Family, Friends and fellow blog stalkers, I have been asked some pretty big questions about us adopting from Ethiopia… here are just a few.

Does FF have AIDS?

I am always amazed and amused by the curiosity! The answer is NO! Although, AIDS is a huge factor with the orphan population in Ethiopia as well as all over the world.

Where are her parents “did they die”?

Believe me I would LOVE to talk about FF all day and to anyone who will listen. This sweet little girl has been placed in an orphanage. Placed for ADOPTION. My answer to anyone who asks is this… Adoption is an answer to 2 MOTHER’S PRAYERS. For an adoption to be an adoption, there has to be two mothers who love a child and pray for that child’s future. So that’s my answer!

Why are you adopting from Ethiopia?

First let me tell you about ME… In my youth, I loved to tend every child I could get my hands on. I dreamed a lot as a child about what I wanted out of my life. I knew as young as 10 I was going to marry a good man, have lots of babies and adopt. I also knew that I would have a unique family made up of individuals and cared for in love. Just a Steve moment… he is the man of my dreams. He loves me even when I really should be put in a box and shipped away. He works soooo hard to provide for this family. Steve ROCKS at being a dad. We have always talked about how I have them while they are young and he has them through puberty! He so rocks at big kids!

So why Ethiopia… it was just a natural decision. We were introduced to the country through an incredible person. She taught us about many countries who have orphans in need, but Ethiopia was just the right fit. The people are so beautiful and the culture is rich and full of history. We had no idea what we were doing… really, no clue. We just jumped in and took one step at a time. The day we found out about FF was like walking on air. We knew this was the right path. Now, whenever we get an email from anyone who might have any information about FF, we feel the same rush! I feel very blessed and loved by my Heavenly Father… He really knows each of us! He knows our needs and our deepest hearts desire!

I hope that the questions never stop. What I do wish is for the stigma of HIV to be wiped away! This is not a disease that you can “CATCH”. HIV isn’t spread through casual/household contact. HIV is not spread through hugging, kissing, shaking hands, sharing toys, sneezing, coughing, sharing food, sharing drinks, bathing, swimming or any other casual way.

Now stay with me this is just an FYI……

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. This virus may be passed from one person to another when infected blood, semen, or vaginal secretions come in contact with an uninfected person’s broken skin or mucous membranes*. In addition, infected pregnant women can pass HIV to their baby during pregnancy or delivery, as well as through breast-feeding. People with HIV have what is called HIV infection. Some of these people will develop AIDS as a result of their HIV infection.

Having the HIV virus is NOT a death setance. With proper treatment and good nutrition you can live a FULL healthy life without developing AIDS.  Although HIV and AIDS can be a very hard reality for any individual, wonderful things are happening in the medical world of HIV. With medication (sometimes called a cocktail) taken regularly, a woman can have a healthy pregnancy and in turn give birth to a healthy child…. Wild, Huh? The really amazing thing is if a person follows his/her doctors plan the virus can actually become undetectable. Even with all of this medical wonder there still is so much fear, misunderstanding and just plain ignorance toward people who have a completely manageable virus. They are treated badly, discrimanated against and shunned. That is a reality ALL over this world!

The children who are orphaned have a HUGE disadvantage for finding homes. They are healthy happy babies, toddlers, school age and up. They are CHILDEREN OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER TOO! I want to SCREAM to the world… there is a HUGE need for families all over who can look deeply inside themselves and love a child who (by no fault of their own) is infected with HIV.

Adoption won’t stop HIV/AIDS. I so know that, but Adoption will change one, two, 300 individual lives that are individually important to GOD!

I hope that you can say HIV in you head enough times that the word by its self doesn’t scare you. I hope the image you have of a person/child with HIV isn’t of a sick and sad individual. Because with the proper care and medication these tiny brothers and sisters are HAPPY and HEALTHY! http://www.ahopeforchildren.org/photos.html

AHOPE for Children is a non-profit organization whose mission is to serve the children of Ethiopia, with a primary emphasis on caring for orphans infected with HIV. In Addis Ababa, AHOPE’s two pleasant, well-staffed Children’s Homes care exclusively for orphans who are HIV+ and have no extended family to care for them. Many of these children are now finding their forever families through adoption. AHOPE’s Community Outreach Program enables orphaned children to remain within their extended families and culture, while receiving medical care, education, food, and other services.  http://www.ahopeforchildren.org/

We are passionate as a whole family for this good and worthy cause! I thank you for allowing me to rant!

Lastly, this is a plea to families who might be open to love a child with special needs:

ME !

The mom of this great little boy!

 ”do over button“

Isaac

 

This is “our” cousin Melisa and her Husband Kevin.  The Pirate is BIG brother Cameron and the two little “angels” are the amazing adoption story! Go see their blog.

We love you Larsen Family!

Yes we do… we are now a part of group D.  I have been stocking the yahoo group thingy and praying we are made a part of a “group” soon!

What does that mean…. well because this whole adoption has been about faith I have to say I really don’t know. Its progress though and man did I need some progress. I was no kidding trying everything I could think of to raise the funds to get to little Firefly NOW! After this group assignment I know I can Wait a few more month!

Here is the email I got yesterday!

Dear Sage,

I am happy to tell you that your case for Firefly was submitted to court today as part of Group D. I will let you know as soon as I hear about when the court date will be. Congrats!

So there we go!