Waiting for One More

Today, the girls and I were heading out to camp on a long winding road. We began the conversation about our Haiti Baby. "Mom," Eden (9) asked, "Will our Haiti baby have a mom and dad in Haiti?" "Maybe," I reply. And the conversation began - again - about the realities of orphans in third world countries. "Maybe his mom and dad died," Bethany - who is 5, replied. "Maybe," I muster. "Or maybe his mom and dad don't have enough food and water to take care of him," Eden finishes. Leaving the small town we live in, we have to eventually turn onto a narrow road, barely enough space for two lanes. Our conversation shifts. To thoughts about how we are called to do the work of justice and of mercy. Of not just opening our hearts and homes to orphans, but also the call to the hard work of orphan prevention. "Last week," Eden began, "When we were making food bags to send to Haiti with Granny, I hope...

For his birthday,   Chris Bishop   got a "card shower" from people who love him. He loved it. But last night, this was the conversation between me and my mother: Me: I think he is going to love it. Mom: Okay, but be honest. So we can help him. What do you want for your 35th birthday?   Me: My baby. I want my son. For my 35th birthday (June of 2018) I want my baby. # bethegood   # waitingforonemore   # everydayislong   # Bishopfamilyadopts # holdingontoHope

Sometimes the guy in line behind you at Sam's starts speaking in Creole... and hearing the native language of your son, after a really hard week, brings you to tears and he stops and speaks words of blessing over you and your family. In the words of my friend Nonie, a "God-wink." # fortressofHope   # bethegood   # waitingforonemore   # Bishopfamilyadopts

Last night, Chris and I were on a conference call with other families adopting from Haiti and our new adoption agency. There were some good things – like getting to hear the heart ache and laments of families just like ours – who have lost all the progress they have made. It reminded us that we are not alone. We got to hear that Haiti is adopting a child a day – which is much faster than they have in the past.We were reaffirmed that the new adoption agency is the right one for us, and that working with them will mean our son comes home – eventually. But there were a lot of hard things, a lot of heartbreaking thing on the conference call last night. One of them is that we might have to almost completely start everything over, paperwork included. That even if we got matched today – there would be no way for us to bring our son home. That this journey is going to take far longer than we had ever imagined we started. So after a restless night last night, I got to talk to my Mama- Who...

So... # bishopfamilyadopts update. We are still waiting to hear officially from our old agency for sure the balance of our account that will transfer - and when our paperwork will officially transfer - and how long this will hold us back. BUT we did hear from the new agency that we don't have to come up with all the money we owe for us to be "officially" their clients. We just have to send a $250 check. We will have to - in a little while - get the full amount to them, but ...t hey are being kind and hoping (with us!) that a large part of our balance will transfer from the old agency. This is an answer to prayer. It is an unexpected blessing. It is a brief Sunday as we wait for the full Resurrection... but friends - we are claiming it. God is God. # bethegood #Bishopfamilyadopts # waitingononemore # Godhasgotthis

Been thinking a lot this week, really this month, about what it means to be "prisoners of Hope." A month ago, we learned that our adoption agency had been debarred - and was no longer able to process adoptions, leaving us in limbo. We had no idea what that meant for our family. For our son, whose name we do not yet know, for our place in the process - would we have to start over? - and for the money we have already raised to bring him home through your generosity. There has been a lot of tears. A lot of fear. A lot of uncertainty. And yet - a lot of Hope. Because the worst thing is never the last thing. We got to speak with our new adoption agency this week, or new caseworker too. She is amazing. Faithful. Kind. Spoke healing words to my soul. Wept with me. And then spoke Hope to us. (By the way - she only works in Haiti. By the way - she is there all the time. By the way - she speaks creole all the time. By the way - she left part ...