disability ministry weekly round-up {3-5-12}

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The big news of last week was that all our adoption paperwork is in route to Taiwan, with a short stop for approval at an office in Atlanta. Yippee! {Update! Our paperwork has already been received in Taiwan, several days earlier than expected. Praise God!} We'll be bringing Zoe Amanda home sometime between late May and early August - praying it's sooner rather than later! :)

And in other news, I'm trying a slightly different approach to the round-up with a linked title, a quote from the link, and a question to ponder. Let me know who you like it - I'm thinking this might be how I do it from now on!

In Defense of Down Syndrome Children... Like My Son "Down syndrome children pose a different kind of threat to society -- the in-your-face reminder that our aspirations for "perfection" may be flawed. People like Cade disrupt normal." {What can we do to make sure that we're exalting God instead of the idol of human perfection?}

Don't Forget About Me... Being a Special Needs Sibling "She has always tried to understand his special needs, why he can't talk, why he needs extra time to accomplish little things so many others take for granted and why he was made just a little bit different than all her friend's brothers and sisters." {Are we teaching a biblical theology that helps our kids love and interact with those who are different, including in their own families?}

Tears of a special needs sib "Once again, he had to take the back seat to a kid with special needs, and once again his mom just assumed he'd suck it up, (and he's got his own issues going on with PANDAS and he's extra sensitive lately), and he simply could not take it anymore, always having to be the one who bends." {How can the church support and love these siblings who often take a back seat?}

A Special Needs Mom's Heartache: Not What You'd Expect "It isn’t the people inside my house that make life difficult. It’s the world outside." {How can we, as the people of God, make that world outside better for these families by sharing Christ instead of pity or hurt?} 

 Prom held for special needs children at Wofford "'It started out as a church movement to incorporate special needs population into churches and when that started happening it just caught on fire, it's really gone out of control,' says co-organizer and Wofford student Callie Taylor." {How do you celebrate God's creation of every person, regardless of ability or disability?}

 RELIGION: Fulfilling the spiritual needs of special-needs kids Okay, this one I can't just quote. You need to read the whole thing. It describes that amazing special needs ministry set-up at a church in San Bernardino. Just read it. {How can you excel in serving all members of families affected by disability on Sunday mornings?}

 'Groundbreaking' new ministry caters to families with autistic families  "Karen and Paul Schmid know what it’s like to watch an autistic son struggle with sitting through a mass and they wonder about other families who avoid church altogether, because it’s just too hard." {What can your church do to make it easier for the Schmids and other families like them? And how can you reach out to the families who are already avoiding your church because they expect it to be too hard to come?}

our Creator does not faint or grow weary, and neither will we {Isaiah 40:28-31}

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Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.

{Isaiah 40:28-31}

so what's the adoption timetable?

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On Facebook, I mentioned that all our adoption paperwork went to TECO a couple days ago. (TECO = Taipei Economic and Cultural Office; you could think of it as the Taiwanese consulate or embassy.)

thanks to Robbin, who is adopting from the same place on a similar timeline, for the picture!
They should approve the paperwork and send it to Taiwan by the middle of next week.

For those of you who are wondering, paperwork for this adoption included: two copies of our home study in English (both notarized and then authenticated by the Secretary of State), three copies of power of attorney for our adoption coordinators to represent us in court (notarized & authenticated), three copies of our adoption contract (with a certified English translation; then notarized & authenticated), three copies of our adoption agreement (with a certified English translation; notarized & authenticated), one copy of our waiver for the adoption coordinator, and one copy of our photo pages which represent who we are and where we live to the judge in Taiwan.

Then what?

Well, according to the timelines provided by our adoption coordinator:
  • 7-10 days for notification of a court date 
  • 4-6 weeks til court from notification of date 
  • 4-8 weeks for first court decree 
  • 10-25 days til final decree 
  • 7 days for translation of all material and sent to AIT (think of it as the US Embassy-like entity in Taiwan) for review 
  • ~3 weeks later: travel to Taiwan!
That timeline would have us traveling to bring Zoe Amanda home at the earliest about 15 weeks from now (around my birthday on June 10) and at the latest 24 weeks from now (around August 10).

Based on the actual experiences of several families who have gone through this process in the past year, it is unlikely that we would have to wait until August and more likely to be mid-June. The range in my little sample from paperwork arriving in Taiwan until travel dates to bring their child home was 5 months (the longest by far, and everyone said theirs was an odd case), 3.5 months, 3.5 months, 2.75 months, and 3.5 months. If ours lines up with the shortest in that sample, we will be traveling near the end of May; if it matches with the median value of 3.5 months, then we're looking at mid-June; and if we end up with an odd longer case, it'll be August.

We will have more paperwork to process for Zoe Amanda's visa and citizenship around the time we travel, but now we can focus our efforts on fundraising, preparing for her arrival, and selling our home. Oh, and preparing for a special needs ministry conference I'll be speaking at in April and coordinating volunteers for Joy Prom on April 27.

As I told one friend yesterday, "now that our paperwork is off, our life is semi-calm-ish. With an emphasis on semi- and -ish." :)

Fridays from the Families: One church's pampering day for moms with husbands or children with special needs

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Sandra Peoples is a pastor's wife, a mom, and an excellent writer, and I am thankful to know her. I featured her e-book, Speechless: Finding Grace in My Son's Autism, on this blog a few months ago. When I saw a post from her on Facebook about enjoying a day of pampering at a local church, I wanted to know more, and she graciously agreed to share. Read her guest post below, and visit the Facebook page for her book!

A special  needs mom's work is never done. We have to be "on" all the time. So a couple months ago when our son's behavioral therapist mentioned that her church was hosting a day of pampering for moms of kids with special needs and wives of husband with disabilities, I signed up!

I had never been to this church before, but as soon as I drove through the front entrance, a man greeted me by asking, "Good morning! Are you here to be pampered?" I told him I was and he told me where to park. When I got to the right lot, another man greeted me and asked if I would like the inside of my car detailed while I was being pampered. He handed me a baggie with a key ring and piece of paper (for the dashboard) with the number 3 on them.

When I walked through the doors I was greeted by ladies at the registration table. They took my keys with the numbered key ring. They handed me all the paper work for the day and I signed up for my choice of a table or chair massage, at the time that was best for me. One of the ladies walked me down the hall to the coffee area where there were light refreshments and drinks. The coffee area was across from the church library, which had books like Same Lake, Different Boat on display. I was impressed by their attention to detail! Even the books were specifically chosen for us!

At 10:00 we were led into the sanctuary for a time of worship. There was a "blessing of the hands" ceremony and a speaker who shared how her life changed when her son was injured and paralyzed at the age of 20.

After the service, the moms and wives headed to lunch in the gym. There were tables set up, each uniquely decorated by a hostess who ate with us. (The other volunteers and service providers ate in another room.) I enjoyed getting to know the women at my table. I was one of the youngest moms in attendance, and was in awe of the decades of love and compassion the women around me had invested into their children and husbands.

After lunch, the pampering began! I had signed up for a table massage first, so I headed down the hall to enjoy that treat. Then I went back into the gym, which was set up for hand scrubs, manicures, make-up application, facials, eyebrow waxing, satin lips, and hair cuts. I just started on one side of the room and worked my way around! Everyone was so friendly. Most started off the conversation by asking, "So, who do you care for?" They were sensitive and encouraging.

While we were being pampered. the coffee area was set up with gourmet teas and desserts. A trio of instrumentalists provided music through the afternoon. There were also volunteers available to pray with any of the women in attendance.

After getting as pampered as possible and enjoying dessert and tea with other moms, I was ready to head home. The inside of my car was spotless--even the cup holders! I felt encouraged, appreciated, and blessed by so many who took time to serve those of use who serve someone with special needs in our families. I can't wait for next year!