48 days and counting...

As we count down our days for our next trip to Haiti, we have been making some changes in our own little world.

It's amazing the shift that takes place in one's life when they decide family is more important than things. They start realizing all the things they can go without. Many of us don't realize just how blessed we are to have that things we have in our country, most of which we don't really need. Everything has a "bundle" package these days to "save" us money, and it seems everything can be given in a larger size with only a dollar. With so many things surrounding us screaming for attention, how can we not have those things?

Well, we decided we can go without several things and have been shifting our view of our "must haves". A few short months ago, the thought of living without dvr and enough tv channels to keep me flipping from show to show for days, would have made me feel boring and old fashioned. But it's been pretty liberating to not be tied to all the hours of shows we used to watch on a regular basis. Making smarter choices, like trading our Tahoe for a smaller more efficient car, have not necessarily come without at least one tear shed (I, Amber admit to having been pretty attached to that car). But when we think of all the money we will be saving to provide a better future for our son, every choice gets easier.

In no way at all am I implying that everyone needs to get rid of their extra things in life. In no way am I implying that everyone should go back to the simpler way of doing things. All I know is that in our own lives, we have taken a step back and looked at our options to help provide the best we can give for Ooley. Minimizing has been liberating already, and I'm sure we'll come up with more to sale or do away with as we go! I'm sure that after being able to see him again soon, we'll be more willing cut back in more areas. It's hard to explain why it's getting easier to part with things, the best explanation is that love is proving to be bigger than things.

We are working on the details of how to coordinate spending time with Ooley while on our Haiti trip coming soon. It's not as easy as renting a car and just driving back and forth, or renting a hotel. Please pray that Haiti will be in a peaceful state that will allow for easy and safe travel for us to be able to spend as much time as possible with Ooley. We are SO excited and ready to go now!

In the mean time, we are doing what we can do here. The adoption process from here out seems to be pretty much a lot of paper and money swapping and waiting for approval through each step. And we are heading forward as fast as we can, still believing to have Ooley home by Christmas. The "Help bring Ooley home by eating at Harry Bears" (in Moore) started today! Please plan to eat there any time, any day, now through close of Sunday May 1st. Tell your server you are eating there to help bring Ooley home, and they will donate 10% of your ticket price to Ooley's adoption fund! Visit www.harrybears.com/ for a glimpse at their menu & location information.

Thanks for your continued prayers and support through this process. It hasn't all been easy, but it's all worth it!

Papers Papers Everywhere!

What's been going on??? A whirlwind of gathering documents and meeting with people. From proof of dogs shots from the vet, to a psych evaluation. From referral letters, to finger prints. SO much stuff has to be gathered and everything must be certified or notarized. It's been pretty fun running all around town making sure we get the right things at the right time (enter sarcasm here). Totally worth it all though without a doubt! We still have a few documents left to gather. Got one more referral letter coming and some blood work to be done. But Daniel has to get well before we can get his physical done that's needed. Poor guy has definitely had a rough go the last few weeks with Strep& H1N1 at the same time, and now bronchitis. Trust me when I say that the devil is throwing out ALL the stops to try to keep this adoption from proceeding! Like a beating from all sides, but kinda funny to step back and look at the attempts like it's actually possible to shut this down. I said kinda. Thankful that God knows what's up, even when we don't! Ooley has a bed! Our home is officially deemed "ready" for a child via our home study recently. Now they are processing all the documents they need to get the ball rolling as fast as possible. Things in Haiti can change rapidly with all the re-voting of Presidential election and everything else that goes on in a third world country. So, we are choosing the extra fees that come along with it expediting the process to get ahead of what changes could come. The adoption agency and orphanage are ready and waiting to rush their end as soon as we get our dossier (tons of documents basically) together! Ooley is healthy and happy! They update us on his health and skills at least once a month, and he's doing great! There's another little girl in the same orphanage as him and they say he mimics everything she does and it picking up on a lot. Everyone that goes to visit Ooley tells of how precious he is. Can't wait to go see him again! We are going back to Haiti in June with Victory Church, but are coordinating how we can spend a lot of time with Ooley as well. Excited doesn't even begin to describe our anticipation for this trip! In case you haven't heard, we are having another fundraiser! Any time APRIL 16TH THRU MAY 1ST, EAT AT HARRY BEARS IN MOORE (2113 Riverwalk Drive- just off I-35 at 19th) and mention that you are eating there to "Help Bring Ooley Home" and they will donate 10% off your ticket total to the Ooley fund! Plan your lunches, date nights, and group gatherings there, and please pass the word along! Check out their menu at http://www.harrybears.com/ and call to reserve a space for larger groups. Whew, it seems like a lot is happening, but most of it is running from here to there. Please continue to pray that things all go smoothly. Please pray the the attacks with attempt to bring us down will stop! It hasn't been easy, but our God is greater! Thanks for your continued support of our endeavor to Bring Ooley Home!