Here We Go.......

Well I never thought I would be blogging, however, I never thought I would be doing a lot of things that I am now embracing. I guess I never thought I had anything to say that people would find interesting enough to read ! lol. Well I think I am changing that way of thinking a bit, because it is not always about the author, but rather the subject matter and let me tell you this subject matter is WONDERFUL! Our family is adopting!! We are probably 2/3 through the process and we hope to have our children home by fall. This can be a very taxing process and as we are walking it, we have found many people who have shared their story and it has helped so much! One of my favorite movies is the movie Pay It Forward...and that is what I want to do. If I can give information, inspire or comfort others with my journey then that is what I want to do.....so here we go.....

Lets see I am married to my absolute BEST FRIEND! I know a lot of people say that, but how many really mean it? I do. God certainly knew what he was doing in giving me Daniel...he knows how to "talk me off the ledge", make me laugh, comfort me when I hurt, and stand beside me when I just need a friend.....I love him dearly! We have four biological children...Nicholas who is a junior in college and engaged! Jessica who is 18 and off to college this fall, Katelyn who is 11, and Elissa who is 9 ! We have been blessed far beyond anything we deserve! All of our children were via the help of medical intervention with the exception of little Elissa ! She was our extra blessing! LOL All the children were c-section and when Elissa was born she had some difficulty breathing and was in ICU for a few days...this kind of thing makes a person stop and think, and we certainly did. Dan and I decided to recognize our blessings, be thankful and not push the envelope! We are a very close family and being together means everything to us. If you gave me a sack full of money and told me I could go anywhere in the world my first question would be can I take my kids? I appreciate being with them and cherish every (okay...almost every) moment with them. So having said all that....let me tell you how we got to where we are now.....
During the Haitian crisis in 2010 our eyes along with the worlds began to be opened by the Holy Spirit to the suffering around us. I mean yes, we realized that our world has alot of hurting people and needs...but I mean we really saw it! So in January we received a email from our Church that a possibility existed that Haitian refugees could be coming to Indiana and would we be willing to foster or consider adoption if the situation presented itself? I remember sitting and looking at that email...it felt like I stared at it for such a long time....I could feel the Holy Spirit move within me, and those of you who are followers (I hope all) will know what I am talking about! It is a feeling not easily confused or imagined. As I sat and felt the warmth of that move throughout my being and I knew what he was calling us to do. I literally wept..., and honestly some of it was fear. As I attempted to reason with this new thought....and rationalize, all I kept coming up with is "are WE good enough"? "Are WE the right family? " Then the realization of how am I going to bring this up to Dan set in ? LOL Well that evening we all sat around the family table and discussed...of course all the kids said ABSOLUTELY! Dan sat there very quiet at first and said he needed some time to pray about it. Told you he was a great guy! So that is where we left it, we were all going to pray about it and just take some time to digest it. The next day I took my girls to dance class at the YMCA and was talking to some lady friends who happen to have adopted children from Asia and they gave me alot of insight and information...God is awesome how he puts the right people in the right place along the way! So as we all know....the Haitian children were not going to be able to find homes for some time, with the mess the authorities were dealing with it was clear our community would not be called upon for a very long time. Dan and I were a little puzzled as to what Gods plan had been with this, we felt maybe God simply wanted to see if we would answer his call? Okay.....so a few days later (back at dance class) I again was talking with my lady friends about the little children of Haiti, when one of my friends asked if I had ever looked on "Rainbowkids.com"? I simply stated "oh no, we aren't ACTIVELY looking to adopt, yet we simply feel we had answered the call from God about Haiti"....so time went on.....a few days later I was at the computer and kept getting the nudge to look at the web site, curiosity? Nope I know what it was! Anyway....I sat and scrolled down the many, many photos of children and it was so sad the number of children needing a home....and then suddenly there it was!!!! A picture that took me in and held me in a way that is hard to explain. Those eyes, those faces!!!! Oh my goodness they are MY children! How can that be ? No question, God had started us on one road, just to bring us to the road to find L & S. I felt the Holy Spirit like I had never felt before...maybe he wanted to make sure I really GOT IT this time! LOL He knows I can be a little slow....
So I waited a few days before showing the rest of the family. Dan again, wanted time to pray about this. The next day Dan had gone out to lunch and spent time in prayer and he called me and simply stated that he had got his answer. God had also gave him a very DIRECT and clear answer to what we were to do! Amazing~~~ So now let me tell you about where the journey has led so far.......


Early Feb 2010 - Contacted Agency and found out general information about the children and
process.

Feb 24, 2010 - Sent in application to Agency! We are on our way now!

March 2010 - This entire month was spent collecting information for Dossier, preparing for
home study, getting beds, preparing room etc....

April 22- 2010 - Received completed home study.

April 22-2010 - Filed I600A application.

April 26-2010 - Updated photo received!!!!! They are beautiful

May 28-2010 - Printing appointment (forgot to send 18 year old daughters birth certificate,
Thank Goodness they printed her anyway....

June 16- 2010 - The golden ticket!!! We got the I171H. What a beautiful day!

June 17- 2010 - Dan and I got travel vaccinations. 8 shots each! YIKES...

June 18- 2010 - Mailed Dossier to agency along with a little rag doll for S and a little car for L
Also sent a little photo album of family for the kids. So now we wait to see
what happens.....

July 7- 2010 - Heard from in country representative...hopefully court by mid to end of
month! This is great news!!! Not sure if we have to attend yet. He aso, sent
photo of L & S with photo album and little toys! They are absolutely
beautiful and amazing!!!!

Okay....so that gets us to now....We cant wait to meet our children! We have been very fortunate to have met (through the Ghanaian Angels) a group of ladies who are also taking this journey, and what they have shared has been so comforting in times of frustration and inspiring in times of doubt! I thank all of them for their obedience to what God is having them do. It makes such a difference to share our stories and that is why I want to do this...I hope I can help someone else.