tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post7675183634402786341..comments2023-05-26T09:56:34.079-06:00Comments on WATERSHED : A comment responseMe. Us. She.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00222015524829943773noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-80946605738253532862013-11-04T12:27:05.885-07:002013-11-04T12:27:05.885-07:00Just chiming in to let you know I keep up with you...Just chiming in to let you know I keep up with your blog since I've been terrible at keeping in touch with you personally lately;) I'm continuing to hope and pray for resolution with all of the adoption logistics, and in the meantime I remain in awe of your love and patience, sacrifice and resilience. These kids are SO lucky to have such amazing parents. Love ya!Karina N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08325321921284415971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-62375578709584437232013-10-29T14:25:40.448-06:002013-10-29T14:25:40.448-06:00You're the best Amanda!You're the best Amanda! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05173265827752176088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-64285957965258370782013-10-29T08:59:34.553-06:002013-10-29T08:59:34.553-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05173265827752176088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-89740092978160809042013-10-29T03:15:05.342-06:002013-10-29T03:15:05.342-06:00thanks for informations..thanks for informations..sulistiahttp://ebooksbiopsychologypineleditionpdf.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-73397082836849134902013-10-28T09:04:14.126-06:002013-10-28T09:04:14.126-06:00Hah! You did make me laugh. And you know what, I t...Hah! You did make me laugh. And you know what, I think we all know an "Alisha" or two from our online worlds. It is the downside of blogging. But the beauty is that there are so many upsides to blogging. Like knowing you!! (A)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-22690068545937103292013-10-28T05:57:56.885-06:002013-10-28T05:57:56.885-06:00Amen. Once again you nail it. Amen. Once again you nail it. Shalomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06949755465600802037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-81287273542049651012013-10-28T00:32:46.155-06:002013-10-28T00:32:46.155-06:00You've responded with such grace, both to the ...You've responded with such grace, both to the original anonymous commenter (who could easily have received the same information by reading more of your blog) and to Alisha, whereas my knee jerk reaction lately is to say something completely immature like, "Don't worry, Amanda. Alisha just has hemorrhoids and ran out of medicated wipes. She's grumpy from the itching and burning, and it's not about you personally." Because how many times have I read these types of comments? HOW MANY? Too many.<br /><br />Keep fighting the good fight with grace and dignity.<br /><br />(PS - I hope I made you laugh. I took a risk that Alisha would read my comment and bestow her wisdom and knowledge on my blog, because if she's heartless enough to come criticize me back when I've got a baby in the hospital - an immobile baby with a rash! even more pitiful! - then I'm pretty sure the world will see how awful human beings can be to one another and strive to do a bit better.)Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09098391747911095350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-73768264962237127642013-10-27T13:09:02.018-06:002013-10-27T13:09:02.018-06:00Keep on keeping on my friend, you are in our heart...Keep on keeping on my friend, you are in our hearts!Harvard to Homemakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12905920467303683131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-39336810402369367382013-10-26T21:34:48.001-06:002013-10-26T21:34:48.001-06:00T&T perfection!T&T perfection!Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08453852874406264393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-48462835485888734112013-10-26T21:29:25.574-06:002013-10-26T21:29:25.574-06:00I am in awe of you, Amanda. You can do HARD things...I am in awe of you, Amanda. You can do HARD things and are doing so with grace. Prayers that this nightmare ends soon.Sarah Lnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-11499226056170925802013-10-26T19:51:56.526-06:002013-10-26T19:51:56.526-06:00She is a warrior momma, no question about it. I&#...She is a warrior momma, no question about it. I'm so proud of her and her husband... a force to be reckoned with. Much love to you, dear one.Gretchenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07425898963082396240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-42700619265030237732013-10-26T18:58:53.481-06:002013-10-26T18:58:53.481-06:00Yes. That. Keep on keeping on, Amanda. You are ...Yes. That. Keep on keeping on, Amanda. You are brave and beautiful. Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13468881865772390593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-17419181261751711262013-10-26T17:49:07.829-06:002013-10-26T17:49:07.829-06:00I just want to track you down and squeeze the tar ...I just want to track you down and squeeze the tar out of you with a giant hug! You are such a warrior momma fighting for her family. My heart hurts for you. So proud of your perseverance. Thank you for being brave enough to share.Jillhttp://www.wadewhereabouts.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-78882736654705115502013-10-26T17:18:27.237-06:002013-10-26T17:18:27.237-06:00It actually feels a bit like you are on an indulge...It actually feels a bit like you are on an indulgent crusade lurking here. It is a giant leap from my saying that we trusted a Christian agency saying it was licensed to actually be licensed to your assumption that we didn't do our due diligence based on the fact that we worked with a Christian organization. <br />We did a lot of work to learn about this organization. The key mistake we made was believing things they put in writing to us. However, it is a mistake I challenge anyone else to try and avoid. Who would believe someone would put complete lies in writing to a prospective client? Please let this be your last comment.Me. Us. She.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00222015524829943773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-78442104842631195192013-10-26T17:16:57.723-06:002013-10-26T17:16:57.723-06:00Critics are men who watch a battle from a high pla...Critics are men who watch a battle from a high place then come down and shoot the survivors.”—HemingwayT and T Livesayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17612227041383997608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-48311938588638961392013-10-26T16:02:42.862-06:002013-10-26T16:02:42.862-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.FootprintsOfGracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16217499780591302568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-13259731651614746392013-10-26T15:58:22.101-06:002013-10-26T15:58:22.101-06:00Alisha, I would encourage you to read the blog wri...Alisha, I would encourage you to read the blog written by multiple families who were scammed by GHRM. After following Amanda's story there, here, and on Facebook, it is quite obvious that this situation cannot be blamed on Amanda or any of the other families involved. Of course hindsight is 20/20 and they all can see red flags that were ignored or questions that they wish they had pursued. But those things are not good reason to blame them for this entire situation. This agency was practicing in the US without a license. Do you confirm that your doctor or bank or favorite restaurant are properly licensed before using them? Probably not. How is this any different? It's natural to assume that Americans who are in American companies are being held accountable to the law. <br /><br />And I'm pretty sure that no one will disagree with you that having a nanny as your only caregiver for such an extended period is a terrible thing for a child. In fact, that's the point. I know written form doesn't express things as well as in person conversation, but can't you sense the heartbreak pouring out of Amanda that she has no choice but to put her son in that position? Can't you see that the result of this agency's deceptive practices is that Amanda and her family are trapped in this horrible position with no solution that is good for either of thier children? <br /><br />Amanda, as always, your courage inspires me. Keep fighting. Your dedication to love your children in the midst of all of this mess is crystal clear.FootprintsOfGracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16217499780591302568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-85953329462389309112013-10-26T15:06:18.470-06:002013-10-26T15:06:18.470-06:00@worldtravels76: Nannies and babysitters tradition...@worldtravels76: Nannies and babysitters traditionally SUPPLEMENT the care provided by parents, rather than provide care IN LIEU of parents. The latter are not unlike orphanage caregivers. Good caregivers, loving caregivers, sure, but not parents.<br /><br />I hope Ariam learns love and compassion from your presently fractured family. I remain appalled that you could've done due diligence on the Christian organization your chose to work with initially simply on the basis they're Christian. (Crusades and indulgences, anyone?).<br /><br />My heart breaks for AJ.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-47936725696804311932013-10-26T13:47:07.376-06:002013-10-26T13:47:07.376-06:00There are a lot of things I wish we had done in hi...There are a lot of things I wish we had done in hindsight. The key thing being not trusting that an agency claiming to be Christian was telling us the truth about being licensed. There are now better guidelines in place in Haiti to help families navigate who is licensed and who is not. <br /><br />As for Ariam - I hope that what she is learning is that families love each other, they never give up on one another, they do HARD things together and for one another. It's not been easy on her. But I hope that the good of the lessons learned about love, even across time and distance, will contribute to her ability to grow into an empathetic and compassionate individual. Not the kind that leaves cruel comments on blogs. Me. Us. She.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00222015524829943773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-47436007308867990062013-10-26T13:42:54.363-06:002013-10-26T13:42:54.363-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.worldtravels76https://www.blogger.com/profile/16595281367848189154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-43889550270313873412013-10-26T13:41:10.126-06:002013-10-26T13:41:10.126-06:00If you are so "distraught" by their supp...If you are so "distraught" by their supposed "negligence" then why are you on here following her story...? Your comment is neither helpful nor encouraging...what are they supposed to do at this point!? They are doing the best they can with the hand they got dealt...Amanda has never said that it was "acceptable" to leave a child in another country...and p.s. Hiring/paying someone to care for your child happens all the time in the U.S. as well...they are called nannies and babysitters. At least she was able to find a caring family to take care of AJ instead of leaving him in a negligent orphanage. And anyway, who are YOU to judge any of this!?!! Amanda has let down her guard and opened up to share her story which takes tremendous courage. If you have nothing supportive or helpful to say, then you should probably keep those comments to yourself. worldtravels76https://www.blogger.com/profile/16595281367848189154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-6563808272989868012013-10-26T13:07:54.315-06:002013-10-26T13:07:54.315-06:00You rock. and I am sorry abotu this mess. Poor AJ ...You rock. and I am sorry abotu this mess. Poor AJ and you. My prayers are with you.scooping it uphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08801475653537826888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-2875132552292351842013-10-26T12:40:11.002-06:002013-10-26T12:40:11.002-06:00I appreciate the explanation -- particularly as yo...I appreciate the explanation -- particularly as you do not owe it to strangers. It's unfortunate that AJ is your son and yet languishes abroad.<br /><br />What does distress me - particularly as you're an experienced adoptive family - is that you failed to do your due diligence in finding a licensed agency/facility to work with (surely even the Haitian government has a list of licensed folks somewhere; surely you get a receipt when you submit stuff to IBSER; surely there's a way to get a copy).<br /><br />The consequences are borne by AJ - who lives with with transient caregivers, currently a paid one (so not the same as a family! Or even a loving family friend!).<br /><br />The fact that neither parent can relocate to haiti to care for their SON, is heartbreaking. The kid lost his first parents, which is a huge tragic loss. His second parents abandonned him to paid staff (not by choice, end result is the same).<br /><br />Ariam is presumably learning that in a family, it's acceptable to leave a kid in another country, to pay strangers to care for YOUR child. Yes, you've no choice, it's not your fault, it's the end result.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-5549457544191931282013-10-26T12:35:31.575-06:002013-10-26T12:35:31.575-06:00Your response to "Anonymous" was graciou...Your response to "Anonymous" was gracious and kind beyond the call of duty. "Anonymous" flew off the handle at you without knowing the facts. I hope he or she is chagrined and apologizes. He or she owes you that.Rogerhttp://www.patheos.com/blogs/rogereolsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615362949670528866.post-40050095333776212392013-10-26T12:17:52.426-06:002013-10-26T12:17:52.426-06:00I think you have handled this amazingly. I found t...I think you have handled this amazingly. I found the blog about the original people you used and I am horrified by their actions. We dealt with similar issues and ultimately ended up moving to Uganda for four months to finally finish our adoption but it was a nightmare. You put all your faith in these people to deliver on their promises and to be working for the benefit of everyone involved - finding out that you've been scammed and lied to is the ultimate heartbreak. <br /><br />I'm glad you took the time to address all this. Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04073684392781079255noreply@blogger.com