Passport Soon?!

Hello friends and family! We received some great news on Friday. Carline's dossier (documents) have moved one step closer.....to bringing her home. Her dossier is in MOI which is the stage of passports. This is the second to last big step to bringing her home to Tennessee. The next step is Visa ( & there are some small steps inbetween). In the meantime, we will continue to anticipate her arrival. Levi always remembers Carline when he asks for an extra sucker for her at the bank, or exrta sticker from Kroger, or a bible verse of the day from the YMCA. He always asks " Can I save this for Carline".  He is so thoughtful. Landon remembers her when he includes her in a drawing of his family at school or when he asks..." Do you think Carline has ever had a drink box, Popsicle etc....Our family can not wait to feel complete. At each holiday or birthday Chad and I usually say, "Next year Carline will be here to join us in the celebration". The "wait" has taught us the true meaning of patience. 
We are so thankful that Carline started preschool last month.  School allows her to leave her tiny hot room and go upstairs to the upper level, where a couple of small rooms have been transformed into a classroom.  We are giving thanks to God that she has this opportunity. They stand in line outside in the courtyard in the AM and raise the Haitian flag while singing their national anthem. They then head into a small classroom, with basic supplies, and begin their day. The children of Haiti take pride in attending school, because it is a privilege. Carline wears a blue school uniform with dress black shoes. Some of you have asked, where does the adoption money go? Part of it goes to having a school at the orphanage, and paying the teachers who come in from the community to teach.
Please join us in prayer for these specific things:
1. God will surround and protect Carline and her friends at the orphanage.
2. Our dossier will move quickly through MOI ( it has taken others 3wks to 3 months).
3. We will bring her home this year!!
Lord, hear my voice when I call; be gracious to me and answer me.  My heart says this about you, " You are to seek my face." Lord I will seek your face.  Psalm 27: 7-8

Patiently Waiting

My mom and I had a wonderful trip to Haiti the first week in May. We visited the US Embassy to file I600 paperwork, met with the judge for upper court, and received presidential dispensation. It was a really productive wk, and my mom speaks fluent French which was so helpful. Carline was doing wonderful. She is growing and looking more and more beautiful each time I see her. We heard her sing the ABC's in French, which was adorable. She did not talk to us much, but when she was around the other orphans we heard her speak in creole. She loved playing with nesting cups and the peg board. She likes activities that required a lot of thinking and " figuring things out".
    The most upsetting part of the trip was the condition of her room. It was difficult to imagine her day to day living in here. She continues to sleep with girls 3yrs and under, in a crib. Almost every child sleeps in a crib even the 10 yr olds. They were building bunk beds when we left, not sure if they will be for the nannies or older kids. Back to her room....it is extremely damp, hot and stinky. There is no fan or circulation and it is 95 out. So imagine 15 babies in cloth diapers in a small room with no airflow. This may give u a hint of what the room is like. I try to stay positive, knowing that God is in control and this is His plan for this part of Carline's life. She seems happy at the crèche and knows no different. She has friends, is social, and is in good health. We give Him thanks for this.
      We found out on July 19, that we are out of the "Parquet" stage of adoption and we will be moving onto MOI. It is my understanding that after we exit MOI, Carline will have a passport and the visa step is next.
      I am reading the book "Shattered Dreams" by Larry Crab "Shattered dreams are the prelude to joy. Always. In the middle of our pain,God is working for our joy. At some point, He works in ways we can see." ( I like this quote bc it reminds me that I can't always see what God is doing.)
"It's the happiness of serving a God we trust enough to let us cry today, knowing He has promised to wipe our eyes tomorrow."
Thank you for your prayers and loving support!

Finally Some Good News

I have not posted in a while because I have felt discouraged. Our adoption has not moved a step forward since last May. We had been hoping to travel for upper and lower court in the fall, but heard no news. So we decided to go to Haiti for a little get away and our 9 yr anniversary. Chad and I enjoyed an amazing trip to Haiti in January! We spent some wonderful quality time with Carline. We have been in prayer daily for our paperwork to exit IBESR. Basically our paperwork has been in the same Haitian office(IBESR) for eleven months. Other families have waited 2-6 months and in extreme cases 12 months to exit this office. I have often wondered if our paperwork was lost, not knowing anything for 11 months was painful. We are not able to move to the next step until we exited IBESR...Well today the awaited news came.....WE ARE OUT of IBESR!!! We are now waiting for presidential dispensation. There are still many months ahead of us on this adoption journey. I am just so thankful to hear that we have taken a small step forward.
Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
I am trying to remember that when we are in a period of waiting, God is doing work in me.

Photo Card

Cane Stripe Christmas

Shop Shutterfly for beautiful photo Christmas cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Videos of Carline Saying Family Names

**remember to pause music in order to hear videos**(go to bottom of blog)

I made a family photo album for Carline...She loved looking at the pictures

MiMi and Carline

Big Brother Landon

Meeting Carline for the first time

My mom and I had an amazing trip to Haiti. We got to meet Carline for the first time. It was an unbelievable feeling. It is so hard to describe, but I felt really connected to her instantly. She was so kind, calm and trusting.
We arrived at 7pm on a Friday. Her caretaker brought Carline to us & sat her on our lap. She sat quietly & watched us contently. We took her back to our room, bathed her and put on fresh pjs. She went right to sleep clutching 2 bath toys that she did not want to put down. She woke up each day with a big smile on her face, glad that we were still there. As we got to know Carline more and more each day, we learned that she likes to discover new things and explore new toys. She loved looking pretty and wanted to keep on shoes, hair bows and necklaces. If she wasn't wearing her shoes she would carry them with her.  She love to hold a snack by herself and was very playful. She loved to sing songs, dance, and hold hands.
The guest house and the orphanage are on the same property. We bounced back and forth b/w the two. We stayed in the 5 th floor, & had a beautiful view from our balcony of the Haitian mountains. The guest house is a 1 hr drive up the mountain from downtown PAP. PAP still looks devastated from the earthquake with tent cities, garbage, and poverty in every direction.
During our stay we helped feed the orphans, played with them, and gave them lots of the donations that we brought with us. Most importantly I got to know my new daughter and was able to form a bond with her that will continue to grow.  One thing I wish we had brought was school supplies. The children begin school at age 3. The school is located on the 3rd floor of the orphanage; the teachers come in from the surrounding community to teach.  Chalk and chalk boards were their only supplies.  There were about 80 children at the orphange and so many were being adopted. We even met this boy there (who was about 12yrs old) who told us he was Carline's uncle, and Dr. Bernard verified that they had the same last name.
Leaving Carline on our last night was one of the saddest things I have ever had to do. Words can not explain how difficult it was to say goodbye, knowing that at 2yrs old, she would not understand why I was leaving.

There is a Pool for the missionaries... The guest house holds over 80 people!

Carline played with this one toy for hours and never got bored!

MiMi and her new grandaughter

Goodnight my sweetheart

I love you Carline, can't wait till you are in my arms forever!!

**Health update: Carline's intestinal worms were gone.  Praise God! Thank you Betsy for treating her on your trip to Haiti last month.**

We have 2 prayer requests: 1st Carline had Scabies on her legs.  I treated her for them while I was there. We are praying that she is healed from scabies and that her open wounds(from scratching) don't get infected.

2nd Prayer Request...Our paperwork is still in IBESR Haitian Social services. It has been since May. Please pray that it is signed/stamed very soon so that we can move onto the next step in the adoption process.

Thank you for your love and support!

Kristen and Chad DeMura

Headed to Haiti...

I will be meeting Carline for the very first time in FOUR days! Let the countdown begin. My mom and I are flying to Port Au Prince on Friday. I am more than excited. Please pray for safe travels and that Carline is not frightened of us. I hope that she will be able to warm up quickly to my mom and I.  We will stay from Friday until Tuesday at the Bethel Guest House which is attached to Carline's orphanage. We are bringing a TON of stuff including 100 toothbrushes, toothpaste, formula, rice cereals, baby food, shoes and clothes for the kids, and fun toys too. My spare bedroom (soon to be Carline's room) is about to explode, with things going to Haiti! Can't wait!!