Today, another waiting family lost their child before they could bring him home.

I cannot imagine the loss they feel.

That's 2 babies within one month who've gone to heaven,
to rest in their Heavenly Father's arms,
before their adopting parents could love them here on earth.

heartbreaking

The Haitian Senate is now in session,
deciding, among other things, the fate of a new adoption law.
What this means for us is this:
If the law is updated, doing away with the need for presidential dispensation,
our file (in theory) can be removed from the president's desk and moved on through the process.
That is, if it hasn't already been signed by him and we just don't know it.

We received our I-171H extension today, which is United States Citizenship and Immigration's approval for us, as a family, to generically adopt 2 children, ages 0-10 years old, with or without special needs.

The next step?
(for things we have some sense of control over)
To file the I-600 with the U.S. Embassy in Haiti in March.
This is a plea to the USCIS to recognize Dimmy's orphan status and prepare to review all Haitian court and official documents related to our adoption, ultimately allowing him visa status and entrance into the United States as our child.

I'm tellin' ya, he is coming home this year.

I'm preparing to travel to Jacmel in a few short weeks with a surgical team,

and while they graciously offered to find transportation for me to Fondwa,

I have declined.

WHAT????

Hang on.

Let me explain.

When we last saw Dimitry in June,

a whole different level of bonding occurred.

We were family

and it was very, very hard to leave him.

There is no way I'm going to drop in on him for a couple of hours and then leave again.

He won't understand

and I won't risk hurting him.

We will return,

as a family,

soon

and then we will just be there for him.

Please remember the children without homes in your prayers.

Not just my little boy,

but all children who wonder if a mommy or daddy will ever love them
for who they are.

For those without enough,

for those who suffer needlessly,

for those who question their self-worth and their right to be loved . . .

and those who go home to heaven without ever having the opportunity to be part of a family.