WEATHER IN CUCUTA
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Fast Forward one year from our REFERRAL date
Has it really been a year ago since we "got the call"? Unbelievable how an entire year has passed since we "got the call" letting us know of our 3 wonderful children in Colombia awaiting our arrival as their forever family! I knew I was feeling nostalgic today for some reason, and I'm positive this is the reason why. Just a year ago today was when we learned of the sibling group that Colombia had matched especially for us, however they were a little off with their information. The agency goofed on reporting back their information. They told us there were 3 children, which turned out correct; 2 boys, 1 girl, again correct; ages 9, 7, and 9 months old, and again were correct; BUT they said the baby was the girl - INCORRECT. We learned the next day that the youngest, the baby, was a boy and that the girl was the 7-year old.
What was so odd about that situation is how God prepared our hearts to know the agency had given us wrong information. See, upon receiving THE CALL, I called Rick with the information. I then called my mother, then my mother-in-law with the news. Upon relaying the information to my mother-in-law I told her the only thing I knew were the ages and genders of the children. Upon telling her that the baby was a little girl, she remarked, "Oh, too bad that baby isn't a little boy." I thought, "What a bold statement -- what a brash statement!", and at the time I was a bit offended, after all I was feeling so thankful for God's blessings in bringing our children forth, and couldn't understand why my mother-in-law would interject the desire to be choosy over whether the baby was a girl or a boy. Perhaps she said it because she had only known how to raise boys and had no girls to raise. Or perhaps it was God's way of showing me what was to come...
Well, that night as I slept (amongst the tossing and turning most of the night), I dreamt a crazy dream. I awoke remembering the dream which took us to Colombia and as we prepared ourselves for the meeting of our children, we were meeting with the Colombian officials who continued to stall the meeting. We were so eager to meet our children and could hear their voices around the corner in the next room but the Colombian and adoption agency officials would not allow us to meet them just yet. They kept saying they needed to tell us more of the children's situation, etc., but they found it hard to explain to us. Finally one of the Colombian officials told us that they didn't know how to tell us this but they had it wrong all along... that the baby girl wasn't a baby girl but instead was a baby boy. So in the dream I was shocked and doing my best to handle the fact that we now had a baby boy waiting in the next room, and that all the pink dresses and patent leathers we had brought would not work, we'd now need boy stuff... then I awoke. I shared the silly dream with Rick and he blamed it completely on what his mom's statement of wishing it was a baby boy. Reality indicates the dream was God's way of preparing us for what was to come, because later that day we received a phone call from our agency letting us know they confused the children and their ages, and confirmed that the baby was a boy, not a baby girl as earlier indicated. (But who knew because I do encounter some far-fetched dreams from time to time.)
When they called with the confirmed information on the children, we were also told of their names, which stayed the same upon adopting them. We chose to keep their first and middle birth names intact in order to preserve their Colombian-born identities, being respectful to their birthmother for naming them, and remaining consistent with their identities as they've always known them. This just worked right for our family and upon hearing each child's name was something we never wished to change. Actually, God answered prayers as I lay in bed that night before that crazy dream. I prayed that the little girl would have the name Dayana. Why, you ask? Well, since my middle name is Diane, I prayed my adopted daughter would come to us with the spanish version which is Dayana, and prayers were answered! Thank you Jesus! The next day brought news that my daughter's name is Karen Dayana! Cool, huh! Isn't God just so awesome?!!!!
Such blessings have come in knowing these three children:
******* Fabian Jesus, Karen Dayana, and Luis Alejandro *******
They have been little treasures to our family and to their sister, Marissa Helena, We have so much to be thankful for! What a joy to be bonded together as a forever family! WOW, hard to believe it's approaching one year together as we will celebrate that milestone next month. Where does the time go? It definitely feels like it's going Fast Forward.
What was so odd about that situation is how God prepared our hearts to know the agency had given us wrong information. See, upon receiving THE CALL, I called Rick with the information. I then called my mother, then my mother-in-law with the news. Upon relaying the information to my mother-in-law I told her the only thing I knew were the ages and genders of the children. Upon telling her that the baby was a little girl, she remarked, "Oh, too bad that baby isn't a little boy." I thought, "What a bold statement -- what a brash statement!", and at the time I was a bit offended, after all I was feeling so thankful for God's blessings in bringing our children forth, and couldn't understand why my mother-in-law would interject the desire to be choosy over whether the baby was a girl or a boy. Perhaps she said it because she had only known how to raise boys and had no girls to raise. Or perhaps it was God's way of showing me what was to come...
Well, that night as I slept (amongst the tossing and turning most of the night), I dreamt a crazy dream. I awoke remembering the dream which took us to Colombia and as we prepared ourselves for the meeting of our children, we were meeting with the Colombian officials who continued to stall the meeting. We were so eager to meet our children and could hear their voices around the corner in the next room but the Colombian and adoption agency officials would not allow us to meet them just yet. They kept saying they needed to tell us more of the children's situation, etc., but they found it hard to explain to us. Finally one of the Colombian officials told us that they didn't know how to tell us this but they had it wrong all along... that the baby girl wasn't a baby girl but instead was a baby boy. So in the dream I was shocked and doing my best to handle the fact that we now had a baby boy waiting in the next room, and that all the pink dresses and patent leathers we had brought would not work, we'd now need boy stuff... then I awoke. I shared the silly dream with Rick and he blamed it completely on what his mom's statement of wishing it was a baby boy. Reality indicates the dream was God's way of preparing us for what was to come, because later that day we received a phone call from our agency letting us know they confused the children and their ages, and confirmed that the baby was a boy, not a baby girl as earlier indicated. (But who knew because I do encounter some far-fetched dreams from time to time.)
When they called with the confirmed information on the children, we were also told of their names, which stayed the same upon adopting them. We chose to keep their first and middle birth names intact in order to preserve their Colombian-born identities, being respectful to their birthmother for naming them, and remaining consistent with their identities as they've always known them. This just worked right for our family and upon hearing each child's name was something we never wished to change. Actually, God answered prayers as I lay in bed that night before that crazy dream. I prayed that the little girl would have the name Dayana. Why, you ask? Well, since my middle name is Diane, I prayed my adopted daughter would come to us with the spanish version which is Dayana, and prayers were answered! Thank you Jesus! The next day brought news that my daughter's name is Karen Dayana! Cool, huh! Isn't God just so awesome?!!!!
Such blessings have come in knowing these three children:
******* Fabian Jesus, Karen Dayana, and Luis Alejandro *******
They have been little treasures to our family and to their sister, Marissa Helena, We have so much to be thankful for! What a joy to be bonded together as a forever family! WOW, hard to believe it's approaching one year together as we will celebrate that milestone next month. Where does the time go? It definitely feels like it's going Fast Forward.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Seasons of Change
Ahhhh, the change of seasons. Well, here in Alaska it happens fast! All the sudden it's summer which means long days and little darkness, then it turns rainy for weeks and before you know it the blustery days set in eventually. Fall does create a majestic backdrop to the scenic Alaska landscape, and every Fall I cannot help but think of a funny thing Marissa told her Grandma on a "day-trip" they took years ago to view a nearby glacier to gaze at the lovely Fall sights when Marissa was about 4 years old. As they drove and oooohhhed and aaaahhhhed at the beautiful tree colorations, Marissa became very excited and blurted out, "GRANDMA, God is in the trees!" Well, my mother was driving along and wondered what her granddaughter was talking about because Marissa continued to say this over and over... "Grandma, can't you see it? God is in the trees!" Well, my mother kept looking in the directions Marissa was peering, but she saw nothing but trees. After seeking and searching the treeline for God to appear, and dealing with Marissa growing more and more agitated because her Grandma obviously didn't see God in those trees, the mystery was finally solved but it took some ingenuity and creative thinking. What she was saying was that GOLD is in the trees, and with her little accent back then it made it virtually impossible to understand her words at times.
So every Fall I am reminded that GOD is in the trees, and it brings a smile to my face knowing that a loving Father is nearby! To my many friends out there, remind yourselves of this as you take in the beauty of the Fall colors, and perhaps even search the treeline for God, or Zacchaeus, or simply marvel at the gold in the trees.
(Just an added note: We have settled into our indefinite relocation at the warmer weather residence and I'll be blogging on that soon, for the many people who have been out there praying for our family. The kids and I love the sunshine and warmth, and I'm so excited to have my family reunited, although I am back in Alaska currently packing and putting the final touches to unfinished business I left behind. I'll again meet back up with the family next week.)
So every Fall I am reminded that GOD is in the trees, and it brings a smile to my face knowing that a loving Father is nearby! To my many friends out there, remind yourselves of this as you take in the beauty of the Fall colors, and perhaps even search the treeline for God, or Zacchaeus, or simply marvel at the gold in the trees.
(Just an added note: We have settled into our indefinite relocation at the warmer weather residence and I'll be blogging on that soon, for the many people who have been out there praying for our family. The kids and I love the sunshine and warmth, and I'm so excited to have my family reunited, although I am back in Alaska currently packing and putting the final touches to unfinished business I left behind. I'll again meet back up with the family next week.)
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