We just got the most wonderful news!! Our adoption is complete in Haiti!! We just received an emailed copy of our Adoption Decree. Noah and Samuel are ours!!
What a wonderful Christmas gift!!
Next is passports and visas. Passports are taking, on average, 4 months. Visas are another couple of weeks. Of course, things could speed up or slow down.
Wow!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Apology
I'm apologizing in advance for the late Christmas presents and Christmas cards.I had really hoped to mail stuff today, but that didn't happen. I haven't even located the Christmas cards that I bought months ago.I woke up with a cold. Adding the sniffles to nausea is not fun.Please, dear Lord, let my morning sickness end at 12 weeks.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Thoughts on Morning Sickness
Most of you know that I was pregnant before. When I got pregnant before, I wished for morning sickness so I could lose some weight. Well, I never got morning sickness and the pregnancy ended in miscarriage at 9 weeks.This time around I definitely have sickness. I don't know if I would call it "morning" sickness, though. I wake up feeling great and then about 30 minutes later I start to feel like crap. For the rest of the day pretty much. So, in my opinion, the term "morning sickness" is a lie straight from hell. It should be called something like "pregnancy sickness." Or "feel like crap most of the time sickness." Or even just plain "sickness." Using the word "morning" is quite deceiving.Now, you'd think (if you've never experienced morning sickness) that I'd be thrilled because now I can lose some weight like I dreamt about durning the first pregnancy. Not so. What I've learned about morning sickness is that it isn't so bad if you keep something in your stomach. So, in order to not feel like total crap most of the time, I have to eat something most of the time. It is a complete oxymoron, but it is true. I met a woman in September who told me she was super sick her entire pregnancy, but she gained 60 pounds. I couldn't understand that for the life of me. Now I do. God help me if I gain 60 pounds.When I tell some people of my morning sickness, they say something like, "Oh, good. I mean, it's good that you're feeling sick because that means your body is reacting to the pregnancy hormones." Yeah, I can be grateful for that, I guess. But really, ultrasounds and bloodwork can also confirm my pregnancy and out of control hormone levels.In my years of ignorance, I thought morning sickness had at least one good quality - weight loss. But now, I am here to tell you that there isn't a single good thing about morning sickness other than the idea that I will probably stay pregnant this time.Here are some anti-nausea recommendations I've been given:
Saltine Crackers - they do help
Peppermints - not so sure about these, I don't like them
Jolly Ranchers - haven't tried them yet
Potato Chips and Lemonade - weird combination that I'm afraid to try
Saltine Crackers - they do help
Peppermints - not so sure about these, I don't like them
Jolly Ranchers - haven't tried them yet
Potato Chips and Lemonade - weird combination that I'm afraid to try
Welcome
I've created this blog to track our journey as we go from having zero children to three.The first two will come through international adoption. We are thinking they'll be home in May or June.The third will be our first biological child, and he or she will be born in early August.We know people think we are crazy. They tell us they are concerned for us. But we are trusting God that His hand is in all this.I created this blog as a SAFE place to share my thoughts and feelings. I will mainly track the pregnancy on this blog because we have a blog for our adoption. We wish to remain completely anonymous on this blog, so I will be called, "Mama Bear." My husband will be called, "Daddy Bear." Our adopted kids will be called, "The Dynamic Duo." And the baby will be called, "The Lil One."I ask that if you post comments, please don't use our names. We will not connect this blog with the adoption blog either, so unless you know us in real life, that one is off limits. I also need to ask that you not link this blog on your own. Sorry. We need to protect our adoption.So, thanks for checking things out here. Since I'm sick a lot with morning sickness, there will probably be a lot of whining. I'll apologize in advance. I don't do sick well.That's all for now!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Before and After
Well, the majority of our painting is done. We just have touch ups and tape removal left. We originally thought we'd paint all the wood trim white, but we are kind of liking the wood with these colors. Poor Chuck worked his butt off Friday through Tuesday (with lots of things inbetween, otherwise it would have taken less time). I only did minor painting. Our bathroom is done, too, except for touch ups. I do touch ups, so when I get around to them they will get done.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Fun Christmas Survey!!
You are tagged if you read my blog!
This is fun - it's a Christmas Survey! Please post it on your blog or do it through email.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Gift bags when available
2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial. Getting a real tree in the stand is no fun. It can cause fights at our house.
3. When do you put up the tree? Hopefully before Christmas. This year we’ve had it in the garage, ready to go, but we were painting and wanted to finish that first. (We just have touch ups and need to take the tape off.)
4. When do you take the tree down? As soon as possible. I once took it down the day of Christmas. The cats like to torture the tree.
5. Do you like eggnog? No, it is sick.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Cabbage Patch Kid
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes
8. Hardest person to buy for? My Mom
9. Easiest person to buy to buy for? Chuck
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Yarn. For real. And it was used.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Probably the Home Alone movies, although after reading my sister's answer I must change it to Elf. My favorite line is, "Santa's Coming! I know him! I know him!"
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Just in time to get them shipped priority mail.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, it’s called regifting. It's a wonderful thing.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Ham biscuits – they rock. Never had them until I moved to The South.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? We use clear, but I’d love to have the old school colored ones with the big fat bulbs. Remember them? Yeah, I know they make something similar now, but they are just not the same.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Sleigh Ride, done by the Chipmunks is my absolute favorite.
18. Travel for Christmas or stay at home? Both, though I prefer to be in my own bed.
19. Can you name all of the reindeer? No
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Bow
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The rushing around.
23. What I love most about Christmas? Getting together with people.
24.) Favorite winter outdoor activity? Sledding! But I don't do it so much here in Virginia :(
Merry Christmas, Everyone!
Love,
Juli
This is fun - it's a Christmas Survey! Please post it on your blog or do it through email.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Gift bags when available
2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial. Getting a real tree in the stand is no fun. It can cause fights at our house.
3. When do you put up the tree? Hopefully before Christmas. This year we’ve had it in the garage, ready to go, but we were painting and wanted to finish that first. (We just have touch ups and need to take the tape off.)
4. When do you take the tree down? As soon as possible. I once took it down the day of Christmas. The cats like to torture the tree.
5. Do you like eggnog? No, it is sick.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Cabbage Patch Kid
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes
8. Hardest person to buy for? My Mom
9. Easiest person to buy to buy for? Chuck
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Yarn. For real. And it was used.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Probably the Home Alone movies, although after reading my sister's answer I must change it to Elf. My favorite line is, "Santa's Coming! I know him! I know him!"
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Just in time to get them shipped priority mail.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, it’s called regifting. It's a wonderful thing.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Ham biscuits – they rock. Never had them until I moved to The South.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? We use clear, but I’d love to have the old school colored ones with the big fat bulbs. Remember them? Yeah, I know they make something similar now, but they are just not the same.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Sleigh Ride, done by the Chipmunks is my absolute favorite.
18. Travel for Christmas or stay at home? Both, though I prefer to be in my own bed.
19. Can you name all of the reindeer? No
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Bow
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The rushing around.
23. What I love most about Christmas? Getting together with people.
24.) Favorite winter outdoor activity? Sledding! But I don't do it so much here in Virginia :(
Merry Christmas, Everyone!
Love,
Juli
Friday, December 07, 2007
Painting
Last week the painting began.
Chuck started with our bathroom. It had awful blue wainscoting. We are turning the wainscoting white and the walls above it brown. It will be the same as the bathroom in our old house. We had just bought all the stuff for that bathroom before we put the house on the market and we liked it, so we are doing the same to our bathroom here.
Today we've been taping off the living room, dining room, and kitchen. We are doing burgandy and burnt orange with some grey. We finally have a big enough space to do some really rich colors. I'm excited to see how it turns out. We will also be painting ALL the trim and doors in this house white like we did at the old one. It just completely changes and updates the look of a house. We aren't starting the trim for a while, though. I learned last time that it is a HUGE undertaking.
We have big plans for a few other rooms, too. Upon putting together a race car bed, I realized that they do take toddler mattresses. My mom had assured me that they take twin mattresses, but they don't. So, we bought some Cars bedding sets and the boys will have a Cars theme in their room. We've decided to go a little crazy with color in their room - one wall will be red, one will be yellow, one will be blue, and the final wall will be painted with chalkboard paint. Cars makes a border that we will put up as well. That should be fun for them.
Our spare room is a pale green. We only need to paint the trim white to finish that room up. One day it will make a nice nursery. For now, it serves a great purpose as guest room.
I'm not sure what Chuck is planning to do in the office. He really wants blue and tan. We'll see. That will probably be the last room we do.
We want to paint our room a sagey type green. I'd love to get a new comforter set, but it's not a priority and they are so expensive.
The main bathroom needs an overhaul. We have wallpaper to take down and a vanity to replace. The tile in it is black and white, so we need to look for a theme that will go with the black and white tile. We also want it to be kid friendly, but not a total kid bathroom.
Oh, and the grey that we are doing in the main rooms will be the color for the hallway. Since our hallway is mostly doors and doorframes, the grey won't be too depressing.
Hopefully I'll be able to post some pictures of our finished living room, kitchen, and dining room this weekend. I'm bummed that it's nearly 3 p.m. and we haven't started painting yet.
Chuck started with our bathroom. It had awful blue wainscoting. We are turning the wainscoting white and the walls above it brown. It will be the same as the bathroom in our old house. We had just bought all the stuff for that bathroom before we put the house on the market and we liked it, so we are doing the same to our bathroom here.
Today we've been taping off the living room, dining room, and kitchen. We are doing burgandy and burnt orange with some grey. We finally have a big enough space to do some really rich colors. I'm excited to see how it turns out. We will also be painting ALL the trim and doors in this house white like we did at the old one. It just completely changes and updates the look of a house. We aren't starting the trim for a while, though. I learned last time that it is a HUGE undertaking.
We have big plans for a few other rooms, too. Upon putting together a race car bed, I realized that they do take toddler mattresses. My mom had assured me that they take twin mattresses, but they don't. So, we bought some Cars bedding sets and the boys will have a Cars theme in their room. We've decided to go a little crazy with color in their room - one wall will be red, one will be yellow, one will be blue, and the final wall will be painted with chalkboard paint. Cars makes a border that we will put up as well. That should be fun for them.
Our spare room is a pale green. We only need to paint the trim white to finish that room up. One day it will make a nice nursery. For now, it serves a great purpose as guest room.
I'm not sure what Chuck is planning to do in the office. He really wants blue and tan. We'll see. That will probably be the last room we do.
We want to paint our room a sagey type green. I'd love to get a new comforter set, but it's not a priority and they are so expensive.
The main bathroom needs an overhaul. We have wallpaper to take down and a vanity to replace. The tile in it is black and white, so we need to look for a theme that will go with the black and white tile. We also want it to be kid friendly, but not a total kid bathroom.
Oh, and the grey that we are doing in the main rooms will be the color for the hallway. Since our hallway is mostly doors and doorframes, the grey won't be too depressing.
Hopefully I'll be able to post some pictures of our finished living room, kitchen, and dining room this weekend. I'm bummed that it's nearly 3 p.m. and we haven't started painting yet.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
God is Good
He really is. Chuck and I have been blessed in so many tangible ways lately, it's almost like God is trying to show off. I just had to share that.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Bummer of an Update
Well, our paperwork hasn't moved yet. Here's the update I woke up to this morning:
Hi Chuck and Juli
I hope this email finds you well and that you had a lovely Thanksgiving.
Your dossiers for the twins are still in process for 2nd legalization. We anticipate their completion very soon, though. This is exciting because it will mean the completion of the adoption process itself. You will then have MOI, passports, INS, and visas!! Just so you know, as the process draws closer to the end, I will email you more frequently with necessary information or steps you need to do in addition to your monthly updates. As always, please email me if you have any questions.
Yeah, so I am bummed. I take some comfort in the "very soon" part of the email, but only time will tell.
I was so hoping our news would be better than this.
Hi Chuck and Juli
I hope this email finds you well and that you had a lovely Thanksgiving.
Your dossiers for the twins are still in process for 2nd legalization. We anticipate their completion very soon, though. This is exciting because it will mean the completion of the adoption process itself. You will then have MOI, passports, INS, and visas!! Just so you know, as the process draws closer to the end, I will email you more frequently with necessary information or steps you need to do in addition to your monthly updates. As always, please email me if you have any questions.
Yeah, so I am bummed. I take some comfort in the "very soon" part of the email, but only time will tell.
I was so hoping our news would be better than this.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Who Did It?
What we have here are the cats' food and water dishes. In the water dish is a drowned toy mouse. This is a frequent occurence at our home. I'm not sure which one it is, but one of them insists on drowning the toy mice. One of them (Gracie) also insists on eating like a pig and backwashing food into the water dish.
Suspect #1 - Grace Marie. (Yes, they have middle names. They needed middle names as kittens because they were getting in trouble ALL the time.) AKA Gracie. AKA the cat who can turn anyone into a cat lover. AKA Juli's cat. This is an awful mugshot of her.
Suspect #2 - Sabrina Louise. AKA Beener. AKA the snottiest cat around. AKA Chuck's cat. She is a beauty, but has little to no personality. In this mugshot she appears surprised to be a suspect.So, who did it??
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Dumbfounded
Dumbfounded is a good word for how I feel about our adoption lately.
It is completely unbelievable to me that it is November 26th, 2007 and our boys are still not home. It shocks me and angers me. Never in a million years did I think we'd wait this long for our boys to come home.
Few things in life have been this utterly shocking to me. About the only thing that I can compare it to is how I felt for months after miscarrying. I just could not believe that had happened to me. Sure, I had been through it. I remembered the ultrasound, the doctor's words, the surgery, but how on earth did that happen to me??
Well, that's how I feel about this long wait. Yeah, I've been waiting all this time, but suddenly I'm just completely flabbergasted that this is my reality. Like, how did this sneak up on me? I feel almost like I've been assaulted. It is surreal, yet it is the truth. We will spend another Christmas without them. We missed their birthday. They are two and we have lost those first two years that are so essential when it comes to bonding and attachment. It makes me so mad.
I truly believe that if it weren't for my relationship with God that I would have lost it a long time ago. People tell me all the time how patient I am. Well, it's forced patience. What else can I do besides wait? I try to keep a good attitude because that is what God would have me do in this. But some days just stink.
Yes, I would do this all over again, in case you are wondering. It has been hard, but it has also been filled with joy and excitement. It's been a path of getting to know God more deeply and seeing Him provide for our needs in truly miraculous ways. It's been more good than bad.
But I'm still dumbfounded.
It is completely unbelievable to me that it is November 26th, 2007 and our boys are still not home. It shocks me and angers me. Never in a million years did I think we'd wait this long for our boys to come home.
Few things in life have been this utterly shocking to me. About the only thing that I can compare it to is how I felt for months after miscarrying. I just could not believe that had happened to me. Sure, I had been through it. I remembered the ultrasound, the doctor's words, the surgery, but how on earth did that happen to me??
Well, that's how I feel about this long wait. Yeah, I've been waiting all this time, but suddenly I'm just completely flabbergasted that this is my reality. Like, how did this sneak up on me? I feel almost like I've been assaulted. It is surreal, yet it is the truth. We will spend another Christmas without them. We missed their birthday. They are two and we have lost those first two years that are so essential when it comes to bonding and attachment. It makes me so mad.
I truly believe that if it weren't for my relationship with God that I would have lost it a long time ago. People tell me all the time how patient I am. Well, it's forced patience. What else can I do besides wait? I try to keep a good attitude because that is what God would have me do in this. But some days just stink.
Yes, I would do this all over again, in case you are wondering. It has been hard, but it has also been filled with joy and excitement. It's been a path of getting to know God more deeply and seeing Him provide for our needs in truly miraculous ways. It's been more good than bad.
But I'm still dumbfounded.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Quiet
All is quiet here at my sister's house. Christi and her husband Jeremy and Chuck are all sleeping. We all planned to go shopping early this morning, but we forgot to go to sleep beforehand. So, at 1:15 a.m. I decided not to go shopping. I need my sleep and I was no longer pleasant to be around. That is an understatement. The crazy threesome left the house at 1:15 a.m. so they could partake in some awesome deals. They were all home by 11 a.m. and have been sleeping for a few hours now.
This has given me some time alone that I hadn't anticipated on this trip. So far I've done my Bible Study, researched a free airline ticket that Chuck got, looked on Craig's List for a job, and researched going back to college. I'm not too far away from a degree in English and I'm thinking of taking a class in January. I know that it is quite some time before the boys come home (passports are taking 4 months and we aren't even there yet), and I'm tired of wasting time waiting for them to come home.
Forgive me if that sounded wrong. I'll explain. In many ways, our lives (me and Chuck's) have been on hold for two years because of the adoption. Every decision, every purchase, everything is weighed against "when the boys come home." I have been unemployed for nearly a year because I'm staying home with the boys and we knew it would be wise to put some time between my fast paced work and being at home with two toddlers. We knew I needed a chance to slow down. Well, if I slow down much more I won't be moving! The same holds true for finishing my degree. Three semesters have passed and each time I said I didn't want to sign up for a class and then have the boys come home in the middle of it. Well... I'm tired of doing nothing as I wait. I'm a "do stuff" kind of gal.
Now I know some of you who are reading are thinking I'm crazy because Chuck and I have had a whirlwind year as he retired from the Coast Guard, went into ministry, we went to Haiti (Chuck once and me 3 times), we sold and bought a house AND moved; and yes we are 99% unpacked. Those of you who know me well know that I stay pretty busy doing stuff. But, I have goals in life that have been on pause (and will definitely stay on pause in the early years of having kids) because I thought our kids were coming home.
So, I'm researching things and praying that God will lead me in what He will have me do. I hate school, but I want to finish my degree. I would love to make some extra income and potentially buy a minivan with it. God will have to lead me to His plan in all of this. If He wants to keep me on pause, so be it.
This has given me some time alone that I hadn't anticipated on this trip. So far I've done my Bible Study, researched a free airline ticket that Chuck got, looked on Craig's List for a job, and researched going back to college. I'm not too far away from a degree in English and I'm thinking of taking a class in January. I know that it is quite some time before the boys come home (passports are taking 4 months and we aren't even there yet), and I'm tired of wasting time waiting for them to come home.
Forgive me if that sounded wrong. I'll explain. In many ways, our lives (me and Chuck's) have been on hold for two years because of the adoption. Every decision, every purchase, everything is weighed against "when the boys come home." I have been unemployed for nearly a year because I'm staying home with the boys and we knew it would be wise to put some time between my fast paced work and being at home with two toddlers. We knew I needed a chance to slow down. Well, if I slow down much more I won't be moving! The same holds true for finishing my degree. Three semesters have passed and each time I said I didn't want to sign up for a class and then have the boys come home in the middle of it. Well... I'm tired of doing nothing as I wait. I'm a "do stuff" kind of gal.
Now I know some of you who are reading are thinking I'm crazy because Chuck and I have had a whirlwind year as he retired from the Coast Guard, went into ministry, we went to Haiti (Chuck once and me 3 times), we sold and bought a house AND moved; and yes we are 99% unpacked. Those of you who know me well know that I stay pretty busy doing stuff. But, I have goals in life that have been on pause (and will definitely stay on pause in the early years of having kids) because I thought our kids were coming home.
So, I'm researching things and praying that God will lead me in what He will have me do. I hate school, but I want to finish my degree. I would love to make some extra income and potentially buy a minivan with it. God will have to lead me to His plan in all of this. If He wants to keep me on pause, so be it.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
a lil' bit of everything
First and foremost: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!!!!!!! This is the first birthday I've been able to spend with my mom in years. Chuck and I drove to MI yesterday to be here for her birthday and Thanksgiving.
Secondly, Happy Thanksgiving! We have so very much to be thankful for. In case you're reading this and just not feeling it, I encourage you to think hard about this, especially if you live in the US. I have met some of the poorest people in the world and I have found them to be ever thankful. It's not about what or who you have. If your hope is in Jesus, you have eternity to be thankful for. If your hope is not in Jesus and you want to know more, please email me at ittybitties@msn.com. I'd love to talk to you about that.
It's been a week since I've posted because I've been beyond busy. I'd like to share some highlights from our week, though. On Sunday we had a BBQ for the people who helped get our church campus started. What we thought would be 20-30 people was actually 74 people. It was awesome. We had so much fun. Thank you to all of you who came out on Sunday. We appreciate you and the sacrifices you are making so much. Lives are being changed for eternity because of you. Chuck and I love you all!!
I have to take a moment and just share how thankful I am for our new home. The weeks leading up to our move were torturous because we weren't sure if our old house was ever going to close. I barely remember it, though. We are so happy in our new house that the weeks leading up to it are a dim memory. I've been told it will be this way with the adoption. All the pain of waiting supposedly becomes forgotten. Back to the house. We NEVER EVER could have hosted a shindig such as the one we had Sunday at our old house. Never. Now, don't get me wrong - it was crazy at our house with all those people (nearly half of whom were kids), but it was manageable. We are so thankful for our house. Did I say that already? God has been so amazingly good to us.
Tuesday I got to spend a good part of the day with a great friend. It was so nice to hang out and relax with her. We had plans to organize her apartment, but quickly decided that a relaxing lunch and some light shopping would be a better way to spend the day. It was great and just what I needed. Thank you, Nicole, for being my friend. I love you!
Tabitha is on the mend and was discharged yesterday from the hospital as planned. Please keep her in prayer as her hip continues to heal. Please pray especially for her family and even more specifically for her baby son, Hayden. It's never easy when the mommy is out of commission.
In adoption news: There is none. We now get our pictures mid month and our updates at the end of the month. Pictures are going to be late this month, so I'll post them once we get them. Our update should come on 11/30. Please join us in praying that our update this month is that we are out of 2nd Legalization and that they have our adoption decree. In fact, you can pray that they email us a scanned copy of the adoption decree. After all that happened with miscommunications about where our paperwork was at, it would really build trust if we had a copy of our adoption decree.
I think that's all. I wish you the best this Thanksgiving!
Secondly, Happy Thanksgiving! We have so very much to be thankful for. In case you're reading this and just not feeling it, I encourage you to think hard about this, especially if you live in the US. I have met some of the poorest people in the world and I have found them to be ever thankful. It's not about what or who you have. If your hope is in Jesus, you have eternity to be thankful for. If your hope is not in Jesus and you want to know more, please email me at ittybitties@msn.com. I'd love to talk to you about that.
It's been a week since I've posted because I've been beyond busy. I'd like to share some highlights from our week, though. On Sunday we had a BBQ for the people who helped get our church campus started. What we thought would be 20-30 people was actually 74 people. It was awesome. We had so much fun. Thank you to all of you who came out on Sunday. We appreciate you and the sacrifices you are making so much. Lives are being changed for eternity because of you. Chuck and I love you all!!
I have to take a moment and just share how thankful I am for our new home. The weeks leading up to our move were torturous because we weren't sure if our old house was ever going to close. I barely remember it, though. We are so happy in our new house that the weeks leading up to it are a dim memory. I've been told it will be this way with the adoption. All the pain of waiting supposedly becomes forgotten. Back to the house. We NEVER EVER could have hosted a shindig such as the one we had Sunday at our old house. Never. Now, don't get me wrong - it was crazy at our house with all those people (nearly half of whom were kids), but it was manageable. We are so thankful for our house. Did I say that already? God has been so amazingly good to us.
Tuesday I got to spend a good part of the day with a great friend. It was so nice to hang out and relax with her. We had plans to organize her apartment, but quickly decided that a relaxing lunch and some light shopping would be a better way to spend the day. It was great and just what I needed. Thank you, Nicole, for being my friend. I love you!
Tabitha is on the mend and was discharged yesterday from the hospital as planned. Please keep her in prayer as her hip continues to heal. Please pray especially for her family and even more specifically for her baby son, Hayden. It's never easy when the mommy is out of commission.
In adoption news: There is none. We now get our pictures mid month and our updates at the end of the month. Pictures are going to be late this month, so I'll post them once we get them. Our update should come on 11/30. Please join us in praying that our update this month is that we are out of 2nd Legalization and that they have our adoption decree. In fact, you can pray that they email us a scanned copy of the adoption decree. After all that happened with miscommunications about where our paperwork was at, it would really build trust if we had a copy of our adoption decree.
I think that's all. I wish you the best this Thanksgiving!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Surgery Update
I heard from Tabitha's husband a little while ago that surgery went well. Actually, it went better than well. The surgeon was sure he was going to have to break Tabitha's femur to do the replacement, but he didn't have to do that. That is awesome!! This significantly cuts down on her recovery time. God is so good. Thank you for praying!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Please Pray for Tabitha
My good friend, Tabitha, is having major surgery Thursday morning. She's only 28, but needs a new hip. She goes in for hip replacement surgery first thing in the morning. Please pray for her, and also for her family. She has 3 boys - 8, 6 and 16 months. Her husband, Chris, is going to have his hands full. Please join me in praying that they are surrounded with loving, helpful people in the weeks to come as Tabitha recovers and that God comforts her kids when she is unavailable to them. Thanks!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Christmas Presents
The boys will be in Haiti for Christmas again. It breaks my heart, but there's not anything I can do about it.
Our orphanage gives us a list of specific items to purchase for our kids for Christmas. This year, as toddlers, they will receive:
An Outfit
Sandals
Underwear (no, they are not yet potty trained)
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Beach Ball (they love them)
Construction Vehicle (soft and makes noise)
Also pictured are engravable ornaments that will not be sent to Haiti. This is a tradition we began last year for the boys.
I sent our gifts today to someone who will be traveling to Haiti soon. We will probably get pictures of the kids with their gifts at Christmas.
I'm not at all ready for Christmas. It was just 100 degrees. How on earth is it already time for Christmas??
Birthday Cake
On Friday I made a cake for the boys. We decorated it on Saturday and video taped ourselves singing happy birthday to the boys. It was sad of course, but not as bad as I expected. We had a lot of people praying for us and I know that made all the difference. Thank you to all our dear family and friends who prayed for us on Friday.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Two
Today, two is an important number.
Two years ago yesterday was the due date of a baby that I miscarried.
Two years ago yesterday we got news that our adoption application was approved and we would be adopting from Haiti.
Two years ago today I prayed very early in the morning and thanked God for getting me through the due date day. It was during that prayer that I realized something. Here is an excerpt from my prayer journal that morning:
What an amazing day yesterday! I had been so afraid of November 8th and I didn't even shed a tear. There was just overflowing joy and excitement about our adoption. Also, I had a thought this morning. I've told You that I expected to be pregnant by November 8th and I realized that our baby is in the womb right now - more than likely! That isn't ironic - that's You. Thank You. So please be with our baby and his or her mom.
Two years ago yesterday was the due date of a baby that I miscarried.
Two years ago yesterday we got news that our adoption application was approved and we would be adopting from Haiti.
Two years ago today I prayed very early in the morning and thanked God for getting me through the due date day. It was during that prayer that I realized something. Here is an excerpt from my prayer journal that morning:
What an amazing day yesterday! I had been so afraid of November 8th and I didn't even shed a tear. There was just overflowing joy and excitement about our adoption. Also, I had a thought this morning. I've told You that I expected to be pregnant by November 8th and I realized that our baby is in the womb right now - more than likely! That isn't ironic - that's You. Thank You. So please be with our baby and his or her mom.
Two years ago today our precious sons were born and I was praying for them as they were being born. What a gift that is. They were born at home, and their family wasn't expecting two babies. Two years ago today their birthmom passed away. Two years ago today thier birthfather, in great mourning, began to care for his two sons on his own because he had no family to help him. For a little over two months he took care of them before realizing he couldn't do it on his own.
Two. It's an important number today.
I have two competing emotions today. Happiness and sadness. Happiness because I can look back and so clearly see the hand of God. Happiness because our boys have made it to two years old in a country where a lot of babies don't make it to two. And I have sadness. Sadness that they are spending their birthday in an orphanage. Sadness because they have no idea that it's their birthday or what a birthday is. Sadness because they won't be wearing party hats or blowing out candles. I also have sadness for their birthfather. Today marks two years since he lost his wife. I can't imagine how hard today is for him.
Two. No child should have to spend their 2nd birthday, or any birthday for that matter, in an orphanage.
Two.
Happy Birthday, Noah Elise and Samuel Eli. I'm so sorry we're not together.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
For Christi
Living Room
Living Room
Kitchen
Dining RoomMy darling sister, Christi, has been bugging me for days for pictures. These are just a few. It's too cold to go out and take outdoor pictures and the bedrooms and office aren't quite ready for the worldwide web.
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