Orphan Sunday 2012

Last Sunday our church (The Village Church of Irvine) celebrated Orphan Sunday along with thousands of churches in twenty-two nations.  Mike and I were honored to share about our adoption journey during the service.  It was a thrilling morning as we celebrated many of the ways that God is moving through our church community in orphan care.  Mike did an awesome job preaching on God's heart for adoption.  He brought Hailey onto the stage at the beginning of his message and it was priceless to hear him speak about adoption with Hailey in his arms.

To listen to Mike's message, click here:  Mike's Orphan Sunday sermon 2012

One of the highlights of the morning was interviewing the Skelly family.  Last year God spoke to the Skellys during our Orphan Sunday service about the foster care crisis in the US.  This fall they received their first foster placement of a precious baby girl.  It was so exciting to pray over their family with their foster daughter in their arms.

We also welcomed the Steele family home from Ukraine. The Steeles participated in a hosting program      last summer through Nightlight Christian Adoptions.  They met Nadia during the program and fell in love.  After a grueling year of paperwork, they finally brought Nadia home just three days before Orphan Sunday.

It was a privilege for me to introduce families in our church who have been touched by adoption.  There are approximately fifteen families in our body who have experienced the miracle of adoption and each story is powerful.  We asked all of those families to stand with their "Adopted"signs.   At the end of our service, our lead pastor, who has an adopted son, spoke about how believers are adopted by God.  Adoption into God's family is the heart of the gospel.  We organized a "flash mob" of people to hold up "Adopted by God" signs.  It was powerful!

We are so grateful to be part of a church that is passionate about the orphan crisis.  Our church partners with Lifesong for Orphans in providing adoption grants to families and has participated in two blood drives (through Blood for Missions) to raise funds for grants.  We send three short-term teams every summer to serve orphans in El Salvador and Africa.  Mike and I look forward to encouraging families in our church as they follow God's calling to foster care, adoption or orphan care through short-term trips, advocacy and beyond in the years to come.

Attachment Struggles: First Sleepover at Grandma's

Last night we took Hailey on her first sleepover to Grandma's house, just a few miles down the road.  Mike is out of town for work, so the boys and I loaded up the suitcases filled with diapers, bottles, toys, pj's (it felt like we were leaving for a week), and of course, Rocky (our dog).  Hailey hasn't spent a lot of time at Grandma's house, and this was the perfect opportunity to allow her to become more comfortable at Grandma's.  Unfortunately, it was harder than I expected.  But there's a first for everything!

Although Hailey loves her grandma and brothers (and dog!), she was very clingy.  She cried if I wasn't holding her, and that made it nearly impossible for me to unpack suitcases, settle in and even go to the bathroom!  Being in my mom's two story house made me realize what a blessing it is to live in a single story home with wood floors.  When I'm not holding Hailey or playing with her at home, I put her in the stroller with her toys.  She's happy to be "strolled" around from room to room when I move about the house, clean the dishes, get dressed, etc.  Since Hailey isn't walking yet and won't crawl or stay alone anywhere in the house without me, her stroller has become a place of safety and comfort.  She's just starting to walk, stay tuned for the "She's walking!" post!  Needless to say, carrying Hailey (and the stroller) up and down at my mom's house was exhausting.

In preparation for the sleepover, my mom bought a booster seat.   The boys were very helpful and set the seat up before dinner (their super handy dad would have been proud!).  Unfortunately, Hailey wanted nothing to do with it!  She threw a huge temper tantrum and only wanted to be held while eating.  After a quick bath, she was asleep by 5:30 pm (Daylight Savings time has thrown her off)!  And we were tired!  However, after a good night of sleep, she sat in the new seat for breakfast (and loved eating scrambled eggs for the first time).  She did seem a bit more comfortable today, although packing up was challenging since she had no desire to explore Grandma's house without my undivided attention.

Many people have asked us about Hailey's adjustment and transition, and I thought this experience would provide a window into some of the attachment challenges that we have faced.  Since Hailey was cared for in two foster homes and also spent time in the hospital and adoption agency baby home during her first year of life, she has much greater needs for attachment, touch and personal attention than most seventeen month old babies.  The good news is that she has attached to me quickly, but new situations like my mom's home can present some unique challenges.

I'm happy to be back at home tonight, where life is easier and more comfortable for Hailey, but we look forward to another sleepover at Grandma's soon.

While Hailey was sleeping last night, the boys got to watch a movie and devoured Grandma's delicious brownies.  Yum!

My mom and I enjoyed a little bit of pampering (attempting to decimate our wrinkles) while the boys watched their  movie.

Thanks Mom for having us over!  We'll be back!

Hailey's "Sip and See"

Last week we hosted a "Sip and See" open house at our home for friends and family who had not yet met Hailey.  My mom and dear friends, Tracy Guerin and Ellen Burany, organized a beautiful spread of appetizers, teas and deserts and we were overwhelmed by the excitement, support and love that we experienced throughout the afternoon.  Hailey was the "star of the show" and enjoyed being held, loved on and photographed all day long!

Words can not express the immense gratitude that we feel for the support we have received throughout our adoption journey.  Every person at the "Sip and See" has played a significant role in bringing Hailey home.  For the past five years, family members, friends and even strangers have prayed for us, encouraged us, sent financial support and gifts, prepared meals and followed our journey from near and far.  The "Sip and See" allowed us to celebrate and rejoice in Hailey's homecoming, show off her bedroom and share photos from the last three months.

On December 2nd, we will dedicate Hailey to the Lord along with our church family.  We are so grateful that after years of waiting, wondering and questioning God's timing, we are finally celebrating and Hailey is finally in our arms!

The Lord continues to teach us about His perfect timing, His faithfulness and His sovereignty, especially when we recently learned that Blue Shield of CA admitted to their error in denying health insurance to Hailey.  After reviewing our document submitted to the legal department, Blue Shield agreed to cover Hailey under our family health plan at no extra charge!  We continue to experience the powerful hand of God over our adoption journey day by day and are so grateful to be part of the miracle of adoption!