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Thursday, 24 January 2008

Monday, 21 January 2008

  • Strange Place

    I'm at such a strange place right now. My heart is feeling every emotion possible. More importantly though I feel peace and excitement about our TWINS!!!!!. I wish I could share a picture with you.
    They are precious. I've come to accept that if it is in God's will for them to be a part of our family that NOTHING on earth can keep that from happening. There is one boy and one girl they are almost two. That means three kids that are two. WOW! Not in my plan, but Proverbs 19:21 ( I quote it often) Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

    My heart is heavy with all that is going on in the adoption/blog world. So many people are either shutting their blog down or taking them private. Which means only invited people can read.
    The reason is valid and I respect everyone's motives. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with wanting to protect your family. There has been a lot stirred up in the adoption community lately.
    A huge thing is the lost referral of twins that someone experienced. Adoption is a hard enough process anyway and then you find out about a disheartening story of a lost referral due to information on a blog. But there are more factors than just a blog. I will not go into details because they are not mine to give. Here are a few safeguards you can take:
    1. Find out if the country you are adopting from allow you to post pictures of their kids. Remember even though you have claimed them in your heart and have been referred to them, they are not "yours" until they have gone through all court proceedings. Or on the safe side wait until they are home.
    2. Find alternative ways to fundraise. If you need to fundraise for you adoption that's awesome just do so outside of your personal blog.
    If you are still concerned here are some extras:
    3. Take your last name out of your blog address.
    4. Change the identifying names of yourself and you children out of your blog. Maybe just use first letter.
    Please know that the family that lost their referral had a lot of things happening that most of us don't. I would like to also mention that they also have chosen to keep their blog open.

    I want more than anything to tell you all(whoever that maybe) that your blog matters! It matters to more than the invited or the people that you know leave comments. Last year I was a stay at home mom with four kids looking for something. Then I found it. I found you! I read your blogs everyday gaining strength, wisdom and courage. Your blog, your words, your heart spoke to me. It told me that Yes, I can make difference, I can handle more than I thought and the little things matter. I read as you went through your journey, I cried when things fell through, I rejoiced when simple things like your Chi was replaced. You became my highlight. You don't know who's reading your blog, you don't know who's life you are touching. It might be me or some other woman who found the friend they've been looking for their whole life. So, please never underestimate your thoughts, your words, your heart or your blog.

    So as for me and my blog we will forever remain public.

Friday, 11 January 2008

  • Random Updates

    1. Adam is in Los Angeles again to work on the film Red Canvas. It will be his second home for the next 3-4 months. Words can not express how much admiration I have for my husband. God has planted in every man's heart the desire to be a hero, warrior, and to live a life of adventure and risk. Many men unfortunately have given up on their dreams. People have asked if it's hard to have him gone and scary to think of the time and money sacrifices that have gone into this project. Well , yes it is hard and scary, but isn't that what life should be. I would only be worried if we were tired, bored and complacent. Life is an adventure, taking risks means your living out of your self placed box. And fear? Well, there is no place for it.
    2 Timothy 1 :7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

    2. My mom's best friend who I mentioned in an earlier post, went home to the Lord before Christmas. She was diagnosed with cancer only six months ago. She left behind a husband, her son in highschool, an older son and several grand children. I will miss her. She has been in our lives for years. She along with my mom were both survivors of brutal pasts. When we first started seriously pursuing adoption, I went to her for support. She was an African American woman who was a strong presence in her community. I wanted to get her feedback on transracial adoption. Her words will always stick with me. There was a time when she strongly opposed it, she knew a professor who adopted trans racially then after witnessing the power of love and how it transformed this child she grew to realize that a loving home is better than no home. She was my strongest supporter. Elizabeth referred to me as " her white angel baby who was sent to help her people." We would talk about how a total reform needs to happen. That is a whole other post. Prejudice is alive and well my friends!

    3. On Christmas day, we opened a package from momma Jo and inside were the most beautiful handmade scarves , one for each kid; including the 12 year old boy we were to adopt from Missouri. When I saw his name on the scarf, I broke down. I think I cried for an hour. I cried for Grandma Jo who made it in faith that he would be with us at Christmas, I cried for my children who grew to think of him as a brother, I cried for my broken heart; a mother's heart who grieves her child and finally I cried for him. My tears poured out for all he may never know.
    We had a chance to see him a week or so ago. It was harder than I can even begin to write. I longed to hold him. We took him to lunch and shopping. We hope to take him to church with us on Sundays, his new foster mom isn't a believer. Please pray for him and that God will continue to pursue him.

    4. We mailed our dossier to our new agency. I'm trying not to think about it. You know when you feel like you've been pregnant forever and you finally decide this baby will never come....
    Well, I guess I've adopted that strategy, maybe if I don't think about it, it will actually happen. We were told that our child/ren will be home in three months. I don't know who they are, but am believing and walking forward in faith.

    5. The money was raised for the Uganda Orphan Children Rescue Christmas project. This blessed me beyond measure. People were saved! It doesn't get any better than that! Orphan Fund was so touched by the reception they got from the people they are going to keep supporting them. And by the will of God I will too. What an awesome testimony to what God can do through willing hands.

    6. I'm going back to blonde next week. Wish me luck!

Tuesday, 08 January 2008

  • Thumbnail

    I just had the most wonderful week! We were so blessed to spend time with one of my favorite people in the whole world- Leah! My sister-in-law. I have been so privileged to watch her grow from a 9 year old girl into a beautiful woman who truly desires God. She is my best friend. Leah married an amazing man three years ago. When we first met Lex, we loved him right away. We knew he cherished her. He flew to Missouri to ask Adam permission to marry his sister. We gave our blessing, but decided to have a little fun with him first. I picked Leah and Lex up at the airport and arranged to meet Adam at a seedy location. There Adam was waiting in a dark parking lot with a huge board with nails in it. Lex got out of the van to meet his future brother-in-law. Adam proceeded to tell him how special Leah was and he better look after her.
    What made it even better, there was a van full of young teenage men with a video camera yelling, "fight! fight!"! The van full of thugs were disappointed when the Adam and Lex embraced. LOL!
    Many of you have asked if I was pregnant because of my tears and strange cravings. WELL.........
    No, I'm not but Leah is! I'm finally going to be an aunt!!!!!! I'm so excited. Maybe all my weird symptoms were a foreshadowing of her pregnancy.
    So my sweet Leah, I'm doing the dance for you (privately). I love you so much.

bostermama

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About Me

  • I'm the help meet to my hero, mother to 4 kiddos (praying for more), in the pursuit of adopting from Africa. I'm not defined by what I do, but by who I am in Christ. I love my God. Love my husband, love my kids, and love serving wherever I'm led. I finally stopped caring about what others think and I can proudly proclaim- I am me! A little bit goofy, somewhat crazy, kind of sentimental, and a whole lot of dork.

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