Adoption Options

Been quite a while since my last posting. We've been busy & have had quite a run around with our adoption situation.

Without going into a long, drawn-out story, suffice it to say we've been going through things we thought we were done with. We've already been meeting with our children, but now this other agency told us we had to complete three things OUR agency said we didn't have to do (because we are "straight adoption" without fostering first). So we've had no option, but to begin scrambling to get them done so our kids can come to us before school begins. I return to school August 10th; the kids return on the 20th. We'd like to get all three of our sibling group situated with home & school BEFOREhand. And we still need to do school shopping.

To complicate all this, Hubby & I have been playing "bedroom shuffle". His study is going to be a bedroom for two & our new study will be in the sunroom. So I've had to stay busy cleaning out the sunroom, which was previously my teaching materials aka STORAGE. I've stopped counting bags of stuff to trash. Thanks to www.flylady.net, I'm feeling pretty good about it. Once we shift the office to the front, we have to shift Youngest Child's bedroom to the old study. He's going to share with our youngest new sibling. They are only 11 months apart. The oldest "new" sibling will get the Youngest's old room.

Have you followed that so far??!!! :-P

I hope so. I always have to stop & think it through!

One of the "no options" we had to complete was a water safety course since we have a pool. We took it at a place called "Everyday Blessings". It is a group home setting for kids 10 & under. It is a gorgeous place situated on 72 acres. Kas, it made me think of you...there were cows & horses nearby, along with a horse riding trail. Hubby & I thought... what better place for kids who are hurt & suffering! Nature was our medicine, just driving through there. And how much MORE sofor these kids who have had to be removed from their homes due to abuse & neglect. Broken bones are not new to this place, sadly enough.

We took clothes & books out there with us for the children. But we were not prepared for how much we would be moved by our short time with Everyday Blessings.  

Our instructor there was Sister Claire. She told us of a project they are working on. You've heard the adage that it takes a village to raise a child. Well, they are doing just that. They are working on The Village at Everyday Blessings, which is modeled after Generations of Hope, established more than 12 years ago in Rantoul, IL. www.generationsofhope.org

In Everyday Blessings' Village www.ebvillage.org , parents, children, & senior citizens will reside in what is known as an Intergenerational Community of Caring. It's specifically designed to meet the needs of children 8 yrs of age & older, & for large (4+) sibling groups who would otherwise have little or no chance of being adopted together. These two groups are highly representative of children most likely to languish in foster care --AND least likely to be adopted. (Hence the reason Hubby & I chose this particular age group & our sibling group to adopt.)

Parents willing to adopt four children temporarily reside, rent-free, in a seven-bedroom home. One parent is a stay-at-home parent & earns a salary. (Can't beat that, can you, Kas!?) The other parent works outside The Village. Financial planners assist the family so that, once the new family is well established (no less than 10 months), the parents have set aside the funds necessary to make a down payment on their home.

Singles & couples, ages 50+ who are willing to volunteer a minimum of eight hours a week toward the mission of The Village, pay reduced rent for a two- or three-bedroom apartment. To the parents mentioned above, the seniors of this community are mentors, listeners, and supporters. To the children, they are nurturers, tutors, cookie bakers, & so much more. To The Village, they are groundskeepers, seamstresses, administrative assistants, & community builders. Through the planning of birthday parties, holiday celebrations, and other events, the seniors help create & sustain a strong sense of community at The Village.

We don't know the requirements for the "seniors" to move in, but Hubby & I have decided we're already certainly interested. It's down the road a bit. Things are in motion for the Village. Approvals have been made by & are moving through the local government, but no new buildings are yet standing. That's the next step. Hubby & I are 55 & 44 yrs old, respectively. We figure we will be even MORE so "seniors" by the time the buildings are completed. What an awesome opportunity! What a wonderful community for children! What a beautiful place & fantastic way to make a contribution to our children!

If you would like to support Everyday Blessings in ANY way, we know they can use your help. It doesn't have to be money. Maybe you have other items you can send to help, like clothes, books, toys or gift certificates. Here is the contact info:

13113 St. Francis Lane, Thonotosassa, FL  33592

(813)982-9226, x 234

FAX: (813)986-0298

or go directly to www.ebvillage.org if you'd like to make a monetary donation. It also gives more information & tells other ways in which you can help or volunteer.

(The Villages at Everyday Blessings is a program of St. Francis Foundation, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit Florida Corporation. FL Solicitation #SC02875. NO PORTION of your contribution is retained by any professional solicitor.)

I did not tell Sister Claire I was writing about this. We were just so touched by her & the community that I couldn't resist telling people about it. Please consider helping if you can...and then take ACTION! Our "babies" out there really need it. Imagine if you were separated from your siblings AFTER having to leave abusive/neglectful parents. How would YOU feel?

The "medicine" is there. Let the healing begin!

 

Tags: Everyday Blessings, Generations of Hope, adoption, sibling group adoption, teen adoption