Preparing for our Second Visit

We knew that our son's August wedding would help ease the long 5 1/2 month wait between visits to Haiti....and it did! The wedding was all we prayed for ~ touching, fun, and memorable! We were able to sit back and watch this child that we raised turn into a man right before our eyes. His genuine toasts, his emotion, and his seriousness in making such a commitment were evident. We were so proud of him....and so thankful to our God. Even the most fragile and tumultuous of beginnings....even the most difficult of situations...they cannot hold down the plans of God and his special purpose in each life he creates.

This led us to believe more than ever that God is also in control of this adoption process. He can lead loving mothers to place their hopes in an orphanage....and can lead those children from the orphanage to our home here....while holding each of the people involved in his loving arms throughout the process. The heartache is different for each person, but so is the inner joy in the eventual outcome.

So, here we are, only two weeks away from seeing Pierre and Ange-Laurette again! This time, our teenage daughter will travel with us and meet her new brother and sister for the first time. As we lay out their clothing for each day and select the toys and treats they might like, it again seems surreal. How we can feel so connected and IN LOVE with these two is amazing. Last night, I laid awake for two hours in the night, envisioning our reunion and what we might want to be sure to tell them when interpreters are available. I thought of moments I would want to capture on camera and video. I tried to picture the whole thing from their viewpoint as well.

We do ask for your prayers: for the hurricanes this season to stay far from Haiti, for our flights to arrive and leave on the days scheduled, and for continued bonding just like our last visit. We also pray for the hearts of these children and their birthmothers...that God would calm their fears and fill them with joy at the opportunities they have chosen for the children they love.