I am Mephibosheth

It's a chapter in the Bible I'd read before, but honestly, had never given it much thought. And then I read a story this morning, written by my friend Keri as she shared their (first) adoption story on The Adoption Journey. And she opened my eyes to Mephibosheth, and what David did for him. (2 Peter 9)

Not only did Keri remind me of this Biblical story, but she also opened my eyes to the reality that as a child of God, I am Mephibosheth. I did not come to God in a pristine state. I came to Him as a total mess, and yet He wrapped His arms around me and invited me into His family. He does this for each and every person that accepts salvation through His Son, Jesus.

Let me tell you a little about the Mason family. Keri and I co-lead One.27, the orphan care ministry at our church. In the roughly 2 years since the ministry began, we have gotten to know each other well. I consider her a close friend and I am so thankful that God brought our families together. She teaches Daniel's kindergarten class at church, and is so good with him. Her daughter Eden is one Daniel's favorite friends. And her husband Gene is a talented man that truly uses his gifts of communication and visual arts/graphic design for God's glory. (Remember the How He Loves video? Yeah, Gene did that. Just one of so many things he does at our church to present the Gospel in a true and relevant way.)

I encourage you to visit The Adoption Journey and read about Mephibosheth & the Mason family HERE.

Then, I ask you to prayerfully consider joining the Mason family on their next adoption journey. They are in the process of bringing another precious daughter home from China, and hope to travel in late summer. You can visit their blog HERE.

They have been graciously granted a $5,000 Lifesong for Orphans matching grant. That means between now and March 28, LfO will match all donations made to their adoption fund, up to $5,000! Gifts are tax deductible and can be made via check or online.

As Christians, we are not all called to adopt. But James 1:27 does call all of us to care for orphans. There are many ways to do that: through adoption, foster care, prayer, missions trips - and through financial support of others.

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. ~James 1:27

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. ~Psalm 68:5

Blissfully Unaware

Just a little more than four years ago, that was me. I was longing to be a mother, yet I was unaware of what was in store.

Some days the stories of orphans that have been abandoned, abused, and neglected is almost more than I can handle. Some days I wish I didn't know the stories. Ignorance would be a lot easier.

And yet, I'm reminded of Proverbs 24:12...

"Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and holds us responsible to act."

In the coming days and weeks, I'd like to share some stories with you. Stories of people that have become aware. People that are seeking to make a difference in the lives of orphans.

I pray that these stories will open YOUR eyes. And then I pray that you will find a way to act. Adoption. Foster Care. A donation to a family that needs financial support. A mission trip. Knitting for orphans.

Whatever God leads you to do, I pray that you will do it.

If you're not ready for your eyes to be opened - if you would rather remain blissfully unaware - I encourage you to NOT read this blog for a few weeks.

Links to the 'Becoming Aware' blog posts so far...
The Stewart Family
J&B, and One Less
Knitting for Orphans
Witness the Process
Ethiopia
Kirill's Story, and our Mighty God
Literal Eyes Being Opened

Considering your child's loss

Have you ever considered what your adopted child had to give up? I'd like to think I've considered it. But often, I think about language, and that's about it.

I read a blog entry the other day that made me realize the magnitiude of sacrifice that is forced on internationally-adopted children, and how I need to be aware of that as my children grieve.

Their grief might not be tears. It might be refusal to eat the delicious meal I just made. Reluctance to learn a new word. Unbelievable fear of going to school, or church, or playgroup. Dislike of the great new clothes we purchased for them. Apprehension of certain sounds. Repulsion by certain smells.

In addition to the fact that there may be emotional and psychological scars from a less-than-ideal past, there is likely a sense of mourning for what has been lost.

I encourage you to read THIS BLOG ENTRY and consider the sacrifice. And I pray it will make a difference in how we deal with our children.

Welcome, ACC Alumni!

We were happy to learn that we were going to be featured in the Alumni Spotlight in Atlanta Christian College's alumni newsletter. And we were even more excited that our boys were the reason we were highlighted!

So we'd like to extend a special welcome to all of our ACC Alumni friends who are visiting via The Cross & Crown newsletter. Thanks for stopping by. We pray that God will speak to you through the stories found here.

It is nothing short of miraculous to see how God worked to lead us to Ukraine, and to the two precious boys that are now our sons. We know it was all His plan, and all glory goes to Him alone.

If you have any questions about our adoptions, feel free to post a comment here, or email us at zjdove522@gmail.com. We love answering questions and sharing our story. All Christians are called to orphan care, and we are so thankful that our call included adding these two boys to our family.

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. ~ James 1:27

Welcome, visitors!

I feel honored to have had our blog linked on one of my favorite adoptive mommy blogs - thanks Adeye! She wrote a beautiful entry about the Ukraine moratorium issue. You can read her post here. Adeye has such a sweet heart and is quite the eloquent writer, and I'm so thankful for her passion for the fatherless.

If you're visiting from Adeye's blog, thanks for stopping by! We are the very proud parents of 2 Ukie Cuties, both born in the Donetsk region of Ukraine.

I'd like to give credit to another bloggy friend, Debra for being the original source of the letter I used when talking about the moratorium vote. She's awesome and I've had a lot of fun getting to know her through her blog and lots of emails. I'm praying that she & her hubby will not be affected by the moratorium situation as they seek to adopt their daughter very soon.

If you have not already done so, please take a minute to write to your senators and congressmen. You can find out how to do it HERE. There's a form letter you can copy and paste, so it will only take a couple of minutes to do this.

Want to see what adoption can do?

If you want to see what adoption can do for a child who's been given no hope...

If you want to see what family can do for a child whose future had been written off...

If you want to see a miracle...

Click on over to Adeye's blog and read THIS ENTRY about precious Hailee.

National Adoption Awareness Month

Today marks the beginning of National Adoption Awareness Month. As in years past, I hope to blog every day of the month. But unlike years past, I have more on my plate (namely, one 32 lb. blessing that keeps us VERY busy!), so it may or may not happen...

I am starting a series on families touched by adoption. The intro article was published today, so click HERE to check it out. While you're there you can subscribe to the articles. And please be sure to click on the slideshow (on the left hand side) to see some of the beautiful faces of adoption.

If you are in Georgia and you've been affected by adoption in any way and would like to participate in this series, please email me HERE. I still need several more stories to finish out the month.

Hope is Fading

About a month ago, I got an email from a lady in another part of the world. She'd seen a picture of Daniel that I posted on an Eastern Europen adoptive families site, announcing the completion of his adoption.

She recognized our boy. She'd been at his orphanage about a year and a half ago, adopting her son. While she was there, our little man would go up to see her, smile, and make contact. They'd made a connection, and he'd made an impression on her. She was so thrilled to know he now has a family.

I can't help but wonder when families like hers came through, did he wonder "when will it be my turn?"

And I can't help but wonder how many others that are still there are thinking the same thing.

Please take a few minutes and watch this video. And pray how you can make a difference in the life of an orphan.


Hope is Fading – Orphan Sunday from Allan Rosenow on Vimeo.

Atlanta Adoptive Families

As you may or may not know, November is National Adoption Awareness Month. And November is right around the corner!

I'm getting set to write a series of articles called Faces of Adoption, highlighting Georgia families that have been touched by adoption in one way or another. The series will appear on my Examiner page (here).

It could be that you have adopted, are thinking of adopting, you were adopted, you are a birth mother that chose adoption, or you have foster children.

If you fit the bill and would be willing to participate, please email me HERE. I'd like to focus on a minimum of 2 stories each week, and still need several more to make that happen.

Thanks!

Adoption: Are Christians wearing rose-colored glasses?

I recently read a post by a fellow adoptive mom that I found interesting. Some things were familiar to me, some made me thankful for the progress we've made, some made me hurt for the children whose scars are so deep.

I though some of you might like to read it as well. Check it out HERE.

Adoption is a wonderful thing, but it is not all roses. Thankfully, the resources, support, and reality checks available to adoptive families are increasing. And thankfully, more people are beginning to realize that adoption is not the only way to care for orphans.

I read something else last week about orphan care. Dr. Russell Moore wrote a great piece on his website, talking about the fear that comes with the thought of orphan care. Are you afraid of the idea of an orphan? You can read his piece HERE on orphan care, the Good Samaritan, and loving your neighbor.

Good news... for now anyway

The vote that was supposed to take place in Ukraine yesterday did not happen!!

The vote has been postponed. As far as we know, there is no established date for the next vote to take place. Many feel it will be several months. Some believe Ukraine is wanting to watch Russia and see what they do in the way of bi-lateral agreements, before moving forward with their own decision.

In any event, this is good news for families in process right, and for the children they're seeking to adopt.

But it's not over. It will most likely come back up. So please continue to pray for stability of this situation, and for the orphans of Ukraine.

Pray for Ukraine

Here we go again.

Ukraine’s Parliament is once again scheduled to vote on a possible moratorium on international adoptions. The vote is schedule for September 21st.

There are different speculations on exactly what this means, but it basically sounds like if this bill passes, it would place a hold on the SDA's acceptance of dossiers.

It's possible that 1) they want to restructure the program so they can better monitor the well-being of children that are adopted; 2) they want to enter the Hague convention; 3) they want to re-vamp the SDA.

Whatever the reason, I just wonder why they can't they work on it without halting everything. This same vote came up just before we travelled this summer. Thankfully, it fell short of the votes needed to pass.

Please pray that once again this bill doesn't get enough momentum to pass.

And pray for families who are in process right now. Some are already in country, others are waiting to travel, and still others are scheduled to submit their dossiers very soon. Pray that God will give them peace as they wait for answers.

(Much of this is copied from other blogs with permission - feel free to share on your blog as well.)

Veggie Tales

I'm excited about the newest Veggie Tales movie, coming out in early October.

Steven Curtis Chapman and family - along with Show Hope - have teamed up with Big Idea, the creators of the Veggie Tales series. We love Veggie Tales, but based on the video below, I'd say this particular movie looks like it will be especially enjoyable!



I love that Big Idea wants to promote orphan care! HERE is an article about the movie and song.

Say Yes

Saw this on an adoptive friend's blog - great video...

The Connected Child, by Karyn Purvis

Has anyone read this? Any comments, opinions, etc.?

Big Orange Adoption Story

Back in October I posted about University of Tennessee Athletic Director Mike Hamilton and his family's adoption story (here). 

I just saw a video that was produced for an orphan crisis fundraiser event held in Knoxville, and focuses on the Hamilton family.  Please at least take the time to watch the first 3 minutes or so, as it is an awesome story of God working in this family and burdening them with the James 1:27 call. I especially appreciated how Mike likened the adoption decision to standing on the edge of the pool...
But I won't share more, you'll just have to watch for yourself!

Post-adoption: don't be afraid to ask for help!

My part 2 article was published yesterday.  It addresses getting help if you experience struggles once you bring your child(ren) home. You can read the article HERE.

I also want to clarify that contrary to many reports (and despite what I said in a previous post), Russia has not suspended U.S. adoptions. They may very well halt things if the U.S. and Russia cannot create a bi-lateral adoption agreement. Things have slowed down in some respects, and as is always the case in Russia, situations vary by region. Bu things are still moving.

A high-ranking U.S. delegation was scheduled to meet with officials in Moscow this week in an attempt to create a bi-lateral agreement regarding U.S/Russian adoptions.  Due to the ash clouds from the volcano, that trip has been postponed until next week.  Please pray that these negotiations go well. From all I've read, the delegation we're sending is not only powerful, but also well-connected in the area of adoption. The outcome of this meeting will be significant, but there seems to be a lot of confidence around the fact that they're meeting.

We don't know all of the story about the boy on the airplane.  It is very possible that the 7-year-old did make threats and exhibit the behaviors that Torry Hansen claimed in her letter. It is also possible that Torry went into it knowing about the 'bad adoption stories' but thinking it would never happen to her. There are many possibilities.

But Hansen had other options.  I read an article yesterday that said Hansen spoke with psychologists about her son's behavior, but never actually took him for any therapy or counseling. I can't help but wonder if the outcome would have been different if she'd tried to get him (and herself) some professional help.

Okay, off my soap box.  The Joint Council's site (HERE) gives the latest information on the status of Russian adoptions.

I'm so thankful that I've been given the opportunity to write about adoption topics. I pray that my words will help people understand what adoption is - and isn't, what's really involved, and give them a dose of reality that often isn't portrayed correctly by the media in general. And I pray that some who read my articles might even consider expanding their own families through adoption!

And in our adoption news, we are less than 2 weeks away from our scheduled submission date. Please continue to pray for our process, our last few pieces of paperwork (on its way to Ukraine this weekend, it was also delayed by the ash cloud), and our little one.

Adoption 101: What is a dossier?

The next chapter of my Adoption 101 articles attempts to answer the question...

What is a Dossier?

Click HERE to check it out - and while you're there, click on the Subscribe button towards the top to receive email updates anytime my articles are published!

Help the Land family!

There is a family I know only through the blog world, a family that is trying to raise funds to adopt 3 precious children.

This family wants to officially commit to these children, but still needs to raise more money in order to do so. Because they have not yet officially committed to the children, I can't share with you the specific reason why they're so special to me. But if you've followed my blog for more than a few months, you can probably put 2 and 2 together.

I pray for this family often. I want so badly for the funds to be raised so they can rescue these children. This is a good family, a Christian family with good values and with a heart for God's will, a heart to help the fatherless.

If you have a few dollars to spare, would you please help the Land family?

You can donate via their blog HERE.

You can support them by purchasing t-shirts HERE.

You can support them by purchasing REALLY GOOD coffee HERE.

You can mail a donation to them (details HERE).

Or you can contribute $5 to their puzzle fundraiser HERE.

Any of these will help get the Land family another step closer to their children! Please prayerfully consider helping this family, and helping some very special children in Eastern Europe.

I made a new bloggy friend over the past few weeks!  She and her husband are in the midst of the fun of a Ukrainian adoption, and they just started a fundraiser auction site, too.  Take a peek by clicking the picture below (isn't it so cute?!?!)...