Pastor Straton and Fasting!

After reading "Red Letters" by Tom Davis, I have been thinking about the suggestion made in the book to fast and pray for those suffering from AIDS. I have been thinking about it, but I haven't really done anything. Today, I picked up the book and as I was thumbing through it came across the section on fasting again. I was convicted about my lack of motivation to pray! Then, I came across this video. I hope you will take the time to watch it. I found it encouraging. I will fast and pray, once a week until I feel God lead me to do otherwise. Mondays will be my regular day for this, but I feel led to commit tomorrow to the Lord! I also want to find out what is going on in my area for those affected with AIDS. I don't hear about it in the news anymore, but I know that people and families are still affected. Is there something local I can do to help those here in my community? I will do some research and see what I come up with!

Please turn off the music before watching the video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SUJOcRU-_w

In the video, Pastor Straton talks about the kids who are left not only orphaned, but also HIV+. This is heart breaking, to say the least. The doors are opening for some of these kids to be adopted, and brought here to the US. Please consider this for your own family, or you can help fund the adoption of an HIV+ child into another loving, forever family. At least, pray about how God might use you, and let Him surprise you with the answer!!

Autumn Fun!

Delicious Autumn!

My very soul is wedded to it,
and if I were a bird
I would fly about the earth
seeking the successive autumns.

George Elliot

I love fall! It is by far my favorite season!! Today, I made fall play dough. Never heard of this? I hadn't either, but I saw a recipe in a magazine at the doctors' office and decided to try it at home. Since I didn't get the exact recipe I just made cooked play dough and added pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. It did take quite a bit of seasoning! I also tried to make it orange, so I added red and yellow food coloring. It turned out great! It looks just like pumpkin pie and smells like it too!

I see Camille needs more practice holding her scissors correctly!

Isaac has such a sweet smile on his face!

Elise made a pumpkin pie! It smelled delicious!

Hopewalks and Serna Village!

We had such a great weekend! On Saturday we walked for the second annual HOPEWALKS: A Promise to the Children of the Epidemic (our second year, too!). It was a walk to raise funds for organizations working to share Jesus and meet the needs of children and families affected by the AIDS, poverty and child slavery. It is really awesome to participate in something that will bless kids on the other side of the planet. It is also cool to be able to do it as a family! It isn't always easy to find places to serve with the kids, especially when their ages are spread out like ours. Aidan, our oldest son, isn't in the picture because he was serving as a volunteer at the event! We went to church that night still wearing our shirts, and a friend commented that we were dressed alike. I think it is the one day a year that all six of us dress alike. How FUN!!

On Sunday afternoon, we went as a family to Serna Village to participate in the outreach with the kids and families. It was the second time in one weekend that we were able to serve together as a family! I don't think there is much better than working alongside your kids and husband to bring Jesus to those who don't know Him yet! We had a great time. I worked in the kitchen and served lunch, while Brian played games with the kids and youth. Our kids simply joined in with the kids from the village, and Elise is building friendships with some girls her own age. This week a performer came and sang, danced and did magic tricks for the families. It was a really fun show! Everything he did related back to Jesus in some way, so , it was fun and meaningful at the same time.

I continue to be amazed by the kids at Serna Village. They really do have my heart. It was nice to see some familiar faces, and continue to build relationships with them. I know it takes some time, but please pray that God will bless all the volunteers with the ability to grow friendships quickly. Pray also for the boldness I need to speak up when the opportunity presents itself, both at Serna Village and in my everyday life with friends and neighbors.


I found this informational video about Serna Village. It was done by the local newspaper. It gives a little glimpse into what the transitional housing facility is about.

Serna Village information video: http://www.sacbee.com/995/story/533823.html

Trans Racial Adoption Support Group!

Last night our family attended a trans racial adoption support group. The subject of the meeting was "How to Navigate the African American Community as a Non-African American Family". This was our first time at this group. It was a very interesting time! It is always fun to be in such a diverse group of people, who all share a passion for kids and adoption, particularly trans racial adoption. We discussed our experiences as multi ethnic families, and discussed ways to help our kids create genuine relationships with people who share their racial heritage. Many topics were discussed including: school choice(diversity and academics as key points), mentoring opportunities(black fraternities and sororities as resources), social groups, travel, and local events(BlackEXPO, etc.) Many of the things we discussed were part of our foster parent training and other workshops and classes we have taken. However, one thing that I had never given much thought to are the black colleges. Living in California we do not have any black colleges. However, there are tours for highschool students that will take them to visit several black colleges when they are ready for that. It is something I know nothing about, but plan on looking into before my kids are ready for that. Since the kids are only 2 and 4, I have a little time. I also realized how great it is to live in a diverse neighborhood with excellent schools nearby. Many in the group had to leave their neighborhoods to find diversity.

One thing that stood out for me during the conversations was that I really do enjoy being with people who are nothing like me. It is good to hear another perspective, even if we don't agree or see things the same way! I feel enriched as a person when I spend time in dialogue with people who are open, genuine and passionate about their kids!

OUR HOUSE

Our House
By Edgar Guest

We play at our house and have all sorts of fun,
An’ there’s always a game when supper is done;
An’ at our house there’s marks on the walls an’ the stairs,
An’ some terrible scratches on some of the chairs;
An’ ma says that our house is surely a fright,
But pa and I say that our house is all right.

At our house we laugh an’ we sing an’ we shout,
An’ whirl all the chairs and the tables about,
An’ I rassle my pa an’ I get him down too,
An’ he’s all out of breath when the fightin’ is through;
Am’ ma says our house is surely a sight,
But pa an’ I say that our house is all right.

I’ve been to houses with pa where I had
To sit in a chair like a good little lad,
An’ there wasn’t a mark on the walls an’ the chairs,
An’ the stuff that we have couldn’t come up to theirs;
An’ pa said to ma that for all of their joy
He wouldn’t change places and give up his boy.

They never have races nor rassles nor fights.
Coz they have no children to play with at nights;
An’ their walls are all clean and their curtains hang straight,
An’ everthing’s shiny an’ right up to date;
But pa says with all of its racket an’ fuss,
He’d rather by far live at our house with us.

I read this poem today, and just had to laugh! I can relate to the mother in this poem lately. In fact, just this past weekend, the kids pulled on the curtain and yanked one end of the rod out of the wall! I was so mad! It was easily fixed and no real damage done, but sometimes I just want things to look nice. With a large family, the "stuff" in our life gets a lot of use.

I am also thankful for husband who has fun with our kids, even if I would often call it rough housing.

And given the choice, I would also choose our house with all of its racket an' fuss!

Fall Family Fair

Yesterday, my husband and I went to the Fall Family Fair. It is a cooperative effort of local county agencies and the State Department of Children's Services to match families with children waiting to be adopted from foster care. There are no children present, but social workers bring profiles of available kids/sibling groups for prospective adoptive parents to look at. We were there mainly because our social worker wanted to introduce us to two other workers in our county. One is the placement coordinator and the other is the concurrent placement worker(places many infants who are concurrently in adoptions and reunification services until court hearings decide their status). It was a blessing to be introduced to these women right after our home study was completed, and now maybe I can begin to see God's timing in things. These are the women, along with our social worker, who will decide which child to present to us. What an awesome responsibility they hold in their jobs: creating and building families!!
While we were at the fair, my husband picked up a stack of profiles to read. It was at this moment that I realized how mixed my feelings were about being at the fair. I didn't want to see the faces of these adorable kids. Once you see their profiles, look at their pictures and read their stories, they are no longer just a statistic. They become real kids-orphans- living without any sense of permanency or a forever family. I know it doesn't do any good to close my eyes to the reality that is before me, so I read some profiles and my heart was broken for these kids again. Last night I prayed for the kids I saw, the faces that are sticking in my mind even now as I write this blog. I know that prayer is the best gift I can give these kids right now, but my heart longs to do more.
After much prayer, we don't feel that God is leading us to an older child adoption right now. Sibling groups in foster care and waiting to be adopted still tug at our hearts. We were both really close with our own siblings and see how close our own kids are to each other. Our hearts still lean toward foster care in the future. Only God knows what He has in store for our family! I look forward to this journey-with God leading the way!

The "funny" things people say...

The "funny" things people say...still catch me by surprise! In a multi ethnic family, you get a lot of off the cuff comments from strangers. Most people don't intend to be hurtful or rude, they just aren't aware of the impact of their words.

Today, I took the kids to the mall to buy my daughter some pants. When we were at the register paying, the cashier asked "Are you babysitting?" I replied, "Nope, they're all mine!" and smiled at her. "Oh, they are a lot of different ages" she continued, "at least you don't have a newborn too!" I just looked at her picked up my bag and left. It isn't her naivete that annoyed me, it is the attitude that the LAST thing we need is a baby. As we walked away, the kids and I talked about how she didn't know we are waiting for a baby. That we are all excited about it, and think it is great!

It is a huge responsibility to constantly help the kids deal with the attitudes and comments from strangers. This was a very innocent example, but a good reminder about the need to help my kids learn how to respond to strangers. I always talk about the situation with the kids after it happens, so we can all learn from it. Sometimes I handle things well, but not always. I am still caught off guard sometimes. I try to talk with the kids about the person's possible motives, and better ways we could have handled things. If we did a good job, we talk about what went well.

My social worker suggested the "W.I.S.E. UP Powerbook" which is put out by The Center for Adoption Support and Education,inc. It is an awesome resource to help empower kids deal with questions and comments from strangers and friends. It has also helped me!! It is worth a look.

So, for other families dealing with this same issue, I wish you well! And for any family that I have inadvertently hurt with my own naive words...I am truly sorry.

Adoption Process Update!

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Psalm 20:7

I memorized this verse about a year ago for a Bible study I was doing. At the time, it seemed like a strange verse to commit to memory, but since the whole group was doing it, I did too. God is so funny, he knew a year ago that today I would be so encouraged by this verse. He knew that I needed this written on my heart so that He could remind me of it when I was feeling discouraged earlier this morning. (If you don't memorize scripture, I would like to encourage you to give it a try!) I was feeling a little frustrated after speaking with our home study worker. Our home study was originally supposed to done six weeks ago. It has been put on hold as our worker has had other, more pressing, things come up. I posted earlier that I know God is bigger than the system and paperwork will not stop His perfect timing. But this morning I was discouraged. It sometimes seems as though my family is in the hands of very well meaning social workers, who are under paid and severely overworked. However, as this was my train of thought, God brought Psalm 20:7 to mind. He revealed to me a different meaning of the verse than I had originally thought. It says some trust in horses and chariots. These are a means to an end, a way of getting somewhere. God reminded me that the county is like the horses and chariots in the verse. It is simply a means to get where He is taking me and our family. I am not to mistakenly put my trust in the vehicle, but keep my eyes, my hope and trust where it belongs, with Him!

So, the good news is that our home study will be done in time for us to attend a local family fair next Thursday. This is an opportunity for child placement workers in our region to showcase children waiting for adoption, and connect with potential adoptive families. This is a really emotional event for me(we've been to two in the past) because the children break my heart. Most of the children are older, which isn't what we see working with our family right now. We plan on keeping the birth sequence of our kids, unless God leads us to do otherwise.

So, things are progressing! Our home study is almost done! And, most importantly, my trust is back where it belongs...In God!