News update

9:00....adoptive parents madly rush to concord G so we can be waiting

9:15......all sorts of media crews are trying to get 'the latest'

10:00.......still exchanging stories and meeting everyone

10:45ish...........learn that plane leaves PAP

76...............number of people that gives us funny looks cuz there is this big group just hanging out

11:00.........media camera's have left and gone to bed

11:30.........airlines brought dunkin donauts and coffee

11:45.........counter staff all gone

12:00 midnight..........found the asian rug gallery

12:00............running out of things to talk about

12:30am............cleaning staff are all gone

12:52............KIDS LANDED ON THE GROUND

1:30........took our 24th picture of us sitting around........doing nothing

1:47................start walking around outside

2:12..........realize gift shop is closed

3:00................realize subway is open

3:10................was told about 10 of 80 kids are 'processed' with fingerprints

3:09..................subway was awesome..............might need a second trip

3:12..............Crystal has the hiccups

3:15.............regretting trips to subway

3:16....................we're going to watch some hulu on the computer.

3:17.................just got an email............who is sending emails at this hour???

Okay..........we're having lots of fun............it's all part of the story...................can't wait to meet the kids :)

Here, In Miami, Waiting

Here it is folks, the announcement!
Steve and I are in Miami, sitting by the pool waiting for a flight from PortAuPrince. We had the awesome and unexpected priveledge of flying by charter plane down here. What a treat! Probably once in a lifetime. So I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. The reality of a new little person is starting to sink it.
I started to get scared about him flying "by himself." Would he be petrified, traumatized or just awestruck? Then I found out that Dixie and some of the GLA staff were flying with them. What a blessing! They are being loved all the way to their forever families :)
Their plane is supposed to land at 9:40pm. Then we will deal with customs/immigration etc. The plan is for them to return to our hotels with us and then we will fly out at 11am. THat is barring any complications with paperwork, health etc. So as of now we are flying into GRR at 1:30-2ish tomorrow afternoon. Watch this blog for an update if you want to join us there. We will know more exact times tomorrow a.m.
FYI, you can meet Marcus, but we will be hogging him when it comes to cuddles.
Thanks for making this journey with us. We love you all
Steve and Crystal (and Marcus)

Wahoo!!!

It looks like the official directive from Homeland Security and the department of state has been given. They are going to issue visas for people that meet certain criteria.
Praise the Lord, we meet them.
So now I just need to gather paperwork from various places, send it to Homeland security and wait for their approval.
So it may be a couple weeks or so but it is almost official. . .
MARCUS IS COMING HOME.
Thank you all for your prayers.

The Ups and Downs

Holy cow, the ups and downs are killing me. There is all sorts of rumors flying around. I will tell you what we know . . . from reliable sources.
1. The Dutch government has approved all kids with families waiting to be evacuated to the Netherlands today. From a couple strong sources but unconfirmed, the Haitian government has released all these children including the ones from the US.
2. The US department of state and homeland security have yet to approve the children to come into the US. If they are to do so, they will need to decide which children can come. It will most likely be decided by a "cut-off" point in the adoption process. It looks like it will either be "referral accepted" or "adoption legalized." We have reached the first point for sure and there is a slim chance we have the second. Pray that we do have a legalized adoption.
Continue to pray, Marcus may be coming home sooner than expected.
Pray for my peace of mind. I need to think about other things and go on with life but am having a hard time doing so.
I just keep thinking of how this is all going to pan out.
And then I remember that I have a God who controls this all. And he loves me. And he loves Marcus. And he is the one who called us to be a family.
In Christ,
Crystal

I found this picture on Dixie's facebook and quickly recognized the most handsome little man I know. It was taken on the 15th of this month. It amazes me how well the kids seem to be doing. They really have been trying to keep them in their routines. It is so fun for me to see pictures of Marcus with his little friends. Onto the updates, the real reason you check this blog.

1. Thank you so much for all your support. The emails, phone calls, hugs and tears are all so appreciated. For those of you who know me, sharing my life like this is not always easy but sharing has never been such a blessing. Never have I felt so strongly the support of my community. My family had a wonderful prayer time today and the support of our adoption group at church as been overwhelming. Thank you Thank you Thank you

2. The US government seems to be working to get humanitarian visas for all kids that have adoptive families. Pray that this may be true. It would mean that the kids could come home soon and have their adoptions completed here. It would be such a good move, in order to create more room in the orphanages for the many new orphans that are sure to surface. However, we are dependant of governments being logical and we know how that goes. :)

3. The orphanage is doing okay but will be running low on supplies. Pray for our spirit as we wait. It is hard to hear that they are rationing water and doing half portions of food in preparation for the coming weeks. He is a Deters and you know how much our kids eat :) If you feel spirit-led to give you can do so here http://godslittlestangelsinhaiti.org/

So all in all, we have a spirit of hope. Hope that this disaster will allow a country like Haiti to rebuild, stronger than it ever was. Hope that this disaster will show people the love of Christ. Hope that the humanitarian efforts can reach those who need it most. Hope for Marcus and the possibility of him joining us soon.

Pray that the government would move fast on this. Not so much for our family but for the orphanages. If they get an influx of children, they just would not be able to care for them all. Pray for the spirit of the people of Haiti. Pray that they will turn to cooperation, not greed or violence. Pray for Steve and I. In times of stress, it is easy to turn on one another, pray we turn towards each other. Pray for Marcus and peace and preparation for his little heart.

Thank you all. I will close with a song that has carried me through many rough moments in the past five days. May it serve as a reminder to you as well.

"Tis better far I should walk by faith close to his side.

I may not know the way to go, but oh I know my guide.

His love can never fail, his love can never fail.

My soul is satified to know his love can never fail."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgpD5_JvthU

(Ironically, the only video I can find of this song is of an orphange in Haiti.) WOW, crazy.

I have been working on The Divine Hours/Daily offices prayers and this one was for my noontime prayers today. I found it most appropriate, I wonder why.

Almighty God, who has promised to hear the petitions of those who ask in your Son's name: I beseech you mercifully to incline your ear to me who have made my prayers and supplications to you; and grant that those things which I have faithfully asked according to your will, I may effectually obtain, to the relief of my necessity, and to the setting forth of your glory; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen

I have felt such a peace in the past two days and that I attribute to your prayers. I can honestly say, I have never felt the power of prayer so real in my life. I can feel your concern for Steve and I through your prayers carrying us.

In spite of all the wonder and chaos, I am fine. I have a God who has this under control. He knows what needs to happen to get Marcus home. And he will do it according to his will.

On a much lighter note, Marcus was on the Today Show on Wednesday. It was crazy, two good friends called and asked it was him and I told them no. Then I watched the picture closer and sure enough, there he was. Here is the clip, see if you can pick him out. Kind of like a happy I SPY.

www.msnbc.com/id/21134540/vp/34838824#34838342

Grace and Peace to you all, my dear friends

YAHOO!!!!!

We passed Parquet. We have been approved by yet another Haitian government agency. Our paperwork now goes to the court system so our adoption of Marcus can be approved.
Praise God. One dear friend was here when I got the call and she said "It seems like God brings you to the brink of despair every time." And then I get good news and hope is restored.