Church Camp Frenzy and a Timeline...hopefully

Happy Summer!! I'm posting from the amazing Thea Aut La Springs Campground where we are on week 2 of such an amazing church camp!! My kids are having a total blast and the company is great too!! My kids would live here if we would let them! I'm not sure I have ever seen Carrson so dirty from playing outside all day! Next week is our last one and we will head home to enjoy the rest of summer!! I'm going back to teaching at the 8th Grade Center this next year so I"m hoping to get lots of family time in before we head back to school and work!

We got a bit of an update on our adoption of London and Samuel. We are currently in IBESR and after this phase we will go to the Presidents desk for a signature. We are expected to make it to his desk by November/December. I'm of course praying that he signs immediately but some people have been known to wait 1-8 months for a signature.  Our prayer is that he signs within a month and then hopefully travel to pick them up in February/March. Please pray with us that this is the case! I know that God is in control and at his appointed time we will get them. Its just so hard to wait!! I"m ready to get them home and let them adjust to being the newest members of our circus! We've got some cool fundraisers coming up like Haiti inspired Christmas ornaments, an auction, and Nights of Praise! So make sure and check out www.facebook.com/hopehappens.adoption for updates!!
 We love you all and thank you so much for your support in this journey!!

xoxo

Seeing Double!

Haiti was absolutely more than I could ever put into words.  I don't really know what I expected. And I really didn't know how I would feel.  I knew I would feel connected and I knew I would feel excited about FINALLY meeting the child that God had chosen for me.  I don't think I was prepared to feel so overwhelmed when I looked at the faces of those beautiful children who need mamas. I didn't know I would feel the sense of gratitude for their "foster" mama who is literally moving mountains for them. I wasn't prepared to see my husband broken at the plight of the orphan.  But I felt all of these things.  I had in my mind that we would be matched with a certain child.  My husband, who I have so much respect for, never looked at a single picture. He wanted to be completely led by the Holy Spirit on which child was ours.  I don't think either one of us thought it would be TWO!!! These two beautiful faces are the newest members of our Tribe:

Meet London Elizabeth-Joy Ward and Samuel Christian Ward!!!! We are HEAD OVER HEELS inlove with these two and they are the perfect, God Ordained fit for our family.  All of our paperwork has been filed with the Haitian government and now we wait. And Pray. And Pray. And Pray... God sets the lonely in families. And that is what we are standing on.  We don't really know when we will get the call to come and pick them up. We do know that it will be His perfect timing.  In the meantime, we figure out who is sharing rooms with who and go shopping for the 15 passenger van!! Hey, don't laugh..I'm totally using the bus lane to pick up my kids...

We have some GREAT things coming up! We have partnered with some VERY good friends (I'm actually convinced she's my soulmate) the Donaho's.  They are adopting 3 kiddos from the same creche and our friendship is nothing less than God Ordained!! We will be having a Night of Worship in June to help us finish raising the funds to bring all 5 of these Haitian beauties home.  We also have some auctions coming up over at www.facebook.com/hopehappens.adoption

 Thanks for all of your support and prayers! We love you all so much!!
xoxo

We are Going to Haiti and a chance to WIN!!!

April 26 is the day!! We will kiss our tribe and board a flight for Haiti to meet our daughter for the very first time!! I can't even tell you how over the moon excited we are!! I think I am showing it a tad bit more than Kelly but what else is new?? We will get to stay with her until the 29 and then wait hopefully just 6-8 months before we bring her home (unless God decides to perform a huge miracle and get her home sooner). Its very surreal and I have TONS to do but we really are excited!  The big kids are pretty upset that they can't go this time but hopefully we can take them on the next trip down.

We are doing one last hurrah before we go and raffling off a Kindle Fire.  If you would like a ticket or two or ten you can work  your way over to the Paypal button. Tickets are $2 for one or 5 for $10. We will draw on April 19.

Thanks so much for your prayers during this seemingly long adoption process we have been on! I would have never guessed in a million years how many twists and turns it would take but in just 22 days we know it will have been all worth it!
Love you all!
xoxo

Spring is in the air!!!

I'm probably winning the award for the worst blogger ever!! I can't believe we are in Mid March!! Time is flying by!! So much has happened for us in the past couple of months! Mayah Grace is getting so so big. Shes the sweetest, most laid back baby ever!! Carrson is..well, Carrson is two and that comes with its own set of challenges! The big kids are all back in soccer and having a blast. We officially start spring break tomorrow and I think that I am more excited than the kids are! Carrson is going to love having the big kids home and mommy is going to love letting Carrson play with the big kids!!

We just got back from a 7 day cruise with my family and some of our close friends, the Meckfessels. We had such an amazing time. We went to Falmouth, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, and Cozumel Mexico. It was such a relaxing and fun trip. The kids got to snorkel, play in the ocean and roam the huge ship. Cousin Ben and Carrson were hits and just about everyone on the ship knew their names. We were asked quite often if they were twins. We have already planned to go on another cruise next spring break with some friends!

In adoption news, we are leaving for Haiti April 26. We are so excited to be able to go to the XXXXXXXXXXXX and meet our future daughter! We are asking for God to just show us the child that he has for us. Things have come together so well in this and it is so nice to know when you are following God's plan for your life! Please pray that the paperwork goes through the Haitian government quickly and efficiently so that we can get our girl home in record time! We have had several tell us that they think we will come home with more than one! They know us too well!! We are open to whatever God has for us and will do what He asks us to do!

I am working on Spring Cleaning right now. I've decided I need to clean out all of the junk in my house and in my life so that God can fully use me for whatever He has for me. I want to be the best wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend that I can be and I don't want anything hindering that!!

I'll try to get some cruise pictures up! Right now Mayah is needing attention and Carrson is all over me!!

I pray that all of you have a wonderful spring and spend some great time with your families!!
xoxo
Tracie

Hope Happens for Haiti Craft Fair

Hello All! I have to say I am loving this January weather!! Average temps in the 50s? LOVE!!! Conner asked me today if they could put on their bathing suits and get the water hose out!! UMMM No! :) We are moving right along with our Haiti adoption. I wanted to let you know that we are sponsoring a craft fair on March 31 at the Bailey Education Center at Bailey Medical in Owasso. (106th and Garnett) We are accepting applications for vendors and would love for you to come and shop for the day!! If you are interested in becoming a vendor please email me at hopehappens.adoption@gmail.com We have already had a GREAT response! We will also be hosting another online auction in February so make sure and check out www.facebook.com/hopehappens.adoption

Family wise, everyone is doing great! Mayah is 4 months old and we all adore her. She is happy and laughs and loves the chaos of our house! Soccer will be starting up soon for the big kids and Kelcie has been playing on an indoor soccer league. We are busy but happy!

xoxo

One door closes and another door opens....

Merry Christmas!!! I hope all of you had an amazing time celebrating the birth of our Saviour! We are still recovering from all of our travels (trust me you should see my house). We had such a great time spending time with our family especially my sweet little nephew Ben all the way from South Carolina! Carrson was so much fun this year and it didn't take him long at all to figure out the present situation! I'm so anxious for 2012! God has GREAT things in store for the Ward Circus this next year and I can't wait!!

I have been pretty quiet the last couple of months regarding our adoption process. Many of you know that we had been referred a baby that was due actually tomorrow. For circumstances beyond our control we will not be able to be parents to that little baby. I ask that you please pray for her and her birthmom Joy. I have no idea if she has even been born yet, but I know that she is in God's hands and He will hold her, even though I cannot. With all of that being said, I know that God closes doors that He doesn't want you to walk through and when we are obedient to Him, He leads us in ways that are beyond what we could ever dream! That is where we are now. I am so excited about what is ahead of us, adoption wise. My last post talked about some people that I had met that are doing such an amazing work in Haiti. Well through them, we were able to come in contact with Giving Hope Haiti which is a creche (orphanage) in Haiti. All of the children are legally free for adoption. Kelly and I have filled out the application for them and been approved. We will have the amazing opportunity to travel to Haiti to meet a little girl that will hopefully join our family as the next "Ward". We have requested a 3-4 year old but we are open to whatever God has for us. I have learned in this process that it is not about what I think will "fit" in our family but its who God knows will fit.  Please pray for us in this process. I appreciate all of the support that you have given us throughout this entire road trip! I know that God has great things in store for all of us in 2012! If you are a fan of Hope Happens Adoption on Facebook you can watch for ways you can help this orphanage in Haiti. We have lots of ideas of getting them supplies that they need for these children!!

We hope all of you have a wonderful New Year and pray God's blessings on you for 2012!!

A new project...

Hope everyones Thanksgiving was wonderful and if you went shopping for Black Friday you got all that you wanted!! We were able to spend Thanksgiving with my parents in Little Rock and Kelly's mom in Cabot. We had a great time and did a little bit of shopping Thursday night at Walmart. I had Conner with me and he has sworn off ever going shopping for Black Friday again!! LOL!

I have had the amazing opportunity to meet someone that is literally working to change communities in Haiti. All of us watched the devastation after the earthquake in Haiti and Americans gave whole heartedly to that country in an effort to help them with basic needs. This family, Jason and Ginger Lovan have actually MOVED their family to Haiti and started a school. It is an AMAZING work and I know that God orchestrated our meeting several weeks ago. They are not only educating 90 students but also giving them uniforms and two meals a day. This is likely the only meals some of these children get.

Kelly and I know from experience how difficult it is to start a new ministry. You see such great need and have so many God given ideas on how to help them but lack all the necessary funding to put it all in action. It would be great if the money just "appeared" from Heaven and you didn't have to ask for help but then, the giver would miss out on a huge blessing and the opportunity to have ownership in giving hope to a community that most of the world has deemed hopeless. We all know that where there is life there is hope and I am asking you to step out and help this ministry.  They have very recently broken ground on an orphange and those of you that know me, KNOW that this is very close to my heart. I realize that this is the Christmas season but how about sowing a seed into www.kingscrossministries.com ? They have an immediate need of about $3000 so that they can get their crate out of port that has much needed supplies for their family and their school. That would just be 30 people to give $100 or 60 people to give $50. I know my family spends that on dinner in a restaurant so I will be the first to say that I will give to this ministry because I believe in what they are doing. Will you please consider giving to this ministry and reposting on your blogs, facebooks, and twitter accounts? I would love to have a small part in helping change the country of Haiti!!

Thank you all so much for always supporting us and in advance for helping this amazing family!! God Bless!!

Tracie

PS Stay tuned for a pretty big adoption update coming soon!! ;) This is like the cliff hanger of a tv series for the season!! HA!