Monday, December 31, 2012

Goodbye 2012!

2012

It has been a good year.  

We are very, very grateful for all of God's blessings to us 
and 
we are grateful for the difficult things 
as they have brought us closer to the Lord.

We look forward to all that 2013 will bring for us.

We know that there will be good 
and 
there will be hard, 
for none of us are promised only to have good 
and not difficult as well...
but God is with us.
 
When we look at the world around us, it can be frightening - 
but we know that God is in control.

Psalm 112:7
He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
 
Welcome 2013!!
 
We are eager to meet you.

(source unknown)



Sunday, December 30, 2012

Best of 2012 - Hope for 2013

Thanking the Lord for the blessing of Julia in 2012...



She became our daughter on February 28, 2012.




She went from...

orphan 
TO 
daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, granddaughter


rejected 
TO 
chosen



one of many 
TO 
beloved one to many


special to no one 
TO 
special to many


lonely and sometimes scared
TO 
secure









2011




   
2012



 What a difference a family makes in the life of a child...

  

Looking forward to the blessing of Hannes in 2013...





We see so many similarities between the look on Hannes's face and the look on Julia's face in the photo taken before she joined our family.

We can't wait to post photos of him smiling and full of joy
as he discovers the love of a family!!



We are expecting to travel to him in just a few weeks...

If you still need to make a contribution to apply to 2012 taxes, 
you have 2 days left...
we would be most grateful and encouraged by your contribution 
and the part you play in loving this particular orphan.

http://reecesrainbow.org/47351/sponsorvanheerden
 
 

Friday, December 28, 2012

Update... there is hope!

Nothing is impossible with God!

Although Putin signed into law the ban against Americans adopting Russian children...
 
State Duma deputy Robert Schlegel contributed to the lower house of parliament an amendment to the "law of Dima Yakovlev" banning adoptions of Russian children by U.S. citizens.

"He has made an amendment to the Duma in the" law of Dima Yakovlev ", which takes the children with disabilities from the application of the law," - he wrote in his microblog on Twitter .

If this is true, then families will still be able to adopt special needs kids,

and that is a blessing...



Thursday, December 27, 2012

Saddened by potential legislation...

We have been asked by many if the proposed ban on Russian adoptions would affect us...

No, we are not adopting from Russia.

But...

I am saddened about the potential for children
now in institutions across Russia
not having the opportunity to be
adopted into a home or family.

Many have said that Russia should adopt their own children.
And yes, that would be best.  
But as reported in the news media recently
over 400,000 Russian children are 
currently not in the care of their own parents.

Russian children are only available for 
international adoption if
no available Russian home exists for them.

The waiting children have already been
abandoned by their birth families,
not adopted by any Russian families,
and now exist in an orphanage until they are 4 or 5,
after which they are transferred into adult mental institutions.

They don't do well there.

They need to be in families.
The country that adopts the most Russian children each year is America.
If that is not an option,
then many of those beautiful, innocent children
will remain in institutions for the rest of their lives.

It isn't right.

We need to pray.

 


Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Christmas Truth for the day after Christmas...

“Mama?” Shalom walks beside me, holding my hand. 

“Will tomorrow be Christmas too?”

I know that feeling. 
Not wanting any of this wonder to wander away — or me from it.


“Well, I’m thinking… ” 
I stop, look out across the fields and the white and the stars.
 “I’m thinking that it’s Christmas now forever.”

Her laughter rings all around us.

“Yes, Mama, yes!” 
She spins around in snow, 
in the halo of the barn light, 
us all under stars.

It is Christmas forever now — because Christ is always with us.”

Ann Voskamp 



Monday, December 24, 2012

Christmas Wish

There is a little boy
 in an orphanage in Eastern Europe
 who,
 like all orphans,
 has a Christmas wish...

that he, and they, 
could have a family...


There are those kids who have been orphans,
 and now,
 this Christmas,
 are home with their new families...

loved,
cuddled,
kissed,
hugged,
tickled,
encouraged,
lovingly held,
cherished,
for who they are,
for who God has created them to be.

God sets the lonely in families...
Psalm 68:6
 
Won't you help us bring Hannes to a home of his own?
We are so grateful for those who have given 
to redeem one little boy
to give him what he has never had
his very own family...

We will travel to get him in just a few short weeks!  
Consider giving whatever God 
has laid on your heart
to redeem one of His children, 
from a life of never belonging to anyone
to 
a life of belonging to a family
mom
dad
brothers
sisters
aunts
uncles
grandmothers
grandfathers
cousins
and a multitude of the family of God

just waiting for Hannes to be redeemed,
just like Jesus was,
His life ransomed,
at great cost,
for great glory!

Help us demonstrate the Love of God
to this little one...

and a witness to those who are watching.

 


Sunday, December 23, 2012

Happy Birthday Jacob!

Saturday, December 22 was Jacob's 6th Birthday!
I cannot believe it has been 6 years!! 


December 22, 2006



December 22, 2012
We love you Jacob!!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Monday, December 17, 2012

My kids...

 
I was taking photos of my littles and 
remembered the photo of my all grown up ones
when they were little
where Lydia was wearing the same dress that I put on Julia...
 
where does the time go??
 
 
 
December 1994                           December 2012

 I love these kids...

I can't wait until Hannes joins us...
My arms ache to hold him.


 


Sunday, December 16, 2012

Complete Joy...

 
I am the vine; you are the branches.

No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. 
 


I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
(Bits of John 15)

Abide in Him, Remain in Him... 
Joy doesn't come from circumstances, but from the joy of the Lord inside you.


Praying Joy for all of you this Sunday regardless of circumstances...


Saturday, December 15, 2012

My heart is full...

I am overwhelmed

today of all days,

in the midst of such sadness in our country,

Hannes's account has almost doubled!!


Though there is evil in the world
there is also great kindness...

Though one man did unspeakable evil upon children
Many, many, many people have done great good 
for the families who are hurting.


And bringing Hannes that much closer to coming home 
is a great kindness to a little boy
waiting for his family.

Thank You!


I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart. 
 Psalm 138:1



 


Thursday, December 13, 2012

Only 12 Days until Christmas...

Need a Christmas Gift? 

Wanna miss the crowds and shop from home? 

We have two ideas for you...


Buy Coffee for your loved one who adores Coffee
 and a portion of your purchase supports Hannes as well!!  



Purchase a Restaurant.com gift card
You or your loved one gets to eat out 
and
Hannes gets a donation...




Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Thank you SO much!


Our FSP (Family Sponsorship Program) adoption donation fund has grown!!  

We are so thankful for everyone who has supported our adoption with prayers and financial gifts.  The road to international adoption is difficult, but the support of others along the way is so encouraging. 

We are just an ordinary family trying to be obedient to the leading of God.
As we step out in faith, we have seen God's hand in our adoption of Julia 
and again now in our adoption of Hannes.  




"I used to wonder if I was ready to be an adoptive parent, 
until I realized children are never ready to be orphans."
                                                                - Glenn Styffe


If you haven't donated, but you'd like to there is a link on the right of this blog under Hannes's photo.  All donations are tax-deductible, so if you are looking to make a donation prior to the end of 2012, consider supporting our adoption of Hannes and there will be ONE LESS orphan in the world.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Celebrating the coming of children... in ornaments!!



There is a new child coming... 


We join with Christians all over the world 
celebrating the birth of Jesus at the end of this month...




 

and

we celebrate the adoption of our new child, 
Julia, 
her first Christmas in a family!!

 





and the


coming of our new child in the next couple of months...





We who are in Christ have been adopted into His family.  

 It sometimes looks a bit like those of us adopting children into our families...


We, 
who may have been angry, afraid, 
and kicking and screaming, 
or 
neglected, lonely, and abandoned, 
 all of us 
without hope,

have been pursued by a loving God, 
at great cost to Himself,
to become 
LOVED
and
CHOSEN
to be in the family of God;

just like 
Dan and I have pursued a little girl and a little boy,
at great cost to ourselves,
to bring them into our family...

God has given MANY wonderful gifts to us:

Nate, 

Lydia, 

Jacob, 

Julia, 

Noah

and we pray also that we may be blessed with

 Hannes



We do understand the heart of God more fully this
Christmas Season...

 




Saturday, December 8, 2012

Thank you...

Thank you to all who came to our Garage Sale today and supported our efforts to bring Hannes home!  
We are grateful for every one who helps to make this possible for us to bring this little one out of the orphanage and into a loving family!

If you were not able to come today and would like to support us, you can still do so at the following link: 


 

We are preparing our hearts and our home for him - 
anticipating travel in another 6 to 8 weeks!

So - what does one do when waiting for a travel date?

We are beginning the making of lists! 

Packing list
Grocery list
Things to do list
Remember to do before we leave list

Every day we are one day closer to meeting our little one 
and bringing him home!

Thank you for your support!!

 


Thursday, December 6, 2012

All of Hannes

We got the rest of the referral photo for Hannes!  

Isn't he just the cutest little one?  

 I so long to hold him in my arms and let him know that he is 
 Chosen, Loved, and Cherished!


Mommy is coming little one!


Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Wednesday Wisdom

Oh, my heart needed to hear this today... 

in the midst of so many difficult things lately - another Reeces Rainbow baby has died before his family could get to him;  a beloved son died at 21 and his good friend was there to watch the police wheel his body out - his mom burying her third and last child - oh my heart - how will she survive this?  She was barely hanging on after burying her second child.  So very thankful for God not withholding Himself from us...



“…no good thing does He withhold…” Ps. 84:11

And the good things in life are not health but holiness,
not the riches of this world but relationship with God,
not our plans but His presence —

and He withholds no good thing from us
because life’s good things aren’t ever things.

 
Ann Voskamp



Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Longing for Hannes

Some days are harder than others...

Decorating the Christmas tree and knowing that he won't be here with us this Christmas is hard.  I know that it won't be much longer and he will be with us - but that doesn't take away the ache I have in my heart to have him home with us now.


Monday, December 3, 2012

What can I do?

Are you someone who would like to do something about the orphan crisis but just don't know where to start or how to make an impact?

 

There is an orphan in Eastern Europe living in an orphanage. He is fed rice cereal in a bottle, and although he is 18 months old, he is very small, wearing 3-6 month infant clothes. He has a congenital heart defect which will likely require some medical intervention. He spends his days in a small room in an infirmary with 1 other child. Even though this is his reality, he is full of smiles and cares about the little girl in the crib next to his.

 

Would you like to donate toward the costs of bringing him home - thus helping to reduce the orphan crisis by one? I admit, it's not much when you stare in the face of a number like 147 million orphans, but to this one, Hannes, it will mean everything.

http://reecesrainbow.org/47351/sponsorvanheerden

 

 

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Sunday Scripture

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
 
Psalm 46:10



Saturday, December 1, 2012

Waiting...

So, what do you do while you are waiting for travel dates?

Well, if it is the first Saturday in December, you get the Christmas tree!  




Even in the rain, admiring the fake snow on the branches...


Thursday, November 29, 2012

He is Faithful!

 
"O LORD, you are my God; 
I will exalt you and praise your name, 
for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things" 
 
Isaiah 25:1
 
 
God is SO good!  
 
Our dossier has been submitted to Hannes's country!
 
 
Our final document arrived in his country at 1:00 pm 
and was delivered at 2:30 pm.  
After arrival it had to be notarized - this is a time 
consuming process in this country.  
The government only accepts Dossiers prior to 6:00 pm.
It was still at the notary at 5:00 pm.
 
The team in the country spent hours requesting special permission to submit after 6:00 pm.  
At 8:00 pm the permission was granted and the dossier was submitted!
 
What an amazing God!  
 
  • To give us a US immigration woman who was willing to go out of her way for us.  
  • To have our amazing race and make it to the DHL office in time on Tuesday.
  • To have DHL get the paperwork to Hannes's country on Thursday.
  • To have a dedicated facilitation team who worked after hours to advocate for our little guy.
  • To have a government agency willing to grant us special permission to submit after hours.

What's next?


We wait.  Our dossier will be processed in the next few weeks in his country.  After about six to seven weeks we should receive an appointment to appear in his country to request him as our child.  Once we have officially received his referral we will see him and spend time with him as we finalize his adoption.   We expect to spend 4-6 weeks in his country.  We should be returning home with Hannes by the beginning of March, Lord willing.  We thank you all for your prayers.  We couldn't do this without your support and the strength that God provides.

Now for the excitement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOOHOO    WOOHOO  WOOHOO  WOOHOO  WOOHOO  WOOHOO 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Keep Praying!!


Our package has arrived in Europe!  
 Please pray that it arrives in Hannes's country tomorrow morning!!

Thank you so much for your prayers!


Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Prayers for Hannes

One of the ways that you can support us in our adoption of Hannes is to pray for us.  We are asking for prayer that God would bring about a miracle of sorts.

The last day for dossiers to be submitted in Hannes's country this year is Thursday.

We received our immigration approval today at 2:20 pm.  We notarized the document at 2:30 pm.  We drove to downtown Los Angeles to apostille the document.  We left our town at 2:45 pm and arrived in front of the State building at 4:20 pm. (Keep in mind it is 26 miles - this is LA traffic and a semi truck had broken down on the freeway) The office that does apostilles is open until 4:30.  We just made it.  She finished apostilling our document at 4:45.  We had a 10 minute drive to the DHL office.  They stop accepting packages at 5:00 pm.  We got there at 4:55pm.   We filled out the paperwork and paid and finished at 4:59.

They will guarantee delivery to our child's country by end of day Thursday.


Please pray that it arrives in the morning, 
so that there is time to submit it to the government before the deadline.

If it misses this deadline, it will sit until January 17 - the next day that dossiers are allowed to be submitted. 

Thank you for your prayers, this means so much to Hannes, who spends every day and night in his crib, only having interactions through crib bars with 2 others kids in his infirmary room.  He needs medical attention, and the sooner we can get to him, the sooner he can be evaluated by a pediatric cardiologist and begin the treatment that will save his life.





Sunday, November 25, 2012

Sunday Scripture

2 Corinthians 12:9
 
My grace is sufficient for you, 
 
for my power is made perfect in weakness.
 
 
It is a well known scripture, but I have been feeling it's depth recently.  I feel very weak lately, in most all areas of my life.  And yet, that is where God is able to work - in my weakness.  His grace is sufficient.  All I need.  To do all He has for me to do.  He says His grace is all I need.  All I need.
 
2 Corinthians 9:8
 
And God is able to make all grace abound to you,
 
so that having 
 
all sufficiency
 
in all things
 
at all times,
 
you may abound in every good work.
 
 
Wow!  
 
All grace abound to me, 
all sufficiency, in all things, at all times, 
so that I can do what He has for me to do.    

Wow!

All that when I was feeling weak.  But that is where God can use me.  
My weakness, His greatness given to me through grace.

What was I worried about?






Thursday, November 22, 2012

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Thankful

Thanksgiving is in two days...

what better time to express thankfulness...

I am thankful for:

  • my Lord - without His grace, I would be nothing - with it, I have everything I need...
  • my husband - daily helping me grow in grace and holiness...
  • my children - Nate, Lydia, Jacob, Julia and soon (Lord willing) Hannes...each one different, unique, and such a reflection of the image of God
  • my grandchild - Noah, there are no words for how precious it is to hug a child that has come from your child
  • my family - Mom, Dad, Paul, and Philip (and their families) - they have been there from the beginning, such a history of love, laughter, tears, and joy - my childhood was a gift of love from my parents and the solid foundation I have built my life on - a blessing from God
  • my life - an adventure I never could have imagined.  Not much has turned out the way that I expected, but the blessings that I have today are far more than I ever would have imagined.

 
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 




Sunday, November 18, 2012

Sunday Scripture



Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
 

Philippians 4:5-7







Saturday, November 17, 2012

2013 Magnet Calendar


Just a $20 donation to our chip-in on the right column and I will send you a 2013 Magnet Calendar with a photo of Hannes (of course the actual magnet has his face unblurred).  We appreciate your love and support to bring him home and help him to get the medical care he needs.  Thank you!


Friday, November 16, 2012

Cost of Adoption

Many have wondered about the costs of adoption.  Most international adoptions are around $25,000 or more when all is finished.

What is all that money for?

The costs will vary depending on the part of the country that you live in.  Each state seems to be different in what they charge.

Here are the approximate costs for an international adoption in California:

Home Study $5,000 (includes application fee, gas for social worker home study, and follow up visits)
Paperwork costs (notary, apostille, fees for fingerprinting etc.)  $2,000
In Country Fee (includes social worker, legal representation, orphanage donation, translation of docs) $9,000

Travel to the country:  $5,000
Travel home for the child: $1,000
Housing while in country for 6 weeks:  $3,000
Visa for child to fly to US: $300
Child's Passport: $1,000
Child's Birth Certificate: $300
Medical exam for child: (required by US Immigration) $200
Food while in country: $2,000
Travel within the country: $700

The first adoption we were able to cover all of the costs.  This adoption we are asking if anyone would like to join in and consider assisting us to give a home, a family, and medical care to one of the millions of orphans and abandoned children in the world.  You may not be in a position to adopt, but you could help us to bring this little one home.  We would love to do this with all of our own money.  But Hannes is in desparate need of medical care for his heart defect.  We don't have time to save up all the money that would be required.  Please consider giving for Hannes's sake.  We have lots of great opportunities to do your Christmas shopping!  Coffee, TShirts, Restaurant.com gift certificates, and even your Amazon purchases made through our link will help to bring Hannes home as quickly as possible.  We appreciate your help and your prayers more than you will ever know.  Thank you does not begin to express the joy in our hearts for those of you who have already given.  Blessings!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

One Step Closer...



We are coming little one!


We have just sent our dossier docs to another family who will carry them to our little one's country next week to be translated.  We are now waiting for US Immigration approval.  Once we get approval, our dossier can be officially submitted to his country's government.  Then we wait for them to grant us permission to come over there and finalize our adoption.

We expect our wait to be about 9 weeks after our dossier is submitted until we fly there!

I have been so nervous, second-guessing our paperwork - unable to sleep, worrying if I did everything right... today I am relaxed.  I have done what I can and now we wait.  We will get an appointment for yet another set of fingerprints, and we will go as quickly as we can for that.  But the rest is waiting and raising support so that we will have all the funds we need for traveling over there and the many expenses we will have to finalize this adoption.

Please pray with us that approvals would be granted in time for submission of our dossier before the end of the month.  Pray also that God would provide the funds that we need to complete this adoption.  

Every day that goes by our little one waits in his crib, spending most of his day and all of his night in his crib.  I ache to hold him in my arms, to hold him tight and let him know that he is very precious and loved!  


Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Amazing Race

It does feel like an amazing race to beat a deadline.  The country that Hannes is in will take a break at the end of this month for the winter and will not accept dossiers until February 1.  So we are in a race to get our dossier submitted before the end of this month.

We received our home study in the mail today.  We then turned around and sent one copy to Immigration.  We are awaiting their approval before we can submit our dossier to our country.

We are also going to apostille our dossier documents tomorrow in downtown Los Angeles.  An apostille is the state's seal that the document is official for use in another country.

Once we have those documents in hand with the state seal, we will overnight them to another family who is leaving on Sunday to travel to the same country that our dossier is going to.  They will hand carry them overseas for us and give them to the facilitators in country.

The facilitators will then translate the documents into the language of the country.  Once our US immigration approval is received, and our dossier has been translated, we can submit.

We are praying that it all comes together before the end of the month!  Please join us in asking God for his mercies in orchestrating all that needs to happen in order for us to bring Hannes home as soon as possible in order to get him the care that he urgently needs!!


Monday, November 12, 2012

Travel Joy!

The family of the little girl who shares the infirmary room with Hannes just got their travel dates!  They will be leaving to see her in about two weeks!  What joy!  What excitement!  I want to join them - stow away in their luggage - travel with them and spend time with my little one!  I can just imaging the excitement of packing and preparing to see a little life you have prepared and waited for for so long. 

The family of the other child in the infirmary brought him home last month!  He is full of joy at discovering the big world outside of his crib.  He is full of smiles, and laughter, and the wonder of the exploration of it all.  His family just posted a family photo and it is so fantastic to see him with his new family!!

I just cannot wait until the day we get our travel notice!!  What an amazing journey this is...

Won't you help us to get to the point of bringing Hannes home?

We have coffee, we have TShirts, we have restaurant.com gift cards, we have 2013 calendar photo magnets, even your Amazon purchases through the link on this blog will help to bring Hannes home.  Just check out the various opportunities on the right pane of our blog page.

You can be a part of bringing a boy to a family.  In the face of 143 million orphans, it is just one, but it will make a big difference to him. 



Sunday, November 11, 2012

Sunday Scripture


“There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.

1 Samuel 2:2

Praising the One who holds everything together - 
and thankful for all of His abundant blessings to me!



Holy, you are holy,
Who was and is and is to come.
Holy, you are holy, Saviour, Healer,
I'm standing at the feet of the miracle maker.

I'm holding on, with your life in mine,
Living water's come,
And you've rearranged me.

Holy you are holy,
Who was and is and is to come.
Holy, you are holy,
Saviour, healer,
I'm staring in the face of the miracle maker.

Holy, you are holy,
Who was and is and is to come.
Jesus, precious Jesus,
Thank you, Saviour,
I'm walking in the shoes of my miracle maker.
I'm standing with the faith of a miracle maker.

Written by Delirious? ©2005 Curious? Music UK
 
 

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Support Adoption


What an awesome TShirt!  It was designed just for us - so you can't find this adoption TShirt anywhere else!!  For just $20.00 it can be yours!!  Donate using the links on the right side of the page and leave us your name, address, and size in the comments (all comments will be kept private) and we will send one to you!  All proceeds will be used to bring Hannes home.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Realities of a heart defect

We started doing a bit more research on what Hannes's heart defect could mean.  I had a conversation today with the pediatric cardiologist that we intend to bring Hannes to when he gets home.  

To call up a popular pediatric cardiologist's office (he was recommended to us by three different people - two families and an adult cardiologist) on a Friday afternoon and hear that the cardiologist is standing right by the phone AND has no patients waiting for him AND he's willing to talk with you about a child you don't even have complete medical information for.  This felt alot like a MIRACLE. 
 
Like we suspected, it could be a very "easy to fix" problem, 
or
it could be something that is doing harm to his lungs and that may only be 
reversible if we can get to him in the next few months.  
The doctor was very clear to say that if this is the problem it is fatal if not treated soon.


He gave us very good advice for while we are visiting him and for our trip home.  He even gave us his personal email and will be available during our trip to answer any  questions or give us any advice he can. 

Again, we have to rely on the Lord.  The One who has created his heart exactly as it is - fearfully and wonderfully made - and loves him even more than we could ever hope to love him.  


Psalm 139:14
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 

We are definitely falling in love with him - looking at his photo and imagining him in our arms,
preparing a place for him to sleep, clothes for him to wear...

Penguin boots that are beyond adorable!

And imagining his little feet in them!

We will love this little one for as long as God gives him to us.  

Please pray that God would continue to sustain Hannes's life 
and
that God would move the approvals and the dossier and the 
travel dates through quickly so that we can get to him as soon as possible.

Thank you!  More than anything we need your prayers - 
we could not do this without the body of Christ united with us in prayer for 
our family and our new little one.