Well, we have been home from Haiti with Sammy for a little over a month now (got home on April 19th). This is the first time that I've really had time to sit down and blog about it. Two four-year-olds, a full-time job, church, and a principal husband can really keep a girl busy. But life is good, people, life is good.
It's time to let all of you sweet people who have prayed for our adoption, asked about our sweet Sammy, and liked all of his pictures on Instagram and Facebook know about how the transition has gone. In one word: amazing. Let me say that I am being totally honest. I have thought about this and whether I am just sugar-coating and pretending as if things are better than they are, but really, really, really, it has been amazing. This little boy is amazing. He has been so adaptable, so go-with-the-flow, and so happy to be here with us. Not once has he seemed overwhelmed- not by restaurants, not by ballgames, and not even by Wal-Mart. He takes it all in with big eyes and constant chatter, but there has been no fear, just excitement and curiosity. My strategy going into this was just to play it by ear, to see what made him uncomfortable and to work from there, but so far, there hasn't been anything "normal" that we haven't been able to do with Sammy in tow. It has been everything I hoped and prayed for. It has been interesting learning to parent two children at once- dressing them in the mornings, getting them to the babysitter's, and definitely trying to get through the grocery store with both of them. I'm pretty much exhausted at the end of the day, but this life is good.
Now, again, I'm being honest, there are moments that I could live without. Sammy had a few fits the first week he was here. He would get so upset that he couldn't calm down and would just cry and cry. I was so torn. I didn't know whether this was a time that I should try to hug and comfort or whether I should use the strategy that I used with Cade during his fit throwing stage and just walk away and ignore it. It was tough, but I ignored. And, miraculously enough, the fits have stopped. Right or wrong, this worked for us and I don't think that Sammy thinks that I don't love him. Tough love. Also, this "tattling" thing is getting really old. Both of them for some reason think it is fun to get the other one in trouble. They tell me EVERYTHING that the other brother has done. They're having to learn when to tell mom and when to work it out themselves. Sammy can also be kind of a baby. When he gets hit or runs into something, its a pretty dramatic deal. I'm so used to Cade (who has lived with this momma who tells him that unless he's bleeding, he should suck it up) and the fact that he has learned to just bounce back when he falls down. Sammy gives us a little performance every time he gets even a little bit hurt. He's learning that mom isn't very sympathetic, though. It's getting better. Y'all, nurturing is just not my deal. I'm blaming it on my mother- I'm just like her. He's figuring it out and it won't be long until he's just bouncing right back too.
For every one of those moments I could do without, there are about 10 that absolutely melt my heart. Seeing my boys running around the house, playing chase, playing catch, tackling each other, hugging each other, and praying together every night before we go to bed just makes my momma's heart so happy. They fight like crazy and they love like crazy. They are brothers and were fast friends. I love to hear my little Haitian baby in his accent say, "I love you so much" to me, his daddy, and his brother. His smile absolutely lights up the room and he is so excited every morning to get dressed. He loves to ride in the car and often asks us if we can go in the car (even if it is almost bedtime). He loves to play with our dog- which is amazing because the first time he saw her, I thought he was going to have a panic attack. It only took a few days before he became Charis's shadow. I'm not sure how she feels about that, but I'm sure she loves the attention. He has given up talking to us in Creole. After the first few weeks when I would respond to him with, "Son, I don't know what you are saying" and he would give me a frustrated look, he stopped even trying. He either tries to say something in English that maybe I will get or he just acts it out with his facial expressions and hands. I love to watch him do that. He is so animated that I always get what he's saying even if I don't understand the language. He gives the best hugs. He wraps his arms around your neck and squeezes. He's learned good manners, always saying "please", "thank you", and "you're welcome." He always tells everyone bye when he leaves and tells them to have a good day. He's just a sweetie with a big smile and an even bigger heart. He belongs with us and I'm so happy he's finally here.
Anyway, really, it has been amazing. I didn't really know what to expect, but I know that we are right where we need to be. Parenting two children is challenging (and three will be even more so- as we will find out in December for those who didn't already know that), but I'm finding that the Holy Spirit gives guidance and God gives grace every single day. I'm sure we're not doing this all right, but we're giving it what we've got and seeking to mold both of our boys into godly men who respect and care about others. They're good boys.
On a completely different note- yes, I am pregnant and we are going to make it a party of five in December. No, this was not a surprise. Yes, we might be crazy. Jason and I have discussed whether the two boys were it a lot in the past few years. We never did come to a conclusion, so last fall, we decided we would just see what happened. It took about six months, but we are apparently meant to have at least one more in our brood, so here goes. So, just to clarify, this wasn't one of those miraculous times when a couple adopts because they couldn't get pregnant and then once the adoption is final, they do get pregnant. This is just a case of a couple who wants to open their heart to whatever the Lord wills for their family. And even as scary as it is to bring more children into this world that seems to morally decay by exponential bounds every day, if we can raise our children to follow God, then they will be the good that this world needs. Light always sends darkness fleeing. That is my prayer- that we can teach our boys (and whoever this new little peanut is) to be light, because y'all, God's still on the throne and He's still worthy. That is all.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Testify!
So I sat down to catch up on others' blogs this evening and realized that I haven't blogged since January. I've sat down to do it a few times, but just haven't had a lot to say. I find that I only blog when I have a lot on my mind and in my heart. It's cathartic to me, I guess, self-treatment for this counselor! Before I spill what's in my heart onto the page, I'll catch you up on what's going on.
Of course, we're still in the middle of the adoption. We haven't heard any updates lately, but we did take another trip to Haiti in May. We took Cade with us this time to meet his brother. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but it was an amazing week. The boys seemed to love being with each other and I got some really great video of them playing, smiling, and laughing. It was different keeping up with two kiddos (even if it was only for a few days), but the time we spent together was priceless. By no means am I disillusioned into believing that when Sammy gets here everything will be smooth sailing and that there will be no problems for our family during the adjustment process, but with my whole family together, I could feel in my heart that this is exactly what our family is supposed to be. God used that trip to confirm to me that we are smack dab in the middle of His will. And that, my friends, is what I am ultimately seeking every day of my life.
Though we were comfortable with what our family is, we were still in limbo about where our family would be. From April until recently, Jason was looking for a job as an administrator (principal or assistant principal). Since he's had his degree for two years, we decided to broaden the search this year to look all over the state. Of course, some of these jobs meant moving away and me getting a different job. However, I wanted to be a supportive wife and I agreed that he could interview anywhere and that we would be open to going wherever he needed to go. Now, let me say that this is not at all what my heart wanted. I am comfortable here around my family, in my job, with my friends, and this is where I wanted to stay. But when we said those wedding vows, I agreed to cling to him and to become one with him. Let me also say that Jason was not forcing this upon me. He asked me what I thought, what I would be comfortable with, and whether I wanted him to just look for jobs around home. We agreed together to be open to many different opportunities all over the state. We thought possibly God was going to lead us down an unanticipated road and we wanted to follow wherever that would be. So, our prayer during the job search was that God would provide clear direction on the right job and that he would open doors. The road He took us down was pretty bumpy. Jason interviewed 10 times- some of them around here, others out of town- as far as three hours away. There were times when we felt like he'd found the right job and times when we knew otherwise. There were times when we were very confident that God knew what He was doing and times that we doubted His wisdom. Through all of this, I felt a lot of anxiety and stress. My desire to be the supportive wife and my fear of moving out of my comfort zone constantly battled inside of me. I don't think I showed it too much outwardly, but there were times when I was a complete mess. I did break down and dump on a few of my closest friends from time to time, but all in all I kept my anxiety between myself and Jason, and of course, God. I wish I could say I wasn't anxious and was completely trusting. I don't even think I could count the number of times I've told a friend- "Don't worry, God is in control" or "He's working for your good." Though I know these statements are absolute truth, I had to be reminded of that myself. I tried to be as honest as I could be with God about the desires of my heart- which were for Jason to get a job and for us to stay here, but I also told Him that I would go wherever He led us and I meant it. I believe that our life's journey will always tell the story of God's faithfulness and our willingness to take unexpected detours will lead to His blessings.
Now its time to testify!
My God is faithful. Jason got a job at Mulberry/Pleasant View, which is one of the closest school districts to Alma. After 10 interviews and lots of consideration about where I would work or where we would live, the right job came along. And the right job is right at home. "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." I am so thankful! Jason loves his new job and is excited to get the school year started.
My God is awesome. For the past few years, I've been telling Jason that I'm ready to move to a new house. This one has gotten really small! We put our house up for sale two years ago and tried to sell it for 4-5 months and never had any serious interest. We decided then to take it down and save money to make trips to Haiti instead. We agreed that once he got an administrator's job, we would consider it again. Once he got this job, we started talking about it. However, with all of the school that we've done in the past five years, we'd chalked up some student loan debt. So, we decided that we would stay in this house for a few years and pay off those loans before moving. That same week we found out about some student loan forgiveness that we'd received- over $8,000 between us that is paid (my loan completely paid off). So, debt paid by someone else. Without that debt, we decided to look around. The first day we looked, we found a house that we love! However, we didn't want to move too fast because we still had to sell our house. We were talking to my parents about it and turns out that they've been looking at possibly buying some rental properties. Long story short, they've decided to buy our house to rent out. So, house sold. The house that we love was at the very top end of our budget and we weren't sure if the current owners would come down off the price enough for us to afford it. We made an offer. The next day they countered with an amount that we can afford. So, new house in the process of being purchased. I absolutely love this house and could go on and on about how perfect it is. This whole process has been completely amazing and I feel such gratefulness for God's abounding blessings, because I know that's what this is.
My God is gracious. There have been several moments in the past few weeks when I have just felt God's absolute grace and His blessings rain down upon me. Some of them have been material blessings, but others of them have been moments with my family and friends. Some of these moments have just been in the mundane everyday activities of my family, but I feel so blessed. I'm trying to stop and pay attention and to recognize every little blessing so that I can give thanks and bless His name.
I'm fortunate that the biggest stress in my life lately has been my husband getting an administrative job. No matter what, he had a job, and that was a blessing in itself. I know there are many people who are going through much more troubling times and are on much more painful journeys. But my point in all this is to testify to God's faithfulness to our family. He's faithful in the little stuff, just like He's faithful in the big stuff. He was faithful in Jason's job search and our family's home search, and He will be faithful in seeing our adoption through. He's IS faithful and I will testify!
Of course, we're still in the middle of the adoption. We haven't heard any updates lately, but we did take another trip to Haiti in May. We took Cade with us this time to meet his brother. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but it was an amazing week. The boys seemed to love being with each other and I got some really great video of them playing, smiling, and laughing. It was different keeping up with two kiddos (even if it was only for a few days), but the time we spent together was priceless. By no means am I disillusioned into believing that when Sammy gets here everything will be smooth sailing and that there will be no problems for our family during the adjustment process, but with my whole family together, I could feel in my heart that this is exactly what our family is supposed to be. God used that trip to confirm to me that we are smack dab in the middle of His will. And that, my friends, is what I am ultimately seeking every day of my life.
Though we were comfortable with what our family is, we were still in limbo about where our family would be. From April until recently, Jason was looking for a job as an administrator (principal or assistant principal). Since he's had his degree for two years, we decided to broaden the search this year to look all over the state. Of course, some of these jobs meant moving away and me getting a different job. However, I wanted to be a supportive wife and I agreed that he could interview anywhere and that we would be open to going wherever he needed to go. Now, let me say that this is not at all what my heart wanted. I am comfortable here around my family, in my job, with my friends, and this is where I wanted to stay. But when we said those wedding vows, I agreed to cling to him and to become one with him. Let me also say that Jason was not forcing this upon me. He asked me what I thought, what I would be comfortable with, and whether I wanted him to just look for jobs around home. We agreed together to be open to many different opportunities all over the state. We thought possibly God was going to lead us down an unanticipated road and we wanted to follow wherever that would be. So, our prayer during the job search was that God would provide clear direction on the right job and that he would open doors. The road He took us down was pretty bumpy. Jason interviewed 10 times- some of them around here, others out of town- as far as three hours away. There were times when we felt like he'd found the right job and times when we knew otherwise. There were times when we were very confident that God knew what He was doing and times that we doubted His wisdom. Through all of this, I felt a lot of anxiety and stress. My desire to be the supportive wife and my fear of moving out of my comfort zone constantly battled inside of me. I don't think I showed it too much outwardly, but there were times when I was a complete mess. I did break down and dump on a few of my closest friends from time to time, but all in all I kept my anxiety between myself and Jason, and of course, God. I wish I could say I wasn't anxious and was completely trusting. I don't even think I could count the number of times I've told a friend- "Don't worry, God is in control" or "He's working for your good." Though I know these statements are absolute truth, I had to be reminded of that myself. I tried to be as honest as I could be with God about the desires of my heart- which were for Jason to get a job and for us to stay here, but I also told Him that I would go wherever He led us and I meant it. I believe that our life's journey will always tell the story of God's faithfulness and our willingness to take unexpected detours will lead to His blessings.
Now its time to testify!
My God is faithful. Jason got a job at Mulberry/Pleasant View, which is one of the closest school districts to Alma. After 10 interviews and lots of consideration about where I would work or where we would live, the right job came along. And the right job is right at home. "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." I am so thankful! Jason loves his new job and is excited to get the school year started.
My God is awesome. For the past few years, I've been telling Jason that I'm ready to move to a new house. This one has gotten really small! We put our house up for sale two years ago and tried to sell it for 4-5 months and never had any serious interest. We decided then to take it down and save money to make trips to Haiti instead. We agreed that once he got an administrator's job, we would consider it again. Once he got this job, we started talking about it. However, with all of the school that we've done in the past five years, we'd chalked up some student loan debt. So, we decided that we would stay in this house for a few years and pay off those loans before moving. That same week we found out about some student loan forgiveness that we'd received- over $8,000 between us that is paid (my loan completely paid off). So, debt paid by someone else. Without that debt, we decided to look around. The first day we looked, we found a house that we love! However, we didn't want to move too fast because we still had to sell our house. We were talking to my parents about it and turns out that they've been looking at possibly buying some rental properties. Long story short, they've decided to buy our house to rent out. So, house sold. The house that we love was at the very top end of our budget and we weren't sure if the current owners would come down off the price enough for us to afford it. We made an offer. The next day they countered with an amount that we can afford. So, new house in the process of being purchased. I absolutely love this house and could go on and on about how perfect it is. This whole process has been completely amazing and I feel such gratefulness for God's abounding blessings, because I know that's what this is.
My God is gracious. There have been several moments in the past few weeks when I have just felt God's absolute grace and His blessings rain down upon me. Some of them have been material blessings, but others of them have been moments with my family and friends. Some of these moments have just been in the mundane everyday activities of my family, but I feel so blessed. I'm trying to stop and pay attention and to recognize every little blessing so that I can give thanks and bless His name.
I'm fortunate that the biggest stress in my life lately has been my husband getting an administrative job. No matter what, he had a job, and that was a blessing in itself. I know there are many people who are going through much more troubling times and are on much more painful journeys. But my point in all this is to testify to God's faithfulness to our family. He's faithful in the little stuff, just like He's faithful in the big stuff. He was faithful in Jason's job search and our family's home search, and He will be faithful in seeing our adoption through. He's IS faithful and I will testify!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Treasure the Journey
So this international adoption thing is shaping up to be no short trip; its a journey! It is a journey through many different lands- through deserts and green forests and up and down mountains, with time taken to pause at the top, and plenty of time spent in the valley. Many times it seems as if we are just wandering in circles with no clear path to follow. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, wandering around. They knew the Promised Land was coming, but they didn't know when. I know my baby is coming home, but the timing is in God's hands. We're sure of the destination and are following blindly until we get there. And I'm starting to realize more and more that that's exactly the point!
In the past few weeks, it seems that every devotion I've read and every sermon I've heard has talked about the journey. It's been on my mind a lot lately- actually since we returned from Haiti in November. This is a process that can bring so much frustration and anger, simply because it doesn't make sense in our heads. How long does it really take to sign some paperwork and do a few background checks? A couple of weeks, maybe? A couple of months at the most, right? But here we are, still waiting, in the midst of a process that seemingly has no end. Wandering.
On our last trip to visit our kiddos, one of the adoptive families brought bracelets with them to give to the kids. You know, the rubber ones that have some sort of saying on them. Somehow, at the end of the trip, Sammy ended up with about four of them. I just put them in my pocket and didn't think twice about it. As we were packing to leave, I pulled out those bracelets. It is then that I took the time to really look at one of them. The printed phrase on it read, "Treasure the Journey."
It's funny how God uses the small stuff to teach us. It just shows how big He is. While staring at that bracelet, I started to think about this journey. In my mind and in my heart, I've being trying to rush this process. I've been praying daily that God would perform a miracle and the paperwork would suddenly be completed. (I believe He can do that and I will continue to pray that). However, this is the first time I stopped to think about what we have gained from our wandering. With my eyes fixed on that little pink bracelet, I could hear God speaking softly to my heart: My child, the journey has a purpose. Know that My hand is moving, and know that it is moving in a big way. Know that there will be indescribable joy when this process ends, but there can also be joy in the midst of it. Treasure every tear that you cry, for it reminds you of your love for that child. Treasure every second that you spend pleading with Me, for it reminds you that I am in control. Treasure every opportunity that you have to tell someone about this journey, for it reminds you of the great calling I have given you. Just treasure the journey because it will forever be a part of your testimony, and trust Me, child, it will tell of My faithfulness to you!
For a few days, I struggled with that. Treasure the journey, really? Treasure the heartbreak? Treasure the tears? Treasure the days of not knowing how and when? But as I thought about it and prayed about it, I began to realize what the journey has provided for us. It has provided us an opportunity to visit Haiti, and to understand where Jasmine and Sammy come from. It has provided us with greater knowledge of the adjustments they will have to make. It has provided us with opportunities to talk about our calling and to share the love of Jesus with others. But most of all, it has provided us with new friendships. We have had the chance to spend time with families who are walking with us. We have a group of people who understand exactly what this journey entails. They know the excitement of meeting your kids for the first time and the heartbreak that comes with leaving them there. They know the hope that we have for our future families and the sadness we feel when we close our eyes at night knowing our family is still not together. They will be the ones that rejoice with us most on that homecoming day and who provide the support for us as we integrate these children into our families.
Fittingly, our preacher's sermon tonight was about the Israelites and their journey in the wilderness. He preached on Deuteronomy 2:7 in which God tells the Israelites that He has seen every step they've taken on their journey and that He knows every emotion they've experienced. He then reminds them that He's blessed them and He's provided for them for the entire forty year period. Now, it seems like a bit of a stretch to compare our journey to that of the Israelites. After all, they were literally walking in circles for four decades and I am confident that we will not wander that long. However, this is just another example of the fact that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The character of God hasn't changed. He has seen every step we've taken and knows every thought we've had. In response to that, He has blessed us and He has been more than sufficient. He's provided funds to go visit our kids, He's provided people to encourage us on the hard days, and He's provided us with strength from His Word. He has provided.
So, I've decided that I will not let frustration at this process get the best of me. I will not make any more derogatory comments toward the Haitian government (and trust me, I've made my fair share). I will treasure this journey and every other journey that God calls me to in the future. He's always been faithful, He's always been sufficient. Every footprint on the ground, whether in a circle or a straight line, is evidence of what He's done. And all I want is for my footprints to guide others toward Him!
In the past few weeks, it seems that every devotion I've read and every sermon I've heard has talked about the journey. It's been on my mind a lot lately- actually since we returned from Haiti in November. This is a process that can bring so much frustration and anger, simply because it doesn't make sense in our heads. How long does it really take to sign some paperwork and do a few background checks? A couple of weeks, maybe? A couple of months at the most, right? But here we are, still waiting, in the midst of a process that seemingly has no end. Wandering.
On our last trip to visit our kiddos, one of the adoptive families brought bracelets with them to give to the kids. You know, the rubber ones that have some sort of saying on them. Somehow, at the end of the trip, Sammy ended up with about four of them. I just put them in my pocket and didn't think twice about it. As we were packing to leave, I pulled out those bracelets. It is then that I took the time to really look at one of them. The printed phrase on it read, "Treasure the Journey."
It's funny how God uses the small stuff to teach us. It just shows how big He is. While staring at that bracelet, I started to think about this journey. In my mind and in my heart, I've being trying to rush this process. I've been praying daily that God would perform a miracle and the paperwork would suddenly be completed. (I believe He can do that and I will continue to pray that). However, this is the first time I stopped to think about what we have gained from our wandering. With my eyes fixed on that little pink bracelet, I could hear God speaking softly to my heart: My child, the journey has a purpose. Know that My hand is moving, and know that it is moving in a big way. Know that there will be indescribable joy when this process ends, but there can also be joy in the midst of it. Treasure every tear that you cry, for it reminds you of your love for that child. Treasure every second that you spend pleading with Me, for it reminds you that I am in control. Treasure every opportunity that you have to tell someone about this journey, for it reminds you of the great calling I have given you. Just treasure the journey because it will forever be a part of your testimony, and trust Me, child, it will tell of My faithfulness to you!
For a few days, I struggled with that. Treasure the journey, really? Treasure the heartbreak? Treasure the tears? Treasure the days of not knowing how and when? But as I thought about it and prayed about it, I began to realize what the journey has provided for us. It has provided us an opportunity to visit Haiti, and to understand where Jasmine and Sammy come from. It has provided us with greater knowledge of the adjustments they will have to make. It has provided us with opportunities to talk about our calling and to share the love of Jesus with others. But most of all, it has provided us with new friendships. We have had the chance to spend time with families who are walking with us. We have a group of people who understand exactly what this journey entails. They know the excitement of meeting your kids for the first time and the heartbreak that comes with leaving them there. They know the hope that we have for our future families and the sadness we feel when we close our eyes at night knowing our family is still not together. They will be the ones that rejoice with us most on that homecoming day and who provide the support for us as we integrate these children into our families.
Fittingly, our preacher's sermon tonight was about the Israelites and their journey in the wilderness. He preached on Deuteronomy 2:7 in which God tells the Israelites that He has seen every step they've taken on their journey and that He knows every emotion they've experienced. He then reminds them that He's blessed them and He's provided for them for the entire forty year period. Now, it seems like a bit of a stretch to compare our journey to that of the Israelites. After all, they were literally walking in circles for four decades and I am confident that we will not wander that long. However, this is just another example of the fact that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The character of God hasn't changed. He has seen every step we've taken and knows every thought we've had. In response to that, He has blessed us and He has been more than sufficient. He's provided funds to go visit our kids, He's provided people to encourage us on the hard days, and He's provided us with strength from His Word. He has provided.
So, I've decided that I will not let frustration at this process get the best of me. I will not make any more derogatory comments toward the Haitian government (and trust me, I've made my fair share). I will treasure this journey and every other journey that God calls me to in the future. He's always been faithful, He's always been sufficient. Every footprint on the ground, whether in a circle or a straight line, is evidence of what He's done. And all I want is for my footprints to guide others toward Him!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Updates
So the reason it took me years to start a blog was because I was afraid I wouldn't have anything really exciting to blog about. We're quite boring at our house. Also, I was afraid I wouldn't keep up with it. My fears have been validated- it's been since June 11 that I last blogged. So, sorry to those of you who follow my blog. I'm going to try to do better.
So I guess the purpose of this blog is simply to catch up and let you all know what's up in our world. I'll start with the adults and work towards the children.
Jason:He did not get an administrator's job this year, so he's still teaching at the high school. He's got some Geometry and some Algebra II classes. He finishes his Program of Study for his Superintendent's License this semester. He's doing an internship this fall along with one class. In the spring, he'll finish up with a second internship for his license as a Curriculum Administrator. I'm really proud of him and all his hard work. He's done everything he can to make himself marketable and qualified for many different positions. I know that his hard work will pay off, but its definitely hard to wait for God's timing in this. He's put in a lot of time (and money) to get these degrees and he's anxious to use them, but he's trying to learn what he can from where he currently is.
Me: I'm working in my second year as a school counselor. It really is a great job! I think I like it even better this year since I know what I'm doing somewhat. A lot of the anxieties that I had at the beginning of last year have faded. Other than that, I just take care of my child and my house, get some exercise in, and hang out with my boys. It's really a good life- a boring life to some- but a good, drama-free life, which is what I prefer!
Cade: Cade turns three next week. Its so hard to believe. Jason and I went through his clothes and toys yesterday and got rid of some and put some up for storage. Every time I do that, I get a little sad. Some of the clothes Sammy will be able to wear, but I hate putting away those clothes that he looked so cute in and thinking about the fact that he's too big for them. He's so funny these days though. My child is so verbal! He never stops talking and has quite the imagination. He makes up stories about his make-believe monkey Moy-Moy. Last week, Moy-Moy was in the hospital because Cade swung on his tail and hurt him. Who knows? He's still big into sports- he has a shoot-around every night in his "basketball room", we have batting practice, and every ball is a soccer ball. His birthday party theme is going to be sports this year- it may be a recurring theme, but oh well! So, he's a mess, but he's so sweet and cute.
Sammy: There's still no timeline on when my other baby will be here. We have heard updates on the process in the last few months- the Haitian government has approved us to adopt and is in the process of matching up his paperwork with ours. The U.S. government has approved our visa application, so we're almost through that process as well. Jason and I are going to visit in November during Family Visitation Week and I'm looking forward to seeing him. We're really hoping that this will be the last visitation week. Keep praying for God's favor over that paperwork and improved efficiency from the Haitian government. I can't wait to get my two boys together! :)
So, that's where we currently are. I'll try to update more often as my son does funny things or we go on new adventures, and especially as we hear more from Haiti!
God bless,
Manesseh
So I guess the purpose of this blog is simply to catch up and let you all know what's up in our world. I'll start with the adults and work towards the children.
Jason:He did not get an administrator's job this year, so he's still teaching at the high school. He's got some Geometry and some Algebra II classes. He finishes his Program of Study for his Superintendent's License this semester. He's doing an internship this fall along with one class. In the spring, he'll finish up with a second internship for his license as a Curriculum Administrator. I'm really proud of him and all his hard work. He's done everything he can to make himself marketable and qualified for many different positions. I know that his hard work will pay off, but its definitely hard to wait for God's timing in this. He's put in a lot of time (and money) to get these degrees and he's anxious to use them, but he's trying to learn what he can from where he currently is.
Me: I'm working in my second year as a school counselor. It really is a great job! I think I like it even better this year since I know what I'm doing somewhat. A lot of the anxieties that I had at the beginning of last year have faded. Other than that, I just take care of my child and my house, get some exercise in, and hang out with my boys. It's really a good life- a boring life to some- but a good, drama-free life, which is what I prefer!
Cade: Cade turns three next week. Its so hard to believe. Jason and I went through his clothes and toys yesterday and got rid of some and put some up for storage. Every time I do that, I get a little sad. Some of the clothes Sammy will be able to wear, but I hate putting away those clothes that he looked so cute in and thinking about the fact that he's too big for them. He's so funny these days though. My child is so verbal! He never stops talking and has quite the imagination. He makes up stories about his make-believe monkey Moy-Moy. Last week, Moy-Moy was in the hospital because Cade swung on his tail and hurt him. Who knows? He's still big into sports- he has a shoot-around every night in his "basketball room", we have batting practice, and every ball is a soccer ball. His birthday party theme is going to be sports this year- it may be a recurring theme, but oh well! So, he's a mess, but he's so sweet and cute.
Sammy: There's still no timeline on when my other baby will be here. We have heard updates on the process in the last few months- the Haitian government has approved us to adopt and is in the process of matching up his paperwork with ours. The U.S. government has approved our visa application, so we're almost through that process as well. Jason and I are going to visit in November during Family Visitation Week and I'm looking forward to seeing him. We're really hoping that this will be the last visitation week. Keep praying for God's favor over that paperwork and improved efficiency from the Haitian government. I can't wait to get my two boys together! :)
So, that's where we currently are. I'll try to update more often as my son does funny things or we go on new adventures, and especially as we hear more from Haiti!
God bless,
Manesseh
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Well, as I told someone today, I really don't know what we're going to do when our boys reach the age where they are involved in all kinds of activities. Somehow we have managed to busy ourselves pretty much every night for the past few months. However, we're loving life together as a family and it sure makes time go by quickly which means that every day we're closer to the day that Sammy will join us. At the same time, Cade is so stinking funny right now that I hate for this time to go by so quickly. I'm just trying to savor every moment. Some recent pics of what we've been up to:
This is our family on Easter. I love this picture mainly because I love Cade's tie. Is that not the cutest thing you've ever seen? We rolled up his sleeves and left his shirt untucked (mainly because it would have been that way shortly even if I had tucked it in), but he was styling. He had a great time hunting eggs this year and he asks me at least once a week if it is Easter yet. Then he'll answer his own question by telling me that it is "far, far away."
A few weeks ago we visited the Oklahoma City Zoo. It was probably 95 degrees that day, but that didn't stop us. Cade really enjoyed it for a few hours, then he got hot and tired and just wanted it to be over. He really liked watching the snakes and reptiles, and he liked petting the goats and seeing the sea lion swim, but his favorite was definitely the monkeys. They were very active when we went in the monkey house (air conditioned- so we spent a long time there) and he just giggled at them as they played and "chased each other". One of them ran by and knocked on the glass right next to his head and he told me a million times, "That monkey hit the wall" and just giggled some more. I think he would have watched those monkeys all day long. This is a really good age for the zoo, but I think next time we'll wait till a day when its not so hot to go visit the animals.
This one explains pretty much every Wednesday night for our family. Geno's Pizza has a buffet on Wednesday night, so we have a standing date with my mom and dad. Somehow Cade manages to talk GiGi into buying him a chocolate chip cookie after he eats his pizza and this is what he ends up looking like most every week. Notice the chocolate is all over his arms as well as his face. I will say the boy knows how to eat a chocolate chip cookie. He usually halves the cookie and then eats with both hands until it is all gone. Most of the time, he'll share food, but he's not so keen on sharing his cookie. You've gotta love that kid!
So the other day we were at my mom's house. Mom and I were in the living room and all the sudden we hear, "GiGi, Mommy!" I yelled down the hallway to see what he wanted, and he responded, "GiGi, Mommy, my stuck! Help me!" So my mom went down the hallway and then yelled at me to come and see. This is what I found. He was jumping on her bed and somehow fell down in the crack between the bed and the footboard. He couldn't get himself out. So instead of helping him, of course I took a picture. What a goofball!
Anyway, that's just a few photos from lately. I'm sure they'll be many more in the upcoming weeks. It's almost summer for us. Jason's last day is tomorrow and mine is on Friday. This is one of the best parts of being in education (besides the warm fuzzies you feel inside because you help kids every day). We get a break together during the summer. I love that I get to spend my summer with my boys. I'm sure it will go by super fast as always.
We've had several people ask lately about Sammy and Jasmine, and we're still in waiting stage. We've done everything we can do. We're just waiting for the Haitian government to set an appointment to complete the process. So, please just keep praying for God's favor on that paperwork and on the process.
Anyway, there's just a little about what's been up with us. Yay for summertime spent together and memories to be made!
God Bless-
Manesseh
So the other day we were at my mom's house. Mom and I were in the living room and all the sudden we hear, "GiGi, Mommy!" I yelled down the hallway to see what he wanted, and he responded, "GiGi, Mommy, my stuck! Help me!" So my mom went down the hallway and then yelled at me to come and see. This is what I found. He was jumping on her bed and somehow fell down in the crack between the bed and the footboard. He couldn't get himself out. So instead of helping him, of course I took a picture. What a goofball!
Anyway, that's just a few photos from lately. I'm sure they'll be many more in the upcoming weeks. It's almost summer for us. Jason's last day is tomorrow and mine is on Friday. This is one of the best parts of being in education (besides the warm fuzzies you feel inside because you help kids every day). We get a break together during the summer. I love that I get to spend my summer with my boys. I'm sure it will go by super fast as always.
We've had several people ask lately about Sammy and Jasmine, and we're still in waiting stage. We've done everything we can do. We're just waiting for the Haitian government to set an appointment to complete the process. So, please just keep praying for God's favor on that paperwork and on the process.
Anyway, there's just a little about what's been up with us. Yay for summertime spent together and memories to be made!
God Bless-
Manesseh
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Higher Ways
If there's one thing I've learned in this life it is that God's ways are so much higher than mine. I always try to see God in the events that unfold in this life. Some times are easier than others, but I'm completely convinced that He knows what He's doing. That is what I cling to when I don't understand why. Lately I've been struggling with the why of this adoption process. Why, when He is so much bigger than any person or government, does He allow this process to take so long? Why, when these kiddos are missing the love of a family, does He make them wait longer? Why? As I was thinking about this the other day and reminding myself that He knows what He is doing, I began thinking about the fact that He has adopted us into His family. There are several verses in the New Testament that describe our adoption and our rights of sonship/daughtership that come with that, ultimately our home in Heaven with Him. Then I realized that He is showing us a little piece of what He must feel as we wait for Sammy to come home. We are His children and He wants us to be with Him. The Bible tells us that He is preparing a place for us there. However, as much as He may long for us to be with Him the same way we long for Sammy and Jasmine to be with us, there is preparation that has to be done. There is a will for us to accomplish here before we go there. There is preparation for us to do here in our home before our entire family is together. There is also preparation for Him to do in our hearts. And that is the why. Just as He patiently waits for us to join Him because his perfect will must be done, I must follow His example. So I'm trying to open my heart and allow Him to do what He pleases. I don't think my longing for Sammy's presence will go away, but I'm going to enjoy my time with my family of three as I stand on that promise that His ways are higher than mine and praise Him for that truth.
God Bless,
Manesseh
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
God Bless,
Manesseh
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Friday, April 22, 2011
Just Time for a Blog
Its been about a month since I have blogged, but with good reason: April is testing month. Anyone who knows anything about testing in schools knows that the people in charge of this are the school counselors. I'm not really sure how this fits into our job description and purpose, but traditionally it has been our baby. So the past month has been filled with planning, organizing, and pulling off testing stuff. It's not quite over yet, but we're on the downhill slide. My brain is pretty darn tired at this point! However, it has gone well for the most part. The perfectionist in me has jotted down some changes for the "next year" file, but for my first go-round, I'm pretty pleased! So, now that I have a little time to blog, here are some updates on life at the Moore house.
First, only 6 weeks of school left for the students, and 7 for me! This year has FLOWN by and I have loved most every second of it. The teachers and staff at Kimmons are good people and they have made me feel so welcome. The students are sweet (as much as junior high kids can be) and I've learned quickly that all they want is someone to listen and care. If you show them that, then they'll love you forever! :)
Micah is coming home on June 2nd, so just a few more weeks. She'll finish up this month in Thailand and her last month is supposed to be in Malaysia- not really sure where yet. Please continue to pray for her and her team.
The adoption process is underway. All of our paperwork has been submitted to the attorney in Haiti and hopefully at this point has been filed with the government. So its back to helplessly waiting. Haiti is in the midst of a governmental changeover. A new president was elected in March and will take office very shortly. That means that not only will the chief executive change, but also all of the heads of the cabinet departments. Most of the past cabinet leaders were anti-adoption, which caused the bureaucracy to run even slower through the adoption process. I understand that they want to protect their children, but my current prayer is that the new cabinet leaders will also understand that there are those of us who are adopting these children because we love them and because we want to give them the family that they do not currently have. Another piece of possible good news is that since those adoptions that were currently underway when the earthquake hit were expedited due to the United States offering humanitarian parole (those kiddos are in the U.S.), all of those files have been cleared out. That means that our paperwork should move up significantly on the pile. It is very possible that it can still be a long process, but I'm just praying God's favor over that paperwork. As always, I know His timing is perfect!
Jason is currently applying and interviewing for several administrator's jobs. So far, nothing has come of it. Getting this first job is difficult without any experience. I know he's getting a little discouraged. Its yet another thing that we're trusting God about. He's always been so faithful and I know this won't be any different, but at the same time it can be hard to see Him working along the way!
We've taken our house off the market. We got several calls on it and a few showings of it. However, after finding out that the adoption may take longer than expected, we decided to take the sign out of the yard. Its a small house that we got a great deal on so our payment is really fairly cheap (cheaper than most people's rent). If we stay here and don't upgrade yet, we can save more money every month so that we can travel to Haiti every few months to see our baby boy and my sweet sister. So, no more sign in the yard at least for now!
In the midst of all of this, my baby boy is growing up. He's two and a half now and he is FULLY POTTY TRAINED! Watch out! A couple of weeks ago, he brought me a Pull-up like he always did when he had to do his big business. That night, I refused to put it on him. He was either going to poop in the potty or poop in his pants- no more Pull-ups. I then went to Wal-Mart to get groceries, and while I was there, Jason texted me a picture of him smiling next to his poop in the potty. I'd share the picture, but I'm pretty sure you'd probably rather not look at his poop! :) Ever since then, when he needs to go, he just goes to the potty and does his business. He just all the sudden decided he was ready, like all you wise mothers told me he would.
He is also getting so funny- you just never know what's going to come out of his mouth. Here's my new list of "Cade-isms" (written as much for me to remember them all as for you to enjoy).
Again, I've rambled on and on. I guess I'm making up for four weeks of no blogging.Thanks for sticking with me! :) If you're the praying kind, keep praying for my sister, for the adoption, and for Jason's job. I'll keep you updated as life progresses.
God Bless,
Manesseh
First, only 6 weeks of school left for the students, and 7 for me! This year has FLOWN by and I have loved most every second of it. The teachers and staff at Kimmons are good people and they have made me feel so welcome. The students are sweet (as much as junior high kids can be) and I've learned quickly that all they want is someone to listen and care. If you show them that, then they'll love you forever! :)
Micah is coming home on June 2nd, so just a few more weeks. She'll finish up this month in Thailand and her last month is supposed to be in Malaysia- not really sure where yet. Please continue to pray for her and her team.
The adoption process is underway. All of our paperwork has been submitted to the attorney in Haiti and hopefully at this point has been filed with the government. So its back to helplessly waiting. Haiti is in the midst of a governmental changeover. A new president was elected in March and will take office very shortly. That means that not only will the chief executive change, but also all of the heads of the cabinet departments. Most of the past cabinet leaders were anti-adoption, which caused the bureaucracy to run even slower through the adoption process. I understand that they want to protect their children, but my current prayer is that the new cabinet leaders will also understand that there are those of us who are adopting these children because we love them and because we want to give them the family that they do not currently have. Another piece of possible good news is that since those adoptions that were currently underway when the earthquake hit were expedited due to the United States offering humanitarian parole (those kiddos are in the U.S.), all of those files have been cleared out. That means that our paperwork should move up significantly on the pile. It is very possible that it can still be a long process, but I'm just praying God's favor over that paperwork. As always, I know His timing is perfect!
Jason is currently applying and interviewing for several administrator's jobs. So far, nothing has come of it. Getting this first job is difficult without any experience. I know he's getting a little discouraged. Its yet another thing that we're trusting God about. He's always been so faithful and I know this won't be any different, but at the same time it can be hard to see Him working along the way!
We've taken our house off the market. We got several calls on it and a few showings of it. However, after finding out that the adoption may take longer than expected, we decided to take the sign out of the yard. Its a small house that we got a great deal on so our payment is really fairly cheap (cheaper than most people's rent). If we stay here and don't upgrade yet, we can save more money every month so that we can travel to Haiti every few months to see our baby boy and my sweet sister. So, no more sign in the yard at least for now!
In the midst of all of this, my baby boy is growing up. He's two and a half now and he is FULLY POTTY TRAINED! Watch out! A couple of weeks ago, he brought me a Pull-up like he always did when he had to do his big business. That night, I refused to put it on him. He was either going to poop in the potty or poop in his pants- no more Pull-ups. I then went to Wal-Mart to get groceries, and while I was there, Jason texted me a picture of him smiling next to his poop in the potty. I'd share the picture, but I'm pretty sure you'd probably rather not look at his poop! :) Ever since then, when he needs to go, he just goes to the potty and does his business. He just all the sudden decided he was ready, like all you wise mothers told me he would.
He is also getting so funny- you just never know what's going to come out of his mouth. Here's my new list of "Cade-isms" (written as much for me to remember them all as for you to enjoy).
- He never stops talking and commentates his entire life. He tells everyone and everything (alive or not) hello and goodbye every time we go somewhere. Pulling out of our driveway in the morning includes a long slew of well wishes: "Bye, Charis. Bye, house. Bye, grass. Bye, trees. Bye, mailbox. Bye, motorcycle."
- He is super-addicted to Dora and Diego and is now picking up some Spanish. Just today, I heard him playing in the next room and counting in Spanish. He's also learning all about exotic animals from Diego. When Jason gave him the toy out of his Happy Meal last week and called it a bird, he quickly corrected him by saying, "That's not a bird, that's a toucan."
- He still loves all things sports. I'm sure that some of this is due to our brainwashing of him by taking him to athletic events from the time he was three weeks old. However, he just flat out enjoys them. We spend a lot of time running, tackling, sliding, catching, throwing, hitting, boxing, shooting, dunking, and dribbling. He can identify most any sport known to man. Give the kid a Sports Illustrated and he'll be busy for a good thirty minutes, turning through the pages and pointing out each sport. "That's basketball, that's golf, that's boxing, that's softball."
- His new thing is to suggest what he wants to do by saying "How bout...?" When he wants me to set up his football guys for him, he says, "How bout Mommy build football guys?" When he wants to go play outside, its "How bout Cade go slide?". When its almost time for bed and he's ready to wind down, its "How bout we watch Tom and Jerry?".
- Everything that we are going to do in the future happens on a Saturday to him. We told him a couple of weeks ago that we were going to the beach and a few days later he said, "Cade is going to the beach on Saturday." One day we told him that we were going to watch Mallorie play softball and later that day he told me, "Mal-Mal going to play softball on Saturday." We finally convinced him that we weren't going to the beach until this summer, but if you ask him, Mallorie plays softball every weekend!
- The child is like an elephant, he never forgets! He doesn't forget much of anything and he'll remind you if you do forget. We were looking through pictures on the computer the other day and he was commentating each one (as usual). One came up of us in Hawaii- by the way, he was nine months old when we went- and he of course said that we were at the beach, but he also said, "Cade fly in an airplane." There was a picture of him at his Mamaw's house a little after he turned one. You can't see the house in the picture at all and he's standing out in the grass, but he knew that he was at Mamaw's house. He recognizes the scenery around him I guess, though there's not much to go on. He soaks up everything so we have to be very careful about what we say around him. Neither Jason or I curse, but I don't really want him going around saying "crap" or "shutup" either! :)
- He's quite the little self-discipliner these days. When he does something he shouldn't and I ask him if he needs a spanking or needs to stand in the corner, he nods his head and says, "Uh-huh" as if he knows that he deserves some punishment for whatever he just did. I know he's really just being ornery, but it is quite funny.
- My favorite one is what he says when you ask him about Jesus. He tells us, "Jesus is in Cade's heart." Oh how my soul prays for him to grow to be a man who loves Jesus and chases after God's own heart.
Again, I've rambled on and on. I guess I'm making up for four weeks of no blogging.Thanks for sticking with me! :) If you're the praying kind, keep praying for my sister, for the adoption, and for Jason's job. I'll keep you updated as life progresses.
God Bless,
Manesseh
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