I pray often for our daughter. But yesterday, I am embarrassed to report, I was feeling a bit sorry for myself. I prayed a little differently and asked God to allow me to feel some kicking in this "pregnancy". When I carried Langston and Banning, it was so precious to feel the flutter of life with each kick from our newest family member. I was amazed and encouraged to know thru their movements that my child was safely on it's way to our family. But lately, the lack of news about progress in our adoption has caused my heart to long for a reassuring kick.
So last night I spent some time reading Psalm 37, because reading truth is always the best medicine for a bummed out heart. I read things like "Commit your way to the Lord- trust in Him and He will act" and "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him". My heart was satisfied once again, trusting that the One who created our little girl would continue to answer our prayers on her behalf.
Praise Jesus, I had the pleasure of feeling the flutter of life today! In my desperate, and probably obnoxious way, I called our agency to beg for a morsel of news. As it turns out, we were among the 13 families to make a stride forward recently. Apparently, the information they were receiving was a little complicated, and they were waiting to let us know until they had confirmed all the details. The Haiti specialist mentioned that she had already started an e-mail update for us and planned to send it today! We have progress!
Our little one is not forgotten, and my heart soars at the thought!!!!!
There are many steps in this process, but much like our pregnancies, we rejoice at each milestone. We continue to wait to hear that the next important step takes place so we can actually- Oh the thought!- get on a plane and go be with our girl!
So as I carry our daughter in my heart, I will remember this precious day, with gratitude for this kick of life, and joy at the thought of her arrival.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Monday, November 2, 2015
Wow! It has once again been a VERY long time since our last update. I should apologize, and probably would, if only I had a plan to be more timely and informative in the future. The truth is, it can be hard to write a blog update when we are scraping the barrel for new details to share. Several times I have sat down at the computer to write, only to find I can't quite form a complete thought, let alone an entire update! But finally, here is (over six months later) an update on the adventure we are living.
Last we shared, we were processing the new information that the little one we were expecting was now on a better adventure with her birth family. After lots of prayer and a little time, we were pre-matched with a precious little girl who turned 2 years old this summer. Our hearts are longing for the day we get to meet her face to face on our two week in-country visit, but we have yet to move onto that much anticipated part of this process.
We receive an update of sorts from our agency every couple of weeks, but as much as they would love to have exciting new information to share with us, the department in Haiti processing this step in our adoption is moving painfully slow. Many families and children are waiting for IBESR approval before they are able to move forward and be united. Please join us in praying for those working in this very important department to be organized, productive, and driven by love, to work out the kinks in their system so children will not be needlessly kept from their forever families. We realize IBESR faces challenges as it endeavors to protect children and their birth families from being exploited, and we highly admire anything Haiti is doing to protect them. We are just one of the many families in the post Hague Treaty side of Haitian adoption experiencing the effects of change, and pray that in the future children and families will benefit from the difficulties some of us are now experiencing.
The last update we received from our agency explained that some families (13 out of the 35 in our particular part of the process) have moved forward a step towards receiving approval and invitation to travel for their 2 week visit. This was great news, and we rejoice with the families that received this positive update! We are hopeful to be among the next to receive great news! Haiti recently reported hiring "9 to 11" people to help process adoptions in this department, which we found to be comical and wondered about the 2 person range????? There has also been news of important training being implemented for IBESR workers. We are hopeful that the increase in staff and training will translate into increased productivity. A possibly positive side effect of our long journey is the increased certainty that every necessary document and step will be completed accurately before leaving this department. Unfortunately, some families are currently having to back step because Haiti made recent requirement changes to documents that families further along in the process had previously been told were complete. So...... sorry to bombard you with the nitty-gritty, but this is the type of update we have to offer these days!
As you can probably imagine, there's always the possibility for fear and worry to creep in and steal joy from this adventure. We were told recently there's currently only one social worker in the entire country of Haiti. Although I sometimes need to spend purposeful time remembering the amazing ways God has already shown himself mighty in this process, my confidence is still in the One who sets the lonely in families (Psalm 68:6) and He can do so even with just one social worker!!!
And when I say I spend time reminding myself of the ways God has been mighty, I mean I spend time remembering the car loads full of garage sale items precious friends and family brought to us to stock our garage sale fundraisers. I remember those who have wrapped us in support in every possible way. What an undeserved joy! I remember the fully funded adoption fund that we never dreamed was possible, but God made possible. And I remember the hearts of our sons, so prepared to love and protect their sister, not because of us, but because of a beautiful work God is doing in us all. Most of all, I remember the little girl waiting for us while we wait for her and praise Jesus for the privilege of someday calling her our own. May she experience His presence as He continues to work mightily on her behalf, and may He receive every bit of due praise for the kindness and goodness He's shown us on this amazing adventure of love.
Last we shared, we were processing the new information that the little one we were expecting was now on a better adventure with her birth family. After lots of prayer and a little time, we were pre-matched with a precious little girl who turned 2 years old this summer. Our hearts are longing for the day we get to meet her face to face on our two week in-country visit, but we have yet to move onto that much anticipated part of this process.
We receive an update of sorts from our agency every couple of weeks, but as much as they would love to have exciting new information to share with us, the department in Haiti processing this step in our adoption is moving painfully slow. Many families and children are waiting for IBESR approval before they are able to move forward and be united. Please join us in praying for those working in this very important department to be organized, productive, and driven by love, to work out the kinks in their system so children will not be needlessly kept from their forever families. We realize IBESR faces challenges as it endeavors to protect children and their birth families from being exploited, and we highly admire anything Haiti is doing to protect them. We are just one of the many families in the post Hague Treaty side of Haitian adoption experiencing the effects of change, and pray that in the future children and families will benefit from the difficulties some of us are now experiencing.
The last update we received from our agency explained that some families (13 out of the 35 in our particular part of the process) have moved forward a step towards receiving approval and invitation to travel for their 2 week visit. This was great news, and we rejoice with the families that received this positive update! We are hopeful to be among the next to receive great news! Haiti recently reported hiring "9 to 11" people to help process adoptions in this department, which we found to be comical and wondered about the 2 person range????? There has also been news of important training being implemented for IBESR workers. We are hopeful that the increase in staff and training will translate into increased productivity. A possibly positive side effect of our long journey is the increased certainty that every necessary document and step will be completed accurately before leaving this department. Unfortunately, some families are currently having to back step because Haiti made recent requirement changes to documents that families further along in the process had previously been told were complete. So...... sorry to bombard you with the nitty-gritty, but this is the type of update we have to offer these days!
As you can probably imagine, there's always the possibility for fear and worry to creep in and steal joy from this adventure. We were told recently there's currently only one social worker in the entire country of Haiti. Although I sometimes need to spend purposeful time remembering the amazing ways God has already shown himself mighty in this process, my confidence is still in the One who sets the lonely in families (Psalm 68:6) and He can do so even with just one social worker!!!
And when I say I spend time reminding myself of the ways God has been mighty, I mean I spend time remembering the car loads full of garage sale items precious friends and family brought to us to stock our garage sale fundraisers. I remember those who have wrapped us in support in every possible way. What an undeserved joy! I remember the fully funded adoption fund that we never dreamed was possible, but God made possible. And I remember the hearts of our sons, so prepared to love and protect their sister, not because of us, but because of a beautiful work God is doing in us all. Most of all, I remember the little girl waiting for us while we wait for her and praise Jesus for the privilege of someday calling her our own. May she experience His presence as He continues to work mightily on her behalf, and may He receive every bit of due praise for the kindness and goodness He's shown us on this amazing adventure of love.
Thursday, April 2, 2015
The Lily in the valley of adventure...
"Please give me a call when you have some time to talk", the voice mail said. So, yesterday, I found a little time, an activity for our boys, and shut myself in our bedroom to return the phone call to the Haiti specialist at our adoption agency. "I have some bad news; Bergeline is no longer living at the orphanage; her father returned to take her home" she said. Her words were gentle and knowing. I took a minute to let them sink in, aware that this phone call would be life changing.
She explained that she was as shocked as we were, and that she had only seen this circumstance one other time. I began to speak, explaining how we had always prayed God's best for Bergeline. That she, and her biological family would know Jesus' great love for them. We have asked God to nourish her, providing for every one of her needs, surrounding her with His favor. We have prayed, these last seven months that she would know that God is for her, and not against her, that He has great plans for her! And now, in this moment, I was able to see that God's best for Bergeline was to prepare her daddy (a widower) to return to bring his beloved daughter home! How could I not be happy for her? How could I not rejoice at the thought of her daddy traveling to the orphanage, knowing soon he would be reunited with his baby girl? What a year this must have been for him, losing his wife, the mother of his children. How could I not weep with joy at the thought of her siblings excitedly welcoming home their baby sister? It is as it should be. God sets the lonely in families (Psalm 68:6) and He had done just that. God be praised.
And yet here we are. We are disappointed, but so grateful that God in His faithfulness knows exactly who needs us the most! As Brady and I were explaining the news to Langston and Banning, many questions needed answers. The boys understood what a blessing it is for Bergeline to be home with her daddy, but definitely don't like that it means she won't be coming to be their sister! We were able to explain that God knows the little girl who really needs them to be her brothers, and really needs us to be her daddy and mommy. Our goal is for God to bring us the lonely one that He has in mind! God is sovereign, and His plan is best. We jokingly said it's as if God protected Bergeline from accidentally becoming their sister, because their real sister, who needs them the most was on her way to our family! It is the kindness of God that leads our hearts in peace. His goodness is never-failing. His love is never-ending. He's got this.
So now what? We offer a sacrifice of praise that God's best for Bergeline is being done, but where do we go from here? We are still waiting for our Truly. We are still preparing our hearts to show the little girl coming our way that she is Truly loved! We find ourselves in a bit of a valley, lifting our eyes to the hills where our help comes from. Our help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth! Psalm 121:1
( We do not find it coincidental that our Sunday sermon series has been dedicated to this very idea! Thank you Northside! ) Every great adventure has moments of peril, the appearance of defeat, the opportunity to lose heart or give up faith. But every great adventure strengthens those willing to take it, and to everyone joining us on this adventure- thank you!
So you may be asking yourself, "What in the world do they do now?" Well, we are beginning the process of pre-matching again. While on the phone with our agency yesterday, our specialist reported having met a precious little girl in a pink dress while she was there. She took her picture, and is requesting her file be translated so we can look into a match. She also reported other possible match opportunities. This will be the focus of the next couple of weeks. After that, we have been told, the timeline should not change because all of our paperwork is already in, and we already have a spot in Haiti's pre-matching phase which simply means we don't have to start all over! As we have more information, we will update all of you who so patiently join us in prayer.
We know many of you have faithfully prayed for Bergeline, and like us are feeling the pain of goodbye. We thought so many things pointed to her being the one, even down the the special birthday she shared. Thank you for crying with us and purposely involving yourselves in this adventure's valley time. May your hearts be refreshed, and your faith strengthened! What a joy it will be to celebrate together when all of this is said and done!
So as we approach this weekend, I am amazed at God's timing. That He would choose to break this news to us during the most hopeful time of the year! Not so many years ago, people who loved Jesus were churning over plans they thought they understood. (Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 19:21 ESV) Things were not going the way they thought they should. Jesus was not living up to their expectations. How could it be God's best plan for Jesus to quietly endure the beatings, refusing to defend himself against the lies? How could this be a good thing? But, oh the plans God had for them, for after a time of silence, a time of confusion, God's beautiful plan was clearly known as He brought Jesus up from the grave and rescued the world! Jesus, you are the great author of adventure and you are worth every minute in the valley! You are the lily of the valley!
*You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
Psalm 139: 5-6
She explained that she was as shocked as we were, and that she had only seen this circumstance one other time. I began to speak, explaining how we had always prayed God's best for Bergeline. That she, and her biological family would know Jesus' great love for them. We have asked God to nourish her, providing for every one of her needs, surrounding her with His favor. We have prayed, these last seven months that she would know that God is for her, and not against her, that He has great plans for her! And now, in this moment, I was able to see that God's best for Bergeline was to prepare her daddy (a widower) to return to bring his beloved daughter home! How could I not be happy for her? How could I not rejoice at the thought of her daddy traveling to the orphanage, knowing soon he would be reunited with his baby girl? What a year this must have been for him, losing his wife, the mother of his children. How could I not weep with joy at the thought of her siblings excitedly welcoming home their baby sister? It is as it should be. God sets the lonely in families (Psalm 68:6) and He had done just that. God be praised.
And yet here we are. We are disappointed, but so grateful that God in His faithfulness knows exactly who needs us the most! As Brady and I were explaining the news to Langston and Banning, many questions needed answers. The boys understood what a blessing it is for Bergeline to be home with her daddy, but definitely don't like that it means she won't be coming to be their sister! We were able to explain that God knows the little girl who really needs them to be her brothers, and really needs us to be her daddy and mommy. Our goal is for God to bring us the lonely one that He has in mind! God is sovereign, and His plan is best. We jokingly said it's as if God protected Bergeline from accidentally becoming their sister, because their real sister, who needs them the most was on her way to our family! It is the kindness of God that leads our hearts in peace. His goodness is never-failing. His love is never-ending. He's got this.
So now what? We offer a sacrifice of praise that God's best for Bergeline is being done, but where do we go from here? We are still waiting for our Truly. We are still preparing our hearts to show the little girl coming our way that she is Truly loved! We find ourselves in a bit of a valley, lifting our eyes to the hills where our help comes from. Our help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth! Psalm 121:1
( We do not find it coincidental that our Sunday sermon series has been dedicated to this very idea! Thank you Northside! ) Every great adventure has moments of peril, the appearance of defeat, the opportunity to lose heart or give up faith. But every great adventure strengthens those willing to take it, and to everyone joining us on this adventure- thank you!
So you may be asking yourself, "What in the world do they do now?" Well, we are beginning the process of pre-matching again. While on the phone with our agency yesterday, our specialist reported having met a precious little girl in a pink dress while she was there. She took her picture, and is requesting her file be translated so we can look into a match. She also reported other possible match opportunities. This will be the focus of the next couple of weeks. After that, we have been told, the timeline should not change because all of our paperwork is already in, and we already have a spot in Haiti's pre-matching phase which simply means we don't have to start all over! As we have more information, we will update all of you who so patiently join us in prayer.
We know many of you have faithfully prayed for Bergeline, and like us are feeling the pain of goodbye. We thought so many things pointed to her being the one, even down the the special birthday she shared. Thank you for crying with us and purposely involving yourselves in this adventure's valley time. May your hearts be refreshed, and your faith strengthened! What a joy it will be to celebrate together when all of this is said and done!
So as we approach this weekend, I am amazed at God's timing. That He would choose to break this news to us during the most hopeful time of the year! Not so many years ago, people who loved Jesus were churning over plans they thought they understood. (Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 19:21 ESV) Things were not going the way they thought they should. Jesus was not living up to their expectations. How could it be God's best plan for Jesus to quietly endure the beatings, refusing to defend himself against the lies? How could this be a good thing? But, oh the plans God had for them, for after a time of silence, a time of confusion, God's beautiful plan was clearly known as He brought Jesus up from the grave and rescued the world! Jesus, you are the great author of adventure and you are worth every minute in the valley! You are the lily of the valley!
*You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
Psalm 139: 5-6
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)