Prayer for the Orphans

First prayer is best said in the email I received from a former full time missionary in Ukraine. This cause is very near and dear to our hearts as Billy and I have both seen the situation over in Ukrainian orphanages ourselves. Romania and Guatemala have passed such laws.

We just found out that Monday, June 2nd a new law is being presented to the Ukrainian Parliament for a vote. It the resolution passes it will effectively, and immediately outlaw all International adoptions from Ukraine! This is devastating news. If the new law passes no one will be able to adopt from Ukraine except for Ukrainians and Russians. This makes no sense as Russia has a lot of orphans so whey would they go to Ukraine to get one and Ukrainians don't adopt their own children. This law would impact a lot of people. Even those other there now. Our understanding that some would that are in the process right now would have to immediately stop and leave the county with our this child they came for.

My second request for orphans is from Adoptive Families magazine that I subscribe to:

Dear Readers, There is a horror film being released on July 24, called Orphan, about a family who adopts an older girl who "is not what she appears to be." The film is currently being promoted, and the trailer is available at http://orphan-movie.warnerbros.com . The adoption message is extremely negative, and plays into the stereotypes of adopted children, particularly older children, as damaged. Though we have not been able to preview the entire movie, the trailer leads us to believe the movie will send a horrific message about adoption. The adoption community is protesting the release of the film. We urge you to contact the makers of the film, as well as your local movie theater chains, with your concerns. Feel free to copy or adapt the sample letter below. To whom it may concern: I want to express my outrage about the release of the movie Orphan. The film plays into the stereotype of adopted children as damaged and dangerous. It discourages families from pursuing adoption, particularly adoption of older children, who are especially in need of loving homes. As an adoptive parent, I am horrified by the line in the trailer that "it must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own." Adoption has often been misrepresented in the media, but the previews for this film are unbelievably offensive. I urge you to change the promotional materials, and to consider holding the release of the film altogether. Contact information: Warner Bros. 4000 Warner Blvd. Burbank, CA 91522 818-954-6000 Silver Pictures 4000 Warner Blvd. 90 Burbank, CA 91522-0001 818-954-4490 Time Warner Inc. One Time Warner Center New York, NY 10019-8016 212-484-8000 Thank you for your support. The editors of Adoptive Families

Prayer Requests

I have just a moment to ask for prayers. My long time friend Jennifer lost her husband Kelly unexpectedly and my sweet blog friend Chelsa lost her baby boy Andon at 34 weeks. My heart hurts for these sweet women. Please join me in asking God for comfort for them and the strength to put one foot in front of the other at a time they feel the least like doing so.

Me and Jenn in 2005:

Debra

My old room mate, Ukraine missionary buddy, caring wonderful sweet friend Debra just went in to middle fossa surgery for her brain tumors, please keep her in your prayers.
Read the latest update now by using this link: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/debraatchison

Prayers

It's been a busy week. Friday we spent a great evening with Sarah and Ben. We had dinner and salvaged our pride by having a wii match :-) Saturday, Rachel spent the afternoon with us, so her mommy and daddy could attend a wedding. She loves stairs, so Billy did this a whole lot:
We also used a sweet little table her mommy and daddy gave us for her to color, paint and after cleaning off, eat at. She enjoyed!

That night we had a sweet evening with some great friends praying. Please keep Debra in your prayers as she has brain surgery this week for her tumors. Also, Nathan's scans came back and his thyroid cancer is back. He'll be taking radiation pills. We missed Wendy and David, but giving birth to Emily was a great reason to miss!! Can't wait to hold her :-)




We love you Debra!
The quilts came out :-) Love sharing this hobby with Brooke and Debra!

Since then I've had this stomach bug that's been going around. I'm still not 100% but functional, but a bit better every day. Now back to uploading pics for my free snapfish book. If you read this before Friday afternoon, go to oprah.com and get yours :-)

Looking forward to a fun girls night tomorrow with our Sunday bible class. Saturday off to take friends to the airport, a day with my family and an evening with some sweet friends for an unveiling of a project that's being filmed for tv. Sunday I'm hoping to get back to Fort Worth between morning service and evening small group for a sweet friend's baby shower. Here's hoping I can make it all !!

Talents

I've always been told one of my gifts is working with children. Until this last year, it's always something I've done on my terms when and for how long I was willing to commit on a volunteer basis. I knew during these times, the interaction and attention required to really give my all to a child was all encompassing for me physically, emotionally and spiritually.

So when I started last year taking care of Rachel, I expected some draw on me personally. Sure, there were tough days. Now with multiple children of varying personalities, needs and demands it's stepped up several levels. Part of this is an adjustment curve. Another part of me knows it's not something I can do half way. These are small people with which I am investing. I pray I am helping them grow not only intellectually, but physically, emotionally, socially and morally as well. Trying to impart structure, consistency, fairness, manners, virtues etc. I have heard plenty said about teachers and this job has done several things already, given me huge respect for what teachers deal with daily from their superiors, the children themselves, and the parents. This position is also teaching me what I can do to help make this eventual adjustment for our child smoother. I want our children to have structure, education and socialization skills.

The debate that comes to mind is what do I want to do most with my time? Mean a little to many people or mean much to a few (namely my hubby). This position requires sacrifice. I am human and as much as I pray to have as much patience at the end of the day as in the beginning, it's just not always the case. I know when ever we do adopt, that draw will be there for our child as well. I feel guilty to be honest, that I'm jipping my husband from the best part of me. That the best part is being reserved for children who yes I already have a bond with and care for. They are other people's children.

I have had an ongoing mental list in my head of pro's and con's that I thought I would clarify here:

Pro's
LOVE the children
learning so much for future parenting skills
great ideas for curriculum for eventual teaching of our children( praying about home schooling one day)
Using my talents in a realm I feel I can do well
Personally rewarding

Con's
Exhausted when I get home, I don't go to the gym with Billy anymore (which is high on his love language wishes)
Patience level not so good at the end of the day
School not very flexible with time off (upcoming adoption seminars/ home study, etc.)
Not the best paying
Monthly staff development meeting that fall on a Wednesday ( miss out on bible study once a month)
Sick every couple of weeks

I feel guilty at this point even thinking about quitting on these children who I have come to care very much and who hug and tell me they love me too. I also feel very guilty feeling as if my husband is receiving left overs. I have a life time commitment to him. That commitment to my husband has to trump my own selfish need to be professionally fulfilled. I just don't believe anything is supposed to come before that except my personal relationship with Jesus. I guess I share all this to now say I'm in prayer about what to do next. I'll be staying until we get moved either way, (5 weeks and counting) so I have time to have God speak to me showing me which way to go.

Speaking of prayer requests, Nathan surgery went well today, he should be home by tomorrow recovering with his sweet wife :-) Yesterday was also my niece Ashley's 17th birthday. This last month was many 4th anniversaries. Lisa's death. Four years since the only car wreck I have ever witnessed in person that involved 4 dear friends. It was so good to see Nathan, Amy and Lance yesterday regardless of the reason last night. We were thinking about you Andy in Austin. Also, my brother Alan died 4 year ago yesterday as well. He was my brother by marriage, we don't use step in our family. It's probably one of the most positive things my mom did to help us see each other as family. It's what gives me hope that our child will not just be seen as the word adopted in front. Not that there's anything wrong with the fact that our child will be adopted, but I just don't want any layers or terms indicating we aren't as close just because we don't share the same blood. God adopted us all as His children to be co-heirs with Christ.

Ukraine & Prayers

I had pictures from this evening I took, unfortunately I am receiving server errors when I try to upload (they are up as of 8/19). So here is the skinny of it. I'm still feeling under the weather but managed through work today as it's transition day for all the children moving up to the next class. I sound croaky and the cough will make you back up about 3 feet from me, but I don't have a fever or anything else that could contaminate people, so onward I went. On my lunch I swung by the new house, they are laying the concrete for the driveway, kitchen counter tops are in as well as all the plumbing.



This evening Billy and I went over to our dear friends, the Atchisons. They have been hosting a 13, (as of today 14 year-old) boy they dearly love from from Ukraine They met through the orphanages. We had a traditional Ukrainian meal of borsht, mashed potatoes, carrot salad among other things. Most made by Bogdan himself.
This is us with Bogdan and our sweet team mate from our Ukraine trip Debbie from California.


We then met up with the Alexanders and prayed over his surgery tomorrow. If you read this before 9 am Tuesday the 19th, please keep Nathan in your prayers. After that time, please pray for his recovery.



I already took my Nyquil for the evening, so I'm getting pretty woozy now.

Progress

Right now my life is very different in that since we returned from Montana last week I have not been working. Rachel is safe and happy in care with other children, which she needs for this stage in her development. I have had my personal goal of at least one resume out a day. Our Wednesday night small group was VERY supportive last night upon hearing I was searching and three of the couples had wonderful suggestions for me. So I got more than 3 feelers sent out today purely from wonderful friends. Thank you Mica, Miranda and Nic! I reworked my resume so there are two versions; one is for executive support/ administrative work . The other highlights the nanny experience as well as volunteer work with children in the past. I'm trying to be as open as possible while still wanting to keep within Collin County as the new house is scheduled to be completed in September. I have had years of long commutes and really want to stay close to home.

Speaking of the new house, there has been progress on building. I've been waiting to post the pics until there was actually something to show and now there is!!

April 25th, signing day :-)


May 29th, on our way out of town, there was plumbing


June 9th, when we returned from Montana we had foundation which Billy prayed over.


FIVE days later, on June 14th, we have framing!


The company calls with weekly updates per their policy. So we hear we'll get windows this coming week. It's very exciting to watch a dream come together. We pray to fill this house with God's love, welcome many family, friends and strangers. We pray to raise children who will know of God and His unconditional love, acceptance and forgiveness by our example.

I go back and forth between praying to be content for no change and needing to see progress in my life. It's a balance that God calls on my heart. To be faithful and consistent, content with the now, but not ever failing to see opportunities for growth and spiritual maturity. I welcome change, I'm more prone to restlessness when things seem stagnant.

Happy Birthday Katy!

Chapman Family

This blog sums it up the best. My heart just aches for this family.