Dear God, We are a family of three and I don't like it that way......

"Dear God, We are a family of three, and I don't like it that way", these were the words of Claire's bedtime prayer the other night!   One of the amazing things about this adoption journey thus far is to see how it has transformed each of our hearts.

When we started talking casually about growing our family a few years ago to Claire, she was very insistent that she always wanted to be an only child and had absolutely no desire for a brother or sister.   We began praying for her heart to change, and it sure did.  Claire now not only fully embraces the idea of an adopted sibling, but she is the one championing that we should adopt many children!  Wow, what an amazing change.   She still hasn't come on board with the idea of a brother, but she is more than happy at the idea of welcoming a sister into our family.  I just love watching from a front row seat seeing her heart for orphans grow and her desire for our family to grow.   

We don't have much news to report on the adoption front, as we are in the "waiting stage".  Right now we have about a 6-8 week wait in front of us for one document, after that we will then send all our paperwork to Haiti, and then will enter the second stage of waiting.....which could be a very long wait or a short wait, we really don't know.  As we sit in this waiting stage I too echo Claire's prayer,  we are a family of three and want to be bigger.  I am so anxious to find out who our child will be!  How old will our child be?  What will he/she look like?  Is it a boy or a girl? Will he/she be outgoing or shy?   Will I be cuddling a baby or walking another child to school soon? How will he/she act with Claire? Does he/she like animals?  It is like I am a little kid waiting for Christmas day to come to find out what my gift is, it is just too exciting!

We have friends that went with me on my first trip to Haiti who are returning on a medical trip back to Haiti in early October.   I can't tell you how much it means to me watching our friends from our church continuing to serve Haiti and Chances for Children. Especially since I know that is where our child will be from and there is a good chance he or she is already there waiting for us.  It breaks my heart to think of these kiddos just waiting, not knowing if they will ever get a mommy or a daddy, so while I can't be there yet for my child, I am grateful for each person that can be there and visit Chances for Children and love on every child there until their parents can bring them home. 



If you feel called to help Chances for Children they do have some immediate needs to get their medical clinic up and running.  I have listed the needs below as well as the address to donate items to if you are interested.

Monetary Donations Needed For:

8 sturdy chairs for Waiting Room ($650)
12 pillows($120)
rocking chair($225)
small refrigerator($200)
microwave($225)
small couch($300)
8 clear, under bed plastic storage containers($120)
14 medium sized garbage baskets($140)
6 shower curtain rods($75)
large, white dry-erase board for Staff Room($80)
*Pediatric Pulse Oximeter -to check oxygen levels($400)

Clinic items needed to be purchased and shipped to:
Wendi Cooper, 27293 N. 112th Place, Scottsdale, AZ 85262
(To be taken on medical team trip in 5 weeks)

40 white flat twin sheets
16 white fitted crib sheets
20 white cotton twin blankets
16 toddler bed size cotton blankets
12 receiving blankets
children's socks of all sizes
children’s underwear of all sizes
12 bug repellent pillow covers
200 ct hanging file folders
200 manilla folders
1000 ct 2-4 ounce zip lock bags
1000 ct zip lock sandwich bags
1000 ct white labels
20 fine point black sharpies
2 shower curtain