He's Growing Up...

And we're missing precious moments. :o(

But these pictures are priceless.

Beautiful Boy...

Thank you, April, for these gorgeous pictures.

Revive Me...

I don't have any adoption-related news right now, so I'm sharing one of my favorite songs. This was the only video I could find with Jeremy Camp's original version and I think it's nicely done.

It's a beautiful interpretation of Psalm 119. My thoughts always turn to Haiti when I hear this song; a country in need of revival.

Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti, for everyone in a position of influence over adoption issues and for all the children who are without families.

Happy Valentine's Day...

Happy Belated Birthday, Blog!

Yesterday was blog's first birthday....

The decision was made and it was finally time to begin the adoption that had been on our hearts for almost seven years. We had already found an agency and were awaiting the news about our approval to adopt from Haiti. I could hardly contain the excitement that was welling up in my soul; our family was going to grow! It was a Thursday and Chloe had her weekly violin lesson - I sat in the music school's newly remodeled waiting area. The cozy little café now had WiFi, so I brought my laptop along to pass the time.

We knew that the adoption would be a lengthy process and wanted some way in which to chronicle all the steps it would take to bring our child home. I also wanted a spot to post current information on the adoption so friends and family could stay updated. So, as I sipped my coffee and listened to one of my favorite Jeremy Camp CDs on the laptop, the blog was born. And giving it a name was easy! As we prepared for the process, we knew that each step would be by faith and not by sight.

A wonderful, yet unexpected, aspect to starting the blog has been "meeting" so many amazing people who are also adopting - some from Haiti, some from other countries. I have to say it's been one of the most rewarding aspects! You see, not too many people can relate to all the emotions involved with international adoption. There are a lot of highs and a ton of lows. There's more waiting than anything else. It's cathartic to pass the time by writing and reading about the adoption experience. So THANK YOU to all of those who have contacted me, left comments or sent encouraging notes! And thank you to everyone who shares all their experiences on their own blogs, too! It's such a blessing to share with you in your joy and even to pray with you in your losses.

So as I sat there at the little table and typed my first post, all I had was faith. Faith and a really poignant Haitian proverb that spoke to me the first time I read it: The pencil of God has no eraser.

He had already drawn the blueprint for our family!

Bitter/Sweet

Whenever I see disturbing information about UNICEF, I try to share it. The international adoption community seems to have a pretty firm grasp on the hypocrisy that this organization embodies. They relentlessly rail against international adoption while never really providing solutions or answers for orphaned & abandoned children. While I shouldn't be surprised by this, I was absolutely sickened to read an article detailing UNICEF's financing of terrorist camps in the Middle East. I feel like most Americans are just covering their ears saying "La la la la - what I don't know won't affect me...." That attitude really upsets me. And it leaves me feeling bitter.

I was actually forwarded to that link through a great blog written by a mom who has adopted a precious daughter from Guatemala and posts on the new adoption website called Adoption Under One Roof. Check it out!! It just recently launched and there will certainly be a wealth of adoption related information. They even added a Haiti forum! ;o)

So now for the sweet... you have to check out this video over on Loved Already. You'll be amazed by God's perfect timing!

Still in IBESR...

I was pretty sure this would be the case, but I did start to get a flutter of excitement as I opened the e-mail attachment that was our January report.

I know there are files that have been in longer than ours and I've seen one on the IBESR Update Blog that was entered after ours but has already come out. So I'm trying to avoid any type of speculation (February) or expectation (February) when it comes the movement of our file.

*cough cough* February *cough cough*

The rest of the report was fine. Asa is doing well; he had a little rash that cleared up, he's peaceful and joyful, he is beginning to communicate, he has good sleep and good appetite . It's funny to read the reports, which are written in kind of a broken English. They say the same thing almost every month but it's cute.


What a lovely month. And it has 29 days this year!! One extra day for them to work on getting files out. ;o)