Waiting for One More

International Adoption from Haiti costs around $25,000.  We have to pay for a home study. We are using the Board of Childcare, a Methodist ministry out of Baltimore and have found them to be amazing and affordable. We highly recommend them! Some of that money goes to our agency, to pay for the work they do on our behalf.  (Honestly, our agency takes a far smaller fee than some others!) The international child fee is set by each country. For Haiti, that is $12,000 per child.  Some of this money goes to the Haitian government, for their work - filing papers, making sure our child's creche (orphanage) is taking care of him, court costs, etc.  A large chunk goes to the creche to cover the lifetime costs of our child  (and help keep the creche up and running).  We see this as the most transformational money we are spending. This feeds children, clothes children, cares for children.  THIS MONEY MAKES A DIFFERENCE! We also pay ...

It is hard to put today into words.  But I simply have to write something.  How can I not, after such a wonderful - beautiful - abundant day? Today was the Heritage Festival in Middletown, Maryland the town Chris grew up in and graduated in and worked as a pastor in and now the town where our girls go to school. They have music, food and a parade. There is a historical encampment and small town goodness and vendors galore. And today, #thebishopfamilyadopts was a vendor! We sold #bethegood shirts and #bethegood wooden blocks and shared information about our desire  to answer God's call to adopt a child from Haiti.   (Chris working the booth,) (Katie working the booth -er...checking her phone.  In all fairness - corresponding about an online order!) Words can't express our gratitude.  For the people who stopped to share their stories of adoption -  everything from welcoming children into t...

I am not sure when she figured it out.  But our Eden, she is a smart cookie.  Tonight, at dinner, I made a comment.  It was off hand.  It was really nothing.  I had just peeled a banana,  I had asked the girls twice if they were going to eat it. They promised.  And there the whole banana sat. Open.  And I said, "I hate to see a banana wasted. There is no way to save it now. Now it will just have to go in the trash. All I can think of is how many people are hungry.  How many people would have loved that banana." "In Haiti?" Eden asked.  "Yes. But also here. And all over the world." "There is plenty of food in the world," Chris explained, "We just need to share it." "Like with our brother? Do you think he is hungry?" Eden said.  And the tears began to fill my eyes.  I think he is hungry. I know he is hungry. Even if he is in the best creche in Haiti he is still hungry.  S...

This week we are gearing up for two weekends of community festivals  where we will be selling #bethegood shirts. (Katie working on sorting the pre-orders of the  #maroonandgold (#Redskins #Brunswick) and  #orangeandblack (#Orioles #Middletown) #bethegood shirts.) We are thankful for the 550+ shirts we have already sold,  and are hoping to sell just a few more to finish raising the money for the Child Fee ($9,000).  We also ordered this banner to hang at our booth,  hoping the #bethegood logo draws people's attention.  We will have shirts and blocks at our booth,  as well as these super cute ornaments our friend Terry is doing as a fundraiser! We are so thankful for this fundraiser  that helps us as we seek to bring our son home! Something else awesome happened this week!  We asked three friends to write recommendations for our Dossier,  (in addition to the three that wrote r...

Bethany spends the night with my mom once a week. It is a tradition her big sister had when she was in pre-school. We love it - special time with her Granny and Papa. It means some great bonding with her cousin and her aunt. It means memories that will last a life time. It also means a safe place to ask the hard questions. This week's question: How old will our baby Haiti be? (We call him Haiti-baby for now, till we have a name, but Bethy calls him baby Haiti, like Haiti is his name. BTW - I can't WAIT till we have a match and know his name and can see his face!) How old will our baby Haiti be? Will I be the middle? Bethy asks. Will I be the littlest? Bethy asks. Because she knows there is a difference. Chris and I are thankful for spaces where our girls can ask the hard questions. For people who are willing to help them wrestle through this major life change, this opening of our heart and home, this answering God's prayer. We are thankful for our BIG...

When we were in Haiti, we shared the news of starving children in the smaller communities right around where we were serving. Little children. Hungry when they woke up. Hungry when they went to sleep. Hungry. Because there simply isn't enough. And so we asked you to donate to help feed these rural communities experiencing hardship because of drought. Because the seeds their parents bought and planted, burned up in the sand. And you all - are amazing. We raised enough - through the power of God - to feed 5,000 meals. No joke. And this is what happened: And this: In this little rural church: After getting there on this: Which, by the way, took HOURS. Like 5. On foot.  No joke.  And this Momma's heart is blessed.  Blessed because we feed children, whose Momma's can't feed them right now.  And my prayer is that someone is doing the same for my son - right now.  So he doesn't have ...

Eden came up to me and this is what she said: Eden: Can I just tell you something? I am really proud that we are adopting a baby from Haiti. I think that every child should have a family and a home that loves them. And I heard that we have inspired other families to adopt too. That is pretty cool. I love being part of Team Bishop. First of all, I am so thankful for this girl. For the heart of Christ she has. That at this moment, she gets it. (Knowing that there will be moments when it will be hard.) And that she is aware that it is a team effort. And not just with our family. You are all part of our team! Without you, this journey would not be possible. Without your prayers, your support, your encouragement, we would be overwhelmed. We are also thankful for another round of paperwork that is ready to go. One of three! But still! One!! And we are thankful for a good friend who is helping us to adopt by giving us her commission off of Mary a...

One of our biggest worries when we answered the call to grow our family through adoption, was wondering if we would be able to afford the cost of international adoption.  And so we have tried to pull out all the stops.  My awesome hubby is working at our girl's school, teaching part-time,  so we get a MAJOR tuition discount and they can still go to a school  that fits their needs and fosters spiritual and intellectual growth. We have sold #bethegood shirts  (OVER 400 - WAIT - WHAT!!!! THANK YOU!) to help us raise over $4000! Which is amazing! (selling at Rockstar Fitness in Middletown) Our Pure Charity account has helped us raise over $1400! We have had amazingly generous friends and family  who have donated outright to our agency on our behalf! And I am quilting.  (mapping out another t-shirt quilt) (finished t-shirt quilt) I love quilting.  (a quilt made from old Marine uniforms) ...