Where to Start When Considering Adoption?

There are many ways to help orphans, we looked at just ten of them here. If God is tugging your heart towards adoption, or it's something you are considering, this series is for you! As I said before, I am not pretending to be an expert or to know all there is to know about adoption. But I did want to share what we learned along the way, in hopes that it would bring a few more babies home! For those of you with more experience than I, feel free to leave comments about what you've found to be true or helpful - I'm sure it will be super beneficial! And for those of you that find yourself with even more questions, please post them! I will do my best to find some answers for you!

When you are first considering adoption, there's a huge question before you: domestic or international? The need is everywhere. Neither option is better than the other. They are just different. It's about what's right for your family, and how God is leading you.

From within each option are more options. If you are leaning towards domestic adoption, you can use an agency, adopt privately, or foster to adopt. If you are thinking more about international adoption, you can be put on a wait list to be matched with a child, or adopt a waiting child. These options can be explored a little deeper here: Adoption Options

From The Adoption Guide, this is a great chart to guide your thinking and discuss with your family your options:





We felt God drawing our hearts internationally, and knew that's where our journey would take us. With your family, it could be a different story. Each adoption story is unique, and that is part of what makes them a beautiful picture of God's redemptive story!

My only realm of experience is with international adoption, so if that is where God is leading you, the next posts in this series are for you! Next week we'll look at part one of choosing an agency, and really roll up our sleeves and get in there!

Time for a little change

It was time for a little sprucing up around here! Our new design is courtesy of shabbyblogs.com. I'm still playing around with it... What do you think? Suggestions?

In other news, my "continuing adoption education" series, Map Your Way to Adopt, will be starting this Monday, answering your questions about adoption. Grab a button and spread the word!

<a border="0" href="http://ourheartforadoption.blogspot.com/search/label/map%20your%20way%20to%20adopt" target="_blank"><img src="http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m24/jubileedawning/seriesgrabbutton.jpg" /></a>

Let me know your questions and join us here on Monday to delve into the "How To's" of adoption. I don't pretend to be an expert, but I am happy to share what we have learned along the way!!

I'm excited about this and hopeful that it will help more kids find their families! One less is SO worth it!

Adoption Education COMPLETE!

One more baby step...we've completed our required 10 hours of Hague compliant adoption education! We did everything through our computers - videos, interactive readings, and quizzes! Excited to have this requirement behind us so we can keep moving forward!

I guess, however, this title may be a little incorrect- I don't think I'll ever be able to stop educating myself about adoption, orphans, and what I can do to help! I'm hoping in these next few weeks to start writing about beginning adoption education as promised...for those of you who may have thought about adoption briefly but have no idea where to start! I'm figuring it will give me something productive to blog about in the waiting time!!

For those of you that have adoption questions, please let me know what they are! I would love to try and answer those and help you in any way I can.

Bring on the questions! I pray that as a result of the asking and answering, more children will find their forever families!!

An (teeny, tiny) update!

I checked in yesterday with our caseworker to see if our dossier had found a home yet, knowing she would have already let me know if it had.. I just wanted to hear SOMETHING! :) The whole adoption process makes you a little crazy like that.

The great news is that it's done being translated. Woohoo! All the important people that need to look at every detail of our lives can now do so in their native tongue. Probably helps it make a little more sense...just guessing. :)

Bad news is that it hasn't found a place to rest its weary little head. In the words of our caseworker, they are currently "shopping it around" to all the regions. Since we requested a specific ethnicity (Roma) they are trying to find the best fit for us. She said within the next week or two, they should have a region for us! So hopefully soon...

And a quick update on our coffee store goal: 70 more bags to reach the visa goal!! If you want to help out, you can find all the delicious free trade coffee for sale here.

It's all about the little steps that make up this journey. We're getting there! Thank you all so much for your encouragement, support, prayers, and help along the way. We're so thankful to have you along for the ride!

God is BIGGER!!!

Lately, I've just been overwhelmed. I look at the amount left to pay for this adoption, and it just looks so BIG! Fortunately, God took the opportunity today to shake me out of it, and remind me that while the amount we own IS big, He is SO MUCH BIGGER!! And I am SO thankful! He provides for what He calls us to, and while I may not be able to see all the pieces fitting together, He is orchestrating it all in His divine time and will. Now that's comforting!

Instead of focusing on the one BIG number, I've started to look at the smaller parts that make up the whole. It will cost $400 to pay for our child's immigration visa. That's only 80 bags of coffee from our Just Love store!! And I think we can make that happen in a month!!


We need your help! Our goal is to sell 80 bags by March 10th to fund our child's visa. If you love coffee, please visit our store and take a look around. They sell deliciously smooth fresh roasted fair trade coffees. I would recommend buying the whole bean and grinding them yourself if possible! AND - Shipping for 2 bags is the cost of one..a little BONUS! :)

If coffee isn't your thing, but you know a latte lover, please share our store with them (or buy them a little surprise gift!)! To meet our goal, we would love for you to help spread the word! Tweet it, blog about it, facebook it, email it - whatever works for you, we would appreciate so much!! :) You can reach our store by clicking the link or going to http://www.justlovecoffee.com/ThePeduzzis

And a little SURPRISE - I am so excited to make a CUSTOM CAKE KEEPER to one randomly drawn coffee purchaser if we meet our goal from now until March 10... a small way to let you know how VERY grateful we are for you joining us on this journey and allowing yourself to be used by God to provide!

What's for lunch?! Be a part of something AMAZING!

One Day - One Lunch is here!

Would you be willing, today, to join with Addisyn and countless others across the globe in giving your lunch money to to help feed the children attending Adami Tulu preschool?

Addisyn is a 15 year old with a heart for Christ who saw a need, and has made a difference! Today marks her 100th day of identifying with the children at the preschool by eating a small bowl of soup and piece of bread for lunch, and giving her lunch money so they can eat.

Addisyn, on her mom's blog here, shares how her experience in Ethiopia changed her:

Being at the preschool that day also made me realize how much I had been taking for granted. I no longer wanted to just claim to be a Christian- I wanted to LIVE as a Christian. Instead of just memorizing the verses in the bible- I wanted to put them into action. I knew that I couldn't return home and go on with my life the way it had been. I couldn't open my closet door and see 12 pairs of shoes in there without thinking about those left behind with none. I couldn't go into the mall with friends and spent $15 on yet another t-shirt knowing that $15 would have fed 5 children at the preschool for a month. I couldn't just be a regular American teenage girl anymore- I was different.

And different, I am realizing, is a good thing.

Did you know that $3.00 will feed a child for an entire month? As we all join together, imagine the impact our small sacrifice will have! You can give your lunch money to Lifesong for Orphans online at: Lifesong for Orphans (indicate for Adami Tulu Preschool)

OR: Mail checks to:

Lifesong for Orphans
PO Box 40
Gridley, IL 61744
(Designate for Adami Tulu Preschool)

Let's be DIFFERENT today! Join with me in giving something as small as our lunch to make a HUGE difference!!