Spaghetti Fundraiser Dinner

I can't believe that it has been almost a year since I've updated family and friends through this blog.  A lot has happened in our lives in the past year...we moved, started a new church, and have made many new friends!

My last post talks about how our agency, formally Catholic Charities, changed its name to The Center for Youth and Family Solutions. Since that time, we lost another social worker and have had to update our license and Home Study for the state of Illinois.  Still, with another new social worker, more fingerprints and home walk throughs, we still have no baby.  Sometime last fall, we decided that we wanted to add another agency, one that would have a wider reach to birthfamilies.  So in March, we finally signed with Adoptions From the Heart.  AFTH is located on the east coast and our social worker is in their Connecticut office.  

We have had a wonderful experience with our new agency!  They were very quick to get us through the steps of being approved.  We even had a conference call with our new social worker, from her home, the day blizzard hit Connecticut!  We have officially been in their system since the end of March and look forward to receiving some feedback from them after their May report is issued. 

Why add this agency? 

1. Last year, they placed 160 babies.
2. Derrick and Corey's family is from the east coast, making travel arrangements somewhat easier when the call comes!
3. They have offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
4. They are amazing communicators!  We email or call and hear back from our social worker right away. :)

With the addition of this new agency comes more expenses, so when my sister, Rachel, said that she would like to organize a fundraiser to help us raise some money, we were more than thrilled!  Now we just need everyone's help.  Will you come out with your family and eat some spaghetti?  Or will you donate an item for our silent auction?  Any small amount of help from your family and friends will make a huge difference to us and to our future child!  Thank you in advance for your willingness to participate AND thank you for your continued prayers as we continue to wait for our future Ford!

The Spaghetti Dinner is scheduled for Saturday, June 29th 5:30-7:30 at the Savoy Rec. Center (403 W. Graham).  Please email cormarie11@gmail.com for more information on tickets and donations.

A New Agency...Kind of

Well, it's official.   For those of you who have been hearing about Catholic Charities in the news...they are no longer an adoption agency.  Because of changes in the state laws, which effected CC's foster care work, we have all been moved over to a new agency.  We received a letter in the mail from "The Center for Youth and Family Services," today officially informing us of the change.  This is something we've known about since December.  We aren't expecting many changes at this point.  Our social worker remains the same, as does the adoption coordinator for the agency.  The new agency name is certainly a mouthful...hopefully it will also bring us a new little one in the near future. 


On another note, we continue to have our 'store' open at AdoptionBug.com.  Here we are selling adoption and family themed t-shirts in order to raise money towards our adoption.  If you want the proceeds to go to us, you have to order through this link!  Thanks in advance for your support and as always, we thank God everyday for those people who continue to pray for our family during our wait.

Vacation

Mini-golfing...we love it!

Derrick and I just returned from a nice trip to Orlando in order to relax and refresh! When you are awaiting an adoption placement, it's hard to make the plans to go on a trip.  Derrick has tried to book a vacation for us at this time of year for the last couple of years, and each time I would hesitate.  What if we get called with an emergency placement while we are gone? or...What if we are placed between booking the vacation and going on the vacation...that's a lot of money to loose. 

My goofy husband at Downtown Disney

Cinderella's Castle

Well, obviously, enough is enough.  We took the risk and decided we needed some planned time away...just the two of us.  The best part about the trip...I didn't think about the adoption or any of our other problems while we were gone!  It was a blessing to be away and to just think about the here and now for a couple of days. 


On a different note...we are starting a new fundraiser for our adoption through Adoption Bug.  If you are interested in helping us out, or are just passionate about adoption, follow this link to the website where you can purchase an adoption t-shirt (there is also a family and scripture themed t-shirt available).  Derrick and I will receive a percentage of every t-shirt sold through this link in order to help us out with adoption costs.  

ICK!

I've noticed, in the last several weeks, that suddenly I've been using the word 'ick' an awful lot!  As I sit down at my computer, ready to type, that is the word that comes to mind.  We've had a tough couple of months around this household....ick! 

Today, our social worker came to do our six month monitoring.  Nothing unusual.  Actually, I think I got less stressed about this visit than any other we've had.  Yes, we cleaned the house.  But this time there were several things my list that weren't done, and I was completely okay with that.  During our monitoring, we received an update about our agency, which will be changing names and 'philosophy' in March.  We also talked about the monthly support groups we are mandated to attend, which will also be changing...hopefully into a support group! I'm excited about the possible changes and hoping that they do make the group a more supportive environment.  

Derrick and I have recently been looking into some other avenues of adoption in the last several weeks.  Last week, we were again disappointed to know that money is the obstacle of adding anything else to help this adoption occur soon.  It is very frustrating to want to do more, but not have the resources to do so.  Especially when, even with some penny pinching, there is nothing that could be done in the near future. 

We've decided, therefore, to try and do some fundraising to help offset the costs of anything extra we might do.  Please pray that God will give us wisdom in where we should turn for financial assistance.  There is such a fine between taking the control away from God and waiting for Him to do His work. 

Those who are reading this who know us personally, know that the last couple of months have been heart-breaking.  Please keep us in prayer, things have just been...'ick!'

Still Learning

So this week, Derrick and I headed up to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for our fourth year of Lifest together! This is a wonderful Christian music festival that I attended for the first time with my sister and a friend in the late 90's.  Then, it was just getting it's start and rather small...but now it caters to 18,000 people during the five days every July.  The reason why Derrick and I like going so much is because we get to hear a lot of different speakers and artists talk about their faith and lesson they've learned from God through their ministry.

As usual, this year, I felt like there were several things God was trying to tell me through the speakers/artists.  I was reminded to be faithful with where I am right now.  This is where God wants me now...I must not be so focused on the future that I don't do what He wants me to do now.  I also heard Him tell me to not be so worried about my weaknesses...because in my weakness, He is made stronger.  If He calls me to do something, even if I don't think I have the tools to obey, I must obey. 

I also learned the "stories" behind two songs that have become dear to me in my adoption wait.  One, by JJ Heller is called "Your Hands."  JJ shared about writing this song after going through a difficult time in her life.  Sometimes, we don't understand why we have to go through difficult times, but ultimately, God knows what is on the other side...He knows best! Below are some of the lyrics to this song.

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away
That You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

Derrick and I also saw Laura Story at a 11 p.m. concert one night.  She is truly an amazing woman...it was wonderful to be able to see her heart.  Recently, I heard the song "Blessings" on the radio one night.  I, of course, now have it downloaded on my ipod.  It also speaks to the "why" of difficult times.  Hearing why Laura wrote the song brings perspective to my own life. Below are some of the lyrics to her song. 

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

 God is still speaking...we must take the time to listen!

Control Freak

When it comes to adopting, there isn't much you have CONTROL over.  We are told what meetings are mandatory, what paperwork is mandatory and what money is mandatory in order to continue to be in an adoption program.  Every six months, our social worker comes to our house and inspects it to make sure it is still safe for a child to dwell.  I have CONTROL over cleaning my house from top to bottom before she comes...but that's about all.  We have completed mounds of paperwork in order to be accepted into our program and then we continue to turn in more paperwork to show that we are still making an effort to be a good parent some day.  We attend a monthly support group to talk about adoption issues.  

Our social worker says we are so good at being on top of our paperwork...re-photocopying our car insurance card every six months for our file, re-submitting Zoe's health records to show she is up to date on her shots and such, turning in copies of training to our agency and to the state....etc.  Every time she tells us that (she has on multiple occasions) I tell her...."Well, that's the only thing that I have CONTROL over."

Yesterday, we received an email from our social worker saying that she is missing some things in our file.  Things that should have been there in order for us to go into circulation....we've been in circulation for 19 months and we are now finding out there is missing paperwork! Ugggghhhh! See what I mean about CONTROL? I thought that I at least had CONTROL over my paperwork.

So, after overreacting to this news....and taking some time to think about things, I am reminded (again), that the creator of the universe is in CONTROL.   God has His eyes on a birthmother and birthfather that will be the perfect match for our situation.  He knows which little boy or girl He wants to be raised by us.  He probably doesn't even really care about paperwork! 

So now, as we enter month 20 of our wait...I am reminded that God is in CONTROL, not me.  

2 Chronicles 20:17 (NLT)

"But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”

Seeking HIM

I'm currently doing a Bible Study on the Fruit of the Spirit by Beth Moore.  There is daily homework (which is really good for me), and today's lesson ended with a verse from Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV). "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

AND...

On my way home from work today, as I was listening to a station that I don't normally listen to, I heard a song by Barlow Girl called, "I Believe in Love." Below are the lyrics to this powerful song.

How long will my prayers seem unanswered? Is there still faith in me to reach the end? I'm feeling doubt I'm losing faith But giving up would cost me everything So I'll stand in the pain and silence And I'll speak to the dark night I believe in the sun even when it's not shining I believe in love even when I don't feel it And I believe in God even when He is silent And I, I believe Though I can't see my stories ending That doesn't mean the dark night has no end It's only here that I find faith And learn to trust the one who writes my days So I'll stand in the pain and silence And I'll speak to the dark night I believe in the sun even when it's not shining I believe in love even when I don't feel it And I believe in God even when He is silent And I, I believe No dark can consume Light No death greater than this life We are not forgotten Hope is found when we say Even when He is silent I believe in the sun even when it's not shining I believe in love even when I don't feel it And I believe in God even when He is silent And I, I believe. I believe

I'm thankful for a God who speaks to me personally about the circumstances I find myself in today! One step at a time...