T turns 5

T turns 5.

edible camping cake
dinner of choice: saracho wings!

"T" we love seeing the little man you are growing into.

"You must think I'm strong"

One of our favorite songs right now is Matthew West's "Strong Enough". I think it describes how we have been feeling lately. Here's what's been going on......

We were waiting for Travis to turn 35 so we could turn in our paperwork, which he did and we had a fun day celebrating his awesomeness:).

2 weeks before this, we got some news that our girls are no longer at the orphanage thus no longer available for adoption. I don't know how to describe the feeling, besides how I felt when we lost our baby Hudson 6 years ago. We don't really know how or if we should move on. I guess we are still praying they come back. There is a back story but that doesn't do anyone any good to replay what happened. But if you could join us in prayer so we have wisdom to know how to proceed, we would appreciate it.

In April, I went to Haiti to visit the orphanage and had an amazing time. I am pretty sure I was in heaven with all those precious children. I loved being in Haiti and seeing it finally with my own eyes instead of reading someone else's experience there. It was hard for me to return and go about my normal/privileged life. I feel guilty. But that is a good thing I suppose, to always be thankful/grateful and aware of those who have less, but in a way that creates action. I can't wait to go back!

I had a rummage sale to raise money for our adoption and it was a success in my eyes. People were generous in their giving when they knew what it was for. I didn't mark anything just told people to pay what they wanted. It was kinda funny how uncomfortable some people were with that, some forcing me to tell them how much to pay. I am such a push-over too, they could've gotten away with paying so little.

We traded our van in for a suburban so we could accommodate our growing family. We were so thankful we found one we liked at a place that would give us what we needed for a trade-in so NO CAR PAYMENT!!!! whoohooooo Dave Ramsey would be so proud:)

I think that's all for now. I will try and update more often, even if it's bad news.....

Long Break...Bad News....Good News

I haven't posted for a while for several reasons.
-I have been trying to use my time more efficiently in the evenings when the kids go to bed.
*I am trying to workout-right now doing INSANITY workout-LOVE IT!!!
*I have a goal of reading through the Bible in 90 days....lofty goal....I know!! Biblegateway.com has lots of different reading plans and I have tried others and thought this would go alongside my workout goal too.

-Last week we were told we might not be able to go forward with our adoption and turn in our dossier because of my age.(I am under the 35) We knew this was a gamble but thought from Haiti's previous waivers, we would be ok. After waiting a couple of days(which seemed like forever for us), we were told that we COULD turn in our paperwork when Travis turns 35 in June.
Our hearts are overflowing with gratefulness!
We are also saddened by how this strict rule affects good Christian families who want to bring home children.
So even though our paperwork is done(well actually we will have to redo 2 documents to reflect travis age being 35) and God PROVIDED ALL THE MONEY WE NEEDED to turn in.....we are waiting til June to turn it in. I am still in AWE how God does it!!! Who he uses.....when.....how.......
A big THANK YOU! to the family*you know who you are* who so graciously gave the remainder we needed. It is so humbling to be on the receiving end.
We also received a grant from our church's Orphan Minsistry-Thank you!!!!!I hope many other families can benefit from this ministry as well.
This week has been a week of rollercoaster emotions, but I feel like we have walked through a valley and were able to see God through it all. Every valley we go through brings us closer to Him and it's easier and easier to Praise Him through the good times and the bad times. He brings us joy despite our circumstances. He is faithful!!!

Dossier

2 Originals

4 copies

all notarized

all authenticated

some legalized

all translated

$6,000.......

Bringing two children into their forever family....

PRICELESS!!!!

CoLoRs

ONe of the ways we like to help the kids learn their colors is to make them their own book with pictures of themselves with all the different colors. S found t's book and wanted to make one of himself, so that is what we did this afternoon. A wanted to join in too, of course, and totally was into it. S fizzed out after the first two colors.....

So here we go with brown,

Green
Love her smile/laugh!

Pink! Yes, that is her sleep cap!-it's pink though:)

Blue

Yellow

Red

(see he is carrying around T's picture from his book)

It has been a crazy couple weeks with sickness in our house. t started then last week Dad and S got it and this week A and I got it. S ended up with pneumonia and T had a sinus infection. I am hoping we are at the end of it all now.

Our dossier is complete! We made all the necessary copies-6 sets total!! Can I just say "INSANE?" I will post pictures of it all.

Now we are praying for the funds to turn it in. It is hard but we know God's timing is perfect and He will provide!

Psalms 73:23-26

Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

Hope

Sick kids.......Good News

The past two weeks we have been trying to contain the germs in our house to just one kid....we failed. Child #2 is now sick! During the day he is acting fine but at night he just coughs and coughs.(like the nasty croup sounding cough) The first night when we was running a fever, I had him and helped him get through the night. But then night two, after no nap and no sleeping the night before....I couldn't really cope. I know.....I am a mom and that's my job....what I am made to do...console my child at night.....
I confess, I am horrible at nighttime.
I don't know why.
Even when they were babies, I can't function at nighttime. Maybe I am not fully awake.....
Anyway, God knew my short-comings and made sure I had an AWESOME husband who can handle nighttime wakings.
(Don't get annoyed, I am going to brag on how amazing my husband is right now. Skip to next paragraph if you don't want to hear-cause you know your jealous:)

S couldn't lay flat but wouldn't stay on the propped pillow next to me and was fighting me. He would cough so hard he would almost throw up. I was becoming frustrated because I wanted to sleep and he wouldn't do what he needed to stop coughing and go to sleep...repeat for a while. Then I was saved by his daddy, who came in and took him and slept with him in our big chair in the living room. He let him sleep on his chest, which helped him not cough. Poor guy didn't sleep but a couple hours...and I feel even worse now that I write this all out. I am very thankful that he is such a good "helpmate". He really does a wonderful job with the kids and helping if I need him around the house too. Thank you T!!!
*****************************************************************************

We received our update on our girls from our agency director who was just down there last week. It was a very positive update. Both girls are back at the orphanage and doing well. We were told some stories about them that gives us insight on their personalities. I am always overjoyed to hear anything knew about them and treasure any bit of information or pictures we get.....but it also makes me long to meet them even more! Soon, I pray!

We also got our dossier back from the translator, so now we are just waiting for one more thing to return and we are ready to "make some copies". Oh yes I will be annoying my husband the whole time with that SNL skit the whole time we do it!
"The Travster...in the copy room....makin copies....."

Trust

We should have our paperwork ready to send/taken to Haiti this week. Which is a huge relief, for me. It's been exhausting to constantly think about what needs to be done next.....what paper we are waiting on or needing to mail off.
As happy as I am to be done, I am scared. I am scared that now the paperwork is ready to send and we don't have the money to send with it, which means we can't send it.
It's like I felt better knowing we didn't have the money because we didn't have our paperwork ready anyway-it was my safety. So I actually wasn't really trusting God. WAs I???
I want this part of the process done so the next part in Haiti can start. I want the girls HOME.....I want to meet them....I want to hold them....I want to start the process of bonding.....healing.....I want to know they are feeling loved and wanted.....
********Do you see the repetitive use of "I"?********
Lord, let YOUR will be done in this process, NOT mine. You say to come to you with requests and we have, so I don't need to keep carrying this around. You know what we need to complete this adoption and bring these girls home. Help me not try and control but TRUST in your PERFECT timing and will. You how much we long to see our girls and how much we love them, because you love them even more.
amen

date nights and stuff.....

We have been helping make cloth diapers for HH, the orphanage, A came from. Since the sewing machine is out, I have been doing some other things that I have been putting off-yes, I am a self-diagnosed procrastinator. O kept asking to learn how to sew, so I said why not???!!!
I showed him how to operate it and he practiced by sewing the liner for the diapers, which is just straight lines and perfect for a beginner.(not that I am that much past that) He was so proud of himself and the end product. He loves doing anything 'crafty' or using his imagination. He loves legos and blocks and enjoys creating things, so I shouldn't be surprised that this would make him excited. He was OBSESSED for the next couple days after learning-he made about 30 liners. My next goal is to teach him how to thread the needle, bobbin and machine. It was funny to hear him talk about when 'he has kids(which he has always said he didn't want-just a dog) he is going to make all their clothes, starting with PJ's.' He is going to start by making himself a shirt-stay tuned for that:)

Ignore the messy craft table:)

A goal we have as parents is to spend one on one time with each kid. It was my turn and privilege to take T out for his date. It is so pleasing to see how excited and proud they get when it is their turn. They get to pick where we go, within reason and it is all about them.

I had to make one stop while we were out and when I told him he said,"NOOOOO, not girlie stuff, just boyyyyyy stuff!" I laughed and said it would be quick. One would think we were going to something sporty or hunting/fishing....you know....boy stuff.....Ummmm....NO. We were going to Starbucks! But he loved it-it is a special treat to go there and have a "pink drink". We have cut our budget so much since our 2 adoptions, eating out and starbucks is like winning the lottery at our house;)

When T gets our full attention, he is a different child. He talks and talks and is polite. We went to PetSmart to see the fish and small animals they have there and he was so excited. He played with the aquarium decorations like they were toys-they had dinos and sharks.

Here he is eating his cookie at starbucks.

I Won't Let Go

We don't listen to country music often and I honestly haven't listened to this song, but a friend gave us the lyrics and said they reminded her of us-and our girls.


I will stand by you
I will help you through
When you've done all you can do
If you can't cope
I will dry your eyes
I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight
And I won't let go

It hurts my heart

To see you cry

I know it's dark

This part of life

Oh it finds us all

And we're too small

to stop the rain

Oh but when it rains

I will stand by you

I will help you through

When you've done all you can do

And you can't cope

I will dry your eyes

I will fight your fight

I will hold you tight

And I won't let you fall

Don't be afraid to fall

I'm right here to catch you

I won't let you down

It won't get you down
YOur gonna make it

Yea I know you can make it

Cause I will stand by you

I will help you through

When you've done all you can do

And you can't cope

And I willdry your eyes

I will fight your fight

I will hold you tight

And I won't let go

Oh I'm gonna hold you

And I won't let go

Won't let go

No I won't.

(Rascal Flatts-I won't let go)

Happy Birthday!!!

'Happy Birthday to you....Happy Birthday to you....Happy Birthday to "M".....Happy birthday to you!"

Happy Birthday to our sweet little girl "M" in Haiti!! She turned 4 today and was able to be released from the hospital! PtL!!!!

All day long when we asked the kids whose birthday it was today-they kept saying "Jesus". It was funny because the answer is whoever birthday we celebrated last......so Christmas-Jesus's birthday was the last one.......so today is Jesus's birthday.....???? By the end of the day they all got it right though.

We made a cake for her and sang Happy Birthday. The kids were excited to participate in the eating of her cake.

I hope this is the last birthday we spend apart.

Prayer Request

Please keep our two girls that are in Haiti in prayer they are BOTH having some health issues! Please pray that we can get our paperwork turned in and their paperwork turned in at the same time to avoid any delay.

Turn down blog music

I love the phrase"I hope you know that there is somebody out there searching for a way to get you here."
I pray "M"and "A" know that we are!

Haitian Gathering

Another adoptive mommy and I left sat. morning for a 5 hour drive to attend a Haitian gathering in Alexandria MN. It has been 1 year since a group of Haitian kids were brought to their adoptive families after the earthquake and were having a reunion. They also invited families who were currently in the adoption process for Haiti.
I am so glad we went. It was wonderful to meet the other families and visit about our children. Everyone has such a heart for their kids and all the kids in the orphanage. It was amazing to finally meet Rhyan since we have stalked her blog for a while now. She has such an amazing servants heart!
The adoption process is hard and long and it makes it much more pleasant to walk through it with a group who first-loves the Lord and secondly-is so passionate about adoption. I am excited to get to know these families and experience the heartache of the wait but also rejoice when their families are UNITED.
10 HOURS in the car isn't fun, but it was a JOY to visit with my friend-Michelle-without interruptions. But we were both so excited to get back and see our families. Thanks again Travis for watching the kids and being a great daddy.

He turns our Saddness to Gladness

This week has been a week of sad news and the constant reminder that God is in control.
First we have been working hard the past two weeks to get all of our paperwork ready to be turned in the beginning of Feb. Of course, things don't always go the way we plan. Changes needed to be made, mail has gotten lost, among other things-point being-we won't be able to make this deadline. I was so sad at first! I mean REALLY disappointed!!! But as the realization sunk in, I was comforted by the TRUTH- that God does work everything out and in His timing! So the rest of the day, even though I was disappointed, I had a joyful heart.
Then today we heard some sad news about a little girl at our daughters orphanage. She was most likely a good friend of our oldest daughter there, "M". And our hearts just ache for her, and everyone else there who are mourning this little sweetie.
Even thought this week has been sad and stressful, I am ending it on a good note. Tomorrow I am traveling with a friend, who is also adopting from Haiti, to Alexandria for a Haitian adoption gathering. It's been year since a group of kiddos came home and they want to get together as well as families currently in the process. Needless to say, I am so excited to meet new adoptive families and visit with Amy and Lindsey with our agency, and of course, Rhyan who spends time in Haiti. I love learning new things about Haiti and maybe she will teach me the correct way to say some phrases I have been learning. I will miss my WONDERFUL husband who will be a single parent for the next two days, and my children. But getting a way will be a nice break from the ordinary.
And today we got to see a family off at the airport, on their way to Ethiopia to meet their daughter and have court. After praying and hugging, we said goodbye. I am so excited to hear all about their trip and their first meeting with little miss 'M'. God is so good all the time-All the time God is good! When things are going good, I will praise Him. When things aren't going the way "I" want them to and my heart aches-I will praise HIM!

One year Ago!

One year ago tomorrow, we left for Ethiopia. We said "goodbye" to our beautiful children here in America to say "Hello" to our beautiful daughter in Ethiopia. Nothing could prepare us for the emotions, good and bad we would experience through the next week. We couldn't wait to get there and see Africa and especially our daughter. The day we had been dreaming about for a year was actually happening!!!

I love packing so I was in Heaven trying to get all our necessities to fit with all the donations we wanted to take. I think I packed and repacked a dozen times.

And now a year later, we are going to see another family off at the airport, as they go meet their little girl in Ethiopia. Hopefully when they return we will be celebrating the official new member of their family as they pass court. Of course, she is already a member of the family-we just like to celebrate anyway!

GOOD LUCK HUSONS!!!

CFA

(You have now tuned in to Control Freaks Anonymous. Names have NOT been changed to protect identity.)

"HI, My Name Is Ashlie, And I Am A Control Freak. It Has been 9 minutes since I Last Freaked Out Because I Am Not In Control. I First Realized I Had A Problem A Couple Years Ago. "

Update on our girls

We received an update on our girls in Haiti. It couldn't have come at a better time...yes, That's Just the Way God works!
We got 4 pics of the girls, I wish I could post their sweet faces.
But the coolest news we received was that they got the photo album of us we sent. They love looking at it and "M"(who will be 4 soon) already has learned our names. She is fascinated by Addis's picture, of course. I hope they will be great friends and sisters.
I couldn't stop smiling even as I went to bed, knowing they are learning more about us and they are happy about it.
It was just what I needed to keep the momentum going.
It is going to be a long process but I am so thankful for our agency and the updates we get on our kids every couple weeks. God is so faithful, even in the little things.

Please keep us in prayer as we are nearing our deadline for turning in our dossier and the money needed. (Obviously, if we don't get the money needed it can be turned in at a later date, but the sooner it's turned in the sooner it can be approved=the girls come home sooner)
All in God's timing and we pray His will be done above ALL else.

Dossier!!!

We have sent our dossier for review. Once it is reviewed and approved, we need to get it authenticated, translated and legalized. We also are waiting to have our homestudy approved so we can apply to USCIS for our FDL.
Our prayer is we can get all this done(not FDL) by the end of January so it can be taken down to Haiti in Feb. This will only happen by the GRACE of GOD. We need around $13,000 to turn in with it. It sounds so unattainable and we often feel overwhelmed when we think about it. But we also know how GREAT our God is! If HE wants this to happen NOW- He will make this happen. He loves our girls more than we do and has a plan for our family to unite, so we take comfort in that.
It is exciting to get the paperwork done and down there, I will feel like a weight is lifted.
"M's" bday is this month and I can't help but want to be with her. I want to help her celebrate her life, even though I know very little about it. I can't wait to get to know her- and of course "A". I pray we can have them home by her bday in September, call me a dreamer-I know.
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We have a fundraiser coming up-----January 24
All you have to do is eat at the PIZZA RANCH from 5pm-8pm.
Our family will receive 10% of the proceeds and TIPS!!
Come eat some yummy pizza!

Josh Wilson - I Refuse - SPIRIT 105.3 FM

**** Turn down my blog music on bottom of page to hear the video******

A New Year

I can't believe it's been a whole year since going to Ethiopia and bringing Addis home. She has come a long way and our family has too this past year.
I can't wait to see what this year will bring....hopefully we will be visiting Haiti....going to pick up our daughters from Haiti.....doors opening.....spiritual growth...children growing in Christ....friendships strengthened...opportunities to serve as a family and individually...house projects finished....budget cut using my mad shopping skills...healthy eating and activities....just to name a few.
I don't like to use the word "resolutions" because I know if we rely on our own strengths we will fail, but if we lift up our requests to God, and pray His will be done, we can't lose, no matter the outcome.

I pray your 2011 is full of love, growth, and peace in Christ.