5th grade conferences...success stories abound!

Any parent can relate...to hear a teacher express her love for your child...and to have her see the very strengths you see...it tickles us pink! Pierre's teacher shared that she has never seen a child work so hard, so willingly, and so gratefully. He brightens each persons' day who works with him, with his bright smile and genuine kindness and interest in others. We give all credit to his birthparents because Pierre arrived in South Dakota that way! He is volunteering to read, even in science...even when his skills are two grade levels below in reading. He asks for grade level work to bring home to try. He is willing to stay in from other activities to do his neatest work. Still, when he arrives home at the end of the day, he is energetic and happy. Where does that kind of spirit come from?! We are so thankful and so proud of him.


Ange-Laurette's teacher pointed out that he just does not see any difference between her and other students as he goes throughout his day. She follows directions, raises her hand to volunteer answers, completes assignments as asked, and joins in group activities with excitement. Although she does struggle with some comprehension and vocabulary still, the teachers don't notice until she asks for help...which we are working on. She just so much wants to fit in and be like everyone else. And she is doing a good job! Her confidence is growing, and we almost have her convinced of her beauty. :) Endless compliments on that hair have helped. Soon, we will have to post the amazing and touching story of my brother-in-law's trip to Port-au-Prince. It was the missing piece to Ange-Laurette's past!

For now, we just wanted to make sure we didn't hit the 2-month mark for "no posts." Life has been busy, but (even more so) "fulfilling and intentional" lately. We are again finding how to reprioritize each hour and live more carefully and purposefully as a family and as individuals. A huge feat in this fast-paced, media world!

Someone thought the same thing!

Rather than finding the music to add the song I was talking about in the previous entry, I found this video of a church mission trip to Haiti in 2010. They understood the "Greater Things." There are so many of you out there with hearts to serve. Let this inspire!

Greater Things

I was touched in church on Sunday by the praise song "God of This City." We sang the words as we watched the screen filled with photos from needy places from all over the world. I have been repeating the words in my head a hundred times since:

Greater things have yet to come. Greater things have still to be done here.

I don't want this adoption story to define us. I don't want this to be the end of our story. I don't want what started out to be a "life mission" to leave us too busy and preoccupied to see beyond ourselves. Taking "time out" for the past 18 months was ok and understandable. Our family needed to be careful with our time and energy to adjust as a new family.

But now, we need to turn back to where we started. We need to be a family who serves and sees beyond our own circumstances. We know the joy and peace that comes! As we kick off our new church school year with small group studies on Prayer, that will be our overarching prayer: that Bruce and I can be examples for our kids by having a renewed focus on WHY we were placed here...in this place and time...and with the specific people we come into contact with.

The adoption of Pierre and Ange-Laurette was simply ONE of his many callings for us. We are confident that it is not our only calling...or our last calling! It was a BIG one, yes. It stretched us (and continues to challenge us) like we never imagined. But it would be a shame to think that we could now "coast."


During that song in church last week, I could hear Pierre singing his heart out. He can now read most of the words, which is a treat for him. When we were praying and the pastor asked us to think of various things to bring before God, I also could hear Pierre. His loud whispers went on and on, as he laid his head on his hands on the chair in front of him. I can guess what he was praying...the same thing he prays each night: that there would be food on every table, that help would come to those in need, that everyone would know that God is there and watching out for them, and that we would always remember to read the Bible to know what God has to say. That boy's testimony will be priceless!

A great start to 5th grade for both

The $1 section at Target had dry erase boards in their Back-to-School section, so I picked up 3. Each of the kids were using theirs to practice spelling words before bed tonight. After tucking them in, I did the usual walk through the house to pick up the miscellaneous items they forgot. This is a photo of Ange-Laurette's dry erase board, as I found it.


I also received an email from her new 5th grade teacher today: "What a lovely girl -- so enjoyable to have in our classes. She is doing remarkable in school considering the fairly short assimilation period since she joined your family."

Yesterday, I ran into Pierre's teacher at the grocery store. This is the first year they are in different classrooms, which has been a good decision that will help their individuality. Mrs. Ellis also had only good things to say about Pierre's progress and effort in school. (We had warned her that she would LOVE him!) She explained: You are right. I do really enjoy having him in class. Oh, that smile!

The fact that all three younger kids can read and write pretty independently is a treat. We were playing "Junior Loaded Questions" last night (a great game where you try to guess who wrote which response). The question came up: "What is your greatest accomplishment?" I explained that it meant something you were proud of or a big success you had. Pierre wrote "Fast ForWord" (the reading program he did each day this summer). Ange-Laurette wrote "making it out of the earthquake." If I would have been totally honest, my response should have been that my greatest accomplishment was "trusting God enough to obey his call to adopt these precious human beings!!"

Good sports at State Softball

The kids are always easily entertained, even on hot weekends of softball out-of-town. We compromise on an amount each can spend on concessions, with them bringing their own allowance to spend for extras. Usually that just means more freezies to keep cool in the 100 degree heat. At the State Softball tournament in Huron, SD, we took a photo by the world's largest pheasant! Now, that is not something you'll see in just any adoption blog! HA!!


Anytime we travel somewhere new, we catch new glances and always more compliments on Ange-Laurette's hair. It is truly gorgeous and hard to resist touching. What used to bother her is actually helping with her self-esteem now. I see her beam each time a teenage girl asks about her hair and says, "I wish I could have my hair like that!" Some adoptive parents dislike the pointed questions from others. We have decided, with the kids in agreement, that it is always an open door to share what God has done. Even for less tactful strangers! We just find a way to share a snipit of our story in a way that might leave them curious or hopeful about God's role in their own life. No, we don't share details that would make the kids uncomfortable. We just twist the question to share what they LIKE to share. :)

So when the librarian frowns and rudely says, "Surely they don't have parents in Haiti still living!" (Seriously, people do say these things in front of the kids!) We answer with a smile, "Oh you wouldn't believe what a great story this is. Their birth parents prayed for a family like ours for them...and then he laid that on OUR hearts...and here we are!" We knew how conspicuous we would always be. God knew that also. To pass up opportunities to share this miracle? No way! :)

So, here's our crazy crew! Nate helped in the dugout in his "mascot" blue wig...obviously HE doesn't mind standing out. Ange-Laurette kept me company in the stands and ran trips to/from the food stands. Pierre usually played DS in the shade. We'll always have good memories of those summer days, watching Bailey endure the heat and stress while pitching inning after inning to win State for Zimmels/Lady Blue. Great days!

Simply HUGE!

I'm finding myself not as frustrated with the little I have accomplished this summer...because the progress of the kids the past two months has been astounding. June left us so scared about the road ahead with Ange-Laurette's "closed heart." We knew we were nearing those preteen years and wanted desperately to connect before then. What has happened since then brings a smile to Bruce and me everytime I get to retell a new story from the day.

There was a situation the other day where Ange-Laurette simply disregarded my suggestions at a social event and chose to be aloof and impolite instead. After me sharing my disappointment and reasons for my earlier requests, I noticed she was wiping her eyes and sniffling. We found a quiet place to talk. I asked if she was sad or mad. She answered genuinely, "I don't know." This had happened before, where she truly did not know why her eyes were watering and could not name the emotion. I gave her choices: Are you mad that I have too high of expectations? Are you sad that I was disappointed? Are you frustrated that it seems like you cannot please us? She thought for a long time and answered, "I think I am sad that you are not happy with me."


This may seem like a small thing to many parents, but HUGE for us here. I hugged her tight and did a happy dance! She smiled as I explained that this meant that her heart was really opening up some. She was beginning to see how her behaviors and attitude affected others...and more importantly, was CARING about those feelings of others.

Later yesterday in the car, Pierre said (pretty out of the blue), "When I have a wife someday, I want us to be just like you and Dad: working hard, kind, and doing fun stuff with my kids." Ange-Laurette piped in, "I want me and my (what do you call it...) husband to be like you and Dad, too." I smiled and said, "Really? Are you sure? Sometimes I am pretty strict? :) " She said, "But ya gotta be like that." Again...HUGE!

Finally, I was leaving for a hair appointment, and she called out, "Mom? Have fun at your appointment! And say hi to Carol for me." THIS was brand-new! What I had hoped she would grow to feel and learn by adolescence was happening in just one month. My cup runneth over!

Anthony Bourdain - No Reservations - Haiti 1:3

My friend (and new adoptive mom of Pierre's cousins) posted this you tube post on her blog. Wonderful summary of the life, food and people of Haiti! There are two other episodes you can watch once you get to this site. We look forward to watching them with the kids, to hear their take on what is shared. Just don't read the comments by naive posters, that are even more sad than many sites of Port-au-Prince.