Happy Birthday Precious One

You are loved...

Going Soft

My tough Haiti-made facade has been cracked. My "I'm in it for the long haul" attitude has been kicked to the curb. It's happened...I've gone soft.

When we were first considering a Ghana adoption and I would hear people complain about the wait I thought what a bunch of sissies (insert my humblest of apologies here Ghana moms). I mean seriously, I signed up for a 2-3 year wait of watching my baby grow up in a Haitian orphanage. To hear I could be waiting a mere six months for my daughter to come home was like a cake walk. Easy peasy.

Well let me just eat a little crow and say that this wait is beginning to kill me (in an I'm-so-excited, please let this happen soon kind of way). I don't know if it's knowing that we are in the home stretch of a court date and subsequent travel. Maybe it's because my heart grows a little bigger every time I talk to our baby girl. I feel like a piece of me is missing. I miss this sweet girl that I have never held in my arms, but grows more in my heart with each passing day. Thoughts of her are never far from my mind.

I've officially become a wimp, but it's all for love! Come home baby girl...come home!

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

A Day of Good News

Several of the families adopting from Three Angels have gotten good news today and it makes me so happy. There are kids coming home, needed approvals have been received, and others who can now officially start the process. It is definitely a day to rejoice and a reminder that God continues to be faithful to those who call on Him.

There was also good news posted to our Ghana adoption group today from the National Visa Center which will affect everyone filing an I-600. This news can potentially cut 3-5 weeks of waiting off of our already short process. It looks like I'd better make bed shopping a bigger priority!

Directionally Challenged

In real life I am what they would call "directionally challenged". GPS is my friend. I literally would be lost without it. Heck, sometimes I'm lost with it. There have been times when I actually don't trust the GPS, but I trust my "gut" - and I have to say I've had about a 50/50 success rate when those times come.

Lately, I have been feeling "directionally challenged" regarding the adoption. It seems there have been too many choices and I've had a hard time sorting out in my head what the right thing to do is. Every single day I pray for wisdom...not my wisdom, but God's wisdom. We want to do what is right in His eyes. We want to follow His plan for growing our family through adoption.

Today two of the doors for adopting in Haiti have been closed. We now know we will no longer be working with Three Angels. Although it was not what we were hoping for, it is an answer to prayer. It's been hard to think about moving on elsewhere when our foot is still in the door with them. We've also heard back from the other potential orphanage that it is not wise for a "large" family to begin the process in Haiti and they cannot accept us.

We've been told by more than one person working in adoptions in Haiti to run as fast as we can in the other direction. We've been told there are many better options. Less painful options. Shorter options. At this point it truly looks like all doors to Haiti may be closing and we should seriously consider going to Ghana.

I asked a friend today to pick up our dossier when she is in Haiti. That was a hard thing to do. I know when it arrives back at my house I am going to look at it and burst into tears. It represents all that never will be and a realm of possibility all at the same time.

I pray & trust that I will not remain "directionally challenged" for long.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge him,

And he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

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!

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