Meeting the Fam

We are currently in Couer d alene taking our last mini vacation for a while, Tadd was offered the bookeeping position at work and it is 7-3:3o Mon-Fri (praise the Lord). They don't really have a fill in for that position though, so the getaways will be few and far between. Therefore we justified just one more quicky, before Monday morning when he starts. Here are some pictures from the pool with Daddy, while mom got caught up on some much procrastinated work.

Thing are still going great, Annecy and Isaiah have started school and are doing great, they are catching up quickly. Their favorite part of course is the soccer, gymnastics and swim lessons. They all love spending time together and they are so stinking cute! Ok the sleeping one is a different kind of cute.

We got a sweet opportunity to spend some time with Aunt Sarah. Annecy and Isaiah got to meet her and she (of course) like Aunt Sarah always does, she spoiled them rotton and added to more kids to the list of ones, who think she is the greatest. We spent the night in the Hotel with her, then Denny's for breakfast, Seattle Aquarium all day, then McDonald's for lunch and whatever treat they wanted afterwards. Aunt Sarah really knows how to do it up. Thanks Aunt Sarah! We love you and they all keep asking when they can see you agian. Here are some of the many pictures Isaiah wanted me to take at the Aquarium.

Thanks for being such prayer warriors for our family. We have definantly felt it and will continue to covet them.

Could we be more blessed?

I don't know how things could be going better! Don't get me wrong we still have out days and moments, but for the most part we are so blessed by the way things are going. We've had help to clean toilets, wash dishes, sweep floors, and set the table, since we got organized and started our job chart. I don't even hear complaining when it's time to do jobs...OK, whoever's turn it is to help clean the toilet usually does minimal complaining, but I am OK with the minimal.

I don't know why we got bunk beds, the boys sleep in the bottom together at night, so they can read books together and the girls do the same, but I am pretty sure they do it just so they can talk. They are still girls, which means they are best friends one minute and arch enemies the next, but that just means they are true sisters.

The superbowl party we had went great and the kids loved all the different snacks and most of all they just loved that they got to graze on them all day instead of having to wait until meal times. They have blended well with all of their friends and Kenya and Elijah have loved sharing them (thier friends and their siblings).

We started school this week and we are doing 2 kids a day, alternating every other day. It seems to be working out great. We are still trying to figure out exactly where Isaiah and Annecy are at academically, but they do have a lot of concepts down, they are just really hit and miss. They have been very excited that mom is their teacher and they have been very excited to get started doing school.

Here are some pictures of the super bowl party, we packed em in like sardines, Then Tadd got one of all but one of the kids doing Charity's hair. Don't think Isaiah was not interested, doing Charity's hair is one of his favorite things, it was just his 20 mins of video game time and he was not going to waste a minute on my hair. Thanks for all the prayer it is really paying off.

Can you buy brain cells?

We have been a family of 6 at home now for a week, I feel like I need four more hand, 1 more brain, some sort of energy potion and a brain cell donor. The kids are all adapting well, I know that becasue they are acting exactly like they have been together as brothers and sisters their whole life. I have never heard so many, "He's copying me, She looked at me, I said for him to stop and he didn't, I had that first, You said it was my turn....." do I need to go on, because I can fill the page. That said, I don't know if I have ever had such a bitter sweet relationship with all of these phrases. Even though they drive me nuts! They just remind me that our Annecy and Isaiah are finally home, it is not only a great reminder of what God has done over the last nine years, but of what he has promised for them and will complete in all of my kids.

We still covet your prayers (I know, you thought you were done after nine years of the same prayer) we just need the prayer modified a little bit. Even though the kids are adjusting well, I know they have got to still be overwelmed by all of the changes and getting used to new rules and routines, not to mention the culture shock and trying to find some securtiy after a crazy 3 weeks of ups and downs. Annecy cried herself to sleep in my arms last night, saying she was very scared of something, but couldn't articulate to me what it was. This may be left over Haiti traditions and religious cultures coming up, possibly the after effects of the earthquake or just a complete overwelming of all the events going on.

Isaiah is a typical pre-teen. He is very sweet and helpful, but if things don't turn out like he thinks they should he crawls under the sofa pillow and doesn't want to talk to anyone. Then after awhile, Mom or Dad come to try to steel kisses or wrestle, then a smile finally breaks out.

Kenya and Elijah have been real troopers. They have been loving the newness and fun of having their siblings home. They have had a lot of changes too, but overall have been really good about going with the flow.

We were so blessed at the Open House by all of the people that showed up to love on us. I felt like I could never get more than a Hi out by the time someone else showed up. We obviouly wish we had more time to talk to everyone, but were so blessed that we just got to see some of you. We were so blessed by all of those who made the whole thing happen, with out us even lifting a finger. Thanks for all you do and all the blessings you send our way.

Here is a video Kenya took of our house genre, it's very typical, Kenya taking pictures (she loves to do this) Annecy loves holding and loving babies, (she stole one, while someone was dropping off dinner) When we put time limits on Isaiah's movies and video games, he told us, "he was going to be a good dad when he grows up and will let his kids watch movies and play games all day and they can eat as much candy as they want." Apparently we have not arrived at the "good parent" stage yet.

IT IS FINISHED!

Sorry it has taken us so long to update, Our computer decided to quit working right after we got the kids. We were able to post one line and one picture on facebook and then it shut off. Sorry if any of you have been in suspense. Last time we posted we had said that we were still waiting for papers we needed to get, so we could take the kids from the shelter they were staying at and get them on the flight the next day home. God was amazingly good once again.

We thought we were going to be able to bring them home on Monday and it turned out they didn't even get to Miami (where we were) until midnight Monday (I guess that would be officially Tuesday.) Then once they got them there, they(the people that were sent from Washington D.C. to make sure we had all our paperwork in order, since our orphanage was one of the last out of Haiti before the President's signature was to be put on every visa that was issued) put them in "housing" that they use for foster kids in transition and we were told at 2:00 a.m. that they were all sleeping and we needed to come back at 10:00 the next morning to see them and get paperwork filled out to take them home. We went back to the Hotel very disappointed and unsure of what the next day would hold. When we got there on Tuesday at 10:00 they told us that they would be reviewing everyone's paperwork and if there was anything unsatisfatory or missing, they would have to personal call Washington D.C. to get permission to either wave or re-do what they needed. We waited all day long, 15 or so families got released with their kids to go home and we were among the 10 or so that were still there with no real word as to why.

Finally at 7:00pm we were told, the children needed to go back to their rooms and mom's and dad's could either stay on sofa's in the conference rooms or go back to the hotel and they would continue work on our files the next day. Obviously very upset to drag this on another day and postpone another flight, not to mention be absent from Kenya and Elijah for another day. We inquired as to what was missing from our file, as we were under the impression we were up to date on everything. They told us we did not have current FBI clearance and fingerprints on file. We told them we had updated them 4 months ago and we had proof in our file cabinet at home. She said that if we could get those papers faxed to her in the next 10 minutes, before Washington D.C.'s offices closed, we could take our kids home that night.

Needless to say, we had a wonderful friend who dropped everything, ran to our house, took some very confusing directions on where the papers were and faxed them through to us as fast as he could. As all of the kids were filing out to go back to the houses. We got the word that we had clearance to take our kids home.

Isaiah had been sleeping on my lap most of the day, after 3 sleepless nights and I woke him up to say it was finally time to take him home. He looked at me with groggy eyes and said, "It's not true mom." I told him in a few minutes we would be walking out the front doors together to the hotel and then in the morning on a plane to Washington. He again said, "It's not true mom." So we proved it to him.

Needless to say we got home Wednesday evening, and if you can believe it, the excitement still has not worn off in our house yet. Kenya and Elijah are so excited to have their brother and sister home they can't do or say anything unless it is with 10 decimals of excitement.

Annecy and Isaiah can't keep the smiles off their faces and we are so excited to experience so many "1st's" with them.

We brought Annecy and Isaiah back to the Hotel lobby Tuesday night and Annecy said she needed a drink, I pointed to the water fountain and told her to go get one. She walked over to the fountain and just starred at it. Then I realized she probablly didn't know how to use it. I walked over and pushed the button on the fountain by her waist and showed her that when you push it the water comes out. When I let go she put her face right next to the spout and pushed the button and squirted herself all over her face. She got it pretty quick after that. Then she saw the doors to the elevator open and someone walk out. She pointed to it and asked if that's where you change your clothes. Realizing she had probablly never seen an elevator, I explained what it did and gave her a ride up to the next floor. The door opened to reveal a hallway of doors to the hotel rooms. She then asked, "So is that where you change your clothes. She picked it up pretty quick once we got into the room and immediatly wanted a shower.

In Haiti you splash water on yourself with a bucket or hose, then soap up and get another splash to wash off all the soap. All of this to conserve water and make the most of your short shower experience. When I turned on the water I asked her if it was the right temperature, she said it was good, after picking up her clothes from the floor, I checked it, it was very cold, then I realized she was not aware that there was such thing as a warm shower. I turned the water to warm as she was soaping herself up, when she got done soaping her whole body, she said, O.K. Mom you can turn the water off now. She was elated when I told her she could leave it on for her whole shower.

These are just a few and we look forward to many more 1st. Ok, Daddy's not really looking forward to 1st dates or first fights, but "Ya take the good, Ya take the bad, Ya take them both and there ya have, A wonderful ending to a perfect Miracle that all of you helped make possible, Thank you for all of your prayers and support, Especially over the last 2 weeks. We are not sure why God chose to give us the gift of prayer, but we do know He surely is Glorified, when we use it.

(Here is a picture of their first encounter with snow on the way home, at the top of Snoqualime pass)

I am sure this miracle will come with it's trials, but for now we are soaking up the excitment and are so, so blessed to be a whole family, in our own house, and waking up every morning to four kids climbing into our bed for lots of snuggles and giggles. Thank you so much for praying these kids into our arms. It could never have happened with out you.

For anyone who is able, we will be having an Open House in Lynden, in the downstairs of Dutch Mothers Restaurant, between 2:00 and 4:00 on Sunday, January 31st. We would love to see you there and have you meet Annecy and Isaiah in person.

One More Day?

It would appear as though we have one more day!!! Why is it the last 72 hours seem as long as the previous 9+ years combined!! Haiti is enforced a ruling that all children’s paperwork be gone over one at a time and receive the prime ministers approval. (don’t they understand that thee PRIME MINISTER already said it’s a go) Our kids were some of the last taken out of Haiti in a group. Under pressure to do it right on the US side of things, They are crossing T's and dotting I's so I guess it wasn’t to happen today like we expected. The kids are at a safe place, fed, bathed, and sleeping safely, for that we praise God. Our flight was to leave at 10:00 am Tuesday, they told us that that is when they will start to process paperwork, so we are in Miami for an indefinite period of time. Pray that the hearts God has stirred to get us here… will again be stirred to bring us home. I came across Isaiah 41:9 today as a verse for the kids:

9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,

And called from its farthest regions,

And said to you,

‘You are My servant,

I have chosen you and have not cast you away:

Turns out V. 10 was for Charity and I

10 Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

WOW, is their a better place to be upheld!!!

He is a Father to the fatherless

We are at the Hotel, the kids are being flown from Orlando to Miami at 7:00 we pick them up at the airport at 8. God is still, as always in control, man that’s comforting!! Isaiah 41:9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Love ya Tadd

They are on American Soil!

Instead of going to get the kids at the airport, it looks like we will be going to meet them at the Hotel we will all be staying at. I guess yesterday Haiti decided to make it a little more difficult to get kids with Visas out, so Chris (the orphanage director) decided to take all the kids she could and go to the airport at midnight, to catch whatever flight she could. The one that was leaving was a cargo plane to Orlando. They got there in the wee hours of the morning and are going through immigration right now. Then they will try to bus them the 4 hours to Miami and meet us at the Hotel. Please pray that they can get through immigration, in their scramble to get the kids out of the county they accidently grabbed one of the Canadian kids and didn't realize it until they got in the air. They are trying to work with immigration to get him to Canada.

Chris said the kids have obviously had a hurrendous last 30 hours and I am sure will be exhausted when they get here. She also said a lot of them are sick and very dehydrated so bring lots of medications to help the symptoms. We don't know if that means our kids or not but I am sure they will be, if nothing else very tired. We will keep you posted. Thanks for your continued prayer.