Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Adoption Fundraiser Donations
This is a direct link to allow family and friends to donate to a special Paypal account we have set up just for the adoption process that is linked to a new savings account set up specifically for this fundraiser. Thank you very much for your love and support.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Adoption
Dear Friends and Family,
We are finally going to adopt! This is great news as we have been praying and waiting for about a year now and the time has finally come. The adoption process did not happen the way we thought it would, but I guess life rarely happens the way we plan. We had originally thought that we would adopt through the foster care system in our state. We went to the trainings, did the home study, and became certified foster parents. Then we began praying and waiting. Three months later we were still praying and waiting. I was beginning to get impatient. The praying became more intense. Did we really hear from God on this adoption? Why so long a wait, and nothing?
At last, a phone call, our friend called to say she knew a couple in a crisis pregnancy situation who was interested in placing their baby for adoption. They did not want to go through an adoption agency and asked if she knew anyone who wanted to adopt. I had talked to her that very day about us wanting to adopt! She had prayed about it for a couple of days and decided to call us. My heart almost jumped out of my chest! A baby! Tears came to my eyes. Is this it? So many questions began running through my mind. How far along is she? Should I get my hopes up? God, is this what you want for us? This isn't in the plan. My friend told me that the biological father would like to meet us. My jaw dropped! Could this possibly happen to us?! The mother did not want to meet us; she wanted to keep things more private.
We started praying daily for the parents and for the baby. My friend helped set up a meeting with a volunteer translator because the biological father only spoke Spanish. We were so nervous as we sped into town for the meeting. What would he think of us? What would he ask us? What was he like? As we walked into the cozy cafe we were greeted by my friend who stood and motioned for us to come to their table. Introductions were made as we shook shaky sweaty palms. We were all nervous. The biological dad expressed his thankfulness to us, something that was not deserved or expected in any way. Each time he thanked us, I thought, why is he thanking us? We should be thanking him for considering us to possibly adopt his child.
He told us his situation and expressed his desire to do what is right for the baby. He said his girlfriend originally wanted to abort the baby but he was able to convince her to consider placing the baby for adoption. He couldn't understand why she didn't want to keep the baby, he would keep the baby but he felt that he didn't have the ability to raise a child on his own. His eyes got very teary as he told us his story. My heart broke for him. I never realized or even thought of what it would be like from a father’s perspective.
We told him a little about us and promised that we would raise his baby to the best of our abilities and would love this baby as if he were our very own. We also expressed how we had been preparing for this moment and had been praying for the last year about us being able to adopt and how honored we felt that he would meet with us. Through tears I explained that God had a plan for this baby and I did not think it was a coincidence that we were meeting that day. The whole meeting was engulfed in honesty, candidness, and deep emotion. He asked us to pray for his girlfriend as she was going through this time and gave us the pictures of the last ultrasound she had. We were filled with emotion as we looked at the baby for the first time. We were already attached. The father expressed how relieved he was that he was able to meet us and said that he wanted us to be the adoptive family for their baby. We started making calls to find an adoption attorney and get the biological mom some prenatal care. How were we going to pay for all of this? We didn't know, but we felt that God was doing something mysteriously wonderful and we just went with it.
We were able to help the biological mom get prenatal care at a place where she could feel comfortable about her decision and get the proper counseling and medical care that she needed. We still haven't met her but she has a file about us and trusts her boyfriend's decision about us being the adoptive family for her child. She is now very resolute that this is what she wants to do.
God is good, and we have learned to trust Him through this whole process. It has been very emotionally draining, but we feel so privileged that He would allow us to be a part of His plan for this baby's life. We are so amazed and excited about how he is going to work things out in this adoption.
So now is the part where I ask if you would like to help us with the amazing work that God is doing? We were planning to adopt through the state, which is basically a financially free way to adopt, so we only had a small amount in our savings. A private independent adoption is expensive although not as hefty a cost as going through an agency, especially since God dropped this situation in our lap. Our costs will be significantly lower than most adoptions. We have two months before we bring this baby home, but we have faith that God will provide. We have hired an amazing adoption attorney who has over 18 years of experience. There will be attorney fees, court costs and filing fees, and we need to purchase our home study, backgrounds checks and fingerprints from the state. We are trying to raise $1500 for the immediate cost of our home study, a $1500 retainer fee for the attorney, and $4000 more for the rest of the attorney fees, court costs, and filing fees after the baby is born in July and until the adoption is finalized. Will you help us reach our goal?
We are finally going to adopt! This is great news as we have been praying and waiting for about a year now and the time has finally come. The adoption process did not happen the way we thought it would, but I guess life rarely happens the way we plan. We had originally thought that we would adopt through the foster care system in our state. We went to the trainings, did the home study, and became certified foster parents. Then we began praying and waiting. Three months later we were still praying and waiting. I was beginning to get impatient. The praying became more intense. Did we really hear from God on this adoption? Why so long a wait, and nothing?
At last, a phone call, our friend called to say she knew a couple in a crisis pregnancy situation who was interested in placing their baby for adoption. They did not want to go through an adoption agency and asked if she knew anyone who wanted to adopt. I had talked to her that very day about us wanting to adopt! She had prayed about it for a couple of days and decided to call us. My heart almost jumped out of my chest! A baby! Tears came to my eyes. Is this it? So many questions began running through my mind. How far along is she? Should I get my hopes up? God, is this what you want for us? This isn't in the plan. My friend told me that the biological father would like to meet us. My jaw dropped! Could this possibly happen to us?! The mother did not want to meet us; she wanted to keep things more private.
We started praying daily for the parents and for the baby. My friend helped set up a meeting with a volunteer translator because the biological father only spoke Spanish. We were so nervous as we sped into town for the meeting. What would he think of us? What would he ask us? What was he like? As we walked into the cozy cafe we were greeted by my friend who stood and motioned for us to come to their table. Introductions were made as we shook shaky sweaty palms. We were all nervous. The biological dad expressed his thankfulness to us, something that was not deserved or expected in any way. Each time he thanked us, I thought, why is he thanking us? We should be thanking him for considering us to possibly adopt his child.
He told us his situation and expressed his desire to do what is right for the baby. He said his girlfriend originally wanted to abort the baby but he was able to convince her to consider placing the baby for adoption. He couldn't understand why she didn't want to keep the baby, he would keep the baby but he felt that he didn't have the ability to raise a child on his own. His eyes got very teary as he told us his story. My heart broke for him. I never realized or even thought of what it would be like from a father’s perspective.
We told him a little about us and promised that we would raise his baby to the best of our abilities and would love this baby as if he were our very own. We also expressed how we had been preparing for this moment and had been praying for the last year about us being able to adopt and how honored we felt that he would meet with us. Through tears I explained that God had a plan for this baby and I did not think it was a coincidence that we were meeting that day. The whole meeting was engulfed in honesty, candidness, and deep emotion. He asked us to pray for his girlfriend as she was going through this time and gave us the pictures of the last ultrasound she had. We were filled with emotion as we looked at the baby for the first time. We were already attached. The father expressed how relieved he was that he was able to meet us and said that he wanted us to be the adoptive family for their baby. We started making calls to find an adoption attorney and get the biological mom some prenatal care. How were we going to pay for all of this? We didn't know, but we felt that God was doing something mysteriously wonderful and we just went with it.
We were able to help the biological mom get prenatal care at a place where she could feel comfortable about her decision and get the proper counseling and medical care that she needed. We still haven't met her but she has a file about us and trusts her boyfriend's decision about us being the adoptive family for her child. She is now very resolute that this is what she wants to do.
God is good, and we have learned to trust Him through this whole process. It has been very emotionally draining, but we feel so privileged that He would allow us to be a part of His plan for this baby's life. We are so amazed and excited about how he is going to work things out in this adoption.
So now is the part where I ask if you would like to help us with the amazing work that God is doing? We were planning to adopt through the state, which is basically a financially free way to adopt, so we only had a small amount in our savings. A private independent adoption is expensive although not as hefty a cost as going through an agency, especially since God dropped this situation in our lap. Our costs will be significantly lower than most adoptions. We have two months before we bring this baby home, but we have faith that God will provide. We have hired an amazing adoption attorney who has over 18 years of experience. There will be attorney fees, court costs and filing fees, and we need to purchase our home study, backgrounds checks and fingerprints from the state. We are trying to raise $1500 for the immediate cost of our home study, a $1500 retainer fee for the attorney, and $4000 more for the rest of the attorney fees, court costs, and filing fees after the baby is born in July and until the adoption is finalized. Will you help us reach our goal?
There is always a chance that this adoption may fall through. The parental rights can only be terminated 48 hours after the birth of the baby, and a birth mom always (and rightfully) can change her mind at any time. If that did happen, we would be heartbroken, but joyful that this little family would be able to stay together. It does not look like that will be the case at this time and we will give you updates on how things are going. Please know that any donation received will still be used towards an adoption even if this one does not work out.
We will be doing a garage sale fundraiser on June 11th , at the Glorieta Baptist Church parking lot. If you would like to donate anything to this sale please contact Thomas and we can make arrangements for a pickup time. We will also be having a Father’s Day Adoption Fundraiser, out at the Glorieta Conference Center on June 19th, from 5-8pm. Come for a time of food, fun and fellowship down by the lake. Dress up for family photos in the Glorieta prayer garden at suggested donation of $25. There will also be a money tree for any additional donations you would like to make. Please contact Alida Strock for additional information at 505-757-2631. If you can’t make it to these fun events but would still like to donate, cash or checks are welcome. If you would like to donate electronically we have set up a PayPal account for the adoption and there will be a link on my Facebook page as well as our adoption blog.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support! God Bless.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Thomas and Laura Herndon
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