One year ago..

Our dearest F, as I look at the picture on our dresser of you taken a year ago today in front of the Haitian flag for Flag Day my emotions run the whole range: happy, joy, sad, frustrated, mad, hope, nostalgiac, envy, tender, scared, gratitude...

Last year we spent the morning with you, visited with the social worker who graciously came for our second interview on a holiday, and then said good-bye. 

Our hopes ran high and hard that the paperwork would finish in a timely fashion so that you could come home.

Those hopes today remain...no longer shiny new and high but battered and torn but still strong in our Lord.

We rejoiced that Eli could meet you before he transitioned to the USA for college and today he finished his freshman year. 

Now as we count down the days until we get to see him again [11] I cannot but help to wonder how many days before we will get to see you again??

Only the Lord knows if the two of you will get to spend any time together this summer during his visit home.

I looked forward to teaching you in pre-school. 

Now the school year winds down and while I'm thankful for the progress you've made and all the things we hear you learned..I long to be the one to hold you, read to you, play with you, and spend my day with you.

We continue to hope and pray. Pray and hope. We ask what else we can do...wait. 

Know we love you. Know we pray for you. Know we long to bring you home. 

Know your heavenly Father loves you and has a plan. 

Courage!

We want OUT!!

Eli's sunshine yellow

One year ago today the agonizing wait for our referral continued.

Our chart entered IBESR on January 14th, 2014 therefore the wait stood at over 15 months.

Only a couple weeks remained for all four of us to be able to meet our child before we transitioned Eli to the USA for college.

One year ago today, our chart received the needed signature from the director.

Anna's

One year ago the day after tomorrow, in the late afternoon we received the long awaited email and saw our first picture of F! 

One year ago, we dreamed of attending the Amplifying Missionary Summit in New York as a family of five.

Only four of us will attend.

Each time a week passes without word I try to look for a positive, but it's getting harder.

F's, miniture bougainvillea. 

Early last month we were told our chart only needed one more signature, then they would call for our chart to be picked up.

Each weekday morning brings new hope that slowly weakens throughout the day and as the week progresses without word.

Once we receive our authorization to adopt from IBESR, our case will enter lower courts in Cap Haitian.

Eli plans to visit home for a while this summer, please pray for our case to advance so that we can visit and bond with F again.

I would like to ask you to join us in praying earnestly for us to exit IBESR this month! 

Other families who met their children this year have already exited IBESR.

[A while ago Cory brought home 3 new flowers for the yard and I decided it would be my Mother's day gift. One for each child.
Bottom picture shows normal size vs. mini]