Reflect

There is a local business on the main road through town which always has a new saying or phrase to reflect on. I usually need to drive by a couple times before I'm able to read the whole sign due to traffic. This time after a failed attempt to get a picture of the sign while driving by, I pulled over and had Zane take a picture . I'm thankful to know that as the bumps and rough spots come along in life that God is able to use those times to grow us and spur us on to the great things he has in store for us in the future. What a great father he is :) "For I know the great plans I have for you " declares the Lord. " Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future..." Jeremiah 29:11

Bambi

Bonswa

Well, besides starting to pack I have been trying to learn a little Haitian Creole :) I haven't studied a foreign language since high school unless you count coffee shop lingo. Adam and the kids always poke fun at me when when I order at the Starbucks drive thru. I have to admit it takes a little practice to get " venti non-fat white chocolate mocha with whip please" out in one breath. Anyhow, I have been using a great book called Simple Language Haitian Creole for Adoptive Families. I had seen it on Amazon and also on another adoptive mom's blog. So far it has been great! Of course I am far from mastering the Haitian language of Creole. But it's a start. And the most important thing I what to say to Vania I've already learned . "Nou renmen ou anpil !"( we love you so much! ).......Bambi

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !

Carson turns 6 today ! It is going to be beautiful here 87 degrees and sunny :) The family is coming over to celebrate with pizza and cake , so it should be a great day . We love you Carson, happy birthday little man!
MOM and DAD

Blessed

This is a picture of Zane cleaning his new shoes with a baby wipe before school. It has become his new morning routine. Previously Zane had lost his Nintendo DS to the washer and an MP3 on the school playground. He has been learning the hard life lesson of being content with what you have and taking care of what you have been given. This is something I know I struggle with and something I think God has got his finger on in my life. With the common phrase " I WANT IT ALL !" and Beyonce calling out for an upgrade it is easy to get lost in a sense of entitlement to "things". And with that attitude it gets hard to place any real value on the blessings we have been given. So as Zane protects his shoes from rain and mud and tucking them into their shoebox at night I hope that he appreciates and values what he has been given and that the new shoes do not have the same fate as the DS and MP3 player. I know this trip to Haiti will be very emotional for Adam and I, and will truly deepen our appreciation for the blessings around us:) Below is a picture of Carson in a moment of temporary contentment with his fav blanket and morning cartoons. Peaceful moments:)

Bambi

How Long ?

The dreaded question, with no definite answers. Below is an updated time line for Haitian adoptions from our agency. We are somewhere within the first two steps. Fingers & toes crossed praying for divine intervention !
LOL Bambi

Timeline

Below is a fairly current timeline.

Minister of Foreign Affairs	2-8 weeks
Preparation of file for IBESR	2-8 weeks*
IBESR	3-12 months**
Civil Court	4-8 weeks
Legalization	4-12 weeks
Minister of Interior/MOI	3-6 months+
Immigration/Passport printing	2-8 weeks
USCIS	3 weeks minimum++
Visa Process	1 -2 weeks
Total timeframe	12 – 28 months

Quiet

This week has been super duper quiet, in all aspects. I guess that could be a good thing :) Kids are doing well. Everyone is back to school from spring break. Zoe is fully recovered and back into the swing of things. Everything is just quiet. Adam took this picture on a business trip in California. This captures the essence of what I am feeling right now ! June cannot get here soon enough and i hope our paperwork is moving !!!! We are planning on enjoying the nice weather coming this weekend and doing some luggage shopping. Have a great weekend.
Bambi

HAPPY EASTER

Today was a beautiful day outside. We went to an Easter egg hunt given by our church and now Adam is out side grilling some steaks ! YUM ! I thought I would share some pictures of the kids coloring Easter eggs and of Adam and I in our new Hope for little angels of Haiti shirts. Thank you Etsy fairy ! We decided that for fun we would pose as Amazing race contestants with our matching shirts :) Ha! Ha! Have a great Easter !
Bambi

Ouch !

Adam and I had our immunizations today for travel. All went well I guess, for getting shots. The kids kept saying.. he/ she's not screaming and Adam kept saying well we're not screaming , but it doesn't tickle ! I guess they expected more drama out of us old folks . Adam needs to go in 1 month to repeat his Hep B . I get 6mo. off until we both go back in for Hep A and Adam another Hep B. Adam didn't feel to well after his shots . I'm glad we didn't loose him to unconciousness after seeing the bill :) Immunizations for travel are not covered under our insurance, which we were prepared for, but you know what it's like when you get the bill . Especially right then and there after receiving shots.Which again.. did not tickle .
LOL Bambi

PS - I had to add this little tidbit from Carson this morning 4/9/09.... he informed me at 8:00 this morning after jumping into my bed that when he grows up he is not going to have a girlfriend who wants to travel to get a baby. He wants one with one already in her belly so he doesn't have to get shots to travel ! Deep thoughts by my 5 year old . I wonder if he had been contemplating that one all night ?

Non - Profit Status

We received the below e-mail from our agency today. This is great news for our orphanage. I have added the donate button to the sidebar . Please check it out. We are in the process of gathering food and donations to take to the orphanage that the families will carry in their luggage when we travel in June. Any donated money using the link in the sidebar will go directly to Vania's Orphanage helping them acquire the food and supplies they need ! Please consider donating :)

Dear Wasatch Families adopting from Hope for the little Angels,

I just wanted to let you know that Hope for the little Angels now has a non-profit status.

I am sending you the instructions to making donations using pay pal, and the money

Will go directly to the orphanage.

This is really great news for the orphanage and will hopefully help in getting more

Donations sent down, and getting business to support the orphanage.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

With care,

Chareyl

Bambi

Mc Operation completion

Zoe is doing great ! Thank you for all of your prayers . We are home and she is sleeping after logging into WebKinz and registering her new turtle from the hospital gift shop ( you know, a girl has her priorities :) This was definitely a Mc Operation, in and out. Very smooth from beginning to end. The hospital and staff were fantastic !!!!! Thanks again,
Bambi

OPEN WIDE

Just wanted to let everyone know that Zoe will be having her tonsillectomy tomorrow. She has to be at the hospital by 6:30 am and the surgery is at 8:00 am . Please pray that it will be a very smooth and routine surgery and that she will have a fast recovery :)

We sent in Vania's official referral form today and have received our travel packets from our agency forJune :) We've also sent up our appointment for travel immunizations next week( not so sure I'm looking forward to that part:( I can't remember the last time I had to have a shot !

We'll keep you posted.
Bambi