More Orphans are Coming!

Soooooo..... I've waited for a few days to announce my crazy-happiness about my friend. She is incredible. She has an incredible heart. Her kids are incredible (I've taught two of them). She has an incredible testimony. The most incredible part? She and her husband feel led to adopt, and they were interested in some kids in my children's same home in Eastern Europe.

It's a 4 week long story, and I won't bore you... since the ending is not ideal.

Unfortunately, her family was too late and another family stepped up for those kids. They were bummed. We were bummed. How cool would it have been to have a friend adopt my kids' foster brother and sister? It has all worked out, we believe, since that situation has grown into a very touchy thing. My kids' foster mom is very upset with the lady in America who hosted those kids last summer. Thankfully, my friend and I stayed out of the international communication, so we weren't lumped into her distaste of the other American host parent.

Vague enough?

Sorry about that.

But, let's get back to my friend. I'll call her "Honey".

There is something really cool about a friend having a HUGE, similar passion. She can understand my feelings and my heart for these orphans. Her family is willing to take this gigantic sacrifice. There's also something really stressful about it. I want to help her, in all ways possible. Since I have connections, I'm trying to help get her through the channels to have some beautiful children join her family. 

It's not that easy.

You hope and pray that the orphans they choose are still available, and they aren't. Ouch. And my personality makes it feel like it's on my shoulders... instead of the reality. Then a new orphan list comes out. I send her a text of some girls, just as she's telling me about choosing the same girls! I tell her to rush and declare her interest. And, what happens? She's too late. 

Oh, the stress.
Obviously, God is so much bigger than her and my desires, but c'mon... just let her choose some available ones!

I felt horrible after that last time. I called and emailed people and asked them to do whatever they could so that she'd be able to host the orphans her family prayed about and chose for Christmas. There were plenty available, but her first choices kept falling through.

Long story short, the family who had chosen those girls fell through. Honey got the girls her family chose! {now that I write "Honey", I'm realizing that's a horrible name and wonder what my friend will think when she reads this.} They will be flying on the same plane as my kids in December.

Those girls are going to have the best Christmas they've ever had in their lives! I'm overjoyed to have friends who are taking this big step, with an intent to adopt.  

The list has so many incredible kids on it. Take a look at http://www.projectonefortythree.org/pre-registration/

Defend the weak and the fatherless;uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Psalm 82:3

Emotions

I wish there was a way to explain the emotions that come with this process.

Emotionally, this stinks.
I am waiting on so many people to do what I need them to do. But, what is their motivation? Why would Colorado need to jump to send a paper back to Texas to say I'm not a child molester? Bad example. I actually had to pay them for that reply. Hopefully, money would motivate.
North Carolina and Missouri didn't need money for their background check. Who's to say that they won't wait a few months to reply?

And then there's our home study agency. I'm starting to think we made the wrong decision by going with them. Today, my contact person suggested I attend a meeting in October, when it's something I can do on the Internet TONIGHT. What does that say to me about an urgency to get my kids back to America?  In addition, the thing about these agencies, including adoption agencies, is that in their contract they state that we might incur additional charges. We're already paying a crazy, large amount, but then they keep adding on $15 here or there. Thankfully, the adoption agency hasn't done that, yet, but all our medical information sure is costing us a lot more. 

What's the benefit?

Well, you can now hire a gal {who has had 13 criminal/sexual background checks/fingerprints and been tested for every sexually transmitted disease, HIV, TB, drugs, alcohol, Hepatitis, inhalant use, and cancer} to babysit your children to help raise money for her adoption!

Another benefit... and the best... will be getting our kids!

... if I can just survive getting through this agency stuff.

Obviously, these agency workers aren't going to live like completing the tasks I need is the most important thing they should do today. I wish they would, though. I pray they would.

I pray I can get these emotions in check. Each day is filled with a couple "highs", followed by "lows". It's a constant up and down. There are emotional waves and I'm not crazy about this. I'm crazy about my kids, though, so I'm going to endure this craziness and pray I can keep these emotions in check. 

I read an article about the unexpected physical effects of an adoption wait.  
1. WEIGHT GAIN {check} - and I feel like a cliche after reading this article. Surely, I can get back on track and stop shoving these feelings (a.k.a peanut butter) down my throat! 
2. DISRUPTED SLEEP {check} - I'm a pretty decent sleeper, but yes... it has not been my best, lately!
3. BACK STRAIN {check} - I went through back pain last week and that does NOT happen with me... or hasn't in decades. Thankfully, it's gone now (Young Living Panaway, shout out!)


Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 43:5

Adding 5... to ANOTHER Family?

Ah... adoption. 

We've been through it twice before. We've had two home studies.

Today, we worked with our social worker on this current home study and the question came up: who will take care of our 5 children if we die?

My parents, of course. They are in our wills and listed on our previous home studies.

"How old are they?" she asked us.

68 and 69

Her facial reaction felt like I had given a terrible answer. She asked us if we thought that was old. I hadn't really thought about it. Sure, if we're just talking about LuLu, that might sound crazy. "Yes, I'd like my 70 year old parents to take care of my daughter, who just turned 4." My parents are healthy enough, but would they still be around when she graduated high school? Sunshine only has 6 more years until she's 18. Of course, we could imagine her stepping up and caring for her 4 siblings with our life insurance money. 

When thinking about this, there is NO GOOD SCENARIO. The only favorable solution is for us to not die, right?

Nope, we had to find someone to want to take in 5 kids... 3 of whom speak no English. Easy, right? 

I called a friend of mine, to talk about other things, and the subject came up. She said she wouldn't mind having my kids. She wasn't saying she'd take them, but she was very kind about my kids.

Then I thought of someone... some sweet friends of ours who know our 2 boys and love them, to the moon and back. They are so excellent with kids! I called her, and she didn't answer. I texted. I'm sure a question like that should have been planned over an afternoon tea, with proper manners. I didn't have that kind of time.  I didn't need it. She immediately said yes.

I told the previous friend, and she said she was glad we found someone because she had planned to talk to her husband about being their guardian tonight.

We are surrounded by such love and generosity. Who would take in someone's 5 kids, 3 of whom are orphans, from a faraway land, who were found on the streets? Our incredible friends would -- that's who. 

My parents would, of course... and told me they couldn't imagine the kids not being left to them if we perish. They don't agree that they are too old.

Ah... adoption. Biological kids can be left with whomever... even grandparents; but adopted kids need to have 30-40 year olds or they might not be given to you.

That's okay. We have both. And our 5 kids have love, love, love.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27 (Even though I put this verse a couple posts ago, it is very important to me. I love that my friends live it out.)

Watching the Clock

I spend too long trying to figure out what time it is over there, so I added a clock here.

We were trying to find a time to Skype at least once a week, so it will probably be around 6am on the weekends. We'll take it!

We miss them terribly. Today, we Skyped for nearly an hour. Little Lulu just hung out there, watching and smiling. She is absolutely precious.

Their foster mom is very open about the adoption. She mentioned it in front of all the kids (all 9 orphans who live in the home). She said that she has done the paperwork on her end. She told me she took them to the doctor and that "they are ready to be adopted". She literally said {in front of them} that she signed the papers that said she didn't want them. She meant that she didn't want to adopt them. She clarified that. 

We are so grateful to have such an incredible helper on that end. Their foster mom is wonderful!

We are counting the days. Of course, we're trekking through these mountains of paperwork and appointments. Please pray that this can go very quickly and that we can come up with the funds. We have been sooooooooooooooo blessed with our friends purchasing shirts for our first fundraiser! Life is good.
 
Here's our shirt fundraiser: www.booster.com/latviancoopers

IT ENDS ON SUNDAY.

It's the first time we're mentioning their country in this blog. To be honest, I've been reading a TON of blogs and people have mentioned the country, the town, the orphan court, the children's names, etc. It's been good reading for me! I'm learning the ins and outs of Latvia. We won't be putting their names out in the "Interwebs", but we feel we will now be able to document our trips to Latvia for all our friends.

Yay.

Please pray for my 3 kids who are across the world. Right now. Paldies {that means "thank you" in Latvian}

... and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior... Luke 1:47

Blessing Upon Blessing

A pastor friend of mine told me that if God tells you to do something, God will give you the means to do it. He said this to me the other day when he asked, "What's this rumor I'm hearing? You're adopting kids from Madagascar?" haha. I had to add that, because it's one of the funnier things I've heard since we've started this process.

But, he is wise in his assertion about God provision, if He's called you to do something.

  My kids are making little containers for our family and friends to collect their change.  [if you want one, let us know!]                 

God called us to care for these kids who don't have a mother and father to care for them. And what happened?

Andy, the manager at the cell phone store, came up with a great idea to get me a phone. It is saving us hundreds of dollars. He didn't "have" to do it, but heard about the adoption and said, "let me get creative and see what I can do!" He did. Therefore, I'll be getting a phone by tomorrow night. {It's been a tough week, not having a phone... but God has opened my eyes to some pretty cool things! I have to wonder if I would have even noticed, had I had a phone. I'm usually listening for the chime of my phone, even before the whisper of His voice. I don't want that!}

Our t-shirt fundraiser over-exceeded all our expectations! We still have a week left, and have raised nearly $1,000!

Our Missouri friends started making crosses for a fundraiser for us. In the first few hours, they already had requests for over 75 crosses!

My friend, who works for Jamberry, is going to have a nail party... with some commission going to us. She even had a great idea about designing an exclusive wrap for our adoption!

Remember my A/C situation? Not only did a service technician come out to fix the other A/C and add a pound and a half of freon, guess what? The company wouldn't take our money for either of the A/C services! Huge shout out to our incredibly giving, loving friends at Legacy Services! When I demanded that they take our money because 2 different technicians came out, 2 different days to fix 2 different air conditioning units; I was told that it was a gift for us and that we have "enough on our plate", preparing to adopt these three kids. Wow! {tears}

You want to know another friend's offer that brought me to tears? We have been looking for a place... a big place... to do a large fundraiser. We don't know what that looks like, but perhaps a silent auction, BBQ plate dinner, etc. My friend, who runs a gorgeous horse facility had asked how she can help us. I asked if we could do horse photos for Christmas. I thought that would generate money. We could have folks come out and get their Christmas photos on a horse... perhaps, even have Santa there. She was all in. Immediately, she asked her professional photographer friends, and they were all in, too. Then she mentioned a barn party, with pony rides. How incredible is that? She wants me to come up with a "Sky's the Limit" plan at her huge facility. So.... that's what I'm working on. I'm looking for a date (she mentioned that she'd be willing to do multiple days, but I'd love to knock out a gigantic, fun, fundraising party in one day) in the fall. I need to come up with some good ideas.

Because, we've got to take care of our orphans... whether they be from Madagascar or Eastern Europe!

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27

The "Price"

My husband's Lifeproof case failed on his iPhone. We tried drying the phone out, but nothing worked. With all these adoption costs, we delayed about 10 days to figure out what to do. Thankfully, he had an upgrade. $ It comes with a cost, but it's much better than no upgrade, right?

Then his truck stopped working. It wasn't driveable. We were down to one car. It had to go in the shop. $

Then our garage door broke. My kids and I were stuck inside until I could get it up. The garage door man told me that for a garage door our size, it usually takes 2 grown men. He was impressed that I lifted it, not once... but thrice. $

Then my car had to go into the shop for some tire/strut work. Thankfully, my mechanical husband was able to do some work at home, saving us about $400. $

Then my phone... my lifeline... my source of all the adoption stuff, including the scanner (it's the easiest way we could figure out to work with these 300 pages that we're filling out), all my photos of our kids (don't worry. They're on my computer and Carbonite, but they were always there for me to look at... and miss), my translation apps (can't Skype with my host kids without them and Google Translate isn't the best for this particular language), and my actual Skype app (what if I get a call from my kids in Eastern Europe???) fell to the bottom of the lake in a fluke accident. I am not eligible for an upgrade. We are currently figuring out our options. $

Then our A/C broke. No worries... it was the upstairs A/C and the kids were gone this week. The repair man came last night, and as he was leaving, he asked if he should check the main A/C. I had just been figuring out our adoption expenses and I was in my "quiet panic mode". I told him no, because we're counting pennies. $

He left.

Our big A/C stopped working last night. $

Now, before you go thinking he might have done something.... he's a good guy. He works for a good company. He was excited about our upcoming adoption. He didn't do anything.

You want to know how I know?

Because, this is what happens when you are trying to come up with funds for an adoption. This is "normal". 

Don't believe me? I met a lady yesterday who just brought home her adopted son from China 6 months ago. She didn't know anything about me or my story. She just told her story. She said, "I had to go alone to China because we couldn't afford for my husband to go. We thought he would, but then our A/C broke and we had to pay $10,000 for that." It was then that I chimed in with, "Our A/C is broken, too!" Thankfully, the upstairs A/C was a small repair that wasn't anywhere near $10K!

So, if you're a betting person, you might bet that some more expenses are heading our way. And I'm not talking about the estimated $60,000 to bring our incredible three children home.

It has been 10 days since they left. It has been 10 days of missing them, terribly. It has been 10 days of broken air conditioning, cars, garage door, and phones. 

They drew 8 vials of blood from me this morning. If I could sit through that (eek!) and focus on my kids being here with me, I feel I can deal with these other things being thrown my way. I feel incredibly blessed to know that I will be mom to these kids by next year! I am also blessed that my $1,400 bill for all the blood work and urine analysis that immigration needs from me for this adoption is covered by insurance. I am blessed that the cop that pulled me over because I was speeding and had a bad trailer situation decided to give me a warning. Those are blessings. We can still see God in this. We aren't giving up. We are trying to keep our heads high and fix our eyes on what matters!

p.s. The doctor told me that my back alignment showed signs of "muscular stress". She asked if I had lifted anything heavy lately. I told her it was nothing that 2 grown men couldn't have done. ha. Bring it on, garage door! I can handle you!


So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

How Do We Pay?

I would be lying if I said that the last few days haven't been consumed with how we will fund this adoption. 

I want to be clear... it's not "worry". That's the crazy part. When we felt led to adopt these three incredible kids, there was never a "How are we going to pay for this?" freakout. We know God will provide. We believe it. 

A friend I met along this journey had a fundraiser for her adoption of 4 boys. I supported her by buying this bracelet. I am wearing it daily to remind myself of this truth - Faith in God Includes Faith in His Timing.

Do I want these three kids by my side right now? ABSOLUTELY.

Do I ache for them? UNDENIABLY

Would I do anything in my power to get them here? YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!

So, how is the best way to raise financial support for this endeavor? 

It's going to take a while, but we have already been blessed. Some friends of ours, who raised $85,000 for their Russian adoption, asked if they could make Christmas ornaments to sell, with all proceeds going toward our adoption. How awesome is that?

A personal trainer, "fitness queen", and rad friend of mine offered to lead a boot camp, with donations going toward our adoption.

I've already decided I will be babysitting as much as possible. {Who wouldn't want a babysitter who has had 6 criminal state/country background checks in the past few months?} I also plan to be wrapping a bundle of Christmas presents this year, for donations. I'll be sucking it up and decorating even more cookies this year, than my normal 2,000 for Christmas. My list is pretty long for other fundraising ideas. My kids also want to be involved, so they might be making some fun things. 

I'm trying to decide if I should make shirts. I know my family will have some to wear, but I can't decide if it would raise any funds. 

We are also giving little boxes/jars to our friends to have in their houses so they can put whatever spare change they find over the next few months. Every cent counts! 

For those asking about where to donate online, I'm still researching which crowdfunding source we want to use. GoFundMe takes a larger percentage than most others, so we probably won't go that way. Hopefully, we can get one up and running in the near future. In the mean time, if you are felt to give $ directly for bringing home Sunshine, Iceman and Lulu, you can always just go straight through PayPal.

How easy is that?

I'll keep you posted with all our fundraising endeavors.
Thanks for all your support!!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

Until We Meet Again

I thought I'd be too sad to write. Unfortunately, the mounds of paperwork and rush for this adoption is proving that I might be too busy to write! 

First of all... GOD IS INCREDIBLE!

Through all our tears and "goodbye", a miracle happened. The court ruled and Sunshine, Iceman and LuLu are available NOW for adoption. {I don't know about the LuLu name, but I'm too tired to come up with something more creative} We have been moving at lightning speed, getting all the paperwork and items turned in to our adoption agency and home study worker. We keep hearing how, with this schedule, we'll probably be in that country with them by February or March. Yay!

Sunday was tough. I'm not going to lie. I've never seen my kids cry as much as they have in the past couple of days. We would not trade this experience for anything, even with the sadness that has now entered our family. We believe we will see them again. We plan to re-host them through Project 143 for Christmas this year, so we're praying the next 4 months go by swiftly!

Here are some photos from our farewell.

Someone took this of us, praying over them

Siblings Forever

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” Lamentations 3:24