Adoption Fundraising

Update 4/29/08: Raised ........ $ 10,545!!!

Update 3/6/08: This post was temporarily suspended pending court approval in compliance with Ethiopian protocol.
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"Giving is the best way of living."

I'm officially kicking off my fundraising campaign, and I have to say it is an uncomfortable endeavor. I truly love to give, but when it comes to asking for help ... not so much. But in the words of one of the social workers I spoke with early in this process "If you think you are going to do this by yourself, you are being very selfish."

So I'm taking a breath, humbling myself and stepping out in yet another leap of faith ... that others will be blessed by the opportunity to give, as I would be if it were someone else asking. Many families embark on this journey with nothing at all and trust God to provide for all of it! I admire their courage and faith. My personal goal is through grants and donations to raise around half of the $25-30K (See my blog sidebar for a breakdown of costs) required to bring my two children home from Ethiopia.

Can you help?

If it is on your heart to help me build a family and give these kids a better life or you have a heart for children and orphans or you would like to give to an organization where you know where your money goes or you just need an end of the year tax break ... here are three ways to do it:

1). Founding Family Charitable Foundation:
I have partnered with Founding Family Charitable Foundation to make your donation tax-deductible.

To donate:
Click on the link above and select "How to Give" on the left-hand side of the page, or just look for the "Donate Now" heart. You may donate by American Express (see option #2), Paypal, or mail a check directly to:

Founding Family Charitable Foundation
1004 Rodney Drive
Nashville, TN 37205-1018

Please put my full name in the comment field on your check -- if you need my full name, just leave a comment on this post and I will email it to you. For credit card or online donations, identify my account by sending an email including both my full name and your name to Nina Ottinger, Grant Administrator at ninaottinger@comcast.net.

Please call 615.620.4348 if you would like further information. A general acknowledgment letter of thanks will be sent, unless you specify otherwise.

2). GivingExpress Program from American Express:
* Donate Membership Rewards Points - or -
* Your dollar donations are tax-deductible.

To donate:
Click on the link above and select "Contribute Now" on the left-hand side of the page.

Step 1: In the Non-profit Name or Keywords field, enter "founding family charitable"
Step 2: Select "Founding Family Charitable Foundation" from the list
Step 3: Click "Donate Now" to Donate Dollars or scroll down to Redeem Membership Rewards Points. Please note that there will be an administrative fee of 2.25% taken from your donation to cover processing costs.

Send an email to Nina Ottinger, Grant Administrator at ninaottinger@comcast.net, stating you made an American Express donation and include both my full name and your name.

3). PRAY! Your prayers are the best gift I could ask for ...
Pray that the adoption process itself goes smoothly. Pray that God brings me children who are healthy, kind and loving, with a willingness to learn and a heart to love Jesus. Pray that I am a good parent, and have patience and wisdom. I know that He has the perfect child(ren) picked out for me, but it is driving me crazy not knowing! I am requesting two siblings between the ages of five and nine. Please pray that He reveals them to me soon. But most of all pray that every decision and step of this process is in perfect keeping with His Divine will.

My sincere and gracious thanks to each and every one of you. I know that you will be mightily blessed, as am I.

In Christ,
Nancy

Under African Skies

I keep bumping into Africa ... or perhaps Africa keeps bumping into me.

The 60's: When I was young, my mother had an RCA recording of the amazing Miriam Makeba's "Click Song." (See my blog sidebar under "Other Resources ..." to listen to a clip) It was my favorite song! I listened to it over and over, probably hundreds of times and never got tired of the lively rhythms or the hypnotic sound of her native South African Xhosa language. Ms. Makeba was one of the first to bring the songs of South Africa to the rest of the world, and only just recently retired from a career that spanned more than half a century. A few weeks ago, while helping clean out my mom's basement I came across the paper jacket for that little record and those pleasant memories came rushing back. I only wish I still had that 45 rpm to slip inside to make a real keepsake for me.

The 70's: In college I studied art history and my favorite class was ... you guessed it! ... African & Oceanic Art. I was drawn to it's pure and primitive nature, from the delicate chi wara headdresses of the Bambara (Bamana) people in Mali, to the striking akua mma dolls of the Ashanti in Ghana, to the endless variety of masks from every tribe on the continent.

The 80's: Paul Simon's "Graceland" CD and "Graceland: The Africa Concert" recorded live in Harare, Zimbabwe brought Miriam Makeba, the Empress of African Song to pop audiences everywhere, and introduced me to the jazz trumpet sounds of another great South African legend Hugh Masekela. The songs cover a variety of musical flavor, including "Under African Skies" and the beautiful "N'Kosi Sikeleli Africa" (God Bless Africa), and the video captures the delight of the people watching this landmark concert.

The 90's: The Disney movie "The Lion King" and subsequent Broadway show kept African rhythms alive with the help of South African song writer Lebo M. Mark Mancina and others. I also discovered the forest music of Baka Beyond, a unique combination of Celtic influence and the primitive percussion of the Baka Pygmies near the Cameroon/Congo border.

From the Baka Beyond website:

The album "Spirit of the Forest" helped define the term “world music” and pushed Baka Beyond into worldwide recognition. From these beginnings, recorded in a bedroom studio and based on live jams recorded while living with the Baka Pygmies in the rainforests of South-East Cameroon, Baka Beyond has evolved into a multicultural, dynamic live stage show. “It was the amazing bird-like singing or yelli that first attracted me,” says Su Hart, Baka Beyond’s lead singer. “The women get together before the dawn to sing, enchant the animals of the forest and ensure that the men’s hunting will be successful. Song and dance are used by the Baka for healing, for rituals, for keeping the community together and also for pure fun! We try to do the same in Baka Beyond.”

The year 2007: It's no wonder that when the call to adopt was laid on my heart that I felt drawn to Africa. I feel thankful that she has called me through the gentle whispers of art and music, and not the angry shouts of slavery, apartheid, discrimination, and human rights. My nature is not one of politics and philosophy, so you won't find such discourses here. But one cannot keep a blind eye to these issues either. To quote: "Choose your friends by their character and your socks by their color. Choosing your socks by their character makes no sense, and choosing your friends by their color is unthinkable." As I do life with my new family, I'm looking forward to learning more about their culture and people, language and customs, issues and challenges. Recent celebrity adoptions from Africa has called attention to this region, and caused an sharp escalation in African adoptions. But for me this had no bearing whatsoever on my choice, and did not even cross my mind until reading about the phenomena afterwards. But I'm glad they did and that it is moving more people to consider these children.

And to Sherri Shepherd from the "View" who recently stated: "Oh, those poor babies. People used to get Chinese babies, now everyone gets African babies. It's a Louis Vuitton bag." A member of one of the web boards said it best when she responded in a letter to the network, "As the mother of a child born in Guatemala and of two more waiting in Ethiopia, I am highly offended that you would compare my children to a handbag. Children are not accessories, and anyone who thinks so would not survive the adoption process. Parents do not have their lives laid bare and go through the emotional roller coaster of adoption to be trendy. They do it because they want to be parents." Thank you! You can click here to tell ABC what you think about Ms. Shepherd's comment!

Paper Chase

Once the adoption agency was selected, since the one I chose is not in my state of residence, the next step was to find a local home study agency. I was blessed to find another great agency to handle that part of the process ... the digging into who I am and what made me, and how and why I will be a good parent. The well of one's soul is laid bare.

And I'm so glad I'm organized by nature and actually like paperwork! The beginning of the adoption process, as those of you who done or are doing it, is a mountain of paperwork and gathering of records. Some documents are required for the home study, some by the adoption agency, some by both, and copies of almost all everything for the international dossier -- a huge package of everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know and more about the PAP (prospective adoptive parent). And for the dossier it is not just copies mind you, but certified originals, with each and every last one notarized -- by a notary whose commission doesn't expire for at least a year! With a few documents they even go one step beyond, and need the notary signature authenticated by the Secretary of State. I had no idea!

I've been busy as a little bee gathering up tax returns, police clearance letters, birth certificates, bank statements, medical reports, proof of insurance coverage, marriage licenses and divorce decrees, employment verification, getting fingerprinted, background checked, passport photos, family photos, a statement of Christian faith and personal testimony (required for the Ethiopia program director my adoption agency works with) and somehow convincing my friends to find time in their busy lives to write the all important reference letters! I so much appreciate each one. You're a blessing to me!

But I am done! I have survived all of my social worker visits and just need to attend one more required training class for my home study to be complete. Yippee! That is coming up in a couple of weeks, so I am hoping that the home study will be all approved and complete by late October. It is the last item to add to my dossier and then off to Ethiopia. I am so excited!

My Journey Begins

Once the seed of adoption was planted, it began to rapidly grow. I began my research and found I was not too old, but really just squeaking under the wire for the age requirements for many programs. I decide to proceed carefully, but quickly in determining an agency and program. My heart has always been drawn to Africa so choosing a continent was easy, and after being led to Ethiopia and learning about this proud and ancient culture, it became crystal clear that was the country I needed to focus on. God truly has planted a passion for that area of the world in my heart. (See my blog sidebar "Why Ethiopia").

After considering various agencies I settled upon Christian World Adoption, for their experience in my country of choice, professional credentials, and Christian based philosophies. A mishap or two in their past had led to some bad press, but I spoke with many references, past clients, and staff and am comfortable with the circumstances surrounding those situations. I am happy with my choice thus far. Everyone is kind, helpful, responsive, and most of all interested in God's will for both the adoptive parents and especially the children.

Somewhere along the line in those early days of walking in obedience, the vision of one child became two. For a new, older, single mom that idea still often terrifies me. And there are pros & cons of both adopting one child or a sibling group of two, but I feel so lead to pursue two children. It has been the topic of much prayer! As with the entire process (and my life) I am ultimately leaving the size of my family up to God and will be thrilled with however He decides to unfold this "adventure for a lifetime."

The Prayer of Jabez

I had been praying the prayer of Jabez every day for about two months:

"And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying,

'Oh, that you would bless me indeed,
and enlarge my territory,
that Your hand would be with me,
and that You would keep me from evil,
that I may not cause pain!'

So God granted him what he requested."

~ 1 Chronicles 4:10
I wanted to be blessed - who doesn't? - but more than that I wanted God to enlarge my territory, my work for Him, my purpose in Christ. I wondered what it would be ... would He have me witness more, serve my church in a greater capacity ...

As I went about my days I realized that in my mind's eye, I was seeing a child at my side. He was with me as I went about the house, watched a movie, shopped for groceries, and especially worshipping and singing praises to God in church. I was amused. It was a pleasant thought. Then the words formed in my consciousness, "you need to adopt this child." What? That can't be. I've given up on motherhood. I'm too old, don't have enough money, too selfish and far too set in my ways! And single for goodness sakes! But the thoughts persisted.

So, I thought I'd run this "idea" by a few friends; they'd set me straight. But they didn't! "What a wonderful thing! I'm 100% behind you." WOW! Could I really adopt a child? Could I really fulfill my almost forgotten desire to be a mother? But where did this "crazy" thought come from? Suddenly it dawned upon me ... the Jabez prayer! God in His mysterious ways was asking me to enlarge my territory in a way I would never have dreamed! I thought about other prayers I had been praying and the far different answers I had imagined. But this one leap of faith ... this bringing a child into my life provides an unexpected and delightful answer to so many requests I had held up to our wise & wonderful Lord.

The journey begins ...

(taken from my back yard on August 17, 2007)