We've had news from Lutheran Family Services about the North Korean/Chinese refugee adoption program.   Pastor Chun is making headway, albeit slowly, toward getting these little ones out of China!  There are a whole host of issues but Durihana is continuing to work on them.  The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has finally designated North Koreans in China as refugees.  Unfortunately, the children of these refugees have not been given the same status.  However, UN acknowledgement of refugee status for the birth parents is still a HUGE step towards making this adoption program possible.  With UNHCR refugee status, and knowing North Korea will not accept these children perhaps China will allow them to leave legally and without complication or political involvement.  It is our hope that these children find their way to Colorado quickly and into the waiting arms of loving families (us!).

Jamey says my blog isn't lame and I'm trying to believe her but I've seen other blogs and they are...well, interesting.  In an attempt to make my blog more interesting I'm going to try to write about more interesting things.  Rocket Science, right?  Today's blog will be about the motivation behind our adoption.

"If you have come to help me you are wasting your time.  But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together."  ~ Aboriginal Activist Group 1970s

This quote is a pretty accurate account of why we are adopting.  It isn't about saving someone from poverty.  I know that may sound strange to some people but in our minds poverty is not reason enough to relinquish your children.  We've both seen poverty.  We've both seen people who live on so much less than we do and are loving and loved and a family.  Contrary t ...

Saturday's meeting went very well.  We received clarification on a few points (the ages and well-being of the children) but were still left with a lot of questions (what will family selection look like, when and if this program will happen).  There were almost 50 families represented.  We met some great adoptive families from Fort Collins and it was an honor to just be in the same room as Pastor Chun (the founder of Durihana).  He's been dubbed the "Schindler of Asia" for helping more than 500 refugees escape North Korea and China.  Pastor Chun only speaks Korean so he worked through an interpreter.  The meeting began with an overview of what the Durihana does and then went on to talk about Angel House which is a collection of homes currently caring for the children.  This was followed up by a question and answer period. 

The need is so great for these children. &am ...

To catch everyone up...in the late spring, upon the advisement of our social worker (Katie), Matt and I decided to postpone having our home study done to give ourselves a chance to become more "financially appealing" to the adoption powers that be.  While we felt this was a wise decision it was still discouraging.  I tried to console myself with the thought that maybe our kiddos just weren't ready for us yet...or even born.  We prayed that God would change our hearts about the delay and remind us that he has our little family in mind.  We put operation, "Get Matt a Job/Pay Off Our Debt/Get Money In Savings" into effect in full force.  Our full force has turned out to have the power of a light breeze more than a raging storm but we've been doing the best we can and making a little progress :)

Last week, Katie called me at work and said that ...

Matt and I are facing some setbacks in our adoption.  I just found out yesterday that I may be losing my job.  Things just aren't rosy for us right now.  While it is easy to be discouraged and to feel hopeless when we see our lives appearing to go backwards instead of forwards we're trying (some days more successfully than others) to keep our chins up.  I thought I would pass along part of an email I received from a friend and mentor.  She says so gracefully what I wish I could do...what I hope to do.   I hope you'll be blessed by her wisdom like I was.

Often the most important crossroads appear as significant setbacks....but changing paths often puts us on the right path for the right time.  Our job is to walk  our God-given journeys with integrity, perseverance and excellence, even when it looks like a dead end.&a ...

Oh, my goodness.  I can't remember the last time I was this tired and this happy!  Our garage sale this past weekend was so much work and so much fun!  Matt and I are so blessed by our fast friendship with Brian and Cindy (the other adopting couple).  They are the only couple we know that has not only been through this process before but is going through it concurrently with us.  They have been a great source of information, support, and love.  We are so thankful for them!

We are also incredibly thankful to all of our friends and family for their donations, volunteerism, and prayers.  I don't know how people go through this process without a support system like ours.  We are richly blessed.  How richly blessed are we, you ask?  Well, I guess if we had to put a number to it...Matt and I had been praying that we would have enough money from the garage sale to pay for our immediate home study co ...

This is from Chicken Soup for a Mother's Soul:

A young woman named Mary gave birth to her first child, and because her husband was on military duty, she spent a couple of weeks after the birth at the home of her parents.

One day Mary mentioned to her mother that she was surprised the baby’s hair was reddish, when both she and her husband were blonde.

“Well, Mary,” said her mother, “you must remember, your daddy’s hair is red.”

“But Mamma,” said Mary, “that doesn’t make any difference because I’m adopted.”

With a little smile, Mamma said the loveliest words that her daughter had ever heard: “I always forget.”

Adoption update:

Things move so  s l o w l y  in the world of adoption.  I don't have a whole lot to add today but I wanted to let you all know that I'm not withholding information...I just don't have any new news! 

The first loose string that has not been tied up yet involves our home study.  Our home study agency, Lutheran Family Services, was supposed to decide the recipient of the $500 home study scholarship (of which we are in the running) at their meeting on Tuesday night.  Katie, our social worker, contacted me this morning to let me know that there was too much on the agenda and they have postponed that decision until their next meeting on April 7th.  While I wish a decision had been made already I'm relieved because that means we could still get the scholarship!  I was totally prepared to be bummed about not getting it.

The second loose string that has ...

Unlike most expectant parents, Matt and I have no idea how old our children will be when they finally come home to us.  And like some expectant parents we have no idea the gender of our children either.  For retail therapists, such as myself, this is actually a good thing.  It completely prevents me from spontaneously buying things we don't know if we will need or even use and, seeing as my husband is currently not working, this also prevents any spending we can't afford. 

To curb my desires, most of the time I just feast my eyes on the seductive photos in the Kids Pottery Barn magazine and the more-realistic-for-our-lifestyle (and closer to my taste) items on Ikea.com.  Harder to resist are the small ticket items like cute sundresses on Etsy (what size? and will we even have girls?)  and California Baby bubble bath (do I want my sons smelling like ylang ylang?).  Obviously you can see my imm ...

Matt and I are having a garage sale with another adopting family on Friday April 3rd and Saturday April 4th.  We are seeking donations of items to sell and items to raffle off.  Check out: www.garagesaleforadoption.blogspot.com  for how to help!