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Category Colombia adoptions
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Attention All Colombian Adoptive Families or Waiting to Adopt a Colombian Child...

Mark your calendars for this summer's Annual Colombian Connection!  It will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2009 in Muskegon, MI.  For more information or to RSVP contact Kristi at kristivandermaas@sbcglobal.net

Posted by Susan M. Dykema At 11:15:21 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Category Colombia adoptions
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We recognize that most, if not all receiving this email have already committed to an adoption.  Congratulations on taking that step toward adoption!  As an ethical child placement agency, it is also our responsibility to encourage families to look realistically at the big picture.  Adoption is a lifelong process that does not end when the child is placed into your loving arms.  As you prepare to become an international adoptive family, please consider praying about and discussing the following 20 questions addressed in this newspaper article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel :

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=527773

1. Am I willing to be turned into the parent the child needs me to be?
2. What is my motivation to adopt?
3. What kind of adoption am I comfortable with, and how much can I spend?
4. How long can I wait?
5. If infertility has led me to adoption, have I resolved those issues, realizing they may never completely go away, and allowed myself to grieve?
6. Am I ready to be an open book?
7. What are my adoption expectations?
8. How will I talk with my kids about adoption?
9. How do I feel about educating myself on adoption issues, and educating others along the way?
10. Are there medical and mental health professionals in my community skilled in handling adoption issues?
11. How will I handle issues specifically related to adoption?
12. Am I willing to connect my child with his/her heritage if it's different than mine?
13. Am I comfortable not knowing all the details of my child's past, including medical histories?
14. How much support will my extended family give?
15. Can I handle heartbreak and disappointment?
16. Can I lean on others?
17. Are you ready for anything?
18. Am I willing to let my child take me on a journey instead of imposing my expectations on him/her?                
19. Do I believe love isn't the be-all, end-all?                                                                                                                
20. Can I go the distance?

If you would like to discuss or have concerns with any of these questions, please contact your social worker.

Posted by Susan M. Dykema At 03:50:31 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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There are approximately 143 million orphans in the world today. Many children are older, or a sibling group. Some children have medical, physical or developmental challenges. We aren't asking you to help 143 million orphans, but you can make a difference by being a Bethany Prayer Warrior. Prayer Warriors will receive pictures and information of children waiting through Bethany. We ask that you pray for the children. Pray for families who are willing to accept the children with special placement needs into their hearts and homes. Pray for those who will never be adopted. May someone come into their life and love and care for them. Each of us is part of the Body of Christ. It is He in us that is more than able to make a difference. If you want to be added to the Prayer Warrior group and receive emails about waiting children, please send an email to: jvandyke@bethany.org

Posted by Susan M. Dykema At 09:20:28 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)