Some day I will take the time to reflect on this whole process, but let me just quickly summarize our glorious news...
Our girls are home!! The arival was shakey and included a direct transport to the Children's hospital in Denver but we are finally home as of last night and are starting the settle in. The Boys are doing great adn the girls are finally warming up with smiles and laughter. We are under a 2 week quarentine to keep people away from our youngest until she is able to handle the likely risk to her health. I am certain Tana will post more later.
We've received word that the flight from Haiti for our girls has landed in Orlando. We are receiving conflicting reports on if we need to fly to Orlando. We had been told that the Colorado DHS would be taking custody of them in Orlando and flying them to Denver, where they would be given to us. Now, we are hearing that USCIS in Orlando will only release them to the adoptive parents... so, we are still waiting for a definitive answer. So... we may be trying to take the first flight to Orlando tomorrow.
The kids are reportedly all in a room where the Red Cross has food and water for them. It may take hours to process them all through...
Here's a Fox News video of the kids on the plane. We couldn't identify either of our girls for certain... but we have received a call from DHS that Christela was on that flight - still waiting to hear for certain that Aliyah was.
Keith and I have been working non-stop since the earthquake trying to help For His Glory get all of our kids out. Right now, the situation is very desperate. There is no water, formula for babies, medicine, they are experiencing looters. We are praying that the State Department will give us permission to evacuate all the children. We have everything else in place to be able to get the kids out - and just need permission. PLEASE PRAY! The news clip below is from our orphanage.
I'd like to thank all of you that have called and emailed to let us know you are praying following the devestating earthquake in Haiti yesterday. It means so much to hear from our friends and know you are praying for our girls as well as the people in Haiti!
The news we initially received from the orphanage is that all the kids were safe. We did have a nanny that was injured when a wall fell on her and Pierre, the manager of the orphanage, was injured in the eye. We do not know the extent of those injuries. There was some damage to the building, but we do not know the extent of it. For His Glory has not been able to get in touch with the orphanage since about 20 minutes after the initial quake, so we do not know how the orphanage, children and staff have weathered all the aftershocks.
You can read the newsletter from For His Glory by clicking here.
On a personal note, we'd ask that you pray that Christela's medication would be available to her. Also, in a country where there are already MANY ophans, this disaster will likely leave many more children orphaned... in addition to affecting all the adoptions that are in process. We've received word that JCICS and the State Department are discussing possible solutions. Please be in prayer about this as well for the sake of all these children.
For continued updates from the orphanage, you may visit their website at: http://www.forhisgloryoutreach.org/earthquake_relief. Updates are being posted just under the donation information. If you would like to help, you may do that as well by making a donation on that page.
Below is a video I saw on a friend's blog (thanks Jodie!)... and I had to put it on mine too! It is a song that says so much about what we all feel during this time as we wait for our precious children to come home...
Lyrics:Merry Christmas - Third Day
There's a little girl trembling on a cold December morn Crying for momma's arms At an orphanage just outside a little China town There the forgotten are
But half a world away I hang the stockings by the fire And dream about the day when I can finally call you mine
It's Christmas time again but you're not home Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas
As I hang the tinsel on the tree and watch the twinkling lights I'm warmed by the fire's glow Outside the children tumble in a wonderland of white, Make angels in the snow
But half a world away you try your best to fight the tears And hope that heaven's angels come to carry you here
It's Christmas time again but you're not home Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas
Christmas is a time to celebrate the Holy Child And we celebrate his perfect gift of love He came to earth to give his life To prepare a place for us So we could have a home with Him above
It's Christmas time again and now you're home Your family is here so you will never be alone So tonight before you go to sleep, I'll hold you in my arms And I'll tell you from my heart, and I'll you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas
Aliyah turned three on Friday. We first met her when she was 18-months old. Never did I imagine then, that her life would have doubled and we would only still be in the first real step of the process to bringing her home... and not even able to start yet with her sister, Christela. I don't write much on this blog, because honestly, this whole process is just too painful right now. To my girls, I love you both so much - and can't wait to bring you home... praying for a miracle for... next Christmas.
Aliyah receiving a gift we sent down for her with some friends.
Christela receiving her gift we sent down.
Aliyah playing in the "toddler room." Apprently in the second one she is ducking because she just threw a block at another little boy... and is waiting for it to come back! :)
Aliyah (center) looking through the "gate" of the outside courtyard...
Christela in bed - This must have been when she was sick because of the IV in her right arm...
ur glorious news...
ur glorious news...
Keith
