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

Humbled to be recognized

(from Stephanie Herseth Sandlin's website...a friend found this when she "googled" my name :) We also want to personally thank Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin for taking time out of a hectic campaign to invite our family for an ice cream cone to celebrate this nomination, and just for her to check in on the kids. What a genuinely, caring person...and fun conversations!

HERSETH SANDLIN NOMINATES BRUCE AND JILL LEAR OF WATERTOWN AS ANGELS IN ADOPTION


Washington, DC (October 1, 2010) – Today, U.S. Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin announced she has nominated Bruce and Jill Lear of Watertown as 2010 Angels in Adoption. The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), which orchestrates the Angels in Adoption program, will honor 140 Angels at an awards ceremony and gala event in Washington, DC, October 6, 2010.

As a member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), Rep. Herseth Sandlin nominated the Lear’s for recognition as part of CCAI’s Angels in Adoption program. This program allows for Members of Congress to “honor the good work of constituents who have enriched the lives of foster children and orphans.”

“I am so pleased that Bruce and Jill Lear were able to bring their adoptive children, Pierre and Ange-Laurette, to the U.S. after the tragic earthquake that struck Haiti,” said Rep. Herseth Sandlin.

Two days after the earthquake in Haiti on January 14, 2010, Jill and Bruce Lear contacted Rep. Herseth Sandlin for assistance in securing temporary visas for their two adoptive children, Pierre and Ange-Laurette. The children’s orphanage was badly damaged during the earthquake, as was the building that processed adoptions.

Rep. Herseth Sandlin and Senators Johnson and Thune worked with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to assist the Lears in bringing their son and daughter from Haiti and to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where Bruce and Jill Lear joined them.

The Angels in Adoption program is CCAI’s signature public awareness campaign and provides an opportunity for all members of the U.S. Congress to honor the good work of their constituents who have enriched the lives of foster children and orphans in the United States and abroad. “The Angels in Adoption program is unlike any other program in the Nation’s Capital. Because of it, over 1700 “Angels’ have come to share with Washington their adoption experience and left with a renewed excitement of all that adoption makes possible,” said Kathleen Strottman, Executive Director of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.

CCAI is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about foster children in the U.S. and the millions of orphans around the world in need of permanent, safe, and loving homes. CCAI’s goal is to eliminate the barriers that hinder these children from realizing their basic right to a family.

Still more firsts!

I will never get over the joys of experiencing things for the first time with these kids. The trees changing colors and then dropping leaves to the ground...the high school homecoming game with everyone dressed in purple and gold and balloons released...the parade with painted vans with roofs cut off and full of high schoolers...









...dressing up in costumes to go door to door for bags of candy...and (even on Halloween) orange lights lining the roofs of houses! Pierre said, "Mom, Halloween is beautiful!" Just wait until Christmas! They can't seem to get enough and always appreciate the newness of each holiday.