Part 3...The Referral

For Parts 1 & 2 of the story, go here

Wednesday evening I left for Regina for a course for work. Funny enough, or great timing, the course was on "the neurological basis of attachment in children". I was super excited to take the course as I am privileged enough to work with children in my job and this was extremely relevant to my job as a physical therapist. So Thursday morning, the course started bright and early and I was super excited. Around 11:00 that morning the facilitator for the course gave me a note to call home as soon as possible. My heart immediately jumped to my throat as my grandma had been quite sick and recently in hospital. I thought something happened to her. So I was worried as I picked up the phone and dialed. My husband answered and I said hello and then he said hi. And then there was a pause and quietly he said something. I couldnt quite hear so I said "pardon me?"

" we have a son"

And time stood still. 

Only for a moment. And then my arms started flapping wildly and my feet jumping up and down. Not all on my own volition may I add! I calmed down enough to hear that he had received a call from our social worker that morning that we had a referral. He was about 9 months old and beautiful. My husband told me to try and find a computer so that I could read a little and see PICTURES! So I frantically ran around this rehab facility and found a computer that would let me on and print. I found one and he was gorgeous. 
By this time my colleagues were getting a little worried and it was lunch so I went back to the room where the course was. One of my colleagues (who amazingly and not coincidentally is a mom who has adopted herself) asked if everything is ok and I replied that we just received a referral for our son! I received a huge hug and lots of congratulations...
So through all this I am in another city from the rest of my family. I was blessed to be able to concentrate the rest of the day on the course & keep glancing and the pictures I had just printed off of my son! That evening, with both my husband and I on the phone and the kids on speaker phone, we gave them each a picture of their brother and told them that he was about to join our family. My husband took pictures of their response and I have never seen bigger smiles! As an aside, my little princess slept with that picture each and every night until he came home...so so sweet. So I still had 2 days of the course left, which was great but I could not wait to get home! Saturday night I returned home to a house full of people(mom & dad and my sisters and families we there) as the next day we were celebrating my husband's and little princess' birthdays (born on the same day 30 years apart). I walked right into my best friend's arms ( my amazing husband) and was overwhelmed and thankful that we got to be parents for the fourth time! The next morning, we signed the papers to officially accept the referral - what a great birthday present! And that was how we welcomed our precious fourth child into our growing family...

Many people ask us how long it took us? Suffice to say that it was a very short time between when we started the process and received the referral. It doesn't make sense practically, as the process often takes longer, but God knew what He was doing. His timing is always perfect and there are so many things in our experience that can only be attributed to His work in little man's life and in the life of our family!

Coming up next - Part 4...travel and in person! 

Blessings,
Candra

Hello to some African friends!!

We love you and think of you all often....



 " Hi Shayne, Hi Robyn, Hi Melanie, Hi Wendy. I love you"
    - little man

Blessings,

Candra

A sneak peek!

We just returned home from a weeklong camping trip...and yes, we tented! I have had many people be quite surprised that we tented it but that is what we are used to and the kids did A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. And...I got to cook with our new 3 burner campstove - it was awesome! We had gorgeous weather in Prince Albert National Park and had a blast. Our only complaint is that is was too short! I will write more in the next day or so but here are a few pics of us on the beach!

hands in the sand

we can actually sit and relax momentarily!!!

camping!!!

Blessings,

Candra

Thankful

We got this in the mail today...

 It is our Part 1 of citizen and immigration. The anticipated timeline for this piece of paper was 6-9 months and we received in 3 months...another step towards bringing our child home!

And randomly, our beautiful girl has grown so much and is the BEST big sister; she is so excited to welcome our next child into our family! We love her to pieces and are so proud of her!!

Tonight, I am thanking God for all He has done and is doing in our family...

have a fantastic evening!!!

Blessings,

Candra

Exciting!!

As I was pondering on how to gain more awareness for RUN143, I sent an email to an online adoption magazine that is based in Canada to see if they would willing to assist us.  They just so happened to be spotlighting fundraising ideas and offered to print an article and links to RUN 143!! Check it out HERE! Super excited and honored to be able to write & advocate for the run...
Blessings,
Candra

Always something to learn!

What a weekend it has been! RUN 143 officially wrapped up yesterday, with a great number of people coming out to celebrate the BBQ finish at the end. I am filled with gratitude to those of you who happily and sacrificially supported the run through running/biking, running support vehicles, preparing for the BBQ, and supporting financially! And a big shout out to our our church community who got behind this event in prayers and practically! We are truly excited about what can be done/accomplished at a grassroots level when there is a desire and a passion to get something done! Please considering visiting www.run143.blogspot.com  for pictures and updates from the run!

 finishing 143 km!

And people are already talking about next year so that is super exciting!!!! This weekend, as was mentioned in my last post was not as I thought it would be. I was able to get out and run 10k and then I thought it was done for me. The kids, feeling much better today, had the chicken pox and so I was needed here. Friday was a hard day, and I was fighting hard against self-pity. I had to remind myself that it IS NOT ABOUT ME. This is hard sometimes as life seems to move so much easier when we can control our own life. But God had other plans for me this weekend and it was this- to remind me that sacrificial love and selflessness and celebrating what others are doing is far more lifegiving than wallowing in my own frustrations. That my life is far more about how I function in the kingdom than it is about me. That loving and serving as part of Christ's body of believers is AMAZING. And as this lesson was learned and I asked forgiveness of those whom I had wronged, God showed me His love for me. I was able to get out and do 21 more km on the road and then get to the celebration BBQ as a good friend of our offered to come stay with the 2 older kids. God is good. Friends are good!

I was blown away by the many people who showed up excited each day to be a part of the RUN and to help out. I strongly believe that RUN 143 will grow beyond what Riley and I and our friends first thought possible. Because orphan care and adoption are not only a passion of ours - each of these children is loved by God and he wants what is best for them. To be loved. To be cared for. To have a family. To have joy!!

"Love as He first loved us"

Blessings,
Candra

discouragement & encouragement

If I am being honest, this has been a difficult end of the week. As you know from my previous posts it isRUN 143 which is continuing to go so well! The runners and support vehicles have been amazing. WE met a couple about 2 weeks ago, who are beginning the adoption process through little man's birth country and they wanted to help out with the run. So they are part of the support vehicle team and are biking tomorrow. They have done some incredibly created things on the road and even decorated their vehicle today! It has been so good getting to know them.
So, you may ask, why am I here typing on the computer? Well, WEdnesday afternoon my oldest started to get bumps on her and by Wednesday night, I knew she had the chicken pox. And then, even with the vaccine, my oldest son got them too! Although, much milder, likely thanks to the needle! So, with babysitters cancelled, I get to be the parent at home this weekend. I can't say that I was ecstatic about being the one to stay home as my plans were a lot different. However, it is where I am most needed and need to be. And life does not always go according to my plans.
Also on Wednesday, we received an update about the processes that are happening with our next adoption.   As it stands right now, the country is closed and will continue to remain closed for the next 3 months as Canadian Immigration continues its investigation. I have not shared much online, but suffice to say, this announcement of further time has been hard.  There is positive steps being taken with our agency, whom I am incredibly grateful for. Our first experience with them was incredible and they have an amazing staff both here and abroad. We know that this adoption could not be in better hands as we have so much trust in them and their knowledge of the system. As a parent, I will continue to pray for our child as we wait. It amazing the love we have for him/her already!
And then to hear the news of the SEVERE drought in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia..I just started crying. it is not fair. I don't know why it continues to happen and why parents must lose their children and why children lose their parents. It is unfathomable and so so sad....
So (not surprising...considering the RUN was about to happen!)  the chicken pox combined with the news of our adoption and the world combined with my change in roles for the weekend left me a bit frazzled.
I am reminded of Proverbs 3:5 & 6 "Trust in the Lord with all of you heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all you ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight." Trust is easy when things are going well...more difficult when things are not turning out the way I would like. But I know that He has all things in His hand and His timing is perfect!

I did get out to run 10k and was overwhelmed with gratitude that I am able and get to do something about the orphan & adoption awareness . So let's keep on talking about it, keep on supporting at the grassroots level and LIVES WILL BE CHANGED!!!!

Blessings,

Candra