Step one Complete????

The First Step... What is the first step? The first step is what some refer to as your first trimester "First Paper Trimester" of our adoption pregnancy. Yes I am tankin on the pounds . Pounds of paperwork that is. The first step consists of writing and then telling your life story to the Social worker of your choice .We chose the lovely Rachel Crews. We worked with her when we were blessed with Maggie. She is great. Step ones means you will need to gather birth and marriage certificates. Figure out a budget and your net worth.(nice economy to be doing that) Get all the Dr's to quickly fill out physical forms for everyone.The best thing was we can now say that we have seen the inside holding cells of our local police dept. Not because we were arrested but because this is where they do the fingerprinting necessary for international adoption. So yes Gary, Samantha and I are all "IN THE SYSTEM". Last week we thought all right we are done with step one the Homestudy is complete. So off to INS approval we think. But NO Tiffany's fingerprints were rejected. Was this because she has a record? Had she been living a lie. NO it's becaue in our fine little town the guy doing the fingerprionts also is a public school bus driver and was in a hurry. So again we are waiting. .So although we have made many trips to Rachels home to drop off paperwork so as not to waist even one hour. Here we are waiting. We hear this is the name of the game. Hurry up and wait. Hurry up and wait. A game many of you will certainly understand when I say Tiffany does not hurry up and wait very well. Surely God has a reason for this and in time we will understand.

So praying that this week we will advance on in our paper pregnancy.

Why adopt from Ethiopia?

Why adopt from Ethiopia?
Probably the most compelling reason we chose to adopt from Ethiopia is that we ran across these statistics from another blog and were just utterly broken for these children. Read the list below and just let their situation sink in....and then pray for this country and all the little ones who are precious in His sight but are having unbelievable times surviving.
1. One in ten children die before their first birthday.
2. One in six children die before their fifth birthday.
3. 44% of the population of Ethiopia is under 15 years old
4. 60% of children in Ethiopia are stunted because of malnutrition.
5. The median age in Ethiopia is 17.8 years.
6. 1.5 million people are infected with AIDS (6th highest in the world).
7. 720,000 children have been orphaned by AIDS alone, and there are 4.6 million orphans in Ethiopia.
8.Per capita, Ethiopia receives less aid than any country in Africa.
9. In the 90s the population (3%) grew faster than food production (2.2%).
10. Drought struck the country from 2000-2002 (first year no crops, second year no seeds, third year no animals).
11. Half the children in Ethiopia will never attend school.
12. 88% will never attend secondary school.
13. Coffee prices (Ethiopia’s only major export) fell 40-60% from 1998-2002.
14. Ethiopia’s doctor to children ratio is 1 to 24,000.
15. In 1993, after 30 long years of war, Eritrea broke from Ethiopia and became an independent nation leaving Ethiopia landlocked without any major seafaring ports.


The above infromation was Stolen from the adoption blog of our "followers "Mike and Sandy Mayfield who have also been called by God to adopt a child or children from Ehtiopia as well.
Yet we agree wholeheartedly with the words they have written and we add Jerimiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper and not harm you. ....
Perhaps you are a part of Gods plan to prosper one of the little ones in Ethiopia.....Either through prayer, through financial help or perhaps God is also calling you to go to Ethiopia and give even one a forever familiy.

Myths and Truths of Down Syndrome

TRUTH!!!
85-9o% of babies diagnosed with Down Syndrome while still in the womb are ABORTED!

Myth: Down Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder.
Truth: One in every 800 to 1,000 birth is a child with Down Syndrome condition. This figure represents approximately 5,000 births per year.

Myth: Most children with Down Syndrome are born to older parents.
Truth: 80% of children with Down Syndrome are born to women under 35 years of age. However, as the age of the parents increases, so does the incidence of births of children with Down Syndrome condition.

Myth: Children with Down Syndrome are severely retarded.
Truth: Children with Down Syndrome have an I.Q that falls between the mild to moderately retarded range. Children with Down Syndrome can be educated. However, educators and researchers have not been able to verify and document the full educational potential of Down Syndrome children.

Myth: Most people with Down Syndrome are institutionalized.
Truth: In recent years, Down Syndrome children are seen in the public together with the families, going about their educational, social and recreational activities. Some adults with Down Syndrome have also seen to work in café and fast food chains.

M yth:Adult with Syndrome are unemployable.
Truth: As society’s acceptance and understanding towards adults with Down Syndrome children increases, businesses around the world are employing young adults with Down Syndrome for a variety of positions.

Myth: Adults with Down Syndrome are unable to form close interpersonal relationship leading to marriage.
Truth: Many adults with Down Syndrome are able to socialize and form ongoing relationship such as courtship and marriage. Although women with Down Syndrome can have children, but the chances of getting a Down Syndrome child is 50%.

Myth: People with Down Syndrome condition can never be cured.
Truth: As the medical research advances, it was identified that the gene on chromosome 21 is responsible for Down Syndrome. Scientists believe that there is a possibility in the future to improve, correct and prevent the varies problems related to Down Syndrome.

Garrett

Christy

Peter James

Here is PJ playing 'peek-a boo'

Maggie Sunshine

Squishy Face!!!

Our Family as we are

Here is a pic of our beautiful family. Somehow our favorite photographer - Brandi - through the magic of digital manipulation, got all of us not only to smile but to look at the camera at once - it makes Tiffany cry...

Here We Gooooooo !

December 14, 2008 was anything but a typical Sunday...

It was the date I had given my family as to my answer to the BIG question... To go or not to go? After much prayer, consideration, and searching God's will, well the answer was clear. "Lets go get him".
"Him" was a little one year boy in Africa - Ethiopia that is, which somehow has survived with a heart defect and an extra 21st chromosome otherwise known as Down Syndrome. We have already been blessed with 2 kids with the very special chromosome (Maggie and PJ). He has yet to be 'officially' named - but I am leaning toward "Spud" - my wife winces at that. We have started climbing the mountain of paperwork and have even submitted our fingerprints to our local police department - very entertaining. We are all very excited to get on with this life adventure. I must admit I am confident of our direction, yet a little anxious also. We have adopted from of our state foster care system, and even an out-of-state adoption. Africa is certainly a little bigger trip full of more uncertainties and questions.

So we begin our quest for "Spud" and are so very excited for our days ahead - I hope you enjoy our story - hopefully one with a happy ending.

Gary (Big Dad)