Wednesday, July 27, 2016

The Adoption Process

Here's a little run down of our adoption process and where we're at in it.  I cannot be too specific with details on a public forum but I can give a general idea.

We are adopting from Eastern Europe which is usually around a seven month process.  We are praying that ours will be MUCH faster. 

We are filling out paperwork and doing everything that we have to do EVERY SINGLE DAY as it comes in so as not to delay anything.  However, some of it is completely out of our control.  Once the paperwork is filled out, much of which has to be notarized, then certified by the county clerk and then Apostilled by the Secretary of State it is handed over to a variety of different government agencies or to our out of country facilitators to be handled in the country of our adoption.

We have FBI fingerprints, doctor's reviews, blood test, FBI fingerprints a SECOND time, passports, visas, background checks, etc.  Every step that is completed is then turned in to wait to be passed through whatever government agency it is being sent to. 

We are currently in our Home study portion while doing all the things just mentioned.  The "Home Study" is just what it sounds like, a study of our home.  A social worker regularly meets with us for interviews, home safety and all sorts of good stuff.  I am very thankful that we have a wonderful social worker who I enjoy talking and meeting with and who is extremely helpful through this process.

Our country facilitator, who is also amazing, handles all of our paperwork for our Eastern Europe country and all travel and logistics in that country, including visa, orphanage, medical, court appearance and much more.

We ALSO have an Eastern Europe country agency which helps with our child's placement and other in country business. 

Once all of this has been completed and approved we receive a court and travel date within our EE country.  This is when we will actually get to meet Nic, visit him regularly, while doing the necessary thing IN that country, one of which is appearing in court.  Praying all of this goes smoothly, we then wait for the court papers to go through.  It is only once that is done that we get to actually get our sweet Nic out of that orphanage and with us forever!!!!   Oh we can't wait for that day!!!!

I know this is a very general idea of what we are doing but it gives you an idea of the process and what all the funds that we are raising goes towards.  

Please be praying that every piece of paperwork and every step goes through quickly and smoothly so that there are no delays in getting Nic home. 

With Nic's special needs we need to get him medical care as quickly as possible but on top of that, we have been told things about the orphanage, which I can not write here, that has us all the more urgent in getting everything done as fast as possible.

I know I say it every time, but you have no idea how thankful we are for everyone who is helping bring Nic home through your prayers, sharing and donations!!



Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Reece's Rainbow Tax Deductible Donations!

We are so excited to announce that our Reece's Rainbow Family page has been set up!  This means that we can receive donations for Domenic's adoption that will be tax deductible!

Within the next week I should have a button up and running here in the right hand column, but until then it can be accessed through this link Reece's Rainbow Romero Family Page .  Their "Donate" button uses Paypal OR they except checks to "Reece's Rainbow" PO Box 277, Monrovia, MD 21770 specifying for "Romero Family for Domenic".

Thank you for all your prayers, support, giving and sharing that you have been doing to help us get Nic home!!

We will try to update you on the process soon, although we have to use caution when getting into specifics on a public forum.

Monday, July 25, 2016

Shop With A Purpose


If you have ever been through the adoption process or know anyone who has, you probably know how consuming it can be.  It is hard to take a moment off when you are thinking about a baby in an orphanage who needs to be home with the love of a family.

The moment a new piece of paperwork comes in we feel as if we must get it done immediately or it might cost that baby another minute in the orphanage.  Just sitting on the couch I find myself looking around at what I could possibly sell to bring in funds quicker.

We know that Nic is in the Lords hands and the timing of the adoption process is all in His sovereign providence and we want to be giving our very best efforts and sacrifices too. 

While I really don't like talking about money and fundraising so much, it is a rather necessary part of adoption.  Please know that your prayers are coveted more than anything as we know that the Lord is who really takes care of this whole thing and we trust in His provision in whatever way He chooses. 

Here are just a couple creative ways that can help bring a little more to our funds.  If these are something that you are interested in shopping for anyway, than here is a way that you can do it that will give 20% back to our adoption funds.

JEWELRY AND ACCESORIES
For one week my friend Elaina Gupton is hosting a Noonday Fundraiser here: Shop Noonday
for our adoption.  Noonday sells "an inspired collection of jewelry and accessories made by Artisans across the globe" to provide opportunities for women and families in vulnerable locations.


ESSENTIAL OILS
As some of you know, I have been "into" Essential oils for quite some time.  Now I have a whole new purpose and goal with raising money for this adoption.  If you have had any desire to purchase essential oils, here is my web site: https://www.mydoterra.com/thepureandsimple/ .  All earnings from my essential oil sales (20%) are going straight to our adoption funds.  This is my retail page.  Shop the retail prices or click "Join and Save" to get starter kits or membership for wholesale prices, which are 25% off the listed retail price and I still earn the funds. 

Thank you for your help through your giving and your prayers!! 



Saturday, July 16, 2016

"Of The Lord"

Before we had even committed to adopting Domenic we were discussing what we would call him.  We threw around names and talked about keeping Domenic as his middle name.  We had already been referring to him so often as "Domenic" though that it just didn't seem right to call him a different name.

When Jim suggested calling him "Nic", it was the perfect answer.  We would keep his name Domenic and call him "Nic", a name I have always loved.

As with all of my children, I question if we have the perfect name for them until I have to sign the official certificates and there is no turning back.  So, I typed in a search for the meaning of the name Domenic.  Here is what I found.

Domenic: "Of the Lord"

I couldn't think of a more perfect name for this baby boy!!

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Dear Nic...


Dear little Nic, as I carry your picture I find myself gazing at your sweet eyes searching for a glimpse of what you might be wondering or experiencing right now.  It is hard to hold back tears with the realization that all you know of the world is what is seen from the view between the bars of a lonely crib.

As you spend your days gazing up from your bed, there are no love filled eyes looking back at you. 
 You don’t know the feeling of being cuddled in your mommy’s arms or falling asleep on your daddy’s shoulder.  You don’t know the sound of your own giggle from your brothers and sisters tickles and funny faces.  You don’t know soft whispered words of comfort or sweet lullabies to soothe your little infant cries. You have not felt the warmth of kisses on your forehead or fingers stroking your soft cheeks.  You have never felt family gathered around you doting on your every coo, or the simple sensations of the grass beneath your legs and sunshine on your face.  

So many things that every baby should know, you do not.  Yet, in your short life you have already learned something that should be a mystery to every child.  

The feelings of being unloved and unwanted by the world around you do not have to be taught. 
But I promise you that you will soon learn that what you know right now is a lie.  If only there was a way we could tell you at this moment how loved you really are.
 Thousands of miles away, you have a mommy, daddy, four loving sisters and two amazing brothers, a Mimi and Papa, Aunts, Uncles, a whole lot of cousins, Grandma, friends, neighbors and church family, that are frantically working to bring you home to make up for lost time and cover you with their love.

And even still there is a greater love.  A love that has been with you before you were even known by the world.  A love that sent His son to save you, you who others declared unworthy, lowly and weak.

A love that gave one family a beautiful baby boy named Colt, who happened to have Down syndrome, almost two years ago to open their eyes and hearts to the beauty and the needs of so many special children and led them to you.  A love that chose the humble vessel of that baby boy to be the reason that you now will know the love of family and the unfailing love of your Father in Heaven.  We may not be able to get to you yet, but His perfect love has been with you from the beginning.

So, while our heart aches and longs for you to be here, there are hundreds of people praying for you to One who loves you with a far more perfect love than anyone in this world could match. 

Precious Nic, someone deemed you unworthy, but you are a prince to your Father and you ARE loved.  Soon, you will know this
.  


Friday, July 8, 2016

Bringing Home Nic

"Nic"

 People all over the world view these precious children as outcasts simply because they have an extra chromosome (Down syndrome) or other special needs. 

We can't get him out of that orphanage into love fast enough!!  It is so hard to think about the fact that he is laying in an orphanage crib, staring at a ceiling all day, with no one loving on him!


I just finished adding our "You Caring" link and Hand of Help In Adoption link to the side bar and I will be posting our Reece's Rainbow link as soon as it is up.  Please feel free to share with anyone!

We are also asking for your prayers.   Pray that God will protect Domenic while he waits and will display His amazing power and glory through this journey to bring him home.  Pray that the funds and donations will come quickly and papers and travels will be processed fast.  Pray for God's glory to be seen by all through it all. 

All of these are ways that you can help one little baby get home faster to experience the love of a family that every child deserves! 

There are SO many children in need.  We are working to save one, but please pray for all of these orphans as well, that God will move the hearts of others to help them in whatever ways they can through adoption, prayer and giving of time or money.  
 

Our Heart in Words


Well here we go!!  My first entry to this exciting journey in bringing home baby "Nic"!!  

I wrote a bio for our Reece's Rainbow profile.  I know that it is way too long, but how do you express your heart in words?  I am sure there are others that could do it in a much more concise way but I am not one of them.  So, here it is.  I will TRY to keep my future entries much shorter! 

Thank you so much for following and praying for us on this journey!  Also, here are photos of our baby boy!  I am limited as to what I am allowed to post at this time but I will be updating here soon, including ways that you can help!

OUR HEART:

    We are the Romero family.  We have six children ages 12-2.  We learned that our youngest was gifted with an extra chromosome shortly after his birth in July 2014. The truth of Psalm 139:13 — “You knitted me together in my mother’s womb” — became that much more intimate as we explained to our children that God added the extra copy of chromosome 21 more than a trillion times.  We knew that God made our son and every one of us uniquely, in His image, for His glory and there are no mistakes. 

     We had never thought about adoption before but through our son’s birth the Lord opened our eyes to the needs of children all around the world with a special calling to those with Down syndrome and special needs. 

    When we learned about Reece’s Rainbow, a ministry whose mission is to find families for orphans with Down syndrome, at our first Buddy Walk and read that in other parts of the world these children are viewed as outcasts with no ability to learn or be functional members of society, languishing in mental institutions, hidden away from the world in shame, our heart broke for these children.  We see their faces and picture our son being born into those circumstances.  Our family knew that we had been called to serve these children. 

     We stared at the Reece’s Rainbow magnet on our refrigerator and their web site for almost a year, praying for the children and saying that we will adopt “one day”. We saw this precious baby boy, only a few months old, who was abandoned to live his life in an orphanage.  We knew immediately that we needed to bring him home, but we also continued to consider all of the obstacles.  We prayed AND prayed.

Finally we realized that the only thing holding us back was fear, fear of traveling, fear of all that is involved and a lot of financial fears. We thought about how powerful our God is and the fact that the bigger the “task” the greater glory we see through His hand in it.  We were reminded of Gideon whose army was dwindled to 300 just so that the glory would go to the Lord and the miracles that Christ did throughout the Bible.  He is the creator of this universe.  How could we fear or doubt His power in this?  We know it won’t be easy but we have trust in Him. 

We also thought about what the life of one child was worth.  We would sacrifice everything and do anything for our children.

We are so excited to bring Domenic home to our family.  We are so anxious to wrap our arms around him and show him the love of a family and the love of our Savior!  In our minds and hearts he is already our son. 

With special needs adoptions like this, the child does not have the luxury to wait long periods of time to collect the funds that are needed to bring these children out of the hard orphanage conditions. They need out as quickly as possible.

We know that not everyone is called to adopt and not everyone is called to adopt an orphan with special needs. But, everyone can share in the joy of helping through earnest prayers and giving.  What an amazing picture of the body of Christ at work, all for the love of this one precious baby.  Thank you for joining us and may all glory go to our amazing God!!