Inspired Adoption Links For You - November

It's 65 degrees here in Houston.  In this town, 65 degrees is cause for celebration and much rejoicing, because 65 degrees means it's Fall!!

And since these Fall days only happen a couple of days a year in our town, I have learned to soak them up and count every minute a blessing.

In fact, our Fall days make me quite giddy!  I am currently (as in this very second) sipping a hot mug of  pumpkin spice latte and relishing the fact that I have jeans on without sweating profusely.  Oh the little things in life!

If you have the time, go grab yourself a hot mug (with your drink of choice) and meet me back here for some inspired reading!

As adoptive parents we are all too aware the effect that trauma can have on our kids. But sometimes, even with our biological kids, we need to be reminded  that Trauma can be transformed and that Trust will triumph.   Melissa wrote a beautifully raw and poignant Letter to Trauma reminding us to keep watch and to do battle against Trauma on behalf of our kids.  Most helpful to me is the detailed list of behaviors she includes that often accompany trauma in our kids. 

Adoption through the State.  Conjours up all kinds of thoughts and feelings doesn't it?  If we were being honest, most of us would probably admit that the idea of adopting through the State can be very daunting and scary.  Lots of unknowns, whether they are perceived or real, loom in every corner waiting to discourage us.  

Here is a List of Adoption Myths Debunked.  Read it and then Share it! It may just change your mind about adopting from the State.

Adoption books, there are so many out on the shelves these days!  Amber over at Bumber's Bumblings was asked to review a new children's book on adoption.  Amber didn't quite have the reaction the publicist was looking for and was asked not to publish The Book Review.  But in honor of transparency and honesty, Amber posted it anyway.  And that in itself is enough reason for you to go and read what all the hub hub is about!  

Do you have room for one more stocking this Christmas?

And last but not least, if you have ever wanted to do something totally wild and crazy, please join me in hosting an orphan for Christmas.  If we are lucky our lives will never be the same.  

This sweet girl is waiting to be chosen.  Please visit www.newhorizonsforchildren.org for more information on how you can bring her home for Christmas.

What does orphan hosting have to do with adoption?  The children available to host this Christmas only have a .01% chance of ever getting adopted (simply due to their age) but when a child is hosted by you and me, their chances of being adopted go from zilch to 60% or more!  Let's change the statistics for these kids!

Have a fabulous weekend and I will chat with y'all  next week!

Update on Bringing Natasha Home

It's 6:00am and the first batch of bread for the day just came out of the oven.  I have never been so grateful to have a double oven in all my life!

Syd and I are hosting our first ever mother daughter bake sale.  We started off strong…the "we" part that is.  But after two weeks of baking, her 7 year old mind is on to bigger and better things!  It's to be expected.  She baked a lot and now she just enjoys making the deliveries and taking the money. 

On our deliveries, we practice making eye contact, smiling and saying thank you.  She is my melancholy child, much like I was when I was young.  Smiling doesn't always come natural.  It's a learned art.  

Everywhere we go Sydney tells people about Natasha.  I can't help but love her enthusiasm.  

We have seen God work in extraordinary ways over the past couple of weeks.  An unexpected donation from a family we haven't seen for the past year.  Friends from across the country sending in donations.  Strangers ordering baked goods and friends ordering way more bread than we know they will actually eat!  Just regular people, dedicated to saying yes to God when he speaks to their hearts. 

So far we have received orders for 11 dozen cookies, 27 mini loaves of Pumpkin Bread and 7 Jumbo loaves of Pumpkin Bread.  My friend Nicole created tags for our baked goods.  She even printed and cut them out for me…that is a true friend right there!  I think she may feel sorry for me as I am completely inept when it comes to creating anything cute on the computer.  If you are looking for Christmas cards or other digital designs, check out her Etsy Store Nicole Page Designs.

Our 14 year old babysitter handed me a wad of cash and asked that it go towards bringing Natasha home for Christmas.  And then if that wasn't enough, said 14 year old asked not to be paid that day for babysitting. Speechless.  

I promptly called her mom and asked how the heck she raised a child to do that!  But deep down, I already knew the answer.  It's a heart that loves Jesus.

As of today (Nov. 4th) we are just $100 away from being fully funded to bring Natasha home!!  Yeah God!  
Update:  As of November 5th we are 100% fully funded to bring Natasha home for Christmas!  

Books on my night stand and The Truth About Short Term Missions Trips

Been reading some fascinating true stories about life in Russian orphanages.  These are not books I would have necessarily chosen to read on my own but they are part of a suggested reading list given by our orphan hosting agency.

And well, because I like to be prepared and I am a geeky lover of books, I got started on the list right away.

Infinitely More by Alex Krutov is the true story of one Russian Orphan who beat the odds and not only survived but now leads a  thriving ministry to fellow emancipated russian orphans.

St. Petersburg  (Photo by Ben Davis via The Harbor)

Krutov's mother abandoned him in a St. Petersburg dumpster when he was only 3 days old.  The story chronicles his entire childhood on into young adulthood with details of harsh life can be inside a  Russian Orphanage or on the streets for orphans. 

But it wasn't until the very end of the book that I found my big revelation or "take away" if you will from the story.  On the last page Krutov is summing up his life experiences, looking back on his journey and he has this to say:

"How different my life would have been if it had not been for some crazy Americans who went out of their way to come to Russia for short term missions projects and made their way to Orphanage Number 51."

There it was.  The words crazy Americans and short term missions used in context with one another in a positive light. This radically differs from some of the recent writings I have read throughout blog land.

Perhaps I need to be more careful about what I read.  Perhaps in our culture of post modernism where passion and opinions rain supreme I need to sift more carefully the words typed by ex missionaries claiming there is no validity in short term missions trip.  Whatever the case may be, "Infinitly More" reminded me that there is purpose in short term missions.  It reminded me that an average family just like mine can be used to make a big impact in the life of an orphan.

When we signed up to host Natasha, I started to second guess our motives.  Were we doing this for ourselves?  How could 4 weeks really make a difference in her life?  Is this just a case of us spoiled american christians trying to appease our need to help those less fortunate?

And now I know the answer.  Yes, 4 weeks can make a difference and God does use crazy Americans in a short term setting to make long term changes.  

Want to learn more about life as an orphan in Eastern Europe? Here is what is on my nightstand:

Boy from Baby House 10 - this was the first on the booklist I read.  If you can push past the first 3 chapters and the initial discust with seeing pictures of emaciated bedridden orphans there is a story a beautiful story of redemption hidden inside.  And you will even find yourself having compassion on the russian orphanage workers as well.  It's kind of like jumping head first into a deep pool of russian culture and history.  Fascinating read.

Priceless by Tom Davis - this is a historical fiction (my favorite genre!) and next on my list to read

The Connected Child - This book is one of my go-to books for parenting.  It transformed the life of my daughter and can be used for any child, adopted or not.

Infinitely More by Alex Kutrov - if I was to just pick one book to read…this would be it.

Parenting the Hurt Child - I just ordered this one from amazon.