The Story of GLA

Help us win a $50,000 grant and feed our babies for a year. Go to http://givingoflife.com/browse/gods_littlest_angels_haitian_baby_ministry/ PLEASE!!!! Go and VOTE!!!! IT is really easy and the prize money would go a very long way at the orphanage!!!

Waiting Practice

I do not rock at waiting..... it is to do with my personality... I am a sanguine and sanguines usually gets really excited about something and then lose interest just as fast.  We don't like to wait =( Don't worry, I have not lost interest in my quest to bring a child home from Haiti. It's not a sprint- it's a marathon !!! 

I will have to work more on waiting-after all, waiting could be the international adoption motto!!  I heard from my social worker this week about the progress of my home study. I was anticipating and patiently waiting for my home study to be completed by the end of September or middle of October. My adoption agency is using a new format for the home study- which means it will take longer for my home study to be written.  It will most likely be not done until November.  A finished home study is a real good thing, it gets lots of other wheels in motion.

Now as I write this, I kind of chuckle, I am actually blogging about having to wait an extra 1- 2 months.... this may be nothing compared to the wait I could go through for my child to come home.  But, this is where I am at in the chapter of the long adoption story. 

Thanks again for reading.....  Shanny O

Happy to Be Back to School

I LOVE summer!!!  Most people do, especially teachers!!!!  Summer is free of work and full of relaxation!!  

For teachers, when the dreaded workshop week (the week before school starts) begins , you continuously answer the same questions,"How was your summer and what did you do? "When first asked the question a few weeks go, I answered," not too much., worked on adoption stuff." Then after thinking about it more- I realized I did accomplish quite a bit this summer.  Besides completing my home study, which included four 2-3 hour meetings with my social worker and gathered a pile of paperwork I also took 10 graduate credits and taught a 2 week K camp in August.  Was I a crazy person? (Don't answer that =) Usually after a summer all that craziness, I would not be ready to go back to school, but this fall is different. 

People talk about "having a feeling of God's peace". I can relate, this back to school season! Earlier in the summer I was stressing out a bit about my home study and other adoption details, but not any more (at least not today)! God continues to shine through me and my adoption journey. He has given me a peace about my paperwork, my time frames and my adoption finances =)

God gave me this verse tonight- I think it is my summer 2011 verse =)

 ²⁶ May the Lord show you his favor

      and give you his peace.’

Numbers 6:26 NLT 

Thanks again for reading !!! 

Support Systems

I will soon be a single mom- this was never the plan as I practiced being a mom when I when house as a child- but God has different plans for me!

I have been pondering this new adjective that will be added to a description of me- I am very excited but have obviously been also thinking about all the unique challenges a single mom faces as I will need lots of support!!!

I am VERY fortunate to have an amazing support system of family and friends who promise (may have to get in writing) to help out when they can. Thank you, in advance!!!

Ok- time for blog participation.... what advice can you give a single mom of adoptive girl from Haiti? Please be explicit!!!

My International Blog

My blog has been viewed by people in 6 different countries.... I am going for lots more!!!

1. United States (Thank you, to everyone who lives in the US )
2. Canada (Thank you, Rebecca)
3. Taiwan (Thank you, Erin)
4. Philippines
5. Haiti
6. United Kingdom

Home Study is Fini (My Part, Anyway)

Yea!!!! Another imaginary check mark off my adoption
checklist =) Today my social worker came to my house for the final meeting of my home study. I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned and cleaned some more.....

I thought baking homemade muffins would be a little out of character for me (those who know me would agree), so I opted for store bought muffins for my guest =)

Now to clarify, the home study does still need to be written and should be ready to send off to it's next destination in about a month- but my part is finished.

The next step in this journey is gathering paperwork for my dossier which goes to Haiti. Hopefully it will be in Haiti by November.

Thanks for checking in again =)

God Also Cries with Us

Last week I wrote about premature twin girls who were brought GLA a day after they were born. Sadly, the girls, Sandia and Edna, when to be with the Lord this weekend. You can read a more detailed account on the GLA blog.

Please pray for the girls parents and the amazing staff in the NICU at GLA who cared for the girls for their short time on earth. God is taking good care of them now =)

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted
Benediksyon pou moun ki nan lapenn, paske Bondye va ba yo kouraj (Creole)

Matthew 5:4

I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out-plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.Jeremiah 29:11 (Message)