Happy Birthday Precious One

You are loved...

A Day to Remember

It's been a year since we officially learned we had a daughter in Haiti. I honestly thought I would be OK today - after all I haven't had a good crying spell over our loss in a while.

I. was. wrong.

I'll never forget the pure bliss of learning she was ours. I'll also never forget the intense pain when we learned she indeed was not. The truth is that she was never ours. She is His.

Will you join me in prayer for Anchise today?

Heavenly Father,
Today I pray for protection and blessing over Anchise's life.
I pray that she will experience you in a real and personal way and that some day she will accept You into her heart.
I pray that You will send people into her life to provide for all of her physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
Thank you Lord Jesus for letting me be her mother, even if just for a short time.
Watch over her and keep her safe.
In Jesus name I pray.
Amen

No Easy Way to Say This...

Our hearts are very heavy today as we have learned that Anchise's birthmom is unwilling to relinquish her for adoption. She did not appear for DHS while I was in Haiti and did not appear for her rescheduled appointment on the 22nd. She came to the orphanage this morning and indicated there was simply no way she was going to sign. She also told the staff that her situation has not changed in the past year, which means she is still unable to provide a home for Anchise. At this time the plan is for her to come to the orphanage to pick her up on Monday.

This news has been devastating. It seems the time we spent together just a few short weeks ago was but only a dream. We desperately need your prayers!

Please pray for Anchise's protection when she leaves the orphanage. Three Angels has been her loving home for over a year. Please pray that she will be loved and provided for in every possible way. Please pray for her mother, and that if she realizes she is unable to parent her, that she will return her to Three Angels with peace in her heart. Please pray for our family as we wait quietly to hear the Lord's plan for us. May His will be done...

My hope is in the Lord,

Who has renewed my strength,

When everything seems senseless,

My hope is still in Him

Who has made heaven and earth,

And things seen and unseen.

Whatever shade of passing day

My hope is still in Him.

www.robinmark.com

Greetings from Haiti!

Today was a most momentous day - I held our sweet baby girl! It was no different to me than if someone had put a newborn babe in my arms that I had just birthed. It was amazing to hold her, smell her hair, kiss her cheeks, to study every detail about her.

She was scared at first and cried (OK, wailed a little), but warmed up to the idea that I was her mama pretty quickly. The nannies were very helpful in helping her to know that I was mama. I even got a kiss bye-bye!

I am head-over-heels for this girl. God is good!

Worth the Wait

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:5-8

If you are having difficulty during your "season of waiting" and need some encouragement, please click here.

WE GOT IT!!!!!

I just had the feeling as I walked to the mailbox that I would find our I-171H inside. Hallelujah it was there!!!! I wonder what people think when they see a woman crying at the mailbox?

Basically, the I-171H states that we are approved to adopt a child from Haiti. This was the piece of paper that I needed to have in order to file our I-600 on my trip to Haiti in September. Woo hoo & thank you Jesus!

Worth It All

...and why are you taking my picture?

How Do You Spell Precious?

At our house, one of the four ways we spell it is A-N-C-H-I-S-E!

More dossier progress today...I got all but the authentication confirmations mailed to the translator & the Wisconsin authentications were expressed to the secretary of state. I told the lady at the shipping center that I was mailing documents for our adoption. She was excited for us & asked where the child was from. I told her our daughter was from Haiti & I got "the" question again...is she black? Yes, people, she is black - well actually a beautiful shade of brown. Oh brother!

We are now at the mercy of others to get these things back to us. Once they are back we will only have to have our few items legalized by the Haitian consulate & then we are D-O-N-E baby! Oh yeah! Please pray donations come in for the remainder of our fee so we can send our dossier as soon as everything comes back.

So Precious

Anyone who welcomes a little child like

this on my behalf welcomes me,

and anyone who welcomes me welcomes

not only me but also my Father who sent me.
Mark 9:37

Isn't She Lovely...

What a blessing to get a ton of pictures from Michelle today (thank you!!) & the following from Cara:

"I spent a long time yesterday, while my kids were napping, loving on your Anchise. That girl's smile lights up the entire room. She is so cuddly and loves to be held. I blew bubbles in the nursery and she, in particular, loved it! She followed me around begging for me to blow them right in her face:) Whatever you do, you HAVE to come soon and meet your girl! She needs her mama!!!"

Oh Anchise, we need you too! Even though we have never met, we love you sweet girl!

What a smile!

Sweet & cuddly

If Peterson can pull off the pink plastic pants,

I guess Anchise can sport a boyish shirt :o)

Lovin' that face, even with crumbs

Kissable cheeks...

She Got Our Package!!!!

Eating M&M's in the dress we sent her!!!!

Looking at pictures of us...or not...the M&M's are awfully good though!

Thank you Cara!!!

More Pics of our Haitian Princess

Thanks to everyone who so graciously e-mailed me pictures of Anchise. I have been so warmly welcomed by the Three Angels families & it has really been a blessing.

Smiley Girl

Serious Girl

Hanging Out with Sandy

Sitting in the Bumbo Seat

The Post I've Been Waiting For!!!!!

Wow! Where do I begin? We have a daughter! A beautiful daughter who will be two this summer. The road to her has been full of twists & turns (which I'm sure will continue). It's funny how when we are open to the Lord's calling, He has a way of changing all of the plans we make.

If you've been reading the blog for some time, you most certainly know that our biggest challenge is financial. And although we have had said challenges it seems at just the right moment He delivers on our behalf. Isn't it amazing? Isn't HE amazing?

Anyway, since finances were our biggest challenge we prayerfully considered completing our adoption independently to save the agency fee. I also quickly realized that many of the adoption connections I had made were from the orphanage where our little darling is located. She immediately caught my eye several months ago & for whatever reason - even though we hadn't planned to adopt from this orphanage - thoughts of her were never far from my mind. Around mid-March I showed my husband the waiting children & he immediately was drawn to the same little sweetie. We immediately began to pursue her adoption & today we got the official approval from the O. Praise God!

We still have many financial obstacles to face, but God has shown His hand at many points on this journey & we move forward in faith believing He will provide what is needed.

So, without further adieu, I'd like to introduce our precious one...


For this child I prayed, and, the Lord has granted me my petition, which I made to Him.

1 Samuel 1:27