Three Years Ago Tonight…

We were a family of six, yet the sixth little wonder was 12 hours away from being in our arms!  We landed late at night to the cool, dark skies of Cali, Colombia and met our “already” friend and our translator.  What a blessed relief her welcome hug was to me that night when we got off our third airplane and stepped onto our daughter’s homeland soil.

We broke a few rules with our adoption.  I presume the three year statute of limitations is up and I can freely discuss a few happenstances from our adoption journey that have remained semi-covert until now.

We weren’t supposed to have any contact with our interpreter until we got “in country”, but we needed questions answered ASAP.  It was a Friday night when we accepted the referral and we were to fly out the following Wednesday, so the flights needed to be booked pronto.  I also had 27 million questions.  No one at the agency was available to answer our “last weekend” questions, so I called a gal across the country who had returned from Cali with her little angel a few months earlier.  She put me in contact via facebook with the lady who would be our interpreter.  She was a godsend, for sure!  She helped us with flights. She booked our hotel/apartment for our first few days.  She gave us a list of what to take/what not to take.  And then her smiling face met us at the airport near midnight.

We weren’t supposed to go visit the village where Nora was born.  We were told that this could cause bad memories or frighten the child.  As far as we could tell from the gargantuan paperwork pile, Nora had not lived in that village since she was a baby.  We had the name of the hospital and thanks to adoption blogs, I learned that we could take our final adoption papers to the hospital and ask for records.  So we did.  LaCumbre was an hour away up in the misty Andes Mountains.  The hospital was clean and shiny and had an open air courtyard in the center of the building.  Hanging plants and freshly painted blue trim did my heart good.  We requested a copy of the record from the day Nora was born and were blessed beyond measure to get information about her birth mama (health history, height, weight, medical history, etc.) AND we discovered that Nora’s birth weight was incorrect on our paperwork!  We also found out what time Nora was born and how long she was.  I couldn’t be more grateful for those little tidbits of information that are worth their weight in GOLD to an adopted child.

We were supposed to stay in one of the adoption hotels recommended by the agency.  We contacted three of them and the going rate for a family of six was $330 per night… and we were staying for three weeks. ($6930!) Now we are thrift-loving souls and frankly didn’t have that much to spend on accommodations/food.  The night before we left, my husband found a vacation villa a few miles out of town in the country in a gated community with a pool and a line of shops to meet all of our needs…. for $1,000 for the three weeks!  Thank you, God!  There were four bedrooms, two full baths, air-conditioning, a washing machine and beautiful surroundings.  We hired a wonderful woman to cook and clean for us every other day…. she also went shopping with me and picked lice out of our hair.  She was a saint!

We weren’t supposed to have any contact with the foster family who took care of Nora. We were told they might try to take advantage of us and our situation in the USA.  Unbeknownst to us, Nora came bearing a little heart-shaped notebook minus all the pages that used to be inside. I thought it a bit strange until she pulled out the back lining and revealed all the contact info for the foster family.  We had Nora call them and say one last goodbye the night before we left for Bogota.  We have since been in contact and they sent pictures of their home, Nora’s bed, the family, her friends, the school, the church and the neighborhood where she lived.  Another blessing to an adopted child!  We send them current pictures of Nora and have chatted with them online a few times.  They are very thankful for this contact as she is the only child they have fostered who they have heard from.

Usually I stick to rules like a fly to flypaper, but sometimes there are very good reasons to break a few rules.

Oh Canada!

There will be several more episodes to Kings Canyon Camping, but at the moment, there will be a halt in the story telling.  I fly out in the morning to my second homeland, Canada.  Yes, I’m a dual citizen, not because I married a Canadian, but because my mother is Canadian.  Voila!  Dual rights, baby.

As much as I would love to sit here and type out the camping shower fiasco, or the back-of-the-bus barfing game, or the roadkill bingo, I am in the midst of packing and planning.  If I have had the pleasure of speaking when you are in the audience, you know, as well as I do, that a good time was had by all.  To say that I love speaking is an understatement… it is what gives me purpose and life and liberty and justice for all. Amen.

However, (enter somewhat sinister music playing in the background) I have been challenged lately by our good Lord about many excesses and life’s circumstances in the cushy ol’ US of A.  It has broken down some barriers in my heart.  I used to half-proudly say that mercy and grace don’t show up on my “gifts” list.  But I have had glimpses of both in the last two years.  Orphans break my heart.  Hence, our quest to open our home to one darling Colombian.  Widows and widowers are starting to find a soft place in my heart.  Homeless people… displaced people… people simply having a rough go of it… and refugees.. and children who live on the streets.  There are so many needs surrounding us that it could be quite overwhelming.  But God gives us all the same amount of time…. 24 hours a day… to reach out to those in our circle of influence… and those who live just outside our comfortable circle.

So, all that to say, my speaking this coming Monday night in the Great White North will not be the fat-n-happy laughing times of old.  It has me a bit nervous.  I’m used to being liked.  This may go down … um… not pretty.  Pray for the women’s hearts to be opened to God’s will for their lives.  And pray, please, that I will say exactly what I’m supposed to say to bring awareness to some cushy lives, to make the cozy nests prickly, to awaken some dreams of good will, to stir some hearts toward the hurting, and quite possibly to open a mother’s eyes to her child who is on the other side of the world waiting for a mama.

It’s been at least five years since I’ve been in Zellers, The Real Canadian Superstore, Tim Horton’s or a Canadian Tire.  :o)  Should be a rockin’ good time, eh!

Gotcha Day is Fast Approaching!

Hard to believe!  November 25th we will have had our sweet Nora for a YEAR!  Twelve whole months!  I can’t believe how fast it has flown by…. on the other hand, it seems like she’s been here much longer than that.  She has fit into her forever family better than I could have ever hoped for.  All those scary “preparation” stories from our training never materialized at all.  God picked us to be her family from the beginning!  I have no doubts now.  She is doing so well… with everything!  I have to remind myself that she has only been speaking English for six months!  Amazing how God made youngsters’ brains to absorb languages so quickly.

Here we were sitting in ICBF only a half hour before Nora had a forever family.  So many emotions that day!

So, we know we are ordering Domino’s Pizza, because that’s where we ate in Cali, Colombia the very first night we had the Colombian princess.  Other than that….. I’m looking for ideas and suggestions.  What did you, fellow adoptive parents, do on your first Gotcha Day?  What do you keep doing every year?  Is it a BIG Colombian fiesta with salsa dancing until the wee hours? Or something a little more calm?  Please let me know…. I have a month to plan!

Milestones for the Month

We have reached several milestones in our lives this month. None has gone by without notice…. and with much thanksgiving in our hearts.

Jan. 14…..   FOURTEEN years since we made the big move from Alberta, land of the Oilers, to Phoenix, land of the Coyotes.  The two hockey teams face off this Tuesday night here in Phoenix and we will be there.  Oilers are doing so poorly this year, I can’t bring myself to wear the jersey.  But Rick will…. and I’ll be sitting next to him. 

Jan. 20…. my baby sister turned 40.  That just means I’m closer to 50.  Milestone… whatever.

(I made this cool t-shirt that says “Christy is 40… yippy!”)

Jan. 22…… Nora has been in her forever family for one month!  It seems like so much longer than that!  She is fitting in perfectly… unbelievably, really.  She is such a happy little girl from the moment she wakes up… bringing pure joy to our home.  We are thankful that God had us picked out for her years ago… as we prayed and waited.  If I had made a list (which I partially did in my mind) of all the characteristics I hoped she would have that are similar to our family, I don’t think I would have listed all of the ones she came with!  God knows what he’s doing, people, when he places orphans in families. 

Jan. 23…. the end of the first week after Austin’s snowboarding accident.  I am amazed once again at God’s healing hand and his creation of the body that heals itself!  Austin’s face looks 90% better than it did seven days ago.  We are so thankful that no bones were broken (a hairline nasal fracture does not count – no cast required!) and he’s doing okay mentally and physically.  It could have been so much worse!  Austin has an appointment in Feb. with the neuro-psychologist for baseline testing.  I’m relieved that it is finally being done!  Sadly, it took 6 (or 7?) concussions to get him into the office!  Sheesh!

Thankfulness is leaking out of my heart today.  What do you have to be thankful for?

The Bible and Orphans

God’s Promises to the Orphan 
I copied this list from the Uribes Family blog.  They have returned from Colombia with their little man. So adorable.  I love the list because it shows the heart of a relational God.  A righteous God.  

I will defend you.   Ps 82:3  “Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;  Ps 10:14  “You are the helper of the fatherless.”

I will rescue you. Ps 82:4 “Rescue the weak and needy;”

I will deliver you.  Ps 82:4 “deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

I will not leave you as orphans.    Jn 14:18  “I will not leave you as orphans;”

I will come to you.  Jn 14:18 “I will come to you.”

I will protect you.  Jer 49:11 “I will protect the orphans who remain among you.”

I will hear you.  Ex 22:22-23  “You must not exploit a widow or orphan.  If you  exploit them in any way and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry.”                                        

I will be your Father. Ps 68:5 “Father to the fatherless”

I will put you in a family.  Ps 68:6 “God places the lonely in families”

I will not forget you. Is 49:15-16  “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has born?  Though she may forget, I will never forget  you.”  

I will give you compassion.  Hos 14:3   “…in you the fatherless find compassion.”

I will give you justice.  Deut 10:18  “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow.”

I will come close to you.  Ps 27:10 “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.”

Need a good cry? Grab a tissue.

So, as you can well imagine, I read a lot of adoption blogs.  That’s part of the pre-adoption therapy process: knowing that others are waiting, others have their children home, and still others are spending their lives helping orphans who will not have the opportunity to live in a family like ours.  Here is one such young lady who is following God’s call on her life to serve the people in Uganda.  She is 20 years old… and a mother of 13 children… and if that isn’t enough… she feeds 400 children every day!  Oh my.

Go have a peak at her blog.  Warning: It’ll break your heart…. but breaking is good sometimes.

http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/

This makes me want to sell everything in this house that collects dust and jump on a plane to Uganda.  But, that is not where I’m called at the moment.  I’m called to serve the children I have been given and to prepare for the orphan that is coming home soon… never to be an orphan ever again.  Are you doing your part to serve the orphans of the world?  If we all only did OUR part…..

Blankets of Love

 

Another adoptive family that we know has started an auction site for Blankets of Love to raise funds for their adoption of siblings.  Here is Kristy’s description of her blankets:  “These blankets are made from Anti-pill fleece print with a coordinating fleece on the back. The back fleece is most often a furry fleece that can be short hair or long hair but VERY soft and cozy! There will be some that are from “ultra cuddle” fleece or with that on the back. However, rest assured that they ARE warm!”  I would add that she only uses the expensivefleece that is fabulously snugly and durable and the blankets are HUGE!  Check out the sizes and pictures at her site:  http://blanketsoflove.blogspot.com/ and help bring a set of siblings to their forever home.

I truly wish that international adoption wasn’t so expensive, but alas, it is.  However, when God places a dream in your heart for an orphan He provides the needs in His time and in His way.  It is such a blessing to see where He has the adoption funds “hidden” for each family.  What a privilege to share the joy of adoption with others and give them an opportunity to participate in bringing a child HOME.

Christmas blankets will be a sure hit all year round!  Check ’em out!

Top 13 Reasons Adoption is for You

Another Colombian beauty.

This list is shamelessly bloglifted (and edited) from a blogger I do not know.  But as my sister-in-law believes, when you steal at least give credit.  Rumor has it he stole it from someone else; nonetheless, here is where I found it:  www.chadholtz.wordpress.com Thanks, Chad.

1. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.

2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love and family.

3. You can’t watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.

4. The fact that, if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child there would be no orphans in the world, is convicting to you.

5. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who have experienced the blessing of adoption.

6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about adopted child’s “real” parents.

7. You have ever been “pregnant” with your adoptive child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth.(2 years!)

8. You had no idea how you would afford to adopt but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing where God calls you He will provide.

9. You have ever taken an airplane ride half-way around the world with a child you just met.

10. You believe God’s heart is for adoption.

11. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart and family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.

12. You know what the word “Dossier” means, and you can actually pronounce it!

13. You shudder when people say your child is so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you are the blessed one to have him or her in your life.

Well, said.

www.bagsforzaza.blogspot.com

Donated Oil Painting for our Adoption

 Detail

 Detail

“Home to the Hearth”

A local artist has donated this beautiful 22″x28″ original oil painting on canvas with the frame so the proceeds can go toward the adoption expenses for our little girl from Colombia.  We are honored to show it to you, in hopes that you might know someone who would be interested in purchasing it. 

The artist, Grace Nikander, has painted over 300 paintings that have sold across the U.S., Canada and in Europe.  Her work has been on display in galleries in Carmel by the Sea, California and in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Grace is a native Canadian, but has been residing and painting here in the Valley of the Sun for over 20 years.

The painting, as you can see, is of a heartwarming winter eve where a small group of children and their dog are returning after a day enjoying snow activities.  This is a “warm” snow scene with the pink, orange and golden tones of the sunset reflecting off the snow and the water in the river.  The detail is amazing!  There is a church in the background, complete with steeple and cross, along with a horse in the stables behind the cozy home.  The artist’s ability to make the light shine from the windows is reminiscent to Kinkade’s paintings. 

In galleries, this piece of art would sell for $1,200.  The minimum bid is set at $600, and will be sold to the highest bidder.  All the proceeds go toward the adoption. Shipping is free.  We will be accepting bids at rixgal@cox.net until April 10, 2008.  Please pass this link to anyone who is an art lover and has a heart for orphans. 

Thank you for helping us bring Zaza home!  Rick and Linda

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