I have been thinking of a title for this "Final Post" (not that I will ever have less things to say) and I had thought of many, here are a few:
"Out of Africa... Thank God!"
"And miles to go before I sleep"
"And scene!"
"Home again, home again..."
"Bring on the hot water, scrub brush and anti bacterial soap!"
But none of them really had the potency to describe it, so how about this...
2 years of waiting and red tape
Mountains of paperwork
6 planes and over 60 hours of travel.
4 beautiful girls and 1 amazing wife waiting at home.
27 days in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Hundreds of friends, old and new, supporting our adoption journey.
1 little boy who has changed our lives forever.
I remember the first time we saw his picture. We pray about it for days, but I think we both new the answer... He was ours. He belonged here with us.
That feeling was confirmed today as he played with his sisters, took his nap, ate his meals and ran around our house and yard like he owned the place.
He fits here. There is that forever kind of belonging that a family has that just sort of settled in here
today. The security of knowing that, come what may, we are all in this together, forever, no matter what. Family.
As I walked down the terminal at BOI to introduce our son to Kate and his sisters last night, the weight of it all actually hit me (course that could have been 30 some hours with no sleep too) and I felt such a rush of expectation and relief that it nearly knocked me off my feet until, thankfully, I heard a voice behind me say "Brent". No, not God. No, who else could it be coming in to BOI at 11:01pm on a weeknight than our friend Bob B. At just the right time his greeting helped me to not get so distracted by the "bigness" of the situation that I miss one of the coolest moments of my life.
So, we walked down the corridor and through the glass doors to our waiting family and friends. we are tired but thankful for the deep, abiding grace of God and His incredible miracle called family
I will blog more soon about the actual trip itself, but I wanted you all to know that we made it home safe and sound, no worse for the wear.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Who's Pushing This Van?
Well, no exit papers by the close of business Saturday... This bummed me out. So, rather than drowning my sorrows in a large pack of Belgian cookies, I spent some time in prayer and then determined to wait the rest of the day to cancel my Sunday tickets home. I figured if God could get my visa into the Congo so dramatically and miraculously then He could certainly get us out the same way! It was not to be, and I could have been embarrassed (having shared my plan with those around me) but i determined a long time ago that I will never feel stupid leaving room for God to be miraculous.
So we are staying a little longer.
We were picked up to go to church today by a really sweet American missionary family. It was wonderful getting to know them over lunch afterward as well. They have been here for six and a half years (what am I complaining about right?) with Mission Aviation Fellowship. Since MAF is based in Nampa, Idaho, we will get to see them again next year when they come through to their head quarters! Really great people and nice church. It was fun to hear Christams songs sung by an African choir! They were so awesome!
Saturday night we ventured out with a driver to the Shop Rite to have dinner at the fast food restaurant inside. Shop rite is a super ice (even by western standards) supermarket and it was decorated for Christmas with tree-shaped stacks of toys and lights and the whole bit! It took Moses a little bit by surprise and was slightly over stimulating. But he loved the Hungry Lion... Similar to KFC, the Hungry Lion is a chicken place and a welcomed change of fare. He particularly liked learning to use a straw! This was more of a challenge than I thought it would be and we both ended up with quite a bit of Sprite on us!
On the drive home we saw the newest big hotel to be built here, a high rise that has lights embedded into the outside and puts on a Vegas-worthy, multi colored light show at night. Now I know why our power goes out.
At one large intersection, we came to a stop and noticed a taxi van (think vanagon) moving very slowly through. It was PACKED with at least twenty people and moving at a snails pace. Then we noticed that it wasn't running, it was being pushed through the intersection... BY ONE MAN!!!
One guy pushing pushing twenty or so people through the intersection in a stalled vanagon! What a metefor for this whole experience!!!
We had a good laugh with that one!
I am here with some really neat other families who are adopting. (some from Idaho even)
I am so thankful for the fellowship and camaraderie, it has been great getting to know them all.
Keep you all posted on the exit papers and homecoming flights! Thanks for your prayer and for keeping with us by reading this little blog.
So we are staying a little longer.
We were picked up to go to church today by a really sweet American missionary family. It was wonderful getting to know them over lunch afterward as well. They have been here for six and a half years (what am I complaining about right?) with Mission Aviation Fellowship. Since MAF is based in Nampa, Idaho, we will get to see them again next year when they come through to their head quarters! Really great people and nice church. It was fun to hear Christams songs sung by an African choir! They were so awesome!
Saturday night we ventured out with a driver to the Shop Rite to have dinner at the fast food restaurant inside. Shop rite is a super ice (even by western standards) supermarket and it was decorated for Christmas with tree-shaped stacks of toys and lights and the whole bit! It took Moses a little bit by surprise and was slightly over stimulating. But he loved the Hungry Lion... Similar to KFC, the Hungry Lion is a chicken place and a welcomed change of fare. He particularly liked learning to use a straw! This was more of a challenge than I thought it would be and we both ended up with quite a bit of Sprite on us!
On the drive home we saw the newest big hotel to be built here, a high rise that has lights embedded into the outside and puts on a Vegas-worthy, multi colored light show at night. Now I know why our power goes out.
At one large intersection, we came to a stop and noticed a taxi van (think vanagon) moving very slowly through. It was PACKED with at least twenty people and moving at a snails pace. Then we noticed that it wasn't running, it was being pushed through the intersection... BY ONE MAN!!!
One guy pushing pushing twenty or so people through the intersection in a stalled vanagon! What a metefor for this whole experience!!!
We had a good laugh with that one!
I am here with some really neat other families who are adopting. (some from Idaho even)
I am so thankful for the fellowship and camaraderie, it has been great getting to know them all.
Keep you all posted on the exit papers and homecoming flights! Thanks for your prayer and for keeping with us by reading this little blog.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Thankful
Sitting here on the bed and watching my son sleep reminds me of the greatest part of the last three weeks here in the D.R.Congo... Time with my son.
Getting to know him has had its challenges but has been a joy and treasure I know is unique and I will never have again. Especially when I get him home to those sisters of his, I may never even see him again! But when I think of the craziness of life and how hard it is to squeeze in dates for the kids and quality time, how blessed am I to be here with him, as challenging as it has turned out to be(see earlier posts) and as much I desperately miss Kate, Ava, Leora, Ellis Mae and Violet, (see earlier posts) and even with the lack of hot water (see earlier posts). This time with Moses Blessing Jones has been one of the coolest things I have ever been able to do.
A recent stat says that there are nearly 150 million orphans in the world, that number has been rolling around in my head since I left the States (don't worry Kate, I won't get any ideas). It is a hard number to fathom. But being here in Africa again, I see the deep pain of hunger, poverty and disease. The injustice of those in authority toward those who are powerless and my heart aches.
Several days ago while coming home from the market, a very thin, malnourished woman tried to stop me, but unlike most who are selling something or asking for money, she pointed at Moses, who was in my arms and then she tried to hand me her little son. After several attempts and many words in Lingala, i realized that she was trying to GIVE me her son. To take home.
He was naked from the waist down, with the distended belly and sores and skinny as a rail. I was so shocked and moved i couldn't even speak to say "no, I'm so sorry" or whatever might have seemed appropriate... I could hardly breath as I walked away from her and her saddness at my refusal. There are so many things I could say about this but words seem weak. Sorry, I know it's not the humorous post you are used to reading from me (see earlier posts) and I know its almost Christmas (so I heard!) and we don't like to hear this kind of stuff, but it's real and it just actually happened to me.
I prayed for that little boy tonight, he was about Moses' age, and if I see them again I am getting them some food. But then what?
That experience made me so grateful to be here bringing my son home, to have a place where my kids can safely sleep, food to feed them well everyday and that they never feel the awful pain of real hunger.
Whatever and whoever Almighty God has blessed you with in your life, be thankful and demonstrate your thankfulness with your life.
More posts to follow... I will try to rustle up some humor for you next time.
Getting to know him has had its challenges but has been a joy and treasure I know is unique and I will never have again. Especially when I get him home to those sisters of his, I may never even see him again! But when I think of the craziness of life and how hard it is to squeeze in dates for the kids and quality time, how blessed am I to be here with him, as challenging as it has turned out to be(see earlier posts) and as much I desperately miss Kate, Ava, Leora, Ellis Mae and Violet, (see earlier posts) and even with the lack of hot water (see earlier posts). This time with Moses Blessing Jones has been one of the coolest things I have ever been able to do.
A recent stat says that there are nearly 150 million orphans in the world, that number has been rolling around in my head since I left the States (don't worry Kate, I won't get any ideas). It is a hard number to fathom. But being here in Africa again, I see the deep pain of hunger, poverty and disease. The injustice of those in authority toward those who are powerless and my heart aches.
Several days ago while coming home from the market, a very thin, malnourished woman tried to stop me, but unlike most who are selling something or asking for money, she pointed at Moses, who was in my arms and then she tried to hand me her little son. After several attempts and many words in Lingala, i realized that she was trying to GIVE me her son. To take home.
He was naked from the waist down, with the distended belly and sores and skinny as a rail. I was so shocked and moved i couldn't even speak to say "no, I'm so sorry" or whatever might have seemed appropriate... I could hardly breath as I walked away from her and her saddness at my refusal. There are so many things I could say about this but words seem weak. Sorry, I know it's not the humorous post you are used to reading from me (see earlier posts) and I know its almost Christmas (so I heard!) and we don't like to hear this kind of stuff, but it's real and it just actually happened to me.
I prayed for that little boy tonight, he was about Moses' age, and if I see them again I am getting them some food. But then what?
That experience made me so grateful to be here bringing my son home, to have a place where my kids can safely sleep, food to feed them well everyday and that they never feel the awful pain of real hunger.
Whatever and whoever Almighty God has blessed you with in your life, be thankful and demonstrate your thankfulness with your life.
More posts to follow... I will try to rustle up some humor for you next time.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
I Love the Taste of Deet in the Morning
So i thought i was Getting a sore throat... Til I remembered that earlier Moses Blessing had said something while i was spaying myself with bug spray. With out thinking I answered "what"? And as I did so I Injested a bunch of 40% Deet bug spray... You know, the heavy duty camping kind. It was gross. So I'm not sick, I just have a chem lab growing in my throat.
The time difference seems like no big deal, but 8 hours of difference between here and home in Boise is starting to feel like forever! We wake up just as they go to sleep and are prepping for dinner when Boise wakes up. It makes me thankful for my European and East Coast friends who post to Facebook or are making news during our day here! It helps keep me in the loop and not make me feel like I am in.... I don't know, say the Congo?
Today, Moses Blessing gave me a 'thumbs-up' for his peanut butter and jelly sandwich! I have been working with him on this for a while and he finally did it, unrehearsed and unprompted.
He is really enjoying his photo book of Kate and the girls and as we flipped through it again today I noticed that there are pics of the girls from this whole last year, with varying hairstyles, changing ages, lost teeth and Violet from zero to six months. I hope he doesn't think we are going home to about twenty different sisters!
We are doing ok without the $35 pull-ups (see earlier post) just two accidents in the last few days.
We had some laundry done, we gave it to them Monday and picked it up today. I provided a very thorough list of each item by color and size. I went out to get it and they pointed to baskets all around the room with, what seems like, every single other guests laundry in them! I took my list and went through each basket until I had found everything! Can't complain, just thankful to have some clean clothes!
no news of exit papers yet, hoping to hear something tomorrow, Thursday.
Another parent saw a rat here in the house last night, running down the hall! I thought I had heard scratching in the walls last weekend and that confirms it! AND Contrary to our interpreter's assurances, we saw a GIGANTIC spider yesterday as well! Good times. Nearly all of you have heard or seen first hand my love of spiders, so I was not pleased. Not pleased at all. It was sort of on the out side of the building tho and after a few snapshots were taken, it met an untimely death. Gross. It was about the size on an iPhone, legs and all.
The guest house is surprisingly clean though and has a very capable staff who make sure it stays that way, including the occasional ant infestation or cockroach.
I think I have mentioned it before, but Moses Blessing is a very tidy kid. He likes everything clean and orderly, in fact one of the words he learned first and uses multiple times a day is "garbage". He loves to put stuff in the basket and put the basket out for housekeeping to pick up. He loves to separate out the recycling and strains to finds small piece of trash to put in to the garbage.
He also loves to brush his teeth... Much to his mothers delight!
Today was reall pretty, sunny and about 24 with a nice breeze coming over the river. I may have mentioned this before too (sorry it all runs together) but Kinshasa where we are (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Brazzaville (the capital of Repulic of Congo) face each other on opposite sides of the Congo River. Apparently this is the only place in the world that two capital cities of separate nations can literally see each other! It is pretty amazing what you learn around here talking to those passing through and spending hours googling what there is to do in the DRC!
...each time I check Google still says.. "nothing"
The time difference seems like no big deal, but 8 hours of difference between here and home in Boise is starting to feel like forever! We wake up just as they go to sleep and are prepping for dinner when Boise wakes up. It makes me thankful for my European and East Coast friends who post to Facebook or are making news during our day here! It helps keep me in the loop and not make me feel like I am in.... I don't know, say the Congo?
Today, Moses Blessing gave me a 'thumbs-up' for his peanut butter and jelly sandwich! I have been working with him on this for a while and he finally did it, unrehearsed and unprompted.
He is really enjoying his photo book of Kate and the girls and as we flipped through it again today I noticed that there are pics of the girls from this whole last year, with varying hairstyles, changing ages, lost teeth and Violet from zero to six months. I hope he doesn't think we are going home to about twenty different sisters!
We are doing ok without the $35 pull-ups (see earlier post) just two accidents in the last few days.
We had some laundry done, we gave it to them Monday and picked it up today. I provided a very thorough list of each item by color and size. I went out to get it and they pointed to baskets all around the room with, what seems like, every single other guests laundry in them! I took my list and went through each basket until I had found everything! Can't complain, just thankful to have some clean clothes!
no news of exit papers yet, hoping to hear something tomorrow, Thursday.
Another parent saw a rat here in the house last night, running down the hall! I thought I had heard scratching in the walls last weekend and that confirms it! AND Contrary to our interpreter's assurances, we saw a GIGANTIC spider yesterday as well! Good times. Nearly all of you have heard or seen first hand my love of spiders, so I was not pleased. Not pleased at all. It was sort of on the out side of the building tho and after a few snapshots were taken, it met an untimely death. Gross. It was about the size on an iPhone, legs and all.
The guest house is surprisingly clean though and has a very capable staff who make sure it stays that way, including the occasional ant infestation or cockroach.
I think I have mentioned it before, but Moses Blessing is a very tidy kid. He likes everything clean and orderly, in fact one of the words he learned first and uses multiple times a day is "garbage". He loves to put stuff in the basket and put the basket out for housekeeping to pick up. He loves to separate out the recycling and strains to finds small piece of trash to put in to the garbage.
He also loves to brush his teeth... Much to his mothers delight!
Today was reall pretty, sunny and about 24 with a nice breeze coming over the river. I may have mentioned this before too (sorry it all runs together) but Kinshasa where we are (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Brazzaville (the capital of Repulic of Congo) face each other on opposite sides of the Congo River. Apparently this is the only place in the world that two capital cities of separate nations can literally see each other! It is pretty amazing what you learn around here talking to those passing through and spending hours googling what there is to do in the DRC!
...each time I check Google still says.. "nothing"
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
A Rock in hand will kill two in the bush!
It's been a little bit since I blogged so here it is!
I thought i had shared this but i guess not.... We were out on one of our walks around the compound when I spotted two of the littlest, prettiest finches I have ever seen! In a city of lizards, mosquitoes and magpies it was a welcomed sight. They were a bright blue and really cute. I pointed them out to my boy... Who, without a second thought, picked up a rock and chucked it at them!
Yep! All boy!
our visas were delayed yesterday until today at three... When they did actually materialize finally. Great news! Now, in order tobret Out of here by this weekend I have to get our exit letter from the DRC authorities, and it would be pushing it to get done, but it CAN happen, so that's what I am praying for.
Wild rain storm this morning that cleared out for a day in the high twenties... Really pretty nice and less mosquitoes today it seems.... Tho they are probably on some crazy hatching cycle and will be out in full force by tonight! I fear the DRC has damaged my typically optimistic attitude!
Another couple arrived last night and got their child today, reminding me that I have officially had Blessing for two weeks today! He is doing really awesome, I think. Progress every day. Found the Jib Jab Books on the iPad which was a godsend! I plugged his picture into it and suddenly there he was in a story about truck! His dream come true really! He has started wanting me to read all of the books I brought which is great. He had know nearest in them til a day or so ago. He talked to Kate and the girls via FaceTime last night. A big step. He has not quite been sure about FaceTime or this magical Mommy I keep talking about until the last few days. I can't wait for him to meet her and his amazing sisters in the flesh! What a bunch they will be!
Ate at the Swiss/French restaurant again last nite (cheaper than the dining hall here) and the owner shared with us some of the wild and scary things he has experienced here in the DRC. Man, just when you're starting to feel pretty safe somewhere this guy has to go and tell you the truth! Dang!
That's it in a nutshell!
We walk a lot, read a lot, when he naps I read and study and clean up. It feels like its almost night time then I look at my watch and it's only 10:30am! Time feels like it stands nearly still most of the day!
I thought i had shared this but i guess not.... We were out on one of our walks around the compound when I spotted two of the littlest, prettiest finches I have ever seen! In a city of lizards, mosquitoes and magpies it was a welcomed sight. They were a bright blue and really cute. I pointed them out to my boy... Who, without a second thought, picked up a rock and chucked it at them!
Yep! All boy!
our visas were delayed yesterday until today at three... When they did actually materialize finally. Great news! Now, in order tobret Out of here by this weekend I have to get our exit letter from the DRC authorities, and it would be pushing it to get done, but it CAN happen, so that's what I am praying for.
Wild rain storm this morning that cleared out for a day in the high twenties... Really pretty nice and less mosquitoes today it seems.... Tho they are probably on some crazy hatching cycle and will be out in full force by tonight! I fear the DRC has damaged my typically optimistic attitude!
Another couple arrived last night and got their child today, reminding me that I have officially had Blessing for two weeks today! He is doing really awesome, I think. Progress every day. Found the Jib Jab Books on the iPad which was a godsend! I plugged his picture into it and suddenly there he was in a story about truck! His dream come true really! He has started wanting me to read all of the books I brought which is great. He had know nearest in them til a day or so ago. He talked to Kate and the girls via FaceTime last night. A big step. He has not quite been sure about FaceTime or this magical Mommy I keep talking about until the last few days. I can't wait for him to meet her and his amazing sisters in the flesh! What a bunch they will be!
Ate at the Swiss/French restaurant again last nite (cheaper than the dining hall here) and the owner shared with us some of the wild and scary things he has experienced here in the DRC. Man, just when you're starting to feel pretty safe somewhere this guy has to go and tell you the truth! Dang!
That's it in a nutshell!
We walk a lot, read a lot, when he naps I read and study and clean up. It feels like its almost night time then I look at my watch and it's only 10:30am! Time feels like it stands nearly still most of the day!
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Sunday go to meetin'... I mean Market
I heard an amazing Kyrie being being sung at St. Anne's church this morning... As we walked past it to go to the supermarket! I know, we skipped church... Worse things have happened. Besides, I couldn't risk the market being closed like it was yesterday, and even though ppl said it would be open on Sunday I still had to check early. That way if it was closed I could arrange for transportation to another market... That could take all day and into the night here, so... I skipped church, stuck Moses Blessing into the backpack (he's pretty big for it, but thinks its awesome) and headed off through the compound gate and toward the market. It was open. And apparently Sunday is the day to see and be seen at the market cause half of Kinshasa was there! All of the Europeans, UN folks and Americans had the same idea I did, I guess. And, like me, they all seemed surprised by the others!
So, I just had to get a few things to help our budget stretch so we don't have to pay to eat every meal at the dining room here this week. After getting the necessities and a little something yummy (that bag of cubed Gouda was screaming at me from the shelf, i swear)
I went to the check out. I told the checker I needed my total in dollars instead of francs (I can't deal with all those zeros) and she politely said, in French: "that will be $95.00 monsieur" my French Is terrible, but even i could understand that!!! $95!?!?!? After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I asked to see the register screen where I noticed that the Pull-ups were $35 and the thing of paper bowls was $30!!! So I saved myself $65 and handed them back to her and asked her to remove them... Si vous plei and merci! And we think groceries are getting expensive in the states! Somebody needs to show these folks extreme couponing!
Yeah...
So Moses Blessing and I polished of a small bag of Gouda cubes today with lunch... He is gonna fit right in at home!
We walked around a lot in between storms. we woke up this morning to one of the loudest thunderstorms I have ever heard, the whole building shook. Then the sun came out and it got to around 31 or 32c... (Americans can google that!) pretty hot and the humidity makes it feel heavy.
We picked up our room and separated laundry for tomorrow and just hung out together. We are praying for his visa to be finished tomorrow! The major blessing in this process taking so long though is that I get to spend three weeks with my son! Just me and him! That is cool no matter what country you are in... Though I could think of a few...
The Internet has been coming and going a lot the last 24 hours or so, st. Anne's is on a generator that switches on and roars to a start when we lose power. It's nice, and it's loud! And every time it happens the router reboots! I have learned to work offline and then Jump on and be done as quick as I can! I have also learned to accept small typos and errors in my writing... It makes me crazy, but the alternative is unbearably tedious. Not to mention, the Internet here is like one, giant dial-up line (remember those?) that everyone in the whole city ( 7million+) has a wireless router attached too! It's a bit dodgy at best!
Please feel free to comment or ask questions on Facebook or email, i would love to read them, if the signal is strong enough...
So, I just had to get a few things to help our budget stretch so we don't have to pay to eat every meal at the dining room here this week. After getting the necessities and a little something yummy (that bag of cubed Gouda was screaming at me from the shelf, i swear)
I went to the check out. I told the checker I needed my total in dollars instead of francs (I can't deal with all those zeros) and she politely said, in French: "that will be $95.00 monsieur" my French Is terrible, but even i could understand that!!! $95!?!?!? After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I asked to see the register screen where I noticed that the Pull-ups were $35 and the thing of paper bowls was $30!!! So I saved myself $65 and handed them back to her and asked her to remove them... Si vous plei and merci! And we think groceries are getting expensive in the states! Somebody needs to show these folks extreme couponing!
Yeah...
So Moses Blessing and I polished of a small bag of Gouda cubes today with lunch... He is gonna fit right in at home!
We walked around a lot in between storms. we woke up this morning to one of the loudest thunderstorms I have ever heard, the whole building shook. Then the sun came out and it got to around 31 or 32c... (Americans can google that!) pretty hot and the humidity makes it feel heavy.
We picked up our room and separated laundry for tomorrow and just hung out together. We are praying for his visa to be finished tomorrow! The major blessing in this process taking so long though is that I get to spend three weeks with my son! Just me and him! That is cool no matter what country you are in... Though I could think of a few...
The Internet has been coming and going a lot the last 24 hours or so, st. Anne's is on a generator that switches on and roars to a start when we lose power. It's nice, and it's loud! And every time it happens the router reboots! I have learned to work offline and then Jump on and be done as quick as I can! I have also learned to accept small typos and errors in my writing... It makes me crazy, but the alternative is unbearably tedious. Not to mention, the Internet here is like one, giant dial-up line (remember those?) that everyone in the whole city ( 7million+) has a wireless router attached too! It's a bit dodgy at best!
Please feel free to comment or ask questions on Facebook or email, i would love to read them, if the signal is strong enough...
Saturday, December 1, 2012
I'll Be Home For Christmas...
Well, two weeks in to this process and i found out yesterday that our visa won't be ready til Monday. Then we wait still for an exit letter which can take four days. Bummer. Looks like I will be spending three weeks here in the Congo... unless God does something huge! My faith in His grace and power is still intact, tho the news yesterday was just enough to take the wind out of my sails a bit.
This is why the Bible says in Ecclesiastes that "two are better than one..." because when one is discouraged, the other can pick him up and he is not alone. Thank God for my wife and girls who encouraged me over the phone and for my son who's desire to wrestle came at just the right time! It was Smack-Down in room 117! I'm sure the neighbors thought we were killing each other, but sometimes a good throw down is just what you need!
The good news is, I only have a week left here! (sigh of acceptance)
So... Today I am thankful for my incredible wife, who is at home, singlehandedly parenting 4 girls, getting them to school, gymnastics, ballet, church, making meals, packing lunches, leading worship, praying for us here, Christmas shopping, and making it all look easy! She is the most graceful person I know. The love of my life, I cannot imagine life without her.
And for four amazing girls who are so talented and kind, and are helping their mommy out so much (right girls!?!) I miss you more everyday and can't wait to wrestle and snuggle you when I get home.
I am also incredibly thankful for the family, friends and church who have come along side us in this wild time to help, support, give, watch kids, clean, cook, do laundry, pray and do so much, you know who you are and I want you to know how thankful I am for you.
I am thankful most for a loving God, who knows everything and is working all things for our good. As the calendar roles into December (wow) I am reminded that when all the world was lost in dark hopelessness, God sent a Saviour, His only son Jesus. It is when the world around us seems the darkest that His light can truly be seen as the hope it truly is. I am so thankful for the hope I have in Jesus Christ.
This is why the Bible says in Ecclesiastes that "two are better than one..." because when one is discouraged, the other can pick him up and he is not alone. Thank God for my wife and girls who encouraged me over the phone and for my son who's desire to wrestle came at just the right time! It was Smack-Down in room 117! I'm sure the neighbors thought we were killing each other, but sometimes a good throw down is just what you need!
The good news is, I only have a week left here! (sigh of acceptance)
So... Today I am thankful for my incredible wife, who is at home, singlehandedly parenting 4 girls, getting them to school, gymnastics, ballet, church, making meals, packing lunches, leading worship, praying for us here, Christmas shopping, and making it all look easy! She is the most graceful person I know. The love of my life, I cannot imagine life without her.
And for four amazing girls who are so talented and kind, and are helping their mommy out so much (right girls!?!) I miss you more everyday and can't wait to wrestle and snuggle you when I get home.
I am also incredibly thankful for the family, friends and church who have come along side us in this wild time to help, support, give, watch kids, clean, cook, do laundry, pray and do so much, you know who you are and I want you to know how thankful I am for you.
I am thankful most for a loving God, who knows everything and is working all things for our good. As the calendar roles into December (wow) I am reminded that when all the world was lost in dark hopelessness, God sent a Saviour, His only son Jesus. It is when the world around us seems the darkest that His light can truly be seen as the hope it truly is. I am so thankful for the hope I have in Jesus Christ.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Do or do not do, there is no "try"
I have put together a little Do and Do Not do list for anyone traveling to the Congo to bring home their two year old son.
Do buy a hot-pot... They really are the Leatherman Tool of the Congo! You can get a hot shower, wash your clothes, purify water and get a cup of coffee!
Do bring lots of snacks. You may need to snack your way through a meal or two (or six) that doesnt quite agree with your appetite
Do not show your two year old son the deliciousness of wasabi peas... He will eat them all. And you can't replace them here, go figure.
Do try the local favorite food, FuFu. It tastes like an underdone dumpling made of corn and wheat flours.
Do not try the local favorite food, FuFu. It tastes like an underdone dumpling made of corn and wheat flours.
Do not eat an entire bag of almonds. Ever.
Do eat at the Swiss/French restaurant in the Congolese super market.
Do not eat the Sushi at the Swiss/French restaurant in the Congolese supermarket.
Do bring Immodium
Do not worry about the rebels who just took over a city on the other side of the country and are bent on toppling the current government... Nobody here is.
Do worry about the rebels who just took over a city on the other side of the country and are bent on toppling the current government... cause nobody here is.
Do stay at St. Anne's guest house in Kinshasa.
Do not assume that because there are two faucet knobs and one of them is red, that there is hot water.
Do assume that the congolese like to tease.
Do teach your two year old son what the garbage can is.
Do not give your two year old son the key to your room.
Do bring mosquito spray.
Do WEAR said mosquito spray.
Do use the provided mosquito net at night
Do not get malaria
do enjoy the shade of the giant mango trees in the yard
Do not get pooped on by the giant Congolese magpy that is also enjoying the shade of the giant mango trees in the yard.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
People, cookies and Range Rovers... Oh My!
So I know I have been a little down on the DRC lately in my posts so I thought I would share a little about what I enjoy here.
The people are great! Mostly very kind and polite, greeting you everywhere you go. And that is not just because I am foreign, they greet each other in the street, in the always, and as they enter the room with a cheery "Bonjour"! Sometime when I am somewhere with a lot of people, it reminds me of the opening scene from Beauty and the Beast! "Bonjour... Bonjour... Bonjour, bonjour, bonjour!"
Yes, I know the words, in fact I know every word of that song and every other song in that show for that matter! It's only one of the Top 5 animated movies of all time!!! Don't get me started.
S I love the people... I also love the baked goods! As most former European colonies, the Congo has kept some of the best parts of it's colonial history in its food! Thank God for Belgium, I would be hard-pressed to find a chocolate croissant here I didn't like... And I have had a few in my day! The cookie aisle at the market is lined with many of my favorite breakfast foods, ie: European Cookies. I almost went "True Grit" on a bag of cookies just now in fact! (True Grit referes to one night when my bro and sis inlaw and I were watching True Grit while on vacation. I opened a bag of Oreos to share and by the time the three hour movie was done, I had polished of the bag... By myself.) this comes as know surprise to many of you. They served beignets with dinner the other night and they were good too, Blessing first donut(kind of). The baguettes are good here as well.
The people, most of the food and... They have a few cool car models that can't be found in the USA. I swas one today that was the Toyota Noah. It was like a boxy, 6 seater that was less like a van and more like a.... Hmmm. Not sure what to compare it to! They also have killer Range Rovers here (and actually need them) one of my dream rigs for sure, these Landy's are not playing around, they have the full upper exhaust system, roof rack and tires that would take you pretty much anywhere, including Boise River Street.
Our power hasn't gone out nearly as much here as the last place, one of the benefits of being on the same grid as the embassy's I guess. Of course that last place had hot water in some of the rooms......
There is a French classical sextet staying here and yesterday and today the French horn player was warming up in a room down stairs and it made me miss my wife super bad. A not to widely known fact about Kate is that she plays the French horn! There are no ends to her talents! Anyway, the horn music filled the hallways and was really great! Everything is tile, stucco and brick so it has killer accoustics!
The building and grounds were built in 1922 and have a decidedly art deco feel. Really pretty red brick buildings, the main one (where we are staying) reminds me a lot of Richardson Springs, CA and the hotel building there. We are very near the Congo river and can see the shipping cranes in the harbor just above the security wall. Blessing really wants to go over there! We played soccer for quite a while after breakfast, then we walked to the market, just outside the compound and got a couple of necessities. I just discovered that there is an espresso shop in the market... So will be going back soon! Man cannot live on Nescafé alone!
Monday, November 26, 2012
Washing Taxis in the Rain
Today we were walking around the compound (we do a lot of that) when we noticed a taxi/van driver outside washing his vehicle... In the pouring rain! What a picture! Much of the Congo is like that really... No hot water in most of a super-hot country that sits on the Equator... Imported fruits/veggies in one of the most fertile places in the world... and washing taxis in the pouring rain. But my favorite dichotomy yet has been the interview on the African version of MTV where a singing duo challenged viewers (in english) to embrace and take pride in being African, an interview they followed up with a music video where they sing a love song in English and woo the heart of a Caucasian lady. Classic.
I am attaching a few pics from the balcony just outside our room. I am super thankful for the space because when I opened the blinds to let the sun in, I discovered that our "window" looks into the hallway! So thank God for this balcony or I know one little claustrophobic boy (and his son!) who might go nuts! So pics from the balcony, as you can see, we have a Jesus here too, just not pink! I couldn't get Pink Jesus pics to upload so you will have to wait til I return and I will do a special follow up post.
Blessing (we are still using his name because it is already tough communicating and we have bigger fish to fry for now!) has discovered socks! I finally gave them to him, mainly because we can have our laundry done here! Mock me if you will, but I hate doing laundry in the states where we have a super-nice, super- large capacity washer and dryer, so imagine my disdain for it when I have to do it by hand...with cold water... In our shower! Yes, socks had to wait til today for sure. Because I'm dad and I say so. Some loves socks! Mainly because the "go with" shoes. And this boy loves himself some shoes! He is already like me in so many ways, it's scary!
I have met a bunch of families here at this house, many have been here for weeks and some a month... Ackkk! No bueno!
I will post news from the embassy later today, thanks for praying!
I am attaching a few pics from the balcony just outside our room. I am super thankful for the space because when I opened the blinds to let the sun in, I discovered that our "window" looks into the hallway! So thank God for this balcony or I know one little claustrophobic boy (and his son!) who might go nuts! So pics from the balcony, as you can see, we have a Jesus here too, just not pink! I couldn't get Pink Jesus pics to upload so you will have to wait til I return and I will do a special follow up post.
Blessing (we are still using his name because it is already tough communicating and we have bigger fish to fry for now!) has discovered socks! I finally gave them to him, mainly because we can have our laundry done here! Mock me if you will, but I hate doing laundry in the states where we have a super-nice, super- large capacity washer and dryer, so imagine my disdain for it when I have to do it by hand...with cold water... In our shower! Yes, socks had to wait til today for sure. Because I'm dad and I say so. Some loves socks! Mainly because the "go with" shoes. And this boy loves himself some shoes! He is already like me in so many ways, it's scary!
I have met a bunch of families here at this house, many have been here for weeks and some a month... Ackkk! No bueno!
I will post news from the embassy later today, thanks for praying!
Sunday, November 25, 2012
One week down...
We have moved! Across the Gombe region of the city to Saint Anne's guest house. It is a much larger compound, which is great because Blessing left no rock unturned at the last place. This is an old(1922) catholic guesthouse with beautiful grounds and it is next door to the U.S. embassy and a large supermarket. All good things. We could have been going to the dentist for all I care though, we have been cooped up for days and it was nice just to get out!
If you have never been to Africa, (or a war torn third world nation) then you may not have experienced "compound living". Where every home or business of any standard is behind no less than 8 foot walls and iron gates. Not so bad at first, but as days wear on and you are not able to leave, for safety reasons(or because you just adopted a super-curious, two year old-ish boy!) it can get a little claustrophobic and monotonous. All those who know me are aware of how "well" I deal with monotony. In fact, today at lunch when someone commented on the lizard in the courtyard, I heard myself say "oh yeah he's been out there for an hour and 45 minutes or so and hasn't moved. Wait... Is that really what I just did with an hour and forty-five minutes of my time? Watch a lizard?!?!
I suddenly see the path to seeing imaginary friends... and it starts with a lizard.
Blessing had a good day. He smiled a lot today and only cried a few times, like when I said "no, you cannot have a Powerbar" ( thank you Jan, you have made a lifelong congolese friend)
Speaking of friends, I am amazed at how many amazing friends and family that Kate and I have. As I tell the other families about our road to getting here, the giving, the prayer, the support, the Postal Service craziness and yes, the Powerbars, they all comment on what a cool support system we have. I tell them yes, we have the best family, friends, church and life group on the planet!!! I am a little emotional as I type this part but, I really wish you each could understand what it feels like to be here and to know that people back home and all over the world are praying for you, pulling for you and helping your wife and kids still at home. It's humbling.
*deep cleansing breath*
So, we are still here, waiting to hear something from the embassy and we are praying for good news from them in the morning.
Oh, I almost forgot... Blessing had his first piece of pizza tonight and liked it! It was actually, relatively good pizza too, unlike some of the "pizza" that you run across on this continent.
If you have never been to Africa, (or a war torn third world nation) then you may not have experienced "compound living". Where every home or business of any standard is behind no less than 8 foot walls and iron gates. Not so bad at first, but as days wear on and you are not able to leave, for safety reasons(or because you just adopted a super-curious, two year old-ish boy!) it can get a little claustrophobic and monotonous. All those who know me are aware of how "well" I deal with monotony. In fact, today at lunch when someone commented on the lizard in the courtyard, I heard myself say "oh yeah he's been out there for an hour and 45 minutes or so and hasn't moved. Wait... Is that really what I just did with an hour and forty-five minutes of my time? Watch a lizard?!?!
I suddenly see the path to seeing imaginary friends... and it starts with a lizard.
Blessing had a good day. He smiled a lot today and only cried a few times, like when I said "no, you cannot have a Powerbar" ( thank you Jan, you have made a lifelong congolese friend)
Speaking of friends, I am amazed at how many amazing friends and family that Kate and I have. As I tell the other families about our road to getting here, the giving, the prayer, the support, the Postal Service craziness and yes, the Powerbars, they all comment on what a cool support system we have. I tell them yes, we have the best family, friends, church and life group on the planet!!! I am a little emotional as I type this part but, I really wish you each could understand what it feels like to be here and to know that people back home and all over the world are praying for you, pulling for you and helping your wife and kids still at home. It's humbling.
*deep cleansing breath*
So, we are still here, waiting to hear something from the embassy and we are praying for good news from them in the morning.
Oh, I almost forgot... Blessing had his first piece of pizza tonight and liked it! It was actually, relatively good pizza too, unlike some of the "pizza" that you run across on this continent.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Your Own..., Personal (pink)... Jesus
It's Saturday which means I have been here nearly a week... Mercy... And been shut up inside this compound since Wednesday night, save our Thanksgiving Dinner outing. The wall are getting a little higher and the square footage a little less around here everyday.
This morning Blessing and I went up to the fourth and highest floor of our building. From there you can see all the streets below, in clouding the construction happening on Boise River Street.(see earlier post) they are installing a 6 foot deep by 6 foot wide cement canal beneath the street to help alter its class 5 rapids status. That should take care of some of it anyway.
We also noticed in the church courtyard next door an 8 foot, relatively pink-skinned statue of Jesus. It was fascinating and a tad creepy at the same time! when i see depictions of Jesus like this (well... I've never seen one QUITE like this) I always wonder where the artist thinks that Jesus was born? Connecticut? Anyway, I will post a picture of Pink Jesus soon I promise!
Blessing is sleeping now, after our trip to the fourth floor and a few laps around the other floors, I think he's worn out, well maybe he's not, but i am!
Two other families from our agency arrived last night, it is nice to have some company. They have been making the rounds today all over the city, but it will be good getting to know them while we are all here.
I believe we move to a different guest house tomorrow, maybe with better internet!
This morning Blessing and I went up to the fourth and highest floor of our building. From there you can see all the streets below, in clouding the construction happening on Boise River Street.(see earlier post) they are installing a 6 foot deep by 6 foot wide cement canal beneath the street to help alter its class 5 rapids status. That should take care of some of it anyway.
We also noticed in the church courtyard next door an 8 foot, relatively pink-skinned statue of Jesus. It was fascinating and a tad creepy at the same time! when i see depictions of Jesus like this (well... I've never seen one QUITE like this) I always wonder where the artist thinks that Jesus was born? Connecticut? Anyway, I will post a picture of Pink Jesus soon I promise!
Blessing is sleeping now, after our trip to the fourth floor and a few laps around the other floors, I think he's worn out, well maybe he's not, but i am!
Two other families from our agency arrived last night, it is nice to have some company. They have been making the rounds today all over the city, but it will be good getting to know them while we are all here.
I believe we move to a different guest house tomorrow, maybe with better internet!
Cause there is no such thing as Turkey Nuggets
Last night we went to a Swiss chef's (say that three times fast) French restaurant for our Thanksgiving Celebration! We tried explaining the tradition and holiday to Jules, our local connection, but really, how can you explain what we TRULY do on thanksgiving.... We eat, too much... Blah blah blah.
It was fun to watch Blessing have chicken nuggets and frites, as well as his first ice cream! He went to sleep full and happy with family, on this day that's pretty much the idea right?
I had a nice filet and ice cream as well, hello. Blessing needed to use the restroom three times during dinner and on the last trek I realized that I was supposed to have been paying each time for him to use the leu! So I handed the 3 men at the door (yes three, i guess no job is too small for a supervisor) a wad of bills on my way past and hoped it would cover it. I'm not yet used to the monetary conversion here yet, besides, what do you pay three guys that watch the bathroom?
We laid low today and took lots of walks around the increasingly small compound here.
It was Congo-Hot again today, ending after sunset with a flurried electrical storm. Mosquitoes are bad tonight. They don't seem as bent on biting me as they do just buzzing around and as I am all dosed up on malaria meds, I'm not sure which is worse at the moment the buzz or the bite!
Blessing has loosened up a lot today, relaxing and just being a kid, until he notices someone watching him, then he is straight faced. Twice now he has pushed for me to make him cup-o-soup, and I reluctantly have agreed. Both times he hasn't even tried it! So now I am not making it again for him! He is eating the same meals I am so I know he's not hungry!
He was crying today for an extended period because I had told him no about something else (God forbid) and a little while later, two sweet French ladies that are staying next door stopped by to see if I needed anything! They sounded so nice with they're sweet little accents and broken English, but I know what they were really saying was "should they be letting you take home a kid?" after entertaining they're niceties for a few minutes, I excused myself and went inside to bring out our family photo album. Oui, oui ladies! Not only are they letting me take home this little guy, but here are pictures of the tribe waiting to initiate him when he gets home!
We have colored, played, walked, eaten, cleaned, played made cup-o-noodles and walked some more and now it's off to bed with him! And me too!
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving America!
I feel blessed today to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave (especially since I'm not there now!) and I can't wait to bring my son home and raise him in our great country! Spending Thanksgiving Day in a nation like the Congo is an effective way to restore my thankfulness for all of the freedom , blessing and opportunity we know in the USA.
I know some have mentioned the unrest and military action here in DRC. I can say that it is happening in the eastern part of the country and that I feel quite safe here. We are located in the same area as the embassy's in Kinshasa so they have increased police here. Police or no police, We are under God's protection so I am trusting Him. The Congo is a nation in change and transition, from poverty and dependence on leaders to individual success and freedoms. These transitions come slowly and can be messy. We are as safe at present as we can be in the DRC, but I am not longing to stay any longer than I have to! Besides the whole "safety thing" i could really use a hot shower! Actually i would settle for luke warm! Thanks for your prayers for continued safety and a speedy end to our stay here, I wish each of you a Happy Thanksgiving.
Brent
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Ambien... and other vitamins
It has been an interesting 24 hours as I have taken custody of Moses Blessing and had him all by myself. I picked him up at the clinic where he was receiving his vaccinations for travel and while it may not have been the most joyful of days it was made better by the fact that I took him after he had received the shots and therefore i "rescued" him from those terrible-mean doctors! Daddy points!
He had already had a low grade fever (not uncommon here) so the shots aggravated that and needless to say we had a Looooong night. I did get a few hours of sleep before we had to be up and ready for our embassy appointment first thing.
Part of my morning routine in most foreign countries is to pop a Zophran under my tongue on the way to breakfast to stop motion sickness. ( a few of you have witnessed what happens when I do not) Zophran is a kind of sweet, fast dissolving little white pill... I call it a wonder drug!
So imagine my surprise when the little white pill I popped under my tongue was not dissolving very well and started to taste nasty! Spitting it out i discovered that instead of Zophran I had taken the surprisingly similar looking AMBIEN!!! While AMBIEN is a wonder drug of its own right, it is definitely not what I needed just before our appointment with the U.S. Consular General for the DRC! I downed an extra Nescafé at breakfast, just in case I had left it under my tongue too long!
So, I suppose a day could always be worse.
It is the rainy season here so it has been pouring on and off since I arrived. So much that yesterday the street outside our compound looked like an extremely muddy version of the Boise River, no joke. As we pulled up to the cross street I thought "oh great, we are gonna have to walk all five blocks to get to the gates of the guest house" I was wrong, because right about then our driver (in an very small Mazda mini van thingy) gunned it and drove us upstream and up to our door! We must have floated part of the way because there is no way that car could do that! I have seen RAFTS that couldnt do that!
So yes, the weather here has been damp to say the least.... That is until today when the clouds broke and the blue sky opened up so the sun could shine! This was fantastic as I was feeling the need for a little vitamin D. The sun is great, the only problem is that when the sun comes out here in the DRC, it gets what I now call "Congo-Hot". I been to a few tropical regions in my short life, but this Congo-Hot is truly something!
Yes, is been a very interesting 24hours or so. Moses Blessing is doing pretty well. There are the challenges that come from being handed over to a complete stranger, but he is warming up to me. Today at lunch he ate all of his steak and most of mine. I use the word steak very loosely here. It was kind of tasty and tasted like beef most of the meal, but it had its moments. And as always in situations like these.... It's better not to know. Some meals you would just rather call tasty instead of the proper name for it.
So that's all for now, thanks for all of your prayers for a speedy wrap up on this end. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and since no one here cares, I thought Moses and I would hit the Chinese Buffet here(I've heard it exists) cause there sure aren't any turkeys running around here and I figure the Chinese Buffet will give me that sickly full feeling just as well as Thanksgiving Dinner can!
Monday, November 19, 2012
Today is the day
This is it! In just an hour or so I will head to the clinic where Moses Blessing is receiving his yellow fever shot :( and bring him with me... Forever! Woot woot!
Yesterday I met him, snuggled him and spent time at the home where he has stayed and today I take over his custody officially.
I am excited... Nervous... But surprisingly calm. Of course that may be from a lack of caffienation.
I miss Kate and my girls and so wish they were here to see all of this.
I love the Congo and in fact it set in as I drove the streets yesterday, I really love Africa! Each time I come it sinks in a little more! Thankfully this trip I get to bring home Africa with me!
It so humid today, it's the rainy season which basically means that the humidity increases until droplets form in midair and bingo, rain!
My skin loves the humidity, my hair, not so much.
I have been thinking a lot about the last two years and our process to get here and bring him home. There have been mountains around every corner it seems, hurdles that have looked too high to clear. But I sit here today amazed at God's great faithfullness, mercy and love, that has led us, encouraged us, challenged us and allowed us to see a glimpse of God's heart of love through adoption.
Sorry, that sentence had more commas than a jr. High poem!
Anywho... I am trying to upload a picture of the view from my room, hope it comes through.
So, I bring him with me today, we have our embassy appointment tomorrow and then I am waiting for our exit papers. Thanks for praying me home quickly!
Yesterday I met him, snuggled him and spent time at the home where he has stayed and today I take over his custody officially.
I am excited... Nervous... But surprisingly calm. Of course that may be from a lack of caffienation.
I miss Kate and my girls and so wish they were here to see all of this.
I love the Congo and in fact it set in as I drove the streets yesterday, I really love Africa! Each time I come it sinks in a little more! Thankfully this trip I get to bring home Africa with me!
It so humid today, it's the rainy season which basically means that the humidity increases until droplets form in midair and bingo, rain!
My skin loves the humidity, my hair, not so much.
I have been thinking a lot about the last two years and our process to get here and bring him home. There have been mountains around every corner it seems, hurdles that have looked too high to clear. But I sit here today amazed at God's great faithfullness, mercy and love, that has led us, encouraged us, challenged us and allowed us to see a glimpse of God's heart of love through adoption.
Sorry, that sentence had more commas than a jr. High poem!
Anywho... I am trying to upload a picture of the view from my room, hope it comes through.
So, I bring him with me today, we have our embassy appointment tomorrow and then I am waiting for our exit papers. Thanks for praying me home quickly!
Journey of a Lifetime - bringing home my boy
The journey of a life time has begun and my heart rests in the truth that God is truly in control.
An unbelievable week of preperation culminated in 24 hours of absolute pandimonium!
It's a good thing our life as a family is already pretty wild from day to day or I would start to seriously doubt my own sanity.
So... Boise to Chicago, Chicago to Brussels and then On to Kinshasa DRC...
Thankfully i like a good adventure because based on how this all went this week, this trip is going to be anything but normal.
Oh yes folks, make sure that your seat belts are buckled and seat backs are in their full upright and locked position cause this is gonna be good!
Thursday, October 18, 2012
$1 Adoption
We have been planning to host a fun and festive fundraiser to raise money for our travel to the Congo to bring home our son, but since we have just recently been given the chance to go in November we are in a little bit more of a hurry!
Brent, Kate, Ava, Leora, Ellis, Violet and Congo Baby (Name TBA)
We are excited for the opportunity to go earlier than expected, but still in need of funds for my (Brent's) flight to and 3 week stay in the DRC. We have paid for the actual adoption expenses, so all of the funds raised here will go toward travel.
We have been so blessed by the love and support that our friends and family have shown during this wild and crazy ride and we are asking for one more thing... $1... thats right, one dollar.
If each person who reads this simply clicks the Donate button above and gives one dollar and then and passes it on to all of their friends, neighbors and contacts just think of how quickly this could go!
Lets face it, it's $1, you wont even notice that it's gone! But that dollar puts us that much closer to bring home our beautiful boy.
It's not just about the dollar. Ideally every $1 gift would be partnered with an earnest prayer for a quick, safe and successful journey to the Congo and home again... and you can be sure that we are praying for each of you.
So that's it. We are asking you to give $1 and then pass on the link by posting it on your Facebook (come on, you know you've posted stupider things!) Blog it, or send it to your contact list.
If you would like to leave a message for us, we would love that to, every little bit of encouragement helps!
We pray God's rich blessing on you, thank you from our whole family!
Monday, October 15, 2012
What a difference a year makes...
We haven't updated the blog for over a year, mostly because we have tried to keep things up to date via Facebook.
But we have had some changes and wanted to let everyone know what is going on with our adoption from the DRC.
In April of this year we welcomed little Violet Grace into the world and she has been such a joy for all of us! She is healthy, happy and full of life and spunk, so she fits right in around here!
Two weeks after Violet was born we received news that we had lost our first referral. It is quite a long story as to how and why and frankly, in the end, we are not sure about every detail, but we know that he is with a loving family elsewhere. This was difficult news for all of us.
We took time and prayed and felt led to continue with our plans with the Congo and with our agency and we continued to pray for just the right little boy for our family.
This summer we accepted a new referral of a little boy that we know is a gift from God!
Or paper work was done ( had been done for a long time!) and we were just waiting for his to be completed in the DRC. We were told that the wait for travel would still likely be in the early spring of 2013. So imagine our surprise when we received an email last Sunday night stating that we could travel as early as November if we filed our I-600 form in the DRC rather than in the States! We prayed about it and decided that I (Brent) will travel to bring home our son in November! WOW!
We had planned to do several fundraisers this winter, now that we don't have the time, we need to do get on the stick with some fundraising for the travel expenses ASAP!
We will keep you posted on all of the details and I will post pictures of our little dude today sometime! Thank you all so much for your love and support through this loooonnnngggg process! It means so much to have friends and family like you.
But we have had some changes and wanted to let everyone know what is going on with our adoption from the DRC.
In April of this year we welcomed little Violet Grace into the world and she has been such a joy for all of us! She is healthy, happy and full of life and spunk, so she fits right in around here!
Two weeks after Violet was born we received news that we had lost our first referral. It is quite a long story as to how and why and frankly, in the end, we are not sure about every detail, but we know that he is with a loving family elsewhere. This was difficult news for all of us.
We took time and prayed and felt led to continue with our plans with the Congo and with our agency and we continued to pray for just the right little boy for our family.
This summer we accepted a new referral of a little boy that we know is a gift from God!
Or paper work was done ( had been done for a long time!) and we were just waiting for his to be completed in the DRC. We were told that the wait for travel would still likely be in the early spring of 2013. So imagine our surprise when we received an email last Sunday night stating that we could travel as early as November if we filed our I-600 form in the DRC rather than in the States! We prayed about it and decided that I (Brent) will travel to bring home our son in November! WOW!
We had planned to do several fundraisers this winter, now that we don't have the time, we need to do get on the stick with some fundraising for the travel expenses ASAP!
We will keep you posted on all of the details and I will post pictures of our little dude today sometime! Thank you all so much for your love and support through this loooonnnngggg process! It means so much to have friends and family like you.
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