Thank you so much for letting me be so “raw” in my last post.  The reality for me is that it’s good for me to blog about.  When we got back I made sure to tell people that I could not wait to fill them in on our trip but before I did, please read that post so you know where we are coming from so we don’t have to rehash it.  It’s been good.  So good.  I’m so thankful for the encouragement and support that comes our way.  Most of the time when we don’t expect it, God knows just what we need and makes sure we get just the correct dose.

So one of many questions that we have gotten since our return is the one that always seems to be asked.  “What on earth is taking so long?”  And the answer to that which is simple… “it is what is is.”  It is complicated because the process is just that… complicated.  Does that clear it up for you?

When there I mentioned that Dave and I were able to sign the papers or “the book.”  A few months ago a new law was added in Haiti that adopting parents must travel to Haiti and physically see the child they are saying they are wanting to adopt.  This happens at the beginning of the process.  I think this came of some corrupt agency’s/facilities that were sending people a picture of a child and at the end of the process when they came to bring their child home it was not the same child.  I understand the need for this step but also you have to understand it now adds another step to this crazy process.

We did not expect to be able to sign anything while there.  Before we left I had asked if we would be able to and we were told that we were not far along enough in the process.  We decided to still go, knowing that we would be making a return trip sometime sooner than later.  So when we got there and there was talk of us going to sign “the book” you must imagine how surprised we were.  I could not believe it.  It was such a good surprise and personal blessing of encouragement that we could get this done.

We signed on a Saturday.  We actually went to the house of the clerk of the court.  I would like to describe it and the book but you probably would not believe me anyway.  It would explain the reason things take so long. If what we did was part of the official process of adopting from Haiti then it’s very understandable why it is taking so long.  But it’s signed and it was “the book” so we are happy to have that done.  I wish I could have took some pictures but it did not seem appropriate at the time.  Again, God has been so good to us on this journey.  We have had good movement with our papers and for that we are so thankful.

So what is next?  I copied this from a blog I found.  It may help you understand the timeline a bit better if this is in fact accurate.  Time really has no meaning in this process.  Some things that are to take a while can go faster and things that are to take just a few weeks can find themselves dragging on for months.  

Step 1:  2-4 weeks = First Legalization. This is where all of the papers are authenticated.  – done

Step 2: 1-4 weeks = File prepared for IBESR – done

(These first 2 steps took our papers 6 months)

Step 3: 2-6 months = IBESR (Haiti’s Social Service Department, aka the black hole), where a social worker will look over all of your documents and decide whether to approve your adoption request.  – done (took us 7 months)

WE ARE HERE RIGHT NOW!  Step 4: 2-12 weeks = Parquet is the head commissioner. This step involves one person releasing the child’s file. Civil Court Legalization

Step 5: 2-8 weeks = The adoption is finalized. After this point, the children are legally yours.

Step 6: 2-6 months= Minister of Interior Affairs (MOI)/Haitian Immigration. The file is submitted into the passport process. The passports are printed in the adopting parents last name. This step takes the longest and yet could be done in a day.

Step 7: 1-3 weeks. U.S. Customs approval. I-600 is filed by adopting parents.

Step 8: 1 week = Consulate/Visa Appointment. Child receives visa in preparation for travel to their new home

Thanks again for all of your love and support!  They do come home…they do come home…..

We finally made it through security and I looked up and took a quick picture. 

Before heading through one more security check (if you can even call it that) I wanted to head upstairs to the gift shop to get a flag for Frankie’s room.  On my way I passed a guy holding a Haitian boy maybe a bit younger than Frankie.  I smiled and asked, “heading home?”  He said, “yes we are.”  I said, “did you adopt?”  He replied… “yes, and we are finally going home after such a long wait.”  I smiled and said, “we are adopting too.  congratulations!”  As I walked away I was given another shot of hope.  They do come home.  One day they do come home.

We boarded the plane and took off and I grabbed Dave’s phone to snap a few pictures of the view below. 

Then the tears came again and as they streamed down my face in my heart I uttered good bye again to the country that our son is from… The place that he resides until one day he comes home.  Beautiful, Haiti.  We will return, we will return.  Hopefully in many trips for the rest of our lives.

The day started like the rest of our days had been.  We woke up, got dressed and made our way to the boys home to play for a bit and then grab Frankie and bring him back to the apartment to hang out with us.  But this day was obviously different.  I knew we would be leaving.  I knew what was coming.  I did not think about it the whole trip.  That was good.  But I remember the first time I said goodbye this past January and I totally underestimated the power of emotion and the feeling of abandonment that I felt.  It was awful.  It was a big wave of emotion and then with time you get numb and forget the rawness of it.  I’m not even sure if it’s appropriate to blog about it because maybe it’s too personal and some things are best kept.  But then I’ve been so transparent in our whole journey that it would seem unfair not to share.  Because I really think at the end of such brokenness you find the beauty that exists and to not share that would be awful in it’s own right.

After getting Frankie we went and spent some time in the pool. 

The family we stayed with who manage the homes and nannies are amazing people.  I’m so glad that they got to meet Dave.  We are so much better as a team.  I’ve loved meeting all these people in the past but it had been so good to have Dave meet them and now our relationships involve each other and not just me.  Priceless.  They have a pool.  Yes, in Haiti there is a pool… at least 3 that I know of!  It was great having it there because it was something we could do special with Frankie that he normally does not get to do.  He loved it.  Loved it so much that the first day he fell asleep right in the middle of eating his lunch because he had had way too much excitement.  I’ve got a video of that that I will be sure to post sometime later.  After the pool we headed back to the apartment and I gave Frankie his bath and lotioned him down and dressed him in some of the clothes that we brought him.  And then we went on to gather our things while he played with Farmer Tad.  It’s a toy that I brought back in January.  I keep it with me and bring it with me when I visit.  It’s something special we play and I’m hoping it helps him to associate me with.  Someone gave me that idea.  It’s a bit crazy I know but I think it works.  He did not put it down (except to play with daddy) I felt a bit bad for packing up and taking it instead of leaving it.  Oh well, he’ll get to play with it again.

We headed down to drop off some extra food items we had left with Byron and Shelley and realized we did not have many family pictures together of the three of us so Byron offered to take a few.  He did a great job.  Here are a few of my favorites!

Then it was time to be heading to the airport.  We needed to take Frankie back to the boys home.  We stopped off at the apartment one last time and then Dave prayed for us and Frankie.  We kissed all over him.  Told him we loved him and told him we would be back.  We would be back.  We were so thankful for the time we had.  And then the slow walk to the gate.  I mean at the time I was not thinking.  Frankie was on Dave’s shoulders.  We rang the bell and they let us in. 

 The kids were in playtime stations and a few of his friends were on the trampoline so we walked over there.  He was clinging to Dave.  I think he knew we were about to leave.  We took of his shoes and encouraged him to play.  I can’t even remember if I gave one last kiss goodbye?  It was a blur.  Dave placed him up on the trampoline and pulled him off of him as the nannies took him and tried to make the transition peaceful.  Do you want honestly or me to fluff it at this point?  I’ve got that ugh feeling just  thinking about it again and the reason I need to post “starting at the end” so that I can kind of lock that part down for a while.  We smiled and told him we loved him and he was crying, trying to grasp back at us and then began the awful.  He started crying mama.  And from that point on I heard his cries and him yelling my name and I had to keep walking… Dave following behind with his hand on me and we exit out the gate.  Did we do that right?  What could we have done it different?  I don’t think there is ever a right way.  We stood outside the gate a bit to wait to see if he would calm down.  He didn’t. I wanted to go back in so bad but that would not be fair to him either. And so we just had to keep walking but I could not stop hearing the distant yelling ”mamma”   As long as I  could hear it never stopped.

How do you process that?  I’m not sure.  Again I’m not even sure I should be blogging about it.  I know he’ll bounce back.  They all do.  And I do know that it’s better for us to have been there and to love on him than to not visit at all.  For that I’m sure.  I think next time we need to plan to leave him when he heads to bed and then he can start a new day.  It’s just that you want to spend time with him so it would have been hard not to spend the morning with him.  I’ve questioned since that moment how we could have done it different. I did not feel like we did it right.

Even though there are these low parts such as the goodbye’s… What is that quote.. “It’s better to love than to not have loved at all?”  Adoption is hard.  It has it’s not so fun moments.  BUT and it’s a huge BUT… it is so worth it.  I would do what we did 1000 times over for him and to be on this journey we are on.  Why on earth every family who has the means and love would not choose to give to someone who is in need of a mother or father is beyond me.  Please if you even have the slightest prompting to be someone’s mamma or daddy and you have the means to do it, please think about it.  It’s worth every hard time that will most certainly find you at some point.  I’m sure of it. 

Frankie in his life had a mamma who loved him so much.  I only know what we have been told.  She died shortly after giving birth to him.  I do know this.  She in some way found a way for Frankie to be brought to heartline and in that move it gave us the opportunity to cross paths with him.  His mamma loved him.  I have the bag she packed for him as proof of her love.  Even the perfume so that he would remember how she smelled.  Oh how she loved him.  He will never need to question that.    He then had no mamma but this mamma got lucky enough to come along and privileged beyond measure to have the chance to take the risk and to now be called mamma by him. He uttered my name over and over again our whole visit… “mamma”  and as heartbreaking as it was to have to leave him screaming my name…  I have to rest in the wonderful fact that yes,  I AM his mamma now.  And one day he’ll be here and part of our family.  And we’ll choose to love him unconditionally like we love our girls.  We already do.  We’ll cheer him on in life and dare him to dream big dreams and be his biggest fan.  Frankie, in the midst of your possible questions of what happened yesterday and where did she go today?  Mamma hears you and I love you.  And although you may not understand yet why we come and go, you do now have a momma and she loves you very very much.

And better yet, your daddy who you seem to enjoy even more than me loves you oh so much too. there is no denying who your favorite is!

Now, I’m packing up the sad tears.  We’ll keep on doing life and will celebrate the day we all actually live under one roof!  Who says blogging is not free therapy is crazy!

We made it to Hait and are in the midst of spending time with Frankie.

I just asked Dave to sum up in 6 words or less how he is feeling right now.  Feeling at Home away from Home was his answer.  I’ll post a lot of thoughts when we get home but it’s been a fantastic trip so far and I can’t even begin to tell you how important/good/amazing etc it has been to finally have Dave come to Haiti and meet his son.  Frankie is doing so well.  He’s so happy.  He’s so well cared for.  All his friends and him spend their day laughing and playing.  I feel as he knows us and that he is enjoying his time with us as well.  I am so thankful we chose to add to our family through adoption.  It really is an amazing thing.  If you have ever had that heart urge to adopt I encourage you to do it.  We are so blessed that Frankie is a Rhodes.  He’s one amazing little guy!

We had a big moment of Celebration last night in this long process of adopting our son through Haiti.  You see this paperwork below?  Big news… It’s out of IBESR.     

 

I’ve celebrated with other families as they have been informed of the progress of their papers.  And I must say I underestimated the pure screaming joy and what it would feel like to be personally told the same news.  I could not stop running around the house and screaming.  Then the girls started screaming.  And then we hit the play button on our favorite black eyed peas song and danced away.  Then facebook and texting and phone calls.  Whew! what a time.It’s just one small step but it’s a huge step. 

Momentum can to do the heart good.  So we celebrate answered prayer.  We now change our prayer from getting our papers out of IBESR to getting them into MOI.   And most important of all we keep praying for our dear friends who are still waiting to get their papers in the system.  My heart continues to break for them as they wait.  But I know I will be celebrating with them one day soon where this same news that we got yesterday will penetrate their hearts and bring them so much joy…. and we’ll continue to celebrate each step. 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frankie and me last January during our last visit together.  I can’t wait to have three people in the picture here soon!

This time next week, Dave and I will be in Haiti and spending some time with Frankie.  It’s been a while since I’ve given a Frankie update. We really have not had much news to report. Our file that was finally entered this past April is still in IBESR the first step. Some people are in this step for 6 months, others in it for more than a year. There is no rhyme or reason for it. As of today we’ve been in this step for 7 months. The wait goes on.

I’m very excited about having Dave meet Frankie and to visit Haiti for the first time. The place that has stirred my heart and has shaped me since my first visit there as a Junior in high school. The country that our son is from. I got an email update yesterday from our contact who said last week they had a team in and there was a girl that looked lot like me… She said Frankie was enthralled with her and was calling her mama. It gives me some hope that he will remember me. That he will know I’m different. He’s so young still that I’m still someone that comes and goes like so many others. I’m just praying for a great bonding time while we are there as we get to invade on his world for a few days.

I’m amazed by our girls and their love for their brother they have never met. Just a few nights ago as we were doing our normal routine for getting them down for bed, Izzie prayed first and her unprompted prayer was for Frankie to know that we love him. Emma followed by praying for safe travel for mommy and daddy as they go see Frankie in Haiti. He is always on our minds and in our hearts. His absence is always felt even by the girls. Izzie and Emma now share a room together and the other empty room right now is Frankie’s. His room is waiting for him along with his family.

Every time and I mean every time we think of Frankie or this process or hopes that he will be home sooner than we think, we don’t ever for one minute not think of the hands of people who have prayed for us or so generously given to help us in this process, or encouraged us with their words. It blows us away. And it’s always at the moments that we least expect it that David Reichley at Wayfarer will let us know that someone else has given to our fund. I can’t even put words on it. Even today in the mail came a gift with the instructions to use the money towards our trip and get something special for Frankie. Our trip alone is a blessing. Someone offered to get one of our tickets so that both Dave and I could go. We’ve been VERY humbled to sit and see the Lord choose to use others to bless us. All I can say is that we are being faithful with what has been given to us and in this whole process have been able to bless others as well in their adoption journey.

We can’t wait to see Frankie. As a mom I’m a bit fearful of leaving my girls behind with Dave going along as well traveling to Haiti. So please just pray for peace about that for us. Pray for our girls as we are away. We are flying Spirit Airlines out of Atlanta which Dave is so thrilled about since he never has good experiences with off the track airlines. Which does not help my fear of flying either. But regardless of all the fears, it’s so important to us to be able to spend time with our son. I’m hoping to go back again in the spring and then the fall again and keep this up till he comes home. We are ever so thankful for the McHouls and Heartline and Maranatha Childrens home who are doing their part in preparing Frankie to live in an American home. There is a such a peace in this process knowing he is in the best possible hands we could have hoped for.

We receive a monthly email from Heartline.  The ministry that one aspect of it takes care of Maranatha  Childrens Home.  This month they featured info about Maranatha.  So many of you have asked me about Frankie and when I tell you how long the wait has been and will be… I always follow that with the comment of ” but we have so much peace because he is in the best possible place we could ever have hoped for.”  And let me let Beth tell you why….

I must tell you that we have the greatest kids and nannies at the children’s homes.  Although we have two houses and we could easily double the amount of children we have in the homes, we will not exceed twenty kids.  The reason for this is we want to keep a family style atmosphere and for each child to have a mother figure.  A family network is created where each child has siblings, aunties and a mom.  This sets a foundation for bonding with their new family and a life where they can attach and trust.  There is no substitute for this relationship.  Big orphanages can’t maintain these close types of relationships.  Babies and toddlers need a mom.  Children need someone watching them, caring for them and instructing them at all times.  For this reason, we choose quality over quantity.  Haiti has thousands of orphans.  We choose to help a few who will be able to live in a family, love a family and attach to their family.  We try to do it right and the results are eternal.  Children can love.  Children can function as family members.  Our kids are really close to each other and because adoptions take so long adoptive families are now friends.  Many of them have committed to keeping the kids in contact so they will grow up knowing their “Haiti Maranatha Family”. 
We intentionally stay small , we provide many nannies on purpose and we purpose for happy, healthy kids going to a home they can be a family member in.

We with twenty children are better able to give close and personal care and love during the two plus years that they are in Maranatha Children’s Home.  Adoptive parents can be assured that their waiting children are not left unattended, but rather as you can see in the schedule listed below the children’s days are quite full.

Even before the MARANATHA children wake their day is scheduled.  You have to be in good shape to keep up with our Maranatha Kids.

Schedule:

6:00 AM                     Wake-up
6:00 – 6:30                 Bathe & Get Dressed
6:30 – 7:00                 Breakfast
7:00 – 8:00                 Brush Teeth, Massage, Indoor Play
8:00 – 9:00                 Playdough, Swings, Monkey Bars, Trampoline                              
9:00 – 9:15                 Snack
9:15 – 11:00               Books, Blocks & Puzzles, Balls, Chalk, & Bicycles
11-11:30                    Lunch
11:30 – 2:00 PM          Nap Time
2:00 – 2:15                 Snack
2:15 – 3:00                 Video
3:00 – 4:00                 Outdoor Play: Swings, Trampoline, Bicycles
4:00 – 4:30                 Baths
4:30 – 5:00                 Indoor Play: Reading & Free Play
5:00 – 5:30                 Dinner
5:30 – 6:45                 Inside Play
6:45 – 7:45                 Nighttime Routine: Praise Video, Finger Play & Singing, Bible Story & Prayer
7:45 – 8:00                 Brush Teeth
8:00                           Bed

So as you can see Frankie is in GOOD HANDS.  We are so blessed to have found Heartline in this process and  which is another reason why this picture to this date is still one of my favorites.  I can’t even begin to tell you how much peace it brings to me when I’ve had a hard day thinking about him or a sad day missing out on his life from day to day right now.  I’m thankful for the people he has bonded with and who love him so much.

I have another big post brewing…  one that has been needed to be written for a LONG time.  It’s the post on the people… all the people who have helped us in this process financially and through their prayers.  There is not a time in a conversation or when I think of Frankie that I don’t think about all the people who are attached and bonded in this journey who have helped us…  not one moment.  Many days I’m too overwhelmed when I think about it.  But in this waiting…  all I have to do is think of the support and help people have given us and the wait, well it seems so much more bearable.

Today our church had a time in the service for prayer for families who have adopted and are adopting.  The crowd is growing.  Love it.  This morning we asked Emma if she wanted to stand with us.  She wanted to.  Funny thing is that after church we had a few people stop us and tell us that they did not know that we had adopted her.  No telling how many other people think that.  I filled them in on our adoption of Frankie from Haiti.  Always love a chance to share a little of our family with people.

Today is a day that is a simple day but can leave me personally so aware of this process.  It’s easy to keep moving with life and not stop and think that we have known of Frankie now for a year and a half.  Today I became painfully aware of the absence of his presence.  Aware of the journey we walk.  Aware of the details and mountains we have already crossed but look at the ones ahead that seem so big.  I went back on my tracking on my blog  just to be reminded of this process.   It was May 2008 that we discovered Heartline and I saw Frankie for the first time standing in his crib not knowing that in a few months random things would come together and he would be that certain child that would be referred to us. 

10/09/09 – All docs done for HS
10/01/09 – Kim Physical…………
09/29/09 – Dave Physical……….
09/25/09 – Fingerprinted………..
08/15/09 – Have to redo HS…….
08/01/09 – 1-600A on Hold………
07/27/09 – Filed our I-600A……..
07/17/09 – Home Study update…
04/24/09 – Submitted into IBESR
02/08/09 – Waiting to get into IBESR
10/16/08 – Dossier arrived in Haiti.
10/10/08 – Dossier to Haiti!!!!!!!!
10/06/08 – Docs. back from Chicago
09/30/08 – Sent documents to Chicago
09/17/08 – All docs. translated
09/15/08 – Sent docs to get State Authenticated…………………….
08/21/08 – Psych Evaluation……
08/14/08 – Sent off 2 documents for State Certification in PA and FL.
08/13/08 – Final Home Study Visit
08/06/08 – Dave Physical………..
08/05/08 – Kim Physical………….
07/16/08 – Referral of Frankie……
07/15/08 – Second Home Study Visit
06/27/08 – Found Translator……
06/26/08 – Sent off Application…
06/26/08 – First Home Study Visit
06/06/08 – Found Homestudy person
05/13/08 – Received Application..
05/12/08 – Contacted Heartline..
05/04/08 – Visited Heartline in Haiti

Just last week Dave and  I booked a trip to go see our son.  We’ll head to Haiti in November.  I can’t wait.  I can’t wait to take Dave to see Haiti for the first time and to also have him meet his son for the first time.  It’s been almost 10 months since I last saw him.   10 Months of pictures. Here is one taken just a few weeks ago from our friends who were there visiting their daughter.  The only good thing about this whole long process is that we’ve had the chance to meet and journey with people who know exactly what we are feeling since they are in the midst of the same emotions and journey.  The internet and blogging and facebook has been huge for connection.  I’m so thankful for the people we have met in this process.

Can you believe this guy?  He is growing.  His hair is growing. (although he’s been asking for it to be cut)

Frankie with Shelley.  Shelley and her husband take care of the care of all the children in the boys and girls home.  We are so thankful for them and the care and direction they give the nannies that care for the kids.  They are doing all they can to prepare them to successfully bond with our family and our life here.

And here is my best picture yet.  This is my friend Sarah who actually got me all of these pictures.  There is nothing like a friend whom you’ve journeyed the adoption road with..  well this picture says it all for me.  I’m thankful for them and glad she was able to love on Frankie.  I’m hoping to return the favor in November.

So days like today?  They are hard ones.  Would not trade any of this journey.  The thing is, when God places something on your heart… at least for us we want to be obedient.  We love that we get to grow our family through adoption.  We would encourage anyone who has that desire at all to look into it and go for it.  We’ve already learned so much.  Am I scared of all the what if’s that could be waiting for us down the road?  Sure I am.  I pray every day that the Lord would prepare all of our hearts for the time when we all get to be under one roof and be family.  I’m made ever so aware of the threads that are already being strung together as each night Izzie our almost three year old prays for Frankie.  Every night she says “thank you God for Frankie. ”  We agree.  We are thankful for our two girls and our one son who make this life we life all the more richer.

We just got an update last week on Frankie.  I’ve been thankful for a busy season in life right now because it takes my mind off the waiting and knowing there is nothing we can do but wait….

Aaron Ivey just wrote a great post last week on why adoptions in Haiti take so long.  He and his wife Jamie are adopting two children Amos and Story from Haiti.  Check it out his post here you are wondering why all the waiting…. 

Here are the latest pictures of Frankie  and some Frankie news…..

And at a “movie night” with some of his friends…

and news from the people that love him so much……
We resumed our nightly routine with the children a week ago Monday.  During English Camp we were unable to maintain the nighttime routine because of our responsibilities with volunteers, dinner, and preparations for the following day’s responsibilities.  However, all of the children and nannies participated during the first hour of English Camp.  Our first hour consisted of calisthenics, singing – praise and worship songs, silly songs, camp songs – a Bible memory verse, and a Bible story – which was nearly always acted out.  The children loved it, and so did the nannies.  I was especially glad that they participated because I knew that they were still being spiritually fed.

I have been very impressed with Frankie’s development over the summer. When we had our last night time routines before English Camp started, he was still needing to be held nearly the whole time (if he wasn’t he was all over the place).  He would watch and enjoy our songs and stories, but did not participate very much.  Since we have resumed our nighttime routine Frankie has completely amazed me.  He will sit near me, sing most of the songs, and does all of the motions to the songs – he is attentive and obviously understanding everything.  His attention span has grown considerably!  Frankie repeats everything – in both English and Kreyol.  He also understands both languages.

Frankie loves his vitamins, loves to eat, loves to play, and is generally a very happy boy!

“I’ve been listening to Aaron’s song “Amos Story” a lot this week and wanted to share it with you….  I love getting pictures of Frankie.  It’s the best.  I cherish every photo I get.  It is hard seeing your childs life in pictures when your heart desires for them to be physically with you.  It’s the wierdest feeling and so hard to explain.  A picture brings such joy and such raw awareness at the same time….  Yet still I would not trade a second of this journey.  It’s so worth it.

AMOS STORY
Aaron Ivey. ©2009 IVEYMUSIC. (ASCAP)

Another photograph to wrestle in my head
Another sleepless night on concrete featherbed
These thoughts of you like bullets to my soul
We’ve got to find a way to get you home

I’ll find a way to get you here
If it takes my fleeting breath
Another sunrise hits the ground
And it’s a dark lonely sight
Lightyears away I hope you know
There is somebody searching
For the way to get you here

I will get you here

Throw the clocks away and run out to the street
We’ll fly to distant clouds where it’s just you and me
A day will come when all of this is gone
You’ve got to find a way to believe

I’ll find a way to get you here
If it takes my fleeting breath
Another sunrise hits the ground
And it’s a dark lonely sight
Lightyears away I hope you know
There is somebody searching
For the way to get you here
I will get you here

Close your eyes and dream of a better day with me
As angels hold you tight, may you sleep in peace tonight

So dream, dream, dream my child
Hear the whisperings of hope
It’s a song that you can sing, as you sleep in peace tonight

Whenever we get in conversations about Frankie and our adoption process… hardly anyone leaves the following comment out… “I just don’t know how you guys do it… waiting that long? ”  For us it’s pretty simple.  We signed up for this long wait.  We knew going into an adoption from Haiti that the wait would be long.  2 years… dare I say maybe even 4? 

Is it hard?  Yes.  Did we know that going into it? Yes.  Do we wish we could go grab him right now and bring him home? Yes.  Is there tremendous peace in the process? Yes.

This picture says it all to me and helps this crazy wait.  Because in our waiting, Frankie is always found in loving arms.  And because of that reality, there is peace.