8 month update

Its hard to believe that it has been 8 months already since Jesiah came home.  How time has flown. In so many ways it feels like just yesterday we brought him home to stay, and in others it feels like he has always been here.  There has been so much growing, changing, learning, processing and loving that has been happening over the last 8 months.  Some days have been challenging, but through the last 8 months we have been learning to walk this new journey God has brought us on in faith, confidence, and joy.
Over the last 8 months J has grown in so many ways.  He has transitioned from bottle to sippy cup, mashed food and food fights at every meal to eating us out of house and home, walking to running.  He climbs, jumps, kicks a ball and has a full vocabulary.  He loves to sing and dance.  His favorite songs are no more monkeys jumping on the bed and twinkle twinkle.  He sings both over and over.  He loves to scream "out" whenever I pull into a parking stall and is always ready for the next adventure.  He loves to give kisses, and is excited to snuggle with his sisters, especially in the early morning with Katelyn who shares a room with him. 
When J came home, he came to us as a legal risk placement.  The form that was only supposed to take a few months to return, took 8 (we received word on Monday that it returned).  Our worker could not move forward with the final adoption paperwork until this form was returned.  I was reveiwing my previous posts today and was filled with joy that Edmonton said yes to us taking J as legal risk.  If they had said no, or we did not agree with the legal risk placement, J would not have been placed with us until this week.  I think of how much J has changed in just 8 months and how much harder his transistion would have been.  J is now no longer legal risk and we can finish the adoption process and receive a legal birth certificate for J.
For those of you that aren't familiar with the Alberta government process for adoption, I will explain.  There are several different scenarios under which a child can be placed in your home. In our situation we specifically applied for J.  When the government agreed that we were a good match, J came home.  If we had been "chosen" out of the system, a tranisiton process that usually takes 2 weeks would have happened.  In both scenarios, once the child is officially in your home there is a 6 month observation period before documents are sent to court.  If for any reason the adoption worker decides that the match was not a good one then the adoption would be terminated.  In our situation, we were waiting for a form that let us know if there was any native heritage in J (all children that are wards of the Alberta government have to have this check done). We were all positive there wasn't but still had to agree to a legal risk placement.  J still came home to us as our son. If this form came back and said he was native, then the band would have the final say if he stayed in our home.  The observation period still continued while waiting for this form.  Our worker has been ready for the last two months to submit the forms to the courts, however has not been able to.  Now, she can!!!
So, what happens now?  Next week we have our monthly meeting with our worker.  She will interview two of our references and then finish up our adoption paper work.  We had to get new criminal record checks done this week as all checks given to the government have to be less than 6 months old. In the last few months, finger printing for adoptions (in Airdrie) has become mandatory.   So Steve and I were also fingerprinted.  Once our worker has our completed criminal record checks in hand (about 3 weeks) she will hand in our paperwork to her manager.  Then her manager, who is on holidays all of August, will review our paperwork. If everything is how it should be it will be submitted to the courts.  Then, it sits until a judge is ready to look at it.  The current wait time has been 3-4 months.  Once the judge looks at our file, reads it and accepts it he will issue an order for a new birth certificate to be made for Jesiah.  Once this happens, Jesiah is no longer a ward of the government, we can get a passport for him and we can leave the province without special permission.  Jesiah will be on paper, officially, our son!  Of course, in our minds and hearts he has been our son since November 10th, all the rest of the process is just paperwork. And so we continue to move forward finalizing our Son's paperwork.
I think of this process the same as waiting for a birth child's birth certificate.  The day your child is born is the day you acknowledge them as your child.  The day you recieve your child's birth certificate is the day you can apply for a passport.  Either way, the child has been entrusted to you to love, hold, snuggle, guide, care for and raise, as long as God has intended. 
And so today, we continue to walk this journey, anticipating August 13, the first birthday we get to celebrate with our son, the day J turns 2!!!

2 John 1:6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands.  As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!! 
It is hard to believe that it has been 6 weeks already since Jesiah joined our family.  It feels like it has been a day in many ways and in so many more it feels like he has always been here. 

We have grown leaps and bounds together over the last several weeks.  Jesiah is growing each day and is learning a new sign or word each day it seems. (His newest words and most favorite to say are puppy, happy, and bug).   He is beginning to try many new foods and enjoying exploring others.  Once a week we go to the little gym, where Jesiah has had the opportunity to run, swing, jump, tumble and forward roll over and over.  We have swapped rooms with the girls and now Katelyn is sharing with Jesiah.  She is a very deep sleeper and doesn't seem bothered if he is talking early in the morning.  Jesiah has gained 4 molars in the last 6 weeks which has been a feat in itself. He loves to read books and we often find him exploring intently over each page pointing
out "puppy's."  He seems to be adjusting well to having three sisters and a dog.  The girls and the dog seem to be enjoying him as well. 

Over the last few weeks I have taken some time to reflect on Christ's birth.  This year, God has been showing me over and over the manger, the hay, the cloths Jesus was wrapped in. 
"... and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. she wrapped him cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." ~ Luke 2:7  God sent his son, pure, blameless, a king and had him placed in a dirty, manure filled trough of hay.  Like this trough, we too come before him full of dirt, selfishness, jealousy, anger, loneliness, contempt...the list goes on.  God once again wants to place His son in our hearts full of dirt and make it clean.  Are we willing to let him take residence in our hearts?  Are we willing to take out our trash and truly focus on what matters in this world?  As I look around and think about those in my life, my heart is sad.  There are many broken people, hurting, sick people.  God doesn't promise to take the hurt away but He promises to provide a way through when we place our trust completely in Him. 

The girls and I have been talking about the "true meaning of Christmas."  We have been reflecting on ways we can help, and I reminded them that 9 months ago, God asked us to help.  We opened our hearts and home to the possibility of helping and today I realized that through this willingness God gave us a gift, a gift in Jesiah.  The joy we find each day in the little things he accomplishes removes any questions we may have had about "are we doing the right thing?" 

My prayer this Christmas, is that you will take time to examine your heart.  Where are your priorities?  Where do you spend the majority of your time?  Is God getting your left overs?  I pray that you will accept His gift to make your heart truly clean and allow Him to help you find a way through all of your dirt and filth. 
"Be joyful always;  Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

life with 6

Finally, after 21/2 weeks I have found a few moments to write an update and post a few pics.  I cannot believe that Jesiah has been home for almost 3 weeks already.  The last few weeks have flown by and we are all slowly adjusting.  At night I am completely exhausted and find myself falling asleep on the couch at 9pm.  When I take time to reflect on all that has gone on in the last few weeks I realize my exhaustion is justified :) For those of you interested I will share a quick recap of not only our changes but Jesiah's too.
On Nov. 10 we signed official papers with our adoption worker in the morning and then picked Jesiah up from his foster home and brought him home.  It was a very bitter/sweet day.  Alexa was so concerned over why our friend was so sad when she was so happy.  She shed some tears herself as she has a huge caring heart and hates to see others sad.  Jesiah joined our household like any other day that he has been here.  He was full of curiosity and wonder over the dog, the dog food, the dogs water, the cupboards, what's inside the cupboards,the toilet, the garbage, the fireplace, the fan, the remotes, the buttons for the dvd player and shaw box, and wii, and xbox.  The new truck ramp that we bought him sat untouched in the living room as he explored everything in the house that we would prefer him not to explore. We picked up his sisters from school and then came back home and continued to redirect his curiousity back to the toys in the living room.  That night his foster family came over to say goodbye and to celebrate with dinner and cake.  Around 8, our friends said good bye and we were on our own, our family of 6, ready to begin this new journey that God has entrusted to us.
I am still in awe that God chose us to raise Jesiah.  Who am I that I could take care of yet another one of God's children?  I feel inadequate some days, my energy already spent in so many other places, yet I persevere for God's glory and His Kingdom. 
We have experienced much change... Jesiah was not sleeping through the night when he came and within three days we were able to help him sleep through the night and transition him from bottles to a sippy cup.  We have now spent the last 3 weeks working at introducing new foods and creating a love for food.  We discovered that he loves pork sausages that our neighbor made.  This was his first huge feat at trying something new other than pasta and cheese (his favorites).  Since then we have been able to offer him a variety of fruits, meats and vegetables as long as they are ground up together first.  I love my ninja.  It grinds our dinner to the perfect consistency of wet cat food, and Jesiah eats it right up.  Such a blessing :)  We meet with the dietician on Wednesday and hopefully we will be able to get some ideas on how to slowly chunkify food and separate it in a way that he will eat more.
Not only has Jesiah started to enjoy food, he has also stopped dumping ruffy's water and pulling everything out of the cupboards :)  We even put up the Christmas tree this weekend and he is enjoying looking not touching.  Another absolutely exciting thing for me that I love at this age is teaching babies sign language and seeing them respond.  Jesiah has caught onto eat, more, drink, stars, book, all done and uses them appropriately.  He is so pleased with himself.  I find baby signs help huge with the whining and screaming that often happens due to frustration when we don't understand what they are trying to tell us.  We are working on please and thank you as well. 
Jesiah detested bath time when he arrived and screamed blue murder if he even saw the water.  This weekend we were able to put him in the tub and he played with his sisters for over 1/2 an hour splashing and enjoying every moment.  It was such a wonderful treat to see him happy in the tub. 
He loves being outside and has enjoyed exploring the snow and all the "wet" it has to offer.  I also took Jesiah to the little gym this past week and he had so much fun doing forward rolls and monkey hangs on the bar.  We hope to start going regularly to classes there. 
Well, it is time to get back to the busyness of life with a 1 year old, amidst my 5,7, and almost 10 year old and day home children.  Enjoy these pics, and if you think of us please pray for energy, strength, patience and joy as we continue to transition and develop a new bond with Jesiah.

We said YES!!!

After much waiting, praying, wondering, and more waiting we finally had our info sharing yesterday.  It went very well.  It was wonderful to actually be able to put a face to the names of the people we have been having many conversations with over the last several months.  After learning about Baby C (officially), learning a bit more about the legal risk and learning about his routine we were given 24 hours to make a decision. We weren't allowed to decide before that time.  We left the meeting full of joy and excitement. 

At 8:30 this am, Steve and I made the phone call to our worker, and with joy, we said YES! 

We are excited to see this journey of the adoption process come to an end. As we embark on the new journey of raising 4 children, I have to say, yes I am scared, but so full of anticipation as well.  The girls are ecstatic.  Alexa is telling everyone we meet, including the lady at walmart, cashier at the movie theater, and people we meet on the street that she is going to have a brother.  It is wonderful to see their joy.

And so... on Thursday, November 10th we will be welcoming our son and brother, JESIAH CONNER home to stay.  I was given permission to share a few pictures:

I am so happy to finally be able to share a picture and the name we have chosen for our son.  Conner was his given name, which is why we call him Baby C.  We chose to keep a part of his birth name in his name as a way to remember his birth mother.  After many months of discussions and votes we finally decided on Sunday, with the girls help, to name Baby C, Jesiah (rhymes with Messiah).  Jesiah means, God helps.  If you know us well, you know all of our girls names have been chosen based on their meaning.  When we think of Jesiah, we know that only with God's help was he given an opportunity to attach and grow in a healthy, loving environment, and with God's help we will be able to provide this second chance at life.

 

We would like to thank you all for your prayers and encouragement over the last several months.  As we journey into the unknown I ask that you continue to lift us up in prayer if you are able. 

Over the next week could you please pray for Jesiah's transition.  He is coming from an absolutely, amazing foster family who has adored him and no doubt he will be sad.  Please pray for them as they transition into life without Baby C and await their next baby.  Please pray for us as we learn new routines and adapt to new types of chaos (especially from 3:30-5:30 on weekdays when I have 6 kids in the home).

Thank you so much.  I will be sure to post pics of Jesiah's "GOTCHA DAY" soon.

"...but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the one who trust in Him.  Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!" (Psalm 32:10b--11)

We Have a Date!

WE HAVE A DATE!  PRAISE THE LORD!   After months of waiting, and many messages and promises of two weeks... I can finally say, in officially two weeks Baby C will come home!  I am still in shock.  To be honest there were moments in the last few months where I wondered if we would ever receive this phone call.  I think I am still walking around in a fog.

We received a phone call today that Edmonton approved the match!  I am so excited and overwhelmed at the same time that God is entrusting baby C to us.  I have wondered, are we truly the best family for him?  Today, with Edmonton saying yes, God confirmed as well, that yes, he wants us to raise Baby C as our own.  WOW! 

So, what does that mean, and why two more weeks?  Now that they said yes we have to have an info sharing session for legal purposes where we learn everything we don't know/or may not know about Baby C and his history.  The soonest all of the social workers involved can meet is... two weeks, Nov. 7.  We will meet with them in the morning, and then we have 48 hours to decide if we want to proceed.  If we still want to proceed (hmm, let me think about that), then Baby C will come home on Thursday, November 10th.  Once he is home, we will begin the official adoption paperwork that takes about a year.

And so... for two more weeks, we wait.  Well sort of.  Now begins the list making and nesting instinct.  What do I need to do to get ready?  What can we do to prepare? 

Thank you all for your prayers.  We will continue to update you as we can.  Over the next two weeks please pray that we will be able to continue to focus on today and enjoy each moment that we have.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

trust

Well, two weeks has come and gone, and still we have heard nothing... That seems to be the common theme, every two weeks we hear "two more weeks."  My heart breaks today.  Not so much for Baby C, he is safe, growing, and in a loving home.  My heart breaks for all the babies.  There are so many babies that have the opportunity for life, but no one to care for them.  There are no beds for them to rest in.  They are lying in offices waiting for a home, for somebody to be able to care for their basic needs.  Here I sit, helpless, waiting for the government, waiting, two more weeks.  Today, I pray.  I pray that God will give strength to the weak, patience to the anxious, comfort to the lonely and abused, joy to the burdened.  I pray for the social workers.  Though they are overworked, weary, tired, worn out, I pray that they will find the strength and energy to do the paperwork.  The paperwork not just for Baby C, but the paperwork for all the waiting potential foster homes and the waiting adoptive homes.  I pray that those God is speaking to will listen.  If God is telling someone to do respite, foster or even adopt, I pray that they will start the process.  We may be the only link these children have to a future, not only here on earth but eternally. 
God has laid several passages of scripture on my heart today.  I choose to focus on these, and find my strength and comfort from them:

Psalm 27:14

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”       

Isaiah 40:31

 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

Genesis 8:6-12

After another forty days, Noah opened the window he had made in the boat  and released a raven. The bird flew back and forth until the floodwaters on the earth had dried up. He also released a dove to see if the water had receded and it could find dry ground. But the dove could find no place to land because the water still covered the ground. So it returned to the boat, and Noah held out his hand and drew the dove back inside.  After waiting another seven days, Noah released the dove again. This time the dove returned to him in the evening with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. Then Noah knew that the floodwaters were almost gone. He waited another seven days and then released the dove again. This time it did not come back.

I think of Noah.  Here he is hearing God say build a boat.  So he builds a boat.  Not just any boat.  This boat took years to build.  Then God sent all the animals to the boat.  Then Noah and his family went on the boat and God closed the doors.  And for the first time ever God sent rain.  Can you imagine what it would be like to see water falling from the sky and have no clue what it was?  It rained and rained and rained.  When it finally stopped Noah wasn't able to open up the door and just get out and start life again. He had no clue what was going to happen.  His only choice was to trust God. Trust Him completely.  God asks us to trust Him.  Not just today, when things are going well, but every day.  When there is no way out, when the floods are high and it feels like we can't survive, he asks us to trust.  I pray that we will trust, TODAY.

Good News... hopefully

Today we finally recieved some good news... sort of.  Again for those of you praying, now is the time we need it :)  I talked with my worker today and everything is good to go on our end.  Unfortunately a form in Baby C's file is not and it may take a few months for it to be finished.  So, his worker has applied for a legal risk placement.  What this means is that Baby C can be placed with us until the form comes back and then we can proceed with the finality of the adoption. If for any reason something happens with the form we risk that Baby C will be taken from us... this is extremely unlikely.  The application goes to Edmonton and they decide if they will place under legal risk terms.  If they decide yes, he could come home in about two weeks, if they say no it may be a few months still.  I know that God is in complete control and I have perfect peace.
Philippians 4:4-7 says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 
This is my prayer.  That I will choose to focus on TODAY and TRUST HIM completely.
Please join our family in prayer that Edmonton will accept the application, and we can move ahead in bringing Baby C (well Toddler C now) home.
I will keep you posted when I hear something new.  Thank you to all of you praying and for your encouragement.  Some days are tough, but with God's strength alone we are able to focus on Today and not get caught up in the what ifs, whys, whens and hows.