A little step closer

Sounds like we may have a future basketball star on our hands!! Our March update told us a story of how he was trying to dribble the basketball, and being quite impressive :) I can only imagine a proud 3 year old face playing with the basketball.

So our status changed to another step---yea!!! MAE--this sounds like it's about a month, and then we're on to the final step. Which the final step sounds like it's been taking 3 months instead of 6 weeks, so aaarrrrggggh! we still have months to go, but at least we could check off some more!! I'm really praying for this summer yet, I think it would just be a great, fun time of bonding with all the kids home and playing. Even if it's just for a small time at the end of summer.

Well T.T.F.N. (Ta Ta For Now---as Winnie the Pooh says)

Inspired by Dr. Seuss

..........people just waiting.

Waiting for a train to go

or a bus to come, or a plane to go

or the mail to come, or the rain to go

or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow

or waiting around for a Yes or No

or waiting for their hair to grow.

Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite

or waiting for wind to fly a kite

or waiting around for Friday night

or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake

or a pot to boil, or a Better Break

or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants

or a wig with curls, or Another CHance.

Everyone is just waiting.

Maybe it should say

Waiting for a boy to come

or waiting to be his dad and mum

or waiting for paperwork to move

or waiting for dreams to be filled, and get our groove,

or waiting for a speedy government

or waiting to have our son, who for us was meant

We are just waiting and waiting and ...........

Bedtimes

I've been reading this excellent book about parenting your adopted child. So last night the chapter I read was talking about sleep and how your child reacts at bedtime and through out the night can communicate signs of their attachment. For instance, if a child goes to bed perfectly, sleeps in bed, and stays in bed until you get them out of bed.............in no short of words, that's a bad thing, from what i"m gathering. Basically it's normal for kids to want to be by their parents, and ask for the one more song, or one more drink, or come to mom and dad in the middle of the night...................but if they don't have the knowledge that someone is there to help them..........their "coping" behaviors kick in and they deal with it themselves. They don't depend on mom and dad to comfort them..............
I love the book, it's full of valuable info.......................and not to make light of any of this info...................................................but I'd have to say Alyssa and Austin are fully attached to us. They have no trouble stalling at bedtime or waking us up in the middle of the night!!!!!!!!! I just had to laugh!!!!!!!

Because blogging is cheaper than therapy!!

A couple weeks ago on a friday we had some (welcomed) but unexpected house guests, 2 dogs, for the weekend. Dawn called in the morning and dropped them off before work. So later on in the day I emailed Paul-----We've added 2 to our family..........Then when he opened up the email it said.........2 dogs, just relax

Well........to find the humor in that email you have to know what was going on in our lives. We were eagerly waiting for a phone call.....................See the prior week we had gotten a picture of some waiting kids in Haiit. It was a sibling group of 2, and actually our hearts went out to them and we expressed interest in them. For many different reasons..........I love the idea of a full house and the kids' ages were all close to our kids. I can only relate it to what a surprise pregnancy would be like---we weren't pursueing anything, but it was exciting...........it's crossed our mind to have 1 vs. 2 from a different culture, so it seemed like a "surprise" and not something we'd have to plan and pursue for years and years............. So when the idea of adding 2 more came up...............I let my heart think about it...................I let my mind dream and wonder.......................I thought about how fun---yes, crazy----but how fun it would be to have a big family. I think our kids would be great and it wouldn't take long for kids to feel part of our family............I loved it that it would be 5 kids yet close in age and yet mixed matched................I let myself get a little excited and imagine life.........................

Well I don't have to tell you the results.....................you can guess. Even though I totally know God has a plan for these 2 kids...................I secretly wish we were in it. Truthfully I"m brokenhearted.....................I know God's ways are best and He could have made it happen if it were meant to be...........I don't have to be mad that we weren't picked, or wonder why we didn't look good on paper to someone choosing..............but it is still a part of human nature to have desires.................so once again we turn to God.....................

As I was thinking about all this, I came across this video. (this is from another blog friend) Do you ever get choked up about God?....I've heard this before, but as I was listening to it and it was close to the end...........it made me think about how awesome He is............that's MY KING!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upGCMl_b0n4

My little sweetie pie

Aidan Manuel had some extra special visitors last week, so in return we got some extra love back from him too!! A family from Holland were visiting their little girl and they gave us tons of pictures of Aidan---it's such a treat to get extra pictures of him and see how he's doing.

From the pictures we have, I can only imagine Aidan's dilemma.............should I play with my new car or eat my crackers?..........it was snack time when he got his present..................so...to his cleverness he makes a track with the crackers for his car to ride on....................gotta love it!!!!!!!
Here's some everyday life pictures of him.........

And guess what?...........that little cutie is going to be part of OUR family....................

Also sounds like there has been lots of excitement with a new play structure at GLA. There are lots of pictures of it posted on their sight, http://www.glahaiti.org/toddler_house_blog. Sounds like Aidan really likes to play on it too.

This week I was listening to some neighbors talk about how one has a three year old and he gave up his 'pacy' this week, and another 3 year old took off playing after nap time and didn't snuggle like he usually did....................and I thought---my little 3 year old is growing too.................I love this stage................I hate it that this takes so long............I'm missing it all.................well--this was a special treat to get love from him........................we'll take it any way we can until he comes home.

YOU are all very special

I was about brought to tears this week when a friend randomly emailed me to say they were thinking about us. It seems like just when we need encouragement, someone is always there. Even when we don't think we need it, it always helps.
I feel like life continues on, yet there is always something out there.................and there is always waiting.....................and more waiting. I'd love to know what life is like without all this waiting. :):)
We've been so blessed in many ways. I know there are many who keep up with our journey, or even by asking about it occasionally. Or making us feel like Aidan is already part of the family. There are pictures of Aidan up in homes, family members wanting to send him packages, quilts being made, financial gift when they heard about our referral, snuggle fleece blanket, flowers dropped off, cousins wanting to give pj's to Aidan, money towards the orphanage in honor of him, a children's book---in Creole--given for Aidan, cards...............and the list could go on...............I just want you all to know that we value you and are so blessed to have all this support in our lives.
Something that gets passed around in our family whenever someone is going through a hard time or just needs extra prayers and encouragement is a precious moment that my grandparents started. The precious moment is 'Trust in the Lord til the Finish". The verse associated with it is Phil. 3:13'...........pressing on towards the goal.....for which God called me......" I love the meaning of it, and I love that it gets passed around. It's like a living legacy about how good God is. All the things we go through, and yet we can see that God is faithful and sees us through. We had it at the beginning, while we were waiting for our referral yet, and I know God will see us through this. I know we'll look back and see God's hand, and it's so nice to know so many of you are traveling it with us--Thank you............we love you!!!

Computers and Me.......

Don't get along!!!! I was so mad I couldn't get my video clip to work last night, so I thought i"d check out the blog again today. It just made me more mad!! I seemed to have lost my comments, so sorry!!! Feel free to leave any comments on the last working comment section. But on a better note.........I finally checked out all these cute blog backgrounds-----how fun!!!! So it's fun to get a new look!!! Makes me want to do spring cleaning around the house and have fresh looks up for pictures!!!
Have a great day :)
Well I see I have comments back---yea!!

Looking at pictures

I've spent alot of time on the couch with Austin this week as he has been sick. So I was going to get motivated and "organize" some pictures.........................and of course I spent the majority of the time just looking at pictures of the kids from the last year..............okay like the last 5 years!!!!! Boy--I have got to get motivated with my photos. Anyways, thought you might enjoy some of Aidan from our trip in Oct. I'm so glad we had the chance to spend some time with him, it keeps me going as we wait.

***

okay--I wanted to insert a video clip but i"m having technical difficulties. Instead I'll humor you with picture of Big A and Little A.

Aidan better watch out-----Alyssa will sneak you in her bedroom and dress you up!!

Austin will dress Bella up. He likes to play with her.

This is actually having cupcakes for Aidan's birthday. There is another family from Holland that is down at GLA currently, and that's just so exciting to me. I hope he gets all the love and hugs I packed for him!!

Chaos to Calmness

As we wait on info and answers I find my mind filled with chaos. There is excitement, and anxiety. I can't keep my mind on anything. I want this new adventure and I wait for news. I get frustrated and discouraged. I feel like I'm not in control. Everyone else makes decisions for us and we are once again at the mercy of having other people decide for us.

But then

I turn my thoughts to God. I'm peaceful, calm and feel like things are in control. I'm reminded that He is in control. It doesn't matter the circumstances, He can make a way and has a perfect plan.

This is just for a moment

Because I feel like I want to be in control again. I feel like I could cry and have no control. I want to prove our family is ready.

But

I don't cry. Instead I look at where He has taken us. I feel like dancing and praising Him. Wow--I'm filled with joy at how awesome He is. He hasn't missed a single detail and has a perfect path for our lives.

But my mind returns to wanting me in control and filled with chaos and anxiety. And the cycle starts all over.

I don't think it was coincidence that a bible verse I heard this week was Isaiah 26:3..."You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." When I heard that I could just picture all the calmness and peaceful bliss that life could look like knowing my thoughts can STAY on HIM. I don't have to take on the job of worrying and making decisions........................He's got it all covered. We may not have it all together, but IF it's His Will............... He can make a way. isn't He GOOD!!!