Introductions and Tentative Travel Plans

To all my FB family: THANK YOU! Thank you so much for your outpouring of confidence and prayer. I am truly convinced that my entire life has led to this place and continues to be ordained. I have had so many influential people in my life who have shown me how to love and how not to love. My Family, my church families, my professional associates who have become as close as any family, and all those I have been blessed by and with in my life. Your encouragement, prayers and support will not go unrewarded.



Danice Ann



Are you ready to meet the children? Me too!!!

My cousin's name (the birth mother) is Sharon. She has 4 children and now pregnant with the 5th. The two oldest are living on their own for the most part. There is a young boy who is being provided for by a charity. But the last girl named Danice (that's what I will call her because the name on her birth certificate is spelled crazy wrong) is currently in an orphanage because there is no one able and/or willing to care for her needs. It is reported that she is not speaking. She is called "slow". But I do not claim that! She does not go to school because there are no "special needs" resources at the neighborhood school.  

My mother went to visit my 6 year old princess before she came back to the States this past August. (she was in Guyana for 3 weeks). She sat with her and told me she is affectionate and warm. She smiles and is emotionally responsive. She likes to color and display her work. She looks well fed and shows no physical problems. The other children at the orphanage felt it necessary to tell my mother that Danice "fights",  but my mother was able to ascertain that "defends herself" is the more appropriate term. She agrees that Danice needs a home environment where she has individual attention in order to grow and flourish. By God's grace that is exactly what is in store for her!

Sharon is 7 months pregnant. According to the last ultrasound the baby will reach full gestation in late November. We are grateful she was able to get this ultrasound because Sharon did not know her true gestation. Originally she thought she would deliver in October. As a result, my mother and I were making plans to travel to Guyana in early November. With the updated information, we will adjust our travel date to right after Thanksgiving. It would be great to be present at the birth- to doula my cousin and immediately bond with the baby. I will leave that in God's hands. If I can get enough money saved and all the paperwork completed in time that blessing is still a real possibility. I have been "not so secretly" hoping for a boy child. I have nothing at all against girls. I just rationalized that balance is cool since I already have a girl. However, according to the ultrasound that was done I'm having a GIRL!!! The Lord be praised forever!

I'm still working on a name.  Peyton has always called to me. My grandmother's name was Charlotte Christina. I also like Taja.  Hmm.. Persis Tasha...  Peyton Taja.  Smile.

In His Service,

Persis

Now you know!

Several of my family and friends got a heads up a bit earlier (about a month ago) about the new additions to my immediate family. You have already been so loving and supportive of me. I am so pregnant!!! Worrying one minute and Tearful with joy the next. I have so much to do. I will have to travel to Guyana to start and complete the adoption process. That is Guyana law. That means I could be away from home for as long as 3 months maybe more with NO work and NO income. My plan is to work as much as I can now to put away enough funds to help pay my mortgage and adoption costs. When it is time for me to travel, I will cancel or suspend all non-essential services until I return.

The costs of living is not very much in Guyana in comparison to US standards. The hardest part in living there is the lack of resources and "comforts of home". Although I am of Guyanese heritage, I will not delude myself to think I will easily adjust to 3rd world rural village life. Nonetheless, that is where my children are so that is that. I may have to retain a lawyer to oversee the adoption there. I am hoping that will speed things up.

While in Guyana, I will live in the house on the land my parents own in Vergenoegen (ver-jee-new-jen) which is a Guyanese rural village. It is located in Region 3 (Essequibo islands/West Demerara) on the east bank of the mouth of the Essequibo river in Guyana, South America. The village is the third on the East Bank of Essequibo when traveling west after leaving the West Coast of Demerara boundary at Boerasirie. A Dutch word, Vergenoegen means to give pleasure to; to make happy or to satisfy. How fitting that it will be the place where my desire to become a mother is satisfied.

On the American side there are costs related to Immigration. I have learned more than I ever thought possible in a very short time in regards to international adoption. Guyana is a not party to the Hague Convention on protection of children and cooperation in respect of intercountry adoption. All that means is there will be less restrictions and a shorter processing time. (Thank God!) So far I'm saving for I-600 ($750.00) visas for both children ($670.00), travel costs estimated at 2,500, and mortgage and essential bills at 1,600 for every month I am overseas. I have no idea how many hidden costs will jump on the wagon. Still, I have less than two months to save as much as I can and then leave the rest to God and His angels in human form.

Unfortunately due to a very recent divorce, I have nothing to sell in garage sales and I'm still paying off lawyer fees. Still I am encouraged that I have nothing to fear. What God has for me, it is for me.

In the words of  the choir Youthful Praise- Resting on His Promises,
"My Father promised to supply all my needs
With His riches in glory
He gives seed to the barren
And food in famine
So I know that He'll take care of me"

In His Service,
Persis

The Beginning

This is my blog to announce wonderful news. If you are reading this, you either have an interest in me or curious about something outside of yourself. I hope to not disappoint. Smile.

I have been mothering for over 8 years and what is ironic is that it all started around the same time I had to release the ability to give birth for myself. Ironic indeed that I would be attracted to all things related to birth, yet never experience it myself. Why is that? Because birth is only one path to motherhood, babies, and the fullness of womanhood.

I set my sights on having a baby 5 years ago, but circumstances and God's wisdom clearly said, "Not now".
I did not give up, just postponed. Mothering is my destiny.

Single, with no one to answer for but myself, I have now set out to follow my calling to mother the motherless.
I am in the process of working with The Giving Tree - a non profit adoption agency that recruits and trains to adopt special needs children from the foster care system. I was sure that my blessing path was clear. And then GOD stepped in. In August, I was made aware of a need within my own family.

Charity begins at home.

My Maternal grandmother had 5 girls. Only 3 are still living. My family migrated to the United States from Guyana, South America over 40 years ago, but my mother never forgot her sisters. Over the years she has sponsored two of her sisters to come to the States and has supported the other two and their offspring as best she could. Her eldest sister, now deceased, has a daughter who is in great need and has decided she must make the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of her unborn child and her youngest daughter who is in an orphanage. Motherhood. Hard Choices.

Here am I.

So a slightly altered journey begins. I will be adopting my own family. Internationally. Siblings- a newborn and a 6 year old girl. Wow!

I hope to do a decent job of chronicling this journey, not only to keep my family and friends updated, but also a place for my children to see the outpouring of love for them from the very BEGINNING.

In His Service

Persis