Talking with kids about adoption...

I posted this website a while back, and I didn't know much about it. I still don't know much about it, or them, but they seem to have solid, biblical resources and thoughts. This is a helpful little article that sets up some categories and suggestions for chatting with your kids about adoption.

http://adoptivedads.org/chatting-with-kids-about-adoption/

"Encouragement for Foster Parents"

This is a quick read, but was very encouraging for me. I won't say
more. Gotta read it!

http://adoptivedads.org/encouragement-for-foster-parents/

Here's the original post from Josh Harris

Adoption: The heart of the Gospel

A while back, I posted a link to a sermon by John Piper entitled "Adoption: The heart of the Gospel." A few weeks ago, our church had an adoption meeting, and this article was passed out. Just thought I'd re-post it to keep it fresh. This is about God's heart towards adoption, and worth the read, even if you aren't considering adoption.

Adoption: The Heart of the Gospel

New Look

Since I haven't posted anything on here for a long time, I figure I'd update the look of the site. I don't know how often I'll do this, but I'm playing with blogger templates a little, and decided to create a new one for this site.

Any comments?

Altrogge on Adoption

Carolina Hope Adoption interviews Mark Altrogge on "The Gospel and
Adopting Older Children."

http://www.carolinahopeadoption.org/blog/archives/143

Transracial Adoption and the Gospel

Haven't been posting much lately, but here's a good interview with Thabiti Anyabwile, pastor of First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman.

View the post from Carolina Hope Adoption

Financing an Adoption (Justin Taylor)

Here's a list of a few adoption financing resources from Justin Taylor.

http://theologica.blogspot.com/2007/08/financing-adoption.html

Justin Taylor and Adoption

I've been reading a lot of Justin Taylor lately (his blog is on my home page). I just learned in this post (http://theologica.blogspot.com/2007/08/adoption-tip-jar.html ) that he and his wife have adopted twice before, and are moving toward adopting their third.

It's amazing to me how many families are opening their hearts to Adoption. A few weeks ago, we had a meeting with our church in which about 12 couples who have adopted, or are in the process of adopting got together and shared what they had been going through, and how God had built their faith (and sometimes challenged them) in this process.

I realize that we haven't written much here lately, hopefully that will change. We're in the midst of making a few more decisions that will undoubtedly get us further down this adoption road.

Again, thanks for reading!

Writing...

I don't claim to be much of a poet, or a songwriter, but lately, I've been going in both directions.  I've got a few ideas for songs, and if anyone has any ideas or feedback, please let me know.

Here's a chorus for one:

But You were pierced for my sins,

You were crushed for my transgressions

You were punished, I am free

Surely, You have borne my grief,

Your sacrifice has bought my peace

By Your wounds, I am free

Another idea...

Great God of Heaven, Lord of might,

King of Kings, You shine so bright,

You purchased my sin on Calvary's tree,

Full forgiveness, how can it be?

 

Deceived by sin and my own pride,

Always wandering from Your side,

A prodigal I'm bound to be,

Then You came and rescued me.

That part is bolded because I really like it.  I'm not sure I like it with the rest of the stuff in there...

Any thoughts?  Suggestions?  Feedback?

 

Adoption in Russia

From: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-07-10-adopt_N.htm

Russia renews adoption agencies' licenses By Wendy Koch, USA TODAY

Russia has reopened its doors to Americans who want to adopt children, re-accrediting seven adoption agencies based in the USA.

Licenses granted in the past two weeks will enable the agencies to resume helping Americans adopt from among the 700,000 Russian children in orphanages, says Lee Allen, spokesman for the private National Council For Adoption.

As many as 44 American agencies had been working in Russia, he says.

"This is the first positive movement we've seen in a long time," Allen says. "We're very encouraged by it."

Russia has been a top destination for Americans seeking to adopt foreign children, ranking third behind China and Guatemala in 2006, according to the State Department.

Last year, 3,706 Russian adoptees came to the USA, a decline from a peak of 5,865 in 2004.

The number of adoptions began slowing last year as the annual licenses of American agencies started to expire.

The last two licenses expired in April, according to the website of Russia's Washington, D.C., embassy.

The agencies applied for renewal as Russia implemented tighter rules.

Most adoptions were put on hold, although some independently arranged ones proceeded.

"Many thousands of kids may have lost their opportunity" to be adopted when licenses expired, Allen says.

The new licenses have no expiration date but can be reconsidered at any time.

The Russian government did not respond to requests for comment.

"We have some people who've been waiting" to adopt, says John Bentz, president of International Assistance Group in Oakmont, Pa., one of the first seven American adoption agencies to win reapproval. "It will take some time."

"There are plenty of kids who need homes," says Joan Jaeger, spokeswoman for The Cradle in Evanston, Ill., one of the agencies re-accredited.

She says placing a child with an American family can take up to a year. She says the cost is comparable to domestic adoption: about $30,000, including two trips to Russia.

The other agencies re-accredited are Cradle of Hope in Silver Spring, Md.; The Frank Adoption Center in Raleigh, N.C.; Family and Children's Agency in Norwalk, Conn; Catholic Social Services, which is nationwide; and Children's Home Society & Family Services in St. Paul.