Adoption Fundraiser (because the fees aren't over yet)
Greetings, all!
On March 8, 2011, George and I took our very first steps toward adoption. After years of trying to conceive, it became evident that the more invasive courses of medical intervention would be necessary, at great expense and with the odds against us. We were introduced to Bethany Christian Services through our church, and on that Tuesday in March, we went to an informational meeting. We came away with a sense that with prayer and faith, adoption could be within our reach. Over the course of the next several months, we completed the appropriate paperwork and background checks, and we were approved on December 19, 2011.
The next couple of years were an exercise in patience and waiting, possibility and disappointment. (Those of you who have been following this LJ know of some of our journey.) There were times during which I was no longer sure that adoption-that parenthood-was what God had in mind for us. We went about our lives, attended adoption group meetings, and waited.
On January 1 of this year (2014), I had the very strong sense that this would be a year of transition. I didn’t know what this meant. Various occurrences at work were certainly lending toward transition, but beyond that, it was just a feeling I had.
On Monday, January 20, as we were sitting down to create a budget for the year, I told George that we had save up enough money in our various accounts to pay the final fee if we received a placement this year. The next day, we got a call from our caseworker telling us that there was a baby in need of placement. After she told us about the circumstances (low birthweight, NICU stay), we told Caseworker to show the birth mother our profile album. (This is how things usually work with the agency--the birth mom looks at various profiles and chooses the family she wants to place her child with.)
"You don't understand," said Caseworker. "Birth Mom has given us authorization to choose the family. He's yours if you want him."
*stunned speechless*
When we recovered, we told Caseworker that we wanted to have a few days to consider and pray about it. We'd have an answer for her by Friday.
Each day I asked George what his thoughts, feelings, and inclinations were on the matter. Every day, he was of a positive disposition toward the placement.
Here's how God works such things . . .
I was going to wait until Friday, after we'd given our final answer to Caseworker, to tell my boss at work about it. But on Thursday, Boss said he wanted to talk to me. (A little background: the organizational structure at my job has been undergoing some changes, and Boss had to go to bat for me last winter for me to keep my job.) He apparently was dreading the talk with me more than with any of the other employees. He came to me and said, “You're still the house manager, but I'm going to have to cut you back to hourly. We knew this would be one of my fall-back positions." I told him, "That's fine. I was actually trying to figure out how to ask you if I could go to part time hourly because we have a potential placement." He teared up when I told him about the potential placement, and he thanked me for making his day.
The timing of this is what I call "divine synchronicity."
After we gave our verbal "yes," we waited for days to get permission to go see the little guy. In the meantime, he was improving surprisingly well, moving from an incubator to a crib and from the NICU to the well baby nursery. We finally had permission to see him on Friday, January 31, and Caseworker came to the house to do a quick update on our home study. Forty-five minutes later, she called and said, "Change of plans. Baby J. is ready for discharge today."
*stunned silence*
It was a long day for all three of us, but he's home now. It still doesn't seem quite real. Life changes forever.
Now . . .
As you might guess from the above narrative, we’ve paid our adoption fees in full to the agency. However, in order to apply for monies we will need for his infant and toddler development therapy, we’re having to go through an additional court hearing, which will incur additional costs (it's all explained on our fundraiser page). We’re asking for help in covering those court costs. Please consider donating to our fundraising project, or listing our project as your charity of choice when you shop at select retailers. We're using Pure Charity for the fundraiser (search using the key word "legal fees"). Money you donate will go directly to the adoption agency (a 501(c)3 non-profit, meaning your donation is tax deductible. Check with your tax advisor). If you'd like the direct link to our fundraiser, please let me know.
Thanks so much!
On March 8, 2011, George and I took our very first steps toward adoption. After years of trying to conceive, it became evident that the more invasive courses of medical intervention would be necessary, at great expense and with the odds against us. We were introduced to Bethany Christian Services through our church, and on that Tuesday in March, we went to an informational meeting. We came away with a sense that with prayer and faith, adoption could be within our reach. Over the course of the next several months, we completed the appropriate paperwork and background checks, and we were approved on December 19, 2011.
The next couple of years were an exercise in patience and waiting, possibility and disappointment. (Those of you who have been following this LJ know of some of our journey.) There were times during which I was no longer sure that adoption-that parenthood-was what God had in mind for us. We went about our lives, attended adoption group meetings, and waited.
On January 1 of this year (2014), I had the very strong sense that this would be a year of transition. I didn’t know what this meant. Various occurrences at work were certainly lending toward transition, but beyond that, it was just a feeling I had.
On Monday, January 20, as we were sitting down to create a budget for the year, I told George that we had save up enough money in our various accounts to pay the final fee if we received a placement this year. The next day, we got a call from our caseworker telling us that there was a baby in need of placement. After she told us about the circumstances (low birthweight, NICU stay), we told Caseworker to show the birth mother our profile album. (This is how things usually work with the agency--the birth mom looks at various profiles and chooses the family she wants to place her child with.)
"You don't understand," said Caseworker. "Birth Mom has given us authorization to choose the family. He's yours if you want him."
*stunned speechless*
When we recovered, we told Caseworker that we wanted to have a few days to consider and pray about it. We'd have an answer for her by Friday.
Each day I asked George what his thoughts, feelings, and inclinations were on the matter. Every day, he was of a positive disposition toward the placement.
Here's how God works such things . . .
I was going to wait until Friday, after we'd given our final answer to Caseworker, to tell my boss at work about it. But on Thursday, Boss said he wanted to talk to me. (A little background: the organizational structure at my job has been undergoing some changes, and Boss had to go to bat for me last winter for me to keep my job.) He apparently was dreading the talk with me more than with any of the other employees. He came to me and said, “You're still the house manager, but I'm going to have to cut you back to hourly. We knew this would be one of my fall-back positions." I told him, "That's fine. I was actually trying to figure out how to ask you if I could go to part time hourly because we have a potential placement." He teared up when I told him about the potential placement, and he thanked me for making his day.
The timing of this is what I call "divine synchronicity."
After we gave our verbal "yes," we waited for days to get permission to go see the little guy. In the meantime, he was improving surprisingly well, moving from an incubator to a crib and from the NICU to the well baby nursery. We finally had permission to see him on Friday, January 31, and Caseworker came to the house to do a quick update on our home study. Forty-five minutes later, she called and said, "Change of plans. Baby J. is ready for discharge today."
*stunned silence*
It was a long day for all three of us, but he's home now. It still doesn't seem quite real. Life changes forever.
Now . . .
As you might guess from the above narrative, we’ve paid our adoption fees in full to the agency. However, in order to apply for monies we will need for his infant and toddler development therapy, we’re having to go through an additional court hearing, which will incur additional costs (it's all explained on our fundraiser page). We’re asking for help in covering those court costs. Please consider donating to our fundraising project, or listing our project as your charity of choice when you shop at select retailers. We're using Pure Charity for the fundraiser (search using the key word "legal fees"). Money you donate will go directly to the adoption agency (a 501(c)3 non-profit, meaning your donation is tax deductible. Check with your tax advisor). If you'd like the direct link to our fundraiser, please let me know.
Thanks so much!