Cheri Kay in Haiti....where my life became meaningful.

 Scarlett's Gotcha Day! August 23, 2014  Today is one year after getting this puppy!  Scarlett Rose joined our family as our first family pet!  Boy, was there a learning curve! Poor puppy was bombarded with love, noise, hugs and kisses and cuddles.  But, she wasn't the only one who there was an adjustment for.  Jaryse had a whole list of responsibilities that he hadn't had before, I had to help with those responsibilities and deal with the potty training! I wasn't sure I could take one more inside accident when Scarlett finally decided that she was done peeing under my table! Whew! There was also the getting up and taking her outside at night and her whining when left in the crate.  This list goes on.  Now, as most of her training is complete and she has melded into our daily lives, there are still responsibilities and finding puppy sitters when we leave and such, but on the whole, she has been such a blessing to us!  She is funny. She...

So, this post isn't a warm fuzzy........just a warning!  But, it's very important! Before moving to Haiti and after finding out that Ecrissa is deaf, I decided to learn all I could about deafness, deaf culture, sign language etc. before getting her.  As she's grown, I've continued to try my best to understand who she is, her culture, her language and what it means to be deaf.  I have and I continue to go to conferences, activities and events to expose our family to and to try to enter into the deaf culture and community.  A major theme that I noticed early on when listening to deaf adults is how lonely they feel, even in a room full of people. This was heart breaking to me.  I made a decision, which I have stuck to, that I will be able to communicate with my daughter with ASL.  Do you know that statistics have shown for decades, over and over again, that only 1 in every 10 hearing parents who have a deaf child knows how to sign? YES....that is correct, on...

So, remember that first adoption, you know, that one that took 4.5 years? The one where I begged and pleaded with God to make it happen faster? To make it happen on my timeline?  Yea, me too! LOL! I remember it well! What I learned during that time was that God really did have everything under control and we all came home from Haiti at a perfect time. So, how about this time around.  Um, well, again, it's God's timing!  Things are going much quicker than I had prepared myself for.  I mean, it's an adoption right!? It takes a long time right?! I've got time right?!  Hahahaha!  I love how God keeps me guessing!  This time has been so far way quicker and easier than I had expected!  Yes, we got our Letter of Acceptance EARLY! EARLY????? Nothing happens early in an adoption process!!!! I am so grateful for the lessons that God teaches me! I am so excited to bring this baby girl home!  I am so excited to be her momma!  I am so exc...

And a busy and fun month it's been!  The kids have been involved in so many fun activities I can hardly keep up! Jaryse did a Worship Arts camp, then our whole family went to a Family Deaf Camp, then the kids went to Spring Hill Day camp and this week Jaryse will get to do a Vacation Bible School! We have also been blessed to be able to go to Grand Haven a few times for Worship on the Waterfront and have seen some amazing acts including Josh Wilson, MikesChair and Mark Schultz! This is all while continuing with Ecrissa's already weekly scheduled therapies!  Wow!!!! We are so blessed!!!! The adoption process is so far going as good as can be expected!  We are so excited to bring our little girl home and include her in all of the fun activities!!!!  I have been told that for this particular "leg" of the process, the waiting period is about 60-90 days.  We are at about day 36!  I just heard about a family who waited 2.5 months and they had a paperwork glit...