Hitch in my get’a’long

The “powers that be” (aka: SDA, dossier approval people) think that our income on our homestudy doesn’t match our tax records. Cause it doesn’t. Cause “non-taxable income.”

So our precious facilitator is emailing us some forms. And we, quick like a bunny, need to have them printed, signed, notarized, and Apostilled.
We’ve got 20 days, but hopefully this will move MUCH faster!

So just a little hitch in our get’a’long.

Photo credit: bibbity bobbity boo, Pinterest 

When I googled images for “hitch in my get’a’long” this elephant came up.
He’s cute. Bless his heart.
And reminded me that we are determined to eat this “elephant” one bite at a time. And we’re getting closer and closer to finishing it off. 😉
AND to keep reaching!

 “With man this is impossible,

but with God all things are possible.”

~Jesus~

Matthew 19:26

Continued Training

Last year I attended a lovely weekend of parent training called Empowered to Connect. It was specifically on parenting or caring for children from "hard places" or who have experienced trauma. It was very helpful and I wish I had taken this training WAY long ago because many of my children have been through traumatizing things (divorce, adoption, neglect, injury, even difficult pregnancy or delivery can have adverse affects on brain chemistry). This taught great ways to parent gently, with respect, but with healing connection. 

This year we are both taking the online course for FREE from the Karen Pervis Institute of Child Development. 
And I'd encourage everyone who has anything  to do with children (parents, sitters, teachers, preachers, circus performers, grandparents, etc.) to do like wise. 
Click here for the link to the FREE training.  The FREE part may not last long - but it's worth the investment!
Dr. Pervis's book, The Connected Child: Bringing Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family, is also a good read.

We've also just signed up for a free webinar, The Impact of Trauma on Foster and Adoptive Families, which will be live next Thursday, May 21, 2020 from 7:00-9:00pm. We also bought the corresponding book, Wounded Children, Healing Homes, by Jayne Schooler.
Both were recommended by another Ukrainian adoptive mom who said, "Education and training are the most important things we can do to ensure healing for our children from hard places." Click here for the info and link for that. 



So, that's what we're doing while we wait. 
Hopefully the children here recognize what even more wonderful parents we are becoming. 

HAHAhahahaha....... 😆

(honestly, the older ones just think we've gone soft...)

How are the Cows?

As I was contemplating this post I was reminded of two things:

1) I can find no evidence of our Father speaking to people in cow (although He did "open the mouth of the donkey" - Numbers 22:28 - I wonder who was more surprised, Balaam, or that pitiful donkey. Bless her heart.)

2) A fun song. "The Worship Song Song," which pokes fun at modern "church music." One lyric is "here's another out of context verse about hope!" It makes me laugh. 

And number 3 (cause I just thought of one more), some of you may just be joining this long blogerific adoption journey and have no idea we had cows. 

You're like, "what cows?" 

So to clarify, we do NOT have cows. (yet) 
Cows have been rather.... symbolic...in this and other financially daunting ventures in my life. You can read all about that in another post here. And what cows and God and money have to do with each other - at least in my mind. Simple as it is. 

So here's the story, then the breakdown.

Along with all the normal mama things I think about all the time, all things adoption are constantly on my mind as well. And I've been noticing cow, goat, and sheep pastures for many months. MANY months. I find them peaceful, enchanting, and greatly encouraging. And "the cattle on a thousand hills," and God's promises and faithfulness are brought quickly to mind. 

Last weekend a majority of the children joined me for our annual Mother's Day outing. And of course we passed many pastures. But the one that most stood out as we drove was a huge pasture of beautiful green, rolling hills, some big shade tress and miles of fancy fence. But where were all the livestock?

These are not the actual cows we saw, just some world wide
web cows from an online English news paper I know nothing
about. They're just cute.

We went around curves and over hills. The pasture was huge! 
The grass wasn't very tall. There had to be some animal somewhere. 

Then, just before the pretty fence ended all the cows were gathered near a gate. 
And my little heart said, "Oh, He's gathering them together." 

As much as I'd like to know exactly (everything) how all this adoption stuff will pan out, it is enough to know Who does. And that He hasn't forgotten. He's just out gathering cows.

So as we wait we trust. 

And blog. 

And transfer records to google sheets so we can share all the nitty gritty boring bits with the curious, nosy, concerned, or math snobs. Plus, we've asked on repeat for HELP! So we should be clear about what we need help with. (Total transparency) And this will be a good place to send folks.

As I mentioned in the last post these helpful spread sheets are posted on the right hand side of the blog home screen (of your on a PC) under the heading "Pages." 
On a phone you'll find a drop down search bar under the header. 
Gosh! That's clear as mud! (Took my mother several minutes on the phone with me to find it on her computer - sigh) So I'll just leave them linked below as well.

So, to sum up, the cows are coming. We don't know how they'll get here. But we don't own them anyway. 

Love ya!

PS - no word from the far off kids this week. Keep praying for good health and opened borders.

Google Sheets
Expected Ukrainian Adoptions Fees - this is the simplified version of the estimated need. Where there is a variable or range (like travel or mailing cost) we estimated in the middle. 
Adoption Expenses - this is everything that has actually been paid to date. All the things (minus fundraisers - those are shared as we go)
Adoption Grants - this is my personal spreed sheet of where we have applied or plan to apply soon. (I have no idea why it's green or how to fix it - I'm very new to all the google doc things). This has already proven helpful to some adopting friends.

SUBMITTED

Good NEWS!!! 🥳

Just got word our dossier has been submitted to SDA (aka the great Ukrainian powers that be). This is where we get approved or rejected (and if rejected, we alter and resubmit).
Pray for all that - correct paper work, government officials, and our dear facilitator who has “followed” our story since the beginning.

And pray for these grant people to get on the ball and for new opportunities for us to fundraise in the midst of all this shutdown mess!
I feel a little like a scared contestant on the Price is Right, “Come on Big Money!” 🤣

I’ve created some google sheets to help explain the financial bits. If your on a PC they are linked under “Pages” at the bottom right of the home screen. On a mobile device go to the search bar near the top and find them there. And I’m working on Another post about all the money things and I’ll link the sheets there also.

Grants and Birds

Here's an overdue update about our Mother's Day "flash sale" of the Fly Home Fundraiser prints - we raised $250 in just few hours. Thanks to everyone who got something pretty for their mama!

AND... (drum roll)... this week received another grant from Katelyn's Fund for $3000! 

I cried. 

They sent us the nicest note - HUGE encouragement!  I'll share it here (so one day I can come back and cry again).

Dear Harold and Erin, 

We wanted to share with you how very blessed we were by your testimonies and trust in Him during the interview time together last week. We were moved by your willingness to share with us and know that He is going to continue to work and give you wisdom and strength through all of this. We were struck by your desires to listen to His voice, to follow His plan, and to see His kingdom go forth, we were blessed as you shared how He is growing and stretching you and showing His faithfulness during this time.   We are confident He has such a good plan for your family, and loves the ways you both serve Him so selflessly.  We know that He will show His faithfulness to you.

We were struck by your genuine faith, your desires for your children to know the Father as their personal Lord and Savior, your commitment to follow His plan, and your persistence to examine ways to live for Him.  We love your hearts and the ways He is creating new ways for you to know Him. You have a powerful story to share of His speaking and leading. He loves the way you are listening for Him, that you are living in new ways to grow in Him…we trust He has and is giving you discernment in decisions, He is faithful. We will continue praying for each of you, for His grace, wisdom, and presence.

It is with joy, we share, that we have approved your family for a $3,000 grant, which will be sent directly to your agency.

It was followed by some directions for getting it to our agency and whatnot. Fun stuff.
That is the biggest grant that fund doles out - so it's a huge deal. What encouragement! 

Praying a few more come in. Several have contacted us that because of this virus mess their meetings and doing are postponed until into the summer months. 

God is providing. 

There's still a lot going on. Even when we feel like it's standing still. He is moving. 

Please continue to pray for Andrii's health, he continues radiation and his platelet count was very low this week. 

Learn to do good;

seek justice,

 correct oppression;

bring justice to the fatherless,

plead the widow's cause.

Isaiah 1:17

I'm looking for a way to share  info - like grants and expenses and timelines - perhaps google docs. Look for that soon. Maybe. Hopefully.