We have been so blessed to have a few people offer to have fundraisers for us! One such person is my friend and neighbor, Christina Hedke. Christina is a Thirty-One consultant and offered a party giving us 30% of all purchases. Christina, if you read this...THANK YOU so much for your willingness to help us!
And for those of you who love Thirty-One (or even if you don't check it out), please consider making purchases through my online party and support our adoption.
Click on the link to the right under our PayPal button (mythirtyone.com/hedke)-> -> -> ->
Here you can view the catalog and specials. Click on My Events-Peterman Fundraiser. Once you are on there click SHOP NOW next to that. This party won't stay open long-term so if you plan to purchase please do so in the next two weeks.
It's a win/win...you will get awesome bags, totes, and organizers...we will get closer to bringing our little girl home!
And don't forget the post below...we sell coffee too! LOL!
Showing posts with label Adoption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adoption. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Support Us!
This is by far been the hardest part of our journey...humbling ourselves and asking for support isn't something Nick and I are super comfortable with! I had to get over what others may say and how we may be judged by those who may not understand. In fact, I needed a pep talk from my friends Kristy and Emily (who are both on their own adoption journeys) before I actually mailed our letters out. Many of you have received this in the mail, but my mom indicated she learned a lot from reading it so I thought I would include it here as well for the ones who weren't lucky enough to get it in the mail...lol! Blessed are the gifts, the givers, and the ones who cannot give.
Dear Friends and Family,
What a crazy five months it has been! Our hearts have been burdened and we have been called to act! As most of you know, Nick and I feel a calling by God to adopt. We have felt led, specifically, to adopt a special needs little girl from China. My passion for international adoption started long ago. Only recently did various life circumstances lead us to seriously seek God’s will for this area of our lives. What started out as a desire to adopt internationally has led to a deep burden for the millions of orphans of this world and God’s call for us all to ACT.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27
Interestingly enough, the following verse shortly precedes James 1:27:
“Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22
After diligent research into several domestic and international adoption agencies, we began the adoption process in late February with Chinese Children Adoption International (CCAI) and have enrolled in their Waiting Child Program. This means that we could potentially welcome a special needs baby girl into our home in as little as a year. Many will wonder why we have chosen this route. We, ourselves, don’t fully understand it and cannot adequately explain it. However, after months of fervent prayer, discussion, and research, we feel an unexplainable peace and confidence that this is what God wants us to do.
We have taken to heart the following passage. Jesus says,
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40
Orphans, in our opinion, are among the “least of these”. In our world today it is estimated that there are more than 143,000,000 orphaned children. Often sick and medically fragile children are left to die. In some orphanages, the death rates are as high as 20%. Asia has an estimated 61.5 million orphans. In China there are more than 40,000 orphanages with an estimated 3 million orphans. Two in five babies entering the system die. In response to concern of over-population in China, the government enforced a "one child" policy. Compounding the problem is the cultural response to boys and girls. The birth of a boy is celebrated, while the birth of a girl is not acknowledged.
Similar to sending out support letters for a short or long term mission, we are sending out this letter asking you - our friends and family - for support in the mission that we are on for the rest of our lives.
First of all and most importantly, we ask for prayer. We need to be lifted up in prayer for wisdom in our decisions and for God to make our paths clear. We anticipate that God will open and close doors along our adoption journey and that this process may be a very difficult one. Your prayers of support will undoubtedly be a blessing to us and we thank you in advance for them!
Second, there is an undeniable fact that international adoption is very expensive. The average cost for an international adoption is $25,000-$30,000, not to mention the incurred costs that undoubtedly will arise in providing for a special needs child. Immediately, we need to raise $5,000.00 just to cover the first program/home study fee and dossier preparation. The cost has been, quite possibly, the most challenging obstacle for us during our months of prayerful consideration. We have faith that God will provide, but also realize that “a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone” (James 2:24), so we are in the brainstorming stages of developing adoption fundraising opportunities in order to raise necessary funds to move forward with this process. We welcome any fundraising ideas that you may have and also humbly ask that you participate in the fundraising process any way that you are capable. We realize that not everyone receiving this letter is in the position to make a financial donation, but maybe you will consider organizing a fundraiser such as a garage sale on our behalf or even donating your “junk” for us to sell.
Not everyone is called to bring an orphan into their home, but God is very clear about his instructions for us all to care for orphans:
“Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 82:3-4
Thanks to the generosity of our dear friend Michelle Matarazzo, we now have a custom-designed adoption blog (www.petermansloveadoption.blogspot.com) that will allow us to share our experience through this journey, as well as provide resources to better understand the desperate situation millions of orphans around the world are faced with today. We also have a PayPal account linked to our adoption blog for those of you who feel led, after prayerful consideration, to contribute financially.
God already has a baby in mind for us - a baby without a family, love, or adequate care. We need to bring our baby home! Please help us!
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:18
With gratitude and love,
The Peterman Family - Nick, Katie, Gavin and Ethan
Dear Friends and Family,
What a crazy five months it has been! Our hearts have been burdened and we have been called to act! As most of you know, Nick and I feel a calling by God to adopt. We have felt led, specifically, to adopt a special needs little girl from China. My passion for international adoption started long ago. Only recently did various life circumstances lead us to seriously seek God’s will for this area of our lives. What started out as a desire to adopt internationally has led to a deep burden for the millions of orphans of this world and God’s call for us all to ACT.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27
Interestingly enough, the following verse shortly precedes James 1:27:
“Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22
After diligent research into several domestic and international adoption agencies, we began the adoption process in late February with Chinese Children Adoption International (CCAI) and have enrolled in their Waiting Child Program. This means that we could potentially welcome a special needs baby girl into our home in as little as a year. Many will wonder why we have chosen this route. We, ourselves, don’t fully understand it and cannot adequately explain it. However, after months of fervent prayer, discussion, and research, we feel an unexplainable peace and confidence that this is what God wants us to do.
We have taken to heart the following passage. Jesus says,
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40
Orphans, in our opinion, are among the “least of these”. In our world today it is estimated that there are more than 143,000,000 orphaned children. Often sick and medically fragile children are left to die. In some orphanages, the death rates are as high as 20%. Asia has an estimated 61.5 million orphans. In China there are more than 40,000 orphanages with an estimated 3 million orphans. Two in five babies entering the system die. In response to concern of over-population in China, the government enforced a "one child" policy. Compounding the problem is the cultural response to boys and girls. The birth of a boy is celebrated, while the birth of a girl is not acknowledged.
Similar to sending out support letters for a short or long term mission, we are sending out this letter asking you - our friends and family - for support in the mission that we are on for the rest of our lives.
First of all and most importantly, we ask for prayer. We need to be lifted up in prayer for wisdom in our decisions and for God to make our paths clear. We anticipate that God will open and close doors along our adoption journey and that this process may be a very difficult one. Your prayers of support will undoubtedly be a blessing to us and we thank you in advance for them!
Second, there is an undeniable fact that international adoption is very expensive. The average cost for an international adoption is $25,000-$30,000, not to mention the incurred costs that undoubtedly will arise in providing for a special needs child. Immediately, we need to raise $5,000.00 just to cover the first program/home study fee and dossier preparation. The cost has been, quite possibly, the most challenging obstacle for us during our months of prayerful consideration. We have faith that God will provide, but also realize that “a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone” (James 2:24), so we are in the brainstorming stages of developing adoption fundraising opportunities in order to raise necessary funds to move forward with this process. We welcome any fundraising ideas that you may have and also humbly ask that you participate in the fundraising process any way that you are capable. We realize that not everyone receiving this letter is in the position to make a financial donation, but maybe you will consider organizing a fundraiser such as a garage sale on our behalf or even donating your “junk” for us to sell.
Not everyone is called to bring an orphan into their home, but God is very clear about his instructions for us all to care for orphans:
“Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 82:3-4
Thanks to the generosity of our dear friend Michelle Matarazzo, we now have a custom-designed adoption blog (www.petermansloveadoption.blogspot.com) that will allow us to share our experience through this journey, as well as provide resources to better understand the desperate situation millions of orphans around the world are faced with today. We also have a PayPal account linked to our adoption blog for those of you who feel led, after prayerful consideration, to contribute financially.
God already has a baby in mind for us - a baby without a family, love, or adequate care. We need to bring our baby home! Please help us!
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:18
With gratitude and love,
The Peterman Family - Nick, Katie, Gavin and Ethan
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Why international?
Just today, I was reminded again that not everyone understands why a family may chose international adoption when so many children here in the U.S. need homes as well. I think this is a personal decision for every family. For us personally, there is no doubt God has called us to adopt internationally. I really can't explain this...but we feel totally at peace with this decision. We did explore domestic adoption (during a 3-hour seminar), but it is not where we feel led. Everyone is called to something different...that is why God is God and we shouldn't ask questions.
But when Nick and I look at the numbers this is also our WHY and more specifically why special needs in China.
In our world today it is estimated that there are more than 143,000,000 orphaned children (130,000 in the US). Often sick and medically fragile children are left to die. In some orphanages, the death rates are as high as 20%. Asia has an estimated 61.5 million orphans. In CHINA there are more than 40,000 orphanages with an estimated 3 million orphans. Two in five babies entering the system die. In response to concern of over-population in China, the government enforced a "one child" policy. Compounding the problem is the cultural response to boys and girls. The birth of a boy is celebrated, while the birth of a girl is not acknowledged.
The fact is it doesn't really matter why...but inevitably people will wonder. Geez, we even wonder sometimes...but God is God and we are answering His call...even when we don't understand WHY!
But when Nick and I look at the numbers this is also our WHY and more specifically why special needs in China.
In our world today it is estimated that there are more than 143,000,000 orphaned children (130,000 in the US). Often sick and medically fragile children are left to die. In some orphanages, the death rates are as high as 20%. Asia has an estimated 61.5 million orphans. In CHINA there are more than 40,000 orphanages with an estimated 3 million orphans. Two in five babies entering the system die. In response to concern of over-population in China, the government enforced a "one child" policy. Compounding the problem is the cultural response to boys and girls. The birth of a boy is celebrated, while the birth of a girl is not acknowledged.
The fact is it doesn't really matter why...but inevitably people will wonder. Geez, we even wonder sometimes...but God is God and we are answering His call...even when we don't understand WHY!
Monday, March 5, 2012
This is WHY!!!
This was taken from Haley over at His Plan our Joy (one of my favorite blogs). I had to copy exactly what she wrote because this VERY video and her words spoke to Nick more than I could ever express with my own words!!! We have watched it over and over...it just might change your life! He used it to change ours!
Why do you adopt? Why did you adopt internationally? Why would you adopt a child with medical needs? Why are you so 'activist' about all this orphan care stuff?
If you really want to know why, I can think of no better way to explain than to ask you to watch this video. In fact, even if you don't wonder why, I want to encourage you... urge you... to just spend the next seven minutes watching and listening with an open heart.
Your kingdom come, Lord. On Earth as it is in heaven.
This prayer is prayed in nearly every church across America.
What if we lived what we pray? What if?
Why do you adopt? Why did you adopt internationally? Why would you adopt a child with medical needs? Why are you so 'activist' about all this orphan care stuff?
If you really want to know why, I can think of no better way to explain than to ask you to watch this video. In fact, even if you don't wonder why, I want to encourage you... urge you... to just spend the next seven minutes watching and listening with an open heart.
Your kingdom come, Lord. On Earth as it is in heaven.
This prayer is prayed in nearly every church across America.
What if we lived what we pray? What if?
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Our Official Email Announcement
Hi Family and Friends!
To many of you this is NO suprise, but we have been praying about adoption since October 2011. During these last four months, God has really done some amazing things in our life! Soooo much to share about how we have grown in these past months...one day I will be able to share all of this! Right now, I am overwhelmed and excited and can't gather my thoughts!
The NEWS is this...we are moving forward with adoption! This verse was laid on our heart in a MAJOR way-
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power TO DO what pleases Him. Phillipians 2:13
So we are moving forward...we have the desire and are now praying for the POWER and RESOURCES to do what He pleases.
As Nick and I hugged and cried this morning as he said "YES" this is the verse that was laying on our kitchen counter-
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes. I will help you, I will hold you with my righteous hand. Isaiah 41:10
So begins our journey to our little girl! More updates to come when I am not soooo emotional and overwhelmed.
I do plan to post on our website for now (and already have and funny my post yesterday was about WAITING and now we are proceeding:))
Please continue to pray for us throughout this journey! Specifically now that our application would be approved and then that we would be able to raise the funds to pay for our first agency fee.
Lots of love from all of us!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
While I am Waiting
(This is a post I put on our totsites the day before Nick said "yes"...I wanted to put it here as well so it is all in one place)
So to most of you it is no surprise that I am desperate to adopt! I have so much I want to share about this it kind of overwhelms me! The Lord has laid so many cool things on my heart in the last months that I want to share. Mostly, so I don't forget and see Him working during this phase of our life, but also so our friends and family can share this incredible journey with us! More importantly, one day, I hope our sweet little girl will be able to look back at these posts and know how MUCH we loved and wanted her!
So, God has really done a number on me in these past months. To say that I have had a total heart makeover is an understatement. I have prayed many prayers to have my heart burdened for what burdens His and he certainly did answer.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27
I can no longer turn over at night and pretend there aren't orphans...TONS of them around this world. I can no longer pretend that some aren't hungry, some aren't scared, some don't know LOVE of any kind, and some don't have incredible special needs. My heart aches! I recently came across this prayer on one of my favorite new blogs (No Hands But Ours). Man, did it speak to me!
Lord Christ,
You have no body on earth but ours,
No hands but ours,
No feet but ours.
Ours are the eyes through which your compassion must look out on the world.
Ours are the feet by which you may still go about doing good.
Ours are the hands with which You bless people now.
Bless our minds and bodies,
That we may be a blessing to others.
St. Theresa of Avila
So, I am completely burdened (thank you Lord) and I have no idea how this journey will end. I can say with confidence that I am learning the difficult lessons of patience and submission to the One who holds all power in His hands WHILE I WAIT!
One of my favorite songs at this point in our journey-
While I'm Waiting by John Waller
So to most of you it is no surprise that I am desperate to adopt! I have so much I want to share about this it kind of overwhelms me! The Lord has laid so many cool things on my heart in the last months that I want to share. Mostly, so I don't forget and see Him working during this phase of our life, but also so our friends and family can share this incredible journey with us! More importantly, one day, I hope our sweet little girl will be able to look back at these posts and know how MUCH we loved and wanted her!
So, God has really done a number on me in these past months. To say that I have had a total heart makeover is an understatement. I have prayed many prayers to have my heart burdened for what burdens His and he certainly did answer.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27
I can no longer turn over at night and pretend there aren't orphans...TONS of them around this world. I can no longer pretend that some aren't hungry, some aren't scared, some don't know LOVE of any kind, and some don't have incredible special needs. My heart aches! I recently came across this prayer on one of my favorite new blogs (No Hands But Ours). Man, did it speak to me!
Lord Christ,
You have no body on earth but ours,
No hands but ours,
No feet but ours.
Ours are the eyes through which your compassion must look out on the world.
Ours are the feet by which you may still go about doing good.
Ours are the hands with which You bless people now.
Bless our minds and bodies,
That we may be a blessing to others.
St. Theresa of Avila
So, I am completely burdened (thank you Lord) and I have no idea how this journey will end. I can say with confidence that I am learning the difficult lessons of patience and submission to the One who holds all power in His hands WHILE I WAIT!
One of my favorite songs at this point in our journey-
While I'm Waiting by John Waller
We HAVE a BLOG!
Thanks to my amazing friend, Michelle Matarrazo, we have a professionally designed official "adoption" blog! This is where I plan to post all things related to our adoption journey. I will also continue with our totsite for Gavin Nicolas and Ethan Paul updates!
We sent in our adoption application to CCAI (Chinese Children Adoption International) yesterday. As of today, they received it and are just waiting on our references (thanks for those of you who took the time to write glowing reports about us). Once approved (hopefully), we will attend an orientation and find out more about the glorious process of adopting internationally. And then the real fun begins!
So, keep checking this new site (I am sooo stinking excited about) for our updates!
We sent in our adoption application to CCAI (Chinese Children Adoption International) yesterday. As of today, they received it and are just waiting on our references (thanks for those of you who took the time to write glowing reports about us). Once approved (hopefully), we will attend an orientation and find out more about the glorious process of adopting internationally. And then the real fun begins!
So, keep checking this new site (I am sooo stinking excited about) for our updates!
Adoption Timeline
1995-Katie watched a Oprah special as a junior in high school on the One-Child policy in China resulting in tons of little girls in the orphanges there and knew one day she will adopt.
1996-Katie attends college at UCF and meets one of her best friends, Kerri, who was adopted from Seoul, Korea at 6 months old.
Oct 2011-Various circumstances lead Katie to read Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman. Katie felt God tugging on her heart with every page turn. Katie begins fervently praying for Nick (and maybe nagging a bit too) about adoption from China.
Feb. 24, 2012-After what felt like an eternity (although only 4 months) Nick says "yes" to adoption through tears of joy...knowing this is without a doubt what God has called us to do.
Feb. 25, 2012-We begin the application process.
Feb. 27, 2012-Application mailed to CCAI
Feb. 28, 2012-Application received...once our references are received we will find out if we are approved!
March 21, 2012-We are approved to proceed with adoption!
April 11, 2012-First round of documents approved, first agency fee sent, phone conference Orientation
June 14, 2012-First Home Study visit. All dossier documents notarized and ready to be sent to Secretary of State
July 9, 2012-Second Home Study visit.
Sept.4, 2012-Nick fingerprinted for USCIS
Sept. 10, 2012-Katie fingerprinted for USCIS
Sept. 12, 2012-received I-797
Sept. 12, 2012-all documents authenticated minus I-797 and Home Study
Oct. 19, 2012-ALL Dossier documents approved by Dossier Team and sent to Colorado for translation
Oct. 26, 2012-Dossier on its way to China
Oct. 29,2012-Dossier delivered to CCCWA in China
Oct. 31,2012-LID!!!
Dec. 31,2012-First referral:(
Feb. 5, 2013-Second referral:( Still waiting for our daughter
March 13, 2013-FOUND OUR DAUGHTER
March 17, 2013-Sent LOI to CCAI
March 22, 2013- Pre-Approval
April 1, 2013-Letter of Acceptance (LOA)
April 22, 2013-I-800 Provisional Approval
April 25, 2013-PDF from NVC
April 30, 2013-Article 5 drop off
May 13, 2013-Emergency Consulate Closure...Article 5 pick up delay by a week
May 21, 2013-Article 5 pick up
May 22, 2013-wait for Travel Approval BEGINS
1996-Katie attends college at UCF and meets one of her best friends, Kerri, who was adopted from Seoul, Korea at 6 months old.
Oct 2011-Various circumstances lead Katie to read Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman. Katie felt God tugging on her heart with every page turn. Katie begins fervently praying for Nick (and maybe nagging a bit too) about adoption from China.
Feb. 24, 2012-After what felt like an eternity (although only 4 months) Nick says "yes" to adoption through tears of joy...knowing this is without a doubt what God has called us to do.
Feb. 25, 2012-We begin the application process.
Feb. 27, 2012-Application mailed to CCAI
Feb. 28, 2012-Application received...once our references are received we will find out if we are approved!
March 21, 2012-We are approved to proceed with adoption!
April 11, 2012-First round of documents approved, first agency fee sent, phone conference Orientation
June 14, 2012-First Home Study visit. All dossier documents notarized and ready to be sent to Secretary of State
July 9, 2012-Second Home Study visit.
Sept.4, 2012-Nick fingerprinted for USCIS
Sept. 10, 2012-Katie fingerprinted for USCIS
Sept. 12, 2012-received I-797
Sept. 12, 2012-all documents authenticated minus I-797 and Home Study
Oct. 19, 2012-ALL Dossier documents approved by Dossier Team and sent to Colorado for translation
Oct. 26, 2012-Dossier on its way to China
Oct. 29,2012-Dossier delivered to CCCWA in China
Oct. 31,2012-LID!!!
Dec. 31,2012-First referral:(
Feb. 5, 2013-Second referral:( Still waiting for our daughter
March 13, 2013-FOUND OUR DAUGHTER
March 17, 2013-Sent LOI to CCAI
March 22, 2013- Pre-Approval
April 1, 2013-Letter of Acceptance (LOA)
April 22, 2013-I-800 Provisional Approval
April 25, 2013-PDF from NVC
April 30, 2013-Article 5 drop off
May 13, 2013-Emergency Consulate Closure...Article 5 pick up delay by a week
May 21, 2013-Article 5 pick up
May 22, 2013-wait for Travel Approval BEGINS
June 17, 2013-Travel Approval
June 26, 2013-Leave for China
July 1, 2013-Gotcha
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