Pictures...

I "borrowed" these pictures from the 3A blog. They are pictures taken during the last mission trip. Hopefully I will get some pictures from my friends who just went down there. I'm still waiting for one friend who went in Jan. to give me the pictures he took :o)

Shout & Praise God!!!

We're in Parquet!!! Praise God!!! Thank you Lord!!! Now please pray that we get out very quickly! :o) Please also pray that our dear friends Don & Teresa, & Cathy & Troy exit IBESR very soon & quickly enter Parquet so we can bring our children home at the same time. Thanks!

Just as a reminder to those of you not familiar with the Haitian adoption process I am reposting the steps I posted back in Nov. to show you what steps we have already gone through & what steps we still need to complete.

These are steps that are taken once our dossier reaches Haiti...which happened May 2007.

Minister of Foreign Affairs (1st legal)• Documents notarized and authenticated are now legalized.
DHS
• Submit Orphan First Petition and birth parents interview happens, DNA testing is done if requested by DHS officer.
Justice of the Peace
• Judge issues a formal request for IBESR to exam potential adoptive family as permanent family for child.
IBESR• Family and child’s dossier are examined. 4 signatures required to exit.
Civil Judge• Issues official adoption decree.
Parquet• Social Representative (similar to a prosecutor in a US court), insures that the above departments have done everything legally.
Civil State Officer
• New birth certificate is issued.
Archive• Verifies all signature’s, certificate is issued. (Similar to being notarized)
Minister of Justice
• Above verifications are now legalized (similar to notary being authenticated).
Passports• Minister of Interior
Insures all of the above documents have not been falsified.
Political Affairs
Gives final authorization to issue the passport.
• Passport is issued
DHS• Take adoption decree to finalize orphan first petition.
Embassy• Visa is issued.
****We get the call to come and get them**** Do the HBWD & get on an airplane!!!

The Work of the Potter...

The following is a devotion that Randy & I read this morning out of our "Quiet Moments with God for couples" devotion book by Honor Books. I have always liked the analogy of God as the potter & we are the clay so this particular devotion really spoke to me & I would like to share it with you.

"I went down to the potter's house, & behold, he wrought a work on the wheels."
Jeremiah 18:3 KJV

Have you ever watched potters begin to shape vessels? It is a most amazing sight, because the potters will only succeed if they get the unformed chunk of clay in the exact center of the wheel. Once the clay is centered, the skill of the potters can be realized. The potters carefully wet their hands, select the clay, & place it on the wheel. As they begin to turn the wheel, the lumps in the clay are revealed. Spinning the wheel faster, they smooth out the lumps, & the clay begins to take on an unruffled apprearance.

This is just the first part of the task. We now see them shape the mass of clay so that its heart is perfectly aligned with the very center of the wheel. This requires both strength & a loving, delicate touch. This "centering" is the most important step in the preparation process, because it gives the piece strength & integrity. Our spiritual walk with God is just like this. We begin as a hunk of clay with many lumps, & through God's grace & skill, we are transformed into beautiful, strong vessels for the Kingdom. But we must align our very heart with the center of God's will. God is always at work in our lives, especially during the times of proper preparation.

Henry Ward Beecher said, "We are always on the anvil; by trials God is shaping us for higher things." Of this you can be rest assured; When you allow God to shape you, He will always use you for good.

"Be simple: take our Lord's hand & walk through things." Father Andrew

Tom Petty & My Life...

You're probably wondering what in the world Tom Petty has to do with my life. We aren't related...I have never met him...haven't even been to one of his concerts although I would have liked to "back in the day." I don't listen to much secular music anymore but I still have my favorites & Tom Petty has always been one of them.

I liked him & his music for several reasons. I liked his clothes because he always wore whatever he wanted to...not what some one told him he should wear. I liked his outfits because they were different without being "out there." I really liked his hat collection...I wonder if he still has all those hats???

Although he may not have the best singing voice in the world...I like it. I think that sometimes a person's heart & love for music can over shadow the fact that they don't have the best singing voice...notice I said "sometimes" :o)

He wrote many of his songs & I connected to the words of many of them. Several of them could be used as anthems for my life such as "I Won't Back Down", "Runnin' Down A Dream," "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around," & "The Waiting." I use to think "I Won't Back Down" was my theme song...and it was to a certain degree but as I continue to be refined by God's Holy Spirit...it isn't anymore. I do however, think that Phoebe has picked it up as her theme song...Lord help me! :o) Right now I am definetely in another period of "The Waiting...is the hardest part." I keep telling God that I have this waiting down because I've done it so much...that I really don't need to do it anymore...but He's not buying it :o) So until then...I'll continue to wait...it's better than "Free Fallin' :o)

Weekend Polling Question...

Randy & I think that Cole, Reece's little brother, looks like a little Peyton Manning. All he needs is a Colts jersey! Do you think he looks like Peyton Manning or not? Yes or no would suffice but you can elaborate if you would like :o)

The most awesome call!

My friend Angela, pictured with Caleb, called me via Skype yesterday. She's in Haiti right now & she called so I could see Caleb crawl & trying to walk. It was so precious. I could see & hear them but they couldn't see or hear me so I "chatted" when I needed to say something. It was awesome just to watch him crawl, stand up, take a couple of steps, fall down, get back up, sit back down, crawl, play with computer cords, play with a cup, play with a puzzle piece. It really warmed my heart & it did Phoebe a world of good. She has been so sad lately because they are not home yet & she's not gotten to spend time with them like Randy & I have. After the phone call her whole countance changed. It was wonderful! Thanks again Angela! I love you! Give my "little man" much love from his mama & papa. Please give hugs to our girls too!

Papa is on his way in May!!!

I bought Randy's airplane ticket last night so he can go to Haiti with the May mission trip. I am sooooooooooooo excited that he's going to visit our children. He has been to Haiti once last July so it's time for him to see them again. I know they will be so excited!

Happy 9 months Caleb!!!

We love you so much little man & can't wait until you are home!!!

Wedding Day...

Phoebe was having a "pretend" wedding day today. I fixed her hair & did her makeup...note to self...I know now why I won't be fixing them on her "real" wedding day :o) Then I helped her into her wedding dress. She walked down the "aisle" with her daddy & then went through the "ceremony." We were then at the dance & she was dancing with her daddy which is what the video is about.

The test...

I personally have never "enjoyed" taking tests. They didn't make me very nervous like they did some people but I still didn't like them although I knew they were necessary to measure what I had or had not learned. As an adult out of school, I still have tests. They usually aren't the paper & pencil type any more. They usually come in the form of daily life tests that test my spiritual & moral integrity, & my mental & emotional fortitude. I still don't like them but I know they are necessary. The following is a devotion from Dr. David Jeremiah that speaks to this.

The testing of your faith produces patience.
James 1:3

Recommended Reading
Psalm 17:3-5

About a hundred years ago, a Bible college in Lestershire, New York,
asked Walter Martin to help them compile a hymnal for school use. He
moved there with his family and took up the assignment. One Sunday he
left the house for a preaching appointment, but his wife Civilla felt
ill and stayed home. That evening as Civilla thought about the struggles
of life, she wrote the words to the poem, "God Will Take Care of You."
Returning home, Walter read the poem and composed the music; and a great
hymn was born.

The last stanza of this hymn says, "No matter what may be the test, God
will take care of you." Our trials and troubles are often tests. Genesis
22:1 says that God tested Abraham. David said, "I know also, my God,
that You test the heart" (1 Chronicles 29:17). Psalm 11:5 says, "The
Lord tests the righteous."

If you're facing trials and troubles now, think of it as a test. God is
testing the quality of your faith to see if you'll trust Him; and He's
testing the extent of your dependability to see if you'll obey Him.

The testing of our faith produces patience; and as we trust and obey
Him, He will take care of us.

"Through every day, o'er all the way; He will take care of you." Civilla Martin

Blessings upon you today as you take various "tests." :o)

Rock N Roll "Starr"...

For two years now, Phoebe has been saying she wants to be a "rock n roll star" when she grows up. She definetely has the personality for it. I think she needs some guitar lessons from Shawn :o) And no...the "Starr" in the title is not a typo...it's her middle name :o)

IBESR exit...

I just got the word that we are out of IBESR...Yeah!!! Time for the HBWD!!! Now it's time to pray that we'll quickly enter & quickly exit Parquet. :o)

My "big little man"...

Phone call #2...

This past Saturday we had another Skype video call with the kids. They can see us but we can't see them yet but that will change by the end of the month when a web cam is being sent down for the "O". Samara didn't talk much the last time so I thought we would engage her by singing her favorite "English" song which is "This is the day that the Lord has made." It didn't really work well. She did sing a little with us at the end but Sandy said she was smiling at the screen. You could hear Shakira in the background singing a little. Sandy said she was up dancing around. They both told us that they loved us & that was so good for our ears & hearts :o) Sandy didn't put the head phones on Caleb this time but she did bring him in to look at our faces. He is crawling all over the place & trying to walk. Samara is doing very well. Sandy suspects Shakira may have a corn allergy so she's going to keep an eye on that but other than that is doing well. She said that her attention span is increasing & she's sitting still for longer periods of time. Sandy is also working with her on potty training which is so wonderful! It would be great if she was potty trained before she came home. Four of my close friends are going on the Feb. mission trip to the "O" & although I would love to be able to go with them, I am content on having them love on my children for me & taking some pictures of them.

A Sunday afternoon...

Happy Birthday Spendy!!!

Praying that you have a blessed & joy filled day!

She's got the moves...

Intense Love...

If we all loved & obeyed like this. The following is from Dr. David Jeremiah.

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands.
2 John 1:6

Recommended Reading 1 Samuel 15:22

Bible teacher Donald Grey Barnhouse told the story of a young son of a
missionary couple in Zaire who was playing in the yard when suddenly he
heard his father's voice ring out, "Philip, obey me instantly! Drop to
your stomach!" The boy did so immediately. "Now crawl to me as fast as
you can!" The boy obeyed. "Now stand up and run to me!" Philip ran into
his father's arms. When the young boy looked back at the tree he had
been playing near, he saw a large deadly snake hanging from one of the
branches. His instant obedience had saved his life!

You can almost feel the intensity of this father's love as he asks his
son for complete trust and obedience in order to avoid impending danger.
It is no different with God. He sees what we cannot; and when our life
is headed for peril, He cries out to us with the intense love of a
father trying to save his child's life.

So when you hear God's voice commanding you to obey, remember it is the
loving, caring voice of your heavenly Father who only wants the very
best for you. Believe Him and obey!

If we want the Word of God to have authority in our life, there is only
one way--obey it. If we want the Holy Spirit to have authority in our
life, there is only one way--obey Him. Tom Marshall

No, I'm not dead...

I've been slow on the posting the past few days due to Super Bowl party preparations, sick child, sick me, storms, & internet being down for a day due to storms. Now would be a good time to compose a very profound post since it's nice & quiet but it's also 1:31am & I'm very tired so it's going to have to wait :o)

Happy Birthday Belle!!!

Praying that you have a very blessed & joy filled 10th birthday!