Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Hello friends,

I wish that I could update you with news that our adoption progress is on the next step, but unfortunately we are at a standstill.  We are still waiting for Homeland Security to approve us as adoptive parents.  We have done all of the requirements that we are supposed to do, but we still have to wait.  Our paperwork is in a stack and we have to wait our turn, which is fair, but difficult.  So far the paperwork has been waiting to be viewed for 37 days.  Either its a good sign that there are a lot of families adopting or that this office is very slow. (:  I will hope that it is for the first reason. (:

Meanwhile we are just waiting and trying to fundraise.  Here are the two fundraisers that we are currently doing...  We are selling puzzle pieces for $50 a piece.  This has been such a blessing!  I will include a picture so that you will see the progress... Almost half way there. (:  THANK YOU!  adopttogether.org/thefailes

The other fundraiser is the sale of these vinyl decals either for cars or the wall... I will also include some pictures and the website where you can purchase one of these adorable ASL decorations! http://www.etsy.com/shop/FundraiserforToby

Thank you all for your love and support.   We are so blessed to have so much encouragement along this journey.  We can't wait to have our little guy here in our home so we can start teaching him language and love.  Please continue to pray for our entire family. 



Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Hello to all!

I know it has taken a while to put this next post online, but as you know this process is a marathon and not a sprint.  There are lots of times of waiting, gathering, waiting, fundraising, and more waiting.  Let me give you a quick update on our progress so far. 

We HAVE completed the biggest part of this process... the home study!   YIPPEE!  I felt like I should get a Master's degree for all of the work that was put into that.  The home study was sent to our adoption agency and they approved it.  The next step is obtaining permission from Homeland Security to become adoptive parents.  That is called the I-800 form.  Ours was sent and is in process.  We are hoping to get the approval by the end of May so that we can send another big set of papers called a "dossier" to get certified locally, by the state and then to the Chinese consulate in New York.  So that is where we are now... I am taking this step by step and it has been an education for sure.   If you look in a previous blog, I put up a cartoon picture of the steps in this process.  You can see what we have left.  

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.  Many of you are a part of the big picture.  I have about 50 names on the back of the Toby puzzle.  I can't wait until the entire puzzle is filled with the names of all who have supported us.  There is always room for more!   We love you!

Wednesday, March 20, 2013



Dear friends,


Please continue to cover us in prayer.  We really want Jesus to be at the center of everything that we do.  We want to give him Glory for all of the victories.  We are completely trusting Him for everything through this journey to bring Toby into his forever family.    I will be adding some pictures in the near future as we put the pieces of the puzzle together.  Please read the previous blog if you want to be a part of the big picture.  Your support would be GREATLY appreciated !   You are loved!

Saturday, March 9, 2013

BE A PART OF THE BIG PICTURE


BE A PART OF THE BIG PICTURE..........


As you know, being involved in an adoption is a very expensive rigorous process, but the end result is so worth the expense and stress.  We want to include as many people in this adventure as possible.  We are blessed to have a lot of wonderful family and friends that have come along side of us along our path of life.   WE NEED YOUR HELP!   The money that we are collecting is not for us, but to bring an orphan into a forever family.  Many of you have told us that you are not able to adopt a child for very good reasons, but wish you could do something to impact the orphan problem that is in the world today.  This is one way how you can be a part of our adoption and to bring this little Deaf boy from China into our home so that we can show him true love and share Jesus with him through sign language. 

This fundraiser will be one of the biggest ones that we will do.  We also plan to apply for as many grants as possible, but we know that with God and the support of people like you, the funding will come.  He funds what He favors!  We know that God favors adoption.  He clearly talks about adoption and the orphan in His Word. (James 1:27)   Our family is choosing to love "the least of these" and bring Toby in our home. 

We have purchased a puzzle with Toby's picture on it. ( I can't show you the picture right now because the adoption agency said we can't put it online.)   It is a 200 piece puzzle.  If 200 people/groups will donate $50 or more to "purchase" one puzzle piece, we have the potential to raise $10,000 or more for the adoption.   Here are ways to reach this goal:

  •  If you can donate $50 or more, I will put your name alone on the back of  one of the puzzle pieces.     
  • A group of you can go in together to reach $50.
  • If it is less than $50, it will still be appreciated!   You just might have to share a puzzle piece with someone else. (: 

When the puzzle is put together, we will see all of the names of the people that brought Toby home.                 You will be a part of the big picture!   

 I will also be sending everyone who contributes a simple Christmas ornament to remember how you helped an orphan celebrate his first Christmas with a real family in 2013.  Our goal is to have him by then.. Lord willing.   You can donate by going to the following website:  www.adopttogether.org/thefailes  or if you would rather send the money directly to us, our address is:

David and Mary Beth Faile
2125 Wedgewood Drive
Beavercreek, OH  45434


Most of all, would you commit to pray with us and for us?  This is the biggest adventure that we have ever set out to do, but we know that it is the right thing.   Please email me your home address so that I can send you the ornament.   THANK YOU!  WE LOVE YOU!

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Quick Update...

Hello everyone!

     Just a quick update... the paperwork is slowly getting done.  I am working on both the home study paperwork as well as the dossier paperwork.  We had our first home visit with the social worker yesterday.  The three hour meeting went well and we are so blessed that we finally got assigned a social worker.  It has been a waiting game since January, but we finally are making progress.  Our children were interviewed yesterday and they did a fabulous job.  I am very proud of them!  My house is  spotless so if anyone wants to come over and look at it, you are welcome. haha  It may not look like this very long. (:  Our goal is to wrap up the home study by the end of March... Praise the Lord!  If I can gather all of the dossier paperwork by that same time, then I can mark two HUGE steps off of the list.  So hopefully by Easter, I can say that I accomplished one of the biggest things I have ever done... Adoption paperwork!   I am having a  paperwork party at the end....(:   In the next few weeks, I am also going to unveil our fundraiser idea for the much needed funds that we need.   I think you will like the creativity of this simple fundraiser that has the potential to raise $ 10,000.  After the home study is completed, I will also be able to apply for adoption grants as well.  If you have not gone to our fundraising site, it is   www.adopttogether.org/thefailes.
Thank you for your continued prayers for our family and especially for little Tobiah " Toby" Jianke Faile.   As soon as I get permission, I will post his picture but until then, imagine a very cute little boy with a heart melting smile.   (:

Thursday, January 31, 2013


I hate to admit this, but because my English Composition credits did NOT transfer from the University that I went to, I have to retake two English Composition classes. (Big Sigh)  With that being said, I was required to write a paper by doing a visual analysis of a picture/advertisement that I found online.  Here is the paper that I just submitted along with the picture that I analyzed.  I felt that it would be a great posting for the blog today.  Enjoy!
 
 
 
Mary Beth Faile

Professor  Hellmers

English Composition 2

January 31, 2013

 

                Have you ever wanted something so bad but knew in your heart that it was not possible to attain it?  If there was a chance to satisfy that desire, would you do anything to make it happen?   For most people that answer would be YES!   When I think of a pursuit to satisfy, I think of adoption.  Men and especially women have a desire to have a child and become a parent.  In many cases, that is not possible so the only other option would be adoption.  The visual message that this picture advertisement sends is so touching.  The adoption advertisement is a picture of a couple in a courtroom.  The soon to be parents are sitting in seats where a defendant or plaintiff would normally sit.  There is an audience of people behind them each showing a different emotion in response to the decision that was just made at this court ceremony.  There are stuffed animals lined up behind the family on the ledge between the audience and them.  Front and center is a Hispanic lady who is visibly crying.  She is wearing a yellow rose corsage and has a name badge on her with a green sticker.  Her husband is seated two seats from her with the same yellow rose boutonniere and name tag with a green sticker.  In between them, sits a precious little Hispanic girl holding a green stuffed animal.  It is apparent that the judge was officially making this couple parents to this young sweet girl.  The dad is smiling and hugging his new little girl, while the mother is overcome with emotion.  The emotions that are being displayed attracts me to this advertisement.    The message of pursuit, support,  and sheer joy scream out at the audience viewing this picture.

            By viewing the emotions of the parents in this picture, it is apparent that the void in their lives of not being able to have a child weighed heavy on them.   Choosing adoption was their way of filling that void with someone to love as their own.  If you have never gone through the process of what it takes to adopt, you would be shocked as to what is required, the length of time it takes, the details that must be completed before expiration dates and the cost of going through the process.  It is something that not many people attempt because it takes work.  It takes a pursuit.  It is a pursuit for the chance to love someone that has no one in their life to love them.  The visible satisfaction that is being shown by the father as he is embracing this child is so evident.  They went on a pursuit together and they won the prize of having this little girl as their very own validated by the court system of our land.  All of the hard work and effort was worth experiencing this very moment.

            Not only were the parents overcome with emotion, but so are the audience members.  It is not clear if the people behind them are relatives, friends or strangers, but regardless of their connection with the adoptive parents, they are in full support of this decision based on the joy, compassion, and delight that they are showing.  Some are clapping.  Some look like they are going to cry.  Some are just meditating and soaking in the glory of the moment.  It does my heart good to see such support from these people.  When a couple is going through the process of adoption, having moral support , emotional support and financial support is crucial.  There are a lot of emotions that go along this journey.  Other people can come along side of the adoptive parents and really help the process to run smoother.  It works the same way when a lady is pregnant.  People in her life are there for her as she goes through the long pregnancy journey.

            What is the result of the agony of paperwork, emotional rollercoaster rides and years of waiting?  A child!!  Nothing brings sheer joy than a child.  Children are a gift from God.  They are priceless and precious.  This child has visibly brought sheer joy to this couple who is now a family of three.  The mother's face says it all.  She looks so overwhelmed by the finality of the process that she is crying and in disbelief.  She looks so thankful and amazed that she is now a mother. 

            Now my perspective of this picture may be different than someone else's.  They might be looking at just the child.  Let me describe her for you.  She is not smiling.  She looks scared.  She is not being affectionate to anything but the stuffed animal she is holding.  Her father is hugging her, but she looks lost .  Another analysis of this picture may be that the child does not want to be with this couple.  They may interpret this picture as the parents and judge forcing a situation onto a child that does not look satisfied  with the outcome.   This would not be the best interpretation of this picture because we are missing a lot of events before and after this picture was taken.  Of course, the child will be scared.  Putting myself in a child's shoes that is being adopted must be frightening, but in time, that child will learn to love because of the unconditional love the parents have for her.  These parents seem so happy therefore, I have no doubt that she will grow up in a very loving, nurturing atmosphere full of life, love and satisfaction.

            Pursuing your dream of adoption takes a lot of determination, strength and endurance, but if a person has a desire to accomplish this goal, they will.  With the support of family and friends by their side, they will see the light at the end of the tunnel and in the end find more joy than they could have possibly dreamed.  They will be overcome with the emotion that their pursuit gave them a grand reward... the opportunity to love  a child.  It is priceless!

 

 

 


                                                           Works Cited:

Barrera, R. (2011) 25 Children Celebrate Austin Adoption Day.  Collective Vision            Statesman Photo and Multimedia Blog. Retrieved January 31, 2013, from          http://photoblog.statesman.com/25-children-celebrate-austin-adoption-day