Journey of Hope - CHAPTER 2

Time flies by fast when you're having fun.  That's how the saying goes but in my case it should read, "Time flies by when you're moving back to Quebec, taking care of Arouna and trying to get him into the Quebec healthcare system".  We're still working on getting him into appointments for all the specialists here in Quebec, but it seems to be slowing down and we're quite pleased with the healthcare system here.

2015 was quite a busy year for us.  I'm not going to go into all the details of what all went on, but there was quite a bit of stressful moments especially after returning to Quebec.  And I won't try and pretend that it didn't have any effect on our family.  It has been hard getting into a routine, juggling responsibilities of ministry and family, and trying to figure out what our roles are as far as Mom and Dad to a child with special needs, while still giving time to our other 2 children in the home.

October 2015 - Maleah pushing Arouna in the PEI kids run

Granby Zoo

Halloween 2015

Granby Water Park

It's been a challenge and it is something that I have really had to give to God and ask Him to guard my heart.  Guard my heart from being envious of not being able to do some of the things I used to do. Guard my heart from being jealous of others in the family because they are able to do things that now I can't do.  Guard my heart to keep from being angry about having the majority of the lifting and caregiving.  Guard my heart to keep it from being discouraged because I don't see the progress that I think should be happening.  Guard my heart to keep from feeling guilty for not being able to spend the amount of time I want to with the other kids.

It's a hard balance when you know you're doing the right thing but know you've given up things also. And it's even harder when you know that there is 1 more little boy out there that should be in our family and that you can't leave behind without a fight to get to him.  And that's where the title of this blog post takes on meaning:  CHAPTER 2.   CHAPTER 2 is going after another little boy that deserves a family.  CHAPTER 2 is starting this crazy roller coaster ride of adoption again.  CHAPTER 2 is starting the fundraising all again and going on this wild paperchase all over again.  CHAPTER 2's name is Zeke and he lives in Haiti.  Some of you may remember him from the very beginning of our adoption process in 2012.  When we first started to adopt, we thought we were adopting from Haiti, but God closed some doors and led us in a different way to Arouna.  We are so blessed that He did, but we still feel drawn to go back and get Zeke.

Yes, we are crazy.  No, we have no clear idea of how we can raise 2 children with special needs when we're both nearly 50.  But God does.  And it's God who has given us this desire and given us this passion to go back for 1 more.  It won't be easy.  It won't be cheap.  It won't be quick.  It won't be without tears and fears.  But it is the right thing.
                                                                                                                                                               His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave Him great pleasure” (Ephesians 1:5).