Thankful for Transitions….

It is so hard for me to believe that we are in the holiday season!! Time seems to fly!!! We had such a great first Thanksgiving in our new home!! My brother got to come and spend the day with us and it was so fun! We went to the movies with some dear friends and I quickly realized that Mayah is not quite ready for the big screen. We spent a lot of time in the lobby!! A great time was had by all of us though! Kelcie and I did a little bit of shopping Thursday night and Friday has been spent lounging around the house!

I eluded in my last post about some big changes with our adoption. As most of you know, London and Sam have been "stuck" for about a year. This means there has been no movement whatsoever in our adoption process. We love these children so much and being apart from them is hard. When Carrson prays he says "let London and Sam come home today". They don't understand why it is taking so long and frankly neither do I. We are ready for our family to be complete. After lots of prayer we have made the decision to change agencies. This was not an easy task but tonight I can rest easy knowing that my children are going to sleep in a warm bed and full tummies. I cannot go into great detail of why and how we came to this place but please know that we have acted in the best interest of our kids.  With all of this comes expenses. We will be paying $600 a month for their exceptional care. We also will need to raise about $8500. With the season of giving upon us we are praying for a Christmas miracle. We are asking you to prayerfully consider sponsoring our family in this endeavor. We know many of you already have and I cannot tell you how grateful we are in the part that you are playing in bringing our children home. All money donated through village to village is tax deductible and they will put it in our family's fund. When we need to make a payment we will let them know and they will disperse the money. 100% of the money donated to our family is given to us. They do not keep any out for fees. Its like an adoption savings account! If you could make a donation (any amount is amazing and appreciated) and then share the link on social media, blogs, emails etc with your contacts it can start a chain reaction when they donate and share! Many people look for ways to bless others during the Christmas season and we would be forever grateful if you would help our two precious kids make it home to their forever family.  Please take a few moments to read our story, donate and share.
http://www.villagetovillageintl.com/the-ward-family-family-79.php
 Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We couldn't do this without your prayers and help!
We love you all!!

We are alive.... I promise...

How in the world have I not updated this blog since May???? Holy Moly!! SO much has happened in the past few months that I feel like we are just now catching our breath! Two weeks ago we arrived in our new home all the way across the country to South Carolina!! We made it 1100  miles with 5 kids and a dog and no one lost any body parts or flung themselves out of the car window... (I'm not going to lie, I thought about it a couple times) We are pretty much settled in to our new home and the kids are adjusting very well. We have already been to the beach and plan on doing that a LOT!!! Kelly took a position as the Family Life Pastor at a pretty amazing church out here. It was so difficult to leave Oklahoma behind. We have treasured friends there and it has been our home for the last 6 years. I worried a lot about the kids but they are doing great. We are excited about the adventure ahead!!
So an update on the kiddos!!! Kelcie is amazingly beautiful and funny and has her sweet moments! She is almost 14 and has really found her niche in video production. She was sad to leave her Soccer team and FFA but we are hoping and praying for God to bless her back for her sacrifice. Greyson is growing up and changing so much. He is 11 now. Amazingly handsome and has the most tender heart I have ever seen. I am convinced that when he prays, that it moves Heaven and Earth. God has quite the plan for that boy. Conner is quite the clown. It has been a year of transition as his brother is getting older. This is the first time they have not shared a room and nothing warms my heart more to wake up in the morning and seeing one of them sleeping in the others floor or in the bed with them. They have their moments but really do have a special bond. Carrson... Oh my goodness... for those that know him I can just mention his name and people laugh. He is a big 4 year old now. He sleeps in his own bed and started going to "school" at the church this week. He loved it and can't wait to go back. He is a mess and his big sister tells us quite often that we need to "discipline" him more. Its quite hilarious!!! Miss Mayah Grace is a whopping 2 years old now and she is 2 in every aspect of the word. She is our girly girl, diva, princess etc etc etc. She loves her bubbies and sissy so much abut Carrson Has a special place in her heart! We are so amazingly blessed with these kids. I am so thankful to God for entrusting them to us.

We are still trudging through this adoption from Haiti. Haiti is a very complex place and has a lot of corruption that unfortunately affects people trying to adopt. Some people see the children as a way to make money off of "Rich Americans" We are having to deal with our own situations in Haiti regarding London and Samuel but we are fighting for them. We are doing whatever it takes. We would love your prayers for God to continue to keep His hand on them and that His Will be done.

We love you all and are so thankful for you. I promise now that I'm a "stay at home mom" that I will do a better job of updating you on this crazy circus we call life!!!

xoxo
Tracie

Text to donate!

I am really excited about this fundraiser! I am believing that this one will put us over the top and I won't have to think about fundraising anymore! We are so grateful to the many people that have joined with us on this journey! You have all played an integral part in bringing London and Samuel to their forever family. This fundraiser is not asking you to buy anything or go anywhere. Simply grab your phone and text the word WISH to 80077. It will send you a text back and you just confirm with a YES. The $5 will just be added to your phone bill. You can do this up to 6 times. I have a big number in my head and I'm believing that God is going to honor that. We are in the home stretch of fundraising and God has been with us this entire journey. If you wouldn't mind, after you send your text please share on your Facebook walls, your phone and email contacts and anyone else that you think might be interested! We need your help to get the word out! We love you all so much and I can't wait until I get to post what God has done!

This fundraiser runs from midnight to midnight May 6!!!! Thanks in advance!

A call to pray.....

I'll start off with some serious cuteness... I hope you are ready....

I am not even kidding... That is some precious-NESS!!! I am so thankful for our creche and agency. They go above and beyond any agency I have ever seen. These pictures were taken by jeremycowardphotography.com and sent to us for a little "pick me up" while we wait. Sometimes its bittersweet to get the updates. Its ALWAYS great to see how happy and healthy they are, and I have yet to see a picture of my two little sweet peas where they weren't wearing the cutest outfits ever, but at the same time its sometimes a little sad and makes my arms achey at the thought that I haven't held them or kissed them or heard their sweet little voices in one year. One Year. This mama needs them home. I need to be able to introduce them to their 3 brothers and 2 sisters who are anxiously awaiting their arrival. I need to be able to tuck them in their beds and read them stories. BUT my God is able. HE wants HIS children in families. HE wants London and Samuel in OUR family. I know that each day we are one day closer to them, and that is what keeps me going. I KNOW without a doubt, they will be home. Its the when I'm not too sure about. But that's ok. GOD KNOWS. HE cares for them. He has been the one caring for them all along and for that I am thankful. Their fate could have been like millions of other Haitian children. Starved, alone, sick, or the worst, dead.
Most of our posts have been geared toward fundraising and I wish they weren't . This one is not. This post I am asking you to pray. I am asking God to move on our behalf and get our file out of dispensation. We have been at the same spot since November and frankly, I don't want to be there anymore. I know there are so many families that have waited 2-3 and some even 4 years to bring their children home from Haiti. I don't want to do that. My prayer is that my children are home in 2013. Please pray that with me. I don't even care at this point what month in 2013 it is. I just want them home. This year. Some of you may think it selfish of me to ask that of God. I'm sorry. But he has also told me to ask and it will be given. He has told me to pray without ceasing. And I for one, am ready to see mountains move on behalf of my children. London and Samuel Ward deserve to be home. With their family.
Once again thank you for loving us and supporting us. I can't wait to report back that our file has moved because God is Able. That is my mantra.

LAST DAY!!

Today is the last day to get tickets for the kuerig brewing bundle!! For every $5 donated to our adoption fund, we will enter you into the drawing for a Platinum Kuerig Brewing System that comes with 60 cups and a reusable filter. If you share on your facebook or blog that gets you another entry as well!! We appreciate all of you so much in your support of our family. You can click the paypal link on this blog or if you are local and want to meet me, that is great too!!
We do not have any updates on the adoption at this point. We are waiting patiently for President Martelly to sign our file so that we can move to the next step. We have no idea at this point when we will get to bring London and Samuel home but know that it will be in God's perfect timing!!Thank you for your continued prayers!!
If you are in the Owasso area tonight we will have a Bunco Fundraiser Night at Bailey Education Foundation. Refreshments start at 6:00 and games begin at 6:30. There will be prizes and Lots of fun!!

Amazing Giveaway!!

Hello Everyone!!! Just a quick THANK YOU to everyone who supported us on our Second Annual Hope Happens Craft Fair! It was a huge success and we are so thankful for each and every one of you that have supported us on this adoption journey!! My mantra right now is to take "Joy in my Journey".  With your help we are one step closer to bringing our precious London and Samuel home!

We are kicking off another opportunity for you to take part in this process! Starting today you have an opportunity to win.........

This awesome Keurig brewing system comes with a reusable filter and 60 brewing cups! Its a $180 value and it can be all YOURS!!!
SO HERE ARE THE DETAILS:
*This raffle will open until Saturday, March 25, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. CST. The drawing will be held after 8:00 p.m. CST.

*Each $5 donation entered into our Adoption Fund gets you 1 entry into the drawing. $10 gets you 2, $25 gets you 5, $100 gets you 20 and you get this.... (Check out the DONATE button at the top right corner of this blog! It's super easy and you can donate with a credit or debit card. It's easy and safe and there is no charge to you! You do not have to have a paypal account to send us a donation! We will have a record of each donation, the amount donated, and the giver's information. If you are local and want to give me your donation in person, just let me know and I will take care of it!)
*After you enter the giveaway, you can earn more CHANCES by doing one or more of the following: Post something about it on your blog with a link to THIS post; just leave a comment on this post with a link to your blog. Post something on facebook with a link to THIS post, AND if you do all 3 (buy a ticket, post on blog, and on facebook) we will ENTER YOU AGAIN!!!

We cannot thank you enough for all of your help in getting our precious babies home. I can't wait to tell them one day about all of the people that have supported them! And for your visual pleasure I will leave you with a couple of amazingly cute kiddos!! Thanks again!!!

xoxo
Tracie

2nd Annual Hope Happens Craft Fair

We are so excited to be planning our second annual Hope Happens Craft Fair!! This year we are at a bigger location and its going to be great! This year I have joined forces with my sweet sweet friend Ashley Smith who just brought her son  home from Ethiopia a few months ago and is already in the process for Little Smith Number 2. You can go check out her blog at www.smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com She's truly amazing! I love her to death!!

The fair will be held Saturday, February 23 at the Owasso 8th Grade Center from 9:00-5:00. We will have great booths, entertainment and all of the proceeds will go to bringing home three children to their forever families. How great is that??? We are currently accepting Vendor applications and you can get the app at www.facebook.com/hopehappens.adoption

We are so excited that this is the year of the Haitian baby!!! :) We are not sure of any dates but know that sometime this year our sweet London Elizabeth Joy and Samuel Christian will join our family here in Oklahoma. Carrson asks about Sam everyday and wants to drive his trucks to Haiti to pick him up. I'm not sure his sweet little 3 year old mind really comprehends everything. The other day we were talking and I told him that I was his mommy but that I would be Sam's mommy too. Carrson asked me what Sam was going to call me and I told him he would call me mommy just like he does. Carrson very seriously asked me "Can he just call you Tracie?" It was really funny! I know these two are going to be best buds!! And precious London will just fit right in!!

Please continue to pray for the health and safety of the kids and staff that work at the creche. This is truly a spiritual battle of taking back children from a country that the devil has run rampant in. The staff at the creche do an amazing job and I am so blessed to have been directed to them!!

We hope you all are having a wonderful start to 2013! I'm so excited to see what God is going to do this year!! Love you all!!