The Mission
My wife and I want to adopt a child. And this blog is, among many, many other things, our chronicle.
To help us bring home a child, please purchase my novel, The Man in the Box on Amazon. You can also get it for your Kindle here. See below for what people are saying about it. Join the facebook page to get updates.
With this blog, I hope to enlighten you with truths about adoption and a myriad of other topics. I want to entertain you with book and movie recommendations. And I want to stimulate your mind and your heart toward topics on religion and Christianity.
So this blog is dedicated to our son whom we have yet to meet and to all of you who have ventured into the crazy, unstable world of adoption, and to those who are thinking about it. Enjoy the versatile posts, and keep checking in for new surprises!
Looking for an editor? Click here.
What readers are saying about The Man in the Box available on Kindle and Amazon, Nov. 30:
“This was a heart-stopping suspense adventure like I haven’t read in a long time. The author does a great job of interfusing light humor with the intense action moments–and there are a lot of them. From battling dinosaurs to ghost-demons, I was always anxious for Robbie and wondered how he would make it out of the danger. Now that is building suspense when you’re wondering how a character could ever get out of his predicament even though you know he has to.”
-Cherese Vines, author and blogger
“Andrew Toy has created a unique and interesting story that spans several genres from mystery and adventure to fantasy … Toy’s debut novel will leave readers talking and will make them instant fans of his storytelling abilities. This will surely be a must-read for every adult that once created a world of their own when they were young, just by using their imaginations.”
-Nicole McManus, reviewer and blogger
“Expect dinosaurs and giant creepy-crawlies. And if that kind of thing scares you, then you’re like me, which means you’ll go ahead and read the book anyway, with no one to blame but yourself for all the flinching you’ll do … There was no going to bed until I’d reached the end. The suspense had me on the edge of my seat with worry about how everyone was going to get out of this, heart thumping out of control the whole time, except for that one minute where it almost stopped.”
-Danielle E. Shipley, author and blogger
“I was not disappointed—I finished it in a day. I had a hard time putting it down … There is more universality here. Robbie comes close to being an archetypal figure. He is Everyman, and his box is everyone’s “box.”’
-Ken Stewart, blogger
“Simple stories distract us. Good stories stir us. Powerful stories move us. Andrew Toy has written a story that rips the shroud covering the silent beast crouching near all of us, the life of emptiness and despair. He creates a compelling narrative truth of life as it is and as we want it; and he offers a peek at a hope for us all. I urge you: Relax in your favorite chair, pull up a footstool, and read The Man in the Box. Be prepared for the peaks and valleys of adventure, fantasy, real life, and war.”
-Sam Williamson, Founding Director, Beliefsoftheheart.com
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Have you checked with Brilliant Books by Graham Cooke and friends? Might get published there! Also, check out Bethel Church Redding CA (www.ibethel.org) and people like Bill Johnson, Kris Vallotton and Heidi Baker (whose adoption-doing as Iris Ministries has changed the face of Mozambique). There are other like-minded people–keep doing what you’re doing!
Oh, and don’t forget to read George Mueller’s story of how he did his orphanages FOR THE GLORY OF GOD ALONE!
Blessings!
…Also, I just read George Mueller’s book a few months ago. My mind believes it, but sadly, my heart doesn’t – at least that it could happen in my life.
It can. You are on the right track. Just keep on keeping on, brother!
thanks for subscribing to my blog. My sister adopted 2 kids from China and we just spent Passover with our friends who did a domestic open adoption of the very amazing little Aaron.
Thank you for following my blog! I wish you the best of luck with your journey, I’ll sure keep an eye on it
Best,
Kelly
I have an adopted daughter named Brianna.
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I wish you the best of luck in finding James. Wherever he may be (or she), he’s already a lucky kid.
adoptingjames, Hope your James brings many smiles to you, when you succeed. I was adopted as a child (way back in 1958) and my husband and I have adopted a son out of the foste
r system. You might consider foster-parenting as a way to find James, there are so many children right here in the USA that need good, loving parents who will love them no-matter-what, which is what we are called to do as parents. Keep us posted! xx J
Glad you found (and liked) my blog! And I LOVE that you’re starting from the “it is done” point here, knowing that James is meant to find you, and you are meant to find him(/her). This is the way the Universe truly works…good for you for applying such wisdom! I hope the quotes/vibration of my site brings you peace, joy, and support on your path. Sending Light – Julianna
I’ve always wanted to adopt a child, of course when it’s the time for this. Great blog!
Thank you for following our blog! Your message is inspiring and I am looking forward to getting updates on your journey. Best wishes to you and your wife.
Thanks for following my blog. Both my boys were adopted as infants and we also live in KY. My wife is an adoption consultant who you might want to connect with- http://www.fouradoptions.com God bless James and you two on this wirlwind journey of adoption!
Thanks for following my blog, I’ll be keeping up with you, too. The church I belong to supports orphanages, one family alone adopted 4 from the Phillipines. A friend adopted a medical needs son from foster care here. Every child deserves a loving home, one I strongly suspect you’d provide
.
Good luck to you both. Remember that God’s time is the right time. Be patient and diligent.–Marilyn
Thanks for stopping by my April ABC blog…I look forward to getting back to writing more posts on grace in May…but am enjoying the spring break of making up some new words and posting sign language photos…
Yes on the adoption interest…after our older two sons were born I felt like we should adopt, and had just convinced my husband to be open to my getting some information when we found out that I would be bringing one more boy into the world! I made, and have kept some wonderful friends in the adoption world that I met online and would be glad to connect you with them.
How funny…James is my top boy name right now after watching a movie called The Way that is about a pilgramage in honor of St. James.
Girl names? Lucy. No doubt. It’s my current girl name favorite.
Thank you for following our blog….You are in our prayers, James is a wonderful name. My oldest brother and nephew are both James……My favorite girls name is Elizabeth, not shortened to Liz, Eliza, Betty, Beth, Lizbeth or any of the usual nicknames. Which by the way means gift from God.
You began following me at deletewheat.com– My adoption story is there, and a couple of links to others- We adopted are so blessed, to be. You adopt-ers are blessed with the unconditional love we need.
Thank you for following my blog. I wish you blessings on your mission and will share your blog with my friends as well.
I think that you two have a wonderful blog and I hope that life is kind to you and finds you your James. But hey if your James is a girl then the name will come. I have my favourites but really, you will know what to call her… because it will come to you. I hope all of the joy of children comes to you. I’m happy to support your blog in any way I can.
What about Jane if James is to be a girl… Love your blog. We took up the adoption process about a year ago. Had to postpone it though. But closer to the end of this year things might look different. Look forward to follow you on your journey further.
Wowzers, what a story! I’m happy to follow your blog and spread the word. Thank you for also following my blog. Best of luck on your adoption journey!
It’s so sad that you have to pay to adopt a baby in the US…
Amazon also has a program that allows authors to self-publish. Give it a shot. In the form of e-books, but you might get some buyers; which, if pointed out to publishers, will help you on that end.
Good luck too!
Yes, I know that we are very lucky to have our own James, though at 22 he’s giving us kind of a hard time at present. Maybe he’s lucky to have us! None of that matters or is your concern. I have no idea how heart breaking it must be to have to face the adoption process. I also have a lovely daughter of 41. I wish you every success with this enterprise and hope that you have a long and happy marriage.
oh this is so beautiful….God will surely bless you…..when you get your baby remember to check back on my blog for health tips!
thanks for visiting . . . there’s always Gemma for a girl
God tests whether you keep at it…..best wishes for all those miles to James!
Thank you for stopping by my blog and following it! I wish you luck in finding ‘James’!
Putting you on my blog roll and will suscribe as well here and twitter. Hoping the best for you.
New to the blog world (writing, anyway). Thanks for the early subscription…I’m subscribing back and looking forward to our future interaction.
Thank you for subscribing to Pure Glory. Your journey to adopt will be quite the blessing in your lives!
What a wonderful idea and site! So glad to support the parents of James:) (Will be thinking of girls’ names, too. (Mother of two adult children here…blessings and joys of my life). Are you interested in Bible names?
(and *thank you* for visiting my blog:) Wishing you many blessings and success!
whitehothair.com
Thanks for subscribing to follow my blog. Hope you are encouraged, inspired and like the pictures I post while in my retirement years. Praying that you will reach you goal of adoping James.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Best wishes, thoughts and prayers in your journey as you and James make your way to each other. Thanks for the follow!
My God-daughter is adopted…as are 4 of her siblings, and they are blessed to be part of a loving, home schooling family with 8 other children! Here is a very touching post she has written for future adoptive parents: http://thoughtsfromtheothersideofthemountain.blogspot.com/2010/07/open-letter-to-adoptive-parents-who.html
Her more up-to-date blog is here: http://mairsmomilies.blogspot.com/ (but I don’t think she has much time to do web stuff nowadays!)
You know the book of James is actually supposed to be called the book of Jacob … and then his wife Rachel comes to mind for a girl’s name … also Jacob = Israel also – which might be interesting if you feel you have some sort of Jewish calling. Blessings .
Thanks for following my blog… I had to come and check yours out because some very good friends of mine are in the midst of trying to adopt from ethiopia (and in the middle of a loooong wait). You might find their story intersting, given your own call to adopt. check them out at http://nateandandrealifunexpected.blogspot.com
Thank you for stopping by and following my blog. Good luck on your search for James, may you find him soon.
With humble gratitude I thank you for following my blog. With great reverance, I will follow yours. I wish you both the best of luck and the best of love. when you find “the child”, that child will know such love. You are an inspiration. Bonne Chance and my prayers are with you.
Rhonda
Great blog! We adopted our daughter from Chile when she was two months old. She is now 22 years old and just became a Park Ranger! We’re very proud of her. We already had two biological children and wanted to do something to give back to the world so we decided on an international adoption. I don’t know whether we helped the world or not, but I do know that adopting her was the best gift we’ve ever given to ourselves. We are very blessed. Good luck with your adoption!
Always glad to connect with others who have the Psalm 86:6 mandate! God places the lonely in families. May James come to yours soon!
Thank you for following my blog. Your ability to inspire others is a great gift from the Lord.
A nice girl name might be Jaclyn.
Just a suggestion.
Valley of Vision is full of goods. Best to you
Our family knows the value and joy of adoption. We adopted a baby girl, only 3 days old, over 45 years ago. She has four children and has a foster baby they hope to adopt. Then I have a son and his age who are in the process of adopting a child from Honduras. God bless you and bring James to you.
Thank you for following my blog…it led me here to yours. I love your mission! What an inspiration!
Olga
I wish you all the luck in finding your James, children are indeed a wonderful thing. I have had experience, though not of adopting, but with 3 children of my own and my brother needing IVF, how the quest to have a child becomes the whoel point of living. Good luck, and thanks for following my blog.
What a wonderful mission! You deserve all the support you can get. I will be following your blog and my prayers that your journey towards adoption goes well!
Thank you for following my blog
What a wonderful idea! Best of luck with everything 
Thanks you for following my blog! I love your concept of trying to find your James, and I know that he (or she) will soon fill your hearts and your lives with love. Every child deserves a loving family. I wish you all the luck in finding each other.
My home church established our own mission – Our Covenant’s Call, which is an orphan and adoption ministry. I will pray for your baby, whoever he/she is, the birth mother and you as you wait. The Lord doesn’t make mistakes and though He is rarely early, He is never late! His perfect timing!
Thanks for stopping by my Post today!
http://www.covenantpres.com/ministries/covenant-call/
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and hitting the “Like” button. We have friends who adopted two girls, a couple years apart, from China. I cannot tell you how much those girls enriched and encouraged all of our lives. One is a senior and just attended prom, (they both are Facebook friends), and it was such a privilege watching her grow up!
Hi there. I’ve really enjoyed taking a look at your blog, and pray that God blesses you as you walk this journey. Thank you for sharing it with the world..Although I am a new blogger (and I’m still trying to figure out the basics)
will pass your mission along!
That’s really awesome. I will help spread the word. I am an adopted daughter of the Father of all creation! We are all adopted, and I completely support what you are doing.
Hi, what a wonderful mission, best wishes to you and thank you for popping in at my site
Hi there, I saw you began to follow my blog, and decided to pop over to your’s to have a quick look, and am plesantly surprised! As a pagan I believe that love in all aspects is very important, especially the relationship between mother and child. So I dearly hope, both as a pagan, and as a careleaver, that you find James, whoever they may be!
Thanks for following my blog, I am so happy to “meet” you guys. Adoption is a very important part of my life, I wish you all the best on the journey to your child
God bless your efforts! Best Wishes!
After your post on books the other day I went through your link to Anne of Green Gables and purchased the set! Good luck and I hope it helped.
Thanks for dropping by my blog!
and blessings in your adoption quest.
Good luck with your adoption. I’ve never had any experience with adoption, and am too old to do it now. I know, however, there are many thousands of children in the U.S. awaiting adoption. So, why are you looking to adopt someone in a foreign country? That is not an adversarial question, just a curious one.
Lastly, thank you for following my blog http://currentopinionsofnews.wordpress.com
I hope you will find the blog worth reading.
Thank you for stopping by. God bless as you search for your own.
After you followed my blog last night, the name Adopting James caught my eye. Of the hundreds of blogs I check out, my heart goes out to you both and the mission on this one. As a fellow Christian, and also having been adopted myself, I understand the pacients and humility needed to stay strong in a process like this.
My mother and father waited years for a baby. My mom often tells me the story of “the phone call”. She taught an elementary school class at the time… my parents had done everything they could to get a baby up to that point and all that was left they could do was wait. And wait and wait….
One morning, my mom would get a phone call. She interruped her class and picked up the line. She says the words on the other end changed her life forever: “Diane, we have a baby for you”.
I wish you both the best in this process, and look forward to the day you receive good news for your new baby! God Bless.
I love Thurman’s quote and discovered it only in the last few months myself. Best of luck to you on your journey to find James. Thanks for following my blog. I hope stories like mine (an adoptee myself) will inspire you, even though I don’t write very often about having been adopted. I have a friend who has two adopted daughters, and she has just launched a blog about the challenges and joys of that journey. Thought you might enjoy checking it out: http://inpursuitofatoolbox.wordpress.com/
Your mission brought chills to my spine. What a beautiful idea to bring such a everlasting joy. I wish you all luck and goodness you deserve. Beautiful blog really!
I want to say “thank you” for following me. I will certainly follow you, and will add you to my blog roll. You will also be in my prayers. Wayne
Hey there Andrew and Sarabeth, thanks for the follow and I’m now following you. I wish you all the best in your mission to adopt James, he or she is already blessed to have wonderful parents like you. Peace and love to your family
Hello Andrew and Sarabeth, thank you for following Heights of Love. I look forward to seeing who James is
Would you consider a domestic adoption or only international? Praying for you to have endurance on your journey.
This is a really interesting blog, and I wish you all the very best with ‘James’
I am extremely impressed! We will be happy to advertise for you… what a beautiful mission!
Blessings,
shalimamma at lifevictorious.com
Thank you for visiting and subscribing to my blog this morning! May you be blessed with the privilege of parenting James, in God’s timing and will!
Thank you for following my blog! Wow, what a reason to start a blog! Adopting James. God has a way of working things out without much help from us. All we need do is ask, trust and thank Him in advance. Your James is on the way!
Blessings,
Rebecca
good luck to you. i was adopted.
Thirty years ago we adopted an eight year old girl, a gift from God. I will tell you that the mind attracts what it wants, what it needs, and what it fears. God made you that way. Your son will come to you. No book, no amount of money, no pleading, no broadcasted wish – nothing you do will make that happen. So tell God.
About your book,,,God works the same way with that, too.
A friend of mine just adopted a little girl who was left on the streets. her dedication was on sunday and she is the most precious little angel God created. I pray you will find your James or Jamie if its a girl. gr8 blog and thanks for your follow. Deb
Hi ya’ll I am just now checking back in with you after my ‘guest” spot. Thank you for asking me to do that! it brought back wonderful memories and reminded once again how the Lord works to put mom dads and kids together. Remember from my story, I prayed and God told me to get ready-are you ready?-and then I got the call. I have often wondered what might have happened if I hadn’t gotten ready as the Lord said to. I have found, over the years, that when He gives me a specific direction there’s a good reason for it-and I better do it.
Thank you for following my blog. Wishing you all the best in your quest for a child. My younger brother was adopted, mixed race into a white family. We could not have loved him more. Sadly he passed on at 22 years old in a road accident.
this is fantastic! God always supplies! and in your case, He will entertain and make people happy too-along with allowing you to do what you love to do-write!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE UPDATE. don’t forget to tell me when you publish and when you meet James. I am praying for you all and for the life you will have as a family…hopefully I will have some news too about what God has shown me and others in my life that I am to do with stories. Please keep me up to date so i can pray correctly! its the only way to pray specifically!! much love, care and thrills for you…
Cindy
Here is a blog, a friend of mine, a beautiful story. What a journey! http://thehatleyhome.blogspot.com/
I want to thank you for following my blog. I shall joyously oblige yours!
Peace,
Alexandria Sage
Thank you for following my blog! I took a look around your page and really liked what I saw. You are on a noble mission, and I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.
Thank you!
All the best on your endeavour….May god grant you your wishes soon.
Hello. I am adopted and so is my brother. We luckily have the most wonderful parents and I could not be happier. In my blog I have written one post where I talk directly to my birth mother (I have never met her). You are more than welcome to visit and read. It’s called ‘To the Woman who Bore Me’.
James is a lucky boy to have such a wonderful family waiting for him and may God grant that you and he meet as soon as possible
God Bless
PS:-you can always call the girl Jamie
I’ll have to check that out. Thank you so much.
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Thanks for following my blog.
I must say I love yours too already and I just went thorugh today. And the post on Islam, very enlightening.
God bless you and your move to adopt “James”.
:d
Thanks for following my blog. I wish you good fortune and send you blessings on your step toward adoption…and book publication. http://amirhbahati.wordpress.com
Thank you!
Thanks for visiting my blog. Sounds like a very worthy cause you’re blogging for and interesting too. I’ll add my follow to help.
Thank you!
Thanks for visiting my Ransom Man blog and viewing my ramblings on faith and dog adoptions. Wish you the best in your James adoption efforts.
Thanks for sharing your story with us. I can’t wait to hear your stories along the way to adopting James (or Hannah – who also desperately wanted and received a baby in God’s time).
Have you checked out self-publishing? Amazon has a great model https://www.createspace.com/ . Also, The Creative Penn is a great resource. http://www.thecreativepenn.com/
And remember, “all things are possible with God.”
In love with you guys! I became an adoptive parent by “accident”. Awesomest journey ever! Best of luck!
I’d love to hear your story! Email me. adoptingjames@aol.com
I have no idea how long ago this was posted, but if you have yet to find James (funny my adopted brother is James, but trust me my James is not your James) my experience has taught me this:
There is a reason adoption takes as long as it does, the perfect child will come to you, it just takes time. My parents asked me when I was eight if I wanted to have a sibling, as if the fact that I had been saying since the day I could talk that I wanted a sibling was all a lie. From eight till eleven and a half, a child was not placed with us.
We said we didn’t care if it was a boy or a girl, age didn’t matter (well technically Mom and I wanted a baby, Dad wanted someone closer to my age), we played it like my parents were the ones having a baby and left it up to God. Sadly the incisiveness burned us. Or at least they said it did, because “it is easier to place a specific child with a family.” Specifically a boy or specifically a girl, but to me that was so unfair; what we said we wanted a girl… we would never have James and both of our lives would have been completely different.
The interviews are brutal; I was constantly asked in various ways what types of behaviors my parents displayed… more than insinuating they were inappropriate toward me which was annoying because A. they were not, B. they wouldn’t let up on the subject, and C. being that I was an adopted child, and I had been with them eight years but no one had ever asked me that before, kind of freaked me out.
Then finally James came. Everything has been worth it for me; he is one of my favorite people alive. One thing you have to keep in mind being adopted follows the adoptee, we were turned away from people that were supposed to love us unconditionally, who were supposed to walk over fire for us, and murder anyone that tried to take us, instead we were tossed aside (no matter the reason, even if the reason makes more sense than keeping us). And while reason and hope and love SO MUCH LOVE can greatly affect our happiness it is something that resonates somewhere deep inside. My suggestion would be when your James comes to you, to allow him to speak of his feelings and if you can afford it a psychologist to help with the transition.
My parents and James parents will forever and always be the people that fed, clothed, nurtured, and consoled us; the ones that bought the diapers, and kissed the scrapes and bruises, and served us Thanksgiving dinner… family are those that want you, it’s just hard to see that from time to time.
I wish you the best of luck finding your James.
“Family are those that want you,” – that’s beautiful. Thank you for all the tips. This was a wonderful comment, and we will definitely treat James with care in regards to him being adopted.
Hi! My name is Sue, and I’m from SlimKicker, a fitness/diet app and website. I found your blog today and it captured my interest!
I’m contacting you b/c we’re about to release a fitness tracker (similar to FitBit) early next year, and are looking for bloggers who would be interested in receiving 1 for free to review when it is out (negative or positive).
Would you be interested in doing this? You can email me at: sue (at) slimkicker (com) with ‘Review’ in the email heading if you are.
A brief explanation of who we are, our website SlimKicker basically turns your fitness/diet goals into a level-up RPG game. The tracker will work in conjunction the website, and allow people to track calories burned and number of steps they walk automatically. The more they exercise, the more points they rack up! That’s basically how it will work.
Anyway, hope to hear back either way…
- Sue
P.S. You can choose not to publish this comment as this is more of a private comment
Thanks for following. My only experience with adoption is my best friend who gave up her child when she was in her early 20s. I was there when she gave birth. She met with the adoptive parents prior to the birth and has an open adoption. It is now 10 years later and she occasionally gets an email and a pic of her daughter. My friend is now happily married and pregnant with her second child in the marriage. It was the best outcome for her at the time and she has never regretted her decision. Of note, the adoptive parents were told that they were not going to be able to have children naturally. A few years ago they had a baby girl completely out of the blue and naturally.
That’s wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for the follow! As the story progresses, ‘Witches’ may well be in need of a solid editor. I will definitely keep you in mind.
Great! Thanks!
Thank you for following my blog. Good Luck in the adoption tornado! My family boasts seven adopted children between five sisters. Each one was gut-wrenching, but amazing once it was finished.
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Wow, I really hope you are able to get this kid.
Us, too!
Thanks for the follow. Good journey.
Thank you for following my blog. Writers are prolific readers–the more to read the better! Birthing a novel or a child whether through natural means or adoptive means entails lots of patience and prayer. May God grant you both in full measure! I’m glad to have learned about your editing resources. I may use them one day! Blessings!
Thank you for following my blog. I wish you all the best in your adoption process for James. May God be your strength and counsel as you journey through.
Blessings,
Joelle