So it's been awhile... ok, it's been over half of a year since our last blog. It's been exactly 5 days of garage sales, craigslist and Joplin give and take, bunches of plaques and Apparent Project bracelets sold and one amazing bunco party fundraiser. It's been coming in from the mailbox or home from a friends house to find an envelope overflowing with love for the little girl God is bringing into our family. It's been family members quietly, humbly and generously giving. It's been our church family cleaning out their garages to stock the garage sales and some fiercely supportive friends and family helping to pull them off! It's been good tears and stupors of gratitude. We are on track to have completed the financial goals of the adoption by February of 2015, to the Glory of God! It has surely been an adventure of love and we are so thankful for those who have chosen to join us on the journey. Your love and efforts have made this adventure far sweeter and farther reaching than we knew possible. What a joy to know our daughter is coming home to love such as this.
These past few months have been just plain tricky to get down on paper! We had the opportunity in August to submit a request to adopt a specific little girl who was born in Haiti on February 5th, 2014. August was the last month that Haiti accepted referrals made by agencies for the matching of children with waiting families. We are very thankful that just 3 days before the deadline for agency referrals, this sweet child was brought to our attention and we were able to submit a letter stating our intent to adopt her. As of now we are told that Haiti plans to honor all referrals made prior to September 1st, 2014 and so we are growing in confidence that she is the one! We have been told that this part of the journey can last 8 to 16 months. We are waiting to hear from the matching authority in Haiti. They will complete our child's dossier, match it with ours, and then invite us to travel for a 15 day socialization trip at the orphanage. These requirements must be completed before she is officially our daughter. We will return home from the socialization trip without our sweet girl; leaning more heavily than ever on the Lord to provide patience and peace as we wait to return and bring her home for good (to some very loving and expectant big brothers)!
So in the waiting, we thankfully take the joy that is set before us. We remember this precious Christmas season that the true Light , which gives light to everyone, came into the world so that all who would receive Him, believing in His name would have the right to become the children of God. (John Ch.1). Thank you Jesus for the gift you gave us- to be sons and daughters of God when we were powerless to be a part of His family. And thank you Lord for pursuing us when we needed you most!
Monday, December 15, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Bridge to Adventure
Sitting at a stoplight this morning, I blinked back some tears as I glanced at the official Home Study sitting on the passengers seat beside me. The goodness of God washed over me and left me with new admiration for Him. Our Banning boy sat in the back seat, excited to join me on this important errand to the Secretary of State's office for one last certification. These past two months have been full of meetings, paperwork, phone calls, paperwork, doctors appointments, paperwork, soccer practice, paperwork, family events, paperwork, schooling, and some more paperwork. Completing the Home Study and Dossier requirements for our adoption has been a labor of love; the honor of laying a foundation for our daughter's homecoming.
I sometimes imagined the papers laid out end to end, reaching from here to Haiti and bridging the distance between us. In truth they would probably only lead from here to Walmart, but that is not a very rewarding thought. So I pictured a bridge made of birth certificates and lab reports, psychological evaluations and 3 years of tax returns (even the one I had to amend because I accidentally entered our property tax where the personal property tax number was supposed to go- professional!) The bridge is beautiful, pieced together with fingerprints, bank statements, background checks, tenderhearted referral letters, TB tests, a ridiculous photo ID from Sam's club, 6 equally embarrassing passport photos each, and boring police clearance reports. This adventure requires a bridge and we were blessed to build it.
So this afternoon I was up to my elbows in copies, with my nose buried in directions for assembling the Dossier, and Banning says, "Mom, it's funny that it takes lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of papers to get a sister!" He's right, it is funny that it takes so much paperwork to unite a family, but big brother Banning is willing to do whatever it takes to bring his sister home, even when it means sitting still at the notary's or keeping the cocoa puffs away from the table (aka- the assembly line). Waiting until Langston was out of school this afternoon, we excitedly made our way to the post office to send off the hard-earned Home Study and Dossier to our agency so that they could be translated into French and submitted to IBESR by the Haitian attorney, which will begin the matching process. Langston and Banning proudly posed for a picture with the big box of paperwork before I pried it from my fingers and left it in the hands of complete strangers whom I hope have a lot of practice getting things to their proper destination. (The sweet lady at the post office mentioned, "I can tell you are concerned about this, so we can use bubble wrap." Was I that obvious?) Leaving the post office, the thrill of this adventure replaced the fear that some unmanned machine was going to squish, stain or shred two months worth of hard work.
It is out of our hands, but it's really never been in our hands. As this adventure of love continues, Brady and I rest in the truth that the hand of Jesus is directing it all. We pray that He shuffles the paperwork across the desks of busy workers, drawing their attention to the signature line and sending it along to the next destination. And may our sweet child be comforted by her Jesus who does immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine on her behalf.
The adventure continues...
I sometimes imagined the papers laid out end to end, reaching from here to Haiti and bridging the distance between us. In truth they would probably only lead from here to Walmart, but that is not a very rewarding thought. So I pictured a bridge made of birth certificates and lab reports, psychological evaluations and 3 years of tax returns (even the one I had to amend because I accidentally entered our property tax where the personal property tax number was supposed to go- professional!) The bridge is beautiful, pieced together with fingerprints, bank statements, background checks, tenderhearted referral letters, TB tests, a ridiculous photo ID from Sam's club, 6 equally embarrassing passport photos each, and boring police clearance reports. This adventure requires a bridge and we were blessed to build it.
So this afternoon I was up to my elbows in copies, with my nose buried in directions for assembling the Dossier, and Banning says, "Mom, it's funny that it takes lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of papers to get a sister!" He's right, it is funny that it takes so much paperwork to unite a family, but big brother Banning is willing to do whatever it takes to bring his sister home, even when it means sitting still at the notary's or keeping the cocoa puffs away from the table (aka- the assembly line). Waiting until Langston was out of school this afternoon, we excitedly made our way to the post office to send off the hard-earned Home Study and Dossier to our agency so that they could be translated into French and submitted to IBESR by the Haitian attorney, which will begin the matching process. Langston and Banning proudly posed for a picture with the big box of paperwork before I pried it from my fingers and left it in the hands of complete strangers whom I hope have a lot of practice getting things to their proper destination. (The sweet lady at the post office mentioned, "I can tell you are concerned about this, so we can use bubble wrap." Was I that obvious?) Leaving the post office, the thrill of this adventure replaced the fear that some unmanned machine was going to squish, stain or shred two months worth of hard work.
It is out of our hands, but it's really never been in our hands. As this adventure of love continues, Brady and I rest in the truth that the hand of Jesus is directing it all. We pray that He shuffles the paperwork across the desks of busy workers, drawing their attention to the signature line and sending it along to the next destination. And may our sweet child be comforted by her Jesus who does immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine on her behalf.
The adventure continues...
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Adventure.....Here we come!
Brady and I began our discussion about adoption almost 15 years ago after I returned from a two week mission trip to Haiti with some of Brady's amazing family. His Uncle Len and Aunt Suzette began a legacy of love for Haiti that may have surpassed their wildest expectations. Brady grew up hearing about the needs and beauty of the Haitian people and his love for them began even before my own. Those who have had the privilege to love and be loved by the Haitian people will understand when I say I left a part of my heart in Haiti. I can remember the mournful feeling in my heart as I said goodbye to the last of those I had grown to love. As I got on the plane to leave, the haunting of love for this complicated, beautiful place and it's precious people dug down deep and simply, never left. We were not even married yet, but we were dreaming together of the day we could hold a little Haitian child of our own. Little did we know that we were far from being ready for anything like that yet!
As we started our married life together almost 12 years ago, it became abundantly clear that we were very selfish, immature people. Although the first few years of our new life together were not all that newlyweds hope for, the Lord was gracious. The tough times and disappointments of those early years forced us into a pivotal decision. We could either choose to continue in selfishness and immaturity, or we could give ourselves over completely to living this adventure of love with Jesus at our core. We are grateful to say we chose the adventure! Our life together has strengthened our resolve to live love out in action.
The Lord added so much beauty to our adventure when he brought our son Langston into our lives over 6 years ago. He is a tenderhearted, Lego obsessed, wonderful big brother! His love for the Haitian people began last year when we joined with The Apparent Project to give people the opportunity to purchase beautiful products handmade by hardworking Haitians. Langston spent his own money and gave a Haitian man the payment he deserved for his efforts. Our Banning boy is almost 4 years old now, and so ready to be a big brother to his little sister coming our way! He has a knack for knowing when you need a hug or a laugh, and this adventure is even more amazing because he is a part of it!
As this past decade or so has played out, so has the discussion of adopting a little one from Haiti. We would pick up the conversation, and put it down again. We would talk, and pray, but the peace just wasn't there yet. And then about a year ago we decided we would spend the year praying and researching in order to make more progress in discerning if we should be a family for one of God's lonely ones, or if our role was to help others He led to adopt. God's heart to set the lonely in families (psalm 68) is one that He accomplishes using many willing participants. He equips some to be the family a little one needs so desperately, He equips others to give financially to bring a child home, and He equips all of us to spread the good news of His great plan to rescue not only the orphan children of the world who need love, but the orphaned hearts of the world whom He welcomes to be adopted as His sons and daughters. We did not want to be out of His will for our participation in His beautiful plan. We had pretty much surrendered to the idea that maybe we were meant to play a more supporting role when we were pleasantly surprised to find our hearts burning in unison over bringing a little one into our family. And so, we leave our fears in the hands of the One who began whispering to our hearts long ago. We are not exceptional people. We only long to live the adventure of love that Jesus has called us to. May He be proved mighty throughout our journey and may His heart for this world be more clearly recognized.
Adventure.... here we come!
As we started our married life together almost 12 years ago, it became abundantly clear that we were very selfish, immature people. Although the first few years of our new life together were not all that newlyweds hope for, the Lord was gracious. The tough times and disappointments of those early years forced us into a pivotal decision. We could either choose to continue in selfishness and immaturity, or we could give ourselves over completely to living this adventure of love with Jesus at our core. We are grateful to say we chose the adventure! Our life together has strengthened our resolve to live love out in action.
The Lord added so much beauty to our adventure when he brought our son Langston into our lives over 6 years ago. He is a tenderhearted, Lego obsessed, wonderful big brother! His love for the Haitian people began last year when we joined with The Apparent Project to give people the opportunity to purchase beautiful products handmade by hardworking Haitians. Langston spent his own money and gave a Haitian man the payment he deserved for his efforts. Our Banning boy is almost 4 years old now, and so ready to be a big brother to his little sister coming our way! He has a knack for knowing when you need a hug or a laugh, and this adventure is even more amazing because he is a part of it!
As this past decade or so has played out, so has the discussion of adopting a little one from Haiti. We would pick up the conversation, and put it down again. We would talk, and pray, but the peace just wasn't there yet. And then about a year ago we decided we would spend the year praying and researching in order to make more progress in discerning if we should be a family for one of God's lonely ones, or if our role was to help others He led to adopt. God's heart to set the lonely in families (psalm 68) is one that He accomplishes using many willing participants. He equips some to be the family a little one needs so desperately, He equips others to give financially to bring a child home, and He equips all of us to spread the good news of His great plan to rescue not only the orphan children of the world who need love, but the orphaned hearts of the world whom He welcomes to be adopted as His sons and daughters. We did not want to be out of His will for our participation in His beautiful plan. We had pretty much surrendered to the idea that maybe we were meant to play a more supporting role when we were pleasantly surprised to find our hearts burning in unison over bringing a little one into our family. And so, we leave our fears in the hands of the One who began whispering to our hearts long ago. We are not exceptional people. We only long to live the adventure of love that Jesus has called us to. May He be proved mighty throughout our journey and may His heart for this world be more clearly recognized.
Adventure.... here we come!
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