How long are parents, parents?
After arriving back to Haiti we were so happy to be with Dor and Grayson under one roof. My parents were here and we just left Doug’s parents in Ohio. All I could think about is how new and different our lives are and how long we will be parents…. Which made me think about what our parents have done for us, especially this past year. Both of our parents have adult children and have been married for over 30 years, yet they still are parents and continue to make sacrifices for their adult children. In my independent little mind, I think that I should be able to live my life, make my own path, do my own thing without needing my parents. But this season of life is different. At one point, I was a babe and couldn’t stand, then couldn’t tie my own shoes, then I would rely on them to take me to practice, teach me to drive and the next thing I knew, I was married and living on my own. This season is new and I no longer need them for things I once did, now I have different obstacles and trials that they continue to help us with. I don’t have to ask, they are just always here, like a net underneath a tight rope, or an umbrella to cover us from the rain. They don’t have to, they raised us and we are adults, it’s not their responsibility anymore, but they want to, because they love us. I am thankful that our parents are who they are and how giving they are, not only to us, but to our siblings too. They are always teaching us how to be good parents by how they treat us and others. Now, as a new parent, I realize how much they put us first, just in the first year of our lives. They made our plates first, fed us first, bathed us first, bought things for us first, covered our needs first, all before themselves. Such unselfish and unconditional love. I look back and remember saying many times, “I will never say that,” or “I will never do that.” But guess what? I have become my mother….and Doug, his father. And parts of my dad and his mom also continue to shine through. I consider our parents to be amazing, faithful servants with not many faults ….. We are very protective of them, and though we may be able to pick on them, we don’t like it when others do. I think that’s how they feel about us. Always protective of their children no matter how old we get. I pray that someday our boys can think the same of us. I pray that they will see us as people they want to be. So, I pray also that each day, we can become more like our Heavenly Father, so the more we become like Him, the more our boys will become like Him. Thanks Mom and Dad Riedel and Mom and Dad Reichley for the sacrifices you have made for us this past year and throughout our lives. Also, for reminding us that parents are parents FOREVER, no matter how old our children get and not because we have to be, but, because we WANT to be. We pray blessings cover you and hope you will be proud of how we raise the boys in the Lord.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Grayson is growing!
Grayson had his one month well-baby check up on September 10th and is growing just perfectly. He weighed in at 9.98 lbs, and was 21 inches long!
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We received Grayson's birth certificate and have applied for his passport. We're hoping to have it and return to Haiti at the end of October. We can't wait to see Dor and introduce him to his baby brother in person! Grandma Rita is there with him now, so we know he's in good hands.
Here are a few more fun pictures with our new camera. It can single out colors like red and make the rest black and white! Very fun, especially with the boys.
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We received Grayson's birth certificate and have applied for his passport. We're hoping to have it and return to Haiti at the end of October. We can't wait to see Dor and introduce him to his baby brother in person! Grandma Rita is there with him now, so we know he's in good hands.
Here are a few more fun pictures with our new camera. It can single out colors like red and make the rest black and white! Very fun, especially with the boys.
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Sunday, August 16, 2009
Baby boy is here!
Grayson Douglas Reichley was born Thursday, August 13, 2009 at 4:05pm. He weighed 6 lbs and 7 oz, 19 inches long. He's got lots of dark hair and is beautiful and perfect!
Amy's water broke at her parents' house in SC on Thursday morning around 9am. Her and Doug had gotten the okay to travel down for a visit after their Tuesday appointment with the baby Dr. He just said to get out and walk around every two hours, so their trip to visit in SC was a go.
Uncle Don got to drive them to the hospital, he's taken a load of credit for that. Amy did an awesome job and only pushed for 13 minutes after laboring for part of the day. Doug cut the cord and is a very proud Daddy.
Doug's parents drove up from vacationing in FL to meet Grayson when he was just over an hour old. Amy's parents, Great-Grandpap Riedel, Aunt April & Uncle Don all live in SC so were there for the big event too.
I (Aunt Anna) was able to meet Grayson and got to hold him most of Friday morning. (I did let Uncle Todd, Austin, and Luke hold him for just a minute!) He's just wonderful and cute and precious and all the things a baby boy should be. He's a peanut!
Doug, Amy, and Grayson are staying at her parents' house for now. Grayson and Amy left the hospital Saturday evening and Grayson will see a pediatrician on Monday for a check up. Everyone is doing well!
Thank you all for the prayers that were said for Amy and baby Grayson, and for Doug and big brother Dor. Scroll down for pictures.
~Aunt Anna
Amy's water broke at her parents' house in SC on Thursday morning around 9am. Her and Doug had gotten the okay to travel down for a visit after their Tuesday appointment with the baby Dr. He just said to get out and walk around every two hours, so their trip to visit in SC was a go.
Uncle Don got to drive them to the hospital, he's taken a load of credit for that. Amy did an awesome job and only pushed for 13 minutes after laboring for part of the day. Doug cut the cord and is a very proud Daddy.
Doug's parents drove up from vacationing in FL to meet Grayson when he was just over an hour old. Amy's parents, Great-Grandpap Riedel, Aunt April & Uncle Don all live in SC so were there for the big event too.
I (Aunt Anna) was able to meet Grayson and got to hold him most of Friday morning. (I did let Uncle Todd, Austin, and Luke hold him for just a minute!) He's just wonderful and cute and precious and all the things a baby boy should be. He's a peanut!
Doug, Amy, and Grayson are staying at her parents' house for now. Grayson and Amy left the hospital Saturday evening and Grayson will see a pediatrician on Monday for a check up. Everyone is doing well!
Thank you all for the prayers that were said for Amy and baby Grayson, and for Doug and big brother Dor. Scroll down for pictures.
~Aunt Anna
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Dear Friends,
Due to the heat Doug decided to send Amy to the states a little earlier than planned. She is now in Ohio with our families and is in AC! She will see her doctor on Tuesday at 10am and continue with prenatal care in the states until she delivers around Sept 1. She was very miserable here and it was difficult for her to function. She also had no appetite and hopefully she is bouncing back and getting the food that her and the baby both need. Doug will join up with her beginning of Aug.
June 26 Amy's friend April visits from Columbus
June 27 Celine's Birthday party in Xenia
June 30 Dr. Appt
July 3 Amy's sis, Anna and nephew, Luke come to Doug's parent's (Xenia, Oh) for the weekend
July 4 Family fun & FOOD & fireworks at Amy's Uncle & Aunt Dawson's Shawnee Lake Jamestown, Oh
July 5 Enjoying worship at church JCC, going to sis's in Akron, OH for the week with nephews Austin and Luke.
July 6 Austin's baseball game (W in extra innings)
July 8 Austin's Last baseball game (L in extra innings)
July 10 Relax at Water Works with Austin, Luke & Anna
July 12 Enjoying worship at Anna's church, going back to Doug's parents in Xenia
July 14 Dr. Appt
...More TBA
Please pray for the following:
1. Amy's mom Rita is helping in Haiti with Doug the Guest House and Dor. She & Doug will return to the states after all the teams leave for the summer around July 25.
2. There are MANY teams scheduled for July, pray that Doug does a great job coordinating what they will be doing while in Haitian and he doesn't get overwhelmed.
3. All missionaries will be going out either in July or Aug for furlough. Pray for safe travels and the Haitians understand we will return.
4. Eye Doc Ryan, and Phys Asst. Teresa are due with first baby July 4. As of today still have not heard that have had her. Pray for safe delivery in the states.
**Still need eye docs to fill in for Ryan while he is on maternity leave. email if you know of someone.
5. Our new director of CV (ED) and his wife (PAT) the director of the English academy HAVE ARRIVED. Pray that they not get too overwhelmed with the transition and language training.
6. Our CV Mazda truck just blew up while our new director (ED) was driving it this week. We wanted to give him a warm welcome!! However this was not the plan of a warm welcome. We are in DESPERATE need of a vehicle and have been for many months after the breaks went out of it with guests in it. We hope to begin raising funds for the vehicle ASAP! The estimated amout to raise is $30k US.
7. Continuous prayer for the Haitian people and their everyday struggles. Pray that they turn to God with every need and they leave the VOODOO alone!
Love to all,
Doug, Amy, Dor & baby Reichley
twobuckeyesinhaiti@yahoo.com
Due to the heat Doug decided to send Amy to the states a little earlier than planned. She is now in Ohio with our families and is in AC! She will see her doctor on Tuesday at 10am and continue with prenatal care in the states until she delivers around Sept 1. She was very miserable here and it was difficult for her to function. She also had no appetite and hopefully she is bouncing back and getting the food that her and the baby both need. Doug will join up with her beginning of Aug.
June 26 Amy's friend April visits from Columbus
June 27 Celine's Birthday party in Xenia
June 30 Dr. Appt
July 3 Amy's sis, Anna and nephew, Luke come to Doug's parent's (Xenia, Oh) for the weekend
July 4 Family fun & FOOD & fireworks at Amy's Uncle & Aunt Dawson's Shawnee Lake Jamestown, Oh
July 5 Enjoying worship at church JCC, going to sis's in Akron, OH for the week with nephews Austin and Luke.
July 6 Austin's baseball game (W in extra innings)
July 8 Austin's Last baseball game (L in extra innings)
July 10 Relax at Water Works with Austin, Luke & Anna
July 12 Enjoying worship at Anna's church, going back to Doug's parents in Xenia
July 14 Dr. Appt
...More TBA
Please pray for the following:
1. Amy's mom Rita is helping in Haiti with Doug the Guest House and Dor. She & Doug will return to the states after all the teams leave for the summer around July 25.
2. There are MANY teams scheduled for July, pray that Doug does a great job coordinating what they will be doing while in Haitian and he doesn't get overwhelmed.
3. All missionaries will be going out either in July or Aug for furlough. Pray for safe travels and the Haitians understand we will return.
4. Eye Doc Ryan, and Phys Asst. Teresa are due with first baby July 4. As of today still have not heard that have had her. Pray for safe delivery in the states.
**Still need eye docs to fill in for Ryan while he is on maternity leave. email if you know of someone.
5. Our new director of CV (ED) and his wife (PAT) the director of the English academy HAVE ARRIVED. Pray that they not get too overwhelmed with the transition and language training.
6. Our CV Mazda truck just blew up while our new director (ED) was driving it this week. We wanted to give him a warm welcome!! However this was not the plan of a warm welcome. We are in DESPERATE need of a vehicle and have been for many months after the breaks went out of it with guests in it. We hope to begin raising funds for the vehicle ASAP! The estimated amout to raise is $30k US.
7. Continuous prayer for the Haitian people and their everyday struggles. Pray that they turn to God with every need and they leave the VOODOO alone!
Love to all,
Doug, Amy, Dor & baby Reichley
twobuckeyesinhaiti@yahoo.com
Monday, May 4, 2009
AFTER ONE YEAR IN HAITI…..
Doug and I have now been living in Haiti for over a year. We have been asked to give an update on all that we have experienced this past year. I couldn’t begin to tell you each month how we have been brought down by Satan and our Heavenly Father faithfully brings us back up each time. We have been laughed at, cursed, stolen from, yelled at and talked about, asked for things and begged from. We have seen poverty and nakedness and starvation, pedestrians ran over and left in the road with a tree branch in front of them, heard drums of Voodoo Ceremonies in the evenings for weeks on end. We have driven through Rah Rah’s and had babies dropped of at our doorsteps for a chance in life. We have dealt with children and adults suffering from HIV, STDs, and the aftermaths of abortions, hurricanes and floods. We have recently lost communication to teams coming in and the U.S. by having our main laptop and back up computer both getting viruses and crashing. Nothing could have prepared us for the stories that we can now tell…we couldn’t have pushed forward without laying it down to Christ. He is our protector and our fortress. He is our deliver…in Him we must trust.
While living in the United States it’s very hard to DAILY live by Faith. It is hard to ask for guidance from our God. We have it figured out. We have it planned and on a flowchart. We have directions mapped out with a click of a button. We have it scheduled and set in stone on a calendar. We have AAA when our truck breaks down and great insurance when devastation happens. We have police that we can run to if we have a problem without wondering if that police officer will kidnap up or assault us. We have lawyers that have rules and regulations they must follow. We have peace like no other. We have clean water that only if you live in Jamestown or Bowersville do you have to boil on occasion. We have speed limits and clocks on ever corner and wrist. We have organization and technology. We have government programs to prevent us from starving if we lose our jobs. We have banks that we know someone cannot steal out of our accounts. We have it all….and we can do it all by ourselves. Or so we thought. God has blessed our country tremendously. But Americans think that they can do it by themselves. It is easy to forget where we get our wealth and success and whose money and success it really belongs to. It is easy to forget where our blessings come from. It is easy to NOT live by Faith in America.
This past year God has shown us that things do not happen in our timing. We can’t plan according to what is convenient to us. We must follow His lead. One day might be planned and within a few moments, plans change and what you thought you were going to get accomplished that day is not at all what you get done. The generator breaks or a machine in the clinic is down, so that takes priority. The traffic says you really are going nowhere. Or when you try to plan to make a family your plans get all mixed up. Doug and I planned on having children of our own and then perhaps adopt children in need as God shows us. That was our plan. But God revealed to us a different course. As you may know I am pregnant with our first baby boy and am due September 1st. We had a great plan to go on maternity leave as the rest of the missionaries go on furlough in August. We had no worries as the mission would close for a short time. Now God has shown us a two year old little boy named Dorvensky (Dor) that needs a mommy and daddy. He has been in a nearby orphanage since he was 8 months old and the orphanage closed in December. God brought him to our home for what we thought was going to be a night, then plans changed again and turned into a week, and then God again changed our plans. We told God that this is not a convenient time for us to adopt. We are going on maternity leave and cannot take him with us. He will be confused and sad. He will not understand…. But God again told us different. God has sent people to care for him and love him. They will come and live in our home with him until we return to him. And so in God’s timing the adoption process has begun. Between getting pregnant, being endlessly ill in ridiculously hot climates and overnight becoming a mommy to a two year old, God continues to remind me that I have to walk by Faith and follow His lead. I can tell you amazing stories of how God works miracles or I can just remind you that we have NO control. It’s in God’s hands.
Please continue to pray for our growing family. Please also pray that our amazing financial supporters continue to see our ministry worthy of supporting. If you are currently supporting us…..WE THANK YOU for your unending encouragement thru notes, emails, gifts, fervent prayer and financial blessings.
Please continue to check out our monthly updates on our blog at www.twobuckeyesinhaiti.blogspot.com
Blessings,
Doug, Amy, Dor and Baby Reichley
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
If you would like to contribute to our cause please send your help to:
Haitian Christian Projects
Attn: Doug & Amy Reichley
808 Orphir St #7
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Doug and I have now been living in Haiti for over a year. We have been asked to give an update on all that we have experienced this past year. I couldn’t begin to tell you each month how we have been brought down by Satan and our Heavenly Father faithfully brings us back up each time. We have been laughed at, cursed, stolen from, yelled at and talked about, asked for things and begged from. We have seen poverty and nakedness and starvation, pedestrians ran over and left in the road with a tree branch in front of them, heard drums of Voodoo Ceremonies in the evenings for weeks on end. We have driven through Rah Rah’s and had babies dropped of at our doorsteps for a chance in life. We have dealt with children and adults suffering from HIV, STDs, and the aftermaths of abortions, hurricanes and floods. We have recently lost communication to teams coming in and the U.S. by having our main laptop and back up computer both getting viruses and crashing. Nothing could have prepared us for the stories that we can now tell…we couldn’t have pushed forward without laying it down to Christ. He is our protector and our fortress. He is our deliver…in Him we must trust.
While living in the United States it’s very hard to DAILY live by Faith. It is hard to ask for guidance from our God. We have it figured out. We have it planned and on a flowchart. We have directions mapped out with a click of a button. We have it scheduled and set in stone on a calendar. We have AAA when our truck breaks down and great insurance when devastation happens. We have police that we can run to if we have a problem without wondering if that police officer will kidnap up or assault us. We have lawyers that have rules and regulations they must follow. We have peace like no other. We have clean water that only if you live in Jamestown or Bowersville do you have to boil on occasion. We have speed limits and clocks on ever corner and wrist. We have organization and technology. We have government programs to prevent us from starving if we lose our jobs. We have banks that we know someone cannot steal out of our accounts. We have it all….and we can do it all by ourselves. Or so we thought. God has blessed our country tremendously. But Americans think that they can do it by themselves. It is easy to forget where we get our wealth and success and whose money and success it really belongs to. It is easy to forget where our blessings come from. It is easy to NOT live by Faith in America.
This past year God has shown us that things do not happen in our timing. We can’t plan according to what is convenient to us. We must follow His lead. One day might be planned and within a few moments, plans change and what you thought you were going to get accomplished that day is not at all what you get done. The generator breaks or a machine in the clinic is down, so that takes priority. The traffic says you really are going nowhere. Or when you try to plan to make a family your plans get all mixed up. Doug and I planned on having children of our own and then perhaps adopt children in need as God shows us. That was our plan. But God revealed to us a different course. As you may know I am pregnant with our first baby boy and am due September 1st. We had a great plan to go on maternity leave as the rest of the missionaries go on furlough in August. We had no worries as the mission would close for a short time. Now God has shown us a two year old little boy named Dorvensky (Dor) that needs a mommy and daddy. He has been in a nearby orphanage since he was 8 months old and the orphanage closed in December. God brought him to our home for what we thought was going to be a night, then plans changed again and turned into a week, and then God again changed our plans. We told God that this is not a convenient time for us to adopt. We are going on maternity leave and cannot take him with us. He will be confused and sad. He will not understand…. But God again told us different. God has sent people to care for him and love him. They will come and live in our home with him until we return to him. And so in God’s timing the adoption process has begun. Between getting pregnant, being endlessly ill in ridiculously hot climates and overnight becoming a mommy to a two year old, God continues to remind me that I have to walk by Faith and follow His lead. I can tell you amazing stories of how God works miracles or I can just remind you that we have NO control. It’s in God’s hands.
Please continue to pray for our growing family. Please also pray that our amazing financial supporters continue to see our ministry worthy of supporting. If you are currently supporting us…..WE THANK YOU for your unending encouragement thru notes, emails, gifts, fervent prayer and financial blessings.
Please continue to check out our monthly updates on our blog at www.twobuckeyesinhaiti.blogspot.com
Blessings,
Doug, Amy, Dor and Baby Reichley
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
If you would like to contribute to our cause please send your help to:
Haitian Christian Projects
Attn: Doug & Amy Reichley
808 Orphir St #7
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Friday, April 17, 2009
Flutters and Flowers for Mommy
The past few weeks have been more than any women could ever ask for. I give God the glory for the gifts He has given to Doug and I. My mom in law says a great saying, usually followed by tears…”My cup runith over.” These words have been in my mind over the years, but this weekend, my cup couldn’t have been fuller. As you have read in our past blog entry about Dor and how he came to our home, you understand how special he is. Doug and I dropped him off in the orphanage two weeks ago and we cried most of the way there. In my mind I was taking him to an orphanage that would give him the best possible chance of being adopted, but my heart was crushed to leave him. I know of other orphanages that have great funding and support that could have cared for him differently, however they don’t adopt out. I thought that Dor needed a mommy and daddy in a family setting, under the circumstances that I knew about him. When we dropped off Dor we realized that we had forgotten his birth certificate and medical paperwork that the orphanage required to keep him. We simply told the director that we do have it but we will just have to bring it next week. She agreed with no problem and we reluctantly left him crying for us.
The following week Doug’s parents came to visit us for their first time in Haiti. We were so excited to have them in our home and show them all we do here and how God is blessing our work. While they were here I got the flu for the first two days. I was so disappointed in not being able to go and do for the first two days as we had planned, but Doug was a great tour guide and Karen a great nurse. As I continued with terrible stomach pain though out Friday night, I wondered if my growing baby was ok. All the motherly scary thoughts jumped through my head as my fever continued and my pain wouldn’t subside. After most of the night lying on the bathroom floor praying to God that my baby was ok, Doug called Dr Jim and he came down with the ultrasound machine. I just wanted to hear that the heartbeat was there and I felt that I would be calm. Sure enough, that little pitter-pat was going strong and the relief that I felt was tearfully overwhelming. Perk and Karen were to come to Haiti for 5 days and then Doug and I had a Christianville (CV) board meeting in FL for 2 days. We decided to stay and visit them for 4 days and get a little rest between teams. The day before we went to FL, we decided to take the paperwork to the orphanage, show Perk and Karen the beautiful, 2 hour mountainous drive to Jacmel, and introduce them to Dor. Almost to the orphanage we noticed a Haitian prayer circle under a beautiful tree, such a nice sight to see Haitians praying to our God. We arrived at the orphanage and visited with Dor for a few hours, and Karen asked what they could do to help Dor get a mommy and daddy. She put him to sleep for nap time, and this time he was sleeping and not crying when we left him. This made it easier, but not easy to leave him. After the visit at the orphanage we stopped to pray at a tree nearby that we noticed earlier in the day. It was such a magnificent creation that God had made for people to pray under. As Karen prayed, she said, “….Lord, guide us and Doug and Amy in the possibility of giving Dor a home, and let us know if you have chosen this family…..”
The next day, Wednesday, was an all day airport travel day. During our time in FL a friend and Doctor that comes to CV and volunteers his time at our clinic had set up an appointment for me to get a high quality ultrasound as well as a few blood tests that I can’t get done in Haiti. We had such a great time watching our little astronaut toad jump all around and clap and wave at us. We found out on Thursday, March 27, 2009 that “It’s a BOY.” Daddy was so happy to hear it is a boy! And mommy was happy he was so active and healthy…..surely to be a ball player! As we continued to be blessed by the baby in my tummy we couldn’t help but to continue to pray for Dor and the possibility of him being a brother, son, nephew, grandson, cousin and faithful believer and servant in our families. As we continued to pray over the weekend, we stopped at Babies R US to register for our baby. This was the only chance we would have to register in the states, and many people have already written us to ask if they could throw us a baby shower when we returned to have the baby in August. We found ourselves seeing all the little things that a two year old would need to potty train and thought then, was this our answer as to whether God says to move forward on the adoption. After asking my brother for prayer, he asked if we had the ability, the opportunity, and the love it would take for this to take place. He said the adoption process is already hard enough, and to not make it any more difficult. He said that God will bless the decision if we ask for his guidance though it all. After Perk checked into the legal side of the adoption on Monday and he started his flowchart on a napkin in the restaurant in the airport, the decision was made. We’ll pick him up this week! We said our goodbyes as they went to the Ohio gate and we went to the Haiti gate.
A few days later, on Thursday, my parents Jeff and Rita came and brought a work team of friends from their church, First Christian Church of Moncks Corner, SC. Knowing they would be going to the orphanage to purchase food and supplies first thing on Saturday, we decided to wait and only take Dor over the mountain one time. This is a very long 2 hour drive. Saturday couldn’t come fast enough. I hardly slept a wink thinking about “gotcha day” as Karen Gail calls it. I got up at 5am not having to leave til 8am. I had Dor’s things ready and packed as well as Doug and my clothes. We went straight to the orphanage and his caregiver that nicknamed Dor Bijou or "Precious Jewel" gave him right to Doug and greeted us with hugs, kisses and a beautiful smile. We went to the hotel for lunch and he cried a little as we drove away, confused as to what was going on. After arriving he had a great lunch and nap and I decided not to take him back to the orphanage with the group to help, so he won’t be confused more than once. We came back to CV the next day and as I sat in our bible study my baby started to kick me for the first time. Dad was sitting next to me and I told him to look, he smiled with joy. Punches and kicks continued though out the bible study. All I could think about was the day Doug and I brought baby Dor to our home was the day I felt our baby flutter inside me. The next morning took a little while for me to get it together and before I even had my shower Dor (with some help of Michelle Robinson) had brought me my first “mommy flower”. Thank you God for Flutters and Flowers for mommies!! “My cup runith over!”
The past few weeks have been more than any women could ever ask for. I give God the glory for the gifts He has given to Doug and I. My mom in law says a great saying, usually followed by tears…”My cup runith over.” These words have been in my mind over the years, but this weekend, my cup couldn’t have been fuller. As you have read in our past blog entry about Dor and how he came to our home, you understand how special he is. Doug and I dropped him off in the orphanage two weeks ago and we cried most of the way there. In my mind I was taking him to an orphanage that would give him the best possible chance of being adopted, but my heart was crushed to leave him. I know of other orphanages that have great funding and support that could have cared for him differently, however they don’t adopt out. I thought that Dor needed a mommy and daddy in a family setting, under the circumstances that I knew about him. When we dropped off Dor we realized that we had forgotten his birth certificate and medical paperwork that the orphanage required to keep him. We simply told the director that we do have it but we will just have to bring it next week. She agreed with no problem and we reluctantly left him crying for us.
The following week Doug’s parents came to visit us for their first time in Haiti. We were so excited to have them in our home and show them all we do here and how God is blessing our work. While they were here I got the flu for the first two days. I was so disappointed in not being able to go and do for the first two days as we had planned, but Doug was a great tour guide and Karen a great nurse. As I continued with terrible stomach pain though out Friday night, I wondered if my growing baby was ok. All the motherly scary thoughts jumped through my head as my fever continued and my pain wouldn’t subside. After most of the night lying on the bathroom floor praying to God that my baby was ok, Doug called Dr Jim and he came down with the ultrasound machine. I just wanted to hear that the heartbeat was there and I felt that I would be calm. Sure enough, that little pitter-pat was going strong and the relief that I felt was tearfully overwhelming. Perk and Karen were to come to Haiti for 5 days and then Doug and I had a Christianville (CV) board meeting in FL for 2 days. We decided to stay and visit them for 4 days and get a little rest between teams. The day before we went to FL, we decided to take the paperwork to the orphanage, show Perk and Karen the beautiful, 2 hour mountainous drive to Jacmel, and introduce them to Dor. Almost to the orphanage we noticed a Haitian prayer circle under a beautiful tree, such a nice sight to see Haitians praying to our God. We arrived at the orphanage and visited with Dor for a few hours, and Karen asked what they could do to help Dor get a mommy and daddy. She put him to sleep for nap time, and this time he was sleeping and not crying when we left him. This made it easier, but not easy to leave him. After the visit at the orphanage we stopped to pray at a tree nearby that we noticed earlier in the day. It was such a magnificent creation that God had made for people to pray under. As Karen prayed, she said, “….Lord, guide us and Doug and Amy in the possibility of giving Dor a home, and let us know if you have chosen this family…..”
The next day, Wednesday, was an all day airport travel day. During our time in FL a friend and Doctor that comes to CV and volunteers his time at our clinic had set up an appointment for me to get a high quality ultrasound as well as a few blood tests that I can’t get done in Haiti. We had such a great time watching our little astronaut toad jump all around and clap and wave at us. We found out on Thursday, March 27, 2009 that “It’s a BOY.” Daddy was so happy to hear it is a boy! And mommy was happy he was so active and healthy…..surely to be a ball player! As we continued to be blessed by the baby in my tummy we couldn’t help but to continue to pray for Dor and the possibility of him being a brother, son, nephew, grandson, cousin and faithful believer and servant in our families. As we continued to pray over the weekend, we stopped at Babies R US to register for our baby. This was the only chance we would have to register in the states, and many people have already written us to ask if they could throw us a baby shower when we returned to have the baby in August. We found ourselves seeing all the little things that a two year old would need to potty train and thought then, was this our answer as to whether God says to move forward on the adoption. After asking my brother for prayer, he asked if we had the ability, the opportunity, and the love it would take for this to take place. He said the adoption process is already hard enough, and to not make it any more difficult. He said that God will bless the decision if we ask for his guidance though it all. After Perk checked into the legal side of the adoption on Monday and he started his flowchart on a napkin in the restaurant in the airport, the decision was made. We’ll pick him up this week! We said our goodbyes as they went to the Ohio gate and we went to the Haiti gate.
A few days later, on Thursday, my parents Jeff and Rita came and brought a work team of friends from their church, First Christian Church of Moncks Corner, SC. Knowing they would be going to the orphanage to purchase food and supplies first thing on Saturday, we decided to wait and only take Dor over the mountain one time. This is a very long 2 hour drive. Saturday couldn’t come fast enough. I hardly slept a wink thinking about “gotcha day” as Karen Gail calls it. I got up at 5am not having to leave til 8am. I had Dor’s things ready and packed as well as Doug and my clothes. We went straight to the orphanage and his caregiver that nicknamed Dor Bijou or "Precious Jewel" gave him right to Doug and greeted us with hugs, kisses and a beautiful smile. We went to the hotel for lunch and he cried a little as we drove away, confused as to what was going on. After arriving he had a great lunch and nap and I decided not to take him back to the orphanage with the group to help, so he won’t be confused more than once. We came back to CV the next day and as I sat in our bible study my baby started to kick me for the first time. Dad was sitting next to me and I told him to look, he smiled with joy. Punches and kicks continued though out the bible study. All I could think about was the day Doug and I brought baby Dor to our home was the day I felt our baby flutter inside me. The next morning took a little while for me to get it together and before I even had my shower Dor (with some help of Michelle Robinson) had brought me my first “mommy flower”. Thank you God for Flutters and Flowers for mommies!! “My cup runith over!”
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