After a patience testing time of getting off from home (a flat tire between our house and the store… loading all the luggage and three of the children into another vehicle, we arrived in Harrisburg in good time. I was relatively calm, knowing that what happens, happens. God is in control! I was pretty loaded down, and thankful for the stroller.
Saying good bye to Jess and the children was bittersweet. Not fun to leave them for a week, but knowing their sister was waiting at the other end was sweet.
Disappointment was met again when i landed in Newark, but somehow my stroller had not made the flight with me. :( (does united break guitars AND loose strollers??!) Thank God my gate was not far at all.
And isn’t it just like Him to put some other people who are adopting children from Haiti on my flight. Oh. And whats more, they are working with the same agency we are ! That was a special connection.
We sat on the tarmac a whole hour before taking off…. I don’t know why. I was just thankful that Jorden was happy and i had an empty seat beside me. :)
I should have known my “fear” of not being able to properly juggle baby, diaper bag, rolling tote,and laptop while trying to retrieve to 50 lb carry ones was vain, because God put a wonderful lady right there for me who held Jorden a few minutes, and i was able to scoot out with Jorden riding in his seat on top of the luggage with little problem! Thank you Lord!
Don and Eric were waiting for me… Karole and Karlee were not along.. Don had been into Port early to-do some business. I was happy to see them when we got to Leagone.
Following are a few pics of the days since. I am enjoying my time so much. I reminisce about that day three years ago. I could take you to where i was standing when i saw that group of ladies come up the trail. Somehow i knew there was a baby in those rags they were holding. I can almost feel that awe as i pulled them back, and saw this beautiful 4 lb 12 oz baby laying there, motherless that morning, less than 24 hours after she was born. As if it were yesterday, i recall the awe at nursing a baby so tiny, not mine from birth by all appearance!, but brought to me when i was grieving over the loss of my own precious baby i never got to meet.
I never dreamt i wouldn’t be nurturing and caring for her yet, after years of paperwork, waiting, and praying. But God is writing the story, not me. He has been from the beginning; i sure couldn’t have arranged it to be that i would be her sole source of nourishment for the first week. I wouldn’t saw it best to be separated and have her moved around and then to end up being with one of my dearest friends. And all the things in-between… He continues to write the our story.
I sing to myself, “My Father planned it all!” and trust that “God never moves without purpose or plan.. Rejoice in the Lord, He makes no mistake….”
Spending time with two of my little loves….
I enjoyed going to market with Karole. It never ceases to amaze me,… the amount of wares these people get from who knows where.. I esp. love the sacks of rice, beans, flour, corn, flour, sugar, act. I wish i had pictures of the beautifully arranged produce. We wove in among the fabric, shoes, clothes, freshly butchered chicken with the gazillion flies, past the little girls carrying baskets of garlic cloves, trying to make a sale, along with the water boys,” medicine racks” and metal cooking pots. Theres nothing like market:)
Don’s have a little pool set up in the yard, and the children loved it. William and Karlee both do a pretty good job of faking sleep!:)
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY!! We had so much fun doing a party for Karlee. Karole asked a friend to come and make a special Haitian meal for the event. We had rice and beans, red sauce with chicken, piklie, (which is a spicy cabbage salad) red beet salad, cake and ice cream! My children at home usually get to have a decorated cake, from friends that are skilled in that department. I decided i didn’t have much choice, and gave it good effort. ( I want to esp thank Hannah Peachey and Dorcas Peight for their tips and suggestions) It was alot of fun, and Karlee loved it.
It was nice to have friends stop by, and join us for the party.
She was quite pleased with her coloring book, raincoat, rain boots, and new shoes.
There are special moments..,
“i love you Karlee…. “ '” i love you too!”
Watching her play with Jorden… (this is the first they’ve been together)
Sitting on the swing sharing a mango smoothie
and tonight, singing together on the sofa before bed.
And there are many more.. I want to freeze these memories forever.
This is a beautiful post.
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