Waiting for One More

Today we begin the process of coming home to Brunswick, and my heart is a mix of emotions. I can't wait to have Eden and Bethany in my arms. I miss them and my soul aches to be together again. I can't wait to see my parents and my in-laws. I can't wait to sleep in my bed. And a warm shower with water I can drink will be nice too. But my heart aches. I feel a nearness to our son here. As my heart deepens in love for him and his homeland, I feel close. In learning to sing in creole, and speak some parts of the language, in the fierce pride Haitians have for their land and in their sheer determination for a better way, I feel his nearness. My heart ahces. As I look on the face of the children, I can't help but wonder- will my son have the same eyes? Or the same nose? Will he have the same deep laugh that has carried us this week? My heart ahces. A morning sickness of sorts? Could that be this equivalent? An adopting mother body's way of preparing for the gift that is y...

It is hard to explain how I feel while serving in Haiti. There are moments I just have to walk away as my eyes fill with tears. There are moments where I would prefer just not to go home (providing we could get our girls here).  But every moment I long to have all of my children in my arms- all three of them.  I am so blessed to be here with Chris. It is fun seeing his heart explode with love for this wonderful country and the wonderful people. He is such a wonderful father. Children flock to him and he is so natural sharing love and grace with them.  It is also a blessing to feed the children here. This momma's heart hopes that there are generous people feeding our son as he waits for us. So that his belly is full. We pray there are generous hearts meeting his needs till we can. And those are the thoughts that sustain me. I am helping to feed other women's children, share love and grace with them, praying there are others doing the same for our son, and for all the boys ...

For some reason, this trip feels different. I don't know if it is the introducing Chris to this wonderful home of our son, or being here again or this momma's heart full of wonder... It is different. A good different. Pray for us. That we will be the hands and feet of Christ.

Tuesday morning, bright and early at 2:30am Chris and I head to Haiti to serve.  We are part of a team of 15 who are bringing clean drinking water to families in Furcy, Haiti,  working towards sustainable agriculture  and feeding the 150 children of the village daily.  (These photos are from last year's trip) I am excited to take Chris.  He hasn't been to Haiti.  I think he would love the beautiful country and wish he brought his hammock.  I also think he will love taking some of his church  to meet these wonderful people. Their hearts are so full.  I am a little nervous about telling the people about the adoption.  I am not sure how they are going to react.  I hope they will see our desire to share love with a Haitian child as a blessing.  But we will see! Please pray for us! We are traveling through the 22nd of July! Grace and Peace, Katie

Dear wonderful woman in front of me at Costco, Please ignore my tears. I promise I am not crazy. I promise they will go away. I am just so overwhelmed as I see you with your daughters, those precious girls who joined your family thorough adoption. My heart wells up as I see you bend down and kiss their foreheads. My heart overflows as your youngest reaches up and touches your face. I promise I am not crazy. I promise my tears will go away. My heart is just longing. My heart is just waiting... My soul is just yearning... Because even though we have come so far, we still have a long way to go... till I can shop at Costco with my son. Till I can kiss him on his head. Till we can share those tender moments of love and grace. Thank you, beautiful woman at Costco, for giving me a glimpse into my future, and reminding me that every step of the journey is so worth it.

Today we met with our home study case manager. We have had lengthy phone conversations, but this was the first time we met face to face. I was nervous. I am nervous. This is the beginning of the nitty gritty. From background checks to credit checks to psychological exams and physicals, Chris and I are getting checked out- deep down to the nitty gritty. Today was an interview with us together, the next time it is one on one. Then comes the interview of the girls at our home with a home inspection. Talk about the nitty gritty. I know these are good questions and good tests and are all designed to be sure we are a safe and loving home for our child. I know it.  But I get nervous. And not just because I need to clean my baseboard... We also wanted to share that our local paper and our friend Beth, did an article on the #bethegood shirts and our family's adoption! What a blessing to have the community by our side!  Thank you! 

You guys are too much.  Too good to us.  The Bonfire shirts are hitting mailboxes and photos like this fill our soul.  Our hearts are exploding. (Cousin Zavi, Granny, Papa and Aunt Gigi) (The Buckles boys in Salem, VA) And people are still ordering - which is means we have raised $2000 alone from t-shirts! People are still donating to our Pure Charity Site and we got a sneak peak at the local paper that comes out Thursday - We made the front cover! And email after email, and person after person,  keep reminding us that we are in their prayers.  Which is beyond amazing.  Thank you all for your generosity!  Thank you for the ways you are helping us answer God's call!