Fundraising Goals!

Ok ...here it goes! These are our fundraising goals to bring these precious brothers home. We are in a time crunch as the older brother "times out" at age 14 in March 2016. Then he is no longer adoptable. Please help us raise the $ needed quickly. We hope to be able to Travel to China in December to bring the boys home.


$6,500...Agape Adoption Fees...$40,000...Approximate Total Adoption costs fundraising goal

Approximate Goals:
$3,000 needed at the time of the Home study
$3,200 needed for China program fees at Dossier preparation
$720 + another $720 for 2nd child at I 800 filing...Immigration filing
$425...Fingerprinting for 5 people
$1000...Birth certificates, Marriage License, Criminal Background Study, Psych evaluations,        Physical/Medical Evaluations,
$11,200...Orphanage Fee for 2 brothers (asking for reduction)
$12,000...Travel & lodging expenses in China for Parents and 2 Children
$500...Chinese Entry Visas per person
$2000 Document Fees for 2 brothers
$1500...US Attorney Fees and Court Fees
$2000...Post Placement report fees

Hearing God's Voice

Luke 13:34
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent to thee, how often would I have gathered thy children as the bird doth her brood under her wings, and thou wouldest not?

Every child deserves the love of a family. Whether they are in Africa, India, South America, China, Russia, Columbia, the United States of America...or anywhere else in the world! There are so many children in the world that are without a family to call their own. Poverty, death, abandonment or abuse have deprived them of a nurturing family and a place to call "home." They have suffered so much in their short lives. Many are called to provide loving homes for the worlds orphaned children. Some are called to adopt children in Foster Care. Others adopt infants who might otherwise be aborted. Many are led half way around the world to the child or children who are to become theirs. Many cannot adopt children themselves, but can help financially, or by being prayer warriors.  Each family is a part of the puzzle God puts together to give His orphans a home, without each and every piece the puzzle is not complete!

James 1:27
Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation: and to keep one' s self unspotted from this world.


Have you ever wondered how God speaks to His children? Me too! In my case it usually begins with a longing in my heart. Then I begin wondering if it is really God, or is it my own agenda? Then I pray to discern God's intentions. And I wait. And I speak to my Husband and ask him to pray. Then, most times, if it is from God, things start happening that lead me in the direction to go, or close the door. Many times I wonder how God thinks I have what it takes to carry out His Divine Will. We don't have the funds to adopt...it wasn't in our plans at this time. But God knows how it will all work out, we just have to trust and obey. ( And work and PRAY!) So begins another adoption journey...this time we are hoping to head to China to bring home a sibling group of 2...ages 9 and 13!  I hope that you will follow along with us, support us in prayer, and if you are so led...we humbly ask for a donation gift that will help 2 orphans find a home in this world. I will be posting our monetary goals as we go along, and I have a Paypal button on the side of the blog that will go to an adoption account. Unfortunately it is not tax deductible at this time.
May God bless you for your support...we will keep you in our prayers as well!

An Introduction to our Family

     Welcome to our adoption blog...time to introduce our family to you all.  I am Karla, and my husband, Ted, and I have been married for 23 years. We are a catholic family living on a 5 acre Hobby Farm, with our 3 living children and my brother. Our youngest son, Sanjay, passed away during his time in the hospital undergoing a Bone Marrow Transplant. We were hoping for a cure for his Thalassemia Major, but on February 12th, 2011, he suffered an unexpected brain bleed. Two weeks later, after making a miraculous recovery, he suffered another massive brain bleed on the night before he was to leave ICU to go back to the BMT unit. At the Age of 10, Sanjay went home to be with the Lord.
     Sanjay and Josy were adopted from India in 2003, at the ages of 2.5 and 3 years. Our Older children Max, age 9, and Cheyenne, age 7, were so excited to be getting a new brother and sister. What an incredible adventure! Since that time we have learned a LOT about Thalassemia and it's medical treatment, have moved twice, ( once changing States) Retired from Military Service, developed family relationships, homeschooled our children, went on great family vactions, had my mother and brother come live with us, suffered the loss of our son & my mother, and Ted's younger sister, his mother & father. Faith has brought us through it all, both the blessings and the sorrows...and we are ready to step out in faith to adopt again!
    May God bless you all as you join our family in this journey...your prayers are so welcomed and appreciated!

Remembering our youngest Son...Every child deserves a family

It is approaching the 4th anniversary of our youngest son's death. We still miss him every single day. This is a post from my previous blog, the one I began when we hoped that a Bone Marrow Transplant would cure Sanjay from his Thalassemia Major. 2 months later he passed away in the hospital, a freak brain bleed ended his life...but not his legacy.

13 Years ago this boy was born in India, and within a month was brought to an orphanage. We don't know anything else about his beginnings. I didn't even know about him at the time. But God did. God knew every hair on his head and had already numbered his days. In His great mercy and love, he touched the hearts of a family half way around the world, and we responded to that call, stepping out in faith into the unknown ...and that little boy was adopted into a family...mirroring our own heavenly adoption, when we were baptized and became members of God's family. This little boy was LOVED! And we were so blessed!

 

 Family is a funny thing. There are few others who can irritate, exasperate, and even anger one another...yet also induce such a wellspring of love and protectiveness than a member of your family. God designed families to raise up soldiers for Him. To love one another, to be "sandpaper" to smooth the rough edges off, and to help one another along the path to our Eternal Home. You could say that we've accomplished that goal with the youngest member of our family. It is some consolation to have the hope that we will see him again. We can never take for granted that we will have plenty of time to concern ourselves with Heaven. Only God knows the day and the hour...I hope that my life is pleasing to Him, and that when my days on Earth are finished, He will greet me with the words, "well done...." And on that day, I hope to see Sanjay's smiling face beaming back at me with that toothy grin, along with all of the other loved ones who have gone before us. Lead the way, Little Traveler...

 Happy Birthday in Heaven, sweetie...we sure do miss you here, we are so glad you're a part of our family.   And families are forever.

A Miracle for Max...

This is our sweet boy, whom we just found out has kidney disease. We just found out in the past few weeks the news, and that he has already lost 85% kidney function. Barring a miracle, Max will need a kidney transplant soon. My heart is broken, but I have faith that God will supply us with the strength our family will need to get us through yet another crisis. Prayerfully, we hope God will spare Max, and we ask you if you would please join us in praying for a miracle. We are also asking Sanjay to intercede for his brother from heaven. ( we have very high hopes that he is a saint and a part of the beatific vision)

Thankful Thursday (Summer)

Thankful for Goofy, Graduating, Girls...

 

Thankful for families who have fun together being silly...

 

Thankful for Homeschool Band and for the friendships made through it...

Thankful for Homeschooling Conferences with writing seminars for teens and for good friends to attend it with...

 

Thankful for our good, faithful Sisters in Browerville who spend a full week on saw-dust drawings just to give honor and love to God...

 

Thankful  for Eucharistic processions through Browerville while singing and praying the Rosary to celebrate Corpus Christi and The Sacred Heart of Jesus...

 

Thankful for 16 baby chicks in my bathtub...

 

Thankful for husbands who make Chick-pens in the garage, so the chickies can move OUT of the bathtub after a week...

 

Thankful for my biggest blessings ( and Saint-makers) my beautiful children...

 

Thankful to be able to attend the SSPX priestly ordinations in Winona again this year...

 

Thankful for first blessings from 12 newly ordained priests...

 

It channels SO much grace from God...thankful for that grace!

 

 

Thankful for Barn Dances with friends...

 

Thankful for hard-working young men from church who re-shingled our garage roof in 4 hours!

 

 

Thankful for our beautiful daughter and her graduation party which was a big success...Congratulations, sweetie!

 

Thankful for Big Barns that are wonderful for dancing...

Thankful for good friends, fireworks and the 4th of July!

 

Thankful for beauty bursting in the sky...

 

 

Thankful for husbands who mix concrete to pour in chicken coops to help keep the mice out and make it easier to keep clean...

 

Thankful for girls weeding gardens...

 

Even when they don't particularly want to...

 

Thankful for family vacations at Wisconsin Dells and for Lazy Rivers...

Thankful for girls in modest swimsuits who are truly beautiful...

 

Thankful for my family and for friends who join us on vacation...

 

Thankful for friendships that are real and lasting...

Thankful for families that get along well together, even in close quarters for 5 days

 

Thankful for fun water parks with wave pools to swim in...

Thankful for a young man who is a child at heart, who was SO happy with the prizes he "won" at the arcade...

 

Thankful for bumper-boat wars...

Thankful for horse-drawn wagon rides as we are getting ready to leave for home...

Thankful for Paul Bunyan Lumberjack restaurants and for generous friends that treat us to a brunch there...

 

 Thankful for Swing dance lessons in our barn and for a great turn out!( 16 couples!)

 

Thankful for Daddies that dance with their daughters...

Thankful for wholesome entertainment for teens and adults alike...

Thankful for my sweet baby daughter who just turned 18...

 

Until We Meet Again

Dear God, Thank you so much for the blessing of my Mother. It was such an honor and privilege having her live with us these past years. I will always be so thankful for these years, and I pray that others will come to know the blessings of having their parents with them at the end of their lives. Our parents gave us life...God surely knew what he was doing when he designed the family as a model for living. We are given the opportunity to refine our souls and serving our families in this life, perfecting virtue, and honoring our Heavenly Father in the model of the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Mom...your joyful heart, persevering faith, and forgiving nature has been an inspiration...may I never forget the lessons you've passed on to me. My love and respect for you will never die! May we be joyfully reunited in the presence of our Savior, until then, I will hold you in my heart and in my prayers...

 

Eternal rest grant her O Lord, and may perpetual Light shine upon her. May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.

 

                                Janet Erpelding  December 29th, 1934- March 1st, 2013