February Update

Because February is often considered the month of “Love” I decided to theme photo day and this months updates that way.  In thinking about what “love” is, I find it so very important to turn to God’s Word and see what He has to say about it.  We find ourselves here at GLA needing to tap into our “love bank” every single day in our interactions with the kids, the staff, and our visitors.   As full time staff we quickly learn that we cannot have a full “love bank” to draw from unless we understand and draw from the love that our Heavenly Father gives us. 

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” - 1 John 4: 7-12

To follow along with the love theme I am going to highlight for you some of the things Kimberlie loves.

Kimberlie loves to be an independent little girl.  She tends to like to play by herself and lead any activities she involves herself in.  She seems to prefer quiet activities the most such as reading books and rocking in the chair.  When she is on the balcony some of her favorite things to do include hanging out in the swings, running back and forth while kicking a ball, and reading books.  She really does enjoy looking at the photo album you sent.  She can spend a significant amount of time just paging through it.  Some of the things she loves to do during the day include playing in the pool on a warm afternoon and taking walks in the neighborhood with her volunteer.

Kimberlie was once again unwilling to sit on the photo day table this month.  Once she got upset I took her off and let her sit in her volunteers lap to take the rest of the photos. As you can see she did enjoy the valentines necklace!

 

Kimberlie is healthy and growing:
Height: 82.5 cm
Weight: 25 lb 2 oz

Much love from Kimberlie,

 

Another Check =) =)

Received this message this afternoon! Another check off the list!!!

Good news today!!!!  All the parent interviews are completed for Kimberlie's adoption =)  

As I prayed this morning for this interview to happen today and go well, I could not help to think of Kimberlie's birth mom, LouLouse. I can't imagine what thoughts were going through her head today.

I thank God for her everyday (which doesn't even seem enough)- she is giving me the ultimate gift, my precious Kimberlie!  What a sacrifice!!!  

LouLouse on Kimberlie's arrival day to GLA

 

They're SO LUCKY!!!!

 It has been nearly two years since I started this adoption journey towards my sweet Kimberlie. During that time, many people have told me how lucky Kimberlie is to be adopted and how wonderful I am to adopt her.  Don't get me wrong, I do feel beyond blessed to be Kimberlie's mom- but my intention in adopting Kimberlie is not to SAVE the world, but instead, to simply be a MOM!

My friend wrote about a different perspective of adoption today on her blog...I could not of written it any better, so I asked if I could "borrow" part of her post, she graciously said yes! Thanks, Lisa.


Here is part of her post: 
No child who has been adopted has had a beautiful, wonderful life. The kids have come to this place in their lives from such loss that most people, including myself, may never experience. Think about it. You were born to a family who couldn’t or wouldn’t take care of you, into poverty or abuse or health crisis or neglect. You were torn from everything you’ve ever known – even if it wasn’t that great to begin with, and sent to – or left at – an orphanage or a strange foster home. You lived there for several months or a couple years – sometimes having visits with your biological parent(s), which confused you a lot. Then after living in that orphanage or foster home, you were yet again torn away from what you know – that you may or may not have gotten used to – and sent somewhere else strange to live. They eat different foods. They look different. They may speak a different language or maybe a few words that you know but they don’t understand you. There are two parents who tell you they love you and you’re safe (what’s that?!?). You’re scared, confused, vulnerable, sad, angry. You are grieving all you’ve lost in your short life. You wonder if these new people will stick this time, and if not, when your next move will be. You start to trust them, ever so slightly, only for those fears to creep back in. They try to help you understand, and tell you again that it’s safe, that they’re here for you, they’re your forever family. It seems that maybe, just maybe, these new parents are in this for the long haul… maybe. Can I trust them?

Adoption is messy. It’s not easy. The cycles of grief and renewing trust and hope and love, repeat themselves day after day, month after month, year after year with some kids. The kids aren’t lucky. But I understand the comment, and I don’t fault people making that comment. I may have said the same comment to others prior to adopting myself – or maybe even since adopting, before I had a chance to think through my own thoughts on my children’s pasts. I know the comment comes from a lack of understanding, of not knowing – or maybe even not wanting to know – the messy details. (It’s not appropriate for adoptive parents to share all of their children’s messy details with everyone anyway.) I’m a non-confrontational person, so instead of responding with the big long explanation, I usually respond with some variation of, “Well, they’re God’s blessing to us, and I pray we’re a blessing to them.” Because that’s what you mean. You’re not thinking about what was in their past that brought them to us. You’re thinking of what could be possible for them in the future that may not have been possible had they remained in their previous situation. Our children, we pray, have a bright future ahead of them. We pray every day that the Lord guide us to help them in their healing and trusting, and learning to love again, and achieve their full potential of what God has planned for them, after their lives were shattered at such a young age. 

Feel free to visit Lisa's blog, it's a great read!

Carnival In Haiti

Haiti Carnival Welcomes Everybody to Sing, Dance and Enjoy!

 

Haiti Carnival is the biggest and the most awaited celebration in Haiti, as well as the Caribbean Islands. This celebration is a very lively celebration that involves colorful parades, enchanting music and  traditional dances.   This yearly celebration is accompanied by millions of Diasporas, Haitians and worldwide tourists. Haitians marks this Carnival as the beginning of their holiest times of the year. It is concluded by consuming all kind of fats on Tuesday at home, before the beginning of the Easter.Haiti Carnival usually begins at the end of January and ends up in February. Every corner of the country is filled with delighting traditional colors. Whether it is the Port- Au-Prince or Jacmel or any other part of Haiti, every Haitian becomes alive by participating in the traditional parade, music and dance. As this is the biggest party of the Caribbean Island, millions of tourist all over the world awaits to attend this special celebration. Haitians encourages tourists to get involved in the traditional singing, dancing and parades; over the overwhelming beats of lively rhythms, colors and the blinding lights. People those who witness it says that the event is really amazing as this festival is marked by spectacular parades on the streets that features pageants, floats, elaborate costumes, masked balls, great dancing and seductive music. In Haiti, the word Carnival was derived from 'Carnavale' which means Meat Farewell. According to the natives the Carnival is a time for Mardi-Gras, which is celebrated on the last day of the Carnival. Mardi-Gras is commonly known as Fat-Tuesday in Haiti as almost every variety of fat is consumed at home on this day. The following day after Mardi-Gras is called as Ash-Wednesday, which a beginning of the Penitential Season of lent in the Christian Churches. Carnival in Haiti can be considered as the last opportunity for indulgence, revelry that involves drinking, music and food. Carnival in Haiti brings together a great deal of cultural diversity and a remarkable celebration. It is also one of the greatest sources of economic growth.

Six Months Since Referral Date.....

Six months ago today, August 8th, 2012, while driving to St. Thomas Academy on 494 E to pick Joshua up, I got a call from Moraiama from Bethany Christian Services informing me of my referral for a....

 BABY GIRL!!!!!  

The next day I found out her name and got to see her BEAUTIFUL face for the first time... 

More GREAT News!!!!

I am just as excited as my sweet Kimberlie in the photo above!!!!   

Today I exited Parquet   =) =) =)  One step closer to bringing her HOME!!!!
I am now on # 8-11 of the Haitian Adoption Process =) 

Next steps should take about 2-3 months and have to do with courts, and other words I can't even really remember and can't pronounce, but at the end of these next steps:
  

Kimberlie will legally become my child and take 

my family name of HAUGH.

As said earlier in this blog.. this is getting real!!!  

One More Tiny Step Forward

I found out today that the Parquet birth parent interview did happen on Friday, Feb. 1st =)

Please pray with me that I exit Parquet this week- even better tomorrow!!!!