I hate returning from vacation. It's not just the mounds of laundry and unpacking to be done. It's the return to reality. Bills must be paid, work to be done, tubs to scrub. I loved the freedom from reality while on vacation. The freedom to forget the stress of my day to day life. Ah, but at least I had a vacation. A joyous 6 days with family, hiking, biking, beaching, all done in the spirit of vacation.
We had an great time. Emmett met all his cousins on this side of the family. He told us yesterday that he already misses his them. They all played so well together, there was barely a moments boredom in the bunch. Our rental house fit us just perfectly, everyone had a room, and although the littlest amoungst us didn't much want to sleep, we all knew what we were getting into. At least we thought we knew.
Many memories will remain from this vacation. The sinking of the U.S.S Umbrella off of Pope Beach and the 3 mile hike no one expected. But greatest among the memories will be of the voluntary evacuation of the rental house in advance of a major forest fire.
Being from the Midwest, forest fires are not something I really ponder much. Luckily the Californian bunch of the family recognized the signs and prepared us for what was ahead. The massive plume of smoke rising over the ridge was surely something to behold, almost a thing of beauty. Until you realize that the plume is really just a forewarning of what is to come. Flames eating every combustible thing in their path, and if that means the house, it's the house. As we packed our things back into our suitcases, grabbed what foodstuff we could, and jammed it all into our rental cars, I thought of how easy it was to just shove everything we'd brought into suitcases, and drive away. It was easy for us to evacuate when the voluntary order came. We were not emotionally invested in the structure we slept in for 4 nights. We'd enjoyed it's shelter, it's amenities, but it wasn't ours. What if I had to flee my own house? what would I take knowing that nothing might survive the hunger of the fire? As I watched neighbors pack their cars, I paused to think about what they were feeling. The thought of losing everything was what made their hands work faster.
As the next two days played out - we found new lodging and made the best of our re-located vacation. But buying trinkets of this or that in the South Lake Tahoe stores felt selfish. These folks were watching part of their town burn! And I'm buying a T-shirt? As I sit comfortably in my air conditioned midwest home, with no smoke billowing over head, I can only hope and pray for the residents and fire fighters in South Lake Tahoe, as they fight the Angora Fire - still mostly uncontained as I write this. We're not sure if the rental house escaped the flames - there are so many conflicting stories to read. We hope and pray that it did, because it served us well, and it the owners are great people.
Prayers for South Lake Tahoe, today.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
On the doorstep of done...
Today we become a family. We stand before a judge and promise to love and care for Emmett for the rest of our lives. Emmett has become every bit my son. There's no doubt in my mind that he was meant for us. The love I have for him has grown to unknown proportions. I can't imagine our family without him now.
I know this is a short post - so I'll give details (and post pictures!) later.
I know this is a short post - so I'll give details (and post pictures!) later.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Leave it to the US Congress
What are these people thinking?
I recently received an email from our agency informing us of recent legislation put forth in Congress which would repeal Bill S. 246 The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2005. For those of you less familiar with the adoption process, this is the bill which provides adoptive families a $10,000 tax credit for adoption expenses.
Some of you know, I work with money - pensions to be exact. So despite my high school math grades, I know how to do math. To adopt an internationally born child will normally run you more than $20,000. Now unless you're pretty financially savvy, you probably don't have an extra 20k lying around your bank account. Many of us financially challenged folks finance adoption through loans, second mortgages, credit cards, 401k cash outs, etc, etc. All of us depend on the credit being there to pay off much of the adoption debt we accumulate throughout the process.
Now, before you start thinking that us adoptive parents are looking for a hand out, let me explain why it's important for our federal government to encourage the adoption of orphaned children.
First, the bottom line...
The federal government pays anywhere from $4,155 to $33,091 per child annually to states to help finance foster care programs, that is approximately $5 billion every year spent on reimbursing states for a portion of their foster care programs*. "Foster care services are intended to provide temporary, safe alternative homes for children who have been abused or neglected until such time as they are able to return to their parents' care safely or can be placed in other permanent homes."* Domestic adoption costs can add up quick. The cost to adopt from the foster care system normally runs around $2,500. To adopt a child from an expectant birth mother can be upwards of $40,000 depending on the circumstances.
Second, our moral and ethical reasons...
Research agrees that children raised within a family setting are more productive, better adjusted and self assured than children raised in oprhanages or in foster care. (No shame to foster parents, our foster care system is broken, let's face it). These kids have a higher chance of becoming contributing members of society. And as all of us tax paying folks know, the government likes us contributing members. Ultimately, shouldn't we take care of each other? Shouldn't we give kids a chance at a better life?
So, no, Senator Kohl, I don't think I should be able to claim my dog as a dependant on my taxes. But I do think you should vote for S.246. And allow many other families, including mine to adopt children.
*ASPE Issue brief August 2005
I recently received an email from our agency informing us of recent legislation put forth in Congress which would repeal Bill S. 246 The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2005. For those of you less familiar with the adoption process, this is the bill which provides adoptive families a $10,000 tax credit for adoption expenses.
Some of you know, I work with money - pensions to be exact. So despite my high school math grades, I know how to do math. To adopt an internationally born child will normally run you more than $20,000. Now unless you're pretty financially savvy, you probably don't have an extra 20k lying around your bank account. Many of us financially challenged folks finance adoption through loans, second mortgages, credit cards, 401k cash outs, etc, etc. All of us depend on the credit being there to pay off much of the adoption debt we accumulate throughout the process.
Now, before you start thinking that us adoptive parents are looking for a hand out, let me explain why it's important for our federal government to encourage the adoption of orphaned children.
First, the bottom line...
The federal government pays anywhere from $4,155 to $33,091 per child annually to states to help finance foster care programs, that is approximately $5 billion every year spent on reimbursing states for a portion of their foster care programs*. "Foster care services are intended to provide temporary, safe alternative homes for children who have been abused or neglected until such time as they are able to return to their parents' care safely or can be placed in other permanent homes."* Domestic adoption costs can add up quick. The cost to adopt from the foster care system normally runs around $2,500. To adopt a child from an expectant birth mother can be upwards of $40,000 depending on the circumstances.
Second, our moral and ethical reasons...
Research agrees that children raised within a family setting are more productive, better adjusted and self assured than children raised in oprhanages or in foster care. (No shame to foster parents, our foster care system is broken, let's face it). These kids have a higher chance of becoming contributing members of society. And as all of us tax paying folks know, the government likes us contributing members. Ultimately, shouldn't we take care of each other? Shouldn't we give kids a chance at a better life?
So, no, Senator Kohl, I don't think I should be able to claim my dog as a dependant on my taxes. But I do think you should vote for S.246. And allow many other families, including mine to adopt children.
*ASPE Issue brief August 2005
A Life of Compassion
I met him when I was 5 years old. He was a giant in my eyes, and his smile was just as big. I recited scripture to him for awana. Hoped he'd be proud of my participation in the three legged race, and always needed one last hug before I went home. He always had that big grin, easy style, and unpretentious demeanor. He was John Witucke.
His hugs were enveloping - he'd squeeze the stuffing out of you, and it was obvious he cared for you. Everyone felt like someone special with Mr Witucke. Whether you knew him from church, awana, or he was your grade school phys.ed teacher, you knew he cared for you.
As I grew older, and out-grew awana, I saw less of Mr Witucke. Although he always walked by the house on his way to church on Sundays. I'd see him - still larger than life, Bible in hand walking to the morning service. I remember in those interim years, thinking he had a certain something different about him. He seemed to have the kind of faith that was palpable. As if you could really see Jesus standing next to him, talking to him like a friend. When I returned to church at 14, he was there. Big hug at the ready, recognizing me right away. Nothing could have made me feel more welcome than his smile and hug. I heard him talk about his faith, the church he loved, and his kids. I respected his opinion and took stock in what he had to say. I know I didn't know him all that well - but he is one of the people who stands out to me in my faith journey. A pillar of what it means to live a life of compassion. Even when you messed up, Mr Witucke was quick with a hug and a word of grace and forgiveness. He grieved freely and loved without restraint.
Mr Witucke went home to the Lord Sunday after a battle with cancer. His visitation yesterday was a testament to who he was. A legacy of awana kids all grown up, school kids with kids of their own, church families with memories long and deep of John. I've always found it a strange dicotomy when a believer dies. My heart aches for just one more Mr Witucke hug. One more glimpse of that smile. At the same time I have amazing assurance that Mr Witucke is with his Lord and Savior. Mr Witucke is walking with Jesus, finally.
His hugs were enveloping - he'd squeeze the stuffing out of you, and it was obvious he cared for you. Everyone felt like someone special with Mr Witucke. Whether you knew him from church, awana, or he was your grade school phys.ed teacher, you knew he cared for you.
As I grew older, and out-grew awana, I saw less of Mr Witucke. Although he always walked by the house on his way to church on Sundays. I'd see him - still larger than life, Bible in hand walking to the morning service. I remember in those interim years, thinking he had a certain something different about him. He seemed to have the kind of faith that was palpable. As if you could really see Jesus standing next to him, talking to him like a friend. When I returned to church at 14, he was there. Big hug at the ready, recognizing me right away. Nothing could have made me feel more welcome than his smile and hug. I heard him talk about his faith, the church he loved, and his kids. I respected his opinion and took stock in what he had to say. I know I didn't know him all that well - but he is one of the people who stands out to me in my faith journey. A pillar of what it means to live a life of compassion. Even when you messed up, Mr Witucke was quick with a hug and a word of grace and forgiveness. He grieved freely and loved without restraint.
Mr Witucke went home to the Lord Sunday after a battle with cancer. His visitation yesterday was a testament to who he was. A legacy of awana kids all grown up, school kids with kids of their own, church families with memories long and deep of John. I've always found it a strange dicotomy when a believer dies. My heart aches for just one more Mr Witucke hug. One more glimpse of that smile. At the same time I have amazing assurance that Mr Witucke is with his Lord and Savior. Mr Witucke is walking with Jesus, finally.
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