Myles' First Christmas

Peter and I often think back on our Christmases we experienced in Rwanda. No trees, bright twinkling lights, smells of Christmas cookies, or Santa--just the constant sound all December of choirs rehearsing. Christmas Eve and Day all you could hear echoing off the hills in Kigali were the melodic sounds of Rwandan choirs. I'm moved even at the memory. While I delight in the decorating, baking, preparing, gift buying, and secret keeping of this season--Rwanda's Christmas memory helps me focus on Christ's birth.
Keith (our 4 year old Christmas decorator) was shocked and appalled the other day when I told him that our Christmas tree will be taken down a few days after Christmas. He said that he needs to keep his tree up in his room until Myles comes home from Rwanda. Keith feels very strongly that Myles needs to have his first Christmas with us as a family. :) Here is his tree in his room on his desk. He put the Rwandan drum and (my) baby shoe there on his own. (the tree stand is a Nursery Rhyme book) Their thoughts about their brother are completely endearing. No word from Rwanda, but we'll keep you posted! Have a Merry Christmas!!!

Gladney Center for Adoption

We continue to be entirely impressed with Gladney Center for Adoption. From the beginning of this process, we have had clear communication and feel secure in their work with Rwanda as a new program. We are the pioneer family for the Rwanda, but we often forget that others haven't gone before us. We have faith that Gladney is making wise decisions with respect to the culture. Not only are we thankful for their professionalism and incredible communication, but we admire their humanitarian response to the orphan crises around the world, particularly in Rwanda. We have had friends visit the orphanage since Peter's trip in May and there has been drastic changes, which we attribute to Gladney's investment of prayer, education, time, and resources.

Our case worker, Natalie, has been amazing. She's encouraging, insightful, and completely on top of every step. We know she has a great number of families that she works with for the African programs, but we feel that we're the only one because of her quick and thoughtful responses. She doesn't miss a single detail, takes additional measures to ensure progress, and yet still adds sensitivity and delight in our individual adoption process. She's in our prayers often--what an INCREDIBLE job and responsibility of being part of uniting families! We are so thankful for you Natalie!

Making Progress

We heard that our file is making progress at the Ministry. (but no official time line is given...but it's a good sign!) Once again, after it is approved by the Ministry of Gender, it goes immediately to the orphanage where Myles will be chosen. Medical tests will be run on him and then we'll receive our referral!!!

This news came as such a gift. It feels so good to know that things are moving. It's hard to adjust to this adoption paper-pregnancy. Unlike a biological pregnancy, there aren't kicks in the ribs by tiny unborn feet that reassure us of the little life who's part of our family. Yesterday, after viewing blogs of three families who have adopted beautiful Rwandan babies, the pangs of longing began again (especially during this cozy festive family time of the year). I spent some quiet time yesterday intentionally praying for our paperwork at the hands of the Ministry in Rwanda. For some reason, the Lord chooses sometimes, often during this adoption, to gift us with immediate reassurances during this amazing journey to Myles. I am thankful.

Joining the Wait

I have a journal for each one of our children.  When both Keith and Liliana were in the womb I began writing to them--about the longings for them during pregnancy and then once they were arrived, letters to them about our daily lives, their accomplishments, funny things they say, etc.  I hope one day, perhaps when they are adults, they can laugh at the hysterical things we've gone through together as family and hopefully be struck with how much Peter and I love and cherish them.  I started one for Myles last April.  I don't write those thoughts on this blog, even though I hope he gets to enjoy this blog journey someday.  All this to say, I do want to share some endearing and significant things extended family have done in their time of waiting and expecting.  I can't quite put into words how meaningful it is to be so supported in this adoption process.  

-Last Christmas (yes, a year ago) when we were in the beginning prayer stages of adoption, my parents gave Liliana a brown-skinned baby doll.

-For Liliana's 2nd birthday in March, Muffy (great-grandmother) gave Lili a darker-brown skinned baby doll that cries and laughs.

-You can read the beautiful poem that Peter's mother wrote on this blog, such a gift!

-My mother, a few months ago, had been cuddling with Keith.  She said as he walked away, "I love and have memorized the sweet smells of Keith and Lili, I can't wait to learn and love Myles' smell too." 

-For my 30th birthday last year, my parents gave me matted name plates with each child's name and the meaning behind their name.  Myles was included.  

-This Christmas Peter's parents gave Myles his first outfit.  :)  It matches the colors in his nursery so it's hanging on display, joining the wait.

Minister of Gender

Our file is with the Minister of Gender now (and has been, but we just found out).  This is a good sign that things are moving.  The Minister of Gender's office will contact us directly once they have reviewed our dossier.  Can't wait!

In Rwanda!

In the midst of a really rough weekend in the ER with Peter dealing with some sort of parasite he picked up in Haiti (or Congo a few weeks ago...) we learned that our dossier made it to Rwanda in THREE days?!!!  It is currently being processed by the Prime Minister's office and then will move to the Ministry of Gender.  

On it's way to Rwanda!

We are officially celebrating that our official file (dossier) is on it's way to Rwanda!  We are still hoping that we will receive our referral 6ish weeks after Rwanda receives it.

On another note--I've been touched again by our supportive family.  Their support has been felt in so many meaningful ways.  Peter's mom wrote a poem several months ago (posted on this blog).  My mom, "Nana" to Myles, created blog-address-memos which she keeps in her purse and passes out to anyone who expresses excitement about this Rwandan adoption.  I just had to post a picture of Nana with her memos.  :)  

Please give this to Myles

Peter just left for a 7 day trip to Haiti.  Keith misunderstood and thought Daddy was going to Africa.  

He kissed Peter's face and said, "Please give that to Myles."  

Corrections Made

Just learned yesterday that our two corrected documents are on their way from the Rwandan embassy in DC to our agency in Texas.  Our next posting (hopefully, sans anymore issues!) will be celebrating that our dossier is en route to RWANDA.  Oh, the JOY of getting it out of the U.S.!  

Agency Received our Authenticated Dossier!

We just learned that our dossier was authenticated by the Rwandan Embassy and was received by our agency!!!  The frustrating part is that 2 of the documents were authenticated with errors, (with wrong names)--so those 2 documents are being sent back to the embassy and once they are returned (hopefully not a big deal and QUICKLY), our dossier will be sent off to Rwanda!

3 Weeks

Today marks 3 weeks that the Rwandan Embassy in DC has had our dossier in process for getting authenticated.  We are hoping our agency receives it SOON so it can be sent to Rwanda! We are told we could have a referral (picture of Myles with as much information as they have) within 4-6 weeks after Rwanda receives the file--which would be fantastic!  

Random yes, I am posting a picture of my favorite tree from our front yard.  It seems that often I fall into the "next fall when we see this colorful tree, we'll have Myles home with us"--type thinking. Today I was hoping, this spring when the leaves grow back on this tree, I hope to be watching green buds burst open WITH Myles.  :)  

Family Van

We went and picked up our 2004 Toyota Sienna today so we have a car big enough for our growing family.  As soon as the kids were buckled in and we started driving home, Keith's first words were, "Mommy!  I know exactly where Myles can sit!"  We love how Myles is already a part of our family--even if now he's only pictured in an empty seat in our van.  

Dossier with the Rwandan Embassy

Today we learned that our dossier has been received by the Rwandan Embassy to be authenticated.  

2 Cute-isms

The other day friends of ours told Keith that they were expecting a baby.  This friend doesn't look pregnant at all, so I said "Keith, the baby is growing in her tummy but you can't see it yet."  Keith smiled and said to our friends, "My Mommy has a baby, but he's growing in her heart!"  

Tonight after dinner Peter asked Keith what the first thing he'll say to Myles will be.  Keith said, "I'll tell him, God loves you."  

Dossier Sent Off!

Today we went as a family to notarize our CIS clearance and then to FedEx to overnight our completed dossier!  It is being sent to Gladney Ctr for Adoption in Texas, who will rush it off to the Rwandan Embassy after making it official.  We will then wait to be authenticated by the Rwandan Embassy...(supposedly a quick thing)--and then it will be sent to Rwanda, and we wait for our referral!

  

Approved

We received our CIS approval this morning, the dossier will be out of our house Monday!!!

CIS Wait

We filed for our I-600A document with our gov't (CIS) back in April--and are STILL waiting for the approval.  We have had our pile of paperwork completed for months now.  Apparently, because our home study was submitted to them June 11, our file didn't begin moving until then. This is the final document we need for our dossier in order to send everything to the Rwandan Embassy to get authenticated. Once that is complete (only a few weeks), our paperwork will be sent to Rwanda and supposedly, only 4 weeks after that we could have our referral!  (picture of our baby boy!)  

It has been SO hard to see the pile of paperwork just SITTING on the shelf and not moving toward bringing our son home.  I have prayed for our adoption and the orphanage in general...but not specifically for this CIS form.  Yesterday is my one morning a week when both children are at preschool.  I was home cleaning and organizing and praying.  I earnestly prayed about the CIS's response--asking God to please move things along if it is His will.  I asked Him to help me trust Him more during this time of waiting and wanting for our son.  Three hours later I checked my e-mail to find  one from our caseworker from Gladney Center for Adoption. This e-mail's purpose was to tell us that they had heard from the CIS and that our forms should be to us THIS WEEK!  :)  I know the Lord doesn't always answer our prayers right away--but when He does I just have to laugh (well, actually kind of a laugh-cry!).  I am such a slow learner at Trusting.   

Love from Across the Miles to Myles

Poem written by Peter's mother, "Gramma"

Love From Across the Miles to Myles 

Little Myles, we think of you

With wonder, trust and longings too

As first sounds come to infant ears

May they be those that cast out fears. 

May others hear your infant cries,

Oh Father, move, that none pass by,

May they wrap you in bunting, tight,

Singing softly, “It’s all right.” 

Do you hear our faith-trust-sigh?

That soon dear Myles, you’ll come nigh? 

Little one, what do you see ~

Mosquito net or leafy tree?

Oh God of lightness, bring the day,

Keep to him, darkness at bay. 

Little one, what do you feel,

The touch of us, for this we kneel?

We pray for those who care for you,

So our embrace won’t seem so new. 

Little one, our love grows strong,

This lullaby, our hopeful song.

We wait and watch with grateful hearts,

For you, this gift, which God imparts. 

Do you hear our faith-trust-sigh

That soon dear Myles, you’ll come nigh? 

With love and anticipation,

Gramma & Grampa

Starting the Journey

We are nearly through our paperwork journey toward our Rwandan son, which began March 1st, 2008.  The adoption paperwork began at that point, but our journey toward our Rwandan family began 9 years ago when we lived and loved in Rwanda.  After experiencing the culture, finding life-long friends, and even having a Rwandan wedding, we knew Rwanda would be part of our lives as long as we live here on earth.  

For me, living in Rwanda changed my life on so many levels.  Especially my spiritual life, I had never seen such extreme poverty combined with post-genocide living.  The faith that my friends had who had lost EVERYTHING--loved ones, entire families, innocence, homes...were filled with JOY despite all that they had been through.  There was an intense desire to know God and be filled with His Truth.  I think when poverty-induced death surrounds you daily, the brevity of this life causes you to think about Eternity on a very real level.  I went to Rwanda because I felt that the Lord had opened a door for me to teach at an English-speaking school as well as work with a group of artisan-widows from the genocide.  I thought I was going to "help" but instead I felt that I was ultimately the one who was helped.  God opened my prideful eyes to Him in a way that broke me.  I want to need Him on a daily/hourly/minute-by-minute basis like those Christ-followers did/do in Rwanda.  

Beginning Stages

September 2007 marked the beginning of our pursuit of adopting from Rwanda.  We had been talking with friends one evening about the possibility of adopting and how that had always been on our hearts.  Without knowing about this discussion, the very next morning I received a call from my close friend who had just heard that Rwanda was opening up for adoption.  I immediately wrote my dear friend in Rwanda who responded quickly by telling me that her sister was the connection point for the Rwandan side of international adoptions!  I couldn't believe it, very dear friends of ours in Rwanda would be our point people for an adoption?!   Close friends and family know more specifically how clearly we've been directed with our adoption, it has just been remarkable!

In January, we got in contact with Gladney Center for Adoption, Fort Worth Texas, who took our information and said that they would get in touch with us once their staff were ready to get going in this latest country added to their international adoption community.  Weeks went by and one day I started getting concerned that things wouldn't begin, that the gov't was changing their mind about adoptions.  A few hours later I received a call, the call to get paperwork started!  March 1, 2008 our official adoption journey began.

There have been SO many times in this adoption process that answers to our prayers have been answered nearly immediately.  If not immediate, then there were CLEAR reasons why they weren't quick and the result was astonishing.  We feel that the Lord has confirmed over and over again that He wants us to keep walking toward our 3rd child.  We are humbled by how He has been guiding us and providing.