Ange-Laurette's new style!

Although Bailey and I were getting much better at braiding and beading Ange-Laurette's hair, she was excited to try something new. I had caught her several times with that disappointed look in the mirror. I had heard enough comments that she didn't like her hair or didn't think she was pretty. It is so disheartening when any mother hears her daughter say things like that...because we see them as simply so beautiful.

I'd been talking with my hairdresser and good friend about Chris Rock's documentary "Hair" that was highlighted on an Oprah episode. In it, he explains how we white gals have NO idea the amount of time, money, and effort that goes into caring for black hair. The importance of their hair to be styled nice/unique...and for others to NOT touch it...was not something I had understood. We agreed to have Ange-Laurette try extensions in her hair, so it could be styled just the way she wanted. Every girl dreams of long hair at one point in time, right?!

We chose the intricately braided strands that fall in zigzag waves, so they would hold up well and look more natural for a young girl. I was surprised at how quickly the process went. She would be able to shampoo and swim with them in, and the braids could be used more than once! After cornrowing her hair all to the back, extensions were sewn (latchhooked) in one at a time right through the cornrows. About 125 strands, folded in half...two hours...and wah lah!

A new normal ~

This entry is for all those new adoptive parents who wonder at times, like we did, if we would ever gain our bearings again! We just returned from Spring Break at a nearby waterpark (our version of Disney!), and we can say tell you, with confidence, that there will be a day!

So many evenings I have wanted to update our blog but did not have any new, exciting issue or achievement to report. THAT is progress! The kids just have this true sibling closeness. Yes, they bonded early on and have been amazing, but it is different and so much more natural now. They understand all each others' quirks, know where to take their punches :) , and yet defend each other to the end. They seem to appreciate their differences/uniqueness and are not as sensitive about "fairness" anymore. Bruce and I have found a way to spend individual time with each one. We are more intentional about our bedtime routines so we have time to really listen to them. Every single day lately, there is talk of Haiti or where they have been. The kids are more honest about the hardships and have the vocabulary to share details we had not heard before.

This weekend, our family has been asked to present at our local "Unity in Diversity" event. In preparing, we've been talking about the things we want others to learn from our experience. We also want the kids to be able to tell all about the country they know and love so much. They will teach games and songs, mixed with stories of real life in Port-au-Prince. We will explain how our eyes have been opened...and how tricky it has been to teach them to fit in this new culture while still respecting their Haitian culture.

We cannot express how proud we are of Pierre and Ange-Laurette. This has been a long road filled with hard work for them. Others see how "lucky" or "blessed" they are to be here...but we know that it has not been easy. There are many hurdles ahead still, but we are a true family...

and we will all be fine! YAY!!

The voice of an angel

We are trying to figure out how to download a video clip of Ange-Laurette singing a solo in church two weeks ago. It was a very touching moment, not just for us, but for so many others who listened. Since that morning, people have stopped her over and over to tell her how beautiful she sounded. They have also made a point to tell Bruce and I how it brought them to tears. To hear that angelic voice, with her Haitian accent, singing praises to the God who has watched over her and protected her. It was precious.

Ange-Laurette has grown a lifetime in just one year. She has had to slowly shed the layers that served as her protection for so many years. Her entire childhood was like nothing we can imagine. To trust and to feel and to love again must be so difficult for her. But she is doing all three. And we are very blessed to be her parents and to learn so much from her resiliency.

in Pierre's words...looking back ~

"When I think about last year and the earthquake, I still feel sad but I'm happy because I got to my new family and brothers and sister. I like my mom and dad and we have lots of food and shelter. We don't have to be worried if we never gonna have food and water.

I am so happy because none of my family in Haiti died. They are safe and I talked to them. They said they are ok. I am so grateful for God who took the word in his head and gave it to mom and dad so they can bring us here. Now we will always be safe. We are so happy to get to learn and go to school. We have a nice teacher and the kids are good to us at school. We get to exercise in PE. Our bodies work really good because we have doctors.


We still always need to remember this day and what happened to Haiti. I am excited to go visit Haiti someday when I was there. I am excited for my little brother to go to Haiti, so he can get a view of what happened. I feel sad for the people who are still there. I hope that next year or few years they can be happy and get lots of help and houses. Then the kids can be protected there."

A day we will NEVER forget

Before the kids left for school today, we spent some time talking about the earthquake that Pierre and Ange-Laurette lived through one year ago today. We wanted to make sure they had time to process that in case it came up at school. The rest of the day brought back so many pictures and feelings we didn't realize were still there. The fears, the shock, the worry, and the sadness. Although we had one of the happiest endings to come from the disaster, we will never forget the families of the 230,000 who lost their lives that day...or the millions who still don't know where their next meal will come from or if their children will ever have a roof over their heads. Our children's homeland will never be the same. We share their grief and somberness today, even as we all pray praises to God for their safety here. We don't understand God's ways...but we always trust Him. Today we are praying His comfort on a country who is still so desperate for Him.

Remembering last year...

Tonight as Bruce and I rewatched some video clips we found, reporting on last January's earthquake in Haiti, we ran into this one. Ali is one of the amazing McMutrie sisters who we are forever indebted to for our children's safety. She is speaking from the Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh where our children arrived...and where we were allowed to finally take them home. Nearly a year since that time, we SO wish we could personally thank these ladies, who are hard at work back in Haiti with 8 new orphans. However, this time, they have worked hard to provide work for women, provide formula to new mothers, and to keep 30 families together. Pray for their strength and continued miracles!

The right verse at the right time

As our love for Pierre and Ange-Laurette grows with each day...so does the list of activities on the calendar, the number of typical squabbles with 4 kids in the house, and the hours of homework that is so much tougher for them. It is so good to just sit and read through past journal entries to remember what a miracle they are and how much we prayed for this new "normalcy."

We had a new adoptive parent we met say that adoption is not "all fun and bliss" and should be considered over a long time and through much prayer. But we also know that God plants seeds over a long period of time for some of us adoptive parents...and that he watches closely to see if we are willing to just simply "obey" when called. That is more our story. That has added lots of "education" along the road since we did not do all the preliminary research...but it laid the absolutely critical foundation of FAITH and LOVE that has helped us endure the trials.

Each time I am needing just one word of advice, his Word is there. Today, this well-known verse pulled through:

"Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
1 Cor. 13:7