Reflections on Haiti...one year later

One year ago...August 4-7 I traveled to Kingdom of Kids Orphanage. Six months pregnant with our fourth boy I handed in our completed dossier to adopt our fifth boy...Wisler. Our dossier was a compilation of almost six months of paperwork. That one moment of handing it off was pure joy. I was filled top full of happiness, hopefulness and excitement. One year later, as we approached the anniversary of that moment of joy, my aching heart compels me to reflect on this season of waiting.
I was naive. I though this part would be easy--the waiting-- after all really I told myself after the flurry of paperwork waiting seemed ....well RELAXING. It is not. A piece of my heart breaks a little everyday and on the days when I think it could not possibly break anymore ... another crack, another fissure. I know God has His perfect timing and I BELIEVE with my entire being that His timing is perfect ...this is a time of learning many lessons in faith, trust and (ugh) patience (definitely not my strength as I am learning). Still my arms ache to hold my beautiful Haitian boy, my ears long to hear his laughter. God's timing says PATIENCE dear one...but who knew being patient would hurt so much? Who knew that on summer days here in Maine when the heat index reaches 100 degrees (so few and far between I know but we did have that heat wave a few weeks ago) I would cry hot tears of longing and remembrance...

sitting on cool tiles of our room playing superhero memory my heart bursting with joy at his giggles as he bests me, snuggling on the top bunk as close to the ceiling fan as we can get, my pregnant body aching and sweating in discomfort-- watching him sleep my heart so glad he wants to snuggle, glad he wants me for his mama, reveling in the opportunity to serve him meals, wash him in the shower his giggles echoing on the tiles as I name his body parts in French, holding him in my lap during church, my body dripping with sweat, him sound asleep, me knowing it could only be God giving me the strength to do this--physically, emotionally. His hands holding us both, knitting our hearts....I am reminded of an old hymn from my childhood. It was my favorite..." and He will raise you up on eagle's wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun and hold you in the palm of his hand..." that's where I feel like we are...in the palm of His hand...(if you would like to see all the lyrics click here is it a beautiful song.)

I run these memories over and over in my mind like a movie and they warm my heart and give me hope of days to come when our family is complete.

Garage Sale!!!

Yes we are having another garage sale--we still need to raise money for travel expenses and final paperwork-when it happens. We are still waiting, praying and being hopeful that Wisler will be with us soon.
The garage sale will be Friday July 1 @ 13 Giroux St. Auburn from 8-3. None of the items are priced--we have a donation jar out and whatever you feel lead to put in the jar is great! We have tons of furniture, baby items, kitchen stuff, toys, books...
so come check it out!!!

Brian's Haiti Trip April 2011

Check out the sidebar for photos of Brian's recent trip to visit Wisler. He is a man of very FEW words so I will give a brief overview. Saturday in Haiti Brian went to the beach with the entire Orphanage--he said the water was amazing- warm and so salty is burned your eyes. Wisler did not know how to swim so when Brian went out deep Wisler clung to him for dear life. On Sunday after church Brian went to Jerusalem with Pastor Riguad and Geoff ( Geoff is making a documentary). Jerusalem is the city that erupted overnight after the earthquake. The city it is home to some 400,000 Haitians. Riguad was given plots of land at this location by the government. He is currently raising money/building a medical clinic, church,school and eventually brand new orphanage. Currently he had two wells dug, only one of which has good water. Other than that the folks that live here have to buy their water, or walk several miles.

Now you ask what's with the snow man --his name is Flat Frosty and was made by Jaden. Frosty is part of a pen pal/geography project our kids are doing. Frosty went with Brian to Haiti to visit. He took good notes on what life is like in the orphanage so he could tell Gabe and Jaden all about life in Haiti.

Another note--the pictures of the wheels are pictures of Rich and Spring's truck tire that broke. The tire started to wobble and the lug nuts sheered off. Needless to say their trip home was about 5 hours longer than it needed to be but they made it home.

Anyway enjoy the slide show....I will post video in the coming weeks.

Marta is an amazing cook

Dad said no more treat before dinner...

Playing at the beach

Flat Stanley enjoying his beach trip!

Watching a coconut being cut up

Michael (Papi's son) and Wisler- buddies

Playing with Gerry Gelinas in the water

Tired boy after the beach...daddy snuggle time

Wesley at church

Wisler at church

dad at church

church

Hanging Out with Papi

During Pastor Riguad's recent visit to New England we had the opportunity to spend some alone time with the man Wisler calls Papi. (Riguad runs the orphanage Wisler lives at) . It was a special event for our boys to meet Papi--It made the whole adoption more of a reality for them, as up to now all they have seen is pictures...this was a real person!

Haiti Bound

Brian is going to visit Wisler from March 31-April 4th. He is looking forward to the "alone" time with Wisler. Please pray for safe travels and good bonding visit....

Video

This is a video made by one of the dads who is adopting from KKO as well. I struck me hard of course because as you saw in my earlier post this is the song that runs through my mind....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJEheRWZGqE&feature=player_embedded

While I am Waiting...

I'm waiting

I'm waiting on You, Lord

And I am hopeful

I'm waiting on You, Lord

Though it is painful

But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident

Taking every step in obedience

While I'm waiting

I will serve You

While I'm waiting

I will worship

While I'm waiting

I will not faint

I'll be running the race

Even while I wait

I'm waiting

I'm waiting on You, Lord

And I am peaceful

I'm waiting on You, Lord

Though it's not easy

But faithfully, I will wait

Yes, I will wait

I will serve You while I'm waiting

I will worship while I'm waiting

I will serve You while I'm waiting

I will worship while I'm waiting

I will serve you while I'm waiting

I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

Thank you John Waller for writing such an incredible song.

So this is where we are; waiting. We are confidant in God's timing for Wisler's arrival. We did get a recent update that Pastor Riguad would be sending out updates on dossiers sometime after January 6th. So we wait. We pray for Wisler and the workers at the orphanage. We pray for ALL the children and for Haiti...

We have had the opportunity to skype with Wisler a few times thanks to our wonderful friend Tina who is living and serving at the orphanage. Those times were a precious gift...to see our little boy smile, and hear his voice....

Please continue to pray for us and for Wisler....thank you all for your support and love. We will be doing more fundraising in the coming months to cover travel expenses and final payments to St. Andres Adoption Agency.