All about Lincoln...Happy 7th Birthday!!

One of the Lincoln’s greatest attributes is that he believes so deeply. He lives with passion. He is all in (just like his Daddy). He trusts the people he loves. I love this about him...but it also terrifies me. I fear his potential heartbreak and disappointment in life. I am so thankful that he has a foundation in Jesus, so that when the storms of life come he will have a faith to hold onto.

In the last year, he went from being the only boy and the baby... to being one of three boys and a middle child. The grace with which he has handled the transition from us being a family of 4 to a family of 6 is amazing. I have never heard him say anything that would allude to the fact that his brothers were not fully welcomed into his world.

Sometimes people will ask what has been the most shocking aspect of our adjustment over the last year and I have to say without blinking that it is the way that the four of our children are TRUE family.

Our Lincoln...

- passionately loves Jesus

- loves playing jokes on people

- loves all sports (he's trying out football for the 1st time this year)

- has a heart of gold (but when he's angry...he's angry! He'll tell you he's working on that though :-) )

His birthday request was to celebrate by going to the Fun Factory in the mall, so that's what we did...

Lauren won 500 tickets!! 

Katherine did not need help. ;-)

Caroline beat Linc in the race :-) 

Sharing prizes

The Crew (not pictured Collin, Nick, and Katherine) :-)

All about Agendo...Happy 8th Birthday!!!

For the last 8 months Agendo has talked about his birthday. He has practiced saying the date, March 23, which took some time (23rd is kind-of hard for him to say). He has learned SO MUCH since he has been home and he is a very smart little fella, but the concept of time (all calendar words) have been very difficult. He has struggled to learn the days of the week and the months of the year. So in anticipating his birthday he has regularly asked, "it's now?"

Finally...we were able to say..."Yes...It is now!!" :-) He is a silly boy and he certainly knows how old he is, but when people ask him in front of me he will smile and make up a number, usually 15 (which he skips when counting ALMOST every time!)

He did not make a single gift request for his birthday, but he did request a caramel cake. My mom had a caramel cake at her house the first time he visited after we came home. It was the first cake he had in America and it is certainly his favorite. It has no cool decorations or theme, but he didn't ask for any of that. He just wanted a caramel cake, which sounds like camel cake when he says it so it took me a little while to figure out what he was requesting.We plan to have a little celebration with the cousins tomorrow and it will have a Batman theme and cake, but I'm sure he will resort back to his favorite.


A little about Agendo:

-Possibly the hardest working kid I know

-Likes to be in charge (working on channeling that in the right direction)

-Likes to please people (he LOVES his teacher)

-Has a HUGE servant's heart...finds fulfillment in helping

-Has great leadership skills

Using our words :-)

Today was a watershed moment for Chancely (and for me). Our mornings typically go really smoothly. Molly and Lincoln are definitely "morning people" and Agendo is getting there, but Chancely usually moves a little bit slower and rarely has much to say in the morning. As a result of him not saying what he wants or needs (and my refusal to try to read his mind) there are sometimes a few tears and long periods of silence. A phrase I often use is "Use your words." His response to this can be a 15 minute stare down with some tears, him eventually giving in and speaking after a LONG period of silence OR me making him repeat after me what I think he is wanting.

I realize this all seems really confusing as part of a morning school routine, however this is where we are right now. BUT this morning was different...we made progress!!

Everyone was at the table for devotions but Chancely so I went to check on him and he was in his pouting position with his chin tucked and tears on his cheeks. I said, "Chancely, what's wrong? Everyone is at the table...please finish getting dressed." I helped him put on his pants and he still looked sad. I tapped my lips and said (as usual), "Please use your words and tell me what you need." AND within 30 seconds he looked at me with sad eyes and said so clearly, "I can't find my shoes."

To say that I was shocked and excited is an understatement. He has never offered up information (when he is upset) that quickly. I gave him a big high five and told him how proud I was that he used his words and that I knew exactly where is shoes were. As we went for his shoes he continued to smile because he was so proud of himself.

Tonight, he walked in the kitchen while I was fixing his dinner and said, "Mom...I say...I can't find my shoes." The fact that he was still so proud shows what a big deal it was in the moment. His English is getting much better and he talks all of the time, but he struggles in the morning and when he is upset and today he conquered both!!!

All about Molly...Happy 9th Birthday!!!

She was the first child to call me "Mama," the first child I recall throwing up on me, the first child I remember holding extensively (until I thought my arms would fall off), the first child to make me realize that God had trusted us with a very precious task in parenting.

To say that Molly makes me a better person would be an understatement. She is so many things that I am not...some good...and some well...we all have areas for growth. We are learning together. She challenges my thoughts and ideas (She is learning to do this respectfully). She is compassionate and has a desire to serve. She knows what it means to sacrifice time and attention. She loves people. She wants to take walks in our neighborhood when she thinks people might be in their yards to talk. She is a strong leader and fierce competitor. We have lots of conversations about the way we "want" to do things versus the way we "should" do things...and she gets it....and is working on it (aren't we all). 

I have a desire to live righteously to please God, but also because I am living life in front of her. I want her to know what it looks like to follow Christ. I want her to know how to handle adversity and disappointment, because we know life is full of both. I also want her to know how to find joy in all things. She is a resilient young woman of God who is willing to express her struggles and share them to gain knowledge of how to grow from them. She desires to be better everyday and that is a lesson for us all. 

Molly is.... 

A great big sister!! She is our Wonder Woman! 

Our hope for the future...yes... she wants to be the President. 

A motivated, high achieving student! 

A Competitor. 

A prayer leader.

An AMAZING daughter. 

I am so thankful for the 9 years I have had with this precious girl. There is no doubt that God has big plans for her life. I am thankful that I have a front row seat to see it unfold. 

Ahhhh...was this really 9 years ago!?!? Those cheeks! 

All about Chancely...Happy 5th Birthday!!!

In honor of Chancely's 5th birthday I thought it was appropriate to dedicate a post to just him.

 Since the boys have been home one of the things we worked on was learning their birth dates. They both knew their ages, but neither could articulate their date of birth. However, since they have learned them they have been anticipating the day of celebration.

As a 4 year old (or really no matter how old), there has been A LOT of adjustment for Chancely over the last 5 months.

He has taken things in stride. He has two speeds. He is typically reserved, however, when things get going he can really get hyped up. Usually he is found observing until he is really comfortable joining in whatever is going on. He has a set of lungs that you can hear a mile a way if he gets upset (this is getting MUCH better) and I would put him up against anyone (except me :-) ) in a staring contest. He also and more importantly is VERY loving. His hugs and snuggles are irresistible. His heart is so giving. I have had to tell him, "No...those are your birthday presents. You can share them, but you can't give them to your brothers and sister."   :-)

This weekend we have seen a new side of him. We celebrated his party on Saturday and made a big deal about it being about him and well...he kind of liked it! He has exuded a lot of confidence and has learned that being the center of attention is pretty fun. He has held his shoulders a little higher as he struts around. It has been fun to watch. No worries about his ego getting too big...his brothers and sister will keep him humble, but there is nothing wrong with a little attention.

Birthdays are important, they are a reminder that we have been given a chance at life. A reminder that we have been given an opportunity to fulfill the purpose for which we were created. I am thankful for the mom who chose to give our sweet boy life and for Chances for Children in Haiti, who celebrated our little man on his first 4 birthdays. Our prayer is that He allows God to use his life in a mighty way. 

A BIG year in Review...God is Good.

  

This has been a big year for our family. When it began, we were unsure of when we would all finally be together.  As I sit and reflect, I am overwhelmed by all that has happened and the grace God has shown us.

It has been a year of stress and changes, as well as, excitement and MANY firsts. It is so incredibly difficult to sit down and summarize such an amazing year, not only because there is a very loud game of hide-and-seek going on in my house at the moment, but because our blessings are innumerable.

Don't ever be fooled to think that because we highlight the positive that there haven't been challenges to the new lives that we live. However, the blessings and bright spots are much sweeter because of the struggles that we have gone through.

To finish out the year, I wanted to highlight a few of the many milestones our family celebrated.

January

Chancely turned 4 but we couldn't show his face because he wasn't legally a Fitzgerald.

Molly turned 8. Uncle Brian threw Molly a beautiful party and Aubree went with us to Savannah to celebrate and watch Molly swim. 

We experienced some disappointments during January as well. We were informed that an important meeting that was necessary to move our adoption forward had not happened as scheduled and would cause further delays.

February 

Molly and Joey enjoyed the Father-Daughter Dance

Our boys celebrated a late Christmas in Haiti because of issues with the shipping container.  

March
March was a BIG month for us!!!

Lincoln was the PBIS student of the month for his class. 

Molly and I traveled down to visit the boys in Haiti. 

We celebrated Agendo turning 7, but we missed Dad and Lincoln.  

On March 27 (while Molly and I were visiting) after a 3 year wait we learned that Agendo and Chancely had OFFICALLY become Fitzgeralds!!!!! 

April

Molly participated in her first track meet 

We celebrated our last Easter as a family of 4 

May 

Molly and Lincoln finished another great soccer season. 

We celebrated the end of 2nd grade for Molly and Kindergarten for Lincoln.

Molly went to her first overnight camp without her mom (dad was a little reluctant). 

Adoption Shower during post-planning: So thankful for awesome people!!!

Lovely shower hostess, Christan B. (Not Pictured: Jenny W.)

June

Aunt Becca and Lauren took Molly to her first tennis camp. 

We were able to sneak off to Nashville for a swim meet and enjoy a fun visit with the Dunlap crew!! 

  

During the month of June we were on pins and needles waiting for passports and visas for the boys!!! 

July 

A HUGE MONTH FOR US!!!!!!!!!!

We celebrated 4th of July...

We celebrated Lincoln's 6th bday...

Our awesome church gave us an adoption shower. We are so blessed to worship and serve with such wonderful people. 

And on July 25 Joey and I flew to get our boys!!!!

Our first night with the boys

Going away party at the creche

Our stay at the Best Western in Petionville 

Finally Americans!! 

Our wonderful welcome home crew!!          

Think he was excited about seeing his brothers???

Excited to reunite with Molly and Linc and to finally meet some of their cousins!


I can't say enough about the support from these people God had blessed us to call family. We were so thankful that Meme, Papa, Uncle Adam, Aunt Becca, Lauren, Caroline, and Katherine joined Molly and Lincoln to welcome us. There were a few others hiding behind cameras that we are SO thankful for as well.

We celebrated our first family day on July 30!!!! 

August 

And the many "firsts" begin....

Met more cousins!! 

First Sunday at church

First Open House for school

   

First Days of School

First boat ride

First brownie bowl :-) 

First watermelon

First football game

Happy Bday, Daddy!! 

Needless to say...August was a big month for us! 

September 

Soccer began

Grits with Grandpa at Daffodil for Chancely

Lincoln lost his first tooth!! 

Met Nana Pam and Papa Joe

October

First trip to the Jacksonville Zoo

First stay in a hotel

Wonderful visit from the Dunlap Family!!!

Citizenship Certificates arrived in the mail :-) 

First family pics by T. Alonso with Captured Gravity

 (who also captured our homecoming at the airport)

First Halloween 

Molly and I squeezed in a "Girls Day" on Jekyll Island

November 

     

Soccer Season came to an end

 (first pic Captured Gravity Photography)

We recognize and appreciate National Adoption Month

We packed Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

Uncle Brian was a stand in for Mom and Dad

 for Thanksgiving lunch at school

  

We celebrated Thanksgiving at Aunt Becca and Uncle Adam's house

We met Santa 

   

We picked out and decorated our Christmas tree

Made Christmas ornaments 

December 

Molly competed in our system Tech Competion

We celebrated Advent

All of the kiddos performed in the Christmas musical at church

Molly set new PRs in her December swim meet

First trip to the movies...Star Wars!! Everyone loved it! 

Christmas Eve gift exchange

  

Wonderful, blessed first Christmas all together!!!

I started keeping a journal for each of our children a few months ago. I thought this was a good way of sharing the thoughts I have as they grow older and to remind them of special moments during their childhood. It is fun to think about how they will feel when they read it many years from now. I am taking the same approach with my blog. As this journey of our adoption has finished and we are a forever family of 6 (unless God changes MY plan :-) ), I have decided to keep documenting our family's journey as we are abandoned to the call to live for Christ.

We can't express the thankfulness we have in our hearts for those who stuck with us for the 3.5 year journey and continue to support our family now that we are home together.


“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:9-13

In His Service,
Amy