Archives For our adoption

thoughts

February 9, 2012 — 13 Comments

A lot of you have been asking how I’m doing after my recent announcement that our adoption has gotten pushed back. (We were planning to start paperwork last month and got rejected due to income). Well, I’m doing better than I expected.

I have a peace. I know that God has a plan for us. A bigger plan than I can imagine. Want to know something CRAZY? I think we have about decided to have another little one of our own before adopting.

I KNOW.

When I was pregnant with Zoey, we had decided we were done. But have you seen our babies? How can we possibly stop at 2 when we make such amazing and perfect children? I’m addicted to making cute kids. We don’t have a timeline yet for when we might try for #3…I’m still figuring out #1 & #2. Let’s get Zoey sleeping through the night before we even think about that!

Yes, I’m a little disappointed that the timeline didn’t work out the way I had in my brain. But I’m thrilled for what is ahead. I know we will adopt someday, just now isn’t our time. We just started over, and with hubby starting a new career we have to wait it out a bit.

But you know what? We are blessed beyond anything I could have ever imagined. Maybe we aren’t making millions, but we have so much more. We have a nice home (which is *ahem*….free…yeah talk about blessings), we have two cars so the kids and I aren’t stuck at home all day. We have a full pantry and fridge. We are blessed. God provides every month, and He will continue to provide.

I appreciate your prayers and support as we learn to walk through some interesting financial times, and being able to provide the very best for our kiddos. (2 in diapers and 1 on formula. Expensive junk.)

I wish I could hug you all!

In our adoption, our life
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major adoption set back

January 26, 2012 — 11 Comments

I’m sitting here all snuggled up in my bed with a warm blanket and cup of chai tea. My babies are napping and tears are streaming down my face as I try to wrap my mind around rejection.

We were rejected to start our adoption.

OUCH.

The place we are in is tough. When hubby quit his comfortable, well paying church job (I know, that’s kinda an oxymoron right?) to move us back to Oklahoma I had no idea it would be this difficult to get settled. We went a full year without a job. He led worship and that paid the bills, but we still had to dig into our savings significantly. We didn’t get a couple of jobs we really wanted, and began to question if full time ministry was really what we were supposed to be doing anymore.

Then hubby got the job at Apple 2 months ago, and he absolutely loves it. He always tells me this is something he can see himself doing for a long time. That makes me so happy. It’s great because he can still lead worship part time, and still work at Apple. Win, win!

The downside? He’s starting out in a new company. Although he didn’t have to start completely at the bottom, they didn’t hire him on immediately to be a manager or pay him a million dollars. So we are scraping by a bit.

Therefore,  we have decisions to make. Yes, we are still going to adopt. That’s not even a question. We just need to be bringing home a little more before we can. Do I take on some sort of job to cover the extra that we need? But then what about the girls? Seems dumb for me to work just so we can get going on paperwork, only to pay all of that straight to daycare. Sigh.

I know God has a huge plan for our children and our family. But I’m extremely disappointment. My heart hurts. I was so ready and excited to get started on this journey. The process takes 2-3 YEARS and I really wanted my kids super close together. If we have to wait another year or longer to get started that’s like 5 years before having another kiddo! Um, no thanks!

We would really appreciate your prayers as we figure this out and decide what is the best course for us to take. Thanks my friends!

In our adoption
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my incomplete family

July 22, 2011 — 11 Comments

I find myself getting very anxious sometimes to get our family built. It feels so incomplete. We have our little firstborn, who is completely awesome and we’re kinda obsessed with her. We meet little sister in 6 weeks (yeah….6 weeks from today!). But still. It feels incomplete. With waiting out the final weeks of this pregnancy and our pending adoption, it makes me restless.

But then I kick myself for trying to rush it….because wow they grow up SO fast!
Look who is already swimming by herself!

I know that God has an amazing plan for our family. We are stoked that He has called us to adopt and is going to allow us to bring children into our family that need a forever home. It’s seriously an incredible honor. But I’m dying over here!! I want to scoop up all those babies and bring them home NOW.

Basically, I’m impatient.

It’s hard waiting.

Waiting for hubby to get a more solid job, so we can even be allowed to adopt. That part is frustrating sometimes. God, you have called us to this….why aren’t you giving us the means to do so?? Is He telling us to wait? Maybe this is His way of keeping me from losing my mind by having too many tiny babies to raise!

My heart is anxious and so excited for what lies ahead for us. I wish I could dig into paperwork now, and get this process going. But we are waiting. Waiting until the time is right. Focusing on each child, each little blessing He’s giving us. One at a time.

What are you anxious for now, and how is God teaching you to wait?

In our adoption, our life , ,
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open for advertising!

April 14, 2011 — 5 Comments

As we are approaching our first adoption, the costs can be a little overwhelming. We’re talking like $30,000 overwhelming. So we have to get creative! We are brainstorming up all kinds of cool ideas to raise the funds to bring home our babies, but it won’t be easy and will take time.

So, it’s official. I’m opening up my blog for advertising!!! Every penny of the advertising money will go straight into our adoption fund. Even though we haven’t even started paperwork yet, even that costs money. We are all about being out of debt, and want to get ahead on the adoption as much as possible. We hope to be able to pay every fee up front, and not have to borrow anything.

We are trusting God to provide for us, and we will do our part to love and cherish His children. We are following this BIG vision for our lives, and putting our compete faith in Him.

So if you are a shop or company looking for a way to give back, here’s a great opportunity for you! Handmade shops — love you to pieces and will offer a discount so e-mail me for special rates!!

Contact Me!!
karakae (at) karakaejames (dot) com

 

AD SPACE INFO:


125×125 button – $10 per month
Includes a monthly post showcasing sponsor product (can include a giveaway upon sponsor’s request),
and at least 3 tweets per months linking to sponsor product.


300×125 button – $15 per month
Includes a monthly post showcasing sponsor product (can include a giveaway upon sponsor’s request),
and at least 3 tweets per months linking to sponsor product.


300×300 button – $25 per month
Includes a monthly post showcasing sponsor product (can include a giveaway upon sponsor’s request),
and at least 3 tweets per months linking to sponsor product.

 

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Ethiopia Call to Action

March 10, 2011 — 1 Comment

Recent news out of Ethiopia has us saddened and anxious for our pending adoption.  Nothing is confirmed yet, but The Ethiopian Ministry of Women’s Affairs is claiming plans to cut international adoptions up to 90%. Currently, they are processing around 50 adoptions per day, and claim as of today – March 10 – they will only process 5 per day.

This is BAD news for soon to be adoptive parents of an Ethiopian baby.

The agency that we have most likely decided to work with, are saying they are still unsure of what this all means. I hope to know more soon, as I’m sure many other adoptive moms and dads do.

Luckily, the Joint Council on International Children’s Services has put together a “Call to Action”. I am praying that their ‘Emergency Campaign for Ethiopian Children’ makes a difference and the Ethiopian leaders listen.


{photo credit}

How can you help?

1 – Sign the petition to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi

2- Are you an adoptive parent of an Ethiopian child? The Joint Council is asking you to send up to 3 photos and 50 words or less with what you would like the Ministry to know about your child – they will compile the information and send a book to the Ministry of Woman’s Affairs. Send your photos and stories to advocate@jointcouncil.org by Sunday, March 12, 2011 to be included. {Please note that sending photos and stories gives Joint Council unrestricted right to use the information you provide.}

3- PRAY This situation is in God’s hands. These children are in God’s hands.

Thanks you for your prayers over these children and that the leaders of Ethiopia makes the right choice.

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my eyes were opened.

February 17, 2011 — 2 Comments

It was something about that day. The day my eyes were opened. The day we committed to adopting. The day that it became real.

The Orphan Crisis.

I had always had a heart for children. For the hurting, the less fortunate, the fatherless. But I’m not sure it really made sense to me until I was a mother myself. Until I held my 9lb 5oz, 2 week late, amazingly strong baby girl in my arms for the first time. Then I understood the crisis.

All children need love. Need a home. Need a chance.

It was that day. That day in April 2010, when my newborn baby was only a few weeks old. That day my husband and I looked at each other and realized, we are called to adopt. It’s what has always been the plan for our family, before we even knew it or said it out loud.

We are parents to a precious baby who hasn’t even been born. Maybe more than one. God knows. It’s been His plan all along afterall. It just took us opening our hearts, our minds and our home. To the hurting, the less fortunate, the fatherless.

I encourage you to open your mind. Pray. Ask God if adoption is for you. You might be surprised what He has in store for your family. Consider how you can make a difference in the crisis the children of our world face.

Just open your eyes a bit.

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The Idea Camp is coming to Northwest Arkansas in just a couple of short weeks. I encourage you to learn more, and get to know this incredible community of people. People that love, share and grow together. It’s an honor to be a part of and use my voice to educate about adoption and the orphan crisis. Take some time to learn more here!

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love is greater than blood

October 21, 2010 — 25 Comments

I have always dreamed of having a big family. Having children, and lots of them is something my hubby and I have always talked about from the beginning. It wasn’t an option for us not to.

I always knew I was called to do something great. But I was never sure exactly what that was until hubs posed the question to me: “what if we adopted?”

My heart melted the day he said those blessed 4 words to me. I knew this man was more than perfect for me.

It had always been something I was interested in, mostly because my heart is pretty much in the shape of Africa. But I never brought it up to him, because I wanted him to be called to it as well. It needed to be something that God put on both our hearts. I’m so thankful that He did.

“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

After walking through a really tough pregnancy, delivery and recovery – we weren’t sure how many times my body would be able to handle it. It’s worth every bit of it, but I still need to physically be able to care for my family as well. Adopting seems like an easy fix to that, but it’s so much more than that.

After we discussed it the first time, I knew there was no turning back. This was what God had planned for our family all along. To love and welcome an orphan into our family. To put love above blood. To care for and give a father to the fatherless.

I’m honored that God has chosen us to bring a baby home from Ethiopia.

This will be a long process, and will take lots of prayer, tears and funds. Adopting is not free. It’s not easy. But God will provide. I ask you to begin praying for how you might like to be a part of our adoption. In the coming months we will begin asking for money, and doing everything in our power to raise the funds to bring this sweet baby home.

A baby that God already has hand-picked for us.

Continue Reading…

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