it's hard 2 be five!

Andrew is doing great in school! I finally spoke with his ESL teacher today. She says he is doing well with english and is losing a lot of his spanish. She encouraged us to continue using spanish vocabulary or letting the children watch dvds in spanish. We would like the children to be bilingual. We would like to be bilingual! We have talked about getting the Rosetta Stone series to help us. The ESL teacher stated she was going to recommend he be tested for speech therapy. He is having difficulty putting the sounds together. The ESL teacher said it was not a language barrier issue, but speech, but could easily be resolved with some speech therapy. The person who tests for that called today.

Our first school family project: Andrew will participate in the Reading Fair. Actually, it is required to do a project for his grade. How does a Kindergartener do a project? So, we are going to do it as a family project. There is a category for that. We have chosen Jamie Lee Curtis's book, It's Hard to be Five, Learning to Work My Control Panel. I love her books. And her illustrator, Laura Cornell, is a great artist. It should not be too difficult. We will take pics and post once we complete it. We are starting on it this weekend.

Mucho Dinero (sp) = The children have started earning pennies for chores, positive attitudes, homework, school behaviors, kind acts, and more. They are also learning that they have to pay for extras and negative behaviors. We have piggy banks for Andrew and Tatiana. We have to get Diego one. They are hard to find! Andrew has used his money to buy a chair to go with Tatiana's table; it only cost 25 cents + good behavior. That was a lot for him, but he didn't think twice about it. Andrew readily gives to the church ministry each Sunday out of his bank. Tatiana is more reserve. Diego usually loses his money by Sunday! They are cute when they run to the front of the church and throw their change in the baskets!

Diego had a fever this evening - 101.5. We have been giving him Ibuprofen/Tylenol. It has went down a degree. Will keep you posted.

Flushed Away!

Amazing...almost 6 months home and we still fight over who gets to flush! Diego is amuzed by how the waste is removed and watches it with fascination as it disappears. When we go to a restaurant, more than one has to go...it gets complicated! It's kindof funny! One will sit on the toilet while the other is looking at the corner of the stall. When that one can tell the other is finished, he/she rushes to try to flush the toilet before the other...funny! Can't imagine what other people in the bathroom think!!

Perfected!

Tatiana has perfected the flip at last! The cartwheel is still a talent we are working on. Andrew has now taken an interest in trying to master the flip. Tonight, we had fun in Tatiana's room taking turns flipping on the carpet. "Watch! Watch!" They would shout!

Tatiana & Diego are jumping and dancing around more. I think these are things that Tatiana is learning from other children at school. We have also been walking the past week. We dance and walk to the "Walk Away the Pounds" by Leslie Sansone. They are so cute. Tatiana has walked a whole mile with me! The boys usually get distracted or lose interest pretty quickly. It's precious!

Sons & Daughters of the Royal Family

Tonight, we enjoyed the company of our friends, Kelly & Katherina and Baby Princesa Miriam. Our friends are preparing to team up with Mercy Ship Ministries in January as a family. Katherina was also, very helpful in interpreting when we first came home with the children. She is awesome! I am saddened she will be leaving, but excited, too, about the adventure God has in store for their family!

i am thankful for...

before we ate the children each said things they were grateful for.

Andrew:
Ellie
Swingset
Grand-Papi's Horses
Toy box
Colombia

Tatiana:
House
God
Cuarta (Bedroom)
Painting in room by G-Mami
Food
Turkey
Princesa clothing

Diego:
Trains
Cars
Papi's Truck
Airplanes

After the children, Ben and I verbalized things we were so very thankful for, we prayed. Andrew wanted to pray specifically for Isaac Diego, a baby being adopted in Colombia right now by some friends from New York. We prayed for "mucho muscles" and then we prayed for the parents. It was precious, and we are believing this is one more thing we will be able to praise God and give thanks for the blessings he will bestow on this family. Then, we enjoyed some yummy turkey and dressing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, rolls, and "Coca-Cola" for everyone! (The kids RARELY get Coke to drink! It was a real treat for them!) We even ate on the China! It was a good day! We are very thankful for the three Colombian treasures we have this year, all the people we've met along the journey, especially my Yahoo girls, and the faithfulness of God. God is good when we are not...is it possible to list all the things He has blessed you with? I think it is impossible...we are blessed beyond what we can even imagine; God is good...My Daddy's King of the Universe! I am so thankful to be grafted into the family of God!

Give Thanks to the Lord

"It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord."

The last sentence of Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation October 3, 1863

"In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God..."

1 Thessalonians 5.13

"I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;I will recount all of your wonderful deeds."
Psalm 9.1

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
Philippians 4.6

Fun at the Park!

Went to the Park again this past Sunday! Free Recreation! Love it! We waited until later to go. See Pictures Below. Some pics were from the previous Sunday. This Sunday, we waited until most other families left and we climbed the rock wall, slid down the slide, and much more! Even though we exceeded the recommended weight limit, nothing broke! And it was fun "being kids" again! Hope you enjoy the pics!

Family Fun

We have received two Family Fun Magazines in the mail recently. These magazines feature articles related to parenting, children, and arts & crafts. When working as a Children's Therapist, I subscribed to this magazine. I haven't paid dues or re-subscribed in the past 3 years. I am assuming--someone did, though...and just wanted to say, "Thanks!"

In the Father's Hands

I have two friends who are currently in Colombia. They are with their families and will meet the newest members of their forever families tomorrow!

Please pray for Genece and her family. They have travelled from Alaska to adopt a sibling group of three in Cucuta, Colombia!

Also, please pray for Sherri and her family who are all the way from New York and are going right outside of Bogota' to meet their son in Colombia.

You can find their blogs on the side bar or right below.

Sherri Meets Baby Isaac Diego http://allglorybetogod.blogspot.com/
Genece adds 3 to her family http://halfaskyaway.blogspot.com/

These two ladies have been so faithful in the prayer chat room and with their long waits for their children. I really feel like they are in the Father's hands. What an awesome thing--when you think about it...we can't run from the father's hand, we can't escape it...but then, why would we want to??

Orphan Soul Concert Benefit

Last night, we went to Church on the Rock to support Orphan Soul and Children's Hope International. Orphan Soul partnered with CHI to help raise money to support orphans who need cleft pallate and heart surgeries.

I was able to put a slide show together with many pics of new and old adoptive families from CHI Yahoo and CHI friends who gave permission and other local families.

I met a CHI representative who works in both Louisiana and Mississippi. Maybe I will be able to share our adoption story at the next CHI informational meeting here in Mississippi. Orphan Soul is also interested in partnering up with CHI. So, a "woohoo!"

All proceeds from ticket sales and the love offering will go toward the surgeries of orphan children. They raised $1,164.37! Thank you, God.

Mia! Mia!

It's mine! It's mine! We often hear the children quarreling over what's theirs. We try to explain the concept of sharing; and once we think they have finally comprehended the concept, we find ourselves breaking up yet another quarrel or simply taking the object of conflict into our own possession. We currently have 4 different toys including a Fire Truck on our dresser! Andrew & Diego often hide toys from one another...kindof funny....

I have read and watched how different families raise their children and handle the "toy" issue. We want our children to be blessed, but we do not feel that always "more" is more...sometimes, less is more...with our children, who came from an environment with little, are very satisfied with just a few toys. They can entertain themselves with simple things that we take for granted...like the party favors...saying all that, we intend to do the holiday thing different than most of our friends and family. We want to begin our own family traditions. We do not believe in teaching them there is a Santa Claus. Our plan is to read and pray Scripture during the period of Hanukkah and then end that period with only 3 gifts each from Papi and Mami, and explain the birth of Christ. We want it to be very "Christ-centered." We would like to use our resources to help other children who have been orphaned whether by shoe boxes or support thru CHI or even, helping a Prospective Adoptive Family financially. We want the children to know it is much more important to give than to receive.

Just thirty...

I want to share "just thirty" things off the top of my head that I am grateful for:

1. God's salvation
2. Husband
3. My three beautiful children
4. House
5. Family/Friends
6. Rainbows
7. Job
8. Good health
9. To be an American
10. My Bible
11. 3 or more Meals a day (I need to cut the snacks, I know!)
12. Dependable Vehicles
13. Air conditioner
14. Running water
15. Adoption
16. Blue Skies
17. Children's Hope International
18. Missionaries
19. Church
20. Sunshine
21. Birds singing
22. The ducks at the pond in front of the hospital
23. Happy children
24. Flowers
25. Electricity
26. Art/Music
27. Internet
28. Pets
29. School teachers
30. Let's not forget cell phones!

These are in no particular order of importance...just some things that I am so blessed to have at age 30. God is good, and he is faithful. His wish is for me to succeed and be blessed according to his will...Thank you God for all of the above blessings...Help me to recognize you are the one who sustains me...It is you who is the Provider...thank you for everything you've done this past year of my life...Please give me wisdom as I sojourn thru the next...

Mami's Birthday!

It's my 3oth! Today, I came home to the house and the kids had decorated with streamers and balloons outside. When I opened the door, they were throwing confetti on themselves (I think their intentions were to throw it at me!) ...Ben had attached streamers to the ceiling fan for a cool effect...I had birthday cake and a necklace and 3 beautiful pieces of art taped to the wall. It was great! And everyone sang Happy Birthday!

I even got voicemails from my Dad, my nephew, Pastor's wife sang "Happy Birthday", friend, Kim, a card from Kelly, and flowers from Dennis & Susan, and also a message from Susan on the phone. Ben also took me to lunch and then the family went to dinner too. It was a good day!

New Pictures (this weekend)

Ice Cream??? When we first met the children, ICBF had told them we would take them to get ice cream. We could not find ice cream until like the 3rd day in Florencia! Sunday we had caramel sundaes from McDonald's. Andrew didn't know what to think about the "brown stuff" on the ice cream and was hesitant to eat initially. Then, Tatiana and Diego gave him the "mmmm...." and he figured he would try it...and he found out he loves it!!! They love posing for silly pictures!

Motorcycle Man!!! Diego can't quite reach the pedals, but he sure does exercise those legs moving that bike!!!

Andrew & Tatiana riding bikes at the park!

Austin & Julian hanging out with the boys...

Tatiana, our Princesa! It is our responsibility to teach her how to be more than a "Princess" by title only. She wore her tiara to Church on Sunday. The boys also refer to themselves as "Princes." We also have the great responsibility to raise them up in such a way to be earthly princes resembling their heavenly King. It is a great responsibility for every parent, and we take this seriously. We want to raise up godly sons and daughters, and we will.

Digging for Gold...

This was an obvious posed picture. When one of the chidren catches another "digging for gold" they chime out, "Mami, Moco, Moco!" and point at the other.

Today, we helped a friend give a baby shower for a mutual friend who's expecting. Me and Kelly dressed up as Hillbilly Pregnant and Barefoot women! Initially, I was in good form, and even some of the guests of whom I did not know actually thought I was pregnant!

The unforgettable moment was when Andrew and Tatiana saw me. Andrew looked with BIG eyes and said, "Mami, funny!!!" Laughing so cute, repeating himself. I told Tatiana it's a baby...she began to rub the belly and say baby. Then as we played games and ate, it got too hot to stay in costume. When Tatiana saw me again, she clapped! ??? She said, "Mami, no baby? No baby!" I am a little confused on why she would clap? Oh well.

Andrew told Ben about it when Ben came home...saying, Mami, funny...

The children are just as cute, well, probably cuter than the past 4 months...They are speaking more English. They all are showing more of their personalities. It is interesting in how some of their tendencies are similar to Ben and mine.

Well, that's all for now. Maybe I will have some new pics to post tomorrow. I wish I knew how to upload video. Would love to take some and share...maybe sometime soon.

By the way...we've found our treasure...first with our Lord and then within our family! And...we've got the pictures to prove it. I just love these kids....and my wonderful husband.

bAlaNce AgaIn!

Papi's home! Last night, Ben and Amber, a friend from Oregon, arrived home from a 10 day mission adventure to India! I am so glad! I am glad to see Ben and Amber, but I am glad that the children know their Father's back. We did well up until Thursday and Friday we had some major tantrums coming from the boys.

This morning, I awoke at 6 am, and Diego was already up. (It is Saturday...doesn't he know he's supposed to sleep in on Saturday? That's a "negative.") I fell back asleep, and awoke again to Andrew and Diego tapping me on the shoulder telling me Papi was here! (They were asleep when he arrived!)

It was nice to hear the three different voices in three different places calling out Papi's name instead of Mami's for a change...of course, that didn't last long! There are only some things Papi's are better at than Mami's!

He's back and the children are happy and they have had a chance to play on their own Papi Jungle Gym!

We also took Amber back to the airport today. She was returning home to Oregon. Her family has been a great support to us throughout the entire process of our adoption. This family came from Oregon to our church on a mission trip to help with relief work from Hurricane Katrina. Ben and I met with various team members of that mission or relief organization. We never knew how God was networking us with people that we would actually grow in relationship with later...but, that's how God is, isn't He? We sometimes, can't handle the BIG picture, so he just gives us what we need to know...when we need to know. God is good, and through this family he has blessed us tremendously.

Amber's mom is always sending emails of encouragement to me. One of the phrases of faith she spoke before we completed the adoption was, "Babies from Heaven in 2007." I began verbalizing it and calling it forth. Several other prospective adoptive parents also began claiming it and calling it the year of the jubilee...and it has proven so. Colombia has recently had several referrals from our adoption agency and others! Anyways, we again thank the Konsmos' for all they have done for us. May the Lord bless you always. And Happy Birthday, David!

Well, Papi's home, and the house has more balance now. We are glad Papi is home.

Year 2015

Did you know that by the year 2015, it is projected that there will be over 400 million orphans?