GIVING THANKS!

                                                        HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

We have been in our new home now for ...  hmmm...  it will be three weeks on Tuesday!
Although we have many boxes still left to unpack, we are quite settled, and even got to do a few full days of school last week!

This was our first Thanksgiving ever with just our family.  We had a wonderful day! Let's see... there was parade watching, air soft wars, games, facebook, Skype, giggles,  a few tears, phone calls, dancing, resting, cooking, snuggling, movie watching, exploring...  etc...

Each of the children picked a dish to help me prepare so I has special time with each of them throughout the day.  Of course, that means we ended up with a turkey and 8 side dishes!  Good thing we are invited to a "Left Over" party today, the day after Thanksgiving, so we can share our bounty!

The drive to Arkansas was fun... mostly.  The children did really well.  Gotta admit there were a few tears on and off as we got closer to Little Rock and our move began to feel more and more real.  A little comic relief helped though...  like the children dancing on the trailer!

We are content and happy...    that Peace that passes understanding...
It is a wonder to me that we can be grieving, and even healing from all the change we have had this past year and a half, and deeply celebrating as well.

Each of us has had our set of losses...
Losing my dad, Heidy and Andres losing all that was familiar to them - then losing all that was sort of familiar to them..., changing jobs - homes - churches - co-ops, communities...

The second week here both Pete and I had a few days of emotion that seemed at times like it was all too much.  This past year has been a lot...   and we were, and still are tired.   God has brought us to a place of rest though.  It feels good to not have any big changes on the horizon; to be peaceful, and spending our time bonding, nesting, cooking...  moving towards the still waters...   Experiencing God's restoration...

As we got closer to our home, Pete started to getting worried that I would not like the house.
( He put in an offer without me seeing it...  except in pictures.)

I was ready to be dissapointed...  I think I stealed myself to be dissapointed.  I knew we would be ok.  I believed this house was God's provision for us, but my stomach was turning as we got closer and closer.  Pete had told me we had a pretty drive to our house, but when I asked about a post office, or a bank, or a pharmacy, he consistently said our home was about 15 minutes away from anything! I was getting nervous.  However, to my delight, I love the drive and I love everything about our new home!  Really, everything!  Of course, there are things that need to be fixed, like anywhere, but the layout, the color, the setting...  for us, is simply amazing - and even in these past 3 weeks, I have not once wished we lived anywhere else!

This is a picture of what I see in the morning when I walk.  From our home, to here,  the top of this hill, is .5 miles.  From home to here and back is a beautiful, peaceful, life giving mile!

Our neighborhood is hard to explain.  Each house has a few acres around it.  Kind of like our home in Mason, but not on a busy street and more homes as we drive into our neighborhood.  We live on a culde-sac at the end of the neighborhood at the top of a hill.  The children could be outside all day biking, scootering, playing basketball, exploring, getting to know a few friends.

Beginning the first evening we were here, and straight through till the day before Thanksgiving, neighbors and friends from Family Life have brought us dinners, breads and cakes.  People here outwardly value people.  Our driveway is a bit long and up a hill, yet sometimes we look outside to see a new neighbor, whom we have not met yet, walking up to our door, often with their families, to welcome us.  The other night a lady from Family Life called.  Pete does not even know her, but she wanted to welcome us to Little Rock and phoned to pop over and bring us a few loaves of bread she had made.

God has taken care of all of our needs...  before we even knew we had needs.  We did not have a refrigerator for over a week.  Neighbors offered for us to use their fridge in their garage, and brought us a small fridge too.  There is a delightful home school family that lives down the street.  We have not had  internet until this past week, and they invited Peter and Olivia down to do school at their house so they could keep us with Pep. Emily and Rachel went and did school too.   Our family was invited to a new freind's home for cookies and games.   We learned a new game with them that we now play almost daily at our house!

From Neiva, Tenjo and Bogota, Colombia, to Mason, Ohio - to Little Rock Arkansas -
Gods' people are truly everywhere...  ready to love and serve!
Thank you!

Joshua found a way to protect the grill before it rained b/c we had not yet found the grill cover!

                                          Having fun unpacking!  Has anyone seen Heidy?

                                         A huge trash truck getting rid of all the boxes etc...
                                        In Arkansas the field trips come right to your house!

As we drove into Little Rock that first night, and stopped to eat, Heidy and Andres noticed theses three cars, parked next to each other - the colors of the Colombian flag!

Three cozy girls!

Thank you ALL...   

We sincerely love and appreciate all of your prayers, kindness and pratical help this past year and a half. 

It has been a  journey we would of never predicted just 2 years ago!

WE'RE GOING HOME!!

As we got closer and closer to landing in Ohio Heidy and Andres became more quiet... yet excited. They would laugh, and talk, and look out the window with much anticipation!

As we began to land Andres said:

"Madre, Daddy at airport?"

I was touched that he was thinking about Pete and I imagined their sweet reunion...

"Yes! Daddy will be at the airport!"

To which Andres smiled and said...

"Bien! Daddy help luggage!"

We arrived home on September 11th to be greeted by our family and friends at the airport in Dayton!

It has been an amazing month!

More pictures to follow!

Let's See... What do I title this Blog???!!!

LET’S SEE… WHAT DO I TITLE THIS BLOG?
There are so many options….!

An Amazing day – Got To Do It All!

Yesterday, our last full day in Nieva was perfect. We got to do everything I had hoped. Diego our agency contact and his family have been very kind to us throughout our stay in Bogota. Yesterday they went out of their way:

We got mandatory document #1 – no problem. Then we got mandatory document #2 notarized… that was easy. And later in the afternoon we received the children’s visas – perfect!

The most touching part for me was at the US embassy. As we waited for the visas I heard the United States Anthem being sung. I walked and searched for who was singing. As I walked towards the music I noticed the United States flag was at half mast. I realized they must have been practicing for a 9-11 tribute. It was a quiet, touching moment for me. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I had this tapestry of thoughts – realizing Heidy and Andres were a day away from becoming US citizens and seeing the flag, and hearing the anthem…. And I thought about the United States embassy offices around the word and realized that very possibly every embassy of the United States, in every country, could be holding a tribute tomorrow. Poignant..


The rest of the day was just pure FUN! We got to go to Fransico’s coffee shop. Fransico is an agency rep who has been very kind and helpful. We had lunch with him and celebrated his new venture of opening the coffee shop.

Later, we walked through a lot of neighborhoods and learned more about Colombian culture.

Then we went to Marcella and Diego’s new apartment and learned out to make juice with that special Colombian touch. We got to play with their baby girl – and we got to see their wedding pictures. SO FUN!

Later in the evening we met up with Elizabeth and her husband. They took us to a very cool – well… kind of like a dinner theatre. There was traditional Colombian food and a show of many, many traditional Colombian dances. The Colombian culture is full of beautiful, vibrant colors and the dresses and costumes reflected this beauty. We had a great time!

Elizabeth and I have SO much fun together. She doesn’t really speak English - and – as we all know… I am not that great at Spanish... But still, we are able to have meaning conversations and laugh … A LOT!

It was a perfect last full day in Colombia… Perfecto!





This Is Not Really About This… This Is About That.

Heidy and Andres got hair cuts yesterday. They seemed to look forward to them… But my sweet girl Hiedy… Well... I thought she was fine… But as the guy was trimming her hair… she started crying – and crying – and crying…. And Crying… I felt so sad for her. She could not tell me what was wrong. (Darn language barrier…) I think she was sad about getting a trim, but I also think her tender tears were about much more. She seemed mad at me… didn’t want a hug and kept her distance for a while. After we ate lunch she was back to her charming, fun self with hugs and smiles (Blood sugar is a good thing….) …but her tears reminded me that both Heidy and Andres are processing a lot…



Hotel Meets Master Card – Not Pretty…

Really? Seriously? Oh come on… you can’t write this stuff. Our early morning was going well. We got up at 5:00am to get read to catch the shuttle to the airport 6:00am today. That would give us a good 3 hours before our depature. The hotel lady scaned my credit card… nothing. I asked her to try again and told her both Pete and I had talked to the credit card people 2 days ago specifically teling them to expectthis charge. They had said “No problem Mrs. McIndoe, you are our valued customer.”

Hmm… if so then WHY was our bank fighting with the hotel at 6am? The Hotel scanned my card 4 times, with 4 different scanners and each one said “Declined.” They said our bank would not approve the charges.

The bank, however, said they had no record of attempted charges and they would pay it if the hotel would just scan the card.

Bank: “Your hotel has not submitted any charges.

Hotel: “Your bank is declining the charges.”

Me: "I am getting on the next shuttle to the airport so you guys need to figure this out. (It had been a hour of trying to get my bank and the hotel to play nice.)

I am still not sure how that turned out I will make sure and check it out on Monday. I will make sure the hotel gets paid... but seriously... that was NOT fun at 6am in the morning...




“Oh – You’re The Famous One!”

After trying to talk to and understand ALL the airport adoption officials – and what documents were needed by whom… This.... after trying to help my bank and the hotel get along an hour earlier… AND after being in the wrong loooong security line for gate #8…. And after trying to find INTERNATIONAL Gate #8, and After trying to convince one of MANY immigration officials to let me keep the originals of our documents and give them the copies… we FINALLY get to our gate.. #8 that is! The airport dude checking people in at the gate takes my passport, looks at me, smiles and says in English: “Oh you’re the famous one!”

“Me? Why?”
“
“They phoned ahead to let us know you don’t speak Spanish….”

Sheesh... thanks!



How Many Immigration Guys Will Ask?

After we landed in the states today, the first immigration guy I talked to spoke English. I commented “Oh? Su? English?!”

To which he replys “Yes, you are in the States now!”

Then he proceeded to ask me about my relationship with Hiedy and Andres. I proudly told him they were my children! The conversation that followed was amazing as he told me he and his wife were thinking about adopting etc. He looked through our documents and asked me why we chose the “Hague Agency.” This is a funny question b/c the Hague Convention a few years ago put many safety procedures in to place to assure safe and legal adoptions. Not all countries are Hauge countries… so I got to answer his questions about the process of adoption... and that hague was not an agency ... etc... He was curious about why we adopted, so I tried to summarize for him. This particular immigration guy acutally closed his lane and escorted us to the next office as he continued to ask questions.

This same scenario played out TWO other times as we got processed through immigration and customs.

I had a sense that we may of been on Holy ground…

I prayed and wondered how these seeds being planted about God’s love and provision would play out in the future. I know I will never know… but it is fun to imagine. Three different immigration guys… one family….



Six Guys Going On A Cruise.

We got through customs and took our van to the hotel. I realized as the hotel driver was loading our NINE bags of luggage that I had NO US money. NO money to tip him…. I felt SO bad. I told him I would leave his tip at our hotel’s front desk. He was very kind and gracious.

On the same van with us were 6 dad type guys obviously going on some kind of guy trip. I thought maybe golfing, but later learned they were going on a cruise. We laughed and joked a bit until we got to our first stop, which was our hotel. The van guy got out to unload our NINE bags of luggage and I had a thought. As I got out of the van I turned around and told the 6 cruise dudes that I had realized – too late – that I had no US currency to tip the driver. I quickly told them I had been in Colombia for 5 weeks… adopting… etc… and that I felt bad that I had dropped the ball for tipping this guys.

I asked them if they would chip in a few bucks each and tip him for me! It was a fun interchange as they said the would , congratulated our family and started to get our their wallets. As they drove away they waved and smiled… I hope they have a good time on their cruise, and I really hope they tipped the driver for me!


I’d Give Anything To Find A Waffle House.

We got settled into our hotel here in Florida by late afternoon and went to walk to a restaurant. Heidy and Andres have typically eaten eggs for dinner in Colombia and asked for eggs this evening. I was doing a pretty good job of telling them there were no eggs available for dinner tonight. They were disappointed, but seemed to get it. We walked into Wendy’s (Which, by the way tastes totally gross after eating fresh fruit, juice, rice, beans etc. for 5 weeks…)

As soon as we walked into Wendy’s Heidy and Andres spot the menu board… with pictures of eggs, egg sandwhiches, croissants… etc..

“Madre! Si …. Eggs!!!”

They were VERY excited.

Sadly I had to tell them that the pictures of the eggs meant they were for breakfast, not for dinner. Oh… their forlorn looks of disappointment….

How I wish there was a Waffle House nearby. I really longed to give them something familiar …




This Is How A Fast Food Joint Works.

It soon became obvious that when Hiedy and Andres visited us last fall we must not of gone out for fast food. (I remembered that with 8 children fast food is really not a choice!) It was SO fun at Wendy's though... trying to explain the menu board, showing them how to get a soda – with ice – from the soda machine, and teaching them how to clean up their trays when they were finished. I have this growing awareness that Hiedy and Andres are, in some way, truly handicapped here in the States. Even though they were with us for 7 weeks in the fall, they really do not have a clear understanding of how our culture functions in the day-to-dayness of life.

I realized, again, how truly brave they are. This is the first time I have had this thought in a while. The courage it must take to leave your country, your language, your culture…




“Madre – Me A Baby!”

On our walk to the grocery Hiedy looks at me with that Heidy twinkle in her eye and says: “Madre, me a baby!” She indicated she wanted me to give her a piggy back ride.
My first thought… “ Oh my”
My second thought… “ My feet hurt.”
My third thought: “If Pete were here he would not hesitate….”
My last thought – “Our daughter has a bit of catching up to do and if she needs me to give her a piggy back ride so she can feel like a ‘baby’ then I am all in! Let’s go girl!”




This Is How This Kind Of Candy Works…


So… we popped into the grocery and Heidy and Andres each got a treat. Heidy chose one of those gross lollipop type candies that looks like a baby bottle. As she opened it the cashier tried to explain to her that there was sugar in the bottle part and that Heidy could dip the lollipop part in the sugar… ( By the way – I HATE this kind of candy…. )

Anyway – Heidy was not understanding the candy gig and the lady kept trying to explain. I chimed in and told her that Heidy did not understand very much English… which led to 2 things: 1) A reinforcement of what I had thought about at dinner… that Hiedy and Andres are resilient, very brave children. And 2) That I was realizing we may just be getting lots of questions from people who do not know us… which is a new added dimension for our family that I had not realized.

I guess when Hiedy and Andres were with us in Ohio back in the fall we were around people who new us most of the time. But when we have been around people who do not know us, they tend to have questions…



Which leads me to:

Insights With Our Newest Children –
After we got back to our hotel today I got to “talk” to Heidy and Andres on the computer. Honestly, I think there was a bit of a spiritual battle going on because most times when I would type what I was tryng to say the computer would shut down, or the translator would not work. I started praying that God would open the doors for me to share what was on my heart with my children. God answered my prayers and I got to share with Hiedy and Andres.

Basically, I told them our family was obviously different and that I had not realized before that people who do not know us may have many questions. I told them that daddy and I are thrilled at how God has knit our family together, but it was going to be important for all of us to be respectful and kind to people who look at us as if asking for an explanation or who actually ask questions.

I know different adoptive families handle questions differently, or are even sometimes offended by questions.

We, on the other hand, love to share God’s story in our family. We are pretty much an open book for people who have questions. For me, it is not offensive, it is fun… an honor acutally… to be able to share how God has been, and is… a Light onto our every single step…


Home Sweet Home!!!

We get to go home tomorrow!!!!!!!!
Tonight as we skyped our family at home there was an excitement in the air!

I cannot wait to HUG my family- to SEE them, to HOLD them, to LAUGH with them, to LOVE them in all the tangible ways that make a family a family…

I know re-entry won’t be all roses…. But I am SO excited to jump in and start this next season of our lives – to see Pete… to see our children… to have all of us together!

As we hung up tonight Emily said:
“I don’t know who I am going to hug first at the airport tomorrow mommy…”

It’s ok sweet girl …. The good news is there are lots of options!!!!


As I close I have to say THANK YOU to ALL of you…
This journey has, without a doubt, been a true spriritual adventure made possible by God’s provision through so, so, SO many of you!

I was talking to a friend tonight and thanking her for her help. She responded that she thought she really had not helped very much…


PLEASE know that each and every act of love and serving, on our behalf has been needed and greatly, greatly appreciated. I am reminded of the Body of Christ…

Each of you has played a very significant part in bringing Heidy and Andres home. Each of you has has been a part of the body….

You know the gig…
The body needs each and every part to function.
The eye sees, the ear hears, the heart beats…
Every part does what it was created to do… and thus the body needs each and every part.

Each and every word of encouragement has helped sustain us… each and every one…

THANK YOU!

I will be sure to blog in the next day or two to share about our reunion.

Oh my…. That is in about 12 hours!!!!!!!!

Counting the seconds until we are together!!!!!

Thank you Lord!

OUR LAST DAY IN COLOMBIA... MUSINGS....

OUR LAST DAY IN COLOMBIA - MUSINGS....

Today is our last day in Colombia…

It is bittersweet…

As I type my children are still in bed, quietly awake in their own thoughts. I wonder what is going through their hearts and minds.

Last night we were invited to visit Mrs. Christy. She and her husband founded CDA many years ago. I wish I could share her whole story – which she would be quick to correct me on – telling me it is God’s story! I know she is right – and I love her Glory to the Lord for what He has and is doing through her and her family!

When she was just 25 years old, with 3 little girls, God called her and her husband to Colombia to share God’s Love. She had never been here before. They came to Colombia and started a Christian newspaper. One thing led to another and now CDA (Corporacion Dios Amor / God is Love!) serves many, many facets of Colombia, including a significant ministry that serves single moms and another helps keep families together giving parents tools and training.

As she spoke SO many things were going through my head… CDA here in Colombia reminds me of Jerry Reiners ministry Project 52. Mrs. Christy said CDA serves “the poorest of the poor.” So does Project 52. CDA also reminds me of The Shepherds Crook, a ministry that is a liason for special needs children and forever families. The Shepherds Crook introduced us to our son Joshua, as well as to Heidy and Andres!

Getting back to last night though…

I was sharing with Mrs. Christy the path/s God has had our family on for the past few years. I shared with her that years ago we had read Experiencing God, a book by Blackaby and King that teaches about “Joining God in His work.” This book has had a profound impact on our family.

I told her about God’s calling/s for our family and wondered out loud if we maybe had Experienced so much of God that we could take a break for awhile….

Isn’t that stupid? Last night as I said it, and in these past many weeks as I have thought about it - it made perfect sense to me…

But NOW – as I type it … I feel ashamed and stupid. Yes, I am tired… and I want to be home… and we are in the middle of a few different callings from the Lord …

But – WHY would I ever want to miss a step of Experiencing God? Silly girl… get a grip Debbie!
(I am so sorry Lord, please forgive my feeble attempt to control my life. I do SO want to follow your light unto my every step.)
Well – as I commented to Mrs. Christy that I was tired… blah-blah-blah…. She smiled gently in that grandmother kind of sincere “knowing” and said to me…”Oh Dear, I don’t think we ever want to stop Experiencing God….”

Note to self…. Always remember Mrs. Christy’s gentle, yet powerful encouragement/ challenge!

So… last night… we were visiting and sharing, and looking at pictures and hearing her story and I asked her how long it would take the driver to come back to get us because I thought maybe we should be calling him. And she said….

He was waiting in the car for us….

((( imagine a sheer look of shock across my face….)))

OH MY! The second time in an hour and a half I felt stupid! How did I miss that? We quickly gathered our things, hugged Mrs. Christy and went to the car.

I think it is fair to say though, that there are many, many things I have experienced here in Colombia that are and will be life changing for me… and that hour and a half with Mrs. Christy is one of them… for sure!

Then – of all things… about half way home there must have been a car accident because traffic was STOPPED. It took us 2 hours to get back to our hotel. I felt so bad for the kind man from CDA who was patiently driving us. First – he came to get us to take us all the way across town, then he waited for us an hour and a half, then he took over 2 hours to get us home… Lord, please bless this kind gentleman…

Yesterday we applied for our visas. There was another family there who was adopting. I gotta admit, it never gets old… this miracle of adoption!

There was also a family there applying for an amnesty visa. Apparently they live in a very unsafe part of Colombia and had to prove their life was as risk to get the visa. I continue to be humbled…

***** Today we get 2 mandatory documents, and the children’s completed visas. Tomorrow we fly to Florida, and Sunday to Ohio!!!!!!!! ********

The rest of the day today we will visit a coffee shop that one of the adoption people opened and we will go to another’s home to learn how to make juice! This evening we are invited to go to a Colombian musical with the social worker who stayed with us a few days in Ohio when we hosted Heidy and Andres. She and her husband, her friend and her husband, and the three of us! (I wish my husband was here!)

Since our conversation a few weeks ago when Andres asked me if he had to move out of our home when he was 18 years old, he has been talking a lot about what he wants to do – what kind of job he wants to have.

Back in that initial conversation he told me he was going to join the army so he could move out – thinking he could not stay home after he was 18 years old.

These past many weeks though, he has been talking more and more about his future. It is AMAZING to literally watch him realize he has a future….

Yesterday he told me he wanted to be a veterinarian, a doctor, a spanish teacher and a police man. When he realized policemen in the states wear blue and not green he changed his mind on the policeman gig though!)

After Andres started this conversation a few weeks ago, God put it on my heart to take it a step further. I initiated one day and told him that he would ALWAYS have a family and a home…. Grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles… forever… always…

He has the most sincere smile that shines through his eyes… I wish you could have been a fly on the wall for that converstation!

Hiedy is quite the fun, endearing, young lady. She has a very fun, quick sense of humor and she is very engaging. She is initially shy – but when you get to know her – be ready to experience life through the eyes of a child who can make anything fun!

I have also felt very loved and respected by both Hiedy and Andres. They are listening quite well, asking good questions and initiating good conversations. (Which is also interesting given I don’t speak Spanish!) They will often see a need and step in to meet it. For instance, ever since we have been together they have not let me carry a heavy bag. When I see they are struggling and go to take a heavy bag from them they will say “No Madre!” and usually Hiedy will start to tickle me until I let go of the bag. Often they will carry a bag together if it is too heavy, but they have made it clear that THEY will carry it… not me!

Oh – another quick, but very meaningful experience that happened last night. I was hugging Hiedy and I said to her…. “My Hiedy!” And she said back to be “My Madre!” Then Andres came to me and smiled and hugged me, and said… “My Madre!” To which, of course I squeezed him tight and told him …. “My Andres!”
( One of those quick, but deep moments that I think/hope will always be emblazoned in my memory…)

Well – I am off to start my day. I talked to Kimberly today and she encouraged me to help Heidy and Andres enjoy this last full day in their country. I haven’t stopped crying since then. Thanks Kimberly! There are so many mixed feelings for me and Heidy and Andres…

Andres seems to be coping fairly well though… he tells me he is coming back for a visit to Colombia when he is 15 years old… with Peter!!!!

GOD'S PROMISES....

SHEESH….. BECAUSE THAT IS ABOUT THE MOST APPROPRIATE THING I CAN SAY ON A BLOG!

WHAT A DAY….

SO… YESTERDAY WAS GREAT – MOSTLY…

WE GOT HEIDY AND ANDRES’ NEW PASSPPORTS…

ANDRES CAMILO MCINDOE CRAWFORD
AND
HEIDY JOHANNA MCINDOE CRAWFORD

WE GOT THEIR NEW IDENTITY CARDS TOO, AND WE COMPLETED THE DOCTOR’S VISITS. ALL THAT TOOK ALL DAY!

BUT IT WAS A GOOD DAY….

WE WERE WELL ON OUR WAY TO COMING HOME ON SATURDAY… THEN… WELL… THINGS KIND OF GOT A LITTLE SHAKEY!

TODAY WE NEEDED ONE MORE DOCUMENT. IT CAME IN, ALBEIT LATE…
BUT THEN THE LADY WAS NOT THERE TO SIGN IT.

WE NEED THIS "LAST" DOCUMENT TO GET THE CHILDREN’S VISAS…


WHY DO I FEEL LIKE I AM ALWAYS SAYING WE NEED “JUST ONE MORE DOCUMENT?!”

AND… MY CREDIT CARDS WOULD NOT WORK…

SO… I NEED CASH TO PAY FOR ALL THE MEALS FOR THE 2 WEEKS WE WERE IN TENJO, WHICH I HAD…

GOOD THING B/C I NEEDED CASH TO PAY FOR THE ID CARDS, PASSPORTS AND DR. VISITS…

EXCEPT NOW I HAVE NO $ TO PAY CDA IN TENJO.

MY CREDIT CARDS WOULD NOT WORK… SO NO CASH….

THE LADY WAS NOT IN TO SIGN THE DOCUMENT TODAY…

THE AIRLINES WAS SUPPOSE TO BE OPEN FROM 2:30-5:30. WE GOT THERE AT 4:00…. THEY WERE CLOSED BUT SOME KIND GENTLEMAN SAID HE COULD HELP US ANYWAY….

THEN HE SAID THERE WERE NO SEATS TO COME HOME ON UNITL NEXT WEEK…

THANKS FOR THE "HELP" MR. AIRPLANE MAN....

MY STOMACH IS STILL QUITE WEAK…

THINGS ARE A BIT UP IN THE AIR AT HOME… LOTS OF TEARS…

BUT…. IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THIS…. HIEDY AND ANDRES CONTINUE TO BE PEACEFUL, TRUSTING, FUN, EASY AND KIND…

THEY ARE TRULY REMARKABLE CHILDREN!


SO I WAS TRYING TO HOLD IT TOGETHER AND NOT CRY… BUT I DIDN’T QUITE MAKE IT….


ALL THAT TO SAY THAT NOW IT IS 1:15AM…
I AM SO, SO TIRED…. BUT THINGS HAVE TURNED AROUND….

PETE HELPED ME WITH THE CREDIT CARDS… NOW THEY WORK. AND HE HELPED ME FIND SEATS ON AN AIRLINE SO WE CAN COME HOME…!



WE ARE BOOKED ON A FLIGHT THAT WILL GET INTO DAYTON AROUND 2:15PM ON SUNDAY THE 11TH!!!!!!
IF YOU WANT TO COME TO THE AIRPORT TO CELEBRATE WITH US YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME!!!


I AM OFF TO BED… WE HAVE A BIG DAY TOMORROW… HOPING TO GET THAT “LAST” DOCUMENT…. WHICH, WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT, IS ACUTUALLY 3 DOCUMENTS TOTAL… PLUS VISAS FOR HEIDY AND ANDRES….


I JUST KEEP CLINGING TO GOD’S PROMISES….
...WHEN I AM NOT IRRATIONAL AND CRYING THAT IS!

I HIGHY RECOMMEND THE “CLINGING TO GOD’S PROMISES” GIG….
LIFE IS MUCH BETTER THAT WAY!!!

GOOD NIGHT!!

LORD WILLING WE WILL BE HOME SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!!!

MANNA FOR THE MOMENT!!

MANNA FOR THE MOMENT!!

Well… to be honest – today has been a hard day. Although I am starting to feel better, I woke up again quite sick. I am grateful for Heidy and Andres who have not complained one time about being stuck in a hotel room with a mom who has been sleeping most of the day. They are amazing children. Not one complaint…

Looking back to Friday – our day in Neiva…

We were praying that the mandatory document, that had originally been filled out wrong, would be able to be fixed on Friday. We had been told it was a long shot and went to bed with heavy hearts on Thursday evening.

We had to get up at 3:30am to catch the first flight to Neiva. We arrived in Neiva at 6:30am and were met at the airport by Humberto, our attorney, and his wife Alysia. Alysia had to go to work, so we only got to spend a few minutes with her. Then we went to Humberto’s office where Hiedy and Andres stayed while Humberto and I walked to the court house.

It was already SO hot… not a little bit hot… not even medium hot… but VERY HOT… it was only 8:00am…

We walked up the stairs and into this little office. Humberto showed me this huge, thick file that was all in Spanish. He made sure to point out the last page, which I “read,” and signed. That was quick and easy. I just kept thinking I was glad I trusted Humberto b/c, although I knew I was signing something adoption related, I was not sure what it was!

After I signed, we left to go back to Humberto’s office. Walking down the stairs he says to me… in English… “Congratulations!” I soon understood that those quick few minutes signing the last page of the thick file meant that our adoption was final!

We were now the parents of Heidy Johanna McIndoe and Andres Camilo McIndoe!!! I was stunned, excited and sad. I thought that it would be a bit more exciting…. For instance…. Maybe knowing what I was doing…. But that’s ok –I transitioned quickly, tears fell and I wished Pete were there, yet I was peaceful and grateful.

As we got off the elevator going back to Humbero’s office I could hear Hiedy squeeling and laughing and running down the hall. Silly girl… she can make anything fun! I asked Humberto to explain to the children that they were officially McIndoes! I wish you could of seen their smiles! BIG, BIG smiles!!

We had to wait ½ hour for Sorany, our interpreter to come so Humberto asked us if we wanted to walk to the church on the corner. We walked to this huge, beautiful Catholic Church. It was filled with people worshipping and praying and standing in line for the confessionals. There were children kneeling up front. Humberto said they were taking their first communion. We sat in the front row. Humberto talked to Hiedy and Andres. I am not sure what he was talking about but it seemed important and then I think he prayed with them. I kept thinking that if Pete were there he would of prayed too. I felt shy… not sure why… not like me! But, I pushed past the shyness and held their hands and prayed together with them thanking the Lord that we were now their parents and they were now our children. When I opened my eyes I saw that Humberto had also added his hand to ours and was praying with us. It was a poignant moment for me… an Experiencing God moment!

The rest of this VERY HOT day we spent with our interpreter Soronay. She is a gem. We walked back and forth from her house to the notary 4 times… and still did not get the document we needed. (This is a different documents that allows me to travel to the states with Hiedy and Andres… important!)

Although we did not get the travel documents, Humberto assured me we could get it this week so not to worry. As Soronay and I were walking back – again – to the notary the air was thick, it was HOT and we were still waiting to hear from Humberto about the document that needed to be redone and signed. It was HOT and we were tired.

Just as I was starting to believe we were not going to get the corrected document Humberto called and told us to come quickly to the Court House. We hopped a taxi and bounded the steps up to the courthouse. Humberto met us on the steps. He looked at me, put his hands together as if praying and motioned for me to following him into the office. He spoke in Spanish to the same gentleman who was there in the morning when I signed the adoption papers. The man smiled… Humberto smiled… Soronay smiled… so I smiled too!

Thank you Lord… thank you….!!!! The corrected document was completed and signed!!!!

The judge had the mandatory document retyped and it was signed by the Family Defender and the Judge. Humberto had to sign it, and I had to sign it.

After that, Humberto asked Soronay and I if we wanted to go get a drink. I wondered what he was going to order. It was obvious that what had just happened was a VERY big deal! We enjoyed lemonade and celebrated!

A few other really special parts of Friday:

It wasn’t long into the morning before I realized Humberto knew EVERYBODY! We walked everywhere... and literally… seriously… at least every 10-20 people he would stop and talk and shake hands and smile and laugh a bit. I told him later I believed God used him and his good relationships with people to help get the necessary documents we needed quickly. I also kidded him; I told him everywhere we went it was like a parade and he was like the King smiling and waving to people!

During the day, when we weren’t walking or visiting the notary we stayed at Sorany’s. She and her sister have an English school in their home. It was very impressive and fun to watch her teach a few students. We got to visit with her sister and with her mom. It was a special day there… even though it was HOT!

At the end of the evening we still had a few hours until we could catch out plane. We took a taxi back to Casa Blanca, the hotel we stayed at in Neiva when Pete was with me. It was SO fun to surprise Jolanda, the manager and the people who work there. Jolanda immediately hugged us and instantly asked for Pete by name. She sat with me and we held hands - Love in Every Language…. Quite an experience… She remembered my favorite cold drink - fresh tangerine juice and brought it to me with out me even asking.

It was an amazing day. Throughout the day I kept thinking of “Manna for the Moment.” God met out needs… not necessarily our wants… like and air conditioner for instance…. – but our needs for sure!

So – that was Friday. Amazing.

Saturday we went to look at a new hotel but it was more expensive so we decided to stay put.

Yesterday, Sunday, we went sight seeing with Diego and his family. We took a trolly to the top of a HUGE mountain where there is a church. They were singing “Glory, Glory Halleluia!” in spanish – it was beautiful. Then we went to an outside plaza and I realized I had not one souvenir to bring home – so we did a little shopping. We also visited a friend, Francisco and his wife and family. It was a very fun day.

That leads us to today…. I am feeling much better now – not sick anymore. Thank you Lord!

We just received a call from the agency that the children’s birth certificates are ready. Tomorrow we will go get their new passports with their new names, their new identity cards and go to their Dr. appts.

Wednesday we will apply for their visas.

It looks like we could be home on Saturday!! WhoooHooo!!!

EXPERIENCING GOD

EXPERIENCING GOD
(Special thanks to my new friend Rachel who taught me how to copy and paste!)



Friends and Family,

The children and I were having "bible time" last evening, where everyone has their own time with the Lord, and then shares what they learned and/or any impressions they received from God or the bible, etc. It has been quite awhile since we've done this and this reinforced to me that we need to do it a lot more! The sharing was precious. I read the following and thought of the call on us to adopt Heidy and Andres and have Deb away for 5 weeks...and how that is certainly a "God-sized" call! And that led me to think of all of you. From Blackaby and King's, "Experiencing God"...

"When God purposes to do something through you, the assignment will have God-sized dimensions. This is because God wants to reveal Himself to you and those around you. If you can do the work in your own strength, people will not come to know God. However, if God works through you to do what only He can do, you and those around you will come to know Him."

Isn't that cool?! Our prayer is that for all of us, and all of you that have allowed God to work through you in our lives, that we will all experience and come to know God at a deeper level.

Thanking God for his grace through you to us.

Pete

P.S. Deb- feel free to post this on our blog, and/or forward along to other friends that have helped...I could not everyone's email.....pls also forward to Adopolis and CDA friends...

Sent from my iPad

UNCERTAINTY, EXHAUSTION, DISCOURAGEMENT.... AND HOPE -

UNCERTAINTY,EXHAUSTION, DISCOURAGEMENT .... AND HOPE -

It has been a whirlwind of the last 48 hours…

On Wednesday night, after the ninas from the foster home had all gone to bed, we received a phone call that our judge had signed the adoption decree! We were asked to be in Neiva, Colombia on Friday morning by 8:00am to sign adoption documents.

We quickly made reservations…

To be honest, we had lots of mixed feelings…

Although we very, very much want to be home, we were not prepared to leave Tenjo so quickly….

We were sad...excited... and everything in between…

Then I woke up at 3:06 am… but that is old news by now…. (See prior post…)

On Thursday morning I woke Heidy and Andres up very early… 5:30 am so we could tell the ninas in the foster home good bye. I gotta admit… that was very, very hard. They had gone to bed not knowing we would be gone the next day before they got home from school. There were many, many tears… from all of us…

I guess it is good that we had a quick goodbye… that was hard enough…

Then we went to eat… well… not me because I still was not sure of my tummy... I did ask for warm water and lime juice though… not straight lime juice… lol!

After Heidy and Andres ate we packed…

The kind people from CDA, who I had called the night before, kindly changed their plans and picked us up to bring us to Bogota.

That was on Thursday morning. It was am emotional morning. So many mixed emotions… sad to be saying goodbye, mad at myself for missing even one second of enjoying this special place, so excited to be moving on to the next phase of coming home.

I am not sure what was harder… saying goodbye to the girls, or saying goodbye to the staff. They did not know until that morning that we were leaving either. Still – although my Spanish was nowhere close to being understandable, and their English being sparse… we somehow forged a very deep bond… an unspoken experience of mutual respect, and fun, and a deep love…

Jimmy, from CDA, brought us to Bogota. Our friend, from CDA, who I have never met… Willie… who speaks English… called me to tell me he had gotten us a great rate at a hotel right near the airport in Bogota. We were due to fly out to Neiva at 5:50am on Friday morning and fly back, landing at 9:30 Friday night. The hotel had/has a shuttle. It was perfect!

Thursday evening Diego, from our agency, his wife and their 18m old sweet, sweet baby girl, came to visit us. They are very gentle, kind and peaceful. They had some concerning news for us… I tried not to cry… but still the tears fell…

They told me that one of the documents in our file was not filled out properly.

For the children’s new birth certificates the documents needed to state their new last names of McIndoe Crawford… (Both mom and dad’s last name in Colombia) but the document only said McIndoe. This was a problem b/c all the documents have to be precise.

This same problem happened a few adoptions ago and it took over a week to get the document fixed b/c it has to be signed again by the Family Defender, the Judge, the Attorney and by the family. Our agency cautioned us that it was possible, but very unlikely that would all happen in one day – Friday – for us. I would very likely have to make a second trip to Neiva and this would likely add on another few days to another week before we could come home.

My phone call home on Thursday evening was hard. Lots of tears and uncertainty, discouragement and exhaustion…

Our family prayed for favor - we hung up, and went to bed with heavy hearts…

Heidy, Andres and I woke up at 3:30am on Friday morning to get to the airport by 4:30 am for our flight at 5:50am to Neiva – hoping and praying for a miracle. We landed in Neiva at 6:50am. And thus began another amazing day….!

AN HOUR AND A HALF OF THINGS I AM GRATEFUL FOR...

AN HOUR AND A HALF OF THINGS I AM GRATEFUL FOR…

3:06am Waking up on our last morning in Tenjo, happy that I didn’t miss the sunrise!

3:07am Glad that I am conscious – realize that I am really sick…

3:07½am Greatful for fast reflexes… run…

3:08 So glad there is an outside potty b/c we had no running water all day yesterday and I am guessing we still may not…

3:08½am Thankful that Pete taught me how to think like McGiver… b/c as the door slams shut I remember there is no inside door handle.

3:10am Grateful for a sense of wonder…. Wonder where my sense of humor went as the only other living creature in Tenjo awake is a fly… buzzing around my head…. as I try to figure out how to open the door. Try not to cry…

3:15am Realize I hear Claudia the kitchen – note to self…. I guess she really does get up at 3:00am - wonder if her music is too loud to hear me - in case I need to scream for help to get out of the bathroom…

3:30am – I am free!! Go to the kitchen to say good morning to Claudia. More than grateful for the meals she serves us as I see her sitting on a small stool, in front of a HUGE pile of potatoes…. Peeling each and everyone… with a smile on her face…. AT 3:30 IN THE MORNING…. Feel very humbled…

3:35 am – There is no place else in the world I would rather be at this moment than sitting on another small stool, peeling LOTS potatoes with Claudia… and bonding… even though she doesn’t speak English and I don’t speak Spanish…

3:35 ½ am Remember again, the song….. “Love in every language, Straight from the heart… Pulls us all together… Never apart…"

3:45am Grateful I am fast… even in the wee hours of he morning… quickly run to the potty…

3:45 1/2am – So glad I didn’t break anything in the pitch dark…. as I realize there are actually 3 steps coming out of the kitchen instead of 2…. Try not to cry….

4:00 am – There is still no place I would rather be at this moment than sitting on a small stool, peeling potatoes…. Then mangos…. Then pineapples with Claudia… and bonding…

4:15am – Grateful I wake up peacefully most mornings as I hear the house moms… speaking VERY loudly in Spanish… telling the girls to get up for showers and school…

4:20am – Glad I know my manners as I politely say “No gracious” to the stern house mom as she offers me something to drink…

4:20 ½am Glad I am not stupid… realize I don’t have a choice… as the stern house mom gets MORE stern, crosses her arms in front of her… and makes sure I know I do not have a choice but to drink whatever it is she is giving me in that huge mug to drink…

4:21am – Glad I had some practice drinking shots back in the day… downed a half mug of straight lime juice… as I see Claudia walk by me, smiling as she throws away an armful of juiced lime peels…. Thanks Claudia… I thought we were friends….!

4:22am – Realize it is always a good thing to be in good graces with the house moms – and with the chef!!!

4:30am – Grateful my tummy is feeling better… Wonder if it really was the ½ mug of fresh, straight lime juice that I downed in less than 3 seconds…

4:35 am…. There really is no place I would rather be at this moment than peeling potatoes, and mangos and pineapples with Claudia!!!

4:36 am Hear the rooster crowing… and see the beautiful sun rising… with Claudia…

On this – our last morning in Tenjo, happy to have woken up early….


THANK YOU LORD for TENJO, COLOMBIA –
Seriously… the absolute most beautiful, peaceful place in creation...
With the most beautiful, amazing people…


TRULY… HEAVEN ON EARTH -
Humbled and deeply grateful that we were blessed with 2 weeks here….

THE ADOPTION DECREE IS SIGNED!!!!

We received a call a few hours ago telling us the adoption decree is signed!!!!
THANK YOU Mr. Judge #3 Sir!

Will post more details tomorrow. The computer lab is closing now.

I think we will be home by the 10th or 11th !!!

Pete's birthday is the 14th!!!


Thank you one and all...
Thank you Lord -

Love,
Deb

The Bus...

I have determined that if you are going to ride the bus on the back roads in Tenjo, Colombia, you really should wear a sports bra!

Resting -

As I type I am sitting outside on a blanket in the little yard of our cottage. There is a fence around the cottage, and the entrance to the yard is a gate, taller then me, covered by a small roof. The inside of the fence is lined with different shades of purple flowers… deep purple, violet, white with the tips purple, some red flowers and some deep dark pink flowers. (I was going to say magenta, but don’t think I know how to spell it!)

I have been here most of the day. Today has been a true respite. The most special part for me though is not the beauty, the flowers, the cool breeze, the trees, or the birds singing. The most special part for me is this sweet young lady who has been next to me on the blanket all day.

This morning I pulled a rocking chair outside and Heidy wanted one too, so I grabbed the other one for her. We sat quietly and read for a bit. Then I grabbed a blanket and put it in the shade to rest and read my bible. Heidy followed me, went back inside for a minute and came back with two pillows and a book. She was smiling and peaceful and all she said was “Fun!” as she plopped beside me. It is just after lunch right now, and I am sitting on the blanket typing and she is beside me with a few toys.

I think it is fair to say I didn’t think this moment would come. This peaceful… it’s gonna be ok kind of feeling….

It was a very, very…very… hard weekend. I just couldn’t let myself be content. I wanted to go home so desperately that when I wasn’t crying, I was trying not to cry. The tears would come…. And go…. And I would think “Good… that’s over…” I would be fine, having fun even, and the next thing you know I’d think about home, and the tears would flow. And, you know how it is…. At least for me…. First I would be crying about being home, that would usually transition into missing my dad – then I would really cry… then I would be mad b/c I was crying… so I would cry more…

I am so thankful to be here. Andres and Hiedy played all week end with the girls here. They painted and went to the park and watched movies and made up games to play. I really wish I had a camera. If I did I would of snapped a picture of Andres with face cream all over his face…. Smiling real big!

I reached out to a handful of friends and they all sent me back scripture and encouragement. They told me to rest and enjoy being here. They told me the Lord has good things for me/us here, and to… well… basically to get a grip! So today… after another big hard cry, and after talking to Carol, our amazing friend who assured me she has my family covered… I just let myself be here, and I just let myself feel loved. And I just rested in the shade in the cool of the day. I imagine the tears will come again, but I think/hope I am on the other side of the abys. Maybe next time they won’t be desperate tears… maybe they will be healing tears…. Or happy tears…!

Well… back to Heidy and Andres….

Last night Heidy didn’t feel good. I have never seen her sick. She came to me as I was skyping home and crawled up on the table I sitting at and layed down and looked at me with the most pitiful eyes. She was shivering and she was trying not to cry. I quickly got off of Skype and we came home. I wrapped her in blankets and snuggled with her. After a bit, still shivering she looks at me and says….”Madre… Uno?” I couldn’t believe it! So we played one game of Uno, one of Skip Bo and one game of Yahtzee. She was shivering the whole time. She slept in this morning. I heard her stirring and went in to rest with her. She was so quite.

I just kept wondering how she was cared for in the foster homes when she was sick. I wonder if anyone ever just snuggled with her, or held her, or was cozy with her.

You know… this language barrier is a good thing sometimes. If I could of communicated with words to her I would have. As it was… we were both just quiet and cozy and I rubbed her back… for a long time… each in our own quiet thought..


And Andres….

I must admit… I was TOTALLY shocked and feel very honored and loved….

As you know… our potty has been backed up… for 5 days! They were able to fix it yesterday. Yeeaa!! Last night I realized that it really, really needed to be scrubbed. I told Hiedy and Andres I was sorry and that I would take care of it today. So…. I was kind of avoiding it… really wishing Pete were here…. But knowing I had to suck it up and do the gross work. In I went…

And…

The potty was sparkling! I was absolutely shocked. I cried out… “Who cleaned the potty?”

And Andres popped around the corner with a BIG smile and said “I did!” (Yup, in english even!)


Thank you to ALL who are praying, encouraging, cooking for, and serving our family. Please know that you are participating - literally...in rescuing these 2 sweet children we will soon be able to call our son and daughter.

Muchos Amor –
Much Love –
Deb

Teachable Moments Part 2

Sheesh….. you would think I would of learned and typed the prior blog in Word… like Rachel told me to…. So I wouldn’t lose it… but nooo…..

Well… here I am in Word… finshing the story, that I already finished and lost…..


To finish the story….

I told Andres that in our family we show respect and love by valuing other people’s time.

(My brother is probably cracking up right now b/c our family had an issue with time when we visited them! - Hi David!)

Anyway… I told Andres that in our family if we stole other people’s time we had to give even more time back.

I could see he was starting to understand the concept so I continued …

I told him he could give Claudia back her time by washing all the lunch dishes ( 46 + girls ), he could give Heidy back her time by doing her chores and he could giver me back my time by serving the people that are serving me/us and do the yard work with the Rafael.

It was like a cartoon! As he read his eyes got bigger…. And Bigger and BIGGER…. And he looked at me with a look of disbelief. I couldn’t help but laugh : ).

I told him I would not ask him to do those things this time b/c this was new to him, but now he knew, and he was accountable.


It is those teachable moments with our children that I love. If I can stay patient, and pray, and see the opportunity, it always brings us closer.

I am grateful to be here, in this beautiful, quiet piece of heaven so I can slow down enough to enjoy these initial opportunities to shepherd Heidy and Andres’ heart.

Hmmm…. It just occurred to me…
Maybe God has me here in this beautiful, quiet, piece of heaven so He can shepherd MY heart.

Lord please help me to stay in the moment…. And not long for home so much that I miss You…. Amen

Teachable Moments...

So..... we had a teachable moment this morning...

It is amazing to see the understanding click for Heidy and Andres...

This morning Andres was late to breakfast and Hiedy was taaaakkkiiing heeerrrr ttiimmmmeeeee.

I gave them 5 more minutes, and they were not finished.

Blah, Blah, Blah..... I will spare you the details but suffice it to say they DID eventually eat their breakfast... all of it... even cold scrambled eggs....

And we got to talk about the concept of stealing peoples time.

I explained that they stole Claudia's time because she had cooked for them, and my time b/c I was choosing to sit with them... and that Andres was stealing Heidy's time b/c it took him forever to finish the cold scrambled eggs and we waited for him...

When I say I "told" them about important things, I mean I use the computer to translate my typing. We call is "Bing" b/c it is the Bing translator.

It is funny b/c we call talking "blah, blah, blah..."

So if I am not understanding the children will literally say:
"Madre.... blah, blah, blah Bing?"

WHEN WILL WE BE HOME? GOOD QUESTION...

WHEN ARE WE COMING HOME????

Hmmm…..

Good question!

We are coming up on the completion of our 3rd week here. Everything has gone smoothly. The first 2 steps are completed…. The bonding period and the review documenting that all the necessary documents are in our file.

From what I understand our petition to adopt passed the review and is now with Judge # 3….. Who I affectionately think of as “Mr. Judge # 3 Sir!”

Mr. Judge #3 Sir received our petition on August 22. He has 10 business days ( 2 weeks ) to approve the petition and grant us the adoption decree. This is a very BIG deal b/c that means Heidy and Andes are officially McIndoe children!!

I was hoping Mr. Judge #3 Sir would have reviewed our petition this week…. Week one… but I have not heard anything, and it is 5:00pm on Friday, so I think we are pushed into next week. That means we should hear something by Friday, September 2nd, or before.

*** Sad news flash… I just got an e-mail from our agency saying the Judge has finished with our petition but now it has to be signed my lots of offficials. “That could take one or two more weeks.”

After we receive the adoption decree we fly to Neiva, the children’s home town, to sign the decree and to receive the children’s new birth certificates.
( Pete gave me power of attorney to sig for him. )

Heidy Johanna McIndoe Crawford
and
Andres Camilo McIndoe Crawford.

In Colombia children take both parents last name. When we readopt in the states their last name will be McIndoe.

After receiving the adoption decree we fly back to Tenjo and then go to stay in Bogota for the last week. This is a very busy week with embassy appointments, dr. appointments, visa appointments…. Etc….

Once we receive the Heidy and Andres visas we get to come home!!!!

So… if I lay all that out on the calendar I think we could/should be home the week of September 12th if not before. ***Or with this new news… it could be as late the week of the 19th. What a disappointment. I wrote a note back and begged to have things move more quickly. I am SO bummed…. We need to be home… we really do…

Heidy, Andres and I are doing fine. We get to Skype home almost every day. That is fun. It is especially fun to hear everybody squeal and cheer when they talk to Heidy and Andres!

Today the girls at the foster home went to play tennis. They invited us to come with them and they let Heidy and Andres play. Oh my… I discovered new things about our children…. Heidy is very competitive, and Andres has a good arm on him! I asked him if he ever played baseball and he said no…. It will be so fun to see them blossom at home!

I am trying to be peaceful and trust God for His perfect timing.
If I think about home for too long I get tearful quite easily.

But, when I let myself be in the moment, in this beautiful place that the Lord has provided for us, with Heidy and Andres… I am peaceful, content and grateful.


Jeremiah 29:11-13

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call on me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

OUR DAYS AT TENJO!

Here we go….
This is my third attempt at entering a Blog!
I keep losing them….

So Rachel, a girl here from New Zeland has show me how to write it in Word and then copy it to the blog!
WhooHooo!!!!


So….
Our days here in Tenjo are Delightful!

When I think about being at home I get tearful pretty quickly, so I don’t let myself “go there” very often.

When I let myself be here, at CDA and in the moment, I am filled with awe and gratitude. CDA stands for Corporacion Dios Amor… GOD IS LOVE! This is where God has us at this time… it really is amazing.

Our days are gentle and easy.
Breakfast at 7:00
School 8:00 – 10:30 and then 3:00 – 5:00
We go to our cottage after lunch until school at 3:00.

When we are at home we do a shool together…
Bible, English and Math flash cards.

We are reading the book of John Heidy and Andres have memorized John 3:16 I Spanish and are working on it in English!


The high light of the day is after dinner. We go back to our cottage for some pretty competitive rounds of UNO. We are in an ongoing competition. So far I lead with 23 games, Heidy is next with about 20, and Andres with 12. It is very fun…. We got some treats at the market especially for the evenings playing UNO. Treats for Heidy and Andres are cheese, yogurt cereal, chips and marshmellows!

Our competition has taken on an added twist. Heidy and Andres are neck-in-neck to see who has the most “toots!” They really crack themselves up, laughing so hard the are rolling on floor. I have chosen not to participate in this particular competition, but I do keep score for them. Hiedy is up to 12 or so… Andres up to 15! ( Cummulative!)

As we wrap up UNO Hiedy and Andres usually get quiet and cozy. We sit quietly on the couch together, each having our own thoughts. Sometimes one of them will fall asleep. This is my most treasured time with them. Being close, safe, cozy and praying for them.

Eventually someone initiates going to bed.
“Good night! Love you!” “Love you too!”
There are some special times I want to share, but I will do that at another time because this is long already.

As I close I will share 2 thoughts that have crossed my mind these past few days.

1) Am I really going to be a mom of 8 children? Lord…. Please guide me and lead me….

AND

2) Why didn’t anyone tell me not to put toilet paper down the potty b/c if you do… after about 2 weeks, the potty will clog, the maintance man will be frustrated, and we will have to go to the outside potty when needed… (((sigh!)))

                                          Heidy and Andres in our hotel, Casa Blanca, in Neiva!

Highlights!

 - The people here at CDA are amazing.  They have invited Heidy and Andres to do school with the students here and the teacher is even picking out work specifically for each of them.  This morning they invited me to their staff devotion time.  I understood not a word....  but I understood a lot...  if you know what I mean!

- Each day has been filled with joy and fun for Heidy and Andres.  Of course, there are some challenges as well, but staying here I have time to be patient, pray and shepherd.  I can't say that it has always been easy... but it has been very good.

- Here at the CDA home for girls they eat dinner around 6:30pm and the children are in bed by 8:00pm.  I want to emphasize IN BED because the place it pitch black and there is not a peep!

- This morning, I walked over to the the kitchen at about 5:45 am.  To my surprise happy little girls, all in school uniforms had already eaten breakfast and were playing with kited while waiting to go to school!

- I am very, very close to getting everyone at home ready for school and wrapping up detail so they don't fall through the cracks.  It  has been much, much more than I bargained for.

-Carol is certainly a gift from the Lord for our family.  I keep her in the loop on all the details and she seems to be on top of it all.  Often at night, on skype, I will remind the children of something and they say:  "Mrs. Leland already helped us with that!"

HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY MATTHEW!!!

                                              HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY MATTHEW!!!!
                                                        You are a joy, and a gift!
                                                                       Love you!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACHEL!

                                               HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY RACHEL!!!

   Rachel Grace!  It was fun skyping with Rachel and family this morning while she opened her presents!
                                            
                                                   I LOVE YOU SWEET GIRL!!
 

THE TOP TEN THINGS I KNOW FOR SURE...

                                    THE TOP TEN THINGS I KNOW FOR SURE...



10. Clothes are over rated...  these girls have 3 outfits and one pair of shoes,  and they are happy...

9. A jacket is a need, not a want when you go from 100 degrees to 50 degrees in a day...literally.

8. There are kind people who will share jackets!

 7.  If there is no plug in the bathroom you can still do your hair in the kitchen using the reflexion on
       the microwave and a curling iron.

6. You can eat food that you don't what it is .... and still live a good life!

5.  By God's grace we can "win" the important challenges with our children, and let the rest go.

4. By an extra measure of God's grace we will know what to let go.

3.  Sometimes focusing on the just the next thing is all we can do...  and God will see us through...

2.  Community is a verb... an amazing experience...



                                  And the #1 absolute thing I know for sure...

 1.  When you find a Love that's tender,
      When you find a Love that's true,
      Thank the Lord
      He's been doubly good to you....






  




                          
    

My aching heart... and God's faithfulness....

 

                              This is the precious cottage the Lord provided for us in Tenjo, Colombia!

I wish you could see how vibrant the colors are...  beautiful!

                                                       This is the view all around us!    

When I see them each day, I pray and ask the Lord to give me vision of what he has for me...

I fear my vision is small...  Often I am enjoying the animals, the animals, the people here...  

Then I glance up.... and each time I do I am almost surprised... taken... by the view.  It speaks to may heart giving me a longing have a bigger vision than just today.

                             Last night while Skype with Rachel, Amy encouraged me...

                "You will be able to look back at the time and remember God's faithfulness...."

                      I think that is the vision God has for me.  This is not just about today...  

                                                There are also many animals on this campus!

                                                       This really is a beautiful place.  

                              It is quiet and peaceful... with the sounds of lot of little girls playing and giggling! 

Pete left yesterday morning so yesterday was our first full day on our own.  We did ok, but it is not the same without him here.  Nothing replaces the touch of a father...

We spent our day getting to know the staff and children.  We went to church with them last night.  We drove in a huge bus, through lots of pot holes that would make us pop out of our seat!  The church service was all in spanish, yet I found myself worshipping right along side everyone else.  It was a blessing to see 4 young girls, our girls' age, worshipping through dance.  It instantly reminded me of my girls.  This is what our girls get to experience in Ohio with Guidance Dance Co.  Once again I was struck..  Gods people are everywhere!

Just to be transparent..  it is not easy being away from my children at home.  It doesn't get any easier the longer I am away either.  I thought as the days ticked by I would feel excited about getting closer to coming home...  but when I think about all of them...  I can't help but long for our family to be together.  Tomorrow is Rachel's birthday and Tuesday is Matthew's birthday.  I never thought I would miss my childens' birthdays...

Pete gets home today and all the children come home today too!  I am sure it will be a joyous time, yet Rachel is not buying it....  She, especially is having a really hard time.  Seeing her tearful eyes on Skype is almost more than I can bear...

                         I know God has us here, in this beautiful place, at this time.

                                        Yet, my heart still aches to be at home...

"CONGRATULATIONS!" (From our attorney, Humberto)

We celebrated with banana splits!!

What a gift...  the social worker came to our hotel yesterday morning for an evaluation of our integration/bonding period.  This is the final and last step for the adoption agency to release us to move forward to the legal process in the courts.  It's a pretty big deal because they are very careful and very intentional. We know of recent families who have not been granted this priviledge  right away.  They had to wait another week or so for another evaluation.

Our interview was serious yet relaxed and pleasant.  Heidy and Andres got to tell the social worker all we had been doing and we got to share how well Heidy and Andres are doing.  She graciously granted us the certificate saying we are suitable to adopt!  

On our way to Bogota!

Now the next steps are with the court system.  

We will enter the court system and will be granted a judge. Maybe yesterday / maybe Tuesday

1) The courts approve all the necessary paperwork for our petition to adopt.  3-7 business days

2) The judge has up to 2 weeks to issue our adoption decree.  Up to 14 business days

3) The adoption decree is isssued and has to be signed by the authorities. Same day/ A few business days

Yesterday the mission house picked us up at the airport and brought us to the one of the most beautiful place Pete and I have ever seen!  Mountains, beautiful flowers, trees, cows, chickens, goats, sheep and a sweet, sweet cottage. This place reminds us.... to the detail... of  Neskowin, Oregon, where Pete's side of the family grew up and where many, many family reunions are hosted.  The weather is cloudy and cool and the flowers are vibrant!

THE LORD IS A LAMP UNTO OUR FEET!

What a fun day yesterday!  Sorony, our interpreter spent the whole day with us.  It was a nice slow day.... Pete claims he likes "Colombia time" better!  There is a much slower pace here... something we would would love to bring home with us!

Yesterday we went shopping for a few things we didn't get the day before, played on the play ground at the plaza, came back to our hotel and sat on the patio for a long time playing Yahtzee, visiting and laughing, and made plans for today and the coming weeks.

I got a bit teary as we walked around the plaza...  realizing for myself that would be the last time Heidy and Andres would be in that plaza...  a place they know so well, a place where they are comfortable.  I asked Andres if he wanted to take pictures of some his favorite places and he smiled real big, his eyes twinkled and he said yes.

We went to the book store in the plaza.  Heidy and Andres picked out books and we were able to find a workbook to learn english.  Last night Andres got out the workbook and we worked in it together.  It was fun to have him initiate learning english!  While we worked in the book, Heidy sat with us and painted her nails and chimed in quite a bit!

                          This is a picture of Heidy and Andres with Sorony, our interpreter!

Today is an important day:
We meet with the adoption social worker for an interview.  The purpose is to assess how this bonding week has gone.  We were talking about the interview last night with Heidy and Andres.  They are excited to share and take the next steps toward coming home.  This is really an amazing journey....

                                                         Dad and Andres at the park

                   Heidy's  bonita ( pretty) hair she had done at the salon the day before we were reunited!
                  

We will fly to Bogota this afternoon and a person from the mission house will pick us up.  It is so amazing to us that step by step God really is providing for us.  People we don't know, going out of their way to serve our family.  This is no short putt  as Tenjo is quite about an hour and half away.  We will get settled in the mission house and Pete will be with us tonight.  Tomorrow he flys to Ft. Lauderdale, and early Sunday morning he flys home!

Pete and I will miss Hotel Casa Blanca and the people who work here, as Sorony, our interpreter, and Humberto our attorney very much.

Acutually "miss" is such a weak word for what we are feeling.  It is much deeper than that.   A piece of our hearts are here.  Our new friends have truly taken us in as family and served us with love and generosity.

Jolanda, who mangages Casa Blana, surprised us last night by giving both Pete and I a small "purse" for our phones.  She was laughing  and teasing us. The staff at Casa Blanca has taken time to get to know us, Sorony has been amazing in shepherding us, and  Humberto is peaceful and always tells us... in english, with a heavy spanish accent...  "Don't worry"...  "Take it easy"... "I am in charge... it's ok..."

                                               These two know how to make anything fun!

                   It is so fun to be able to share our journey!  We are humble, blessed, and excited!
The Lord truly is a Lamp unto our feet...  one step at a time... we are learning to trust him as  He provides the path... step by step.... for us to come home!