORGET THAT! I'M UNIQUELY MADE LIKE NO OTHER, CELEBRATE THAT! LIVE ABROAD! GET THAT TATTOO! SAY WHAT YOU REALLY THINK NOT JUST WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR! BE YOUR WHOLE SELF <b>EVEN IF THAT ROCKS OTHERS' WORLD</b>!</i></div>
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Whew, it is exhausting! I'm sure there are a million and one psychological and sociological reasons why this internal conflict exists, but at the core of it all is one nasty four "f" letter word. Fear. What will people think of me? What if I am rejected? What if no one like what they see when I show who I really am? Will I be all alone?</div>
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I like to think that I don't care too much about others' approval, but obviously I do. I care about the fact that most people in this word like people to remain in neat categorized boxes. <i> You are ir/responsible, _____ profession, a mom/ without kids, a wife/single/divorcee/girlfriend, an extrovert/introvert, a good/bad....whatever skill. </i>Dare I say we are all more complex than this? Aren't we capable of growing and changing. Can our interests be varied or even at time conflicting?</div>
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I'm actively fighting against this. A battle that surely will be arduous. However, what is the alternative? Each day I'm taking time to dream, from there come action steps, and hopefully then I'll start to take my unique form.</div>
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What holds you back? Where are you feeling like you need to buck against the norm a bit more? </div>
Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-29544725048667374932017-01-23T10:22:00.000-05:002017-01-23T19:59:31.929-05:00Settling into the unknownRecently, a friend of mine recommended that I read Sue Monk Kidd's <u>When the Heart Waits</u>. Kidd's writing is beautifully descriptive as she shares about a season in her life where she was called to wait. The biggest take away is that <b>the only way out of the pain of waiting is settling deep into it</b>. Sounds fun, right? Counter-intuitive?<br />
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The image present throughout the book is that of a caterpillar's metamorphosis. A caterpillar wraps itself in a cocoon and stays there until the change is complete. There is no rushing the stages of metamorphosis. "It's truly a fant<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">astic mechanism developed by nature, yet while all may seem fantastic on the outside, this transformation looks pretty gruesome deep inside the chrysalis. In short, for a caterpillar to turn into a butterfly it </span><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; text-align: justify;">digests</em><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"> itself using enzymes triggered by hormones, before sleeping cells similar to stem cells grow into the body parts of the future butterfly." (ZME Science). In other words, in order to feel the greatest change, we have to enter into the painful and long process of digesting our old self and turning into something new. </span></span><br />
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Several months ago I began counseling. I consider myself a well-adjusted person, but over the past two and a half years I've experienced a good amount of loss in different forms. I am no longer teaching - a profession that I am deeply passionate about and felt great success and satisfaction. My husband and I have struggled with infertility - a journey filled with disappointment and loss of a life we thought we'd have. Then there is the adoption - the wait that seems to never end and the ache that won't go away. I found that I was crumbling under the weight of these struggles. I would be able to handle the pain for a period of time, perhaps through telling myself the trite pieces of conventional wisdom that we have all heard - "It will all work out," "It is for the best," "At least you have ___," "Everything happens for a reason." Or times when I was feeling more spiritual I may have been able to cling to God' promises of His goodness. The only thing is, these little nuggets of wisdom weren't helping. They simply weren't permeating my heart. <i>Aside - If you have a friend or family member experiencing some kind of long trial, advice on how to get out of the pain or "band-aid" comments like those above aren't helpful. Just say, "I'm sorry you are in pain. How can I support you during this time?"</i><br />
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My counselor explained to me that all people have a reaction to pain or trauma - 5 F's: fight, flight, freeze, fidget, and faint. She discerningly deduced that I faint. When faced with pain or trauma, I deal with it as long as I can and then I check out or metaphorically faint. She explained that we have to pave a new path in my mind, a path into the pain. She has helped me find my way into the depths of the pain (which goes waaaaayyyyyy deeper than we think), and coached me on how to stay in it. You know what's strange? I began learning how to support myself in the pain and I have begun to feel a positive change. I am not crumbling like I was before. Don't get me wrong, I cry, but I can stay in the place of pain without fear or avoidance.<br />
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I am not sure how long I will be wrapped up in a cocoon and when I will emerge. But, I am now confident of this - I will emerge different, better, and with wings.<br />
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<i>"I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! <b>Wait</b> for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!" Psalm 27:13-14.</i>Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-27207528690962381102016-07-28T15:10:00.001-04:002016-07-28T15:10:36.689-04:004 years later....where are we now?July 28, 2016<br />
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So much time has passed, where do I begin? Let's circle back. For years, God gently tugged at our heart to adopt, and in July of 2012 we finally acted on the tugs and applied to our adoption agency, America World (www.awaa.org).<br />
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When we began the process, the wait time for the Ethiopia program was 18-24 months. The assumption was that our adopted child would be in our home by the summer of 2014. However, the climate of international adoption across the world was changing. The wait times kept moving out. So, we decided, "Hey, let's try for a biological child!" Liv was born in November of 2013, and changed our world and blessed us with so much joy.<br />
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Evan got a new job and we transplanted our family to Florida two years ago, which has been fun but very trying at times. As the wait time on our adoption continues to move farther and farther away, we continue to pray and ask God if He wants us to change something. Should we change to domestic adoption? Change countries? Foster to adopt? So far, no news from the Big Guy. He's asking us to continue to persevere and wait. This. is. not. easy.<br />
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We feel the desire to continue to grow our family, and so the conversation about another biological child came up. However, this time God revealed another layer to our story. <i>Liv was a special blessing. </i>We knew she was special, amazing, and a miracle, but to what extent... we had no idea. After a year a half of trying, many tests and appointments, we found out that the chances of another biological child is like being struck by lightning...twice. We are immensely grateful for our blonde bolt of lightning, but we still ache.<br />
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The question we have been pondering, is what should our posture be in the wait. We can't <i>do</i> anything, but what should our heart be doing? God has shown us to continue to seek his glory. Seek Him though crying out, praying, pleading, and just being. We aren't sure why this is our story, nor do we know all the reasons for the wait. But, God is good. His timing is perfect, and this is His story. His stories are way better than the ones that I write, but I'd being lying if I said I didn't want to flip to the last page and see how this one turns out.<br />
<br />Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-2361542342964972692015-07-30T17:52:00.001-04:002015-07-30T17:52:01.434-04:00I love Jen HatmakerI just do. She inspires me with her faith, honesty, and poignant writing. She is also an adoptive parent, and I just learned that we are with the same agency. Here is a link to her referral story. I long for the day when my day will be blindsided by a call from my family coordinator saying, "Sit down, this is your referral call."<div><br></div><div><a href="http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2010/11/10/our-referral-story">http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2010/11/10/our-referral-story</a></div>Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-8882918448568238072015-07-09T09:22:00.001-04:002015-07-09T09:22:42.151-04:00The other part of orphan care<div>Through our process of adoption, I've learned so much about the needs of orphans in the world. To sum it up, most children who are orphaned are not able to be adopted. Therefore, adoption alone is not going to address the needs of these children. Yes, we are adopting, but our journey to meet the needs of orphans will continue beyond our adoption to orphan prevention. See the article below:</div><div><br></div><a href="http://www.live58.org/the-critical-part-of-orphan-care-that-adoption-culture-has-totally-missed">http://www.live58.org/the-critical-part-of-orphan-care-that-adoption-culture-has-totally-missed</a>Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-48136686191431786202015-02-13T11:04:00.001-05:002015-02-13T11:04:49.992-05:00Update on the O hausIn July, the O Haus moved down to Orlando, Florida. It was not the easiest transition, but we knew that God was in the midst of our circumstances. We are now 8 months into our time here, and the winds have shifted. While it was chaotic and emotional in the beginning, we now feel like we are getting settled and God is providing us with a community and more peace. We are even in the process of buying a house!!!<br />
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<b>Evan</b><br />
One of the main reasons that we moved from Virginia was for Evan. He finished up a Master's degree from Virginia Tech in Instructional Design, and in January of last year he began his search for something in this industry. Lo and behold, Orlando is a major hub for the type of work Evan does. He is working for a government contractor designing instruction for Naval battleships. He is thoroughly enjoying his job, loving the change of pace, and the creative challenges of his job.<br />
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<b>Jackie</b><br />
I have returned to teaching 5th grade. The school where I teach is nestled in a community and has some of the hardest working and supportive teachers I have ever encountered. It's been a tough adjustment from teaching in Virginia with all the differences in standards and testing. I regularly struggle with balancing motherhood and working and if this the career for me long term. However, I am trusting that God is using me where I am right now and so I will keep trucking.<br />
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<b>Liv</b><br />
Liv is an adorable package of joy and energy. She is walking, running, climbing, chattering, and bringing smiles to everyone around her. We regularly hear, "She is so happy!" She has been smiling since 6 weeks and pretty much hasn't stopped since.<br />
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<b>Enzo</b><br />
Enzo is adjusting to the role as big brother. He is enjoying Liv's new found ability to throw the ball for him.<br />
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<b>Adoption</b><br />
Since we have been in the process of adoption (July 2012), the wait time has increased 3 times. We are now in the midst of a 36-48 month wait from DTE (the date went sent our <b>D</b>ossier <b>t</b>o <b>E</b>thiopia- March 1, 2013). As of right now that means the soonest we would receive a referral is March 1, 2016 and the latest is March 1, 2017. HOWEVER, wait times are showing a trend of increasing so the wait time is likely longer. It's been hard to continue waiting. It seems like the pregnancy that will not end sometimes. We are trying to find the balance of expectancy while still living in the present. We will be working on some fundraisers in the near future to keep up with the financial demands.Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-1314111934112915572014-05-07T09:04:00.001-04:002014-05-07T09:04:13.558-04:00In the wait<div class="irc_mutc">
<a class="irc_mutl" data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=waiting&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=0QMsvxCu5LYIpM&tbnid=jqPtNlEr68_YcM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsteveberger.gracechapel.net%2F2012%2F01%2Fnew-year-gods-way%25E2%2580%2594hopeful-waiting-for-restoration%2F&ei=Mi9qU4eiLoaq8AHP-4HQDA&bvm=bv.66111022,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNEZm54DL0QyZ_GJtjirioTXKSleiQ&ust=1399554223852314" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="irc_mut" height="193" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRLWGC-VvUL-XpU4IctSTgYggFLBJQLq5uCSKNq3S1RheMT94MEug:steveberger.gracechapel.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/waiting.jpg" style="margin-top: 2px;" width="320" /></a></div>
I received an email from our family coordinator recently just wanting to check in and confirm the details of our request. I answered all of the same questions as I have before (male or female, possibility of siblings, between 0-24 months). I told her about Liv, and how she brings us such joy, smiles constantly, and overall is a very laid back girl. <br />
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Then, she asked a simple question, "How are you doing in the wait?" Well, I started to respond, and realized that the flood gates opened. I have so many more doubts, fears, and questions than I did when we started in 2012. I don't see this as a bad thing though. I think that this is a necessary process to go through instead of blindly walking through this. <br />
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I asked a lot of questions about why the wait is so long, why I don't hear anything about our specific case, and what comes of the orphans that are in orphanages right now. My family coordinator had some great insights, and I've included some of her thoughts below. <br />
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<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1399464745433_7131" style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;">Basically, there’s lots of families and lots of children. I can ensure you this is very frustrating for me being in Ethiopia and seeing children who need families and knowing there are families waiting. However, it is mostly the government of Ethiopia causing this delay. We used to have very quick wait times years ago, but now the government is taking very long to sign off on documentation for a child to be cleared for adoption. We certainly support ethical adoptions and examining paperwork. But there’s lots of unnecessary holds. There has been negative adoption news coverage in Ethiopia, as well (one being the Hannah Williams story about an American couple who punished a child to the point of death). We are working to get more positive stories out to the Ethiopia government. But the reality is, there is A LOT of documentation needed for each child’s adoption and everything takes much longer here. And sometimes, one level of the government doesn’t sign off on a document sitting on their desk for a while. And that document may be a preerequisite for another document. We have had a child sit in our Transition Home for a year before because of paperwork issues.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;">Here is some more information that may help, as well:</span></div>
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Included here are links to a couple of blog posts written by our CEO about ethical practices in adoption, especially pertaining to America World.</div>
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<br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" id="yui_3_13_0_1_1399464745433_7292" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">Ethics in Ethiopia (May, 2013)</a><br /><br /><a href="http://adoptedbydesign.typepad.com/blog/2009/01/striving-for-integrity.html" id="yui_3_13_0_1_1399464745433_7293" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: purple; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Striving for Integrity</a></div>
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<a href="http://adoptedbydesign.typepad.com/blog/2009/02/integrity-in-ethiopia.html" id="yui_3_13_0_1_1399464745433_7302" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: purple; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Integrity in Ethiopia</a></div>
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<b id="yui_3_13_0_1_1399464745433_7300">Below talks about how we get referrals and operate in country:</b></div>
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America World partners with several orphanages in Ethiopia. Before we choose to partner with an orphanage, it goes through a screening process. America World holds our partners to high standards and will break a partnership should there be any sign of unethical activity occurring. Many of our orphanages do not strictly work with AWAA, but instead partner with other agencies and organizations, as well. </div>
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America World also does their own investigation in each case before making a referral match. We have specific staff that go to the field and investigate each child’s case. In a relinquishment case, the staff member goes to the living family member and asks questions such as:</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span>“Why did you give this child up for adoption?”</div>
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<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1399464745433_7330" style="font-family: Symbol;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1399464745433_7329">·<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1399464745433_7328"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span>“How old do you believe this child to be?”</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span>“How did you hear about adoption? Were you coerced into this decision? Do you still want to give this child up for adoption?”</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span>“Do you understand that once court is complete this is permanent?”</div>
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If it is an abandonment case, our staff goes to the locality of abandonment and interviews the local police and others in that area. Our staff ensures this information is consistent with the information in the profile and that the case has no red flags. If there are red flags, we further investigate.</div>
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Here is a note from Ryan Hanlon, the Executive Director of Programs:</div>
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<b id="yui_3_13_0_1_1399464745433_7327"><span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1399464745433_7326" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Response to Book on International Adoption</span></b></div>
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At America World Adoption, we generally use our blog as a means of updating families on news and updates about adoption programs, training opportunities or other resources. Today, however, I want to use this forum to address some of the misinformation we’ve heard recently about Christian adoption agencies and the movement over the last decade in which Christians around the country have responded to God’s call on their lives to provide a family for parentless children.</div>
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A recent book calls into question the commitment, practices and motivations of reputable Christian agencies and the commitment and motivation of Christian adoptive families. This book, which I will not name, and the author have exaggerated facts, and misquoted and quoted out of context Christian adoption professionals.</div>
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As a licensed, accredited adoption agency, America World Adoption maintains the highest standards of service throughout our work. America World Adoption is proud of our work in Ethiopia and other countries and have been recognized by the U.S. Consulate in Ethiopia, the Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues as well as the Ethiopian government for our strong efforts to ensure our work in Ethiopia is ethical, transparent and prioritizes children’s best interests.</div>
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International adoption is not the only thing we do in Ethiopia. In fact, we serve hundreds more families and children in Ethiopia every year that are not part of our adoption services. Our agency offers (free of charge) domestic adoption services to Ethiopian families interested in adopting a child. We are proud that we (with the support of our donors and adoptive families) are able to work with the Ethiopian government to provide financial assistance to vulnerable families so that we can prevent their family from breaking apart. In addition, we support nutrition projects, child education sponsorships and many other important projects. In total, we spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to support vulnerable families and communities in Ethiopia that is not part of the adoption processes for the families we serve.</div>
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In the book I’m referring to, the author asserts that evangelical adoption agencies are trafficking children and willfully separating families at any cost for the sake of finding children for adoptive families. Unfortunately, we all know that many children and families are exploited in this world. However, I don’t think it’s fair to say that evangelical adoption agencies are fueling this problem. It may be true that some agencies have had poor practices or even blindly allowed poor practices to be part of their adoption services – but that is not characteristic of Ethiopian adoption or international adoption in general. We at America World Adoption find unethical and disreputable practices to be reprehensible.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />It’s commendable that the author of the book attempts to raise awareness for unethical practices in international adoption; however, there should be recognition that these practices are not characteristic of international adoption as a whole. It’s inaccurate of her to broadly paint Christian agencies and Christian families as responsible for problems with international adoption. This book does not adequately recognize that many of the organizations that are at the forefront of combatting child trafficking, caring for the poor and supporting family services across the globe are Christian organizations. We thank God for organizations such as World Vision, International Justice Mission, Compassion International, hundreds of other groups and thousands of churches around the world.</div>
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There are tens of thousands of children around the world that desperately need families. At America World Adoption we continue to affirm our mission of building Christian families according to God’s plan of adoption. Our hope and prayer is a world where every child can grow up knowing they’re loved by their family and loved by God.</div>
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Ryan Hanlon<br />Executive Director of Programs</div>
Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-53285840635553485442014-02-06T16:03:00.002-05:002014-02-06T16:03:37.758-05:00Ethiopian Adoption Update<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JV97iOxkIVKLBO7Q39CNTD-asHvzac0GFVUC4_k4injd2PF63ekrbbB6g-07hAVz0DMz5TBwDHK5RY7t2jd7iSKOhQfo22TIdwLHJRhlSzB-QFLPDtXY7qva_UO7U00TOI87KCt8mP4/s1600/shutterstock_46788325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JV97iOxkIVKLBO7Q39CNTD-asHvzac0GFVUC4_k4injd2PF63ekrbbB6g-07hAVz0DMz5TBwDHK5RY7t2jd7iSKOhQfo22TIdwLHJRhlSzB-QFLPDtXY7qva_UO7U00TOI87KCt8mP4/s200/shutterstock_46788325.jpg" width="200" /></a>We began our journey with our Ethiopian adoption in the summer of 2012. We submitted our Dossier (adoption paperwork) to Ethiopia on March 1, 2013, and since then our wait time has increased to 30-36 months to referral from the March 1st date. So, we are looking at receiving a referral some time between September 2015-March 2016, and this is just the date of receiving the referral not bringing the child home- that is another about 4 months for that. Oye, waiting is tough.</div>
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However in November we got a gift to keep us busy. We welcomed our daughter to the world, and have enjoyed getting to know her and this thing called parenthood. I have been asked many times during my pregnancy and after our daughter arrived- <i> Are you still adopting? </i>Our answer is -<b>absolutely!</b> You see, our story is different than some. We are not adopting because we are not able to have biological children. We are adopting because we believe a call on our lives is to care for orphans. We may have more biological children during this long wait for the adoption if the Lord wills, and <u>we still plan to bring home one or two children from Ethiopia </u>(depending on what or referral says). So doing the math, we may have nearly enough for a basketball team, as my dad likes to say. </div>
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<i>Do we have any update about our specific case?</i> <b>Nope. </b>We know that our paper work is in Ethiopia, and based on our request for 1 or 2 children under the age of 2, we can assume our child is not yet born. This is pretty crazy seeing as there are over 4 million orphans in Ethiopia. The Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs in Ethiopia is working to reform the adoption process and protect children from being trafficked. In every adoption case, there is a check to see if there are any living family members to care for the child. This is the country's and our first choice- stay with your relatives and in your country and culture if at all possible. We believe leaving your country is a last resort, but we believe we are a better alternative than an orphanage. In addition, our agency does a private investigation to insure all paperwork is authentic.</div>
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<i>How can you help?</i> <b>Prayer. </b> Please pray for the people of Ethiopia and orphans around the world. We want to see families restored, and in the very least, more domestic adoptions and foster programs so children can stay in their country in their culture and not in orphanages. We have found a great organization called Bring Love In (http://bringlove.in/). They work to provide homes for orphans in Ethiopia with widows to care for them. </div>
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We still feel blessed by and sure of this calling to adopt regardless of how long it will take. Thank you for your continued love and support for us in this journey. </div>
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Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-14622635976244521522014-01-28T16:21:00.000-05:002014-01-28T16:21:26.067-05:00A long hiatus and now introducing.......<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meet my adorable 2 month old!<br /></td></tr>
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Greetings! It has been so long since I've posted. Not to make any excuses, but I will- I've had a little one to care for! Our little love bug, Liv, was born on November 20th- one day after my due date. How's that for punctual? I know I'm a bit biased, but I think she's pretty stinkin' great. She's been eating and sleeping well by the grace of God!<br />
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Life has transformed to say the least. Priorities shifted. New rhythms. I'm actually currently typing this post one-handed while feeding her...and backwards...in high heels. Ok, but serious about the one-handed part.<br />
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I've enjoyed staying home with her during my 12 week leave, and I dread leaving her when I return to work, but so it goes. While on leave, I've enjoyed getting involved with a Bible study, BSF (https://www.bsfinternational.org/), and joined a MOPs group. I've met some wonderful ladies that I would not have met otherwise, and my life is richer for it!<br />
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Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-45990901841235738172013-05-27T09:55:00.003-04:002013-05-27T09:55:52.738-04:00News from the O hausWhen Evan and I first went through premarital counseling, we were asked when we would want to start having kids. Evan and I both agreed that we would start thinking about it in 5 years. We enjoyed it just being the two of us, and we have been able to go on some great adventures during the summer. Last summer, we celebrated 5 years of marriage and last year we began the process of adoption. I just realized this connection this week. God reminded me this week that His ways are unconventional but perfect.<br />
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Since Evan and I are in the midst of our 2-2.5 year wait time, we revisited the topic of having biological children during the wait, and well.....I'm pregnant. Since the wait is so long, having a biological child does not effect our adoption and we are still on track. The only change is our Ethiopia child(ren) will have a sibling to come home to. The due date is November 19th, and I'm enjoying the idea of "expecting" 2-3 kids (remind me of this when I feel like I'm going to lose my mind).<br />
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Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-22224311043190155402013-05-20T11:35:00.002-04:002013-05-20T11:35:46.732-04:00Ethics and adoption- a message from our agencyA recent blog post has gotten a lot of atttention about ethics and adoption. This is such an important topic, and one that any adoptive parent should be very aware of. I respect the way my agency approaches adoption and their response to inquiries about their ethics.<br />
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<a href="http://adoptedbydesign.typepad.com/blog/2013/05/on-ethical-adoptions.html">http://adoptedbydesign.typepad.com/blog/2013/05/on-ethical-adoptions.html</a><br />
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May 17, 2013</h2>
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On Ethical Adoptions</h3>
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There is a popular blog whose Christian author recently posted about ethics in adoption. The author is an adoptive parent who adopted internationally. I will not name the blog or author, but it was impressive to see how wide-ranging her impact was – our agency was inundated with emails shortly after this blog was posted. There is something to rejoice in here: It’s a truly wonderful thing to know that so many families are concerned about the ethics of <a href="http://adoptedbydesign.typepad.com/blog/2013/05/on-ethical-adoptions.html#" id="_GPLITA_1" in_rurl="http://i.trkjmp.com/click?v=VVM6NDA2OTM6MTU5NTppbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsIGFkb3B0aW9uOjc5ZjRhMjAzNmNhZGEwNGJiMjlkYzEwMjYzYjllMWE4OnotMTA0MS0xMDc1NTM6YWRvcHRlZGJ5ZGVzaWduLnR5cGVwYWQuY29tOjUwNDUyOjJkNmIyZTljZjQ4OWNlYmUwZTA5MGMzNDBiNDNjMDY3" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="Click to Continue > by Text-Enhance">international adoption</a>. The blog didn’t mention our agency or address us, but since so many families wrote to us following the blog post we thought it would be helpful to respond. <br />
First, there are a lot of things this blog post got right. The author was absolutely right in noting that adoption processes should not be about adoptive parents’ rights to a child. She is absolutely right to grieve over the abuses, coercions and broken families that have resulted from fraud, lies and corruption. And she is absolutely right to say that adoption should not be motivated by a desire to provide children with a wealthier family. Although there are points on this blog post that we certainly didn’t agree with and wouldn’t endorse, on these issues she is right, and ought to be commended. <br />
At America World Adoption, we don’t believe our agency, our staff or the adoption systems we work in are perfect. We’re not naïve enough to believe that there are not children and families who have been very hurt by fraud, abuses or corruption. We know this has happened to some families and we grieve with you. If there are cases of adoption abuses, our agency stands with other adoption professionals asking for the abuses to be prosecuted. But we don’t want to paint a picture of international adoption as a system that is primarily composed of fraudulent cases. We don’t believe that. We also believe that most of the adoptive families we work with care first and foremost about children. We believe they deeply and compassionately care about those children’s birth families. We also believe that children living in orphanages should have an opportunity to grow up with parents: if birth parent reunification isn’t possible, kinship placements should be sought; if this isn’t possible, <a href="http://adoptedbydesign.typepad.com/blog/2013/05/on-ethical-adoptions.html#" id="_GPLITA_0" in_rurl="http://i.trkjmp.com/click?v=VVM6MTAzNzQ6MjE4OmRvbWVzdGljIGFkb3B0aW9uOmRkZWU4OGIwZmE4YzMxZGRlZjlhMGZmMWZkM2JiODA1OnotMTA0MS0xMDc1NTM6YWRvcHRlZGJ5ZGVzaWduLnR5cGVwYWQuY29tOjI0MDI6ODhhMzg3MGVkZDRhYjgyYzk4NTg5ZGZiNjk5OThmMzE" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="Click to Continue > by Text-Enhance">domestic adoption</a> should be considered; when this isn’t a possibility, international adoption can be a great, appropriate and God-ordained way of ensuring that children grow up with families. Finally, we want to say, loud and clear, that we unapologetically don’t believe international adoption is a “last resort”. Abusive families, orphanages, foster care, group homes, or growing up as a street child are worse options for a child.<br />
The topic of corruption and fraud in international adoption truly is helpful and hopefully will result in more informed and prepared parents. We hope and pray that this “trendy topic” leads to true changes and doesn’t result in fewer children growing up with parents. It’s possible to <a href="http://adoptedbydesign.typepad.com/blog/2013/05/on-ethical-adoptions.html#" id="_GPLITA_2" in_rurl="http://i.trkjmp.com/click?v=VVM6MzY0OTI6Njpjb250aW51ZToxZjkwMzJlMzllZDY3MjhkYWJmNTIyMzNhNmNhYTk5NTp6LTEwNDEtMTA3NTUzOmFkb3B0ZWRieWRlc2lnbi50eXBlcGFkLmNvbTo1MDIzMzoyY2YxYzQ3YTQ5NGNlOTdlZTNmYTZjNTg5NWFmNzZlZA" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="Click to Continue > by Text-Enhance">continue</a> to improve our imperfect systems and continue to serve children and families at the same time. That’s our commitment and we hope if you have feedback on this subject for how we can do this better that you’ll share it with us.<br />
-Brian Luwis, founder and CEO</div>
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Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-45725220840445442822013-05-12T20:11:00.001-04:002013-05-12T20:11:39.057-04:00Happy Mother's DayHappy Mother's Day! It was a beautiful Mother's Day, and it makes me look forward to holding our sweet one(s) in the future. We are in the midst of our 2-2 1/2 year wait time, and there are definitely days where that seems like a lifetime away. However today, I recognize you moms, for all that you do and the little ones you raise. I pray for you and your kiddos that God fills your home with love and grace. I also pray for our little one(s) that God prepares our hearts and home to be a family in the future.Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-1862988267737718262013-04-19T12:37:00.000-04:002013-04-19T12:37:03.670-04:00Yard Sale!Come one, come all to the Oster Family Adoption Fundraiser. It will be at our place in Oak Tree on Saturday, May 4th starting bright and early. Also, let me know if you have anything you'd be willing to dontate!Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-59386870059446315532013-04-12T13:07:00.000-04:002013-04-12T13:07:41.252-04:00Beautiful message from Unveiled facesI was reading through the blogs I follow, and I came upon an entry from an amazing family. An amazing adoptive family. An amazing transracial family....with 7 kids. The blogger puts a refreshing perspective on trials and racism and reminds us what our God endured. See the post below.<br />
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<a href="http://ourunveiledfaces.blogspot.com/2013/04/and-yet-so-far-to-go-on-racism-and-jesus.html">http://ourunveiledfaces.blogspot.com/2013/04/and-yet-so-far-to-go-on-racism-and-jesus.html</a><br />
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And Yet So Far to Go: on
Racism and Jesus </h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>You
are all sons of God, through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were
baptized in Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor
Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If
you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the
promise. </b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Galatians
3:26-29</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Our
family is filled with color</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> by irreversible choice.
in love. through adoption.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There was a time in our country
when a family like ours would not have been received with
enthusiasm.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God, in His sovereignty, with the
sacrifices of generations of bold saints who have gone before us, changed all
that.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What He did not change is the inclination of human hearts
to remain ignorant of the GRACE that HE poured out on the cross
available </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">to every person </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">of every color</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">of every nation</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">who are image bearers of
HIMSELF.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To be ignorant is to<i> ignore
</i>the revealed TRUTH of JESUS.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God does not excuse
ignorance.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">ever.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In a world of highly evolved
social conscience, we might be led to believe that racism is something that was
put to rest.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can testify that is NOT the
case.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As the one who has absorbed all
the trauma that my children have been through, this trauma is one that my love
and perseverance can heal through His <a href="http://ourunveiledfaces.blogspot.com/2013/04/and-yet-so-far-to-go-on-racism-and-jesus.html#" id="_GPLITA_0" in_rurl="http://i.trkjmp.com/click?v=VVM6MzY3MTU6MzcxOnBvd2VyOmZkN2MxNmI3NzRjNmNjMWY1MmRiZmI4M2I2MWEwMTcyOnotMTA0MS0xMDc1NTM6b3VydW52ZWlsZWRmYWNlcy5ibG9nc3BvdC5jb206NDEzMTE6ZDU2ZWViMmUyMGM2NThiN2RiZjE3Zjg5MTUyMGZlMjI" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="Click to Continue > by Text-Enhance"><span style="color: #38b7c8;">power</span></a>,
but cannot erase.</span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Even though it was absorbed by our
LORD <a href="http://ourunveiledfaces.blogspot.com/2013/04/and-yet-so-far-to-go-on-racism-and-jesus.html#" id="_GPLITA_1" in_rurl="http://i.trkjmp.com/click?v=VVM6MzQxNjM6MTM1MjpqZXN1cyBvbiB0aGUgY3Jvc3M6MDIzMTFmZTQ2N2FiNjQ5NzNmNTZiYzBlZjIyYmRjZDM6ei0xMDQxLTEwNzU1MzpvdXJ1bnZlaWxlZGZhY2VzLmJsb2dzcG90LmNvbTo0NDc3MDo0ZDU3NDMzYTY1ZjAxNjQ3M2JlZjg2MTBhY2Y1ZTllZA" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="Click to Continue > by Text-Enhance"><span style="color: #38b7c8;">JESUS
on the cross</span></a> at Calvary, the sting of hatred and prejudice continues to rule
in the hearts of the ignorant.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And it is NOT tolerated or ignored
by Him. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It will not be tolerated or
ignored by our family, either.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Because racism is not like any
other sin against our Holy God.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As each
soul He creates bears His image,</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">racism is
HATING the very image of God.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>"If we believe in
the sovereign grace of God, the redemptive restoration of God-- then we are
never afraid of the Truth. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>And maybe our deafening silence
is just this: </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Truth necessitates
confrontation-- and a whole lot of us are more chicken than Christian. We'd
rather save our own skin, than the skin of the bruised and battered and
beaten. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>We're more in love with
self-preservation than with Savior glorification. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>We'd rather make pain invisible
than say injustice is intolerable--</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">so the injustice continues." Ann
Voscamp, </span><a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38b7c8;">A Holy
Experience</span></span></a></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>It is
better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For
Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring
you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,
through whom also <i>He went and preached to the spirits in prison</i>...1 Peter
3:17-19</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So this message is to those in
prison.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Either the prison of
hatred</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">or the prison of
cowardice.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While Jesus' body lay in the tomb,
His Spirit was working.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus was into
confrontation.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No evil deed remains covered in
the light of His <b><span style="color: #660000;">LOVE</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He came to set the captives free
in more ways than we- or the evil one can even imagine.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That same ugly spirit that God
knew would cause Jesus to suffer and die,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">is the same ugly spirit that
causes hatred through racism to remain alive today.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Why did they hate Him
so?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Why did they want Him out of the
way?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Knowing the answer to this, I
asked my son the same question.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Why did they hate<b><span style="color: #660000;"> HIM </span></b>so?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Was it because He was
different?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My
son's answer---</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>"It was
because <span style="color: #660000;">He</span> was better."</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HALfME0wjeU" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God isn't looking for players who
"have the guts to fight back."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He is looking for players who
"have the guts <i>not </i>to fight back."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Not by
might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD Almighty. Zechariah
4:6</b></span><br /><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Because in the end......He wants
none of us to perish-- But gives everyone an equal playing field to be part of
His --</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>irreversible
choice, in love, through adoption. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not to choose, is to
choose.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is no middle lane on the
narrow road.</span></div>
</div>
Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-76846919443206662262013-03-14T08:20:00.000-04:002013-03-14T08:20:19.636-04:00Ethics and adoptionWe have been so blessed in working with our agency, America World. I know, though, when going through the adoption process it is easy to get impatient. I found this article by blogger, Addison Cooper, to be very helpful when thinking about adoption. There are also great resources out there for "interviewing" your future agency. I found great questions in a yahoo group file. The interview helped Evan and I decided on AWAA. Our now family coordinator patiently answered 2 hours worth of questions, and she is amazing about returning phone calls and emails promptly (a must in my book!) Here is Addidion's blog post:<br />
<br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
Twelve Things You Can Do to
Make Sure Your Adoption is Ethical </h3>
<br />
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-247320663148618102" itemprop="description articleBody">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Watching <a href="http://www.adoptionlcsw.com/2013/03/adoption-movie-guide-beasts-of-southern.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ffcc77;">Beasts of the Southern Wild</span></a> started me thinking about ethics
in adoption. I know I wrote some hard things yesterday. If you're on this site,
you probably want to have an ethical, kid-centered, health-building adoption. I
want to be a part of making that happen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />Here are some of my gleanings from the online adoption
community, and from my own practice as an adoption social worker - twelve things
that you can do to make sure your adoption is an ethical one.<br /><br />Here are
twelve ways to make sure your adoption is an ethical one:</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Upz-raizJGCl11xwpYSXu6p6c0B8bMlJx8wHmIjBONAqlyCG0hL9krkBrQK_ucfOYubyk07tRQ59Lx965TqtPHbh7wHQXKXI-beP55YrBNdRZ59KJvbeJ1S0A2DAftOzMIFayWDmF0s/s1600/Tsahi+Levent-Levi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" closure_uid_567457673="2" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Upz-raizJGCl11xwpYSXu6p6c0B8bMlJx8wHmIjBONAqlyCG0hL9krkBrQK_ucfOYubyk07tRQ59Lx965TqtPHbh7wHQXKXI-beP55YrBNdRZ59KJvbeJ1S0A2DAftOzMIFayWDmF0s/s320/Tsahi+Levent-Levi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">flickr.com / Tsahi
Levent-Levi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ask Questions </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br />1. Ask your <a href="http://www.adoptionlcsw.com/2013/03/twelve-things-you-can-do-to-make-sure.html#" id="_GPLITA_0" in_rurl="http://i.trkjmp.com/click?v=VVM6MTAzNzQ6MjE4OmFkb3B0aW9uIGFnZW5jeTphMjEwYzRhOWVkYzM1NWNjMjdhNzI4ODgxZDFlNDFiNzp6LTEwNDEtMTA3NTUzOnd3dy5hZG9wdGlvbmxjc3cuY29tOjI0MDI6ODhhMzg3MGVkZDRhYjgyYzk4NTg5ZGZiNjk5OThmMzE" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="Click to Continue > by Text-Enhance"><span style="color: #ffcc77;">adoption
agency</span></a> how they find children who need to be adopted.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
2. Ask what sort of counseling that they
provide to the child’s first family. Is their counseling a balanced
representation of all options geared at helping the person make the choice
that’s best for them, or is it a one-sided “sales pitch”?</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
3. Ask whether they still extend full services
to women who, after contact the agency, choose to parent their child – or, do
they only provide services if the woman says she’ll relinquish, but only provide
referrals if she decides to parent?</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
4. Ask how actively they pursue the involvement
of the birth father. Do they seek his input and participation, or do they just
do the legal minimum standard of notification and assure you that he “probably
won’t show up.”?</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
5. Ask how thoroughly they train and assess
adoptive parents.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
6. Ask how they feel about openness. Do they
speak of it as a wonderful commitment, or as something that adoptive parents can
<a href="http://www.adoptionlcsw.com/2013/03/twelve-things-you-can-do-to-make-sure.html#" id="_GPLITA_3" in_rurl="http://i.trkjmp.com/click?v=VVM6MTQyNTI6NjphZ3JlZTphMGQ5OTY5MmFjZDliYTExMjg2YTE5YTEzYmZjZWZkZjp6LTEwNDEtMTA3NTUzOnd3dy5hZG9wdGlvbmxjc3cuY29tOjMzMTY0OjUxNjY2YjQ5NTcyMTY5OGZlOGZlMTQxMWYyNzY0Y2Fi" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="Click to Continue > by Text-Enhance"><span style="color: #ffcc77;">agree</span></a>
to, but then quickly change their minds on, once an adoption is finalized?
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
Do Your Research </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
7. Research the adoption practices in the
country you’re considering adopting from. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
8. Research your agency – if they’re “for
profit” their motivation might more easily be on the side of pleasing the
adopting parent (and although that sounds good, it increases the risk of
unethical treatment of the birth parents.) </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
9. Speaking of that term, "birth parent" – does
the agency use the post-adoption term “birth parents” for women who are still
pregnant? That might communicate an expectation which makes it difficult for
pregnant women and expectant fathers to feel like they have the freedom to make
whichever choice they see as best. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
10. If your agency is non-profit, check out
their profile on Guidestar.org and see where they get their funds from and what
they do with them. If they’re for-profit, try to figure out how they avoid being
driven by profits rather than by people’s real needs. Friends of mine who were
considering adoption once told me of a for-profit agency that would have charged
them around $25,000 up front, and which expressed a commitment to encouraging
pregnant women to choose adoption once they’d expressed an interest in it. My
friends ended up adopting through a different agency. They expressed that it
“felt like the agency was more on the birth mother’s side than ours,” but that
they were comfortable with that balance. It seemed healthier that way. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
11. Visit your agency’s website, and read the
pages for adopting parents and for expectant parents. See if the message is
consistent, or if they seem to say different things to different people.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
12. Check out the <a href="http://www.adoptionlcsw.com/2013/03/twelve-things-you-can-do-to-make-sure.html#" id="_GPLITA_4" in_rurl="http://i.trkjmp.com/click?v=VVM6MzQ2MjY6MTY4NzppbnRlcm5ldDpiYzdiZmVmZTEwMmI1NmJlNjcxYjJmYzMzY2JmMjZhZDp6LTEwNDEtMTA3NTUzOnd3dy5hZG9wdGlvbmxjc3cuY29tOjA6MA" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="Click to Continue > by Text-Enhance"><span style="color: #ffcc77;">Internet</span></a>
adoption community. There's lots of insight from all sides of the adoption
community. Some excellent articles have been Shannon LC Cate's “<a href="http://peterscrossstation.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/by-special-request-10-red-flags-that-your-adoption-agency-might-be-coercive/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ffcc77;">Ten Red Flags That Your Adoption Agency Might Be Coercive</span></a>,"
Creating a Family's "<a href="http://www.creatingafamily.org/adoption-resources/adoptinagency/red-flags-for-unethical-adoption-agencies.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ffcc77;">Red Flags for Unethical Adoption Agencies</span></a>" and
adoptionbirthmothers.com's post, "<a href="http://www.adoptionbirthmothers.com/is-your-adoption-agency-ethical/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ffcc77;">Is Your Adoption Agency Ethical?</span></a>"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /><br />These are some hard questions - but if you work
through them now, you'll be able to proudly share your adoption story with your
child. Adoptive parents, birth parents, <a href="http://www.adoptionlcsw.com/2013/03/twelve-things-you-can-do-to-make-sure.html#" id="_GPLITA_2" in_rurl="http://i.trkjmp.com/click?v=VVM6MTk1MjI6MTEyNTpzb2NpYWwgd29ya2VyczowMDdjOTMyZGZiMGRiMTBkZWEwNTkxYjY0NzczYTVmZjp6LTEwNDEtMTA3NTUzOnd3dy5hZG9wdGlvbmxjc3cuY29tOjI2NTAxOjQ0YTU5ODg5NzMxYzhmNTk0NDJlMTJhZWZkODM0OGIz" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="Click to Continue > by Text-Enhance"><span style="color: #ffcc77;">social
workers</span></a>, adoptees --- I'd love your input. Which questions belong on this
list? Which don't really matter? Which should be added?<br /><br /><br />Find this
site helpful? Check out <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AdoptionAtTheMovies" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ffcc77;">Adoption at the Movies on Facebook.</span></a></div>
</div>
Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-5968423945791217542013-03-06T12:27:00.002-05:002013-03-06T12:27:42.259-05:00The Dossier Journey<br />
<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=3pyP5OoXX9rltM&tbnid=lAhzx5x2S98xZM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lib.utexas.edu%2Fmaps%2Fethiopia.html&ei=eHw3UdWCJIyN0QGwlYDoCQ&bvm=bv.43287494,d.dmQ&psig=AFQjCNF9oNZVPdJ5Nn4cgDNZ1WBMlPNmDA&ust=1362677238385396" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor; clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="200" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/ethiopia_rel99.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="166" /></a>Several weeks ago we sent our Dossier (a huge amount of paperwork) to our agency. They checked over it twice, sent it to Washington D.C. to the Secretary of State, and then it began its journey to Ethiopia. Evan and I watched the journey through the tracking number that our agency gave us. On Monday, March 4th our Dossier arrived in Ethiopia. <br />
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All of the months of compiling, collecting, and fingerprinting have now led to the country where our child (children) will be born, if they aren't already. Believe it or not, our wait as now just officially begun, ha. The currently projection is that we will recieve a referral in 24-30 months from now.<br />
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Please pray that God is blessing this journey, and please pray for our child.Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-2422832131101580362013-02-08T08:00:00.000-05:002013-02-08T08:00:07.206-05:00A day long awaited...Evan called me today and said, "Guess what arrived?" I knew. The I-171H. Thank you so much to my prayer warriors for your faithful prayers that the letter would come this week. It has arrived at last!<br />
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The letter is so formal. It comes from the Department of Homeland Security, and it grants us permission to adopt an orphan and bring he/she into the United States. Even in its formality, I was still moved to tears, "It has been determined that you are able to furnish proper care to an orphan(s)..."<br />
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Since I got home from work, we have been feverishly working to check and double check our Dossier documents so that we can head to Fed Ex for it to head to our agency, America World, first thing tomorrow. Thank you to my amazing friend, Stacie, who has notarized countless documents for us and put up with me blubbering as she notarized the last document today.<br />
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Our child is one step closer. In just 3 weeks all of the work of 6.5 months will arrive in Ethiopia and will lead us to our child (or children). Please join us in prayer for the paper work to be processed smoothly, for the Dossier to arrive in Ethiopia and be processed efficiently, and most importantly for our child (children) that this stack of paper will lead us to.Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-63648842963489640232013-02-05T11:59:00.001-05:002013-02-05T11:59:46.861-05:00Still waiting.....I know it's been a while! Here is a quick update in our adoption process- we are still waiting. We have already had our federal fingerprint appointment which was about 3 weeks ago. Currently, we are still waiting for the "golden ticket," the I-171H. This form grants permission to bring our child into the country, and it is the very last thing that we need in order to submit our Dossier. Please pray it's on its way to us right now!Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-21837296227120505422013-01-15T12:58:00.000-05:002013-01-15T12:58:00.453-05:00Les Miserables and adoptionI, like many, rushed to the theater after Christmas to see Les Miserables. I wasn't disappointed. I knwo a lot of people have opinions about their choices in depicting the music the way they did, but I loved it all. See, I have very fond memories of Les Miserables. On my 16th birthday, my parents surprised me and brought me and my two brothers to see the play on broadway. I own the sound track, and have all the songs memorized. I love the story of love and redemption. I read a blog today that put another spin on the movie. Karen at "Finding Rest" puts it beautifully. <a href="http://www.kareneyates.com/2013/01/les-miserables-adoption-and-gift-of.html">http://www.kareneyates.com/2013/01/les-miserables-adoption-and-gift-of.html</a>Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-45317485100772462292013-01-12T12:56:00.002-05:002013-01-12T12:56:44.250-05:00We have our fingerprinting appointment!!!Happy New Year!<br />
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The holidays have been wonderful, and it has been great having a nearly 2 week break from teaching. However, it feels good to be in a routine again starting a new year. We got wonderful news last week- we got our federal fingerprinting appointment!!! We'll be heading to West Virginia on Wednesday to get our fingerprints taken. We are praying that our I-171H will come within 2-4 weeks. Please joining us in praying for this. It is possible it will take longer. The wait time for the Ethiopia program is looking like 24-30 months from Dossier submission, so the sooner we get the Dossier submitted the sooner we can hurry up and wait. I look forward to posting about receiving the "golden ticket" soon!Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-21195253008516833392012-12-20T08:56:00.000-05:002012-12-20T08:56:46.738-05:00Oh, I-171H, how you ail meEvan and I have been waiting for a letter from the USCIS for our federal fingerprinting appointment that will result in the last piece of paperwork necessary for the Dossier- the I-171H. This piece of paperwork is often referred to as the "golden ticket" because it grants permission from the U.S. government for you to bring in a person from another country into the U.S. <br />
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I did receive a packet in the mail yesterday from the USCIS office, but it was a rejection notice. Thourghout the process, we have been sure to cross every "t" and dot every "i" and the one piece of paperwork that you wouldn't want to make an error on is this one because it takes so long to get the I-171H from the federal government. Well, we forgot to sign the application. I know there has to be a greater purpose in this because this kind of oversight is not like us at all. <br />
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When I called the USCIS office, I made sure that we have everything needed to resubmit and Evan zipped to FedEx and overnighted our corrected packet to the USCIS office in Texas. While I was on the phone with the lady from USCIS, she said the timeframe we are looking at to get the I-171H is 75 days! This is <em>way</em> longer than it has been. If this is truly the case, we won't be able to submit our Dossier until March or April. On the heels of the news that the wait time has increased, this is a tough pill to swallow. <br />
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I still hold to the fact that all of this is in God's plan, and His timing is perfect. However, the waiting is so hard. Please pray for things to move faster or for God is bless us with peace with a longer wait time. Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-28226463457556645102012-12-17T18:09:00.000-05:002012-12-17T18:09:10.102-05:00Beauty from ashes<span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">"To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory." Isaiah 61:3</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">I pray this over all who mourn the tragic loss of life in Newtown, CT. I first heard of the horrific events while at school, in the 5th grade classroom where I teach. As many of you, I could not fully absorb what was happening. It was only later that the reality began to sink in- beautiful children, like my students, taken. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fffefd; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Perhaps it's too soon to hope for beauty, but perhaps not. Over the years, I've had the </span><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20.981481552124023px;">privilege</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> to teach many wonderful children, and last year in particular I taught an exceptional girl. She is not exceptional because of her intelligence, beauty or maturity - although she possesses all of these traits, she is remarkable because of her generosity. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Last year, she and a friend started making </span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20.981481552124023px; text-align: justify;">jewelry</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> and sold it to benefit a local animal shelter. Over the summer, she and her cousin had a lemonade stand and used the profits to buy cookie dough. She made cookies and brought them to residents at a local nursing home. She sold the rest of the cookies to buy her mom a gift. She kept nothing for herself. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fffefd; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">I told Corynne about our adoption when she came to visit my classroom before school opened in August. Since then, she has sent several emails updating me on her life and events and asking about how the adoption is going. Recently, we met for a "coffee date" today with her mom to catch up, and she proceeded to ask questions about the adoption and how things work, and then she told me about how she has been </span><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20.981481552124023px;">fundraising</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> on my behalf. Corynne and her mom (who was in tears) explained how Corynne made a jar with a picture of the Ethiopian map on it, and began collecting money since we first talked about adoption. She gave all of the money she earned (did not keep a penny for herself), sold some of her toys, and took a special offering at church to give to our adoption. She then went into her book bag and handed me a crumbled wad of $20s. It took everything in me to fight back the tears (although I totally lost in when I got to the car). I truly witnessed a piece of Christ in that moment. Her joy in giving me this gift was astounding.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fffefd; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">T</span></span></span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">hrough our adoption process we </span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20.981481552124023px; text-align: justify;">have</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> witnessed more beauty, faith and generosity than you can imagine, and Corynne is a beautiful part of this story that only God can write. There is undeniable evil in the world, but today I was reminded today of the beauty.</span>Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-80737498620692106722012-12-05T11:15:00.001-05:002012-12-05T11:15:59.509-05:0025 Days of Christmas<img src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTgqUK78rBaU-fA_HvaPQU0-5AEXXpXOdx13KvSKVmKiWNDr5V21jit0AkQng" /><br />
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I feel very fortunate to be married to a wonderful Godly man. He is kind, respectful, a servant, and has a strong desire to be Christ-like. To show my appreciation this Christmas season, I decided to do 25 Days of Christmas.<br />
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How does this work? I made up 25 cards and wrote a message in each. Each day is centered on either encouragement, a small gift, a service, or an activity we can do together. I hung up a red ribbon and got mini clothes pins at Michael's, and each day a new card is put up. <br />
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Thus far, the 25 days have been a hit! In addition the experience blessing Evan, it has also gotten my heart centered this holiday season. Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-513359160521838546.post-91382552955505379582012-12-03T14:57:00.002-05:002012-12-03T14:57:44.519-05:00An update- where are we now?Well it's been a while. So, let me give you a bit of an update. We have finalized our Home Study, and we had it written that we are requesting one child 0-2 years either boy or girl. However, we had it also written in the Home Study that were are approved for 2 children 0-2 years. What is the difference? If there comes an opportunity and a need for a home for two children under two, we are approved to take them, but at this point it is not our formal request.<br />
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Since we received our final Home Study, we mailed off one copy to USCIS to get our federal fingerprints. These result in the <em>last</em> piece of paper work that needs to go in our Dossier. Although that sounds simple enough, getting the fingerprinting appointment and resulting clearance letter from the Federal government can take 2 months. SO, please pray that it goes faster!<br />
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We also found out to day that the murmurings of a longer wait time, is confirmed. Rather than the original projection of 18-24 months wait time (<em>after Dossier submission</em>), we are looking at 24-30 months. Even though I knew it was coming, why do I still feel so down? It's difficult staying encouraged during this time. <br />
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What I do know however, is that we have raised enough funds to cover Dossier submission and program fees. We will amp up the fundraising efforts again as it nears our travel time......2 and a half years from now. Thank you all for your continued prayer and support.<br />
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Jackie Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092865287020960420noreply@blogger.com2