Adoption, support and understanding

Not too many years ago my eyes were opened up to a world I was aware, but yet unaware of.  That world is the world that exists around us with millions of children living without parents, a home, or the love that God so greatly shares and desires for each person to experience.

I am ashamed that as a Christian I did not understand the need that existed when the Bible so openly talks about it - care for the orphans.  Although we have always sponsored children in need and helped those around us, I don't think I really understood it to the fullest.

After studying the Bible and what God has to say about orphan care, we knew in our hearts that adoption was something He wanted us to do - being part of His plan to care for His precious children.  I remember reading somewhere that you might not be able to save or feed or love everyone, but you can make a difference in one life at a time.

Any adoptive parent can tell you, including me, that the love and joy that our adoptive children bring into our lives is worth more than anything else on this earth.  It is priceless, no different than biological children.  People think how blessed our adopted children are to have a family, that may be true, but I have to say that we feel just as blessed to have them as our children.  Children are a blessing from the Lord!

We have been blessed to adopt 4 children in the last 4 years and we are head over heels in love with them all.  They fit so perfectly in our family there is no doubt it was part of God's plan for our family.

As you might be able to tell from recent posts, we received an unexpected referral for a little girl.  I cannot post any additional information until we are told we can, so for now this little info will have to suffice.  We knew going into our most recent adoption that we would adopt one last time and that it would be a girl.  When we began this journey almost 5 years ago, it was for a little girl.  But Gods plan was that we adopt 4 boys instead:)    Long story short, we decided to reuse our dossier thinking it would be at least a year before we got a referral, when only 2 days after resubmitting our desire to do so, resulted in a referral.  We are totally in love with this child and cannot wait to get her home to our family forever.

The bad part is that only a few days after receiving our referral we were told we CANNOT re use our dossier (misunderstanding on our agencies part) and we have to potentially find another social worker (who is Hague accredited) AND have a homestudy, dossier and Supplement 3 done and turned in before the end of January.  This puts a major kink in everything.  We thought we would have a year to save for the adoption, but now with a 90 day deadline we have to have all our agency fees upfront.  We know that God will provide through our hard work, tightening of our budget, doing yard sales, and praying for donations from family, friends and sometimes complete strangers:)

We ask you to join us by praying, encouraging and if possible financially supporting us.  We are excited to see what God is going to do to help us bring this beautiful little girl home.

PS - only 7 of the kids in the photo are ours...the other two are sweet friends

Not at Liberty to Discuss

Although I am not at liberty to discuss our current brewing, I will call to attention to sidebar and our needs...more to follow.  If you would like to email me off line, feel free at mommatheis@hotmail.com

Something is brewing!

Something is brewing on the Theis front....I wonder what it could be!? Check back in a couple weeks and you will find out! In the meantime enjoy pictures of the boys coming home from their first day of school - so far they are enjoying it!

School is here!

School finally starts this week.  The summer was very busy and fun, but I think the kids are ready for school.  We did so many fun things this summer.  Went on a road trip, went to the beach, horseback riding, camping, swimming in the ocean, lake and river, roller skating, parties galore, youth lock-ins, youth lock-outs, bowling, wow what else I can't even remember.  Needless to say it was fun.

I hope the boys don't expect this fun to continue throughout the school year:)

The boys are ready for school but I don't think the school is ready for the boys.  They have never had someone come in from China with little english and in one case, no education.  We have had many struggles, meetings and discussion to make sure they get what they need and deserve.  Please pray with us as we begin the year that they will get everything they need.  I will fight as long as I have to to advocate for them.

They are amazing young men and have been a blessing as new additions to our family.  We just celebrated our 3 month anniversary together.  Titus's english is amazing and Adam has learned alot even without any past english training.  He has a long way to go but is eager to learn.

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support -we are blessed to have each of you in our lives whether it be in person or cyberspace:) 

Vacation!

Finally home from our amazing vacation which included driving through 6 states, carrying 12 people in a 12 passenger van, and traveling over 3200 miles.

We traveled from WA to OR then to ID where we spent the night to rest.  Then we went on to WY where we spent 3 days visiting all of my MILs side of the family.  It was great to meet and remeet many cousins, aunts and uncles and even second cousins.  We even did our own church service at the christian camp that we stayed at.  We went on a mountain hike, experienced the Bar J in Jacksons Hole, WY and managed not to be eaten by the local bears.

Then we treked on down to CO to visit my brother and his family.  They live in an amazing part of the mountain where my brothers runs resteraunts for the ski area.  Beautiful!  We had so much fun with them and look forward to future visits.

We were also able to pop down into Denver and visit CCAI, our adoption agency.  This was a special pleasure for us since we have been working with them over the last 4 years on all of our chinese adoptions.  The ladies that work there are all special and dear to our hearts.  It is an amazing organization.  Not only do they assist families in adopting but they raise tons of money for chinese orphanages etc.  We hope to reuse our dossier this next year to adopt a little girl - if God allows financially.  We also the pleasure of meeting up with a few of the families we recently traveled with to adopt our children.

We are now home and in  the process of doing too many loads of laundry, putting all the traveling gear away and looking at the grass that has grown out of control in only a week and a half.

The boys had a blast and were so happy to meet and know they are part of such a great extended family.  They were welcomed with open arms by everyone.  As soon as we got home Adam yelled "Washington I love you, no hot, no cold!"  I guess WY was a little too hot for him - that and the snakes, he was ready to leave:) 

                                                          Fun in the car?!

                                               Our family with some of the amazing CCAI staff

                                                     CCAI family Moms:)

                                                         Eating at my brothers resteraunt in the mtns

Favorite times while playing pool

                                                               The two littls guys outside CCAI

This week the kids will experience Vacation Bible school for the first time.  I can't wait!  It's always fun

God is so good!

Seriously, does it get better than this?!  Of course it can but I am so happy right now:)  Titus asked me today to help him translate and understand his sunday school class material.  Although he understands a fair amount of english we all talk so fast he misses most of his SS teacher says and falls asleep due to boredom.  So I was more than happy to spend time with him tonight translating and explaining the bible study material that they will discuss on WED night- so he will be ready!  Time consuming - Yes - well worth it - YESSSSS!

Both boys continue to be a joy!  Our close friends organized a church welcome home party for the boys - thank you Denise and Deanna.  They were so excited and happy.  You could tell by their reactions to everything that they were pleased.  Today when we went to church they were saying hi to everyone!  I am so glad they feel loved!

Adam's sunday school class gave him an action Bible with pictures (like a comic book).  They all signed it - he showed me with a beaming smile what his new friends gave him.  Titus was given a Bible by one of Bryan's chinese workmates.  So now both boys have Bibles they can read in english and chinese.

After a week of doctor and dentist appointments, a party and a youth overnight lock in (which they both loved) we are taking a week off to relax - well sort of:)  One of our bio boys turns 14 on Tue, I turn 46 (yes it is true I am getting old) on Wed and both new boys turn 13 and 14 on friday...another son turns 4 on Monday...so more parties, but low key:)  We are getting Titus an MP3 player and Adam wants an airsoft gun (his new passion and something he is very good at despite his visual impairment)  I hope they are both surprised and pleased.  We are trying not to get carried away at birthdays since we have so many kids (but I think I can squeeze out a few more than that for their first bday home:) 

Here are pics of the welcome home party:

                                                                     Ping Pong champion

                                This is when they first arrived at the party and a little unsure of everyone

                                                       Some of our wonderful church family

                                                     Soccor was their favorite -thanks Jennifer G!

Thanks again to everyone who has made this forever family possible.  We cannot imagine life without these boys!

Love these boys!

Sorry the pictures did not come out very well.  But I had to say that we sure love these boys!  They are so different in many ways, yet both caring and kind.  There is no doubt in my mind that God hand picked them for our family.