We're Back...

Due to a lack of knowledge of how to successfully post blogs from an Ipad and due to poor internet connection in Haiti, I am way behind. I wanted so badly to post updates for family and friends about my time with Rowen, but I couldn't seem to successfully accomplish the task. And not to mention, Rowen is now 16 months and I couldn't turn my back for one second without the potential face plant down a flight of stairs. There are stairs EVERYWHERE at the guest house, which does not make for a kid friendly environment. And just like every 16 month old, that's where Rowen wanted to spend most of his time.

So to answer many questions, THAT is what we did a large majority of our time.

We did meet with our new social worker who is going to be able to help us out tremendously with our waiver and hopefully speed things along. He was introduced to us through Pastor Francky and has completed several Haitian adoptions in a timely manner. Although it seems impossible, our prayer is still April. But to GOD be the glory regardless of the timing He sees best for Rowen to be home. God keeps reminding me that HE is more interested and desires the best for Rowen more than I do. Therefore, if it is best for him to spend another year or two or three in Haiti, thats where he'll be. If it is best for him to come to the States tomorrow, thats where he'll be. Quite hard for a parent to grasp that truth......but I can honestly say that everyday gets better with Matthew 7:11 rehearsed in my brain.

Since our last visit in November, Rowen has blossomed. I am a biased mother, but when you only get to spend 2 weeks every other month with your child, the smallest things amaze you. He is saying several words on his own.....car, grass, "da" for daddy, cheeeeeese, sit, ball, and will try to repeat just about anything I say and copies just about everything I do. He understands and responds to English better than Creole. He LOVES to dance, wave 'hey' and 'bye', blow kisses, throw any ball he can get his hands on, and by far his favorite.....he loves to eats more than any grown man I've ever seen! He eats so much, I am already praying against the struggle of gluttony. And I do not say that to be funny! Everyone who has sat with us at dinner is beyond amazed at his eating habits. THANK GOD, seriously, that he does not like or eat anything with sugar. He strictly prefers water and milk in his sippy cup, which I am thankful for. A nurse informed me that he would catch up with himself and eventually slow down......so I'm trying not to worry too much nor become his food nazi.

I'm trying not to be that mom that raves about her child, but I share these things for family who have not have had the privilege of spending time with him and for those who constantly ask about him. He is the most precious child I have ever laid eyes, and he LOVES his momma. He is fully aware (as much as a 16 month old can be) of the baby in my belly........and please excuse the chicken pop look I'm sporting on my face. I slept too close to an open window, and some gnats had a hey-day with my face, neck, and arm. That's Haiti for ya!

He loved pulling up my shirt, pointing and patting my belly, and "loving on the baby." If I was standing where he couldn't reach, he'd insist that I put him in a chair or on the bed so he could reach my belly to love on it.

Next Monday, Baby J will officially have a name and Rowen will officially have a little brother or little sister. We are all so excited!

Due to an early morning wake-up call from our rooster friend that I would have loved to have gotten my hands on, little man was up and ready to go at 6:30AM EVERY morning. He normally would sleep until about 8:30 and cuddle with me until I was ready to go.......but not this trip!

He would gather his things, make his way to the door, and wave "bye" which forced this NON morning person to get out of bed.

Other than little sleep, I enjoyed every second with my little boy and we can NOT wait to get him home.

For our prayer warriors.....please continue to pray April. Our new social worker is taking a different approach on our process, so please pray for favor and efficiency. We believe it is your prayers that led us to this new guy that is now helping us. The lady that helped start our process in Haiti will be giving birth to her child in a few short weeks which will put her out of commission for a while. Therefore, he came in PERFECT timing.......another way God reminded us that HE is at work and HE is in control!

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21

Braids and All.....

I could eat him up!!!!!

I got these pictures today from Haiti, and nothing could have made me happier. We got word that he has been so so sick, so seeing this smile has made my day.

Romans 8:18

The Lord spoke this verse loud and clear to me this morning, and since I am aware of so many women that are either believing God for a child to come home from another country very soon or believing God for conception; I have to share........

"For I consider that the SUFFERINGS of this present time are not worth comparing with the GLORY that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18

As believers, our suffering is NEVER in vain. God's excellent internal work with in us produces glorious external ramifications.

The glory that is coming from your suffering far outweighs the pain and frustration you may be experiencing right now!

Happy New Year

I still stand amazed at the fact that Payton and I started off 2011 with a wedding and ended the year welcoming two babies into our lives. We're a testimony of how fast God can change your life, because our's is changing FAST! We wouldn't have it any other way, and we're beyond ready (so we think) for our precious blessings to join us in just a few short months.

We spent most of New Year's Eve weekend in Nashville with some precious high school/college friends of mine. I spent most of the trip exhausted due to Baby J, but since the next few months are some of the last months that Payton and I will be able to travel physically and mentally child free, we're taking full advantage of it.

I want to continue to thank so many of you for all your constant prayers, support, and encouragement. We really could not make it day to day without you. And we mean that!!! As I've said before, adoption is the hardest and most frustrating thing Payton and I have ever been through. And if you see or talk to us on a daily basis, its evident on how much its wearing on us. BUT all the prayers, encouragement, and support we continue to receive truly does help push us from day to day.

I leave Saturday to spend ten days with my little man! We're hoping to get some of the process pushed along while I am there, so please be in prayer for that. Other than that, get ready for picture overload of the baby boy!

Cloud Nine

I wish I could keep up with the amount of times we heard these similar comments concerning our babies that are on their way.......

..."I bet yall are on cloud nine"

..."You're on cloud nine aren't you?"

..."How does it feel to be on cloud nine?"

As we completely understand why people would think this to be the way that we feel right now, our response is quite contrary to the reaction I'm sure people expect from us. However, we smile and respond with, "we're not actually, but we will be when our son is home from Haiti."

There is nothing about our child being in another country and not knowing exactly when he'll be in our arms forever that give us a tingling, butterfly sense of feeling. We are thrilled and humbled beyond words to be pregnant with our second child, but we know this child will be in our presence sometime around July 7th. And once he or she arrives, we wont be traveling to a third world country to visit him/her. Rowen, on the other hand, is playing, walking, laughing, eating, sleeping, being held, learning, and so much more without his mommy and daddy who only get to see him once every month or two. There is nothing in this world that we long for more than to have him home, therefore we wish we could explain our emotions as those of being on "cloud nine", but right now.......we can't.

In the midst, we have learned and grown so much. And God is constantly reminding me of the rewards and fruit that come to those who wait (Psalms 84:11).

I have been reminded of the season that I waited for my husband. My desire to be married and have children evolved at the age of 4. But God had me wait a lot longer than I EVER had planned. I wanted to get married right out college (really right out of high school if I could have....ha), but God had me wait. I wanted to get married during the five years that I remained single, yet ALL of my friends were meeting their significant others and planning their weddings......but God had me wait. I won't be a cheese, but if I would have foreseen what God was storing up for my life, I would have waited much more contently and patiently. And that is what I'm attempting to cling to. I look at all the fruit that came from that particular waiting season, and I would not have written my story any differently.

If I would not have waited for my amazing husband, I would not be waiting for my baby boy that we love more than this life nor would I be carrying the precious baby in my womb. God's timing is perfect! In eight months, my desires have come to be.....happily and healthily married to an amazing man with two precious children on the way.

I encourage you, when God makes you wait......WAIT! If I wouldn't have, I would have completely missed the cloud that is closely awaiting for us to jump on.

In adoption news: we're still waiting on the waiver. It is partially complete....yay! And will hopefully be sent to the president of Haiti in the next couple of weeks. Once we receive the signed waiver, we will be able progress with lots of paperwork that has been sitting still. Please continue to join us in prayer that this will happen quickly and efficiently.

As most of you know, we need the waiver in order to bypass the Haitian law that says you have to be 30 years old and married 5 years in order to adopt. However, Haiti does honor common law marriages, which means they would recognize the years a couple has dated/lived together. We have been together two and half. We have been "encouraged" to prove/lie that we have lived together for five years, which would make the process so much easier, but we have refused. Some think we were crazy for not telling a little white lie that would have saved us from months of waiting on this waiver, but we believe that God is stronger and will/can expedite this process much better than we can or could have with our lies. He honors integrity....not perfection, because we're far from that.

We're not sharing his because we want a pat on the back for "doing right", we're sharing this because we desire for this process to bring Him and only Him glory. And we are praying that because of our desire to let Him be the only one moving the mountains in this story, that big brother will be home before the birth of his baby brother or sister. As so many of you are, please join us as we continue to circle around this story and pray that Rowen will be home in April. It is something only God can do, so for those prayer warriors who have been so faithful in walking beside us through this, that is our prayer.

Just like Psalms 84:11 says, the Lord bestows favor and honor and no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. We cling to this. We pray and believe that He will bestow His honor and favor on our decision to painfully wait. And that those following this story will be encouraged to wait integriously for whatever He is calling you to wait on.

He doesn't need our maneuvering or manipulation to accomplish His plan, He just needs our faithful obedience and integrity!

Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow! Happy 2012!