Third Day - Merry Christmas

Heard this song today...amazing. We decide to go the China route to adopt just THIS WEEK and I was listening to a station that I can only get in Columbus right after work. Of course, I balled my eyes out while driving, but it was just a little gift from God to me. 

Next Christmas my little boy should be in my arms and with his forever family. Lord willing... Enjoy!

Roller Coaster - Picture

I always liked roller coasters.  Big ones, small ones, ones with loops...  I liked climbing that first big hill, I loved the rush of going upside down or completely on my side.  I liked that are fast.  I really liked to go fast.

However, to experience all of the fun, I had to experience that first drop.  You know the one... the "stomach-is-in-your-throat" drop.  Ugh.  And that's when it happens... the picture.  A flash of light, you're tightly holding on for dear life, trying to raise your hands, trying to keep them up, not falling out, or throwing up and splattering the person behind you..(I actually saw a picture like that once...no, it wasn't me, so I could laugh about it.)  But that picture, of when you're excited, and sick, and careful, and looking forward to the next turn....

That's me today.

We've climbed this huge hill of paperwork and dreams and excitement.  We've rushed down the hill and been sick and disappointed and needing encouragement.  Today I climb that second hill...it's not as big as the first hill, but it's close. I'm excited, and careful, and a little nauseated....but smiling.

Our story continues to amaze us.  When the coaster drops and I close my eyes the Lord laughs and says "Hold on. This is going to be good."  When Colombia looked dim, China appeared..  At first we thought we could not ride that coaster because of the medication issue.  Then we got a waiver and today I got the letter from my doctor that okay-ed my medication and that it was prescribed for my fibrormyalgia and not for depression.

Here's the catch.... when doing our first home study I was taking paxil for post-pardon depression, after having Jake.  China will not take someone who is diagnosed as depressed or on medication for such a condition.  As a matter of fact, they want you to be off of the medicine for 2 years.   I'm fine...we all know I'm fine.  I am perfectly capable of loving and raising children.  I've done it for 4 years (tomorrow, as a matter of fact).

It's like taking an anti-depressant makes you mad and unworthy to raise a kid.  I'm not crazy, I don't take out my rage out on small animals, or anything for that matter, I don't dress up like a princess and demand that my subjects bring me pie.  I'm fine.  Not that taking meds is bad...just the opposite, if you need them by all means take them...and share.  (Just kidding..sharing meds is bad..and illegal.)  Sorry, I'm getting off track here.  The point I'm trying to state is that our home study needs to be perfect..and if it is not, then we have to wait 2 years. (Remember I have a waiver. Confusing? yes...)

Anyway, that's where we sit for now.  Riding that China coaster...excited, nervous, waiting...and this coaster, my friends, is not fast...as a matter of fact, the adoption coaster is quite the opposite, though it does guarantee some interesting twists and turns and exciting drops and climbs.  But as hard as this has been...I know that there is little guy at the end of this ride and he will have been all worth it.

Open door..need a letter

Two months ago I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and was prescribed cynbolta (which is actually an anti-depressant that is used for fibromyalgia patients.)  After doing some research my husband discovered that sometimes China will "waive" this type of medication.  We asked our contact if that was a possibility and she said she'd ask.  At 10:30 Monday night we got a call that China would waive my medication as long as I could get a letter from my doctor that stated that the medicine that I am currently on was prescribed for fibromyalgia not depression.  I called yesterday and today, but of course with the holiday I couldn't get a hold of the Dr's office.

If all goes well and my doctor writes the letter then we can switch to China.  We are elated, but I'm trying to not get too excited.  I don't want to be crushed again by disappointment.

I am so thankful for the renewed opportunity to adopt from China.  If this works out...boy, I just really hope that it does, then we could have a little boy this time next year.  Wouldn't that be amazing?

Please pray that on Monday I can talk to my doctor and get the okay for the letter.

More to come....

Longer Wait...

Well on November 1st we found out that the orphanage that had approved our paperwork and had put us on their waiting families list was shut down over $200,000 of back taxes.  This is only one of 8 Casa Privada's (orphanages) in Colombia and this type of event has not occurred before.  Los Pasingos' director was a 3rd generation director and this has devastated him and his family.  I've heard that Carlos is currently selling everything he can to get his orphanage back and help those children.  What does that mean for us?  Our paperwork was collected by the ICBF, the Colombian government in charge of adoptions and they are currently holding the paperwork for further review.  Our adoption agency has contacted 2 orphanages and begged them to take our case.  One orphanage will not accept us because we already have children.  The 2nd orphanage Ayudame stated that they would accept our file, BUT ICBF has yet to forward it to them...so we are back to NOT being on a list.  Ayudame's wait time looks like 2-3 years.  If we keep our paperwork with the ICBF then we will be placed on a list and we will have a better idea of when we will get a referral, but this will be 3-4 years.  Wait there's more...currently the Colombian government (at least the portion that works adoptions) is on strike...

Jason and I talked about it and decided that we would discuss other options with our agency...maybe we could look in to other programs like China, Panama, or Russia.  We were most interested in the program that would give us a child as soon as possible.  Jason is now old enough for the China program, we could get a child in 9 months, and it would be almost half of the cost of our current program. We were all set to switch...then our contact asked, "Oh, one last thing, neither of you have been on anti-depressants right?" "Wrong...I started Paxil after the birth of our 2nd little boy, Jake, because of post-pardon depression "  "Oh, China won't take you then...no anti-depressants... no cases of individuals that have ever had cancer (even if they were 3 at the time)...etc."  So, because I am better because of this medicine, I am broken and cannot adopt a special-needs child, or any child from China."  Oh, that goes with some other programs, as well.

We are sitting pretty with Colombia still.  The China program contact was going to talk with her leader on Monday about our situation, but we were told to not hold our breath.  Boo.  We are going to look into Bulgaria also, but we will learn more about that tomorrow (hopefully).  The other programs (we have to stay with our agency so only programs that they are involved in are our only options..) have a wait of 2-4 years so that would really be no different than where we currently sit.

We are so disappointed and frustrated at this time, so prayers for our family please.

Thank you.
Jeri

News is news...

Got a call today from our agency contact, Sara, around 3:30 today.  Los Pisingos will no longer be the holder of our family's file.... 

Why?  We are not completely sure what has transpired these last few days in Colombia, but the end result was the loss of Los Pisingos International Adoption License. 

As you know we JUST got word last week that Los Pisingos had approved our application/paperwork.  Apparently because we got the okay we will not need a re-certification of our request for our new orphanage.   

We will now be going through an orphanage called Asociación Amigos del Niño (Ayúdame) just outside of Bogota, Colombia.

We know little about this orphanage...We have no timeline.  We have no idea what is really going on....

More to come..... and I hope soon.

Sigh.

Good news....

We made it!  Got a phone call from EAC (our adoption agency) today and we have officially been approved by the orphanage, Los Posingos in Bogota, Colombia.

As of October 2012 the Blackwells have been added to the list of waiting families.
It is one step closer to meeting my little Judah.

Adopting via Colombia is fairly new to our agency (which has been helping families bring home children since the 1990s) so they are at a loss at informing us of any type of time line.  All we really know is that there are 2 or 3 other families in front of us from our agency, but they have all requested baby girls.  We are the only family from our group that has requested a baby boy.

We are so very excited to have received this great news.  Please keep our family and little Judah in your prayers.  Next year we get to go to Colombia to get our baby!!!!  (here's hoping, of course.)

This video is a small glimpse of the orphanage where our little Judah will be living and where we will meet him...someday.

Successful Benefit to Raise Funds

Last Saturday night was one of the most amazing nights that I have ever experienced.  It was amazing.  We had around 100 people come out for an amazing dinner, a fun silent auction, and a terrific concert by our long time friends Lost n Found from Parkersburg, WV.

I have never experienced anything like it.  When my husband, kids, and I walked in the FOP was filled with family and friends, a beautifully decorated room, and around 100 items for bidding.  It was warm and happy and inspiring.  At the end of the night we had raised a little over $4,000.00.  Between you and me I was really hoping to raise around $2,000!  It was doubled!!!  We were thrilled.  What a blessing!

I hope to get some pictures of the benefit on here as soon as I get them.  I had asked someone else to take some pictures during the night so that I could just soak in the evening.  :o)

Can't wait to share them with you!

Not on the list?!

Got an email today from our agency representative, Sara.  She wanted to let me know that she had heard that our paperwork was getting reviewed by the orphanage and we should hear something from them soon.  Trying to contain my excitement I emailed her back wanting to know if that meant a referral would soon be coming our way.  She quickly crushed my excitement and explained that the orphanage has to approve our family as a future recipient of one of their children.  After we receive the acceptance letter then we will be put on the list.  WE ARE NOT EVEN ON THE LIST?!  We also learned that 7 other agencies use the same orphanage.  Sigh.  So our wait has yet again been lengthened.  She indicated that we could start watching our mailbox in December or January for the approval letter.  THEN the real wait begins.  (What do you call what we have been doing for the past 9 months...I could have given birth by now).  Am I the only one who thinks it is strange that the state of Ohio thought we'd be a good family, the US government says we'd be a good family, the COLOMBIAN government says we be a good family, BUT now we are waiting on the orphanage to decide if we are a good family?  I told Sara that I would promise to send Carlos (head of the orphanage) cookies and a Christmas card if it would speed things up... I didn't hear back so I've started to create a paper ma-shay of our family for his office (just kidding, I only know that paper ma-shay has something to do with wet newspaper, a glue like substance, and normally a blown up balloon).  Anyway, at least it's news and for that I am grateful...really.  At least that gives us more time to raise money for the adoption.

As you know we have an adoption benefit coming up.  My friend Elaine has been walking the city of Lancaster asking for donate-able items to auction off at our dinner.  She has been extremely successful, but sadly one business was appalled that she would be trying to help raise money for a family for an adoption...and an international adoption at that.  She was telling me that the woman she was talking to said that if we wanted a child then we should have to just pay for that ourselves and to adopt out of our own country was a slap in the face.  Another woman spoke up and was judging our family for adopting outside of our country.  Makes me sad.  BUT maybe some of you have the same question.  Here's our answer...
1) Children are children no matter what color they are or where they came from.
2) Costs are similar (not always) to what one might have to spend in the US.  As a matter of fact, some international adoptions are cheaper because of the need of the child.
3) As soon as our feet hit American soil with our little one, he is ours forever and no one can take him from us.
4) Because we want to...and feel God has led us to Colombia.
(Can't mess with the good Lord, you know.)

Now, I would hope that children in this country get every opportunity to find a forever home and I know some VERY wonderful and happy families with domestic adoption stories.  Not every adoption story, domestic or international, goes smoothly.  Most have hiccups.  Some are down right frightening.

Again, please pray for our family and other families in need of encouragement during this trying time.  I know one day I'll look back and remember our wait and I might even say "well, that wasn't as bad as I thought."  (Kind of like what I said about grad. school...)

Thank you for all of the love, support and prayers.  We feel each one...truly!
Blessings my friends.
Jeri

Benefit/ Silent Auction/ Concert October 20th

An Adoption Dinner/Silent Auction/Concert 

Some terrific friends have organized the Blackwell Adoption Benefit to assist with our 

adoption expenses. 



Saturday, October 20th is going to be a fun evening with good food, a terrific silent

auction, and a concert by our long time friends Lost n Found from Parkersburg, WV. 



The event will be held at the FOP in Lancaster, Ohio (the old train station in downtown 

Lancaster). 



We are super excited about this event so PLEASE mark your calendars and plan to join us

on October 20th. 

Tickets are $10 per adult and $5 per child, 0-3 are free.

Please contact Elaine, myself, or Jodi Stiriz Bird for more information. 

AUCTION ITEMS...to only mention a few....

• Tickets to Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
• Golf clubs and 2 -18 hole passes
• Signed Art by American Folk Artist Billy Jacobs
• Tickets and VIP passes to Diamond Rio
• Birthday Package from Tiki Bowling Lanes
• NUMEROUS Baskets full of goodies..... 

PLUS MUCH MORE! 


We are very excited about this benefit and we really hope that you will plan to spend this 

fun evening with us.  

Paperwork at the Orphanage!

It has been way to long since I wrote an update on our adoption!  We have recently heard the news that our Dossier (fancy work for BIG Paperwork) has been approved by Colombia, has been translated, and is now in the hands of the orphanage, Los Pisingos, in Bogota, Colombia.  Once the orphanage approves our request we will be placed on a waiting list of families awaiting children.  We know that we will be following at least 3 other families from our agency and probably many more, however, the families from our agency have requested baby girls and we are the only family awaiting a baby boy, so that may help us move up the list faster.  Also, we have been told that we will receive our match/referral sometime in the year 2013. This discouraged me slightly because I just had this feeling that we would be in Bogota for Christmas, but I know God's hand is guiding our adoption and all will be just fine.  Unfortunately, a finalized adoption in the year 2013 does not allow us to take advantage of the 2012 adoption tax credit that may be nixed for the 2013 tax year (that's a $12,000 tax deduction for those of you who don't know and when you are spending nearly $40,000 already that $12,000 would be very helpful.)  BUT I am encouraged to know that the list is lengthy holding the names of other able families to give a child a home, so God be praised.

Fundraising update:  This summer has been the summer of garage sales for the Blackwell family.  We have just completed our third of four (yes, there is one more scheduled for September 8th at the Flea Market in Rockbridge, Ohio - but that's it!).  Many friends and family members have donated numerous items for us to sell in our garage sales. So far this effort has led us to make nearly $2,000!  Friends and family have donated significant amounts as well, $4,000 AND we just received notice yesterday that Steven Curtis Chapman's Grant Foundation has awarded us $5,000 in a grant toward our adoption.  We are so very blessed.  Friends, if you'd like to give and haven't been able to we would still love for you to consider partnering with us in changing the world of one little boy.  More importantly we covet your love, encouragement, and prayers for us in this longggg journey.

But, wait there is more!  More? you say?  On October 20th we have some dear friends that are organizing a Dinner/Silent Auction/Concert for our Adoption Fund at the old Lancaster Train Station from 5:30 - 9pm.  The concert is by our dear friends of Lost and Found from Vienna, WV and our silent auction has everything from free haircuts, a nights stay in a hotel, autographed items, and tickets to Diamond Rio.  Please mark your calendars and plan to join us on that fun filled night.

Finally, Jason and I have prayed and made the decision to put our home up for sale.  Our home is our largest asset and if we could sell it and buy something cheaper (not necessarily smaller), then we could use some of the equity in our home for our adoption expenses.  Our home is officially on the market and we're in the process of looking for something else.  Many have called us crazy, but we feel like the Lord is faithful and has led us into this adoption story and that He will bless our finances, home situation, and future family.  We have the greatest "insurance" there is to have.  So, yes, this may be extreme, but God seldom calls us to do nothing.  :o)

Well, that is it for now.  I will try to update on a more regular basis.  Again, thank you for taking time out of your day to read about our story and to say a prayer for us. (Insert prayer for Blackwell adoption here...)

Love to you all and blessing!

About Colombia

Colombian Orphans

In 2010 Colombia had 577,000 orphans.

Drug trade and civil war have caused violence and consequently a rise in orphans in this country. There are countless children in Colombia who have lost parents due to civil conflict and HIV/AIDS, while others are abandoned due to extreme poverty, parental drug abuse or arrest. Others are abandoned after serving time as child combatants. Most of these children have little hope for adoption because they are “older” (more than 6 years old). Exacerbating the problem is the stigma that Colombian society assigns to these children.

Girls, especially orphans, are abducted into child soldiery and sexual slavery and are sometimes forced into armed service by their parents as a form of ‘tax payment’. In Colombia, for example, girls as young as 12 are reported to have submitted sexually to armed groups in order to ensure their families’ safety. Interpol estimates there are 35,000 women and girls trafficked out of Colombia every year for the sex trade, with estimated profits of $500 million, making Colombia second only to the Dominican Republic in the West. It is beyond comprehension the horror that these women and girls face as they service on average 40 clients per day.

Colombian orphans are emancipated from the child welfare system at age 18. Most leave the orphanage without a high school education, unable to support themselves and with no caring adult to guide them.

(sources: http://www.orphanhopeintl.org/facts-statistics/ & http://www.kidsave.org/colombian.shtml) 

Colombia Facts

Officially the Republic of Colombia (República de Colombia). The third largest country in South America, Colombia has a population of over 46 million people. The territory of what is now Colombia was originally inhabited by indigenous peoplesincluding the Muisca, Quimbaya, andTairona. The Spanish arrived in 1499 and initiated a period of conquest and colonization ultimately creating theViceroyalty of New Granada (comprising modern-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, north-western Brazil and Panama), with its capital at Bogotá. Independence from Spain was won in 1819, but by 1830 "Gran Colombia" had collapsed with the secession of Venezuela and Ecuador. The Republic of Colombia was declared in 1886.Panama seceded in 1903.
Colombia was the first constitutional government in South America, and the Liberal and Conservative parties, founded in 1848 and 1849, are two of the oldest surviving political parties in the Americas. However, tensions between the two have frequently erupted into violence, most notably in the Thousand Days War (1899–1902) and La Violencia, beginning in 1948. Since the 1960s, government forces, left-wing insurgents and right-wing paramilitaries have been engaged in the continent's longest-running armed conflict.Fueled by thecocaine trade, this escalated dramatically in the 1980s. Since 2000 the violence has decreased significantly, with many paramilitary groups demobilizing as part of a controversial peace process and the guerrillas losing control of much of the territory they once dominated. Meanwhile Colombia's homicide rate almost halved between 2002 and 2006.As of 2011 Colombia remains the world's largest producer of cocaine, although production has been falling. According to the Institute for Economics and Peace Colombia is the most violent nation in Latin America as of 2011.
Colombia is very ethnically diverse, and the interaction between descendants of the original native inhabitants, Spanish colonists, Africans brought as slaves and twentieth-century immigrants from Europe and the Middle East has produced a rich cultural heritage. This has also been influenced by Colombia's varied geography. The majority of the urban centres are located in the highlands of the Andes mountains, but Colombian territory also encompasses Amazon rainforest, tropical grassland and both Caribbean and Pacific coastlines. Colombia is located within the ring of fire.
The striking variety in temperature and precipitation results principally from differences in elevation. Temperatures range from very hot at sea level to relatively cold at higher elevations but vary little with the season. At Bogotá, for example, the average annual temperature is 15 °C (59 °F), and the difference between the average of the coldest and the warmest months is less than 1°C (1.8°F). More significant, however, is the daily variation in temperature, from5 °C (41 °F) at night to 17 °C (62.6 °F) during the day.
Based on various studies, more than 95% of the population adheres to Christianity, the vast majority of which (between 81% and 90%) are Roman Catholic. About 1% of Colombians adhere to indigenous religions and under 1% to Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. However, around 60% of respondents to a poll by El Tiempo reported that they did not practice their Catholic faith actively. 

Fun fun.

Life at the Blackwell's.  What can little Judah expect?  Well, lots of fun, a bit chaotic, and probably needs toys off of the floor… 

We had taken the boys to the store and then home for baths and pjs.  They make me laugh.  I heard Jadon yell “Daddy, grab your sword so we can play Hi-Yah!”  Jadon can make a sword out of anything…and I am not a “sword” promoter…must just be a boy thing.  Anyway, both boys had mini plastic golf clubs.  Jadon and Jason were in the living room playing and I catch Jake playing “golf” with his club and a pacifier.  So I grabbed the camera.  Here’s a preview of our house right before bedtime.  Makes me laugh.   I LOVE my family.  I love that we can laugh and play.  It’s not all cupcakes and ice cream, but we love each other and try hard to live for the Lord and be happy.  And we are happy.  I am so thankful for today and moments like these.  I am blessed.

Judah "Praised"

My little boy is out there.  I think about him all of the time.  Is he playing?  Is someone rocking him and singing him a song?  Is he hungry?  Is he laying in a crib needing changed and crying?  I ache at times when I think about his life before our family.  I want him to be safe and loved and fed.  I want him to know that we're coming and that we'll be there soon.  I just keep praying.  God already has a plan for our family and for Judah.  When no one else is there, God is there.  I love Psalm 139.  We can go nowhere where He is not with us.  From the very beginning God has been with Judah.  Verse 15 and 16 say "My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me when as yet there was none of them." God has planned for him to always be with us.  How amazing!

Today our paperwork was sent to Colombia, South America.  The government adoption officials should receive our application and all of our documents by Friday!  Friday!!  What happens then?  Well, after the Colombian officials okay our application then we will be referred to an orphanage.  They will review our file and place a child with us.  This could happen in 2 months.  It could happen in a year.  We are praying for sooner than later.

Please keep our family and our little boy in your prayers.
More to come!
So blessed!

Judah....means....Praised.

Photos

Getting closer friends.  Getting closer.  Our writer's cramp has never been more severe!  And we are nearing the end of our Dossier paperwork.  This is the lengthy paperwork that gets notarized, certified by the county and apostilled by the state department and THEN gets forwarded to Colombia.  We have a goal of having everything in the mail by the end of May. We are getting closer.  We are sending 30 plus pictures of our family, dogs, house, and rooms in our home to the Colombian officials so that they can place us with a child.  They decide based on our family situation, looks, income, home, ... life, what child would fit best with us, his forever family.  I know that God has already chosen my little boy to fit into our family photos, baby room, jungle gym in our backyard.  I know that He knows and has already chosen.  Already planned our future. And I am so excited to begin taking those photos with our new and complete family. Our chosen... complete...family.  :o)

Mom

It's been a while.  Almost a month since my last post so I feel like I should update a bit.  The Chick-fil-a night was a success and brought in $204 when all was said and done.  We are grateful.

We have almost completed our HomeStudy.  Should be finalized within the week.  That means that our next step is to get the Federal Background Investigation and to fill out our BIG paperwork for Colombia.  We're getting closer.

After our HomeStudy is complete then I can start getting applications ready for grant applications and hopefully receive some much needed financial assistance.

Ohio.  Ohio in March.  Hot?  Really?  We checked the other day and it was actually warmer in Ohio than in Bogota, Colombia where our little one lives...or is being carried...  Made me laugh.

We have NO idea where he is, when we will see him, what he is like.  All I can pray for right now is that God is with him, watching over him, and molding him to be my son, our son, HIS son.  And God mold me to be his protector, his cheerleader, his helper, his..mom.

Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A in Columbus, Ohio

“Blackwell Family Adoption”

Monday, March 26th

5-8pm

spirit night at

Chick-fil-a

6240 East Broad Street

Columbus, Ohio

Come out and help raise money for the

“Blackwell Family Adoption”

As their journey will take them to Colombia

to give a little boy a loving home.

15% of 5-8pm sales and any catering order on

3/26 benefit BFA.

www.chick-fil-a.com/marketateastbroad

* Make sure you mention Blackwell Spirit Night when you come in for dinner or through the drive thru*

Pregnant on Paper

I guess I am pregnant...on paper.  I like being pregnant on paper, no morning sickness, no random cravings, no morning sickness. I think I have packed on a few pounds during this paper pregnancy, but that I can fix in 9 months..not wait 9 months to fix.  Pregnant on paper has different symptoms: writer's cramp for instance.  You would not believe the paperwork!  It is astounding.  If you've ever bought a house then you know how much paper gathering and signing that takes.  Well multiply that by 4!  We are nearing the end of our home study portion of our paperwork and then on the BIG stuff.  :o)

Here's what our process boils down to (in case you are wondering):
Adoption Application (done)
Home Study (getting there-this requires financial statements, adoption classes, fire inspection of our home, employment letters, referral letters, interviews, etc.)
Dossier (French for lots more paperwork which includes a psychological evaluation)
Dossier Translated into Spanish
Dossier sent to Colombia for referral
THEN Colombia will match us up with a child
We get referred a child and we will get to see his picture and medical records.
When we accept our referral then we buy 4 plane tickets to Colombia and get packed..we leave in one week.
We stay in Colombia for 4-5 weeks, BUT we get our child on day 5 and he'll stay with us the rest of our stay.
Then we fly home.  When the plane hits American soil our little one is ours forever.
Post Adoption paperwork to make him a US citizen, etc.
Post Adoption follow up for the next few years on our adopted child.

While all of that is going on we'll be having benefit dinners, auctions, garage sales, trying to learn Spanish, teaching our kids about Colombia, taking adoption classes, and so on.

This is an exciting time and I just want to thank you for being a part of it.
More to come.

Jeri

Stick Family

Today I got little stick people stuck to the back of my van.  Please notice the dad, mom, 2 boys, a baby and our two dogs.  I love that we have our new little guy as part of our happy stick family.  He IS part of our family.  I can't even describe to you the love I already have for this little boy.  It is absolutely amazing.

Can't wait to meet you little guy!!!

Funny

We have two dogs.  One little black dog, Mylo and one little white fireball, Levi.  During the winter we at times put little shirts on Levi mainly because he looks cute it little shirts.  I removed one of these shirts from Levi the other day so that I could do his laundry and my 3 year old, Jadon said "ha ha Levi is naked."  How funny it is to think that a dog looks silly without clothes on when it is perfectly normal for dogs to be "naked" all of the time.

I have for a while now, considered myself a mother of 3.  We talk about our new little one like he'll be here any day (which we know is not true).  Right now I feel "naked" I need to have my third little boy to "clothe" me and make me feel complete.  Boy, I can't wait till I can see him!

Decisions

Colombia or Honduras?

It came to our attention that the parent age requirement for adopting from Honduras is 25..not 30 as we previously thought.  So we again sat down and had to decide if we were going to stay with Colombia or adopt from Honduras where we actually have friends living and working in an orphanage.

Honduras requires 3 trips that are one week each.  After meeting your child you would have to leave him twice before finally bringing him home after the 3rd trip.  Rip my heart out...seriously.  With Colombia we would go once, get our child on day 5, and then have him for the entire time we stay in country and finalize paperwork.  Both countries would cost about the same, so truly this is our may reason for stay with Colombia.

Talking about this over dinner one night I said out loud "leaving our little boy in country would just break my heart." Jadon listening to our conversation piped up and said "oh, mamma, I don't want your heart to be broken."  Me neither buddy.  This process is going to be difficult the way it is.

Every country has hundreds of children sitting in lined cribs waiting for adoption.  If you have any aspirations about adopting or supporting an orphanage please do so.

While typing this Jadon came over and handed me some nickles and quarters.  He said "here mamma, this is for my new brother."  Be still my heart!

So, Colombia, you still have my little boy somewhere.....

My Story...

I just finished reading Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. Don describes a story as being a character who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it. All great stories have this in common. 

Think about your favorite story. My favorite movie growing up was My Fair Lady. Eliza wants to be a proper English lady. She finds Professor Higgins and struggles "or ab lay" (horribly) to speak correctly. Finally she passes for a princess at a royal ball! Great story. How about any Scooby Doo episode you watched as a kid? The gang hears of a mystery. They chase and are chased by the masked bad guy. Shaggy and Scooby eat and discover that the mystery man was actually the old man that owns the amusement park. Good story, right?  

What about me? My family? What's my story? I know God has a plan for me...his word tells me numerous times (Jeremiah 29:11, for example)! But what can that be? 

Remember in the old testament when Balaam was riding his donkey and the donkey starts talking to him! I need me a donkey. That's a pretty miraculous occurrence.  That donkey was trying to get Balaam to turn around - go in a different direction. (Numbers 22. Look it up!) What's my direction? God, please send me a donkey...or any other talking animal for that matter. Awesome!  

I know I won't hear from a donkey because God tells me pretty clearly what he expects of me. I am to take care of the widows and orphans (James 1) and those that are hungry, thirsty, in prison, and naked (Matthew 25).  

Many Christians sit in the "heaven waiting room" and just hang out...waiting for the day we die and hop into the arms of Jesus. I wasn't called to sit and wait. Jesus tells me to "Go!"  

Why sit when we can have a pretty exciting story?!  

I want to love others like Jesus!  

I want to create a home for a child that wouldn't otherwise have a home.  

I want to feed the hungry. 

I want read books to kids with cancer in the hospital and encourage their
families.  

I want to provide clean water to families in Africa.  

I want to change the world.  

None of that's going to happen if I am hanging out in a stuffy waiting room! 

Right now you've stepped briefly into my story: 

Once upon a time there was this little family in Ohio that had more love to
share.... 

Character: Me, Jason, Jadon, Jake, and an abandoned child from Colombia. 

Wants something: To adopt a child to give him a good home and show him
Jesus's love through family. 

Overcomes conflict: Filling out paperwork, finding the finances (please help
if you can!), and making this whole thing work to bring my baby home! 

What's your story?

Big Brother Jadon

Try explaining adoption to a one and three year old.  It is a pretty confusing task.  We talk a lot about having another brother.  The plan as of late is to name our little baby Judah and Jadon refers to him as such.

Recent conversations with Jadon...

"Let's go get him." Jadon says.
"We can't right now but in a year and a half we can bring him home," I say realizing that a year and a half is in fact half of Jadon's lifetime.  "Not this summer, but next maybe."
"Where is he?" he asks.
"Well, honey we don't even know if he's born yet.  We don't know anything about him..just that he'll need a family and he'll come and live with us," I say.
"Here? Where is he?"
Confused look on Jadon's face.

"Where is Judah?"
"I don't know.  We just have to wait and see."
"We should pray for him."
"I agree" I say.
Jadon folds his hands and bows his head.

Heading out to the grocery story and I tell Jadon to get his coat on.
He says, "Are we going to go and get Judah now?"
"No, honey, we're just going to the grocery store," I say.

A little later:  "Will he be a baby?" Jadon asks.
"I don't know,"  I say.
"Jake's still a baby," Jadon responds.

Jadon is one of the most caring little guys you'll ever meet.  He has a heart for others and wants to make sure everyone is okay at all times.  He'll pull up a chair and sit next to you and say "Do you want to visit?"

He is (as patiently as a three year old can be) patiently waiting for his new little brother.  Judah doesn't know it yet, but he already has a terrific big brother who can't wait to meet him.

800 friends

At 4PM today we got news that our application for adoption was accepted with the stipulation that we agree to take a child up to 35 months old.  By the time we finally meet our little boy chances are that Jadon will be 4 1/2 and Jake will be 2 1/2 so this might work.  We were originally hoping for a one year old and there is still a great possibility that this will take place, but we will just have to wait and see.  God knows best and we will just allow him to bring our little one to us however old he is.  The Lord has led us this far....can't wait to see what is in store for us.

The next step:  We also received our EAC/Colombian adoption contract today.  Oh, the paperwork.  I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that throughout this entire process that I will end up with only 4 paper cuts.  I may be over zealous here, but that my goal..no more than 4.

I've also started getting passport paperwork ready for the boys and I.  So funny that my 1 year old will have a passport.  I wonder it his picture will look just as great as everyone else's passport pictures?  I'm convinced that there is a requirement somewhere that your passport pic needs to look like you AFTER a 10 hour flight so that they can accurately match you to your picture.

Also, I spoke with my husband this morning and told him that I realized that if 800 of our closest friends sent us $50 each then we could knock out this 40K in no time.  You know who you are...  all 800 of you....  :o)

Thank you again for your prayers and loving words.  They are gratefully appreciated. We'll talk soon.

Not flesh of my flesh, Nor bone of my bone,

But still miraculously my own.

Never forget for a single minute,

You didn't grow under my heart - but in it.

Fleur Conkling Heylinger: Saturday Evening Post: April 5, 1952

Please Help with our Adoption Fund

Choices

I grew up during the age of Where's Waldo? and Where is the World is Carmen Santiago? I'm sure these two individuals were very taxing on their parents' as small children. Occasionally, I'll find Jake in the bathtub fully clothed or sitting in the dogs' water dish. I am one to often lose my keys, my cell phone, or the remote control. I am always elated when I've found what I had previously misplaced.  


Where do you start in order to find your child, whom you've never met, only prayed for and dreamed of. How can we possibly decide on one child among all of the children in the world that need a home? How can I make that BIG of a decision? I'm normally the one that chooses the wrong check-out line at the grocery store. You know the one. You are in line right behind a short order, but low and behold one of the products is not scanning correctly, or the person forgot their debit card, or the cash register spontaneously combusts!  

A child. How do you find a child?  

First you have to choose an agency with the right program for your family. Two adoption agencies rose to the top of our list because of referrals from friends that had previously used those agencies.  We chose the European Adoption Consultants (EAC). We spoke to different agencies, attended a webinar, and poured over material. We had to choose the right program, the right country, and right away if we wanted to get moving on this adoption process. 

Honduras? Colombia? China? India? Russia? Some countries will not work with a couple where one of the individuals is younger than 30. Jason will not be 30 until September and we wanted to start this process now...that took out China and Honduras. Russia requires 3 or 4 trips..that's out. India wants you to adopt older children...we want a toddler. Colombia. Columbia requires one trip (but it is 4 or 5 weeks!) and we can have a child between the ages of 9 - 18 months in a year and a half. 

Done.  

Colombia. My third little boy will be born in Colombia. The boys are excited because their new brother will look like Diego (a favorite cartoon character that loves animals.) I'm excited that we have made a decision. 

Monday, January 23rd 2012 we sent in our application to adopt a little boy
from Colombia.

I have always known.

I have always known that I would have three boys.  Always.  As a young married adult I would pray for my three boys.  I would pray that my grandparents could meet all three of them someday.  A couple of years ago I bought three matching Christmas stockings.  I just knew.  Funny how you just know things.  Like how you just knew big bangs in the 80s were not a good idea, how you will never understand the weather in Ohio, or how you can always count on your little one's wanting a hug in the morning.  Some things you just know.  I have always known that I would have three boys.

Right now my household contains myself, my husband, Jason, our two little ones, Jadon (3) and Jake (1) and our two dogs.  I wanted a third child.  My husband and I decided that in order to expand our family we should reach out and adopt a child that would not otherwise have a home and a family.  (And this might be our only chance for a child with dark features like Jason because oddly enough my genes have dominated in our gene pool generating 2 beautiful pale, blond, blue eyed boys..I won round 1 and 2!)

This blog will be about our journey.  Our journey to seek out baby Blackwell boy number 3.  The final piece to our family puzzle.  The final stocking to be hung at Christmas time.  Please join me as we embark upon this adventure together.