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!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
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?
...
...
Ok, I feel better - I just needed that off my chest. I'm done now :)
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?
...
...
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!
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!
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Sweet Blessings!
What an amazing past few weeks! Since deciding to go full force into the adoption process our life has been filled with paperwork, online training, and amazing blessings! Our kids are super excited and supportive which means the world to me! Our extended family is on board and we could not have a better support system in place through our brothers and sisters here! Loving it!
We had a unique opportunity come up this past week. Some friends of ours went away a few months ago to a place in Michigan called Broom Tree ministries. Since they went, they get updates as openings arise and this last week one came up - beginning tomorrow! Since Tim is on sabbatical this month we contemplated going. It is an all free (food and housing) opportunity to rest, regroup and reconnect with each other and God. Wow, who wouldn't want to do that!!?? But the daily tasks and responsibilities seemed too much to overcome; the decision had to be made quickly so someone else could go if we weren't. Having not finalized any plans we decided to go for it and figured it would just work out. A short 24 hours later I was very close to flipping out when it hadn't. Just the up and down emotion of it kind of took a toll. The idea of getting away with my best friend for a solid week made me very happy, then it not working out made me crazy! (no comments from the peanut gallery!)
The next morning I woke up to a text from my girlfriend saying there was no reason their family couldn't move in our house for the week and she take care of all 3 kids. Can I tell you how much I love God? Don't much appreciate His sense of humor sometimes but thats all good! Yeesh!
So, please pray for us this week? Tim and I as we get to take advantage of a fantastic opportunity, the kids that they will have somewhat of a normal week and for Amanda - Good Lord, thank you for AMANDA! Their family of 6 plus dog, with our 3 kids and Weezie. Ya, I think I'm glad I'll be in Michigan :)
We had a unique opportunity come up this past week. Some friends of ours went away a few months ago to a place in Michigan called Broom Tree ministries. Since they went, they get updates as openings arise and this last week one came up - beginning tomorrow! Since Tim is on sabbatical this month we contemplated going. It is an all free (food and housing) opportunity to rest, regroup and reconnect with each other and God. Wow, who wouldn't want to do that!!?? But the daily tasks and responsibilities seemed too much to overcome; the decision had to be made quickly so someone else could go if we weren't. Having not finalized any plans we decided to go for it and figured it would just work out. A short 24 hours later I was very close to flipping out when it hadn't. Just the up and down emotion of it kind of took a toll. The idea of getting away with my best friend for a solid week made me very happy, then it not working out made me crazy! (no comments from the peanut gallery!)
The next morning I woke up to a text from my girlfriend saying there was no reason their family couldn't move in our house for the week and she take care of all 3 kids. Can I tell you how much I love God? Don't much appreciate His sense of humor sometimes but thats all good! Yeesh!
So, please pray for us this week? Tim and I as we get to take advantage of a fantastic opportunity, the kids that they will have somewhat of a normal week and for Amanda - Good Lord, thank you for AMANDA! Their family of 6 plus dog, with our 3 kids and Weezie. Ya, I think I'm glad I'll be in Michigan :)
Friday, March 23, 2012
Here We Go!
Tim and I just got back from a little get away with the kids. We met his sister and stayed at The Wilderness at The Wisconsin Dells. With my new job at the school in Illinois, my spring break doesn't line up with our kids so we won't be able to go anywhere. We thought it would be fun to take this opportunity and it WAS! Plus, we are a little disappointed we won't be able to make it to Holly's graduation from Drake in May but are so proud of her! The girl has worked her hiney off!!
As we sat in line on Wednesday waiting to pick up the kids from school we got it - THE CALL. A little over a week ago we submitted the first step of the adoption process, the application with America World Adoption Agency. I will refer to them as AWAA from here on :) It is basically an application asking the organization if they will work with us. It was a pretty simple process to submit and as we went through it we wondered 'who really gets told no?' We were still pretty stinking thrilled to receive a call saying "Congratulations to the Haiti Program with AWAA".
It just made it sink in a little bit that we are on our way. They emailed us a ton of information and stuff to do so we are sorting that out and are excited to get a move on! We were asked how many steps there are in this process... we don't know! But can definitely see that it is AOLT! And we covet your prayers as we plug away. We know this was a small victory in the grand scheme of this process but I get the feeling we may want to celebrate anything we can!
A real text conversation with one of my (dare I say oldest??) dearest friends, don't get to see/talk with her much but love her!
Her: Just wanted you to know I'm crazy excited about what you guys are doing. Can't wait to watch it all unfold!
Me: Ya... we're kind of bored and don't have much going on. We totally know what we are doing with this parenting thing and are freaking LOADED and don't know what else to do with all of that money. So, why not?? :)
Really, we are pretty excited. No clue what we are doing or how it will happen. Makes it fun when you know it can only be God.
Her: I hear ya, I hear ya. I think thats why I'm crazy excited...because its so crazy! Yet not.
As we sat in line on Wednesday waiting to pick up the kids from school we got it - THE CALL. A little over a week ago we submitted the first step of the adoption process, the application with America World Adoption Agency. I will refer to them as AWAA from here on :) It is basically an application asking the organization if they will work with us. It was a pretty simple process to submit and as we went through it we wondered 'who really gets told no?' We were still pretty stinking thrilled to receive a call saying "Congratulations to the Haiti Program with AWAA".
It just made it sink in a little bit that we are on our way. They emailed us a ton of information and stuff to do so we are sorting that out and are excited to get a move on! We were asked how many steps there are in this process... we don't know! But can definitely see that it is AOLT! And we covet your prayers as we plug away. We know this was a small victory in the grand scheme of this process but I get the feeling we may want to celebrate anything we can!
A real text conversation with one of my (dare I say oldest??) dearest friends, don't get to see/talk with her much but love her!
Her: Just wanted you to know I'm crazy excited about what you guys are doing. Can't wait to watch it all unfold!
Me: Ya... we're kind of bored and don't have much going on. We totally know what we are doing with this parenting thing and are freaking LOADED and don't know what else to do with all of that money. So, why not?? :)
Really, we are pretty excited. No clue what we are doing or how it will happen. Makes it fun when you know it can only be God.
Her: I hear ya, I hear ya. I think thats why I'm crazy excited...because its so crazy! Yet not.
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