Sweet Summer!!

It is officially Summer in South Carolina..... Ok its been summer for a while now, I'm just now getting around to blogging!! Things have been in FULL SPEED for our circus!!
 LOTS of visits to the BEACH!!!
A visit from Nana and Papa along with Uncle David and Cousin Ben coming to hang out!
Big kids involved in an awesome intern program at the church where they are getting to serve at some really cool places!
Littles enjoying Mom's Morning Out!
Mom enjoying the Littles enjoying Mom's Morning out!
Con-man going to church camp!
Tubing the Cooper River and seeing lots of GATORS!!
Watching Kelly dive off the tube in the Cooper River!
A visit from my very special Owasso friends and Lots of site seeing!!
An upcoming visit to Arkansas and Oklahoma!
An upcoming visit from some of our most favorite Oklahomans!! (the Howell's YAY!!!)

So things have been super busy and fun lately but we are enjoying every minute together! Counting down the time until our two Haiti babies can join our family and just loving our life! Please continue to pray for our adoption! Although things are moving a little slower right now than we want we know things are moving and our kids are coming home! Please pray that God will prepare their hearts to join our family. They are leaving everything they have ever known and I know that will be hard and take some adjustment. We always look forward to our monthly Skype dates and listening to them sing "Head Shoulders Knees and toes" to us!

Hope you are having a great summer and enjoying each day with your family!!
xoxo
Tracie

The rest of the story…..

I have heard that the gestation of a mama elephant is over two years. I am the elephant. (no fat jokes please!!!!) Adoption took root in my heart when I was a little girl. Maybe because my mom was adopted, I'm not for sure, but it really started to grow after my second child was born. It consumed me. I KNEW I had heard from the Lord and that our family should adopt so when I so excitedly called my precious husband to tell him of this plan and got a resounding "NO", I was stunned. But not enough to give up! :)

I'm very persistent y'all!!

YEARS later after begging, posting pictures of orphans, scriptures, and PRAYING, he felt the time was right. We went down several paths and some of them ended in brick walls. We were actually matched with a birth mom and she ended up doing something different. Then, we went to Haiti….Oh Haiti, how you rocked my world. Our world.  We met two precious babies. A brother and sister in a creche in Montrouis, Haiti. We.fell.inlove.  We went into this with MUCH prayer. Our hearts had been broken and we wanted to be sure we were doing what GOD wanted us to do. We received that confirmation. We KNOW that God spoke to us and that these were our children.

We had done LOTS of research on the particular agency and creche that we planned on using for this adoption. We had followed up on references, met them in person, all the stuff you should do. We both felt at peace. We started the process. We received donations from many of you! (Words can't express our thanks!!!) We were told in the beginning it would be 12 months or less to bring these two home. We waited and waited and waited. Supposedly STUCK on the "Presidents Desk" awaiting something called dispensation. We had biological children so we had to get a special waiver from the President of Haiti to adopt these kids. We became friends with the director and founder of the agency and creche. We loved her. We supported her. But somewhere along the way (about August of last year) RED flags were going up all over the place. I was embarrassed to say anything because we had already heard things from people like "Well maybe its not God's will for you to adopt… what about all the money you already spent…" So quietly we started asking questions and finding out things that we NEVER wanted to find out. Things like misappropriation of funding, starving children, birth parents being told that their children were in "boarding school" and that the children were never intended to be adopted. It led us to hiring a private investigator to  determine the orphan status of our beloved children. He had to search the mountains of Haiti to find their biological parents. God granted us a miracle and he found them in two days. This led to the biological parents removing the kids from the creche and staying with them for over a week. We then were able to get the kids into a new creche and hire a new agency to try to salvage our adoption. We were told we may have to start all over or even worse may not get our kids. Thats a lot for this mama to handle considering these kids KNOW us as mama and papa. They KNOW their siblings names. They WANT to come to America. After waiting and waiting and waiting, we were given permission from the government of Haiti to proceed with our adoption without starting all over. (Thank you GOD)

I am so happy to say that we are back on track with our adoption!!! Like we are really going to bring them home!!! Quite possibly they will be spending their first Christmas in America this year (Hopefully their first Halloween!)

Because of the switch in agencies and corruption of the other agency (lots of investigations  going on here) we have to come up with $8500 to complete this adoption, not counting the $600 a month in support for the kids. I have started selling makeup to help with this (www.youniqueproducts.com/tracieward) and our kids school is doing a walkathon to help with the costs. The walkathon is on April 4. If you would like to sponsor  Greyson or Conner you can send a check made out to Faith Christian School. You can message me for the address. We have a payment of $6100 due on April 15. We need a miracle. Please pray about it and feel free to share this blog on social media. God moves through his people and He has confirmed it over and over that we are doing right by these children. HIS children. If you just want to make a donation but can't in time for the walkathon you can make a tax deductible donation to Village to Village International on our behalf using this link!
http://www.villagetovillageintl.com/the-ward-family-family-79.php

Our family is fulfilling a call that God has placed on our life. Thank you for being a part of bringing us all together!!!!
 And for some serious cuteness here….

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!!