Mother’s Day Prayers for Conception, Adoption and Pregnancy…

Posted on May 12, 2012 by therese

This prayer could be said as a novena by a wife trying to conceive a child.

A Prayer to St. Gerard for Motherhood

O glorious Saint Gerard, powerful intercessor before God, and wonder worker of our day, I call upon you and seek your help. You who always fulfilled God’s will on earth, help me to do God’s holy will. Intercede with the Giver of life, from whom all parenthood proceeds, that I may conceive and raise children who will please God in this life, and be heirs to the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

More Prayers

for conception, pregnancy & adoption

October Baby

Posted on March 7, 2012 by therese

Theaters Next Month – I just watched
a pre-release and have something
to say about it.

By bryankemper

Many of my friends joke about the perks; I get with my job; backstage passes, lots of free swag, advance copies of books and movies to name a few. I admit that I love the perks, it is nice to be appreciated for the work I do. Recently I received a package in the mail from an upcoming movie that is being released in theatres next month, October Baby. It was an advance copy of the movie and a letter asking me to watch the movie and let them know how I felt about it.

Before I get into my thoughts, here is the trailer for you to check out:

continue reading here

Prayers Needed – Adoption Battle

Posted on February 1, 2012 by therese

Adoption Battle Over 5-Year Old Boy Pits Missouri Couple Vs. Illegal Immigrant

By LAUREN GILGER, BRIAN ROSS (@brianross) and ANGELA M. HILL

Feb. 1, 2012

PHOTO: Encarnacion Bail Romero claims that her son, Carlos Bail Romero, was taken from her while she was being held in custody for an immigration-related crime, saying she was helpless to stop the adoption process.

Encarnacion Bail Romero claims that her son, Carlos Bail Romero, was taken from her while she was being held in custody for an immigration-related crime, saying she was helpless to stop the adoption process.

A tug-of-war over a five-year-old boy is at the center of a national debate over parental rights and immigration, and a sign of what critics say is a growing trend in which immigrants are being deemed unfit parents because they crossed the border illegally.

Seth and Melinda Moser of Carthage, Missouri say the boy they call Jamison is their son, and that returning him to his birth mother after five years will cause him untold harm. continue

Financing An Adoption

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Jen @ Forever, For Always No Matter What

This isn’t the typical post I write for Hannah’s Tears. Usually, I attempt to write in hopes of encouraging others to look at adoption as a viable way to build a family. Adoption is a God given opportunity to parent and to make the difference in the life of a child. However, so often finances are a stumbling block to making the dream of adoption a reality. So, as most of us are beginning to pull together our financial picture of 2011 for tax purposes, it’s a logical time to sit down and put all financial ducks in a row.

Unfortunately, adoption isn’t just a matter of discerning if it’s God call for your family. A “yes” to adoption, doesn’t magically mean you have a cute, snuggling little infant in your arms. Once you say yes, the real work begins and it often involves coming up with a significant amount of cash.

Now, please understand, I would never advocate going into debt for anything. I firmly believe we should be living within our means and “the borrower is the slave of the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). The truth is we did beg, and borrow for our first two adoptions. At the time that was what we needed to do to bring our boys home, and we would do it again in a heart beat.

We weren’t going into debt to take an extravagant vacation, or to buy a fancy new car (that depreciates as soon as it leaves the lot!), no, we were going into debt for a precious human being. And really, haven’t we all? “For you have been purchased at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20)

So what are some steps that can be taken to help the financial piece of the equation?

Two invaluable resources to help with improving an overall financial picture are:

Veritas Financial Ministries

Dave Ramsey - we have personally had great success following the Dave Ramsey plan.

To help plan what you are actually going to spend, Adoptive Families has a chart of actual adoption costs. The results are taken from a survey of families who have completed different types of adoption.

Here is a list of a variety of financial resources:

**Please do your own research on what is going to work for your family. This is just a list to help you get started.**

Adoption Financing Information - grants, loans, fundraising

Adopt Without Debt

Adoption Financing - more info on grants, loans

Dave Thomas Foundation – also includes info on asking an employer to offer adoption benefits. This is definitely worth the effort, we were able to get an adoption benefit started with one of the company’s that Bob worked for. Granted this is an “after the fact” benefit similar to the tax credit, but it’s very worthwhile.

Financing Info

Adoption Loans

Compilation of Financial Resources

Yahoo Group for Fundraising Ideas

It goes without saying that the most important step in the entire adoption process is to continue to pray, and to have faith that you are answering the call of God for adoption. Sometimes, even when the financial picture looks grim, we need to step out in faith. When we started the adoption process for our third child, we said yes to her adoption not really having any idea where our financial resources would come from. I have shared Sarah’s story on our personal blog, please take a moment and read how God worked in a very powerful and tangible way.

In short, financing an adoption is possible. Take advantage of the above resources, budget/save {make some financial sacrifices!}, and take advantage of the adoption tax credit. My prayer is that you will find these resources helpful and they will encourage you on your road to adoption.

Soothe Our Sorrow

Posted on January 15, 2012 by therese

I am feeling prompted by the Holy Spirit as the first reading at Mass this morning was Samuel hearing the voice of God calling out his name and Fr. Eli telling the child Samuel to let God know that his servant is listening. So, as the day ends I want to share this special icon of “Our Lady Soothe My Sorrow” with you. In the Orthodox Church her feast is recognized as January 25, so since this is just 10 days away it will give you a novena of days to say the prayer below. God bless you and may Our Lady soothe your sorrows.

Prayer

O my All-gracious Queen Theotokos, my hope, who befriends orphans, and intercedes for strangers, Joy of those who sorrow, Protectress of those offended, look upon my troubles and see my sorrow: help me for I am weak, guide me for I am wandering: for you know my offense, resolve it as you will: for I have no other help than you, no other intercessor nor good comforter, only you, O Mother of God, may you keep and protect me, unto ages of ages. Amen.

A SOLEMN ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

Most Holy Virgin Mary, tender Mother of men, to fulfill the desires of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the request of the Vicar of Your Son on earth, we consecrate ourselves and our families to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and we recommend to You, all the people of our country and all the world.

Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us as You wish to accomplish Your designs in the world.

O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and Queen of the World, rule over us, together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, Our King. Save us from the spreading flood of modern paganism; kindle in our hearts and homes the love of purity, the practice of a virtuous life, an ardent zeal for souls, and a desire to pray the Rosary more faithfully.

We come with confidence to You, O Throne of Grace and Mother of Fair Love. Inflame us with the same Divine Fire which has inflamed Your own Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Make our hearts and homes Your shrine, and through us, make the Heart of Jesus, together with your rule, triumph in every heart and home. Amen.
-Venerable Pope Pius XII-

Resources:

http://ikoncopies.com/

http://orthodoxwiki.org/

http://www.concordiaministries.net/

Gratitude for Adoption

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Jen @ Forever, For Always No Matter What

I think it’s a beautiful coincidence that National Adoption Month is during November, traditionally a month set aside to focus on the many things we have to be thankful for. Of course, the word “eucharist” means thanksgiving and we have so much to be thankful for each and every day, not just in the month of November. Being thankful truly is so central to our faith. I’m always grateful for the opportunity to write about adoption and the impact it’s had on my life.

I really can’t start to write about being thankful for adoption without immediately thinking of my children’s birthmothers (or first mothers, as some prefer). Five, unique and different women, living in different countries, different situations, yet all faced with a similar “problem”. Five women who made the courageous choice to say yes to life and forever have part of their heart beating in another person, another person that they don’t have the opportunity to interact with on a regular basis.

I don’t know the circumstances of how many of our children were conceived. It’s possible that it wasn’t under the most pleasant of circumstances. I’m so thankful that these women selflessly put that aside to make a choice for life. To give these precious children a chance to grow up in a stable, loving family, instead of stopping their tiny hearts from beating.

I’m thankful for the individuals who cared for our children until we were able to be united with them. The hospital workers, the orphanage staff, foster families. I’m thankful for all of the staff that worked behind the scenes to make our adoption a reality. Our social workers, adoption agency directors and staff, and yes even the not always so pleasant government workers. All of the myriad of people who came together so these particular six children could grow up in this particular home. How can anyone doubt that God has his hand on every piece of paperwork? his ear on every phone call? adoption isn’t something a mere mortal could orchestrate.

I’m thankful for a husband and extended family that have said yes to adoption. Friends, that have welcomed our children without missing a beat.

Most of all I’m thankful for a loving God who has given us the opportunity and the honor of raising these children. Thankful that He has entrusted us with the awesome responsibility to love and cherish these six unique individuals.

Jen is a wife to one amazing husband and mom to six energetic kids. Visit Forever, For Always, No Matter What where she blogs about their Catholic faith, homeschooling and adoption. Visit her blog this month where she blogs all about adoption to raise awareness for National Adoption Month.

Adoption and Letting Go

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Jen @ Forever, For Always No Matter What

One of my very favorite quotes from John Paul II is a quote on adoption.

“To adopt a child is a great work of love. When it is done, much is given, but much is also received. It is a true exchange of gifts.”

He was absolutely right, much is received. We are often told that our children are lucky, but we always respond that we are the ones who are blessed through the gift of adoption.

Why is it then that so many people are hesitant to adopt? It often seems to be something that’s nice for other people to do. I have to admit that I often have a hard time reading about couples who are trying all sorts of medical avenues (within the confines of the church) to conceive, while there are so many children in the US and around the world who are in desperate need of a family. My heart is burdened for these children.

I know adoption is difficult. I know there are many earthly obstacles and children don’t simply fall into our laps because we will them to do so. Finances, paperwork, and preconceived notions, pack a big punch. What if these earthly obstacles are excuses that we have put up to protect ourselves? We put so much energy into trying to conceive that it can become our job, our identity. What if we put that energy into providing a loving home for a child that God has already put on this earth?

No, I don’t think the earth is over-populated and no I don’t think women should stop seeking medical intervention to help overcome infertility. I’m only saying that God commands us to look after the orphans and the widows. Maybe for some of us that involves welcoming a child into our home as an adoptive parent.

This is where the letting go comes into play. Adoption is letting go. Letting go of our fears, anxieties, and our desire for control. Letting go of the “what if’s”. We need to let go of the thoughts that we have somehow failed, our bodies have failed, or we have done something wrong to miss this blessing of biological children. Every bit of suffering is meant to draw us closer to Christ. We need not be so focused on the perceived missed blessing of not conceiving a child, that we neglect the blessing that God is trying to give us.

We have to let go of how we have envisioned our family and embrace the family that God has called us to have. That means different things to different people. Maybe for some it means that they will never have children. For others it means letting go of the dream of having a large family, or maybe it means parenting children of a different race.

When we are open to God’s plan it doesn’t confine us or box us in, quite the contrary, it frees us to truly be the persons God created us to be. Maybe in striving so hard for a biological child we are missing the blessing God has in store for us, the blessing of simply being parents.

“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope” Jeremiah 29:11

Jen blogs about faith, home education, and adoption at Forever, For Always, No Matter What

Our Adoption Story

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Jen @ Forever, For Always No Matter What

Our story begins like so many others. We met, fell in love, married. Then we assumed we would start a family and live happily ever after. It was the starting a family part that proved to be a bump in the road.

After struggling with infertility, our thoughts turned to adoption. One day as I was pleading for Mary’s intercession to “fix” our problem, I realized that I had stopped praying to be pregnant, but started praying to be a mom.

Soon after I was reading our local paper I came across a small ad for an adoption seminar to be held in our area. My husband and I had not discussed adoption at all at that point, but for some reason my attention was like a laser to that ad. I tentatively asked my husband if he was interested in attending. I knew right away if we went to this meeting it was going to be something I wanted to pursue. I didn’t want to go, be encouraged and excited, only to have him say that he wasn’t ready to pursue this avenue. Thankfully, he was on board right from the get go.

For a variety of reasons we felt God was calling us to pursue the International Adoption route, specifically to Russia. We went to that initial seminar in February of 2001, our son Jacob was home, finally making us a mom and dad, in September 2001. While we were waiting for Jacob to join our family, as difficult as the waiting was, I felt a profound peace that Mary was holding him close until we could get there.

We started the Russian process again and Jonah followed in early 2004. Sarah joined our family from S. Korea in the summer of 2005 (her adoption took only four months!), and Leah, also from S. Korea, made us a family of six in 2006. For a while we thought our family was complete. We were busy raising four children five and under. We enjoyed it, but we were busy! Our family was complete for a while anyway.

We started feeling God tug on us again in March of 2009. This time we adopted two children from an island in the Caribbean called St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Anna was five years old and Levi was two, when they joined our family in December of 2009.

I know often the fear of adoption is that it is a second best choice to having a biological child. Like any other family we have our ups and downs, our disappointments and successes. But biology or not, we are a family.

I’m sure it’s the Grace of God, but I have never wished I would have experienced pregnancy, I don’t wonder what my biological children might have looked like or how they might have behaved. I truly know that the children God has placed in our home through adoption, are the children that we were always meant to have. I’m so thankful that we let go of the vision we had for our family and embraced God’s plan for our family.

Parenting is tough. Parenting adopted children can sometimes have an added layer of issues, however, even on the most challenging days we wouldn’t trade it for a moment.

Once upon a time I thought I might never hear another person call me “mom”. But, through the amazing gift of adoption, I have the profound pleasure of hearing that word from six amazing children.

Jen blogs about faith, family, home education and adoption at Forever, For Always, No Matter What

Photo Credit: Melanie Reyes Photography

Adoption: Heaven’s Gift

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Hannah's Tears

Looking back on the heartache of infertility, I see that through all the pain and disappointment, God hadn’t forgotten us. by Marlo Schalesky Read more

Next Article in Series:

Thanks Nicole!

Celebrating National Adoption Month ~ “Elephant Ears”

Posted on November 10, 2010 by Hannah's Tears

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcZXcF-AyxU?fs=1

The Apostolate of Hannah's Tears

We offer prayer support and comfort to the brokenhearted who suffer the pains of infertility at any stage of life, difficult pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth, the loss of a child and the adoption process.

Category Archives: Adoption