Just a quick update to thank you for your prayers and let you know we heard some GREAT news from our adoption agency. It looks like the officials in Ethiopia will develop a task force to make better laws pertaining to adoption--and enforce existing laws--but there is no immediate plans to end adoption. That may be their end goal, but it would take quite a while to put that into place. In the meantime, agencies and orphanages will be stepping it up to better protect vulnerable children.
God is so good to us.
Tonight Ken, Jack and I will be going out for a late dinner at one of our favorite pizza restaurants. Then we'll come home to have some chocolate fondue and spend some time playing a riveting game of Chutes and Ladders.
I don't know if we'll make it till midnight; if I fall asleep before, it will be the first time I remember doing that. But I wouldn't be surprised. I guess this is what 42 looks like for me.
We wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. We pray that
your beliefs about yourself, your family, your situation, and your
future will conform to the truth of God's goodness and amazing love for you.
Hugs to you all,
Luann
PS: What are your plans for this evening? Please do share so I can live vicariously. <3
31 December 2013
29 December 2013
Dependence
It's an interesting thing, this adoption journey. As one friend said, it's not for the faint of heart. It's also not for anyone who is an independent, get-it-done-kind-of-
person.
I realized something profound (at least to me) last night. Up until now, everything has been in our power. There was a lot of busy work. Doctors' appointments, fingerprinting, forms to fill out, bills to pay, references to obtain, etc. But it was all doable using our own strength, intellect, and resources.
Although we have surely prayed for this adoption and this child countless times, we haven't been totally dependent on God. We made To-Do lists, checked off the items one by one, submitted the papers, and recruited friends to pray.
Done, done, and done.
But now we find ourselves in a situation that was completely unforeseen and beyond our control. We don't know the key players. We can't just call up Ethiopia and ask to speak to the decision makers. "Hello, this is Luann calling from the USA. You don't know me, but I heard you might discontinue foreign adoptions and was wondering if you would please allow us to adopt one of your orphans."
It's an interesting spot to be in. From the beginning of this process, we've simply trusted God one step at a time. He never promised us an Ethiopian child. He just made it clear that we were to apply to the agency. And then we were to proceed with the homestudy. And then the dossier. And then the next step, And the next.
Now it's in His hands. So we wait. We rely on the One who is able to speak to those in authority. He put them in authority, and He controls their hearts.
The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord;
So if and when a child is placed in our home, we will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it had nothing to do with us. All glory will go to God.
Fitting, since He is the author of adoption.
person.
I realized something profound (at least to me) last night. Up until now, everything has been in our power. There was a lot of busy work. Doctors' appointments, fingerprinting, forms to fill out, bills to pay, references to obtain, etc. But it was all doable using our own strength, intellect, and resources.
Although we have surely prayed for this adoption and this child countless times, we haven't been totally dependent on God. We made To-Do lists, checked off the items one by one, submitted the papers, and recruited friends to pray.Done, done, and done.
But now we find ourselves in a situation that was completely unforeseen and beyond our control. We don't know the key players. We can't just call up Ethiopia and ask to speak to the decision makers. "Hello, this is Luann calling from the USA. You don't know me, but I heard you might discontinue foreign adoptions and was wondering if you would please allow us to adopt one of your orphans."
It's an interesting spot to be in. From the beginning of this process, we've simply trusted God one step at a time. He never promised us an Ethiopian child. He just made it clear that we were to apply to the agency. And then we were to proceed with the homestudy. And then the dossier. And then the next step, And the next.
Now it's in His hands. So we wait. We rely on the One who is able to speak to those in authority. He put them in authority, and He controls their hearts.
Everyone must submit to governing authorities.
For all authority comes
from God, and those in positions of authority
have been placed there by
God. Romans 13:1
The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord;
he guides it wherever he pleases. Proverbs 21:1
So if and when a child is placed in our home, we will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it had nothing to do with us. All glory will go to God.
Fitting, since He is the author of adoption.
God decided in advance to
adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus
Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:5
Thanks for all your prayers and kind words.
Please continue to pray for the children in Ethiopia who don't have moms and dads...yet.
We appreciate each and every one of you.
Luann
27 December 2013
Disappointing News
Today we learned that some Ethiopian officials are attempting to shut down all foreign adoptions of Ethiopian children.
According to this article, the House of People's Representatives and the Ministry of Women, Children, and Youth are urging the public and Ethiopian stakeholders to work closely to end foreign adoption. They want to work with local NGOs to care for the orphaned children and protect them from abuse, rather than "giving them away to foreign families."
To be sure, corrupt adoptions have taken place in Ethiopia. Agencies such as Bethany, the one we are working with, closely investigate each case to ensure the children being adopted are truly orphans and truly don't have any family to care for them.
And we agree with the Ethiopian officials, that whenever possible, children should be raised and cared for in their country of origin.
However, with SIX MILLION orphans in Ethiopia, it's going to be tough for an already impoverished country to care for all these children.
It's also tough for families like us who have devoted countless hour and emotional energy preparing for and loving an Ethiopian child we don't yet know.
If you would, please pray for the children of Ethiopia. I understand that the officials there have the children's best interests in mind.
As do we.
We are awaiting word from our agency as to what our next steps should be, if any. They are trying to analyze the situation and the validity of the comments made, and will give us more information early next week.
We are disappointed, but we're trusting in the God who has led us on this journey~
Luann
According to this article, the House of People's Representatives and the Ministry of Women, Children, and Youth are urging the public and Ethiopian stakeholders to work closely to end foreign adoption. They want to work with local NGOs to care for the orphaned children and protect them from abuse, rather than "giving them away to foreign families."
To be sure, corrupt adoptions have taken place in Ethiopia. Agencies such as Bethany, the one we are working with, closely investigate each case to ensure the children being adopted are truly orphans and truly don't have any family to care for them.
And we agree with the Ethiopian officials, that whenever possible, children should be raised and cared for in their country of origin.
However, with SIX MILLION orphans in Ethiopia, it's going to be tough for an already impoverished country to care for all these children.
It's also tough for families like us who have devoted countless hour and emotional energy preparing for and loving an Ethiopian child we don't yet know.
If you would, please pray for the children of Ethiopia. I understand that the officials there have the children's best interests in mind.
As do we.
We are awaiting word from our agency as to what our next steps should be, if any. They are trying to analyze the situation and the validity of the comments made, and will give us more information early next week.
We are disappointed, but we're trusting in the God who has led us on this journey~
Luann
20 December 2013
The Cost of Adoption
A few people have asked about the cost of international adoption. And while every country, agency, and situation is a little different, I can say with confidence that it's a lot.
First there are the costs that your adoption agency outlines for you:
For example, we had to take our dossier documents to an office in Chicago (conveniently located on State Street next to Macy's) to get state-sealed. The cost? $44. Not that bad. But add to that the $38 for parking, the $12 for getting a few items re-notarized, gas money, lunch money, and you've got yourself well over a hundred bucks.
Then I had to make four sets of copies of the 22 dossier documents, each one anywhere from 2-20 pages long. They had to be collated, stapled, etc. All in all, there were nearly 400 pages. Now, I could've spent 27 hours using my home photocopier that takes about 45 seconds per copy, but I opted to take them to a printer. The price for copying, collating and stapling that mess of papers? $90.
But here's the cool thing, and I feel a little like the MasterCard commercial as I write this:
Today we got an unexpected check from a doctor's office in the amount of $220. Apparently we had overpaid at some point. That more than covered the jaunt downtown and the photocopies. God provided. And more than we needed.
Learning about God's faithful provision? Priceless.
When I went to Chicago with the papers, two of my best friends came with me. Stephanie took a day off work to tag along. Heather coordinated babysitting not just for her kids but also for mine. We joked and laughed all the way downtown. They sat and waited with me while my papers were reviewed. When I was told some had to be re-done, they insisted we skip lunch and go re-do them right then. So we traipsed around the city on foot, got lost a couple times, got papers re-notarized, Steph had to loan me cash b/c they were gonna charge extra for a debit card, traipsed back to the first office (all this in 20 degree weather), waited while the papers we re-reviewed, and finally got some lunch. Which, of course, they refused to let me pay for.
Learning about on-earth angels who disguise themselves as friends? Priceless.
Ken read a quote on an adoption blog about a year ago, when we were first investigating the costs. It read, "What God approves, God funds."
Amen to that.
Is international adoption costly? Yes. Are we worried about the expenses? No. Have we thought through how much it's really going to cost? Yes. It's a lot. But God called us to adopt. Of this we are confident. And He who has called us is faithful.
...
Now our dossier papers get FedExed to our adoption agency in Grand Rapids. From there they will go to D.C. to be further authenticated, then on to Ethiopia. And then we wait.
Because there's a little girl out there who needs a home. And our home needs a little girl. And God's timing is perfect.
Thanks for your ongoing prayers, support, and interest. Please pray that all our paperwork is accepted and gets to the right people at the right time.
And please keep praying for our daughter, who no doubt is facing tragedies few of us can comprehend.
First there are the costs that your adoption agency outlines for you:
- Application Fee
- Homestudy Fee
- USCIS Filing of Orphan Petition
- Authentication of Dossier and shipping fees
- Fingerprinting
- Third-party investigation and verification of child's eligibility/orphan status
- Child's medical and lab tests
- Psychosocial assessment
- Care of the child
- Child's passport
- Child's VISA
- Immigration fees
- Legal, court, and administrative fees for Ethiopia
- Airline tickets to Ethiopia (2 round-trip for each parent, 1 one-way for child)
For example, we had to take our dossier documents to an office in Chicago (conveniently located on State Street next to Macy's) to get state-sealed. The cost? $44. Not that bad. But add to that the $38 for parking, the $12 for getting a few items re-notarized, gas money, lunch money, and you've got yourself well over a hundred bucks.
Then I had to make four sets of copies of the 22 dossier documents, each one anywhere from 2-20 pages long. They had to be collated, stapled, etc. All in all, there were nearly 400 pages. Now, I could've spent 27 hours using my home photocopier that takes about 45 seconds per copy, but I opted to take them to a printer. The price for copying, collating and stapling that mess of papers? $90.
 |
| This is the actual stack of papers just for dossier! |
But here's the cool thing, and I feel a little like the MasterCard commercial as I write this:
Today we got an unexpected check from a doctor's office in the amount of $220. Apparently we had overpaid at some point. That more than covered the jaunt downtown and the photocopies. God provided. And more than we needed.
Learning about God's faithful provision? Priceless.
When I went to Chicago with the papers, two of my best friends came with me. Stephanie took a day off work to tag along. Heather coordinated babysitting not just for her kids but also for mine. We joked and laughed all the way downtown. They sat and waited with me while my papers were reviewed. When I was told some had to be re-done, they insisted we skip lunch and go re-do them right then. So we traipsed around the city on foot, got lost a couple times, got papers re-notarized, Steph had to loan me cash b/c they were gonna charge extra for a debit card, traipsed back to the first office (all this in 20 degree weather), waited while the papers we re-reviewed, and finally got some lunch. Which, of course, they refused to let me pay for.
Learning about on-earth angels who disguise themselves as friends? Priceless.
Ken read a quote on an adoption blog about a year ago, when we were first investigating the costs. It read, "What God approves, God funds."
Amen to that.
Is international adoption costly? Yes. Are we worried about the expenses? No. Have we thought through how much it's really going to cost? Yes. It's a lot. But God called us to adopt. Of this we are confident. And He who has called us is faithful.
...
Now our dossier papers get FedExed to our adoption agency in Grand Rapids. From there they will go to D.C. to be further authenticated, then on to Ethiopia. And then we wait.
Because there's a little girl out there who needs a home. And our home needs a little girl. And God's timing is perfect.
Thanks for your ongoing prayers, support, and interest. Please pray that all our paperwork is accepted and gets to the right people at the right time.
And please keep praying for our daughter, who no doubt is facing tragedies few of us can comprehend.
09 December 2013
DIY Duct Tape Stocking
I love this time of year. It's been a little too busy the past week, but our days and nights have been filled with such enjoyable things that I really can't complain.
Last Friday night we went to a Christmas party with our adoption agency. The guests were all families that have been touched by adoption from Africa--whether their kids are already home or like us, they are in process. There were about six or seven families who attended...and lots of kids of many colors. I can't explain how much it affected me to see all the children playing and laughing and running and shrieking. Black skin, brown skin, tan skin, and lilly white skin. I can't speak for the other children, but our little Jack-Jack wasn't fazed one bit by all the cultures and ethnicities represented. All he knew was that there were kids, there were cookies, and there was fun. When the evening came to an end, he didn't want to leave.
A little glimpse of heaven right here on earth.
Yesterday it started snowing while we were in church, and it didn't end until after I went to bed. Thankfully it was a light snow, so total accumulation was just a few inches. Enough to cover the grass and to give Ken a snow-blower induced workout. So thankful for Ken. I threw out my back a week ago, and it still isn't 100 percent.
So, on to the DIY Duct Tape Stockings. So many people, like my husband, have found the joy of using duct tape for all sorts of little projects. You can buy duct tape in just about any color and pattern, and I think Ken has most of them.
Last year I decided to get new Christmas stockings for all of us that reflect something about our personality. I found a stocking for Jackson online that features his beloved Winnie the Pooh. (Thankfully he is even more in love with Pooh this year than he was last year!)
For myself, I bought a stocking with a cardinal. I've become so taken with these lovely birds, and I think they are a perfect decoration for Christmas with their bright red coloring.
I wanted to get a duct tape stocking for Ken, but I couldn't find anything to my liking. That's when I decided to do it myself. Sadly, I was not on Pinterest at the time, so I didn't take any pictures to document the process, but let me tell you about it. It was easy-peasy.
Supplies
The great thing about working with duct tape is that you don't need any other adhesive such as a gun or super glue or even a sewing machine.
1. Flip the fur collar up. You will use this to cover the rough edges at the top.
2. Start wrapping the stocking in strips of duct tape, slightly overlapping each strip. You may need to angle some pieces as you get to the bottom, curved area.
3. Make your "seams" or stopping points on the backside, which is hidden from view.
4. When the whole stocking is covered, fold the fur collar down.
5. Add any accent tape. I used a Dallas Cowboy star for my Texas-born husband. I love that it also seems Christmasy.
6. Add the person's name with glitter glue on the collar. I wish I had done it in chalk first because it came out a little lopsided, but I don't think he noticed. :)
If you make one, please share a picture with me!
Happy Stockings!
Luann
Last Friday night we went to a Christmas party with our adoption agency. The guests were all families that have been touched by adoption from Africa--whether their kids are already home or like us, they are in process. There were about six or seven families who attended...and lots of kids of many colors. I can't explain how much it affected me to see all the children playing and laughing and running and shrieking. Black skin, brown skin, tan skin, and lilly white skin. I can't speak for the other children, but our little Jack-Jack wasn't fazed one bit by all the cultures and ethnicities represented. All he knew was that there were kids, there were cookies, and there was fun. When the evening came to an end, he didn't want to leave.
A little glimpse of heaven right here on earth.
Yesterday it started snowing while we were in church, and it didn't end until after I went to bed. Thankfully it was a light snow, so total accumulation was just a few inches. Enough to cover the grass and to give Ken a snow-blower induced workout. So thankful for Ken. I threw out my back a week ago, and it still isn't 100 percent.
So, on to the DIY Duct Tape Stockings. So many people, like my husband, have found the joy of using duct tape for all sorts of little projects. You can buy duct tape in just about any color and pattern, and I think Ken has most of them.
Last year I decided to get new Christmas stockings for all of us that reflect something about our personality. I found a stocking for Jackson online that features his beloved Winnie the Pooh. (Thankfully he is even more in love with Pooh this year than he was last year!)
For myself, I bought a stocking with a cardinal. I've become so taken with these lovely birds, and I think they are a perfect decoration for Christmas with their bright red coloring.
I wanted to get a duct tape stocking for Ken, but I couldn't find anything to my liking. That's when I decided to do it myself. Sadly, I was not on Pinterest at the time, so I didn't take any pictures to document the process, but let me tell you about it. It was easy-peasy.
Supplies
- An old, ugly, cheap, or unused stocking, preferably with fold-down fur trim at the top. You can buy these super cheap at most stores.
- Duct tape for main part of stocking.
- Accent duct tape, if desired.
The great thing about working with duct tape is that you don't need any other adhesive such as a gun or super glue or even a sewing machine.
1. Flip the fur collar up. You will use this to cover the rough edges at the top.
2. Start wrapping the stocking in strips of duct tape, slightly overlapping each strip. You may need to angle some pieces as you get to the bottom, curved area.
3. Make your "seams" or stopping points on the backside, which is hidden from view.
4. When the whole stocking is covered, fold the fur collar down.
5. Add any accent tape. I used a Dallas Cowboy star for my Texas-born husband. I love that it also seems Christmasy.
6. Add the person's name with glitter glue on the collar. I wish I had done it in chalk first because it came out a little lopsided, but I don't think he noticed. :)
If you make one, please share a picture with me!
Happy Stockings!
Luann
04 December 2013
Bulbous Wreath. Because it's fun to say "bulbous."
Growing up, my mom often hung blue lights for Christmas. I really liked the peacefulness of the blue lights, and now I try to include blue in my Christmas decorations.
These wreaths have been popping up all over Pinterest as well as retail stores, and I thought it'd be the perfect opportunity to go blue. They sell for anywhere from $30 to $100 retail, and I made mine for about $15.
Supplies Needed
14" grapevine wreath
hot glue gun and lots of glue sticks
150 Christmas bulbs in various sizes and colors of your choice
I got most of my bulbs at the Dollar Tree, my sister's favorite store. (Don't tell her I said that; she'll be mad at me.) I got the miniature colored ones and the wreath at Hobby Lobby, both for half off.
Honestly, shopping for the supplies took longer than making the wreath. It was easy-peasy. The hardest part was using my cheapo glue gun. I have a callous on my pointer finger from pulling the impossible trigger. Poor me.
Start by turning your wreath upside down. Tie a small ribbon around the top so you can hang it.
Then, glue your largest ornaments around the inside of the wreath. If the ornament holder is one that pops out, pop it out. Otherwise you can leave it in, just make sure that either way it's pointing toward the back of the wreath. To increase stability, I glued them to both the wreath and to each other. It was a spidery web mess of glue gun gunk, but I don't want it to fall apart.
Then glue bulbs around the outside. I spaced these out a bit more than I should have, but I was running out of large bulbs. That is, until I called my favorite sister and she stopped by her favorite store on the way home from work and picked up some more high-quality bulbs for me. I filled in with the extra bulbs later, but it was much harder than if I'd done it earlier. I blame some other blog...I can't remember which one. She said you need at least 100 bulbs. Ha! 150 is more like it. But maybe my wreath is more bulbous than hers.
Pretty soon, you have a beautiful, bulbous wreath. Hang it up using the ribbon you tied on, and ta-da! You're done.
If you make one, be sure to take a picture and share it with me!
By the way, don't you love my mini-Christmas village? It was my mom's, and this is the first year since her passing that I've displayed it. :)
Happy Wreathing!
Luann
These wreaths have been popping up all over Pinterest as well as retail stores, and I thought it'd be the perfect opportunity to go blue. They sell for anywhere from $30 to $100 retail, and I made mine for about $15.
Supplies Needed
14" grapevine wreath
hot glue gun and lots of glue sticks
150 Christmas bulbs in various sizes and colors of your choice
I got most of my bulbs at the Dollar Tree, my sister's favorite store. (Don't tell her I said that; she'll be mad at me.) I got the miniature colored ones and the wreath at Hobby Lobby, both for half off.
Honestly, shopping for the supplies took longer than making the wreath. It was easy-peasy. The hardest part was using my cheapo glue gun. I have a callous on my pointer finger from pulling the impossible trigger. Poor me.
Start by turning your wreath upside down. Tie a small ribbon around the top so you can hang it.
Then, glue your largest ornaments around the inside of the wreath. If the ornament holder is one that pops out, pop it out. Otherwise you can leave it in, just make sure that either way it's pointing toward the back of the wreath. To increase stability, I glued them to both the wreath and to each other. It was a spidery web mess of glue gun gunk, but I don't want it to fall apart.
Then glue bulbs around the outside. I spaced these out a bit more than I should have, but I was running out of large bulbs. That is, until I called my favorite sister and she stopped by her favorite store on the way home from work and picked up some more high-quality bulbs for me. I filled in with the extra bulbs later, but it was much harder than if I'd done it earlier. I blame some other blog...I can't remember which one. She said you need at least 100 bulbs. Ha! 150 is more like it. But maybe my wreath is more bulbous than hers.
Anyway, back to the process. So next turn the wreath over and start filling in the empty spots using the largest ornaments first, then the mediums, and finally the small. Yes, I put my bulbs in various mixing bowls according to size, because I'm weird like that.
Pretty soon, you have a beautiful, bulbous wreath. Hang it up using the ribbon you tied on, and ta-da! You're done.
If you make one, be sure to take a picture and share it with me!
By the way, don't you love my mini-Christmas village? It was my mom's, and this is the first year since her passing that I've displayed it. :)
Happy Wreathing!
Luann
03 December 2013
Advent Calender
As a kid, one of my favorite parts of the holiday season was receiving our annual Advent Calender from our Sunday School teacher. It was a paper/cardboard construction, about 8"x12". It was usually a nativity scene, and it had 25 little windows that opened, each revealing an even better picture.
Today, most of the Advent Calenders sold have become "Countdown to Christmas" calendars. And while I love Santa as much as the next person, I also want my son to understand and embrace the true meaning of Christmas. I also don't want him eating chocolate every day. (They come with chocolate now! Who knew?)
[As a side note, I was so disappointed when I realized Micheal's Craft store as well as our local Target don't have a darn thing in their Christmas section that has to do with Jesus. Nothing. Nada. Zero. Seriously. Look the next time you're there. As I said, I'm not against secular traditions--my child will sit on Santa's lap and probably leave him some cookies, but it feels like Jesus is being shut out of his own birthday celebration. OK, will now descend from soapbox.]
So, being a newly minted Pinterest person, I turned to my new source (addiction?) for all things creative. I took several ideas and combined them to come up with a rustic/chic/sacred Advent Calender.
Here's how I made it.
First, I bought wide burlap ribbon rolls in three designs. At Michael's. I know, I know. I should probably shop elsewhere since they apparently don't like Jesus, but let's be honest: Me not shopping there only punishes me. And I will use their secular decorations for faith-driven purposes. Sneaky on my part, right?
So, I cut the ribbon in strips about 12 inches long. I folded them over, lining up the "flap" so the snowflake pattern would retain the snowflake shape, and pinned them in place.
I stitched up the sides to create a pocket, and also stitched up any unfinished edges as burlap tends to easily unravel. I used a zig-zag stitch to secure the jute fibers.
Then I added some embellishments. I like the combo of the rustic burlap combined with lacey lace and glittery buttons. Note: The buttons are decorative only. While I did sew them on to secure them, I didn't make a button hole. Please people. I've only been sewing for about a month, and the one time I tried to do a buttonhole....well, let's just say total disaster. Thread bunched up, needle broke, fabric seriously messed up. Anyway...
Next I added green ribbon tabs on which I had written numbers, 1-25. I sewed them on the back. Maybe I did this before sewing the sides. I can't remember. This has been a long project.
Finally, I strung the daily pockets on a long piece of white lace and strung them on our stair railing. I bought this lace at Hobby Lobby. They, apparently, love Jesus. But not birth control for the masses. But let's not get political. This is supposed to be a feel-good blog.
Now comes the most important part. I filled each pocket with a printed out Bible verse. I used this list that I stole off Pinterest. I'd give credit, but the link didn't go anywhere. Note: Some of the passages are really long. I used them anyway. Jack has a hard time sitting through the reading, but someday they will be more meaningful to him. (Yes, I'm planning on using this for a lot of years. This was way too much work for one year's use!)
Note, if you want to see the actual verses printed out, I have a Word doc I can email to you so you don't have to look up each one, copy, paste, etc. They are in the New Living Translation.
Then, the exciting part! Each pocket also has a thimble sized piece to a Nativity set. I bought set of 16 at Hobby Lobby, and supplemented the other 9 days with various trees, animals, etc. I found a small creche at Walmart that was the perfect size, but it already had a Mary and Joseph and Jesus in it. Glued in it. But for $6, I was more than willing to have my husband wrestle them out of their comfy creche.
We totally could've made the creche with some spare wood, but it was November 30, and we couldn't start the process without the stable...and finding the wood, the nails, the materials...wasn't going to happen.
So, each day before bed we open a pocket, read the verse, and little Jack-Jack gets to add a piece to his Nativity set. So far he has a sheep and a cow. We'll save Jesus for the 25th of course, but Mary and Joe will arrive a few days earlier.
Since my two-year-old has inherited my strong sense of nosiness, I mean curiosity, I put the actual figurine in the pocket right before we open it. :)
Happy Advent!
Luann
PS: Here is one of my favorite Advent hymns, written by Charles Wesley in the 1700s. It's still so relevant today.
Today, most of the Advent Calenders sold have become "Countdown to Christmas" calendars. And while I love Santa as much as the next person, I also want my son to understand and embrace the true meaning of Christmas. I also don't want him eating chocolate every day. (They come with chocolate now! Who knew?)
[As a side note, I was so disappointed when I realized Micheal's Craft store as well as our local Target don't have a darn thing in their Christmas section that has to do with Jesus. Nothing. Nada. Zero. Seriously. Look the next time you're there. As I said, I'm not against secular traditions--my child will sit on Santa's lap and probably leave him some cookies, but it feels like Jesus is being shut out of his own birthday celebration. OK, will now descend from soapbox.]
So, being a newly minted Pinterest person, I turned to my new source (addiction?) for all things creative. I took several ideas and combined them to come up with a rustic/chic/sacred Advent Calender.
Here's how I made it.
First, I bought wide burlap ribbon rolls in three designs. At Michael's. I know, I know. I should probably shop elsewhere since they apparently don't like Jesus, but let's be honest: Me not shopping there only punishes me. And I will use their secular decorations for faith-driven purposes. Sneaky on my part, right?
So, I cut the ribbon in strips about 12 inches long. I folded them over, lining up the "flap" so the snowflake pattern would retain the snowflake shape, and pinned them in place.
I stitched up the sides to create a pocket, and also stitched up any unfinished edges as burlap tends to easily unravel. I used a zig-zag stitch to secure the jute fibers.
Then I added some embellishments. I like the combo of the rustic burlap combined with lacey lace and glittery buttons. Note: The buttons are decorative only. While I did sew them on to secure them, I didn't make a button hole. Please people. I've only been sewing for about a month, and the one time I tried to do a buttonhole....well, let's just say total disaster. Thread bunched up, needle broke, fabric seriously messed up. Anyway...
Next I added green ribbon tabs on which I had written numbers, 1-25. I sewed them on the back. Maybe I did this before sewing the sides. I can't remember. This has been a long project.
Finally, I strung the daily pockets on a long piece of white lace and strung them on our stair railing. I bought this lace at Hobby Lobby. They, apparently, love Jesus. But not birth control for the masses. But let's not get political. This is supposed to be a feel-good blog.
Now comes the most important part. I filled each pocket with a printed out Bible verse. I used this list that I stole off Pinterest. I'd give credit, but the link didn't go anywhere. Note: Some of the passages are really long. I used them anyway. Jack has a hard time sitting through the reading, but someday they will be more meaningful to him. (Yes, I'm planning on using this for a lot of years. This was way too much work for one year's use!)
Note, if you want to see the actual verses printed out, I have a Word doc I can email to you so you don't have to look up each one, copy, paste, etc. They are in the New Living Translation.
Then, the exciting part! Each pocket also has a thimble sized piece to a Nativity set. I bought set of 16 at Hobby Lobby, and supplemented the other 9 days with various trees, animals, etc. I found a small creche at Walmart that was the perfect size, but it already had a Mary and Joseph and Jesus in it. Glued in it. But for $6, I was more than willing to have my husband wrestle them out of their comfy creche.
We totally could've made the creche with some spare wood, but it was November 30, and we couldn't start the process without the stable...and finding the wood, the nails, the materials...wasn't going to happen.
So, each day before bed we open a pocket, read the verse, and little Jack-Jack gets to add a piece to his Nativity set. So far he has a sheep and a cow. We'll save Jesus for the 25th of course, but Mary and Joe will arrive a few days earlier.
Since my two-year-old has inherited my strong sense of nosiness, I mean curiosity, I put the actual figurine in the pocket right before we open it. :)
Happy Advent!
Luann
PS: Here is one of my favorite Advent hymns, written by Charles Wesley in the 1700s. It's still so relevant today.
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart. 2. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.
05 November 2013
Discovery
My toilet-training two-year-old made an important discovery today.
We've had a training seat for more than a month, and we've occasionally sat on it, but yesterday afternoon I decided to try some intense training. The "Three-Day Method" guarantees your child will be trained in, well, three days. I like the idea of that. It also involves staying at home for most of three days so your child can go pantless. Diaperless. Underwear-less. The idea is that when they see the "results" of not using the potty, they will want to use the potty.
So far, the Three-Day Method has been less than successful. Granted, we only been doing it for about 18 hours, and that doesn't include naptime or nighttime. But still, we're 0 for 6.
Whatever. We'll try it for another day, and if there's no progress, I'll be happy to wait another month and then try again.
However, last evening we had a very unfortunate incident.
My son loves his pillow. He loves it almost as much as his favorite stuffed animals. He calls it "Pillow," and it's become part of our family. Truth be told, it's the oldest, lumpiest, flattest pillow we had in the house, and yes, I gave it to my son when he started using a pillow, mostly because his little neck can't support a large, fluffy pillow.
But last night, when the sun went down and the house got cooler, my pantless boy got chilled. So he took his good friend, Pillow, and used it ... well, as a blanket of sorts.
Sadly, it was just about then that mama was in the kitchen not paying attention, and his other mama, Mother Nature, came calling.
Pillow suffered an unimaginable dampening of spirit.
And since it was getting close to bedtime, mama thought it best to substitute a different pillow for her son's use.
That, my friends, is not acceptable.
Our spare pillows had been used by my niece Jenna the evening before. She was visiting for the weekend, and Jack remembered.
"That Jenna's pillow," he cried in despair. I assured him that Jenna was back in her apartment in the city, had a pillow of her own there, and would not mind if he used them.
But these pillows were too fluffy. They were not Pillow. So, we had to use stuffed animals and throw pillows, with the promise that mama would wash Pillow in the morning and make Pillow clean.
There were many tears, but eventually sleep prevailed.
This morning, first thing on my son's mind was Pillow...and the impending wash. I told him that we would put Pillow in the washing machine with water and soap, and Pillow would get a bath. Jack was quite pleased with that, as he likes assisting mama with wash. But he was confused about one thing.
"Water and soap, mommy?" he kept asking.
"Yes, water and soap. In the washing machine. Then Pillow will be clean!" I assured.
"Water and soap, mommy?"
"Yes, water and soap."
Then I listened more closely.
"Water and soup, mommy?"
Ohhhhhhhhh.
"No, honey. Water and soap. With bubbles. Not soup."
I guess more washing machine instruction is required before Jack goes off to college. Hopefully by then he'll be toilet trained, too.
We've had a training seat for more than a month, and we've occasionally sat on it, but yesterday afternoon I decided to try some intense training. The "Three-Day Method" guarantees your child will be trained in, well, three days. I like the idea of that. It also involves staying at home for most of three days so your child can go pantless. Diaperless. Underwear-less. The idea is that when they see the "results" of not using the potty, they will want to use the potty.
So far, the Three-Day Method has been less than successful. Granted, we only been doing it for about 18 hours, and that doesn't include naptime or nighttime. But still, we're 0 for 6.
Whatever. We'll try it for another day, and if there's no progress, I'll be happy to wait another month and then try again.
However, last evening we had a very unfortunate incident.
My son loves his pillow. He loves it almost as much as his favorite stuffed animals. He calls it "Pillow," and it's become part of our family. Truth be told, it's the oldest, lumpiest, flattest pillow we had in the house, and yes, I gave it to my son when he started using a pillow, mostly because his little neck can't support a large, fluffy pillow.
But last night, when the sun went down and the house got cooler, my pantless boy got chilled. So he took his good friend, Pillow, and used it ... well, as a blanket of sorts.
Sadly, it was just about then that mama was in the kitchen not paying attention, and his other mama, Mother Nature, came calling.
Pillow suffered an unimaginable dampening of spirit.
And since it was getting close to bedtime, mama thought it best to substitute a different pillow for her son's use.
That, my friends, is not acceptable.
Our spare pillows had been used by my niece Jenna the evening before. She was visiting for the weekend, and Jack remembered.
"That Jenna's pillow," he cried in despair. I assured him that Jenna was back in her apartment in the city, had a pillow of her own there, and would not mind if he used them.
But these pillows were too fluffy. They were not Pillow. So, we had to use stuffed animals and throw pillows, with the promise that mama would wash Pillow in the morning and make Pillow clean.
There were many tears, but eventually sleep prevailed.
This morning, first thing on my son's mind was Pillow...and the impending wash. I told him that we would put Pillow in the washing machine with water and soap, and Pillow would get a bath. Jack was quite pleased with that, as he likes assisting mama with wash. But he was confused about one thing.
"Water and soap, mommy?" he kept asking.
"Yes, water and soap. In the washing machine. Then Pillow will be clean!" I assured.
"Water and soap, mommy?"
"Yes, water and soap."
Then I listened more closely.
"Water and soup, mommy?"
Ohhhhhhhhh.
"No, honey. Water and soap. With bubbles. Not soup."
I guess more washing machine instruction is required before Jack goes off to college. Hopefully by then he'll be toilet trained, too.
01 November 2013
Thanksgiving Tree
I haven't sewed since my 8th grade HomeEc class, but when I saw this Thanksgiving Tree on Pinterest I knew I wanted to start sewing again.
I took ideas from several other crafters and came up with this tree.
It's made out of felt, and it's about 4 feet wide and 5 feet high. I hung it with a wooden dowel above our staircase. Every day in November we will write something we are thankful for on a leaf (which are velcroed on), and move the leaf to the bottom so it looks like the leaves (aka blessings) are falling on us.There are more than 30 leaves, so the tree won't be completely bare when Nov. 30 rolls around. Here's how I made it:
Bought felt fabric in various autumn colors at JoAnn's Fabrics.
Used my son's sidewalk chalk to freehand a tree trunk and branches on our living room floor.
(Later cut off the branch on bottom right b/c it looked kinda weird.)
Cut out leaves in various colors and shapes.
Stitched and/or glued differing colors together to add variety and dimension.
Pinned and stitched the tree to a lighter color fabric.
This was one of the hardest parts b/c of the thickness of the fabric
and trying to squeeze it all into my machine.
(Any recommendations from you expert sewers for future projects?)
By the way, this is my new Brother CS-6000i machine. I highly recommend it!
Using a extra-fine Sharpee, wrote things we are thankful for.
Writing on the felt material was not my favorite part.
Voila! A Thanksgiving Tree hung in our entryway staircase.
(We had to borrow a ladder to put it up!)
Happy Month of Giving Thanks!
Luann
PS: My favorite part of the tree is on the tree trunk. :)
12 October 2013
He Knows
I got a text last week that said, "Lu, I don't know if you'll like this, but I got it on a super clearance sale. If you want it, it's yours."
The accompanying picture was of a twin-sized quilt, sham, and velour rug. Pink, lavender, baby blue, polka-dots, and flowers.
I immediately replied. "YES!"
My friend Patti has known me for more than 30 years. So when she heard we were adopting an African Princess, she knew I'd want to create a girly-girl room. The colors of the quilt were the exact look I was aiming for. Since the age of our little girl is yet unknown--but will probably be between 3 and 7--I wanted to create a bedroom that would be suitable for any young girl. Soft, sweet, feminine.
The next week I was in Target. Ken was home with Jack, so I had the luxury of browsing till my heart's content, without a 2-year-old boy demanding he push the shopping cart--and subsequently crashing into all sorts of merchandise.
When I spotted lavender sheets that would match the quilt perfectly, I took a deep breath. Part of me wanted to buy them, part of me thought it was a little crazy.
We have no idea when our daughter will come home. We don't know her age. We don't know her name. We know nothing...except that we are supposed to adopt, we're in process, and we'll hopefully bring a child home in the next year. It's one thing if a friend buys something as a gift...but to buy something myself, I don't know. It felt weird.
I circled round the store, then went back to the girls' bedding aisle. I felt the soft texture of the sheets, imagined them in my girl's room, put them in the cart, and walked toward the check-out.
While I've been very excited to share about our adoption plans with friends and family, I felt a little silly buying sheets for a yet-unknown child. I thought to myself, "I sure hope the cashier doesn't want to chit-chat about these sheets."
But as luck would have it, she did.
"So, what age is the little person these sheets are for?" she probed.
I took a deep breath. "Ummm. She's seven," I said, feeling only slightly guilty about throwing out an age of which I am not sure.
I thought that would squelch her curiosity, but no. She continued. "Does she know you're buying them?"
That was an easy question. "No, actually she doesn't," I replied.
Still not satisfied, the overly friendly clerk had yet another question. "Well is she at home right now?"
Hmm. I don't have any idea where she is, lady. She might be in a straw hut with a dirt floor. She might be living on the street. She might be in an orphanage. She might be saying a final goodbye to her dying mother. She might be begging at the local market for food to fill her empty belly.
"No, she isn't home right now," I offered.
The clerk smiled widely. "Oh that's perfect! You can hurry home and put them on the bed while she's out. She will be so excited when she gets home and sees them!"
I smiled, thanked the clerk, and went on my way.
But her questions have stuck with me. How old is our daughter? Where is she? Will she be excited to see her new sheets?
. . .
A few weeks ago, I was going through a box of sentimental stuff that we have in storage, and I came across an embroidery that my grandmother made. My grandma Erickson was born in 1896 (really!), so I have no idea when she made this wall hanging. And why it's been in a box all these years--I have no idea. Maybe the sentiment didn't fit with my stage of life.
Silly, because whatever stage you're in, there are questions. The future is a mystery. But not to your Heavenly Father.
I'm glad He knows our future daughter. I can't wait to meet her.
The accompanying picture was of a twin-sized quilt, sham, and velour rug. Pink, lavender, baby blue, polka-dots, and flowers.
I immediately replied. "YES!"
My friend Patti has known me for more than 30 years. So when she heard we were adopting an African Princess, she knew I'd want to create a girly-girl room. The colors of the quilt were the exact look I was aiming for. Since the age of our little girl is yet unknown--but will probably be between 3 and 7--I wanted to create a bedroom that would be suitable for any young girl. Soft, sweet, feminine.
The next week I was in Target. Ken was home with Jack, so I had the luxury of browsing till my heart's content, without a 2-year-old boy demanding he push the shopping cart--and subsequently crashing into all sorts of merchandise.
When I spotted lavender sheets that would match the quilt perfectly, I took a deep breath. Part of me wanted to buy them, part of me thought it was a little crazy.
We have no idea when our daughter will come home. We don't know her age. We don't know her name. We know nothing...except that we are supposed to adopt, we're in process, and we'll hopefully bring a child home in the next year. It's one thing if a friend buys something as a gift...but to buy something myself, I don't know. It felt weird.
I circled round the store, then went back to the girls' bedding aisle. I felt the soft texture of the sheets, imagined them in my girl's room, put them in the cart, and walked toward the check-out.
While I've been very excited to share about our adoption plans with friends and family, I felt a little silly buying sheets for a yet-unknown child. I thought to myself, "I sure hope the cashier doesn't want to chit-chat about these sheets."
But as luck would have it, she did.
"So, what age is the little person these sheets are for?" she probed.
I took a deep breath. "Ummm. She's seven," I said, feeling only slightly guilty about throwing out an age of which I am not sure.
I thought that would squelch her curiosity, but no. She continued. "Does she know you're buying them?"
That was an easy question. "No, actually she doesn't," I replied.
Still not satisfied, the overly friendly clerk had yet another question. "Well is she at home right now?"
Hmm. I don't have any idea where she is, lady. She might be in a straw hut with a dirt floor. She might be living on the street. She might be in an orphanage. She might be saying a final goodbye to her dying mother. She might be begging at the local market for food to fill her empty belly.
"No, she isn't home right now," I offered.
The clerk smiled widely. "Oh that's perfect! You can hurry home and put them on the bed while she's out. She will be so excited when she gets home and sees them!"
I smiled, thanked the clerk, and went on my way.
But her questions have stuck with me. How old is our daughter? Where is she? Will she be excited to see her new sheets?
. . .
A few weeks ago, I was going through a box of sentimental stuff that we have in storage, and I came across an embroidery that my grandmother made. My grandma Erickson was born in 1896 (really!), so I have no idea when she made this wall hanging. And why it's been in a box all these years--I have no idea. Maybe the sentiment didn't fit with my stage of life.
Silly, because whatever stage you're in, there are questions. The future is a mystery. But not to your Heavenly Father.
I'm glad He knows our future daughter. I can't wait to meet her.
22 September 2013
Why I Got Super Angry Today
Today, Ken and I attended a CPR and First Aid training class. The presenter was a firefighter/EMT from our community. And I liked her. She was funny. Really funny. Did I mention likeable? She made the training enjoyable...even at 8 am on a Saturday morning.
However, part way through the training, something was said that really upset me.The trainer was talking about CPR and the new recommendations for compressions and mouth-to-mouth. She said something to the effect of, "As a non-medical professional, you are considered a Good Samaritan, and you aren't legally bound to give mouth to mouth. And if I were you, I wouldn't. Why? Because people are gross. And you never know what gross diseases people have. They might have hepatitis, TB, or AIDS. And although the experts say you can't get AIDS from saliva, I don't believe it."
Whoa. Stop right there, lady.
I have several dear friends who are HIV-positive, and this stigma has got to stop. It's a lie. It's a fear-based lie. I was shocked and disappointed that this medical "authority" would disseminate false information. I was so stunned at the time that I didn't speak up. I wish I had. But now I will...for my friends with HIV, for children with HIV, for anyone touched by HIV. I have to speak up...as a Christian, as a promoter of the truth, as a human being.
Can HIV be transmitted by saliva? No. In some persons living with HIV, the virus has been detected in saliva,
but in extremely low quantities. Contact with saliva alone has never been shown
to result in transmission of HIV, and there is no documented case of
transmission from an HIV-infected person spitting on another person.
Can a person get HIV from casual contact with an infected person?
No. HIV is not transmitted by day-to-day contact in the workplace, schools, church, or social settings. HIV is not transmitted through shaking hands, hugging, or a casual kiss. You cannot become infected from a toilet seat, a drinking fountain, a door knob, dishes, drinking glasses, food, or pets. HIV is not an airborne or food-borne virus, and it does not live long outside the body.
Let me repeat: HIV does not survive well outside the human body. You cannot catch HIV through saliva. You cannot catch HIV by touching HIV+ blood unless you have a gaping wound or open sore and it enters your blood stream. If you do have open wounds, you should be using gloves when dealing with anyone's blood.
I got this information from the CDC.gov, TheStigmaProject.org, and TheBody.com. Some of it I copied and pasted; some I paraphrased. For more information, visit any of their sites or gather your own research from reputable sources.
However, part way through the training, something was said that really upset me.The trainer was talking about CPR and the new recommendations for compressions and mouth-to-mouth. She said something to the effect of, "As a non-medical professional, you are considered a Good Samaritan, and you aren't legally bound to give mouth to mouth. And if I were you, I wouldn't. Why? Because people are gross. And you never know what gross diseases people have. They might have hepatitis, TB, or AIDS. And although the experts say you can't get AIDS from saliva, I don't believe it."
Whoa. Stop right there, lady.
I have several dear friends who are HIV-positive, and this stigma has got to stop. It's a lie. It's a fear-based lie. I was shocked and disappointed that this medical "authority" would disseminate false information. I was so stunned at the time that I didn't speak up. I wish I had. But now I will...for my friends with HIV, for children with HIV, for anyone touched by HIV. I have to speak up...as a Christian, as a promoter of the truth, as a human being.
First of all, people with Hepatitis, TB, and AIDS are not gross. Some of the symptoms of their disease may be gross, but they are not. They are human beings, dearly loved by God and created in His image.
Second, this woman appeared to have misspoke when she used the term AIDS. I believe she meant HIV. HIV is not AIDS. HIV is a virus, that
if left untreated, can cause AIDS. Because of advancements in treatment and testing, it is very, very rare for a person with HIV in the United States to progress to having AIDS. In fact, people who are being treated with antiretroviral drugs usually have an undetectable viral load, meaning the virus can not be detected in their blood. Therefore, transmission is very unlikely under any circumstances, and most of them live out normal life spans with minimal health issues. With regular treatment, they can marry, have babies, and do just about anything an HIV-negative person can do.
How is HIV transmitted? A person can contract HIV through mutual
blood or semen contact. This most often occurs during unprotected sex or by
sharing needles during injection drug use. There are also cases where a mother
passes the virus on to her newborn or transmits the virus via breastfeeding. These instances usually occur with people who are not receiving ongoing antiretroviral medications.
If you aren't having sex with an HIV person, sharing needles, or being breastfed by a person with HIV, the risk of becoming infected is virtually non-existent.
Can a person get HIV from casual contact with an infected person?
No. HIV is not transmitted by day-to-day contact in the workplace, schools, church, or social settings. HIV is not transmitted through shaking hands, hugging, or a casual kiss. You cannot become infected from a toilet seat, a drinking fountain, a door knob, dishes, drinking glasses, food, or pets. HIV is not an airborne or food-borne virus, and it does not live long outside the body.
Let me repeat: HIV does not survive well outside the human body. You cannot catch HIV through saliva. You cannot catch HIV by touching HIV+ blood unless you have a gaping wound or open sore and it enters your blood stream. If you do have open wounds, you should be using gloves when dealing with anyone's blood.
Friends, PLEASE end the stigma. If the Church is not
proclaiming the truth, showing love, and giving compassion to those affected by
HIV, who will?
I got this information from the CDC.gov, TheStigmaProject.org, and TheBody.com. Some of it I copied and pasted; some I paraphrased. For more information, visit any of their sites or gather your own research from reputable sources.
10 September 2013
A New Year, A New Addition
On the night you were born, the moon smiled with such wonder that the
stars peeked in to see you and the night wind whispered, "Life will never
be the same." Because there had never been anyone like you...ever in
the world. Heaven blew every trumpet and played every horn on the
wonderful, marvelous night you were born. ~ Nancy Tillman
Ken and I are delighted to announce that we are planning to grow our family by two sweet feet in the coming year. We thought the Ethiopian New Year (Sept. 11) was the perfect time to tell you.
We have been accepted into Bethany Christian Services' adoption program, and we are hoping to bring home a little Ethiopian girl--probably between the ages of 2 and 7--sometime in 2014. International adoption is a long and complicated process, but we've completed our home study, so we're on our way.
We are beyond happy and excited to begin this journey. At the same time, it's strange and sad and heartbreaking to think there is a little girl on the other side of the world who is probably experiencing the greatest trauma and loss of her young life...as God prepares our paths to meet and converge.
We are asking our friends and family to start praying now for our daughter. If you are willing, please leave a comment and we will send you some specific prayer requests.
Thanking you in advance for your support, encouragement, and prayers.
Love,
Luann, Ken, and Jack
John 14:18: "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."
 |
| "Made in Ethiopia" |
Ken and I are delighted to announce that we are planning to grow our family by two sweet feet in the coming year. We thought the Ethiopian New Year (Sept. 11) was the perfect time to tell you.
We have been accepted into Bethany Christian Services' adoption program, and we are hoping to bring home a little Ethiopian girl--probably between the ages of 2 and 7--sometime in 2014. International adoption is a long and complicated process, but we've completed our home study, so we're on our way.
We are beyond happy and excited to begin this journey. At the same time, it's strange and sad and heartbreaking to think there is a little girl on the other side of the world who is probably experiencing the greatest trauma and loss of her young life...as God prepares our paths to meet and converge.
We are asking our friends and family to start praying now for our daughter. If you are willing, please leave a comment and we will send you some specific prayer requests.
Thanking you in advance for your support, encouragement, and prayers.
Love,
Luann, Ken, and Jack
John 14:18: "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."
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