An Adoption Law Only King Herod Would Sign | The St. Petersburg Times | The leading English-language newspaper in St. Petersburg

An Adoption Law Only King Herod Would Sign | The St. Petersburg Times | The leading English-language newspaper in St. Petersburg


please click on the link(green print)..caution..your heart will be broken.

Christmas Blessings

 

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.



From our family to yours, we wish you a very blessed Christmas and a New Year!!

A Big Production

 Kiah is starring as "Molly" in The ThreePenny Opera tonight, Friday  and Saturday.  She is a gifted actor, which I say with pride(she is so much like her father, this seems the one inherent gift from her mother)

Kiah's Headshot for The Threepenny Opera

 

 

So, if like me, you thought, Mack the knife was a song written in the 80's about a burger(remember, the McDonalds Commercial, it's a mac tonight, come on make it a big mac tonight-the singing moon) we were wrong.  Kiah was in no way impressed when I showed her the commercial on youtube...however, I thought it was funny.

 



wish my kids were this athletic

Black Friday

Do I really need that, even if it is 75% off?   stuff, stuff and more stuff, do we really need more?   As a mother, I have made a true effort this season, to leave the stuff out of Christmas.  Now, I do not want my kids to come down Christmas morning to a Christmas tree barren of any gift for them.  I just feel this year one small gift is enough.
Do not get me wrong, I like stuff, I really do.  Stuff can make my life more convenient, and sometimes, more complicated.  I cannot feel the voids with stuff, only God can do that.
So, this season, my aim is not to be sucked in by consumerism, but, let love for others lead me.  God's love, my family's love, and my friends love. 
So, that extra 10 bucks I did not spend on dollar store stocking stuffers that no one really wants anyways, will go to buy some toothbrushes for a shelter, or food for the foodbank, or the commitment to sponsor a child.  Need over want, I will make that my aim for this shopping season. 

Matthew 6:19-21

Treasures in Heaven

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also

November-National Adoption Month

Remember

 

As we observe Remembrance Day, I am so thankful for my families freedom in our great country Canada.  Adopting and bringing home a child from a communist country opened my eyes once again to the great privelges I as a Canadian take for granted.  The freedom to walk down the street without fear, the freedom to send my children to school, the freedom to have healthcare, the freedom to vote, the freedom worship.

I Remember and am Thankful..

• for my brother, Evert, who served in Afghanistan.
• for my brother, Sye, who serves in the reserves as a Chaplain.
• for the Canadian soldiers who served in Holland during WW II
• for the soldiers who continue to protect our country, and who help bring peace to other countries in war.

one in 147 million

Halloween

the kids had a great halloween.  Noah got right into dressing up and getting candy for his first trick or treating.  Kiah went as a spice girl with her friends...she was nutmeg.  Alida was our cereal killer.  Micah a dog, Anneke a catepillar and Noah a cow.
The wind was cold,  living along the ravine makes it for a quiet night, as the houses are further apart; so, we ended up with only 15 kids, mostly teens.
Now, all the candy.....Anneke asked for a treat at 715am this morning.  She asked 3 more times, until I gave in at 930.

1 year ago today...we saw Noah for the first time

 

One year ago today we received Noah's referral.   I know with time we forget details, but I will never forget the day we saw Noah's face for the first time....LOVE.

 

Above is one of Noah's referral photo's...pretty darn cute eh!!!!

The Cost of Chinese International Adoption

I have been asked many times, why is the cost for adoption so high.  I found this fantastic chart from our adoption agency, that breaks down the costs.  Do families who adopt have more money than others, certainly not.  Some families add onto mortgages, have help from families and church families, apply for a grant(there is only one available in Canada now...sadly Orphans Hope Kids to Canada will be shutting its doors after helping bring  150 kids home-including our Noah)adopion is a huge decision for a whole family, and financial burdens that can come with that can discourage a family as well. 

CCCWA fees (dossier assessment, child placement fee, translations) 1350	$ 1,350
Family Outreach Services (Registration, facilitation , …incl . HST) 4855	4,855
Preparation of dossier for China (notarization, authentication; incl. HST) 678	678
Adoption Practitioner (homestudy, post adoption reports incl. HST) 5600	5,600	*
Parent Training fees (incl. HST) 1800	1,800	*
International airtravel for a couple + infant return 4500	4,500	*
Preparation for travel (vaccinations, visas, Citizenship application) 1100	1,100	*
Two week stay in China (Travel & Accommodations, misc. for couple) 3300	3,300	*
Orphanage donation 5400(varies by provinces in China)	5,400	*
Adoption legal fees in China 1000	1,000	*
Miscellaneous (courier, requests for updates , currency exchange, ...) 500                    TOTAL 30,600.00	500	*
	$30,600	*

Why do I write about this, well, because, if you are reading this blog, looking around at different adoptive parents blogs, have hope, keep praying, and if you feel that God has called you to adopt, persisit, find a way...and God will lead your steps.
In all the exhaustion of bringing Noah home, a friend asked me(she visited during Noah's surgery and had her three youngest in tow)  when will you adopt again...Oh, I said..I think we are done....but than..time passes...and light ignites back in your heart....right now for us, we are in the wait...wait what God says....and waiting is hard...But, I know God hears my prayers..for those orphans waiting for homes...and for those..most who will never have a mom and dad or family.

Max May 9th 2007


QT Dec 23 2008

Here are pictures of two boys waiting on the shared list right now...waiting for a home...they are sure sweet......


************TAKE A LOOK AT SPIRIT OF ADOPTION ALBERTA...TO THE LEFT..CLICK ON THE LINK*******************

wordless wednesday

Thankful

 

Happy Thanksgiving

Inspiration Award

Anneke received an inspiration award at school for "showing self discipline by being focused and on task every day" We are very proud of our Annie, who is in grade one this year. Way to go Anneke!!

 Up front at school assembly receiving her award!!!

 

 

 

 

2

Today Noah turned 2 years old!!!

He needed help blowing out the candles this year, and he had plenty of it from his Dad and siblings!!

Happy 2nd birthday buddy!!! We love you!!!

a day like any other.....

When we give birth to our children, we mark the milestones, one month old...two months old...etc.   In adoption, we mark some extra milestones.   Six months ago, after a very long flight, we landed in Edmonton.  One very scared, unsure toddler, and his mom and dad.  We were so blessed to have a large group awaiting our arrival.  So many changes in Noah in these past six months home...all of them good. 

Her language of Love!!

Alida is probably our least talkative child, she can be very talkative when you get her alone.  But, in a group she can appear a little shy.  Alida has been blessed with a gift of serving, and as a mother, this in turn has been a  huge gift and help to me.  With five kids getting out the door every morning at 745, Alida is always there helping, with snacks, breakfast, backpacks, shoes, jackets and getting in the van.  She loves her family very much, and shows it.  She is a wonderful sister and daughter.  We love our Alida!!!!

6 months in our arms!!!

 

Noah trying on hats at the Alberta Provincial Museum in August 2012.

 

 

Getting a good picture for our adoption documents.



Noah's first home, the Zhoukou Social Welfare Institute.

 

 

Six months really is not a long time in our lives; yet, for our family, these past six months have been packed with many new things.  Getting a new little brother, not as a newborn, but, as a busy toddler.  A mom and dad, who had to help their son to trust them, to help him know the love of a family, which means so many different things.  But most of all this six months have been HUGE changes for our Noah, more than we will ever know.  To go from living in an institution, to living in a home, to go from living in China to Canada, which in itself includes language, culture, food etc.

 

Noah is blossoming!!!   We love our Noah so much!!!!  Hard to believe, that over six months ago, he was not part of our lives!!!!

 

Happy six months Mr. N!!!

 



Baoping Village, Henan, China.

We feel so blessed to have gotten some pictures of the village where Noah was born.  Baoping Village has less than 500 people.  I was told it is extremely rural with no police station, hospitals or government officials in the town.  Baoping is an agricultural community, with good crops and gravel roads.

The town officials home, notice the more elaborate door. 

 

 



 A farm

 

 

 

 A typical home

 

 

 Farmland

 

 

The road entering into Baoping Village

 

 

As you can imagine.  These pictures are invaluable for Noah, and our family.