there is peace in waiting

Fourteen months after beginning our adoption and five months after first seeing his sweet face, we are waiting to hear when the state where Ryan resides will make their approval on our case (the coveted ARC approval, which is then sent to CARA for the prized NOC approval). It is hard to carry on with life as we know it while our little guy is 9,000 miles away waiting for us, even if he doesn't know it yet. :) So far our summer has been spent working on things around the house like painting doors, pressure washing, landscaping projects, as well as volunteering at church, photography work, beach trips - anything to keep myself busy and my mind very, very occupied! 

The most difficult part in our wait is not knowing a clear timeline on how things will progress until we bring Ryan home. From what we know, this is how India is. Each state is different, each judicial system is different, each orphanage is different. The guidelines set in place aren't always followed due to lack of personnel, funds and organization. I can't fathom trying to organize the adoption of thousands of children and daily I pray for the hard working people whose job it is to do so. So we wait and pray for the best possible outcome for ALL orphans, around the globe, waiting for their families.

In all of this God is teaching me (again - cause I'm a slow learner) that I need to trust Him with this adoption, trust HIS perfect timing; not Natasha's, not India's, but God's perfect timing. Waiting is hard when your baby is growing older each day half a world away, waiting is hard when you haven't the faintest clue as to how long the wait will be, waiting is hard when there are so many unknowns, waiting is hard period. But I trust God knows what's best for Ryan and for our family and knowing that gives me peace. 

{There is peace in waiting}

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:14

We have our Article 5 Letter, now what?

A huge praise! Our I800 approval arrived last week and I quickly applied for Ryan's visa application which resulted in this landing in my Inbox Tuesday morning

This means CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority, the organization that oversees all Indian adoptions) can begin the NOC (no objection certificate) process. Basically CARA will approve the Article 5 letter and send it on to the local level in the region from which we are adopting. This is the ARC (Adoption Recommendation Committee) process. In order to approve it, they will be checking to see that all of our paper work is in order and has been completed correctly, the orphanage has submitted their paperwork accurately, and the committee will be looking to find no objection to Ryan being adopted by our family, etc, etc. This sounds simple enough but from what I've read, many, many people are waiting months for this step (5 months, 7months, 10 months...)  This is where we need the PRAYERS of MANY! PRAY these good men and women move quickly on behalf of ALL orphans, not just ours. PRAY that they are able to do their work effectively. Who knows what setbacks or obstacles they might be facing that could cause delays. PRAY that everything is in order when they view our file. PRAY for these children waiting to find their way home to their families. PRAY for my patience as summer starts and I find myself with more free time. I intend to find all sorts of ways to keep myself distracted from waiting for approvals. I am open to suggestions. :)

After the ARC approval, we still have to wait for the final NOC, court, then wait for his passport to be issued. Still a few months away at least but we are finally waiting on India so that's positive news.

Thank you for praying for us and for our baby boy who's not so much of a baby - turning 15 months on Monday. Praying he's home with us very, very soon cause we are very, very ready!

Take a look at this --->>>

Ok, look right and then down a little. Our fundraising thermometer has risen! We were blessed with TWO large grants last month from JSC Foundation and Hand in Hand Christian Adoption Inc. TWO! For a total of over $9,000!!! In case you don't know, grants do not have to be paid back. We had prayed fervently for any sort of financial assistance, applied for 6 grants and one no interest loan. I spent at least 60 hours on grant paperwork not knowing if we'd even get a grant and we received TWO!  We also learned Scott's employer, UPS, has a reimbursement program that pays out once our adoption is final. So I THINK we are just a little short if all of our estimates are right and there aren't any additional costs that might creep up on us. Praising God for answered prayers! Everyone I know that has adopted said not to worry about the financial part because it all works out in the end. I never doubted it would but to see it all unfold before our eyes is miraculous.

Thanks to so many generous friends and family members that have prayed for us, encouraged us, offered donations, booked lots of photo sessions, sent text messages, emails, ooh'ed and ahh'ed over his photos, and loved us through this. We appreciate you so very much!

Now for an update, we are currently waiting for our I800 approval (the petition to classify an orphan as a relative). This should arrive any day now. I have filled out Ryan's DS230 (visa application) and I will mail it out with our I800 approval once it arrives. If I'm understanding the steps correctly, once his visa is approved we will receive our Article 5 letter. The rest of the approvals will take place in India. We still do not know when we will travel. Unfortunately with so many changes with the India program and the unpredictability of the approval process, it still may be several more months but we are praying for late summer but fall is probably more realistic - and it literally pains me to type that.... While I had hoped we would be further along by this time, I now have to find a way to keep myself occupied all summer while we wait and wait and wait and wait and wait and wait some more. If you have any suggestions, let me know! :)

the cost of adoption

“My friends, adoption is redemption. It’s costly, exhausting, expensive, and outrageous. Buying back lives costs so much. When God set out to redeem us, it killed Him.”

– Derek Loux

"International adoption is so expensive", I hear that all the time. Astonished people ask why a country or agency would charge so much to adopt an orphan.  Simply put every person that has a hand in adoption has a job to do. We don't work at our job for free so we shouldn't expect them to work for free. Once it's broken down, you see that while $25,000  ($29,000 if Katie and Braden travel with us) is a huge expense, it's really isn't that much when we are talking about the life of a child. A child that needs a family.  When we were called to adopt, we didn't have more than $150 to go towards our adoption. We were not sure how it would be possible to pursue but God has provided every penny so far, at just the right time. Most days I am not at all stressed about the financial part of adoption. On days when I get worried, I remind myself that God would not send us down this road without any provision. He gave me the desire to pursue photography eight years ago, knowing this part-time job would help to pave the way for our adoption before I even knew for sure we would one day adopt. The same God that started this journey many, many years ago is the same God that will provide. We are most certain of this! 

People often ask me why adoption is so expensive and what all the costs are for. Below is a breakdown:

Breakdown of Adoption Fees

US Agency Fee
Application fees, agency service fees, home study fees, dossier and authentication fees, post visits and reports

$9700 (We have paid all of this - PRAISE GOD!)

India Adoption Expenses
Official fees, court fees, documents, orphanage fees, application fees

$7000

In-Country Expenses
International flights (for 2), hotel, in-country flights, food, guide, driver, tips

$5000 (an extra $4000 for Katie and Braden to travel with us)

Out of Pocket Expenses
Fingerprint fee, medical reports, passports, citizenship and immigration services, required adoptive parent training courses, birth certificates, marriage license, citizenship certificate

$2200 (We have paid most of this - PRAISE GOD!)

Post-Adoption Costs
Attorney fees, court costs, post adoption services, new birth certificate

$600

Why international adoption? Why India?

Scott and I are often asked why we chose international adoption as opposed to domestic adoption or foster care/foster to adopt? Most of the people that ask this question don't know a lot about adoption. They usually assume there are lots of available children ready to be adopted here in the U.S. Compared to the millions upon millions of orphans in third world countries, that just isn't true.  In India alone, there are 86 million orphans. There is such a need for loving, Christian homes for these children; children that may never know Jesus, experience the love of a family, go to college. The best response I've found recently was on this blog: Why International Adoption

Why India? We have been intrigued with the people and culture of India for quite some time. The children are beautiful! Another reason we were drawn to India was the female gendercide epidemic. You can check it out for yourself with a google search. "Our" plan was to adopt a girl from India. In this quest we've met a few bumps along the way. The first one was last August. A friend was on a mission trip to Haiti and came across an 8 month old boy that needed immediate medical attention. His mother begged the mission team to take her son because he could barely eat or drink. Our friend insisted his wife call us and ask if we would be interested in adopting him. His medical needs were far beyond what we thought we could handle and, well, he was a boy. We were already in the India program, pursuing a girl. Seemed logical that we should decline, right? That sweet little guy did find a loving family, received much needed surgeries and he's doing so very well now. Check out this video about him - Delcardo We were back on track to adopt a girl. We were certain "our" plan was also God's plan. That changed in early January when we got a call from our agency asking if we would consider a boy. Scott and I spent some time in prayer, seeking God's will for our family. If we didn't accept the possibility that God could want a boy for our family, then He could certainly put a stop to adopting all together. So God chose a boy for us - and while it was not part of "our" original plan, we could not be happier with HIS choice - a beautiful, precious, "active and affectionate" 13 month old BOY!

God's timing

Last Thursday Scott took Braden, our 11 year old, to the doctor. She initiated a conversation with Braden and asked if he could have any 3 wishes, what would he wish for? Now I do have to say I have the most selfless, compassionate, and amazing young man - in case you don't know him. :) Before the doctor could finish her question and without a hint of hesitation, Braden said, (wish 1) to get my brother home (melt my heart). The doctor asked what wish 2 would be and he replied, play outside all day long. He didn't have a wish 3. Most kids his age would want toys, video games, candy, money.. I just love his sweet heart! Now if that wasn't enough, later that day I got a message from our case worker. Unbeknownst to us, she had requested the Sisters at the orphanage call baby Ryan by the new name we've given him. She said the Sisters told her Ryan was now responding to his new name! And if THAT wasn't enough, the exact same minute I got that message, an email landed in my inbox from Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc.  We have been awarded a $5000 matching grant! For every dollar we raise, they will match up to $5000. Awesome, right?

All these amazing signs, all on the same day, two occurring at the exact same time.  God's timing is impeccable. Truly in awe of how God is working in our lives - and so very grateful, during this Easter season, for the God who sent HIS son to die for me, would weave a way for OUR son, 9200 miles away, to our very family.




If you feel led to make a donation to this fund, please make your tax deductible check out to “Hand in Hand Christian Adoption” postmarked by May 2, 2013 to: (for tax purposes please include our name on the outside of the envelope only…do not put our name on the check itself)

Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc.   

Scott & Natasha Chalker 

18318 Mimosa Court

Gardner, KS  66030

We appreciate the love, support and prayers that have been extended on ours and Ryan's behalf. It means so very much to us when you ask about updates, send messages letting us know we are in your prayers, and reassure us that this WILL happen on days when we feel discouraged. Thank you sweet family and friends <3

                                                                                                                                                                                                           

miracles abound

What an emotional week/weekend...

A little background first - in August of 2011, cancer was detected in a lymph node under my husband's arm. He had surgery to remove the node, then had an additional surgery to remove 23 more lymph nodes in that area just as a precaution, followed by 30 radiation treatments. He received a clean bill of health in early 2012 and has had no issues since then. A week ago he found a lump in his leg, had an ultrasound and the surgeon recommended surgery and biopsy. We spent the week praying specifically for miracles, the kind of miracles that can only come from God. Well, really, all miracles come from God. :) Without a hitch, God provided TWO amazing miracles.. the surgeon removed the nodes Friday and found them to be completely benign (still sending them to be biopsied) and he was in no way concerned in what he found. Praise God! PLUS we received our referral paperwork from India. All on the same day! 

We waited ten weeks to get this paperwork! What a sight for sore eyes - especially after a day spent at the hospital!

We have officially accepted baby boy "N" as our son. <3

Today, on St Patrick's Day, I'm remembering I'm not lucky but blessed.