Pictures

First lunch out as a family.  At the lookout.  Great place to see the beauty of Haiti.  

Lunch with new friends.  Joel, Ingrid, Owen, Ella are here serving at the orphanage for two years.  

One of Oberson's nannies, Joyce (his teacher and director) and his housemates.  

Airport arrival:  we will be flying in on Delta #684 arriving at 12:12pm.  We plan to meet family and friends at the international terminal (which is off of I75).  In the rare chance our flight arrives into the E gate we will still come to you.  We will need to go through immigration and customs when we land.  

Oberson is excited about riding the airplane tomorrow!

Reunited

A counselor would call this the 'honeymoon phase' for adoption. 

I call it GOD! 

As I sit here, this is my view.  

Oberson is sound asleep in his bed.  I do not even know where to begin with this day being so unbelievable.  Many of you have asked questions so, I will start at the beginning.  

First we went to the embassy to pick up his visa.  Last time we spent probably 6 hours there so I was a little hesitant.  As we arrived there were hundreds of people in line and my heart sank.  As  American's, they ushered us to the front of the line.  And the next line.  And the next.  They went and got the man that we were supposed to meet with and he came right out.  We were back in the car in less than 15 minutes with the visa!  Such a God thing!  

We arrived at the guest house a little after 10:30am.  There he was sitting on the couch with those big brown eyes just looking at one and then the other.  He didn't smile but he pointed to Todd and said Papa.  He knew.  I did not even realize there were other people in the room and it took me awhile to even catch their names.  Somehow she got Todd's phone to take pics.  I missed that whole part but am thankful she caught the moments.  

We basically had the guest house to ourselves most of the day.  The cooks made Haitian spaghetti for lunch and Oberson gobbled it down.  He was hungry!  We played everything from cars, basketball, trains and trucks to coloring and endless amounts of bubbles.  He looked at pictures and watched a few minutes of the Cars movie.  After Melissa and Jamesly got home the boys played in the pool together.  They were so much fun!  The boys are mere months apart in age and have known each other for years.  So fun!  The volunteers returned around 5 and we enjoyed meeting them and visiting before dinner.  He ate very well again tonight.  He was super tired so we came upstairs for the most fun shower ever and then a quiet time of cuddles on the balcony.  The breeze was blowing as a storm is moving in but we sat cuddled in his new blanket rocking and singing.  Now, he is tucked in his bed.  I stayed beside him for awhile but he went right to sleep.  

We have prayed specific prayers over Oberson for many years.  It is amazing to see his little personality and some of those prayers being answered.  He is one prayed for little dude!  

There are things that break my heart as we spend time together.  He is so independent.  He is used to doing things for himself.  Lunch and Dinner had rice of course and this little guy can scoop up every last one.  He is an amazing eater.  And no sippy cups in this place.  Kids drink from glasses and just learn to do it right.  He is so big! Tonight we realized how much he enjoys cuddles and yet is used to falling asleep on his own.  So independent.  

His English is good!  He obviously speaks in Creole and a few times we had no idea what he was saying but most of the time our limited Creole and his English worked it out.  He understands way more than he speaks.  With Todd and I he began talking a good bit.  But with anyone else he is super quiet.  

We did get to Facetime with the kids tonight.  Pretty amazing to see them waving and saying Hi to one another.  

Tomorrow everything changes.  Tomorrow we will return to the orphanage for a special service and for him to say goodbye.  And then he will leave everything he has ever known.  Not to return until he comes to serve or visit in future years.  Gone will be his friends, favorite toys and everything he holds dear.  Please pray for him.  He may be independent but he is only three. 

Thank you for loving him and praying for him even before you all meet him!  He is a son of the Most High!  God has made him so very special and has a great plan for his life.  I am lucky enough to be a part of it.  

Day 1

No time for words.  Pictures will have to do.  Thank you for the messages.  Oberson is AMAZING!  We have had a wonderful day together already.  God is SO good!

First night back in Haiti

We arrived!  We came in on an evening flight which was unsual for us (we typically arrive during daylight hours).  After finding our driver we enjoyed an evening drive through the city to our hotel.  We ate dinner here at the hotel.  It was nice but it doesn't feel like Haiti.  We have grown to love the AuBerge hotel with it's beautiful outdoor restaurant with a nice breeze and the sounds of the city.  This hotel is nice but very modern and totally different.  (Although I think I will like the bed and shower here better......only those of you have been to the Auberge truly understand.)

We have received many messages asking our plans: tomorrow morning (Thursday) we will go to the embassy where we will pick up our immigration packet and Oberson's visa.  Then we will go to GLA and OBERSON!  We hope to be there around lunchtime.  After that...no idea.  

As always, thank you for the love and support.  We appreciate the prayers. Tomorrow is a big day!! 

We are off

We wanted to thank everyone for the many calls, messages and texts supporting us before we left.  We have laughed and giggled with my packing dilemas but we are ready.  God has given us a sense of peace.  It is a peace that passes all understanding which confirms it is from Him!  Thank you for those keeping the kids, loving on them and those waiting on us in Haiti.  Blessings~

To pack or not to pack...

I would like to say my obsessiveness of packing the perfect ensemble of things comes from my desire to be prepared.  But that wouldn't be accurate.  In all honesty, it comes from the fact that my packing is the one thing in this journey that I can control.  

So, with one thing in my control you would think I would be successful....right?  Nope.  Nada.  Not working so well.  

It's totally different for guys.  They pick three tshirts, a couple pair of shorts and their favorite shoes.  By chance they may throw in a golf shirt or maybe their favorite hat that has seen better days.  Done.  For me, things are quite different.  I must first start with shoes because limiting the number of shoes limits the outfits.  I mean only certain shoes/colors match certain outfits.  Then, there are the layers.  Certain sweaters or hoodies match certain outfits and must coordinate with the shoes too.  Oh and then there's the capri's because shorts could be too cool and jeans would be too hot.  Outfits must match capri's.  But take the shorts and jeans just in case. Oh no...there's rain the forecast.  That means a raincoat and there isn't a thing that matches a raincoat.  Seriously.  The shoes I had planned will not work in the rain.  

This is a momentous event!  That means pictures and lifelong memories.  We must look good.  Aim for perfect because I know I will fall well below that.  But, again there is that dreaded rule....no hair dryer or curling iron.  Seriously.  Wrong.  Just wrong.  

Well, if I can't do my hair then why wear a nice outfit.  That would just be silly.  Who wants to see this cute outfit with a mop of slightly straight and yet frizzy, wavy hair. Maybe I should just stick to a cute tshirt, hat and jean capris.  

Hey, maybe Todd had the right idea all along.  Didn't say that.  I just thought that would should kinda match in our appearance.  That's all.  

Don't stress out though.  This is only for the clothes.  I have a full 50 pound suitcase full of necessities packed.  Things they 'mentioned' we should bring.  Like snacks.  Like toys.  So what if we have less than 48 hours before we fly out again and I have snacks that would last a month!  That's not weird....that's being prepared.  It's like the toys I have packed. 10 kids could play all day for what I have in my bag. 

Oh...ya'll.  I'm so good with this control thing.  

Just wait until Todd comes home to see the dining room table. 

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For those of you who only follow our journey via the blog let me explain.....we got the visa!!!!  We received it and booked our flights last night.  We fly out tomorrow and return on Saturday.  We will be arriving at the Delta International concorse flight #684 at 12:12pm.  All are welcome. 

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Obviously, I am remaining quite calm through all of this.  😉

Time for an interview

Yesterday, Oberson went to his visa medical appointment and today he had his visa interview. He is all dressed and holding the hand of his nanny as they wait for the appointment. It sounds like he was pretty serious but that it all went well. Closer every day!!!!

The ugly cry came today.....

We were told that we would be notified of our approval via email.  I should have worn a tshirt warning anyone close to me because anytime my phone beeped for an email I practically mowed them over on my way to check.  Just in case it was THE email.  And this has gone on since July.  You know those moments when you are rushed and just glance at something with a half thought.  That was yesterday.  Rushing to get in the carpool line, hanging up from one call and glancing at the phone while trying not to hit the other 200 people in line at the school.  That's when I saw it.  And from the depths came the ugly cry.  Oh my goodness.  I could not tell you the color of the car in front of me and could not even open my eyes for a few minutes.  Travis came out of his seat wondering what was wrong.  The dog began whimpering and trying to lick my fingers trying to comfort me (yes the dog rides to the school with us. No judging here right?). 

So, I instantly called Todd.  All while still trying to move up in line and yet not hit a car.  Hey, I'm a carpool mom after all.  I know the rules.  No stoping or even slowing down the line.  It's serious business and people get pretty cranky (myself included on some days).    And it's not like I can just politely pull over when there is a curb beside me.  Even though he is in California, in the desert, in a wind/sandstorm, I am able to reach Todd.  I thought I had control of myself until I heard his voice.  Nope.  Nada.  Ugly cry again with only squeaks of sound coming out.  He knew.  He understood.  This changes everything.  We have dreamed of, prayed for and prepared for this time and now it is moving from a plan to a reality.  

Girls pile into the van with a fast talking, excited little boy and a bawling mother. We drove away with squeals from everyone.  

Oh what a day!  

I know, I know....enough with the story and tell us when he comes HOME!  Right?

This was kind of like our 'heads up' in that if everything from here progresses normally we will travel in 2-3 weeks. As you know, we are waiting on his Visa to bring him home.  It is easier to picture the Visa stage in two parts.  The first part is for the 'paper' approval where they review all of the documents, file, adoption etc.  This is what we just completed.  The second part is the approval of the child.  Now, Oberson will be taken to the embassy for his interview and medical tests.  He will have one interview, one medical test and then a third appointment two days later to review the medical results.  When that is completed, they will print the visa.....and we will go!  

We will go.  Three little words that make my heart skip when I read them or say them.  Three little words that mean so much.  Promises fulfilled.  Prayers answered.  I could go on and on. 

When we expected him home in July I had already packed some of our bags....small tokens of appreciation for the nannies and staff as well as all the toys and activities we wanted to take for Oberson.  They are packed and ready in the basement.  Yet, last night I found myself drifting down there to check it over, repack and pray over everything one more time.  Suddenly, I began getting an overwhelming feeling and began questioning myself and everything I had done to prepare as my heart beat faster and faster.  

I stepped back and just sat in prayer.  God had ordained this.  He brought our hearts together before he brought us together physically.  His timeframe, while not what I had wanted, will be perfect.  Because He is perfect. He has protected and loved Oberson since conception.  Always knowing the plan.  He was faithful to forgive my impatience and I grew to trust and depend on Him in ways I never had before.  

Toby Oberson is coming home!  All Praise and Glory to God!