Adopting a Child with Special Needs

November is Orphan Awareness Month.

So I will be posting a lot about adoption and orphan care this month.

As many of you know we have chosen to adopt a child with special needs- 

this is a great short film talking more about that.

Here are some great articles explaining why there are so many special needs adoptions coming out of China.

The Changing Face of China’s Orphans

Changing Attitudes

When a family goes this route, they are able to tell their agency which needs they are open to, what they are comfortable with and what they feel their family is able to handle.  A lot of research through reading and talking to other families went into our decision about what needs we would be open to.

If any of you have any questions for us regarding this topic, please ask!  We are always happy to talk about adoption and specifically our personal journey.

Love Without Boundaries- "What is Adoption?" {I cried at the end}

I have cried about a million times these past few weeks... it's been an emotional time.

I thought I'd be excited during the wait for a referral(and I am) but it's just really... hard.

And I hear the 4-6 months after the referral while you are waiting for the go ahead to travel is THE WORST- because you have "met" your child and she is yours, but you have to just do a lot more waiting- knowing she is still waiting for us to come get her.  

They say adoption is not for the faint of heart... that is so true.  But it will all be worth it in the end.  She is worth the wait, worth the endless paperwork, worth the expense, worth the tears.

Because every child is beautiful and special- every child deserves a family.

I’m only one. But still, I am one.
I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything,
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
– Edward Everett Hale

Love Without Boundaries- Hope

Today is Orphan Sunday{11.3.13}

"Do you want to do something beautiful?  There is a person that needs you.  This is your chance."

-Mother Teresa

We had a wonderful afternoon at the local Orphan Sunday event here in Fargo.  I just wish everyone I know and more could have been there... it was so special and wonderful.  We met several amazing adoptive families and talked to more that are waiting just like us.  It would be so great if many more from the community could come to hear the stories and learn about ways that everyone can do small or big things to support orphan care in the world.  Anyway, we are happy that we could be there and are so grateful for all the beautiful families that are becoming a part of our life through our adoption journey this year. Here are some links to the news broadcasts from the event:

Celebrating Adoption and Promoting Awareness for Orphan Daywww.kvrr.com

Orphan Sunday: Holding On To Hopewww.valleynewslive.comMore than 150 million orphans have hopes of finding a home someday and those are just the ones who have been reported. Twenty-one years ago, Deepa Throntveit, was one of them holding on to that same dream.

LID LID LID!!!!

 

Guess what?? We have our LID!!! Our adoption coordinator emailed me to tell us our dossier made it to China & we are officially logged in & ready to receive a referral-to be matched with a baby girl!! Soon we will finally see her face & learn about her special story. How awesome is that?? We hoped and prayed we'd be LID before the Oct. shared list of waiting children was released & it happened!! A new round of waiting begins now but we are celebrating this great news today! One step closer to our sweet little one... and we couldn't be happier today.

Mid Autumn Moon Festival

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Sept. 25th we got together with the families we have met in town that have also adopted from China.  Every year they get together to celebrate the Mid Autumn Moon Festival(we were a week late but not a big deal!) and this year we were so happy and grateful to be included in the festivities!  The kids had a blast- we had a delicious meal, moon pies, craft time-the kids made their own Chinese lanterns, and then they all went on a lantern parade around the block.  It was really something seeing all of the kids together on the parade- there were 12 kids between all of us there- running around with glowing lanterns.  They loved it and the parents loved watching them.

Hot Mama Shopping Event {adoption fundraiser}

 

My sweet friend Michelle organized a fundraising shopping event for our adoption tonight.  What a perfect ending to our happy news day!  It was so fun- she brought wine, appetizers, and invited friends to shop at Hot Mama for some cute new clothes.  Our family received 15% of the amount they purchased that evening and guess what?  We will be adding $350 to our fund after tonight! Yay!  Another step closer... thank you dear friends!