This is a bit of a bipolar post. Full of ups and downs. My life is sort of like that these days. Friends and family moving away. Job changes. Financial stuff. Decisions. Big decisions. Small decisions. I don't think I am losing it. Maybe I am. But if I was, I don't think I would be aware of it, do you? Hmmmm. I'm pretty aware that my emotions are all over the place right now. I think that I just have to laugh or cry. Sometimes, both at the same time. So read on, at your own risk. LOL
Last week, I got an email from USCIS that says they have made a "favorable determination" regarding our AOF application. What this means is that USCIS has reviewed documents submitted and at least initially found that the boys meet the legal definition of orphan, as is required for immigration to the United States. That is good news. It's one small step in a process full of big and small steps. I don't really think it means we are any closer or anything like that-it just means that one thing has been accomplished. The letter tells me to pursue the adoption abroad, and then submit those documents to USCIS for a final approval. And it gives a deadline of September 2009. THAT made me laugh out loud.
In reviewing the letter, I also saw something else, that was not good news.
It's strange, because it is not something that I did not know.
I mean, I did already know this, but there was something about seeing it in black and white that just sort of took my breath away. Part of the documents reviewed include the forms/paperwork that the birth family filled out when they relinquished the boys to the orphanage.
Now I KNEW how long my boys have lived there. I have seen the pictures and talked to people involved with the orphanage long before me. This was not new information to me, but seeing the date in black and white really did a number on me. It took my breath away. It broke my heart. It forced me to my knees and to cry out to God. I have cried for the last several days, off and on. Fine one moment, not fine the next. Better when I don't think about it. But it's pretty hard not to think about it.
They have been there too long. That's all I'm going to say about it. It's a good place. They are happy. They are loved. They are fed. They are cared for. They are learning. It is a good place and I'm HAPPY they are there, for the alternative could be so much worse. And yet, it saddens me deeply because children belong in families, not in orphanages. Period. end of story.
I pray for the children-these two boys especially, but for all the children living in group settings or worse, on the streets. Who will care for them? Who will do something?
I read a verse recently that said (my paraphrase) not to steal from orphans BECAUSE GOD IS THEIR DEFENDER..........and defend He will. I can't recall where the verse was exactly, I think it was in Proverbs. God is the defender of orphans. That's pretty powerful. I like the image.
I pray that God protects these children's hearts. I pray that He helps me deal with it-and I pray that people will step up and DO SOMETHING for these precious children.
Like Tara L.
See the side bar (back on the upper left hand side of this blog page) for this week's feature and read about what she is doing. Click on the before/after picture of the little boy and read about what Tara is doing. She's an American living in Haiti. Has been there for four+ years. Has bio and adopted children. Teaching women skills. Making a difference, and running a marathon to save the lives of Haiti's malnourished children-you can help, right there from the comfort of your own computer screen. Click on the link, read the stories and give if you feel led to give.
I pray that God's people will DO SOMETHING.
Showing posts with label blessings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blessings. Show all posts
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Home sweet home!
These 3 precious children are at home!The first of the next wave of children coming home to their forever families!
Pray for them as they transition home.
God is faithful.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Miracles do happen.
Pictures from my most recent (and all previous) trips are up on my facebook page.
I want to tell you what happened on the day that I came home from Haiti.
To me, it is more evidence that God exists. That God cares. That God listens and answers prayers. That prayers matter. Those of you who have traveled to Haiti via Miami International will understand this more than those who have not. I know that many of my readers have a relationship with God, and this is not new information for you. Consider it a reminder then. :-) I also know that I have other readers who are skeptical or don't have a relationship with God. At any rate, I just felt I needed to share this story of not just "traveling mercy" as we so often ask for, but of several "traveling miracles".
So our team arrives at the airport in Haiti and as I'm checking in, the ticket agent tells me that our flight out is delayed by about 90 minutes. Okay, that's not unusual.
Then she says I won't make my connection in Miami. So she's looking in the computer, intently, trying to find another flight from Miami to Phoenix. She's looking. She's searching. She's looking. She's frowning. After what seems like an eternity, she informs me that there are no more flights from Miami to Phoenix until 24 hours AFTER the one I'm booked on.
Groan.
I ask her to check other routes, non-direct flights etc. She does, and says, even if I stop in Dallas, there is still nothing the same day.
Groan.
She excuses herself for a moment, ducks into the back room for some unknown reason. While she is gone, I quickly explain to one of my traveling buds-Kristina, what is going on, and say "Please pray!" which both Kristina and I do silently while the ticket agent is gone.
When she returns she says, "well, you might make it. So I will leave it alone, but also put a ticket on hold for this other flight tomorrow." So I figure that her supervisor told her to leave it alone, and let it be Miami's problem once I get there and miss the flight.
But whatever.
So off we go to "hurry up and wait" which is what traveling by air entails. Several hours later, we get on the plane and we're off, about 90 minutes later than scheduled.
This is where the miracles start (in my opinion):
in 59 minutes, exactly:
I make it off the plane, from the rear-almost the very back-row 31.
I get through the first desk for Customs & Immigration. (you know the place with the 20+ lines that usually resembles a mob scene after the long walk from the plane?)
I get to baggage claim.
I get both of my bags, with a little help from my friends.
I get through the 2nd desk/check point for Customs & Immigration.
I get to security screening check point and re-check my 2 bags.
I get upstairs from the baggage claim area and head to terminal D.
I get through security.
I make it all the way to the END of concourse D-to gate D49. Sometimes jogging, sometimes walking briskly. At least 2x stepping right out of my flip flops. And at every bathroom and sandwhich stand, debating if I have time to stop. Needing to stop, somewhat desperately.
Being unable to locate a clock or the current local time, anywhere, I decide it best to keep moving.
As I approach the gate, I hear my name being called over the loudspeaker-and the words "final call for boarding and immediate departure."
I make it to my seat and we leave.
WHEW.
All of this in 59 minutes, exactly.
and, get this.
When I arrive in Phoenix, I tell my hubby that we are most likely going to have to wait til all the bags are unloaded, so that I can file a claim with baggage services.
There is no way, in that mad dash that my 2 checked bags got on the plane.
No way.
But guess what?
They did.
Both of them.
And so, I am reminded that prayer is important and that God is still in the business of miracles.
I was so happy to be home and to reconnect with my hubby. Of course, I am sad and I miss the boys something fierce. And at the same time, it is good to be home. So good.
Thank you to my traveling buds and friends, for your help and prayers. Thank you God for knowing what I needed and allowing it to happen. Thanks also for the gift of being able to travel to spend time with the boys.
Thank you!
I want to tell you what happened on the day that I came home from Haiti.
To me, it is more evidence that God exists. That God cares. That God listens and answers prayers. That prayers matter. Those of you who have traveled to Haiti via Miami International will understand this more than those who have not. I know that many of my readers have a relationship with God, and this is not new information for you. Consider it a reminder then. :-) I also know that I have other readers who are skeptical or don't have a relationship with God. At any rate, I just felt I needed to share this story of not just "traveling mercy" as we so often ask for, but of several "traveling miracles".
So our team arrives at the airport in Haiti and as I'm checking in, the ticket agent tells me that our flight out is delayed by about 90 minutes. Okay, that's not unusual.
Then she says I won't make my connection in Miami. So she's looking in the computer, intently, trying to find another flight from Miami to Phoenix. She's looking. She's searching. She's looking. She's frowning. After what seems like an eternity, she informs me that there are no more flights from Miami to Phoenix until 24 hours AFTER the one I'm booked on.
Groan.
I ask her to check other routes, non-direct flights etc. She does, and says, even if I stop in Dallas, there is still nothing the same day.
Groan.
She excuses herself for a moment, ducks into the back room for some unknown reason. While she is gone, I quickly explain to one of my traveling buds-Kristina, what is going on, and say "Please pray!" which both Kristina and I do silently while the ticket agent is gone.
When she returns she says, "well, you might make it. So I will leave it alone, but also put a ticket on hold for this other flight tomorrow." So I figure that her supervisor told her to leave it alone, and let it be Miami's problem once I get there and miss the flight.
But whatever.
So off we go to "hurry up and wait" which is what traveling by air entails. Several hours later, we get on the plane and we're off, about 90 minutes later than scheduled.
This is where the miracles start (in my opinion):
in 59 minutes, exactly:
I make it off the plane, from the rear-almost the very back-row 31.
I get through the first desk for Customs & Immigration. (you know the place with the 20+ lines that usually resembles a mob scene after the long walk from the plane?)
I get to baggage claim.
I get both of my bags, with a little help from my friends.
I get through the 2nd desk/check point for Customs & Immigration.
I get to security screening check point and re-check my 2 bags.
I get upstairs from the baggage claim area and head to terminal D.
I get through security.
I make it all the way to the END of concourse D-to gate D49. Sometimes jogging, sometimes walking briskly. At least 2x stepping right out of my flip flops. And at every bathroom and sandwhich stand, debating if I have time to stop. Needing to stop, somewhat desperately.
Being unable to locate a clock or the current local time, anywhere, I decide it best to keep moving.
As I approach the gate, I hear my name being called over the loudspeaker-and the words "final call for boarding and immediate departure."
I make it to my seat and we leave.
WHEW.
All of this in 59 minutes, exactly.
and, get this.
When I arrive in Phoenix, I tell my hubby that we are most likely going to have to wait til all the bags are unloaded, so that I can file a claim with baggage services.
There is no way, in that mad dash that my 2 checked bags got on the plane.
No way.
But guess what?
They did.
Both of them.
And so, I am reminded that prayer is important and that God is still in the business of miracles.
I was so happy to be home and to reconnect with my hubby. Of course, I am sad and I miss the boys something fierce. And at the same time, it is good to be home. So good.
Thank you to my traveling buds and friends, for your help and prayers. Thank you God for knowing what I needed and allowing it to happen. Thanks also for the gift of being able to travel to spend time with the boys.
Thank you!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Contrasts...
I love Arizona.
It is a beautiful state.
Some friends of ours went up north to the "high country" as it is called for Easter.
This is a picture that Michele took this weekend:
By contrast, here in the valley, this weekend:
We spent a bit of time on the yard this weekend.
Planted flowers.
Started our first attempt at gardening in Arizona.
Sitting outside, enjoying the sun and the breeze.
Started a wildflower garden.
Quite a contrast!
Friday, April 10, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Ahhhhhh, My Family. Together.
Thank you God, for putting us together.Thank you, Paige for this picture.
Thank you, Three Angels for taking care of the children.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
God Moments.....part two
click here to read God Moments part one
I've had a super busy week, weekend and I'm at the start of another busy week. It's funny how life is like that, sometimes. I have actually had something to do every single night for the past 8 or 9 days. In addition to work at my job and my practice. Oh, and chores at home, shopping, bills, other commitments. You know, this grown up, adult life I am supposed to be living. (when did I become a grown up? is there some where I can file a grievance? lol)
I'm doing okay, but I am tired.
I think I will survive though. :-)
We had a busy and productive weekend, and on Sunday, I was able to stay close to home, in fact, I didn't venture out at all. It was nice for my introverted self to have a day at home. I did a lot of things, but I was at home, one of my favorite places in the world.
Then we're on to the start of the week. Mondays, I normally only see a few clients in my private practice office. Yesterday was different though, I had been asked to fill in at the hospital for a co-worker. So it was an especially busy day, because I was doing both things in the same day, and I have a study that I do on Monday evenings. So I knew starting out it was going to be a long day. And right now, Tuesdays are a little like that too. Not as tough as this Monday, but still a long day.
I was feeling a little weary, but not excessively. I wasn't even grouchy, at this point in my Monday. I'm working so hard now, so we can reach some goals, both for the adoption and ourselves. Raising kids is expensive and hard work, so we are using this time to prepare. So I have a goal, and that helps me to push through the tiredness and keep moving. And the person that I'm covering for most of the time at the hospital is returning next week, so that will alter my schedule and my pay check significantly. As I mentioned before, I could use the break.
And then, the God moment happened.
You know how sometimes, things seem to converge all at once....the music playing, the sights, the sounds, the smells, the thoughts? I don't know, maybe this only happens to me......but at any rate, it does happen to me sometimes.
I was driving to work and I got stopped at a red light. No big deal. I'm not late, it's all good.
This is a bad habit that I have developed recently-I picked up my phone to look at it and see if I had any new message. I wish I wouldn't do that while I was driving. But this time, it turned out to be a good (God) thing. And I was stopped at a red light.
So, I'm in the car. Stopped at a red light. I look at my phone and see an email notification that I have received a payment from someone via ChipIn & PayPal. It takes me a second to realize....that this blessing, this gift is from a stranger. And it is a generous gift. At first, I'm confused, I don't know why I'm getting money from Paypal. I don't have any current listings on ebay. Then I remember the ChipIn link on my blog.
At the same instant that I'm processing all of this, the radio suddenly comes into my awareness.
A man's voice is singing
"There's a light at the end of this tunnel.
There's a light at the end of this tunnel.
There's a light at the end of this tunnel for you."
Just like that. A warm, sweet, simple God moment. I felt God's love and encouragement. He will provide. He IS providing. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, for me. A bit of encouragement at just the right time. A reminder that God is in control and I don't need to worry or stress out so much. I can get through this week. And guess what? Next week I'll be on my way to Haiti, another one of my favorite places in the world.
:-)
That song played in my head all day long.
Never underestimate the power of giving.....whether it be money, food, an encouraging word, a friendly smile.......You never know how God plans to use it to bless someone else who really needs it. At just the right time. At just the right moment. In just the right way.
God is great.
I've had a super busy week, weekend and I'm at the start of another busy week. It's funny how life is like that, sometimes. I have actually had something to do every single night for the past 8 or 9 days. In addition to work at my job and my practice. Oh, and chores at home, shopping, bills, other commitments. You know, this grown up, adult life I am supposed to be living. (when did I become a grown up? is there some where I can file a grievance? lol)
I'm doing okay, but I am tired.
I think I will survive though. :-)
We had a busy and productive weekend, and on Sunday, I was able to stay close to home, in fact, I didn't venture out at all. It was nice for my introverted self to have a day at home. I did a lot of things, but I was at home, one of my favorite places in the world.
Then we're on to the start of the week. Mondays, I normally only see a few clients in my private practice office. Yesterday was different though, I had been asked to fill in at the hospital for a co-worker. So it was an especially busy day, because I was doing both things in the same day, and I have a study that I do on Monday evenings. So I knew starting out it was going to be a long day. And right now, Tuesdays are a little like that too. Not as tough as this Monday, but still a long day.
I was feeling a little weary, but not excessively. I wasn't even grouchy, at this point in my Monday. I'm working so hard now, so we can reach some goals, both for the adoption and ourselves. Raising kids is expensive and hard work, so we are using this time to prepare. So I have a goal, and that helps me to push through the tiredness and keep moving. And the person that I'm covering for most of the time at the hospital is returning next week, so that will alter my schedule and my pay check significantly. As I mentioned before, I could use the break.
And then, the God moment happened.
You know how sometimes, things seem to converge all at once....the music playing, the sights, the sounds, the smells, the thoughts? I don't know, maybe this only happens to me......but at any rate, it does happen to me sometimes.
I was driving to work and I got stopped at a red light. No big deal. I'm not late, it's all good.
This is a bad habit that I have developed recently-I picked up my phone to look at it and see if I had any new message. I wish I wouldn't do that while I was driving. But this time, it turned out to be a good (God) thing. And I was stopped at a red light.
So, I'm in the car. Stopped at a red light. I look at my phone and see an email notification that I have received a payment from someone via ChipIn & PayPal. It takes me a second to realize....that this blessing, this gift is from a stranger. And it is a generous gift. At first, I'm confused, I don't know why I'm getting money from Paypal. I don't have any current listings on ebay. Then I remember the ChipIn link on my blog.
At the same instant that I'm processing all of this, the radio suddenly comes into my awareness.
A man's voice is singing
"There's a light at the end of this tunnel.
There's a light at the end of this tunnel.
There's a light at the end of this tunnel for you."
Just like that. A warm, sweet, simple God moment. I felt God's love and encouragement. He will provide. He IS providing. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, for me. A bit of encouragement at just the right time. A reminder that God is in control and I don't need to worry or stress out so much. I can get through this week. And guess what? Next week I'll be on my way to Haiti, another one of my favorite places in the world.
:-)
That song played in my head all day long.
Never underestimate the power of giving.....whether it be money, food, an encouraging word, a friendly smile.......You never know how God plans to use it to bless someone else who really needs it. At just the right time. At just the right moment. In just the right way.
God is great.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Happy Sigh.....
I must say that these two precious boys could not possibly be any cuter or sweeter.It's just not possible.
They are adorable.
And it does mama's (and papa's) hearts good to see them.
Thank you, Megan, for this gift.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The trip.....
People have been asking me about the trip, and for details....
I haven't written about it much, because I don't really know what to say.....
The trip was:
awesome
fun
amazing
God filled
full of family time
full of laughter
exhausting
frustrating
exciting
an adventure
a time of bonding
full of love
frustrating
inspiring (getting to see Noah & Michelle reunite) Check out Michelle's blog for more info on their story.
a time of growth-I'm so amazed at all that God does in my life-I can hardly believe that there is more that He wants to show me, to grow me. Wowsers! My faith has grown so much recently...and I sense that it's just getting started. Exciting and scary at the same time!
To quote Papa B "It's like these boys have ALWAYS been our kids. I feel like I have always known them."
I agree 100%. That is how it has been since the beginning, for me.
I'm so grateful it is that way for Papa too. We had some discussions with other adoptive/foster parents who had "warned" us that it make take the boys some time to warm up to Papa or that he might not feel that instant love for them, until he got to know them. So I guess we were somewhat prepared for this possibility. Every Adoption Story/Adventure is different.
We needn't have worried.
God is so cool, and He's totally put this thing together.
It was instant.
I can't explain it.
There are no words.
There were some tears.
Happy tears.
I also can't explain how it felt to have my whole family together for an entire week. What a blissful, happy, peaceful, RIGHT feeling that was. Not that there is really much peace with 2 active young boys running around, but PEACE is what there was.
The sweetest sound is one of those cute little boy voices (complete with Haitian accent) calling "Mama, look!" or "Mama Lena".
And a close second is the voices of the other children-on the first floor (the older kids) yelling "Mama Steeve" and meaning/referring to me and trying to get my attention when I walked through the room. Ahhhh. sweet sounds. (sigh) What a feeling.
God is great.
All the time.
No matter what.
So there you have, it, the best I can do with words at the moment. :-)
I haven't written about it much, because I don't really know what to say.....
The trip was:
awesome
fun
amazing
God filled
full of family time
full of laughter
exhausting
frustrating
exciting
an adventure
a time of bonding
full of love
frustrating
inspiring (getting to see Noah & Michelle reunite) Check out Michelle's blog for more info on their story.
a time of growth-I'm so amazed at all that God does in my life-I can hardly believe that there is more that He wants to show me, to grow me. Wowsers! My faith has grown so much recently...and I sense that it's just getting started. Exciting and scary at the same time!
To quote Papa B "It's like these boys have ALWAYS been our kids. I feel like I have always known them."
I agree 100%. That is how it has been since the beginning, for me.
I'm so grateful it is that way for Papa too. We had some discussions with other adoptive/foster parents who had "warned" us that it make take the boys some time to warm up to Papa or that he might not feel that instant love for them, until he got to know them. So I guess we were somewhat prepared for this possibility. Every Adoption Story/Adventure is different.
We needn't have worried.
God is so cool, and He's totally put this thing together.
It was instant.
I can't explain it.
There are no words.
There were some tears.
Happy tears.
I also can't explain how it felt to have my whole family together for an entire week. What a blissful, happy, peaceful, RIGHT feeling that was. Not that there is really much peace with 2 active young boys running around, but PEACE is what there was.
The sweetest sound is one of those cute little boy voices (complete with Haitian accent) calling "Mama, look!" or "Mama Lena".
And a close second is the voices of the other children-on the first floor (the older kids) yelling "Mama Steeve" and meaning/referring to me and trying to get my attention when I walked through the room. Ahhhh. sweet sounds. (sigh) What a feeling.
God is great.
All the time.
No matter what.
So there you have, it, the best I can do with words at the moment. :-)
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Today's Adoption Adventure part tres....
Our Adventure continues....
This is the 3rd message in a series that started here. And part 2 is here.
My cell phone rings at 4:43 PM today (Saturday), private number. I look at it, then pick up, I KNOW it is Officer Lovely. I am correct.
She tells me that she is just finishing up our application, and that the approval letter will be ready Monday. She kindly alerts me to one discrepancy, having to do with the number of children. Our application requests 3, because the O suggested we keep the numbers broad, in case we decide to pursue another international adoption, we will already have this very important approval. So our application requests approval for three. In our home study, the social worker is vague-she mentions 2 different numbers in the text of it, and a sibling group in the recommendations section. The sentence does not read well, gramatically, and so I am not sure if it is an oversight or if the Social Worker had reservations about how many children we should be approved for. I will call her to clarify this later on. Officer Lovely tells me she has to use the smaller number, because it is the one in the recommendation section. She is expecting me to be upset.
I am not upset, it's okay, because the number she has to use is the RIGHT number for this adoption. Officer Lovely says we can change the number, but we'd have to get our home study updated and all of that. I say don't bother, because it's the right number for this adoption. She says that she called because she doesn't like surprises, unless they are good ones. And she thought I might not think this was a good surprise.
What Officer Lovely does not know is that we have been praying intently about another international adoption and asked God to make His will crystal clear to us. We want to adopt a lot of children, but we recognize that this may not be God's plan for our family at this time, or ever. It may not be what is best for Steeve & Jean Baptiste. We have committed to God that we will put those precious boys first in all of our decisions from now on, as a way of honoring His putting us together as a family. After all, that's what parents do, right? Put what's best for their children first. We are so blown away to get to play a part in God's plan for these boys.
We have been talking, praying, looking, thinking, pondering, dreaming. But we had no clarity. No clear direction in which to move or not move. And now, we feel like we do.
Not that we couldn't adopt other children internationally. However, we will have to go through this process and pay the fees again. That may be fine, in God's timing. We don't feel like the door is closed at all, but we do feel like we got some direction and clarity.
And we love that God is in the details!
Officer Lovely and I talk a bit further and decide that Weds. is a better day for both of us in terms of picking up the letter. She asks me to call her on Tuesday, and if she is not available, she will leave it with someone, so that I can pick it up. By Tuesday, she will know her schedule better, and who she may leave it with.
Again, the urge to hug and kiss this woman (good thing we were talking on the phone, and not in person) rises up! I am not sure how many more times I can resist the urge to kiss and hug Officer Lovely. I thank her profusely, over and over.
I hang up the phone and thank God for caring about the details.
I. Really. Am. Blown. Away.
Who am I that God would care so much and be so involved in the details?
Wow.
And then, I remember:
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
This is the 3rd message in a series that started here. And part 2 is here.
My cell phone rings at 4:43 PM today (Saturday), private number. I look at it, then pick up, I KNOW it is Officer Lovely. I am correct.
She tells me that she is just finishing up our application, and that the approval letter will be ready Monday. She kindly alerts me to one discrepancy, having to do with the number of children. Our application requests 3, because the O suggested we keep the numbers broad, in case we decide to pursue another international adoption, we will already have this very important approval. So our application requests approval for three. In our home study, the social worker is vague-she mentions 2 different numbers in the text of it, and a sibling group in the recommendations section. The sentence does not read well, gramatically, and so I am not sure if it is an oversight or if the Social Worker had reservations about how many children we should be approved for. I will call her to clarify this later on. Officer Lovely tells me she has to use the smaller number, because it is the one in the recommendation section. She is expecting me to be upset.
I am not upset, it's okay, because the number she has to use is the RIGHT number for this adoption. Officer Lovely says we can change the number, but we'd have to get our home study updated and all of that. I say don't bother, because it's the right number for this adoption. She says that she called because she doesn't like surprises, unless they are good ones. And she thought I might not think this was a good surprise.
What Officer Lovely does not know is that we have been praying intently about another international adoption and asked God to make His will crystal clear to us. We want to adopt a lot of children, but we recognize that this may not be God's plan for our family at this time, or ever. It may not be what is best for Steeve & Jean Baptiste. We have committed to God that we will put those precious boys first in all of our decisions from now on, as a way of honoring His putting us together as a family. After all, that's what parents do, right? Put what's best for their children first. We are so blown away to get to play a part in God's plan for these boys.
We have been talking, praying, looking, thinking, pondering, dreaming. But we had no clarity. No clear direction in which to move or not move. And now, we feel like we do.
Not that we couldn't adopt other children internationally. However, we will have to go through this process and pay the fees again. That may be fine, in God's timing. We don't feel like the door is closed at all, but we do feel like we got some direction and clarity.
And we love that God is in the details!
Officer Lovely and I talk a bit further and decide that Weds. is a better day for both of us in terms of picking up the letter. She asks me to call her on Tuesday, and if she is not available, she will leave it with someone, so that I can pick it up. By Tuesday, she will know her schedule better, and who she may leave it with.
Again, the urge to hug and kiss this woman (good thing we were talking on the phone, and not in person) rises up! I am not sure how many more times I can resist the urge to kiss and hug Officer Lovely. I thank her profusely, over and over.
I hang up the phone and thank God for caring about the details.
I. Really. Am. Blown. Away.
Who am I that God would care so much and be so involved in the details?
Wow.
And then, I remember:
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother's womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous--and how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God!
They are innumerable!
I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up in the morning, you are still with me!
Psalms 139:13-18 NLT
Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!
Psalms 66:20 NIV
Today's Adventure part deux.....
This is the second part of our most recent Adventure. You can read Part One here.
As soon as I get in the car I pull out the home study because Officer Lovely had asked me if the home study I wanted to drop off had original signatures, I pulled it out and looked at it....DRAT. It does not. I had gotten several copies from our adoption agency, with original signatures, but they all had places to go. I had debated with myself in the morning, before we left the house, between the last original copy or a copy copy. I remember thinking I should take both, just in case. But apparently I made the decision to keep the original and turn in the copy. After all, they do have an original, but they don't know where it is. I place a call to our adoption agency and leave a message explaining the situation and asking for another original or two to be sent to me. I decide to put the copy back in the envelope and say a quick prayer. (we are nearly an hour away from home and the original at this point.) I hope that she can verify with our adoption agency and that the copy will suffice.
So, I mention the name of the street Officer Lovely had told us she was near. My husband sighs and says that is in the direction of the protest march. He is hesitant to go in that direction, but we are SO CLOSE. And we must have this piece of paper. We HAVE TO TRY.
We drive in that direction, and begin to see the protestors....carrying signs, chanting "What do we want?" answer unintelligible; "When do we want it?" Answer unintelligible; and all of that. I'm clear on what issue they were protesting, but I am not clear on what they wanted. I even read several of their signs, and I'm still not sure.
(sidebar: My husband is very interested in history and politics and he has strong opinions on most of the topics of the day. He is what some would call strong willed. I will call him passionate, he is a Scorpio, after all. We don't agree on everything, but we also don't fight about it.)
The focus of the protest is enough to make my husband's blood pressure SOAR. In the past, this day of frustration, obstacles and unexpected changes to plans/errands would have been enough to send either one of us over the edge. (remember, I'm hanging on to sanity by a thin thread.) But not today. We are determined. Focused. And going to do WHATEVER IT TAKES.
Amazingly, I decide not to engage in the rant that is happening in our car and instead nod understandingly while he rants. I figure that it's better to be quiet than to gently remind him that this is America, and people have the freedom of speech and to protest peacefully. Even when we don't agree with their point of view. (proof that God does exist, the fact that I knew enough to keep my mouth shut AND I DID IT.) :-)
Back to the Adoption Adventure.
It looks like we might get to the location where we need to turn left before the long line of people blocks our way. We stop, waiting for the light to change. We might make it. The light changes, we get a green arrow. At that EXACT moment, a police officer on a motorcycle motions to us that we cannot make the left turn and waves us on down the street. (sigh).
So we drive for a while.....and there doesn't seem to be an end of the line in sight. I see a fast food chain on the right-I say to my husband-let's go there, grab a drink and wait it out. It will probably just be a few minutes. He changes lanes and this is what we do. I'm happy because I need to use the bathroom, and I figure getting out of the car will be a good thing. Change of scenery, getting the marchers out of our sight. And besides, I really need to use the bathroom!
We kill 15 minutes, and decide to venture out again. I call Officer Lovely, because she was expecting us in 5. I get her voicemail. (sigh).
So we head back out, and locate the Starbucks. It's a beautiful day in Phoenix and it's close to lunch time, and there was just a protest march. There are people EVERYWHERE. Milling around. Visiting. Eating. Drinking coffee. Smoking. Walking around. Everywhere. People. Everywhere.
I get out of the car and look around for a few minutes. Stand there awkwardly, because I am not sure exactly where Officer Lovely will come from. And, I don't know what she looks like. Hard to find a person when you don't know what they look like. I stood there so long, that a man smoking a cigarette asked me "Are you looking for Immigration?" (what?!?!? how could he know that?!?!) I said "Yes" and he motioned in the direction of the Immigration office. So now, at least, I had a direction to look expectantly in.
After what feels like an eternity, I make eye contact with a woman, and in an instant I KNOW that it is Officer Lovely. She comes up to me, like she knows me (probably that desperate adoptive mom look or smell or vibe or something). I want to give her a hug, but I refrain, because after all, I don't actually know this woman. (Impulse control is a good thing.)
So I hand her the papers, we talk. I ask what happens next. She tells me a bit about the process. She says to me "I THINK I WILL GET TO THIS TODAY." She tells me about the process-sending a letter to me, to the Visa Service Center and to the Consulate. I ask if there is anyway I can pick up my copy, rather than risk the mailing time. She considers this for a moment, and says yes, probably on Monday. Again, the urge to hug (and this time kiss) this woman rises up and again. Seriously, I picture that closing scene from An Officer and a Gentleman, where Richard Gere picks up the love interest (her name escapes me at the moment) in the factory-squeezes her, spins her, and carries her away. Fortunately, I am still on the sane side of things, by thin line, but still, I AM on the sane side.....and that being true, I resist the urge. I have impulse control. I'm pleased with that fact! We talk a few moments longer, and I thank her profusely. And then we are off, on our way.
Blown away.
Blown.
Away.
Wow.
Especially since we all know that stereotypes have some basis in reality. Officer Lovely has blown away the stereotype of the government worker. And I know this stereotypical government worker exists, because we've had the opportunity to meet her and work with her twice at the local DMV office. Not once, but twice. I'm not going to go into details of our interactions with her, but suffice it to say she is the stereotype to the 'T'. (my apologies to any readers who are or have been government workers).
We enjoy a nice lunch and do some other errands and shopping. We are so pleased and pleasantly surprised by all that transpired. We don't really even think of all the distractions and obstacles. We feel hopeful. We are blown away by God's hand in this-all the details. The fact that Officer Lovely called Friday night. That she was working on Saturday. That she was helpful and willing to come downstairs to meet us (she came down a total of 3 times, while we waited for the protest to be over.) That she explained the process and was just so danged nice. caring. friendly. warm.
The Adventure continues.....
Go to Part One
Go to Part Three
As soon as I get in the car I pull out the home study because Officer Lovely had asked me if the home study I wanted to drop off had original signatures, I pulled it out and looked at it....DRAT. It does not. I had gotten several copies from our adoption agency, with original signatures, but they all had places to go. I had debated with myself in the morning, before we left the house, between the last original copy or a copy copy. I remember thinking I should take both, just in case. But apparently I made the decision to keep the original and turn in the copy. After all, they do have an original, but they don't know where it is. I place a call to our adoption agency and leave a message explaining the situation and asking for another original or two to be sent to me. I decide to put the copy back in the envelope and say a quick prayer. (we are nearly an hour away from home and the original at this point.) I hope that she can verify with our adoption agency and that the copy will suffice.
So, I mention the name of the street Officer Lovely had told us she was near. My husband sighs and says that is in the direction of the protest march. He is hesitant to go in that direction, but we are SO CLOSE. And we must have this piece of paper. We HAVE TO TRY.
We drive in that direction, and begin to see the protestors....carrying signs, chanting "What do we want?" answer unintelligible; "When do we want it?" Answer unintelligible; and all of that. I'm clear on what issue they were protesting, but I am not clear on what they wanted. I even read several of their signs, and I'm still not sure.
(sidebar: My husband is very interested in history and politics and he has strong opinions on most of the topics of the day. He is what some would call strong willed. I will call him passionate, he is a Scorpio, after all. We don't agree on everything, but we also don't fight about it.)
The focus of the protest is enough to make my husband's blood pressure SOAR. In the past, this day of frustration, obstacles and unexpected changes to plans/errands would have been enough to send either one of us over the edge. (remember, I'm hanging on to sanity by a thin thread.) But not today. We are determined. Focused. And going to do WHATEVER IT TAKES.
Amazingly, I decide not to engage in the rant that is happening in our car and instead nod understandingly while he rants. I figure that it's better to be quiet than to gently remind him that this is America, and people have the freedom of speech and to protest peacefully. Even when we don't agree with their point of view. (proof that God does exist, the fact that I knew enough to keep my mouth shut AND I DID IT.) :-)
Back to the Adoption Adventure.
It looks like we might get to the location where we need to turn left before the long line of people blocks our way. We stop, waiting for the light to change. We might make it. The light changes, we get a green arrow. At that EXACT moment, a police officer on a motorcycle motions to us that we cannot make the left turn and waves us on down the street. (sigh).
So we drive for a while.....and there doesn't seem to be an end of the line in sight. I see a fast food chain on the right-I say to my husband-let's go there, grab a drink and wait it out. It will probably just be a few minutes. He changes lanes and this is what we do. I'm happy because I need to use the bathroom, and I figure getting out of the car will be a good thing. Change of scenery, getting the marchers out of our sight. And besides, I really need to use the bathroom!
We kill 15 minutes, and decide to venture out again. I call Officer Lovely, because she was expecting us in 5. I get her voicemail. (sigh).
So we head back out, and locate the Starbucks. It's a beautiful day in Phoenix and it's close to lunch time, and there was just a protest march. There are people EVERYWHERE. Milling around. Visiting. Eating. Drinking coffee. Smoking. Walking around. Everywhere. People. Everywhere.
I get out of the car and look around for a few minutes. Stand there awkwardly, because I am not sure exactly where Officer Lovely will come from. And, I don't know what she looks like. Hard to find a person when you don't know what they look like. I stood there so long, that a man smoking a cigarette asked me "Are you looking for Immigration?" (what?!?!? how could he know that?!?!) I said "Yes" and he motioned in the direction of the Immigration office. So now, at least, I had a direction to look expectantly in.
After what feels like an eternity, I make eye contact with a woman, and in an instant I KNOW that it is Officer Lovely. She comes up to me, like she knows me (probably that desperate adoptive mom look or smell or vibe or something). I want to give her a hug, but I refrain, because after all, I don't actually know this woman. (Impulse control is a good thing.)
So I hand her the papers, we talk. I ask what happens next. She tells me a bit about the process. She says to me "I THINK I WILL GET TO THIS TODAY." She tells me about the process-sending a letter to me, to the Visa Service Center and to the Consulate. I ask if there is anyway I can pick up my copy, rather than risk the mailing time. She considers this for a moment, and says yes, probably on Monday. Again, the urge to hug (and this time kiss) this woman rises up and again. Seriously, I picture that closing scene from An Officer and a Gentleman, where Richard Gere picks up the love interest (her name escapes me at the moment) in the factory-squeezes her, spins her, and carries her away. Fortunately, I am still on the sane side of things, by thin line, but still, I AM on the sane side.....and that being true, I resist the urge. I have impulse control. I'm pleased with that fact! We talk a few moments longer, and I thank her profusely. And then we are off, on our way.
Blown away.
Blown.
Away.
Wow.
Especially since we all know that stereotypes have some basis in reality. Officer Lovely has blown away the stereotype of the government worker. And I know this stereotypical government worker exists, because we've had the opportunity to meet her and work with her twice at the local DMV office. Not once, but twice. I'm not going to go into details of our interactions with her, but suffice it to say she is the stereotype to the 'T'. (my apologies to any readers who are or have been government workers).
We enjoy a nice lunch and do some other errands and shopping. We are so pleased and pleasantly surprised by all that transpired. We don't really even think of all the distractions and obstacles. We feel hopeful. We are blown away by God's hand in this-all the details. The fact that Officer Lovely called Friday night. That she was working on Saturday. That she was helpful and willing to come downstairs to meet us (she came down a total of 3 times, while we waited for the protest to be over.) That she explained the process and was just so danged nice. caring. friendly. warm.
The Adventure continues.....
Go to Part One
Go to Part Three
Adoption Adventure.....
When I created this blog, back in the spring of 2008, it was mostly a way to raise support and keep donors in the loop about my first short term mission trip to Haiti. Thus the URL for this blog.
After my trip in July, meeting the boys and sensing what God was doing......and after some serious prayer and discussion with my husband; and after getting our approval to adopt the boys from the O, I renamed the blog Our Adoption Adventure. I kept the previous URL because it flowed from there-if not for the mission trip, this Adventure wouldn't be happening in this way, at this time. I also knew enough to know that embarking on this journey would indeed be an Adventure-as stepping out in faith with our God always is. And of course, I was aware that adoption can be a lengthy process-and that adds to the Adventure.
Now I'd like to tell you a little about our most recent adventure. It's a long story that happened over a short time. God is in the business of details. Grab a cup of coffee and settle in...this may take a while.
We have been praying feverishly for one particular piece of paper to arrive. It is the last approval we need on the American side of things, and we must have it and file it in person, in Haiti to begin the Haitian side of this Adventure. So we're praying and believing and hoping, and checking the mail every day..... and two days ago (Thursday), I sent out a prayer request regarding this particular piece of paper. Thank you to all who responded on the blog or off with encouraging words, suggestions and prayers. You have no idea what your responses mean to me. I could literally feel your prayers on our behalf. I was not terribly anxious over this, and yet, your prayers made a visible, physical, real, difference in my day. And in our Adventure.
At any rate, two of my fellow adoptive moms who are further along in this Adventure than I am sent me suggestions to contact my local US/CIS office where this form will come from because they had both needed help and gotten it. Now, I know you will find this hard to believe, because I find it hard to believe, but that thought had not occured to me. Not once. Seriously. It never crossed my mind to contact the office. Now I'm not dumb, and I am fairly well educated. I know how to advocate and work with systems and get things done. But the thought NEVER OCCURED to me. I can't explain it. I'm just telling you how it is.
I have been checking my snail mail box every day, hoping for some official government looking letter to arrive. To no avail. They've had my application since August, we were fingerprinted (oh that's another Adventure blog post) in September, and I sent them our approved home study on January 20. I figured this is government, so it will probably take some time. And it will probably take longer than I think it should, right?
After about the 1 month mark, I started getting antsy and praying more feverishly. But the thought still has not occurred to me to try to contact the office. (sigh)
I thought about the suggestion, but it was late in the day on Thursday by the time I got home and had time to look for way to contact the office-all I had was a mailing address. So I did some research (gotta love the internet-say good bye to office hours!) All I could find was the same mailing address I had and an 800 number. I was not too optimistic about the 800 number because this is a government office and well, I was just not too hopeful. I had flashbacks of those endless loop phone trees that make you push 25 keys and then disconnect or play that "Your call is important to us" recording over and over. I kept looking and found an email address for the local office and decided to use it. On the website it said that I could expect a reply in approximately 2 business days from my inquiry. With only a week to go before we travel, I was not too optimistic, but figured it's worth a shot. So I sent the email at 4:53 PM on Thursday and went about my business for the evening.
We were hanging out with friends Friday evening. I had my cell phone with me, but didn't answer a call that came in at 8:16 PM because I was busy chatting and all that. When I got home from our friends house, I checked my voicemail and heard a voice say "Hello, Lena? This is Officer so and so from Immigration." I was so shocked I dropped my phone. Also, it's amazing how many people you love can flash through your mind in the second between the word Officer and the word Immigration. I did the world's fastest inventory of who could this be about, are my loved ones okay? in that second. Luckily my husband and I were together or I might have passed out from hearing the word "Officer". I guess I watch too many police dramas. LOL. Fortunately, once she said "Immigration" I knew exactly what it was regarding and I could hang on to my thin thread of sanity.
At any rate, back to the Adoption Adventure. So this very sweet sounding woman, with a beautiful name, leaves me a message that says she found my application and that they were just waiting on my approved home study. She says that they can usually issue approval letters in a few days, once they have that. She leaves me a phone number for me to get her tomorrow (Saturday) or another officer's name and number if I can't call until Monday. I'm getting this message around 10 PM on Friday night. She says, "I see here in your email that you sent your home study to us on January 20, but we don't have it. If I knew which agency did it, I could contact them. At any rate, this is what we need."
So at 10:16 PM (Friday) I decide its too late to call, but I fire off another email to the same generic email address that I used before. I say that I will bring the home study to her, all she has to do is tell me when/where. I double check my records, and see that I did sent the home study and rec'd delivery confirmation for January 20, from the post office. But I figure, there's nothing I can do about that now, maybe the home study is lost in their office somewhere.
So I go to bed. Hard to sleep. But I'm tired-it's been a long, emotional week-on a variety of fronts, not just the adoption. Funny how life seems to go on, responsibilities, stress, drama and all, in spite of my almost obsessive focus on all things adoption. ;-)
I get up on Saturday morning and make an executive decision to cancel an appointment that I have for 9:15 AM because my husband and I have another important errand to tend to, and it must be done in the morning. I'm thinking that if this nice officer is working on a Saturday it will be mostly in the morning/early afternoon hours at best. So I decide I need the time to get this done.
I call the number the nice officer with the beautiful name left, (I am going to call her Officer Lovely from here on out).
To my dismay, go right to voicemail, which says that she is in another office, and please call a different number instead. Thinking on my feet-I simply leave a message that says I am bringing this document to her today. Can she please call me to verify. I decide to call the other number, and also get voicemail there. I leave basically the same message.
Now I'm torn. Debating on my schedule, Officer Lovely's location and how to get these things done. And do I wait for her call back? or just start driving? I wait one hour and have not heard back from the officer. So, we decide to do our other errand, and take the home study with us, hoping she will call back. She does not. So, after our other errand is done, we decide to head to the address I have and try to drop it off. I'm fairly optimistic that we can find the office, but not so sure about getting in. After all, it is a Saturday and it's a government office, in the city center.
So we're driving looking for the address. And again, I feel I must say I AM NOT DUMB. However, the address was an odd number, and I said the number and said to my husband "It will be on that side (the wrong one) of the street." I even kept reading EVEN numbers out loud while we searched. All of the sudden, the numbers went up, like they skipped over the one we were looking for. So we turned around, and drove back by where I thought the building should have been. No dice. So we drove around the small block-trying to see if we could get closer to the building, but there was no back way in. So, we found a parking spot, and decided to get out and walk a bit and see if we could find it.
(sidebar here: we haven't been down to the central city much since we both stopped working down there. I used to work on this street, and my husband worked about a mile away from where we were today. It's been about 5-6 years. One of the many changes we noticed is the new light rail system-which happens to run down the street we were on. While we are looking for this address, a train came alongside us, blocking our view of the addresses we were looking for. Now that the day is over, as I reflect on the day, that feels a bit like warfare-obstacles or blinders in our way. It was irritating, at the time. And in the past, it may have been just frustrating enough to make us give up and go home. Not today, though.)
So at any rate, while we are waiting to cross the street, it dawns on me, that we are looking on the wrong side of the street. So we cross the street, and begin looking on the right side of the street. And guess what? We found the building. Locked up tightly. Fenced. Gate locked. Large security woman behind the gate says "Can I help you?" in a rather gruff tone. I explain that I am here to drop off some papers, she shakes her head, smiles and says "I'm sorry but we're closed." I show her the papers, the officer's name, and say meekly "but she said I could bring them to her today." (which is not accurate-as I have not talked to Officer Lovely at all yet, only her voicemail.) The security guard must've sensed my desperation, as she came closer and said, "I'm not sure what to tell you, we just guard the place, really." Then she proceeded to tell us about another office location that wasn't too far away and suggested maybe that Officer Lovely was there.
We get directions, and turn to head back to the car. I decide to try calling Officer Lovely one more time while we walk back. To my utter amazement, SHE ANSWERED THE PHONE. I tell her my name, and she KNOWS WHO I AM. I tell her where we are, she tell me where she is, which is not at the office we just got directions to, but still nearby. She's giving me detailed directions. She asks me if the copy of my home study I have with me has original signatures on it. I'm standing on a busy street, traffic and trains going by. I see a police officer in his cruiser in a parking lot waving my husband down and telling him something, but I can't hear what it is, I can't focus because I'm still in SHOCK that she answered the phone.
My husband motions to me that we need to keep moving, so I follow him back to the car. All the while clutching the home study and my cell phone, trying to hear above the traffic noise and remember the directions. (For those of you that know me personally, you already know that remembering directions and getting to unfamiliar places is not my strength, and so you are probably laughing hysterically as you read this.) Finally, Officer Lovely mentions a landmark I can most assuredly identify with-STARBUCKS. Oh, sure I know where that is! I'll be right there. She says "Okay, I'll come downstairs in about five minutes, that's probably how long it'll take you to get here."
And we're off. I ask my husband what the police officer was saying to him. He says there is some sort of protest march headed our way, and they will be here (where we are standing) any minute and we might want to get out of the way. Seriously. I told you this was an Adventure.
To be continued........
Click here to go to part 2.
Click here to go to part 3.
After my trip in July, meeting the boys and sensing what God was doing......and after some serious prayer and discussion with my husband; and after getting our approval to adopt the boys from the O, I renamed the blog Our Adoption Adventure. I kept the previous URL because it flowed from there-if not for the mission trip, this Adventure wouldn't be happening in this way, at this time. I also knew enough to know that embarking on this journey would indeed be an Adventure-as stepping out in faith with our God always is. And of course, I was aware that adoption can be a lengthy process-and that adds to the Adventure.
Now I'd like to tell you a little about our most recent adventure. It's a long story that happened over a short time. God is in the business of details. Grab a cup of coffee and settle in...this may take a while.
We have been praying feverishly for one particular piece of paper to arrive. It is the last approval we need on the American side of things, and we must have it and file it in person, in Haiti to begin the Haitian side of this Adventure. So we're praying and believing and hoping, and checking the mail every day..... and two days ago (Thursday), I sent out a prayer request regarding this particular piece of paper. Thank you to all who responded on the blog or off with encouraging words, suggestions and prayers. You have no idea what your responses mean to me. I could literally feel your prayers on our behalf. I was not terribly anxious over this, and yet, your prayers made a visible, physical, real, difference in my day. And in our Adventure.
At any rate, two of my fellow adoptive moms who are further along in this Adventure than I am sent me suggestions to contact my local US/CIS office where this form will come from because they had both needed help and gotten it. Now, I know you will find this hard to believe, because I find it hard to believe, but that thought had not occured to me. Not once. Seriously. It never crossed my mind to contact the office. Now I'm not dumb, and I am fairly well educated. I know how to advocate and work with systems and get things done. But the thought NEVER OCCURED to me. I can't explain it. I'm just telling you how it is.
I have been checking my snail mail box every day, hoping for some official government looking letter to arrive. To no avail. They've had my application since August, we were fingerprinted (oh that's another Adventure blog post) in September, and I sent them our approved home study on January 20. I figured this is government, so it will probably take some time. And it will probably take longer than I think it should, right?
After about the 1 month mark, I started getting antsy and praying more feverishly. But the thought still has not occurred to me to try to contact the office. (sigh)
I thought about the suggestion, but it was late in the day on Thursday by the time I got home and had time to look for way to contact the office-all I had was a mailing address. So I did some research (gotta love the internet-say good bye to office hours!) All I could find was the same mailing address I had and an 800 number. I was not too optimistic about the 800 number because this is a government office and well, I was just not too hopeful. I had flashbacks of those endless loop phone trees that make you push 25 keys and then disconnect or play that "Your call is important to us" recording over and over. I kept looking and found an email address for the local office and decided to use it. On the website it said that I could expect a reply in approximately 2 business days from my inquiry. With only a week to go before we travel, I was not too optimistic, but figured it's worth a shot. So I sent the email at 4:53 PM on Thursday and went about my business for the evening.
We were hanging out with friends Friday evening. I had my cell phone with me, but didn't answer a call that came in at 8:16 PM because I was busy chatting and all that. When I got home from our friends house, I checked my voicemail and heard a voice say "Hello, Lena? This is Officer so and so from Immigration." I was so shocked I dropped my phone. Also, it's amazing how many people you love can flash through your mind in the second between the word Officer and the word Immigration. I did the world's fastest inventory of who could this be about, are my loved ones okay? in that second. Luckily my husband and I were together or I might have passed out from hearing the word "Officer". I guess I watch too many police dramas. LOL. Fortunately, once she said "Immigration" I knew exactly what it was regarding and I could hang on to my thin thread of sanity.
At any rate, back to the Adoption Adventure. So this very sweet sounding woman, with a beautiful name, leaves me a message that says she found my application and that they were just waiting on my approved home study. She says that they can usually issue approval letters in a few days, once they have that. She leaves me a phone number for me to get her tomorrow (Saturday) or another officer's name and number if I can't call until Monday. I'm getting this message around 10 PM on Friday night. She says, "I see here in your email that you sent your home study to us on January 20, but we don't have it. If I knew which agency did it, I could contact them. At any rate, this is what we need."
So at 10:16 PM (Friday) I decide its too late to call, but I fire off another email to the same generic email address that I used before. I say that I will bring the home study to her, all she has to do is tell me when/where. I double check my records, and see that I did sent the home study and rec'd delivery confirmation for January 20, from the post office. But I figure, there's nothing I can do about that now, maybe the home study is lost in their office somewhere.
So I go to bed. Hard to sleep. But I'm tired-it's been a long, emotional week-on a variety of fronts, not just the adoption. Funny how life seems to go on, responsibilities, stress, drama and all, in spite of my almost obsessive focus on all things adoption. ;-)
I get up on Saturday morning and make an executive decision to cancel an appointment that I have for 9:15 AM because my husband and I have another important errand to tend to, and it must be done in the morning. I'm thinking that if this nice officer is working on a Saturday it will be mostly in the morning/early afternoon hours at best. So I decide I need the time to get this done.
I call the number the nice officer with the beautiful name left, (I am going to call her Officer Lovely from here on out).
To my dismay, go right to voicemail, which says that she is in another office, and please call a different number instead. Thinking on my feet-I simply leave a message that says I am bringing this document to her today. Can she please call me to verify. I decide to call the other number, and also get voicemail there. I leave basically the same message.
Now I'm torn. Debating on my schedule, Officer Lovely's location and how to get these things done. And do I wait for her call back? or just start driving? I wait one hour and have not heard back from the officer. So, we decide to do our other errand, and take the home study with us, hoping she will call back. She does not. So, after our other errand is done, we decide to head to the address I have and try to drop it off. I'm fairly optimistic that we can find the office, but not so sure about getting in. After all, it is a Saturday and it's a government office, in the city center.
So we're driving looking for the address. And again, I feel I must say I AM NOT DUMB. However, the address was an odd number, and I said the number and said to my husband "It will be on that side (the wrong one) of the street." I even kept reading EVEN numbers out loud while we searched. All of the sudden, the numbers went up, like they skipped over the one we were looking for. So we turned around, and drove back by where I thought the building should have been. No dice. So we drove around the small block-trying to see if we could get closer to the building, but there was no back way in. So, we found a parking spot, and decided to get out and walk a bit and see if we could find it.
(sidebar here: we haven't been down to the central city much since we both stopped working down there. I used to work on this street, and my husband worked about a mile away from where we were today. It's been about 5-6 years. One of the many changes we noticed is the new light rail system-which happens to run down the street we were on. While we are looking for this address, a train came alongside us, blocking our view of the addresses we were looking for. Now that the day is over, as I reflect on the day, that feels a bit like warfare-obstacles or blinders in our way. It was irritating, at the time. And in the past, it may have been just frustrating enough to make us give up and go home. Not today, though.)
So at any rate, while we are waiting to cross the street, it dawns on me, that we are looking on the wrong side of the street. So we cross the street, and begin looking on the right side of the street. And guess what? We found the building. Locked up tightly. Fenced. Gate locked. Large security woman behind the gate says "Can I help you?" in a rather gruff tone. I explain that I am here to drop off some papers, she shakes her head, smiles and says "I'm sorry but we're closed." I show her the papers, the officer's name, and say meekly "but she said I could bring them to her today." (which is not accurate-as I have not talked to Officer Lovely at all yet, only her voicemail.) The security guard must've sensed my desperation, as she came closer and said, "I'm not sure what to tell you, we just guard the place, really." Then she proceeded to tell us about another office location that wasn't too far away and suggested maybe that Officer Lovely was there.
We get directions, and turn to head back to the car. I decide to try calling Officer Lovely one more time while we walk back. To my utter amazement, SHE ANSWERED THE PHONE. I tell her my name, and she KNOWS WHO I AM. I tell her where we are, she tell me where she is, which is not at the office we just got directions to, but still nearby. She's giving me detailed directions. She asks me if the copy of my home study I have with me has original signatures on it. I'm standing on a busy street, traffic and trains going by. I see a police officer in his cruiser in a parking lot waving my husband down and telling him something, but I can't hear what it is, I can't focus because I'm still in SHOCK that she answered the phone.
My husband motions to me that we need to keep moving, so I follow him back to the car. All the while clutching the home study and my cell phone, trying to hear above the traffic noise and remember the directions. (For those of you that know me personally, you already know that remembering directions and getting to unfamiliar places is not my strength, and so you are probably laughing hysterically as you read this.) Finally, Officer Lovely mentions a landmark I can most assuredly identify with-STARBUCKS. Oh, sure I know where that is! I'll be right there. She says "Okay, I'll come downstairs in about five minutes, that's probably how long it'll take you to get here."
And we're off. I ask my husband what the police officer was saying to him. He says there is some sort of protest march headed our way, and they will be here (where we are standing) any minute and we might want to get out of the way. Seriously. I told you this was an Adventure.
To be continued........
Click here to go to part 2.
Click here to go to part 3.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Different versions of the same encouragement....
Numbers 23:19
God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? KJV
"God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? NKJV
God is not a man, that he should lie. He is not a human, that he should change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? NLT
God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? NIV
God is not a human being, and he will not lie. He is not a human, and he does not change his mind. What he says he will do, he does. What he promises, he makes come true. NCV
Bondye pa tankou moun k'ap bay manti. Non! Li pa tankou moun k'ap chanje lide yo pou ti krik ti krak! Depi li pwomèt yon bagay, l'ap fè l'. Depi li pale, fòk sa li di a rive vre! Haitian Creole Version
God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? KJV
"God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? NKJV
God is not a man, that he should lie. He is not a human, that he should change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? NLT
God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? NIV
God is not a human being, and he will not lie. He is not a human, and he does not change his mind. What he says he will do, he does. What he promises, he makes come true. NCV
Bondye pa tankou moun k'ap bay manti. Non! Li pa tankou moun k'ap chanje lide yo pou ti krik ti krak! Depi li pwomèt yon bagay, l'ap fè l'. Depi li pale, fòk sa li di a rive vre! Haitian Creole Version
Monday, February 23, 2009
Prayer
Steeve
Jean Baptiste Dear Lord,
I thank you for the gift of these two precious children. Thank you for chosing us to be a part of their lives-for trusting us with the responsibility of raising these boys into Godly men. Thank you for their gifts and the blessings you have already provided to them. Thank you-we are awed and honored by your plan and the part you have for us to play in it. We lift up these boys to you-and ask that you bless them, protect them and let them know just how much you love them.
We thank you for their first family, the orphanage, and all the people who have loved on these children of yours. We thank you for all you have done, are doing and will do. We trust your plan, your timing and your provision. We thank you for the many blessings you have provided to us. Please help these two boys to know how much we love them and how badly we want them at home, and that we will do whatever it takes to make that happen. We trust you to work it out-you know what we need before we do and we are so thankful.
We thank you for each person reading this-friends, family, new friends we haven't met yet.....and for each person we ask for your blessing. We're grateful for the support we have received and the friends we have made on this Adoption Adventure.
In the precious name of Jesus.
Amen.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
God is soooo good....
Just a quick note to say....God is good-kind-loving-caring-generous.....
I've had a heck of a week, I'm exhausted. Lots of work, which is a good thing, but it's taking a physical and emotional toll.
I'm busy. Really Really Busy. Like so busy, I forgot to do something that I said I would do. That is not like me. Distracted. Forgetful. Ugh. (so sorry Michelle)
Lots of negativity and discouragement swirling around. Falling behind-unable to keep up the pace. This is Thursday....dragged myself home from the office......feeling worn out and down.....
And......
Then.......
I received a CD of pictures of the boys (and me) from another adoptive family that was on the December trip with me. (Thanks Lara and Tom)
AND.....
I got to see a lot of pictures of the kids, including our boys online from an adoptive dad that just returned from Haiti.....(Thanks Tim and Sarah).
AND......
I got videos of the boys to, via email from the December trip from Lara.
God is so good. His timing is perfect.
I can keep going....and get through another day, another week even.
I can keep going.
Thank you!
(this is all on top of the pics and cards I rec'd on Valentine's day. thanks Stacey)
It really has been a GREAT mail week.
Thank you all.
I am going to savor these precious gifts, and I will share some as I have more time and energy.
I've had a heck of a week, I'm exhausted. Lots of work, which is a good thing, but it's taking a physical and emotional toll.
I'm busy. Really Really Busy. Like so busy, I forgot to do something that I said I would do. That is not like me. Distracted. Forgetful. Ugh. (so sorry Michelle)
Lots of negativity and discouragement swirling around. Falling behind-unable to keep up the pace. This is Thursday....dragged myself home from the office......feeling worn out and down.....
And......
Then.......
I received a CD of pictures of the boys (and me) from another adoptive family that was on the December trip with me. (Thanks Lara and Tom)
AND.....
I got to see a lot of pictures of the kids, including our boys online from an adoptive dad that just returned from Haiti.....(Thanks Tim and Sarah).
AND......
I got videos of the boys to, via email from the December trip from Lara.
God is so good. His timing is perfect.
I can keep going....and get through another day, another week even.
I can keep going.
Thank you!
(this is all on top of the pics and cards I rec'd on Valentine's day. thanks Stacey)
It really has been a GREAT mail week.
Thank you all.
I am going to savor these precious gifts, and I will share some as I have more time and energy.
Monday, February 16, 2009
A Valentine from Haiti
I just want to send a big THANK YOU to Stacey-who just returned to the states from spending a month at Three Angels.
She sent some pictures and Valentine's from the boys. They arrived on Valentine's Day.
At the moment, I can't share them with you, because the scanner part of my all in one machine is not working. If I figure something out, I'll share. If not, you'll just have to use your imagination.
But they are adorable.
Cute.
Precious.
both the Valentine's and the photos.
I am in love!
(happy sigh)
Thank you for the heart warming gift, Stacey. May you be richly blessed for your good deeds.
Thank you.
She sent some pictures and Valentine's from the boys. They arrived on Valentine's Day.
At the moment, I can't share them with you, because the scanner part of my all in one machine is not working. If I figure something out, I'll share. If not, you'll just have to use your imagination.
But they are adorable.
Cute.
Precious.
both the Valentine's and the photos.
I am in love!
(happy sigh)
Thank you for the heart warming gift, Stacey. May you be richly blessed for your good deeds.
Thank you.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
A bit of encouragement from above-one of those 'random' things.....
I couldn't get this to upload directly here-it didn't work when I tried to embed it.
So you have to click the link to go watch the video. Hopefully this works.
So you have to click the link to go watch the video. Hopefully this works.
This video contains footage from my first trip to Haiti in July 2008.
It was compiled recently by a man on staff at our church who did not go on the trip,
and who, as far as I know, does not know our boys.
This was played in all of the weekend services at church about two or three weeks ago in relation to upcoming plans for mission trips/activities.
I love the praise and worship and study/reading of God's word. Make no mistake-what you see that looks like celebration is praise & worship-the children, the nannies, the teenage boys from Port au Prince Fellowship that came to the O and led a church service for the children at the O. I can't really explain how the praise and worship in Haiti makes me feel. It is so different from the 'typical' American church.
The boys are all over this video, and I'm even it, with Jean Ba.
And the song is one of my current favorite God songs at the moment. Play it all the time, and it moves me.
Another confirmation. A gift. A bit of encouragement from above.
God is great.
For those of you that don't know/recognize the boys watch for these times:
1:49 green shirt is JB
3:16 JB
3:33 Steeve
3:38 Me & JB (do I look happy when our eyes meet, or what?)
4:14 Steeve
4:20 JB
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Prayer
I find the topic of prayer to be very interesting. And private. People have many different styles and comfort levels regarding prayer. It's been on my mind a lot lately. The message seems to be that I need to pray more. I'm not going to go into details here, but let's just say that I am seeing the same themes over and over, in multiple areas of my life. And I've learned enough to realize that when this happens, I need to PAY ATTENTION.
Take, for just one, recent example this verse (and there are MANY others):
I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!
~ Isaiah 65:24, NLT
Prayer is the key.
I think I am starting to understand.
Take, for just one, recent example this verse (and there are MANY others):
I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!
~ Isaiah 65:24, NLT
Prayer is the key.
I think I am starting to understand.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Quick Update
We have all but 1 item back from the translator....and we'll have that one soon.
Then, off to Chicago for legalization.....going to use a courier, so that it can be hand delivered and get next day service. Might take 1-2 weeks with mail/shipping time, if all goes well.
Got to get out and copy a few docs, and then compile the entire dossier, and copy it.
It looks like we will have it together in time....please pray that this is so.
Also, please pray for the finances to come together-there is a hefty sum due (legal fees, mostly) when we submit our dossier.
And please pray that we receive our I71h letter/form soon too. It's only been about a week since I mailed the approved home study to USCIS. I have no idea what the turn around time is for something like that. Just praying that it arrives soon so that we can get the Haitian side of this adoption started.
Went to a meeting about the upcoming mission trip-our church is sending a team down soon. Details are coming together. 15 people. 4 returning to Haiti as short term missionaries. 6 teens. 11 people who have not had their life 'wrecked' by Haiti and seen what God is doing there. And hopefully, one set of swept off their feet adoptive parents........ :-) A papa who has not yet had the pleasure of meeting his children face to face. And a mama who would sleep on the floor and stay in Haiti til the boys could come home if they'd let her.
I have NO idea who those last 2 people might be, do you? ;-)
So excited for them all. Giving thanks for all that God has done, is doing and will do.
Pray people. Pray.
Then, off to Chicago for legalization.....going to use a courier, so that it can be hand delivered and get next day service. Might take 1-2 weeks with mail/shipping time, if all goes well.
Got to get out and copy a few docs, and then compile the entire dossier, and copy it.
It looks like we will have it together in time....please pray that this is so.
Also, please pray for the finances to come together-there is a hefty sum due (legal fees, mostly) when we submit our dossier.
And please pray that we receive our I71h letter/form soon too. It's only been about a week since I mailed the approved home study to USCIS. I have no idea what the turn around time is for something like that. Just praying that it arrives soon so that we can get the Haitian side of this adoption started.
Went to a meeting about the upcoming mission trip-our church is sending a team down soon. Details are coming together. 15 people. 4 returning to Haiti as short term missionaries. 6 teens. 11 people who have not had their life 'wrecked' by Haiti and seen what God is doing there. And hopefully, one set of swept off their feet adoptive parents........ :-) A papa who has not yet had the pleasure of meeting his children face to face. And a mama who would sleep on the floor and stay in Haiti til the boys could come home if they'd let her.
I have NO idea who those last 2 people might be, do you? ;-)
So excited for them all. Giving thanks for all that God has done, is doing and will do.
Pray people. Pray.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Forward movement...
Children are coming home from the O.....
Files are moving.....
It's so encouraging.
Here, Kathy outlines the Haitian adoption process, it helps me, and I thought it would help you to understand the process a bit. Thanks, Kathy.
We are not at the first step on the list yet-still working on things on the American side of the process. But we are getting close......My guess is that we will be onto that first step very soon-maybe in 2-3 weeks, and the 2nd step in March. And that is when the estimated timeline (guess, really) starts....anywhere from 18-36 months.
It's been a great day. Beautiful, cloudy, slightly humid, which is a nice change for this neck of the woods. A bit warmer today too. Productive day at work. Calls for new work coming in. Studying God's word. Hanging out with my hubby and friends. Eating good food.
Planning to go back to the Secretary of State tomorrow, to get those forms from the other day Authenticated....At least now, I know where I am going...and see that it's a pretty simple process. Although it's a 45-60 minute drive, I'm grateful it is within driving distance. So going back is really not a terribly big deal. "Road Trip, anyone?"
I'm so grateful for each and every thing....big and small, all the blessings come from God. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Files are moving.....
It's so encouraging.
Here, Kathy outlines the Haitian adoption process, it helps me, and I thought it would help you to understand the process a bit. Thanks, Kathy.
We are not at the first step on the list yet-still working on things on the American side of the process. But we are getting close......My guess is that we will be onto that first step very soon-maybe in 2-3 weeks, and the 2nd step in March. And that is when the estimated timeline (guess, really) starts....anywhere from 18-36 months.
It's been a great day. Beautiful, cloudy, slightly humid, which is a nice change for this neck of the woods. A bit warmer today too. Productive day at work. Calls for new work coming in. Studying God's word. Hanging out with my hubby and friends. Eating good food.
Planning to go back to the Secretary of State tomorrow, to get those forms from the other day Authenticated....At least now, I know where I am going...and see that it's a pretty simple process. Although it's a 45-60 minute drive, I'm grateful it is within driving distance. So going back is really not a terribly big deal. "Road Trip, anyone?"
I'm so grateful for each and every thing....big and small, all the blessings come from God. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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