One Year Ago Today

Just a short note to commemorate the one-year anniversary of our decision to adopt Samson Pierre and Lydie Fignole (these are/were their last names).  We sat in a coffee shop with two files in front of us and Stephen and I agreed together that we were supposed to adopt them both.

It has been an amazing journey so far and we're just getting started!

As far as any updates, we don't have any. We seem to be in the stuck position at the moment. Several of our adoption friends have heard some very good news that they are out of IBESR now so we are celebrating with them.

We benefited from our friends traveling to Haiti this week by receiving some fresh new photos.

Trying to stay patient,
Naomi

One of a kind

I may get a little weepy here. I apologize in advance.

There is no one quite like Stephen Peter Probert.  Those who know him personally are nodding their heads in agreement right about now.

The man never stops. He may have an energizer battery pack tucked away somewhere and I just haven't found it yet.

He's a handyman. He's renovated our house from top to bottom and just keeps going. It's 10:30 p.m. and I just heard the skill saw running outside.

There's so much I could say about the man I married nearly 14 years ago.  He is my best friend. Although it irritates me sometimes, I am so blessed to have someone in my life who knows exactly who I am.

Stephen wars against the status quo. Sometimes he is misunderstood, but he wants what is best for those around him. He doesn't really care what people think as long as he knows it is what God has called him to do. He isn't afraid to speak the truth and will go out of his way to bless others. He listens intently to the Spirit's call on his life.

Stephen started a new job in July. It hasn't been the easiest transition and many projects around the house remained unfinished because of the unexpected loss of a summer break. Last weekend the weight of it all became temporarily overwhelming. How were we going to get all this stuff done before the kids got here? We had put a lot of pressure on ourselves. We discussed the possibility of having to say no to things, even if they were good things.

God usually has different plans doesn't he? This afternoon I received an email from my aunt who asked if Stephen would be willing to help my uncle bail corn stalks as they were feeling overwhelmed and my uncle was experiencing terrible back pain. Stephen rearranged his schedule so tomorrow he can go help my uncle.

This evening he went to pump gas in his truck and noticed a man standing outside the gas station charging his phone. Stephen asked him if everything was okay and the man told him he had been evicted from his home. He ended up spending a big chunk of his evening finding a place for the man to stay tonight. He also invited him to church on Sunday.

When Stephen made the decision to follow Christ many years ago, he never turned back. His greatest passion is knowing who Jesus is. He makes no apologies about that. It was a blessing to me to watch him live out his faith today.

If there are any single ladies reading this post, let me offer this piece of advice. Don't settle. You deserve someone who loves the Lord with his whole heart. It's the only way he will know how to truly love you.

A couple weeks ago I asked Stephen to share his thoughts on adoption. You can read his story here.


We sure do have a lot of fun together! Of course, no marriage is without it's bumps along the way. I don't want to give you the wrong impression of pure wedded bliss. Those size 13's rarely go where they are suppose to go!  But on the stuff that really matters, I know I hit the jackpot!
















Lydie and Samson, you have an awesome, strong, caring, and weird dad. I know you will love him as much as I do.

Good Things

I can be a bit of a pessimist. I often look at this world we live in with a bit of a ho-hum attitude. My friend Rachel once said, "stop the world, I want to get off." I get that.

Most of the world doesn't live the way we do.  After traveling to Haiti my perceptions changed even more. How can I enjoy this fancy $30 meal when my kids are eating rice and beans tonight?

Several of the blogs I read regularly have been tackling the issue of poverty theology and prosperity and how that all fits in the life of a believer.  I am still working this out in my mind and heart.  I don't know if I'll ever understand why we are so blessed when others are not. Over and over I hear the words from U2's "Crumbs from your Table" in my mind...."where you live should not decide whether you live or whether you die."

What I do know for sure is if we have been blessed, we need to find a way to bless others.  James 1:27 says

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

Is adoption enough? Is it all God has called Stephen and I to do? I don't think so. This is a lifetime calling to see the needs of the world and do something about it if we are able. I just have to pray that God would reveal these things in my heart and be willing to go where He wants me to go.

Yesterday I enjoyed life. And I think that's okay. Ecclesiastes 5: 18-19 says: Here is what I have seen: It is good to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor-this is the gift of God. For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.

It's kind of funny that I need a Bible verse to validate the fact that sometimes I find enjoyment in life. 

Last week my mother-in-law and I filled this entire truck with walnuts and leaves! Our 90-year-old neighbor who recently moved away gave us this wonderful gift for all the years we helped her out. It's a walnut picker-upper! Technically called a Nut Wizard. God bless the inventor of this little do-hicky. You have saved my life! It's actually fun to pick up walnuts now!

My Mother's Day gift from Stephen was a lemon tree. It's been so fun to watch the lemons grow on it. Earlier this summer a squirrel stole the lemons. So, I have taken all of his walnuts. Take that squirrel!! 

I spent a good amount of time observing this guy yesterday. The last time I saw a praying mantis was probably 20 years ago! They are a little alien-like aren't they?

My sister-in-law has raved about this little joint in downtown CF. I finally got a chance to stop in and see what all the fuss was about. There was a line out the door people! This place is the bomb! Missing in this photo are "Razzle Dazzle" and "Wedding Day." They are in my tummy. 

One of the difficulties in parenting two kids from an impoverished country will be to avoid the pitfall of spoiling them too much. I would feel like a failure if I found them protesting on Wall Street some day because they felt they didn't have enough. 

Thanks for listening. This blog is cheap therapy for me so thanks for letting me lie on your couch and blab. 

Enjoy these latest pictures of our babies (although they are not looking like babies any more).

Lydie & Samson

 (our heritage)

Blessed

Decided on Monday it was going to be a fast week.  Turns out we were right.  Made a pact with the husband to do a little something in the kid's room every night. I avoid the room on occasion because of some weird coping mechanism. Things are coming along and I hope to post pictures soon!

Came home after a long day of work one night and read this.  I am still processing Rebecca's blog post. There is one thing I know. God has blessed me beyond measure with friends who care for me and inspire me.  Thank you Rebecca, for your beautiful words. This journey sometimes is not easy and to know that we have wonderful friends in our corner, makes us strong.

Rebecca has inspired me to "go public" with my blog. She has also given me some wonderful new blogs to read, like this one. 

I love this picture of my sweet friend. She had a little secret at the time I took this (pregnant with their first daughter, Hannah).  Rebecca's outer beauty has always been indisputable, but her inner beauty pales in comparison.  I am rich because of friends like her.

We received word mid-week that our Power of Attorney letter that we had redone, had been received back at CCAI in record time! Usually it takes a document 2 weeks to get legalized at the Haitian Consulate. Our document took one week! So it has been mailed to Haiti and we will hopefully hear soon about where we are in the process. Of course, I will keep you posted!

The last highlight of the week came tonight. We spent several hours with a couple who is also adopting from our orphanage. We have a special kinship with them and know that the Lord put us together for a special purpose. It was so wonderful to talk freely about the process and know what it like to be in their shoes. They are a huge blessing to us!

There's just one more thing.....(my little tribute to Steve Jobs). Angie is back at Maison now and she posted a little update. She just happens to mention what my little Samson is up to these days! Check it out here.

College town

I grew up just minutes from the home of the Panthers. I always loved as a little kid riding in the car along the streets of the campus wondering about what it would be like to be a college student. Never really believing I would ever be old enough to be one. The students looked so mature to me. I wanted to be them.

Now, as I walk the streets of academia, I think to myself, "I'm 10+ years older than most of the students here." Thankfully, it was an away game on Saturday so I was able to move freely about the place.  Though I never attended as a student, I spent a lot of time here visiting my soon to be husband. I went to a community college in a nearby town and would often stop by on my way home to hang out.

 The Schindler Education Building where Stephen spent most of his time

I used to think these buildings were huge when I was a kid. I loved Christmas time when the students would decorate their windows with lights. 

I love being in my home town. It's so quaint. So, familiar. It gives me a chance to remember some very good times. I loved my childhood, loved my adolescent years, loved the college days. Some people long to forget their childhood, but I enjoyed mine.  Sure, those days weren't perfect, but they were much more simple. Black and white. So much laughter. Maturity sometimes thrown out the window. We all have to grow up some time. 

Of course, I had to go here before I left for mom and dad's! mmmmm

Growing up is overrated. 

Day of Prayer

For years my mother and father in-law have held a "Day of Prayer" at their home around the time of their wedding anniversary.  This event demonstrates to me the very essence of who the Probert's are and how they live their lives in a God-honoring way. I am so blessed to be a part of the Probert clan.

It doesn't hurt that the homestead's surroundings itself causes me to kneel down in wonderment and worship. That fact coupled with the decision to drop everything and spend time with God alone creates an atmosphere that is hard to pass up.

We spent the first hour before God examining ourselves. Several scriptures were provided to help us come before the Lord and let Him reveal anything in us that needed to be taken care of. The thought of the Lord being our hiding place permeated my heart. Psalm 32 speaks of this and I loved how The Message worded this passage. "God is my island hideaway. He keeps danger far from the shore and throws garlands of hosannas around my neck."

I was also reminded how Christ Himself intercedes for us. I was recently reading the passage in Luke just before Jesus was betrayed. Jesus was having a conversation with Simon Peter about how Peter was convinced he would never betray his friend. But Jesus told Peter that Satan had demanded permission to sift him like wheat and Jesus had prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail.  Peter failed.  I know Jesus intercedes on my behalf as well. I have failed too. This grieves me. Sin should grieve my soul. If it didn't, I would be concerned about my eternal security.  So Jesus and I had a little time today and I found rest in Him. Because there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus! And we move on, doing my best because of my love for Christ and nothing else. And He will supply everything I need to do my job! To bring glory to Him. That's why I'm here.

We came back together after that hour of reflection to share our thoughts, worship and share communion together. Our second session was to pray for those who are closest to us. Our family and friends. You. My prayer was the same for many, that the will of God would be revealed in your life and that you would walk boldly in that calling as the last days are approaching. 

And of course, I prayed especially for Lydie and Samson. I prayed that they would know that they are loved. I prayed that the peace of God would reign in their lives and that they would not be afraid. 

Back on track?

We have received notice from our adoption agency that Pierre will be taking over the Power of Attorney role at Maison. I'm grateful as Pierre is trustworthy and wants these kids to be home with their forever families as much as we do. My prayers go out to him because he is an incredibly busy man. Thankfully he has a team working with him to get our paperwork moving again.

Because a new Power of Attorney has been named, we had to re-do our Power of Attorney letter. That meant pulling up the old document we had saved on my computer, changing the name on it, signing the document in front of a notary and sending it to Des Moines to get that notarization certified. Because of the need for quick turnaround on this, Stephen actually drove to the Secretary of State's office in Des Moines on Wednesday to get it certified! Then, while he was in Des Moines he found a post office and had it mailed next-day air to Colorado! Whew! Stephen was able to drive to Des Moines because he's on his two-week intercession. I am just so happy that this all worked as well as it did.

We received confirmation tonight that our document had been received and was on it's way to get translated. Hopefully, very soon we will hear some good news about our paperwork moving once again!