May Update

Happy Flag Day Robert and Amy,

May has proven to be another eventful and exciting month here at God’s Littlest Angels.  We had another month full of changing plans, celebrations of birthday and holidays, as well as hosting families, teams, and volunteers.  There are many weeks that we as staff members look back and marvel at how fast the week went by.  With so many activities and tasks to accomplish we are never without something to do.

As we are finishing up the month of May I would like to reflect on two special holidays that we celebrated this month.  The first one is Haitian Flag Day.  May 18^th is always set aside in Haiti as a day to honor the flag and history of Haiti.  There are parades all across the country and many people make the traditional celebratory “soup joumou” (pumpkin soup).  This year our kiddos ate pumpkin soup as well as colored and made Haitian flags in school on Friday.  The kids always enjoy learning more about Haiti and we find it important to teach them and help them to develop a sense of pride in the country they were born in.   You will find the update photos to reflect the Haitian Flag Day theme but with an “Around the World” twist.  I wanted to represent the international setting that exists here at GLA and incorporate a piece of the country they will start to call home very soon!  The set included a world map, a few Haitian made globe and map items, in addition to flags from Haiti and a flag from the country that the kiddo will grow up in after they leave Haiti.  It is a true blessing that we have such an international community here at GLA.  I know that I personally look forward to meeting individuals from around the world on a weekly basis.  All of the kids were excited to wave flags for part of their photos.  It is always fun to see how they react. A number of the babies examined the flag that was given to them and would wave it after they were shown how, while the older kids would wave it and a number of them began singing the “Mon Drapo” song while waving the flag in their hand.  “Mon Drapo” is a song all children in Haiti learn so they can sing it on Flag Day during their parades.  It is really impressive how well they know it actually.

The second holiday worth recognition in this this month is Mother’s Day, of course!  Because there is a mother waiting for each of these kiddos behind these updates I wanted to recognize you with a giant HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!  We would not be able to have a ministry like GLA without the loving adoptive mother’s waiting as patiently as possible for their little ones to come home to them.  Below you will find that the part of your update about Malozie is written to you from her perspective.  I hope you enjoy this little twist added to this month’s update and that you feel loved and special as all of our children wait until the day they are home in your arms forever!

An excellent verse to ponder when thinking about recognizing our parents and praying over the future of each of God’s Littlest Angels is…

3 John 1:4 - “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

Hi Mom and Dad!

I have had a great month this May.  I have spent time on the balcony enjoying the warm sunny mornings and the rainy afternoons.  I love to build blocks up high and then knock them over.  One of my favorite places on the balcony is the mirror that I can see my relfection in.  I also love to sing and dance when I hear music playing in the nursery or on the balcony.  It makes me so very happy.  The volunteers painted my hands and feet and put them on paper for you to have when you come and pick me up.  It felt strange to have the paint on my hands and feet and was very unsure about what they were doing but I think they turned out very nice.

I am excited for the day when you come and visit me here in Haiti and even more excited to come home to live with you.  I love you so much!

Your baby girl, Malozie

Malozie is healthy and growing:
Height: 77 cm
Weight: 20 lb 13.5 oz

Happy Mother’s Day from Malozie!

Hellooooo, Summer Vacation!

We wrapped up our 3rd year of homeschooling last Wednesday. It's hard to believe that I will have a 7th grader, 4th grader, and 2nd grader next year. Where have my babies gone? This was probably the hardest year, so far, as we dealt with the challenges of educating a pre-teen that already knows everything. And that's all I'll say about that.

We wrote "Summer" acrostic poems on our last day. I love their creativity!

Luke's Poem:

Sun cats lay in the sun
Underwater cools me off
Making frozen yogurt--yum!
Men don't work too hard in summer
Every kid likes to play.
Room service at a hotel

Jonah's Poem:

Sun's hot. I'm cool in the pool.
Under the shade reading a book
Melting ice cream--yum!
Making a sand castle at the beach
Eating hot dogs with friends
Running laps around the house



Mom's Poem:

Sunshine hot, beaming down
Underwater in the pool
Making popsicles to keep cool
Melting ice cream in my cone
Eating picnics at the park
Riding the tube behind the boat

It's going to be a great summer! No big plans for us. Probably lots of boating, swimming, and camping--just the way summer should be!

One More Hurdle

Because we haven't traveled to Haiti, yet, to make our courts appearance, we have to update our U.S. government I-600 form. To do this, we have to update our home study. It's hard to believe it's been almost 2 years since our home study. Our case worker came yesterday afternoon. Thankfully, it was short and sweet since nothing in our family has really changed. It was just a formality that she had to come back for a visit. So, now she will complete our update and we will send off for an extension to our I-600.

One more hoop to jump through to get this sweet baby cakes home!

What's the hold up, people???

Last Thursday (May 9), we were on our way home from Six Flags and I checked my email on my phone. I NEVER do that, but just felt like I needed to. Lo and behold, there was an email from our agency explaining the hold up with our dossier.

IBESR is requesting an additional document on Grace's birth mother. Anytime this has happened in the past, GLA has been able to provide documentation. Just a glitch. They tell us their lawyer is on top of it and working diligently to get it accomplished.

For some reason, it gave us peace to know there's a reason for the hold up. A reason that everyone else is outta there and meeting their babies and we're stuck. I got a message from another Mom in my super-duper wonderful Facebook group and her dossier is being held for the same reason. I guess it's good that they want to make sure every i is dotted and every t is crossed.

Of course, this makes me wonder. We have prayed from the beginning that we would only have to make one trip---meet Grace, go to court, bring her home, the end! As it stands now, we have to go twice. Is God holding our dossier while the law is changed? Yes, the Haitian government is currently meeting and making changes to the law. What is God up to? I love to wonder! : )

Keep praying, warriors! Your prayers are being heard! : )

After the Airport

I dream about the airport. That's my happy dream. We are bringing Grace home and all of our family is there to meet her. It will be the first time the boys meet her and we'll be a family of SIX. Lots of happy tears and hugs. That is what I dream about.

Please understand that Robby and I are not going into this blindly. We have read lots of books and been counseled by a wonderful agency. This will not be walk of sweet smelling roses all of the time. Teaching an orphan what it's like to function in a family is tough stuff. All she's ever known is living in a large place with lots of little people and some big people who come and go.

Anyway, I read this and it so summed up what we already know and believe. I'm just not as good at saying it as Jen is. There are tons of adoption blogs out there, but Jen is one of my favorites. Her writing is superb and she is REAL.

Take some time to read "After the Airport".

April Update

So, here we are. The end of another month. Another update about how much our girl is growing and how much we are missing.
God is so sweet to continually remind me that HIS timing is perfect. We don't understand what He's doing right now, but He's up to something.

We have our dispensation. The president of Haiti has signed our approval to adopt our Grace. BUT, even after his signature, others have to sign before we can exit IBESR (Haitian Social Services). So, we wait. We've been waiting since September. Others who went in with us have exited and been to Haiti to meet their babies. Even more who went into IBESR after we did have exited and are traveling.

What's taking so long? We don't know, but we will wait.
I love this verse that the Lord lead me to last fall:
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." 

Our plans would be to have Grace home months ago, but we want His purpose to prevail more than anything.

Now, onto our update (The photo book she's referring to here is a little book with pictures of our family in it. I love that it's her favorite toy!):

Psalm 146:6-9 (NIV):  He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them - He remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed 
and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
 the Lord loves the righteous.  The Lord watches over the foreigner
 and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but He frustrates the ways of the wicked.

Because Easter was in March this year, this month’s photos are themed for spring with a twist of Easter mixed in, in the form of bunny ears.  It was fun to get all the little ones dressed up in Easter dresses and vests.  I hope you enjoy the sweet photos of Malozie this month. 

Malozie has had an excellent month.  She continues to be a loveable and sweet little girl who loves to cuddle and play.  She really enjoys looking through her photo book.  When her box is out on the balcony the first thing she goes for is the photo book.  She will patiently sit and look through all the photos for a long period of time.  She enjoys empting her box and any other bin full of toys one toy at a time until it is empty and then she will put them all back one at a time.  She is quite the organizer!  She really enjoys the cell phone in her bin and will pick it up, put it to her ear, and then look up at the adults with a sweet little smile of pride on her face. 

Malozie was not willing to give me any of her brilliant smile when she was sitting on the photo table but afterwards she brought them out and I was able to catch a few to send to you.  I hope you enjoy the sweet smiles that I caught.

Malozie is healthy and growing:
Height: 75.5 cm
Weight: 20 lb 13.5 oz

Thanks to Kristin, another adoptive Mom, for these sweet videos. It looks like our girl will be a water baby! I love how she's trying to pick up the water to drink it. Her little hands are so sweet. The second video makes me a bit sad to see all of the babies in their nursery clamoring for attention. When the "white people" walk in, they know that's their ticket out to go play. That's why they are all fussing and wanting to be held. But, there's our sweet, patient girl---just lying in her crib and sucking those fingers. She is waiting for her Mommy and Daddy to come get her. :)

Our Precious Purple Girl

Another adoptive mom, Amanda, was at GLA last week to meet her baby. She took LOTS of pictures of our babies. I just love the Facebook group I'm in. We are all adopting from GLA and we have all bonded over this journey. Amanda sent me 12 pics of Grace. I love the ones of her in this outfit because this is the outfit we sent her. It's just a cheap Wal-Mart Garanimals outfit, but it's my favorite color, so I couldn't resist.

In her monthly "photo shoots", she is always smiley and I'm guessing they are putting on a dog and pony show during that time to get all the babies to smile. I like seeing her candid expressions---and she has many. Her eyebrows are so expressive, too. I think her eyes are saying, "Mommy, come get me!" She has so much love to give and we have so much to give to her!

If you notice the box in the background, it has "Malozie" written on it. This is her box of personal belongings--toys and clothes we have sent to her. The donut stacker was a Christmas gift from Uncle Cory, Aunt Lanna, and Bailee. I can also see the Christmas PJs we sent and our photo book. I'm so thankful for this volunteer who is caring for Grace daily and teaching her who her family is. :)

Here she is playing with her doll and looking at her photo book. Each day, her volunteer gets out her box and gives her time with her toys and her photo book. Those eyeeeeessss!

Thank you, President Martelly!

After 6 months of praying, President Martelly has signed our dispensation! That means we are on the last leg of the social services wait time and should exit that office soon. As soon as we get word that we're out, GLA will tell us our travel dates.

Do you know what this means? We get to meet our baby girl!!!! Hold her in our arms! Kiss her sweet face--lips, eyes, cheeks, ears, yes, I'll get it all!

We have been praying since the beginning that God would allow us to bring our baby home with only one trip to Haiti. I have no doubt He can still do that. For now, though, we will proceed with the routine as it is now---traveling the first time to appear before the judge and traveling a 2nd time to bring Grace home.

This house is a baseball house. I was thinking tonight of how to explain this step. It's the 9th inning. Bases are loaded. There are 2 outs....we're almost there!

So, here's the crazy way I got our news today....I am in a wonderful, supportive group of families on Facebook. We are all adopting from GLA. Some of these desperate Mamas comb the internet every day searching for any clue about Haitian adoption. The online newspaper in Haiti posts the presidential dispensations. They posted the link today and another Mama recognized "Malozie" as our daughter! I wouldn't have even seen it if she hadn't tagged me in the post!
Here's the list. I had to play "Where's Malozie?" for a while before I even found it. God is good!

Numero 42-A paru le 12 Mars 2013

NUMÉRO EXTRAORDINAIRE
• Arrêtés autorisant l’adoption des mineurs suivants :
- Djeunie Casséus TELFORT - Montesquieu LAVOILE
- Giovani JEAN PAUL - Christopher Ronald LOUISNE
- Nathalie JEAN - Junia AZOR - Daniel JEAN PAUL
- Jean Richard Cédric MATHIEU - Mickenson CACHOU
- Samuel Moise HENRY - Junica JEAN et Jessica FELIX
- Bénia AUGUSTIN - Wilson JEAN et Sandeline FELIX
- Davidson FORTILUS - Anel et Wisline FONTILUS
- Malozie Ismond ISMOISE - Ashley et Bethiana HENRY
- Dieulando William DELZOR - Johanna CHARLES et Junior VILISMA
- Dieudeson FRANCOIS - Chadelin SERTINE et Madianie ANTOINE
- Salomon Miracle MITIL - Kenson JOSEPH et Francesca FLEURIMOND
- Leaticia GUILLAUME - Dierida DELVA et Mariana NEPTUNE
- Wednor JOSEPH - Sophenson AUGUSTE et Wilson Fils SYLVAIN
- Emmanuel LUNDI - Berlson DUPERA et Djeson LOUIS
- Youbenca SOUVERAIN - Sunshine et Seyca VILBRUN

Why We Wait

Tom Vanderwell wrote a blog post today that was just for me. Does that ever happen to you? You read something and you just know that the Lord had that message just for you. Ok, well, maybe others were encouraged by it, but I feel like God knew I needed it today. This is why we wait. We don't know what's going on while we wait. God is so much bigger than our wee little minds and what we think is best. For me, I think it would be best for Grace to come home RIGHT NOW. Then, in the next breath, God reminds me that His timing is perfect. Mine is not. He's in charge. I am not.

Tom is on staff with GLA as the Manager of Partner Relations (he helps to fundraise). He is a father of GLA kiddos and loves Haiti and GLA with his whole being. Read his thoughts and be encouraged as you continue to pray Grace home.

I have told Robby from the beginning of this process that God is going to do something BIG in our adoption journey. Bringing an orphan home is big enough in itself, but I've felt like from the start that God is going to do something bigger. We will see...

Story #11 – The Timing of Adoptions and the Power of God’s Plan

Posted by TomVanderwell

I know I’ve told some of you this story before, but I know a lot of you haven’t heard it. So, I’m going to tell it again……

First off, for those of you who are currently in the process of adopting, I apologize, 9 years ago when we brought our two kids home from GLA, the process took 10 months from referral to going home and we thought that was long! I’m sorry that things aren’t going that fast now. Know that every day I and many others are praying that the process will speed up.

Now, when we began the process of adopting, Dixie told us to expect 7 to 9 months. We got our referral in August of 2003, so that would have put us as coming home in March to May of 2004. Now for a little Haitian trivia question……

What happened between August of 2003 and May of 2004 in Haitian history (think something notable)?

Can’t guess? That’s when Aristide was ousted in the coup. Breaking down the story into one sentence, for approximately 6 weeks, the adoption world in Haiti was a great big ? and nothing moved. Surprise? Nope.

But after 6 weeks, things had somewhat settled down and adoption paperwork began moving again. In the end all it did was cause a fair amount of pain and anxiety and delayed things from a March to May timeframe to a June homecoming.

Now trust me, that extra month seemed really long at the time. But God had a plan.

Our original plan was that our older three (the vanilla kids) would stay with the grandparents while we went and got the younger two. But, because of the delay, we ended up traveling after the older kids were done with school. The volunteer situation was such that they were able to come down and spend 3 weeks as volunteers while Cheryl spent time with our chocolate kids and I came to join them the last week.

So, we ended up waiting 6 weeks longer for our adoptions to be finalized and because of that, our older kids got to see GLA. So what’s such a big deal about that?

Jump forward with me about 2 years, we were coming back from going out for dinner (all 7 of us – so I think it was some place cheap) and my second oldest chimes up from the back seat, “I think I know what I want to do.” It’s a Friday night, so I’m thinking it’s something like going over to a friend’s house, going to see a movie, something very here and now.

What?

“I want to become a nurse and go back to Haiti full time.”

Gulp.

I’m writing this today because tomorrow, my 2nd oldest, an RN like her mother, leaves to go to Haiti to spend 9 days working with Lori and Licia and Allison at Real Hope for Haiti. She is an RN, she’s pursuing her pediatric nurse practitioner degree and has led numerous teams down to GLA from our church over the last years.

If God’s timing had been our timing, she wouldn’t have gone down to Haiti in 2004.

If God’s timing had been our timing, she wouldn’t have had the opportunity to see and love on the kids in Haiti.

If God’s timing had been our timing, she might not have become a nurse.

God has a plan and He is constantly moving and using the events of your life and my life to impact others.

9 years later, we’re seeing that God’s plan and the delay in our adoptions of our two youngest has had a significant impact in the life of one of our older kids and the lives of many others as well.

I know it can really stink when you are stuck in a delay where your idea for God’s timing is way different than what it appears His timing is.

God looks at a picture way bigger than the one we do – trust Him and His timing…….

It quite often isn’t easy – but in the end, it’s the only way to do it.

Tom

Tom's blog can be found here.

Our Little Valentine

What a difference a year makes! This was our little Valentine last year.

A Blog Worth Reading

This couple recently volunteered at GLA. Although Grace didn't make it into any of the photos, there are some amazing ones here---the babies and just the landscape of Haiti.

Finding treasures like this while waiting is so priceless. Even though I've never met Christine, we have a common bond---a love for GLA. We have emailed several times and she has told me how much she adored Grace.

Grace & Friends

Another sweet glimpse of our girl from an adoptive Mama who just went to GLA. Looks like she has lots of friends to hang out with!

Sweet Video

This family is so inspiring. I wish I could meet them! What a blessing for all of these sweet kids to have a forever home. : )

January Update

We got our update a little early this month! Here's the scoop on what our baby girl has been up to:

December and January have been very busy and exciting months here at God’s Littlest Angels.  We have had more children transition into their new lives with their forever families and have welcomed numerous visitors and volunteers who help us love the children and get projects accomplished. 

I was honored to be here at GLA throughout Christmas for all the celebrations this year.  This is the first year in my three years at GLA that I am able to give you a first hand account of the holiday festivities and I am looking forward to it!

All of the babies began their Christmas morning with a new outfit.  The cutest thing was to walk into the NICU and see all of the littlest ones dressed up in a red and white outfit.  Some us staff members took a group of the two years olds up to the balcony to unwrap and play with new toys that were send as Christmas gifts while all the babies in the smaller nurseries each received a rattle or toy to keep and play with in their crib.  The kids who received Christmas gifts from adoptive parents were brought down to the living room the day after Christmas to open their gifts under the tree.  Malozie got a new outfit on Christmas morning and she was all smiles when she was given a new toy to play with when she is in her crib.  You will find a photo of her from Christmas morning attached.  There are also a few photo day photos of her with a gift that was received from an aunt and uncle I believe.  She enjoyed the toy a lot and it is now kept in her bin of toys to play with when she is on the balcony.  I am also including some pictures of her from her birthday in December.  We hold a monthly birthday celebration for all the kids who have a birthday in that month.  She loved the doll that you sent for her.. she touched its face and examined it closely.  She also liked the phone and looking at the photo of your family in her card.  She was the first kiddo to dig into the cake for herself.  She enjoyed it a lot!    I hope you enjoy the variety of photo included in your update this month.

Malozie is gaining strength in her walking.  She is not yet completely confident but she is venturing out on her own 2 feet and can walk across the room.  She always has a brilliant smile on her face when she is praised for her new accomplishment.  She sure knows she is cute!

Only one week after our Christmas celebration it was time to celebrate the New Year as well as Haiti’s independence day, which is on January 1^st.  The highlight of the day for most Haitians as well as the kids at the Main House is a celebratory soup that is traditionally served at lunchtime.   The soup is called “soup joumou”.  It is a pumpkin soup that has meat, carrots, potatoes, and cabbage.  Everyone looks forward to this soup that is typically only served in Haitian Independence Day.

The photo day theme for this month was “celebration”. In addition to celebrating all the holidays the last few months have held, it is a true joy to celebrate each milestone the children have.  I hope I am able to accurately describe and capture these things for you until you are able to bring them home and experience these moments with them. 

You will notice this update is coming a week earlier then usual this month.  I am taking a trip home to Wisconsin for 2 weeks starting on January 25^th.  I will return to the office on February 11^th and do my best to get your February update to you by the end of the month.  Hope you enjoyed hearing a little more about Malozie’s holiday celebrations this month.

Malozie is healthy and growing:
Height: 71.5 cm
Weight: 20 lb 

And now for the best part....pictures! And we have lots of them this month! 

Look at those eyes! This picture was taken by Jenny, an adoptive Mom who went to GLA this month. Grace is a finger sucker, I think. I've seen 2 pictures of her with those fingers in her mouth. Sweet baby girl!

These were the Christmas PJs we sent to her.

This is her baby doll from Nana D. and Poppy. She is seriously checking it out!

Our family!

I think she likes it!