Long-awaited first day of school ~

Today, to me, is almost as big as the day Pierre and Ange-Laurette arrived to South Dakota. The chance to receive an education was such a big part of why their birthparents chose adoption in the first place. I so wish there was a way to tell those mothers where their children are today! Pierre and Ange-Laurette seem to understand the importance of today. They were giddy all morning and wanted to dress up so nice. In the past two days, they have been working so hard on their reading skills. Just last night, Ange-Laurette read every word of Green Eggs and Ham. I about cried! Pierre is practicing on that story each day too. They both packed our two copies of that book in their backpacks, hoping to get to share them with the ESL teacher.


Tigi is the wonderful lady from here in Watertown who has been helping us as an interpreter for the kids. She was born in Haiti and speaks Creyole. She joined the kids today as they walked into their new school, and she will be shadowing them throughout the first 3 days. That way, we can be more certain that the kids understand directions/expectations/routines from the get-go. Tigi will also be able to reassure Pierre and Ange-Laurette and interpret any questions/concerns they have. What a blessing. As their mom, it was harder than leaving a kindergartener their first day! I am confident, though, that both kids will do well. Their teacher and classmates are so very excited and supportive. The entire elementary school has been so interested and encouraging. These are two very lucky kids! We cannot wait to watch them blossom.

We promise there is GRASS under there!

Can you imagine arriving to this winter? Even life-long South Dakotans are getting tired of the constant shoveling and cold. Ange-Laurette sang her own version of a song, "Go away snow. I want to swim." Pierre is always eager to help Bruce with shoveling, but soon the cough sets in. They must be wondering where in the world we have taken them!

A friend sent our kids supplies for snowman artwork. They know all about snowmen, snowboarding, and building forts now. Have you ever seen a snowgirl with pink feathers for hair though? :) IF they had snowmen in Haiti, I am sure they would all be as colorful as Ange-Laurette's version!

Shots were, in their words, "No Good!"

Before the kids could start school, they needed their first series of immunizations. I told them they would be getting two shots in each arm and that we'd go get ice cream afterwards. Ange-Laurette negotiated, "Four shots, four ice cream cones!" When we were called back by the nurse, she corrected herself, "Mom, no shot, no ice cream cone, ok?" :) Unfortunately, Ange-Laurette had a bad reaction to one of the shots, which led to a high fever and a week of arm pain with bruising. She slept most of two days, so it might have been another bug she had as well. But she is back to her super spunky self now!

Those couple days without speaking Creyole with Ange-Laurette and hanging out non-stop with Nate, Pierre really improved in his English. Bruce talked to him on the phone last night and even thought it was NATE that was speaking! Pierre is talking with all Nate's intonations and phrases. Pierre made a hat with string, like he had learned at the orphanage. Nate was a good sport and wore it for a bit. Both boys have smiles pasted on their faces nearly every hour of the day together!

One of those "Forever" photos

We had wanted to try to get a professional photo last weekend, but sometimes these "hurry squish together" shots are the best! Our oldest son and his wife were able to travel here from Minneapolis to meet Pierre and Ange-Laurette for the first time. It was one of those 'beaming parent' weekends, watching 6 very different individuals, at different ages, and with life experiences a world apart interact so well. Their was tons of laughter, foosball, games, and tackling! Bruce and I just really felt like everything was going to be ok. :)

Lest we forget....

Pierre has a notebook with a handwritten message from his birthmother. One part reads: Pa bliye kote ou soti which means "Don't forget where you came from." That advice is something Bruce and I will hold onto tightly as well. We simply cannot have the same expectations for Pierre and Ange-Laurette as we do for our other children, especially after only a couple weeks. It would be easy to do with their quick adjustment, improving English, and great personalities. However, as we watched the Haiti recovery coverage on CNN tonight (the first we have watched since the kids arrived), we were once again shocked at what might have been! We cannot believe God's protection over the orphanage and his sheltering of our kids from what could have been even more trauma.

So, as we work through the busyness of each day and each new experience...we need to remember: any lack of manners, inappropriate behavior, or noncompliance is not a reflection of our parenting nor of the kids' individual personalities. It is partly just the result of spending years in an orphanage setting with 50 other children. It is also due to the lack of social opportunities in their early years with parents nearby as coaches. Add to all of that how we ALL tend to act in new and unusual circumstances!

The most promising fact is that both Pierre and Ange-Laurette always fall asleep with smiles on their faces; sleep soundly through the night; and wake up with a vibrant "Good morning, Mom!" All the "in between" chaos and misunderstandings and squabbles...well, we will take that, too. :)

Overwhelmed and so touched!

Yesterday we attended a program at the kids' new elementary school, which culminated with their mascot revealing the total amount collected in their "Hundreds for Haiti" fundraiser. Students, parents and teachers emptied piggy banks to collect over $2600 which will go directly to the BRESMA orphanage in Port-au-Prince. If you ever doubted how God can take such a horrendous tragedy and turn it into such an overwhelming blessing...you must be equally in awe. These families here have never met the people they will help and have never lived "without." Still, they feel burdened to help. Thank you, thank you!! Hundreds of children just like Pierre and Ange-Laurette will have a safe and loving orphanage home, with food and water, now because of you!

All eyes were on Pierre and Ange-Laurette at the school assembly. They were TRYING to hide in the back corner of the gymnasium next to Bruce and me. We had taken a course last year on "Conspicuous Families" and how people will know at first sight that we have adopted our children. What we didn't know is that we would be a "super conspicuous" family! :) Arriving from Haiti at this place and time has changed everything about the welcome the kids are receiving and the questions/comments people have. It is simply a wonderful thing to experience from our end. Each good wish and tear we see lets us know that others understand on some level how emotional and deeply touching this whole process has been. To have Pierre and Ange-Laurette under our roof tonight, sleeping soundly all night long, and then laughing half the day long...is really one of the greatest gifts we will ever receive.



A funny one-liner from the week that many of you might have heard: A Watertown woman who is fluent in Creyole has been checking in on the kids. I told her that I felt the kids were adjusting very well, but she agreed to ask them if there was anything they wanted her to tell me. After speaking to each child on the phone, she said, "Pierre is much more animated today. He said, 'If I need to tell my mom something, I will just tell her myself.'" I had to smile. Not the most tactful way for him to respond, but it sure was encouraging to me! Later that afternoon while laying on the couch watching a movie, Pierre said, "Mom, me love it here." I looked to Ange-Laurette, and she added, "Me love it here too." As thoroughly exhausted as we are...and as much of a sacrifice as this has been to our other kids (who have been amazing)...I would recommend just "going for it" when you feel God's next calling. He has HUGE blessings in store for those who follow.

We all scream for ICE CREAM!

They told us how important a "routine" would be. We have the first one down: ice cream every night before bed! Other than that, a house with 4 kids can only have so much routine. :)

We have learned a few important things this week. 1) Avoid shopping trips WITH the kids, 2) Don't worry about too many visitors or activities so much...they are used to living in an orphanage, 3) Treasure 8-10 p.m. because it is the only "down" time there is, and 4) No one could be more blessed with wonderful and supportive family and friends!

Pierre is lost when Nate is not around to hang out with arm-in-arm. Ange-Laurette is determined to WISH summer here by wearing sundresses and sandals. They love short phonecalls with friends who also are spending their first week in adoptive families. Little by little, we get a taste of some of our old favorites: a shopping trip and lunch with my teenage daughter, an hour in the afternoon to write thank yous, watching a football game on tv, and catching up with old friends in town. Still, when we look back over each day, we find ourselves laughing about the one-liners and smiling about the fresh look we got at the common things we had taken for granted.