Monday, December 19, 2011

Christmas Party Recap

This past Thursday evening, The 1:27 Call had the wonderful blessing of hosting a Christmas party for more than 100 foster children in Rutherford County.  This was our third year to host this party and it was our best one yet!  It was amazing to witness the joy on the faces of these beautiful children created in God’s image as they enjoyed the events of the evening. 

The night began with a delicious meal that was donated by a local restaurant, and desserts that were made and donated by various individuals.   Everyone then enjoyed a short drama detailing the nativity story.  The drama was followed by a local musician that led everyone in singing familiar Christmas carols.  As the singing began, Santa and Mrs. Claus made their arrival which thrilled the children!  To finish the night, each child had the opportunity to have their picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus by a local photographer that donated her services.  After getting their picture taken, each child received an age appropriate Bible and small gift.  We were so blessed to  have all the Bibles donated this year and the youth from a local church graciously wrapped the gifts and the majority of the Bibles for us.

All in all, it was a wonderful event and we have received a lot of positive feedback about it.  If you played a role in this years party, whether it be through prayer or donations, we are so grateful!  We are excited about what God is doing, and we are already looking forward to next year’s Christmas Party.  May God pour out His richest blessings upon you and your families this Christmas Season!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Jjogo School in Uganda

Jjogo School in Uganda (a part of Divine Care Ministries) is under construction.
The 1:27 Call made the decision to partner with them finically in order to help purchase the roof for the school. 

Here are the trusses going up...

Some of the iron sheets in place...

The finished roof...

The roof is finished but... The project is not complete.  There are many needs still yet to be funded such as windows, doors, plaster, desks, etc.  If the desired desks are able to be funded and built, this school will have 6 classrooms that will hold 80 children each... this is HUGE!  The anticipation is high as the people in the area await the completion of the school.  This will give educational opportunities to some 480 students that might otherwise never have been given the opportunity to advance in this way.  This ministry is eager to raise up Ugandan christian leaders to serve in their country.

We thank those of you who have partnered with us and made it possible to be a part of this project in Uganda.

If God lays on your heart the desire to support this cause or for more information please contact Ben Bobo in Uganda at  4bbobo@gmail.com.

Or you may simply send a check with “Jjogo School” on the memo line to:
Care Ministries, 4705 Lascassas Pk., Lascassas, TN 37085

Please pray for Divine Care Ministries and Jjogo school as they work to complete this project.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Give a Gift that Gives Back

The 1:27 Call is blessed to be able to host a Christmas party for all of the foster children in Rutherford County this year.  The event will be held on December 15, and it will include a meal, face painting, crafts, a short drama depicting the nativity story, Christmas music, and Santa!  We are looking forward to hosting this event, and we want to invite you to be a part of it!

As part of the event, each child will receive a Jesus Storybook Bible and a small gift.  We are so excited to be able to give each child the opportunity to know Jesus this year.  What a privilege!  We are currently collecting donations to be put towards purchasing the Bibles and gifts for the children.  If you would like to be part of giving a gift that gives back this year, you can make a tax- deductible donation online at http://the127call.org/getinvolved/donate.aspx  or mail us a check to The 1:27 Call, PO Box 224, Murfreesboro, TN 37133.  If you specifically want to donate $10 towards a Bible, we'd love for you to write a encouraging note that will be put inside the Bible(s). Thank you for making a lasting difference in the life of a child, and please share with others!  May God pour out His richest blessings upon you this Christmas Season!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

St. Marks Merry Mission Marketplace


St. Marks United Methodist Church will be hosting their second annual Merry Mission Marketplace on November 30th from 6-8pm. The idea for the event is to bring awareness and raise money for local non-profits. Consumers come to the marketplace (at St. Marks) and purchase items while also giving back to the community! All the vendors participating are either non-profit organizations or have agreed to donate a certain percentage of earnings from the event to a charity or mission. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about awesome organizations in your area. Bring your children or grandchildren and teach them about giving to the community. Last year’s event was incredibly successful with over $7000 raised for charities!

The 1:27 Call is excited to take part in the event again this year. This year we will be sponsoring Olive Tree Promise. Olive Tree Promise is a free fundraising storefront to help adoptive families bring their children home. Vendors and adoptive families raise funds together. Adoptive families are able to sell the vendors’ products and the vendors give a portion of their proceeds to the adoptive families. We have some awesome items for you to purchase for yourself or as a gift that keeps on giving by helping a family bring home a child! All of the money raised at this event will go to one special waiting adoptive family in Middle Tennessee! Visit http://www.olivetreepromise.com/ for some of the items that will be available at the marketplace. You can also find information on fundraising for your adoption with the assistance of Olive Tree Promise. Also, vendors can find information on how they can take part in joining children and families.

Come shop with us on Wednesday, November 30th at St. Marks United Methodist Church Murfreesboro, TN!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Waiting Children

My husband and I have adopted two waiting children. We felt very called to adopt a child who was waiting on a family rather, a child who had been looked over by so many. We felt comfortable with some special needs and opened our hearts to the Lord leading us and thus our special needs (and perfectly fine!) babies found their homes!

Our agency has an incredible waiting child program. It literally breaks my heart to look at their photolisting and see all these incredible children just waiting. Waiting on someone to open their hearts and their home. Waiting on their family.

As part of National Adoption Month, I worked with our agency to put together this short video featuring some of the children from the waiting child listing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjtZSIsYcOU

I pray that as this month draws to a close, that all these children will find their homes. That they will wait no more.

"Because every child deserves a home" - Harry Holt, founder Holt International

Tuesday, November 1, 2011





This Sunday, will you stand with the body of Christ and be a voice for the voiceless?
Will you pray and be willing to act on behalf of the fatherless?
Will you give and provide for the needs of just one orphan who waits, in desperate need of the basic necessities of life?

This Sunday is Orphan Sunday. It is a chance to put a face on the worldwide orphan crisis. It is a chance to share about God's heart for the orphan and to remember the promises of God regarding those who share their blessings with those who have nothing.

We can make such a huge difference within our churches...and around the world...by taking that first step of faith. God calls us ALL to care for orphans and widows (James 1:27) and how He calls you or me make look very different from how He calls our neighbors. He may call you to sponsor a child, He may call you to go on a mission trip, He may call you to foster one whose world has been turned upside down, or He may call you to adopt.

JUST. BE. WILLING.

One life at a time, one child at a time, this Orphan Sunday could mean a beautiful new beginning for one of His precious little children...and to think that He would bless us, with all of our faults and failures, with the privilege of being His hands and feet! Yes, indeed, He is merciful.

Just be willing.

Special Needs Adoption & People First Language

For many people the term “special needs” means a child that exhibits some sort of physical or mental limitation and requires therapy, hospitalization, special education and a lot of medical attention. In the adoption world, we recognize that this is not always the case. Many children are older, are of different ethnicities, have emotional or physical abuse histories, are part of a sibling group, had pre-natal drug exposure and lastly they may have a physical or mental limitation or both. There is no such thing as a “typical” child, all children are all miracles and are originally designed by their Creator. However, adopting a child with a disability be it physical, mental or emotional does take commitment, dedication, a different skill set and preparation for raising them.

Seeing as I am the mother of a child with significant disabilities, I often hear language that is inappropriate or offensive not only to me, but to my child. I do not think that most people even realize that they have said something inappropriate, but rather it is a lack of understanding. My daughter has a rare seizure disorder, which causes global developmental delay and is also on the autism spectrum. She just began walking in the last 6 months and is in 7 therapy sessions a week. She is non-verbal and we have a great deal of difficulty being in large crowds or in settings with other children. Our life is dramatically different from many other families…yet we are a family.

My daughter has sensory processing issues in conjunction with her autism disorder…this leads to many issues for those that don’t understand her. She often hits because she has no perception of how hard her movements are, she pinches because she is seeking input from an outside source, she hugs hard and deep because her little body can’t regulate itself. She is in her therapy sessions to work on speech, her fine motor skills and learning to regulate herself. I share this because many times I find myself feeling as though people are judging me for my parenting, all the while knowing that people just do not understand my child and her specific needs. This can make social situations difficult and sometimes non-appealing for our family.

I love this quote by Mark Twain, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lighting and a lightning bug.” Words hold power, not only to the child, but to the parent of the child. The following are guidelines for “People First Language” and how to talk to and/or about those with disabilities.

•Recognize that people with disabilities are ordinary people with common goals for a home, a job and a family. Talk about people in ordinary terms.

•Never equate a person with a disability -- such as referring to someone as retarded, an epileptic or quadriplegic. These labels are simply medical diagnosis. Use People First Language to tell what a person HAS, not what a person IS.

•Emphasize abilities not limitations. For example, say a man walks with crutches, not he is crippled.

•Avoid negative words that imply tragedy, such as afflicted with, suffers, victim, prisoner and unfortunate.

•Recognize that a disability is not a challenge to be overcome, and don't say people succeed in spite of a disability. Ordinary things and accomplishments do not become extraordinary just because they are done by a person with a disability. What is EXTRAORDINARY are the lengths people with disabilities have to go through and the barriers they have to OVERCOME to do the most ORDINARY things.

•Use handicap to refer to a barrier created by people or the environment. Use disability to indicate a functional limitation that interferes with a person's mental, physical or sensory abilities, such as walking, talking, hearing and learning. For example, people with disabilities who use wheelchairs are handicapped by the stairs.

•Do not refer to a person as bound to or confined to a wheelchair. Wheelchairs are liberating to people with disabilities because they provide mobility.

•Do not use special to mean segregated, such as separate schools or buses for people with disabilities, or to suggest a disability itself makes someone special.

•Avoid cute euphemisms such as physically challenged, inconvenienced and differently abled.

•Promote understanding, respect, dignity and positive outlooks.

God has richly blessed our family with our daughter. I love her for who she is, what she can do, and not what she is unable to do or has yet to master. You most assuredly feel the same way in regards to your family members. God’s word says in Matthew 25:40, “I tell you the truth, whatever you do to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me.” I truly believe that God longs for us to love those around us, regardless of disabilities, ethnicity or religion. He longs for us to love as He loves. Without limit. Without discrimination. He longs for us to educate not only ourselves but others on how to speak to one another in love.

One more side little note, never feel uncomfortable to ask a parent how to talk to their children about your child, or to ask a parent how you should best interact with their child as well as what terms they are comfortable with. For me personally, “special needs” does not feel like an insult…my daughter is special because she is mine and she does have special needs. For me personally, it is a signal that you truly care and are interested in forming a relationship with my child to ask me polite and appropriate questions.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

created in HIS image

Both my husband and myself were born and raised in the south, Mississippi and Tennessee to be exact.  We were both brought up in families (Christian families) where prejudice and racism run deep in our roots. 

Today we have two African children living in our home, they are our son and daughter, children of God.  The Lord had to do some real work in our hearts in order for us to arrive here.  We had to erase old ways and embrace the truth of the gospel.  This didn't come easy or happen overnight.  When we understood that we were to adopt from Africa, we had to continue to ask ourselves very hard questions like...

  • Are we prepared to raise a black son and daughter through elementary, high school and college years? 
  • Are we fully in favor of inter-racial marriage for any or all of our children?
  • Are we ready to abandon every single racial prejudice or preference in every setting?

These and many other questions had to be answered without waiver.  While we deeply regret the past of our families and ourselves in regard to race, what has gone on for generations has stopped.  By adopting children of another color our position is locked.  We are all created equal and we have one Father who calls all of us His children!  We are grateful and thankful for the redemptive work of Christ in our lives.

Our prayer is that racial divides would end, beginning in the church.  We as Christians have to set the example.  Adoption is just one way to break down racial divide.

As we are reminded in scripture... we are ALL created in the image of God.  And for that we should be eternally thankful!

Monday, October 17, 2011

HIS little feet

HLFlogo

I am excited to share with you about an upcoming performance by HIS little feet  children’s choir.  The event will  be held on Wednesday, November 9 at Believers' Chapel in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 

His Little Feet’s Children’s Choir travels the United States, being the voice for orphaned and vulnerable children worldwide. The purpose of the tour is to bring the awareness to the millions of children around the world in need of care, as well as facilitate opportunities for Americans to respond to the needs of children through giving, sponsoring, going and adopting.

This year’s choir includes children from Honduras, Ethiopia, and India, and the children range in age from 6 – 12 years old.  You can learn a little more about this beautiful choir from the video below:

 

There is no charge for this event, but a love offering will be taken up at some point during the performance.  I am confident you will be blessed by these children, and I hope to see you there!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

MTSU Adoptive Families Fellowship


The 1:27 Call hosted an adoptive families tailgate a couple weeks ago at the MTSU homecoming game. It was such a joy to watch all the kiddos play together. Nearly 70 people attended for awesome food and fellowship. It was a wonderful time hanging out with old friends and meeting new friends awaiting the arrival of their children. Any family considering adoption or in the process is encouraged to come. Stay tuned for information regarding our next adoptive families gathering!

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Christmas Party for Rutherford County Foster Children

Merry Christmas!!! Well, perhaps it is a little early for that sweet greeting, but here at The 1:27 Call we are already gearing up for a spectacular Christmas celebrating the birth of our risen Savior!

We are once again hosting a Christmas party for the children of Rutherford County Foster Care. This will be our third year to host and it is an event we look forward to all year! We provide food, pictures with Santa, games, giveaways and gifts for each child. The past two years we have had over 100 in attendance and look for this year to be even more. We are planning to share the story of Christmas in an entertaining way...so get pumped about hearing about Jesus! It's going to be an exciting night and we would love to have you help us out.

We are now taking donations for the purchase of gifts and for any local businesses who wish to be part of this event. Our date for the event is December 15th.

Please send any TAX-DEDUCTABLE donations to PO BOX 224,Murfreesboro, TN 37133. Please be sure to notate that this gift is allocated for the CHRISTMAS PARTY. You may also donate online as a one-time donation! Click on the "Donate Now" tab.

If you have any questions or suggestions we welcome an email events@the127call.org!!

Blessings!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Regarding Birth-mothers

As the adoptive mother of five children, I hold the love of several birth-mothers in my heart. I have been often asked the questions,"Why didn't she want them?" and "Aren't you afraid she will want them back?"
These questions don't anger me, unless they are asked in front of my children.
I'm sure you understand that.

But I do know people wonder. The unknown can be scary and, because of the negative nature of adoption in the media, many people have a "worse case scenario" view of birth-mothers.

Out of love for these heroines in the lives of my children I would like to paint the true picture.
Yes, of course there are those who abandon their children. There are those whose substance abuse or physical abuse of their babies results in the loss of custody. There are those who just "want out" and think giving the baby to someone else will get them off the hook. (At least the young women in the latter case chose LIFE.)

But in five adoptions, that has never been our experience.

Four times I have looked into the eyes of a young woman, whose beautiful large belly holds my child, and seen hope. I have held our birth-mothers as they wept over their decision, hoping desperately that her child, our child, will understand. I have whispered urgent promises through tears that YES, her baby will know she loves him. YES, her baby will be told about her and the heroic act of faith that took place when she placed them in my arms. I have promised her prayers, love, and someday...someday...a chance to see and know what God has done in the life of her child, our child, because of her love for her baby.

Our birth-mothers have been the hands and feet of Jesus in our lives. Through the consequences of their behaviors they have chosen a path of redemption. They have looked at their growing bodies and imagined the child within, prayed for direction, and stepped forward in faith to let go and trust God with their child's life more fully than I have ever had to. In the ultimate act of love and selflessness, they have walked away with empty arms and bodies still sore and depended on letters and pictures to tell the story of their children as they grow up. They have chosen to die to themselves, to place their hearts on the cross and hurt more deeply than they have ever hurt in their lives in order for their babies to live and have all God intended for them...a Mommy and a Daddy and the stability that comes with a healthy, intact family.

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13

When we brought our youngest child home I incorrectly assumed there would be no birth-mother to love. So often children in Ethiopia are abandoned or death claims the parents. But I was wrong.

There was, and is, a woman who bore my daughter, who loved her and tried desperately to raise her. But poverty is relentless and it threatened to take the life of her child. In desperation she took her little girl to a place where she was told "she would get to grow up." And then she became ours. I got to meet this precious woman as well, and look into her eyes and make the same promises I have made to all the others.
"She will know you love her. "
"She will love you."
"We love you."
"We will teach her about Jesus."

There is no escape for me. I love these young women as you can only love the one person in the world who thinks your child is a amazing and wonderful as you do. I long to see them live in victory, to walk in the love of Christ fully and be blessed for their willingness to walk the path of the cross for the sake of their children.

So, my answer to the questions people ask? I guess they are really pretty simple.

"Why didn't she want them? She wanted them desperately, would have loved to have had the joy of raising them, but chose to be obedient to God's plan over her own desires."

"Does she want them back? Of course, she does. If you could bring someone back that you have loved and had to let go, wouldn't you? But she loves them too much. She knows that where they are is where they belong would never take thText Colorat away from them. "

To every birth-mother in my life, whether of my children or of others', thank you from the bottom of my heart. May our children rise up and call us all blessed.
(Prov. 31:28)








Monday, September 12, 2011

coming home

My husband and I recently brought home our new son and daughter. It was an 18 month journey we will never forget. We learned early on in the adoption process that adoption is a group effort. We were covered in prayer, we had friends organize fundraisers and we had people simply give of their time and money to help us give two children a forever family, generosity overflowed.   Some of our support came from other adoptive families… they “get it”… and others who supported simply had developed a heart for the orphan and the way they can “care” is to help other families like us bring children into our home.



What I want to focus on here is about what happened when we got “the call” to go pick up our children. I simply want to make a list of ways that you can love and support adoptive families in those final days. In our case, we left the country in a hurry and only “knew” our children about a week before we flew out. So we had one week to get clothes, baby items (we weren’t expecting a baby at all) and so forth together before we departed, the rush was on!


SHOPPING- Get a list of items needed and go shopping for a family getting ready to travel. This frees up time for the adoptive parents to make final arrangements to travel and take care of loose ends that need to be tied up before they travel.

MOWING- If it is the time of year for yards to be mowed then make arrangements to mow while they are gone. You can even offer to mow when the family returns home to free up time to allow the family to bond with one another.

LANDSCAPING- Mulch or clean out flower beds , plant flowers or just spruce up what is already there.

CAR DETAILING- Most parents spend a lot of time in their car and the last thing they want to do or have time to do before traveling is clean a car inside and out. It is so refreshing to come home to a clean car.

CLEANING THE HOME- A thorough cleaning is such a gift to come home to.

SET UP BEDS- If any beds need to be set up make arrangements to help out that way.

GROCERY SHOP- Buy food so that the adoptive parents do not have to worry about that when they get home. Buy favorite foods, fresh foods and staples that may be needed.

CARE FOR PETS- Offer to sit for any animals the family may have.

COLLECT MAIL- Pick up the mail so the family does not have to have it stopped and then figure out how to get it when they return home.

PREPARE MEALS- Set up a meal schedule for the family when they return. You can also have people prepare meals to stock their freezer.

Above are a handful of ways we were helped. Our experience was with international adoptions where we were out of the country for three weeks. Every story and situation varies. Our personal experience was tough. We had our hands full with one child who was out of control and another one who was pretty sick. When we landed, where we call home, we were exhausted… physically, emotionally and spiritually exhausted. We had an incredible welcoming crew at the airport… a sight we will never forget. We had friends get our luggage together and then someone else pulled our car around with car seats installed. We were loved well. We came home to a clean house, stocked full of food (overflowing out of the pantry onto the counter tops). We had rooms set up, clothes gathered and organized and we even had new candles to burn that were calming. We had age appropriate toys for both kids given to us. We had diapers, wipes, laundry detergent and paper products waiting for us. We only had to buy some milk, eggs and fruit the first six weeks we were home. So many little things (and big things) were done that made our arrival home so much easier… less stressful. We were loved so well that our time was able to be spent with our kids. We had to transition two new children into our home and help our other three children embrace the change taking place.

I believe this is one example of why being among a group of believers is so important. They are able to serve you and love you as Christ would love. Many sacrificed and gave and in the end two children have a family to call their own.


Love well.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Power of Prayer

Prayer acknowledging and experiencing the presence of God and inviting His presence into our lives and circumstances.  It’s seeking the presence of God and releasing the power of God which gives us the means to overcome any problem(as defined by Stormie O’Martian in The Power of a Praying Parent)

I work in the medical profession and with children, a combination that I love.   In order to stay current with the latest treatment interventions, I frequently read research articles from various medical journals.    Although prayer is controversial as a therapeutic intervention in the medical world, I have witnessed the positive effects from it over and over in the lives of the children I am blessed to work with.  In the past decade, there has even been medical research done regarding prayer and it’s effects.  The findings confirmed what I already know to be true! See below:

David R. Hodge, an assistant professor of social work in the College of Human Services at Arizona State University, conducted a comprehensive analysis of 17 major studies on the effects of intercessory prayer – or prayer that is offered for the benefit of another person – among people with psychological or medical problems. He found a positive effect.

Hodge’s work is featured in the March, 2007, issue of Research on Social Work Practice. It is widely recognized as one of the most prestigious journals in the field of social work.

Just as it is in my career, I believe that prayer is one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal in parenting our foster or adopted children.  Each one of our children is a precious miracle from God, and we do them a disservice if we don’t intercede for them daily.  

There is no problem or concern that we have that is too big for our God.  This  may include a variety of things such as the various waiting phases or attachment/bonding issues in adoption to difficulty with transitions/ adjustments in the foster care world.  God longs for us to be in relationship with Him and intercessory prayer on behalf of our children can only strengthen this relationship. 

As a parent, we know that it’s impossible to physically be with our children ALL of the time; however, we serve a God that is.   We can continuously come to God on our children’s behalf and take comfort in knowing that He will be watching over them in our absence.  

So, whatever you are facing today with your children, I encourage you to give it over to the Lord in prayer.  I strongly believe that praying for your children is one of the best gifts you could ever give them, and I hope that you will accept this invitation to make prayer a part of your daily lives.  Your children will not regret it!

“Rejoice always,  pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” 

1 Thessalonians 5:16 - 18

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Friendships

My family and I have been blessed to be part of a community where adoptive families are plentiful. I can’t imagine what it would be like to not have the precious friendships I have with other mothers that share in my love for adoption. It has truly been a blessing in not only my life but my children’s lives as well. My children will have the opportunity to experience life with other adoptive children that share a common bond that can only be understood by each other. My four year old loves to talk of her adoption story and many times will ask for us to name all the children she knows that also have adoption stories. We are close friends with several adoptive families and she loves being with all the children. Even though she doesn’t fully understand the reality of adoption and this understanding will constantly evolve with each level of development, she does understand that her story is different than some but in our wonderful community, shared by many! I encourage those of you that are not involved with other adoptive families to seek them out. These relationships and the insights you learn from them are priceless!

Contact events@the127call.org for information about our upcoming adoptive family fellowship to be held on Saturday October 1st at the MTSU football game.

Monday, August 15, 2011

October Fellowship

If you are an adoptive or foster family or have a heart for orphan care, please join us for an awesome night of fellowship and MTSU football as we tailgate on October 1st from 3:30-5:30. Kickoff is at 6:00! Email events@the127call.org to purchase tickets!











Sunday, July 31, 2011

HIV / AIDS

Definition(by Mayo Clinic) :AIDS is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body's ability to fight the organisms that cause disease. HIV is a sexually transmitted disease. It can also be spread by contact with infected blood, or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding. It can take years before HIV weakens your immune system to the point that you have AIDS. There's no cure for HIV/AIDS, but there are medications that can dramatically slow the progression of the disease. These drugs have reduced AIDS deaths in many developed nations. But HIV continues to decimate populations in Africa, Haiti and parts of Asia.

I grew up in Indiana, and one of my first memories in regards to the emergence of AIDS in the United States was the Ryan White story. As time went on, I remember the media frenzy surrounding other well known individuals such as Greg Louganis and Magic Johnson who had contracted the disease.  It even became personal to me as I had a first cousin with hemophilia who contracted the disease through a blood transfusion at 6 months of age.  The one thing that the individuals referred to above have in common is that they all live in America; therefore, they had access to some of the best medicines and health care in the world.  The disease could not be cured, but in most cases the lifespan was greatly lengthened. While I am aware that there are still many new cases of this disease in our country, we don’t hear the media ‘buzz’ about it like we used to.

Unfortunately, HIV/AIDS is virtually an instant death sentence and a social pandemic for those who live in the world’s poorest countries.  In the past year, I have read the book “The Hole in Our Gospel” by Richard Stearns, the president of World Vision.  This amazing book sheds a new light on the social injustices in our world, and encourages Christians to fulfill our responsibility to act as change agents.  As I have a passion for orphan care, my heart broke as I read the chapter discussing HIV/AIDs and the impact it has had on our world.  Here is an excerpt from his book:

Perhaps the most disturbing fact of all is that AIDS has now left 15 million children behind as orphans.  Again, this is a number that is incomprehensible.  Picture a chain of children holding hands and stretching out across America.  This chain, starting in New York, would stretch all the way to Seattle, back to Philadelphia, back to San Francisco, then east to Washington DC, back again to Los Angeles, and finally to about Kansas City – more than five and a half times across the United States! Do you now see why I have called HIV a “doomsday virus”?  These are the grim statistics of AIDS, but they do not tell the story of the men, women, and children whose lives have been destroyed.  In Africa they say that when it comes to HIV, everyone is either infected or affected – no one escapes completely

Now that we are made aware, I don’t think we can turn a blind eye and pretend this doesn’t exist.  So what can we do? I don’t think there has ever been a time more appropriate than now to bring us to our knees in prayer for these children orphaned by this terrible disease.  Another way we can respond is through supporting the HIV/AIDS initiatives of Christian organizations like World Vision or Compassion International who are working to supply the resources needed to both prevent new cases and provide care and treatment to those living with the virus, as well as care for affected orphans and vulnerable children.  Finally, for those of you considering adoption, you can pray about whether God is leading you to open your parameters to include children affected by this disease.

"Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and holds us responsible to act." Proverbs 24:12

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Transracial adoption

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.


There are many opinions regarding adopting transracially/transculturally. This topic comes up quite frequently among adoption seekers as they are trying to make some significant decisions in not only their life but the life of their future child. I remember as my husband and I were praying about adopting a child and being open to any race. Although, we felt confident God had a plan for our family that was far better than ours, it was a very scary journey. Probably the scariest part to overcome was feeling ill-equipped to parent a child of a race different from our own. I had to find peace with the fact that there will be some things in this life I cannot fully understand nor be able to impart upon my daughters in regards to their culture and ethnicity. Yes, we belong together as a family in every way possible and though we may not share a racial heritage, we do share the deep rooted love of family. Being different racially doesn’t in any way invalidate us as a family. But we must acknowledge there will come a time as our children begin to appreciate their identity separate from ours that they may also feel the need to belong to their birth culture. We plan to do our very best in helping them to achieve this while recognizing we have limitations. Gail Steinberg and Beth Hall describe this wonderfully in their book Inside Transracial Adoption, “So when you can’t be the direct provider of culture, be a bridge to the culture your child needs to be part of. Please don’t feel discouraged by his participation in a culture that does not include you. The connecting links you can forge will not only support him, but will expand your family life in ways that will continue to unfold throughout your lives. Nothing could be more positive.”

Here are a few books I found helpful in regards to this topic. Some are specifically geared to prepare you for certain issues you may face as a transracial family and others offer suggestions for helping your children develop racial/cultural pride.

· Inside Transracial Adoption by Gail Steinberg and Beth Hall

· In Their Own Voices: Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories by Rita Simon & Rhonda Roorda

· I’m Chocolate, You’re Vanilla by Marguerite A. Wright

· Adopted For Life by Russel Moore

Monday, July 18, 2011

What have you been asked to do?

"Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." James 4:17

This is a humbling verse. It is very difficult to read these words and then not begin to think of things in your life that you feel the Lord tugging at you about and then simply NOT do it.

There are discussions and books about the calling of the Lord and they are all well and good, but the truth of the matter is we must be DOING what the Lord asks of us.

This past weekend, my family and I went on a little trip to the Smoky Mountains. We hadn't been since our first daughter was a baby and we wanted to take both girls this time. While we were there we experienced the normal awkward looks and little comments about our beautiful trans-racial family. This time, however, it truly didn't cause me to become upset. I felt the most incredible peace as I walked around...knowing that our family had done what the Lord had asked and we continue to strive to do so.

I believe that at this point in my life I have figured out that God will instruct us to follow Him and at times that means people don't agree with your choices, they don't understand the dynamics of your family, they don't like what they see...but our purpose isn't to please others--we are meant to please an audience of One. It is a sin not to.

We have one life here on earth and one opportunity to do all we do for His kingdom and personally for our family that includes adopting those that He finds most precious.

When you do go on the path less traveled and do what God calls for your family He opens up doors to talk to people wherever you are. While my husband was shopping for new shades the girls and I sat outside on a bench next to a woman who bluntly said, "Did you adopt them?" I responded with a simple, "Yes". She began asking why we adopted a black and bi-racial child...so I simply told her that the Lord had called us to adopt and He placed these girls into our hands and that we have been blessed far greater than we could imagine. I was able to talk to her about The 1:27 Call and our ministry to care for orphans and what the Lord is doing and going to do for other families on the adoption journey because of six families that are doing what the Lord asked of them. She made a few remarks but the point is that I got to share my Jesus...with this woman on the Gatlinburg strip all because of my two little conversation starters I call my daughters.

The Lord asks us to do things we don't always understand and we are taken out of our comfort zone many times when we go through the adoption process...but the beauty held within is more than I can put into words.

So, what is Jesus asking you to do? When you do what He asks...He blesses more than you can fathom.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Heavenly Treasures

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

I have read these words a thousand times, and the truth they hold is powerful. Recently, though, they took on new meaning when I read these words...

"Thank you for choosing me as your child. God bless you."
"Pray for me to grow up, please."

"I love you so much. May God bless you."
"Pray for my education, health, and family."

These words were written by my children...children I have never met, yet they are part of my heart. These are words from 2 of the Ethiopian children that our family sponsors through an organization that helps 1.2 million children around the world. Children that, without a sponsor, are at high risk of being orphaned, if not by the death of a parent, by poverty. These children had been waiting over 6 months to be sponsored.

6 months.

That is too long when you are nine years old.

Young children are sponsored more quickly because the sponsors like being able to have a relationship with them from their early years...or maybe it is because they are "cuter" when they are three. But older children wait many months and their families become desperate for help, often trying to raise several children on less than 30 dollars per month. When these older children finally receive word that they have been chosen, they and their families rejoice from the depths of their spirits!

There are estimated to be 147 million orphans in the world...5 million in Ethiopia alone. BUT there are 2.1 billion Christians in the world. If only a small percentage sponsored or adopted one child it would, in essence, eradicate the orphan crisis.

We are the body of Christ. For a small amount, usually around thirty dollars per month, we can be the hands and feet of Jesus and change the direction of a child's life for eternity. Go online, look up the organizations that are available and on the ground in poverty stricken countries around the world. Pray for the Lord to show you His heart for these children and take that step to build a bridge to those little hearts.

One day soon we will seize the opportunity to travel to Africa again, this time not to bring home an orphaned child, but to meet our children who have been spared the orphanage and are thriving in the knowledge of Jesus' love for them...and the knowledge that there is a family far away who loves them and prays for them.

That is what I call a heavenly treasure!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

This past April, we had the opportunity to witness one of God’s little miracles unfold right outside the bay window in our dining room.  One day, we noticed a bird’s nest with eggs in it atop some of our shrubs.  In the days following, it became a bit of an obsession to track the progress of these birds to be.  My husband and I truly enjoyed the excitement of our two year old son as he did his daily ‘check’ on the nest.   We were able to capture some pictures of the transformation:

birds 007 

birds 020

birds 032

birds 044

birds 047

birds 050

birds 003

As we watched the transformation from an egg to a living, breathing bird, I was acutely aware of how much God cares for His creation.  After it hatched, that baby bird’s every need was met.  His mother protected him in the storms by sitting upon his nest, and his father would sound an alarm if any threat of danger was near.  His father also faithfully brought food to the nest so the bird would be well nourished.  Over a period of about two weeks, the bird continued to grow and develop until it was strong enough to fly away. 

As I witnessed this miracle, it brought me a sense of a peace.  You see, my husband and I are currently in the midst of our 2nd international adoption.  We are on a waitlist for a precious little girl in Ethiopia about whom we have no information yet are completely in love with her.  Seeing how much God cared for that baby bird reminded me just how precious life is to our Creator.  If He was willing to go to that length to ensure that bird’s needs were met, how can I not trust that He holds our daughter in His perfect wings of protection.  During those two weeks, the words from a hymn I truly love kept coming to mind:

His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me

I am not saying the wait is easy, but it is comforting to know that my daughter is well taken care of until she is forever home in our family.  To those of you who are waiting for that precious child/children that God has hand picked for your family, may you be encouraged by the little miracles that remind you God is in control and therefore, we can put our worries to rest.

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[a] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.  Matthew 10: 29-31

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Positive adoption language

My husband and I have two daughters both adopted domestically. To say they are the greatest blessing this earthly life has offered us is an understatement. I am in awe of the wonder of how God made my family and brought us together through the miracle of adoption. It was no accident, rather it was His awesome and perfect plan since the beginning of creation. In the last few years I’ve experienced enormous support from loved ones, and for that I will forever be grateful. But I’ve also encountered many thoughtless comments and potentially damaging remarks regarding adoption. Although these conversations are well-intentioned, they invoke a guarded posture within me as if I must fight to defend the legitimacy of my family. Our culture is one that seems to place a higher value on genetics. It suggests biological families are somehow superior to those brought together through adoption. Strangers, friends, and even family seem to imply that adoption is risky, abnormal, and even second best. My hope in writing this is to shed light on the feelings of an adoptive mom while confronting common misconceptions in adoption. Below are some frequently asked questions regarding adoption.

Do you have any children of your own? Are they yours or did you adopt them? Are they real sisters?

Oh, if I could tell you how they are my own. The love that I have for them is indescribable. I love every detail about them. It is awesome. It is crazy. It is perfect! After we brought home our oldest daughter I remember looking at her sweet face in the wee hours of the morning, wondering how I could have been blessed with something so amazing. It was during those moments that the scripture “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” kept coming to my mind. It seemed very odd because quite literally she wasn’t bone of my bones or flesh of my flesh. It is a scripture quoted in many marriage ceremonies and possibly thought of between parent and biological child. Why would God of given me this scripture? I believe He was trying to show me the inseparable union of this family. Just as my husband and I were united as “one flesh” the day we married, we were united with our children as “one flesh” the day they were placed in our arms. Nothing but death will separate this union. We are just as much a family as those joined together biologically and they are just as much sisters as any other set of siblings. So, yes, they are my own and of course they are real sisters!

Do you plan to tell them they were adopted? Do they know they were adopted?

This is really not that applicable to us as we are a trans-racial family. My husband and I are Caucasian and our girls are African American and African American / Caucasian. This is a question that has been asked numerous times by different people and I feel it deserves a bit of attention. First of all, we have talked about adoption with them since they were infants. Their adoption stories are celebrated not hidden. Years ago it was not only common to wait to tell children their adoption stories until they were older, it was also common place for adoption “matching” to occur. Adoption workers literally tried to “match” babies to adoptive families by race, physical characteristics, and even social class. This has not been the case for a long time. Even in same race adoptive families it is encouraged for children to grow up knowing their adoption story and be given as much information about birth families as possible. Adoption is awesome! I want to scream this to the hill tops! My children know that our family was joined together in an amazing way. Concealing information or simply never speaking of adoption would give the idea to the adoptive child that adoption is somehow wrong or even shameful. My children view their adoption stories as a source of pride. Waiting until what seems by some to be the “right” moment would undermine our efforts to instill a positive self-identity. We give age appropriate information as their understanding of adoption evolves and encourage any questions regarding their births and biological families. We seek and nurture friendships with other adoptive families and support those that are in the process or considering adopting. It is important for our children to see other families that look like ours and bond with other adopted children. So, yes adoption is talked about frequently in our home.

You meet with your daughter’s “real” mother! Are you afraid she may come and try to claim her? Do you think this will confuse your daughter?

I must be honest and say that when my husband and I first began the adoption process I was fearful of birth parents. This stemmed from lack of knowledge. My children are 100% legally mine. Their birth parents have no parental rights to them and have no authority over their lives. We have an open adoption with my daughter’s birth mom by choice. We take this one day at a time and if we decide the relationship is in any way unhealthy to our daughter we have the right to stop the communication. Our visits have gone wonderfully and it has given me an incredible heart not only for her but for all birth mothers. She loves our daughter very much and made a very difficult and selfless decision when she decided not to parent. It is because of her great love that she chose adoption. This has not been a source of confusion for my daughter. She knows without a doubt that I am her mother and always will be. If anything, it has helped her to understand her adoption story with a greater sense of awareness. I am hopeful this relationship will help to foster respect and love for her birth mother. Keep in mind that open adoption is not for everyone. There are some situations where it would not be a healthy choice for anyone involved, especially the child. Many foster care adoptions take place when birth parents lose parental rights due to neglect and abuse. With international adoption it is nearly impossible to have contact with birth families. Many countries have little to no information about biological parents. Some birth parents are not comfortable with the idea of having a relationship with a child they relinquished and some adoptive parents are not comfortable with having a relationship with the biological parents of their child. Every adoption is unique and what works for one family may not for another. In our case it has been an unbelievable blessing to us all and we hope to be able to continue it in the future.

Adoption is truly a miraculous event. I am aware that some things cannot be understood until it is experienced for oneself. Many of the comments we receive are phrased exactly the way I would have stated them just a few years back. I am also aware that in order to educate people about adoption and the orphan crisis I must welcome appropriate questions. Just remember, adoptive children are listening to the questions you ask and the responses to those questions. So, please be mindful of the words you use because little ears are everywhere.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Waiting

Waiting. It seems that in the adoption process, you do a lot of waiting. You wait for paperwork to be returned, you wait for your referral, you wait for the time to go and hold your child…so much waiting. Sometimes up to three or more years. As my husband and I are praying about another adoption and the direction the Lord is leading us, I began to think about waiting.

Currently, we are being silent and listening to God to ensure that we do exactly as He says and make a move if and when He speaks. There is a song by John Waller called “While I’m Waiting”, when I heard it I instantly thought of the many families on the same journey as I am.

The following are the words to this incredibly moving song:

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

The point of our walk in Christ is that no matter what we live out our faith. We continue to praise Him through setbacks, through financial crisis in the adoption process, through friends and family struggles and their feelings towards our adoption…we PRAISE Him. He always answers and He’s always faithful. We must simply wait. Our personal journey and yours...He knows the ending. That is more comfort to me than anything. It doesn’t matter what the outcome is because if you allow Him to be the author of your story and WAIT on Him for the things in your life…it will be beautiful.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Fellowship...more than fun.

This Saturday, we are hosting a swim party and fellowship at Patterson Park here in Murfreesboro from 5-7pm. It will be such a fun evening for us all!

I know you get a lot of invites via Facebook, etc, regarding our Forever Families Fellowships, and it may seem like "no big deal" to some. It's just a potluck, a park playdate, or swim party, right?

It is so much more.

It is a chance for our children, adopted, biological, and/or fostered, to see that they are part of a bigger story that God is weaving.

It is a chance for them to feel that they are not alone...their families are not the only ones who don't look like each other and celebrate the diversity God has blessed us with.

It is a chance for them to be around other kids who get it, who don't need to ask the questions they all get asked because they all know the answers to those questions.

It is a chance for them to form bonds that could be lifelong...to be OK with who they are and where they are from, to mentor the younger ones coming up behind them as they walk their life's journey and grapple with the big questions.

It is a chance for us, as parents, to step back and watch...and let God work amongst us.

So please come! Be a part of these stories! Let God use you, your smile, your encouraging words, to bless a little heart or three!

Email me at foreverfamily@the127call.org and I will send you a pool pass via email.

This Saturday, June 18th from 5-7 pm at Patterson Park Community Center's indoor pool.

Be there!!


Sunday, June 5, 2011

EMPOWERED TO CONNECT CONFERENCE

There is a great conference coming up September 23-24, 2011 right here in Nashville, Tennessee.  Here is a little information about it:

The Empowered To Connect Conference, sponsored by Show Hope, is a two-day conference for adoptive and foster parents, ministry leaders and professionals designed to help them better understand how to connect with children from hard places in order to help them heal and become all that God desires for them to be.

Led by Dr. Karyn Purvis (Director of the TCU Institute of Child Development) together with Michael & Amy Monroe (Leaders of Tapestry Adoption & Foster Care Ministry), this conference is ideal for adoptive and foster parents, those considering adoption or foster care and those who are serving and supporting others, including social workers, agency professionals, church and ministry leaders, counselors, therapists and others involved in adoption and foster care ministries or services.

Unfortunately, the early bird registration has ended; however, there are still spots available for the conference. You can go to this link to register:

http://www.showhope.org/AdoptionAid/PrePostAdoption.aspx

Hope to see you there!

Monday, March 21, 2011

Christmas Party...

This is coming in terribly late...but I believe it is worth the read! Wanted to take the opportunity to share a little bit about our Christmas party for the children in the care of our amazing foster parents in Rutherford County! December 6th, 2010 was our 2nd annual Rutherford County Foster Parent Association Christmas Party! We had an awesome turn-out with some of the same people from last year and several fresh new faces!

We had many local businesses participate in helping make the night a success! Demos made a big contribution with the food as did Jim and Nicks. Many other great local businesses donated our door prizes...absolutely wonderful to have participation from our community! It shows our families that our community cares about them and what they are doing with these kids! Keeping the kids in mind of course, the big guest of honor was flown in from way up North...Santa Clause himself made a special appearance to have individual pictures with the children and a helper passed out gifts to each of our sweet kids attending!

Dinner, dessert, games, face painting...a night of no worries for these incredible families! It is an absolute blessing to be with these special people that have been called to love and care for these children and we look forward to this event every year!

It is an honor to get to serve them for a night when they serve these children everyday! If you feel like this is an event that you would like to be apart of please go to our website for more information on how to get involved!