Responding In Faith

Here are two links to the photos taken in Liberia.  I did not have a chance to label them, but plan to do that in the next couple of days!!  There is also some video clips.  We have more video to upload and will try to do that in next couple of days.  These are video clips of children that are being adopted…sorry haven’t had a chance to ask Russ which children these are!

Pictures of Liberia

Pictures of Liberia album 2 

Ok.  I knew that title would catch your attention!  We have had a very busy first two days!  So many new things!  This adoption has been so different from our other adoptions.  When we adopted our other children as an older child adoption, there really weren’t any “first” moments.  Our kids had been born here in the US and nothing was really new except experiencing first Christmas’ and birthdays with their new family.  Doctor appointments and grocery stores were nothing new.  Jumping on a trampoline…maybe…but they had seen them before.  Toilets.  Ya, they were familiar with the concept.

Joel ran through the kitchen yesterday, straight to the door that leads outside.  He was doing the “potty dance” as I like to call it.  He still hasn’t quite figured out how the doors work.  “Joel, where are you going?”  “Mom.  I have to pee!”  Well, I lead him to the bathroom and explained that we pee in the potty.  I haven’t caught the other two doing this, but Joel does it all the time!  :)  When you gotta go, you gotta go!

We had our first doctor appointments yesterday.  Samuel is so curious about everything.  When the doctor was looking in Jeremiah’s ear, he was right there looking too.  He had his hands all over the doctor’s lap top.  He was looking underneath the pictures on the wall.  Checking out all the buttons (they love buttons!!) and drawers in the room!  He wants to learn.

We have a great doctor.  He has served in Africa as a doctor.  He was so excited.  “I wanted to go back to Africa and you brought Africa back to me!”  We have had lots of concerns for Jeremiah.  He is in a lot of pain for a number of reasons.  Dr. Lee went to look into his ear and he cringed in pain.  “There is something metal in his ear canal.”  My heart sank.  Jeremiah was hurting.  I was hurting for him.  Dr. Lee took some long tweezers, Russell held him….out came a watch battery!  Yes, you heard me correctly!  A watch battery!  It had been in there for quite some time.  That was part of his pain.  They are talking enough to find out exactly how it got in there.  My guess would be that he found it and thought that it was a treasure.  He hid it in what he thought was a “safe” place!

Jeremiah also had a fever of 103.  We are going to take all the boys in for blood work this week, but Jeremiah is going to be specifically tested for Malaria.  We have antibiotics for Joel and Jeremiah.  Joel does NOT like to take medicine.  Russ had to force it down him yesterday….twice. Joel was NOT happy.  He wouldn’t talk the rest of the night.  We also had TB skin tests done.  AGAIN….NOT HAPPY.  Samuel did well with it…Joel and Jeremiah just saw the needle and they screamed!  Russ had to hold both boys down.  Thank goodness he was with me!  Shots start in a couple of weeks.  We have to get blood work done first and then go from there.  Not happy moments at the doctor’s office!

Last night my sister gave me a can of sardines for my birthday.  I know that sounds like an odd present.  But I love sardines.  I showed the can to the boys and asked if they knew what it was.  They nodded.  They nod for everything so I wasn’t sure if they really knew or not.  I opened the can and their eyes lit up!  “Oh!  Sardines!”  They ate 4 cans of sardines last night.  I imagine they were thinking…”Finally!  Some food that we are familiar with!”  I think I will be making a trip to Aldi’s and buying a whole case of sardines!!  They also like peanut butter and crackers.  Ramon noodles with lots of hot sauce.  Beef jerkey.  They gobbled up the tacos….but they may have just been extremely hunger!

Joel has a healthy appetite.  He keeps food tucked in his pockets.  Samuel hides grahm crackers around the house.  I was going through some boxes of clothes with them.  They didn’t care if they fit or not…they wanted all of them.  Grab and run. Hide them so no one else can get them!  We went to the Great American Market yesterday….Walmart!  We needed to get shoes, pants, underwear.  Most important….Samuel a new bike!  We got each of the boys two pairs of shoes….sneakers and dress shoes.  Precious Joel wanted all the shoes.  He wanted everything!  I think it was just a tad bit overwhelming to him!  I don’t think we will be going to the Great American Market again for a little while.  We got the things that they needed and scooted out the door.

I think I’m writing short paragraphs on future blog entries!!  So many more things I want to share!

The boys love bicycle helmets!  I am glad about that!  There has been more then one occasion that we have had some wipes outs do to no fear!  So I encourage Jeremiah and Joel to run around outside with their “cool” bike helmets!!!  Hey!  It is the helmet of salvation!

Ok.  One last thing.  Sleep.  I don’t think we are getting any!!  Joel and Jeremiah go to bed.  But not Samuel.  This morning he has been up since 4 am riding the “plasma” car all over the house!  He has his gloves, hat and winter coat on!  He is intrigued with everything he sees.  He was very quiet yesterday.  I think he is just trying to process everything.

Ok.  This is my latest update!  I’m sure I will be expanding some of these “mini” stories!!  I am so thankful that almost all my boys are home.  God is so good.  All the time.  God is good!  He has taken us on an amazing journey, a journey that continues; a journey that allows me to step out each day in faith!

I am just so overwhelmed right now!!  I just want to thank all the families who have prayed for us during this time and continue to pray for our precious Daniel who is still not home. We had such a wonderful turn out of friends and family and new friends!  It was so great having that support around us.  Joel did not wake up until we got home.  I think Jeremiah was overwhelmed with everything.  Samuel was just grinning from ear to ear, taking everything in.  He stayed awake the whole way home and just pranced from room to room after we got home.

We gave Jeremiah and Joel a bubble bath in our big garden tub.  They really LOVED that!  Samuel took a shower.  They put their PJ’s on and played with every toy in the toy box.  They were so excited.  I think we finally got settled down around 4:30 am.  Then we were up and going by 8:30 am.  Russell slept the entire day. He was so exhausted.  So many new things for the boys.  So many firsts!

I am tired.  I wasn’t sure what I was going to do for dinner this evening….then the doorbell rang!  Surprise!  Some sweet friends brought us pizza for dinner! So the boys had their first pizza!  I have so much I want to write, but for now I need to keep this short.  Here are some pictures from early this morning!

Preparing our signs for the big moment!

I think this wins for the best sign…

My sleeping beauty!

Barely keeping his eyes open….OP can’t wait to meet his new cousins!

My other sleeping beauty!

Brandy and Hannah anxiously awaiting the arrival of their new brothers!

Hailey Rose.

All lined up!

“Uncle Johnny”

Pastor Chuck and Tommy Davis

Sonya and Barbara (my prayer warrior!)

Joyce (Author of Blue), Pat and Tina

New friends, Ellen and Rebecca (both are adopting from Liberia)

Jeremy

Here they are!!

Samuel sees friends from Dixville!

Precious Joel didn’t wake up until he got home.

Passing out letters from Dixville.

Brothers in Christ support one another!

Heading home!

All smiles after a big bubble bath!

Russ didn’t make it too far after he got home.

Handsome Samuel.  I don’t think he knows who Michael Jackson is, but he has had the one glove thing going on since he got home!  :)  He wanted to listen to a CD right away.

Stay tuned for more great pics and pics from Liberia!

We did many things to prepare for our boys!  This is a picture of Samuel and Daniel’s room.  My friend Amy and I painted the sky and grass scenes and Jennifer painted the soccer balls.  I think it turned out pretty well!

Here we are making signs!

Here are our sweet friends the Davis family!

Finished product!

We are so excited to meet our boys!

The guys have safely landed back on US soil!  Russell is worn out.  When Joel would sleep, Jeremiah would be awake and when Jeremiah would sleep, Joel would be awake!  He said they are very independent so he needed to stay awake when they were.  They are all doing well.  Anthony’s heart is aching for Africa.  I knew it would have an impact on him, but didn’t know how much!  When I spoke to him this afternoon, he said, “Mom, I miss Africa! I want to go back!”  I told him that maybe God was planting a seed in his heart for the future!

I am so excited.  They are so close but yet so far away!!!  We leave in 5 hours for the airport!!  I have kept busy all day with just some last minute preparations.  Still have some things to get done.  Thank you everyone for your prayers and supportive emails during this time!  It is so appreciated!  I’m sure I am going to have exciting things to blog about here in the future!  I hope you all keep coming back!  I so enjoy sharing how God is working in our lives!  I love to share God’s word the best way I know how…through writing and our life!

So…the journey is not over…it is just the beginning!  I am so excited about this new chapter in my life and my families lives!  I have a feeling Liberia will always be deeply rooted in my families lives!  Who knows what God will hold for us in the future!  We just have to be willing to say, “Yes, Lord!”  Until tomorrow………..

Ok.  They made it.  I can take a deep breath and relax!  God is good.  All the time.  God is good!  They just boarded the plane.  They will call me again when they get to Brussels.  God keeps me on my knees until the end.  That is good!  My faith and strength come from Him.  I have been in His word for the past hour, crying out to my Lord for strength through this roller coaster and He gave me that strength that I needed.  During my prayer time He gave me peace in my heart.  He is in control and not me.  Thank goodness for that!

I am missing my family so much.  I miss my best friend.  My heart aches for him.  I will be so happy when he gets home with my four boys safely.  I do believe Liberia will forever be in Anthony’s heart.  I am so glad that he went.  He says that he can’t wait to go again.  Who knows how the Lord will use this!

Sorry my entries have been so short.  My children are desperately missing their Daddy.  They are all in pieces today…whining, crying, having fits…they will be so happy when their Daddy is home.  Hannah has been listening to African music all day…dreaming of her brothers coming home.  Now my heart remains with precious Daniel who is missing his family!  I very sweet and dear friend has committed to take on Daniel’s burden and pray for him daily.  I am so blessed by this.  Thank you.

I am just over taken with the response we have had in prayer!  I have felt such peace knowing that we are all covered in your prayers.  Thank you so much.  Thank you!  Continued prayers for their safe journey home are much appreciated!  They are about in the air!  I can’t believe it.  This long wait is over.  We will be birthing three beautiful sons into our family in less then 24 hours!  Oh my heart overflows with so much joy and love.  Thank you Lord!

They are still at the guest house and it is 7pm over there.  They still do NOT have their luggage.  Someone is supposed to be bringing it to them, but they heard the vehicle broke down.  They are confirmed to be on the flight.  Hopefully they will make it!  We are so anxious for them to get home!

Just got off the phone with Russell (11 am) and they have the visas.  They have to run to the ACFI headquarters, then to where the car is so they can get their luggage, then back to the guest house to pack and pick up the boys.  He could not take the boys to the Embassy because they did not have their passports.  The boys were very apprehensive this morning about Russell leaving.  Samuel sounded a bit scared when I spoke with him.  Russell reassured them that they would be back!  Please pray that they can get to all the places they need to and to the airport.  They did confirm their flight while they were in Monrovia.  I will call again in 3 hours to make sure they are there.  I will not have telephone contact after that as Russell is leaving his phone in Liberia for the staff at the guest house.  He will try to call me collect when they arrive in Brussels.  Thank you for your prayers!!!

First of all, we need prayers!  They went to pick up the visas today at the US Embassy and they weren’t ready!  They said they would have then ready tomorrow by 3pm.  That is really cutting it close.  There flight isn’t until 9:30 pm, but are supposed to be at the airport by 6pm.  Lilian is planning on going to the airport with them to walk them through.  I know everything will be fine….I have faith!!

Updates:  Russell was able to get pictures of little Cooper!!!  He thought it wasn’t going to happen because they couldn’t meet up, but today Cooper was waiting at the guest house when Russ and the boys returned from the orphanage!  AMEN.  I know a lot of you were praying for this to happen for the US family that is adopting him.  This means the world to them to be able to get pictures.  The pictures kind of keep you going during this long process!  They help you to feel connected to your child!  Russ was able to get lots of pictures and video.  He is also coming home with lots of letters to families and friends.  Please stay posted as we get pictures and video out soon after their return.

Update on Daniel:  I misunderstood Russell with a previous conversation.  Daniel’s birth parents are no longer alive.  Daniel’s sister (who is Samuel, Jeremiah and Joel’s birth mother), raised Daniel.  She will be the one representing Daniel for the interviews with the US Embassy and the court hearing in Liberia for the adoption.  Daniel continues to take it hard that he could not come home at this time.  Russell left Daniel with his bible with specific scripture for him to learn about hope.  Russell assured him that he would be back for him.  Daniel felt comforted by this.  Russell said he left his sunglasses with Daniel as well as his watch.  Daniel liked that.  He also left Daniel with a photo album of the family which included pictures of him!  And of course Russell left him with a Kentucky Wildcat hat!!  My dad informed me that since Russell has been out of the country, the KY Wildcats have been playing better.  I said that it was because they are gaining more fans overseas!! 

Russell was able to take the boys to the guest house this evening. He gave them all sponge baths as they do not have any running water.  Russell said they all looked good.  They have a few spots of ringworm.  Jeremiah has something on his legs that Russell thought looked like poison ivy.  I’m not sure if they have poison ivy in Liberia?  His legs are itchy and have blisters that have popped.  He said they hurt.  Jeremiah also has some teeth that are hurting.  They do have doctor appointments set up for Monday.  Russell said they are fine young men.  I spoke with all of them on the phone.  Russell said they are talking a lot.  They ate very well this evening.  Russell was showing them the things he bought at the market.  He held up a dress he bought for one of the girls and told the boys it was for Jeremiah.  They thought that was very funny and couldn’t stop laughing!

It is so sweet to hear them tell me that they can’t wait to hug me and that they love me!  It just melts my heart!!  Russell was looking through picture albums with the boys.  They are learning everyones’ names.  I am so excited for them to get here!  I miss my hubby and Anthony!

I will keep everyone posted on the visas.  Please continue to pray!

Hey Everyone.  Just a quick update!  Russ had his interview at the Embassy this morning.  All went well.  He said they are very nice at the Embassy, just extremely busy.  He will pick up the boys’ visas on Thursday at 3pm!!!  Then he will go pick up the boys and they will stay with him and Anthony at the guest house.  Please pray for Daniel.  He is very upset.  He cried a lot yesterday. The adults all know the situation.  Daniel’s sister, who is our boys’ birth mom, said that she would go to visit Daniel to comfort him.  Daniel’s birth mom knows the situation, too.  So hopefully he will be comforted in knowing that we are all praying and will be back soon.  This is hard on Russell and Anthony as well.

Russ and Anthony will not be going to the orphanage today.  The ACFI vehicle broke down yesterday when they were out.  I think they will just be staying at the guest house.  It takes so long to get to places that hiring a taxi today wouldn’t have worked out because it was too late in the day.  His plan for tomorrow is to go meet Cooper (the little 15 month old) and to go to the market.  He is not sure if he will get back out to the orphanage or not.  He hates not being able to bring the boys with him.  It breaks his heart!  I’m sure they will go back out again tomorrow.

I got to speak to Anthony some more today.  He had gotten a good nights rest.  I asked him if he was ready to come home.  “No, mom.  I love the people here.  I’m not ready yet.”  I have heard that once in Liberia, your heart stays there as the people have such a huge impact on your life.  Well, they have touched my 12 year olds heart!  We talked a little today about all that he is seeing.  He said he didn’t realize a civil war could cause so much damage, that it could do that to a country.  He is really taking it all in.  Russ wasn’t sure if Anthony was understanding when I spoke with him yesterday, but I do believe he is.   I’m afraid Liberia will forever be on my Anthony’s heart!  (which I think is a good thing)

I will try to call him again this evening to see how they filled the remainder of their day.  I can’t believe it….they will be home in 4 days!  (really 5 since they are arriving at 11:59 pm!  But 4 sounds so much better!)

Thank you for all your prayers.  I can feel them!