My Overthinking

Philly Area mom, Life forever changed by adoption

Using Your Passion {Red Thread Sessions}

Let’s just say your family is called to adopt. You recognize that call; your heart is all in; you answer that call.

Paperwork, paperwork. Write a check here, write another check there…here a check, there a check, everywhere a check check. Fingerprints, doctor appointments, background checks, photocopies.

Then, you wait. Some for a while. Some not long at all.

And, then you see your child for the first time. And, life is changed.

You bring that child home. And, your life that was changed already is now seriously changed.

Yes, there’s struggle in that. Yes, it’s uncomfortable at times. But, it’s good.

And, when you sit back and marvel at what God has done, you might find yourself thinking, “I am changed. We are changed. And, I want to live that difference out by doing something more. I need to. Lord, what can I do?”

And, that’s fun to watch from the outside because you see God using people to do some pretty creative things. This week, I got to see that.

Nicole. She and I talked adoption as they were just starting out…and we haven’t really stopped. I got a front row seat to seeing God bring their family together through the same special social worker who God used to bring our family together. They waited anxiously to bring Brooklyn home to their family. And, home she is.

Driven by a compassion for adoptive families, Nicole has answered the call to do something more.

Together with a fellow photographer and adoptive mama, Nicole Bradley, they dreamed up uniting photographers to serve adoptive families using their talents to offer newly formed families a photography session at no charge. Celebrating and promoting adoption through photography? Perfect. Two more photographers touched by adoption joined their dream–Jenna Stoll and Amy Vecchio. A year later – Red Thread Sessions is officially launched.

The photographers in their network will completely waive their session fee and provide edited proofs from these sessions at no cost to adoptive families. These sessions could be

  1. a family portrait session within the first 3 months of a finalized adoption,
  2. a homecoming session where the volunteering photographer meets the adoptive family at the airport upon arrival home, or
  3. a birth photography session to capture the birth of the adoptive child.
They started with 2 passionate photographers who wanted to use their giftedness to honor adoption and serve adoptive families. 
They joined up with 2 more to bring them to 4 passionate women.
Launching their website on Sunday, by the end of the day, their numbers came to 20 passionate for the cause.
By the end of the second day, their ranks were 59.
By the end of the third day, make that number 98. 
3 days. And, enough traffic to exceed their site bandwidth (for all those techie types).
Their plates have been full these last few days answering emails and looking at applications and portfolios. But, they can’t seem to stop smiling because they are so excited about how God has led and how He’s going to bless their efforts to bless families, bless children, preserve very special moments in life, and promote adoption at large. 
Grab their button; spread the word; they’ve got over 100 photographers now ready to start clicking.


RTS




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Since when is international adoption un-American?

I overthink a lot of things. But, I don’t overthink politics.

I’m passionate about a good number of things. Adoption’s one of them. Politics are not.

Having said that, some political things do catch my attention as one did today.

Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman was hoping to hold up the Republican cause in the race for the Presidency. As of tomorrow though, according to news just posted online, he’s withdrawing from the race. I’m sure lots of overthinking went into that decision. Overthinking that I hope had nothing to do with the recent buzz I’ve read about from an opponent.

Someone who is passionate about politics apparently, someone who claims to support Ron Paul, attacked Huntsman for his “anti-American” values and for being “soft on China.”

because of his daughters.

He and his wife happen to have 5 biological children and 2 children who joined their family via adoption–one from China and one from India.

This person used video footage of Huntsman receiving his daughter in China and paired it with the words “American Values? or Chinese?”

I’m not quite sure to which American values this person is referring. But, I’m thinking that international adoption doesn’t quite contradict “liberty and justice for all.”

And, frankly, given this video claiming to hold up American values, Chinese values are looking a whole lot more mature.

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{Advocating} The Gift of a Home

These aren’t my words. But, they are the words of someone who has become very dear to me. They are the words of the very special person who opened our daughter’s file, quickly typed in our names, and clicked a button, changing our lives forever. This very special person announced yesterday that she will be resigning her position as Adoption Director at our adoption agency at the end of this month so that she can stay at home with her toddler son. But, before she leaves, I’d really like to give her a very special gift–one very special match.

Please read and share this link. This Christmas, we want to see [Bo’s] family say yes to bringing him home.

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Working in the field of adoption, I have read countless heartbreaking stories of the injustices children are forced to endure. Sometimes, I have to remind myself that each “referral,” each “document,” each “jpeg,” is a child. An actual child. Waiting. Is it easy to forget this fact after opening 3000+ attachments? Yes. Until God sends one of these “files” my way that forces me to take pause. To remember. This day, God sent [Bo] to me.

On an insignificant Tuesday, while searching the list of over 1,600 waiting children, I came across a birth date. A date that is so engrained in my heart, it immediately forced me to open this “file” to meet this “referral.” August 13, 2010. The day I gave birth to my first child, Murphy. One of the happiest days of my life. One of the most nerve-wracking days of my life. On August 13, 2010, I was happy-excited-nervous-scared-in pain-full of joy-exhausted. And, across the world, on August 13, 2010, I know [Bo’s] mother shared these same feelings. Though, her day ended much differently than mine.

I spent the night waking when Murphy woke. Doing my best to feed my baby, change my baby, and cater to his every need. I called the nurse many times throughout the night. Am I doing this right? Is he eating enough? My husband was right there with me, getting me water, cradling our new angel. It was hot and humid outside, and I was cool and comfortable in the hospital. I had all of the supports I could need. And after very little sleep, I awoke on August 14, 2010 to my beautiful baby boy.

On August 14, 2010, at not even 1 day old, [Bo] was on his own. Alone. During the night, after realizing that she could not provide the medical care her baby would need, [Bo’s] mother made the heartbreaking decision to give him a chance at life. Her only option was to leave him outside of an apartment building and hope that a good Samaritan would find him and take him to safety.

I think back to those first few days following Murphy’s birth. He had jaundice. They heard a heart murmur. I was a wreck. But, Murphy also had doctors, nurses, and state of the art medical equipment to care for him–not to mention a mother, father, and countless other people who already loved him and doted on him. Now, I find that I cannot stop thinking about [Bo] on those few days following his birth. The same exact days that Murphy and I experienced. But, [Bo] did not have doctors. He did not have nurses. He had no one.

God sent [Bo] to me. Murphy’s twin, in a way. [Bo] reminded me that each birth date, each “referral,” each “document,” each “jpeg,” are all Murphys–all children of God who deserve the love and support of a family.

Could you be [Bo’s] family?

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Wanna see his file? Please email Deann (Sarah’s replacement) and allow her to introduce you to this very special little boy. Or, you can contact me for more information as well.

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Click HERE to see updated pictures of [Bo] from early January! He has become such a cute little boy!


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Beyond Orphan Sunday

Orphan Sunday, recognized in thousands of churches across the country, was last week. Churchgoers across the country heard perhaps for the first time about the orphan crisis, about God’s heart for the orphan.

My husband had the privilege of being one of the people who got to share that day. He was invited to preach at our church on Sunday…and preach he did. He joked at the start about getting permission to preach twice as long since church had been cancelled the week before due to a power outage. Good thing he did an awesome job because the crowd may have grown restless at minute 50 otherwise.

If you want to hear Mark teach about adoption and how it is the heart of the gospel–click on over here. Would love to hear your thoughts about it–but know that I’m my husband’s biggest fan and think he pretty much rocks…because he so does. Just keep that in mind.

As we get ready for another weekend and move past November 6th, think about how you might be able to get involved in caring for orphans beyond Orphan Sunday. There are some great resources here including links to ways you can grow a heart for orphans in your kids.

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