And we are off...-again.

Jeremiah 22: 16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD.

If you look back over my past blogs, you will notice that the last update was November 2012. Two major things happened in November, which won't excuse my lack of updates, but I hope that it at least explains it.

First of all, we welcomed our newest little girl, MaKenleigh Eliza to the family. She has been our little unexpected miracle. Having her in our family has added so much joy and not a few sleepless nights.



Secondly, Haiti changed their adoption laws. One of the major changes was that they now say that you can not be "child exclusive". Which in a nutshell means that Haiti assigns you a child for adoption, you can't choose your child. Hearing this news mixed with pregnancy post partum BLAH left me feeling that this may not happen for us. I never got to the point of actually saying it out loud but I guess my silence speaks louder than my words could have. It also meant that we could no longer pursue our adoption independently, which was what we were originally doing. Going through an adoption agency means more money and I wasn't even sure if any agencies would be willing to take on our case. Oh ye of little faith....

Several months ago, someone gave me the name of America World Adoption Agency and I began emailing Michelle Reid, who is over the Haitian adoptions for this agency. She and I spoke over the phone and she was such a bright spot to me. She had reviewed our "pre application" and felt that we should move forward, trusting God, to move the mountains in our way. She explained the financial aspects of the adoption and was very honest with me about all of the unknowns. She is a Christian as well, and always reminded me to believe God for miracles while keeping one eye opened to the realities. Using a Christian agency is such an incredible blessing in so many ways, but because it is also a non profit agency, it means that anyone who wants to have tax deductions from their donations toward our adoption can send the money directly to them in our name and have it be tax exempt! YAY!

Even after talking with Michelle, the financial obstacles that stand between forever families and their children seemed so huge in front of us. We had a trip to Haiti planned for my daughter, Maranda (age 17) and my husband Lester, for July. We had to focus our finances on getting them there so beginning the process of applying with the adoption agency took a back burner. Once they made contact with Aaron and I was able to hear his voice again (Maranda sent pictures and videos) I knew that it was time to get this baby home. Other major changes are happening right now in Haiti as God is doing some transitional things at the Foster Home where he has lived for most of his life, and it all just confirms that the time to move forward and speak "GRACE" to those mountains is NOW. (Maranda with Aaron- Hait, July 2013)

So, we have submitted our application to America World along with our non refundable application fee. The next steps are up to God. We will have a home study and all of the lovely things that surround that and will begin compiling our America Dossier. Every part of this process will require the financial backing to make things happen but we are believing that God will make provision for the promise.

This past Sunday Morning, while we were worshipping in preparation for Sunday School, I closed my eyes and saw the most beautiful sight. I could see Aaron running through the back doors of the sanctuary where we have the adult class. He ran over to me and held out his little hand for offering for Sunday School and then ran back out of the sanctuary. Just after that, I saw him as a teenage boy coming in through the other set of double doors. He came up behind me, put his arms around my shoulders as I was seated in prayer and whispered in my ear, "I love you Mama." I wept uncontrollably as I saw these two visions in my spirit and even now am dripping on my keyboard as I type. I believe that God gave me those two visions as confirmation that "now is the time, now is our due season."

Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

So that is our update. We are off to a great adventure. Please pray for Aaron as he faces the new changes in his Foster Home situation and pray for us as we pursue the plans that God has for our family. I am standing on the scripture that I started this blog with. It promises that if we defend the cause of the poor and needy, then it will go well with us. Do it Lord. We need you to do it.

(Lester and Aaron being silly- Haiti July 2013)