Leila's Birth Certificate!

Our coordinator received a copy today, and her declared birth date (her legal one, which means we're not sure if it's exact) is January 1, 2005, which would make her 9 years old! So exciting to know that we have an age and a birthday to celebrate for her! Thank you, God, for the baby steps.

Good News and Bad News - Adoption Update

Today my stateside daughter put nail polish on her eye lids. Yep, nail polish. Not clear or even light pink. It was a nice shimmery mauve. She's asleep now, and it's still there. I mean, what do I even do with that!?

Ok, now to our African daughter. Here's the good news:

1. We now have a placement order from the juvenile courts in Niger that shows she was put into and still lives in an orphanage. This will be included with the rest of the paperwork that a Nigerien judge will review to determine whether or not she's eligible to be legally adopted from Niger. We needed this piece of paper to get the unconditional discharge signed by her birth mother and then Geoff (who will go over there any sign on behalf of us). Yes, this is the piece of paper I keep thinking will be getting signed. Now, we are officially closer. 

2. Pouhin (orphanage director) is no longer in charge of Good Samaritan Orphanage! He went to the Ivory Coast, and is staying there. The missions committee board that distantly oversees the orphanage where Leila is and the board that a few LINK folks met with back in October (remember this post?) are finally moving ahead with signing the agreement they verbally agreed on (not sure why it took 8+ months to get to this point). This agreement says they will support adoptions out of the orphanage, LINK teams are free to visit with the children and they will request and accept support under LiveTen24 guidelines and procedures. Great news! While Pouhin seemed to have been cooperating as of late (or really just stayed out of the way), we wondered if he would try and pull something while we were there or if he would say untrue things to Leila. Now we don't need to worry about this! Please pray for the 2 new lay leaders they will appoint to oversee the orphanage and the children. 

Ok, now to the bad or less-good news. Also known as "get on your knees and pray" news:

1. After a few translation snags, we finally received the results of Leila's recent health screening which was done to see if she had any diseases that would prevent her from traveling. There were no issues with diseases to prevent traveling, which is great, but they did discover she has sickle cell disease (or anemia). The screening was done at a bare bones clinic, so we gave permission today for them to take her to a government run clinic that has the ability to determine the severity of it and propose a treatment to start while she's in Niger. It is a hereditary blood disorder she was born with, but unfortunately, up to this point, she hasn't been treated for it. Combined with the malnutrition, it's no wonder she's so small, and this may explain why she seemed less-spirited (e.g. really tired) when I was with her in February. Please pray for her sweet little body and for wisdom for the doctor she sees.

2. Up until this week, we had no idea that our dear government passed a bill called the Universal Accreditation Act back in 2012. Well, the UAA and all the not-at-all-hard-to-understand parts go into effect on July 14, 2014 (my birthday - happy birthday to me!). And it seems that the specifics of the bill and who's grandfathered in and who's not are just coming out because it sure is helpful to give adoptive parents 6 weeks to make some potentially huge changes or tell them something they spent a lot of money on (e.g. home study) is now not from an approved agency. Can you hear my sarcasm? Yea, so I'm actually not quite sure what we could have known ahead of time and what's new, but it feels like a lot of people are surprised by some of this, and they are people that should know (e.g. our social worker). Basically, we don't know if the home study we completed will be accepted or not, but we have submitted our I-600a form (I totally did that on faith back in April; I felt like I just needed to do something for Leila, and that was all I could do, even though it was earlier than I was supposed to. Lord, please honor that!) and have a biometrics (fingerprinting) appointment in Norfolk on 6/10/2014. And the I-600a form completion is part of the grandfathering in, so we are praying that we will meet this and that we are understanding the guidelines correctly. Will you please pray for that, too? 

We don't want to delay anything in this process, but we can't exactly fork over another couple thousand dollars for another home study. We are asking God for wisdom to make the right choice. And for patience. Love is patient, right?! I cried on the phone with our coordinator today. The waiting can feel so hard and heavy some days. And to think of her, untreated for something we would so easily treat from birth here in the states. It hurts my heart, and I pray it doesn't hurt her.

So, we wait, and we pray, and we hope, and we wait, pray and hope some more, knowing that "Hope fuels the soul to impossible places."

Momma Love

Spoiled. Yes, my husband knows how to do that. And while I'm still waiting to be a mother of 3 (eek, that sounds like a lot today!), he treated me like I'd mothered a nation this weekend. I returned on Saturday after almost 9 hours of yard saling and thrifting with my own momma (our annual Mother's Day tradition of fun and finds!) to find a clean house and vases of fresh flowers from the garden throughout the house. The dishes that had piled up were clean AND put away. The laundry had been done AND put away. The kids were happy, and I was definitely happy. I was told not to go in the guest room until the next morning. 

So, on Sunday morning (yesterday), after sipping my favorite splurge coffee (Dunkin Donuts) on the porch, he took me upstairs to get the kids and my surprise. In our house, the kids aren't allowed to get out of bed until 7 (they have digital clocks). Lately, this does not mean they wake up at 7. Hardly. So, we escaped the noises coming from the monitor pre-7am by going outside. Some might say smart, others mean. They were perfectly fine, of course. 

After a sweet card, they led me into the room with my eyes closed only to find that they had bought half of the Target ladies department and half the books on my Amazon Wish List! I felt the love. I didn't question where the money came from though Geoff knew where my mind was going. He said he'd been saving for a while. And since I know he loves giving, I didn't want to take that joy so I gladly accepted the new rubber boots (for the farm), dresses, workout clothes (apparently he was tired of my one pair of running shorts from when I worked at Ragged Mountain Running Store in college) and other miscellaneous items to wear. Oh, and a medicine ball and some workout weights for our attempts to cross fit at home. 

Off to church, a casual lunch with friends and home for the rest of the day to work in the garden, relax and enjoy dinner that Geoff cooked (breakfast!). And we got to witness the birth of 2 baby goats. We heard the labor cries and got there just in time to see it. Amazing. And on Mother's Day! 

I felt so incredibly loved today and was reminded of how great a gift mothering is. Not easy (more like the hardest thing I've ever done), but definitely worth it. 

I know Mother's Day isn't joyous for everyone, so I pray if it was a hard day for you that you could still see God's grace throughout it. Oftentimes through our brokenness and pain we experience His great grace like never before.

Tidbits Part Two on Leila

Bruno (works at Leila's orphanage) is working with the minor court system to get a placement order for Leila (this is a legal document that reflects her placement into the orphanage). I didn't know we needed this, and I'm not yet sure if this is required before her birthmother signs the unconditional discharge. Sounds like it isn't, but I haven't received confirmation on that.

Leila will be going to a clinic next week for a health screening. This is not a full physical examination, but rather a simple screen for any communicable diseases that may make her ineligible for a Visa (and therefore, any international travel). This will allow us to know if she has any “issues” that may need to be addressed or managed.  And at the end of the process, she will go through another health examination at the doctor that the US Embassy requires.

Keep praying!

Tidbits on Leila

The latest news - we are waiting. Yep, nothing new, but we are praying this guardianship document will be signed THIS week. That is the plan. Please join us in prayer! Our friend and adoption coordinator that's helping us through the LINK returned from Niger about a week and a half ago, and these are some of the things she shared from her visit:

• Poihn (orphanage director) continues to be cooperative. This is good for the families trying to adopt and for the children because hopefully, this means they are eating regularly because he is willing to comply with the rules to receive funding for food and other basic necessities. I seriously pray daily that God would give her supernatural vitamins that I know her body is desperate for. I wonder if she ever gets fresh fruit that I love so much, and I can't wait to see her eat ice cream!
• Leila's birthmother and Leila's maternal grandfather have agreed to sign the guardianship document. Again, that is hopefully, this week. TIA (This Is Africa), so we are cautiously optimistic but know that God can move mountains. Poihn was supposed to be the one signing, but that changed once again. I'm not clear why but again TIA. I pray they will be able to get her  birthmother and grandfather to the notary, and that they will be ready and at the place where they need to be picked up to get there.
• Apparently, her birth mother also has either a birth certificate or something that documents her blessed arrival, so that would tell us how old she is and when we can celebrate her birthday! I'm also cautiously optimistic on this one...with language and cultural differences, this could be something completely different.
• Dankarami and Rodrigo (both are in Niger with The LINK) are very confident that this will be easy from here on out. I am wondering how they're defining "easy", but I'll take their confidence!
• I saw Zalika's momma at church on Sunday and she congratulated us that we were one step closer (I hesitated with a thank you because I didn't feel like we had made a lot of progress; at least until that document is signed). But regardless, her husband is in the know as the founder of The LINK, so it sounds like I need to be more excited about the progress! Anyway, she told Zalika that Leila could be here soon, and she said Zalika started jumping up and down with excitement. So sweet. That is a moment I can't wait for - to see those 2 girls that grew up together in such hardship meet once again with a much brighter future ahead.
• It's been a year since we started this process - that is hard to believe!
• We have tried so hard to be patient through this process that Geoff and I think it's also made us a bit apathetic. Blah. Not a good place to be. So, we are committing to more fervently get on our knees, give thanks and seek the Giver of Life for this precious little girl and her journey to our family.

It Is Finished

I love that simple statement that changed history and changed my life. As he hung dying on the cross, Jesus proclaimed that "It is finished." The debt has been paid. I don't have to do anything because His grace is sufficient. I don't know about for you, but that is a huge relief. Grace. All we need is His grace. I don't have to spin my wheels, or "do, do, do" to be good enough. I mean, who's defining good enough anyway? Me? Society? My human expectations are too high to be normal or at least keep me sane and allow me to sleep, so it's probably not a good idea to follow those. So, I thank God for his unending grace. With it, I have freedom, and with Him, I want to live differently. I want to be different. I don't do things because I necessarily have to (diaper changing is an exception along with brushing my children's teeth) or because someone says I should. I do it because He loves me and He's changing me from the inside out. He's shaping my heart, and that is real love. Without Easter and without the cross there is no real love. What a beautiful exchange of ugly sin for true forgiveness in the picture of the cross. I pray you felt that for yourself this Easter, and that in your heart you know you are loved and His grace is for you and for me no matter what you've done or what's been done to you.

We have had a sweet Easter season, and a Holy Week that is always more precious than the one before as our kids (or at least Mary-Michael!) grow to understand what this time of year really means. There were still lots of plastic eggs and candy from various Easter gatherings and parties. I mean, it's hard to avoid and that's ok. I for one am a sucker for all things sweet, so we have thoroughly enjoyed a treat from the Easter treat bucket after meals (including momma and daddy). But really, I do want Easter to be about Jesus and not a bunny. So, we did a lot of reading about the days leading up to the Resurrection, took the kids to an annual cross-raising at our church at sunrise on Good Friday, went through a Remembrance Walk to remember what Jesus endured for him to be able to say, "It is finished." And of course, sweet Easter Sunday.

On the bitter side of this sweetness, in moments like these holiday times, I think about what Leila might be doing. If she's even aware of the awesome treasures and hope we have in Jesus or if she's simply just hungry, or sick, and no one is there to hold her or tend to her. The Holy Spirit pokes my heart at random times throughout my days. Sometimes, when I'm grumbling about another load of dishes to unload or the laundry pile that is growing on the couch...poke...I think I probably needed that. To be reminded of my blessed life. Gratitude. Perspective has a way of shifting you from ungratefulness to gratefulness, especially when you've seen Africa or another place of such poverty. Women are washing dishes in a river that they carried on their heads for a mile. And a washing machine? Yeah, right. That's also called a river and 2 good hands. So, what am I complaining about? Well, I still do it, and God still gives me grace, but hopefully, I am doing it a little less. And I'm doing more of saying thank you and being grateful for this good life I'm living. It sure makes a difference in my home when I'm doing that.

Here's some Easter pictures from this year. Hopefully, we'll have a 3rd child with us next year!

Mary-Michael's friend from preschool has a massive Easter egg hunt and party every year. Over 300 eggs, bags of candy just dumped and a big chocolate bunny hidden for each kid. There were 14 children, so all that candy I mention above, we can thank Anna for that!

Hunting with Daddy.

Anna and Mary-Michael - sweetness.

Easter egg dying time! They are listening to instructions here. Each child had a dozen eggs to dye. Though he looks awfully interested, Frazier dyed one egg before he moved on to the below.

He would have eaten his dinner here had we let him.

This boy loves all things machines. 

Topping the night off with an ice cream Sunday.

We really enjoyed having Easter lunch at our home. We had a full table with our family, my Dad and Beth, my brother and his bride-to-be, Christina, and her parents and brother. We showed them a little farm life with some 4-wheeler time and some target practice afterwards, which felt a little sacrilegious on Easter Sunday. No judgment please!

This is the best and worst hand-me-down we've received of late. Best because it's so loved and worst because it's so loved so both want to drive. ALL. THE. TIME. 

Yea, this is our Easter picture. On the trampoline with no shoes. 

Oh, and Princess Belle had to join in, too. She also had a turn on the trampoline. 

I felt so crafty doing this banner (even though all I had to do was print, cut, laminate and hole punch). It will probably still be hanging at Christmas, but it's a great reminder of Christ's love. I love Ann Voskamp over at www.aholyexperience.com who provided this printable and this beautiful explanation, "It comes right out of the Gospel of Luke: “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them…” (Luke 22:19 NIV). In the original language, “he gave thanks” reads “eucharisteo.” The root word of eucharisteo is charis, meaning “grace.” Jesus took the bread and saw it as grace and gave thanks. He took the bread and knew it to be gift and gave thanks. Eucharisteo, thanksgiving, envelopes the Greek word for grace, charis. But it also holds its derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning “joy.” Charis. Grace. Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving. Chara. Joy."

And what's Easter Monday without a Busch Gardens trip with Nonnie!?

Our Blog Will Be Going Private

Hi friends and family,

In order to honor and respect the habits, traditions, expectations, and culture in which the hopeful adoptees of Niger were raised and will be living in until the process is finalized, we have been asked to no longer publicly post pictures and names of the children the families hope to bring home with references to adoption and family.

If you have tagged Geoff or myself on Facebook or shared our story on social media, and it relates to Leila, we are so grateful for your so support, but would you please consider removing our tag? Thank you so much.

Because it's important to us to continue to share our story with our friends and family, we will make our blog private in 1 week on Thursday, April 24th. We hope you will want to continue to follow us in this journey whether you're a close friend, family member or former colleague. If you do, send me a quick email at terra.Lawrence@gmail.com with your name and email address and "blog" in the subject. Then I can add you to our safe contact list.

If you have any questions about this, please let me know. And I look forward to sharing a new update soon on this specific part of our family's journey! (There's your teaser!)

Geoff and Terra