Friday, May 22, 2015

Choosing Molly ...

When we had initially taken that first step to adopt our first child together, we had completed a  preliminary application and on it we put that we were looking to adopt a child between the ages of 2 and 5 and that we would be open to a child with minor correctable special needs.  We originally were thinking that maybe we would be able to adopt a child who had a cleft lip/palate that could be easily corrected by surgery. 

At our very first meeting with the adoption agency, we were shown the pictures of three little girls who were on a "waiting list" to be adopted.  Two of the girls were born with cleft lip/palate so we were immediately interested in looking at their information.  we immediately pushed the information sheet with the third girl's photo/information aside because the medical condition listed was very "foreign" to us and the black and white photo showed a child whose eyes were further apart than normal and there was "something" in between them that was undecipherable. The Social Worker suggested emailing us all three of the girls information and we could look at it once we got home.  However, when we arrived home, our Social Worker had already emailed us and she stated that the two girls with the cleft lip/palate were already "on hold" for other families.  The third girl was the last girl available on that "waiting list'.  (a little light bulb went on)

We looked at the copy of her picture for a bit and then we read her information on the email.  We looked at the copy of her picture again and then we looked up her condition in the medical dictionary.  We looked at the copy of her picture again; she was almost smiling.  How 'bout that?

It was only when we scrolled down to the bottom of the email that this little girl came to life.  The picture attached to the email was in color whereas the copy we were given was in black and white.  She was the last child on the December COP (Child of Promise) Waiting Children List.  No one else had requested this child. 



"Please God, please, save just one of those girls for me!"  

She was the last child on the list.  Nearly a month had gone by since it came out.  GOD SAVED THIS CHILD JUST FOR US.  We accept your gift LORD and we will love her and take care of her!


Her name is Xi Zhengchuan (pronounced like "She Jung Chwan") but we will rename her Molly Frances Chuan Prendergast.  We originally were going to name her Frances, ... 

(after Brian; Francis is his middle name.  It is Italian and it means "free".  It is quite an important name in the Prendergast family as Brian's dad, older brother and younger sister all have the middle name Francis/Frances.) 

... however, there was quite a bit of protesting from the masses, especially our three other children and because we wanted to make the transition for "them" as pleasantly as possible we decided to come up with another name.  There were MANY suggestions, however, the night before we had to officially name her [on paper], I prayed to God that He would provide us with a name and instantly "Molly" popped into my head!  Yes, of course, why hadn't we thought of that before?!?!  Earlier on, we had stated that we like the sound of Molly Prendergast ... we liked the name Molly, but hadn't once thought of it until we asked God. 

Next Up: Deciding to Adopt Again

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Updates on Jonah and Rees

Well, hello, everyone ... we have received an update on the boys!  Are you excited??

We didn't get any photos but we may in the next couple weeks.  We were hoping for some information that would help us to determine the boys' sizes ... but ... well, I am just not sure what to do with this information.  Perhaps there are some out there who can help me out!!


Jonah's measurements:

Shoulder width - 26cm/10 inches
Upper body (from chair when sitting to top of head) - 37cm/14.5 inches    (HUH???)
Pant length - 55cm/21.6 inches
Foot length - 18cm/7 inches

It says he appeared to be average size for a six year old.  
(If any of you who met him in China with Love Without Boundaries can help me out here, that would be GREAT!)

Rees' measurements:

Shoulder width - 22cm/8.6 inches
Upper body (from chair when sitting to top of head) - 35cm/13.5 inches
Pant length - 50 cm/19.6 inches
Foot Length - 16cm/6.2 inches

It also says he appeared to be average size for a five year old.

So, not exactly sure what to equate this to.  Would it just be best to assume they are in size 5 and size 6 for boys clothing?  Hopefully we will get more substantial measurements when it gets closer to the time of travel.  


Prayer Requests 

  • Continued healing for Jonah after his surgery which was just over a month ago.
  • That God is preparing the boys to meet us and to become a part of our family.
  • That the process of adoption paperwork continues to move forward without complication or delay.
  • That we will see God move mightily for us to receive donations, have successful fundraisers and earn extra money needed to fund this adoption, travel to China and provide for the boys' necessary surgeries.  

The Transition to Adoption ...

I was on my way to work that day, listening to the same Christian radio station I had listened to for several years, hearing the same disc jockeys announce the “child of the day” sponsorship opportunity as they did at the same time every day.  Interested persons could call in to “sponsor” the child mentioned, usually in less-fortunate countries, by sending money to the program and letters, photos and small gifts to the child, thus improving the well being and future of that child while creating a friendship.   I had heard this promotion repeatedly and it was always the same.  But that day was different …

… There wasn’t [a] “child of the day”; there were fourteen children, … five of them girls, aged 5, from CHINA … unprecedented and unheard of in all the time they had been promoting the program.  Immediately, I was in a panic!  I became so excited and anxious and distressed all at the same time.   I don’t carry a cell phone and because I was still a good twenty minutes from work, I believed there was no way I would make it in time to sponsor one of the little girls.  History told me that these children would all be sponsored before I could get to work to make that call.  I began praying, “Please, LORD, … Please, LORD …” as I gripped the steering wheel tightly with tears streaming down my face.  “Save one for me, LORD, … just one.”  I was nearly frantic but then I felt a calming peace come over me while I was pleading and praying; I could feel God wanting me to trust Him.  I just knew that He would do as I asked. 

Still, when I got to work I ran all the way inside until I reached the phone in my office and I dialed the number as fast as I could.  I misdialed and had to do it again!  On my second try, the call went through and a woman answered the phone.  Still trying to catch my breath from running, I shouted out, “Are any of the girls from China left?”  There was this incredibly long pause; it must have been at least 10 seconds, and finally, she replied, “I have only one girl left.”  I shouted back at her, “God saved that ONE for me!”

I was so excited and I wanted to tell my husband, Brian, all about it so I emailed him at work.  I typed out how it went and then, strangely, at the bottom of the email, I typed the following:

“I wonder if China has 5-year-olds to adopt?”

During the four and a half years since we married, Brian and I had pondered and discussed adoption as a means of growing our blended family.  As many times as we brought up the subject, we turned it down as well.  We had enough issues just trying to blend our lives together with our children that it just didn't seem right to take that step.  In my heart, I wanted another child, a child with him, and I prayed to God that if we were ever to take the route of adoption that Brian would be as much for it as myself.  I knew that we BOTH had to want to take that step TOGETHER!

                        “I wonder if China has 5-year-olds to adopt?”

I stared blankly at the typed question for what seemed like a very long time and then I deleted it.  I silently ridiculed myself, “why in the world would you type such a thing?  We’ve been through this.  Why do you keep doing this to yourself?”  But I felt a nudging, a gentle push, (literally behind my left shoulder … that’s how specific it was), as if to say, “go ahead, type it, … go ahead.”



So, I re-typed it and sent it off, deciding I wouldn’t make an issue of it.  A little while later, Brian called me.  He said that he had just read my email and that he was very excited that I was finally able to sponsor a girl from China.  We talked about it for a bit, but he kept getting interrupted due to his being at work so I said that I would just talk to him later.  And that was that.  I really didn’t think anymore of it.  Well, a while later, before I was getting ready to leave for the day, I noticed my voicemail light was flashing and because it was a Friday afternoon, I thought I better check my messages.  I had only one.  It was from Brian.  He said he was sorry he hadn’t been able to talk earlier and that he really just wanted to tell me that he had read the last line of my email, about adopting a child from China … he said that he really wanted to do that, to adopt a little girl with me and he wanted her to be from China. 

Next: Choosing Molly

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

How It All Began ...

So, dear readers ... we've completed our home study and we're waiting to be fingerprinted by the Department of Homeland Security (which is scheduled for May 28) and already one of us adoptive parents is tired ... of paperwork ... of waiting ... of pondering.  Pathetic?? 


I know, ... right??  


You would think by now, ... after two adoptions ... that I would be "GOOD" with the whole process and the waiting thing.  

Hmm ... so, ... since I don't have any current adoption updates to share and I won't, perhaps, feel better unless I make an update to this blog, I have officially decided to give you ... the readers (I know you're out there) some background on us as a family, who we are, and how adoption became a part of our lives.  Those stories lead in to Jonah and Rees' stories too! 


Once upon a time ... a handsome royal knight fell "head over heels" in L-O-V-E with a beautiful princess!!  

(hahaha ... aren't we cute??)



We are Brian and Kimberly and we've been married 15 years.  


It used to be Brian and Olivia ...

...and me and my boys, Ben and Jake ... 

We blended together as one family

And then our family grew ...

and then grew some more!! 

Now we look like this!!

We are a GRANDE FAMILY (Blended and Whipped)!!

... with Our Three BIG kids ...

... and our two Chinese dumplings ...

Good to know there's such a thing as 
"wide-angle lens" !!!

NEXT UP: The Transition to Adoption














Monday, May 11, 2015

Milestone and Helping Hands ...

We've started a type of timeline in our home ... we are documenting special dates and milestones reached in regards to our adoption process and we are even including documenting those who are helping us to bring home our two Chinese boys.

We are transforming "this door" (it leads to our pantry) our adoption timeline!

We have a full sheet listing of various milestones that must be achieved in the adoption process all the way until we travel to China to officially adopt the boys.  Then each time we have reached a special milestone, we have been highlighting that date via the entry from a daily desk calendar.  Each day has a Bible verse and a note and then the milestone or special comment is added.  So far, we've included the dates we received "Pre-Approval" from China to adopt each boy, the date our homestudy was approved, etc ...



The hands represent each person(s) who have helped us so far with our fundraising and/or monetary fees and expenses involved with the adoption process.  
Every hand is a 'helping hand' and we are SO THANKFUL for each of you!!


We are so EXCITED to be able to show Jonah and Rees this living, documented testimony of how SO MANY are a part of bringing them into our family!!  
We can't wait to see what it looks like in a few months!!

Some people have graciously sent us donations to help us with our adoption fees and expenses.  We have set up a separate account to hold those funds until the various fee due dates.

  Some have donated to our fund by participating in various fundraisers ... we are currently still having the Origami Owl fundraiser and if you're interested, there's still time.  Several lovely ladies have already ordered and we have been getting very positive feedback on their purchases.  


OR you can go to the following webpage:



Please be sure, if you decide to make a purchase, to use code (62648) so that we will get credit for your purchase.  These lockets are very pretty and F-U-N and this fundraiser will still be happening until 5/25/15.

Some have also utilized us for some odd jobs, which we are very excited about!!  We are MORE THAN HAPPY to HELP SOMEONE as they HELP US!!  We are open to a variety of odd jobs and tasks so if you have something you've been wanting to get done and just haven't, something you'd like to have done for which you're willing to donate towards our adoption fund, we would L-O-V-E love to help you!!  

“Hire” the Prendergast’s  to do odd jobs Have things needing to be done around your house?

Painting a room or two in your home

Oil change on your vehicle

Cleaning gutters, weeding or gardening

Lawn mowing/care

Organize and de-clutter garage, shed, closets, rooms, etc …

Miscellaneous "clerical-type" work
Have something else in mind?  Run it by us!

We are also BAKING for those who are interested and enjoy our baked goods!  Several have placed orders and you can too!!  Part of our order form is below OR you can get to it by clicking HERE.

Like our baked goods?  Place an order!!

You can submit it in-person, by mail or you can contact us via phone or email.

(Brian/Kimberly Prendergast)
1614 Meadow Lane, Elkhorn, WI 53121
262-723-5584

Thank-you for supporting us as we take this journey to our sons, Jonah and Rees!! 
God Bless You!


 

 Welsh Cakes (please indicate whether you want cakes with currants or mini choc chips).
    1 order (12) …………………….    $12.00
    ½ order (6) …………………….    $  6.00


Scones
    1 order (6) ………………….. 
    Cranberry                                      $10.00           
    Cherry, Current or Choc. Chip      $12.00
    Blueberry                                       $15.00

 

Pumpkin Pie  …………………….      $15.00
Cranberry Walnut Pie…………     $15.00
 (Available Nov – Dec)
Caramel Pecan Pie …………….   $23.00

Do you  have a Pie Request??  Just ask!


(please indicate number of pies)  ________

No matter how we receive the support that will help us to complete our adoption of Jonah and Rees, our two precious boys from China, we are so grateful to God for all He has provided for us and ALL that He WILL provide.  We are so thankful to everyone who comes alongside us and gives us a helping hand in this adventure we are on!!  God bless each and every one of you!!!

Saturday, May 9, 2015

NEW Old Pictures - How Fun!!

Hey friends!!!  
I have a secret friend who is a super-sleuth, let me tell you!!
And she "found" these amazing photos of our boys ~ they are from when they were much younger and so precious!!

Here's Jonah when he was just a little guy ...




And here's our little Rees - isn't he adorable?!


This photo is from the inside of the orphanage.  Rees is in the overalls and Jonah is ahead of him in the red sweatshirt with the white stripes.  


In this one, again, Rees is in the overalls and Jonah is to the right of him in red.
What a great room!  


It is so amazing to have these sweet photos!

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Giggle Fest to CELEBRATE!!

Well, F-I-N-A-L-L-Y we can officially remove one piece of the pie, eat it up and forget about it!!  

Our HOMESTUDY is officially approved after a few annoying hiccups delayed the approval during the last two weeks!!

Now we move on to the immigration portion of the process.  Paperwork will be filed and we wait for our fingerprinting appointment confirmation.

To celebrate our homestudy completion, here is a video of our boy, Rees, ... having a Giggle Fest! 

If any of you can watch this and n-o-t NOT SMILE ... well, ... don't tell me!  

It makes this mama's heart warm to watch !!