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!

Another step!

Rioting has finally let up enough to get some progress made. The birth mom has officially signed her last document! The next step is to transfer Ooley to Chances for Children, which is planned for Wednesday the 19th. Bobby will be visiting Ooley regularly to help him adapt to his new surroundings.

We are filling out the applications and other needed documents to get the official adoption process moving now! With that comes the fees. So we will be planning some things in the near future that you may want to be involved in. Of course, we will keep you posted as soon as we know something!

Thanks for your continued prayers for Ooley and us!

All in a year's time

One year ago today an earthquake shook Haiti.
One year ago we felt God calling us to adopt from Haiti.
Haiti still sits in ruins and the people still need a lot of help.
Our son still sits in Haiti, but coming home is getting closer!

Ooley's birth mom has signed everything needed and all is well! With today being the anniversary of the earthquake, a lot of places are closed. Ooley's move into Chances for Children is set for this Friday! We are super excited to get him moved and get this really moving forward. But we ask that you please pray for Ooley through this next step. He's going through a lot of transitions in this process and we are believing for him to remain stable emotionally and never feel abandoned. We anticipate the remainder of the adoption process to go quickly and smoothly. We are beleiving for things to move at God speed!

We will be applying for some grants to aid in the adoption, please pray for favor. God has more than enough and we trust that He will provide everything needed to bring Ooley home.

Thanks for your continued support! More news to come as soon as we know it!

Haiti time beats to a different drum

We are learning Haiti time is definitely different than our time. Also learning that things there are way less organized and structured than here too. The birth mom has been to court, but some other things are needed. Bobby will be traveling back to her home town with her to get her original birth certificate and returning with it to Port au Prince. This will take approximately three days travel for them at our expense. Once she arrives back to Port au Prince, the birth mom will go to social services and sign her final document to release her rights. Then Ooley can be moved into Chances For Children finally.

Dr. Jack is the CFC director and must be present for Ooley's move. He returns to the U.S. in a week...actually 6 days now. We must get the birth mom to finish up the things needed quickly in order to move Ooley soon. Otherwise, we would have to wait until Dr. Jack's next trip and don't know when that would be. Things are still moving....just very slowly it seems. Things seem to change literally every day as far as what is needed and who needs to be where to make this transfer possible.

Please continue to pray for this situation. Also for Ooley to adapt easy to all that is going on. We won't be trying to figure out anything regarding the rumor of an older brother until Ooley is secure in CFC.

The financial strain has begun, but we know that God has a plan. If you have fundraising ideas, please contact me asap amber@salonendeavor.com . You can donate by clicking the link on this blog or can go to any Communication Federal Credit Union and make a deposit into the Amber and Daniel Johnson Adoption Fund. Most important is your continued prayers.

It's hard to understand the emotional side of this process unless you are in it. Please understand that we are very excited about all that is going on, but are also dealing with a lot of emotions as well. That is the main reason for this blog. Please share this blog with anyone who would like to follow our adoption process. Answering hundreds of questions a day about it is not emotionally easy. Please understand that we really do appreciate each of you and your support. Thanks so much, we love you all!

Here we go!!!!!!!

Here's the latest news! Ooley's birth mom is in Port Au Prince and has met with Mr. Beetoven (an attorney for Chances For Children) once this week. They are supposed to be meeting in the court Friday for her to sign all the documents needed to release Ooley. The birth mom is 22 years old and the birth father passed away due to an illness. Bobby allowed the birth mom to see Ooley once he was confident that she would not try to stop the adoption process. I'm still not sure how that went. But Bobby says he sees no possible problems.

We were also informed that Ooley has a 5 year old brother at Good Sam as well. We will be having someone small talk with the brother and ask if he has any siblings. If he knows that Ooley is his brother and knows that he has been moved from Good Sam, we could be looking at adopting him as well. The situations in Haiti are much different than here, and it's very possible that he doesn't know he has siblings. We've said from the beginning that we won't split up siblings. So, if they know about each other then we will do what we feel is best and not split them up. As scary of a thought that it might be to deal with Madem Lucine again and to possibly be adopting another child, we will follow our hearts on this one whichever way that might be.

Madem Lucine has proven to not be completely honest, but she no longer has any power to stop things at this point. She hasn't given money to birth mom as we had agreed. Everything is a money issue with Madem Lucine now, and that's okay because we can still move forward with or without her help. We still owe her some money and will follow through will our end, as it's the honest thing to do.

The way things are looking right now, Ooley will be moved to his new home for the adoption process at Chances For Children on Friday! That means the official adoption process can begin! We have contacted the adoption agency and are getting the ball rolling on the U.S. end now too! I've told them that our goal is to have Ooley here at home before next Christmas. They told me that although that seems to be a "lofty goal", let's get on it and shoot for it! They must not understand how amazing my God is, or they would know that this is going to be the most amazingly quick and simple adoption process they will ever have handled! Plus, we have ALL of you backing us up in prayer too!

Financial funds are going to be needed quickly, so if you have fundraising ideas or would like to make a donation please let us know! Thanks for all your prayers and support!

Let's get this going! HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Slow pace is better than no pace

Things may be moving slow, but at least they are still moving along! We talked to Bobby this morning and Ooley is still doing well! He's enjoying playing with Bobby's nephew still, and I'm sure he's enjoying being fed! I think Daniel is still processing his recent trip to Haiti, because talking about his experience with Ooley has not be easy or detailed. As soon as he is able and willing, I hope to get him to blog about it.

We are still waiting for the birth mother to arrive to sign the documents needed on her behalf. Madam Lucine keeps saying she's on her way, but does not seem to have accurate information or urgency. Bobby has been in contact with our attorney in Haiti and they have Ooley's birth certificate and the birth father's death certificate already. All we need is the birth mother's part and Ooley can then be placed in the Chances For Children and the adoption process can start.

Part of me wishes that Ooley could just stay with Bobby's family through the adoption process. But we understand that Chances For Children is the place for the adoption process to work best. Please pray for Ooley through all this moving around. Pray that he adjusts easily to each new place. Pray that Ooley will know our love and the love of God wrapping him in His arms. Pray for Bobby as he is helping us in this process. And please continue to pray for us. This is harder emotionally than I think either of us are willing to admit. We want our son here, home. But in the mean time, we are trusting that God is working out the details in His perfect timing.

Thank you for your continued support. If you have ideas to help raise funds for this process, please contact me at amber@salonendeavor.com

Daniel is home, and the ball is still rolling!

Daniel made it home safe on Saturday afternoon! Man, does he have stories to tell! Maybe I can get him to blog about his experience....maybe all of you should tell him you want to hear it so that he will :)

Although we were hoping for more to be able to be accomplished before he left Haiti, we are thankful for the progress that was made. Here's the short of it:

Bobby picked up Ooley on Saturday before lunch time and will continue to to care for him until able to place him in Chances For Children, the Creche (adoptable orphanage). Bobby will be our voice and the person able to help meet with anyone needed and take Ooley wherever necessary. Bobby called Daniel this morning and said that Ooley is happy and was eating breakfast and enjoying playing with Bobby's nephew. It's good to know that Ooley will be fed and taken care of from here out!

Expected to happen today, Ooley's birth mom will be meeting with Madam Lucine in the courts to sign some documents to relinquish her rights. Then she will need to meet with Chances For Children and their attorneys as well. Ooley's official birth certificate, the relinquish papers from the birth mother, and the death certificate of the birth father must all be gathered before we are able to move Ooley to CFC and start the adoption process. Please pray that all documents are easily acquired and that the birth mom will be easy to work with as well.

We will be needing to travel to Haiti quite a bit during this process, but Bobby has already been and will continue to be a great help! If you have any fundraising ideas, please contact me via email at amber@salonendeavor.com . We have been told the rough estimate will be $25,000 for the adoption, not including all this preliminary stuff or our travel. Of course we are believing that this process will go way faster than the 12-18 months they say, and way less expensive than they say as well. But these are the facts at the current time and we'll let you know when we hear otherwise.

Overwhelmed but still trusting

Things in Haiti are changing by the hour. The UN had originally thought the riots and barricades would calm down by late afternoon yesterday. But it turns out that things got worse over night. It's hard for us to understand why the Haitian people would do these things because they aren't happy with something, but that's the only way they know. The people who aren't happy are determined to let their "voice be heard" somehow. Apparently their way to be heard is to demonstrate their anger by blocking roads, as if the overwhelming smell of burning tires is going help matters. However, their demonstrations and attempts to shut Haiti down has been successful so far.

Daniel has told me that he is safe, but unable to get to Ooley. All flights are still canceled. If at all possible, someone will be getting Ooley to Daniel some time today. But with all the roads blocked we aren't sure who could do that at this time. Courts are still closed and everyone, especially those who aren't Haitian, are being encouraged to stay put and not attempt to travel.

I know Daniel and Ooley are not only safe in God's hands, but that they have some of the best people able to help them if something extreme is necessary. They've been told that U.S. Marines will be brought in to help clear the barricades and stop the rioting demonstrations, but no timeline has been given last I've heard. Daniel has been in contact with me with any information he knows and if he's able to have a second of Internet access has been posting updates on his Facebook. I'll stay on it the best I can from my end too.

We are still in contact with Chances For Children, but are just all having to sit and wait at this point. Waiting is not fun.

Please pray for Daniel and Ooley's safety, as well as everyone with them. This is another reminder to not take our freedom here in America for granted. Pray for the troops that will be traveling to Haiti to help the Haitian people too.

Thanks everyone for your messages and comments on Facebook and for your texts. Knowing that you are praying and supporting us gives us strength to endure. This will all make for a really cool story later I'm sure!

Riots have stopped the transfer Ooley for tonight.

Daniel and the people with him were headed to get Ooley from Good Sam when it became too dangerous. The roads were beginning to be blocked and it was too unsafe to continue. They had to negotiate to be allowed to leave the area they were in when they turned back to head to safety. So, Ooley is still at Good Sam and Daniel and the others are now back at their rooms and will remain there the rest of the evening. It is getting dark there and nothing more can be accomplished safely. Ooley's transfer to Bobby's house will resume tomorrow.

Please pray that all goes well tonight. Pray that Ooley is safe and taken care of and knows we love him. Pray for Daniel's safety and good health for tonight and the rest of the trip. Pray for the riots to end so the roads will be open and they can move Ooley first thing in the morning. And for the riots to end so flights can resume as well. This is not easy, but this is where we trust that God holds us and Ooley.

Expecting miracles and more good news tomorrow!