Its a girl

Havah was born 9:14 am 6lbs 9 oz 18.5 inches.

We had a little trouble right at the end. Mycnium was present all the way through, and they didnt like how she wouldnt scream. I was able to cath her, and went with her to the little toaster and helped her breathe and was with her while the team did their thing. She seems fine now.

This is consistent with a dream a friend had months ago, and it wasnt entirely unexpected. It seems like things are great.

Will update asap.

Yep its labor

Here we are at Shawnee Mission Labor and Delivery....

7 cm dialted, bag of waters still tact, progressing very well. Danielle is doing very well, doing her best to relax, and feeling the birth. Im amazed.

Will update soon.

Hmmm....

Now I'm up at 1:45 am!

Danielle woke me up and said she is having slightly painful contractions that only went away when she got up and walked around and ate. They are repeatable etc... and increasing in their pain, so there is a good chance this is the beginning.

The problem is, NOW IM AWAKE. I dont know how to relax to well. I just filed the taxes electronically, but I need to make a deposit, and mail off the returns as soon as I get notification. Thankfully, I have no appts this week yet, so we will see...

I might not get to update before the "kid hits the cervix", but at least I documented it. 4/15/08, 1:34 am, Havah seems to be starting her short little journey out. We odnt know how soon, but we know it is a lot closer. We will try to be patient.

Adoption Agency Guidleines from the consumer

I think it is time for the demand side of the adoption marketplace to create a set of guidlines Adoption Agencies have to follow in order for those of us who wish to adopt to give them our money and time.

In any market, there is a concept of efficiency. In essence, this idea means the market itself will correct based on the dynamics at play. One of the dynamics, is the price as well as the customer.

I believe we should start a dialog amongst active adotpion couples, agencies, and consultants and create a list, similar to here.

Here are some examples....

1. Any Adoption Agency participating in this must be a fully "not for profit" venture, whether they are in fact a 501c3 corporation or not.

2. Each agency participating must have at least an annual financial disclosure including a balance sheet, an income statement, and a profit and loss statement, publicly available for all prospective adoptive people.

3. Each Agency will disclose ALL salary, dividends, and payouts to all board members, owners, and employees.

4. Each Agency will maintain a maximum of xxxx% overhead and admin costs including marketing, office and support supplies, etc...

5. Each agency will have a clearly written and communicated policy about the actual costs for adoptions, including any method of pricing changes for "hard to place" children. This would mean explaining in actual terms and numbers, as well as policy, how the agency handles and disperses monies that might be more than actual costs for "easy to place" children for "hard to place" children. If indeed, the agency does not have a policy for this, they will be disqualified.

5. Each agency will have the director or officiating board member sign and post a copy of "Articles of Compliance and Intent" that we create, and renew it every year.


This is a start. I would love to hear input from all of you. I dont know how to arrange it and process it, as blogs arent the best way. I have a new website called adoptionrelief.com, and I can set up a message board there etc... soon.

Im a wreck

compared to my last post, this man has jumped on a grenade almost every day for the last year. If you dont believe in justice, his story is something to ignore.

If you believe that God counts every gasping breath, every minute of confusion, every demonic cackle when you lungs are sucking and struggling for air
, or the grief of being a parent watching your child suffer, or your baby girl fight just to stay warm at 1lbs, then you realize the immense accounting coming at the end of the age. When the last enemy is put under, when the disrupter and the defiler is presented in front of all creation, everyone with a case against sin, sickness, death, and distortion will have every single act of oppression resulting from his influence answered with justice.

Not only will eternal punishment be handed out, but an offsetting action will be released fromt he right hand of YHWY. HE will not only punish His enemies, but HE will give back more than what was stolen. HIS LAW requires it. HE will not be bribed away from it. HIS Vengance and HIS MERCY and GENEROUS HEART WILL GIVE into the black hole.

http://cfhusband.blogspot.com/

Medal of Honor

I heard this story today and was struck. Regardless of the position people have on the war, this story is so self sacrificial.

http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=36049


Imagine going into a situation like this. You HAVE to believe the other guys would do this for you. In fact, you might even believe that they would try to do this in your place if they could. This kind of action is unbelievable. Even more so considering this young man was 25 years old.

I think of the kids at The Call School, I think of the Daniel Academy. I think "Am I ready, willing, and able to do this for someone, let alone someone I love?".

Cool Comment

This was posted from an entry a while back, so I thought I would bring it forward. You can read her blog here

"As a child-centered ministry, Buckner’s goal is to serve pregnant women and their unborn children in such a way that the children’s lives are affirmed and that they are parented in the best way possible. Thus, we serve a large number of pregnant women who inquire about adoption but who, after counseling, decide to continue to seek a way to parent.

Only a small percentage of the clients we serve actually make adoption plans for their unborn babies – but almost all decide to give life. We provide these services at no cost. Therefore, the fees we charge adoptive parents must cover the services to all the pregnant women, not just the one whose baby they adopt.

Indeed, prospective adoptive parents who work with us become a part of Buckner’s ministry to pregnant women and their unborn babies."You are charged on a sliding scale based on your income ... if you have more to give, you are expected to do so ... equal sacrifice. You are not paying for an adoption - you are giving your part to the ministry, which encompasses much more than a child that may be entering your home. "


They make it very clear that every woman entering their doors is counseled first to parent. If every avenue has been exhausted, then and only then is adoption discussed.Your money may also go to help place a child with special needs or a waiting child into a home that may not have the funds to cover their full fee. They don't apologize for that. In fact, they take pride in it.


Find this adoption agaency and use it for your adoptions!!!!!!

More thoughts on adoption

The more and more I think on this, and talk it out, the more and more galvanized I become. It isnt a judgment thing, it is more a conviction for me personally, and my take on the situation.

1. I believe it is better to birth a child than to kill it. For lots of reasons from the theological aspect, to the social. Take Planned Parenthood. It is clear their founder was a racist, and her intention was to slowly eliminate black people specifically, and others by implication. Planned Parenthood has more locations in economically disadvantaged areas, primarily black, than anywhere else. The most dangerous place for a child for "african-american" ethinicity is a mothers womb, where 2 out of 3 children are murdered. The social implications of an ethinic minority killing their own generations is reason enough to stop, even if you dont have a theological ground for anti-abortion.

2. It is better for the natural mother to parent her baby if possible. This is MORE of an investment than adoption, and requires even MORE effort in some cases. It is still better. Dont sugar coat the issue. As great as adoption is, as inherent as it is to the Gospel, to the message of love, to overall righteous behavior, any child wants their own natural mother first, and will hurt deeply if separated.

3. It is better to adopt than to leave children in compromised situations of abuse or neglect. No matter how redemptive, adoption should NEVER be the first choice offered, or the place where finances and social support are initiated. It should be offered far earlier than this.

4. We dont love people for a result. Our role model never "loved people into the Kingdom". He loved. period. We dont love children, mothers, others etc... so that something occurs. We must love them because we do, and we will not be restrained. Jesus is frankly crazy, and intimidating in this regard.

The work of the church should be involved far earlier than these above situations, and we should take the reality of widows, abandonded children and mothers, and orphans as a slap in the face, and a comment about our unfaithfulness and lack of understanding of how we are loved, and how God is earnestly desiring to give us everything we need to love them.
If we do not see this, we have fundemental flaws not only in "theology" but in actual practical relationship.

Awesome feedback,....

"While I have been praying over adoption and thinking it a God thing, my heart breaks. I remember what I felt after birthing my child and I can't imagine giving him up. But I was in a situation where I was loved and cared for and safe. It is not like that for all women. Fear can be such a vehicle for human decisions. But if we (the BRIDE) could love more, I have to hope that it would be all the difference to a women facing these decisions. 1 John 4:18"

Absolutely!!! If indeed God knows how to lead those with young gently, we had better as well.

"It is true that some women are forced into giving up their children for adoption, but it isn't always at the hand of the "business" side of things. Often, it is by the natural mother's family. "

That is a great point. We need to make sure we dont take for granted the type of adoption. I know people with open adoptions, closed, and REALLY open (like regular dialog and visits with the natural mother). These are critical. In our haste to adopt and such, we cannot forget the reality that to be a woman in this istuation is unlike any other situation.

I have a belief that goes even further. I believe that most of the "theology" perpetuated by institutional churches is largely misogynistic. I love my spiritual family, but I disagree on a lot. When we take things like women, and we treat them as any different status wise (and try to explain it off as "God") we end up perpetuating an atmosphere that devalues women, and puts them in modes where decisions that are difficult normally, are downright impossible.

I actually know a woman who was pregnant, went to Georgia to have the baby and pick out the perfect adoptive parents. She found the ultimate couple (who were bi-racial in the same exact way as the baby (south american btw...)), and made a quality decision to care for this baby, and make as healthy an environment as possible. She actually was accosted IN A CHURCH by an older woman yelling at her that she might as well KILL THE BABY as adopt it out. What a wounded, broken lady to say this.

Now this is radical, and over the top, and I realize it. However, I only know a a very small amount of women who ever adopted out a baby, so this is a high percentage for me. I also know a woman who lived with a family for 9 months, at at the end decided to keep her child. He is now 15-16 years old, and she struggle through this with her own issues etc... and it is a testament to how a simple sacrifice for a few months could be more powerful than adoption.

The issue really is this... honoring women. If they are pregnant, or not. Honoring them and providing all the support they need, and helping them through these decisions only they can make. And adoption should be the last result, not the first pitch made to her.

Why I beleive the Adoption Industry is Human Trafficking Part 3

I did some investigating and found loads of websites of adults against adoption! Wow. Most of these were natural mothers (they prefer to use that term rather than "birth mothers" and I understand why after reading their thoughts), and they honestly feel manipulated into giving up their children by the adoption industry. They actually feel like they were the victims of predatory practices by individuals involved in the business of poaching babies from women for couples who were infertile.


Just the thought of it makes me feel sick. I do NOT believe that is the majority, nor do I believe people I know that have adopted have ever willingly participated in this practice. To be honest, I dont personally know anyone with adopted kids that dont have "natural" children. Im sure there are some, I just havent met them yet.

But there was some interesting points in this. As a person interested in adoption because of a command to work with widows and orphans, when is a child truly an orphan? That was the main crux of the problem as I read it.

Adoption itself is focused on the reality of a child without any parents or "natural" family. The point of it is to walk in Gods heart for people, and people without family are something He doesnt leave alone.

So the real underlying issue is... We should be encouraging women to birth and raise their own babies. We should be facilitating that at every opportunity. I know this already, but reading these articles brought it back in focus. The reality is, helping a single mother raise her own child is the single best thing to do about the issue of Life.

We shouldnt try to sugar coat adoption. Adoption is the last resort. IT is a beautiful thing, however it is a grevious thing. The fact it exists at all is hurtful. We cannot just focus on the reality of wonderful, loving families as if that is the only aspect. There was great injury in the whole process. And God forbid we did "business" with anyone who influences a woman to give up her child for their commission.

This is where I think my heart has gotten to after thinking and feeling my way about this for a long time. Im not for adoption of newborns in most cases:

1. For one, the potential for manipulation of a woman in crisis is high. I think every attempt should be made to help that woman to parent her child, and all efforts should be put there first.

2. As I understand it,we are so desperate for someone not to have an abortion that we push adoption as the alternative. However, we need to understand that the best thing (and the most expensive, difficult, and personally costly thing) we could do is actually help a single mother (think widow here) grow into motherhood fully respected and empowered to live herself,a nd with her child, regardless of any personal faith decisions or values she would embrace past things that endanger the child.

3. Newborns are easier to adopt out than any other child. Almost everyone I know goes after newborns. While some dont get adopted Im sure, the point is that is where the market is.

4. Children a few years old and more are clearly orphans. They have been abandoned. They were the newborns that either didnt get selected, or they were put in situations that didnt work.
I think this is more towards the bottom of the issue for me. The fact that mothers feel manipulated doesnt mean they were. Hard to say, but true. Im sure some WERE. That is sick, and to stand before God with that makes me shudder. But painting the whole industry with a broad brush and claiming all of it is wrong based on the pain and true anguish of a group isnt correct.

However, take their cries, and listen. Listen to the reality that there is a deeper issue even underneath adoption. It is the cry of a (mostly young) woman, caught in a snare. That is the first problem. The baby isnt the problem, the situation of the woman is. If we are to be wild lovers of people, we cannot bypass this part and say that is for someone elses "calling". It is our first one. Then adoption.

Before I go any further....

Im ranting and raging about adoption costs etc... however I want to reiterate. I know people (Tracie Loux being the #1) who are so earnest about helping, and have such a heart for helping babies get adopted that it is important to separate the people who are earnest, from the industry itself.

These faithful people are enduring this "industry" and working with a failing system to persevere in the work of placing children. Im sure there are people to criticize and critique, but the faithful ones are not the issue.

Lets make sure we keep this in perspective.

Why I believe the "Adption Industry" is the Human Trafficking Part 2

Lets critique some of the ideas communicarted about adoption....

1. Agencies "discount" their fees for adoptions based on ethnic backgrounds, or other issue affecting adoptibility.

Im going to be blunt here. As a small business consultant, I regularly deal with the issues of operating overhead costs, profit margins, sales pricing, market demand etc... and I dont buy this explanation.

It is fundementally impossible to do business at a rate that does not cover overhead.

Scenario A
If you sell widget A at $15,000 and widget B at $39000 and the costs are THE SAME for your overhead (lets say $13000), the your profit on widget A = $2000, and your profit on widget B is $26000, or a combined total of $28000.

If all you have is demand for widget A, you still make a profit, just not as much.

Scenario B
If you sell widget A at $15,000 and widget B at $39000 and the costs are THE SAME for your overhead (lets say $30000), the your profit on widget A = -$15000, and your profit on widget B is $9000, or a combined total of -$6000 and you are out of business.

If all you have is demand for widget A, you have no business to worry about.

It is simply fallacious to say that anyone "discounts" their fees. Lets say it like it is... they "discount" their SALE PRICE. And the average of their PROFIT MARGIN simply needs to be in the positive. Essentially there is a "tax" on buyers of widget B, or a "premium", or an "upcharge". The costs are the same, but they choose to discount their price on certain products because it is offset by the profit on other products.

That is called a LOSS LEADER. It is the 2 bags of tortilla strips for $5 around Cinco De Mayo so you buy 3 jars of salsa that have a high profit margin, and 2 12 packs of beer.

Lets reword this. Lets say Im a pimp. I have 3 prostitues, 1 gorgeous ex model, 1 average looking, and 1 disabled woman. The price is so high for the ex model, but the demand is still there. Good marketing and price setting on my part. The average looking woman doesnt have the same demand until the price comes down. I set the price to keep the demand as high as possible without losing money. My disabled hooker is so undesirable, that I have to "discount my fees" to make sure she gets a fair shot at income.

That sound like B.S. doesnt it? If I didnt make enough on any one of them, I would get rid of them.... Crass and crude, but in my mind pretty close to it.

If the process is the same for a caucasian as another race, but the "fee" is different, we should just simply say outright "The fee structure varies because of demand, and we discount our service prices and make it up on other adoptions to cover the costs".

Im not accusing anyone of lying. Im simply stating that this adotpion industry is a flat out market, and a pretty efficient one at that. And lets not say "we discount our fees", lets say it for what it is "We cannot get the price we want, so we charge differently based on our assesment of what the market will bear".

I do this ALL THE TIME with companies.

Why I believe the "Adption Industry" is the Human Trafficking Part 1

Tracie Loux, whom I love dearly, has written a great post on costs of adoption here. Tracie is an absolutely legitimate, caring person whom I heartily endorse to help with Adoptions. What I am about to say should not be taken as an attack against her, or the agency she works for etc... Read her blog post, and then follow my thoughts here.

Human Trafficking is the exploitation of humans for gain, typically financial. Most often, it is the use of weaker individuals, especially helpless, constrained, or disadvantaged.

Therefore, I believe that if I make a personal profit from the use of any human outside of their will and involvement, I am at least running the risk of participation in this, if not outright doing it.

It isnt enough to list the costs. The issue is WHY the costs exist, and what the profit is. I assume that most people involved in adoption do so because they care about it. But Im not convinced 100% of them are motivated by concern. Not only that, the burden of proof is on the agency to demonstrate they do not profit from this. "A workman is worth of his wages", this is true. However, there is a realistic limit on how much wages is righteous.

I am coming to the conviction that any adoption agency should make public their accounting, including specifically salary related to directors and executives. Any adoption agency that is not a non-profit corporation, business, should demonstrate they are effectively a "not for profit" business and expose any salary related disbursements. All Adoption agencies should be 3rd party audited if they make any claim to be non-profit, or not for profit.

How many agencies are willing to take this challenge. I bet next to none.....

Its time to give....

http://storinguptreasuresinheaven.blogspot.com/


Read this blog for the last few weeks. Then give me money. Seriously. OR send to to them directly via paypal. If you need a tax deduction (And I reccommend it) contact me.

If you are adopting, sow into someone elses adoption. If you plan on adopting, sow into this so you have a harvest. If you arent going to adopt, give into this because it is right to support neglected and abused children finding homes in loving families. If you dont believe in GOd, or beleive there is one, do this because the universe recognizes what you are doing. If you claim to be a follower of Christ give with joy because you are required to.... Tell your friends and your communities about this one. $5 helps. $50 helps.

Im not ashamed to ask for money for orphans.... ever. And I dont ask you to give into something I havent. They need $5000+ dollars because the human trafficking of children requires their own pimp fee. I will post later on that, but trust me, this is a racket that is totally out of line.

The real deal

Finally, real BBQ. Thanks to Nick, we went to L C's BBQ. It was by FAR the best BBQ I have had so far. Jacks Stack is good, theur Baby Backs are hard to beat. This place was sooo good it put it overthe top. Awesome Onion Rings, good fries, excellent Burnt ends, Excellent Ribs cooked all the way, Smoked Beef.

This is the place.


Our trip to Chicago was fun. Longer drive than anticipated, we ended up going right to the resturant. Tompolobampo was the best mexican food I have ever had. In reality, it is so far beyond normal mexican that it is like comparing 2 totally different concepts. Kind of like a nylon string guitar vs. an electric guitar.

We had a 5 course tasting menu. Danie got a different on than me, and I got the wine paring. The wine paring was so well done I was beyond surprised. Things were matched so well you could really experience the difference with and without the wine.

Danielle and I stumbled out of there and went to our hotel. Our hotel was a little odd. Chicago is quite a neat place, especially downtown. Our hotel was trying hard to be hip, and yet they played 80's music in the hallways, which was weird. I was up a good part of the evening. That much food, with that much com[plexity is more than I can handle. We plan to never go out liek that without digestive enzymes!

I hung with my beautiful wife. We went to the Field Museum of natural history, and saw a cool exhibit of native americas people. We wore out, went to get Deep Dish pizza, and ended up finding a Trader Joes downtown! The only TJ's with an elevator I have ever seen.

We picked up some gorceries, and drove around Lake Michigan, and downtown. Then we went back to the hotel and got hooked on "In Treatment" which is a TV show about therapy sessions. Wow.

We got up the next day, and had a mishap with our front desk. After a while things got worked out. However I missed an exchange where the valet man spouted off a smart ass remark to my wife. I found out as we were leaving, and Im glad I wasnt there. I would have been even more of a jerk, and we would have ahd a jerk contest.

We made it back int he rain, and are settling in.

Off to the WIndy City

Takin my babe to Chicago. Eating here and wandering around for a "babymoon" before Huckleberry pops out and changes our lives.

I already miss my girls!! LOL. But we need to get away.

Wow

Todd emailed me about this book he heard about. Someone we had both met, (a simple man who lives a simple message came to our area long ago when I contacted him, and he really affected my heart and life in a good way, during a dark time. He came, stayed over at Todd and Kims, and then went on his way) had another friends who wrote a book he highly recommends.

I thought I had ordered it months ago, but something got mixed up. I went to order some other books at amazon, and it remembered my previous attempt (I guess a good case for cookies?). I ordered it.

I finished it last night crying, almost weeping. Im glad I bought 3 copies, and they are all committed in my heart to specific people that are on my heart.

As I read this book, I didnt learn a whole lot of new stuff. I more had a remembering. As I read these words, I realized how much God has done in and for my life. So much more than is evident ont he outside yet. And how many things had gotten revealed, and then essentially shut up in me.

So much creativity. Holy spirit is so wild, and I forget it. How compassionate and gentle and self sacrificing Yeshua is. How totally trustworthy and stable and consistent and giving Abba is. How determined to heal, at any cost to themselves. No cost is outside of the discussion. No time restraints, no resistance too big. Pain is simply a stepping stone into deeper dialog, just as great joy. They are both share the same intended endpoint when life is surrendered to them.

And then as I went to bed, I asked God simply "Why did I forget all this? Why dont I live hardly any of this consciously?" It seems to wasteful for God to do the things done in my life, and for me to sit in object difference.

"Vanity"

Yep. I dont have any reason to brag. I have had tremendous encounters with God. All the big ones I have heard about. And I am finding that I am still in the immaturity part. I took the truth, and turned it as power and position and applied it to others instead of allowing it to empower me to love MORE and more DEEPLY.

My humanity saw something, and hijacked it. I have seen everyone I know personally do this. It is the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Truth is good, and when we coem to know more of it, we know what ISNT. And we get distracted and turn against Evil, rather than rejoicing in the Truth (a characteristic of Love). And some of us catch it quicker than others.

I have all too easily allowed myself to be defined by what I am NOT ABOUT! And I catch it. Holy Spirit helps me. And I surrender. I dont know how God does it.

One of the main reasons Im not living in a steady stream of this, is because it would cause me to stumble. Knowledge without intimacy and self control/focus on the real only causes me to descend into the non-real. God doesnt want me to do that. God doesnt cause people to unlove someone.

I desire to turn. I desire to re-turn. I want a life flooded with revelation. I want it to course through me and out of me into a violent force. I want people around me to be shook up by the wildness I have seen in the eyes of a man stretched out on my behalf, becoming my curse, and screaming out for me. I want the colors again. I want the smells and the creativity. I want the smallness (and even distortion of space and time) that comes when YHWH is locating around me. I want my kids to see past this thin veneer of self indulgent life. I want them to shake false convictions and make evil unstable and obvious. I want power to Love, especially down tot he practical.

So I recommend the book as a good catalyst. It has its weak points. It is human. But it is divine in origin, that much is clear. God is speaking here. Some people are positioned to hear it right now. If not this book, then do whatever edifies you enough to get real today.

http://www.theshackbook.com/

We Adopted too!!!

Randy Told me we could adopt right now. It is cheaper, faster, and we could pick anyone we wanted. :

stuff i think: Who Knew?

So I adopted Tracie Loux. She is our favorite early adopter, and she is helping so many other people adopt I figured she might need a little adoption of her own.

Here she is (or I guess Here Who Is).... our darling, creative, special new member of the Henry Family...

A weird Industry (Adoption Relief Part 2)

1. I stumbled upon a niche industry. Lets be clear, it is an industry. There is a LOT of money exchanging hands for a product AND a service.

2. It is slightly untypical because in the industry, the "manufacturers" are typically inconsistent (they dont start producing and continue) in production capacity, vary dramatically in product configuration, and have hyper-dynamic and hyper-critical cycles of production (they will deliver product within x amount of time, and all have different specific needs within a greater set of typical requirements).

3. It is complicated, because the legal issues involved dont permit direct connection between the "buyer" (or "end user") and the mfg. In fact, there is a set of "distributors" and/or "dealers" that represent the mfg, and you can only truly accomplish what you want by using them.

4. These "dealers" have a vested interest in you not understanding or knowing how to navigate the process. They are in fact "agencies", and in almost all cases are the holders of the keys. It is possible to go outside the agencies, but the agencies will share with you horror stories of what can happen to you if you dont use them.

5. The nature of the "transaction" has an inherent emotional context that renders both sides of the transaction extremely vulnerable.

6. The reality of product preference is very strong. The demand side wants a typical profile of product, and yet the mfg have basically no ability to influence the product.

7. Therefore, the market itself creates a dramatic price premium on certain product. It is so similar to a futures market it is surprising. It is very unregulated except for the distributors. I even heard a "dealer" claim they "discount" specific product, however I dont believe it. If they can do business for a discounted rate, and still stay in business, then by definition, it is still profitable. Therefore, they are actually either ABLE to charge more for one product than another, or at best use the discounted product as a "loss leader".

8. The main issue the dealers have is they understand all the processes, represent the mfg by having what seems to be an "exclusive contract" on the product, and have the unique right to administer the exchange process.

9. To my understanding, this makes the whole market a dealer (3rd party) managed, supply side driven market. The "consumer" has very little ability to influence the market, and very little ability to direct the transaction except for to set a price/budget, and follow directions.

The fact this industry is dealing with a moral issue is what brings this whole thing into perspective. It is not right to claim that the people involved are evil, or morally off. In fact, most people probably get involved for many good reasons. But the reality is, this industry seems to be very flawed, very complex, and very "proprietary"for the most part. In fact, at its best, it is a really messed up, labor intensive, cost intensive thing that brings great joy to people, and at worst, seems to emulate the very industry it stand in direct opposition to.

I have come to the conclusion that the infrastructure is overly bloated, complex, and totally incapable of handling the current load of product, the supply chain is grossly mismanaged, the delivery mechanisms are inefficient, and the ability of the sales channel to effectively serve the market is to convoluted to work well long term.

There has to be a market revolution.

It has to change from a supply side, dealer managed process to an efficient, demand driven, demand managed, dealer transparent model where the marketplace can initiate the process, self educate, automate all data processing, and eliminate as much of the overhead as possible. This will allow the demand to outstrip the supply.

The "dealers" in the marketplace will simply become mechanical agents able to process hundreds (if not thousands) or transactions a month. The margins will be razor thin, and highly competitive, because the "tribal knowledge" aspect will be eliminated. The process will become self evident, and normal. I picture it as very similar to the real estate market. The transaction itself is fairly common, the choice of the agent in more of convenience and service than actual difference in transaction control. Or similar to the many online brokerages that allow you to trade yourself, supervised by rules and regulations that are automated.

The "mfg" will find themselves in a situation where it is so easy to find a qualified buyers en masse (in fact, they find a huge void of product, and overwhelming demand), that they can easily solve their production problem within hours or days and have the same confidence level that many other high intensity, high emotion transactions currently do (i.e. selling a house, selling a car etc...).


The "buyers" will find themselves able to conduct the transactions far more easily than ever before. Technology is a huge part of this, as well as a "Wal Mart" approach to the process. Large scale, high volume transaction is only possible with solid technology on both sides,a nd agressive management and attention to demand. Just as Wal-Mart is able to know constantly the state of affairs in any store, on any product, and feed that data back to its supply chain, this industry has to automate most of the data transactions to the point of ubiquity, and invisibility. The buyer will be aware of very little, and yet confident in the consistency and integrity of the transaction.

As well, the ability for a buyer to go find this transaction should be as easy and close and typical as a local store. It shouldnt be arduous or require special effort to accomplish.

this is all still very rough in my mind, but I will tell you this, Im ready to do something about it. Even in a little way. I might be grandiose in my concepts, but this will get very practical, very soon. If the profit motive can be removed in this, to the point where this "industry" crumbles, and the ability for more and more people to commit themselves to this process faster, easier, cheaper, while improving the integrity and respect the mfg deserves, Im happy.

I would burn this mother down if I could.

Until then, I will make an attempt to invade it, change it, rail against it, and rally for it all at the same confusing time. It is time to take practical, pragmatic steps to help people adopt children. To level the playing field, and bring babies into their destiny. Its time for Adoption Relief.

AdoptionRelief

I attended an adoption seminar put on by by an adoption consultant team from Georgia. They have established an adoption consultant out here in KC that we think is wonderful. I sat and watched my friends speak, and saw a room filled with people who are about ready to put themselves in front of a tsunami of sorts, and I was thrilled.

Danielle and I fully intend on adopting, and the debate was whether we adopt before we have biological children, or after, or intermixed. Due to our own biology, it is decided at least that we will have biological children first, and possibly interweave our children as time goes forth.

Many of my close friends know and have supported my interest in this for years. I tried to figure out how I could ever adopt myself, but had to settle for simply anonymously contributing to adoption, and now the possibility and reality of adopting myself is so exciting.

I am excited that Danie is pregnant, and the challenges of a new baby are sometimes daunting. You would think I would be confident, and in some ways I am. In others, I simply think "Having babies is for young people"!!! LOL. Turning 38 in a few weeks I realize Im just not the same as I was 13+ years ago!

But a part of me is just as excited in adopting. The experience, and the challenge. The reality that there is someone out there God is keeping ready for me to have in spite of the nature of unplanned or unwanted pregnancy is fascinating.

However the one thing that keeps coming up is the inevitable difficulty of adoption itself. Honestly, I dont know that it should ever be easy enough to be undertaken lightly. It is as much a sacrament to me as any other example because the power of desiring a child that you did not conceive is an eternal testimony to the transcendent message of Gods love. In fact, Im paying out of pocket for our bio-child, and an adopted child will probably be much more expensive. The cost, the investment, the labor will in some ways be greater to go get this baby than having one naturally.

But once the commitment is made, the process is much, much too difficult. Especially in light of what I believe is a coming wave of obedience and repentance about this issue by the body of Christ. The simple reality of the current status of adoptions necessitates a different model, let alone the reality of a much hoped for change in the ability of women to abort children and add an overwhelming amount of orphans into a broken system.

In attending this seminar, I realized that while I could continue to pour my efforts into generating revenue to donate, I have other skills and abilities that bring help. By nature, Im a crazy odd combination of skill sets that allow me to be creative, and analytical at the same time. I dont know how or why. Data structures and process make sense to me. And in listening to the presentation, I realized a few things, and they connected. Some are obvious, and some are silly, and some are my personal convictions. And I hope to provide some "Adoption Relief" coming soon.