Miah Update

So many people asked me about Jeremiah while I was in the US. Precious Miah. Well, here he is....

 His parents are simply amazing and they are so good to keep me updated. As of now, they hope to finally be making their trip home to Italy THIS WEEK! Their adoption process has been completed and they are now waiting for the last step of his travel visa to Italy to be processed. Please pray that this is expedited quickly so they (his parents) can finally be reunited with family after almost eight months, and introduce Jeremiah to his friends and family at home! Believe me, I know how important this is! :-)

We love you Jeremy and miss you very much!! And we will remember you always....especially Julia. She misses her best friend every day.

Jeremiah's Family

Jeremy turned three and celebrated his first birthday with his parents!

What a privilege to see one of our Haven of Hope babies living a beautiful life exactly where he is supposed to be! And of all babies, our first HOH boy, Jeremiah! This little Italian boy is still living in Nairobi while his family completes the adoption process. Julia and I saw them the day we left for America and his little Italian accent was in full force! Jeremy is blessed to have wonderful parents who love him so very much.

THIS is one of the greatest joys of my "job." I am blessed beyond measure to see the fruition of God's perfect plan being played out before my eyes. To know that the mission of His Cherished One's Haven of Hope Baby Center ~ to promote the value of family and offer the hope of a future to abandoned and orphaned babies ~ is being accomplished according to God's perfect will is a gift of God's grace. 

We are so happy for Jeremy and his Mama and Papa. May God bless you, precious family!

for Jeremiah

May blessings fall all over you.....

"Blessings" by Betsy Walker

Miah's Mama and Papa!!!

THIS is what it's all about. Our first boy has his family.

This was one of the most special days I have ever experienced. This amazing little boy came into my home on August 14, 2009, one of our very first three babies at Haven of Hope. Since then, he has grown into a bright, handsome, happy young boy. We have been looking forward to this day for so long, the day when Jeremiah would meet his forever family. Today, was that day.

These parents are perfect for Jeremiah. His strong personality and hesitance towards strangers was no hinderance for this new family. Jeremiah has been so excited about getting his mommy and daddy! He tells everyone, "My daddy is coming." And the aunties said the past few days he has been running around yelling "Italy!" Today, he warmed up quickly, more quickly than any of us who know him would have expected. He was frightened at first (big surprise, huh?!), needing his space, but after a few minutes he softened and I was able to place him on his mother's lap. What a moment!

Since he seemed to be connecting to them so quickly and was becoming very comfortable around them, even within the first hour, we decided to all go to lunch together. When we came back to the baby house, this family got to truly experience being a family. Priceless!!

These parents are meant to be parents. They are so natural with him. They need to be his parents as much as he has needed them. It is such a blessing to see them together.

And for those of you who have been praying for Jeremiah, isn't this exactly what our amazing God would give him??? Our football player now has a daddy to play ball with!

And for Jeremiah's new family in Italy who are reading the blog, here are more pictures from the special family's first day as a family of three.....

Baby Update - Jeremiah...I love this boy!

This little guy has been with me since Day One of Haven of Hope Baby Center. I remember the day we brought him home. He was so small, wearing 0-3 month size clothes when he was really 10 months old. (We had been told he was six months.)

Oh, has he grown! And oh, how he has gripped my heart! Our number of babies coming and going is growing. I really do not think that my heart is becoming hardened, and I do not think I am putting up unnecessary walls, but I do think that God has been teaching me the healthy boundaries of connections with them. No matter how I guard my heart, I still love them all so much! But there will always be something special about our first babies - Lizzy, Julia and Miah.

Jeremiah is a special boy. When he is happy, he is melt-your-heart happy with a smile that stabs right through. When he is not happy, well, the whole Rift Valley Province of Kenya can probably hear.

He has a real talent, too. Miah did not learn to walk slowly. He went from his first steps to running within about three weeks. He could jump with both feet off the ground months before he turned two. And from a year and half old, he has been able to play football (soccer) and kick like a pro! He drop kicks, never misses a target, and he can kick while running without missing a beat. This kid is good.

A big decision is being made about Miah's future this week. He has already been approved for Kenyan adoption, but tomorrow his file will be presented before the international approval committee of the agency we are working with. If he is approved, then we can see the prospective parents' file. I can't wait to see what God is doing here!!

We love you Miah!

Baby Update - Jeremiah

Jeremiah's First Week @ HOH

Jeremiah Now

Miah-Miah. What a special little boy. He was one of our first three babies at Haven of Hope, along with Elizabeth and Julia. To read his complete story, you can CLICK HERE. 

Now, 18 months later, he has grown into a happy, healthy, strong little boy! And he is just that....all boy. He absolutely LOVES balls, and I must say, he is quite good! Since he first started walking, he has been kicking. And he has the best coordination I have seen in such a young child! I don't know that I have ever seen him miss the ball, and he can KICK!

Big things are in Jeremiah's near future! He has recently been submitted for review to a Kenyan adoption society, and was approved and freed for adoption! 

Please pray with us for Jeremiah and his forever family. Jeremiah is generally a VERY happy, funny little boy, but he also tends to be fearful and timid in new situations. As we move towards his placement into a family, we are making efforts to socialize him and help him begin to transition into new situations.

We know that God has a special plan for Jeremiah, and we cannot wait to see what is in store in his future! 

Miah's Day Out - Susan's blog link

Our BIG little boy! Where did my baby go?

Check out Susan's blog to read about Miah's day out yesterday. And be sure to look back at her past posts for some wonderful pictures of our precious babies. 

CLICK HERE to go to Susan's blog.

And God Remembered

Living in Kenya, interacting with Kenyans and learning their culture and their language...it is amazing how it often helps me understand the Bible in a new way or gives me a different perspective. There are so many commonalities between African and Biblical cultural. And even in the language. 

For example, Kenyans often tell me as I am leaving to go somewhere, "Remember us," (that is, leaving the country for a visit home, leaving for a trip to Nairobi, or leaving somewhere to go run errands around town). Upon returning from town, from church, from my own home, or from abroad, I am very often asked, "Did you remember me?" 

Considering that these questions often come from people whom I know well, my first thought would be, "Well, of course I know you," or "Do you really think I will instantly forget you when I drive away?" It took me a long time to get used to those questions/comments and understand what they are truly asking. What they are really saying is, "Think of us," or "Remember to pray for me," or "Did you think of me while you were away?"

It makes sense; we just don't use it or think of it that way in America. There are SO many things like this that I find in our conversations here. But this one came to mind this morning as I read God's words in Genesis:

"But God remembered Noah...." (Gen 8:1) and

"Then God remembered Rachel; He listened to her and opened her womb." (Gen 30:22)

No doubt, God had not forgotten about Noah and Rachel. He had not put them out of His mind and then suddenly remembered them. No, He was remembering them, thinking about them, considering them, knowing them. 

Isn't it good to know that God remembers us? He is the All-Knowing God who remembering us, thinking of us. 

I love when the things that sometimes confuse, frustrate, and/or annoy me in the cultural and language differences between myself and those around me begin to take on a new meaning and enlighten me. Or even better, when God uses those things to remind me of Himself and teach me a lesson. 

Just like my friends want me to remember them when we are apart, to think of them, we want the same from our God. And He does! He DOES remember us! I am never left alone or forgotten. And He does a MUCH better job of remembering me - and all of my friends - than I do of remembering them when we are apart. Yes, I do "remember" them....but in the thoughtful, concerned, loving way that I desire from God? Not so much. 

I pray that God will use this in my life. I pray that when people do come to mind, that I will not simply remember them, but thoughtfully and prayerfully remember them. Just as God remembers us. 

And isn't it great to know that God remembers ALL of His children? I take GREAT comfort in that! As I sometimes become overwhelmed with the heaviness of knowing that we hold so many tiny, little lives in our hands at Haven of Hope, it is an awesome comfort to know that God is remembering each of our babies right now. He is thinking of them and planning for and preparing for their futures. He remembers each one of our babies. 

Today, I am especially thankful that He is remembering Jeremiah. He is remembering Jeremiah. 

It May Be Time to Get a Puppy

My very un-Kenyan-like little girl LOVES dogs! We have a huge German Shepherd that she is not a bit afraid of. He is a great dog and is great with kids, but he is still a guard dog and I am leery of letting her play with him.

Judah doesn't look so big here, but he's down few steps. He's a beautiful dog!

Last week Julia met a new puppy friend. Our vet came to see the goats and brought his white Pomeranian with him. She had a ball! And the little puppy was great with her. I have always been a big dog kinda girl (a Lab girl to be exact) and not too fond of little snippity dogs. I really didn't think they were so good with kids. Too unpredictable. But this one may have changed my mind. 

Julia loved this little cutie dog! Wouldn't it be the perfect Christmas present?! 

She had to go get Jeremiah by the hand and take him with her to run and run and run after the little thing. It took him a while to warm up and he never did get too close. Julia, on the other hand, had no problem feeling "her's hair" and getting kisses on the hand. 

It may be time for a puppy. 

Baby Update - Jeremiah

Jeremiah's first day at Haven of Hope

Jeremiah Now

Jeremiah was one of our very first babies at Haven of Hope. We were told when we picked him up in August 2009 that he was 6 months old. He was wearing 3 month clothes. As it turns out, he was almost 10 months at the time. For his full story, you can read his bio on the HCO website (Meet the Babies page) - Jeremiah's Page

Today Jeremiah is a happy, healthy little man. He is no longer a "baby;" he is all boy! Though he does have a very sweet side, loving to hug and take care of the little babies.....

He is also a true rough-and-tumble boy who gets into everything.

He loves to run off and explore the compound while the babies play outside. Such a fun little guy! 

He has a smile that touches your soul, and when he says, "I love you," it will absolutely melt your heart!

We are so blessed to have Jeremiah at Haven of Hope. Seeing him grow is a joy and a privilege and we thank God for allowing us to be a part of that!

How can you pray for Jeremiah? 
You can pray....
* that he continues to remain strong and healthy, 
* that he grows in the truth and knowledge of Jesus,
* for his future and the family he will one day be with,
* for him to learn to communicate without screaming/tantrums (although this is typical toddler behavior and a stage most babies go through, he has been dealing with a number of specific detachment issues since we got him),
* and currently: potty training time! Always a fun time. ;-/

Wordless Wednesday - With a few Words

Well, I kinda want to reinstate Wordless Wednesdays - but with a twist. Just curious to know what some of you might think....and if you're even out there. :-)


We know that "a picture is worth a thousand words," but rather than me writing those words, I will leave that to you. You can just think them, or I invite you to share them. I think it would be fun to see what you see in some of the pictures I encounter in this life. 


So, if you are really out there and would like to share, comment on the Wordless Wednesday pics and give a caption, a thought or a story to go along with the picture.

Starting today......