bringing Daizy home...

The word is slowly getting out because this is a social media driven world so it's time to make it official....blog official. I have officially started the process of adoption this week. This is something I have known was in my future for a long time. I have pursued a couple of state side adoptions in the last five years and every time the door has closed. Seems as though the timing is finally right and we...and by we I mean me...are moving forward with the process. FAQ (frequently asked questions) Q1: Are you ready to be a mom? A: That's a loaded question. To answer yes implies that I know what I am doing so the answer is NO. Am I ready to sacrifice my wants and needs for the sake of another person who needs love and nurturing? Absolutely. I would imagine that most new moms leave the hospital with their newborns scared to death because kids don't come with a manual. Granted I am brining home a five year old but still no instruction manual. I am trusting that God's grace is more than sufficient to teach me how to be a good mom. And I am blessed with some incredible women in my life who have modeled motherhood and serve as a great resource. Q2: How does all of this adoption stuff work? A: That's a great question. Most families pursue adoption through an agency. However I am doing a private adoption. Most agencies will not allow for a single parent adoption. Going through an agency usually takes anywhere from 1 to 3 years and anywhere from $30,000-$40,000. I am fortunate in that I have an established relationship with a children's home in Uganda. I had no idea 3 years ago when I got involved with starting Acres of Hope that one day I would be adopting a child from there. In the process of opening the children's home we have secured an attorney in Uganda who does private adoptions. My friend SaraBeth and I are going to be the trial cases for private adoption. Both of us are single women and this is the only way adoption would be possible. Not only do I not have to wait years because I have met Daizy in person and already know that we are good match...the cost of private adoption is considerably less. The process involves completing a home study with a licensed social worker. This process is rather lengthy but should only take a couple of months. I have already found a social worker and will begin that process in a couple of weeks. Once all the paperwork is complete the only hold up is raising the funds for the adoption. I will need $12,000 to bring Daizy home. (more information about fund raising coming soon)The goal right now is to bring her home in January. (deep breath) Q3: Who is Daizy? A: Only the cutest Afrian kid you'll ever meet. Okay so I am a little biased but this child stole my heart immediately. Let me now clarify that I did not go to Uganda on a mission to "shop" for a child. In fact it was far off my radar. Isn't that usually how the Lord works....when you least expect it He rocks your world! To be honest I can't really even explain it except to say everything in my spirit has confirmation that the timing is right to bring this little girl home. I don't know a whole lot about Daizy's background but we are working on those details. She says that she is 5 but the paperwork for the sponsorship program she is part of says that she is 7. She definitely looks more like 5. I do know that her mom died during child birth so she has never known her mother and her father has abandoned her. The only thing that stands in the way of adopting her is getting a piece of paper signed by her father waiving all rights to her...which doesn't seem hard to do with stories that I have heard about other children.

Feel free to ask questions but I can't assure you that I know the answers. Right now I would covet your prayers as I walk through this process. I am trusting the Lord that the finances are going to come through...He has certainly shown me His faithulness in big and small ways all my life, especially where my Africa trips are concerned. I am trying to be super creative in fundraising so feel free to send ideas. All you moms out there your advice is always welcomed. Here are the initial ideas for fundraising so far: I'll have a t-shirt soon to help raise money. On September 22 there is going to be a charity motorcyle ride in the Birmingham area that my sister is heading up. I will be sending out letters soon to friends and family. Here is the crazy thing....without any other type of fundraisers if I can find 120 families/friends who will commit to giving $100 the fundraising is done! Will some give more? yes Will some give less? yes Will some not give at all? yes....but if there is one thing the Lord has been teaching me about support and my own pride is that sometimes we have not because we asked not. *side note: just today I was telling someone about Daizy and got my first donation of $1000....God is good and good to me! Once the weather gets a little cooler here in Pineville, LA we are going to do a charity 5k to raise money so if you're in this area start practicing. Not sure all the details yet but it will be a registration fee that will come with a "Daizy" t-shirt. Last but not least I am looking into selling gumbo at some of our home football games once the weather get a little cooler. stay tuned....