Proverbs 25:25

 Finally hearing good news from a distant land is like a drink of cold water when you are dry and thirsty.

This verse was shared with me by a fellow adoptive parent.  I have read the verse before but it did not mean what it means to me now!  Each month I receive news from Haiti with new pictures of my little M.  I cannot tell you how good that news is!  I look forward to it ALL month!!!!

M got some news from a distant land last month.  Pictures were taken of him as he opened the gift I sent :-)

I sent him a book of pictures.  He sees himself on the cover :-)

I LOVE THIS ONE! <3

He enjoyed the crayons and made a picture.

Oh how I cannot wait to sit and color with him!

Last week my mom and I put together Christmas gifts for M.  My heart's desire and prayer all day is that I will exit IBESR soon, that I will get this good news from Haiti and then be able to travel before Christmas!  We shall see!  Pray with me!!!!!

It wasn't easy deciding what to send him.  We picked out a MN Twins shirt...a couple books, cars, and candy canes!  I send a package and grandma and grandpa sent one too.   They will all arrive together and M will have good and super fun news from a cold and snowy land very far away.  I can't wait to see him with his new little things to play with when he has volunteer.

 Gifts from Mommy :-)

Please pray that I hear news soon.  I have been in IBESR just over 8 weeks.  It is time!  I pray for news this week!  Of course I pray HIS will be done.  I pray that HE, the way-maker, would make a way.  That my documents would be moved to the hands that would complete this step!!!  I will wait and be patient until then!

What's Happening Now?

Well, it has been 39 days since my dossier and M's dossier entered IBESR (Haitian Social Services).  Remember, the next step is the first visit to Haiti!  Last night the prospect of that being soon kept a BIG grin on my face....I know I was glowing!  To hold him, hug him, tickle him, read to him, kiss him, take pictures with him.....I CANNOT WAIT!

There have been some families that exited this step in 7 weeks....so that is 10 days from today!  PRAY WITH ME THAT THIS HAPPENS!

I am already packing :-)  Packing things to bring to M.  Packing things to bring for the orphanage.  Thinking about what to bring to wear....Oh, I cannot wait!!!!

SO, I hope in November I give you news that I am out of IBESR and before year's end I announce that I am going!!!!!

The building all my precious paperwork sits in!  Let it move to the desk that signs it and announces that I am out of IBESR!!!!

Screen shot of my proposal video!  

I love this face!

PLEASE PRAY FOR M AND ME that in HIS timing things move along!!!!

Thanks!!!!

Brothers!!!!

Well, FINALLY I can share some news that I know readers want to hear!  I have not had much to tell anyone over the past 9 months, but MUCH has been going on.  Last September the Lord laid a little boy on my heart and I began to faithfully pray for him.  As the months went on I wondered, "Who is adopting him?"  I googled his name and a blog in Haiti came up.  One from God's Littlest Angel's.  My purpose in googling his name was to possibly find a blog where parents were writing about him.  That I did not find.  Some time in January the Lord brought to my heart the fact that this child may actually be my child.  Well, we'll see!  When paperwork arrives in Haiti the director and others at the orphanage spend much time praying over the families and children, I the adoptive parent do not call them up and say, "Hey, I want this kid!"  That's not how it works.

Eventually though, my paperwork was matched with a child and the child was in fact the boy I had been praying for all of these months!  I was in complete AWE!  Many road blocks were placed in the way over the months to come.  Now it is September and I am no further along in the process with this little guy than I was months ago.  I was asked if I would like to consider being matched with another child, as it seems the issues surrounding my child I love and have prayed for for nearly a year will not be resolved anytime soon.  I said no, that I would wait for as long as I needed to wait.  I prayed and prayed.  I asked God to make it clear to me what to do.  If he wanted me to go with a new child and not this one I had been praying for for so many months, then I would be obedient.  This is not what happened though.  I just continued to feel more confirmation that I was to wait for him.

Now, when I began this process over a year ago, I intended to adopt 2 children.  After reading books, going to a conference and praying I realized that as a single mother, bringing 2 children home at the same would be extremely difficult/overwhelming.

What the Lord did begin to bring to me is, "You are going to adopt 2."  Hmmmm...all of that paperwork again!?!!?  All of that money!?!?!  Yep!  And when HE is in it and in control then I can trust and have the faith to know it will all work out.

SOOOOOO.....#1 I will be waiting to adopt my little guy that may not be able to be adopted for some time! God nows.  But this little one will have a little brother!!!!  And his little brother will most definitely make it home before he does.  And I pray even now that these two begin to form a special bond with each other.

So, I would like to introduce to you Mr. M!  He just turned 2.  He is about 10 months younger than his older "brother."  Continue to pray!  Continue to consider helping me in this process financially (I have paypal on the page and all giving is tax deductible!)  Here is my baby boy.......Sorry M that you are just in your diaper but this is my favorite picture of you!!!!  You already have so many people praying for you and your big "brother!"  You are going to lead the way home for him!  You will come home first and when he comes home you will be such a big help in helping him adjust!  Oh what fun the two of you will have!!!!

Update

Hey, I know it has been a long time since I have been on here.  The reason being is that there is no news about my adoption that I can publicly share.  So if you are reading this, PLEASE keep praying!  For those of you who continue to send in support, I am GRATEFUL!!!!!

What I can tell you is that a lot is changing in Haiti when it comes to adoption.  Haiti ratified the Hague Convention which the best way I can explain it to non-adoption people is Hague is something like the United Nations for adoption.  A common set of rules/laws/policies to protect children.

Ratifying Hague does not mean that Haiti suddenly a Hague nation.  But pray please that Haiti takes her time.  Once a document is deposited in the Netherlands, that is the last step and then within 90 days things are checked to make sure a country is in full compliance.  It took the the USA something like 16 years (that's a figure I remember, may be less, but for sure longer than a decade) to come into full compliance.  A nation does not want to deposit the document prematurely or adoptions can be shut down all together if full compliance is not found.  I pray the people in charge listen to the right people trying to advise them.

Once of the first policies Haiti will implement VERY soon is that all families adopting from Haiti have to be working with a select Agency of Haiti's choosing that is a Hague accredited agency.  My agency is not Hague.  So if something doesn't happen in the next week or two, I will not make the mid-September deadline and will need to look for anew agency.

To say the least, I have bee overwhelmed, upset, angry, sad....but also I have surrounded all of this to HIM daily and HE gives me peace that passes what I can understand!  So, keep PRAYING!  Please!  HE can, is able, and will make a way where there seems to be no way!!!!

PRAYER!

Please pray with me over adoptions and HAITI!  I will not go into all of the details here...you can probably google it and find lots of information.  BUT, I ask that you pray!  Pray for all of the children in Haiti! Pray for the Haitian government and those making decisions concerning adoptions!  And please also pray over the little one the Lord intends to be my child.  I pray against the enemy having his way in any way, in Jesus' name!  I pray over every family that is currently in the process of adopting from Haiti!  We shall not worry, instead we will pray and trust the LORD!

Praying over my adoption

Father, in Jesus’ name, I come boldly before Your throne of grace, that I may receive mercy and find grace in my time of need.  I am trusting in You and seek to do good, so that I may dwell in the land of feed surely on Your faithfulness.

I delight myself also in You, and You give me the desires and secret petitions of my heart.  I believe my desire to adopt a child is from You, and I am willing to assume the responsibility of rearing this child in the ways of the Master.

Father, I commit my way to You.  My confidence is in You, and You will bring this adoption to pass according to Your purpose and plan.

Lord, your Son, Jesus, demonstrated Your love for children when He said, “Let the children alone, don’t prevent them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.”  Then He laid hands on them and blessed them.

Use me as your instrument of peace and righteousness to bless this child. I purpose in my heart to train this child in the way that he should go.

Lord, I am embracing this child, Your best gift, as my own, with your love, as Jesus said, “Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more than me – God who sent me.”

Father, take this child up and be a Father and a Mother to him as I extend my hands and heart to embrace him.  Thank you for the blood of Jesus that gives protection to this one whom I love.

I thank you for that man and woman who conceived this child and pray that You will bless them, cause Your face to shine upon them, and be merciful to them.  If they do not know you, Jesus, I ask you, Lord of the Harvest, to send forth laborers to share truth with them that they may come out of the snare of the devil.

Mercy and truth are written upon the tablet of my heart, and You cause me to find favor and good understanding with You and with man – the adoption agency staff, the judges, the orphanage, IBESR, and all those who are involved in this decision making process! May ALL be careful that they do not despise one of these little ones over whom they have jurisdiction – for they have angels who see Your face continually in Heaven.

I believe that all my words are righteous. By my long forbearing and calmness of spirit those in authority are persuaded, and my soft speech breaks down the most bone-like resistance.

Lord, I am looking to You as my Great Counselor and Mighty Advocate.  I ask for Your wisdom for me and my attorneys.

Father, contend with those who contend with me, and give safety to my child and ease him day by day.  I am calling on You in the name of Jesus, and you will answer me and show me great and mighty things.  No weapon formed against me and this adoption shall prosper, and any tongue that rises against me in judgment I shall show to be in the wrong.  This is my inheritance as Your child.

Father, I believe; therefore, I have spoken.  May it be done unto me according to Your Word.

In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN!

From Prayers that Avail Much by Germaine Copeland

Art to Benefit Adoption

I have a friend who is a painter.  She has set up a website for her artwork.  She is also holding a garage sale this week, beginning on June 7th.  Fifty percent of any artwork purchased will be donated to my adoption.

Here is the link to her website:  http://artbynancy.tripod.com/index.html

The address of the garage sale is:
9742 Annapolis Lane N.
Maple Grove, MN   55369

THANKS!!!