In July of 2006, we met and visited our daughters in Haiti for the first time. I kept a journal of our trip and would like to share it here. I woke up so nervous this morning. I even felt a sense of dread. I did not want to go. I was exhausted from my week of cleaning and doing laundry. I was worried about my kids and how they would fare. I was concerned about the stress I was inflicting upon loved ones who so kindly volunteered to watch our kids. I just didn't feel like going to Haiti today.

On... more

When my husband and I went to visit our girls in Haiti for the second time, we brought our eight year old son, Ryland along. When we returned home, I asked him to write an essay about his view on Haiti. This is what he wrote:

Last week, I went to Haiti. I saw lots of people that were poor and lots of trash everywhere. Sometimes people burned the trash. I also saw trash in the river, with pigs running around everywhere. I saw skinny dogs that you could see their ribs. I saw people carrying heavy things on... more

Out of all the countries one could choose to adopt from, why would or should Haiti be considered?

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and has been plagued by violence for most of its history. I have traveled to Viet Nam, Ethiopia, and Mexico, and still the poverty of Haiti shocked me. Haiti has an estimated 8.2 million people. The unemployment rate is about 80%. The majority of the Haitian population lives on less than a $1 a day, with the median income about $60 per year.... more

Every family is drawn to adoption for different reasons, and just as those reasons vary, so do the choices of where to adopt from. One of the most common questions we adoptive parents will hear is, “Why adopt from ______?” How can one answer that question adequately? Choosing your path in adoption is a very personal decision. One must decide whether or not they will adopt domestically (and if they choose domestic, they must decide among a myriad of choices). If not, they are left taking an international journey. Once the decision to go international has been made, the adoptive parent(s) must then pick the country they will adopt from.

How does one choose the right country?... more

In Haiti, Christmas is called, Noel.

Traditionally, a few days before Christmas, Haitians would cut a pine branch to act as a Christmas tree. A few might get a freshly-cut tree from the market. At home, the branch (or tree) would be decorated with bright ornaments, and a large nativity scene would take up a vast portion of the living room. The nativity scene depicted a cave manger, with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, the wise men, and sculptured stable animals complete with hay. On Christmas Eve, the children would clean their shoes, fill them with straw, and put them out for Papa Noel (Santa Claus). Papa Noel would remove the straw and replace it with gifts for the... more