As of Dec. 16, we have heard back from 5 out of the 9 grants we have applied for.
We have received 3 No- and 2 yes. WOW Most of the grants I have not ever heard of and you pray and hope that they see something special in your information.
Of course, I am still searching the web to apply for more- but they are getting harder and harder to find different ones than the ones we have already applied for.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Applying for grants
I started in the summer going online and searching grants. Any type of International/Adoption grants I could find. I must have been on line for hours and hours searching. We had to have our homestudy complete before we could apply for any grants. The first grant we applied for was Shaohannah's Hope. This is Steven Curist Chapmans Grant. Our social worker Linda said we had a good chance at getting this grant. So filled out the many page application, sent a copy of our last 2 years of tax forms, homestudy and statement of faith and sent it in. This was probably in Aug.- Sept. of 2008. Unbelievable the amount of paperwork and questions we need to fill out. I just prayed everyday that God would continue to open doors to help fund this adoption. In the mean time I continued to search the web and found some more grants to apply for. From today- we have applied for 9 different grants.
Many late nights filling out all the information needed for each grant. We received work from one grant that we did not get it. It was disappointing, but we continued to trust. On Oct. 29, 2008 we received a letter in the mail stating that we received a $3,000 grant from Shaohannahs Hope. I could not finish reading the letter. I had tears dripping off my face. ( I think my kids thought I was crazy- I only got the mail :-)
Of course this was all in Gods timing. I wanted to get a grant before we sent the Dossier to Ethiopia- so we didn't have to write a huge check out of our home equity loan- and get really close to the maximum amount we could afford. ( We had to write a $5,000 check that went with the Dossier paperwork for part of the country fee )
God has it all planned, and I know this is part of trusting in him.
This verse came to mind,
I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand....
Fear not, I will help you.
Isaiah 41:13
Many late nights filling out all the information needed for each grant. We received work from one grant that we did not get it. It was disappointing, but we continued to trust. On Oct. 29, 2008 we received a letter in the mail stating that we received a $3,000 grant from Shaohannahs Hope. I could not finish reading the letter. I had tears dripping off my face. ( I think my kids thought I was crazy- I only got the mail :-)
Of course this was all in Gods timing. I wanted to get a grant before we sent the Dossier to Ethiopia- so we didn't have to write a huge check out of our home equity loan- and get really close to the maximum amount we could afford. ( We had to write a $5,000 check that went with the Dossier paperwork for part of the country fee )
God has it all planned, and I know this is part of trusting in him.
This verse came to mind,
I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand....
Fear not, I will help you.
Isaiah 41:13
A BIG GRANT GIFT- What a Miracle
Today we received a phone call from Lifesong for Orphans telling us that we were selected to recieve a matching grant of $4,000. Because this is a matching grant -we write letters and Lifesong for Orphans will match what is raised. So this could protentially become a $8,000 grant. What a awesome God we serve. We are so blessed.
What a wonderful Christmas gift direct from our King.
What a wonderful Christmas gift direct from our King.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Dossier
As we finished out homestudy meetings, Linda gave us this Huge packet of information. It was the Dossier paperwork. She said this needs to be sent to the country of Ethiopia and everything needs to be done exactly as stated. I started to flip through the packet. WOW- what a lot of work. I am a finisher so I was determined to get this done ASAP. The things needed in this packet was new marriage, birth certificates, dr. letters, police clearance, letters of reference, pictures, bank statements, etc. 26 items needed. Many, many pages of stuff. Most of the papers had to be notarized, signed and state sealed. I did finish most of this at a good speed, and we were getting ready to be done. Then we had a gliche. The USCIS paperwork was suppose to be added later to the Dossier. Ethiopia is a newer country for Bethany and Ethiopia changed the rules. They wanted the USCIS paperwork to come with all the Dossier not later. So we had to apply for this from the state of Michigan. This paper work takes about 3 months. I was bummed about this. We were ready to send our paperwork and then we had to wait. So we waited all summer. Part of the USCIS paperwork is we needed to get fingerprinted. Everything takes so much longer that what you think. Once we got the USCIS approval, we got it state sealed and brought everything to Bethany. Within the week they sent it to Ethiopia, and we are in line for a referral. A referral is when they send you information on a child that fits your request. So now we are waiting for this to come. (Oct 2008)
Homestudy
After we got accepted for the Ethiopia country we were excited but scared. This is a HUGE leap of faith. We finished getting our physicals, which included TB check and blood work. The next step was getting our homestudy completed. Our social worker is Linda Okma and we started our homestudy April 2008. We had numerous appointments answering questions on our families and us. Linda came to our home for the last meeting. I was a little nervous about this. I really had no idea what she would be looking for. Come to find out, its just to see what our home and lifestyle is so she can acurately write about it in the study.
As of June 9, 2008 our homestudy was completed. We thought this was a big accomplishment, we were so wrong. The homestudy was the easiest part.
As of June 9, 2008 our homestudy was completed. We thought this was a big accomplishment, we were so wrong. The homestudy was the easiest part.
Formal Application
We sent the formal application in and we had to choose what country we wanted. We really had no preference where- knowing kids need homes from every country. So we leaned on God to direct our path. I prayed that the country he wanted us to adopt from would be clear. We went through the different countries available ( also checking on line for countries that Bethany did not do adoptions) . Many countries were a no right a way. Guatemala, China were closed for adoption at this time. Russia was at least $50,000 (minimum) to adopt, and we just didnt feel like that was right for us. We wrote Haiti on the application. We both have been there on mission trips and thought this was where. We sent in our application and it came back that we were not eligible for Haiti. We both had to be 30 to start the process. ( even though we would both be over 30 by the time we adopted they said NO) We were not sure what to do, but God is in control. Ethiopia was the other country and asked to apply for Ethiopia. Within the next day we were accepted and knew this was what God wanted. So we started our process.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Being Led to Adopt
As 2008 came- we started talking about our family. Whitney was 18 months old, and Gavin 31/2 years old. We both want more children, but we were not sure that my body can handle more pregnancies. About the same time we started talking about adoption. We went online and looked up Bethany and Adoption Assoc. websites. I sent away for packets from each agency explaining domestic adoption. It was overwelming. Not sure what to do we turned to God and told him if this is his will, we will follow.
We thought for sure God was leading us to domestic adoption. So we started to pursue this. We meet with Bethany and Adoption Assoc. and they said that foster care was closed unless you want to have children over the age of 8. We wanted to keep the birth order of our kids, so we wanted to adopt a baby. Foster care we thought was the best option, because if you have a child in your home you are the first ones looked at for adoption. ( and they pay most of th cost)
So we looked at domestic adoption. Todays domestic adoption you need to have a pretty open adoption. I do not agree. I told the agencies that I was not very excited about this- and they both said chances are you will NOT be picked. In our meeting I told them that my heart is for the orphan child, and it breaks my heart to see kids in orphanges. (with no family. Chances are in a 3rd world country they will not live to be 5) Both agencies expressed to us that they thought International adoption was what we should pursue.
Aaron and I we confused and frusterated. We thought domestic is what God was calling us to.
We prayed and cried together. There is no way we can afford International Adoption.
So we asked God to hit us with a 2x4. What is your will? Show us- and we need it to be VERY clear, because we just are not getting it. Speak to us.
Our God is such a awosome God- the next 5 days changed our lives forever.
The day we prayed this we looked at our finances and cried. We had no right even looking into this. We have no money to do this. The next day in the mail we received a letter from Bethany Chr. Services saying if you get everything done for the formal application in the next 30 days we will deduct $200 off the application fee. ( this was March 2008)
WOW- ok we are listening God. 2 days later we went to a banquet and sat next to a couple we have 2 biological children and 2 adopted children. The adopted kids are from Ethiopia. We talked and had a great time. We know that God placed them at our table for a reason. Ok God we feel this is right, but the money is a BIG DEAL. We cant do this.
On Friday, ( the next day) I got the mail. I open the first piece of mail and it was the government stimulus check information from Pres. Bush. For our Home Study and the Formal Application fees, ( minus the $200) the stimulus check would pay for it- to the penny.
God truely answered our prayers. This is the 2x4 we needed. We knew God was leading us and we followed. With tears in both of our eyes we sent in the application for International Adoption.
We thought for sure God was leading us to domestic adoption. So we started to pursue this. We meet with Bethany and Adoption Assoc. and they said that foster care was closed unless you want to have children over the age of 8. We wanted to keep the birth order of our kids, so we wanted to adopt a baby. Foster care we thought was the best option, because if you have a child in your home you are the first ones looked at for adoption. ( and they pay most of th cost)
So we looked at domestic adoption. Todays domestic adoption you need to have a pretty open adoption. I do not agree. I told the agencies that I was not very excited about this- and they both said chances are you will NOT be picked. In our meeting I told them that my heart is for the orphan child, and it breaks my heart to see kids in orphanges. (with no family. Chances are in a 3rd world country they will not live to be 5) Both agencies expressed to us that they thought International adoption was what we should pursue.
Aaron and I we confused and frusterated. We thought domestic is what God was calling us to.
We prayed and cried together. There is no way we can afford International Adoption.
So we asked God to hit us with a 2x4. What is your will? Show us- and we need it to be VERY clear, because we just are not getting it. Speak to us.
Our God is such a awosome God- the next 5 days changed our lives forever.
The day we prayed this we looked at our finances and cried. We had no right even looking into this. We have no money to do this. The next day in the mail we received a letter from Bethany Chr. Services saying if you get everything done for the formal application in the next 30 days we will deduct $200 off the application fee. ( this was March 2008)
WOW- ok we are listening God. 2 days later we went to a banquet and sat next to a couple we have 2 biological children and 2 adopted children. The adopted kids are from Ethiopia. We talked and had a great time. We know that God placed them at our table for a reason. Ok God we feel this is right, but the money is a BIG DEAL. We cant do this.
On Friday, ( the next day) I got the mail. I open the first piece of mail and it was the government stimulus check information from Pres. Bush. For our Home Study and the Formal Application fees, ( minus the $200) the stimulus check would pay for it- to the penny.
God truely answered our prayers. This is the 2x4 we needed. We knew God was leading us and we followed. With tears in both of our eyes we sent in the application for International Adoption.
Monday, December 1, 2008
The year I graduated High School I went to Dominican Republic on a mission trip for 2 weeks. It was life changing. While I was there I saw homeless and hungry children. I just wanted to take them all home. After I got home I started sponsoring a child through World Vision- and of course she was from Dominican Republic.Aaron at the same time frame in his life, went to Honduras and Nicaragua. He saw hurting and hungry children and it pulled on his heart, and he came home and started sponsoring a little boy through World Vision.
With this being said, we were not dating and really didn't know each other. This is a God thing for sure.
Fastforwarding our lives we got married in Oct. of 2000 and have 2 beautiful children. We have a 4 year old boy, Gavin and 2 year old girl, Whitney.My first pregnancy was extremely difficult. I threw up 10-20 times a day for the first 7 months. I had lots of back pain, never felt good, and lost weight the first 5 months of being pregnant. I then got pre-clampsia and had high blood pressure, protein in my urine, and saw spots in my eyes. ( all signs of pre-clampsia) I was in the doctors office every other day. I was on bedrest the last 4 weeks of my pregnancy. I was induced at the hospital for 3 days and it didn't take. So I went home. I delievered within the next week and had a long labor and delivery . I had a stage 4 tear, and then got mastitis. My body was under so much stress.My pregnancy with Whitney was better- I still threw up but did not get the pre-clampsia. Praise God.I just struggle with pregnancy and God has truely blessed us with two biological children. We love kids and have a heart for children. We both had a very strong urge to look into adoption.We were both very open to adoption and want to make a difference to a child.
With this being said, we were not dating and really didn't know each other. This is a God thing for sure.
Fastforwarding our lives we got married in Oct. of 2000 and have 2 beautiful children. We have a 4 year old boy, Gavin and 2 year old girl, Whitney.My first pregnancy was extremely difficult. I threw up 10-20 times a day for the first 7 months. I had lots of back pain, never felt good, and lost weight the first 5 months of being pregnant. I then got pre-clampsia and had high blood pressure, protein in my urine, and saw spots in my eyes. ( all signs of pre-clampsia) I was in the doctors office every other day. I was on bedrest the last 4 weeks of my pregnancy. I was induced at the hospital for 3 days and it didn't take. So I went home. I delievered within the next week and had a long labor and delivery . I had a stage 4 tear, and then got mastitis. My body was under so much stress.My pregnancy with Whitney was better- I still threw up but did not get the pre-clampsia. Praise God.I just struggle with pregnancy and God has truely blessed us with two biological children. We love kids and have a heart for children. We both had a very strong urge to look into adoption.We were both very open to adoption and want to make a difference to a child.
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