Orphan Hosting

We don't have a featured family this week, but I really wanted to tell you about something super-awesome and close to my heart. Orphan hosting.

Last summer, my friend Andrea (Babe of My Heart) hosted a really fantastic kiddo, "Princess T" as they called her, from Ukraine. Princess T came over with an orphan hosting program called New Horizons for Children. It's sort of like international fostering, for a lack of a better term.

"Christian families can invite an orphaned child from Latvia or Ukraine (and now China too!) to stay in your home for 4-5 weeks during the summer or winter programs. Being included as a member of a family and receiving unconditional love gives an orphan HOPE for a better future. Learning they do have a Father, the same Father in heaven who loves us all, gives an orphan the promise they are never alone." (NHFC website)

Many of these children have never had a positive family experience. They come here, learn about American culture, have access to dental and vision care, experience healthy and loving family relationships, and get immersed in the English language. The amount of English that a child can learn in a 4-5 week hosting program is the equivalent of what they could typically learn in 4-5 semesters in school in their home country. This gives the children pride in themselves and helps boost their self-esteem in a big way!

Our family will be hosting a child through New Horizons for Children this summer AND we are adopting him! Not all families adopt their host children, but after connecting with Viktors' two previous  host moms, we knew that Viktors was our son and we wanted to bring him home forever.

Viktors the day he arrived for his winter hosting trip, December 2012

Viktors 3 weeks into his winter hosting trip with his host mom, January 2013

These pictures speak volumes to what an orphan hosting program can do in just a short amount of time. It really is remarkable how his smile is lit up and his eyes just sparkle in the second picture. It is amazing what love, family, time, and nourishment can do in the life of a child who's been forgotten by the world, but loved unconditionally by a few.

To learn more about New Horizons for Children, go check out their website HERE.

If you'd like to follow our journey, please hop on over to our blog, Super Sloans. We're having a big 'ol birthday party for Viktors this week because he's turning 12 in just a few days. Make sure to check it out here: A Birthday Party for Viktors. You can sponsor a puzzle piece for Viktors' birthday and help bring him home forever! When you do, you'll be entered to win an Amazon gift card. 

New Horizons is still looking for host families for this summer. Can you bring an orphan into your home this summer? You might not be able to load the kids up and head to a foreign country for 5 weeks, but maybe you can bring the mission trip to you!!! Prayerfully consider what God might be asking you to do for the least of these this summer. 

'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' - Matthew 25:40 ~ Paula

The Connected Child and Empowered to Connect

Most adoptive parents today have read The Connected Child as part of their required reading or as a suggestion from a friend. It's a fantastic book. I have read the book cover to cover three times now, but I refer to it constantly. I truly believe that every adoptive parent should read this book.

Back in September, the hubby and I headed to Nashville for a weekend to an Empowered to Connect conference. I have to say, I wish we had gone before Zoe came home had gone before having children. Our first two sons are biological children, but this stuff is just good parenting.

The event is put on by Show Hope and was led by Dr. Karyn Purvis together with Michael and Amy Monroe. The weekend was packed with a tremendous amount of insight into brain development and brain chemistry of children who have suffered trauma early in life: including in utero. I walked away with a better understanding of our kiddos, but also with tools in my tool-belt for being the best parent that I can be and for helping them heal and grow.

Watch this promo about the Empowered to Connect Conference.

If you have the opportunity to go to an Empowered to Connect Conference, I urge you to go! It's worth the time it takes to go and learn for two days. I am so glad Michael and I were able to attend together. I think it's helped us both be on the same page as parents. 

Since coming back from the Empowered to Connect Conference, we've made use of the available resources that they've made available online. Maybe you didn't know you can get Created to Connect:  A Christian's Guide to The Connected Child for free online. You can also order printed copies if you wanted to do a group study. 

There is also a tremendous amount of resources available on their website. They have articles, audio, and video clips on just about any topic you could possibly want to learn about. 

You might be wondering if you're going to parent your biological children differently than your adopted children. I like what Dr. Purvis has to say about that.

I hope that you can walk away today feeling encouraged in your parenting - with all your children! I hope you will make use of the resources that are so readily available to you as you are on this journey of Trust Based Parenting. 

If you haven't had a chance to check out this week's awesome family, THE SHARPS, then go do it now! They are as cute as can be and have you been to their BLOG!?!?!? They have quite the adorable line-up of kiddos (and a long line-up too! WOW!) They are leaving in just a couple days to bring home TWO little ones from China. Say a prayer for the Sharp family and help them bring their precious ones home with your donation. No amount is too small. 

Hope your having a great week! 

~Paula

Thalassemia

I have seen the face of God and I did not find it underneath a steeple, or in the middle of a worship fest, or in the faces of church leaders.

 No, I have seen the face of God in the eyes of the orphans who rise each morning, completely alone in the world and raise their hands to the only Father they have ever known.

 I have felt the ache of my Savior’s heart as I have watched children lose their chance for a family. I have seen the devastation that we have left in our own paths of selfishness and I have knelt before my Savior in humbled repentance. He has opened my eyes.

"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." Prov. 24:12

We cannot pretend any longer, Friends. Our eyes are open. We are responsible to act, to do, to go. We are responsible.

Special Need of the Week!

Thalassemia

I’m going to put in a shameless plug here. My son has thalassemia b major. These kids do not have much time to live in China. They do not have the ability to get the medical treatment that they need there.  

Please, prayerfully consider these children. Feel free to contact me for more information

on thalassemia.

www.choosingthalassemia.blogspot.com is an excellent resource

Special Needs Interview

Completed by Rebecca

• What country did you adopt from?

  CHINA

• What was the age of your child at the time of the adoption?

 1. 9 1/2 MONTHS AND 2. 4 1/2 YEARS

• What made you consider this special need?

 I FILLED OUT A SPECIAL NEEDS MEDICAL CHECKLIST AFTER I HAD CONSULTED WITH MY PEDIATRICIAN REGARDING ALL OF THE LISTED SPECIAL NEEDS.  MY PEDIATRICIAN TOLD ME THAT THALASSEMIA WAS SIMPLY A FORM OF ANEMIA AND NOT A SEVERE SPECIAL NEED.  WHEN I RECEIVED MY FIRST DAUGHTER'S REFERRAL, I BEGAN RESEARCHING MORE AND DISCOVERED THAT THALASSEMIA CAN BE A SEVERE SPECIAL NEED.  MY FIRST DAUGHTER'S MEDICAL FILES WERE QUITE CONFUSING, BUT I WAS FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT HER TYPE OF THALASSEMIA WAS MODERATE TO SEVERE.  IT TURNED OUT THAT SHE HAS BETA THALASSEMIA MAJOR.  MY OLDER DAUGHTER WAS ADOPTED A YEAR AND A HALF LATER AND I WAS VERY WELL AWARE OF HER SPECIAL NEED, ALSO BETA THALASSEMIA MAJOR.

• What does daily life look like for you now? 

DAILY LIFE CONSISTS OF AN ORAL MEDICATION MIXED IN A LIQUID AND BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS (X 2 GIRLS) EVERY 3 WEEKS.

• How has it impacted your life?

 MY DAUGHTERS HAVE BEEN A COMPLETE BLESSING IN MY LIFE AND THEIR SPECIAL NEED IS VERY MANAGEABLE.  WE TAKE A HALF DAY TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL EVERY THREE WEEKS FOR A TRANSFUSION AT A LOCAL DAY HOSPITAL.  THE HEMATOLOGIST VISITS US AT THE HOSPITAL.  I USUALLY TAKE MY WORK WITH ME, BUT ALSO TRY TO SPEND SOME QUALITY TIME WITH THE GIRLS.  THE GIRLS MISS SCHOOL ON TRANSFUSIONS DAYS.  DUE TO THE EXCESS IRON FROM THE TRANSFUSED BLOOD, PATIENTS HAVE TO HAVE A CHELATION THERAPY.  MY GIRLS TAKE EXJADE, AN ORAL CHELATION DRUG THAT IS MIXED IN JUICE OR WATER EACH DAY.  TRANSFUSION DEPENDENT THALASSEMIA ALSO REQUIRES A SLIGHT MODIFICATION OF THE DIET (I DON'T FEED MY GIRLS RED MEATS OR IRON FORTIFIED FOODS) AND THEY WILL NEVER PARTICIPATE IN ANY TYPE OF CONTACT SPORTS.   THEY ARE WONDERFUL GIRLS, FULL OF LIFE AND SPUNK.  THEY HAVE TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT LIFE AND I AM SO THANKFUL TO HAVE THEM BOTH AS MY DAUGHTERS.

• Are there variations of the condition and what are you dealing with in your child?

 THERE ARE MANY VARIATIONS OF THALASSEMIA TO INCLUDE TRAIT (CARRIER), INTERMEDIA, AND MAJOR FORMS OF THE ALPHA OR BETA CHAINS.  MY GIRLS BOTH HAVE BETA THALASSEMIA MAJOR AKA COOLEY'S ANEMIA AND AKA MEDITERRANEAN ANEMIA.

• How does insurance coverage work for this condition and the adoption? 

MY GIRLS ARE ON TRICARE (RETIRED COVERAGE) VIA THEIR DAD.  WE DID NOT INCUR ANY COSTS WHEN HE WAS ACTIVE DUTY FOR THE TRANSFUSIONS, BUT NOW PAY $25 PER TRANSFUSION.  WE ALSO PAY A MONTHLY CO-PAY OF $12 FOR THE MEDICATION, EXJADE.   OBVIOUSLY, THESE COSTS DIFFER DEPENDING ON INSURANCE COVERAGE.

• What expenses should a family be aware of upfront? 

TRANSFUSIONS CAN BE COSTLY, DEPENDING ON INSURANCE COVERAGE.  SOMONE CONSIDERING A CHILD WITH TRANSFUSION DEPENDENT THALASSEMIA SHOULD RESEARCH THEIR INSURANCE COSTS TO INCLUDE CO-PAYS, DEDUCTIBLES, AND MEDICATION COSTS.  SOME STATES HAVE ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS TO SUPPLEMENT HEALTH INSURANCE AND MEDICATION COSTS.

• What state are you in and does it offer additional coverage to this particular special need? 

FLORIDA - I DO NOT KNOW IF FLORIDA OFFERS ANY OTHER COVERAGE.

• What else would you like others to know about this condition? 

CHILDREN WITH THIS CONDITION ARE PERFECTLY HEALTHY MOST OF THE TIME.  MY GIRLS CAN BECOME A LITTLE LESS ENERGETIC, IRRITABLE, OR TIRED WHEN IT IS CLOSE TO TRANSFUSION TIME.  THEY DO NOT GET ILL ANY MORE THAN OTHER CHILDREN.  IN FACT, ONE OF MY DAUGHTERS WITH THALASSEMIA IS ALMOST NEVER SICK.  THE INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THALASSEMIA IS QUITE OUTDATED AND TERRIFYING FOR THE PROSPECTIVE PARENT.  THERE ARE MANY REPUTABLE RESOURCES FOR THE PROSPECTIVE PARENT TO INCLUDE AN ADOPTING THALASSEMIA YAHOO GROUP, COOLEY'S ANEMIA FOUNDATION, AND OTHER SUPPORT GROUPS.  I WOULD RECOMMEND ADOPTING ONE OF THESE VERY SPECIAL CHILDREN AND WOULD INVITE THEM TO JOIN OUR YAHOO GROUP AND FACEBOOK GROUP FOR SUPPORT, ADVICE, AND INFORMATION.

Elle, 2008

Levi, 2010

 

Danny, 2005

Are your eyes open yet?

These four will not survive without a family

Brinleigh, 2007

Take a good look at these faces.

Commit them to prayer.

And someone, please, step out in faith

And say YES!!!

My weekly posts will be on a small break because I am going to China this Friday to 

adopt my son!

If I can gain access to an internet and have a moment to spare

I will try to post next week.

Here is my son!!!

Simon, 2007

CHOSEN

~Katie~
hookedonfaith05@gmail.com

Meet the Sharp Family!

Hey there! It's a rainy day at my house.  What about yours? How's your day going? Are you ready to meet this week's family??
The Sharp family is in the last stages of their adoption of 2 beautiful children from China.  Rowyn, age 3 and Zekiel, age 1!    Tracey, the Mom,  and her friend will travel THIS THURSDAY to meet their 2 newest family members! George, the Dad, will be home with the rest of the family. They don't have a video, but I do have a few pictures to show you.  That's ok, right?  And, you really must take a look at their blog.  The Sharps have adopted before and have a huge heart for adoption and children with special needs.  Rowyn and Zekiel both have dwarfism, as does another son the Sharpes adopted from Ukraine.
So, let's go ahead and get ready to give our dollars to this family as they are making their travel arrangements as we speak.   You can DONATE HERE.  It takes you to their blog page where they are able to fundraise through Reece's Rainbow. There's a big DONATE button on the right side of their blog.  The funds from all of their donations will pay for all of their expenses needed, including airfare and hotels.
Take a look at these cuties and show the Sharp family some love!!
               
             Meet Rowyn....

 And here's Zekiel!

Thanks for giving to this sweet family!! 

Missed the donate button? CLICK HERE to give!

Women Helping Women

So, I ran across DFC today. They were hosting a 1 day fundraiser for an adoptive family. I started digging around on their site and LOVED it! And I knew you would, too.
You can shop with a purpose and support efforts against human trafficking. They employ women that are trying to reestablish their lives or keep their own children safe.  They have beautiful jewelry and bags, punjammies and purses and lots of other stuff! I'm off to order to support the fundraiser. What should I get??
                            
                                                        
                                                           These punjammies?? Can you tell I love saying that?

One more organization you need to know about and this one's local to me! I just heard of Ekata Designs.  They have jewelry  {buy it on Etsy} made by refugee women who are looking for a way to earn money for their families. They are mainly from Bhutan and Somalia.  Again, if you're going to shop, why not support these women?      

                                                            
I LOVE that these 2 organizations were started by regular women. They just wanted to make a difference and they did.  Don't underestimate yourself and what you are being called to do!

                                              

Waiting Well

If you've ever waited for your child to join your family, you know it can be hard to wait well. We want our child home in our arms NOW! As the days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months, (and sometimes the months turn into years - yikes!) we grow weary and impatient.

Waiting is hard - especially when we turn into a mama-bear (or daddy-bear) and just want our baby home - and we'll take out anyone who stands in our way. The average adoption process takes twenty-eight months. I, personally, only had to wait eleven and I can't fathom the thought of 2 years! But I know God was teaching me something during that wait. I grew so much as a believer, as a wife, and as a mom during that season.

Instead of mulling over the calendar and sulking that your baby (or child) isn't home NOW, choose to wait well. It's a conscious choice. I've compiled a list of 8 things you can do to help you as you wait.

1. PRAY! Spend this time praying for your family, for the child you are adding to your home. Pray that he/she remains safe and healthy during the wait. Spend time reading God's Word and praying for all your children, and especially for the one you're so anxiously waiting for. If you're looking for a great book, Praying the Scriptures for Your Children by Jodie Berdnt was such an encouragement to me in this time.

2. Journal - I kept a journal during my wait for Zoe and now I'm journaling as we wait for Viktors. It's so sweet to go back and read how I was feeling and what I was thinking while my baby was literally on the other side of the planet. I can't wait to share it with them when they're older.

3. Educate Yourself / Read - You need to spend a good amount of time preparing yourself to parent an adopted child. Read some great adoption books on attachment and parenting children from hard places. Some books I'd recommend are The Connected Child by Karyn Purvis, Before You Were Mine by Susan TeBos and Carissa Woodwyk, Parenting the Hurt Child by Gregory Keck, Attaching in Adoption by Deborah Gray, Wounded Children Healing Homes by Jayne Schooler. Your social worker may have others she’d like you to read too. If at all possible, get yourself to an Empowered to Connect Conference during your wait. These events are put on by Show Hope and are truly a gold mine of learning for adoptive and foster parents. I wish we had attended one before Zoe came home, but we attended one in 2012. It was truly incredible. 


4. Prepare Your Home - get that room ready because that child IS coming home. Paint the walls, make some curtains, and fill that closet with clothes (just make sure to buy a size or two up). Hang some pictures of your newest family member in your home, and buy toys with her/him in mind. 


5. Fundraise - I know this one seems so obvious. Most adoptions cost $25,000+ and most of us don't have that sitting in an account just waiting. Have a spaghetti supper in honor of your child, sell cool t-shirts (I think every t-shirt I own is adoption related), have a bake-sale, or a carwash. Pile all that money into an account for your adoption and watch it grow! It really is fun to watch God multiply the efforts like loaves and fishes. As we like to say around here: "God funds what He favors and He certainly favors adoption!" 


6. Serve-  Go love on the babies in your church nursery (it'll give you your baby fix too!), go serve at the local homeless shelter, or at your local school. It'll make you feel so much better to pour yourself out into others and it'll take your mind off all the agonizing days. 


7. Start a Scrapbook or Lifebook - You might not know everything, but you probably have a few pictures of your child and some basic information. Go ahead and get started on that lifebook or a scrapbook for him/her. There's some great books on creating lifebooks available now. 


8. Love your family at home - This one might seem silly to even mention, but it's true. You've been entrusted with the ones that are home with you now. Your husband, your kids already at home (if applicable) and that's where your focus needs to at this time. Don't be so focused on getting that next adopted kiddo home that you forget to love on the ones who are already there. 


I know the wait is hard. I'm waiting right now and I am reminded of how hard it really is to have a child on the other side of the Earth. Be encouraged in this wait. Let your light shine so that others around you see Jesus shining in you as you wait - nobody wants to be around the lady who's always sulking and crying. It's totally okay to have those days where you sit in your bed and eat ice-cream and watch chick-flicks and cry because you miss your kiddo: just don't make that every day. Love those around you well and be intentional with your wait. It's only for a season and then that new awaited one will be home and rocking your world! 


Now that Zoe has been home for a little over two years, it seems like the wait was so fast ; I can assure you it didn't feel that way then. But be encouraged the wait does end; your child will come home. And before you know it, your child has been home over 2 years and you can't even remember her not being there. 


Have a great week everybody - especially those of you who are waiting! 

~Paula

 

Sunday News

Hello!! It's a beautiful day here in the midsouth. I hope you're having a great weekend! No new family this week, but we should have more in the next couple of weeks. Email me at tonyagarrick5 at gmail.com if you're an adopting family that wants to be on our blog! We would love to have you! 

 I hope you'll take a minute to look at some of these waiting children. They are in need of families.  In some of these situations, it could mean the difference between life and death.  Some countries do not have the medical care needed for these children.  Some will be discarded after they "age out" of the system.  So, if you've ever considered adoption or know someone who has, take a look at these sites. These children need FAMILIES! Not just good thoughts and prayers, but families. Someone to love them, take care of them and let them grow up the way everyone deserves.  Imagine your own child not having enough food, medical treatment, no heat in his home, no mama to love him. These children are real children, with names and faces.  Please consider how you are being called to care for these children. Orphan care? Adoption? Advocating? Supporting families? 

I've put together a short list of agencies. (Reece's Rainbow is an advocacy group, not an adoption agency.)  If you know of others (and there are MANY!), leave us a comment!

All God's Children has several programs, including adoption, sponsorship and mission trips. 

Reece's Rainbow has many children that are waiting. They advocate for these children and connect you with the agency.

Holt International is our adoption agency. They also have a Waiting Child Program. (and you can sponsor children in various countries if you are interested in orphan care)

Bethany Christian Services is another agency that I've heard great things about.  

Spence-Chapin has domestic and international programs, too.

Interested in fostering/adopting in the US? Here's the link to AdoptUSKids. I know it's not Asia, but hey, every child deserves a family! God didn't specify where when He said to care for the widows and orphans. 

Did you know that if you don't have an agency in your state, you may can still adopt through their program? My agency is on the other side of the country, so they gave me the names of social workers they work with in my area. It's been a smooth process, too! 

Thanks for checking in today.  Thank you for supporting the Smiths last week, too! They will meet their sweet daughter, Guan Ya, by tomorrow! Have a great week!