Showing posts with label Adoption. Show all posts

If you follow my Facebook feed, you know that I have been posting pictures and links related to adoption for the month of November (National Adoption Awareness Month). Today, November 30, is the last day of the month, so I thought I would post something a little bit different (Don't worry, I'll link it to FB as promised there). And so, as we draw Adoption Awareness Month to a close for the year 2016, I wanted to give you a snapshot of my adoption story.

At Mother's Choice

Some of my readers will have followed along as we processed the adoption of our fourth child (first adoption, fourth child, second son), Ryan. We called him "The Little Emperor" and to this day (2 1/2 years after he came into our home) he still fairly rules the roost. Ryan was born with a genetic anomaly known as Coffin-Lowry Syndrome. As with many of the innate genetic syndromes, people affected have varying levels of restriction. Ryan's biggest issue has to do with speech: he understands more than 90% of what is said to him in English, he is unable to reproduce the sounds with his mouth. Consequently he communicates often with points, grunts, and his version of ASL (American Sign Language). He is getting along beautifully.


Ryan's physical limitations and medical needs early in life spurred his birth parents to relinquish custody of him to an adoption placement agency in Hong Kong called Mother's Choice. It was there that we found, fell in love with, and eventually adopted Ryan. He is ours forever an

Easter 2016

d a day, and according to adoption laws, his bond to us is more legally binding than that of his siblings (who are our biological children).

But wait, there is a chapter 2! Approximately one year ago we began discussing the possibility of adding yet another little Potter to our crew through adoption. Dillon International (our adoption agency here in the USA) had just been granted rights to assist adoptions from Vietnam (which had been closed to US adoptions for about seven years at the time). And off we go. We began asking friends and family members to pray for a Christmas trip to Vietnam. Then comes sad news: paperwork being what it is, we finally submitted our dossier (the last item that finally goes to the country from which you hope to adopt), and were given a more realistic timeline. We probably won't head to Asia over Christmas, but are looking at anywhere from February-August of next year. At any rate, we are in high hopes to have our new offspring in home before this time next year (pictures can only be shown after the dossier has cleared both US and Vietnamese scrutiny). We welcome all support--prayer, moral, and monetary--that anyone would like to cast our way. We are so close to finishing this journey that we can taste it!

But wait, there's more to my adoption story. You see, I'm adopted by the King. One of the things that makes this process so dear to our family is the picture that our earthly adoptions paint of the ultimate adoption that God offers through Jesus Christ, His Son. Are you adopted by the King? He wants to offer you that adoption today. You can become a child of the King and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ. Here are the words to an old hymn that teaches of the best adoption story ever:

My Father is rich in houses and lands,
He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His coffers are full, He has riches untold.

I'm a child of the King,
A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior,
I'm a child of the King.

My Father's own Son, the Savior of men,
Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them:
But now He is pleading our pardon on high,
That we may be His when He comes by and by.

I'm a child of the King,
A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior,
I'm a child of the King.

I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, and an alien by birth
But I've been adopted, my name's written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe, and a crown.

I'm a child of the King,
A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior, (A Child of the King," words by Harriet Buell, found in the Baptist Hymnal, 1956 edition, emphasis added)

That's my adoption story, what's yours?

If you haven't seen it on Facebook, or heard it from somewhere else, we have dived into the arena of Adoption once again. As you know this process is long and expensive. We are hoping to make it shorter because it's our second time through. There's not much we can do about the expensive part though, except pray and fund-raise.

Here's my proposition to you my friends, family and readers. Let my work be your opportunity to help us with our fundraising efforts. There are a few on-line markets where you can buy my books (I'll link them below). If you will purchase any of my stories or books, all of the royalties I get from these books will be earmarked for our new adoption (once it's paid for, I'll probably find another worthy cause for these funds). These books provide minutes of reading pleasure and are excellent to give as gifts.

Something Special at Leonard's Inn: A Tale of the First Christmas: first paperback editions available by emailing me here, or by logging on to Amazon.com

Just a Simple Carpenter: The Story of Joseph: first paperback editions available by emailing me at the above email link.

Two for Christmas (the above titles together), A Time for Miracles: Retelling the Story of John the Baptist, and sermon collections - So This Is Church and Words to Live By are all available at Lulu.com.

Something Special & Other Stories (A collection of the Leonard, Joseph, and John the Baptist stories re-edited and re-packaged) is available from Create Space and Amazon.com (both trade paper or ebook)

We are still awaiting word on our adoption process (We're THAT close!). We also know that there are still more costs (travel, adoption services fees, court fees, etc.) And so we wanted to take this time to thank all of you who have been generous to help with this process so far.

That being said, we are still raising funds--the more we raise, the less we have to borrow. And I have an excellent idea if you would like to help. Two of my stories are Christmas related: "Something Special at Leonard's Inn" and "Just a Simple Carpenter". I still have plenty of copies of both of these stories ("Leonard" sells for $7 and "Carpenter" for $10) Either or both would make super Christmas gifts. If you would like to purchase one or more copies of my books, send me an email at LoomandWheel(at)pobox(dot)com and reference this post. Tell me how many of which book you would like to order, you buy the books, I'll pick up the postage (in the continental USA), and all the payment will be applied to our adoption costs.

If you have both of these stories, but would like to participate, let me direct you to my Lulu Store. I will dedicate the proceeds from any purchases of my books listed there during the month of December to the adoption costs (I have no control over shipping costs from Lulu). Please note that my daughter has a book listed there, and I cannot dedicate her royalties (they go to her), and also note that books bought through Lulu net me somewhere between 25 cents and 2 dollars a book (the more you buy, the closer we get to our total cost goal).

As we stand on the brink of a new year, it is time to now think about where we shall go. Should we make plans? There are many who would say we should not presume on God and making plans does that. I say, there are things that we can look forward to without neglecting God in our lives. No resolutions this year, just expectations. And so here are a few of the things I have calendared to see happen in 2013:

• Following God in the paths that He has chosen for me.
• Becoming more like Jesus each new day of the new year.
• Moving forward in the process of adoption - we even have our initial home study visit scheduled within the first week of the new year! 
• Watching more evidence of growth in the First Baptist Church of Mulberry Grove.
• Burning the Renovation Note on the first Sunday in 2013.
• Spring Revival in March as a partnership with my Alma Mater, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
• Vacation Bible School in July - Colossal Coaster World!
• Yet to be planned missions adventures.
• And of course end of year events like our annual Christmas Eve service.
• Moving forward in the adoption process. We hope to reach the travel point to bring home our new child at some point during 2013 - We ask all of our friends, family, and faithful acquaintances to pray that God will open the right doors at just the right time for this to happen.
• and finally, one of the big milestones that I plan on seeing this year: 50!

Many of you know that the Blushing Bride and I have entered into the arduous process called International Adoption. Each step brings us closer to bringing home a terrific special needs child who wants and needs a forever family to love him. One of the things we are discovering while we wade through the mountains of paperwork involved, is that money flows out of the pockets with every turn. So we're asking for support. Here's how you can help:

1. Put our family (including the new one we will be able to introduce later) at the top of your prayer list--pray for patience, sanity, and wisdom as we continue down this road.
2. Check out (and follow) our journey blog--posting is intermittent at best, but will take you through the steps with us.
3. Jump over to our GoFundMe page and click the "Donate" button--it's easy and painless.
4. Join us for garage sales if your in the Mulberry Grove area.
5. Buy some of my books that are up for sale. Many of the books will be collectors' items which I've accumulated over the years. Some are signed by the author. Most will be from the mystery/suspense section of your favorite bookstore. I'm listing the first installment below. If you like mysteries, or know someone who does, contact me, we can work out almost any deal--just remember this is a fundraising effort, not a give-away.

#20: I am thankful for the "frontliners" in the battle for orphans.

November is National Adoption Awareness month. Yesterday was National Adoption Day. You probably didn't know that, so now you do. As I celebrate Thanksvember and as Thanksgiving Day approaches apace, my mind turns to those who have so much less to be thankful for than I do.

I grew up in a stable, loving home; with my own Mom and Dad. I did not lose them at an early age to any outside source--crime, drugs, neglect, apathy, or death. Our world is running deep with children who are neglected or forgotten and in need of a loving home like yours and mine. Our country has foster programs which are designed to help these children have a more stable, normative life. But even more what they want and what they need is a family to call their own. With this in mind I'd like to highlight two of the organizations that work diligently to match these children who desperately need to have something for which to be thankful with the families that can provide that place, enhancing the lives of both the children and the parents/families.

First, I want to focus on what is known as Domestic Adoption--matching families with children in our own country. Since I am a resident of Illinois (and an Illinois Baptist) I want to introduce you to an organization that works specifically with Illinioans (Illini?) to find homes for children in need of adoption in this state. They are the Baptist Children's Home and Family Services (BCHFS). They started in Carmi, IL as the Baptist Orphan's Home. Today they work with troubled kids providing Residential Care, with individuals and families on the cusp of falling apart through the Pathways Counseling services, and with young women who are in crisis/unwanted pregnancies to help them make godly decisions and even to offer (if appropriate) their children to stable, loving homes through Angels' Cove.

(Click here for a video introduction to the Angels' Cove ministry of BCHFS.)

Another option for adoption services is an organization with headquarters in my native state of Texas. Their name is Buckner. Their mission is to care for the orphans around the world. If you are interested in making a difference through International Adoption, contact Buckner to learn more. Here's a testimony from one family who worked through Buckner to grow their family:



I am declaring today "Adoption Awareness Sunday". There are a number of agencies like these two who help orphans find families and families find orphans. Pray about what you should do with this information and like me be . . .

Thankful for those on the frontlines.

I was hesitant about posting this one, but I believe in the power of prayer, so . . .

Tragedy hit the Christian Music world again. In the news this morning, I heard about this.

Please be praying for Steven Curtis Chapman, his wife Mary Beth, and their remaining children. The Chapmans have been pioneers in getting the word out about adopting children and will need all the strength of the Lord to help them as they work through the loss of Maria Sue.