What a Week! What a Change! Welcome 'Calvin Jack Clausing'!

This time of the year is different. There are lights on the houses, trees inside houses and families gearing up for time together. It certainly is a time of change! Change is something Cam and I have somehow become accustomed to in our four and half years of marriage…and this week has been no different. Bare with me as I try and paint a picture.

As many of you know we have been waiting to adopt two little ones from the gorgeous country of Lesotho. We had bags strapped to our back and we were bracing ourselves for a long road ahead. And we were walking and trusting.

Then…this week happened. Early Monday morning I woke to intense pain and eventually was taken to the hospital in an Ambulance. Cam was a superman, though pretty nervous, but was the greatest servant in this situation. By 8:00am I was transferred from the emergency care in Spring Hill to Williamson Medical Center in Franklin where the testing began. I must admit that I was pretty out of it but they managed to get the pain under control. I was released Wednesday night with the prognosis of an extreme arthritis flare up – which I have never experienced before. Anyhoo – I am home now and on the mend.

All that to say, while we were in the hospital, we received a phone call from our adoption agency to say that they have a little boy for us!!!! Whaaaaat! This is totally unexpected…especially because we were quite happy on the road to Lesotho. What happened to Lesotho? Well, to be honest, we don’t know. We never intended to be in the domestic program, however, five weeks ago our agency called us just with a simple introduction to the domestic program and asked if we would consider being in that program. At that time, we declined and said though we were interested in domestic adoption after our international was completed, but we were happy where we were at, so basically, a thanks, but no thanks. So, back on the road we went. Until….last week, our agency called us again with a more of an ‘inquiring’ phone call. During that phone call, the agency mentioned that they had a meeting the previous day and that they thought we would be a good fit for a birth mother that were talking with. They were unable to give us many more details due to privacy and the fact that we weren’t in the domestic program. Once we discovered that there was no cost in joining the domestic program and that we were still able to stay in the Lesotho program, we thought we would go ahead and see where this part of the journey takes us.

Then, Tuesday happened. A phone call, while we were sitting in a hospital room, a phone call that informed us that the birth mother had actually picked us out five weeks ago when we received our first phone call. She had looked at our photo and told the agency that she wanted that family to adopt her baby boy. Our case worker did mention that she also fell in love with our puppy dog who was also in that photo (which happens to be the same photo at the top of our blog). This is crazy, right?

One of the reasons why we were always nervous about a domestic adoption is with the issues that can arise. It just made us nervous. It made us nervous that there was a revocation period when the biological parents have a right to request the child back. Being first time parents, we were just a little nervous about some of those things. Amazingly, God took care of that! The biological mother and father had terminated their rights and the revocation period has passed. Just like our agency said ‘this is the kind of adoption that people dream of – it’s perfect! Yes, it is perfect. We were expecting an international adoption, we got a domestic adoption. We were expecting two little ones at once, but we got one. God knows what we needed.

So, the short of it is that we have a little two and a half week old who we have named ‘Calvin Jack Clausing’ and came into the Clausing home today, December 18^th.  As you can imagine, we were not expecting this and not prepared for this. But we are so excited about this…...a little overwhelmed but we know that God has us right here for this.

 So many of you have walked with us, some from afar and some right where we are. We know our story so far does not just include us, but so many of you. We are sincerely so thankful for the way in which so many of you walk with us and encourage us to keep on trekking.

Here’s to a great Christmas! Here’s to our first Christmas with a little baby!

We’ll be in touch!

XX

Happy 1 Year, Travelers!

The Journey – one year down the road!

This month marks one year of our journey to adopt two little ones from Lesotho. This time last year we had our empty rucksack out, the packing list on the bed and we were crossing things off the list like mad men. The rucksack was bulging with homestudy paperwork, government paperwork, and loads of grant applications…and then we were off, with the rucksack slung over the shoulder (actually, more like “Cam, can you carry this for me?”), a bounce in every step (actually, I probably dropped my bundle a few times) and whistling to the tune of “I will walk 500 miles and I will walk 500 more” (nothing like some Proclaimers to keep you marching). Once we hit the road and off-loaded the right paperwork to the right people the rucksack began to fill with cash…beautiful cash from people all over the world who for some, were gazing from afar, and others were kicking the stones along the road with us.

We kept walking and as different people needed money to make something else happen, we simply opened the rucksack, counted the greenbacks, paid our dues, zipped the bag up and carried on. We carried on.

We carry on. This is a peculiar journey in the fact that we do not know how long we will be on the road for. We do know that this journey has been walked before, by a myriad of people, so we know we are not the only ones. But, we also know that this is a personal journey, a journey that Cam and Taryn Clausing will take – together and will have its very own story at the end. A story, our story that includes so many others.

Sometimes, when I am walking and thinking about everything, the thought pops into my head ‘we don’t even know who we will meet when we get there’. We don’t know if we are going to have two boys, two girls or one of each. There are no faces to push us on…..yet! But – we get up, put our rucksack on because we know that when we get there, it will be just right! We know that two little ones who are orphans will be orphans no more. We know that our Father has set the lonely in families. That, my friends, carries us around every corner, up every hill, down every slope and pushes us right to the end.

Happy 1 year, travelers!

Taryn

A Look Forward and a Look Back

I often ask Taryn to write something. Thus, I think it only fair for me to take on some of this responsibility. Therefore, I have been thinking this morning about what exactly write. I could be the typical Presbyterian and give you all the facts of things that are happening. It will take everything in me not to do this as I write. Facts do not make for an engaging blog.

This week I have been thinking about where Taryn and I have been in the course of 3 years (yes 3 years) in the States now. It has been a whirlwind time. We almost moved back to Colombia at least twice. Numerous times we have talked about moving to Australia. Life has had its lows and its highs. It is funny how in those moment of lows one forgets all about the great times. We have had a car blow a head gasket the day we bought it (right after signing a sheet of paper saying we understood that we did not have warranty). We rented a house that was way too expensive and almost went broke. We have struggled through sickness. We have worked jobs just to make ends meet and still couldn't make that happen some months. Life has been hard.

However, each of these moments has been met by the grace of God. When our car broke down, someone in our church lent us their car for as long as we needed it. We broke contract on the place we rented and were able to rent a place that was much cheaper (probably one of the cheapest places in Franklin), and ultimately were able to buy our own home. We have found amazing doctors who walk lovingly and carefully with us every step of the way in sickness. I have been ordained and have a great job where I learn everyday and grow. God's grace to us in the past has been manifold.

This Sunday as I was sitting listening to the sermon at the church where I work. The passage was from Nehemiah 4.1-14. I was struck once again by the fact that I need to remember these moments and our God. In the midst of this process, there can be exciting times; times when we are getting things ready and sending them off to Lesotho. Then there are times that are discouraging. This can be one of those discouraging times. Nothing is happening, we are just sitting and waiting. We don't hear anything all that often from our agency. Those outside of us and we ourselves can be discouraging. We often look at each other and say, “I really want babies in the house.”

Isn't that just the way we are? We always see the bad. We also look for the negative. All of us have a little Puddleglum in us. We want things to happen when we want them to happen. If that doesn’t happen, we get downcast and discouraged. However, what Nehemiah calls us to do is remember. Remember the Lord and His great faithfulness. We remember that the battle is the Lord's and we are called to do the next right thing. Oh how hard that can be in the midst of the wait. Oh it can be hard to extend grace in the wait, but I am learning. I am learning to not be afraid and to wait for the Lord.

Now, because I am a Presbyterian, I cannot end this blog without some facts and figures. First, we are still only $3,000 from being fully funded (that's pretty amazing). You can still help out if you would like to just click on the Small World Adoption Agency Ad on the side bar. If you have any questions on what to do, contact Taryn she knows all. Second, We are coming on one year in this process (that's pretty crazy). That means that this thing could happen at any point. They told us at the start of this process that it could take anywhere from 12-24 months. Next, some of you may know about the news from Lesotho. If you want read about, it check out the BBC's coverage. There was a coup of sorts, but everything seems to be back to normal. Lastly, a family from our agency just got their referral for their child from Lesotho. We are really encouraged by that because it means that people are making it through the process, and children are getting their forever families.

Thanks for reading. Taryn does a much better job, but I thought it would be good for me to relieve her once in a while.

Cam & Taryn 

Wait

You know it has been far too long since my last update when people are texting me for updates. Sorry for those who have been visiting the blog to only realize that they have read the same thing over and over again.

It has been quite a month or two. While Cam was away in Honduras, I was fortunate enough to get back home to Australia for a fleeting two-week visit. It was amazing, as usual, to spend time with so many special people.  It is always hard to leave a place that feels so much like home but it was made easier this time with my best friend, Bec, returning to the States with me. While she was here we managed to hit New York, Chicago and Wisconsin and, of course, Nashville. It was a special time of travels and talks with a friend who knows me all too well J

The key word for this update on our adoption journey is ‘waiting’. We are simply waiting for the Lesotho government to match us with our two children. The strange thing about this ‘wait’ is that we really have no idea how long this ‘wait’ will be. We know that the wait could be over in months and we also know that a year or years could very well be a possibility. The more I read other stories, the more I am reminded that there is no rhyme or reason to adoption, but I do know it is perfect timing for every family.

I am also thankful that our wait will not be filled with anxieties about funding the adoption. This is really mind-blowing but the fact is that we are only around $2,000-$3,000 short of the $48,000. And this has all happened since October of last year. This actually stuns me sometimes. God just took care of it.

Some of you might remember our Both Hands project fundraiser we completed in June. To date, that fundraiser alone, gave us around $21,000. Yes. $21,000. Stunned. And to think that on the work day we were sitting around $3,000. That simply humbles us and fills us with gratitude.

So, as we wait, we know there is no need to fret and worry because this is far bigger than us and we know the One who is working all things for His good pleasure. So, we wait.

Until next time,

Taryn

So Close to Being Fully Funded...So Close!

Charles Dickens said “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”

Over the last couple of months, Cam and I have had our fair share of burdens to carry, but we have not carried them alone. One lesson that I continually learn is that I do not need to carry my burdens all by myself. I want to, but I don’t need to and usually, they, quite quickly, turn from being just my burden but rather a shared experience of encouragement with others. Other lives open up and serve as a reminder that some have been where you are and even if they haven’t there are some that are willing to walk alongside you and help carry a specific burden.

Even when the road is hard there are moments of overwhelming joy and gratitude for how far you are one the road. It’s times like these when all you can do is sit down on the side of the road – in silence. Tears begin to fall and make their mark in the dirt. Overwhelmed with gratitude.

On Saturday, June 14, around forty of our friends came together to work on a widow’s house. We had prepared for this day. There were team meetings, lists and letters. Our plan was to work on a widow’s house for the entire day and raise money so that two orphans would no longer be orphans. And what a day it was – simply amazing. If you haven’t watched the video yet, you need to. When I watch it, not only am I reminded of how hard everyone worked, how much fun we had but also that I really, really do have an Australian accent J. Recently, we learned the final total of the funds that came in from all over the United States AND Australia. We raised a total of $14,094.74. Yes! Really - $14,094.74!! And we also learned that we can use $3,000 of that toward one of our matching grants which means the Both Hands project will have raised $17,094.74. Oh man! You see, when the burden is heavy and news like this comes, I sit – in silence – in tears and am overwhelmed by God’s provision for us and two orphans whom we are yet to meet.

Back in October of last year we began the journey of adoption. As we were packing our bags with everything we needed at that time we also slipped the price tag into one of the pockets. A $48,290 price tag. We are not sure when this particular journey will end or how many more hills we need to climb but as we sit down for a bit we can now pull out the price tag and find that as of today it reads $5,000!!!! Now, that is much lighter than what it was in October. Cam and I just look at each other in amazement because so many people have joined us and helped us to raise $44,223 so far!

Our journey continues to humble us and remind us that it is not about us. The story is about the one who has adopted us and makes us His own.

Thanks for reading.

Taryn (& Cam)

Make a donation to our adoption fund here: http://smallworldadoption.com/

Check out our Both Hands video here:  

Half Way There

Midway, in the middle, hump Wednesday, whatever way you look at it there is no getting around the fact that we have arrived to the half way point on our journey to adoption. I don’t mean that in relation to time. In adoption there is no guessing how long you will be on the road for but I am referring to the raising of all our adoption expenses in order to bring our two little ones into our home. Yes, people, back in October of last year I wrote that we needed $48,000 and there was a big gulp as I was saying it, but as of today we ONLY need $24,000. How did that happened? So many of you have helped us get to mid-journey and we are truly thankful for every little bit and every big bit that has come to us.

If you have been following our FB pages you all know that we recently received a $3,000 matching grant from the Lifesong Legacy 685 fund. This is huge because potentially this means $6,000 toward our fund. Essentially, this means that people can donate through Lifesong: legacy 685 and then that donation will be matched dollar for dollar.

More recently, we received news from one of the many grant applications we sent off that we would be receiving a grant $5,000 from one of them. I may or may not have done a little dance upon hearing that news.

This month also included our massive garage sale which was very successful with help from our friend, Thomas Rickstrew, who managed to get nearly everyone walking out with one, two or ten things in their hand. Everything that was sold had been donated by friends and by strangers.

So, you can see we have been quite busy on the adoption front. Things keep moving and we keep looking at each other wondering how all this is happening. Well, we know who is behind it orchestrating everything, and for that we give thanks to the One who holds everything in His hand.

Last Friday night we had our Kick-Off team meeting for the Both Hands project scheduled for June 14. We had a great night with JT Olsen, the founder of Both Hands. Essentially, our team gets sponsored to work on a widow’s house for a day and all the money raised goes toward our adoption. This is a great fundraising idea and we are in awe of the team that has joined us in this effort. Keep your eyes peeled for more info about this project.

Thanks for journeying with us. Thanks for cheering us on. We are not alone.

Until next time,

Taryn (&Cam) 

Content in All Things.

I can see a park from our kitchen table. It has a yellow slide, yellow monkey bar swings and a little cubby house at the top. There is so much space between where our house ends and the park starts that at times my mind wanders, it wanders to a place where I can see little children leaving our back door and running to the park and returning all hot and sweaty clamoring for something to quench their thirst.

Today I see that park and I know there are no children running out to play or who will come back asking for water. It is days like this that I learn all over again what it means to be content in all situations.

In God’s providence Cam and I are where we are. We do not have children and we desire a family. We have never been told that we can’t have children. This is real. We have started the adoption process. This is real. How God builds families is still a mystery to us. This is real. Currently, the means to our family is different to many others. We may never have the surprising news of a positive test. I may never know what it feels like to have my children grow inside my womb and I may never know the emotion of giving birth and having a child lay on my chest hours after birth. In these things, we grieve a loss but we do not grieve without hope.

We will know what adoption looks like. We will know something about our own adoption by God. We will know what it is like to be parents. We will know what it is like to have our own children. What a mystery!

To date, we have raised $15,244 with only $32,700 to go. I know it sounds a lot but we can hardly believe that we have already raised as much as we have. We know that many of  you have given to us, given to our agency, bought t-shirts and coffee and we are truly grateful for every penny that has come our way.

Where are we in the process? Our dossier is still with our agency. We have been told that it should be sent to Lesotho in the next week or so. Once it arrives in Lesotho it is then submitted to a ‘Matching Meeting’ where we are matched with our children and then we get a referral. It is at this referral when we have to pay our next payment of $24,000. This is what we are working toward now.

On June 14^th we will be completing a Both Hands project (http://www.bothhandsfoundation.org) in Franklin, Tennessee. The short of it is that we get a core team together that get sponsors for them to work on a widow’s house for the day. We will be working on Mrs Gumm’s home; painting, washing windows, organizing, landscaping etc etc. We love Mrs Gumm, she and her family is so special to us. We are super excited to be able to help her out like this. If you are local, would you be willing to be a part of our core team? If you are unable to be a part of the core team, please consider still coming out for the day. For those of you are not local, there is still an opportunity to sponsor us as we work this day. Click on http://www.bothhandsfoundation.org/cam-and-taryn-clausing to find more info about our project day.

Here is a video from a previous Both Hands project so you can get some idea what it is all about. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98PD-O97N3I

We would love all our friends, near or far, to get behind this project.

For some, children will never come in to the home. We know that there is One working in ways that none of us can fully fathom so that we all may know His sufficiency in all things. We do not trust in ourselves but trust in God who works in all things.

Thank you for coming along this journey with us.

Taryn (&Cam)