Last One Without You

Girls, I missed you on Christmas....even more than a normally do.  My heart hurt for you both.  Not because you were unsafe, or scared, or alone.  You were comfortable  and happy and under the care of people who love you.  But my heart was sad that we were not together.  Your cousins gave us a Christmas gift for each of you.  You'll love them when you get here.  Your siblings got your pictures off the fridge when we got up on Christmas morning so that you could be at the breakfast table with you.  We cleaned up your room today, and started getting a few things ready for you.  We miss you.  We love you and we know this is our last Christmas without you.

P.S.  Nana and I are packing our bags so get ready because in 13 days I'll be holding you again!!!

December Birthdays

I had hoped that the hustle and bustle of December would distract me from thinking about my girls.  Since coming home from meeting you both, it has been harder to wait for news of progress, harder to think about you without feeling lonely and discouraged, and harder to be away from you each day.  December 2 came and went, and we celebrated Sleyka's 3rd birthday without her.  Tomorrow Sunshine's birthday will come as well and we will celebrate her 6th birthday without her.  We were reminded this morning as we sat at the breakfast table and read our Bible that many people in history have waited for God's timing.  In Habakkuk the people were reminded that God heard when they cried out to him.  He knew their situation and he had a plan for them.  We were reminded that we need to sit at the top of our watchtower and wait expectantly for Christ.  We had hoped, in our human timing, to have word of dispensation before Christmas.  We had prayed that God would speed our process along.  We had dreamed of an adoption decree in 2012.  It seems God's time line is different from what we had hoped.  

Next week Jesus' birthday will come and we will celebrate him and worship him, and as we do, we will proclaim from our watchtower that Jesus Christ same to seek and to save.  We will rejoice that both of you girls will continue to grow and to hear God's word everyday at Lifeline.  We will expectantly pray and beg God to bring you home sooner, but we will wait in our watchtower and our hearts will grow fonder of you and long for you more each day.  And some day soon, we will get the phone call that says we are one step closer to you.

Happy Birthday Sleyka!

Happy Birthday Sunshine!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Home from Haiti

Ryan and Sunshine at lunch-talking about teeth

Last week we experienced several "firsts." It was our first trip to Haiti.  It was the first time we left our children home with a school work and a substitute teacher (Nana, you did GREAT!)  It was the first time we ate rice and beans for lunch and dinner every day for a week.  But, it was also the first time we met the two little girls who will grow our family this year.  It was the first time we held two  girls who learned to call us, "Maman and Papa."  It was the first time we got a real picture of what life might be like when those girls come home on a plane to live with us and be ours forever.

The purpose of the trip was two-fold:  to bond with the girls and to file an immigration form with the DHS in Haiti so the girls will be granted a travel Visa when the time comes.  In order to file this form, adoptive parents must meet the children and "approve"of them in person.

On both accounts  our trip was a success.  We met the girls at the orphanage on Monday and took them back to our hotel with us where they stayed with us until Thursday afternoon.  Tuesday and Wednesday were days to be together and get to know each other around the pool as well as a chance to meet other parents who are working through our same agency.  We played some games, swam in the pool, and watched some movies together.  We decided that "bonding" was an awkward word for what was taking place.  It is hard to bond with young people who you are meeting for the first time, especially when you do not share a common language.  (That said, they did understand some English and my rudimentary Creole was handy as well for conveying simple messages).  

Sunshine getting ready for a swim-the goggles were mostly for looks!

Thursday we had to go to the US Embassy to appear before a judge and accept the girls as our own.  The appointment took 4.5 hours  (actually it only lasted 5 minutes but there was a lot of waiting around).  When we got back to the hotel where they girls were playing with friends and some of the staff from the orphanage, we had about an hour before we had to say goodbye.  (Open the floodgates). I had hoped to go, conduct business, meet the girls, and come home with pictures and videos showing how cute they are and how much fun we had.

The best picture we have of Sleyka and mommy-courtesy of Sunshine!

In reality, I came home broken.  The business was conducted, the girls girls were met, and we came home with pictures and videos (not great ones, but they'll do). The brokenness came when I fell in love with these two little girls.  Sunshine is a vibrant young lady who loves people  cares for others, and wants to please everyone.  She nurtures her little sister, seeks out others who need help, and does all within  her power to love others.  Sleyka has a laugh that will melt your heart.  She is intrigued by others, enjoys watching life around her, and loves a good bag of animal crackers.  After three days of holding these girls and playing with them, I could start to see how they will fit in the family.  But I also realized that I can't start life with them yet....and that hurts.

All the girls-this is a pretty typical expression for Sleyka

So, when asked how our trip was, I can say it was hard, but it was good.  It was different than we expected (more vomit and crying  and less Skype time)  and it was critical to growing our faith.  We know that God's timing and provision is perfect so we'll trust Him in the rest of this process.  We also know that he joined our hearts to Sunshine and Sleyka through this trip and this Thanksgiving we'll be able to rejoice more richly knowing the sweetness of God's love.

Countdown!

Two weeks from now we'll be packed, and ready to go.  We'll be trying to sty busy for 48 hours to distract ourselves from the fact that we are getting so close to meeting you.  We'll have clothes, toys, books, snacks, and sippie cups packed.  We'll have donations for the orphanage that friends in Virginia are sending with us for you ad your friends.  We'll have swim suits, bubbles, glow sticks, and arm floaties.  We'll have flip flops and our camera and cute little love notes from your siblings.  We'll have everything we have been thinking about bringing for the past 9 months, and all we'll be missing is you.
But, 2 weeks and 48 hours from now we'll have you too!!
Daddy and I can't wait to grab you from the orphanage and get almost a whole week to play with you and meet you and to have fun with you.  I hope you are ready for us.....because we can't wait to get you!!

One More Month

Girls,
One month from today we'll hold you for the first time.  Just one month.  After 6 months of knowing you would belong to our family  and after knowing you only through pictures, we'll actually see you, touch you, hold you.  We'll tell you who we are and we'll tell you we love you.  We'll hug and not want to let go.

As I think about how that will go, I feel a mix of emotions.  Will you understand who we are?  Will you know that we are your parents?  Will you like us?  Be scared of us?  Will you want to go with us?  What if you don't like what we look like?  Maybe you wanted a mommy with short hair, or a daddy who doesn't wear glasses.  You've had ideas in your mind about us just like we have about you.  What if we are not what you dream of when you go to sleep at night?

I can fill my mind with thousands of questions and fears  Shallow, insignificant thoughts that don't really matter.  But maybe they do.......

When I get overwhelmed with the questions and fears and wonder, "What are we doing here?  How can I possibly provide you with a better life than what you have now?  What makes me think that I have what you need?  I can't rescue you.  I can't save you.  I don't know you, haven't learned you yet.  We won't have a gradual process of knowing each other like I had with the other children.  We'll have to learn each other fast and resolutely decided to love each other and start life together   That scares me.  It stops me in my tracks.  It stills my heart and takes all of the good feelings out of this situation.

But when I find myself there, surrounded by my doubts, fears and assumptions, then God meets me and breaths His Word into my heart.  There he speaks and reminds me, "Lacey, I did not give you a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and self control."  2 Tim 1:7.  There he reminds me that my God is also your God.  The God who painted the sky that you look at each evening in Haiti.  The God who heard you describe it as, "that beautiful sky that God painted."  

So, with one month to go before we are together, I am praying.  I am talking to God every day and asking him to help you accept me as I am, to love me as my mom, to trust that God put us together for His glory.  I am praying that I will know hoe to love you, how to hold you so that you feel safe, how to teach you, how to share Jesus with you, how to make a home for you.

And with one month to go, I am trusting that one month from now you two and us two will have a great time beginning to learn each other, and God's grace will fill our hearts and begin to meld them together, and we'll start to be a family.

We're In!

Girls, on Friday night we had ice cream in your honor.  We received word that our paperwork and your paperwork has been filed with the IBESR in Haiti.  (Your brother was unclear as to what it all meant, and for a moment thought we had purchased an RV for the family which was causing quite a stir!)  Though it really just means more waiting and a long trial of papers to be signed, we are thrilled to be one step closer to getting you here with us.  After a long summer of waiting for IBESR to re-open, and being told that everything might change now, we are glad to experience God's blessing yet again as we are grandfathered in with no new requirements.  We are counting the days until we come to meet you and praying that the days after that will not be long before we get to pick you up and bring you back to Virginia!!

His Ways

August 1 has come and gone.  IBESR (the social services agency in Haiti) is still closed.  The promise of an August 1 re-open has come and gone, and a new date of September 1 has taken its place.  Another week has come and gone and we have no movement, no update, no breakthrough.  There have been no emails or letters to indicate that things here on this earth are moving me closer to my daughters. My October trip to meet the girls turned to a November trip.  The lawyer has not completed the social history for the girls.  By all accounts, we are at a stand still.  By earthly standards we have the right to be frustrated, angry, annoyed, disgruntled and many other things.  But, we are looking to a higher standard.  One that tells us that the same God who matched us with these beautiful girls, is the God who is currently providing for them, and caring for them.  He is the God who operates outside for our time.  He is the God who meets all of our needs according to HIS riches in Heaven.
So we are resting in His ways, looking forward to His gift of November 13th,  asking Him for patience, and praising Him for His constant love for the girls and for us.  We are really learning that His ways are not our ways.  WOW!  We have a God who cares enough about us to bring the rich blessing of two new daughters into our lives and while we wait for his promise of them to be fulfilled, he teaches us things we need to know about who he is and how we should see him-things that will bless us and make our lives more full.  What a mighty God we serve!!!

Silence

The blog has been quiet for a while.  There have not been new updates.  There are not new advances to report.  There has been waiting.  There has been silence.  But, there has also been growth and peace.  Since May, I have seen you both grow.  Sleyka, you smile more.  Your sweet little baby face is growing and changing into the face of a little lady.  You are getting taller, and you look more like your sister than ever before.  You have learned that you are in a safe place where there are ladies who love you and care for you. You have been given new clothes and small gifts, and over time you are learning to receive those things from others.  Sunshine, you have grown taller, and more mature as well.  You have learned to bring joy and a smile to others, no mater what the circumstance are.  You have learned that you have a family, though that might not make sense yet.  You have learned that we will come for you, though it is hard to know when.  You have met a lady from our church who will one day be your Sunday School teacher, though you were unable to understand that when she held you.  But maybe you sensed it, because you smiled for her, and brought her joy.

While you have done all of that, your siblings here have been working hard to raise money to send to your orphanage to help improve things there.  God has blessed them by allowing them to be involved in His work.  They have watched dogs, done chores, completed projects, and raised awareness about the needs in Croix-de-Bouquets.  By the end of the summer they will send $1180.00 to the orphanage.

While they have been working on that, my heart has been growing.  Miss Emily sends me pictures of you that tell me the story of your life in Haiti.  I am preparing to come and meet you in two months, and then again three months later to bring your Nana to meet you.  I am not learning much about Haiti right now.  I am not learning much about you right now, but I am learning much about our God.  Just today, as I was praying for you and persistently asking God to bring you home in Spring 2013, I learned more about our God.  There are times when I wonder if it is really possible that you would be home so soon when others seem to continue to hit walls in their process.  the verse the Lord gave to me today was one that has always been a favorite but today I heard it with fresh eyes.  Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the Lord will all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  In all of your ways acknowledge him, and He will make your paths straight."  I always knew we should trust in the Lord.  But today I heard the second part.  When I lean on my understanding, I realize that it could take along time for you to be here with us.  But when I recognize my limited, human understanding for what it is:  a partial picture of the situation colored by my sin nature, then I can allow God to have the space he deserves, and I can begin to trust in HIM with my whole heart.

So, tonight, I am heading into August.  Tomorrow the IBESR is supposed to open.  Tomorrow our paper work is supposed to be complete and ready to be submitted.  In two months I am supposed to board a plane with Daddy to come and hold you. And next spring you are supposed to come home to your Forever Family.   I have no confirmation from anyone on this earth  that those things will happen.  But I am confident in our God that all is well.  I am trusting HIS ways, even in the silence.

It Takes a Child To Raise Money for the Village

Several years ago we were all captivated by Hillary Clinton's slogan, "It take a village to raise a child."  The Yoho kids are attempting to flip that phrase on its head this summer.  A short time back re received an email from CCAI, an adoption agency partnering with orphanages in Haiti, among other places, to match children with prospective families.  They were requesting that each adopting family consider a $100 donation to help outfit the new creche (infant room) at the orphanage that would double their capacity for babies at Lifeline. Our kids took the challenge seriously and began to devise schemes for raising money.  Their first thoughts of making a brick factory in the back yard, setting up a stand to sell their own art work, and then a general scouring of the house for any "sale-able" items did not prove to be fruitful.  We decided to have a family meeting and Ryan and I gave some guidance to them regarding their business plan.  It was determined that dog-sitting and other small jobs would be the best way to raise funds.    
Within two weeks of writing their business pan they have raised $248.00.   The day after they formed up their plan we received a call asking us to watch a dog for a week.  We had a great time with this little guy and earned a generous contribution toward our cause.
The next weekend the children set up a snack and drink stand at our family yard sale and earned a considerable chunk of money for their cause.  Abigail completed a project for her uncle to add to the total and a very sweet family heard about our efforts ad made a donation to help us out as well.

Mrs Clinton felt that it took an entire village to raise a child, and she might be right.  However, I think God showed me this week that with His power, maybe it take children to raise up a village.

Room For Two More

Many people have heard that we are adopting, and they start thinking logistics.  Their questions often center around the vehicle and the home.  Here are a few quotes and questions we have been hearing.....

"Are you going to get a HUGE van now?"  (maybe, but I hope not!)
"Where will they all sleep?"  (in beds, except on Fridays when they will all crash in the hallway in sleeping bags just like they do now!)
"Do you have enough room for that many children?" (yep, sure do)
"You'll need a bigger kitchen table!"  (nope, it is part of our weight loss plan....never sit down while eating in the kitchen!)
"Which room will they sleep in?"  (the one that their sisters are working hard to prepare for them)

Six children seems like quite a crowd to most folks, but the funny thing is that here, it seems like just the right number.  God has stretched our hearts to love all six of our children.  He has ensured that the house that we bought 8 years ago would be big enough to grow up with our family, even when we thought our family was done growing.  He knew how many beds would be needed, he knew how much space would be required inside on a rainy day, he knew where they would all fit in when they arrived in the family.  He planned for it, and made it happen.  An eight person family seems just perfect to us now!!

Just to prove that we have thought about answers to all of these questions, here is a picture of the "room for two" that is waiting for our littlest girls....(their bunk beds are in the garage awaiting assembly thanks to a very generous gift from Auntie Julie and Uncle Dean and the Milne cousins)

French Makes Me Happy

Today we learned that our dossier is now en francais.  C'est tres bien!  J'aime le francais maintenant!
(It's very good! I love French now!)
 Today I love French because all of our dossier documents are now written in French.  They have been sent to Chicago and there they will be legalized at the Haitian consulate.  16 years ago when I graduated high school I had no idea what I would do with my French.  In fact, I was a little disappointed that I had chosen to pursue it because it was becoming obvious that Spanish would have been much more useful for an elementary school teacher.  The funny thing is that God knew that I would only be a teacher in public school for three years.  He also knew that one day my 2 little girls would need a mom and I would be that mom for them.  God knew that if I had invested some years into learning French (6 years, to be precise) that I would be infinitely more well equipped to understand them, learn their language, and understand them when we met for the first time. Wow!  God, thank you for not listening to me when I beg you for what is not good for me,  Thanks you for not giving in to me when I whine about hard things that I do not understand.  Thank you for blessing me-I do not deserve your gifts.  

How God Knocked My Socks Off Today

Naomi Sunshine and Joanna Sleyca, today I have to tel you about the God who created you.  Your God is a mighty God.  I hope that every day of your life I will tell you of his mighty works, but today, I will especially tell you of his mighty works.
Yesterday I started teaching the book of James to your brothers and sisters.  There is a verse in the first chapter that talks about asking God for wisdom.  James then reminds the church that they have to ask with faith, otherwise they are like a wave that gets tossed back and forth in the sea and God will not give them anything.  We talked about how God wants us to trust him and have faith.  After that lesson I really started praying that God would have you home, in your forever home, by next spring, even sooner!!
His response to me was AWESOME!
Here is the order of events that occurred today:
1.  I sent a message asking Emily if the orphanage had a way to receive shoe boxes as Christmas gifts if they were packed by our church in Virginia for you and your friends.
2.  I was made aware of a new policy in Haiti that says that no new dossiers will be accepted until June 1, 2012 in order to clear out the ones they have right now and be able to speed the process of getting children home to their forever families sooner.  That seems like bad news, but our Dossier won't be ready until right around June 1, so God has his PERFECT timing for us-we'll be among the first dossiers to go through the new streamlined process! (Maybe I had better start to get your room ready!!)
3.  A dear friend from Grace Bible Church, and the woman who may one day be your Sunday school teacher, is heading to Haiti and since she knows about you girls she plans to come see you and hold you this summer.
4.  Emily confirmed that I could easily get my shoe boxes to you if I could just ship them to Kansas.  She said 100 boxes is perfect because right now there are 97 children at Lifeline and that the children would LOVE receiving them.
5.  Mrs Stapleton emailed to say that she has been in touch with David and in planning her trip to see you.  I'll send a gift to you with her.  She can't wait to meet you!
6.  One of your friends is coming home tomorrow with her forever family. (Nerloune)
7.  Two of your friends, Neissa and Dina, were officially adopted today so they will come home soon.
8.  Your sister wrote out a business plan to sell snacks and drinks this weekend at a yard sale to help raise money for Lifeline so that more children can gt forever families and have a wonderful home there.

WOW!  What a day.  Our God, my God and your God, showed his power and his might, and his LOVE to us all today.  I will keep writing this story so that one day you girls will sit on the couch with me and we will remember how hard we prayed with FAITH and how God honored our hearts desires to be together.  In the meantime, "I will glory in my redeemer."

Before the foundations of the earth were laid God knew you would be in our family-what a gift he is giving us!

Modern technology is getting us closer and closer to our girls without even being in the past week being in Haiti yet.  Through the wonders of Facebook, I have "met" several other families who are adopting children from Lifeline.  I have also "met" the full time missionary who lives at he orphanage with my girls.  You can't imagine the feeling that wells up in your heart as you read a message from Facebook that casually says, "Oh, I live at the orphanage with your girls and I have been here since the day they arrived."  It is thrilling to know that you girls are only an email away from us right now.

Sleyka (age 2)

Sunshine (age 5)

Even greater, is seeing God's family at work in our lives.  We cannot be with you yet, but in the time that we wait, there are amazing servants who are coming to see you and bringing you little treasures.  There are people who seek to impart the wisdom of the gospel in your lives.  There are servants who are willing to travel to Haiti to clean your teeth, listen to your hearts beat, and build new classes in your home.  And becasue God is a lavish God, he is then willing to prompt those folks to reach out to your fmaily in Virginia and give us updates on you.  We now know that Sunshine is a vibrant and bright light at Lifeline.  We know that she likes to sing and dance, and that she is a sweet and loving little girl.  We also know that you are sweet sisters who have been thriving since the day you arrived.  We know that you are healthy and well.  We now know that your name is pronounced "Sleigh-ee-ka" in Hatian....we have been saying it wrong.  We hope you'll understand!  But one of the best things is that we keep getting these.....

Today we sent off our family book to our girls in Haiti.  This will be the book that they sit down with when they are told that God is giving them a home with a forever family.  This will be the first time they see our faces.  This will be the first time they hear our names.  This will be the beginning of a new life for them.  As I put this book together I fretted over which pictures to use, which words to write, how to convey our love for them without overwhelming them. Then I realized that none of that matters.  For the next six months these two little girls will be told about a family who loves them  They will flip through the pages of this book every day.  They will have it read to them in Creole a hundred times.  they will know that God has a plan for them.  That is what matters.  And then, one day in October, they will see us, and touch us, and talk to us.  That is what will matter.  I hope that book is loved to pieces by the time I see it again.  I hope the pages are torn and the pictures are wrinkled, and the words are rubbed off.  I guess if I saw it in banged up shape I would know that we are loved too.  That those two little girls are falling as in love with their new family as we are with them.

March's Major Milestone

After early morning dentist appointments, we packed up and drove 90 minutes south to our state capitol, Richmond.  There, we found the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.  Her job was to place a seal on each of the documents that we will send to Haiti.  These documents have been assembled with care and precision to ensure that every questions that someone in Haiti might ask has been fully answered.  These papers prove that we are financially blessed, that we are a suitable home for you, that we are a family with a great support system, ans that this will be a wonderful place for you to grow up.  These papers are worth more money that you might think, and hours of effort.  But without that seal, they are useless.

As I sat down to write about this tonight, I realized that this is so much like what the Bible teaches us about the work of Jesus in lour lives.  In 1 Corinthians 1:13-14 it says

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth , the gospel of your salvation.  Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory."

These papers with a fancy seal guarantee you a spot at our table, and a share in the inheritance Daddy and I leave behind, but they are nothing compared to the seal set upon us when we are sealed by our belief in Christ Jesus who is our salvation.  That seal will grant you an inheritance that you cannot even begin to fathom.


 I thanked God today as I drove to Richmond that we lived close enough that I could drive these documents in as opposed to mailing them off for authentication.  We loved exploring the Capitol while we waited for them to be completed, and we especially enjoyed having Nana meet up with us to share our excitement and to enjoy lunch with us.  These were our celebration cookies!!

As the kids waited with Nana after lunch, I ran in to collect paperwork.  Upon my return they were all enjoying this culture outside of the capitol building.  The text did not just speak, but screamed to me.  We had a neat chat about building bridges through adoption.

17 Dossier documents, notarized and authenticated!!

As soon as we were back in town we made all of the necessary copies and shipped the documents off to the agency for further processing.  We are one leap closer to holding our girls.

Six Plus Two Equals 8!

Some times in life there is no denying that the God of the universe, and He alone, orchestrates the events of our lives.  This is one of those times when the little things in life are adding up to prove that God is bigger than anything we can fathom.  Here is why.......
On January 26, 2012 a mother, with no other options, brought two little girls to Lifeline Orphanage  in Croix-de-Bouquets, Haiti.  She delivered them into the hands of a Christian ministry team knowing that they would one day get opportunities in life that she could no longer afford them.  It was her desire that they be given a chance at a better life, one with food, medicine, education, and countless other opportunities.
On January 27, 2012 Ryan came home and told me that he thought we needed to consider growing our family trough adoption.
God's plan was seemless.
For roughly 5 weeks Sunshine and Sleyca's future was uncertain to those who stood by on this earth, but God always knew their future.  He knew that a second home was already being prepared for them.  A home that he had blessed with medicine, food, education, English language coaches, peers, grandparents, and many other amenities.
On March 7, 2012 The Yoho family formally accepted a referral for these two precious little girls.  They are healthy, and they are happy, and they are coming to our house just as soon as these earthly powers can get them here.
As of right now they are 5 and 2.  They will reside at the orphanage and attend school, receive medical attention as needed, and be fed and cared for until they are allowed to come home (roughly 15-18 months from now).  The waiting will be hard as hard for us as the grieving is for them right now, but we know that God is in control of this situation and we are grateful that he is revealing His plan to us in such clear and obvious ways.
Some day in the next many months we will meet them both, and tell them all about the life and the siblings and the opportunities waiting for them.  But, more importantly we will tell them about how their God loved them enough to rescue them, first from their sin natures, and then from a life without a family.  What a mighty God we serve!

The Red Notebook

Today we achieved a milestone in the paper chase process.  We were given a red notebook by our social worker.  Her instructions to us were to go home and fill it with all of the required paperwork, and once it was completed, she would begin her part of the process.  We had most of the papers completed, but there were still a few that needed to be done so we committed all of Monday, March 5th, to getting things done for the Red Notebook.
Yesterday daddy took the day off work so that we could go and request police clearance reports, get fingerprints taken, attend a mental health check-up, and get healthy sibling reports completed.  Little one, you do not know at this time how much you are a part of our family, but you are greatly loved already.  I saw evidence of that all day long as we worked to complete our paperwork.  We traveled through a blizzard to get to the police records office.  Your brothers and sisters took their school work along with them and did it in the waiting area.  We had a neat opportunity to see how the fingerprints are now digitally captured (we also had a conversation in the car following the prints discussing why those are necessary and what the police might use them for).  We got great reports from the doctors on all of the siblings, and Silas didn't even cry at his 4 vaccines.  He was brave-I think he is getting himself ready to be a BIG brother to you!!!

Elizabeth had to skip her ballet class so that daddy and I could attend  our mental health check-up. She didn't mind missing it because she knew it would help the process of getting you home sooner. We needed the doctor  to interview us and write a letter to your government telling them that we are in good health.  As soon as Abigail saw us after the appointment she said, "Are you mentally stable?"  Of course we are!!

This process so far has been blessed by the Lord.  Each step of the way things are working out with His kindness showering on us.  I know that he is caring for you right now too.  What a mighty God we are serving!  I look forward to talking to Him with you in my lap.  I can't wait until we can both tell him "thank-you" at the same time for bringing us together.

Dropping off the Red Notebook today was a celebration for us.  It means that Mrs. Jackson can interview us and write our home study report.  Then we can send out papers to Haiti where they will join your papers ans await approval.  After that it is only a matter of time before we will get to meet and play together.

Paper Chase

So this is the part where we fill out a bunch of forms, run around to a bunch of offices, and then pay a lot of money to get all of those forms and documents notarized and certified.  I find myself being frustrated, and panicked.  Why does this have to occur in order to get you here?  Why do all of these people have to be involved?  Your big sisters and brothers don't understand why we can't just come and get you right now and promise to take care of you and love you.  I find myself getting panicked that we are not getting these things done fast enough.  That you are waiting for me to get signed papers and that each day is a missed day with you.
But those are small issues and fears and worries compared to the idea of growing up without a family to play baseball with, watch movies with, play games with, and read books with.  I am assured that God is in control, an that HE knows when you are coming home.  His timing is perfect, and no doctor appointment or certified birth certificate will disrupt his plans for you and I to play together some time soon.
So tonight I am praying for you.  I am thanking God that you are fearfully and wonderfully made.  I am praying that you will be protected, loved, and cared for right where you are.  I am praying that your heart is being made ready for our hearts, and that our hearts are being expanded to include you.  We can't wait to get to know you, and to one day hold you and tell you that every phone call, every form, every dollar spent on a notary was worth it.  And that all of those things pale in comparison to your worth in God's sight.

Thinking About You

Dear little one-

I don't know your name, or how you like to sleep, or what your cry sounds like, or what your sweet breath feels like on the neck of the one who holds you.  I don't know what you look like, what captures your interest, or calms your fears.  I don't even know how to say hello to you in your native language.  But those things are not important right now.  What matters most is that you know that you are God's amazing creation.  You are His handiwork, and you are loved.  

You are loved by the God of the universe-who put the sun into the sky, who tells the waves when to crash, and who set each planet in motion.  

You are loved by Jesus, who came to this earth to rescue you.  He knew you would need him before you were even born, and he willingly took your place to give you the gift of eternity with him in a place much better than you are in right now.

And now, you are loved by We Six Yohos, who cannot wait to be seven.  

You are loved by a daddy who can't wait to bring you into our home and love you in order to give you a picture of the even greater love of you heavenly father.  

You are loved by a mommy who already prays for you and eagerly awaits the chance to hold you for the first time, and the 79th time, and the 534th time, and forever.  

You are loved by a Big Sister who is making space in her room for you, and compiling a list of gifts she wants to shower upon you when you arrive.  

You are loved by another Big Sister who hopes to continue to minister to the people in your country long after you are at home with us.  

You are loved by a Big Brother who is ready to play with you, take care of you, and protect you like a Big Brother should.  

And you are loved by a soon-to-be Big Brother who really wants you to be here soon.

We can't wait to meet you.  But until then, we will pray for you.  

We Love You.

Let the Paperwork Begin!

 
Today we finished and mailed the application to be accepted as adoptive parents.  This is only to get the agency to accept us.  This is only the start of what will likely be a 2 year journey....here is what we are looking at as far as timeline.
1 week from start:  get application accepted with agency
3-4 months from start:  Complete Dossier (official documents to be sent to Haiti), get matched with a child
6-8 months from start:  travel to Haiti to meet child for a week
18-24 months from start: travel back to Haiti to bring child home

All of this is really just a guess based on what families are seeing who are in process right now.  We will need to apply for a presidential waiver in order to be accepted as adoptive parents in Haiti.  Please pray that the President of Haiti finds our family acceptable and signs our waiver in a very timely fashion.  (He doe not even have our letter on his desk yet, but we can still pray now, right??)

So, here is Big Brother Silas mailing off our application!!!  (He is currently praying for a little brother)

Six Plus One Equals Seven

There are times in our lives where God's hand so clearly orchestrates events that we cannot help but fall onto our needs and praise him and thank him for allowing us to participate.  Such is this time in our lives.  After prayer, discussion, and more prayer, we have decided to become the adoptive parents of a Haitian orphan.  Any of you who have known us well over the years will, rightfully, be shocked by this news.  You have heard us say our quiver was full, you have heard that we are done having children.  You have heard us say that we are content and done.

Well, now we are hearing God as he says,
"I have given you much."
"There is room in your van, your home, and your hearts for one more."
"There is someone in Haiti who needs a family to love them."
"There is a child who needs to hear of My Grace."

And so, with great faith in a savior who loves us and provides for us, and with many questions, we are pursuing, chasing after, and fighting for this little one who will one day call us family.