was doing the same thing yesterday but I didn't get a picture of it! Two peas in a pod! :o)
Sunday, April 5, 2009
You're mama...
was doing the same thing yesterday but I didn't get a picture of it! Two peas in a pod! :o)
Friday, April 3, 2009
Our Awesome God!!!
Wednesday was a rollercoaster ride of emotions for me. After learning the news that Passports wanted to see Caleb's birthmother before issuing his passport, I was a "mess." I bawled my eyes out & then was briefly overtaken by fear & selfishness. Fear that this gave his birthmother another opportunity to change her mind, & selfishness of not wanting to go through the pain of all kind of scenarios related to that, even though I know without a doubt God has chosen Caleb to be a part of our family. I want my children home now! I feel like I've waited long enough & do not want to go through a long, drawn out something else to test or grow my faith or anyone else's. I just want my children home...now!!! So after telling God all of that I broke down & did what I knew He was calling me to do...which was to trust Him...and give it all to Him. So I did...even if that means waitng another year or two more for my child(ren) to come home. Once I released Caleb to God I was filled with complete peace.
Thursday morning I found out that our usually mild mannered, not so assertive but very hard working Orphanage Director told passports that everything was complete & legal on the Haitian side & that they had no right to ask for the birthparents presence at this point. I am totally convinced that this was Holy Spirit led assertiveness...and they responded with, "Okay, you can come pick up the passport." Thank you Jesus!!!
So he was suppose to have picked up Caleb's passport yesterday morning & then submit all of our files to DHS for final approval. We are waiting for confirmation today whether he was able to do everything as planned.
The next "hurdle" we face is the children's TB test. They are suppose to be going for their medical exams today which are needed for the final DHS approval. We need to pray that all 5 children's (including the 2 that aren't mine :o) TB test come back negative because if they don't...you're looking at about a month delay in getting a chest x ray, the results of it, & the 10 days of treatment that is required before they are allowed to enter the US. They will read the results Monday so please pray that they are negative. Thanks!
Thursday morning I found out that our usually mild mannered, not so assertive but very hard working Orphanage Director told passports that everything was complete & legal on the Haitian side & that they had no right to ask for the birthparents presence at this point. I am totally convinced that this was Holy Spirit led assertiveness...and they responded with, "Okay, you can come pick up the passport." Thank you Jesus!!!
So he was suppose to have picked up Caleb's passport yesterday morning & then submit all of our files to DHS for final approval. We are waiting for confirmation today whether he was able to do everything as planned.
The next "hurdle" we face is the children's TB test. They are suppose to be going for their medical exams today which are needed for the final DHS approval. We need to pray that all 5 children's (including the 2 that aren't mine :o) TB test come back negative because if they don't...you're looking at about a month delay in getting a chest x ray, the results of it, & the 10 days of treatment that is required before they are allowed to enter the US. They will read the results Monday so please pray that they are negative. Thanks!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Please pray!!!
I can't even write about this right now but you can go to Cara's blog...see right side blog listing...and read her post for today. The "other" child is Caleb. Please pray! Thanks!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
2 out of 3...
always reminded me of that old Meatloaf song(for you young ins...I'm talking about the band...not the dish :o) But in this particular instance I'm talking about PASSPORTS! I got the call yesterday that they have Samara & Shakira's passports & are hoping to get Caleb's either today or tomorrow. Please pray that Caleb's passport will be ready so they can submit all 3 files to DHS before the end of the week. Thank you!!!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Better late than never...
I know that the movie "Fireproof" came out last fall but Randy & I just watched it for the first time last night at our Christ Care meeting. Randy & I stayed up until 1am talking about it & I am still wide awake. I plan to get the DVD & I have a feeling I will be watching it a lot.
This movie has shaken me to the core...not because we are on the verge of a divorce, although we have come painfully close to the edge a couple of times during our almost 20 years of marriage, but because it spoke to, & deeply touched many facets of my life. The first one being that I am a poor, miserable sinner, & that I have "spat" in God's face many times but He continues to love me even though I do not deserve it. The second, being convicted of how many times I have "spat" in the faces of people I love when they did not deserve it. Some of them showed me mercy & grace, forgave me, & stayed by my side while others turned away & ran. I am truly sorry for all the "face spitting" that I have ever done.
The third thing that spoke to me was that just as God loves us even when we are unlovable, we are called by God to love others when they are unlovable. Not an easy thing to do, but required just the same. Although I do not think that means we are to be a "door mat" for others, I do think that we are called to "go the extra mile" in regarding showing kindness & love to others...even "sand paper people" the ones that "rub us" the wrong way but God has placed in our lives for a time to refine us. I admit that I do very poorly in this area & am asking for God's help & strength.
The fourth one is that although I know that marriage is a covenant between my husband & God, one that is not to be broken or taken lightly, that I need to remember what was said in the movie, "You never leave your partner, especially in a fire." Although I know that, for years I have had to fight the urge I get to "run away" when things get tough in my marriage. I do not like the feeling and I am more mindful of it. I did not grow up in a house with a mother & father in a strong, long lasting marriage. I grew up with divorce. My father has been married 4 times...divorced 3 times, & one wife died. My mother has been married 3 times & divorced 3 times. I thank God for getting to see my Grandmother & Grandfather in a strong marriage for so many years. Parents are role models to their children...what kind of picture of marriage are we painting for our children?
The fifth thing that really "hit" me was the comment in the movie where Caleb told his wife that "for the past 7 years I have trampled on you with my words & my actions." I really was convicted of that. There have been many times that I have carelessly "trampled" on my husband with my words & actions...and for that I am deeply sorry & ask forgiveness from both God & my husband. I pray that God will replace my "carelessness & cruelty" with love & kindness.
And lastly, I am thinking about the waiting. Am I doing everything that I should be during the "waiting times"...when the wait is long & hard...when I am waiting for His direction...when there seems to be no answer or relief in sight? Is my waiting God pleasing? Am I doing it with purpose & a peace?
If you have not seen "Fireproof" yet, I encourage you to do so as soon as you can!
This movie has shaken me to the core...not because we are on the verge of a divorce, although we have come painfully close to the edge a couple of times during our almost 20 years of marriage, but because it spoke to, & deeply touched many facets of my life. The first one being that I am a poor, miserable sinner, & that I have "spat" in God's face many times but He continues to love me even though I do not deserve it. The second, being convicted of how many times I have "spat" in the faces of people I love when they did not deserve it. Some of them showed me mercy & grace, forgave me, & stayed by my side while others turned away & ran. I am truly sorry for all the "face spitting" that I have ever done.
The third thing that spoke to me was that just as God loves us even when we are unlovable, we are called by God to love others when they are unlovable. Not an easy thing to do, but required just the same. Although I do not think that means we are to be a "door mat" for others, I do think that we are called to "go the extra mile" in regarding showing kindness & love to others...even "sand paper people" the ones that "rub us" the wrong way but God has placed in our lives for a time to refine us. I admit that I do very poorly in this area & am asking for God's help & strength.
The fourth one is that although I know that marriage is a covenant between my husband & God, one that is not to be broken or taken lightly, that I need to remember what was said in the movie, "You never leave your partner, especially in a fire." Although I know that, for years I have had to fight the urge I get to "run away" when things get tough in my marriage. I do not like the feeling and I am more mindful of it. I did not grow up in a house with a mother & father in a strong, long lasting marriage. I grew up with divorce. My father has been married 4 times...divorced 3 times, & one wife died. My mother has been married 3 times & divorced 3 times. I thank God for getting to see my Grandmother & Grandfather in a strong marriage for so many years. Parents are role models to their children...what kind of picture of marriage are we painting for our children?
The fifth thing that really "hit" me was the comment in the movie where Caleb told his wife that "for the past 7 years I have trampled on you with my words & my actions." I really was convicted of that. There have been many times that I have carelessly "trampled" on my husband with my words & actions...and for that I am deeply sorry & ask forgiveness from both God & my husband. I pray that God will replace my "carelessness & cruelty" with love & kindness.
And lastly, I am thinking about the waiting. Am I doing everything that I should be during the "waiting times"...when the wait is long & hard...when I am waiting for His direction...when there seems to be no answer or relief in sight? Is my waiting God pleasing? Am I doing it with purpose & a peace?
If you have not seen "Fireproof" yet, I encourage you to do so as soon as you can!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Praying for Passports!
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Well, the word from Haiti yesterday is that our passports weren't ready to be picked up but they say they "should" be ready Monday. Please pray with me that our passports along with my wonderful friend Cara's, will be ready & picked up on Monday. Our files will then be submitted to DHS for the final approval. This typically takes 1-2 weeks. I am praying that it will take less than a week...you never know...it CAN happen! :o) After DHS approval then we request the visa appointment. Please pray that the visa appointment is scheduled in a very timely manner as well as going very smoothly with visa's in hand. Please also pray that when it comes time for us to fly down that we will be blessed with reasonable...preferably..."cheap" airfares. Please also pray that my children will not "freak out" as we depart Haiti & arrive in the US :o)
So while we wait for the above to happen we are busy finishing up last minute projects, packing bags for the birthmothers, ourselves & Shakira, Samara, & Caleb. The only thing we haven't done yet that really needs to be done before they come home is to get our "pyscho cat" declawed. We've never declawed any of our cats before but we don't want to take a chance with Cali as she is so unpredictable & the kids are pretty freaked out by cats at the moment.
Friday, March 27, 2009
God's living presence = our greatest joy!
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven's Armies.
I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord.
With my whole being, body & soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home, & the swallow builds her nest & raises her young at a
place near your alter, O Lord of Heaven's Armies, my King & my God!
What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises.
What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a
pilgmrimage to Jerusalem.
When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs.
The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
They will continue to grow stronger, & each of them will appear before the God in Jerusalem.
O Lord God of Heaven's Armies, hear my prayer. Listen, O God of Jacob.
O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield!
Show favor to the ones you have annointed.
A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
For the Lord God is our sun & our shield.
He gives us grace & glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
O Lord of Heaven's Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.
Psalm 84 NLT
The footnotes to the Life Application Study Bible say the following about this psalm.84:1,4 The writer longed to get away from the bustling world to meet God inside his dwelling place, his holy Temple. We can meet God anywhere, at any time. But we know that going into a church building can help us step aside from the busy mainstream of life so we can quietly meditate & pray. We find joy & strength not only in the prayers, music, lessons, & sermons but also in fellowshiping with other believers in a special place.
84:5-7 The pilgrimage to the Temple passed through the barren Valley of Weeping. No specific valley has been identified. The "weeping" may have been a symbolic reference to the times of struggles & tears through which people must pass on their way to meet God. Growing strong in God's presence is often preceded by a journey through barren places in our lives. The person who loves to spend time with God will see his or her adversity as an opportunity to experience God's faithfulness even more deeply. If you are walking through your own Valley of Weeping today, be sure your pilgrimage leads toward God, not away from him.
84:11 God does not promise to give us everything we think is good, but he will not withhold what is permanently good. He will give us the means to walk along his paths, but we must do the walking. When we obey him, he will not hold anything back that will help us serve him.
I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord.
With my whole being, body & soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home, & the swallow builds her nest & raises her young at a
place near your alter, O Lord of Heaven's Armies, my King & my God!
What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises.
What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a
pilgmrimage to Jerusalem.
When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs.
The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
They will continue to grow stronger, & each of them will appear before the God in Jerusalem.
O Lord God of Heaven's Armies, hear my prayer. Listen, O God of Jacob.
O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield!
Show favor to the ones you have annointed.
A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
For the Lord God is our sun & our shield.
He gives us grace & glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
O Lord of Heaven's Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.
Psalm 84 NLT
The footnotes to the Life Application Study Bible say the following about this psalm.84:1,4 The writer longed to get away from the bustling world to meet God inside his dwelling place, his holy Temple. We can meet God anywhere, at any time. But we know that going into a church building can help us step aside from the busy mainstream of life so we can quietly meditate & pray. We find joy & strength not only in the prayers, music, lessons, & sermons but also in fellowshiping with other believers in a special place.
84:5-7 The pilgrimage to the Temple passed through the barren Valley of Weeping. No specific valley has been identified. The "weeping" may have been a symbolic reference to the times of struggles & tears through which people must pass on their way to meet God. Growing strong in God's presence is often preceded by a journey through barren places in our lives. The person who loves to spend time with God will see his or her adversity as an opportunity to experience God's faithfulness even more deeply. If you are walking through your own Valley of Weeping today, be sure your pilgrimage leads toward God, not away from him.
84:11 God does not promise to give us everything we think is good, but he will not withhold what is permanently good. He will give us the means to walk along his paths, but we must do the walking. When we obey him, he will not hold anything back that will help us serve him.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
We're................Here.................
Well, we arrived safely in Asheville, NC today! We haven't been back to visit our old stomping grounds for over 3 years & decided it was time to go back. We're staying with some very dear friends. I plan to watch a lot of basketball, read, & visit with my friends. No hiking, rock climbing, or white water rafting on this trip!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Coming up to breathe...
Although I can recall most of the what has happened in the past week, I honestly feel like I was in a "fog" through it all. As of tonight we will be home for 3 days since my Grandpa's funeral. I've cried, had strange dreams, & have tried patiently to help my 5 year old deal with all of her emotions as well.
Today I'm coming up for "air." I wish I could say that I'm just going to lounge around the house all day with my feet up but that is not the case. I am glady packing our suitcase & getting things in order as we leave tomorrow for Spring Break. A "break" that is perfect timing! I am looking forward to just hanging out & having fun for a few days.
Today I'm coming up for "air." I wish I could say that I'm just going to lounge around the house all day with my feet up but that is not the case. I am glady packing our suitcase & getting things in order as we leave tomorrow for Spring Break. A "break" that is perfect timing! I am looking forward to just hanging out & having fun for a few days.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
SAD NEWS AND GLAD NEWS...
I've been MIA for the last few days because my Grandfather...who for realistic purposes is my "Dad" because my biological father was rarely in the picture when I was young & has not contacted me by any means for almost 21 years...became very sick last week. He has been living in a Veteran's Home for the past 6 months because he was getting more feeble & my 87 year old Grandmother could no longer care for him. He was admitted to the hospital a week ago for double pneumonia which I knew wasn't a good sign because although he has many health problems...his lungs have been his biggest issue for many years & he has been on oxgen 24/7 for 10 years. Anyway, Friday he turned 90 & my mom called me & said he was eating birthday cake. I didn't tell her but I immediately became concerned because he had not really eaten anything all week & had been out of it & then Friday he's all happy, talkative, & eating birthday cake...a sign to a seasoned nurse that it's the "calm before the storm." I wanted to head to MO right away but I had gotten an oil change Friday morning & they said my van was leaking antifreeze & I was told by 2 mechanics not to leave town in it without it being fixed. You guessed it...that wouldn't be until Monday. So I decided I would hang tight & wait for further updates from my mom. If necessary I would get a rental car & take off. Friday afternoon my mother called again saying that they were releasing him from the hospital back to the Veteran's Home with Hospice care.
Saturday morning she called again & said the Hospice nurse called the family & wanted to speak to them right away. That's when I decided it was time to leave. We made arrangements for a rental car & took off. On the way to MO, my mom called again & said he was in alot of pain & they were trying to get him comfortable with morphine. She said the hospice nurse said she would be surprised if he made it through the night. We arrived at the Veteran's Home at 3pm Saturday & Jesus took him home at 8:10pm that evening. The sad news is that we love him & miss him dearly but the glad news is that he's with Jesus & he's not suffering anymore!
My Grandmother, my uncle Charles, my mom, & I made the funeral arrangements on Sunday. The viewing was on Monday evening & the funeral was today. We are now back at home where I can "decompress" & truly start to grieve the loss of my "father." Prayers for strength, comfort, & peace during this time would be greatly appreciated!
Mixed along with these feelings are feelings of pure joy & excitement as we were told on Monday that we are out of MOI!!! Praise God!!! We are getting very close to bring our three Haitian beauties home! Please pray that the rest of the steps will go very quickly & smoothly...thanks!
Saturday morning she called again & said the Hospice nurse called the family & wanted to speak to them right away. That's when I decided it was time to leave. We made arrangements for a rental car & took off. On the way to MO, my mom called again & said he was in alot of pain & they were trying to get him comfortable with morphine. She said the hospice nurse said she would be surprised if he made it through the night. We arrived at the Veteran's Home at 3pm Saturday & Jesus took him home at 8:10pm that evening. The sad news is that we love him & miss him dearly but the glad news is that he's with Jesus & he's not suffering anymore!
My Grandmother, my uncle Charles, my mom, & I made the funeral arrangements on Sunday. The viewing was on Monday evening & the funeral was today. We are now back at home where I can "decompress" & truly start to grieve the loss of my "father." Prayers for strength, comfort, & peace during this time would be greatly appreciated!
Mixed along with these feelings are feelings of pure joy & excitement as we were told on Monday that we are out of MOI!!! Praise God!!! We are getting very close to bring our three Haitian beauties home! Please pray that the rest of the steps will go very quickly & smoothly...thanks!
Friday, March 13, 2009
The boy likes sunglasses!
Then...
Now...
Noah apparently has a thing for nice sunglasses. If you have any that you would like to donate to him...please send to Michelle :o)
Now...
Noah apparently has a thing for nice sunglasses. If you have any that you would like to donate to him...please send to Michelle :o)
Thursday, March 12, 2009
This face...
I know you're not suppose to go by looks but common on...seriously...Does this look like the face of a criminal? I can assure you that he is not!
Please continue to pray for us as we deal with overwhelming feelings of frustration & disgust in regards to our neighbor's call to the police (which resulted in a visit by the police at 8:30am on a Saturday) on sweet kitty cat. Pray for me especially because I have all kinds of interesting thoughts floating around in my head...especially creative ways in which I can display a no tresspassing sign in our yard next to the border of our yard & their yard. Waiting for God to drop a fence out of the sky :o)
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
He's Home..Thank you Jesus!!!
After 3 long years & many unexpected curves in the road...Noah is finally home! Praise God!!!
Monday, March 9, 2009
We're "kind of" almost out???
We got a call today saying that our files are headed to Passports. So we're not sure if that means we're officially out of MOI or if submitting them to Passports is the last step of MOI...either way...we're moving forward!!! Get up & do the HBWD!!!
Thank you Jesus for this good news! I really wanted to hear good news this week about our files...thank you for answering my prayers Lord!
Thank you Jesus for this good news! I really wanted to hear good news this week about our files...thank you for answering my prayers Lord!
Temporary Trials...
One of my friend's sent me this devotion Friday because she knew I could use some encouragement. It's written by her uncle who is a Pastor in Florida. It's a little long but worth the read. I hope it encourages you today!
It’s quite difficult these days to begin and end the day with a smile.
Life is tough … depressing sometimes … challenging, to say the least..
The stock markets stinks. The housing market has a foul odor. The financial world is all amuck. Jobs are being lost. Houses are being foreclosed. Hours are being cut. Benefits are being trimmed. The national debt is in the trillions … rising every day. Our future and that of our children and grandchildren is being enslaved to debt. It brings agony. It brings pain. It messes with our minds. It bewilders our spirits. It causes heartache … troubled by the inability to do anything about it!
And worst of all … there seems to be no end. “Can it get any worse?” I hear it asked every day. I receive e-mails from distant friends … phone calls from members … anxious conversations in the supermarket, in the church parking lot, standing in line for the ATM. “Can it get any worse?” Probably not … we think. But then tomorrow comes and the reports are still bleak … the market still tanks … and another bailout fails.
It’s quite difficult these days to begin and end each day with a smile.
And yet … every morning my Yellow Lab, Molly, greets me with effervescent, tail-wagging joy … happy and anxious to greet the day regardless of the weather outside. Every morning as we sit for breakfast a friendly Blue Heron struts slowly across our bulkhead and dock looking for her breakfast in the shallow water. Every evening flocks of Egrets come floating in over the lake like handkerchiefs in the wind … seeking their nighttime roost in the trees that line its shore. Every afternoon Anhinga and Cormorants swim the lake ducking their heads beneath the surface in search of their supper. They all seem unconcerned … oblivious to the troubles we see and the hurts we feel.
Every day my grandchildren awaken and think of nothing but what’s for breakfast … and every night they go to bed tired from a day of school and play … thankfully unmindful, unaware, unconcerned about the worry, the danger, the problems we face as adults.
Don’t get me wrong! Molly has her troubled days too … when she is literally in the “dog house.” The wildlife around our lakeside home also have their days … when they can’t find that easy meal or their nighttime roost has already been taken or a nasty gator prowls the shore line. And my grandchildren have their days, too … when things don’t quite go their way and they get pouty and have to spend some time alone in their room … or when a neighbor kid gets a bit rough and plows over one with his bike … or when they don’t like what’s for supper and have to eat it anyway. But these concerns hardly match the intensity and magnitude of ours … after all “Nobody’s seen the troubles I’ve seen!”
It’s quite difficult these days to begin and end each day with a smile.
So what is a person to do? How is a Christian to act? What should my demeanor be? How can I keep a smile on my face?
In such times there is one certainty we would all do well to keep in mind: Life is a vapor! God’s Word often refers to the brevity of life. “You are a mist,” says James, “that appears for a little while and then vanishes” [James 4:14 ]. In essence, God is saying life is a like a puff of steam. You know the drill: take a drop of water … throw it on a hot skillet … stand back … and poof! It’s gone! That … says God … is life! It’s over in a flash!
I sometimes like to argue with God about that point. After all I am a pastor and I know about life and death. And there are times when life is certainly not much of a vapor … especially when it is tough! Days and weeks and months can drag on and on and on when life is tough. “It can last a long seventy or eighty years,” I say. To which God replies, “Let’s talk about it in a billion years.”
David has something to say about life as well. He says life is merely a breath. “The span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath” [Psalm 39:5]. Paul adds the thought that our afflictions are momentary: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” [II Corinthians 4:17]. “Momentary?” I ask God. “Why did Paul chose that word? His troubles were not here to day and gone tomorrow. They were like interminable … hardly momentary.”
I suspect God is trying to teach me a lesson. He’s trying to tell me something about the temporary nature of suffering, hardship and pain. He’s trying to encourage me through stressful, troubling times. He’s saying it might seem like a long struggle … but there is a little secret to all this … namely, that my understanding, my perception about suffering is flawed … incomplete. Troubles are temporary; they are fleeting … even vaporous. I need only hang on for a vapor’s length of time … and then I’m Home.
I’m struck by a line in the poem “The Thought of God” by Frederick William Farber (1814-1863): “Pain in itself not hard to bear, But hard to bear so long.” Whatever the circumstances of this poem … the pain of the poet is over! And from his new perspective … he understands why God used the phrase “momentary troubles.”
O Lord: I live always in pain, My life’s sad undersong,
Pain in itself not hard to bear, But hard to bear so long.
Little sometimes weighs more than much, When it has no relief,
A joyless life is worse to bear, Than one of active grief.
Hard for me to grasp … more difficult to understand … but, in truth, the Russian proverb “A day is long, but a life is short” is so very true!
I suspect I have some very long days ahead. But life is still short and it quickly passes. Best I keep in mind some of those divine, spiritual truths we pastors are prone to pass around.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also [Matthew 6:19 -21].
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged [Deuteronomy 31:8].
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [Philippians 4:6-7].
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed [II Corinthians 4:8-9].
The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble [Psalm 9:9].
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us [Romans 8:35 -37].
I sense I have a long way to go in keeping up my smile. But I’m working on it. There’s a lot of confusion, incomprehension, bewilderment, uncertainty … and yes, even some anger. But God’s Word tempers all those feelings and thankfully corrals the emotions … while calming the anxiety and even encouraging a smile … if ever so slight.
May our gracious God keep your spirit focused on the awesome, eternal truth: Because he lives … we can face tomorrow!
(written by Pastor Rick)
It’s quite difficult these days to begin and end the day with a smile.
Life is tough … depressing sometimes … challenging, to say the least..
The stock markets stinks. The housing market has a foul odor. The financial world is all amuck. Jobs are being lost. Houses are being foreclosed. Hours are being cut. Benefits are being trimmed. The national debt is in the trillions … rising every day. Our future and that of our children and grandchildren is being enslaved to debt. It brings agony. It brings pain. It messes with our minds. It bewilders our spirits. It causes heartache … troubled by the inability to do anything about it!
And worst of all … there seems to be no end. “Can it get any worse?” I hear it asked every day. I receive e-mails from distant friends … phone calls from members … anxious conversations in the supermarket, in the church parking lot, standing in line for the ATM. “Can it get any worse?” Probably not … we think. But then tomorrow comes and the reports are still bleak … the market still tanks … and another bailout fails.
It’s quite difficult these days to begin and end each day with a smile.
And yet … every morning my Yellow Lab, Molly, greets me with effervescent, tail-wagging joy … happy and anxious to greet the day regardless of the weather outside. Every morning as we sit for breakfast a friendly Blue Heron struts slowly across our bulkhead and dock looking for her breakfast in the shallow water. Every evening flocks of Egrets come floating in over the lake like handkerchiefs in the wind … seeking their nighttime roost in the trees that line its shore. Every afternoon Anhinga and Cormorants swim the lake ducking their heads beneath the surface in search of their supper. They all seem unconcerned … oblivious to the troubles we see and the hurts we feel.
Every day my grandchildren awaken and think of nothing but what’s for breakfast … and every night they go to bed tired from a day of school and play … thankfully unmindful, unaware, unconcerned about the worry, the danger, the problems we face as adults.
Don’t get me wrong! Molly has her troubled days too … when she is literally in the “dog house.” The wildlife around our lakeside home also have their days … when they can’t find that easy meal or their nighttime roost has already been taken or a nasty gator prowls the shore line. And my grandchildren have their days, too … when things don’t quite go their way and they get pouty and have to spend some time alone in their room … or when a neighbor kid gets a bit rough and plows over one with his bike … or when they don’t like what’s for supper and have to eat it anyway. But these concerns hardly match the intensity and magnitude of ours … after all “Nobody’s seen the troubles I’ve seen!”
It’s quite difficult these days to begin and end each day with a smile.
So what is a person to do? How is a Christian to act? What should my demeanor be? How can I keep a smile on my face?
In such times there is one certainty we would all do well to keep in mind: Life is a vapor! God’s Word often refers to the brevity of life. “You are a mist,” says James, “that appears for a little while and then vanishes” [James 4:14 ]. In essence, God is saying life is a like a puff of steam. You know the drill: take a drop of water … throw it on a hot skillet … stand back … and poof! It’s gone! That … says God … is life! It’s over in a flash!
I sometimes like to argue with God about that point. After all I am a pastor and I know about life and death. And there are times when life is certainly not much of a vapor … especially when it is tough! Days and weeks and months can drag on and on and on when life is tough. “It can last a long seventy or eighty years,” I say. To which God replies, “Let’s talk about it in a billion years.”
David has something to say about life as well. He says life is merely a breath. “The span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath” [Psalm 39:5]. Paul adds the thought that our afflictions are momentary: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” [II Corinthians 4:17]. “Momentary?” I ask God. “Why did Paul chose that word? His troubles were not here to day and gone tomorrow. They were like interminable … hardly momentary.”
I suspect God is trying to teach me a lesson. He’s trying to tell me something about the temporary nature of suffering, hardship and pain. He’s trying to encourage me through stressful, troubling times. He’s saying it might seem like a long struggle … but there is a little secret to all this … namely, that my understanding, my perception about suffering is flawed … incomplete. Troubles are temporary; they are fleeting … even vaporous. I need only hang on for a vapor’s length of time … and then I’m Home.
I’m struck by a line in the poem “The Thought of God” by Frederick William Farber (1814-1863): “Pain in itself not hard to bear, But hard to bear so long.” Whatever the circumstances of this poem … the pain of the poet is over! And from his new perspective … he understands why God used the phrase “momentary troubles.”
O Lord: I live always in pain, My life’s sad undersong,
Pain in itself not hard to bear, But hard to bear so long.
Little sometimes weighs more than much, When it has no relief,
A joyless life is worse to bear, Than one of active grief.
Hard for me to grasp … more difficult to understand … but, in truth, the Russian proverb “A day is long, but a life is short” is so very true!
I suspect I have some very long days ahead. But life is still short and it quickly passes. Best I keep in mind some of those divine, spiritual truths we pastors are prone to pass around.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also [Matthew 6:19 -21].
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged [Deuteronomy 31:8].
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [Philippians 4:6-7].
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed [II Corinthians 4:8-9].
The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble [Psalm 9:9].
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us [Romans 8:35 -37].
I sense I have a long way to go in keeping up my smile. But I’m working on it. There’s a lot of confusion, incomprehension, bewilderment, uncertainty … and yes, even some anger. But God’s Word tempers all those feelings and thankfully corrals the emotions … while calming the anxiety and even encouraging a smile … if ever so slight.
May our gracious God keep your spirit focused on the awesome, eternal truth: Because he lives … we can face tomorrow!
(written by Pastor Rick)
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Pets, Police, & Prayers...
Well I'm going to try to make a very long & dramatic story, short & less dramatic. The "jist" of the situation is that we basically have been harassed by our next door neighbor for several months now. We have tried very hard to be nice to them & Christ like. However, yesterday was the "straw that broke the camel's back" when they called the police on us. The police arrived in our driveway at 8:30am & the complaint from the neighbor was a bunch of lies about our cat. The police "drilled" Randy & then gave us a warning.
Their behavior has nothing to do with cats. It goes much deeper than that. I don't know if they have ever liked us but we noticed a dramatic change in their behavior toward us when they found out we were adopting from Haiti.
Please pray for this situation. Please pray for guidance & wisdom for us on how to handle it appropriately without being a "door mat." Please pray that God will provide us with the resources we need to put up a fence. Thanks!
Their behavior has nothing to do with cats. It goes much deeper than that. I don't know if they have ever liked us but we noticed a dramatic change in their behavior toward us when they found out we were adopting from Haiti.
Please pray for this situation. Please pray for guidance & wisdom for us on how to handle it appropriately without being a "door mat." Please pray that God will provide us with the resources we need to put up a fence. Thanks!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Phoebe's last game...
Today was Phoebe's last game to cheer for the Upward basketball season. She has really enjoyed cheering. This is the first game that I brought my camera. The video clip is of the team during the "Banana,Popcorn, & Potato" cheer. It's one of the girls favorite cheers. Phoebe is in the upper right hand corner.
Are you tired for God?
Tired for God's Glory
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 5:1-8
The book Voices of the Faithful tells of a South American pastor who bought a van to transport people to church. The van needed new tires, but the pastor had no way of paying for them. One night the van was stolen, leaving the pastor distressed, but prayerful. A few days later, police officers from a nearby town told him the van had been located and the thief caught. Arriving at the police station, the pastor was surprised to find his vehicle sporting a new set of tires, new backseats, and a radio! He claimed the van, but told the police that the tires, seats, and radio were not his. They must have been installed by the thief.
"Well, I guess that is the thief's loss and your gain," replied the police officer. Now the pastor has a good van, fully equipped, and freshly shod.
It often works that way for those who love God. He uses our trials for His glory and purpose, though at the time we may not see how it could be. That's why we walk by faith.
"His hand is never shortened, all things must serve His might; His every act is blessing, His path is purest light." Paul Gerhardt, German hymnist
From "Today's Turning Point" March 3rd by Dr. David Jeremiah
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 5:1-8
The book Voices of the Faithful tells of a South American pastor who bought a van to transport people to church. The van needed new tires, but the pastor had no way of paying for them. One night the van was stolen, leaving the pastor distressed, but prayerful. A few days later, police officers from a nearby town told him the van had been located and the thief caught. Arriving at the police station, the pastor was surprised to find his vehicle sporting a new set of tires, new backseats, and a radio! He claimed the van, but told the police that the tires, seats, and radio were not his. They must have been installed by the thief.
"Well, I guess that is the thief's loss and your gain," replied the police officer. Now the pastor has a good van, fully equipped, and freshly shod.
It often works that way for those who love God. He uses our trials for His glory and purpose, though at the time we may not see how it could be. That's why we walk by faith.
"His hand is never shortened, all things must serve His might; His every act is blessing, His path is purest light." Paul Gerhardt, German hymnist
From "Today's Turning Point" March 3rd by Dr. David Jeremiah
Friday, March 6, 2009
"Sonshine"
I don't know about you but during the winter months I struggle with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) which I find the abbreviation very appropriate because it makes me feel "sad." I feel sad when I don't get enough light & warmth. Every once in awhile when we have a really dark & cold winter, I will go to a tanning place & use the tanning beds for 20 minutes approx. 3 days a week for a month or so. I haven't had to do that in a long time but was almost to that point this winter but I knew that I would be going to Haiti in Feb. & that I would get sun & warmth for a week straight. I must of needed it because typically when I go to Haiti I "wilt" because there's too much sun & warmth. But this time I just basked in it; kind of like a turtle laying on a log in a pond soaking in the sun's rays.
After I returned to Haiti I was sick for a couple of weeks so I am just now starting to feel like myself again. Yesterday I realized that I not only haven't felt like myself but that I also didn't even look like myself. I have been looking at myself in the mirror for the past fews days trying to figure out why I looked "different". It wasn't a good different but I couldn't figure out what "it" was. Yesterday God revealed to me that it was my countenance. That it had changed. Wow! That's what "it" was. During the two weeks of preparation before my Haiti trip, & then the week in Haiti & then the two weeks of recovering after my trip, I had not spending time "basking" in His word, love, & "Son shine." So today I am "basking" again & hopefully soon I will not only feel the difference but will see the difference as well.
After I returned to Haiti I was sick for a couple of weeks so I am just now starting to feel like myself again. Yesterday I realized that I not only haven't felt like myself but that I also didn't even look like myself. I have been looking at myself in the mirror for the past fews days trying to figure out why I looked "different". It wasn't a good different but I couldn't figure out what "it" was. Yesterday God revealed to me that it was my countenance. That it had changed. Wow! That's what "it" was. During the two weeks of preparation before my Haiti trip, & then the week in Haiti & then the two weeks of recovering after my trip, I had not spending time "basking" in His word, love, & "Son shine." So today I am "basking" again & hopefully soon I will not only feel the difference but will see the difference as well.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Thank you...You-You!!!
She got a bracelet too but unfortunately she pulled a little too hard on it at the PAP airport & it broke. We saved the pieces so we can put it back together...just haven't done it yet :o)
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Final reflections of our trip from a friend's camera...
Praying that we will have new pictures of all us at home...very soon!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Day Seven...Heading Home...
Phoebe & I got up Wednesday morning & finished packing. We ate a "quiet" breakfast compared to the past several days with one or more of the kids by our side. I was dreading going to the O for just as few minutes to say "Good bye." To me it seemed cruel for all of us to go in there, get everybody worked up & then say Good bye. The team leader said he needed to go by to pick up something...would have been nice if that would have been taken care of the night before but it wasn't so we went.
Shakira immediately came running to me & Phoebe. She was so excited to see us & then we had to tell her "Good bye." Samara immediately started pouting & ignoring us. I didn't want to go to the nursery because I knew Caleb would start crying as soon as I got out of his eye sight but I could not be there & not see him so we went up. He was in his crib & the team was ready to leave so I just loved on him through the crib slats & told him that I loved him. We quickly walked out of the nursery, down the steps, & into the van. This is getting old. Saying Good bye to them...to put it bluntly..stinks! They are tired of it...and we are tired of it. Please Lord, bring them home to us very soon! Thank you!
We had a very interesting ride to the airport. We actually had a short wait through the line & then had lots of wait time after we got our boarding passes. We went upstairs to look at the shops & had a bite to eat before going to the gate area. We then had our final devotion as a team. Phoebe & I were very blessed to be a part of this team. Each person was awesome & it was so very cool to experience a trip with one of my bestest buds, my "older brother"...aka Don, & my "younger brother"...aka Jarod, not to mention my "boss"...aka Tim, & the "Creole translator"...aka Jason :o)
Suprisingly our flight left Haiti on time...I think that's a first for me! Phoebe & I had the priviledge of sitting behind the "3 Amigos" which was quite entertaining :o) We flew into FLL which was also a first for me. That airport makes a lot more sense than Miami...imagine that! :o) We left 92 degree weather in Haiti to arrive to 75 degree weather in FLL with their AC's on full blast. We were all shivering. Most of the team put on their jackets that they had brought with them but I couldn't do that because "we" accidentally left my jacket on the plane going to Chicago on the way to Haiti. So unfortunately, my very nice $2 thrift store jacket was replaced by a very over priced, "okay" sweatshirt that said FLL on it :o( We had lots of time at FLL before our flight to Chicago so the team ate an oversized late lunch at Chili's & a few of us topped off our meal with a delicious ice cream cone from Edy's...yeah, I know we were freezing but we still wanted ice cream :o)
Phoebe & I sat next to Tim on our flight from FLL to Chicago. We were suppose to only have 35 minutes or so to make our next flight but our flight from FLL was early...which was an answer to prayer...unfortunately we were very delayed leaving Chicago due to having to have the plane de-iced twice & then needing a new battery in a cart or something. This time Tim was sitting behind me. About 10 minutes before the plane was ready to take off, Phoebe stood up & threw up into her seat. Mr. "Quick Reflex" handed me a puke bag but we didn't need it anymore. The stewardess came running to us & handed me a bunch of towels, wipes, & a bag. After I got Phoebe & the seat cleaned up, she came back with Ginger ale & a wet cloth for Phoebe. Thank goodness she didn't have any more emesis on the plane. When we finally got to our airport we were all exhausted. The team said brief good byes & then we headed out. This time it was "Randy's taxi service" & we dropped off Jason, Tim, & Don before heading home. It was 12:30am when Phoebe got into bed & I had already decided that she would not be going to school in the morning.
Shakira immediately came running to me & Phoebe. She was so excited to see us & then we had to tell her "Good bye." Samara immediately started pouting & ignoring us. I didn't want to go to the nursery because I knew Caleb would start crying as soon as I got out of his eye sight but I could not be there & not see him so we went up. He was in his crib & the team was ready to leave so I just loved on him through the crib slats & told him that I loved him. We quickly walked out of the nursery, down the steps, & into the van. This is getting old. Saying Good bye to them...to put it bluntly..stinks! They are tired of it...and we are tired of it. Please Lord, bring them home to us very soon! Thank you!
We had a very interesting ride to the airport. We actually had a short wait through the line & then had lots of wait time after we got our boarding passes. We went upstairs to look at the shops & had a bite to eat before going to the gate area. We then had our final devotion as a team. Phoebe & I were very blessed to be a part of this team. Each person was awesome & it was so very cool to experience a trip with one of my bestest buds, my "older brother"...aka Don, & my "younger brother"...aka Jarod, not to mention my "boss"...aka Tim, & the "Creole translator"...aka Jason :o)
Suprisingly our flight left Haiti on time...I think that's a first for me! Phoebe & I had the priviledge of sitting behind the "3 Amigos" which was quite entertaining :o) We flew into FLL which was also a first for me. That airport makes a lot more sense than Miami...imagine that! :o) We left 92 degree weather in Haiti to arrive to 75 degree weather in FLL with their AC's on full blast. We were all shivering. Most of the team put on their jackets that they had brought with them but I couldn't do that because "we" accidentally left my jacket on the plane going to Chicago on the way to Haiti. So unfortunately, my very nice $2 thrift store jacket was replaced by a very over priced, "okay" sweatshirt that said FLL on it :o( We had lots of time at FLL before our flight to Chicago so the team ate an oversized late lunch at Chili's & a few of us topped off our meal with a delicious ice cream cone from Edy's...yeah, I know we were freezing but we still wanted ice cream :o)
Phoebe & I sat next to Tim on our flight from FLL to Chicago. We were suppose to only have 35 minutes or so to make our next flight but our flight from FLL was early...which was an answer to prayer...unfortunately we were very delayed leaving Chicago due to having to have the plane de-iced twice & then needing a new battery in a cart or something. This time Tim was sitting behind me. About 10 minutes before the plane was ready to take off, Phoebe stood up & threw up into her seat. Mr. "Quick Reflex" handed me a puke bag but we didn't need it anymore. The stewardess came running to us & handed me a bunch of towels, wipes, & a bag. After I got Phoebe & the seat cleaned up, she came back with Ginger ale & a wet cloth for Phoebe. Thank goodness she didn't have any more emesis on the plane. When we finally got to our airport we were all exhausted. The team said brief good byes & then we headed out. This time it was "Randy's taxi service" & we dropped off Jason, Tim, & Don before heading home. It was 12:30am when Phoebe got into bed & I had already decided that she would not be going to school in the morning.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Day Six...
Tuesday the 17th was our last full day in Haiti. Shakira thought it would be nice to wake up at 5:15am...me not so much but was unable to go back to sleep because she was up for good. We ate breakfast & then headed to the O in time to see the school children off. Samara was pouting & doing her "ignoring me" thing when something is wrong. I asked her what was wrong & she said, "You go tomorrow." I said, "Yes, but we still have all of today so let's enjoy it." She went off to school pouting. Shortly after this I talked with Jean Nathan & asked him if our files were still on the 2nd desk & he said, "Yes." I sighed, & he said, "Soon, very soon, you'll be out of MOI." I looked at him with a horrified look & he looked back at me with a puzzled look. I said, "The last time you said, "Soon, very soon...it was 7 & 1/2 months!" He said, "Oh!"
The men were busy working on their projects, Kelly & Megan were working on a nutrional program, Gina was loving on the nursery kids & Phoebe spent time playing with Shakira, the nursery kids, & hanging out with Hunter. I decided that I would "tackle" organizing the office. The office is usually nice & neat but on this trip it was construction zone due to the remodeling of the mission room. You could not get to the desk or to any files which I thought probably wasn't a good idea. There was dust everywhere & lots of bins that needed to be gone through & things sorted out. So just as soon as I started my project...my favorite nanny in the entire world came in & started helping me. She stayed by my side until we had went through & organized every bin. I LOVE YOU MADAME VALET!!!
It was then time to return to the guest house for lunch. My original plan was not to bring any of the kids...except Phoebe of course, with me to the guest house that day because we decided as a group not to have any of the children stay with us Tuesday night since we were planning to stay late at the O & get up early in the morning to head to the airport but Samara was still pouting & wanted to come to the guest house for lunch so I gave in & let her :o) I have a feeling Daddy is going to be the one to tell Samara "NO" :o)
After lunch we went to St.Joseph's to see the Dance Theatre. I had seen them practice before but not the actual performance. It was very good. Phoebe & Samara were totally mesmerized by it. I decided not to bring Shakira because I knew she wouldn't want to sit still & would be up there with them dancing...she actually did that when we saw them practice before :o)
We then returned to the O & while the men finished up their projects, the ladies hung out & loved on the kids. We decided to order pizza & eat at the O for dinner. I had no idea there was a Domino's in Haiti! Samara started pouting again as we were waiting for our pizza to arrive. She basically said she was tired of waiting & wanted to go home with me. I told her that I was tired of waiting too but unfortunately we had to wait until all the paper work was done & it wasn't all done yet. She continued to pout so I directed her to her Godfather Don & told her to tell him about it. He tried to explain it to her but she didn't care. She was "done" with waiting! Sweetie...I so know how you feel!
We left the O around 8:30pm & returned to the guest house. We had our devotion & then I started packing our things. Phoebe was "chillin" & enjoying some quite time. We were both ready to go home...but was feeling heavy hearted as we knew we had to leave Shakira, Samara, & Caleb behind.
The men were busy working on their projects, Kelly & Megan were working on a nutrional program, Gina was loving on the nursery kids & Phoebe spent time playing with Shakira, the nursery kids, & hanging out with Hunter. I decided that I would "tackle" organizing the office. The office is usually nice & neat but on this trip it was construction zone due to the remodeling of the mission room. You could not get to the desk or to any files which I thought probably wasn't a good idea. There was dust everywhere & lots of bins that needed to be gone through & things sorted out. So just as soon as I started my project...my favorite nanny in the entire world came in & started helping me. She stayed by my side until we had went through & organized every bin. I LOVE YOU MADAME VALET!!!
It was then time to return to the guest house for lunch. My original plan was not to bring any of the kids...except Phoebe of course, with me to the guest house that day because we decided as a group not to have any of the children stay with us Tuesday night since we were planning to stay late at the O & get up early in the morning to head to the airport but Samara was still pouting & wanted to come to the guest house for lunch so I gave in & let her :o) I have a feeling Daddy is going to be the one to tell Samara "NO" :o)
After lunch we went to St.Joseph's to see the Dance Theatre. I had seen them practice before but not the actual performance. It was very good. Phoebe & Samara were totally mesmerized by it. I decided not to bring Shakira because I knew she wouldn't want to sit still & would be up there with them dancing...she actually did that when we saw them practice before :o)
We then returned to the O & while the men finished up their projects, the ladies hung out & loved on the kids. We decided to order pizza & eat at the O for dinner. I had no idea there was a Domino's in Haiti! Samara started pouting again as we were waiting for our pizza to arrive. She basically said she was tired of waiting & wanted to go home with me. I told her that I was tired of waiting too but unfortunately we had to wait until all the paper work was done & it wasn't all done yet. She continued to pout so I directed her to her Godfather Don & told her to tell him about it. He tried to explain it to her but she didn't care. She was "done" with waiting! Sweetie...I so know how you feel!
We left the O around 8:30pm & returned to the guest house. We had our devotion & then I started packing our things. Phoebe was "chillin" & enjoying some quite time. We were both ready to go home...but was feeling heavy hearted as we knew we had to leave Shakira, Samara, & Caleb behind.
Working hard...
I will post Day Six today but I wanted to share this devotion from Dr. David Jeremiah first. Most of you that know me well, know that I "love" watching the "Biggest Loser" on Tuesday nights. So much so that you know unless you are dying you should not call me between 7-9pm on Tuesdays. After the last season ended I felt like God spoke to me & said, "You know that when the other 3 come home you will not be able to watch this show faithfully every Tuesday night like you have been for the past few years." I agreed & decided that I would continue watching it until they came home & then I would stop. The Tuesday before I left for Haiti I needed to get to bed early so I chose not to watch the show & go to bed early instead. Then I missed the Tuesday after that because I was in Haiti...and I did not ask Randy to record it for me just as I hadn't the week before. So last night came around & I decided that I had already missed two weeks of it...and I lived :o) so I could skip another week. Now I'm not saying that I will never watch it again. I just won't make it a neccessity in my life...almost to the point of idol worship. So I thought it was interesting when Randy sent me this devotion today & it talked about the "Biggest Loser" show.
It Doesn’t Just Happen
He must increase, but I must decrease.
John 3:30
Recommended Reading
1 Timothy 6:11-12
On the hit TV show, The Biggest Loser, contestants must work hard every week to drop pounds so they can continue being on the show. They are held accountable by a gigantic scale that reveals their weight in front of millions of Americans. Going into the contest, they know weight loss doesn’t just happen; they have to fight for it by breaking old habits and creating new, healthy ones. Desperate to lose weight and get healthy, they do whatever it takes to achieve their goal.
This should be our mentality as Christians. Becoming like Christ won’t just happen; it takes discipline and the honest pursuit of righteousness. When we accepted Christ as our Savior, we made a commitment to Him; and it is our duty to work hard to put off the “old man which grows corrupt” and “put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22, 24).
When we earnestly do this, we will be well on our way to achieving our goal of godly righteousness and pointing others toward Christ Jesus.
"I know I can't do a thing to earn my salvation; but now that I am His, I will do everything in my power to show Him how much I love Him—and I live to please the One I love who has transformed me with HIS love." Katherine Walden
It Doesn’t Just Happen
He must increase, but I must decrease.
John 3:30
Recommended Reading
1 Timothy 6:11-12
On the hit TV show, The Biggest Loser, contestants must work hard every week to drop pounds so they can continue being on the show. They are held accountable by a gigantic scale that reveals their weight in front of millions of Americans. Going into the contest, they know weight loss doesn’t just happen; they have to fight for it by breaking old habits and creating new, healthy ones. Desperate to lose weight and get healthy, they do whatever it takes to achieve their goal.
This should be our mentality as Christians. Becoming like Christ won’t just happen; it takes discipline and the honest pursuit of righteousness. When we accepted Christ as our Savior, we made a commitment to Him; and it is our duty to work hard to put off the “old man which grows corrupt” and “put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22, 24).
When we earnestly do this, we will be well on our way to achieving our goal of godly righteousness and pointing others toward Christ Jesus.
"I know I can't do a thing to earn my salvation; but now that I am His, I will do everything in my power to show Him how much I love Him—and I live to please the One I love who has transformed me with HIS love." Katherine Walden
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Day Five...
Monday morning 2/16th...President's Day! After breakfast we headed to the O & arrived in time to see the school kids before they left for school. Three of the team members had appointments to go to, the rest of the men on the team got busy working on their projects. Clotide (the O nurse) & I were going to get weights & heights on all the children as well as trace their feet for shoe sizes but she had to take one of the children to some appointments so I recruited my bud Kelly & Phoebe to help me. We did the nursery children in the morning & the school age children in the afternoon. The other woman on our team, Gina, played & loved on the children. As soon as we returned to the guest house, Shakria, Samara, Phoebe, & I headed to the pool. It was Shakira's night to stay but Samara "conned" me into letting her come for dinner & returning to the O in the evening. Shakira likes the water & had a great time the last time we were in the pool but this time she kept "drinking" the water which caused some problems. She would get anxious when she started coughing & then she held her breath...for a really long time...and I had to forcefully "pat" her back to make her open up her mouth. After all that drama she was done with swimming :o( but she sat by the pool & watched Phoebe. I didn't have as much one on one time with Shakira as I usually do & I think she realized it because she was quite clingy. Overall she was a lot more hyper than she has been the past trips but I think that was because she was so excited to see Phoebe...and she wants to come home! I could tell that Phoebe was somewhat overwhelmed with Shakira but she did pretty well with it. I'm glad that she experienced it now before they come home. We tried to tell her about Shakira's needs but you don't really "get it" until you experience it. Phoebe understands that Shakira will be going to her school & will be in a special needs class. I can't wait to see how Shakira will continue to blossom once she gets the therapies & education she needs!
Loving Unconditionally...
The joys of trying to get a family picture(minus one)...
Loving Unconditionally...
The joys of trying to get a family picture(minus one)...
Monday, February 23, 2009
Day Four...
I woke up to see Phoebe & Samara's sweet sleeping faces. A little while later Samara got up & thought that Phoebe should be awake to so she went over to her bed & gave her a big hug which did not make Phoebe happy. We then got ready for church & headed downstairs for breakfast. After breakfast we had an approx. 20 minute drive to an English speaking church. It was a very nice church & the people were very friendly. We got there in time for Sunday School so Reece & Phoebe went to Sunday School together while Samara stayed with me while the team had our own devotion outside. Phoebe slept through most of the church service while sitting on my lap & Samara sat (awake) on Kelly's lap. Kelly & I had a hard time containing ourselves toward the end of the service when a woman got up & sang a beautiful song...the same song that Kelly had broken her ankle dancing to :o) Samara was totally mesmerized by the flushing toliets at the church. It was quite entertaining to watch her watch the "stuff" go down.
After church we returned to the guest house for lunch. The rest of team went to the O to do some work but Phoebe & I went to drop off Samara & bring Caleb back to the guest house. Phoebe, Caleb, & I swam for awhile & then we took a nap. Caleb liked the water as long as he was clinging tightly to me :o) Kelly & Jarod had a "girly" birthday party for Naitile in the evening so that's why Caleb has a tiara on in the birthday pictures :o)
Phoebe really enjoyed her one on one time with Caleb. She fed him, helped changed him, & tickled him & made him "gut" laugh. It was so cute! She did however get a little jealous in the evening when Caleb didn't want to go to sleep & I spent 5 minutes rocking him. She wanted to know why I was spending so much time with him :o)
After church we returned to the guest house for lunch. The rest of team went to the O to do some work but Phoebe & I went to drop off Samara & bring Caleb back to the guest house. Phoebe, Caleb, & I swam for awhile & then we took a nap. Caleb liked the water as long as he was clinging tightly to me :o) Kelly & Jarod had a "girly" birthday party for Naitile in the evening so that's why Caleb has a tiara on in the birthday pictures :o)
Phoebe really enjoyed her one on one time with Caleb. She fed him, helped changed him, & tickled him & made him "gut" laugh. It was so cute! She did however get a little jealous in the evening when Caleb didn't want to go to sleep & I spent 5 minutes rocking him. She wanted to know why I was spending so much time with him :o)
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Day Three...
Saturday 2/14...Valentines Day! All 5 of us got up & headed downstairs for breakfast. Phoebe had her hands full trying to keep Shakira at the table while I was preparing their plates. I could hear Phoebe get louder & louder, "Shakira Chita, Shakira Chita!" The next thing I know Shakira has budded in line & is tyring to help herself to the food. I assisted her back to her chair & then finished getting their food. Shakira eats everything you give her which is a pleasant change from my picky eater Phoebe but it's a challenge to get her to stop eating. She tried to eat & drink Phoebe's food & drink which did not make Phoebe happy :o( We then got loaded up into the van & headed to the O. The men started on a construction project while the ladies loved on the children & then sat with them during church. After church, Kelly & I hosted a Valentine's party for the children & staff. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the party because I was too busy running around like a wild woman trying to get everything ready & then I was on clean up duty. Kelly talked to the children about God's love for them & how we should all love each other. They then had some heart shaped Little Debbie cakes, pretzels, cheese curls, & lemonade. The older children got large conversation hearts & the younger children got heart shaped gummies. After the Valentine's party, Phoebe, Samara, & I went back to the guest house to swim & relax while the rest of the team went to tour Wings of Hope & the Baptist Mission. Phoebe really likes to swim so she was very happy to get to swim. Samara on the other hand, has to ease into it although she's doing a lot better since her first swimming experience with me in Dec. 07 when all she did was yell, "Why, Why, Why?" when I put her in the water. We swam for awhile & then we dried off & took a nap. When the rest of the team returned from their outing they decided they wanted to go swimming. Phoebe & Samara thought it would be fun to swim in their clothes & Samara actually seemed to like it better this time around. Not sure if it was because she was in her clothes or because she was with Jarod who she thinks is really funny :o)
Phoebe really enjoyed her one on one time with Samara. They are a lot of like in many ways...thankfully Samara is not as strong willed :o) When we returned home I looked at some pictures that was sent to us by Stacey while I was gone. It was funny to see pictures of Samara with the same head tilt, cheesy smile that Phoebe is so famous far! It didn't take long to see some sibling jealously either. Phoebe wanted to know why I "always" gave Samara her food first & Samara wanted to know why she didn't have a back pack just like Phoebe. Oh, the joys of parenthood! :o)
Phoebe really enjoyed her one on one time with Samara. They are a lot of like in many ways...thankfully Samara is not as strong willed :o) When we returned home I looked at some pictures that was sent to us by Stacey while I was gone. It was funny to see pictures of Samara with the same head tilt, cheesy smile that Phoebe is so famous far! It didn't take long to see some sibling jealously either. Phoebe wanted to know why I "always" gave Samara her food first & Samara wanted to know why she didn't have a back pack just like Phoebe. Oh, the joys of parenthood! :o)
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Day Two...
Phoebe & I got up at 6:30am & had to high tail it to make it to breakfast at 7am...neither one of us are morning people & we don't move very fast upon waking :o) After breakfast we headed to the O but did not get there in time to see the kids before they went to school. We did "peek" into their classrooms though. Phoebe & I spent some time downstairs with Shakira & then I headed up to the nursery. I spent some one on one time loving on Caleb & then Jonathan, Jamesely, Rebecca, & Sara. Phoebe took over for me on that part so I could start the head to toe assessments on the children. I checked out all the nursery children who aren't in school in the morning & then assessed the older children in the afternoon. It was a busy but very productive day for me. Before heading back to the guest house I had a little time to love on Noah, Ellie, Fritzon, & Daniel.
We brought Caleb, Samara, & Shakira back with us Friday night. It was quite a production but something that both Phoebe & I need to get use to :o) The guest house was pretty full the entire week we were there so I had Caleb(was in a pack n play), Samara, & Shakira sleep out on the balcony which worked well except for when Shakira woke up once during each of the nights that she was there(around 2-3am) & couldn't find me on a top bunk so she went to the lady with dark hair on the bottom bunk & shook her arm & said, "Mama, Mama, Mama." The lady was very good with her & then she woke me up so I could get Shakira back to sleep again.
We brought Caleb, Samara, & Shakira back with us Friday night. It was quite a production but something that both Phoebe & I need to get use to :o) The guest house was pretty full the entire week we were there so I had Caleb(was in a pack n play), Samara, & Shakira sleep out on the balcony which worked well except for when Shakira woke up once during each of the nights that she was there(around 2-3am) & couldn't find me on a top bunk so she went to the lady with dark hair on the bottom bunk & shook her arm & said, "Mama, Mama, Mama." The lady was very good with her & then she woke me up so I could get Shakira back to sleep again.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Day One...
Thursday the 12th we left the house at 0 dark thirty which was 3:50am CT & after Don's shuttle service picked up Tim & Jason, we headed to the airport. Our flight to Chicago was at 6am. From Chicago we flew to Miami (still don't get the flying north to go south bit). We had a short lay over at Miami & then headed to PAP which for once was on time. We landed in Haiti at approx. 4:10pm ET but by the time we went through customs, got our bags, loaded the vans, & arrived to the guest house it was dinner time. We ate dinner & got our room assignments.
By this time it was around 7:30pm & the team leader thought it would be best if we didn't go to the O that night. I put on a dramatic show, explaining why we needed to go that night & at least see our children even if he thought it was too late to bring them back with us that night :o) It must have been convincing because he changed his mind & we went to the O for about an hour. Although I as well as the other parents were disappointed that we didn't get to bring them back that night, we were thankful for the hour that we got to spend with them. Phoebe was very happy to finally meet her siblings & they were extremely excited to see her. Phoebe picked all three of them up & carried them around. She didn't have any problem picking Caleb & Samara up but Shakira who is very light but very tall, was somewhat of a challenge for her :o) Shakira was so excited to see the both of us that she kept jumping up & down which was somewhat overwhelming to Phoebe but she handled it well.
After lots of hugs, kisses, & pictures, I had to explain to Samara & Shakira that they wouldn't be coming back to the guest house with us that night but that we would see them first thing in the morning. They were disappointed but handled it well. Caleb however, cried as soon as I put him down & started to walk away. We then returned to the guest house & got ready for bed. Normally the roosters don't start their carrying on until around 2 to 3am, this time for whatever reason, they decided to start not much after our heads hit the pillow which was around 10pm & it lasted until around 7am. Unfortunately they maintained this schedule all week. I didn't know there was such a thing as noc turnal roosters!!!
By this time it was around 7:30pm & the team leader thought it would be best if we didn't go to the O that night. I put on a dramatic show, explaining why we needed to go that night & at least see our children even if he thought it was too late to bring them back with us that night :o) It must have been convincing because he changed his mind & we went to the O for about an hour. Although I as well as the other parents were disappointed that we didn't get to bring them back that night, we were thankful for the hour that we got to spend with them. Phoebe was very happy to finally meet her siblings & they were extremely excited to see her. Phoebe picked all three of them up & carried them around. She didn't have any problem picking Caleb & Samara up but Shakira who is very light but very tall, was somewhat of a challenge for her :o) Shakira was so excited to see the both of us that she kept jumping up & down which was somewhat overwhelming to Phoebe but she handled it well.
After lots of hugs, kisses, & pictures, I had to explain to Samara & Shakira that they wouldn't be coming back to the guest house with us that night but that we would see them first thing in the morning. They were disappointed but handled it well. Caleb however, cried as soon as I put him down & started to walk away. We then returned to the guest house & got ready for bed. Normally the roosters don't start their carrying on until around 2 to 3am, this time for whatever reason, they decided to start not much after our heads hit the pillow which was around 10pm & it lasted until around 7am. Unfortunately they maintained this schedule all week. I didn't know there was such a thing as noc turnal roosters!!!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Gone & back!
Hi All! I'm sorry that I didn't get a chance to post before we left or while we were in Haiti. We arrived home late last night & are still recooping today so this will be a brief post but I wanted to let you know that we had a wonderful trip & I'm so glad that Phoebe & I got to go on this trip! Here are a few pictures to look at for now. I will try to send individual pictures of children to their adoptive parents over the next couple of days.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Sleepless nights...
The past two nights I have gone to bed early & have awaken way early...this morning it was 12:30am :o( Now, sometimes I wake up & can't go back to bed because I have a lot on my mind. But these past two nights I think God has awaken me because he knows I have a lot to do before I leave & that I do my "best work" at night...when everyone else is asleep :o)
This morning when I woke up I decided to read my Bible first. I read Psalm 63. One of the verses spoke to me but not because it applied to me right now but because it has in the past & I think there are some people out there right now that is reading this that it applies to so I hope it is helpful!
"I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night." Psalm 63:6 The footnote from my NLT Life Application Study Bible says this: " During sleepless, uncomfortable nights, David thought about God. Instead of counting sheep, he meditated on his Shepherd. He reviewed all the ways God had already helped him, & he greeted the next day with songs of praise. In quiet moments or wakeful nights, make it a point to count examples of God's faithfulness to you. Doing so is far more likely to give you rest than other items you might count!"
This morning when I woke up I decided to read my Bible first. I read Psalm 63. One of the verses spoke to me but not because it applied to me right now but because it has in the past & I think there are some people out there right now that is reading this that it applies to so I hope it is helpful!
"I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night." Psalm 63:6 The footnote from my NLT Life Application Study Bible says this: " During sleepless, uncomfortable nights, David thought about God. Instead of counting sheep, he meditated on his Shepherd. He reviewed all the ways God had already helped him, & he greeted the next day with songs of praise. In quiet moments or wakeful nights, make it a point to count examples of God's faithfulness to you. Doing so is far more likely to give you rest than other items you might count!"
I have not...
fallen from the face of the earth :o) I've just been very busy the past week trying to get ready for our trip to Haiti. If I have time tonight I will come back & post a picture of Phoebe's hair after Belle braids & beads it this evening. Here are some pictures from the snow & ice storm we had a couple of weeks ago.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Happy Birthday Nata!
This beautiful girl turned 8 today. I pray that it is a wonderfully blessed day for her. Please pray for her family as it is a hard day for them as she & her brother Fritzon are not home with them. Please also pray that whatever the hold up is with Nata's paperwork will be resolved today & that their files would go into MOI this week.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
ANSWER and UPDATE!!!
The answer to my previous blog post is:
1.) Unfortunately...is totally true!
2.) Is half true...the first part is totally true...the second part is not. Instead of being chased down the mountain by a grizzly bear, Randy had to push me down the mountain as well. When I got to the bottom I thought my legs were going to fall off of my body :o)
3.) Of course is true! I didn't know about the HBWD back then :o)
Now for my wonderful update!
We have MOI numbers! Caleb 8195, Samara 8196, & Shakira 8209 (not sure what that's all about...being 13 off)
And...we are on the 2nd of the 3 desks!!! Praise God!!! I am praying that we will be off the 3rd desk & out of MOI by the time I land in Haiti next week :o)
1.) Unfortunately...is totally true!
2.) Is half true...the first part is totally true...the second part is not. Instead of being chased down the mountain by a grizzly bear, Randy had to push me down the mountain as well. When I got to the bottom I thought my legs were going to fall off of my body :o)
3.) Of course is true! I didn't know about the HBWD back then :o)
Now for my wonderful update!
We have MOI numbers! Caleb 8195, Samara 8196, & Shakira 8209 (not sure what that's all about...being 13 off)
And...we are on the 2nd of the 3 desks!!! Praise God!!! I am praying that we will be off the 3rd desk & out of MOI by the time I land in Haiti next week :o)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Two truths & a lie...
A couple of my friends inspired me to do this. I've done this before as ice breakers with the youth group & I think it's fun. I will describe three events. Two are true & one is not. You have to guess which one is made up. Happy guessing!
1. During a Myrtle Beach vacation with my husband & my mom we went to a huge water park. We were in line to go down a very fast water slide. My mom was first, I went second, & Randy was third. My mom went down with no problems at all. I went down & by the time I reached the bottom...where about 100 people were standing...my bikini top went "up" & my bottoms went "down." The 100 people...along with my mom...were laughing hysterically while I was very, very embarrassed! Randy came down a few minutes later & had no idea what had happened.
2. During a vacation to Glacier National State Park, Randy & I went hiking up Mt. Brown. I was very out of shape at the time & I had asked Randy to pick the easiest trail but he picked the hardest trail instead. He had to literally push me all the way up the mountain but I ran all the way down because we were being chased by a very large Grizzly bear!
3. On my wedding night I danced the Gator in my white satin & lace wedding dress.
1. During a Myrtle Beach vacation with my husband & my mom we went to a huge water park. We were in line to go down a very fast water slide. My mom was first, I went second, & Randy was third. My mom went down with no problems at all. I went down & by the time I reached the bottom...where about 100 people were standing...my bikini top went "up" & my bottoms went "down." The 100 people...along with my mom...were laughing hysterically while I was very, very embarrassed! Randy came down a few minutes later & had no idea what had happened.
2. During a vacation to Glacier National State Park, Randy & I went hiking up Mt. Brown. I was very out of shape at the time & I had asked Randy to pick the easiest trail but he picked the hardest trail instead. He had to literally push me all the way up the mountain but I ran all the way down because we were being chased by a very large Grizzly bear!
3. On my wedding night I danced the Gator in my white satin & lace wedding dress.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
14 days...
from now I will be loving on all 4 of my children! I can't wait! And I can honestly say for once that I'm even looking forward to the Haiti heat. This ice, snow, & cold is getting really old. I don't know the exact totals but we have had a lot of sleet, snow, & ice since Monday. Although it has stopped now...the danger is not over. Many people are still without power, a lot of roads are not cleared well or at all, & as the ice starts to melt, trees are starting to snap...again. Please pray for our safety as well as the safety of our neighbors & our homes. Thank you!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Pray for Mama Naitile..
Please pray that Kelly's foot is not broken. She was dancing at her church last night (liturgical dance) & she fell on her foot. She thinks it's badly sprained but her doctor says it may be broken so she's on her way to see an orthopedic doctor right now. We leave for Haiti in 16 days...this is lousy timing!!!
Thanks for your prayers!
*** Update as of 2pm today...the x rays do not show any hairline fractures but the doctor suspects there is one but can't see it due to all of the swelling. In the meant time she's being treated for a very bad sprain & will be x rayed again in a week. Please pray that it's a sprain & not broken & that she will recover quickly. Thank you!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
"Borrowing"
I know some of you have already seen this from the orphanage blog but it was so adorable I decided to "borrow" it so our family & friends that don't go to that site can see it :o) Toward the end of the video when there is a group of them against the wall, Samara is in the very back & Shakira is in the front...jumping as usual :o)
Phoebe & Jonas...
After Phoebe & I went to the Zoo Friday, we stopped by to see Kristina & Jonas. We also got to see Cathy & Bethany as well.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
A day at the Zoo...
Yesterday we were blessed with a spring like day so Phoebe & I went to the zoo. Here are the pictures from our trip.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Lara...
This is a picture of me & my friend Lara. She is a wonderful person. She has a very kind & gentle spirit. She is one of those people that could get a whole room of loud people to be quiet & listen to her by simply talking quietly. I think she has beautiful eyes & a beautiful smile. Please take a moment to pray for her today. Please pray that she will hear good news today about her adoption. She has been waiting a long time to go into MOI...a month & half longer than I had to wait...which seemed like forever.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Where do we go from here?
Now that we are in MOI? For those of you that are unfamiliar with the Haitian adoption process I have listed the steps below that must take place before our children come home. So the question of the day now is "Will you get to bring them home with you in Feb.?" Well, with God...all things are possible but it would definetely have to be God in every single step because Haiti just doesn't move that fast :o) My prayer is still that they will be home before Caleb turns two.
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).
Passport "timber" is purchased & submitted with archives.
Minister of Interior (We are at this step right now)
Insures all of the above documents have not been falsified. Files have to go through 3 different desks.
Political Affairs
Gives final authorization to issue the passport.
• Passport is issued.
DHS
• Take adoption decree to finalize orphan first petition(DHS approval)
Embassy
• Visa appointment scheduled. Visa approval & visas issued.
****We get the call to come and get them**** Do the HBWD & get on an airplane!!!
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).
Passport "timber" is purchased & submitted with archives.
Minister of Interior (We are at this step right now)
Insures all of the above documents have not been falsified. Files have to go through 3 different desks.
Political Affairs
Gives final authorization to issue the passport.
• Passport is issued.
DHS
• Take adoption decree to finalize orphan first petition(DHS approval)
Embassy
• Visa appointment scheduled. Visa approval & visas issued.
****We get the call to come and get them**** Do the HBWD & get on an airplane!!!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
WE'RE IN!!!
Finallly...after an agonizing wait...we are in MOI!!! Praise God!!! Thank you Jesus!!! I don't have the specifics yet such as numbers or when we went in but was told that we are definetely IN!!! Everybody get up & do the HBWD!!! :o)
Monday, January 19, 2009
20 months...
My "little man" turned 20 months today. Please pray with me that he will be home for his second birthday. He wasn't even born yet when we started the adoption process two years ago in Jan. 07. We love you & miss you Caleb!
Emotions...
The past few weeks I have been contemplating many things but haven't really been able to express them. All last week I was very excited about my good friend Kristina's son Jonas anticipated arrival home. I am always excited when someone's child comes home but I knew this time was going to be different. Different in the sense that his homecoming signified the "second wave" of children coming home from the orphange...a wave that a few of us have been eagerly awaiting as we hope to be a part of it by our children coming home.
I think those of us who are adopting from Haiti have seen by now that there is no rhyme or reason as to how you progress through the process. Although you have some sense of an "order" in your head...it usually gets blown out of the water by something totally ridiculous. The same is true for the timing of when the children come home. Although your file may be ahead of someone else's when you go into MOI, it's quite possible that for whatever reason, they end up passing you somewhere along the way, & their child(ren) come home first. So knowing this, I'm trying not to set myself up for a "fall" because "technically" it looks like my children should be the next ones to come home to our area (after Noah).
So I am guarded but also very hopeful because even if my children don't come home next, I know they will be coming home "soon" (whatever that means :o) As soon as I walked into the airport yesterday I knew I was going to lose it...and I did...big time. Even before the plane landed, I was getting choked up & fighting back tears. After Jonas came through & I had taken some pictures, I just "lost" it. I was flooded with emotions & cried like a baby. Phoebe just looked at me like "Mom, what's wrong with you?" I explained to her that Jonas was the first of several home comings to take place over the next few months & that Shakira, Samara, & Caleb will be a part of that. That after all of our waiting & praying, that they will be coming home in the near future. She looked at me like, "Okay, I got it. Why are you crying now?" That's a good question. I don't really know but I guess it needed to come out. I have a feeling that the day they do come home, I will not be able to talk, I'll be too busy crying...happy tears to replace all the sad, lonely tears that I've cried for them over the past two years :o)
I think those of us who are adopting from Haiti have seen by now that there is no rhyme or reason as to how you progress through the process. Although you have some sense of an "order" in your head...it usually gets blown out of the water by something totally ridiculous. The same is true for the timing of when the children come home. Although your file may be ahead of someone else's when you go into MOI, it's quite possible that for whatever reason, they end up passing you somewhere along the way, & their child(ren) come home first. So knowing this, I'm trying not to set myself up for a "fall" because "technically" it looks like my children should be the next ones to come home to our area (after Noah).
So I am guarded but also very hopeful because even if my children don't come home next, I know they will be coming home "soon" (whatever that means :o) As soon as I walked into the airport yesterday I knew I was going to lose it...and I did...big time. Even before the plane landed, I was getting choked up & fighting back tears. After Jonas came through & I had taken some pictures, I just "lost" it. I was flooded with emotions & cried like a baby. Phoebe just looked at me like "Mom, what's wrong with you?" I explained to her that Jonas was the first of several home comings to take place over the next few months & that Shakira, Samara, & Caleb will be a part of that. That after all of our waiting & praying, that they will be coming home in the near future. She looked at me like, "Okay, I got it. Why are you crying now?" That's a good question. I don't really know but I guess it needed to come out. I have a feeling that the day they do come home, I will not be able to talk, I'll be too busy crying...happy tears to replace all the sad, lonely tears that I've cried for them over the past two years :o)
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
How many cans???
A little trivia question while we wait for files to move & children to come home :o)
How many cans of TREET (SPAM equivilant) does it take to make a 50 pound supply bag?
Yes, I'm dragging a bunch of TREET with me in February! The person who answers the question correctly will win a...can of TREET :o)
Okay...since there has been so much enthusiasm about the prize...this is what I will do...I'll donate the can of TREET on behalf of the winner, to the orphanage, & I'll give the winner...chocolate. That should inspire some of you chocolate lovers out there to guess :o)
How many cans of TREET (SPAM equivilant) does it take to make a 50 pound supply bag?
Yes, I'm dragging a bunch of TREET with me in February! The person who answers the question correctly will win a...can of TREET :o)
Okay...since there has been so much enthusiasm about the prize...this is what I will do...I'll donate the can of TREET on behalf of the winner, to the orphanage, & I'll give the winner...chocolate. That should inspire some of you chocolate lovers out there to guess :o)
Monday, January 12, 2009
One month
from today...Phoebe & I will be on a plane(3 to be exact :o)flying to Haiti!!! Please continue to pray for our trip. Please pray that God will prepare our hearts for this trip & that it will go really well, not just for us but for the entire team. Please also pray for safe traveling with no or minimal delays & protection throughout our trip. Please pray that Phoebe will not be overwhelmed in a "bad way." Please pray that God will provide the remaining $117 she needs to pay for her trip. And please pray that she will bond well with her sisters & brother & that their love for each other will shine through brightly. Please pray that I won't come "unglued" having all 4 of them at one time with limited resources :o) Thanks for all of your prayers & support!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Weekend Fun
Phoebe & Randy playing beauty shop
Phoebe before she went to cheer at her first Upwards game
Randy in Phoebe's Dora tent
Phoebe playing in her Dora tent with Daddy
Monday, January 5, 2009
Many thoughts, few words...
For the last week or so I have so many thoughts going through my head that if I wasn't so anal & didn't have a neatly organized card catalog system of thoughts in my head, it would drive me crazy! Nothing bad...just a lot of thoughts. Some are deep & profound, some are not. Some are comforting, some are encouraging, & some are curious. But as of right now I still have not found the words to talk about any of these thoughts except for the superficial talk I'm doing right now. :o) All this to say that I really don't have much to say right now so don't be surprised if I'm quiet on my blog for awhile. There are only so many pictures I can post. :o)
I am fine. Randy is fine. Shakira, Phoebe, Samara, & Caleb are fine. So don't worry about us while I'm "gone." :o)
I am fine. Randy is fine. Shakira, Phoebe, Samara, & Caleb are fine. So don't worry about us while I'm "gone." :o)
Sunday, January 4, 2009
An Oldie but Goodie...
This is a picture from May 07 but I "love" it. It shows the "proper" way to eat an ice cream cone! :o)
Friday, January 2, 2009
Sabatoged!!!
I know you can't tell by this picture...but this is a picture of the most wonderfully tasting toffee I have ever tasted in my life...and an added delight is that it's wrapped in dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate. I adore dark chocolate! Anyway, my "good" friend :o), the one I am training to run a 2 mile race against, took me to this quaint little place today in my town & bought me a half of pound of home made, hand spun, dark chocolate toffee & chocolate covered cherries. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!! She did this under the guise of being "nice" but I know the real reason she bought these for me...nether the less, I thoroughly enjoyed them...yes, each & every one of them...all by myself. So needless to say, I will be spending some time on the treadmill tonight :o) Thanks girlfriend!!! I love you!!! :o) You were a Godsend today!!!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year!!!
Well, I should have done this post this morning when I was feeling all energetic & reflective of the past year but I didn't. So now I'm tired & sluggish, & all I can come up with is "Happy New Year" so that's what I'm going with for now :o)
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