Catching Up

We always seem to be playing catch up around here. I suppose that means life is full. So full. Our lives are full of ups and downs and merry go rounds that both bring us joy and leave us dizzy. We try to slow down before we get too dizzy, but our feet seem to be superglued to the merry go round. We knew we signed up for a lota crazy when we moved to Haiti and the crazy has definitely run its course! But in the rare moments we stop to catch our breath we realize that we are absolutely crazy about this crazy life and can't imagine going back to the semi sane life we used to live. I do sometimes wonder what it would have been like just to move here and learn how to do life in Haiti without all the additional drama and heartache the adoption process affords. The girls do add to the drama but it is this awful process that carries the brunt of the heartache. We would really like to get off this merry go round right about yesterday and get on the plane right about now. We still believe that will happen, we just still don't know when! In the mean time we want to catch you up with a little of what's happening in our n-e-v-e-r-e-n-d-i-n-g adoption process so that you can continue to pray. Please, please, please continue to pray. Our need for prayer and all kinds of support is n-e-v-e-r-e-n-d-i-n-g too! 

Elita Marguerite is currently in MOI (Minister of Interior) who gives approval for the passport to be printed. We are hoping to hear soon that she is out of MOI and ready to get the passport (just because that would be a nice thing to hear). After the passport is finished we will go to her visa appointment, get her visa medical exam, Lord willing get her visa, and then she is free to fly! We are currently not consumed with this part of the process being completed quickly because she really wants to be able to fly with her sister who at this time is lagging behind MOI. 

Esmée's paperwork is a gwo dezòd (big mess). Gwo dezòd is the term I have found myself using to encompass the entirety of the situation when I do not have the energy to think about or explain it. But in a nutshell here it goes. The negative DNA test (completed back in January) has created more problems than our wildest nightmares ever entertained.  Her paperwork has now all been changed to match her deceased Hatian mother's last name of George instead of Noel. We are thankful that progress has been made... if you count having to go back and change EVERYTHING in all those offices we waited in before "progress". We are currently waiting to find out if IBESR (a.k.a. "the black hole") will accept the changes to her dossier. IBESR has been closed for new submissions until August, and we do not yet know if our changes will be received as old or new. Hoping to hear word on that soon as well. Please pray for favor for these necessary paperwork changes that we understand but grieve. Our prayer is that Esmée will catch up to E.M. soon so that both girls will be able to fly to the states together!

We have now lived in this adoption process for 2.4 years and it has become a constant (thorn) that we have learned to live with and give thanks for because of all the lessons learned and people loved in the process. We focused on the process for so long and now just want to focus on the people in the process! We are trying to catch up from all the loose ends we left behind in the states, all the months we spent working on fundraising and paperwork and trips to Haiti that left little room for other things that fill our lives. We will always miss the many years we didn't know or couldn't be with our girls but catching up is possible! The girls are doing AMAZING at catching up! Sometimes when I'm watching the kids play together, or having a deep discussion in the girls room at night, I get the feeling deep down that I do when I am with an old beloved friend that I haven't seen for many years and get to spend a day with catching up. You know they have been there all along. You know there is no way you can catch up to every day, every sad and joyous moment experienced in the years you were not together, but in the time you do have together you spend every waking second trying. We are all trying. The girls try the hardest because they have missed the most and anticipated these times the most. 

While we play catch up to the pile up of adult responsibilites that often got pushed aside in the past 2.4 years, the girls are catching up to their childhoods that got pushed aside for much longer. There are many dreams they must have had as little girls that are now being realized and cherished. While it seems strange to watch your developed 13 year old playing with paper dolls and barbies, we so cherish that she is living our her childhood years with us now. We are very thankful that she is into barbies instead of boys and we believe that experiencing things she missed in childhood is the healthiest way for her to catch up. The girls favorite activities include playing outside with their brothers, riding scooters, caring for the neighbors cats (their summer job), playing games inside with their brothers, cooking, eating, swimming, swimming, swimming, shopping, watching movies, playing with friends, playing with dolls, organizing their room (especially all their clothes), and are usually eager to do reading, writing and arithmatic as long as there is lots of individual attention available. The girls play with their brothers as if they have always been the best of friends. They come and jump into our bed early in the morning as if they have always been our little girls. They talk about family and friends in the states as if they have always been their family and friends. They know they have only been living with us consistently for 4 months but like to imagine that it has been forever. 

A few weeks ago the girls and I were having one of our late night discussions (which usually happen late at night when they are prolonging bedtime). This particular night our conversation was focused on babies, boobies and bottles vs. boobies. About 20 minutes into the conversation Esmée pipes up and says, "Mommy, did you nurse me when I was a baby?" She knows this isn't remotely possible since I just met her 2.2 years ago and she is 10, but I like to imagine that it has been forever right along with her. I said, "God always knew you would be my baby girl and if I would have had you with me when you were a little baby then I would have nursed you too". She seemed happily content with that. 

Catching up physically and emotionally has happened almost without trying at all. The girls are both growing like crazy (bittersweet when we think of how big they will be by the time family and friends finally meet them). They are emotionally bonded to us in such a way that all we can do is stand in awe of the Lord's mercy and grace. Catching them up academically is another matter. I really felt like this would be our biggest struggle and it definitely is. There are days when we feel pretty defeated over this.  Then I remember that a year ago Esmée couldn't even write her own name and Elita could not read a single word in her own language. Now both girls are reading in English, conversational in English (esp. E.M.) and beginning to write in English! They love catching up in math and often ask to do double work so that they "will be ready". They want to be ready for the upcoming school year and we are praying that they will be able to attend Quisqueya Christian School next year. I was praying for help with the girls many educational needs in the form of a tutor. I have litterally prayed in desperation for someone to drop out of the sky and help me with this task. God hears our prayers! We are excitedly awaiting the arrival of Emma who is coming to us from Canada in 10 days to live with us, learn more about Haiti, serve others and us in tutoring our girls! Please pray that this will be a time of encouragement and blessing for our family and Emma as we work together. We praise the Lord for His  provision and all the ways He catches us even when we don't feel like we can catch our breath. 

Thank you to 9 year old Abby White (who felt she had outgrown her toys) for the beautiful dollhouse and accessories, paper dolls, and organizers! We love them and play with them all the time!

For Page Wells
Thank you for all our goodies!