Redemption

Man, there's SO much I want to write right now--so much of our Myles' history that has broken us yet reminded us of Redemption. He really is a miracle, a blessing. Oh, just WAIT until after the court date when he is officially ours and we can share-such a story! We have the pictures plastered all over the house and hundreds of family, friends, and bloggers have gazed into those precious eyes through e-mailed pictures. I've received messages on my phone from friends and family just in joyful TEARS over our little guy; there has been such anticipation and prayer over the wait for Myles (and of course, this prayerful wait continues now until he's home with us). The kids have wallet-sized pictures that they carry around in their pockets. I realized, at all times the last few days, I've had at least 4 pictures of Myles to look at either on my phone, in my bag, pocket, etc. I don't think I've gone more than 15 minutes without looking at our son. OUR SON MYLES--now we know what he looks like!!!!!

Now we wait for our court date.

REFERRAL!!!

We are completely smitten with our precious little boy. We got the call this morning at 11am...and Peter RUSHED home to be together to talk with our lovely caseworker Natalie and view his pictures together. WOW. Our Myles is almost 6 months old and has penetrating almond-shaped eyes that melt me each time I look into them. He's perfect and lovely and adorable and ready to be cuddled and smooshed and kissed a kazillion trillion times.

If you'd like to see pictures, please e-mail me. laurel.greer@gmail.com We cannot post them to the web until our court date has passed.

We love our precious baby boy. He is a gift & a blessing (and that name has more significance than I can share right now). :)

No News

Nothing to tell-except that I would recommend turning the computer off if you are in a waiting mode. It really helped today-but it was still a hard day :( Every day there's that sense of great anticipation that this could be the day that we get to SEE our little guy, get his information in that much longed for referral packet. At the end of the day, there's that extreme disappointment that hits...similar to the feeling when I was 9 months pregnant with Keith and we spent the whole night in the hospital with contractions, only to be sent home the following morning. :( SUCH anticipation to be followed by more waiting!

Today the kids and I took a few mini road trips. I had put Keith in the back of the van and Lili in the middle-because they were having some "communication issues" :) Keith at one point was looking in front of him at the empty seat where he has said Myles will sit. He looked up at me driving and said with a little frustration, "Mommy, when will Myles be here?" I said, "I was just wondering that same thing Keith, it's hard waiting isn't it? Only God knows when Myles will come, we are waiting on Him. Have you been praying for Myles?" Keith said, "Well, sometimes. Not a lot." I said, "We are learning to trust God more though this time of waiting for Myles, aren't we buddy?." He looked out the window and said, "But Mommy, I already DO trust God!"

Waiting is HARD

The last week has been great-busy, lovely, fun. Celebrating birthdays, gardening, girls nights, dates with Peter, great friend time, and more. Today, I woke up with that familiar, ever present sense of LONGING for our boy miles away. Waiting is so hard. Heading out for the whole day, literally. Even have a girls night tonight (thanks girls!). I want to focus on the two kids in front of me today-want to listen to them, laugh with them, and learn together...and fight what my whole being wants to do-just wait, pine, and ponder the intensity of this WAIT. So-here we go. (Don't worry-my cell phone is on LOUD).

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Make sure to turn off Blog Music!

Our Chosen Child

We had been looking for a baby book for Myles, but wanted something specific. This journey is emotionally and spiritually so similar to the anticipation we had with our biological children-yet there's this entirely different physical pain and waiting involved. My mom found "Our Chosen Child" at Barnes & Noble and it couldn't be more perfect. It's created for the adopted child, the language used throughout the book is sensitive and loving. We are delighted! Thanks Nana (and Gramps)!

Here's a little write-up about it, for those of you who are adoptive families and are interested:

Our Chosen Child highlights all the special preparations adoptive parents make and the excitement and anticipation they feel -- all with plenty of room to record family history and all the milestones of childhood through high school graduation. Additionally, Our Chosen Child includes the milestones that an adoptive family achieves:

"Waiting for You" acknowledges the many steps along the journey to becoming an adoptive family, such as completing a home study and getting references.
"When We First Saw You" captures the special moment when you meet your new son or daughter, whether as a newborn or as a five-year-old.
"Adoption Day" records all about the happy memories of the day your child's adoption is finalized.


Each page features original poetry by Judith Levy, such as this loving dedication: "You had a journey to make, A trip to come through, To parents who were praying, And waiting for you." Judy Pelikan's tender illustrations grace every page, making this book a beautiful keepsake.

Framed

My sweet friend Alanna sent me verses after I expressed the difficulty and frustrations of this waiting period. Instead of staring at those 4 framed pictures of "Tom & Jane" in Myles' room-I filled them today. Thanks so much Alanna!

Two Nursery Updates

Valued

This picture was taken on the border of Congo/Rwanda when Peter (then with World Relief) and I worked at the refugee camp in 2002 when the volcano erupted in Goma. We were up in the mountains and it was actually COLD. This tiny boy was only wearing an old t-shirt and stayed close to me in the large crowd of displaced people. I remember holding him for a long time, just looking at him that way-trying to somehow convey to him with my eyes and touch & pathetic attempt at Swahili, that he was so loved and valued by his Maker. I could write pages about all that I learned through the experience of those disaster-response days after the volcano erupted and the earth continued to shake.



It's Friday again-and the news we got this week is that our paperwork needs to be updated-but it will not delay our adoption at all. We have our home study update happening a week from today and all the clearance requests (6 of them) are filled out and being notarized and/or mailed today.

Yesterday I had a fun friend day - it reminded me of Rwanda with a flow of friends dropping in and out. Keith, Liliana, and I had a great few hours in the afternoon watching "baby Luke"-a 5 month old adorable baby. It was touching to watch the kids talk to him, try to help me give him his bottle, read him stories, and even help me get him when he woke up from his nap -don't worry Jenn, not with their hands, just their smiles and greetings! (yes, he slept in Myles' crib-so cute!) We changed him on Myles' changing table and it was a delight to watch Luke giggle when he noticed the hanging mobile & large colorful circles of fabric on the wall. As we kissed, cuddled, laughed, and snuggled with our adorable friend - we couldn't help but think what our family will look like when our brother/son comes home. I let Keith & Lili answer the phone when it rang during our Luke time...and each time, the first things out of their mouths after "hello" were "We have a baby here-but he's not ours, just our friend Luke." (cute little disclaimer!!!)

We continue to pray for Myles and really really really hope this next week brings news and pictures and a large step toward bringing him home.

Redoing Papers:More Contractions

So, in our wait for our referral (still no word), we DID get word today from our agency that we need to:
-Do a home study update (will be one year in April)
-Get child abuse and criminal background checks for both PA and MA again since they expire at the end of this month-(since we lived in Massachusetts within the last 10 years, Pennsylvania law says that we have to have those updated to finalize our adoption)
-We also need to update our medical forms-for the entire family.

This won't hold up our referral or anything, just something that has to be done. We also need to update our medical forms for the entire family. I guess this is a "good" distraction from the wait?! More paperwork=more contractions.

Remember the Poor

Peter spoke at a church in York, PA on Sunday. Living Word Community Church is a very large church with an even bigger heart for serving the poor. Peter spoke on the topic of "Remembering the Poor." I linked the podcast to the title of this post-just click on "Remember the Poor" to hear.

Busy

So glad we have a busy weekend-I am SO hoping and excited and waiting and have that good-sick feeling of anticipation for this week.

Last weekend we went to visit my parents & grandparents in Roanoke, VA. My brother Paul, his wife Kelly, and their son Cain came in from Colorado and my youngest brother Brent and his wife Ashley (and their baby in Aunt Ash's belly...) came to visit from Christiansburg (where Brent's in med school). The family was so thoughtful in celebrating the birthday that Lili and I share :)...as well as lavish more (unexpected) gifts for Myles. I added four outfits to his closet when we returned :) Thanks family for being so excited with us!

Here are some pics from our time. (Can you find "Baby Ella" is in both pics with Lili-she goes everywhere with us these days!)

Aggie's Words

My dear friend Aggie responded to our last posting with words that brought tears to our eyes. Aggie and her family have recently been through a very painful letting go. Her words of encouragement carry so much weight as I watch her live with joy and freedom because of Him. I linked her blog to this post, if you click on "Aggie's Words" above. I just had to share her comment with you:

"I wanted to tell you that I love the song that you chose for the blog (from the Fireproof soundtrack). That very song was playing on the radio in the car when we came out of the doctor's office on the day that we found out the baby was not ok. I sang that song everyday (many times a day) as we waited for God's answer. Waiting is often the hardest part of our trials. But waiting is also the time that we can learn the most about the Lord, grow in our faith in Him, and the time that He can do His greatest works in us. Trust in Him while you wait. Cling to Him while you wait. And know that His answers and His timing will be absolutely perfect. He is perfect. He loves you. And His answers are always based on His perfect love for you! Praying for you daily...while you wait! Love Aggie"

Two Weeks

It's been two weeks since we think Myles was chosen at the orphanage. (although we believe he was really Chosen long ago...) We really hope to get the referral soon!

Psalm 145:3

"Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom."

Not Finished with the Nursery

This wait it made so much easier by doing projects! Here is Myles' nursery as of now-more to come soon. I have blisters on my hands from hot-gluing, sanding, painting, nailing...but if feels so good. I wrapped embroidery hoops with fabric and made ribbon-hung frames...my hands are burned and blistered. Kind of want to take a picture of my beaten hands just to show Myles, just more evidence that we are just SO excited and working hard to meet him!

...Friday helping a friend tile. :) Anyone else need help with house projects...locally?

Won't hear...

This is how I'm trying to think--that we just won't hear this week or next. Just got an update from our caseworker. We know he was chosen last Monday...so we're a week into this. Here's part of the e-mail I received from our caseworker:

"Based on the time required for the matching process with the orphanage and the time required for obtaining the medical test results, I would estimate that you should receive your referral in 2-4 weeks."

I'm going to go back into lowering expectations-mode.

Sunday Night

Wow--totally on the edge of our seats. Peter is on his way home tonight from a 4 day trip. He isn't on another trip for a while...and now we are both READY for the phone call (not that we weren't before!) but now we're so anxious to get word! Ahhhhhh--cannot wait! Literally sick with anticipation :)

These two pictures don't really relate--but everything these days makes me long to share moments with Myles. The other day Keith was measuring Liliana with the yard stick. I just love the seriousness on their faces as they realize that Liliana is a yard tall (even though she's on her tippy-toes). Big brother Keith delights in being SO much bigger :) We look forward to adding Myles' measurements to our family height chart behind the laundry room door!