We are all recovering from having had the flu this past weekend. Not very fun, but on the good side of things, we were able to spend a lot of time filling out paperwork. We only have a couple more papers to add and our homestudy will be complete!! We have fingerprinting appointments scheduled for tomorrow and Dr. visits scheduled...we are getting so close! There IS light at the end of the tunnel!
In March we have a 2-day training we will be attending. It should be a lot of fun. We will get to meet other adoptive parents. The training will cover issues such as attatchment and bonding, grief and loss, family dynamics, becoming a conspicuous family and much more.
We are quickly approaching the time when Jesse if off work because it is too wet out in the woods to work. This is not a good time financially, but it has been awesome to see God provide so far. It is great to be able to see things happen--that we didn't think were possible--in God's perfect timing! What an awesome reasurance to know that this desire to adopt is from Him.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
AWOP
I wanted to write about our decision to go through AWOP (African Widows and Orphans Project) and Hope Adoption Agency. The fees are the same regardless of whether we go through Hope directly or use AWOP. We decided we want to go through both so we can support the awesome work of AWOP. We have been assigned a case manager through AWOP. All of their case managers have already adopted children from Ethiopia and know the ropes very well. They will walk us through the entire process.
We will send our application and other paperwork directly to AWOP. They will copy our information and send the originals Hope. Their staff will walk us through each detail and we can contact our case manager as often as we wish. They will help us make travel plans, and they have staff in Ethiopia to meet us at the airport and care for us during our trip.
Last week received a huge folder in the mail from AWOP. I will be talking with our case worker for the first time tonight and she will go through it all with me.
We will send our application and other paperwork directly to AWOP. They will copy our information and send the originals Hope. Their staff will walk us through each detail and we can contact our case manager as often as we wish. They will help us make travel plans, and they have staff in Ethiopia to meet us at the airport and care for us during our trip.
Last week received a huge folder in the mail from AWOP. I will be talking with our case worker for the first time tonight and she will go through it all with me.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Snow!
Oops! Trying to be helpful, I was plowing the driveway so my honey wouldn't have to when he got home from work....I got the 4-wheeler stuck! Sorry Honey! ;)
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Letter
(The following is a support letter that we have mailed to our friends and family. We thought we'd put it up for any of our online friends to read.)
Dear Family and Friends,
“A father to the fatherless…God sets the lonely in families.” --Ps. 68:5-6
We have great news! Our dreams are coming true as we have the opportunity to adopt an infant. Most of you know by now that we have felt called by God to adopt a ‘fatherless’ child into our family. We are adopting a little baby from Ethiopia. It breaks our hearts to hear that so many children struggle to just survive without a loving and nurturing home. God’s Word has also been a powerful lesson in our call to adopt:
"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” --Matthew 25:40
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…” --James 1:27
The one part of adopting that is difficult for us, other than the waiting, is the expense of it all. We estimate that the total cost for adoption fees, document preparation, home study, airfare, travel, attorney fees, etc. to be $18,000. We certainly don’t have $18,000, but we’re trusting in God’s provision to see this adoption through.
Honestly, it’s a difficult thing to make our needs known to our friends and family, but we also know that we can’t do this without the loving support of you.
Recently we learned of Kingdom Kids Adoption Ministries, an organization that helps families raise funds for adoptions. Interested people can make a tax-deductible donation to Kingdom Kids Adoption Ministries on our behalf. This money will be used toward adoption expenses. All contributors receive a tax receipt for their donation. And, we will keep you updated on our progress and send you specific information about our new baby as it comes to us from Ethiopia.
Please call or email us with any question you may have regarding our situation. We are happy to talk about this wonderful adventure. Also, the Kingdom Kids staff is available to you Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time). Please contact them at (509) 465-3520 or email them at Ministry@KingdomKidsAdoption.org Their website is www.KingdomKidsAdoption.org
We are excited about what God is going to do in our lives through this child. The process is long and not without obstacles but we are ready for the challenge. When our child arrives home to us, we will contact you with our happy news. Thank you for prayerfully considering us in your giving this year.
Sincerely,
Jesse and Ashley Haynes
(208) 875-0680 or (208) 301-1816
Jnahaynes@turbonet.com
P.S. If you decide to assist us in our fundraising and wish to do so by check please DO NOT include our names anywhere on the check. Internal Revenue Service regulations do not allow for a tax-deductible donation to have any name other than the tax-exempt organization written on it. Please enclose a note with your check to indicate that you wish you donation to
go toward our grant. Thank you so much. We covet your prayers as we walk through this journey.
Dear Family and Friends,
“A father to the fatherless…God sets the lonely in families.” --Ps. 68:5-6
We have great news! Our dreams are coming true as we have the opportunity to adopt an infant. Most of you know by now that we have felt called by God to adopt a ‘fatherless’ child into our family. We are adopting a little baby from Ethiopia. It breaks our hearts to hear that so many children struggle to just survive without a loving and nurturing home. God’s Word has also been a powerful lesson in our call to adopt:
"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” --Matthew 25:40
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…” --James 1:27
The one part of adopting that is difficult for us, other than the waiting, is the expense of it all. We estimate that the total cost for adoption fees, document preparation, home study, airfare, travel, attorney fees, etc. to be $18,000. We certainly don’t have $18,000, but we’re trusting in God’s provision to see this adoption through.
Honestly, it’s a difficult thing to make our needs known to our friends and family, but we also know that we can’t do this without the loving support of you.
Recently we learned of Kingdom Kids Adoption Ministries, an organization that helps families raise funds for adoptions. Interested people can make a tax-deductible donation to Kingdom Kids Adoption Ministries on our behalf. This money will be used toward adoption expenses. All contributors receive a tax receipt for their donation. And, we will keep you updated on our progress and send you specific information about our new baby as it comes to us from Ethiopia.
Please call or email us with any question you may have regarding our situation. We are happy to talk about this wonderful adventure. Also, the Kingdom Kids staff is available to you Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time). Please contact them at (509) 465-3520 or email them at Ministry@KingdomKidsAdoption.org Their website is www.KingdomKidsAdoption.org
We are excited about what God is going to do in our lives through this child. The process is long and not without obstacles but we are ready for the challenge. When our child arrives home to us, we will contact you with our happy news. Thank you for prayerfully considering us in your giving this year.
Sincerely,
Jesse and Ashley Haynes
(208) 875-0680 or (208) 301-1816
Jnahaynes@turbonet.com
P.S. If you decide to assist us in our fundraising and wish to do so by check please DO NOT include our names anywhere on the check. Internal Revenue Service regulations do not allow for a tax-deductible donation to have any name other than the tax-exempt organization written on it. Please enclose a note with your check to indicate that you wish you donation to
go toward our grant. Thank you so much. We covet your prayers as we walk through this journey.
Smile!
Mya offically has 4 teeth! She got her first one December 30th and her 4th one yesterday. She is much happier now!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Homestudy
We received our homestudy paperwork in the mail today. Looks like we'll be busy for awhile filling it out! I think if we take it slow maybe it won't be too overwhelming. Jesse and I both have to write autobiographies. This will include things like how were you parented? How were you disciplined and when? You siblings, marital status/children and where they reside? How often do they visit you? Where did you attend school? Where have you worked? Describe yourself. Your goals. How do you handle stress? How long did you date before marrying? Guardianship of adopted child. They give us an outline of what they want--it is 2 pages! We have to write up our family emergency evacuation plan, take 10 hours of adoption training, have a Dr. fill out a physical examination form, get our criminal history fingerprinting done along with a whole pile of other things!
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