Approved!

Ok, so we were approved for the Embryo Adoption concurrent adoption on 7/15/2008 :D

So now what happens is . . . .

We're waiting to adopt 2 different ways, but waiting at the same time. So whichever program is matched first, the other program is put on hold until either (of course dependent on which program is first):

a. a child placed through domestic infant adoption's adoption is finalized

or

b. a child born through embryo adoption is 6 months old.

At that time then we update the homestudy, update the profiles, and go back into the waiting pool of the other program.

The only real problem would be if we end up with twins or more in the embryo program first, because then we're ineligible for the domestic infant program and would lose our program fee. We could however, go into the international program, but again, that domestic infant program fee is not transferable and not refundable.

But we're soooo excited! We can hardly wait to see where God leads us now. We're approaching the 1 year mark (11/30) for domestic infant, and that's the average wait time for the domestic infant program in this office at this time (it does change over time, so this is the average based on when we were approved).

I spoke yesterday with Nancy at the NEDC. What happens now (they have our profile and all other paperwork etc.) is we're in the matching process.

If we're matched with a closed adoption, we're sent matching possibilities and then we pray over them and decide and if we move forward, then we let them know and we start moving forward.

If we're matched with an open adoption, then first we're sent to the donor couple. Then if they chose us, we're sent their non-identifiable info and we pray over them and decide. And if we move forward with them then what happens is someone from the Bethany office will call both the donor couple and us and arrange the open adoption agreement at which time we pay an additional $3000.

If we want fully open there's no further fees. But if it's semi open through Bethany, we pay an additional $4000. However, if it's semi open and we just set up a private email just for communication between us, then there's no additional fee.

Sound complicated yet? :D

Ah well. I know whatever happens that God is the one moving us forward and doing the real matching.

We are very excited to see where God leads us and also to see which program comes first now! I hope you're just as excited!

We continue to pray for the expectant parents and the genetic parents, that God would guide them in their decisions, and that they are blessed by whatever they decide to do as they follow God's will in their lives.

Love,
Julie & Joerg

A Mother's Day Prayer

“A Mothers Day Prayer for You on Mothers Day…

For the married women who desire to have children and cannot. Also, for the single women who desire children yet are getting weary waiting on a spouse. God understands your situation and we care. “In the name of Jesus, we ask that the Holy Spirit will comfort your heart and give you peace and that our Father God would grant you your petition. Amen.” (1 Samuel 1:2-17)

For the single mom. God understands your challenge and we care. “In the name of Jesus, we ask that the grace of God will sustain you, the wisdom of God lead you, the love of God encompass you, and the provisions of God overtake you. Amen.” (Philipians 4:13)

For the moms with a child who has chosen a destructive lifestyle and is in a physical or spiritual prison. God understands your concern and we care. “In the name of Jesus, we ask that the Holy Spirit would convict them of sin. We ask for the perfect laborers to cross their path. We thank God for their salvation, deliverance and restoration. Amen.” (Proverbs 11:21)

For all the moms who experience grief on Mothers Day because of miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion, or a childs death outside the womb. For all those men and women who experience grief on Mothers Day because of the loss of their mom. God understands and we care. “In the name of Jesus we ask that the Holy Spirit will comfort your hearts and give you peace. Jesus bore your grief so you don’t have to. Jesus we thank you for removing the grief and healing the heart. Amen” (Isaiah 53:4)

In the name of Jesus we pray for all of our mothers on Mothers Day. May God our Father bless you and strengthen you and encourage you. May your eyes be opened that you and others may see that your price is far above rubies and may your children rise up and call you blessed. (Proverbs 31:10-31)”

~Anonymous

An Awesome Testimony!

This is from the Thoene Blog, and I hope and pray it encourages you as much as it has encouraged me today!

http://www.thoenebooks.com/blog.asp?post=0&per=May2008&id=394

Love,
Julie

Powerful Message

What a powerful message today!

http://www.thoenebooks.com/blog.asp?post=0&per=May2008&id=391

WOOT! We can do concurrent adoption between domestic infant & embryonic adoption!!!!

Just a quick update! We can do concurrent adoption between domestic infant and embryo adoption! We still need to apply for the embryo adoption program and she said there's always a chance we could be denied for the program but yes we can apply for concurrent between the two!!!

I'm so excited!!!!! :)

Love,
Julie

Embryo Adoption Links

I thought if you're interested in knowing about embryo adoption, or embryo donation, I'd give you some links to investigate more information:

National Embryo Donation Center:


Cryopreserved Embryo Donation Awareness Education:


Bethany Christian Services Embryo Adoption Services:


Embryo Adoption Awareness Campaign:


Nightlight Christian Adoptions/Snowflakes:


Embryos Alive:


Embryo Donation and Embryo Adoption: Loving Choices for Christians (Paperback)
by John D. Van Regenmorter (Author), Slyvia A. Van Regenmorter (Author)
I'm told if you really do not know much about Embryo Adoption/Donation then this book is a great place to start. However, if you have a really good basic knowledge of it, this book may not be of help to you. Although, it may be helpful to give to a family member to understand.


Some good online forums to discuss and learn about embryo adoption:

Hannah's Prayer (you do have to become a member (free) to read/participate):


Stepping Stones: (can't remember if you have to be a member, but again, it's free)

Embryo Adoption

Joerg & I are still really thinking about embryo adoption. We've asked if we can be transfered into the embryo adoption program. However, because we've already been approved and waiting since 11/30, they may not allow a refund of the program fee. They cannot just transfer the fee because the fee would be paid directly to the NEDC, whereas Bethany just does the homestudy then. We asked if there is no way to refund the program fee, if we can be do concurrent adoptions between the domestic infant and the embryo adoption program. Doing concurrent adoptions is brand new to Bethany, and is typically done on a case by case basis, and only between international and domestic. Seeing as there's no specific time line in either domestic or embryo adoptions, they are not sure if this should be allowed. So they're discussing whether or not we can do this. They said it is precedent setting, and will be discussed at the national level of Bethany as to whether it will be allowed.

So we're waiting and praying! We really do feel called to do the embryo adoption. It's been in our hearts for a long time now, and we've waffled between domestic infant and embryo adoption since investigating moving forward with adoption. So they know we're interested in both. They asked our reasons for switching at this time, and basically it boils down to my turning 35 this month. If we do domestic infant, we have to wait a year before doing a 2nd adoption. If it takes a full 2 years to be matched, this could mean I would be 38 before entering the embryo adoption program. In the embryo adoption program, you still wait to be matched with genetic parents. So it still takes time to be matched. So maybe I would be 39 before a child would be born. So age is a factor. But money is also a factor, so if it would mean the loss of that program fee, we will stay with domestic infant for now. We do want to do both programs. I suppose a large part of the reason we went with domestic infant was a fear of needles, and having just come off the in-vitro cycles, I'd had my fill of needs. I'm now ok with that again. Call it selective memory if you will :) The other reason we went with domestic infant when we did is, we were matched with a friend of a family member who wanted to place with us. We took that as a sign to move forward with domestic infant adoption. That plan fell through. The friend of the family had lied to us, and the due date changed from Dec to May . . . every time we talked it got further out. Something wasn't right. We never met her face to face and we honestly do not even know if she really was ever pregnant.

So here we are! We want to do the embryo adoption program, and we're asking for your prayers that all goes according to God's plans, whatever they may be. We feel so pulled in the embryo adoption direction and have from the get-go. So there must be a reason for it right?

Love,
Julie