Want to Know What's Going on in Ethiopia & the Adoption Slowdown?

Jamie Dean @WORLD Magazine does a good job of explaining the cause of the slowdown in Ethiopia for American's waiting to adopt. There are a lot of false information out there.Take a look at this article that came out today in World Magazine. It does a good job of explaining where things stand and how they got there. It also addresses the lack of facts to back up the corruption rumors. Tell me what you think! 

WORLD Magazine | Life or death | Jamie Dean | Jul 30, 11

www.worldmag.com

WORLD Magazine | Life or death | With international adoptions harder and harder to process and a slowdown in Ethiopia, the second-largest source of hope for American parents wanting to adopt overseas, the outcome can be heartbreak, or worse | Jamie Dean | Jul 30 11 | 

365 days of learning to open my eyes.

Picture by Esther Havens of Haiti orphans seeing a tray of food coming down the hall. 

Today last year, Scott and I submitted our application to adopt from Ethiopia to our dynamite adoption agency Gladney. What a journey! I was giddy with excitement when I pushed that "sent" button that emailed the adoption application.  We were finally on our way to becoming parents, and to bringing home children that needed a family. What a thrill to do what Scott and I had imagined doing 3 years ago when we were still dating. That first month I had problems sleeping because I kept wondering what they looked like at 2 am. Were they born yet? Was their family going through something heartbreaking? 

Now that we're on the wait list, those 1st-month questions have come back. I'm antsy to see the faces of our children, to get that call that say's we've been matched with our children. But I wouldn't wish away the 365 days of our journey.

It continues to open my eyes. Like Bono reminded me this week, God is always with the vulnerable, and with the poor. And I'm starting to see it. 

Last year, the main reason I wanted to adopt was because I wanted it.  But the journey continues to change me. This journey has had so many of God's fingerprints all over it that it's been overwhelming. I am not just reading a verse that says God cares about orphans, I am seeing through our story, our friends story, my job at Glimmer, and all those people popping into my life along this path that God is moving to change people's hearts to help the over 140 million orphans in the world.  Moving people to act. 

People like Esther Havens -- a talented photographer who is using brilliant photos to spread the word and tell the stories of some of the most vulnerable of children. Check out her fabulous photos in a recent exhibit called "telling stories that change stories." You can purchase a print.  Here is one of my favorites photos and stories about a young man named David who was forced to be a child solider when he was young, and has found forgiveness and peace from God. 


I continue to run into people like Esther that are living a crazy life to help these children. And it's inspiring. And addicting.

Its been a wild, crazy, frustrating ride to get my heart, and feet to go to a place where God has been all along. I started on this journey thinking I was the one doing it. And I'm coming to see that God is the Great Mover. And the Father to all these fatherless little ones. Instead of the being the one that saves a child through adoption, I'm beginning to see how adopting a child may in the end save me instead. 

 “if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in the darkness and your gloom will become like midday and the Lord will continually guide you and satisfy your desire in scorched places” Isaiah 58:9-11

Why Ethiopia?

Saw this video posted on Emily's adoption blog. It made me cry. The video is circulating many adoption blogs -- it's from a family who wanted to tell friends why they chose to adopt from Ethiopia.

Makes me love my job at Glimmer even more.

I heart my mailbox! It delivered my I600! it's a good day.

We got approval to adopt from immigration today in the mail!!! Been waiting on this baby -- no pun intended -- for a while :)

13 days till the Chosen Marathon -- We've got a Rock'n Team running the race!

The count down has begun! 13 days till when the 'Holder Team' will be running in the Chosen half-and-full Marathon for Adoption to raise funds for our Ethiopian adoption!! wahoo! big day.  Scott and I have many dear friends and some complete strangers that will be joining our journey on Oct. 23 to help us bring home children from Ethiopia. We feel blessed. 

THE HOLDER TEAM:

We've got a committed caravan of dear friends driving 890 miles from St Louis to join our team on race day-- big thanks to Jon, Sara Elizabeth, Erick, Beth, Sara L. and Garrett. Love you guys! The dedicated and fellow gluten-free pasta eater Mara is flying in from Cleveland, Ohio with her cousin Bess joining us from Brooklyn! What do I mean by dedicated? During training, Mara ran 2 twenty mile runs - alone.  As you know runners, that's a lot of alone time to endure.  Our public relations man Madison worked hard not only to train for the race, but to spread the word about the Chosen race to all manner of friends, runners, and total strangers down in Houston.  In Dallas, my sister Brittany posted race flyers and told her friends.  Another teammate joining us for the race, is the hardcore-marathon runner Judy coming from our adoption agency Gladney in Fort Worth. My favorite pumped-up, running-buddy Taylor is on our team.  She and my terrific husband Scott kept my feet going on those long HOT runs this summer! And Rebekah who I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting in person is from San Antonio. She found our team on the Chosen marathon website and kindly wanted to help us! 

Through this race, Scott and I have met a lot of big-hearted people that are giving up their time, and resources to help orphans and over 20 families raise funds for their adoptions. Some of those big-hearted people include our friends at Church of the Cross in San Marcos who are adding their support and prays for us and others on their adoption journey.  While Scott's longtime training buddy Joel and many other friends work hard to keep all us runners hydrated during the 26.2 mile event.  Yea water stops! Jenni Lord first dreamed up this life-changing race one year ago, and it's been a pleasure getting to know her and the whole race planning committee of volunteers that's making it happen in less than 2 weeks.  

We've got a rock'n team, a mass of race volunteers and today Scott and I's hearts are brimming over from the support these folks and the many others have given to our adoption journey.  Having so many loved one and new friends come out and take part on our journey is overwhelming.  We're definitely feeling the love.

Our team is looking forward to crossing that finish line. And Scott and I are thrilled to be one step closer to bringing home our children from Ethiopia! 

My imagination keeps getting away from me.

My little niece Lucy has a birthday tomorrow! [She's the little blond one on the left]. I had fun getting this make-believe lover a sparkly, twirly ballerina skirt today to pop in the mail.  Before finding this newest dress-up accessory, I scouted out Target looking for something to do with mermaids, because Lucy keeps telling her mommy [that's my sister Brittany holding her in the picture] that she wants to grow up and be a mermaid.  I have to agree.  I too would love to grow up into a mermaid.  Alas while I failed to procure mermaid-like attire, I began to wonder what kinds of children's clothing I'll be getting next fall.  Will it be Batman PJs, or wispy skirts with sparkles?

It's surreal not to know the age or sex of the children Scott and I will start a family with sometime soon. We've passed our adoption homestudy and our next move is to complete the paper work going to Ethiopia, and get on a waiting list.  Once on the waiting list, we will wait to get a referral for one or two children under the age of 5.  The category seems so vast today. If one of the children is four years old at the time of referral, we could be starting school next fall. And if one of the children is 6 months old, we could be heavily investing in diapers for years to come.

Having 6 nieces and nephews to watch grow, play and celebrate birthdays with has both prepared us and excited us about the prospect of becoming parents to children of all ages.  As we continue to pray for God to guide us in our path to adopt, and as the time goes closer to when we may be bringing home children, my imagination grows.  I look at girl's hair styles and wonder how curly our children's hair will be.  And randomly I'll think 'Is it still too early to buy a swing for our backyard?'  It's all silly, but it's now a well-trod bunny trail that my mind keeps taking.  And day by day, it seems less strange that children -- age unknown -- will be living with us soon. 

How is it that my heart and, by extension, my imagination can feel attached to children I've never seen, and know nothing about? I can only think of it as a grace. A grace straight from the hand of God.  What a beautiful way for God to prepare my heart for our children through imagination.  It is a wonder.  

Some of the Forgotten Children

In China, a child with albinism would not be able to go to school, get married, or get a job.  Through adoption, they have found a mom, a dad and a family of siblings that provide unconditional love.  I love seeing how God moves hearts to love the forgotten children.




The 'Spirit of Adoption' blog shared this video. It's called 'The Chosen Ones' by  preston gannaway

Run for Adoption!!

Scott and I passed our home study last week, and now we're turning our attention to the Marathon for Adoption coming up soon October 23. In preparation, we're doing another long training run this Saturday morning around town lake in Austin. Let me know if anyone wants to join us for all or part of the run. We're doing the 11-mile loop and then maybe the 7-mile loop after.

We're pumped that so many of our friends will be joining us in running a half or full marathon next month to raise awareness for orphans around the world, and to help us raise funds for our adoption! We have friends, and friends of friends, from Houston, St. Louis, Brooklyn, New Braunfels and Austin coming down to run in our team, or volunteer for the race.

Please continue to spread the word about this race! It's going to be a great event. More than 25 families are raising funds through the race to pay for their adoption.

Here is a pic from the historic Gruene 10K, Scott and I ran in last Saturday. A group of us wore 'Run for Adoption' tshirts!

www.marathonforadoption.com

The Wisdom of Mother Teresa on Orphans

I read this quote on my friend Michelle's adoption blog: “The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted,”  Mother Teresa of Calcutta.  The quote reminded me how much wisdom Mother Teresa passed on to the next generation -- especially concerning orphans and poverty. Anyone know of a good biography?


Mother Teresa wrote her birthday as August 27 because it was the day of her baptism.  It's coming up in a few weeks. What better way to celebrate her life, than by reading about it! 


Michelle's family is currently in Kiev adopting a 16-year old girl named Maria.  They're been spending the last week with other teens living in Maria's orphanage.  

Together for Adoption in Austin, TX Oct 1-2

Photo by Esther Havens

If you're interested in adopting sometime down the road, 

already in process or already have adopted domestically 

or internationally, I hope to see you the Together for Adoption 

national conference October 1-2, 2010 in Austin, Texas.  At 

the conference, come visit me at the A Glimmer of Hope 

non-profit table in the Expo section! Also check out 

photographers Esther Havens and Kristin Laughlin at the 

conference -- both of these photographers have traveled 

with Glimmer in Ethiopia to document its projects and the 

women, children and communities that benefit.

Together For Adoption Conference 

Austin, Texas  

October 1-2, 2010                                   

Hill Country Bible Church  

Address: 12124 RR 620 North, Austin, TX 78750.

The Kirk Family's Adoption in the Ukraine

My friend Michelle from Dallas is currently with her family in Kiev, Ukraine adopting a 16-year old girl named Maria.  While in Kiev, they found out about two older children named Vlad and Olga who's adoption just fell through because the adopting family didn't pass their homestudy. If you know of anyone interested in adopting older children please pass their story along.

Read more at the Kirk Family Blog:

http://www.davidkirk.org/

Konstantin called me tonight asking for some help.  When he sent me Maria’s picture he also sent me pictures of two other children in need of adoption, Olga and Vlad.  They are older as well.  A couple was going to adopt them but were not recommended during the home-study.  So now these two children who thought they would be adopted are back to being orphans.  We will all be meeting them tomorrow night when we go to see Maria again.  If you know anyone, or know of someone who knows someone who might be interested in adopting two older children please forward this to them and have them make contact with me.  Vlad turns 16 in about three weeks and after this it will be too late for them to have an American family.  It is really not as expensive to adopt as most people think and just takes some time and energy.

Want to Run a Half or Full Marathon!? Choose the CHOSEN Marathon

Hey Runners, WannaBe Runners & Friends of Runners! Scott and I are forming a Holder Team to run in the New Braunfels' Chosen: Marathon for Adoption on October 23, 2010. All proceeds of the marathon will benefit orphans!  And if you join our team for this race, 100 % of your registration fees will go towards the cost of our Ethiopian adoption! YEAH!

When registering just put that you want to be on the "Scott & Courtney Holder" team.

Right now, you have plenty of time to start training!!  The course starts in Gruene and finishes at the Guadalupe River.  It's also a Boston qualifing marathon. Go to the links below to find out more about the race.

http://www.marathonforadoption.com/

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=241741642361

The Beginning -- March 16, 2010

Scott and I began the process of adopting one or two children from Ethiopia February 25, 2010.

We began talking about adopting while we were dating, and have strongly believed it would be apart of growing our family. But like most things that hang out in the vague future -- while we planned for it at some point, it escalated from some vague future event to something we were signing up for in under a month. We're thrilled! But not ready to tell people just yet. Instead I'm starting this blog to write down the process so that we can share all the details with family and friends when we feel the time is right.

Before us is all the paper work, the long wait and the high cost associated with international adoption. With 44 Million orphans in the world it would seem a simple process to adopt, but like most valuable things in life a long wait and a little pain is all part of the deal.

Today Scott went to get his physical, and tomorrow I go to get mine. The adoption application is a beast of things to sign, forms to fill out and paperwork to prove that you're alive, kicking and going to be a good parent.

We're going through an adoption agency out of Fort Worth, Texas called Gladney adoption agency. After our minds were bleeding with information from calls, Internet research and packets of materials from most of the big, long-standing adoption agencies involved in international adoption in the United States, we decided to go with the sure thing. And to us, the sure thing was Gladney. For the last three years, my sister Heather and her husband Chris has been inundating my family with Gladney praise since bringing home their son Zane from Ethiopia. Why mess with something that good -- Right? At least that's what we're thinking.

Scott and I hope to get a sibling group of two Ethiopian children. We think this is where God's heart is drawing us, and we've taken the first step. We have no idea how we'll get there in the end. What does G K Chesterton say...'necessity is the mother of invention'?

Well, we've made the plunge. The adventure has begun. We would appreciate your prayers.