At the Heart of Things

~Our Heart~

Since David and I have come to the decision to adopt our first child, I have done nothing but research. I have bought books on my kindle and spent hours reading online about international adoption. Even though I feel like I have already done all this work, I still feel miles away from where I want to be... with my kid, in my home as a family. We have decided to pursue adoption from Poland because of the book "The Ultimate Guide to Almost Free International Adoptions" by Victoria & John Skelly. Apparently they have made abortions illegal there and as a result, there is a flux of abandoned babies and babies put up for adoption. Our hope is to adopt a little boy or girl (David's hoping girl) from ages 2-4. We are currently in the inquiry stages with adoption agencies for a home study for expats, and have not found any that are super promising. We hope to have a child in arms in the next two years. The name of this blog is significant because if we adopt a boy, we hope to incorporate the name Burgan or Willow into the child's name somehow, and if they're young enough, replace their old name with one of our choices.

~Awareness at Church~
Today in church a short blurb about David and I wanting to pursue adoption was published in our weekly “Lift” pamphlet. Thank you Melissa for that, it was super sweet to think of us and to get the word out there! If you’re reading this blog, you’re one of the few that already knew about our want to adopt. It’s not that we’ve been keeping it a secret, but we haven’t really made any progress quite yet. I haven’t gotten a lot of feedback from many people about my fundraising ideas, and quite honestly, we can’t begin until we fund raise. It’s kind of a horrible cycle, we don’t want to get everyone’s hopes up and help back us in this new adventure, only to find we’re not eligible, and will fail a home study, or it will SEVERAL years before we can really put our plan into action. BUT on the other hand, we can’t really know until we have a home study (which right now we cannot afford on our own). This article allowed some people in the church who did not previously know about our adoption desire a way to help; buy a hemp creation! I hope to send some hemp creations home and also I hope to get some people from home involved to help as well (mom and Erika, I’m looking at you two! *clears throat* wedding *clears throat*). In the meantime I’m hoping beyond hope that people here will pay a ridiculous amount of money for China goods (my necklaces = $10 = 50-60 RMB) and help us get closer to having a home study done.

~Fundraising~

Honestly, it’s a bit stressful to think about at times. Because things are so cheap here, everyone is used to paying super cheap for goods, which makes fundraising very difficult. I’ve seen it with other charitable fundraisers, and experienced being the donor in those situations. It’s hard to donate 100RMB for a meal that you don’t feel is worth it, unless the cause is that good. Let’s hope our cause is that good! Something I kinda hate to admit: adoptions are expensive, and there is no way we will be able to adopt on our own with our own savings. I want to say this now though, I’m not asking for straight up donations, I want to earn what I receive. I have a special folder just to keep our adoption funds in, and it’s been what I’ve saved or earned through my hemp work. If you would like to donate, great, but I want to give you SOMETHING in return! I have a few ideas, but I would like some input too. What is something I could give you, even you in the USA. What could possibly ever be enough to give you for help bringing our baby home? I was tossing around a quilt piece, I brought one here that I had been working on in college, incomplete. Would you be interested in buying a piece, and writing your name on it, the finished piece being our baby’s first blanket? Would you like to have a Spaghetti dinner, and pay for a plate. Would you be interested in a dessert auction? What else could I do? I really do want input and help with the planning. Any advice would be appreciated at this point. Again, thanks so much for your support and prayers. We pray often for our little one (David prays for a little girl!) to be loved where they are now, to know that we’re coming for them and for their safety and well-being.

~Danae~