tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46999733547351347622024-02-18T18:02:42.798-08:00It Takes A Village....tatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-9492914866389441762013-10-26T20:08:00.000-07:002013-10-26T20:08:27.165-07:00An Overdue UpdateIt has been a long 5 months since I've posted on the blog and I realize that many may be wondering what's up in our adoption journey. I apologize as life is insanely busy (aren't all our lives?) and throw an adoption in the middle of it! It just adds to the insanity to say the least!<br />
<br />
Well, we are finally in the homestretch! We exited IBESR the end of June, passed court and entered MOI (Ministry of Interiors) in July. We exited MOI approximately 2 weeks ago. <br />
<br />
The boys passports have been applied for and we are now awaiting copies of them. Next, the final appointment at Embassy. We do not have a definite timeframe still, but we are praying God works wonders and they are home by Christmas. <br />
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As I reflect over the last 2 years (I spent some time rereading some of my early blogs) I see how very tired I have become over this adoption adventure. Never in my wildest dreams did I think anything could be as exhausting as waiting for our two little ones to come home.<br />
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It's as if I'm constantly on edge. Waiting, waiting for some small snippet of news to come through. It's...exhausting.<br />
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But now that we near the end, it's becoming more intense! I stalk Facebook for any updates my family coordinator may put on there. I check my email constantly. It's like I live in two realities! The one where life proceeds as scheduled and the one where I know it's going to change dramatically when we get word to come get our boys.<br />
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I know that God has so much more in store for our family and I also know that it is only His strength that will carry us through. Now and after M and S are home. He has been ever present, ever faithful, ever comforting and encouraging. There are days when I'm tired, the wait feels heavy and I cry a lot. He keeps my feet moving forward. There is no way that we could have come this far alone. He has carried us, and quite literally, showed up when we didn't know how things were going to work.<br />
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God is good. Always. <br />
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My faith has been tested in big ways through the last 2 years. I am glad to say He has held on to me and we are coming to the end of a trying, but rewarding journey. I wouldn't change all the difficulties for anything. He refines us in fire, not the comforts of life. <br />
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This is short and sweet, but thanks to all who have continually prayed for us over the last two years. Please continue to pray for the homecoming because...it's coming and it's close!<br />
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God Bless and love to all,<br />
<br />
Terrytatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-9575572553495501952013-05-22T17:01:00.000-07:002013-05-22T17:01:14.975-07:00What a 'Stuck' Life Looks Like"Wait on the LORD; <br />
Be of good courage,<br />
And He shall strengthen your heart; <br />
Wait, I say, on the LORD!" Psalm 27:14<br />
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There has been a lot of buzz around the Both Ends Burning campaign and the Stuck documentary born from it. If you have any connection to the world of adoption, you have surely heard of these two movements by now. <br />
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I am here to give you a glimpse into the days of a real life, 'Stuck' family.<br />
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Early mornings begin with breakfast, showers, prep for work and school. As I sit at the kitchen table monitoring the kids school routine, I read my daily devotionals and Bible readings. Every verse that God speaks on the fatherless and abandoned pierces my heart as I think of my sons in Haiti. I see my 3 children go through their routine in safety and love and can't help wonder what M and S are doing in these moments of early morning life. Who is helping them get dressed? What do they eat for breakfast? Is S getting his nutritional supplement? But I move on....<br />
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As I drive to school each morning for work, I listen to Christian music blaring from my radio. I cling to messages in the music, seeking God's promises in the songs and lifting my voice in worship to Him as I prepare to teach for the day. I often wonder what my mornings are going to look like when M and S do get home and I have more stops and drops at daycare and/or school to make. Will they sing these songs with me from the backseat of the car? Will they have their noses pressed to the window, looking at their new and fascinating world? But I move on....<br />
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As I go through my day at school with my class, each spare moment (there are not many) that I find in the day, I'm checking my email or cell phone to see if any adoption updates, phone calls or posts have been made that apply to us and our adoption. Every scrap of news is something and I cling to it and view it as something, anything in this process of being 'Stuck.' Each word from our family coordinator is like gold to me, whether good news or no news, because it's SOMETHING! But I move on...<br />
<br />
Dinners are usually easy fixes these days as we are busy with baseball, tumbling, music lessons and other things that our children preoccupy themselves with. (What would S like to do? Karate? M would probably love T ball...) The other night at dinner, Tayler brought up a family discussion question on prayer. During the discussion, I found myself excited, thinking about questions that we could ask M and S when they are home at the dinner table. Of course, language is going to be an issue, so I scolded myself again about getting on top of learning some Creole. But I move on...<br />
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Lately, Daniel has been getting anxious over the progress of the adoption. Anyone who knows Daniel, knows he is typically steadfast and leaves things to God's timing. But there is something about knowing his sons are growing up in a facility that has him more impatient than usual. But he moves on....<br />
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I have begun a plan of action to help the boys communicate and learn English when they get home. Labeling household items and other things with words, digital time and pictures, things that they will need to help them communicate with us. But I wait and move on to my next errand or chore...<br />
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This may sound gloomy and sad. And in many ways, it is. Some days my heart is so heavy. I've cried more in the last year and 7 months than ever in my life. But I know there is light at the end of this journey. Regardless of my timing and expectations, I will do as the Psalms instruct me. I will wait on the LORD. He shall strengthen my heart...and He does. Going through days like these I've written about, each and every day, would drag a person down into the pits of despair. God has been and is the One who renews our strength. There is nothing at this point that we can do to move our process along quicker but rely on our mighty God, the one who has called us to this journey to begin with. <br />
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Yes, there needs to be a faster way to 'unstick' children and get them placed with their families sooner than later. Yes, we are stuck and frustrated many days, but I trust my God brings beauty from ashes and I trust that He will continue to help us along the way. <br />
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One day my day to day routine will be unstuck, as well as our lives and the lives of our sons.<br />
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Thanks friends for your ongoing prayer and support.<br />
<br />
Love from the Lacey village.<br />
<br />
Terry<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-zAL8ycFA1Il1wXNyiHqMhF7xqReRTDUMWKqWdnOpVr0Vo5NWnVWBwqRLwYpKO6Z262VKImwm5GkSDHhyphenhyphendVnnJvLOVdGw6UgjAVvqLP9LBhvSsQ4tp1MdqTa_YcwmPSvEkjgZ3H_94PN/s1600/stuck.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-zAL8ycFA1Il1wXNyiHqMhF7xqReRTDUMWKqWdnOpVr0Vo5NWnVWBwqRLwYpKO6Z262VKImwm5GkSDHhyphenhyphendVnnJvLOVdGw6UgjAVvqLP9LBhvSsQ4tp1MdqTa_YcwmPSvEkjgZ3H_94PN/s320/stuck.png" /></a>tatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-77865289408623156902013-05-08T20:25:00.000-07:002013-05-08T20:25:27.371-07:00My Mother's Day PrayerWell Mothers Day is fast approaching and my family keeps asking me what I want for the holy occasion of celebrating my motherhood.<br />
<br />
I have never been fond of Mothers Day. I know. It's probably odd for a mother to say that. But it's true. <br />
<br />
I have always felt that I don't need to be recognized for the one role in my life that I cherish above all others. (Other than marriage.) Oh, it's nice to be pampered or doted on. But not necessary.<br />
<br />
I love my children. They love me. They show their appreciation to me in small ways all the time. Tayler thanks me for cooking dinner and genuinely thinks I'm cool! Kaley puts little messages on my cell phone banner. Brendan...well, he once in a great while tells me I'm the best mom ever:)<br />
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I love those small things thousands of times more than one grand gift a year.<br />
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But this year, I am feeling different. I am feeling the pressure of wanting something like I've never wanted it before. The want has been so emotionally draining some days that I feel physically tapped out as well. I plead with God on a daily basis to provide it...then ask Him for patience, strength and encouragement if it doesn't come.<br />
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That one thing?<br />
<br />
AN EXIT LETTER!<br />
<br />
I want to know that our adoption is progressing and not at the stand still, waiting for a presidential waiver signature. I want to know that our paperwork is moving through the Haitian adoption process and that we have made some ground over these past 6 months. I want to know that my boys are a little closer to home....<br />
<br />
But weeks and weeks continue to pass (and our very awesome coordinator patiently and gently puts up with my annoying weekly text messages) and there is no word of a signature. No movement. No progress. Just stuck.<br />
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So if I have a Mother's Day Wish this year its just to get a signature on that paper that moves us on to the next phase of our adoption. If you are reading this, and you are a praying person, would you please add us to your prayers. I would love to be able to know this Mother's Day that our boys are a little closer to home and that others are helping us pray them home.<br />
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Thanks friends and family!<br />
God Bless,<br />
Terry<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2FjezYst_JPjED93z1ogRJJBqJfolLot_iHqLoQ6yBL5g5gKmwc61zhljhHWFXJg495ZGERmJBM4e0YII9sIEzkNJOXKNK5jBvH6I9LLbIVhRjEM6leDhMEaDCes3cN644PSQ0ZpQVBY/s1600/haiti4+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2FjezYst_JPjED93z1ogRJJBqJfolLot_iHqLoQ6yBL5g5gKmwc61zhljhHWFXJg495ZGERmJBM4e0YII9sIEzkNJOXKNK5jBvH6I9LLbIVhRjEM6leDhMEaDCes3cN644PSQ0ZpQVBY/s320/haiti4+(2).jpg" /></a>tatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-80856874133739943042013-02-10T16:31:00.000-08:002013-02-10T16:31:06.896-08:00VictoriousWow. Things in this adoption process are going slow. No news of any progress...nothing on exiting the IBESR in Haiti. Things seem to have come to a near stand still. <br />
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There are some days when I want to (and do!) cry, scream at God and cry some more. Days when I get emails saying that one of our little boys is significantly underweight and has to be given a nutritional suppliment to help him gain weight. And then I cry all over again...<br />
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Days when I don't think that I can bear a moment longer without my little boys, that I am helpless, hopeless and alone.<br />
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Then I have days like today when God kind of nudges me (slaps me upside the head actually!) out of my funk.<br />
<br />
Hey! You! Don't you know I'm the God of this universe and I am in control? Don't you know that I know every hair on your head, your past, present and future? I know your ups, downs, highs, lows and everything in between... And don't you know I'm sufficient and enough for you? Don't you know that I hold your very life in my right hand? Don't you know that I love your children, biological and adopted, more than even you as a mother, can fathom? Don't you know that I am victorious? That in me YOU are victorious?<br />
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What? I am victorious? How can this be? My children aren't home? They are in an orphanage in a third world country that moves at the speed of sloth???<br />
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Yes. I too am victorious.<br />
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God didn't promise that this adoption (or anything else for that matter) was going to be easy. He actually pretty much guarantees that most of life is going to be challenging, but today as I journaled and prayed, turning my life, children and adoption situation over to Him, I realized that I am victorious! I am victorious because I continually am placing my trust in my faithful God. I am victorious because I have a God that does not leave me or foresake me when I cry or scream to Him. He gently waits for me to gather myself and then He reaffirms to me that I am walking the path He has placed before me. He uses other families and friends to encourage and strengthen me to continue my forward fight in this adoption journey. <br />
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I am victorious because I belong to a God who will bring beauty from all the pain I endure now. I rejoice in the fact that He is never failing, even when all else falls around me. I am victorious today, not because of myself or even my desire to follow God's will for my life, but because God is faithful and true to me.<br />
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Praise to our mighty God and King! <br />
<br />
Sending my love to you all, and especially to two little boys in Haiti,<br />
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Terrytatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-29703354518050178912013-01-26T06:14:00.000-08:002013-01-26T06:16:01.369-08:00Reflections on the November Trip & What's NextWow! I have been really slack on keeping this blog updated, but here is whats up with all that's been going on and what is coming up!<br />
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On November 21, 2012, Daniel and I (and Tayler got to come along too) had an appointment at the embassy in Haiti to do with our I600 approval. For those who are unfamiliar with the adoption process, an I600 is the request to make an orphan a member of your immediate family. It is now January and we still have not heard back on the approval.<br />
<br />
But...it's Haiti. It's government. It's slow. That's how it goes and we are taking each day at a time. I am learning in a whole new way what it means to wait on the LORD!<br />
<br />
The boys got to stay with us at our guest house the night before the appointment and what a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful night that was. To have them close with us, to have dinner together, to play with toys...I relive that day over and over in my head even two months later. I was so exhausted...and so happy...<br />
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Our little 8 year old (S) bonded with Tayler and I watched brotherly love form before my very eyes. <br />
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I watched our little 3 year old (M) being stubborn, not wanting Mama to put him down, and shake his head when Papa tried to hold him! No! No, Papa!<br />
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I laugh when I remember how (M), napping in my arms in the embassy, peed all over my skirt!<br />
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I still weep when I remember (S) sobbing because he couldn't come with us when we finally had to leave...and I have struggled emotionally ever since.<br />
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But Daniel spoke words of wisdom to me, telling me I must pray to God for what His will is in the adoption, not what I want done on my time, in my way...a bit selfish, huh? Of course he is right, so I try to pray that God keeps me strong, teaches me all I need to know, prepares my heart perfectly for when the boys do finally come home. I know God will make this journey beautiful and good, with much celebration and joy in the end. I hold on to that, cling to it actually, when I cry and don't think I can bear it any longer. God is good, always. He proves it to me over and over again, even when the pain is deep, real and overwhelming...He reminds me Christ loved me enough to die for my adoption, I can persevere through ours...<br />
<br />
But as for progress, things are advancing: Monday, Jan. 28th, the surviving birth parents have an appointment/interview that the orphanage directors have been preparing them for. At this appointment, they will relinquish their parental rights. Also, 2 of the 12 families that were grandfathered into the IBESR under the 'old' Haitian adoption laws, have exited and are awaiting court dates. This is exciting news! I pray and wait anxiously every day that we will get our call and exit information. <br />
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Many people have been praying for us and I want to thank you! We couldn't keep moving forward without those who support us either prayerfully and financially. You all know who you are and let me add, I LOVE YOU ALL! Keep praying for us, for strength and for Gods perfect will to be done. <br />
<br />
Blessings and love from the village,<br />
Terry<br />
tatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-35117095310717769152012-11-02T06:41:00.000-07:002012-11-02T06:41:12.430-07:00November is Adoption Awareness Month...oh and some other cool things!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88sA_6XWUnPbO7qHPd0TKxPNr7I4dk1kc2KtZByxJ07-rJ-NKmoRGBCpLCe48lRDNUMQXSm81mI0PKw6kl36JoLoWbIB-GUICc6yNHyAH28cWeTztLpH62KjBeVU2opx3J98_qw13XPfs/s1600/adoption1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="307" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88sA_6XWUnPbO7qHPd0TKxPNr7I4dk1kc2KtZByxJ07-rJ-NKmoRGBCpLCe48lRDNUMQXSm81mI0PKw6kl36JoLoWbIB-GUICc6yNHyAH28cWeTztLpH62KjBeVU2opx3J98_qw13XPfs/s320/adoption1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Yes, it's that time of the year again...Adoption Awareness Month! Are you hosting an Orphan Sunday gathering? Thinking of sponsoring a child? Contemplating adopting? Maybe foster care? There are so many ways to be involved in the lives of orphans, make a change for them and the world...put a dent in that epidemic number of 147 million orphans! But mostly, you will be the hands and feet of Christ! <br />
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"Religion that is pure and genuine, acceptable to God is this, to care for the widow and orphan in their distress and to keep ones self undefiled from the world." James 1:27<br />
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Get involved! Many families, ours included, need help with adoption! Or check out Worldvision or Compassion International to sponsor children....<br />
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Ok, plug is over! Now to business:)<br />
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So excited to announce that we are beginning the legal process of our adoption in Haiti! Our dossier has entered the IBESR in Haiti and is awaiting Presidential Dispensation. This could take awhile, possibly up to 9 months, but we will pray for much faster! After that our paperwork moves into the court system and we get a court date! Hopefully soon after that we will be making arrangements to bring the boys home!!!<br />
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On November 21, we have an appointment to file our I600 petition to request an orphan as an immediate member of our family! Yay! We get to travel to Haiti for this appointment and the great thing is we get to spend time with our boys! The doubly great thing is Tayler gets to go with us and spend time with his little brothers!<br />
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I get the privilege of traveling to Haiti November 2 (today!) for 8 days with a team from our church, Shadow Mountain Church. We will be ministering to the needs of the people in a smaller town called Danda. Then after coming home on the 10th, I get to fly out again a week later back to Haiti for our adoption and the appointment...I literally will be Haitian for half the month of November! I'm going to need December off to recoup from all the flying!<br />
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On a more serious note:<br />
<br />
Adoption is a long process, tiring and can be emotionally draining. I have read comments on Facebook or blogs where people say, "I'd love to adopt, but it is expensive and the process is too long." All I can say to encourage those people is that if God calls you to it, He will pull you through it. Had we not responded to the call God put upon us to adopt, Daniel and I would never had seen Him work in ways that we've never experienced before! If you want to see God work, do nothing short of miraculous, then do what He is calling you to do...whatever it may be! Nothing with build your trust in the LORD faster than taking a risky step of faith...<br />
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God bless to all our prayer warriors and supporters! Check out our coffee shop link on this blog if you are looking for ways to support us! <br />
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In Christ,<br />
Terry<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hZpSal2t_qjWKa4Lcx3ficT6dhhVIvxcRPdrqgAf2Mm3pOfb_dZr_UpemUG4PMvFuyms94kfgW_ZmGARsecwMvEECJl_QG3DOS1mgkZ6_aYXAgt-1D8tJ_Baxu0kSMPWpVss3YZSn9G6/s1600/coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hZpSal2t_qjWKa4Lcx3ficT6dhhVIvxcRPdrqgAf2Mm3pOfb_dZr_UpemUG4PMvFuyms94kfgW_ZmGARsecwMvEECJl_QG3DOS1mgkZ6_aYXAgt-1D8tJ_Baxu0kSMPWpVss3YZSn9G6/s320/coffee.jpg" /></a></div>tatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-2362991535825197332012-09-27T16:46:00.000-07:002012-09-27T16:46:44.332-07:00Two Is Not a Crowd...Some exciting, and unexpected news!<br />
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Upon receiving our uscis approval on Monday, some amazing things have happened! I noticed that on our approval, the uscis approved us to bring home 2 male children, and it got me thinking about another boy that we met when we were in Haiti. He was small, a little withdrawn and had suffered from what appeared to be possible malnutrition in his infant years. I estimate him to be about 8 years old now. <br />
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I immediately began talking to Daniel about it. What if God wants us to really bring home two? Could we say no to God? Those of you who know me and Daniel, know that we try not to ignore the Lord when we hear his calling. <br />
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I spent two days in hefty prayer, turning things over to God, asking to just remain in His will for us and the adoption and specifically asking to not be bitter if Gods answer was no. I knew what I wanted, but I want Gods will more and left the final decision up to Daniel.<br />
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Daniel is a hard facts person, so after inquiring into additional cost and how we were going to house an extra child, he told our daughter, Kaley, "God wants us to bring two home. How can we say no?" <br />
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So two days later, we have decided to expand our family a little bit more. We aren't bringing home just our one little guy, but two!<br />
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I had had a feeling we weren't done adopting, but never would have guessed it would be before we even completed our first! <br />
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So prayers are greatly appreciated as we take on a little more load, but we are ecstatic God has called us upon this great adventure of adopting. I have already emailed our family coordinator and hope to have our new additions paperwork soon. <br />
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Much love to all our supporters and prayer warriors.<br />
<br />
God bless,<br />
Terrytatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-37808139741831510312012-09-11T19:05:00.000-07:002012-09-11T19:05:12.131-07:00Oh Happy Days!I have not posted as often as earlier in our adoption process, mainly because the last three months have been fraught with frustration for us. We have been dealing with a lot of miscommunication and misunderstandings as we have tried to receive approval for our fingerprinting and background checks. <br />
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I didn't want to bog people down with the stress and amount of down-heartedness that we have been feeling. ( although a few of you have been faithful and have walked beside us during this time and we thank you and love you!) We have suffered for three months trying to put the finishing touches on our dossier. Well, I can finally say the finish line is in sight....literally. It is highly possible that by this Friday our dossier will be making its exit from America and arriving in Haiti! ( I won't say 100 percent because nothing is in this adoption process, but we have forward movement! Always better than backwards!!!)<br />
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After our struggles and frustrations trying to acquire our final approval it is so exciting to again feel some process being made.<br />
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I am hoping the next time I get around to updating our process I can affirm court dates and even more forward process.<br />
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I want to finish by giving credit where credit is due. I have cried, stressed, sobbed and cried some more during these trying months. God has been our only strength. Christ our rock. As I've been recently reading through the New Testament, I am impacted by the strength of Paul, who admits and preaches gladly while being in chains for Christ. The trial and persecution he faced far surpasses all I have endured during our adoption process. And I am called, as Paul was, to find joy in my trials. I am blessed to be able to lean fully into the word and love of the Lord during our journey. In no way has this adoption been easy, but we do call it pure joy to be able to follow the calling God has asked of me and Daniel. I have no doubt, complete and utter faith that He will do all things for His glory and bring good to those who love Him. He will bring our son home...<br />
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Prayers, as always, are so deeply welcomed and appreciated.<br />
Love and blessings to all, <br />
Terrytatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-39209432187441214992012-08-13T11:08:00.000-07:002012-08-13T11:08:12.795-07:00Waiting and Waiting...a Brief UpdateI have not posted in awhile, but wanted to send out a thank you to those who donated to our Hand in Hand Matching Grant. We actually beat the amount!!! Praise God and thanks again for helping us with our adoption:)<br />
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On another note, some changes are going on in Haiti and it has brought the process to a slow crawl. I believe that the changes are good and will be very beneficial to children that are being adopted from Haiti, but for those of us already in process, well, we are stuck waiting for the changes to go into effect.<br />
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Haiti is becoming Hague Accredited, which means that they will follow different guidelines for allowing children to be adopted from their country. This is good and helps police potentially fraudulent adoptions. Also, all adoptions agencies must be approved by Haiti if they want to do adoptions from the country. No independent adoptions are allowed anymore. <br />
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If you are interested in learning more about the process, check out the America World website for information on the Haiti adoption changes.<br />
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So, in a nutshell, we are waiting on changes to be made before we can progress much further. I am in turmoil on a daily basis, knowing that the changes are beneficial, but heart broken for our little guy to come home. I cry, feel discouraged at times and am sometimes fearful. But I trust and have faith in a mighty God who is good to those who love Him. I love my LORD and will continue to trust that He will help us complete all dossier changes, make the Haiti/Hague<br />
changes progress smoothly and bring us completely through our journey with a joyful end. It's the waiting that, on occassion, brings me down. <br />
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Prayers are always appreciated, not just for us and our process, but for our son, who is still living in an orphanage, not knowing the completeness of a loving family. <br />
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God Bless,<br />
Terry<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cache2.artprintimages.com/LRG/30/3060/NJ2DF00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="400" src="http://cache2.artprintimages.com/LRG/30/3060/NJ2DF00Z.jpg" /></a></div>tatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-72317861670023476152012-05-29T21:07:00.000-07:002012-05-29T21:11:24.284-07:00A Little 'Hand in Hand' Goes a Long WayWe have a son. He lives in an orphanage in Haiti. We have held him, hugged him and kissed him. He is real and he is part of our family. But...There are hoops to jump through, time to wait and alot of money that must be paid for us to bring him home. Trying to come up with the average working man's yearly salary is a daunting task for any family adopting. It is the one, large and scary obstacle that stands in the way.<br />
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We have been blessed, however, by Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc. with a matching grant! What is this matching grant, you may ask? Well, if our family is able to fundraise up to $3000.00, Hand in Hand will match us another $3000.00! That's a total of $6000.00! <br />
That is approximately 25% of what we need to help bring him home!<br />
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If you've been wondering how you can help our family out, please consider donating to us through the Hand in Hand matching grant account. You can send donations to:<br />
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Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc.<br />
Daniel and Teresa Lacey<br />
18318 Mimosa Court<br />
Gradner, KS 66030<br />
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Please make checks out to Hand in Hand and only put our names on the envelope. This is for tax deductible purposes. If you have any further questions you can contact me at 801-803-1449 or find more info at www.handinhandadopt.org.<br />
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Thanks so much to everyone who has given, even the smallest bit. We know that you are walking with us, praying for our little boy to come home. It takes a village to raise, love and bring home a child. God Bless you all:)<br />
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Much love,<br />
Terry<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wpij_kcF4I7POBdrqa9CDHDBpXcLigw6SM3oJySwe9F9xgbopShehrwJJJdaKaaPpSHVzx5_rDMXwqIVNQrcoEIsT7afcXPWVEqoUEu2HStDLEJGbwvRi2bkGnYlGb01Dx7sBZMEPe7s/s1600/photo+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wpij_kcF4I7POBdrqa9CDHDBpXcLigw6SM3oJySwe9F9xgbopShehrwJJJdaKaaPpSHVzx5_rDMXwqIVNQrcoEIsT7afcXPWVEqoUEu2HStDLEJGbwvRi2bkGnYlGb01Dx7sBZMEPe7s/s200/photo+%25288%2529.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Sleeping in his bunk at the orphanage.tatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-69341143885912226122012-04-23T08:37:00.004-07:002012-04-23T09:05:01.807-07:00April...A Time of Referral, Baptism and God's Work.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhoD5EodJq0QkTsaLJEZwTMmjt9HFxf4FWLbJbJiTcv6yqOLkhLystnr183rn-PoysGkrRsWKmS6UkRbMFntLXfERk58172M5Qp2ANCwgCSaF2fu13Y1x5Fwj4qUajf1OwgmmH2mYnP71/s1600/620.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 156px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhoD5EodJq0QkTsaLJEZwTMmjt9HFxf4FWLbJbJiTcv6yqOLkhLystnr183rn-PoysGkrRsWKmS6UkRbMFntLXfERk58172M5Qp2ANCwgCSaF2fu13Y1x5Fwj4qUajf1OwgmmH2mYnP71/s200/620.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734627376870442386" /></a><br />So many things seem to be happening full steam around me, but my brain and body are still on 'Haiti' time (as my friend Angie so rightly put it!). Things are whizzing past me and I don't feel like I'm hanging on very tight! In other words, too much to do and I have no sense of time!!!<br /><br />But here are some things that have been going on in our village since we returned from Haiti on March 30.<br /><br />Our official referral documents came in! We are in process of working (and waiting) on adding a sweet, cute, healthy 2 and a half year old boy to our family! Due to confidentiality reasons, I cannot post any other information about him. But he has a name and face! We have a son waiting for us in Haiti!<br /><br />However, April has been filled with other amazing things. Tayler was baptized on Easter Sunday this year. All I can say is when your 15 1/2 year old son commits his life to Jesus and willingly gets baptised without poking, prodding or doing it because it's the rule, it is the most amazing experience for a parent. Seeing your child take ownership of his faith...well, I've been thanking God for drawing Tayler and making my son His child. <br /><br />Also, I have to praise God and give Him glory for constantly walking with us. A small, but powerful story: Part of the paperwork that we received for the referral had the amount that we needed to pay up front to the agency. Weeeeeellllll....this very scatter-brained woman mis-read the statement and only sent in half the payment! EEK! We needed to send in twice as much. Well, our savings and personal loan had been tapped out so we were kind of sweating what to do. We had part of it in cash to send, but needed $800 more. I was getting to the point of selling, pawning, begging, whatever it would take.<br /><br />Well, funny thing. Our credit card statement came in. The bank raised our limit. Can you guess how much??? $800 EXACTLY! Coincidence? I think not:) This has happened several times over the last 6 months since we started the adoption process. God has been opening doors. If people question why we are adopting or why are we allowing ourselves to go into debt again, I can honestly say God wants us to adopt! He will help us tie up the financial end as it comes at us. Some way, some how. <br /><br />Anyway, that is a small update on what is up in this village:) I want to send a hug and thanks to our prayer warriors and financial supporters. I can NEVER put into words what it means to us. You are a HUGE part in helping to bring our little boy home!<br /><br />(The pic is of Daniel and I holding him, but can't show his face so it's been cropped, but we got to meet him!!)<br />God Bless,<br />Terrytatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-11558185224755379402012-04-05T12:21:00.009-07:002012-04-05T13:58:00.260-07:00My Reflections on Haiti<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsFAAhb22O-XJaUPBN4Gnaf29WQXqhykhvajs0oagGmxO_bYzOfILLaDydKE6iGM7fuI1gKHMKmC1ewtXJ3C0mtL7R6FxY2_r8m9wxC2v1zheR5_PAgmUN2DyUbO4kWX4TMnNGd8Jz-ee/s1600/289.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsFAAhb22O-XJaUPBN4Gnaf29WQXqhykhvajs0oagGmxO_bYzOfILLaDydKE6iGM7fuI1gKHMKmC1ewtXJ3C0mtL7R6FxY2_r8m9wxC2v1zheR5_PAgmUN2DyUbO4kWX4TMnNGd8Jz-ee/s200/289.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728013295186911682" /></a><br /><br />We have been back for nearly a week from Haiti and I've had time to absorb, think over and pray for all I experienced on our trip. There was so much, so overwhelming, I don't know that I can ever truly put into words what I lived that week.<br /><br />The 1st day we were exposed to orphans at the facility for 'older' kids (5 and up) and I was unsure how I was going to react. This is something I've never before experienced in my life. Fortunately for me, the kids knew! They crawled all over us, loved on us, which in turn put me at ease and let my love for kids flow more smoothly. <br /><br />The 2nd day we went to the baby facility. There were babies as young as 2 months old. I wondered what their futures would hold, brand new and innocent to the world, growing up institutionalized... I am hopeful for these babies however. People adopt babies more often than some of the 6, 7, or 8 year olds that we played with the day before.<br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnY1yCzDYdku9UEJm4I2fr-VDHs8Il4pN2VgwJnpE0mnnVY6NGXprWergxbfKU6uwjYtsO2lMR2klPC_1fZd8MAd1aJISWxONruOrlS0Zm8aSazR64iR6lSNzXWWCndkowOKdtVpcpjl1g/s1600/088.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnY1yCzDYdku9UEJm4I2fr-VDHs8Il4pN2VgwJnpE0mnnVY6NGXprWergxbfKU6uwjYtsO2lMR2klPC_1fZd8MAd1aJISWxONruOrlS0Zm8aSazR64iR6lSNzXWWCndkowOKdtVpcpjl1g/s200/088.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728013286559468546" /></a><br /><br /><br />Day 3 was diffucult. More diffucult than I can say, but I will try and convey what I mean. We went back to the older child facility and spent the day with them. Somewhere in the back of my mind, through the beadmaking, storytelling, games and coloring, I knew I would probably never see these kids again. I will never know what they become. A child in Haiti is like a wounded gazelle among the lions. My solace was in knowing that the Orphanage Director does his best to look out and provide for them. In an unstable nation, however, there are too many unknowns. I sobbed in the back of our taptap after 11 year old Lucina read Bible stories to me and I found myself clinging to the hope that Jesus was there and protecting these children. That somehow they would know and feel that. That no matter where their paths may take them, they have a Father in heaven who loves them, even when their parents could not.<br /><br />The 4th day took us back to the baby facility and we again visited, colored with toddlers and held babies. By this day the team was so emotionally drained, it felt like we had nothing left to give. But the kids still managed to keep us busy and we spent a full day loving babies one more time. Holding babies that will never remember you has a profound effect. There is alot of disassociating and disconnecting that can happen within a child's brain if it is not held and loved in the early months of life. We felt blessed and privileged to do this for these babies.<br /><br />Everyday as we drove through the city, I tried to take snapshots with my brain as well as the camera. I want to remember the colorful taptaps, the beautiful women carrying baskets on their heads, the men selling their goods on the roadsides, the uniformed school children walking to school. The piles of rubble and trash that litter the streets, the cows, goats, chickens...absolutely everything. In a week, all these pieces of Haiti, good, bad, beautiful and ugly, had worked their way into my blood. A week later, I am still longing for and miss Haiti. Why God, am I missing such a poor, needy nation?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbblFk0ye-tlIHzAT6iAKxU_4hc35JBaJROb2K-RLWmfMhE6HmCYDDOBqs92lqzgiuhb50hxAe5s94cZZhPgJwtAXAqUGMvWIyrMxub0jLnZcjkRIIq3L-QeDrtaWE8nKAYs0nxIGjBeW/s1600/213.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbblFk0ye-tlIHzAT6iAKxU_4hc35JBaJROb2K-RLWmfMhE6HmCYDDOBqs92lqzgiuhb50hxAe5s94cZZhPgJwtAXAqUGMvWIyrMxub0jLnZcjkRIIq3L-QeDrtaWE8nKAYs0nxIGjBeW/s200/213.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728015049460934418" /></a><br /><br /><br />He has repeatedly answered me: In a nation like Haiti, where people live day to day, the only hope they truly have is the hope that is provided through Christ. I felt God in Haiti like I never felt before. We can donate, visit, build and educate these people, but their hope truly only lies in the Haitian people coming to life through Christ. <br /><br />God loves Haiti and it's people. I love Haiti. I pray He uses me to help spread His glory through my newfound home away from home. <br /><br />God bless,<br />Terrytatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-86401566302993979802012-03-26T16:27:00.005-07:002012-03-26T17:02:43.287-07:00My First Haiti ExperienceHaiti is a mix of incredible beauty and hideous poverty. The people are stunningly beautiful, smooth cocoa skin, big infectious smiles and they seem to exude an unshakable optimism.<br /><br />Yet these same happy people are living in conditions that have forced some to make choices most Americans would never dream of having to make.<br /><br />I spent the day with children who live at an orphanage. Children who's parents are deceased or have relinquished their parental rights. A deceased parent cannot make a choice, but those who relinquish rights have had to make an agonizing choice due to circumstances they find themselves in: earthquake, job situation, or the countless other reasons they cannot care for their kids. <br /><br />Whatever the circumstance, I cannot fathom having to make the choice these parents had to make. Nor can I imagine being the child left in an unknown place without the only comfort ever known.<br /><br />With all that stated, my first experience with these orphans was....undescribable. Unless you do it for yourself, nothing I say can convey the varying emotions you feel interacting with orphans.<blockquote></blockquote><br /><br />I hugged precious little girls with pretty braided hair. I tied their ribbons in when they fell out.I told them I loved them because they would tell me first, looking up at me with their big, brown eyes. We blew bubbles, colored pictures, handed out snacks and played jump rope. <br /><br />Our fabulous group of men had the sports arena covered! They played soccer, baseball, basketball and frisbee. I think there was even some wrestling matches going down with some of the older boys! It was a fun time with a spunky group of kids.<br /><br />It was almost a perfect day. The hard thing was leaving them there, knowing that, even though the staff does it's best for these kids, these little ones don't have a mommy or daddy to tuck them in, no parents to reassure them that they will be there in the morning and that they are a vital part of a loving family. I cannot think of anything on Earth more important to a child than a families unconditional love.<br /><br />I am excited and looking forward to the remaining days of our Haiti trip with these kids. I get to be a small part of showing unconditional love to kids that don't experience that. I am more motivated than ever for our adoption to be completed and for our child to come home.<br /><br />But honestly, I am most excited to see how God is going to change me and our entire team to forever reach out and touch the lives of orphans in Haiti and around the whole world.tatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-19591796589624923592012-03-22T06:41:00.004-07:002012-03-22T07:54:21.011-07:00The Light at the End of the Dossier Tunnel<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBZISoK1csblbxR8J0tOpx-m-CT-TfcR3t-1nCx29MUNPTITrS1tPLJs3iNqdczgXSWNXOjdqQ2c0HXjh1yXSG-LASDPw_JLUPelx_ErWUEW642Rml6xtBPKnvteFfYSjD3Y6Cbu_N4OA/s1600/180.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBZISoK1csblbxR8J0tOpx-m-CT-TfcR3t-1nCx29MUNPTITrS1tPLJs3iNqdczgXSWNXOjdqQ2c0HXjh1yXSG-LASDPw_JLUPelx_ErWUEW642Rml6xtBPKnvteFfYSjD3Y6Cbu_N4OA/s200/180.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722732374034116210" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbIkrISl-tfhe0zlFSvEnyw7UEmqu5m_1LwIRQgv6LZ8s2wUiDft0VIYr1IljvzGF9J7YRPZlVJkHBCYMrVoqZzO8jLjwxiKS1b2q3yLDBH5AG6v4JqLuOKGF1r76RjzQR-RLqPi8V-_0/s1600/179.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbIkrISl-tfhe0zlFSvEnyw7UEmqu5m_1LwIRQgv6LZ8s2wUiDft0VIYr1IljvzGF9J7YRPZlVJkHBCYMrVoqZzO8jLjwxiKS1b2q3yLDBH5AG6v4JqLuOKGF1r76RjzQR-RLqPi8V-_0/s200/179.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722732366661629890" /></a><br />Well, it's almost complete. <br /><br />The stack of paperwork that is approximately 6 inches high that details every little thing that is the Lacey family.<br /><br />Birth certificates, marriage license, sheriff's letters, reference letters, medical letters, taxes and bank letters, bank statements, homestudy, psychological evaluation...the list could go on and on.<br /><br />Well, we will be shipping off that stack of paperwork in the next few days to our adoption agency and we will be through the thickest part of the 'paper chase'.<br /><br />And although it has been alot of work trying to round up all of the paperwork, I don't regret or wish it had been easier. It actually had the affect I think God meant for it to have. It has tested our strength and, after reading our very positive and encouraging homestudy, has shown we have what it takes to add another member to our family. <br /><br />As Daniel and I get ready to set off to Haiti this weekend, I realize that God's timing in all of this has been perfect. Our paperwork labor has paid off and our homestudy is being sent to the orphanage (if it hasn't arrived already) so that the Orphanage Director can be working on a referral for us. We may quite possibly be meeting our son this weekend if they don't require more of our 'official dossier' to be submitted wholly first. I am keeping my fingers crossed, but God has timed everything beautifully. If we have to wait, of course we will, if not...well, I can't wait to meet our Oscar next week! <br /><br />Please pray for our trip to Foyer de Sion orphanage, the children there and the team that is going to serve them. May it have a positive impact on these kids and may they all find a loving home. The need is great, so pray that others rise up to help be the 'care in their time of distress.' <br /><br />God Bless and thanks to all the support that has come in during this exciting time in our lives!<br />Terrytatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-91901576567017607482012-02-27T06:18:00.008-08:002012-02-27T07:46:34.876-08:00Conference Call #1 and my Cool Hubby<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcYVa_tNo__CsbdKmS6_FsYLKFf0QReOm82ljqgVGnb8W4GenWhsf2fS-N0v5VT8ZaEv43DqQ_dJKe-oE_WpxlBs1sMkoPwaJ8qCVCQf7PCBowQJGZmYv206Yym70naicxUePsN1SQgg4/s1600/HaitianOrphan.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 233px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713835205488498066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcYVa_tNo__CsbdKmS6_FsYLKFf0QReOm82ljqgVGnb8W4GenWhsf2fS-N0v5VT8ZaEv43DqQ_dJKe-oE_WpxlBs1sMkoPwaJ8qCVCQf7PCBowQJGZmYv206Yym70naicxUePsN1SQgg4/s320/HaitianOrphan.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Some information that Daniel and I got last night on our 1st conference call concering our upcoming trip to Haiti:</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>-<span style="color:#000099;">The entire team of 12 people will be flying together to Florida. The team consists of 9 men and 3 women. </span><br />Let me take a minute to state here the significance of this number. 9 men. More men than women. On a mission trip that is focused all on playing and interacting with children. In a country where children relate to men as unstable and violent, the love and compassion that these 9 men will bring to the orphans will be profound. Anyone who works with children in any capacity knows the impact that good men can have in a child's life. I feel blessed to see first-hand how these men play, love on and bless these kids! </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>-<span style="color:#006600;">The guest home we were originally going to stay in was booked full! So a change in plans to our housing is being worked out at this time. Apparently the accomodations that are being done are quite similar to the original. Not alot of difference, just more work for our poor family coordinator!</span></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>-<span style="color:#990000;">Immunizations. Ugh. That's complete this week for both Daniel and I. </span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;"></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>-<span style="color:#663366;">Airfare. Wouldn't you know it. Daniel and I are the only 2 on the trip that they can't book a same day flight into Florida. So it is looking like we may have to do an overnighter in Dallas before we fly into Florida on the 25th. Oh well, that's life. </span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#663366;"></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>-<span style="color:#ff6600;">We will have the option to raise funds or bring items to donate to the orphanage. Formula is much needed for their infant/toddler facility and am thinking of purchasing cans to take down with us.</span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>-<span style="color:#ff0000;">I am most excited about this! We get to actually plan out activities to do with the children! I am stoked to use my past experiences working with children to see if I can pull off days of fun and interaction! My brain is going a mile a minute on what kinds of fun arts, crafts, games, sports and Bible teachings I can bring to these kids! </span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>-<span style="color:#3366ff;">DON'T OPEN YOUR MOUTH IN THE SHOWER! and of course only drink bottled water:)</span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#3366ff;"></span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9Pk_lVmrHEqC-UzTRgL0DOiOLugSjk3rfLcGK5C_pvWHj-zQ7f-bP0dh6WSRvpuuaLTqCAXl9xQpDyKsWPd1jVnWHDtkLXHjjVYx_yp5sQ9ZIjqhpfmdulWWrylFbmnqtfKmXbSsZnTE/s1600/haitikids.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713840522941637746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9Pk_lVmrHEqC-UzTRgL0DOiOLugSjk3rfLcGK5C_pvWHj-zQ7f-bP0dh6WSRvpuuaLTqCAXl9xQpDyKsWPd1jVnWHDtkLXHjjVYx_yp5sQ9ZIjqhpfmdulWWrylFbmnqtfKmXbSsZnTE/s200/haitikids.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I think the coolest thing about this whole day leading up to our conference call was a call that I got from Daniel about an hour and a half before.</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>He found out that a 'poker' friend of his knows a family that recently adopted 2 Haitian children. He said how important it is for us to contact them and know their story. How important it will be for Oscar to know a family that is culturally-similarly structured to ours. I love my hubby. He is soooo smart. He's falling more in love with our Oscar:)</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>All glory to God. He's doing things right in front of my eyes that some days I can barely believe. If you've considered adopting, don't worry. He's gonna carry you.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>God Bless and much love!</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Terry</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>tatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-23541446221342523672012-02-12T06:16:00.000-08:002012-02-13T17:46:37.483-08:00There Are No Coincidences<em><span style="color:#3333ff;">It's been so busy that I haven't had the time (and sometimes the energy) to blog lately. But wanted to update those who haven't heard on our exciting news:</span></em><br /><br /><br />I don't believe in coincidences. I think when something amazing happens, it is God throwing open a door where one had been closed previously. So often He does not get the credit or glory for it.<br /><br />Let me share one of God's miraculous 'coincidences' with you all that has happened within the last month since the previous post:<br /><br />One of Daniel's greatest issues with the entire adoption process was that we don't get to 'pick' our child. He was hoping to identify a child when we go on a missions trip with Shadow Mountain Church to Haiti in November. He simply misunderstood the referral process. After the Homestudy process is complete (hopefully the beginning of March), we will get a picture and information on a child the agency and orphange think would be a good match to our family and, hypothetically, we <em>could</em> reject that child, but that only means the waiting process starts all over again. I can't tell you how much this hurts my heart when I think of 'Oscar' waiting for us longer, and us waiting to bring him home.<br /><br />So after a full day (January 19) of talking, praying, talking, asking God what to do, talking, arguing, praying...you get the point, I realized that if I have to wait longer, I will have to wait longer. Daniel MUST be comfortable, bond and connect with the child we select. I had to come to terms that I am not driving this adoption bus, God is. If His work in Daniel took longer, I had to exercise patience.<br /><br />Miracle in the works:<br /><br /><br />THE NEXT DAY, (Jan. 20th) I received and email from America World (our adoption agency) with information on an upcoming trip to Haiti. During this trip a group of 20 would spend time at America Worlds PARTNER orphanage, playing, interacting and spending time with the children. We would also get to do small projects around the orphanage if needed. America World wanted to offer spots on the trip to families adopting from Haiti before opening up and advertising the trip to others.<br /><br /><br /><br />PARTNER ORPHANAGE???? Um, THE orphanage that our 'Oscar' will come from??? I sat stunned looking at the email. The enormity of the email struck me immediately.<br /><br /><br /><br />Playing and interacting with the children. Among the approximately 80 children that the orphanage houses, there is 'Oscar.' These will be the children that our referral comes from!<br /><br /><br /><br />I believe God knew Daniel needed to visually see and bond with the children. He opened an opportunity that not only will allow Daniel to feel comfortable with our choice, but is giving us an opportunity as a couple to meet and spend time with our child.<br /><br /><br /><br />There are no coincidences. There are only doors and opportunities that God puts before us. We jumped at the chance and I emailed Michelle at America World and said YES!<br /><br /><br /><br />So now the journey of prepping for an upcoming trip (March 25 thru March 30) to Haiti begins. God has opened the door. I won't lie. I'm petrified. I've never been out of the US. I've never seen poverty on such a devastating level. I've never met an orphan in my life. I'm uncomfortable. Daniel is scared.<br /><br /><br />But we will go. God never said it would be easy. But when He calls, we go. We are scared, but we obey.<br /><br />As we draw closer to completing our homestudy and dossier, things are picking up speed and 'Oscar' is becoming more than just a name that I gave so that my kids could identify. He's becoming real. He's becoming family. The unknown of it all is scary...but we are walking through God's open door.<br /><br /><p>God Bless,</p><br /><p>Terry:)<br /></p>tatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-62577337936945916422012-01-19T14:27:00.000-08:002012-01-19T16:15:27.289-08:00A Village Facts and 'Heart' Update<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqB2GCyAW4A6W_CAbFXvrtBuyPPIIz_RLsyLogmvDdNVhjcs1MPsWEWJSkGGXTXSfn4l8B2CrlJedUxNHFicR9gIEsHdbY7tGxr8gDkFiF_GWvoBvtGbJwhveC8uXaxukgNTN1q43zLiU/s1600/DSC01580.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699491835466457746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqB2GCyAW4A6W_CAbFXvrtBuyPPIIz_RLsyLogmvDdNVhjcs1MPsWEWJSkGGXTXSfn4l8B2CrlJedUxNHFicR9gIEsHdbY7tGxr8gDkFiF_GWvoBvtGbJwhveC8uXaxukgNTN1q43zLiU/s200/DSC01580.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>So, the nitty gritty <strong>facts</strong> of our progress as is follows:</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>*We have put in for our passports. (we were waiting on a currently issued drivers license) They should be arriving in approximately 4 to 6 weeks. </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>*I have handed out 3 templates for reference letters, 1 coming from Pastor Cory, 1 from Matt and Carrie and 1 from a teacher (Lori McCarty, teacher and my good friend) who taught one of our kids since they are school aged and Haiti requires that of parents with school aged children.</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>*Typed up my verification of employment letter from the school.</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>*Talked to the bank about getting a letter and statements notarized same day (this will will be acquired tomorrow.)</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*Contacted a Homestudy agency (a couple times and hope they will soon respond! I would like this to be done by the end of February!)</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>And I could go on and on and on with the little details....now for the <strong>'heart'</strong> update.</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>The 'heart' update is really about where we, as a couple, are at in this whole journey. And I'm learning that this consists of the way that I deal and see our adoption process versus how Daniel deals and sees our adoption process.</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Make no mistake, both of us are 100% committed to bringing this little boy home, but as a friend so accurately explained to me during a vent session...I am a 'pregnant', expecting mother. My 'nesting' instinct is in full swing...Daniel (obviously since he's male) doesn't have that same instinct. (I think this may come from the fact that I believe I have what I like to refer to as a 'mother's' heart for orphans and kids in need. I have to remind myself ((and often bite my tongue)) that not all peoples of this world have this heart.)</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>As my friend so kindly reminded me, for a dad, sometimes the 'reality' of their fatherhood comes when the child physically enters the world. Our Oscar has not 'physically' entered Daniels world yet. This will come, as Daniel's pointed out to me, when we have a referral and a face to put with our "Oscar." Then he will 'allow' himself to get attached to the child...But as we continue to process paperwork, answer questions, decide what the next, best step to take is, it is still not quite as 'real' to him as it is for me. He no less loves his son in Haiti, he's just processing it, allowing it to affect him, in a different way than I am. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>So, again as my friend pointed out, since he is and does deal with the coming of our child in his own way, I must give my husband the grace and the love he deserves to deal and grow as a soon to be father (again!) (thank you Lori for your immense wisdom!)</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>As a believer in the power of prayer, I pray often for Daniel to finally 'get' me. To get why I talk about the adoption, talk about orphans, talk about Haiti and all the cultural info tidbits I learn...why I talk so much about Oscar...I pray God will use our trip to Haiti to help reveal some of these things to him and I invite our followers and readers of this blog to pray along with me. I also ask for prayer for more grace for myself. To be patient with him when I don't think he's 'quite where he needs to be!' God will bring Daniel to it. I don't remember the last time the LORD has ever needed my help in any situation!</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Also, a hearty thanks to those who read and keep abreast of how things are going. This blog has not only been a great way to keep friends and family updated, but a way to help the Lacey's emotionally process this journey.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>God Bless, </div><br /><br /><br /><div>Terry</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div>tatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-16524236276274829182011-12-30T13:34:00.000-08:002011-12-30T13:48:06.192-08:00Doing a HAPPY DANCE!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfCUg8BpSbAoITmZTXd-W6Vyp2s00Mh1_WaCaWodg5gn8qdjaEmfCp3yU7h9SPNo1Rd2JJqKHmj23baD5KxNEtri-gCyQYxAeDC5WN1RFLWvrCgs2gkKrr3xxLyjSKRtGAVN06Zb8RWbi/s1600/Happy_Dance.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 229px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692041167026200354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfCUg8BpSbAoITmZTXd-W6Vyp2s00Mh1_WaCaWodg5gn8qdjaEmfCp3yU7h9SPNo1Rd2JJqKHmj23baD5KxNEtri-gCyQYxAeDC5WN1RFLWvrCgs2gkKrr3xxLyjSKRtGAVN06Zb8RWbi/s320/Happy_Dance.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>Time for a HAPPY DANCE!</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Well, for those of you who read the blog yesterday and my struggle and battle with the lies that Satan likes to whisper to discourage me, I got to give him a huge SCREW YOU today:) </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Michelle Reed, our fabulous Family Coordinator at American World, emailed me and said that she sent our profile to an orphanage director (OD) in Haiti. This way they can be thinking about matching a child with our family while they wait on the rest of our paperwork! This will (hopefully) make the referral and waiting time for the child much quicker if they are already on the lookout for our little Oscar!!!!</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Satan can try all he likes to discourage and dissuade us from moving forward, but God has other, greater plans! He put our family on the orphanages RADAR and things (even if it's a small thing) are in motion! This OD now as our names and faces in their hands and Oscar is one more small step closer to coming home. </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>God is good. All the time. Things sometimes look bleak, but He is there to keep moving us forward! </div><br /><br /><br /><div>Thanks to my prayer warriors!</div><br /><br /><br /><div>Terry</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div>tatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-63921381736532227722011-12-29T14:26:00.001-08:002011-12-29T15:50:01.843-08:00Lies the Devil Whispers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyBmnwDMRw8ijRCKcSeFKh5YEXbIpmberXdi7klp02paSpkdjSm4LbSw5KGfeem3CFxZzn_RjTXjRWBzxHjyqD2CAZp6jU5Ssc7H7jMFLLDR7ouij_qrLn_AFWsPqQvS35sCsVuWGRbES/s1600/liar-satan1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691700458061327362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyBmnwDMRw8ijRCKcSeFKh5YEXbIpmberXdi7klp02paSpkdjSm4LbSw5KGfeem3CFxZzn_RjTXjRWBzxHjyqD2CAZp6jU5Ssc7H7jMFLLDR7ouij_qrLn_AFWsPqQvS35sCsVuWGRbES/s200/liar-satan1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>'Why are you stressing yourself doing this?' </div><br /><br /><div>'So much of your time is being diverted from your family, and your husband and kids need your attention so much more right now.'</div><br /><br /><div>'You can't do this! You don't have the drive to see it through.'</div><br /><br /><br /><div>Lies. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>Each one being whispered in my ear almost daily it seems now that we are full swing into paperwork and building the dossier. The deeper we get into this adoption process, the more fierce and frequent these lies become.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>And to be honest...some days I almost want to believe the lies. I almost want to just file the folder and papers away and go back to my easy life. The easy life....sounds so appealing at times. One with no tracking down of certificates, photos, emails and digging up finance and employment information. The easy one where the kids and I just kick back and have a relaxed Christmas break.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>Then like waking from a dream, I realize that Satan is working hard to lure me from what God has planned. I asked my friend, Angie, one day if it was rude to tell the Devil to screw off, because that is exactly what I do when I see the tricks he's trying to pull on me. I set my mind and determination on what God wants me to do. He has a greater plan and when I think of the strongest lie the devil has told me yet...'He (Oscar) won't know you if you stop right now,' I dig my feet in, drop on my knees and give the struggle to God. He is far stronger and has been carrying us through this.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Lies only destroy. They destroy what the LORD wants for our lives and Satan is happy to dish them out. Jesus promised us new life through faith in Him. This life is one with my Oscar in it. I know it. So I place my faith in Him each day. I battle the lies Satan throws at me by thinking and praying the Word. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I know Oscar is waiting for us, his family, as we are waiting for him. So, screw off Satan. God's got this battle already won for me!</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Prayer for continued strength and deeper trust is always welcomed!</div><br /><div>Thanks and God Bless,</div><br /><div>Terry</div>tatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-28690503366916446892011-12-21T11:17:00.000-08:002011-12-21T11:29:44.144-08:00The Special Needs Child<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MoftsA2vEo_08v_ac1q3MGliagzJg3y2nmkOsZnbfM-_7YwHcbpdfNqTnJyPCDEM-HSTGgyY-S8NH5FACJSwRL7b0___qnz3Vc4YeUpjtLHAD11yjZ3ERUI1br8agVTQ0Kn1XsgOJuJR/s1600/veryspecial.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 245px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688665806473515714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MoftsA2vEo_08v_ac1q3MGliagzJg3y2nmkOsZnbfM-_7YwHcbpdfNqTnJyPCDEM-HSTGgyY-S8NH5FACJSwRL7b0___qnz3Vc4YeUpjtLHAD11yjZ3ERUI1br8agVTQ0Kn1XsgOJuJR/s320/veryspecial.gif" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>The link that I provided below is to an article on the website, Rainbowkids.com. It is about what one mother learned from her 2 year old daughter who her family adopted from China. This is a cool site because you can actually see pics of kids all over the world waiting for homes.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>After working with Special Needs kids, reading up on different conditions and seriously contemplating bringing one home, I have learned that there is a reason that Special Needs are called that. Not for their benefit, but for ours. They teach us to love and accept on a different level. The Special Need is to change the hearts of the 'normal' to love those who already love unabashedly.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.rainbowkids.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=693">http://www.rainbowkids.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=693</a></div></div>tatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-25866355907559771622011-12-19T06:52:00.000-08:002011-12-19T06:57:45.114-08:00Great Article on Waiting...not just for the adopting family!<a href="http://www.awaa.org/downloads/China/Gods_Will_for_Your_Wait.pdf">http://www.awaa.org/downloads/China/Gods_Will_for_Your_Wait.pdf</a><br /><br />Waiting strengthens our faith and I believe it also helps us to trust that God will work all things our for good and His glory.<br /><br />God Bless,<br />Terrytatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-61211520203934800012011-12-17T08:50:00.000-08:002011-12-17T09:08:08.928-08:00A Note from TaylerHello this is Tayler Lacey and I just want to say that Hatian kids are cool.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />But for real, when this kid comes home I'm gonna be like 17 so I'm gonna be the one that doesn't live with this child (Oscar) as much, but yet it seems I'm the child with the biggest problem with the whole thing.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />But I realized a couple days ago that this isn't only God calling my parents to be parents to Oscar He is calling me to be a brother to him too. I'm not into the whole deep emotional description of my feelings but I just wanted to say that God has called us as a family not just Terry and Daniel.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This has been a public adoption announcement.tatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-65391231718178318082011-12-17T06:12:00.000-08:002011-12-17T06:52:23.707-08:00My Conversation With God This Morning :D<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZG0yIkZ4Lm2YV8sbFCpkrJwcwmZT30Bl4c4IYq7eX6oA6cgrN2RArtJA4jciPUlzdp3jL4_4rVsKs4Ki1r8SILs85dWOFovDIatYpDUtH3SKqZTyQqDgOaowNw5ksVlCzPMzWn9i17mc/s1600/talk-to-god.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 212px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687107443648604370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZG0yIkZ4Lm2YV8sbFCpkrJwcwmZT30Bl4c4IYq7eX6oA6cgrN2RArtJA4jciPUlzdp3jL4_4rVsKs4Ki1r8SILs85dWOFovDIatYpDUtH3SKqZTyQqDgOaowNw5ksVlCzPMzWn9i17mc/s320/talk-to-god.gif" /></a><br /><br /><div>'So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God....' Isaiah 41:10</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Wow, God, really? Do not fear? Do not dismay? Um, did You see that stack of attachments I just printed off from the adoption agency?? Did You see that all my documents have to be less than a year old? I'm 38! My birth certificate is 38 years old too! And when all these documents reach Haiti they cannot be older than 6 months! That puts me on a time frame crunch!</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>I have to simutaneously do my dossier AND my home study...really? I have 3 kids, 2 dogs, 2 jobs, 1 husband, 3 church group studies and 0 time on my hands. I am on my knees begging Your forgiveness when I am not spending my daily time with You like I should. How am I supposed to fit this in too?</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong><em>'I will strengthen and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.' Isaiah 41:10 </em></strong></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Oh.....yeah....</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>You squash my feeling of being overwhelmed with peace and joy. You are moving my feet, because I can't move them on my own. You give me glimpses of my 'Oscar' who is in Haiti and needs to come home. You uphold me with Your righteous right hand. You are the strength during my weakness. </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Pressing on is the only option. You have instilled me with determination and love for my Haitian son. No amount of pressure will dissuade me for You are my help. You have called my family (and I <strong>know</strong> you are calling others as well) to adopt. You will open doors and provide ways. Help those of us blessed enough to venture out on this path called adoption, to keep our eyes pointed upward towards You and lean into Your righteous strong hand. </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Thanks God, You are the best listener.</div><br /><br /><div>Your daughter,</div><br /><div>Terry</div>tatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-41890901271718895802011-12-10T19:29:00.001-08:002011-12-10T19:38:58.532-08:00The Sharing of some pics...Some fun pics of the 'packed house' fundwareness dinner that we had Dec. 2nd and a pic of the cool kids who helped paint the Adopted t-shirts for the human skit performed at my home church, Shadow Mountain, in November for Adoption Awareness Month. I'm sure Angie, Carrie and Lisa agree these youth rock:)<br /><br />Love those kids (Jared, Josh, Nash, Brookie and Tayler aka Vectron) and the support they show!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mofygtUiY0VDbv1Bm7GoMzbUutdJX5nF2qMe8rc-MTt9iKuuDt1WUZkMKzegFYYEKBOJLViNCWSrlzT5pIYyKt44VJ85ovXsM2KCoQpyy0xddiwbaF0X2O0hYubNcATNBJxtwxPUdI3c/s1600/dinner3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684708199140726066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mofygtUiY0VDbv1Bm7GoMzbUutdJX5nF2qMe8rc-MTt9iKuuDt1WUZkMKzegFYYEKBOJLViNCWSrlzT5pIYyKt44VJ85ovXsM2KCoQpyy0xddiwbaF0X2O0hYubNcATNBJxtwxPUdI3c/s200/dinner3.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtgJg9WHFa6uNKThy36GwTthQLC95ngS2b7hOaSB8JhocxcHD2ieN0Ys-gqIGJz2GvdFyU_q-4NnzZYbmWcOVOowHLJ-gd7Wj_uKifeE-4WFefzyRq_LJJ4Lvf4eAZjLArKbYUhvajt-_/s1600/dinner2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684708183776139186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtgJg9WHFa6uNKThy36GwTthQLC95ngS2b7hOaSB8JhocxcHD2ieN0Ys-gqIGJz2GvdFyU_q-4NnzZYbmWcOVOowHLJ-gd7Wj_uKifeE-4WFefzyRq_LJJ4Lvf4eAZjLArKbYUhvajt-_/s200/dinner2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrIQuOj1Kt68xhl0sIDT4BEAeH4g0iWWXkMjkXuTjhsESeaWKd5ewrNHWAmpn6nvRvH_8KTdNaHCLeJzauMe4AVuUWYDzebw6IFXd1tbBzrBCkmQ8CdWxU01YPYSN4nC-yOT6HBb8ZvzC/s1600/dinner1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684708177345146882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrIQuOj1Kt68xhl0sIDT4BEAeH4g0iWWXkMjkXuTjhsESeaWKd5ewrNHWAmpn6nvRvH_8KTdNaHCLeJzauMe4AVuUWYDzebw6IFXd1tbBzrBCkmQ8CdWxU01YPYSN4nC-yOT6HBb8ZvzC/s200/dinner1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyB1VlQ5VaKIfzMAL95mvSu8mGReLwvlrZxeZV9EylE-ck_9jD_UQaLLb-wC6xy55JnjSjcM-HafPhbzXhLQBdI-anmqqKFwvkiBDwowTqF5lWPtVvvR_z3VmqBFMTK9rYe59hZt-dHpx/s1600/youth1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684708163791051970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyB1VlQ5VaKIfzMAL95mvSu8mGReLwvlrZxeZV9EylE-ck_9jD_UQaLLb-wC6xy55JnjSjcM-HafPhbzXhLQBdI-anmqqKFwvkiBDwowTqF5lWPtVvvR_z3VmqBFMTK9rYe59hZt-dHpx/s200/youth1.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div></div></div>tatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699973354735134762.post-81357792839945300442011-12-08T08:15:00.000-08:002011-12-08T08:37:34.545-08:00Prayer RequestNow that our paper work is in process and our first large payment has been made towards our adoption, I've noticed (within the last 24 hours) a sick feeling growing in my stomach and heart. The feeling that comes when you want and have to do something, (holy discontent maybe???) but your hands are tied.<br /><br />I read articles about Haiti. My son is in Haiti. Many children are living in conditions there that are unimaginable to most Americans. Poverty, death caused by curable sickness, child slavery, lack of education...my son is living among these conditions. No parent can or should have to imagine their child in these circumstances, yet those adopting from impoverished countries must face that their children are. It's horror.<br /><br />I know that God has drawn a line from us to our son. That He will work all things out. I trust Him implicitly. But I am a broken-hearted mother, as I think of what conditions my son may at this moment be living in or being exposed to.<br /><br />So, my prayer request today, is that God hastens our process. That He works all this out smoothly and beautifully. But also, that if He deems I must wait and be patient, that I can do so with a willing heart. I also ask that if you've been thinking of adoption or even fostering, to remember that even if you think you have little to offer, it is still so much more than what that child may ever know.<br /><br />God Bless and thanks you to all who have been prayer warriors through this journey with us.<br />Terrytatesmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250076298060390563noreply@blogger.com0