It's a new year and God has provided us with a renewed sense of hope during our period of waiting. In my last post we were hoping and praying for a special meeting in Haiti on Oct. 22. Well...it didn't happen on Oct 22, but it did happen the first week in December! Needless to say, we were very excited. Following this meeting, our file went to the children's judge in Haiti, which means we are currently waiting for the judge to sign the boy's paperwork and send it back to IBESR so that we can receive our official referral. We had some hope that that would happen in December, but unfortunately we are still waiting for that step to be completed. If we receive our referral under our I-600a immigration approval, then we have to sign in Haiti by April 2016. However, at the end of November we filed for immigration approval with an I-800a just in case we don't get our referral in time to sign by April.
As I was reaching a point in which my patience was waning, I felt a burden in my heart that I committed in my first blog of last year to "prepare" for the boys to come home. While we did the paperwork and anything we could logistically to get the boys home, I feel like I did not do all that I could to prepare my heart to parent children who will have experienced so much loss. It is my hope that in the next few months(years) of waiting that we will be able to create a better understanding of who we need to be for the boys. In this process, we want to prepare Molly and Linc to love and connect to their new brothers. In the last few months, God has placed some really special friends in our lives. After spending some time around this family, Joey commented that even though their 4 children have very different personalities that they know each one very well. It is obvious that they have tapped into understanding the strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes of each child. We have been encouraged to take this time before the boys come to create closer relationships with Molly and Lincoln so that they are confident, well-adjusted siblings.
I don't think that this period of waiting is purposeless, but that doesn't make it easy. However, I feel a new sense of hope in what God has planned for our family. It is my prayer that we see a lot of movement in 2016 and that we meet our boys soon!!! But until God opens that door for them to be an active part of our family, we will continue to prepare. It is my hope that the four of us grow more Christlike during our period of waiting.
Maybe the next blog will be announcing our referral!
Prayer requests:
-Pray for Chances for Children as they care for our boys
-Pray that a judge and agents at IBESR work diligently to process the cases of children
-Pray that we will be preparing our hearts to meet our boys
-Pray that we could sell our home to move closer to our jobs (we feel like that will be more important when we are a family of 6)
-Pray that we will be greater parents to Molly and Lincoln as we prepare to add to our family
Trusting Him,
Amy
Praying for you both as you parent Molly and Lincoln and prepare to be parents to our new boys. James Dobson says being a parent requires us to put the needs and wants of our children ahead of our own. During my years of a parent, I feel that this is true. It develops security and encourages a good attitude in our children as they grow into adults God can use. You are good parents. I am praying for you. Love Mama
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