Concerned about the issues going on with MOWA right now? Joint Council has formed a response team and initiatives. You too can be part of this. Check out their site: http://betheanswerforchildren.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/

 

Five Things You Can do to Help!

1)      Sign the petition to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi – and pass it on!
http://www.gopetition.com/petition/43714.html
2)     Have you adopted from Ethiopia? Please send us up to 3 photos and 50 words or less with what you would like the Ministry to know about your child – we’ll compile the information and send a book to the Ministry of Woman’s, Children’s and Youth Affairs.  Send your photos and stories by Sunday, March 12, 2011 to be included.  Please note that sending photos and stories gives Joint Council unrestricted right to use the information you provide. UPDATE: we’ve received so many emails in support that our email server has crashed!  We’ve set up an alternative email account – please start emailing your photos/stories to emergency4ethiopia@gmail.com.  Thanks for your amazing support!

3)      Share…Please send this Call to Action to family members, other adoptive parents, and everyone you know!  Post, forward and share your adoption stories via Facebook, Twitter, and blogs.  Make sure you include us in your posts so we can all hear your stories!  Here’s links to our pages: Facebook, Twitter and our blog.

4)      Stay informed: Get up-to-date information regarding the situation in Ethiopia by signing up to receive information from us:  click here to do so, make sure you choose “country and issues specific information” and “Ethiopia.”  And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and our blog!

5)      Help ensure our advocacy can continue: Joint Council is a non-profit and receives no government funding.  Please join us in ensuring more children live in safe, permanent and loving families.  Donate today!

Adoption Tax Credit CLASS!

There is a wonderful resource for families to learn about the Adoption Tax Credit. If you have been wondering about it, now here is the answer. This class should answer all your questions. Check it out.

Good news for HIV kids in Ethiopia

Amid all the speculation and uncertainty in the area of adoption in Ethiopia there is also some super great news for kids with HIV. Drawn From Water has posted the good news on their blog. Check out the story here.

exerpt of the basic gist of the good news!:
(In the past)....The law has said that no one is able to access ARV medication until they are into stage 3 of the 4 stages that occur within HIV.........................Yesterday we received word that the rules have changed.  Now all children 2 and under who are diagnosed with HIV are automatically given access to Anti Retro Viral medication as soon as their tests come back!


Good news. 

Difficult Adoption

Hi all,
I just wanted to let you know that there is a new upcoming blog out there that is totally dedicated to adopting the hurt child. This blog will have resources, stories and helps for those difficult times in any adoption. What do you do, how do your respond, what is my next step, what resources are out there for me????? I have great hopes that this blog will be a useful and helpful one for everyone in those sometimes common and sometimes rare instances when any adoption is difficult.
Check them out here.
http://difficultadoption.wordpress.com/

I want to let you know too that there is a book associated with this blog and author!!!!! It looks good too. Check out This Means War by Cheryl Ellicot at:  http://www.sweetwaterstill.com/thismeanswar.htm

Adoption news and information

Ok, you have all head the rumors. Ethiopia is reducing adoptions and will only hear 5 cases a day instead of 40. If you have been around long enough you will have lived through several of these types of announcements. You will know it is not time to panic -yet, but time to pray for the officials and the decisions. It is typical for Ethiopia to issue statements of things they are considering, and to make it sound like it is a done deal. It could happen and it could change. Both things have happened so often that I personally am hesitant to take this sort of thing to heart too quickly. Wait and see is more my speed. As of yet none of the reliable ETHIOPIA Adoption news sources have issued anything on this statement including the Department of State..... .still waiting to see what comes up. Of course, notices and alerts have been put up plenty in the past just to be taken down again. So, again, wait and see. Pray not panic.
Sure there is need for reform and they are working on it. I was encouraged by the reports given in February regarding the meeting (in January) with Ethiopia regarding adoption reform and continuation. See that post here.
None of this limiting adoptions so drastically was mentioned. The thought is that this may be a way of saying that they need more hands to do the job and are working on that. We would all agree with that. Who knows, a speculation.
So instead of panicking, it has not yet been confirmed, pray and ask your agency if they have heard of this. Then wait and pray. We will know more in a few days what is the meaning and purpose. Keep your eye on the State Dept. for official news as well as PEAR,  Ethica, JCICS, Current News for Ethiopian Adoptions.  Right now none of them have posted anything and if it is true, they WILL.

Bakah's Bags a great product for a purpose

You have got to see these CUTE bags. I asked Bekah to write up something about them to post here. These would make great gifts, bags for music, that reading or art that goes in the car on long trips, a bag for a kid's quiet activity for church, school, meetings, etc. So many uses and giving to a good cause too.  She also has onsies with animals on them. If you are interested in a different country shape she can do a special order for you too. I saw she did on of Bolivia, which is so cool to me because we used to live there. So, here it is! Bekah's Bags........

_____________________________________________

I originally began making these bags to sell to fund a mission trip to Guatemala last summer. (read about it where we went here http://forsuchasthese.blogspot.com/search/label/guatemala ) I loved it so much, that I decided I want to go back, so I am making bags to help raise money again! 

The Africa on these bags are all hand sewn on. I can either sew on just the outline of the Africa (like on the black bag) or use a fabric that matches the lining (like on the brown & pink bag)

"Great seller and bag! I love it. Very well made and pretty. Looking forward to using it. My daughter loves it, too."

"[My daughter] said she uses the bag I bought all the time! She loves it!"

"We own THREE and they are VERY well made! You will NOT be disappointed if you buy one!"

  I also can do custom orders. I can do different color combinations, different country/continent on front, etc. 

They are $20 plus $2.50 shipping!

  

You can buy the bags and see more examples here: http://forsuchasthese.blogspot.com/p/bekahs-bags-for-sale.html  

tax time

In case you are interested the IRS had a great page talking about the expanded adoption tax credit for 2010 and further out. Here it is or you can check them out yourself  for much more information on their site at this IRS link.

Seven Facts about the Expanded Adoption Credit

IRS Tax Tip 2011-34, February 17, 2011 You may be able to take a tax credit of up to $13,170 for qualified expenses paid to adopt an eligible child. The Affordable Care Act increased the amount of the credit and made it refundable, which means it can increase the amount of your refund. Here are seven things the IRS wants you to know about the expanded adoption credit. 1. Beginning in tax year 2010 the credit is refundable, meaning that you can get it even if you owe no tax. 2. For tax year 2010 you must file a paper tax return and Form 8839, Qualified Adoption Expenses, to get the credit and you must attach documents supporting the adoption. 3. Documents may include a final adoption decree, placement agreement from an authorized agency, court documents and the state’s determination for special needs children. 4. Qualified adoption expenses are reasonable and necessary expenses directly related to the legal adoption of the child. These expenses may include adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees and travel expenses. 5. An eligible child must be under 18 years old, or physically or mentally incapable of caring for himself or herself. 6. If your modified adjusted gross income is more than $182,520, your credit is reduced. If your modified AGI is $222,520 or more, you cannot take the credit. 7. Taxpayers claiming the credit will still be able to use IRS Free File to prepare their returns, but the returns must be printed and mailed to the IRS, along with all required documentation. For more information see the Adoption Benefits FAQ page available at http://www.irs.gov or the instructions to IRS Form 8839, Qualified Adoption Expenses, which can be downloaded from the website or ordered by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).  Links: Form 8839 ( PDF) Instructions for Form 8839 ( PDF) Adoption Benefits FAQs

Adoptive Families Subscription and free gift offer

To view this email as a web page, go here.

Get a FREE ISSUE of Adoptive Families, the  best resource for families  before and after adoption!   PLUS, get a bonus gift, Growing Up  Adopted,  available as a FREE instant  download right after you subscribe. Adoptive Families is the only magazine that  addresses the joys and challenges of being  an adoptive parent. That's why I'm pleased to offer you a free  gift (Growing Up Adopted, pictured at bottom)   when you subscribe today. In each issue, you'll find the information you  need to successfully adopt and parent  your child. Enjoy personal stories, expert advice,  and so much more. To see how the magazine  can help you, claim your free issue now. Once you do, you'll be able to instantly  download your gift, and save up to 58% off the cover price.  Warmly, Susan Caughman Publisher of Adoptive Families

One Day Without Shoes | www.onedaywithoutshoes.com

One Day Without Shoes | www.onedaywithoutshoes.com

Check out this event. April 5th. Go without shoes.
There are two great videos on their site about this and what it does. 

Tom's will also donate a pair of shoes for every pair of shoes you buy. Good time to get those shoes you have had your eye on and do a good thing at the same time.

Book Review: Tsion's Life

Tsion's Life by Stacy Bellward is a great book. I just got it and I love everything about it. The photography is awesome and each page has an Amharic word on it to teach the reader, it is the theme of the page. So, some pages are on family, friends, food, her township, etc.  This book tells about religion, language, family life, food, cultural things, school and work in the words of a child as well as pieces that are informative, and still quite interesting. This is an engaging and well put together book that will keep the attention of any age reader. A great way to learn about Ethiopia.
Amharic Kids
Amazon