Treading Water

A few weeks ago Jeff Helton gave a profound message at Fellowship Bible Church.  A message I think most all of Fellowship needed to hear on one level or another. 

Jeff spoke about being on the end of the plank of a pirate ship and God sort of poking him with the idea of jumping off, feet first.  Jeff admitted he doesn't swim well, we likes the comforts of solid ground and things that are familiar.  Don't we all?  I know I personally can't swim and prefer warm water which would not typically be found if jumping off a plank.

Well Steve and I are finding ourselves on the end of the same plank except we sort of jumped we just decided to grab the plank and have been hanging on with our finger tips for a couple years.  God being the gentleman that He is did not step on our fingers but He has made it very clear it is time to let go!

So...  we let go!  We are now treading in this unfamiliar water of adoption that is full of a million emotions, excitement, fear, doubt, anxiousness and the list goes on.  I think the biggest doubt we have at the moment is the sea of paperwork that we just can't seem to get to the bottom of and we know there is more to come!!

We have three beautiful children waiting on the other side of this sea and we can say we are everyday working on this stack of paperwork trying to get to the bottom!!

We have a garage sale fundraiser planned for June 5th...  donations and volunteers are welcome!

Thank you to all of you who stand beside us in this swimming journey of faith.

Blessings!

Three Peas in a Pod

For those who do not know the kids story this picture has brought tears of joy to the many who do!!

The children have been separated since December and are finally together.   I am sure this is a Mom's prayer answered.  I know I love my biological children but I am not sure I am selfless enough to admit I can no longer provide for them and let them go with the hope someone else would love them as much as I do.  Their Mom is amazing and we have HUGE shoes to fill!!  My prayers for Monique to be safe, off the streets and with her brothers is answered!

We are so glad you all are rejoicing with us and our beautiful Heaven Sent Haitians!

I am recovering well from my surgery and this picture came in just before we received the pathology report of benign.  We know this is another mountain God moved for these children to come home!

Blessings

Diligently Working!

The kids have been to the doctor, there is more paperwork that has been filled out.  Steve and I have our appointments made... 

Josh has had a great week trying out got the Page Panthers football team.  We hope next week is just as good!!  Josh is also running track and LOVES it! He is very sore with 2.5 hours of football and then 2 hours of track - the kid id sore and tired!!   Josh is very excited to go to public school next year to hang out with friends and play football!

Amanda is helping us fill out all the forms in her spare time.  Skating takes a lot of time and school is almost over for her this year.  One more final paper to write for History.

This week we have another busy schedule and will be slowed down a little on the adoption  end of things but we are going to do our best to still get some paperwork done and other important appointments made.  Having been in the military we have extra paperwork to fill out - YEAH!  :o)  We can't wait really, this is all for our beautiful Haitian children.

It is time to get busy cleaning and organizing  another closet!  Our neighborhood is having it's bi-annual yard sale Saturday June 5th so we have to get all the clutter ready for sale!  I posted this news on Facebook and a friend posted back that she will donate things so...  We thought that was a great idea and we are going to have this be one of our fundraisers!  So...  if you are one of our Nashville friends - it is time for Spring cleaning!

Have an awesome day today and for all you Mom's - HAPPY Mother's Day!!

Junior and Frantz

The latest picture... :o)

Excitement Runeth Over!

Today is our son's birthday - Happy birthday Joshua!! 

We saw a new picture of Frantz and Junior, hopefully we will get a copy soon.  They cut Frantz' "soccer" hair!  :o(  We can't wait to share the pictures with you all as we get them!

More paper work complete, physical appointments made and we are trucking along!

A big thanks to our friends who have recently adopted from Haiti for their help walking us through the paper work and their willingness to continue to support all our questions and...

Blessings,
Colson JAMS-MJF

"But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?"
(Romans 10:14-15, NLT)

Sometimes God calls us to do the unimaginable.  Believe and see what He does in and through you.

Don't forget to shop for Mom. Buy her the gift that makes scents!

Paperwork

WOW!  4 emails from the agency all with at least 5 attachments!!!

I have plowed through 8 forms already, and I am NOT counting how many I left.  One at a time and the sooner they are done the sooner our kids come home!  Yeah!!!


One form asked if we would change their names, in the past I always thought we might but seeing the question on paper made it more real.  No we won't change their names not unless they ask us to.  Monique, Junior and Frantz are all the names they were given and that is all they will be bringing with them.

We should be getting pictures soon so we can see our Monique.  Can't wait!

Back to paperwork!!

They are really ours!! The Newest Colson's

Dear Malanie and Steve,

The New Life Link office is very pleased to inform you that we have approved your request to adopt three children with us. Our referral to your family are the following children: Monique, Junior, and Frantz Pierre-Charles. Monique was born on Oct.15,1999, Junior on Dec. 6, 2002, and Frantz on March 2, 2007. Their father has died last year, and their living mother is totally unable to provide for their basic needs. She has signed before the Judge the consent to adopt and the relinquishment of the parental rights for Junior on Sept.16,2009, for Monique and Frantz on Dec. 16,2009.This letter is our referral to your family.These children are the new addition to the Colson's family.
All the lab tests for hiv, hepatitis B, sickle cell are negatif. They are all enjoying excellent health as far as the lab tests have revealed.Within the next 10 days, you should receive pictures of your 3 new children.
Please, kindly let us know of your response to this referral. We look forward to work with you for these children to be physically with your family within the next 18-24 months. Of course, sooner is better for all of us.We thank you for trusting us at the NLL. We trust you too.
Blessings,
Jacob

Heaven Sent Haitians

We were given the news today that we have been referred to our Heaven sent Haitians!! Monique (10), Junior (8 in the pictures) and Franz (4 in the pictures). We will soon have pictures of Monique too.

Their story: The children's father died of HIV this past year and the mother can no longer care for her children. The boys were placed int he orphanage but Monique is too old. "No one adopts older children and no one adopts sibling groups of 3". So glad we serve a mighty God!! Monique is currently living on the street and sometimes with her mother. Tomorrow Dr Bernard will go and pick Monique up so she can begin spending time with her brothers again! The children are all tested before a referral can be made and all three children are healthy!

When Amanda and I were in Haiti (a 3rd world country), on our 3rd day serving in the cretch (the infant orphanage) God placed these two boys on my heart. I began praying for them, laying my hands on them, praying for their forever family and hoping large for them. The following evening I spoke with the director of the orphanage regarding adoption and where our hearts were. We were open to a sibling group because kids should have their siblings and as we spoke this sibling group of 3 came up. It was easy for me to guess who the boys were even though they look nothing alike. God had already placed them in my heart.



I emphasized the 3's above becuase for months God has pointed out the times of day that the numbers are 3 of the same 1:11, 2:22 and... Not not all of them but once a day and it is typically 3:33. We also see these numbers in triplicate on license plates, billboards, phone numbers and... We haev looked up scriptures God might be trying to get into our heads and nothing just popped out until now. We were in a 3rd world country, it was the 3rd day and it is a sibling group of 3... Not a coincidence. We have had 11 foster children in our home - 2 were sibling groups of 3 and these beautiful children will make the 3rd and the list goes on.

We are so excited!!!

We will post the new pictures soon!!!

In Him,
Melanie

We will be blogging again soon!! There is a lot to catch up on since our last blog!! Almost a year has passed, we have had the pleasure of yet another sibling group of 3 and God moving in our hearts with great strength!!
In Him,
Melanie