Celebrating Christ with Loved Ones - December 2011

Giving God Glory
Our faithful provider - One of the names of God is Jehovah Jireh, which means "The Lord will Provide."  This truth has been encouraging to us that the Lord will faithfully provide in His perfect timing and ways for the financial costs of our adoption.  And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever.  Amen.  Philippians 4:19-20  We are enjoying giving God glory as we continually see His provisions for our adoption.  We praise Him that already He has provided 66% of our goal (which is to cover $6,000 out of the $19,000 with the hope that we will receive the adoption tax credit for the other $13,000).

What's on the Harrisons' Hearts
One of the top reasons people do not adopt... -

...the cost.

     We continually hear that the financial cost of adoption is one of the biggest hindrances for people considering adoption.  When Wes and I began praying about adoption and talking through all the different factors involved in the decision of whether or not to pursue adoption, the significantly more cost of adoption compared to our small co-pay cost of having more children of our own flesh was a struggle.  When the Lord began making it clear that He was calling us to adopt, we knew He would provide for the cost of our adoption in His perfect timing and ways.
     With a desire to be wise and faithful stewards, we contemplated waiting to adopt and saving up money until we covered all the costs ourselves, but we sensed the Lord leading us to start the adoption process soon since it may be a couple years before He brings our little one into our family.  We strongly desire to live as debt-free as possible, so we discussed ways the Lord may work through to help us to hopefully be adoption debt-free by the time our adoption process is complete.

Some of these ways we thought of (incorporating adoption costs in our budget and seeking out additional ways to work to earn extra income).

Some ways we saw or heard of other adoptive couples do (fundraising).

Other ways the Lord brought to us that hadn't crossed our minds (extra income opportunities such as Wes being offered the opportunity to work a day of overtime and my getting offered the opportunity to care an additional day for the children I watch).

     We praise the Lord for how we have already seen Him providing through all of these various ways, and we are excited to continue to see His faithful provision, even if that may mean we still have debt to pay off after the adoption process is complete.  We know our child is priceless!

     Here's what our financial game plan looks like...  The cost of our adoption is $19,000.  The Lord blessed us with an extremely low interest loan that we have taken out to cover $13,000, which we are hoping that we will be able to get back as a tax credit.  This is not a guarantee because the adoption tax credit expires at the end of 2012.  For the remaining $6,000 we are seeking to cover it through saving, extra income opportunities, grants, creative fundraising, whoever the Lord leads to support us, and however else He desires to.  Our hope is to have this money by the time it is needed so that we will not have to take out an additional loan.

     If the Lord is leading you to support our adoption financially, please read below about the ways you can help in the section "Bringing Our Baby Home - Our Adoption Journey." 

Praises & Prayer Requests
Tami - Continued prayers for the Lord to give my dad and other loved ones His perspective and that God would heal Tami, but ultimately that His will would be done.
Our Family - Praise for the Lord blessing our family with wonderful times of celebrating Christ with loved ones.
Wes - Praise for the Lord blessing Wes with a refreshing and restful break from the workload of being in school.  Prayer for the Lord to prepare him for starting another semester of school in January.
Christina - Continued praise for the Lord growing me in having a servants heart.  Prayer for the Lord to help keep my priorities aligned with His priorities like Christ did (Mark 1:35-38).  I am about to enter a very full season with taking on more responsibility with opportunities to help us earn extra income for our adoption - additional childcare, possible piano lessons, completing paperwork for grants, etc.
Noah - God would graciously save him at a young age and lead him to walk with the Lord all of his days, if that be the Lord's will.  Praise for the Lord helping Noah to grow in honoring and obeying without arguing (Ephesians 6:1-3).  Prayer for Noah to have a peaceful heart and peaceful response when he does not get his way (Hebrews 12:11).  He tends to pout and get a negative attitude, and we are trying to help teach him how to have a peaceful heart rather than a bitter heart and to use kind words with a kind voice when trying to communicate dislike or disagreement. 

Marriage Memories

Our latest "date" involved traveling to Castle Rock for a meeting with our adoption agency, Hope's Promise, to begin our homestudy process.  The meeting went very well, and Wes and I enjoyed some good discussion about different aspects of adoption during our drive there and back. 

Family Fun

Our Family Christmas Eve

Wes' holiday handlebars - Wes and a couple of his co-workers had a "holiday stash" contest.  From what I gather from his co-workers' comments, his stash is far better than the others'.  Wes is definitely having a lot of fun with it, so it may stay around longer than the holidays. ;)

Celebrating Christ as a family - We continued a tradition we started last year of reading daily (which we read these theological concepts in a briefer version so that our toddler can follow) from The Heart of Christmas: A Devotional for the Season each evening and singing the song for each date starting December 1st through Christmas Day.  Noah's favorite song this month was "Joy to the World," and he asked to sing it every night before bed and also to play it in the car on our Christmas CD.  It was precious hearing him belt out "JOY TO THE WRD!  Hen and nature sing!" over and over.  On Christmas morning we had a couple ideas we wanted to do with Noah, but he slept in (which was needed after all the fun late nights we had been enjoying with family) so we had a little time to open his present from us and a few other gifts from loved ones before we headed over to Papa and Nana's house to celebrate with all the rest of the family.

 Noah's gift from us - Moving from his convertible toddler bed to a twin bed with new bedding

Noah playing around with Daddy in his new comforter * Noah's new bed * Lounging

Video - Noah enjoying jumping on his new bed and doing his little "flip" (aka summersault) off of it

Noah News

Age - 2.5 years old
Cute Communication - My favorite this month = "Pays da Lor!  (Praise the Lord!)"  Noah started picking up on various time phrases such as "time to eat," "time's up," "time to go," etc.  He enjoys telling us what he likes such as "No-no likes pah-pah (pickles)." or "No-no likes mo-mos (motorcyles)."  Noah is growing in being polite and is starting to say "Thank you, Daddy/Mommy." without us cuing him to.  He also started asking questions such as "Weh (where) di (did) Froggie/Daddy/etc. go?"

Latest Loves
Christmas lights (he calls them "Christmas tree lights")
Gymnastic-type moves - cartwheels, summersaults, etc.
Stuffed animals
Wearing Daddy's/Mommy's shoes
Saying the days of the week
Fav song = "Joy to the World"
Wearing comfy pants = sweats or shorts
Putting his velcro shoes on himself (he gets upset if he puts them on the wrong feet because he can tell)
Movie = "Cars" - he especially enjoys Mater, which he calls "Mater truck"
Building forts
Chasing Sierra around our home
His new twin bed and curtains with various vehicles - Thank you, Auntie Gigi for making the curtains!

Merry Christmas! :)

Sporting Mommy's shoes * Getting creative with his undies * Trying on fun hats at the toy store

Video - Noah chasing Sierra around our kitchen

Our silly son ready to play some racquetball :)

Noah wanted to bring his favorite stuffed animals along for a ride - Llama, Moose, Bear, & Froggie

Auntie Wendy reading to Noah * Noah reading to Naomi

Dylan (one of Noah's neighborhood friends) & Noah shoveling our street * All bundled up

Bringing Our Baby Home - Our Adoption Journey
Fundraising

If the Lord leads you to financially support our adoption, here are a few ways you can contribute:

1.  Just Love Coffee - Harrison Adoption Coffee Store: $5 from each bag of coffee or heated cocoa mix purchased through our coffee store goes directly to financially support our adoption.  Enjoy drinking fair trade organic coffee or cocoa that supports a great cause.  Click here to shop at our store.

2.  ABC Scripture Memory Cards: You can enjoy hiding God's Word in your heart with your child or a child you know.  Each letter of the alphabet has a corresponding verse and picture that makes the verse easy to remember.  These also make great gifts!  Cost = $8 with all proceeds going towards our adoption.  Discounts for ordering multiple items.  (The blogger who created the concept gave me permission to make these as a means of fundraising for our adoption.  I am grateful for her generosity!)  To order: e-mail mrschristinaharrison@hotmail.com and let me know how many you would like.

3.  Mary Kay: I am a very laid back Mary Kay consultant and would enjoy using Mary Kay as a means to help financially provide for our adoption.  All proceeds will go towards our adoption.  For products - click here to check out the Mary Kay website.  To order: 

e-mail mrschristinaharrison@hotmail.com and let me know what you would like to purchase.

4. Got junk? : We will be joining our community-wide garage sale on the first weekend in June (1st-3rd).  If you have any "junk" that may be another man's treasure, please donate these items to our garage sale.  Please e-mail me at mrschristinaharrison@hotmail.com if you are interested.  All proceeds from our personal garage sale will go towards our adoption.  Also, feel free to stop by our sale this summer because you may find some treasures you would enjoy purchasing. :)  

5. Direct gifts:

  

*Give presently (Not tax-deductible gift) - You may directly write a check to us (e-mail me at mrschristinaharrison@hotmail.com if you need our address) or to our adoption agency:

          Hope's Promise

          309 Jerry Street #202

          Castle Rock, CO  80104

Please write Harrison Adoption in the memo line.

  

*Give Spring 2012 (Tax-deductible gift) - Lifesong for Orphans has a matching grant program and a fundraising support program in which those who give will receive a tax-deductible gift receipt.  Click here for info.  We cannot apply for these programs until our homestudy is approved, which won't be for a couple months. We are hoping to be accepted for the matching grant program, where Lifesong will match the funds raised "dollar-for-dollar."  If the matching grant program does not work out, we can still utilize the fundraising support program.  If you are interested in this, please e-mail me at mrschristinaharrison@hotmail.com and let me know so I can keep you posted on when you can give through one of these programs.

Thank you!  We are extremely grateful for everyone's support.  We need all your 

emotional encouragement and prayers, along with the finances God provides!

_________________________________________________________________________________

Where are we at in the adoption process?

The process for adopting an infant in the U.S. involves:

*completing an application & being accepted - 11-22-11

*home study process/training & being approved - WE ARE HERE

*entering the waiting pool - our profile book about our family (which birthmothers look at to choose the parents they want for their child) being shown to birthmothers

*waiting anywhere from approximately 2 weeks to 2 years

*being chosen by a birthmother

*meeting the birthmother and confirming the match

*birth of baby

*bringing baby home with us from the hospital

*2 week legal period in which the birthmother can change her mind

*after 6 months the adoption is legally finalized in court

Praying for our adoption journey

Praises:

*Prayer partners and words of encouragement

*The Lord's provision!  Presently, the Lord has blessed us with 66% of our goal (which is to cover $6,000 out of $19,000 with the hope that we will receive the adoption tax credit for the other $13,000).

*The opportunity to connect the grandmother of the twin boys (who had factors that made it clear these were not the babies the Lord had for us) with our agency, Hope's Promise.  She wanted her grandsons to be adopted by a Christian family, and the woman we met with this month at Hope's Promise said she had Christian couples waiting to adopt children with the kind of factors that these boys have.

*Psalm 32:8 - The Lord has been guiding us and giving us wisdom and unity as we fill out paperwork and important questionnaires involved in the home study process.  We are almost done with our home study paperwork!!

Requests:

*Ephesians 3:21 & 6:18-20 - The Lord to be glorified and the gospel to be shared

*Galatians 5:22-23 - The Lord to begin preparing Noah (and us) for welcoming a little one into our family.  One of the aspects we are praying for is the fruit of the Spirit.

*John 6:44 - The Lord to begin drawing the birthmother (if she does not know Christ) and the baby He has for our family to Himself in salvation

*Matthew 25:19-21 - An ongoing prayer request for us to be wise financial stewards and for the Lord to provide for our adoption as we seek to save, to take advantage of extra income opportunities, to pursue grants, to provide fundraising opportunities, and however else He desires to.  We hope to be adoption debt free by the end of the entire adoption process, but we are holding this desire loosely and know that it may take more time.

*Philippians 4:19-20 - God's perfect timing with our adoption... the adoption tax credit that would immensely help out with our adoption expenses expires at the end of 2012.  We know the Lord will provide either way, whether through a tax credit or other means, and we are thankful to have a game plan for either scenario.

Book on Adoption
We thank the Lord for all the people He is surrounding us with to encourage, support, and pray for our family.  One of these friends that I am thankful for is Janet, who goes to our church and has adopted multiple children through foster care.  I appreciate her and her husband for coming alongside us, praying for us, encouraging us, and sharing their adoption resources with us.  This month I read a book she gave me that is endorsed by Focus on the Family - Handbook on Thriving as an Adoptive Family: Real-Life Solutions to Common Challenges.  I highly recommend this book and learned a lot from it that opened my eyes to challenges that we could face post-adoption.  I am thankful that it helped Wes and I know how to prepare and respond to these challenges in biblical and practical ways.  Here is the book in a nut-shell (book description from Amazon):

Adoption is a high calling from God, and the Christian home primary soil for planting seeds of faith. But how will post-adoption challenges affect this growth? Most agencies do a great job of connecting families with children who need a forever family. Not many prepare you for the unexpected issues—an adopted child fighting with his new siblings or not wanting to be touched or showing signs of reactive attachment disorder (RAD). The more you know, the more confident you will be to meet the unique needs of your adopted child and your entire family. This distinctly Christian book will equip readers to be successful adoptive parents. Packed from cover to cover with information, advice, ideas, and resources, Handbook on Thriving as an Adoptive Family will inspire and inform parents committed to making adoption work. Handbook on Thriving as an Adoptive Family is the one parenting resource that provides comprehensive, topical, Bible-based solutions for the inevitable challenges after adoption.


Memorable Moment of the Month
Celebrating Christ with loved ones - We enjoyed spending time with loved ones from far away - Kyle, Kristen, Sawyer, & Nora and Papa & Tache - as well as with loved ones who live here in the Springs.  We had a great time together and made many wonderful memories - especially those cousins! :)

Cousins - Nora - 4 mo., Noah - 2, Sawyer - 1

Sweet Nora * Noah giving Nora a kiss

Reading - Papa & his grandsons * Great Tache & her great grandsons

Fun at Focus on the Family - Noah & Sawyer * Sawyer racing through the log tunnel

Banister fun * Noah & Sawyer in their matching pjs

Christmas Day

Great Tache & Nora * Great Grandpas

Adam & Wendy * Schenk Fam

Opening Gifts - Pulling out goodies from his stocking * Sawyer enjoyed coming over by Noah to see what gifts Noah got * Stylin' in his hoodie from Great Papa & Great Tache

Great Papa helping Noah open a package * Noah buried himself ;)

Video - Noah playing in all the wrapping paper

Thank you hugs for the aunts

 All the fam going for our Christmas Day walk in our pajama pants ;)

Noah took Llama & Froggie with him on the walk * Sawyer & Noah enjoyed chasing each other

Bring on the competition - Texas Hold 'Em

Electric Safari at the Zoo

One of the most memorable moments during our time together with all the family was when Dad got broadsided by a giraffe's tongue at the zoo's Electric Safari.  Unfortunately, no one caught this on camera.

 

Our little explorer * Daddy & son all bundled up

Dads & sons - Wes & Noah with Kyle & Sawyer

Walking with G-pa * Checking out the snake - Noah even petted it!

Daddy & son * Sawyer & Noah (sort of)

Having fun! * Posing ;)

More Memories

Birthday Parties

Dylan's 5th Birthday * Neighborhood friends enjoying cake & ice cream

Thane's 2nd Birthday * Selah & Noah enjoying yummy waffles * Having fun on Thane's power-wheels

 Time together with Jpa & Grandma 

Dipping fries with Grandma * Hugs with Jpa

Reading to Grandma * Opening gifts

Fun at the Toy Station - Puppet show with Grandma * Cooking with Jpa

Christmas Party with our neighbors

I had the privilege of sharing the story about Christ's birth, death, and resurrection with these precious children.  One of my favorite memories was when we sang "Joy to the World" together while the children played various instruments.  It was priceless!

Musical hats game - Jacob liked this hat A LOT! :) * Putting on their hats * The winner - Jake

Snowball fight game * Even the adults got in on the action! :)

Video - Snowball fight game

Gift exchange * Noah's gift of a book & chocolate - he was excited!

Extended Family Annual Christmas Party

Scavenger Hunt - Kate, me, & Wendy * Wendy, Kate, & Tiff

Maren & Noah playing & reading