Friday, December 11, 2009

Names

Have you ever stopped to think of what is in a name? Parents find out they are expecting a little one and they begin planning his or her future. But do we take time to stop and think about naming our children? Did you ever stop to think that your child's name will be the most common proper noun they hear in their lifetime. They will probably hear the name you choose for them an average of two to four million times. Even after they die their name will still be used.

In the Redman home choosing a name is a major thought process. Dad and mom pray and ask the Lord's wisdom in choosing a name that will glorify the Lord. The children offer input as well. Some of our children have gone a week or more without a name, much to the chagrin of the grandmas.

But consider what God's Word says about a name. Proverbs 22:1 tells us, " A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold."

Doug Phillips, of Vision Forum Ministries, puts it very clearly when he states," The naming of a child is one of the most important decisions you will make on behalf of your son or daughter, so be deliberate. Be biblical."

Is it your goal to name your little bundle of joy by the most popular name, a name to give him the competitive edge, to be different than everyone else, or to name your sons and daughters by names that will challenge them to live Godly lives for their Creator?

Here are the names of our children so far...

Rachel Anne - Little lamb, grace

Jonathan David - Gift from God, beloved

Jordan Daniel - The descender, God is my judge

Josiah Stephen - Supported by God, Crown

Rebekah Lynn - Captivating, beautiful

James Levi - To follow, united/joined

Noah Michael - Rest, like God

Gideon Eli - Warrior, Ascension

Abigail Grace - Father's joy, grace

And now our three little ones from Liberia....

Hannah Faith - Grace, faith

Hosanna Joy - Salvation, joy

Solomon John - Peaceful, gracious gift of God

And one more due in March...stay tuned for an update in the naming of the next generation of Redman arrows.

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We are still here....

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted. Life is always busy with nine children, four on the way! Most days I am so focused on raising our current arrows, all the while dreaming and praying for our three little ones half a world away. We get regular reports about their health and progress, which is always so good for this mommy's heart.

When we began this adoption we never imagined it would take over two years to bring home our little ones. I, being a planner, like to think on my own time schedule. If it were up to me we probably would have adopted before Abigail was born, which means we never would have been matched with these precious babies. When will I learn to rest in God's timing.

Since it has taken so long we are now starting our homestudy process again. Wow, never saw that one coming when we did this just over a year ago. A homestudy is a written report about a family. A social worker prepares the report and it is sent to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services Department as well as the country the children are coming from, which in our case is Liberia, West Africa. Today we went to the Sheriff's office for our FBI and GBI fingerprinting. Now we have to get eleven medical physicals done, our septic tank approved for fifteen people, new reference letters, employment verification, etc. Unfortunately it all costs money, but the Lord has provided each step of the way for this adoption.

We are getting near the end. The Ministry of Health in Liberia has stated they will be taking cases in January. I have been dreaming about traveling to Africa for a few years now. I pray that God will use our trip as a blessing to those we meet, those that need to see God's love, those who have so very little compared to us in America. May we be a light to Liberia, West Africa. I don't believe this will be our last trip to Liberia, but a beginning of a lifelong ministry.

Prayer Requests:
  • Health for the babies - they are severely malnourished, weighing less than 10 pounds each, yet they are healthy so far
  • Homestudy process - that all will go smoothly and quickly
  • Wisdom for travel - Our little one in the womb is due in March and we would prefer her to be born in America not in Liberia
  • That God would use the Redman family to bless many in Liberia

Thanks for your continued support for our family during this adoption process. We know God has great plans for each of our children, those born in America and Africa.

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Saturday, August 15, 2009

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Triplets!


We received an email today about triplets that need sponsorship in Liberia. Two little girls and one little boy!

All three are tiny, about the size of a six month old. They are getting teeth and are able to sit up, but they only weigh in at about 12 pounds each.

Our sponsorship will provide money monthly for food (particularly rice and protein) as well as any medical care they need. A nurse from the hospital checks on them and a Dr. is available as well.
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Sunday, August 2, 2009

Adoption Article

Here is an article written by a Liberian man regarding adoption. Many of the Liberian people desire to see adoption opened again to help the children.

"Adoption, Politics and the State" by Francis Nyepon.

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Thursday, July 23, 2009

Added Blessing

God has blessed our family with another little one, not through adoption (yet!) but through birth. Our little one is due to arrive in March.

This week has been a busy week with four birthdays. Noah turned six years old, Jordan turned thirteen, Jonathan is fifteen and Rachel will be seventeen in a few days. Each year it is so fun to see the children grow and mature. We are all looking forward to God's blessings in our family over the next year.

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Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Delta to offer service to Liberia

Today on the radio my son and I heard that Delta Airlines is trying to offer non-stop service to Liberia. This would be wonderful when we are ready to make our trip! Delta has stated that they are waiting for airport security to increase at Robertson Airport in Monrovia. Once security is increase Delta will begin flying into Monrovia as well as Kenya.

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/10/20/daily47.html

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Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Donations

Thank you to each of you who have donated to our adoption recently. We appreciate your support as we strive to bring home our three little girls.

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Update on Adoption

Well there is no real news except that Liberia is still closed to adoption. I spoke with a very nice lady at the Liberian Embassy in Washington D.C. today. She said,"adoption is still on hold while they are still investigating."

I want to thank those in the Liberian community here in Atlanta for your support of our adoption process. We look forward to meeting many of you in person. It is our desire that our daughters become Liberian-Americans and retain their heritage. It is also our desire to travel back to Liberia with them as they grow older. We want them to know their roots just like our biological children know about the place in which they were born and have lived. We want to learn to cook our daughters national foods, teach them about their land and display their flag. Yes they will be American as well but they will always be Liberian.

When I think of Liberians I think of a people of hope and determination. It is so difficult to think about these children who have no parents, no home, no food all due to a war beyond their control. I think of parents who gave their lives for their children and those who gave their lives to bring about a peaceful republic. We pray that Liberia will begin to stabilize and get back on its feet. We pray that the government will make wise choices for the people and we pray for President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Vice President Joseph Boakai.

Thanks to each of you who have continued to follow our long adoption process. The Lord knows the day and time in which these little ones will come home to live with us in America. Please continue to uplift us in prayer as we continue to wait patiently.

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Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Newspaper Interview

Yesterday we received a call from our local newspaper. They wanted to do an article on our adoption. After the interview they sent a camara man out to take pictures. Andrew was at work so they only got pictures of me and the children.

Today when I took the little children to the library the lovely ladies at the counter asked the children if they had seen the paper today. They raved about what a wonderful article it was about our family and how much they enjoy having us in the community. The children and I ran to WalGreens on the way home to buy a few newspapers. The article is also online.

We are so very thankful that the story was positive and attempted to show our that "children are a blessing from the Lord!"

http://www.times-georgian.com/articles/2009/04/15/local_news/doc49e53ebd70b05957641707.txt

May God be praised!

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Sunday, April 5, 2009

More Magazine Sales....

We have sold a few more magazines which has helped bring in more funds. We are now working on our golf tournament. Pray the Lord will provide the needed $12,000 to pay for the international fees as well as the travel expenses. Also pray that the country of Liberia will open for legal and ethical adoption for the suffering orphans that are in need of a forever home.

On Saturday our I797 arrived in the mail. This is a huge step. The I797 is a Notice of Favorable Disposition concerning application for advanced placement of orphan petition. In otherwords it means that the US government has granted us permission to adopt three orphans from Liberia and the US will allow them to become US citizens.

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Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Golf Tournament

Please join us for the Adoption In Liberia Golf Tournament on June 22, 2009. Come help raise the remainder of our funds to assist in bringing our little girls home.

We have a great day of golf at the beautiful Bradshaw Farm Golf Club in Woodstock, Georgia (www.bradshawfarmgc.com) The event is a 4-person scramble, lunch buffet and an awards reception.

Register now online and remember to invite your friends to play. We are also in need of sponsors. Large and small companies can participate. Recognition as well as free golf for the day will be included in each sponsor package.

Check out our tournament website. www.golfdigestplanner.com/11156-AdoptioninLiberia/

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Email from USCIS

Today we received an email from USCIS (formerly US Immigration). We have received the US governments approval to adopt as well as our approval has been sent to the Liberian government. The recommendation is three children five and under!

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Thank You

Last week we received another anonomous donation. I can't send a thank you but the Lord knows what a blessing this was to us. Thank you!

Today we received a letter from a dear family. They have a heart for missions and through Christ's bestowing blessing in their family, they in turn donated $1000 to our adoption. Thank you!

May the Lord bring the funds needed to travel to Africa in His time.

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Friday, February 20, 2009

Visit our Magazine Sales Website

We are beginning a fundraiser to help with the cost of travel. As time gets closer to spring and summer the cost of airfare continues to rise. We are still working on "buddy passes" and frequent flyer miles, but because the only airline that actually flies into Liberia is Brussels Air we will need to purchase tickets as well.

So here is how you can help us. Go to our website www.magfundraising.com/AdoptAfrica and order or renew your magazines. It is very easy! The second thing you can do is let all your friends, family and co-workers know. The more subscriptions the closer we will be traveling to Liberia.

We are still waiting for the country to open up and provide us a referral. We want to be ready on our end to travel as soon as we receive the ok. We have wonderful friends and family praying all over the country, as well as over seas, that the Lord would provide the funds and open the door for our referral. Please pray also that our immigration paperwork at the USCIS office is completed soon. We are waiting to here from them anyday.


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Saturday, January 31, 2009

Yes we're waiting....

We have had the news confirmed by the Ministry in Liberia that currently all adoptions are on hold. Many orphanages have been closed, many children returned to their parents in Liberia. Liberia is saying that by February the new laws will be in place and adoptions will begin again. Our lawyer has offered a solution to the government in Liberia to help fix many of the issues they are facing. Our agency believes that adoptions will again be taking place, as many of these children need a home, but we are not holding our breath that by February it will all be resolved.

On the home front here we continue to wait. We are not waiting on the government of Liberia but on the Lord. He is truly in control and in His time His will be done. Many wonderful friends have emailed and called reminding us they are praying with us and for us, but more importantly for the little ones in Africa.

So we are waiting...may I encourage you to also wait on the Lord? Whether your marriage is hurting, your finances are slim, you are in need of a job...wait on the Lord!

Psalm 27:14
"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

Psalm 33:20
"Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield."

Psalm 40:1
"I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry."

Isaiah 40:31
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Lamentations 3:25
"The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him."

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While I'm Waiting.....



I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Sad News

On Thursday I received news that the government of Liberia had closed down six orphanages because of misconduct. Our orphanage was not one of them and as of Friday things were still moving ahead although slowly.

Tonight I read a speech given today by the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Here is a quote,"The gross mismanagement of the adoption program (which aims primarily at placing orphans in homes in the United States), by both Liberian and U.S. personnel in the concerned NGO is the subject of a report by a Special Committee which I appointed for this purpose. Essentailly, we have discovered that many of the children in these orphanages are not in fact orphans but children taken from thier living parents on the promise of support and a good life in America. Morevoer, we found that young children were being sexually abused at some of these orphanages, while others including officials of government, have used the program to extort money from potential adoptors. We have thus suspended the adoption program until laws, policies, and proper guildlines have been estabished and we have asked our concerned friends and partners in the United States to be paitent as we try to correct the serious malpractices which exist. We expect the National Social Welfare Policy and National Adoption Act which will be submitted to you during the course of the year, will provide guidance and prevent such abuses in the future. "

I will be speaking with our agency tomorrow to gain a better perspective. One positive is that our lawyer in Florida has a very good relationship with the Ministry Department over adoptions in Liberia.

We will continue to trust the Lord! May His will be done! Please continue to pray for the healthand safety of the children in Liberia.

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Sunday, January 18, 2009

Homestudy Arrived!!

Friday our homestudy arrived from Options 4 Adoptions. We had a hold up on our employment verification letter. Now it is all complete and a copy has been sent to the United States Citizenship Immigration Services.

This week we will accomplish a list of items for our dossier. I also have to get a medical waiver to release me from the yellowfever vaccination. Because Abigail is still nursing we are choosing to ask for a medical waiver allowing me to be exempt from the vaccine. Andrew will still get the vaccine, but will also do as much as possible to boost his immune system before hand. We are working with our Doctor to do all that we can to keep us from getting ill while traveling.

We are still working on finishing our fundraising. We know that the Lord will provide the needed money.

Andrew went to the sporting goods store this week to check on prices of soccer balls. We would like to take some dolls and soccer balls to the children in the orphanage. If any of you know a store that would be willing to donate please let me know.

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Friday, January 9, 2009

New adoption timeline

Those of you who know me know that I like calendars and organization. I like to plan and schedule. And those of you who have adopted know that plans and schedules are not very reliable in adoption. When we began this adoption I had all my ducks in a row. I had ordered everyone's birth certificates, made copies, lists of paperwork needed; but when you deal with a fourth world country you must be flexible. My husband has been teaching me flexibility for seventeen years! Now I get to practice it.

On the left you will see a timeline of our adoption process. I will be updating it regularly as we go along.

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Thursday, January 8, 2009

Apostilles arrived!

Today I received the notarized and apostilled birth and marriage certificates from California. For those who don't know, an apostille is a statement attached to a document verifing that the notary is a licensed and is official in that state. All of our documents going to Liberia will need a notary stamp as well as an apostille.

Our documents come from all over the country and half way around the world. Thankfully I was informed to start ordering these documents early. I sent Andrew's to England before Thanksgiving. I then had to send two of our children's certificates to Washington State, four to California as well as my birth certificate, our marriage certificate and Andrew's naturalization certificate to California.

Today I received the last of the certificates from outside Georgia. I will now need to get all the paperwork we have...physicals, financial documents, employment verification, and reference letters notarized and taken to Atlanta to be apostilled.

We are waiting for an appointment with the Immigration Services to get our fingerprints taken. After that we should receive the approval of our I600a, petition to adopt internationally. This and our other documents will be sent on to Liberia in what is called a dossier.

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Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Questions.....

I have received a few questions from readers over the past few weeks.

1. Yes, our children have someone to stay with them in Georgia while we travel. Andrew and I do not want to leave our other children for a week but we feel that it is important to our new daughters that we both travel to Africa to pick them up, as we'll see their homeland. It is our desire to bring a little bit of Africa into our home, much the way we have done with Andrew's British heritage. Our children will be well cared for!

2. While we are planning on adopting two little girls from Liberia we have left our homestudy open to three children. Many times a sibling will come into the picture or a special child will touch the the hearts of those adopting....we want to make sure if that happens we will have all our paperwork in order, should the Lord choose.

3. We are very open to whichever children the Lord should see fit to bring into our home. While we as parents pray for healthy happy children, we also realize that most of the children in Liberia are not healthy due to lack of nutrition. Much like having a biological child we are waiting on the Lord as to whom He would have us bring into our home.

4. Yes these children will be our children forever. Adoption is a wonderful picture of how Christ chose us in our unworthy state to be His forever! We will raise these children as our own daughters. We will love them dearly. We will also tell them they are chosen. We will celebrate their African heritage.

5. Yes we are open to more biological children. This seems to be the most popular question lately. We are open to all the children God would chooses to bless us with, biological or adopted. Being in my early thirties we trust the Lord will bless us with many more children to raise for Him.

6. No, we do not live in a mansion and we are not rich monetarily. When we started this adoption last December we lived in a 2300 sq ft house with three bedrooms. We had six boys in one bedroom and the girls in another. We began to pray that the Lord would expand our boundaries and enlarge our family. In March we began looking at farm for sale. In April Abby was born and in June we moved in to a home more than twice the size of our old house. We have five bedrooms and four bathrooms, plus a huge unfinished basement! Two girls rooms and two boys rooms, plus a large master bedroom with room for several babies! As for the riches we are blessed beyond measure. Andrew works two jobs. During the day he works in corporate America. Evenings and weekends he runs our commercial poultry farm. We have five chicken houses and raise broilers for Pilgrim's Pride. Every eight weeks we get new baby chicks. The children and I help run the farm during the day. We are praying that God will allow Andrew to quit his other job this year and work from home full time.

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Sunday, January 4, 2009

Happy New Year

Our family had a wonderful Christmas. We are trusting this will be the last Christmas without our beautiful little girls from Liberia in our home. Next year we are thinking about celebrating the 12 days of Christmas, allowing each child to have their own special day to open a few presents prior to Christmas day.

As we begin this New Year please partner with us in helping the children of Liberia. In February we will be hosting a golf tournament in Woodstock, Georgia. If you are available we would love for you to participate. The money raised will be used to cover the cost of the Liberia fees to bring our daughters home. We anticipate having corporate and small business sponsors as well as those participating in playing a round of golf.

If you would like more information about our golf tournament or to help us coordinate the tournament please email us directly. You will find our email address in the profile.

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