Family Friday: Kory and Megan

This Family Friday is a special one for me because it involves the addition of my 3 year old niece, Suhn Mikayla Rui to our family.  

My sister Megan and her husband Kory decided to adopt special needs from China and Lifesong had the privilege of helping bring Suhn home through fund raising support.  Here Megan tells a little bit about how God led them through the adoption process:

Frankly, if God had told me 3 years ago that I would be parenting a child with cerebral palsy, I would have freaked out. Thankfully, God didn’t throw us in head first. Instead he laid down a bread crumb and asked us to follow, one tiny step at a time.

We’ve been asked many times over our adoption process questions like “why China?”, “why now?” and “why special needs?” The answers do not come easy. I can go into logical explanations about how China’s adoption program seemed to fit us better, or how the long wait times made us start the adoption process earlier than we originally thought, or how Kory’s job working with kids with special needs made it seem like the obvious thing to do…

While these reasons make sense and allow me to contribute to the conversation, the more accurate answer is this, “It felt like the right thing to do.” There were many times we asked ourselves the same questions we were being asked, “Why China?,” Why now?” But through the questioning we never felt compelled to stop or change course so we kept moving forward. The cool thing is, the further we traveled down our adoption road, the more confirmations and open doors we received silencing most of our doubts. By the time we held Suhn for the first time we knew we were right where we were supposed to be.

I love the thought of God leaving us a trail of bread crumbs to follow... step by step.  Thanks for sharing, Megan!

Recently, Kory and Megan put together a video to send back to the foster home Suhn lived at in China, and we're going to share it with you!

You can find out more on Megan's blog, here.

Family Friday: the Creasy's

Our adoption journey began two years ago almost to the day that we brought our daughter home. My wife and I knew without a doubt that God had called us to begin our family through the blessing of adoption, but we were also keenly aware of the various challenges and complications that lay before us. However, we put our faith in knowing that what God had called us to, He would give us the strength and ability to achieve.

One of the largest obstacles in adoption is the financial obligation, and as a bi-vocational minister, we simply were incapable of funding the entire adoption out of pocket. This is when we heard of Lifesong for Orphans.  We knew it would be by God’s grace through Lifesong for Orphans that we would reach our goal.

We began praying Christmas of 09 that we would bring our child home before Christmas the following year. Not only were we matched and our baby born, but we were able to return home on Christmas Eve! We prayed that God would fund the adoption, and through gracious organizations such as Lifesong, He answered that prayer. Looking over the past two years, we are amazed to see the hand of God through our adoption journey. He continues to be faithful.

I love how personal our God is about answering our prayers... that they brought their little girl home on Christmas Eve is awesome!

Thank you, Logan and Melody, for letting us be a part of your journey!

Both Hands: how it all began...

We've highlighted Both Hands projects before (check here and here) and this ministry has been such a valuable addition to Lifesong for Orphans.  But do you know how Both Hands came about in the first place?  Here's a word from the founder, JT:

The idea for Both Hands came as the result of a simple letter to a friend. I wrote to ask if he’d sponsor me while I golfed. The funds would go to a wonderful ministry for women in crisis pregnancies. My friend sent my letter back with a handwritten message saying that he’d gladly support my efforts if I was working on a widow’s house instead of playing golf.

For five years that letter stuck with me, until another friend, who was adopting four children from Moldova, expressed his need to raise funds to pay for it. That’s when the idea for Both Hands grew legs. We recruited other friends, found a widow’s house in need of repairs, got local businesses to donate supplies and food, and hundreds of people sent in checks to sponsor the workers that day. It was a day I will never forget! We raised enough money to put a dent in my friend’s adoption expenses, and totally transformed Miss Lucille’s house: Success story numbes one and two!

JT Olson, Founder of Both Hands

And just for kicks I'm going to share one of my favorite BH videos that was created about a year and a half ago.  *warning* this one makes me cry every time I see it, so be on guard... it's a tear jerker.  

The cool thing for me is that this fall I had the opportunity to go with JT to interview the Twetens and meet their little boy Sam, who they'd just brought home from Russia.  (unfortunately that footage isn't ready for viewing but maybe it will be a future Family Friday feature... you liking the alliteration?)

(I know you're all wondering) What was my favorite part?  I got to ask Sam a little question and he answered back... all in Russian!  Melt my heart!  Now, understand that I don't speak Russian well, certainly not enough to have any sort of conversation... but just enough to ask a simple question and understand a simple answer.  It was a bonding moment... if he remembers it... which he probably doesn't.

Anyway... enjoy the video!

Resources4Adoption

If you are in the midst of the adoption process or are considering adoption here is a great resource.  Resources4Adoption provides answers to numerous question and updated information on many different resources.  Here's a word from the founder, Cherri Walrod: 

Resources4Adoption.com has been a vision of mine for more than nine years.

My husband and I knew we wanted to adopt, but when I began searching for financial resources, I became frustrated by the lack of information. But we were committed and determined to make our adoption dream a reality. After literally hundreds of hours of research, countless emails, dozens of phone calls, stacks upon stacks of paperwork and an out-pour of support from friends and family, we were blessed with three wonderful adopted children.

Adoption is such a beautiful experience, and I wanted to make it more feasible and eliminate some of the stress involved, so more moms and dad could bring their children home. My goal was to create one comprehensive site so parents would not have to repeat my experience, trying to navigate through broken links and outdated information to find resources to help them (yes, there are resources that can help you!)

 It took nine years of information-gathering and careful planning, but alas, Resources4Adoption.com is here! It offers a wealth of knowledge that can only be obtained through hundreds of dedicated hours, first-hand experience and a passion for adoption.

 As you venture on your adoption journey, I hope you find Resources4Adoption.com to be beneficial. If it helps you—if even in the slightest—bring home your son or daughter, I have succeeded. Use the information on Resources4Adoption, and never, ever lose sight of your dream. With hope, determination and the right knowledge, your adoption dreams CAN and WILL become a reality!

 ~Cherri Walrod, founder

Thank you, Cherri, for your support of Lifesong for Orphans, your research on behalf of adoptive parents everywhere, and your heart for the fatherless!

Tasty Treats #4: Iced Coffee Latte

Wow.  What a day yesterday.  The power of God is mighty, isn't it?  Praise the Lord Davids is on his way to being adopted by a loving family!  Thank you to everyone who committed this boy to prayer.  Your prayers really did make a difference!  Got to love when the body of Christ joins together in prayer for orphans!

And now it's time for another...

Today we're featuring the Iced Coffee Latte on page 14, made with none other than Gobena coffee.

 Serving orphans never tasted so good.

The recipe calls for 1/3 cup instant coffee granules mixed into 1/2 cup of boiling water, but instead I used:

Gobena coffee (whole beans freshly ground)

and brewed it at a 1 heaping tsp coffee:1 cup water ration.  (I would recommend going stronger, if you want a stronger coffee flavor to come through... or you could consider following the recipe too)

i combined the super strong coffee with a quart of chocolate milk, cold water, and a can of sweetened condensed milk... whisked it all together and voila!

And the final product was super yummy!

at least Leah thinks so...

(and Marla and Christi and me too!)