Tonight I'm tired, really tired, but in a good way.
Most days by 9 p.m. I'm tired, really tired. It's not always in a bad way, though some days are.
But today was just an all around good day and it has left me good tired. My day was worth the tired I am if that makes any sense.
For my own self I want to document this day because I have the feeling I'm finally turning a corner and I want to remember it.
Chuck has been pushing me for a while to start a mom's group at church. Since I'm a perfectionist, I have procrastinated. Well, finally push came to shove and the group was born this morning. And I have to say that it is an absolute breath of fresh air. 12 moms got together today at a mall food court and began a journey. I'm not sure where we're headed, but we have each other now. I'm very pumped.
We had lunch at the mall, which I like doing. Any meal that I don't have to prepare is a meal I like! :)
Noah and Samuel took a nice long nap and Chuck took care of Tristan while I did some necessary emailing.
When the boys got up we went outside in glorious 72 degree weather. It was awesome. The boys played on their teeter totter, rollercoaster (Mom, they love it!), and with sidewalk chalk. Tristan jumped in the Jumperoo. I weeded a flower bed (which has been on my to do list for-ever), and Chuck skate boarded a little and mostly played with the boys. We had some older neighbor kids come and play and they really played with the twins. It was so neat to watch them take such an interest in knowing Noah and Samuel. The boys wowed them with their "Yo Mamma" response to "What's Up?"
It all just felt right. Like how life is supposed to be. Dare I say I'm finally getting comfortable at this Mom thing?! I don't know but something settled deep within me today. The Gloria Estafan lyrics, "Coming Out of the Dark" keep ringing through my mind (even though I never listen to GE). These last 6 months have been rather dark for me. I have been quite isolated. Some of it necessary, some self inflicted. I have completely doubted my ability as a parent and God's timing in bringing our family together. I have lost my freedom and a very good friendship. It has been a very lonely time. But today I feel like some of that lonliness has been eliminated and that maybe, just maybe things are going to be okay.
As I sort through these things in my mind I'm sure of one thing - tonight I am good tired.
This blog was created to share information about bringing our boys home from Haiti. Now that they are home and we've had a baby, we share the day to day craziness that we now call life.
About Us
- Juli
- Mom to three fantastic little boys: Noah and Samuel, 6 year old twins, born in Haiti, who've been with our family since 9/08 and Tristan, our 4 year old handful! God's moved us all over the country and continues to move in our hearts.
Not a Surprise...
Chuck and I have noticed that most people make the assumption that Tristan was a surprise. You know, the idea of, "adopt a child and you'll end up pregnant." While that may be true for some, that is not the case for us. Believe it or not, Tristan was planned. At the time of his conception we were unsure our adoption would ever complete and we decided to stop putting our family on hold. God saw fit to bless us with Tristan, Noah and Samuel all at the same time! While the transition into parenthood was not easy for us, we trust that God knew what He was doing!
April 21, 2009
Brothers
Noah and Samuel, 3 years old
Samuel and Noah at 2 years old
Tristan, 5 months
Tristan, 5 weeks old
Noah and Samuel at 21 months.
Noah at 19 months.
Samuel at 19 months.
Samuel and Noah at 11 months old.
Our Timeline
May 2005 - God began speaking to us individually about adoption.
July 2005 - Decided to move forward with adopting from Haiti.
October 2005 - Applied to adopt through an orphanage.
November 8, 2005 - Approved to adopt through chosen orphanage.
January 19, 2006 - Committed to adopt the boys.
May 15, 2006 - Dossier arrived in Haiti.
July 14, 2006 - Dossier submitted to IBESR.
January 23, 2007 - Dossier exited IBESR.
September 21, 2007 - Exited Parquet.
October 2007 - Received Judgment Granted.
December 2007 - 2nd Legalization completed, which means Noah and Samuel's adoptions are complete. They are ours!!
March 2008 - Finally receive all needed documents from Archives.
March 13, 2008 - Birth parent interview completed.
Late March, 2008 - Submitted to MOI.
May 20, 2008 - Confirmed that our updated fingerprints have reached the USCIS office in Port au Prince.
May 20, 2008 - Received word that our MOI long form has been completed.
June 24, 2008 - Received MOI approval.
July 10, 2008 - Received word that Samuel's passport has been printed.
July 16, 2008 - Received word that Noah's passport has been printed.
July 25, 2008- Confirmed that our passports were presented to the USCIS office in Port au Prince and that out I-600 file has been approved.
July 26, 2008 - Emailed our request for the boys' visa appointment.
July 31, 2008 - Emailed 2nd request for boys' visa appointment.
August 4, 2008 - Spoke with the Embassy, awaiting email confirmation of visa appointment.
August 5, 2008 - Email confirmation of visa appointment received. Our appointment is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 12th.
August 12, 2008 - The visa appointment went well! Visas should be ready tomorrow.
August 13, 2008 - The visas are in hand and the boys CAN COME HOME!!
August 15, 2008 - Baby brother Tristan was born.
September 1, 2008 - Flew to Miami and spent the night.
September 2, 2008 - Woke very early only to learn that our flight to Haiti was cancelled due to Hurricane Hanna hitting Haiti. We spent the next few days visiting friends and family in Florida.
September 5, 2008 - The boys are HOME!! However, we are stuck in Miami for the night because Hurricane Hanna hit Virginia, too, and our flight home was cancelled. Hoping to get home tomorrow.
September 6, 2008 - We are FINALLY home. To God be all the glory!
July 2005 - Decided to move forward with adopting from Haiti.
October 2005 - Applied to adopt through an orphanage.
November 8, 2005 - Approved to adopt through chosen orphanage.
January 19, 2006 - Committed to adopt the boys.
May 15, 2006 - Dossier arrived in Haiti.
July 14, 2006 - Dossier submitted to IBESR.
January 23, 2007 - Dossier exited IBESR.
September 21, 2007 - Exited Parquet.
October 2007 - Received Judgment Granted.
December 2007 - 2nd Legalization completed, which means Noah and Samuel's adoptions are complete. They are ours!!
March 2008 - Finally receive all needed documents from Archives.
March 13, 2008 - Birth parent interview completed.
Late March, 2008 - Submitted to MOI.
May 20, 2008 - Confirmed that our updated fingerprints have reached the USCIS office in Port au Prince.
May 20, 2008 - Received word that our MOI long form has been completed.
June 24, 2008 - Received MOI approval.
July 10, 2008 - Received word that Samuel's passport has been printed.
July 16, 2008 - Received word that Noah's passport has been printed.
July 25, 2008- Confirmed that our passports were presented to the USCIS office in Port au Prince and that out I-600 file has been approved.
July 26, 2008 - Emailed our request for the boys' visa appointment.
July 31, 2008 - Emailed 2nd request for boys' visa appointment.
August 4, 2008 - Spoke with the Embassy, awaiting email confirmation of visa appointment.
August 5, 2008 - Email confirmation of visa appointment received. Our appointment is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 12th.
August 12, 2008 - The visa appointment went well! Visas should be ready tomorrow.
August 13, 2008 - The visas are in hand and the boys CAN COME HOME!!
August 15, 2008 - Baby brother Tristan was born.
September 1, 2008 - Flew to Miami and spent the night.
September 2, 2008 - Woke very early only to learn that our flight to Haiti was cancelled due to Hurricane Hanna hitting Haiti. We spent the next few days visiting friends and family in Florida.
September 5, 2008 - The boys are HOME!! However, we are stuck in Miami for the night because Hurricane Hanna hit Virginia, too, and our flight home was cancelled. Hoping to get home tomorrow.
September 6, 2008 - We are FINALLY home. To God be all the glory!
Labels
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5 comments:
I'm so happy that you had a great day!
I love the photo of the twins on the beach with candy canes! Who took those?
~Kristi
So glad the boys loved the roller coaster. :) I actually had some teenagers in Meijers tell me that was their favorite toy when they were young! That's what really sealed the deal for it.
Glad to hear you feel you have turned a corner in your life and that you finally are coming to realize what a great parent you are.
Love,
Mom
I am so glad you had such a great. I pray MANY more to come.
Praise God, Juli!! I so know the feeling you are describing and felt it some myself yesterday regarding other things. Brighter days really are ahead! :) I pray many more of those days are just around the corner at the Cason house! Bless you, friend.
time to post again. Am dying to hear more about the boys.
Love,
Mama
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