Wow...I had no idea it had been so long since my last post. Sorry to those who are diligently praying for us..hopefully over the next few months there will be more to tell. Of course... as usual, I was putting off my blog post until we had some good news to share, but I have come to learn that any news is good news even if it isn't what we were hoping for. God is really helping me deal with my "control issues" through this process, seeing as how I am in control of NOTHING!
So a little update...
-At the end of September, I (Amy), was getting a little anxious because we were coming up on our one year mark in Haiti (19 months total process/12 months in Haiti) and we had expected/hoped to get our referral by October. I knew this was unlikely because we hadn't heard of any movement on our case in IBESR (Haiti Social Services) for almost a year. Then we got an email from our social worker who said that there had been a meeting for our case and it hadn't gone as well as hoped...once again I had to remind myself that God is in control. Well ....to turn my emotional roller coaster upside down again....we spoke the next Monday and the meeting had happened and had gone successfully (YAY)....and they had scheduled the next meeting for Wednesday (Sept 23) (Huge YAY)....and then we think the only thing left before we receive our official referral for our sweet boys is the signature of a judge (which could take weeks/months).
Well....on Sept 23 we learned that the meeting had been changed to October 22...so as a result we did not and will not get our referral in October barring a HUGE miracle. Needless to say...we were very disappointed!
Not getting our referral yet has been difficult for me, but I KNOW that God's timing is perfect and that he sees the end of all of this. He knows exactly what the boys need to be ready to join us and He knows exactly what we need to be ready for the boys to come.
Please pray that God will make my heart patient. Joey is patient, but even he needs a little movement in the process to feel encouraged. He was very disappointed by the change in the meeting date. Pray for Molly and Linc as we are trying to make the most of everyday with them...and pray for our boys in Haiti, who are getting older and bigger everyday without their mom and dad to hold them and love on them.
Please pray for the meeting that is supposed to happen on Oct 22!! And...for the judge that is supposed to sign before our referral!
Abandoned to HIM,
Amy
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Mother's Day...A different perspective
I should start with this... I have the most wonderful, self-sacrificing mother that anyone could imagine. I am truly thankful beyond words.
That being said... I must confess that I, however, am not a good celebrator. I just like to be. I like everyday, mundane life and celebrations disrupt the norm. I realize that sounds a little crazy, but special occasions/holidays really take me out of my comfort zone. There is the fear of forgetting someone or failing to find an adequate gift for an occasion, so I embrace the NORMAL day wholeheartedly. I expect nothing...no gifts or special treatment and in return I am not nearly as thoughtful as I should be to others (who are completely deserving of SO MUCH more than I could ever give).
As the day approaches I have had some of my usual thoughts that come around this day of year, such as There is nothing I could give my mother to show how much I love and appreciate her and My children are super cute and make some really great Mother's Day crafts at school.
BUT this year I have had a different mother on my mind and that is the birth mother of the boys*** we are hoping to adopt. I can't seem to get her off of my mind, which is odd since I don't know her or even if she actually exists. I have ZERO knowledge of the mother who gave birth to the children we hope become part of our family. But I do know that if she does exist it is VERY likely that she would love to be the one spending Mother's Day with them, but most likely circumstances beyond her control are preventing it. As I look at Molly and Lincoln and feel the immense pain at the THOUGHT of having to give them up for their own survival my heart breaks for her and a huge part of me wants to understand how to help our boys love, appreciate and celebrate their birth mom.
I want them to know that God directed their dad and I to them and that our opportunity to raise them to know and serve Christ is our greatest desire. I want them to know that their birth parents are a major part of who they are and that by living for Christ they can eternally honor the sacrifice made for them.
The thought of this responsibility is a little overwhelming, considering I'm not very good at special occasions.
I would love to think that the government in Haiti is going to institute an incredibly efficient process and get our boys home before next Mother's Day, but I understand the reality of the process and realize that it is unlikely. I am however, committing in my heart to help our children remember the very special lady who brought them into the world and I'm just not sure what this picture looks like but God does.
Please remember and pray for birth mothers who make such huge sacrifices for their children.
***We have not received an official referral so nothing is certain...BUT God is in control and HE knows the children that will become little Fitzgeralds.
Abandoned to Christ,
Amy
That being said... I must confess that I, however, am not a good celebrator. I just like to be. I like everyday, mundane life and celebrations disrupt the norm. I realize that sounds a little crazy, but special occasions/holidays really take me out of my comfort zone. There is the fear of forgetting someone or failing to find an adequate gift for an occasion, so I embrace the NORMAL day wholeheartedly. I expect nothing...no gifts or special treatment and in return I am not nearly as thoughtful as I should be to others (who are completely deserving of SO MUCH more than I could ever give).
As the day approaches I have had some of my usual thoughts that come around this day of year, such as There is nothing I could give my mother to show how much I love and appreciate her and My children are super cute and make some really great Mother's Day crafts at school.
BUT this year I have had a different mother on my mind and that is the birth mother of the boys*** we are hoping to adopt. I can't seem to get her off of my mind, which is odd since I don't know her or even if she actually exists. I have ZERO knowledge of the mother who gave birth to the children we hope become part of our family. But I do know that if she does exist it is VERY likely that she would love to be the one spending Mother's Day with them, but most likely circumstances beyond her control are preventing it. As I look at Molly and Lincoln and feel the immense pain at the THOUGHT of having to give them up for their own survival my heart breaks for her and a huge part of me wants to understand how to help our boys love, appreciate and celebrate their birth mom.
I want them to know that God directed their dad and I to them and that our opportunity to raise them to know and serve Christ is our greatest desire. I want them to know that their birth parents are a major part of who they are and that by living for Christ they can eternally honor the sacrifice made for them.
The thought of this responsibility is a little overwhelming, considering I'm not very good at special occasions.
I would love to think that the government in Haiti is going to institute an incredibly efficient process and get our boys home before next Mother's Day, but I understand the reality of the process and realize that it is unlikely. I am however, committing in my heart to help our children remember the very special lady who brought them into the world and I'm just not sure what this picture looks like but God does.
Please remember and pray for birth mothers who make such huge sacrifices for their children.
***We have not received an official referral so nothing is certain...BUT God is in control and HE knows the children that will become little Fitzgeralds.
Abandoned to Christ,
Amy
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Continuing to Prepare...
I can't believe how fast the first 3 months of this year have gone. We have been so busy with school, swim, and basketball. And in a few weeks softball starts! Whewwww ...we stay on the go. It has been a while since I have given an adoption update and several people have been asking so I wanted to let our prayer partners know that we are still waiting. Again, I like to think of it as a preparation period, rather than a waiting period. We know God is using this time to prepare our family and to prepare all of our children to be united.
Since "my word" for the year is Prepare...I have been doing things that I think might help me to be better prepared to mother children whose needs differ from what I am used to. This has included a lot of reading. I realize that when my parenting skills are called into action that I may forget everything that I have read, but nevertheless I am storing away the knowledge and experience of those who have gone before me in the adoption world. It feels so enlightening to read, listen and watch(I like documentaries) stories of both success and failure of adoption. To hear the struggles that people are willing to share, in hopes of helping a family in the future, is humbling. I am thankful that some many people are willing to allow God to use their stories to encourage and inspire.
During this time of preparation I have been reminded that I have so much to be thankful for.
Abandoned to Christ's Call,
Amy
Since "my word" for the year is Prepare...I have been doing things that I think might help me to be better prepared to mother children whose needs differ from what I am used to. This has included a lot of reading. I realize that when my parenting skills are called into action that I may forget everything that I have read, but nevertheless I am storing away the knowledge and experience of those who have gone before me in the adoption world. It feels so enlightening to read, listen and watch(I like documentaries) stories of both success and failure of adoption. To hear the struggles that people are willing to share, in hopes of helping a family in the future, is humbling. I am thankful that some many people are willing to allow God to use their stories to encourage and inspire.
During this time of preparation I have been reminded that I have so much to be thankful for.
- We have an amazing agency that I am becoming more and more thankful for. To know that our agency is lifting us up in prayer on a regular basis and that they are genuinely working in the best interest of every child that they have contact with is such a blessing. When we started this process I thought all agencies worked that way, however, through the stories of multiple families I am learning that not all agencies are so Christ centered.
- I am thankful that God has created such a special place in the hearts of Molly and Linc for their Haitian siblings. They have no tangible evidence of their siblings, yet they pray for them as if they know them.
- I am thankful that our children have such a great dad! He is sitting on go and if they called us today he would be ready to drop everything and get on a plane and go meet our kiddos and love on them. And at the same time, he has such a peace and calmness about the wait.
Abandoned to Christ's Call,
Amy
Monday, January 19, 2015
Theme of 2015: Prepare
As the Christmas season ended and everyone began discussing their New Year's resolutions I noticed several people mention a "word of the year." I'm not sure if I have just be unobservant in the past, but this tradition of picking a "word of the year" was new to me. After reading several articles/blogs that included this tradition I decided I would try to think of a word that I would reflect on regularly throughout the year. For most of January I thought maybe my word should be "patience" because we are in the long waiting period of our adoption and I need to cultivate sincere patience to avoid anxiety during the year. It could be months before we hear anything, even a little update...so patience will be necessary. However, as I have read and spent time in scripture I don't want my word to be patience, because in my situation it seems passive. I needed something active, something that said I'm waiting...expecting God to do something great....something I certainly need to be prepared for.
So...while I wait patiently, I am going to PREPARE. I'm going to work to prepare my heart and mind to welcome two more children into our lives. Children whose struggles I do not know. Children who are going to need me to be something I have never been. I have never been the mother of children who don't understand family and attachment. But I know that God can prepare me to be what He needs me to be for these precious children. Joey and I also see God preparing Molly and Linc. I hear their preparation in their prayers for their brothers in Haiti.
We are thankful that Molly started off this year with her profession of faith in Jesus Christ and baptism. I think she is off to a good start, preparing for a life of service to Christ.
Please join me in praying that we, as a family, will be prepared for whatever the year brings. It is my prayer that we are actively seeking to prepare our lives to accomplish the tasks that God has for us.
So...while I wait patiently, I am going to PREPARE. I'm going to work to prepare my heart and mind to welcome two more children into our lives. Children whose struggles I do not know. Children who are going to need me to be something I have never been. I have never been the mother of children who don't understand family and attachment. But I know that God can prepare me to be what He needs me to be for these precious children. Joey and I also see God preparing Molly and Linc. I hear their preparation in their prayers for their brothers in Haiti.
We are thankful that Molly started off this year with her profession of faith in Jesus Christ and baptism. I think she is off to a good start, preparing for a life of service to Christ.
Please join me in praying that we, as a family, will be prepared for whatever the year brings. It is my prayer that we are actively seeking to prepare our lives to accomplish the tasks that God has for us.
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