Oh...the paperwork really will never end, will it?
Despite submitting our dossier this week, our foundation has asked for ANOTHER power of attorney to be signed. I know we did this early in the process, but apparently it's different or it's changed or who knows! The store where we normally notarize documents didn't have their notary there when we arrived, so we went to another place that did have their notary. The document is notarized, but...of course! It needs an apostille! There's no one available to do this...and waiting isn't really an option...so I'll be driving 4+ hours round trip with my little girl tomorrow to get it done. Praying that it is the very last document for a long while. I admit, my patience has been tried to the maximum on this issue.
I am in the middle of final exams. My semester of three classes over the last eight weeks is almost at an end. It was insanity to do this, but somehow I did. I sacrificed my GPA only slightly with the choice, and got nine credits out of the way in the meantime. I am on fire to finish my degree quickly, particularly before our little Dude comes home and likely takes time away from me to complete my education. When this semester ends, I will have seven classes remaining in my college education. I wish I could find a way to finish sooner, but all I can do is continue to work hard and pray.
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar like wings on eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31).
I am praying for our little, precious future son, who waits and lives in The Bad Place, not knowing what his future is, and knowing nothing about us. I pray for the families who are considering adoption. I pray for the children who may never know the love of a family - for little Christian; a forgotten child in Bulgaria whose darling face may never be seen by a Mommy or Daddy. I pray for all of the families who are adopting, that they remain in peace with themselves and with each other. It makes me sad to see parents who are striving to do good argue among each other over petty disagreements. I pray for peace and strength to continue to move the mountains that sometimes stand in our way as we reach across continents to find the children who need families - or across the miles for those who are lovingly adopting the children right here in our country.
I did a good deed yesterday, though.
I noticed my spatula was looking a bit worse for the wear. We are putting together a small bake sale this Saturday, baking chocolate chips as a small fundraiser for our future son. It has been nearly impossible to manage, with finals and Avon orders, and everything else to take care of. So far, I have baked two batches of cookies and plan to make more.
I also noticed my tongs were broken.
I had a choice.
I could find time to run to Target or Walmart and purchase a set of tongs and a new spatula, and likely pay a few dollars less. If I wanted to, I could go on Amazon.com and buy something.
Instead, I made mention of it on Facebook, asking if any adopting family was doing a Pampered Chef or other kitchenware fundraiser. Someone said that they were. I went on their website and purchased my spatula and tongs.
Was it more than I would have spent normally? Yes, I'm certain it was.
But I knew that I was supporting the very best cause imaginable. But it was more than that. I informed this family (who I do not know at all) that I was buying. They responded, "Oh thank you! No one has purchased a thing from us - thank you so much!"
So many of us are fundraising and praying for the funds we need to complete our adoptions. We know what it is like when we put together a giveaway, or ask for donations to our accounts, or set up a t-shirt sale. We know what it is like when that isn't terribly successful. Even if we are faithful, sometimes it can hurt. I can't tell you how happy it made me to spend a few extra dollars for something I did actually need, but to be able to support someone else's adoption AND bring them happiness in the process!
Let's try to think this way as we work through our adoptions. Do you need some new clothes for your kiddos? Consider an adoption t-shirt! So many people are selling those. Do you need a kitchen gadget? Find a fundraiser! Want to own a Kindle, a Nook, an Ipad? Enter a giveaway! Looking for inexpensive gift items, or new makeup? I'm selling Avon, and I'll bet others are too. We are taught to think globally but act locally. Let's think that way too. I know for me, I may have paid a few extra dollars for those kitchen items, but I'm so glad I did :)
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and and praise your Father in Heaven!" (Matthew 5:16)
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
On its way!
It's a super rhym-y phrase - but the dossier is on its way!
Our agency did a remarkably quick turnaround and the paperwork is headed to Bulgaria, hopefully to arrive by Thursday. We're hoping for about a week for translation, and then our paperwork must be presented to the MOJ. I hope we can have dates to travel (or at least a verbal referral) by the end of this month. Can it be??
It is exciting when there is progress. It keeps our hearts set on our goal, which of course is Our Son In Bulgaria!
Thank you for all of your support and prayers. We continue to thank you for blessing us. We also want to reiterate the offer of putting on Avon Online Fundraisers for any family who is adopting, splitting the profits 80% with you, keeping 20% for ourselves and our fees associated with Avon. It is 100% online and it costs nothing to try.
In keeping with that, if you know of an adopting family who is doing a Pampered Chef fundraiser, or something else with good kitchen supplies, could you tell me? When we need things for ourselves, we do try to find it through adopting families so we can support them, and I'm in need of a few new kitchen utensils (like a spatula).
If you know a family who is putting on a Pampered Chef fundraiser, or if you would like to participate in an Avon fundraiser, please leave a comment, or visit our avon website at www.youravon.com/jennifermenges. Right now, the Skin So Soft Deet-free Bug Guard is half off!
Our agency did a remarkably quick turnaround and the paperwork is headed to Bulgaria, hopefully to arrive by Thursday. We're hoping for about a week for translation, and then our paperwork must be presented to the MOJ. I hope we can have dates to travel (or at least a verbal referral) by the end of this month. Can it be??
It is exciting when there is progress. It keeps our hearts set on our goal, which of course is Our Son In Bulgaria!
Thank you for all of your support and prayers. We continue to thank you for blessing us. We also want to reiterate the offer of putting on Avon Online Fundraisers for any family who is adopting, splitting the profits 80% with you, keeping 20% for ourselves and our fees associated with Avon. It is 100% online and it costs nothing to try.
In keeping with that, if you know of an adopting family who is doing a Pampered Chef fundraiser, or something else with good kitchen supplies, could you tell me? When we need things for ourselves, we do try to find it through adopting families so we can support them, and I'm in need of a few new kitchen utensils (like a spatula).
If you know a family who is putting on a Pampered Chef fundraiser, or if you would like to participate in an Avon fundraiser, please leave a comment, or visit our avon website at www.youravon.com/jennifermenges. Right now, the Skin So Soft Deet-free Bug Guard is half off!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Dear Mommy (waiting child)
My name is Christian and I am almost six years old. I live with many other children in a faraway place. Even though I am a generally happy child, I don't know what it is like to have a Mommy or Daddy or sisters or brothers. I don't know what it is like to have a bed that is all my own, or toys that have my name on them. I share my shoes and clothes with my friends here in the orphanage, and I've never had a dresser full of clothing that is all mine.
I am almost six years old and I have lived here a long time. Even though I can run and walk and climb, I do it in a different way, and so the doctors say I have cerebral palsy. I don't really understand what cerebral palsy means, except that I guess it means that I can't have a Mommy. I also have some trouble speaking, and I guess that also means I can't have a Mommy or Daddy of my own.
I have tried to be a good boy my whole life. My friends and caregivers say that I am a boy who likes to give hugs. I am a big boy, too. I can drink from a cup all by myself and I know how to feed myself too! I can do puzzles pretty well and I even turn around when others say my name. Showing affection and turning to my name being called are really good things, but because I can't talk right now, I guess it isn't good enough to have a Mommy come to where I live and bring me to a new place where I could see great doctors and therapists.
The words that people use when they talk about me can be scary, and I can't really tell you what my future would be. For some people, not knowing is too scary and so they have to say "no" to being my Mommy. Other people like to pretend that I don't exist, and so they turn their face away because it is too sad or too scary. And still other people might like me well enough, but they say that because I am a big boy and almost six years old, I am too old to have a Mommy. I sure don't think I am too old to have a Mommy though! There are a lot of things that I could do with a Mommy or Daddy. I know I am a big boy - but am I really too grown up to have a Mommy and Daddy all my own?
My face isn't up on the more popular websites, so fewer people see my face. But I really think I have a cute face, don't you?
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Thank you for reading this letter, and for helping me find my Mommy.
Love,
Christian.
Dear Christian,
You are a little love who is indeed worthy of having a Mommy and Daddy just for you. I know some of what is said about you sounds scary to some parents. I know cerebral palsy and other issues (such as possible autism or speech delays) are really big words and some parents might know that this is not something they could handle. But you are a special, valued, child of God. You can walk and run and point to the things you want. And you are still young enough to benefit so much from the love of parents. Almost six years old is definitely NOT too old to have a Mommy and Daddy!
Right now, I am working to adopt another precious little one from a terrible place - not where you live exactly, but close by. We are so excited to meet him. I'm so sorry that I cannot be your Mommy right now, but I promise that I will help you find a Mommy. I will pray that your Mommy sees your picture and knows right away that you are her little special boy.
Love,
Joshua's Mommy.
Please, if you can, share Christian's story. He isn't seen on many websites, but he's still valuable and precious.
I am almost six years old and I have lived here a long time. Even though I can run and walk and climb, I do it in a different way, and so the doctors say I have cerebral palsy. I don't really understand what cerebral palsy means, except that I guess it means that I can't have a Mommy. I also have some trouble speaking, and I guess that also means I can't have a Mommy or Daddy of my own.
I have tried to be a good boy my whole life. My friends and caregivers say that I am a boy who likes to give hugs. I am a big boy, too. I can drink from a cup all by myself and I know how to feed myself too! I can do puzzles pretty well and I even turn around when others say my name. Showing affection and turning to my name being called are really good things, but because I can't talk right now, I guess it isn't good enough to have a Mommy come to where I live and bring me to a new place where I could see great doctors and therapists.
The words that people use when they talk about me can be scary, and I can't really tell you what my future would be. For some people, not knowing is too scary and so they have to say "no" to being my Mommy. Other people like to pretend that I don't exist, and so they turn their face away because it is too sad or too scary. And still other people might like me well enough, but they say that because I am a big boy and almost six years old, I am too old to have a Mommy. I sure don't think I am too old to have a Mommy though! There are a lot of things that I could do with a Mommy or Daddy. I know I am a big boy - but am I really too grown up to have a Mommy and Daddy all my own?
My face isn't up on the more popular websites, so fewer people see my face. But I really think I have a cute face, don't you?
.jpg)
Thank you for reading this letter, and for helping me find my Mommy.
Love,
Christian.
Dear Christian,
You are a little love who is indeed worthy of having a Mommy and Daddy just for you. I know some of what is said about you sounds scary to some parents. I know cerebral palsy and other issues (such as possible autism or speech delays) are really big words and some parents might know that this is not something they could handle. But you are a special, valued, child of God. You can walk and run and point to the things you want. And you are still young enough to benefit so much from the love of parents. Almost six years old is definitely NOT too old to have a Mommy and Daddy!
Right now, I am working to adopt another precious little one from a terrible place - not where you live exactly, but close by. We are so excited to meet him. I'm so sorry that I cannot be your Mommy right now, but I promise that I will help you find a Mommy. I will pray that your Mommy sees your picture and knows right away that you are her little special boy.
Love,
Joshua's Mommy.
Please, if you can, share Christian's story. He isn't seen on many websites, but he's still valuable and precious.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Dossier complete!
Today is a glorious, joyous day for our family. We have completed the long process of gathering paperwork, and our dossier now sits in a Fed Ex envelope to go to Bulgaria, by way of our adoption agency in the United States first. It took perseverence and God's hand, but we have finished it!
My dear husband drove for hours in the rain to get to our state capital, only to be told that one of his documents was not signed by the proper government official and could not be authenticated. Jon was undeterred, however. He drove to the courthouse in a neighboring county, and was then told that this particular official was out of the office. Still unshaken, the workers in the courthouse were helpful and kind. They phoned the official, who spoke to Jon personally. It happened that this official was in our state's capital that day and was willing to meet Jon and sign the document. A few hours later, Jon met him in a small coffee shop in the shadow of the capital building, and quickly returned to the office to have the document authenticated. With that last hurdle cleared, he was ready to bring the documents to the Fed Ex office and send them on their way!
A gorgeous pile of documents, weighing just over a half pound, ready to leave our hands and speed to our future son's country.
For those interested in timelines, it took us just about three months to complete this process; from the time we committed to our future son until now. We have worked very hard and made it through many hurdles to make this happen. It will not be the last pile of paperwork we must complete, but it is one of the most significant piles of paperwork.
Unfortunately, our state does not "cap" the amount a family must spend to authenticate documents, so the total was $195 for this stack. This doesn't include out of state apostilles, although New Jersey offers a significant discount for families who are adopting. We only needed one document for that, however. The vast majority had to be authenticated in Pennsylvania.
We are entering another exciting phase of our process; the phase that will start us toward our first meeting with our little boy. This is a critical moment that brings us amazing joy, unbridled excitement, and even a little fear. Our costs and fees continue to pile on, and we need the prayers and support of so many of you to make this adoption actually happen. Our Reece's Rainbow account hasn't received donations in weeks, and we are praying that this money will grow enough to be able to afford our travel expenses. If you are reading this, would you please consider a donation of any size to that tax-deductible account? If you cannot, would you please consider sharing our family's story with others who can pray for us and give?
We have also received ten orders from our Avon website that helps support our adoption expenses. Please share our website with anyone who might be interested - it is another unique way to help us by making yourself beautiful and doing something beautiful too! And do you know that when you share this link, it is helpful? We received an order from someone last week who did not know us, but knew of our Avon website from someone like you! When you share, you help!
http://www.youravon.com/jennifermenges
Thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts! Thank you for caring for us and for our future son. Thank you for REJOICING with us on this wonderful day - the day our dossier is complete and ready to arrive in our future son's country of birth!
My dear husband drove for hours in the rain to get to our state capital, only to be told that one of his documents was not signed by the proper government official and could not be authenticated. Jon was undeterred, however. He drove to the courthouse in a neighboring county, and was then told that this particular official was out of the office. Still unshaken, the workers in the courthouse were helpful and kind. They phoned the official, who spoke to Jon personally. It happened that this official was in our state's capital that day and was willing to meet Jon and sign the document. A few hours later, Jon met him in a small coffee shop in the shadow of the capital building, and quickly returned to the office to have the document authenticated. With that last hurdle cleared, he was ready to bring the documents to the Fed Ex office and send them on their way!
A gorgeous pile of documents, weighing just over a half pound, ready to leave our hands and speed to our future son's country.
For those interested in timelines, it took us just about three months to complete this process; from the time we committed to our future son until now. We have worked very hard and made it through many hurdles to make this happen. It will not be the last pile of paperwork we must complete, but it is one of the most significant piles of paperwork.
Unfortunately, our state does not "cap" the amount a family must spend to authenticate documents, so the total was $195 for this stack. This doesn't include out of state apostilles, although New Jersey offers a significant discount for families who are adopting. We only needed one document for that, however. The vast majority had to be authenticated in Pennsylvania.
We are entering another exciting phase of our process; the phase that will start us toward our first meeting with our little boy. This is a critical moment that brings us amazing joy, unbridled excitement, and even a little fear. Our costs and fees continue to pile on, and we need the prayers and support of so many of you to make this adoption actually happen. Our Reece's Rainbow account hasn't received donations in weeks, and we are praying that this money will grow enough to be able to afford our travel expenses. If you are reading this, would you please consider a donation of any size to that tax-deductible account? If you cannot, would you please consider sharing our family's story with others who can pray for us and give?
We have also received ten orders from our Avon website that helps support our adoption expenses. Please share our website with anyone who might be interested - it is another unique way to help us by making yourself beautiful and doing something beautiful too! And do you know that when you share this link, it is helpful? We received an order from someone last week who did not know us, but knew of our Avon website from someone like you! When you share, you help!
http://www.youravon.com/jennifermenges
Thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts! Thank you for caring for us and for our future son. Thank you for REJOICING with us on this wonderful day - the day our dossier is complete and ready to arrive in our future son's country of birth!
Friday, May 4, 2012
Notarized!
We drove over 90 minutes through the terrible traffic that is Philadelphia (in RUSH hour, on a Friday!) to meet for fifteen minutes with a notary who was available TODAY to notarize every remaining document we have for our dossier. With our shiny new I 800 A approval in hand, we were ready!
We let Chelsea chew on a Dunkin Donut while we worked, and then we were headed toward home. Fifteen little minutes, but fifteen important minutes!
Now, every document is notarized and ready to be apostilled. We will hand carry our documents to Harrisburg on Monday to receive the authentications. Everything from "out of state" is already apostilled. This means that, by Monday afternoon, our completed dossier will be speeding its way to our agency - and then to Bulgaria! It will not be too much longer before we receive approval for our first trip and finally get to meet the little boy we cannot wait to call our son. By the end of this year, we pray, he will be with us and our family will have grown in a way we have prayed for for so long.
It's funny when I hear questions or criticism about adoption, as if it's some easy little process that magically gets a kid plopped in someone's lap. That the people who do this are simply interested in collecting children to serve their own needs. I can think of infinitely easier ways to expand a family. Cheaper ways, too. IVF doesn't cost as much as this adoption will. Having a baby biologically wouldn't be near this expensive or complicated for most people. If all I wanted was another child, by golly, I could think of far easier ways.
To date, every dime of adoption expenses have come out of our own pocket. I can think of a hundred ways I could have spent that money. Some would have been fun ways, others very practical ways, and some a combination of the two. I know there are some in cyberspace who have had most of their adoption expenses donated to them. That has not been us, and that is okay. We have been blessed with assistance at just the perfect moments, and that is enough. God promises to fulfill our needs when we ask (Matthew 7:7-11). When we have most needed it, kind people have stepped forward. Thank you.
We could have spent our money so many ways, and yet we were led, through the word of God, to pursue - not just adoption - but the adoption of a child with special needs from a terrible orphanage. The Bad Place. The Terrible Place. The place where children are frequently starved, left in their own filth, and unloved. Because our precious little Dude, our future son Joshua, lives in that place, his life will be more challenging than children who have lived in better places. We know this, and we work to bring him home anyway. We do this because God has laid it on our hearts to advocate for the least of His children.
It is so much more complicated than "wanting a son" or "wanting to have another child". My goodness. That hardly sums it up!
For today, we are one step closer to meeting the child we will proudly call our son. The paperwork - the long road of paperwork - is ready to be sent away. Now the work in Bulgaria begins. Soon we will lay our anxious eyes on our child.
The gravity of that moment is beyond description.
Please help us get to that moment. Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support. May you be blessed, even as God blesses us.
We let Chelsea chew on a Dunkin Donut while we worked, and then we were headed toward home. Fifteen little minutes, but fifteen important minutes!
Now, every document is notarized and ready to be apostilled. We will hand carry our documents to Harrisburg on Monday to receive the authentications. Everything from "out of state" is already apostilled. This means that, by Monday afternoon, our completed dossier will be speeding its way to our agency - and then to Bulgaria! It will not be too much longer before we receive approval for our first trip and finally get to meet the little boy we cannot wait to call our son. By the end of this year, we pray, he will be with us and our family will have grown in a way we have prayed for for so long.
It's funny when I hear questions or criticism about adoption, as if it's some easy little process that magically gets a kid plopped in someone's lap. That the people who do this are simply interested in collecting children to serve their own needs. I can think of infinitely easier ways to expand a family. Cheaper ways, too. IVF doesn't cost as much as this adoption will. Having a baby biologically wouldn't be near this expensive or complicated for most people. If all I wanted was another child, by golly, I could think of far easier ways.
To date, every dime of adoption expenses have come out of our own pocket. I can think of a hundred ways I could have spent that money. Some would have been fun ways, others very practical ways, and some a combination of the two. I know there are some in cyberspace who have had most of their adoption expenses donated to them. That has not been us, and that is okay. We have been blessed with assistance at just the perfect moments, and that is enough. God promises to fulfill our needs when we ask (Matthew 7:7-11). When we have most needed it, kind people have stepped forward. Thank you.
We could have spent our money so many ways, and yet we were led, through the word of God, to pursue - not just adoption - but the adoption of a child with special needs from a terrible orphanage. The Bad Place. The Terrible Place. The place where children are frequently starved, left in their own filth, and unloved. Because our precious little Dude, our future son Joshua, lives in that place, his life will be more challenging than children who have lived in better places. We know this, and we work to bring him home anyway. We do this because God has laid it on our hearts to advocate for the least of His children.
It is so much more complicated than "wanting a son" or "wanting to have another child". My goodness. That hardly sums it up!
For today, we are one step closer to meeting the child we will proudly call our son. The paperwork - the long road of paperwork - is ready to be sent away. Now the work in Bulgaria begins. Soon we will lay our anxious eyes on our child.
The gravity of that moment is beyond description.
Please help us get to that moment. Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support. May you be blessed, even as God blesses us.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
APPROVED
We left our vacation two days early and drove all the way home, because our agency informed us that WE HAVE RECEIVED I 800 A APPROVAL!
YES!
We really have!
Did I want to leave our vacation two days ahead of schedule?
No.
But we have a dossier to prepare!
For those counting along, our "registered" date was April 9th, and we have received approval on May 2nd. That's not even a month! I completed my biometrics (fingerprints) on FRIDAY!
Praise God for speedy approval.
We need a few more documents notarized and apostilled. We were honestly not prepared for such swift approval! But now, at home, we're readying the small pile of documents remaining and are trying to meet the notary tomorrow to have the documents notarized. I hope to have the documents brought to Harrisburg on Friday for apostilling - then off to our agency, and then off to Bulgaria. Soon WE will be off to Bulgaria, to meet the little boy we plan to bring into this country and into our lives forever.
Thank you for your prayers and thoughts. Please continue to pray for our family. As things progress very quickly, our funds are not where we need them to be. Tickets for use with frequent flyer miles seem scarce now, and we may need to pay for our trip in total. This rapidly depletes our resources. God, of course, knows all of this and He has something in mind that will make it possible for us to complete our adoption. God knows that the Bad Place is very bad and our little dude must leave as soon as possible.
Thank you for everyone who has taken the time to purchase Avon from us. These purchases have added up to almost $200 for our adoption. There are so many inexpensive things offered there, and this will be an ongoing fundraiser for us. So if you are not prepared now, please think about it when you are. And if you don't prefer Avon, could you share our link and information with someone who might be?
We are still offering t-shirts, but that will be ending shortly. So please check them out if you haven't! We received ours today and they are adorable! I want to post a picture of Chelsea in her shirt!
Donations to Reece's Rainbow are always appreciated for our family. The more tax-deductible donations we receive, the more likely it is that we will be able to make the required payments from those funds and keep our remaining funds for travel expenses.
Take a moment to pray for our future son and our family. Please share our story, because sharing our story brings awareness to The Bad Place, and to others who can pray for us and support us.
WE ARE APPROVED! Thank you Lord - we are approved!
YES!
We really have!
Did I want to leave our vacation two days ahead of schedule?
No.
But we have a dossier to prepare!
For those counting along, our "registered" date was April 9th, and we have received approval on May 2nd. That's not even a month! I completed my biometrics (fingerprints) on FRIDAY!
Praise God for speedy approval.
We need a few more documents notarized and apostilled. We were honestly not prepared for such swift approval! But now, at home, we're readying the small pile of documents remaining and are trying to meet the notary tomorrow to have the documents notarized. I hope to have the documents brought to Harrisburg on Friday for apostilling - then off to our agency, and then off to Bulgaria. Soon WE will be off to Bulgaria, to meet the little boy we plan to bring into this country and into our lives forever.
Thank you for your prayers and thoughts. Please continue to pray for our family. As things progress very quickly, our funds are not where we need them to be. Tickets for use with frequent flyer miles seem scarce now, and we may need to pay for our trip in total. This rapidly depletes our resources. God, of course, knows all of this and He has something in mind that will make it possible for us to complete our adoption. God knows that the Bad Place is very bad and our little dude must leave as soon as possible.
Thank you for everyone who has taken the time to purchase Avon from us. These purchases have added up to almost $200 for our adoption. There are so many inexpensive things offered there, and this will be an ongoing fundraiser for us. So if you are not prepared now, please think about it when you are. And if you don't prefer Avon, could you share our link and information with someone who might be?
We are still offering t-shirts, but that will be ending shortly. So please check them out if you haven't! We received ours today and they are adorable! I want to post a picture of Chelsea in her shirt!
Donations to Reece's Rainbow are always appreciated for our family. The more tax-deductible donations we receive, the more likely it is that we will be able to make the required payments from those funds and keep our remaining funds for travel expenses.
Take a moment to pray for our future son and our family. Please share our story, because sharing our story brings awareness to The Bad Place, and to others who can pray for us and support us.
WE ARE APPROVED! Thank you Lord - we are approved!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Children shouldn't die.
It is what is in my thoughts today as I sit to type. Children shouldn't die, but they do.
Parents shouldn't bury their children, but they do.
I followed with great interest the blog of a very wonderful family, whose daughter was stricken with a terrible disease known as Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA):
averycan.blogspot.com.
Known fondly as the "Bucket List Baby", Avery's plans were to do as many things as she could before she died of her disorder. She had a "bucket list" of things she wanted to accomplish. Sadly, her life was cut short before she could reach some of those goals. SMA took her life, and now her parents must bury their beautiful daughter.
It has only echoes of the loss our family suffered a little more than four years ago, the loss of our twin baby boys. There are stark differences, of course, but I know the feeling this family will have in some ways. They will wonder what she would have liked Elmo or Big Bird. Whether she would have preferred red or pink or green. Would she have been a girl who graduated at the top of her class? What college would she have attended? What would she have become when she grew up? What might she have looked like as a young adult? Would she find love and have children of her own someday?
Those are answers that they will never have, just as our family will never know about our boys. Would they have gotten along? Fought constantly? Would they have gone to college? Become parents of their own? What would their first car have been?
Children shouldn't die, but they do. Every day, babies are born and die. Little children, suffering with disease, die. Orphans die without families; they suffer in the Bad Place. This happens in a world that God created; imperfect and sad and sometimes beautiful and miraculous. God uses us, as fallen, imperfect people, to do good things. But bad things still happen. It is heartbreaking and sad when bad things happen.
The only thing we know for sure is twofold: First, we will not spend eternity here. We are promised an eternity with Jesus that is perfect, holy, and without pain or suffering. Second, we know that God can use all things for good. All things. Any thing. The death of a child, the suffering of others...anything. I do not believe this means God ordains these terrible things to happen, but I do believe that God can use these terrible things as a means to bring about good. Good will somehow come from the death of beautiful Avery Lynn, just as I believe good is coming from the death of Jacob and Zachary. If they were alive, we would not be rescuing their brother. That does not make their death "okay". It doesn't mean that we don't wish they were still with us - every single day we wish that.
It does mean, however, that in spite of the terrible tragedy that was the death of our sons, God is going to use this for good. God is going to help us rescue our "Ian" (soon to be Joshua) from The Bad Place. He is going to use us, and hundreds of others who pray for us and help us, to make that happen.
If nothing else, go to Avery's blog and see her sweet face; the face that now sits in shining glory. Pray for her family. Pray for the good that God has planned to come quickly for them. There is a way to donate to a life-saving clinical trial that can save future generations. If you want to do that, please do.
Thank you for helping us bring about the good that God has ordained for our family too. Your thoughts, prayers, donations, and purchases are doing that. You are part of the good. We really cannot finish this race without each follower, each person who shares our story, each person who takes just a few seconds to pray for our family, or who skips a meal out to donate in some way. I pray each day while I wash my daughter's bottles for so many who I don't know that have blessed us. I pray for you because I believe God will bless those who step forward to be part of the miracle that God is performing in our lives; to bring a new life to our family out of the ashes of our twins.
"And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)
Parents shouldn't bury their children, but they do.
I followed with great interest the blog of a very wonderful family, whose daughter was stricken with a terrible disease known as Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA):
averycan.blogspot.com.
Known fondly as the "Bucket List Baby", Avery's plans were to do as many things as she could before she died of her disorder. She had a "bucket list" of things she wanted to accomplish. Sadly, her life was cut short before she could reach some of those goals. SMA took her life, and now her parents must bury their beautiful daughter.
It has only echoes of the loss our family suffered a little more than four years ago, the loss of our twin baby boys. There are stark differences, of course, but I know the feeling this family will have in some ways. They will wonder what she would have liked Elmo or Big Bird. Whether she would have preferred red or pink or green. Would she have been a girl who graduated at the top of her class? What college would she have attended? What would she have become when she grew up? What might she have looked like as a young adult? Would she find love and have children of her own someday?
Those are answers that they will never have, just as our family will never know about our boys. Would they have gotten along? Fought constantly? Would they have gone to college? Become parents of their own? What would their first car have been?
Children shouldn't die, but they do. Every day, babies are born and die. Little children, suffering with disease, die. Orphans die without families; they suffer in the Bad Place. This happens in a world that God created; imperfect and sad and sometimes beautiful and miraculous. God uses us, as fallen, imperfect people, to do good things. But bad things still happen. It is heartbreaking and sad when bad things happen.
The only thing we know for sure is twofold: First, we will not spend eternity here. We are promised an eternity with Jesus that is perfect, holy, and without pain or suffering. Second, we know that God can use all things for good. All things. Any thing. The death of a child, the suffering of others...anything. I do not believe this means God ordains these terrible things to happen, but I do believe that God can use these terrible things as a means to bring about good. Good will somehow come from the death of beautiful Avery Lynn, just as I believe good is coming from the death of Jacob and Zachary. If they were alive, we would not be rescuing their brother. That does not make their death "okay". It doesn't mean that we don't wish they were still with us - every single day we wish that.
It does mean, however, that in spite of the terrible tragedy that was the death of our sons, God is going to use this for good. God is going to help us rescue our "Ian" (soon to be Joshua) from The Bad Place. He is going to use us, and hundreds of others who pray for us and help us, to make that happen.
If nothing else, go to Avery's blog and see her sweet face; the face that now sits in shining glory. Pray for her family. Pray for the good that God has planned to come quickly for them. There is a way to donate to a life-saving clinical trial that can save future generations. If you want to do that, please do.
Thank you for helping us bring about the good that God has ordained for our family too. Your thoughts, prayers, donations, and purchases are doing that. You are part of the good. We really cannot finish this race without each follower, each person who shares our story, each person who takes just a few seconds to pray for our family, or who skips a meal out to donate in some way. I pray each day while I wash my daughter's bottles for so many who I don't know that have blessed us. I pray for you because I believe God will bless those who step forward to be part of the miracle that God is performing in our lives; to bring a new life to our family out of the ashes of our twins.
"And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)
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