Sometimes the little things really mean a lot. As you may know, money is a big issue when adopting. Recently, Dottie was selected to receive an award from the local VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) for teaching. She thought it was a nice honor and was surprised when they gave her a $50.00 check. She was even more surprised to learn that she had won an award for the VFW District level. This award came with another $100.00 check. A $150.00 may not seem like a whole lot in the grand scheme of everything but you have to understand that it isn't the amount, it's the fact that an unexpected gift was given to us. That unexpected gift is just one of those little things that reminds us that this is all going to work out.
Sometimes the little things remind us that people care. Earlier today I was at our monthly minister's conference (once a month the ministers in the area get together just to talk) and I shared with everyone our adoption plans. It was a great pick me up to have such an enthusiastic response from the other ministers. Later, Dottie told me that she had received a card from the other teacher's at school with a gift card to Target. The card was congratulating her for being an expectant mother. This thrilled her. Unless you have adopted you may not understand that for the adopting parents they feel just as "pregnant" as any couple who are biologically pregnant. The excitement and the expectation of being parents to a new child or children is just as real and powerful. However, a lot of people don't seem to equate "paper pregnancy" with "real" pregnancy. It's no fault of theirs, they have just never really thought about it for the most part. Of course, there is also the missing ever growing belly that reminds people that a new child is due. During the months of paper pregnancy the only thing for people to see is a pile of papers. Not very exciting. So when Dottie was acknowledged as an expectant mother, it reminded her that people knew and understood that she is a mom to be. You see sometimes it's the little things.
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"Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west." Isaiah 43:5 (NIV)
AWAA
About Us
- The Raymers.
- We are John and Dottie. We have 5 kids: Hannah, Abel, Joshua, Feromsa, and Bereket. This is our blog about our lives.
Timeline and Cost
- Here you can find a posted a listing of all of our adoption expenses that are paid and are yet to be paid.
- *Note* AWAA program fees are reduced because John is an associate for AWAA.
- 1-13-10 AWAA Application Fee $250.00- PAID
- 2-3-10 First program fee* $250- PAID
- 3-8-10 Fingerprinting $830- PAID
- Birth Certificates, etc. $70- PAID
- Fingerprints for NC $10.00 PAID
- NC SBI Background Check $30.00 - PAID
- Physicals for everyone $150.00 - PAID
- Homestudy $1800 PAID
- Authentication of out of state documents $40.00 - PAID
- Post-placement fees $1050 - PAID
- 4-13-10 Fingerprint appointment with USCIS
- 4-21-10 Home study complete and in hand
- 4-22-10 Referral!
- 4-28-10 I-171 arrived!
- 4-28-10 Program fee ($250), 1/2 International Program fee ($3,750), Post-placement admin. fee ($385) Total of $4385 PAID
- ????- Agency mid-payment fee ($2000), Translation/Authentication fee ($800), Post-placement deposit ($1,000), Courier fee ($150), 1/2 International fee ($3750) Total $7700
Ethiopia
Addis Ababa |