There's never a short response to "How was your trip?" There just simply is no way to describe it without giving God all the glory. His hand has been evident in each aspect of this adoption process. It makes us a little sad when people look at us skeptically when we say that...or when they underestimate the power of prayer throughout the past few months. But we will keep giving credit where credit is due! It has been 3 months now since our trip to Haiti. We won't be able to visit again until September. As the months have passed, our emotions have taken the typical roller coaster ride that many adoptive parents experience. We definitely left a piece of ourselves there at BRESMA. There are not many hours that pass without thinking about Pierre and Ange-Laurette, just like we do our other 3 children. They are missed at the table and in the car and at each family gathering, as if we all knew them for years. 
We sent each of them a small photo album with all the pictures we had taken in Haiti. Our adoption coordinator, Diana, delivered them in April when she visited. She also had us call so Pierre and Ange-Laurette could sing me happy birthday. This time, Diana was able to interpret a few of the things they said, which meant so much. They listed a few requests: that we send a doll with hair, good smelling body lotion, super hero figurines, and Gran-may-gran (my mom)! They insist that my mom join us for one of the trips. How can kids already know the spoiling that is bound to happen?! Diana also surprised us with a Mother's Day package of artwork and notes the kids had done for us while she was there at the orphanage. Above are a few of their drawings next to the next packages we sent their way.
As tough as it is to know we have 3 more months before we can see them, we choose to stay positive...knowing that they will be safe and cared for until the day they join us. We eagerly await each new photo through email, from either the nannies or our adoption coordinator. Each photograph (even if we just catch a glimpse of them in the background) is so treasured! One day we received an email that a huge donation of superfood had arrived to their orphanage, after years of being held in customs for needed paperwork and fees. There was a photo of Pierre holding his personal packet. Each child would be able to have one meal a day, to supplement their other food, for 3 months. Another photo showed Ange-Laurette close-up enough to see that her new tooth had grown in! The photos remind us that they are doing well.
The most recent photos were taken as they opened packages we had sent with other visiting families. These are especially fun to see! A friend bought us a kit to iron photos onto t-shirts for them. Pierre's t-shirt had a photo of our two sons at a football game; Ange-Laurette's said "my new family" in creyole and had all 3 kids from our trip to an amusement park last summer. I'm not sure who enjoys the gift packages more: Pierre and Ange-Laurette or ME, as I get to shop for them and think through what might be most meaningful. The most fun part is trying to include a handwritten note with photos, in both English and my attempt at Creyole. It's a treat to be able to send things, and we hope it lets them know that we remember their favorites; we miss them; and we love them like crazy!
