Monday, May 21, 2012

The Small Stuff

What a fun experience this is!  Very overwhelming, lengthy experience as well - but so much fun!  I absolutely *love* being in the middle of God's Will and in the midst of 'chaos' having Him show Himself in very specific ways.  I almost said mighty ways but sometimes it isn't really mighty - just obvious, ya know?  I have 3 stories to share...

1) We have been having a terrible time finding a Psychologist to take us on for the dossier.  Since we weren't patients anyway and have no plans to continue to utilize the service - they don't want to mess with us.  I had called close to 30 providers with no luck.  When we went to see our doctor in Zion (he and his wife are good friends of ours as well, Tim went to Haiti with them this last trip) Tim just happened to ask him if he knew a Psychologist in the area.  He immediately stopped what he was doing and said, "Uh, actually yes!  Some friends of ours adopted from Ethiopia about a year ago and he just happens to be a Psychologist!" Before I knew it he had Janet on the phone right there in the office and we exchanged info.  **Really cool tidbit - in our 2 minute conversation she mentioned that the upcoming Sunday (Mother's Day) they would be dedicating their kids at their church if we would like to come.  I just stinking love that.... I explained that we would have loved to but Sunday mornings are busy for us :) she had no idea - thats why it was cool!

That brings us to last Friday at our Rummage Sale (a big hit by the way! we are 1/2 way to our next goal!).  We put posters up  

of what we are doing so people could get an idea and early Friday a gal came and casually mentioned that she too had been on a trip to Haiti. We chatted awhile and it came up that the adoption agency we are going through, America World Adoption, we chose because some friends of ours went through them while adopting from Ethiopia. She said, "Oh, I know some people from my church who just adopted from Ethiopia." I asked what church... she told me and since it happened to be that same church Janet had invited me to, I thought I would ask the next obvious question of, "What is their name?" and sure enough - same family!  We thought that was pretty cool, had a good laugh and off she went.

About an hour later a lady walked up the driveway looking like she was definitely on a mission!  She promptly asked, "Who is Mindy?" When I stepped up she introduced herself as Janet, the gal I spoke to on the phone that day at my doctors office and had been emailing with! The lady that had been by earlier in the day left my house and went to the Post Office - only to 'coincidentally' run into Janet!  They had a fun 'God Moment' conversation and then Janet brought her beautiful kids over to meet us!  She gave her husband a call right there and we set up an appointment for them to come over to the house tomorrow night! Ladies and gentlemen, this is no coincidence! There are 100,000 people in Kenosha and we actually were in Zion, IL at our doctors office so this is just really cool!

2) Saturday a gal came to the Rummage Sale and brought up adoption because she too had adopted and was in the process of adopting again from Russia.  We talked awhile before she mentioned Russia again, this time my daughter picking up on the 'Russia' part and told her we too had friends who adopted from Russia, their son's name is Kolya.  The lady freaked out.  She said, "I was just listening to an author on the radio the other day talking about her son, Koyla that she and her husband adopted from Russia." I said, "Oh ya, that is Jill Savage, they are friends of ours." She was floored!  Not impressed that we know Jill but that it was the conversation on the radio show that inspired her to adopt again and here we were at a Rummage Sale talking about it!

3) May not seem like much but huge to me!  Kurt has been dog sitting for my girlfriend Amy this weekend and using my van.  Sunday morning as we went to get in the van I see a box that says, "Kurt, give this to your mom." and it had some magazines in it and some really cool, chocolate covered, decorated pretzels.  My first thought was, hey! those would be cool to sell at the cafe' at church (www.northpointchurch by the way) and then it hit me... today I was supposed to bring something for the cafe' and I totally forgot!  Holy cow, did God really just do that?  Remember something for me that I totally forgot?  YES!

I don't know about you, but I needed these bits of encouragement from God but I really didn't even know I needed it until it came!  I'll say it again and I don't care if you get tired of hearing it, I love my life.  I have the great privilege of being married to my best friend, amazing kids, a fantastic and supportive family, as well as extended (church) family here in Winthrop Harbor/Kenosha... and yet I desperately need to hear from God and these small things are just the encouragement I need at just the right time.   Friends, if you do not have this relationship - get it.  If you don't know how to get it, I'll stop my world right now and help you figure it out.  It is that important...

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Chaotic Peace

Is there such a thing as Chaotic Peace?

I think so - I think that is exactly where we are right now.  Everything is spinning around me with a multitude of things to do but I am completely at peace.  Its a good feeling.  We are making huge strides and progress with the Paper Chase and are actually enjoying (some) of the process.  Its good to laugh and enjoy the time we are getting to spend together.

We have managed to get through our physicals (whew! finally Mr 'I love ham' got his blood pressure to a reasonable rate!), the kids will go this week, we are getting ready for our rummage sale this weekend with TONS of stuff people have donated - SO COOL! We have found a Psychologist!  That has been huge.  A really cool God thing, simply asked our doctor in casual conversation if he knew anyone and before I knew it he was on the phone calling a gal who's husband is a psychologist AND they just adopted from Ethiopia a year ago.  We have connected and are just needing to set it up.  Bam! Done... a huge piece of the dossier I was needing to finalize!

Financially, its fun to see how we have just to the dollar what we need for each step so far.  I do live in a slight panic of this but I continually let it go... I know it will be ok.  Another big thing coming up but I'm confident in God that He will provide! 

We are 2 visits in with our Home Study Rep, she comes to the house next Thursday - we have a few things to take care of there but not near as much as we had thought. And she's really cool.  I wasn't sure what to expect with this part but it has been a very easy process.  Lengthy, but easy :)

I spent some time with Tim last night going through the pics from his last trip and am as convinced as ever that we are on the right road.  I know it isn't for everybody and get that - but this is it.  I cannot wait to meet my kids.  I know God is preparing them as He is us for the time we will be together!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

#haitianbycroft(s) update

Well, several weeks into the process and I am completely in awe at the peace that has come.  I've gone through a multitude of emotions and most likely - that will continue since I am me - so deal with it!  But I am appreciative of the ultimate peace that has come over the last couple of weeks.  So, here's where we are:

We have decided to adopt a sibling set for sure.  Not sure what dynamics play into that, we are working that through here in the next couple of weeks.  There are 2 orphanages we are looking at http://www.foyerdesion.org/FAQ.php  is a Haitian led orphanage and http://www.hishomeforchildren.com/  is American led.  Our rep didn't say that one over the other is better, they are both Christian based but the Haitian one has more options, she was leaning more towards the Haitian one for that reason.  She's been there and said she had kids faces in her mind as we spoke.  Ugh!  Then the very same day she decided to take a quick trip at the end of the month to visit each orphanage and invited the Haitian families along.  I'm trying to decide if it is beneficial to spend this kind of money on this end of it or wait until we have a recommendation to go.  We don't choose the kids.  Our Social worker coordinates with the Adoption rep and they work with the orphanage we choose and then make a recommendation to us.  But them getting to know us, seeing us with the kids - would that be beneficial now?  We meet for the first time tomorrow morning with our Social worker so that will be a good question for her.  We cannot afford a trip like this at this point unless it would greatly benefit the process somehow. My thought is that it would be brutal going before knowing who our kids are - I think it would completely mess with my mind and I'd probably come home with all of them!

We want to thank you so much for the support and input.  This is a fun process - lengthy... but we're enjoying it! 

Friday, May 4, 2012

Late Night Rambling - Just Wondering...

...if I could get some backup here from some families who have adopted that went through extreme anxiety over the expense.  I know, I KNOW! I am fully aware that God is in control and if He wants more children in our home with our last name He will make it happen but I am officially freaking out over the upcoming expenses.

Understand this, I am  - in no way, shape or form - expecting others to pay for this to happen.  But for goodness sake, HOW WILL IT HAPPEN!??  I'm pretty certain I have 2 functioning kidneys, maybe I sell one?  Do people do that?  Maybe I'll offer Tim's first!  Ha!  What on earth do people do?  I know we are very fortunate, my husband has a job he loves and we live very comfortably compared to most but the idea of 10's of thousands of dollars for this to happen is about to put me over the edge.

Here's the deal, we don't fish for handouts - we work... very hard for what we want that is considered 'extra'.  Kids want to go on Summer trips?  Oh, there are no letters going out asking for donations.  They may ask for *work* to earn cash but not a hand out, oh no... so thats where I'm at, what can we *DO* to earn what could ultimately be close to $60,000??? In the next year?  I'm totally open to ideas.  Keeping in mind that 1) God, 2) Family 3) Jobs (Tim's is very demanding *in a good way* and I am currently working 2 jobs) but for goodness sake, we are completely willing to work for the money, I just don't know how.  I feel very overwhelmed with the heaviness of this.

Just being honest here -

I get it.  I love God and I trust Him. But I'm a fool if I just blow it off and not do anything. I know this will be ok... but we have set high standards for how we live as far as debt is concerned.  What does this look like? 


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Ok, I feel better - I just needed that off my chest.  I'm done now :)

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Be A Piece Of Our Story!

After much prayer and consideration, we are certain that there is at least one Bycroft child from our family currently in Haiti. God has already decided who they are, we just need to find them and bring them home!

It is astronomical the amount of time, paperwork and MONEY it takes to make something like this happen. We need way more than we are listing here but eventually we can apply for grants and 0% loans but not until our Home Study is complete. We are working on that and the Dossier now!

We currently have a large puzzle of Haiti and are asking for $10 donations for each piece. 


We will then put your name on the back of the puzzle piece. A $50 donation = your name on 5 pieces, $100 = 10 pieces, etc. We will then put it together and frame it in glass so we will always be able to remember you!  You can do this here http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?fundraiser_id=2470&url=haitianbycroft

We are so grateful for the love and support that has been shown to us so far!  We can't wait for our family to be complete!