My Thai boy is in foster care

Foster care is a blessing to the waiting mother. (me)
So, how do you show deep gratitude to a woman who has taken care of my baby? Well, how would you thank someone who cared for your sweet child for any time..Holt's guide book say this!

Foster parents’ thoughts and prayers for the children don’t end when the children leave Thailand. They
seek reassurance that you and the child have returned to the U.S. safely and the child is growing and
progressing normally. Due to this, we ask that you send at least 4-6 pictures and a letter within two
weeks after your arrival home. In the letter you will need to thank them for the care of your child. It is
important that you periodically send them letters and pictures as well to let them know how your child is doing. Please send this letter and pictures to us via mail or email, and we will forward them on for you. if you fail to do this it may cause some concern for the foster parents. As mentioned, this has been “their child” for quite some time. By sending letters and pictures this will help to ease the loss they have suffered."

So please remind me of this when we get back from Thailand..when ever that may be?

Ciao
Shell

How to make the wait for your child easier?

There is actually a page in the Guide book on How to make the wait for my child easier.

This is some of the advice it gives:
"Once you accept a particular child (after receiving whatever limited medical information
is available), think of that child as yours, just as if he or she had been born to you. The
agency cannot guarantee that the child will arrive free of problems, any more than an
obstetrician can guarantee that any baby will be born free of birth defects or a difficult
personality. Becoming a parent involves taking these risks."
"Discuss your feelings with your local agency and with those who have adopted. Your
local home study agency, which often is not the agency handling the placement, may be a
good resource for helping you endure the wait. (You may feel freer to vent your anger
and frustration at the process in the presence of a social worker who knows you well and s not an employee of the agency processing your adoption.)"
"Give yourself some enjoyable new projects to take your mind off your worries."

Well, that is about it! I am feeling this is not making my wait easier! Prayer....
So, please pray for us Francos. Tony, ME, Sage, J Bird and P(who just had his b day with out his mother...me). All of us need prayer.

And help me think of a new project! Or help me with one i have been putting off!

Thanks for stopping by.
Ciao
Rochelle

Referral

January 8 2014

Tony and I were sent the referral of a a precious baby boy from Thailand!
Pakhun is his name and he is 11 months old. His Birthday is on February 2.

Our feelings are overwhelming. Joy and elation, caution and the strong determination to make the right choice.  This is nearly the cutest kid we've seen since Sage and Jasper.
We contacted several friends and close family members to pray with us on wisdom and guidance on whether or not to accept this wonderful boy.

We knew we'd want to take several days to really think about him and look his file over.
Friday January 10 2014 We sent in our initial acceptance email to Shana Quick at Holt international.

Ciao
Excited
Rochelle

Funds

We are wrapping up a fun little fundraiser.....

We asked around and got a small chest "(plug in) Deep Freezer donated (Thanks Truitt Family!!!) . Then we asked 8-10 friends to fill it with freezer meals! We sold tickets for 5 dollars per ticket.

I can not say how amazing and fulfilling it is to have friends who would sell tickets for us. Thanks so much to all our amazing friends.  

We are so thankful to say we now have what we need when the time comes for the country fee.

God is providing all our needs! 

God provides all our needs! 

Praise Be to God! 

Ciao, 

Shell

On the hurting child/Adoption

"Unfortunately, hurt children are not always tender plants to be watered. Instead they are often prickly cacti waiting with needles sharp enough to keep parents away. But even a cacti need some water, just as the hurting child needs to experience the attachment cycle- including gratification -if he is to build trust. "
Keck and Kupecky from Parenting the Hurt Child

Please pray that we are able to be calm and not too dramatic with our child from Thailand.
Pray wisdom and guidance from the one with the plan!

We should be getting a new number shortly (ok may be a few weeks)
Pray for wisdom/financial provisions/peace!

Thanks for partnering with us in our adoption!

Trusting in God
Ciao
Shell

Getting real; Reading up

Just started my reading:

Book one...Parenting the hurt child by Keck and Kupecky

*Parenting hurting children requires loving patience and clear expectations for improvement.
*Parenting hurt children if frequently painful.
*Hurt children bring their pain into their new families and share it with much vigor and regularity.
*Parents who did not cause the child's trauma often suffer the consequences of it.
*Family fun should not be contingent upon the child's behavior.
*Parents should expect difficult times, as well as reduction of them.


Just the beginning.

We have so much to learn.
We love our biological children...
We will need tools to train our new children.

Discipline will be trickey..

Ciao,
Shell

Pray some more

Prayer is useful!
Prayer is important!
So, won't you pray for our little one today..Our sweet one in Thailand!
Pray for the referrals...We still have not heard!

Fund Raisers!!
Look for our Garage Sale this weekend!
Look for T~Shirt sales!
Pic's to come..
Look for my coffee..buy it...this will be ongoing fund raising!

Look To God to provide!
We will!


Ciao
Shell