to see them love

I love my girls.  I mean we all love our kids don’t we!  But what I love most is seeing them loving each other.  They are 4 years a part but they get along so amazingly well (at least for now).  Was putting away clothes upstairs and looked down to see what was going on and could not help but to snap this picture.

Our I600-A

Tomorrow we will be filing our I600-A.  Last week our dear social worker stopped by the house to do an update on our home study so that we can send it on it’s way. I can’t believe it’s been a year since we completed it.  Just another step in this long process.  We have waited to file since we wanted to maximize the time we may need before it expires.  I’m assuming we’ll have to file an extension regardless.

I’ve been thinking about Frankie all this past week.  Last week it’s been 3 months since we have been in IBESR.  It seems like just yesterday we got news that our papers had been filed.  So that is a very good thing.  These three months have flown by.  A lot of people are asking how long will we be in this stage?  Some people get out in 3-6 months.  A lot of people have been in this step for at least a year.  Some even two.  No rhyme or reason to anything.  We will have to get a presidential pardon since we have biological children so I’m really anticipating a year in this step and will be blown away if it’s sooner.  I pray everyday for speedy process of our files and for all of those who are in waiting.  And at the end of the day trust God’s timing in our journey.   One of my biggest heart prayers lately has been specifically that Frankie would have amazing experiences day to day with his friends and nannies and the visitors that come his way. That this time in his life living with all the boys would be a great positive experience that would shape him for the better as we wait patiently for him.  I just have to trust God with his life and his journey into joining our family.  At church today my friend Chad asked if he could pray about Frankie.  Everything he prayed for had been echoing my own prayers these past few months.  I’m glad God uses his people to encourage us when we need it to let us know that He knows, He cares, He’s active.

I miss this fellow more than you know.  Thank you all who keep updated with what is going on.  For praying for us along the way.  I just hope and pray he’s aware at times that there are these people out there who truly love him unconditionally and are praying for his life each and every day.

Where our two worlds Collide.

Our family is heading out this weekend to Orange Beach.  Dave will be speaking at a Student Life Camp and we are lucky to get to go along.  I’ve been anticipating this week all summer.  Why you might ask?  Well, it’s pretty simple.  This weekend we’ll come to a place where our two worlds/passions collide.  I never in a million years would think this would be how that might happen but never the less it is happening. Dave will get to live out his passion of communicating God’s Heart to Students and I will get to live out mine by supporting Haiti.

At all of the Student Life Beach Camps this summer they are focusing Compassion specifically on Haiti and trying to get as many kids sponsored as they can.  This really excites me.  I have such a heart for Haiti.  I still don’t know how that passion will unfold in my life or in our families life in the next 10 years.  Obviously Frankie our son who we are adopting from Haiti plays a role in our families journey.  One of the reasons why when we decided to grow our family through adoption we choose to pursue that through the country of Haiti.  Last May I when I was in Haiti I was able to meet our Compassion Child Angela.  We have been sponsoring her for the past 6 years.  I loved getting to meet her.  It was such a privilege.  I think about her so much and our family enjoys opportunities to write her often and receive letters from her.  We also sponsor a sweet boy named Christopher who Dave got to meet as well.  He lives in Peru.

Angela and Me (May 2008)

Compassion is all about helping to release children from poverty.  They do this by simply giving these children Hope.  Through education, providing for their physical needs and other things Compassion is making a HUGE difference in so many lives and we are honored to partner with them. 

I’ll be thinking a lot about Frankie and Angela this coming week.  My wonderful Haitian Sensations as Tara Livesay likes to call them.  I’ll be sitting in the back of the room this weekend no doubtfully.  I tend to be very quiet at times.  Most people won’t know who I am or even ever realize that as I sit there with Students on a journey at camp this week that my heart will be pouring out and bursting at the seams as my husband and I get to in our own personal ways collide our passions and serve.  I love it.

Check out this video that Student Life put together specifically with Compassion and Orange Beach in mind.

COMPASSION HAITI – STUDENT LIFE ORANGE BEACH from Taylor Robinson on Vimeo.

Tuesdays

It’s Tuesday and I’m at home this morning finishing some things around the house and then off to play some tennis.  I’m trying to adjust to my new work schedule.  I feel like I’m missing something.  Never imagined I would be playing tennis on a Tuesday morning.  I’m really trying to take advantage of the membership that was given to me and want to do these things as much as I can while I can.

I’m also on a new budget plan.  It’s amazing how much money you don’t spend when you know you don’t have it to spend.  Coupons have become my best friend.  I’m going specifically to Target today to get a Razor that I have a 4 dollar off coupon and then also a 5 dollar off to add on top of it.  I’m assuming it will only cost me some change and trust me I’m in real need of a new Razor.  I’m not sure how much longer I can sneak Dave’s and get it back before he knows the crime I have committed.  The real trick will be getting in and out of target without purchasing anything else.. Ha!  The peanut butter and jelly sandwich is still a hit around here as well.  The sandwich is only flying because Dave has been gone most of last month and this month.  Come August I’ll have to start actually cooking again.

So that is my Tuesday.  My new Tuesdays.

Rock Star

Emma is at camp this week with Dave in TX.  I swear she thinks she’s a rock star.  We are SO THANKFUL that organizations like Student Life and FBC Tifton and so many others who go out of their way to allow any opportunity for family to come along.  The impact it has on our family to be on the road with Dave at times is truly priceless.

First Sight.

I”ve been anticipating every new post from the Woodard Family this week.  This photo did me in.  One, just look at it but two, I have been there and well there are no words and this picture says it all.  I wonder if the Father looks this way when we decide to turn home…

Check out this new CD…

I’m a little behind in posting about this.  Aaron Iveyjust released a new CD last week.  I talk about the Ivey’s a lot.  Dave originally met Aaron at a camp they did together…  and then eventually I met them and took a trip to Haiti with them last May.  I love Aaron’s heart for worship and I love the title of his new CD…  Between the Beauty and Chaos…. My favorite song is Amos Story…   So if you get some time check him out and better yet… get his CD… it won’t disappoint you!

 

July Pictures of Frankie

Another adoptive parent is in Haiti this week and I always love it when we get to see pictures of the boys at the boys home.  Tim just posted these of Frankie yesterday onface-book.  He’s there visiting  his boys and also helping a team put in a container garden on top of the boys home so that they can keep a garden up and running.  I miss our little boy so much.  Tim and Jenare adopting Gino and Sammy.  I think the Pearsons take the best pictures ever of all the kids…