Birthday Blessings

Seven years ago today a little butterfly was born into a land filled with beauty but riddled with extreme poverty. Three and a half years ago God led my husband to Haiti where he met that little butterfly and God showed him that the patterns on her little heart were the same as the patterns on our hearts. We were family. We belonged together.

Since we started the journey to bring our butterfly home we have been blessed to see her grow. At three she was a little butterfly who clumsily flapped her tiny wings as loud as she could to get the attention of others. A little butterfly who danced and sang all the time with a smile to bright your heart just melted on the spot.

Today as she is seven. Her wings have grown. They are still breath-taking to look at but instead of the flash from sequins they now have more of a shimmer to them.She has learned to to flutter her wings gently. She is growing up and one year closer to becoming the beautiful woman God has waiting inside her.

Nephtali's past three birthdays were spent quietly at the orphanage where birthdays are just another day.There are no parties, no presents, no cake. Just the small whispers of the heart as prayers are said giving thanks for life, giving thanks for scarifies, giving thanks for the greatest LOVE of all.

And here in Kansas we gathered as a partial family and sang loudly, hoping a few notes would make it over the ocean. We took pictures of a cake bearing her name for her to see later and know we were thinking of her. There were cards and small gifts set aside with hopes that sometime in the next year someone could take them to her. And we held hands and shed tears as we lifted prayers up to our Lord, thanking Him for knitting her in her mother's womb, for saving her life, for joining our lives with hers, and that maybe this year would be the last birthday spent apart.

Unfortunately that last part has yet to come true but through the blessing of a friend, who has such an amazing heart for Jesus and a love of the precious children of Haiti, this birthday will be a little different. Although still separated by miles, this birthday we will get to share a small part of it with her... as a family.

This evening we will get to Skype with our precious birthday butterfly. We will get to sing and it will make it across the ocean for her to hear. There will be a cake with her name on it and candles to be blown out with a little help from her siblings. There will be a present that we sent down a few weeks ago with friends and we will get to see her smile as she opens it. There will be joy and love shared as a family on this very special day. There will be prayers lifted up together thanking our Lord for her life, for her health, for our time together and that maybe this birthday will be the last birthday away from each other's arm.

Happy Birthday to our precious and beautiful seven year old Butterfly. We love you so much!

One day closer

Yesterday I spent some time going through new and old photos looking of pictures to share with some families who were blessed to meet their children for the first time last month. Today I thought I would share a few photos of our beautiful Butterfly.

Nephtali - age 4

Nephtali - May 2012 - almost 7 yrs old

Garage Sale!!! Spread the word!

 ....as we work to bring our treasure home!

Get ready for a great day of bargains and an opportunity to help us raise some funds for Nephtali's adoption!

This Saturday from 7:30 to 4pm at 1737 SW Amhurst Rd
(If it rains we will move the date to the following
Saturday, May12th).

Please pass along the message to your family, friends, church and anyone else you can.

We will have...

Couch and Love seat
Kids furniture
Household ( juicer, microwave, toaster oven, lamps, iron, shelves and more)
Computers , printers, fax, software, TVs, and other electronics
Kids toys ( Fisher price, Playskool, Little Tikes, and more)
Wagon, train table, slide, push car ,easel, and ride on horse
Books , video games, and movies
Collectibles
TONS and TONS of name brand clothes and coats! ( kids, teens, womens and mens of all sizes)
Most only .50 to $1!!

There something for everyone and more donations are still coming in!

S.O.S. Can You Help?

We need your help! Spread the word! It's an S.O.S!!!

Sale on Saturday, May 5th!

1737 SW Amhurst Rd
(If the weather doesn't hold, we'll try again May 12) 

Get ready for another great day of new bargains and an opportunity to help us raise some funds for Nephtali's adoption!

Our goal is to raise $3000 to cover the last of the lawyer and agency fees and Nephtali's visa fee. 

We could use any donations of items in good condition. Do you have a spring cleaning pile you're looking to get rid of? If so, please let us know! Every little bit helps us get closer to the goal. 

Could you help spread the word? Give a shout out to your family and friends in the area. Post it on Facebook or Twitter. We'll be so thankful.

All your help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Answered Prayers!

Even though Nephtali's mother was 2 1/2 hours late... Even though the national police were on strike causing mayhem... Even though there was burning blockades... Even though there was mobs and violence... Even though it took all day... The appointment was a success!

Thank you all for covering our daughter, her mother, and the assistant director in prayer. Thank you for getting on your knees and shouting out to our Lord for their safety. Our prayers were answered.

One more thing to check off, inching us a little closer to bringing our Butterfly home!

Please Join Me in Prayer

Four days from today is the third try at the parent/child interview at the US Embassy in PAP. This is the meeting that, if it doesn't happen again, could mean serious problems for us. Please join with our family in prayer for this appointment.

Please pray not only that it happens and goes perfectly, but also for our daughter's heart and the heart of her mother. Nephtali will have to spend some time with her mother during this interview. It has been many years since she has done that.

Please pray that its a time of blessing for both. That the pain and hurt can be covered in better things. That Nephtali can carry in her heart, from this day, a good memory of her mother along with the knowledge that she is so loved by so many. That her mother can carry in her heart the image of a healthy and vibrant young girl instead of the frail dying child she gave up, in order to save, years ago.

On the dispensation front, we are still waiting and praying. President Martelly is currently recuperating in a Miami hospital from a pulmonary embolism. No word on how long this recovery will take. But for now, that means no new dispensations signed. There is a chance that we could already have a signature. He had been signing some here and there and it does take weeks or months to find out if your paperwork was signed. So please keep praying!!!

Lastly, now that holidays are over and school is almost done, we are going to be working on fundraising for the adoption again. We have come so far thanks to so many friends and strangers generosity. We are hoping to have another yard sale fundraiser on May 5th, weather permitting. We will be looking for donations. So, if you have any unwanted items in good shape, please think of us. Also, please feel free to share our need and donation button. Every little bit helps.

Or goal is to cover the visa fees, physical fees, second half of the lawyer fees, and the last agency fee. These total about $3000. After those are covered we will start working on the travel cost of bringing her home!

Oh how I look forward to reaching that goal!!!

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/17/2754435/as-haitian-president-martelly.html#storylink=cpy

Hands

In our lives there are many moments that will come with out preparation or warning and they will steal one of those precious your breaths away. Some times they are beautiful things and some times well they are simply not.

In a quiet still moment this morning my life giving breath was not there. The flood gates opened and I hit my knees in a tangled mix of emotions. As I saw my hands open in prayer to my Savior my vision blurred for a moment and when it cleared I saw my daughters beautiful dark skinned hand nestled between my worn hands.

How I long for those hands to be really in mine. To be able to use my hands to guide hers. For my hands to be an example to her. To watch, not through pictures, but through my own eyes as her little girl hands change and become that of a young women.

I closed my eyes and saw her hands raised high as she praises our Lord. I saw them holding the firm but gentle hand of the man God has planned to be her husband. I saw them tenderly cradling a newborn as she becomes a mother. I saw them working hard in her home to care for her family. And I saw them holding mine tenderly as I had aged well toward my homecoming.

When I opened my eyes and glanced at my still open hands her little girl hands faded. In those precious moments she was here. In those moments my heart danced. In those moment my wailed.

But in those moments I felt other hands. I felt the merciful hands of my Savior holding me. In those moments and all the other moments of my life He is holding me. He is with me when my heart dances. He is with me when my heart wails. Never letting go or fading. Holding tight and whispering ...TRUST....you will hold her hands and watch her grow.