Winter Solstice

Today is a holiday in China, called Dongzhi. It celebrates the Winter Solstice. Traditionally, it is a time for families to be united together. In the past, all people with the same surname would gather to celebrate and renew family ties.  

A big feature of this holiday is the eating of tangyuan, balls of sticky rice. The rice is bound together, which symbolizes reunion. Dongzhi celebrates families coming together.

As you read this, would you take a moment to pray for our family? Our desire is for our family to be bound together with our Chinese child, and this holiday reminds us that we are not there yet. 

We appreciate your prayers and your support in helping us make this family union a reality.

The Pancake Report

Well we did it...we had a pancake brunch/auction! And it was a beautiful thing. For those of you unaware, we gathered together this past Sunday at our home church and our family, along with another adopting family in our church, joined together with our growth groups and several other volunteers in the church. We collectively made over 600 pancakes, along with bacon and eggs. We also auctioned off over fifty items donated to raise monies to help bring our children to their forever families. Watching all these people come together to help us “have” a baby was humbling to say the least. I was in tears multiple times throughout the whole experience. I have to say, out of all the treasures of the day, by far watching our fifth grade Sunday school classes serve was the most beautiful experience. You see...out of the class of about 14 girls, over half of them have been adopted. It was their job to cut, paste and place the adoption statistics on all the tables. As these girls hurried through their task, they couldn’t help but read some of these jaw dropping numbers about orphans. Numbers like: EVERY DAY, 5,760 more children in the world become orphans. It is estimated there are between 143 million and 210 million orphans worldwide (recent UNICEF report.) Studies also show that 60% of the girls become prostitutes and 70% of the boys become hardened criminals. Approximately 250,000 children are adopted annually, but… 

Each year 14,505, 000 children grow up as orphans and age out of the system by age sixteen. And their response was the most beautiful thing. They saw these numbers about other children...not themselves. Why is that? Because these beautiful little girls, who where once orphaned, left alone and unknown are now in loving homes where they are cherished, built up and valued. They have full hearts. And what were they doing with those full hearts? They were helping two families bring home another child that no longer has to be a statistic. So the ugly cycle is stopped in its tracks and a new cycle begins...one of love, generosity and compassion. We ask you to continue to pray for our little one...but not only our little one but the countless children that are longing to find a home where they too can stop the cycle.

“Defend the cause of the weak and the fatherless; Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.  Deliver the weak and needy from the hand of the wicked.”  Psalm 82:3-4

TED Talk on Orphanages

I came across this TED Talk, and I thought it was worth sharing. It is about 10 minutes long, but it captures some good thoughts on orphans and orphanages. The fact that the US and UK and other developed Western countries have stopped using orphanages should tell us something about the detrimental effects of life in an orphanage. As you watch the video, please pray for our child and all children who begin life in this context.

A Touching Video from an Unlikely Source

We're still so early in our adoption process, yet God has already given us some awesome stories to share with our future child. (You can read some of our stories here, and here, and here). But what is cool is that everyone comes to adoption with their own story. We came across this story of a Chinese adoption by Seven Levitt, an economist and author of Freakonomics. It's a bit long, like many good stories, but I hope it inspires you, as it has us. 

We'd love to hear your reactions and feedback, too. Let us know what is on your mind.

  

Roll Tide!

So the next step (and almost the final step in phase one of our adoption, the Home Study) is some education. With the money we raised from our most recent fundraiser, we have enrolled in the required online courses we have to take.

One of the classes we have to take is 12 hours of online reading and videos through the National Council for Adoption.

Our other class is a parenting class that we are required to take through the University of Alabama. So, this would mark the 5th institute of higher learning where I've taken classes in my lifetime.

I thought I was done with school. But, if it helps us bring our child home, I'm all for it. Roll Tide!

Wild China

In our quest to learn more and more about China, we've stumbled upon a really fascinating documentary. It's called Wild China, and was produced by the BBC. If you watched Planet Earth, Wild China is a lot like that. Incredible images of an incredibly beautiful country. Here's a shot of terraced rice farms from the first episode:

It is a fascinating country, full of much beauty. 

Watch all the episodes Wild China for yourself here:

Thanks!

We just wanted to say a word of thanks for your support through our most recent fundraiser. We were so excited to see so many of you shopping at delicatefortress.com and making a difference in the lives of so many women. And, the money we raised helps us accomplish our next step in our adoption process, which is awesome.

Let me encourage you to continue to shop at delicatefortress.com. Even though our fundraiser week is over, it is still a great place to shop where your purchases can help break the poverty cycle for so many people.

Also, if you would like to continue to support us, there are still ways to do that. You can see a full list of ways to help here. The easiest way to help is to buy things through Amazon, using the link on our blog (here). It doesn't cost you any extra money, but we get a percentage of every Amazon purchase you make.

So thanks again for your support. We are so grateful to each of you for your prayers and your contributions.

Delicate Fortress: Happening Now!

As our family has educated ourselves on issues related to adoption, we've quickly realized that it is a very complex issue. There are multiple reasons that people choose to give up a child, and this is especially true in developing world countries. The cycle of poverty leaves many women and children in precarious places where the only options seem to be submitting to the horrors of forced labor and human trafficking. 

As our family is on our own journey, we want to do what we can to help other children and women escape from the cycle of poverty and oppression. That's why we're excited to share with you about the work going on at delicatefortress.com. This organization gives women dignity and hope by providing them a chance to earn a fair wage. When you purchase the jewelry, clothing, and goods at delicatefortress.com, your purchase directly benefits local artisan women, giving them a fair wage for their work, and giving them a chance to avoid the trap of so many women and children in the world. 

If you make purchases using the coupon code HARRISON during the week of Oct. 10-16, a portion of your proceeds will help offset the cost of our international adoption. We are honored to be partnering with delicatefortress.com to make a difference for women and children all over the world.

Terra Cotta Warriors

You've probably heard of one of China's most fascinating archeological discoveries. The first emperor of China, the person who united seven warring states into one empire, was a little eccentric. A lot of wealthy people in ancient cultures wanted to be buried along with statues or other icons. The idea was that these statues would come to life so that the emperor would have soldiers or servants to wait on him in the afterlife. But this guy outdid them all. He commissioned the creation of 8,000 terra cotta soldiers, each standing six feet tall.

When Anne and I were in New York several years ago, we had the privilege of seeing some of these terra cotta warriors first hand at a special exhibit at the Guggenheim. One thing that is amazing about them, is that each one of the soldiers is unique. All 8,000 of them have unique facial features and unique details to their uniforms. It is simply amazing to think about how they were created.

Thinking about the terra cotta warriors, makes me think of the countless orphans in China. Each child is unique, loved by God, and in need of love from others. Just like you and me. Part of the emotional process of adopting has been reconciling the fact that we are not just picking one out of the thousands of orphans in the world, but we are uniting ourselves with an individual child. Just like these terra cotta warriors at first glance seem like just a faceless army, they are in fact all unique.

We are praying for all the orphans in China and throughout the world, but won't you please join us in praying also for our individual, unique child?

You can also check out this fascinating documentary about the terra cotta warriors:

Yard Sale Update

Well over 600 cookies, 5 dozen muffins, 30 loaves of bread, 16 families participating....our garage sale is over. To say it was a success is an understatement. I'm just gonna put it our there...we raised $1600. Now we've done garage sales before...I've never made over $200. We had some amazing people bring amazing things. Literally people were dropping things off and before it would get off the truck, it would sell. We were very open about why we were having a garage sale and people were genuinely supportive of our plans to adopt. Total strangers would pay with a twenty dollar bill and say keep the change.

Now to do our home study we needed $2600. So it seemed interesting to me that we would raise $1600...$1000 shy of what we needed. Later Saturday, a sweet friend called...the same friend who gave us $250 before...and our conversation went like this:

her: so how'd you do?

me: we did well...$1600! pretty incredible. I'm excited but I really prayed God would provide the $2600. We are $1000 short.

her: laughing, laughing, laughing...(this friend has a wonderful, contageous laugh)

me: why are you laughing?

her: Anne...I just spoke with my husband. We received an unexpected amount of money and we wanted to share with you...$1000.

Isn't our God incredible?! He provided, yes...but he provided exactly what we needed...not more, not less. Many of you know we also suggested buying coffee from Just Love Coffee Co the same day we did the garage sale. Guess how much we sold...zero...nadda...not one. Now I'm not saying this to make people feel bad...I don't even like coffee. I'm saying this because I want you to recognize with me how big our God is. He is the one who stirs the hearts of his people to be generous. He is the one who meets our every need. It is His Spirit that draws out good in us to serve others. It was as though God was saying..."Hey...we are doing this together. I'm gonna bless your socks off..each step of the way."

Friends, let me encourage you today, as I have been encouraged...our "God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8) Trust him. He is faithful today and he will be faithful again. 

Home Study Today!

Just a quick note to let you know that we are scheduled to have our home study this afternoon. A social worker will come to our house and inspect it to make sure we are fit parents for adoption. 

Needless to say, we are not too worried about it, but we do appreciate your prayers. The home study gets up one step closer to finalizing our adoption!

Papers Papers Papers

When I was in the fifth grade, we had a big project due. We had to turn in all our previous papers from the last 6 week period. They had to be bound nice and neat in a folder. The papers had to placed in chronological order, holes punched, and a neat table of contents. I can remember this like it was yesterday. . . everyone around me, quietly doing their work, and seemingly enjoying the project. And then there was me, crumpled papers falling here and there. I couldn't match the holes. I was missing half of the pages due in the project. The pages kept falling and falling and falling. I reached my boiling point. I stood up in the middle of the classroom, threw my papers in the air and screamed, "I HATE THIS!!" My teacher quietly looked up as papers floated to the floor all around us and asked what any teacher in her right mind would ask, "Anne Patton! What in the world is wrong with you?!"

I am not good with paper work. It's an innate problem in me and anyone that knows me, knows organization is also not one of my spiritual gifts. Nor is administration of any kind. I have worked through the emotional trauma this has caused me, and I am totally at peace that God made people like me to make people who are good at paperwork to feel good about themselves. And I'm OK with this. I am good at other things. My self esteem has healed. I have found peace. 

Guess what 95% of adoption is...yup...paperwork. Needless to say...we cherish your prayers. There are mounds and mounds of paperwork. And then there's more paperwork. I know this mountain before us is climbable. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. And I remind myself we can. I can because:

^"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." -Ephesians 3:20 & 21

If paperwork is a step...be it my least favorite thing to do...it is worth is to bring our baby home. And He who is able will equip me. PRAISE GOD! He will equip me.

Yard Sale/Bake Sale Update

We've been having a lot of fun with our yard sale/bake sale update. We've got fresh goodies for you to eat, and fresh coffee brewed. Not to mention all the stuff for sale!
Speaking of coffee, I wanted to share with you one more time how you can help, even if you can't come out to the sale. 

We've partnered with Just Love Coffee Roasters, a great company that sells fair trade, organic coffee and coffee related merchandise. If you start buying your coffee from them, through the link below, then we get a portion of the proceeds. It's easy, safe, and the coffee is delicious. Just click on the image below to start shopping:


Check out our store here.

Thanks!

Got Questions?

  
We've encountered quite a few questions from different folks as we've announced our adoption plans to our friends and family. We'd love to be able to answer them all, at least as much as we can. (We're beginning to realize that the more we learn, the more we see how much there is to learn about adoption.)

If you've got burning questions, leave a comment below. In a future post, We'll do our best to answer them.

Yard Sale/Bake Sale This Weekend!

Just a reminder that we'll be having our garage sale and bake sale this Saturday, September 28th. Be sure to stop by and check us out if you are in town.

If you are not in town with us, then you can still show your support. We're asking everyone to buy some coffee from our partner site on this Saturday, September 28th. For everything you buy, we get a portion of the proceeds. It's easy, safe, and anonymous.


Check out our store to shop for great coffee and supplies. Just click the green button on the left side of the page.

Drink Coffee, Change Lives

I am super excited to share with you one of the easiest and yummiest ways that you can partner with us. Those who know me know that I love coffee. That's why I was overjoyed when I encountered Just Love Coffee Roasters. They are a roastery that makes fair trade organic coffee. The best part is that when you buy coffee, mugs and accessories, and apparel from them, a portion of the proceeds go to support our adoption.

Here's what we're asking everyone to do: on Saturday, September 28th, we'll be having a yard sale and bake sale to raise money for our adoption. If you are local, come on over and join us. If you live out of town from us, we're asking that everyone buy some coffee through our link. It's an easy way that you can show your support, and you get great coffee. Even if you don't drink coffee, you can always buy a mug or a t-shirt. So mark your calendars for September 28th. If you are in town, stop by for our garage sale and bake sale. If you are out of town, stop by the online coffee shop and help us bless our Chinese child.

Check out our store to shop for great coffee and supplies. Just click the green button on the left side of the page.

Tax Deductible Donations

Just wanted to let everyone know that you can make tax deductible donations to help support our adoption. If you are interested in making a donation, simply write a check to:

Trinity Baptist Church
595 Abbott Rd.
Walla Walla, WA 99362
509-525-3032
Indicate "adoption" in the memo line of your check.

Thanks for your support, and especially for your prayers. Let us know if you have questions. 

God Said "Yes!"

I don't know about you but sometimes it's hard for me to know for sure if God wants me to do something. It's like "OK, God...I'm gonna do it now...I really am...I am gonna do it...OK. I'm serious. I really am..." All the while waiting for Him to say "STOP!" That's kind of how it has been with this adoption idea. It is something that has been on my heart for years but only recently did Kris and I feel like we were on the same page. But even as I filled out our application I felt nervous. Nervous about our country choice, our family's readiness to do this, and even our ability. As I finished the last bit of paperwork for our application, I prayed, "OK, God. If this is what you want make it happen. We're ready." I set down my pen and ran an errand. While I was out...not an hour later...I got a phone call from a dear, sweet soul sister. I told her our decision, told her that I had finished the application, and that I was waiting for God to provide the first $250 we needed to turn in the application. Our conversation went like this:

Her: "What did you say?"
Me: "Yeah. It's $250 just to turn in the application."
Her: "HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!"
Me: "Why are you laughing?"
Her: "Anne, I called you to get your address. We have a check on our counter I wanted to send you for...$250."
Me: crying crying crying

So it was like God was like: "GO! I got your back! Let's make this happen."

And so here we go. We are gonna have a baby!

Shop Amazon, Change Lives

As we've gone through this process, we've tried to find some creative ways that people can contribute to our adoption. Here's one of the easiest, where everyone wins:

If you are like us, you shop at Amazon. If you are like us, you shop at Amazon a lot. We've got a link that allows you to shop at Amazon, just like you normally do, but in the process you contribute to our goal of bringing our child home from China.



We hope you take advantage of this opportunity. If you have questions, let us know.

You Can't Make this Stuff Up

I was having lunch with a guy recently, and we met at Panda Express. I don't eat there very often, but this time in particular, I was thinking about China, about Chinese food, and about our adoption plans. All those things were rolling around in my mind when I opened my fortune cookie. Here was my fortune:

As you might imagine, I was pretty freaked out. What kind of a fortune is this, anyway? 

As I reflected on this statement, though, I thought, "Really, this is what we want to do." I don't mean that we want to adopt out of charity, or because we feel bad for the 150 million orphans in the world (although we do). That is not the mentality that has led us to this decision.

We want to adopt because we love. We love our kids. We love that our kids are so loving to others. And we want to share that love with more and more people. It is weird to think that we can already love a child that we've never met, but that is how we feel. We are excited about what God is doing in our lives, and we're excited to share it with you.