A Family For Makayla

I really don't know where to start or how to start. There is so much I could say, there is so much I want to say. But I feel I must hold my tongue. The best choice I can make is to point you to another blog where what I want to say is properly said.

I spend so many hours with a broken heart, crying out to God...please protect our little girl while she is not with us. Please God, look after the children.

PLEASE EVERYONE!!!! READ THIS BLOG POST... CLICK HERE to read what you don't want to read then join all us of who adopting from this orphanage in prayer.

We have decided to rename Makayla when she comes home and there is a story that goes along with her name that I want to share with you.

I'm not sure how many of you have ever watched the movie "Anastasia". It's an animated movie about the lost Russian princess, Anastasia. Her family was killed but she and her grandmother escaped. The two tried to jump on a train. Her grandmother made it but Anastasia fell and bumped her head causing her to lose her memory. She ended up spending her life as an orphan called Anya who was fervently looking for "someone" but she didn't know exactly who. Anya (Anastasia) had a necklace that she wore and she just "felt" that someone who loved her gave it to her and she wanted to find that person.

This movie happens to be one of Amanda's favorite. Amanda is our daughter with special needs. So we thought it would be very special and fitting to rename Makayla, Anastasia and call her Anya for short.

Please pray for our orphan Anya. Pray that her story has a happy ending with a new beginning.

I feel a lot of sadness in my heart right now and just want to let it out.

When you look at the picture on my blog of Makayla, what do you see? A little girl standing in a crib fiddling with her fingers, right? Do you realize that that little girl is going to be 11 years old in March? She is the size of my five year old son, but only half his weight.

Look closely at her fiddling with her fingers. Have you ever fiddled with your fingers? Why were you fiddling? Were you bored, sad, lonely or deep in thought? I often wonder what was going through her mind as her picture was taken there.

I pray for God to protect her and give her peace while we make our way through the adoption process.

This is the little girl being treated at a hospital. She is 10yrs old.

I actually find it very hard to put my feelings into words. It's pain and heartbreak to have your child so far away from home and neglected on so many levels. I can't stand to see any child suffer...and to add salt to the wound, my child is suffering. But God is moving, He is hearing the cries from the adopting families and the children in this particular orphanage. I praise God in knowing that another child that is worse off than our Makayla is currently receiving care in a hospital. The little girl is literally skin and bones. A doctor visited the orphanage and was shocked! Two others with the little girl were taken to the hospital as well. A picture speaks a thousand words. When you look at the picture, does it bring to mind anything else that happened in history?

You can follow the story of the little girl here: The Road Less Traveled.

You can find your own child to adopt here: Reece's Rainbow

I give deep thanks to those who have supported us emotionally through this adoption so far. We have even been blessed with people who have given money to help us with the expenses. But our deepest thanks go to God. He is blessing us with Makayla. Please pray for her. Please pray for all the children in the orphanage.

Pray. Pray some more. Always pray and never cease.
Mark 11:22 And Jesus said to them "Have faith in God".

YES, YES, YES!!! We took our daughter to the Urgicare today and the doctor filled out her medical form for the adoption! It's done! Our home study is done! The only thing left to do is get all the paperwork finalized and notarized!

WE ARE CELEBRATING HERE!!!

We are "done" with our home study. So why aren't we celebrating yet? Because we have just one little itty bitty piece to get done but doctors want to make things difficult. Our 19 year old daughter needs to be evaluated by a doctor to say she's healthy. She's 19, of course she's healthy! But because she hasn't been to a doctor for three years, they want to give her a full physical. May I state once more that she is 19, thank you.

We are not the type of people who run to the doctor for every little ache and pain. Give it a week, you'll feel better. And might I say that even when we do go to the doctor, nine times out of ten they tell us "we can't find anything wrong".

Now I'm not saying a 19 year old cant have problems but it is fortunately not common. My daughter is a vibrant and healthy young woman. So why can't we get a simple form with extremely simple questions filled out? Is it because they want the money from a full doctors visit, liability, or true concern? I'm not sure but one thing is for sure, this is causing a tremendous delay for a child who does have health issues and needs to get in to see a doctor!

My husband came up with an idea and I hope it works because if it doesn't, we may be forced to wait until March 20 before we can move on to the next step of our adoption. March 20 is the day Kandice can see a doctor. Anyway, here is today's action plan. I am taking my daughter to the Urgicare center to get a sports physical. Pray the doctor will fill out the form! I will let you know how it goes...

If you are someone who is thinking about fostering or adopting (locally or internationally) you will have to go through a home study. I want to talk a little about our experience in hopes that it will help someone out there who is reluctant to adopt or foster because of fear of the home study.

I personally walked into the home study very blindly. I did not have anyone to talk to. The best I could do was look up some scattered information on the internet. I was a wreck on our first appointment! The only thing going through my head was, "there is no way we are going to pass this". I mean come on, we're not rich, our home needs some updating/fixing here and there and I make no claims to being a "super mom". While I might have lacked confidence in our finances, home and even how the social worker would view me, there was one thing I knew for sure, I could take care of Makayla! Unfortunately, that's not enough. ;) There are income requirements, home requirements and even personal requirements.

So what are some of those requirements? Well first of all, the government wants to make sure you can afford to take care of the added family member without relying on them. And you must have private health insurance. So the social worker (SW) will look at the size of your family and your income. They will look at your assets but don't panic! You don't need to be asset rich. You can be a renter and still adopt/foster. Just make sure you aren't buried in debt.

As for your home or apartment. It doesn't need to be furnished like the rich and famous. It does need to be livable, clean but don't worry about it being spotless. The SW's are human too. They know dust happens so long as it doesn't look like it's been there for decades. Your home also needs to be free of clutter. Huge clutter messes that is, you know, think hoarders. It must also be big enough to supply room for the addition of a child. If you plan to have the child stay in the basement, I must warn you about what the fire inspector will say...you need a window a fireman can get through.

OK, so what are they looking for in you? This is where I'm going to leave off with two links for you to look up more information about everything.
Ohio adoption/foster information
Reece's Rainbow - income requirements for international adoption

I hope this information helps someone. Our home study was blessed by a beautiful woman aka our social worker who helped us every step of the way and cares for our journey as much as we do. We give thanks and glory to God for putting this woman in our lives!

We passed our home fire inspection! Yippee!