Things are coming in for our newest adoption. Everyone can now be reassured that we have not committed any crimes. Not here. Not there. Not anywhere. Not in a plane. Not on a boat.... The background checks are clearing now. After several pleas to have Aaron exempt from this requirement because of his inability to commit crimes and inability to be fingerprinted without pain, we found ourselves at the local jail with our son who obviously could not be a threat to anyone in society being fingerprinted. It was quite interesting to say the least..but the people at Sherburne County jail who now know us quite well because of the all the adoption fingerprinting we have done over the last year, were very helpful. Hands affected by cerebral palsy just don't cooperate with fingerprinting very well.
We are seeing a light at the end of this long tunnel. We are praying that Alabama could give us some ball park figure as to when we may be able to bring him home. We are hoping it will be in February but we are limited to our available childcare options here. It takes an incredible amount of planning to leave 5 children while taking 3 along with...children who needs specialized care and lots of back up plans. We are praying that the Alabama folks are open to seeing us as not just impatient parents to be, but understand the complexity of what they are asking us to do. We just need some dates so that we can plan.
The next big challenge that has left us far out on a limb has been trusting that the financial resources will come in so that we can complete this adoption. This is a private adoption through a Christian agency. Up to this point, we have spent $3000 on homestudy related costs, then there is child care and travel costs along with the placement fee to the Alabama agency. They are willing to reduce their fees because of the special needs of this little one, but we are still looking at around $10-$15,000 of costs. And that is just to bring him home! When he gets here, that is when the big costs will begin. He will require adaptive equipment and things that we don't have. We are out on a limb but still firmly rooted in the source of all of our sustenance.
We live on very limited resources. The Lord has always taken care of all 13 of us. He has not let us down. We do not have the resources to pay for this adoption. But, all along the way, we have felt an incredible sense of peace that He will take care of the financial end of this mission. We love the way God calls all of us to adoption...whether it be through adoption ourselves or supporting others who are called. If you are feeling a call to be a part of adoption--specifically this adoption--we would love to partner with you in standing for the right to life for every child...
Baby Ben has lost his birth family and then an adoptive family who brought him from the hospital but decided to let him go when he developed profound brain damage. It is time for him to come home for good...we want to be that home.
If you feel called to be a part of this miracle...there are a few ways you can do it. Also, we expect that we will be able to work with the MICAH fund again to help support this adoption. You can send a tax deductible contribution to them and they will get it to us as well. Please email if you have any further questions. Your prayers have been evident along the way--we have felt God presence through this process..we appreciate your partnership with us through prayer!
