Kindred Spirit

It's not often that I unleash my inner Anne of Green Gables and say that I've found a Kindred Spirit, and even less often that I would say so about someone I don't even know...someone out in the world wide blogosphere.  But there is one out there and her name is Chantelle.  Post after post after post that she writes, I find my own feelings, struggles and passions written in the most compelling, beautiful ways.  I want to be her if I ever grow up.

I don't know how in the world I first found her, but I remember vividly the first time that she shook me to the core of my being.  It was in a video where she in a very simple, brief way cut painfully through a lie that I had believed about the world without ever knowing it.  That lie or set of lies I should say, was about HIV/AIDS.  You name the lie about that disease, and I probably held it as a dogma.....but it was dogma from the Pit. And it shames and angers me every time I think about it.  I'm so thankful that God used her to defeat the Enemy's hold on that portion of my mind.

This is my shout-out to a woman who changes lives:  Thank you, Chantelle!

Money, Money, Money....and adoption

So much of the decision to adopt, our discussion about adoption and the process of adoption are about money, aren't they?  Drives me bonkers, but it is what it is.

Thankfully, there are seasoned adoptive families who are talking about it.  One of them is Julie Gumm, author of the soon-to-be-released book Adopt Without Debt.  She was interviewed last night on the Momcast Podcast and it was a great episode!  As soon as the archive is posted, I will link it here.

Then this morning I woke up to see this post by one of my favorite bloggers at Rage Against the Minivan called Why Does Adoption Cost So Much? (and why we didn't just send that money to Haiti).  I love her openness about their expenses as well as her perspective on the whole subject.

I'm getting ready to host a Yard Sale and Silent Auction here at our little house at the end of May to help a couple of local families who are adopting and I hope to come back here and tell you all of the good, bad, and ugly of how it goes.  Wish me luck!

Do you have any brilliant fundraising ideas?  I'd love to hear them!

~Jen

A girl named Helen

Sometimes as an orphan advocate you just see 'that child' that you feel compelled to do something about. Maybe it's a desperate case, maybe something reminds you of a child you know, maybe you just think the child is too stinkin' cute! Well, I had a moment like that today and decided that this is the one. The one that I am going to say something about and watch and pray for and urge anyone who will listen to adopt her! For me, it was the vesicoureteral reflux. My daughter had that when she was little, too. It's such a minor condition here in the states that it almost irks me that it would need to be mentioned. What if someone actually passed her by because of THAT. It would kill me. Kill.Me. Yeah, yeah, she has HIV, too, but I've already told you that HIV is a chronic, but manageable disease, so that doesn't count, either. She should have a family and pronto. The end.

Her name is Helen and here is her story:

Girl

Date of Birth: May 2010

Baby Helen is a charming, emotional and lively girl. Her first eleven months were spent in a glass cubicle in a hospital ward. Helen is calm and she patiently endured the the pain of isolation. She babbles when talked to and she smiles often. She is in a crib now and she stands while holding on to the bar. She will be walking soon, now that she is free of the glass box. This child must be saved. How much longer could she live in such a state? Helen is living with HIV. She also has vesicoureteral reflux. More photos are available.

Helen – 2


So. Where is her family?

~Jennifer

He is not there!

"Weep, when ye see the tomb of Christ, but rejoice because it is empty. Thy sin slew Him, but His divinity raised Him up. Thy guilt hath murdered Him, but His righteousness hath restored Him. Oh! He hath burst the bonds of death and hath come out more than a conqueror, crushing death beneath His feet. Rejoice, O Christian, for He is not there—He is risen." {C.H. Spurgeon}

Bring home two girls by participating in this auction ~

I just found a great fundraiser this morning in the form of an auction.  Some amazing items have been donated and I had a lot of fun browsing all the options.  The auction ends on Saturday, so hurry on over!



http://littlebeansbigdreams.blogspot.com/p/adoption-auction.html

~Jennifer

New book to be released next month

This book sounds fabulous and I can't wait til it's released:

http://juliegumm.com/wordpress/?p=2730

~Jennifer

Homecoming videos make me happy :)

Here's a new one to make you smile this Monday morning:

http://theschulzfam.blogspot.com/2011/03/welcome-home-drew-moses.html


~Jennifer

Ephraim and Manasseh were adopted

Did you know that Genesis 48 talks about adoption and is a glorious picture of the Gospel?

I just re-listened to this, one of my favorite adoption sermons, by Voddie Baucham this morning - you're gonna love it!

http://www.sermonaudio.com/playpopup.asp?SID=113101250246


~Jen

Book Review: Adopted for Life, by Dr. Russell Moore

I was asked to review this book for our church bulletin and decided that I would post it here as well.

Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families & Churches, by Dr. Russell Moore

“I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you” John 14:18

Dr. Moore is the Dean of the School of Theology and Senior Vice-President for Academic Administration at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also serves as a preaching pastor at Highview Baptist Church, where he ministers weekly at the congregation’s Fegenbush location.   So, when Dr. Moore and his wife after struggling through the painful losses of infertility, came to the decision to pursue adoption, he did so with his mind fully saturated with theological truths.  But at the beginning of that journey, he wouldn’t have guessed that he was about to understand God and the Gospel in a whole new, and deeper way.

At first glance, most of us may be tempted to think that this is a book only for young families thinking about the physical, horizontal adoption of children from our own community or the far reaches of the world.  And Dr. Moore does talk about that.  Dr. Moore discusses everything from the reasons that families might come to the decision to pursue adoption, to our responsibility as the Body of Christ to care for orphans, especially as those who would preach against abortion.  He teaches us how adoption is a part of the Great Commission. In a unique way we can bring those who may never hear the gospel into our own homes to hear the gospel preached every day while we live Christ-like lives in front of them, as well as participating in our daily family worship activities.

And even in this aspect of the book, I think that the audience can be larger than just those parents.  It is essential that we as a church family do what we can to understand the decisions, challenges and joys that our brothers and sisters in Christ are experiencing when they choose to pursue physical adoption.  Our love for one another should compel us to learn how we can best walk through this journey with them.

But this book is for every Christian for another reason.  This book is for every Christian because every one of us has been adopted and every Christian can benefit from a deeper understanding of what it means to be a part of the Family of God; of our sonship, as well as our brotherhood with one another and with Christ Himself.  (Rom. 8:12-17, Eph. 1: 4-6)

This book is a beautiful intertwining of the physical representation (adoption) and the Heavenly reality (Adoption).  It will give you a fresh understanding of both as well as a new impetus for bringing the gospel to your own community and to the uttermost parts of the Earth. I encourage you to add this to your reading list today.

~Jennifer

Let's ransom Vanya!

Vanya is 8 years old and facing life in a mental institution! Why? HIV. Get involved in something amazing and help bring this little guy HOME:



http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2011/04/dream-come-true-giveaway.html



~Jen~