Going to Haiti

I can't believe it, it has been a whirlwind of planning! Sarah and I are going to Haiti! We are leaving next week, and flying Helande and Christella home to their families. It was totally last minute but we are actually going. I am nervous, excited and anxious. We are taking 4 different airlines/flights to get around. We will meet Lori or someone from her clinic and return the girls, then will meet Daryl from COTP and fly from PAP to CAP to the orphanage. Then we will spend several day there playing with the kids and helping however we can! I can't wait to meet Elijah!!

Saturday.. it's been a week already?

I can't believe it has already been a week since I last posted. I have been feeling sick for several weeks. I thought I was just fighting off the flu bug or something so I put off going to the doctor. I finally called on Monday and they had me get some blood tests done. I went in yesterday to hear the results. I still don't know what I have, but my liver is inflammed. This means I could have hepatitis, mono, or just a bad virus. I had to go back to the lab to get more specific tests done and I hope I will know more on Monday. Pray! Sarah and I are wondering if one of the babies could have passed hep A around? We are not sure if they have been tested.

Loren had another soccer game today. They didn't do as well, they lost 5 to 2. Loren had some really good passes though. He is really growing and looks like he is getting older. I don't know what I will do when he is taller than me.

Corinn turns nine on Monday. She had a birthday party at my parent's house last week with two of her friends. She and her friends had a good time.

More Thank You's

Jeremiah's brother and his wife have sent us another gift of money for our adoption, or the upcoming trip. We are so grateful for their giving! I can't believe how supportive they have been, emotionally and practically! Thanks a ton!

Also, one of Jeremiah's co-workers gave us a bunk bed for the boys' room! It is in good condition and will work great for years to come. While Jeremiah was picking it up they also gave us a like new ten speed mountain bike for Loren! We have been blessed. Thank you!

Soccer Season

I am not a soccer mom. Sure, I drive a van. Yes, I take my kid to every practice and game. But I am not a soccer mom. I don't stand on the sidelines yelling at my kid, or other kids, or the refs. I don't bring snacks for everyone. (unless instructed too) And I don't know what is going on during the game most of the time. I am glad I have my husband who actually enjoys and plays sports with me to explain all the penalties, rules and positions. I would say he is a soccer dad. I also am glad that I was able to figure out on my own that Loren's team won (3 to 0) their first game! Hurrah for you, son!

This afternoon Loren is on the way to Seattle with his dad to see a college football game. They are both very excited. Meanwhile, I am picking up 2 little girls to go with my 2 girls to my parents' house. We are having an early birthday party. Corinn wanted to do a makeover party so we are doing a bit of makeup, nails and hair. Then pizza, dessert, gifts and a movie and come home. Should be fun!

Second Day of Homeschooling

It is day two of homeschooling. Yesterday was a long day. We didn't get through everything I though we should have, but we did 5 hours of schoolwork. We also had to go to the dentist to repair some of the kids' sealants. I scheduled it right in the middle of the day, bad mistake. Today we started out good, then went to the swimming pool with Sarah and her kids. It was a lot of fun and we got a good workout in! We got home late, but I had my kids finish up the rest of their work. Surprisingly they finished with no complaints! The best part is I can use 2 hours of pool time to count toward our school hours. We have to keep track of hours for the school program the kids are in. Loren needs 25 hours a week and Corinn needs 20.

I am off to put the kids to bed, we will see how the rest of the week goes.

Please help with Haitian adoptions

Bureaucracy Stops Adoptions in Haiti

A CALL TO ACTION

***********************************************************************

Dear friends of Haiti,

A bureaucratic nightmare has forced the stoppage of Haitian children from
receiving their U.S. visa and joining their forever families here in the
U.S. A simple phone call from the U.S. Department of State to the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security would quickly and easily resolve this
situation. To date, no such phone call has occurred and Haitian children
continue to suffer needlessly. We are asking everyone with a heart for
Haitian children to rally together, make some noise and help our children
find their permanent, safe and loving families.

What can you do? Make four simple phone calls.

1. Call your U.S. Senator.
o You can find your Senators' phone numbers at www.senate.gov
o Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff

2. Call your second U.S. Senator.

3. Call your representative to the U.S. House of Representative.
o You can find your representative at www.house.gov
o Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff

4. Call the Congressional Coalition on Adoption
o Their number is 202-544-8500

When should you call? Today, Thursday or Friday

o For maximum affect, we are asking you to make these calls within the
next 72 hours - sometime before the end of the day Friday.

What should you say? Speak from your heart and give them the following
information.
o The Department of State has stopped issuing visas to Haitian
orphans.
o The problem behind the stoppage was fixed by the Department of
Homeland Security.
o BUT, no one told the Department of State.
o Your office must get involved and make the Department of Homeland
Security communicate with the Department of State.
o Your office should contact the Office of Children's Issues at the
Department of State. Their number is 202-736-9090

Can you explain the problem behind the stoppage? Here is some additional
information...
o The U.S. Department of State (the consular office in Haiti) is
ruling that visas can not be issued to legally adopted children due to the
absence of the words 'irrevocable and unconditional' in the Haitian parental
relinquishment documents. The Department of State is incorrect. USCIS has
already resolved this issue and has been approving orphan status since June
2007. Sadly, USCIS has not communicated the resolution to the Department of
State. USCIS has already written a legal opinion that orphan status can
legitimately be granted to these cases, but the Department of State and
USCIS have thus far failed to communicate the information that will release
the children.


We need to send the same concise message to each of these offices: there are
legally adopted children in Haiti who cannot get Visas and come home due to
the lack of communication between DOS and USCIS.

Please act on this message yourself, and pass it along to anyone you know
who has children waiting, has adopted in the past, or just has a heart for
Haiti. Each adult member of your household can call separately.

We need to depend upon sheer volume to get our point across so please call
today!

Summer over?

It is Labor Day and here I am at the computer. Jeremiah is working today, but he just had his days off and we had a great weekend. It was Jeremiah's birthday and we went to this dirt racetrack with some friends and watched cars racing around on Sat. and were treated with a firework show after the races. Sarah watched the kids for us so it was a nice getaway. Then yesterday we went to church and a BBQ. We also had time to swing by a friends' house and pick up a bunk bed they were giving us! We set it up in our son's room and hopefully the bottom bunk will be used sooner than later by Elijah.

I have been feeling sad lately, mainly because of Helande and Ella going home soon. We were originally thinking that Sarah and I would take them back to Haiti, but now it looks like we will have someone else escort them home. It may be very soon. The whole thought of it grieves me. Mainly because if something happens with their shunts they need to get help fast, and they may not be able to do that in Haiti. I just wish their family could move to the US or somewhere with better medical facilities. I will miss both girls so much but especially Helande since she has spent so much time with us. Since meeting these girls and starting our adoption, my eyes have been opened wide to the world and countries that need help. I so want to help every single orphan or hurting child.

I have been praying about mission work, and I'm not sure where God will lead with that. Jeremiah is not at the point where he would like to give up his job, but he is able to take vacation days back to back so he may be able to take a month or two off at a time. Maybe we should just start with a visit to Haiti and see what happens.

Homeschooling starts tomorrow. I am not ready at all but that is ok. One of the benefits of homeschooling is flexibility. I mean, for the last 10 minutes my kids have been watching two spiders in the corner "fighting". That's educational isn't it! I am not sure if I should explain that they may not be fighting....

The weather here has been not too desirable, I am thinking summer may be over. I do love the fall though. I hope that we have mild weather so we can do some fun outside activities.