Adjusting to Life as a Family of Five

Wisly is absolutely AMAZING!  Yes, we are only about a week and a half in, and there is usually a "honeymoon" period, but WOW, it is so clear that God is the one who brought the five us together.  We fit like a beautiful puzzle.  Praise His name!

Wisly is enjoying all the hugs, kisses and cuddles from the four of us.  Bedtime story reading and having family devotions crammed into our bed each night is especially sweet.  He and the girls are discovering that they really enjoy one another, particularly playing outside.  And their boisterous laughter is contagious!

Your continued prayers are appreciated, however, as our boy has a lengthy road of adjustment ahead.  He is experiencing a whole new life and we are learning to be parents/sisters to a new son/brother.  God is writing our story and we trust in Him!

Wisly's first bike...he was riding independently in about an hour!

Fun at the local playground

Playing legos

Welcome Home Shower at church.  Wisly was quite hesitant at first but after an hour of just hanging with his family, he happily joined a group of church kids playing "Spies". 

Our dear friend Carey made this delicious cake...Wisly loves him some BATMAN!

The church put on quite a spread!

Playing together out in our yard

Meeting our neighbor's dogs.  He likes them very well, from a distance.

First time with daddy trying to carry all three kids!

We are having Wisly work on Math and Reading online to evaluate where is he is academically.  We have been talking with administrators and will be easing him sllllllowly into public school.

Wisly is LOVING karate classes with his sisters and Sensei "Daddy".  He is a quick learner and very athletic.  It won't be long before he is giving Noelle a run for her money!

Emoji Pillows!

Emoji time!

Having fun first time with Wii Sports

TO BE CONTINUED... :-)

Bringing Wisly HOME!!!

Monday after lunch we drove 2 1/2 hours to the Nashville Airport.  It turned out to be a great smallish airport, easy and quick.  Got on our JetBlue flight (first time with them -- excellent airplanes and amazing crew!) and flew to Fort Lauderdale.  So much smaller, quicker and easier than Miami Airport.  Spent the night at the Hilton Express right close to the airport.  Another great place--friendly and helpful shuttle driver, nice staff, nice room, great hot breakfast.  Tuesday morning we were up early and on our next JetBlue flight to Port-Au-Prince.  We were so tired from the lack of sleep and intensity of the previous couple of weeks, but the excitement was really starting to build!

At the Ft. Lauderdale airport

On the ground in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti!

Literally only 15 monutes at the US Embassy to pick up Wisly's visa packet! 

We enjoyed meeting the young woman who conducted Wisly's visa appointment.

Driving through Petionville and headed to a local bakery to purchase a yummy cake for Wisly's farewell party.

We stopped for lunch and a bit of shopping at the Haiti Baptist Mission in Fermathe. 

Always love this view of the mountains!

At the crèche in Kenscoff.  At long last, our boy!

Sweet hugs

New clothes for the party

He and several of the boys "helped" us decorate the common room.

Balloons are always a big hit!

Wisly's good friends!  A bittersweet time...

Having a little visit with the crèche director and his wife. 

There is a lot of love between these two guys.  Wisly will really miss Noah.

Wednesday morning at the Port-Au-Prince Airport.

Tuesday, Wisly shed a few silent tears, but this day he was all smiles.

Wisly used my phone to take several photos of the airplane.  He was super psyched to get to fly. 

He said, "Mom, that airplane is BEAUTIFUL."

Enjoying the ride

First look at the USA!

After 30 minutes or so in the immigration office, we have our newest US citizen!

At the Nashville Airport!  Just a couple more hours drive and HOME!

God is so very good, loving and faithful.  Our hearts are full!

TO BE CONTINUED... {more pictures coming soon!}

Our Wisly is Coming HOME!!!!!

PEOPLE!!!

SO MUCH has happened over the last 30 hours.  Our adoption has been a rollercoaster right from the start, so why should the end be any different?? lol  But in the end, God worked out all the details.  He always finishes what He starts!  Amen and Amen.

➡ WISLY IS COMING HOME!!!

His visa has been issued, the exit letter from IBESR is in the works, and plane tickets are purchased.  Eric and I will leave on Monday afternoon September 5th and stay the night in Fort Lauderdale.  Tuesday morning we will fly into Haiti!!  We will meet the crèche representative and head right to the Embassy to pick up Wisly's passport/visa and *The Sealed Envelope* (a packet with important documents that will give Wisly US citizenship) that gets delivered to the Immigration officers back in the States upon arrival home.

After taking care of final details in Port-Au-Prince, we will head up the mountain to the Chances for Children crèche in Kenscoff to hug and kiss Wisly!!!  That evening we will host a Goodbye Party with all the kids at the crèche, spend the night together at the guesthouse, and leave for the airport Wednesday morning to fly home to Tennessee, arriving back home and to our sweet daughters later that night. ✈✈✈

Hallelujah Praise the Lord!!!  What a crazy but blessed day it has been.  And now we are exhausted.  Gonna try to get some shut eye.😴

Medical Reports, Visas and Exit Letters...Oh My!

This will be a biiiiig week.

Today, a Chances for Children representative is supposed to be delivering Wisly's sealed medical report to the Visa Department at the US Embassy.  Assuming he is healthy and has an all clear (TB is always a concern or any other communicable diseases), this should complete our adoption case with Immigrations.  Woot woot!

IF the report is delivered this morning, there is a very good chance his visa will be issued TODAY.  If the report is delivered this afternoon, we are probably looking at his visa being issued on Tuesday.

Just as soon as we receive the official email from Immigrations that includes the scan of Wisly's visa on his passport, we will immediately forward it to our adoption agency, who will then forward it to Chances for Children.  Then Chances for Children will apply for Wisly's Exit Letter from IBESR (Haiti Social Services).  That letter is THE FINAL document required for us to be FINISHED with Wisly's adoption and allows us to take him out of Haiti and bring him to the United States.

I've heard very conflicting reports on how quickly the exit letter can be ready.  It is that little piece of paper that will determine whether we travel THIS week to pick up Wisly, or NEXT week.

I'm on pins and needles!  Praying that his visa is printed today, early enough for the exit letter to be applied for, today!!  Eeek!!

It Finally Happened...WE ARE GOING TO GET OUR SON!!!

I am SO excited, but sooo tired, a bit overwhelmed, and fighting off a headache... BUT here's the scoop!!

Friday morning, at the advice of our adoption agency, I sent a polite lil "checking in" email to USCIS regarding our case.  A week had passed since we heard we were approved.  It just wasn't official yet.

We didn't hear back from them all day.  At about 3:25pm, at the urging of a few fellow Haiti adoptive parents who were already home with their kiddos, I called K, the gentleman at the US Embassy who schedules the visa appointments.  Several people had expressed how kind and helpful he was.  Even though he is in the visa department and not USCIS specifically, the general consensus was that he could probably find out what was going on.  I didn't catch him but did leave a voicemail explaining our situation.

Then this morning, about 30 minutes before the Embassy opens for business, I decided to send K a warm and friendly follow-up email.  Less than an hour later he responded with an equally warm email.  He told me that, unfortunately, our case file had not yet been transferred to his department.  He did express his desire to be as helpful as possible when he received our file.  I was kinda bummed but appreciative to get such a quick response.

Then I noticed that he copied the USCIS staff on his email.  "Oh good!  Maybe that will spur them on!"

Well...it DID.  

A half hour or so later we received our Official Approval Email!!! 

What a relief!  We knew it was coming, but we were stuck until we got it.  

Now to wait for the Visa Appointment email...  

They say to give their office up to 3 days to schedule an appointment, but it is usually quicker than that, often the next day.

Wellllll...

Only about 40 minutes later...

WE RECEIVED THE VISA EMAIL!!!

AND WISLY'S VISA APPOINTMENT IS THIS THURSDAY, August 25th!!!!!!!

WE GO GET OUR SON NEXT WEEK!!!!!! 

I still can hardly believe it.  God must be smiling, 'cuz even though the wait was loooong and the road was bumpy, He sure made it real exciting, real fast, right here at the end. 

Praise His Holy Name.  God Did It. !!!!!!!! ✝✝✝

We've Been Approved!!! Hallelujah!!!

👆✝ PRAISE REPORT ✝👆

Last week I requested prayer for the extremely important immigration meeting taking place in Haiti.  Many people shared that they were committed to praying with us.  We even had some who fasted with us.

The meeting was Tuesday morning and afterwards the adoption rep who had been interviewed messaged me to say he felt it went well.  My husband and I just knew God was at work.  We had so very many people from all over lifting up this situation to God.

I didn't hear anything all week, so by Friday around midday, I decided to email the US Embassy there in Haiti to see how the meeting went.  Within about 30 minutes they replied.  The email was brief and stated the scheduled meeting had occurred sucessfully.  Oh and by the way "Your case was approved."

HALLELUJAH!!!  I figured we'd have to wait several more days (or longer) to receive an update, but WOW.  This means our son has finally, after a very long wait, been APPROVED to get his VISA APPOINTMENT so he can come home to the United States!!!!!

We will get another email this week from US Immigration (the 'official' approval email) explaining the final steps of the process.  Shortly after that (usually 1-2 days later) we will receive an email from the Visa Department at the embassy, telling us when our son's visa appointment is.  Then we can buy PLANE TICKETS!!!  We will most likely plan to arrive in Haiti a day or two after the visa appointment.  That's usually how long it takes to have the visa printed and the IBESR (Haiti Social Services) exit letter ready to be picked up.  Then home to the US!

Friends, it is possible that we could be traveling to Haiti at the end of August!!! 😂 Praise God from Whom ALL blessings flow!!!  He did it!!!

Thanks again for praying.  God heard our prayers. ✝👆✝👆✝

NEWS!

This is what I posted Tuesday afternoon on my Facebook page.  Sorry for not updating sooner, but Tuesday I was extremely exhausted and crashed early evening, from the excitement of the day and having not slept all night Monday night (nervous tension/anticipation).  Then last night at church, our youngest broke her elbow and the night was spent at the children's hospital.  More on that later.

We like to keep things hopping around our household! 

* * * NEWS * * *
A short while ago our representative from the crèche sent me a message about "The Meeting" this morning at USCIS (US Immigration in Haiti).  He said that he feels that the meeting went well.  And he thinks they will approve us!!!  Praise the Lord!!!

Thank you all SO very much for praying!!! 😘😆😄

But please keep praying a while longer that they DO approve us!  I was hoping we would hear from USCIS immediately...but it may be later this week.

If (((...I mean WHEN))) they do approve us, Wisly will get his VISA appointment and should be home very soon!!! 😂😂😂

Don't stop praying! Keep on keeping on! We are close!  Answer-to-Prayer-Part-Two is coming...

Thank you, JESUS!!!  God is SO very good!!! ✝✝✝👆👆👆

PRAYER WARRIORS: Tuesday August 9th @ 11am

Today we received an email response from USCIS {see photo on left}. Our adoption agency thinks it sounds positive.  Eric and I are hoping that the interview is simply a run-of-the mill procedure before they issue us I-600 approval.  In my mind, everything has seemed so very serious because USICS has provided little information as to what is happening with our case.  Combine that with all the adoptive families I have lately seen languish for months in the last stage of their adoption process, and my thoughs kinda ran away...

Interestingly enough, I did reread the USCIS emails from the past couple of weeks and noticed something I missed.  They said the meeting with our rep is regarding the I-604 form.  Don't know how I missed this!  Of course I googled it.  Seems like it is something USCIS fills out with every non-Hague adoption case before issuing I-600 approval (then child is assigned a visa appointment).  If this is the case, it very well could be something simple, and we could possibly receive approval within a few days or weeks after the August 9th meeting.

Friends and Prayer Warriors, could you do Wisly and our family a tremendous favor, and pray (or Fast & Pray, as Eric and I will be doing) before, during and after this important meeting.  IF all of their questions are answered to their satisfaction, we could finally be at the end of this journey to bring our son home!!  We are praying for WISDOM for our creche rep as he answers questions, for COMPASSION for Wisly and his need to be home with his adoptive family, and FAVOR for our family and our adoption case.  God bless you all!!

This building is the US Embassy in Port-Au-Prince.  This is where our rep will be having his meeting Tuesday morning, and where Wisly's visa appointment will eventually be held.

Problems in USCIS - Prayers Needed!

Monday we received some very disturbing news regarding our adoption.  But first, the good news.

Our crèche representative believes he will have Wisly's corrected birth certificate back to USCIS on Friday.  If he is able to do so, that little hiccup lasted one month and three days.  I will be excited to hear when he gets it resubmitted.

On to the unpleasant news.  We received an email Monday morning from USCIS that stated, in reviewing our documents, they are unsatisfied with the information they have from the crèche regarding the circumstances that caused Wisly to come into their care and are calling the crèche representative to come before them for a follow-up interview.  They have to be fully satisfied before they will give us I-600 approval, the permission for Wisly to get a visa appointment to come home.

Ugh!! :(

I know about THIS!  I have another adoptive friend who just went through this, along with three other families from her crèche.  Our immigration situations are very similar.  With them,  USCIS demanded old documents be redone, new documents acquired, "got into it" with IBESR, and dragged their heels and added many weeks (for a couple families, six months!) before everything was resolved.

Lawyers were hired, Senators were called and USCIS finally just gave in without so much as a, "You were right, we were wrong.  Sorry we made you hire lawyers, pay extra money, and had your kids wait extra months to come home."

This is the bureaucratic mindset we are dealing with.  In too many offices that process international adoptions, children are a number on a manila file, not real human beings longing for hope.  Adoptive parents are merely strangers far away that keep bugging us with emails and phone calls.  And the ol' devil LOVES it all.  He's having a hey-day, disrupting and delaying kiddos coming home to their Forever Families where they will get love, care, health, security...healing.

The meeting was set for Wednesday morning (today).

Then yesterday afternoon I get a short email from USCIS saying they are canceling the meeting and pushing it off two more weeks...and no reason given.  Just "Sorry for the inconvenience."

What a punch in the gut!!

We have had such a large number of frustrating delays in this whole process, it is almost comical.  But, it isn't.  In May, we just KNEW we would be picking Wisly up by the end of May or early June.  Now it's the end of July.  I'm not guessing at his homecoming any more.

Praise God for His love and "peace that passeth understanding".  He is truly our Rock and Fortress.

At the advice of our crèche rep and our agency rep (both praying people, yay for that!), they said to send a firm but polite email requesting a sooner appointment than the August 9th.  Yesterday afternoon, I sent them an appeal. 

As of this writing, I have had no reply from USCIS.  So we wait and see...

I also have had about a dozen recommendation from various individuals-- call your senators, hire a lawyer, raise some <<bleep>>.  Eric and I are praying about our options and seeking wisdom.  We are also still praying for favor with USCIS and a softening of the hearts and compassion for our son.

I don't know what tomorrow holds, but it's in God's very capable hands.  Whatever the outcome, The Story God is writing will be beautiful and He receives all the glory!!

Thank you for your continued prayers! xo

The Evangelical Church Talks About Race

I want to share with my readers the link to an important conversationthat took place this past Sunday in Atlanta at North Point Church.  {Link below}  It is a candid discussion about race and racism in America.

How we can begin to understand one another, walk in someone else's shoes?  How can we start to see each other though God's eyes?  How can The Church be the impetus for true healing in our nation?

Praise God for the willingness and transparency of these two young men and Christian leaders (Sam Collier and Joseph Sojourner) to share their perspectives with Pastor Andy Stanley.

The discussion was followed by their Worship Team leading a heartfelt rendition of the song, "Lord, I Need You".

Oh how I wept!

God, I want to be Your hands and feet!  Change my heart and use me to bring healing and unity!

My friends, what a beautiful conversation...a great START to what God can and will do if we humbly seek His solutions. Christians, let's sincerely ask God to reveal His truth to our hearts, keep the conversation going, and then follow it with ACTION.

Please do yourself a huge favor and listen...then SHARE!!!

http://northpointonline.tv/messages/071016-message

A Poem about Recent Events in Our Nation

The recent tragic events in our country have been weighing heavily on my heart and keeping me up at night.  As the white mother to two Asian girls, and soon to our black son from Haiti, I try to pay attention to societal attitudes and current events.  I want to be armed with information so I can prepare and equip them for life in this world.

This week, however, I found I was experiencing information overload.  Thoughts, emotions and questions were spinning in my head at such a rapid pace that I literally felt ill.  All around me there were too many voices, too many opinions, a whole lot of anger and not many solutions. "Worldly Wisdom" had stepped in and pointed her finger.

In the midst of the confusion, God spoke to me.  He revealed that I had allowed the cacophony of social media and the news media to distract me.

I had to step back. I had to get quiet and Listen. 

This is what God whispered to my heart.

Prayer for the Heavy Heart
A Poem

God wrote these words on my heart on July 9, 2016. 
I merely transcribed them.
Jennifer Johnson, Chattanooga, TN

My heart is heavy, yet somehow, light
God is not distant; He sees our plight
A world in chaos all around
Yet God’s love is power, deep and strong

People dying left and right
Hate is real and brings a fight
But we have a Word that came to dwell
In our hearts to make souls well

The battle is real, our enemy fights hard
Yet Christ has the victory and it is Large!

He cleanses sin
He sets the captive free
His love brings life, joy and unity!

Our streets run with blood and tears flow freely
We stand divided, weak and needy
Why do we see others through eyes of hate
When our Savior came to take sin’s place?

Satan seeks to steal, kill, and destroy
He fills our minds with damaging noise
Stirring up division and hate is his main goal
Sowing fear is his focused role

Yet Christ came to earth to give us life
The way to end all darkness and strife
His death tore the curtain of distance from God
And opened our hearts that once were so flawed

So let us turn our souls now to Him
Let us surrender all our sin
Peace can be ours and a royal crown
As children of God with spotless gowns

Lord, we lay before the cross
All our pain and all our loss
We choose praises instead of fear
Thank you, God, for being so near

Now let us remember:
All people on this earth were made with love
In the image of our Father above
Let us ask for the mind of Christ
That we may see others through His eyes.

Please Hold Up Our Arms!

I posted this update on my personal facebook page this morning:

OUR ADOPTION... From the information I'm gathering from various sources, it's probably gonna be another 2 weeks, perhaps more, before Wisly's birth certificate issue is resolved, then back to US Immigration in Haiti for them to continue reviewing our adoption file. July 19 marks 3 1/2 years since God told us this particular was our son.

My heart is weary. My spiritual arms are tired. Remember in God's word: "Moses' arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset." (See Exodus 17:8-16) 

Eric and I need our Christian brothers and sisters to hold up our arms when we cannot.  Who will stand By us, who will stand With us...until we have the VICTORY, until Wisly is Home?  Pray, friends, PRAY!!!  Satan, the enemy of Adoption and the great enemy of our souls, is fighting hard against Wisly coming to his new home!!! 

We TRUST in Jesus our Conquering Savior AND we put on our spiritual armor to FIGHT the battle.  Please fight with us!!! God has Big Plans for this little boy...plans to further the Kingdom of God through his life!!

#PrayWithoutCeasing #OurGodWillFightForUs #PutOnTheFullArmorOfGod #DefeatTheDevil #TheLordIsMyBanner 

Amen & Amen

A Humbled Prayer for Faith

Dear Heavenly Father,

I am humbled tonight.  Your sweet Holy Spirit made me aware of something important this evening.  I thank you for showing me the hearts of my girls during this long journey to their brother.   I have too often questioned over the years, Why is this so hard?  Why is it so painful?  Why is it taking SO long?, yet not once have I heard my children complain in their prayers.  

Every morning, every night and sometimes in between, our now 9 and 5 year old daughters pray for Wisly—that he would “come home soon”, that You would fix the paperwork problems, that You would heal Wisly when he’s been sick, that You would encourage him and the other children at the creche, and so forth.  And they thank You for each miracle along the way.  They frequently tell You how much they love and miss their brother (our youngest hasn’t even met him).  Yet not once have I heard them say, Why, God, is this taking so long?  Their prayers are simple, to the point and expecting, without anxiety, that their requests will be answered.

The heart of a child is a heart that naturally trusts Jesus.

 

My children know their every need  will be provided.  They have an earthly father and mother that cherish them.  They know this and don’t question it.  Therefore, our girls trust that their Heavenly Father cares about them and their brother, and He is working everything out just as it should be. 

Oh Lord, give me a faith like that!

Help me to remember and believe at the very core of my being that You cherish me and You cherish Wisly.  Help me to be confident in Your Omnipotence.  Help me to rest in the knowledge that You GOT this.

Lord, stir up my childlike faith in You.

Amen.

Noah Clermond from Chances for Children Visits Our Church (VIDEO!)

This past Sunday, we were immensely blessed to have Noah Clermond, the Creche Director of Chances for Children in Kenscoff, Haiti, come and speak and sing at our church.  Noah has been our friend since we traveled for our Socialization Trip to meet Wisly in February/March 2015.  Through several successive trips to Haiti and many facebook conversations, Noah has also become our brother.  It was an amazing, God-filled service and Noah's presentation touched many hearts.

Group photo after the service - sorry it is so blurry!

Sunday was our "God and Country" Service in honor of Independence Day, so we had a great crowd and extra (and super fun) activities for Noah to participate in and get to know members of our church. Btw, this explains the American flags and patriotic decorations on the platform that you will see in the videos.

Tonya, our church accompanist, played with Noah and his guitar as he sang his solo.

Church game night...and Noah beat everyone first time playing this game!

Mini tour of Chattanooga and the Riverfront:

Noah got to experience his first fireworks display.  It was awesome by my standards, 

but he particularly enjoyed the experience and got some good video.

Eric and I were blessed personally to be able to host Noah in our home Saturday through Monday.  We enjoyed our more intimate conversations and being able to share from our hearts about Wisly.  Pappi Noe, as our friend is called at the creche, loves our son (and all the children) very much.  It is comforting and reassuring to have this man looking out for our boy when he is so far away from us.

It was also a blast showing Noah around our beautiful city.  He loved our small (smaller than in Kenscoff) mountains and vibrant Riverfront.  We even had the opportunity to spend an hour or two with friends who met Noah on a recent mission trip.  He played guitar and we all sang worship songs together.  The beautiful time of fellowship ended in a time of prayer.  God's presence was sweetly felt!

It was a wonderful weekend...but much too short.  It was difficult saying goodbye, but Noah promised to return and bring his wife the next time.  We look forward to it!  Besides, it shouldn't be too much longer before Eric and I are back in Haiti ourselves,,,to pick up our son!!

AUDIO ONLY (better sound quality):  Click here to listen to Eric's interview with Noah.

VIDEO part 1 (interview):

VIDEO part 2 (Noah sings):

P.S. Noah took lots of photos and videos of his trip but most especially our home, inside and out, including Wisly's room which is about 2/3 complete.  I was so happy when he said he would bring Wisly into his office this week to show him the videos and share with him about our visit together.  I hope it makes our boy feel loved, hopeful and excited about his future!