Grateful to the woman who chose life for my son

Tonight, I am thinking about how I will have the honour of raising a son-someone who was born to another woman. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and thanksgiving that I will have this privilege.
It is because of someone else's loss and decision that I can do this.

I am thankful for the woman who chose life for our son.
I am thankful that she was strong and carried him for nine months.
I am thankful that she brought him to a place where he would be cared for.

I pray that God will heal her heart and that she will have a peace in her heart knowing that her son is loved.

I do not know why she chose not to raise him as her own and I will likely never know. I do not have any negative feelings towards her and understand that in other countries they do not have the support systems we have in Canada. I will tell my son about the mommy who carried him for nine months. The woman who was so strong to make the choice that she felt was best.

I am thankful that I will have the immense honour of being a Mom to her son. Thank you for loving my son so much that you chose life for him. I am very thankful.

The draft is in...

My home study draft has arrived! With some minor changes and approval from the executive director my home study will be complete. It feels great to have one more thing almost done. 

Don't be anxious...

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

I'm thankful:

• that $16,385 has been saved and raised for my adoption- so close to being  a half funded!
• for friends and family who encourage me and support me
• that my son is alive and living in Bulgaria
• for two agencies that are assisting me in finding and bringing home my son
• that I have a warm house to bring my son home too
• for family traditions 
•  for a legacy of adoption in my family

Praying for:

• protection over my son
• that God will intervene and that the immigration pre-approval would not take until April 
• that my Bulgarian agency would known which file to pull for me
• that God would continue to provide the funds for each upcoming payment 
• that God would be preparing our hearts for what is ahead
• that people around me would be drawn to God and adoption

Preparing

Yesterday, I was thinking about how I should be preparing for my son. I was thinking about how when you have a baby there are lists and lists of the things you have to get/buy (carseat, crib, diapers, stroller, carrier, blankets, diaper cream, special shampoo, baby laundry soap, clothes, etc), you have to come up with a name or a list of names and prepare for the birth and baby stages through different classes and readings. You know that within 9 months the baby will arrive.


There are similarities for me as I walk down the road to bring my son home. I will need to buy/get many items (I have a carseat, some toys and depending what size he is maybe some hand-me-downs from my nephew), pick a name and I have been going through adoption classes with my social worker. I just do not know if I need to get clothing in 12 months, size 3 or size 7 and I am not going to buy clothing in everysize just incase:) As well, will I need a highchair, crib and baby toys?

Somethings I do know- that he will have two middle names and my last name, he will have a room decorated with love just for him (Andrea will be assisting me or maybe its more accurate that I will be assisting her- I have come up with the theme and an idea of what I want and she will run with it) and many homemade blankets. He will be loved deeply by his family and I pray that he will come to accept the love quickly and feel safe in my home.

It is surreal to think that just maybe he will be home next Christmas and be experiencing his first Keno Christmas! I cannot wait and I remember how special it was when Aiden had his first Christmas with us. Even though some of us were sick it was so much fun watching  the joy on his face as he experienced each of our traditions.

Financial Update

 The Purdy's fundraiser raised $263 and the magazine fundraiser has raised $154 so far!! Along with the other money I have saved and raised through the silent auction, card sales and donations we are at a total of $15,605!!!

That means I have less than $20,000 to raise and save!! I am so thankful to God for his provision-He has provided the money for each payment that was due and I am trusting He will continue to do so. Thank you for allowing Him to use you. I cannot wait to tell my son about all the people who helped me raise him ransom.

Thank you for loving my son and supporting me on this journey. Words cannot describe how thankful I am to each of you.

Home Study and Dossier Update!!

On Sunday, I met with my social worker (my last trip down to Victoria!) and the meeting went really well! On December 8th she will come and do our home inspection and finish up the educational aspect of the home study. After that she will write the home study, send it to the Executive Director and then send it back to me for a proof reading and then we will all sign it and it will be ready to go!


Now onto my dossier. I have started to collect the items that I need to collect for it and my hope is that it will be ready to go early in the new year. It was looking that it may take into the new year to find a specialist to complete my psychological evaluation but today I got a call and it looks like it will be complete by the end of this month.

My dossier checklist includes:

_____ Original Home Study (Expected to be done at Christmas)

_____ Hague Approval Letter (Agency will apply for this)

_____ Birth Certificate (Ready to Go)

_____ Original Criminal Records Checks (Will be doing in the next couple weeks)

_____ Medical Evaluation (DONE)

_____ Psychological Evaluation (Should be done this month)

_____ MCFD Prior Contact Check (DONE)

_____ 6 Family Photos

_____ Photocopy of Passport (Ready to Go)

_____ Immigration Pre-Approval (Will be applying in the next couple weeks)

Things are falling into place and God is providing each step of the way. The next fee I am saving for is my Bulgarian Agency Fee of $11,000 to $14,000 (waiting to hear the specific amount). 

Praise and Prayer Requests

• Praise God for providing $12,710 (over a 1/3 funded)!!!!!
• Providing a Psychiatrist to do my evaluation
• God would continue to watch over and care for my son
• That He would prepare my heart and mind for the months ahead
• That my pre-approval to adopt from Immigration would be processed and not lost in the system
• That God would bless those who are coming alongside of my and my future son 
• That God would provide my next fees. 

Thank you for journeying with me. I am blessed! 

Much love,

Heather 

Kisses From Katie

If you are ever looking for a good book to read that will inspire you Kisses From Katie is a book I highly recommend. Katie is a young women who went to Uganda on a short term missions trip and it stole her heart. She went back to Uganda for a year to teach and through that time God planted dreams in her heart and she still lives there today. She is the founder of Amazima and is a mom to 13 daughters that she has adopted in Uganda. She continues to give of herself each day to serve and love those around her. She is truly inspirational! 

I would love to share some quotes from her book that have challenged me. 

"My family, adopting these children, it is not optional. It is not my good deed for the day; it is not what I am doing to 'help out these poor kids.' I adopt because God commands me to care for the orphans and widows in their distress. I adopt because Jesus says that to whom much is give, much will be demanded and because whoever finds his life will loose it but whoeverlooses his life for my sake will find it."