Great News Often Comes With a Price Tag

So we received our adoption referral much quicker than we ever imagined!  We will soon be adding two beautiful, precious children to our family!  While it seemed like a long time as we waited to hear something… anything… looking back, it was really fast! 

We had always thought about adopting internationally.  But we really, truly started considering it back in January/February 2013.  As I mentioned in a previous blog post, we were really convicted by our nephew, Mikiyas (adopted from Ethiopia last year). 

And so, we began the process to adopt from Ethiopia as well. 

International adoption is a very expensive (and normally long) process.  We have been very blessed so far, and God has provided for us.  And we have no doubt He will continue to provide for us.  Because this has moved much faster than we anticipated (which is wonderful!), we are reaching out to ask for help… which is not an easy thing to do – it is very humbling!  Along with our referral acceptance comes a $10,030 fee (and additional expenses to come)…

Will you consider helping us?  Every dollar counts!  We have been blessed to be able to help other families through this process, and it is an amazing feeling to know that you helped children to come home to their forever families.  You can donate directly to our adoption fund on the left.  Help us to be able to bring sweet 3-year-old “S” and 5-year-old “B” home soon!  (I know people have asked about pictures of them, but we are not allowed to post them publically until they are officially ours.  I can say, they are stinkin’ cute!). 

We are also selling super-cute bracelets for $10 each.  Check out the ‘Fundraisers’ tab at the top of the page.  If you are out of town and would like to buy a bracelet, you can purchase from that page.  If you live locally and would like to buy one, you can just send me a message to let me know which bracelets you’re interested in & I can get them to you.

Adoption is a wonderful picture of God’s love for us.  When He adopts us into His family, we do none of the work.  He does it all.  He pays the price, and does the work of redemption.  He brings us home and makes us His.  And our lives are forever changed and transformed because of His love. 

But we need spiritual protection.  Because of this we ask for your support in prayers above all.  We cannot do this without being covered in prayer. Thank you so much for your prayers, love and support!! 

Blessings,

The Reeses

Let the Heart Palpitations Begin!

So last night, we got a very important phone call!!  The one that I am still wondering - is this it?  Is this real??  The call that adds another range of emotions after we said goodbye to Jeff's father, after his battle with melanoma.  

Our agency called us last night to tell us they have a potential referral for us!!  Two precious children: a 5-year-old little girl and a 3-year-old little boy!  So now introducing heart palpitations, as we pray about this big decision & huge step in our adoption journey.  I'm having a hard time putting what we feel into words, so this will be a little short....

Your prayers are GREATLY appreciated!!!

Getting a little closer!...

Just a little update on where we are in our adoption process!

We have completed all the paperwork that we can at this point.  Our Homestudy is complete!  And our dossier paperwork is finished, minus one piece that we will get after we receive our referral of a child (or three!)

I had a bit of a panic moment last week, as I was emailing our case worker back & forth... I was asking her where we were on the waiting list.  She said she can't really tell me that, but she did assure me that we are first on the list for three siblings!... Wait, three??  

Now, just to clarify, this doesn't mean than we WILL get three siblings (however, my sister Amanda, dreamed that we had three, so there's a good chance if you know her & her dreams!).  This means that we are approved for up to three children, ages 3-12.  We could end up with one or two.  Or we could end up with THREE!  Let's do the math... Our current four, plus three... Yep, we could end up with seven kids!  What are we thinking??  I guess 7 is my favorite number?...

Yes, maybe we are a little crazy... And her saying that sent me into a mini-panic... But we are trusting God & His guidance.  We felt led by Him when we wrote the number '3' in our paperwork.  So we'll see what God has in store for us!  Oh, and our kids are convinced that we will end up with two girls and a boy... We shall see...

Right now, we wait.  And pray.  And research vehicles!  Do we go for the 9 passenger van?  Or head straight for the 12 passenger?  Or how about a limo?  We could arrive in style everywhere we go!  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  :). Thank you so much for your prayers!!  And stay tuned for a couple of fund raisers...

Home Study

Well, we had out home study visit over the weekend!  We now just have to do a few more things before our home study is complete!  After that, we submit our USCIS application, wait for immigration approval, get our passports, and put together our dossier.  Then we wait.  Not sure how long it will take, but it could be fairly quick since we are open to older children and sibling groups.  It is still a waiting game.  Waiting for USCIS approval... waiting for a referral... waiting for a court date... waiting to find out how large our next vehicle will need to be... Lessons in patience! 

Room for More?

Four kids and in the process to adopt more?  

In today's culture, yes even I think we're crazy.

Jeff and I have always 'talked' about international adoption, but never really did anything about it.  We wanted four children, and God has blessed us with four amazing biological children.  We watched my sister & her family go through with adopting their sons from Ethiopia, and it was an amazing experience.  We fell in love with our new nephews - so that was good enough, right?  We are also sponsoring four children through Compassion International and World Vision.  Maybe that's good enough...

Until Mikiyas, my sister's 6-year-old from Ethiopia asked his Mommy about bringing home more children.  He says there are so many in Ethiopia without Mommies or Daddies.  She told him that they would love to but can't right now.  He then said, 'We bring home some.  Aunt Becky & Uncle Jeff bring home some.  Oh, and Church!  Church know God.  Lots at church.  God tells church to bring home all!”  Leave it to a 6-year-old to convict us.  That combined with our own children praying for orphans and talking about adoption...  And some life-changing books we had been reading that all had similar messages...

After reading a lot, we kept feeling this need to simplify; to reduce a lot (If you'd like to feel this way too, read '7' by Jen Hatmaker).  We even thought about our big house and how we really have no need for so much space.  (not that we live in a mansion by any means, but I was nearly ready to sell our four bedroom home to cram our family into a small 2-bedroom house - that's being a radical Christian, right?).  Then, God taught us a lesson in being content with what we have, and to use what he has blessed us with to bless others.  Maybe there's another meaning to what Jesus said about selling everything we have to give to the poor... When there are over 153 MILLION orphans out there, maybe we are called to do something about it... Maybe we need this space for more children!

So I knew we should start looking into the adoption process.  I asked Jeff who said, 'Well, I'm not getting any younger.  Let's do it.'. This surprised me, as I always thought of adoption as 'some day', but never thought about it actually happening!  I thought Jeff would be more reserved about it, but he seemed way less nervous than I!  And the kids are so excited!  They're already setting aside stuffed animals and clothes for their 'new sisters'.  We have no idea what is in store, but we're trusting God!

After praying about which agency to use, we have chosen one and are now in the process of getting our Home Study ready.  We have decided to be open to older children (up to age 10) and sibling groups.  These children are often over-looked.  But God has not forgotten them and is calling us to do something about it.  "God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.  This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." - Ephesians 1:5

And another 'scary' thing - we will have to look into getting a much bigger vehicle!  With our current vehicle, we can only squeeze in one extra person - and that is if they sit sideways.  So no room for another car seat or booster seat!... We always joke that, with a family of 6, we don't visit, we invade.  Well, watch out for a Reese Invasion!

Please pray for us as we go through this process.  It can be a long (and expensive) process before we bring them home, but with us being open to older children & sibling groups, it could move fairly quickly.  And please pray that my mind doesn't get all sensible.   ;)

Please also pray for the orphan ministry that my sister is starting at our church - a ministry that will include local adoptions, international adoptions, child sponsorships, etc.  "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." - James 1:27

Jonah and stuff

So obviously we haven't blogged for a long time...

Basically some stuff happened between 2008 and now, including us having our son Jonah in 2010.

 

That was the definitely highlight of the past five years.  Then some more stuff happened, and now it's today. 

 

 

We are so very blessed.

 

The end...  Or is it?