Let this begin with a huge Thank You for your prayers & letters of encouragement.
But I also have to give all the glory to Jesus Christ who is the ultimate comforter and healer of broken hearts. He has made it possible to talk about what is going on and not break down. He has began the process of healing for myself, Joe and the kids. It is obvious that people are praying because I can see a dramatic change in Micah. She still doesn't care to be around when someone asks me what is going on in the adoption but she is opening up more and isn't crying as much!
On Saturday afternoon, Micah and I cleaned her room, but more specifically we cleaned Meggie's side of their closet. We organized and through trash away. But this opened the door for Micah to start asking questions and "deal" with all the junk/rejection. God is good!
So here we are waiting again... But this time we are waiting for news on another young girl. We have lots of questions we are still waiting for our agency to answer but she has to wait for the Latvian Lawyer to get back to her. Until we know more or are able to say more... please pray for this young girl. She is 11 and she has long, blond hair and wears glasses. She's actually built a lot like Micah and her bio is like reading Micah's bio! WEIRD!
So as we receive more info. we will fill you in.
Thanks again for all the prayers and encouragement. God is moving & we're gonna step back and watch His handiwork!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Things are changing ....
I have tried to write at least 10 posts since Sept 11 and each won`t post and it was getting so frustrating. So I`m praying that this one will post and I am able to relay a few of the changes that are taking place in our adoption!
We were told during the 1st week in Sept that Meggie`s dad was appealing his loss of parental rights. Over the next 2-3 weeks she was fine but the calls and emails were shorter & more strained. Then on one of our weekly phone calls she wouldn`t talk at all but we tried to ask questions and she continued to be silent. Until she started talking in Latvian with her Foster Mom and then got back on the line & said she didn`t want us to adopt her. She said she wanted America but not us. We have written her in Latvian, had our Latvian Lawyer call her foster family, we`ve tried to call back but she is standing her ground & is maintaing that she doesn`t want us to adopt her. The Orphan Court is now involved and we are waiting for their report.
Although we are waiting for the report, we having been praying for God`s leading. We have spoken with our agency & have started looking at other options.
We have always felt that she was our little girl. She has chosen that she doesn`t want that to be. We don`t to force her to be our daughter and by all intense & purposes, we can`t, she has the final say. We will continue to love her whether she lives in America with us or another family or if she is in Latvia. The time she spent with us this summer will not be in vain. Seeds were sown and she was shown an example of a functional, loving family. She was coming to understand what sin was & how it effects not only us but those around us.
Anyway, the decision to look forward has been tough but done with lots of prayer (and of course, tears)! This is not easy & we ask for your prayers! Our children are all dealing with the rejection in different ways but Micah is having the hardest time "dealing"! They don`t understand why and neither do we!
Please also pray for Meggie... she is making an immature, life changing decision. She doesn`t understand how this is going to change things for her.
I will do my best to keep you posted as things change or if she changes her mind.
Until next time!
We were told during the 1st week in Sept that Meggie`s dad was appealing his loss of parental rights. Over the next 2-3 weeks she was fine but the calls and emails were shorter & more strained. Then on one of our weekly phone calls she wouldn`t talk at all but we tried to ask questions and she continued to be silent. Until she started talking in Latvian with her Foster Mom and then got back on the line & said she didn`t want us to adopt her. She said she wanted America but not us. We have written her in Latvian, had our Latvian Lawyer call her foster family, we`ve tried to call back but she is standing her ground & is maintaing that she doesn`t want us to adopt her. The Orphan Court is now involved and we are waiting for their report.
Although we are waiting for the report, we having been praying for God`s leading. We have spoken with our agency & have started looking at other options.
We have always felt that she was our little girl. She has chosen that she doesn`t want that to be. We don`t to force her to be our daughter and by all intense & purposes, we can`t, she has the final say. We will continue to love her whether she lives in America with us or another family or if she is in Latvia. The time she spent with us this summer will not be in vain. Seeds were sown and she was shown an example of a functional, loving family. She was coming to understand what sin was & how it effects not only us but those around us.
Anyway, the decision to look forward has been tough but done with lots of prayer (and of course, tears)! This is not easy & we ask for your prayers! Our children are all dealing with the rejection in different ways but Micah is having the hardest time "dealing"! They don`t understand why and neither do we!
Please also pray for Meggie... she is making an immature, life changing decision. She doesn`t understand how this is going to change things for her.
I will do my best to keep you posted as things change or if she changes her mind.
Until next time!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
My Girls...
Our life without Meggie just seems so dull in comparison. She is "the energy" that unsettles life, "the giggle" that makes you laugh when least expected, "the snoop" that gets into everything because she has never seen it or experienced it before and she is "the missing child" I never knew was missing until now!
I got to talk on the phone with Meggie yesterday for about 20 mins. She says she is doing good and school is going fine. She was playing with Inessa (foster sis) and her 2 bio sisters, Victorija and Kitija. She had a hard time hearing because she was in the same room as everyone else and they were kinda loud. So, I heard "what" alot! She put Inessa on the phone for a little bit and it was sweet to hear her voice. She also put her sisters on the phone, who by the way, speak NO English, at all! Interesting situation! We giggled a lot because of not being able to relay what I was trying to say, many times. She asked if I would call her again today because she wanted to talk to Micah on her birthday. So we called again today. She spoke with Micah for all of 45 seconds and they were both kinda frustrated because of the language barrier. You have to call with the thought that you will "what" alot and not be able to convey all that you really wanted to say. She's not a big talker, either. So it's fairly one-sided. If you met her in person, she is miss-gabs-alot but not on the phone. While here, the only way reason she wasn't talking was if she was mad, in trouble, eating or sleeping! Get the picture?
Well, in other news...
Micah turned 13 today! Last night Joe took her out on a daddy/daughter date to a restaurant in a cave. She loves steak but we never allow her to order it because we have plenty of steak at home, but she was able to order a steak and enjoy. This was meant to be a special night out, one where she will remember it and expect equal or greater treatment from the man she will one day be married to. Joe presented her with a purity/covenant ring. The ring is a family ring that we had sized, cleaned and the stone switched with her birthstone, which is sapphire (and her favorite stone because it's blue). It's a beautiful 14K gold ring with a oval sapphire center. On each side is a heart with 3 diamonds (chips, really). It looks so beautiful on her long slender fingers. She also signed a contract/agreement to wait till she is married to be sexually active. The committment is not only to God and us, but to her future husband and children. I'm so proud of the young lady she has become. She's not perfect by any means but she is such a responsible, sweet, reliable, loyal, tenderhearted and humble young lady! I once told someone that if your daughter could be your best friend, Micah would certainly be mine. She is so excited to have a younger sister and has come to realize that my love won't be divided, rather multiplied and given to both, as well as the boys!
Anyway, she woke up late and because we really have celebrated all week her birthday, she said "I know I won't be getting any presents on my actual birthday but can I have breakfast in bed?" ABSOLUTELY! So this morning I served her 2 Large chocolate chip pancakes w/ syrup and 4 slices of bacon with a large cup of Strawberry/Chocolate Milk! She smiled from ear to ear!
Well, I think I've written way too much! Just thought I'd write what else is going on because we are still waiting...We are almost 1/2 way through September ~ good news to me!
Until next time...
I got to talk on the phone with Meggie yesterday for about 20 mins. She says she is doing good and school is going fine. She was playing with Inessa (foster sis) and her 2 bio sisters, Victorija and Kitija. She had a hard time hearing because she was in the same room as everyone else and they were kinda loud. So, I heard "what" alot! She put Inessa on the phone for a little bit and it was sweet to hear her voice. She also put her sisters on the phone, who by the way, speak NO English, at all! Interesting situation! We giggled a lot because of not being able to relay what I was trying to say, many times. She asked if I would call her again today because she wanted to talk to Micah on her birthday. So we called again today. She spoke with Micah for all of 45 seconds and they were both kinda frustrated because of the language barrier. You have to call with the thought that you will "what" alot and not be able to convey all that you really wanted to say. She's not a big talker, either. So it's fairly one-sided. If you met her in person, she is miss-gabs-alot but not on the phone. While here, the only way reason she wasn't talking was if she was mad, in trouble, eating or sleeping! Get the picture?
Well, in other news...
Micah turned 13 today! Last night Joe took her out on a daddy/daughter date to a restaurant in a cave. She loves steak but we never allow her to order it because we have plenty of steak at home, but she was able to order a steak and enjoy. This was meant to be a special night out, one where she will remember it and expect equal or greater treatment from the man she will one day be married to. Joe presented her with a purity/covenant ring. The ring is a family ring that we had sized, cleaned and the stone switched with her birthstone, which is sapphire (and her favorite stone because it's blue). It's a beautiful 14K gold ring with a oval sapphire center. On each side is a heart with 3 diamonds (chips, really). It looks so beautiful on her long slender fingers. She also signed a contract/agreement to wait till she is married to be sexually active. The committment is not only to God and us, but to her future husband and children. I'm so proud of the young lady she has become. She's not perfect by any means but she is such a responsible, sweet, reliable, loyal, tenderhearted and humble young lady! I once told someone that if your daughter could be your best friend, Micah would certainly be mine. She is so excited to have a younger sister and has come to realize that my love won't be divided, rather multiplied and given to both, as well as the boys!
Anyway, she woke up late and because we really have celebrated all week her birthday, she said "I know I won't be getting any presents on my actual birthday but can I have breakfast in bed?" ABSOLUTELY! So this morning I served her 2 Large chocolate chip pancakes w/ syrup and 4 slices of bacon with a large cup of Strawberry/Chocolate Milk! She smiled from ear to ear!
Well, I think I've written way too much! Just thought I'd write what else is going on because we are still waiting...We are almost 1/2 way through September ~ good news to me!
Until next time...
Thursday, September 2, 2010
I don`t even know what to title this....
I spoke with Cathy again and she explained everything. Meggie`s father is appealing the loss of rights but as I said before it shouldn`t affect our adoption. The court system is skipping the lower level courts & going to highest level to get things taken care of. "Father" is unemployed, living with bio. mother who is pregnant again (all 3 of their children have been taken away because she is a severe alcoholic, and the 2 younger ones have FEtal alcohol syndrome. As well as several pregnancies have not gone to term with awful outcomes). AND he has only contacted Meggie one time in two & half years. The date is set & cannot be changed to an earlier date. I don`t want to push~they may decide to move it further out. Cathy told us to prepare for Jan/Feb for travel dates. My heart is so sad but know that this is part of the journey God has laid out for us. The wonderful roller coaster of emotions continues. Meggie knows about her father and is really upset. She cannot understand why he would do this. (Neither can we, for that matter)
So, I listen to the song that keeps me going! I read God`s word & find truths in there that comfort me, change me and cause me to move! I am enjoying family, the little things that we do together. I`m meeting new adopting moms that are in the same boat as our family, I watch as friends bond with their little girl for several weeks and other friends bring their daughter home for good tomorrow! God is good ~ ALL THE TIME! His ways are not mine and I have to get on my knees & praise the Father that loves Meggie more than I could ever imagine~that has her written in the palm of His hand! He knows all of our heartache and He`s lifting us up!
Until next time....
So, I listen to the song that keeps me going! I read God`s word & find truths in there that comfort me, change me and cause me to move! I am enjoying family, the little things that we do together. I`m meeting new adopting moms that are in the same boat as our family, I watch as friends bond with their little girl for several weeks and other friends bring their daughter home for good tomorrow! God is good ~ ALL THE TIME! His ways are not mine and I have to get on my knees & praise the Father that loves Meggie more than I could ever imagine~that has her written in the palm of His hand! He knows all of our heartache and He`s lifting us up!
Until next time....
Monday, August 30, 2010
Huge Prayer Request!!
This morning we rec`d a call from our agent, Cathy with some less than great news. SHe had rec`d an email from our Latvian Attorney that Meggie`s Biological Father has appealed his termination of parental rights. These rights were taken in Feb 2008 and upon finding out that she has an adoptive family he decides to appeal. Our lawyer said that a high level court date has been set for early December. The court will not reverse the decision because he hasn`t made any contact with Meggie. This apparently will not affect our adoption, only delay it.
We are asking for your prayers:
1) that the date will be moved up. (we had hoped to travel in Oct);
2) for wisdom on the part of the judge. They will see the big picture & seek to do whats best for Meggie;
3) that our hearts will remember daily that God is in control.
Thank you for your prayers & support!
We are asking for your prayers:
1) that the date will be moved up. (we had hoped to travel in Oct);
2) for wisdom on the part of the judge. They will see the big picture & seek to do whats best for Meggie;
3) that our hearts will remember daily that God is in control.
Thank you for your prayers & support!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
I just get so busy!
Okay, so it's been over a month since the last post and I'm truly sorry for anyone that actually is following this. We started this as a journal of our long journey to bring Meggie home.
We had an awesome summer or rather 5 weeks with Meggie. The first couple weeks were tough because she had to "protect" her heart and would sometimes say "I won't let you adopt me!" or "you can't adopt me". While those were extremely hurtful statements we did our best to not show the internal pain that was surrounding our hearts. At week 3 we spoke with the Latvian translator and she spoke with Meggie and asked if she really did want to be with us (her answer was yes) and that she needed to be careful. She might actually get what she says she wants, even though it was her only "trump card" and was used when she didn't get what she wanted. After that conversation, we didn't hear those statements. It was extremely hard to let her go at the airport and she didn't want to go either. She held on for awhile and finally released and went to sit with her foster sister, Inessa. Which by the way, is an incredible young lady, that also has a forever family in the process of adoption. She is like the older sister Meggie never had and I believe Meggie will struggle more with the seperation from Inessa than from her 2 little sisters. I have been writing her adoptive mommy and we are both committed to keep the girls in contact with each other and hopefully travel to see each other over the years.
Well, now that Meggie is home in Latvia, we sit here and wait! WAIT<>Prayer Requests:
Please pray for us... we are having another Garage Sale on 9/10 - 9/11 (by the way, I dislike GS with a passion). We are doing another pancake Breakfast with another adopting family on 9/18. And possibly doing another fundraiser on 9/25. Pray that God's handprint is all over it. That He endorses these events. Pray that our court date comes Mid-Oct. Pray that our in country time is less than 12 days.
Please Pray for some friends of ours; they were the ones that introduced us to Meggie by hosting her over Christmas. They left on 8/18 for 30 days In-Country time & court for the little girl they are adopting. The place where they are going is in a lot of political turmoil and don't think about the child first. Our friends have 2 young girls they left in the states with family. So pray for a soft hearted Judge, smooth processes, and distraction for the sweet little girls back home.
Please pray for some other friends of ours also. They are in the process of adopting and just found out this week that the little girl they had come to know as Lillian and love as their own daughter, will not be theirs. The birthmother with lots of pressure from other family sought to keep her parental rights. This family is having very positive attitudes about this and have turned to God for their broken hearts. They will recieve another referral for another little girl but we don't know when.
We had an awesome summer or rather 5 weeks with Meggie. The first couple weeks were tough because she had to "protect" her heart and would sometimes say "I won't let you adopt me!" or "you can't adopt me". While those were extremely hurtful statements we did our best to not show the internal pain that was surrounding our hearts. At week 3 we spoke with the Latvian translator and she spoke with Meggie and asked if she really did want to be with us (her answer was yes) and that she needed to be careful. She might actually get what she says she wants, even though it was her only "trump card" and was used when she didn't get what she wanted. After that conversation, we didn't hear those statements. It was extremely hard to let her go at the airport and she didn't want to go either. She held on for awhile and finally released and went to sit with her foster sister, Inessa. Which by the way, is an incredible young lady, that also has a forever family in the process of adoption. She is like the older sister Meggie never had and I believe Meggie will struggle more with the seperation from Inessa than from her 2 little sisters. I have been writing her adoptive mommy and we are both committed to keep the girls in contact with each other and hopefully travel to see each other over the years.
Well, now that Meggie is home in Latvia, we sit here and wait! WAIT<>Prayer Requests:
Please pray for us... we are having another Garage Sale on 9/10 - 9/11 (by the way, I dislike GS with a passion). We are doing another pancake Breakfast with another adopting family on 9/18. And possibly doing another fundraiser on 9/25. Pray that God's handprint is all over it. That He endorses these events. Pray that our court date comes Mid-Oct. Pray that our in country time is less than 12 days.
Please Pray for some friends of ours; they were the ones that introduced us to Meggie by hosting her over Christmas. They left on 8/18 for 30 days In-Country time & court for the little girl they are adopting. The place where they are going is in a lot of political turmoil and don't think about the child first. Our friends have 2 young girls they left in the states with family. So pray for a soft hearted Judge, smooth processes, and distraction for the sweet little girls back home.
Please pray for some other friends of ours also. They are in the process of adopting and just found out this week that the little girl they had come to know as Lillian and love as their own daughter, will not be theirs. The birthmother with lots of pressure from other family sought to keep her parental rights. This family is having very positive attitudes about this and have turned to God for their broken hearts. They will recieve another referral for another little girl but we don't know when.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)