Home Study Sent to Korea!!!!

We are rejoicing over great news from our agency today!!! All of our adoption documents and family photos were sent to Korea yesterday! We will finally be "in the que" for a referral. We have been told to expect a 6-9 month wait for our referral of our daughter. So exciting!!!!

In the meantime, we are working hard to raise funds and apply for grants. The following are the fees required to accept a referral:

Adoption agency fee $3,700
Korea Intercountry fee $18,040
Medical evaluation fee $400

Some people have asked what our daughter's age will be at the time of the referral. Most Korean babies are referred for international adoption between 6-8 months of age. This means that our daughter has most likely just been born or will be born soon. Please be praying for the first few months of life of our sweet baby girl. Pray for wonderful care from her foster family - for lots of touch, warmth and affection while we wait to bring her home. We will be able to meet the foster family during our trip to Korea. It's so strange to feel so close, and yet so far away...

We have so much to be grateful for! Stay tuned for more!

Countdown to The Summitt!!!

http://www.christianalliancefororphans.org/summit

I am honored and thrilled to be attending The Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit in Kentucky in less than two weeks! I will be participating in The Summit along with other staff members from All Blessings Intl. Adoptions. Here are a few of the sessions that I will be attending:

•Advocating as a Busy Mom
•Becoming a Multicultural/Multiracial Family
•Fueling the Mission: Planning Effective Fundraising Events
•Growing God's Heart for the Orphan in Kid's Ministries
•Help Wanted: Providing Real Support, Help and Answers for Families in the Adoption Process
•Helping Without Hurting
•Tools and Resources for Families and Church Ministries
•Working Together: The Benefits of Regional Church Alliances for Orphan Ministry

It looks amazing! Let me know if you plan to be there... looking forward to meeting some of my fellow "bloggers" and Facebook friends "in the flesh!"

A Glimmer of Hope in a Pink Pair of Shoes...

My mom recently visited my brother Chad and his family in Mesa, Arizona. She returned home to So Cal with a car filled with goodies... used clothes, shoes and toys from my niece Sadie (who is 2 1/2). We had so much fun going through all of the adorable clothes, toys and items... some which had hardly been used. We came home from my mom's with 5 boxes of PINK!!! There was one special item that definitely caught my eye... a pair of pink tennis shoes.

As many of you know, we went through four years of infertility before miraculously conceiving both of our boys. When we finally learned that I was pregnant with Jordan, I bought a pair of red baby shoes and hung them in my car. They reminded me to pray for little Jordan, and we used them in our Christmas card that year...


Now I finally have a little pair of pink shoes to hang in my car. I have committed to pray for our daughter every time I see them and I can't wait to put them on her little toes and tickle them!

Thanks Chad, Laresa and Sadie! We love you guys!

A $700 Gift

Last week we received a card in the mail that blessed us beyond measure! It was from a friend that Mike grew up with in Lake Tahoe, Mindi (Hollander) Pearse. Mindi's family adopted Joey from Guatemala three years ago. We were deeply moved by their card and incredible gift and want to share it with the world! We are so grateful to be surrounded by such supportive friends and family members!

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS TO Mindi, Jim, Annie, James and Joey!!! I just increased our fundraising thermometer on the blog!

"Dearest Jenni, Mike, Jordan and Aidan,

We have been keeping close tabs on you through your amazing family blog. What you are doing to complete your family is truly wonderful because in the process you are changing the world we live in one small piece at a time and making it a happier place. We know first hand how difficult the "waiting" is, and we are so amazed at how you are choosing to spend this period of time! Adoption is an incredible process, and obviously will change your lives for the very better, at the same time completing your family.

We have embarked on this journey three times, every time creating more faith, hope, love, awe and joy than we ever though possible. We are excited for you as you experience all this and more. We also understand the challenges that are involved with this journey! We want to help and we hope this donation to your family will make a little difference. We had the opportunity to disperse funds from an organization that we were part of a long time ago. There is no cause more near and dear to us than yours. Use it to make your journey easier!"

All our love,

Mindi, Jim, Annie, James and Joey

Get Silly for Orphans!!!

This sumnmer Aidan will get his first stamp in his passport! He will be traveling with our team of 16 to El Salvador on his first missions trip! Aidan has been blessed with the gift of giving, and he wants to bring special gifts to the orphans. He decided to collect silly bands (small rubber bands that come in various sizes, shapes and colors), since they are small and easy to carry.

Today Aidan shared about his project at our elementary school. He distributed containers for the silly bands to each classroom before school started. Then he spoke in front of the entire school body, and we were so proud of him! He asked the students to raise their hands if they had their own silly bands, and told them that the kids he will meet in El Salvador don't have their own toys. He challenged the students to bring in at least 1,000 silly bands this month!

If you would like to donate silly bands for Aidan's trip, please let us know! Aidan also needs to raise support for his trip costs. Tax deductible checks can be written to All Blessings International (ABI) and sent to:

ABI
12935 Villa Rose Dr.
Santa Ana, CA 92705

Thank you so much for your support! We can't wait to see how God uses Aidan to bless his new friends in the orphanages! Thanks for helping us to "get silly for orphans"... and for being part of Aidan's support team!!!

Home Study going to Korea!!!

We received good news yesterday!!! Our agency is finally ready to prepare our home study for Korea. We will be filling out formal applications next week and mailing in a $2500 payment. Once these forms are approved, our home study will be on its' way! We have been told to expect an estimated six-nine month wait for a referral once the home study arrives in Korea. We are so excited! Thank you for being part of our journey!!!


This is a picture of me mailing our application to adopt from El Salvador in August, 2007, with our first payment. We were on vacation in Palm Desert. I will never forget the emotions I felt mailing off that application... what a journey!

A New Network Gathering for So Cal Church Adoption/Orphan Care Leaders...

Susan and I represented All Blessings Intl. Adoptions at The Grove Church, Riverside's Adoption Service


Susan, her daughter Julia and me ministering to a young mom at the government orphanage in El Salvador

Last year God placed a vision in my heart. I began to talk with my close friend Susan Clark about my idea, and it resonated with her as well. Susan and I have both been blessed to help "birth" adoption/orphan care ministries in our church communities. We have both learned a lot and both have a lot to learn! I am amazed at how God continues to connect me with other leaders who are passionate about caring for orphans. Many churches are starting adoption/orphan care ministries and I have sensed the need to launch a network for other leaders who need in encouragement in sharing this vision in their faith communities.

Susan and I will be attending The Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit in Kentucky next month. I am so thrilled to be able to network with other church leaders and to learn from their mistakes and successes. We will be attending seminars on topics such as adoption fundraising, building church adoption grants, leading church adoption/orphan care ministries, etc. I know that I have a lot to learn!

We are excited to share our vision and will host our first network on Monday, May 2 from 6:30-8:30 pm at Mimi's Cafe, Tustin (17231 E. 17th Street off the 55 fwy). Feel free to email Jenni for more information at jenni.ramsey@cox.net and stay tuned for more!!!