Daily News in Colombia (in English!)

I just found a cool link to Colombia news in English. Be sure to bookmark it. This is today's clip. (I even searched in the search feature and found that someone in Florencia-where we met our children, named their daughter after Michelle Obama! Wild! http://www.canalrcn.com/newsinenglish/

RCN News 30 enero
by RCNNEWS

Tired!

I am so tired. I am glad we are threw with everything; we finally have the kids room put back together. They also got new carpet. Things at work seem more hectic, more responsibility. New, BIG things in store and happening at the Church. We've started Soccer again! The kids are doing great! We hope to see Grandma & Grandpa with Tio Ryan & Cousin Peyton this next month. God is good! Pressin' through! Hope all is well with you and yours!

Ayudame! Ayudame!

chaosCHAOSchaos

Miserable, chaos!!! For two weeks, nearly, my life was chaos! So disorganized and just plain messy! I lost two important things for work during this mess! Thank God after putting things back together we found my pager! It was in the snack cabinet! Did I mention I was an emotional eater? I know-terrible!

What a joke? Ha! God knew I needed a laugh! When we pulled up the laminate flooring in the living room, we found this funny joke as well as other Scriptures written all over the floor. Not sure if you can read this, but it was written by a team who came down from Oregon to help rebuild our home after Katrina and reads: What do John the Baptist and Kermit the Frog have in common?

Ben worked hard on re-tiling the hearth and then the area by the back door. It looks really good. If you've never tiled before, it is a lot more work than you might expect. It must sit overnight, then you grout and that must sit; it is very messy; I think the grout is the messiest part. I got to help with a bit of it. Ben didn't trust me with much. He learns fast!

Yes!!! Yes! Yes! It is done! Thank God! And it is nice! You can see the extra carpet piece in front of the door... that was strategically placed to catch Ellie's dirt paw prints; Of course, when company comes we will pick up all the various pieces of carpet. Before, we had laminate flooring. I really like the way it feels to walk on carpet. So nice!

My Belly is Shaking!

Diego was yelling in the bathroom..."Mami, my belly is shaking! And my booty, too!" He has a bad case of diarrhea! Poor baby!

I'm not who I was...

Quite some time ago, I did a blog search. I am not sure if it was a random search of photography interests or pastor's wives, but I came across a really neat one, that I wanted to share with you.

The blog title is "i'm not who i was..." The author's name is Becky Thompson, who is also a photographer. Some of her posts include photos with Scriptures that are very thought provoking... Anyways, check it out, if you'd like. I found it encouraging... http://beckylthompson.com/

Why Should I Be Excited About Life?

This is the day that the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Unparalleled joy and victory come from allowing Christ

to do "the hard thing" with us. -Beth Moore

Today is the cause for celebration!

Life is fleeting; enjoy every moment of it!

Mami, I want to pray...

Today, during worship there was an altar call and Ben was praying for people specifically dealing with anxiety/fear. Tatiana just saw the people going up and wanted to go pray for her sister. I told her to wait until Ben finished praying with someone. She looked tearful as she came back and said, "Papi, no pray!" We waited a while longer, and then I sent her to the pulpit to pull on Papi's pants and whisper what she wanted him to pray for. He did and she looked so comforted! Precious!

We will adopt again, not sure when. I liked the idea of sending the app in on Christmas Eve, but Ben wasn't ready, and we had some family issues that needed to be resolved with extended family before moving forward with another adoption. Not sure when we will move forward; Hopefully, this year some time...I am excited, and can't wait to bring our next daughter home! For now, though, I will pray that God prepare us as He is preparing her and setting things up here and in Colombia... As we wait, we enjoy and cherish the three Colombian jewels that God has entrusted to us! We are so blessed!

Tatiana, December 2007

Love is what makes you smile when you're tired...

Help! Help me, Jesus! Help me to smile! We aren't tired; we're EXHAUSTED!

We have had a wild and most trying week!

Monday: Our luck went south! Major plumbing issues... the toilets overflowed and feces came up the drains! Yuck!

Ben thought it was a city problem. City promised to come out. They never did... I had to work late at the hospital. Mom would take the kids to fast food/convenient stores to potty. Yuck, again! I hate public restrooms, but am so thankful for them, too!

Also, Kids had a reading project due on Wednesday. Decided to do one reading fair project for both Andrew & Tatiana and enter in the family division.

Called Cableone. Wireless/Internet down. Made appointment, could not come out til Thursday.

Tuesday: We called the city again. Finally came out. Said there was nothing they could do. "Call a plumber." (The city is responsible for the sub-pump.) Called a plumber who would come first thing in the am. Ben took the kids to the church for a shower. Mother bought a potty chair ($70).

Ben tried to use drain-O and other chemicals to unclog the toilets/drains, when dropping kids off at house to go back to store, Andrew locked his truck with keys in it and running (we only have one key to his truck). After calling friends to see if had a jimmy, Mother realized she had roadside assistance ($0).

Read book to kids. Painted board. Started on Story Book Elements for Reading Fair Project. Due tomorrow.

Wednesday: Finished Reading Project before school started. Due today. Plumber came and unstopped the toilet! Yea! We thought! Cost: $100.

Emailed family member questions regarding some negative comments made about me and questions about niece and nephew. Got a phone call later that night that ended in a not very nice conversation. Decided to go private on the blog, as soon as we could get online.

Had a meeting with Federal Program Lady at school district, ESL teacher and person who tests the teacher. Nothing really resolved. ESL teacher does not have a plan and does not see the children consistently. Says Andrew has no problems, but behavior. Hello? When a child has behavior problems, that is significant for some reason... it doesn't take a highly, qualified teacher to identify that!!! I didn't call anyone a "liar" but someone has their story mixed up. We have another meeting scheduled with the teachers of both Andrew & Tatiana in 2 weeks, I think. (More about this in another post.)

Later, that night, Mother took a bath and feces came up the drain while she was in the tub! OMG, Yuck! Felt like I was gonna pull out my hair! Plumber was called again.

Thursday: Plumber came out for a second time to the house; unstopped the toilet again. $0. Plumber says it's the city's problem and pointed out several things the city needed to do, and if they didn't to report to the Dpt of Environmental Quality, because it is a sanitation issue and the city can be fined several thousand dollars. Called them, called the Mayor, called Maintenance--several times. No one came. Still Stopped up!!! Threatened to call the TV Station!

BUT, we learned we WON first place on our Family Reading project!

Cableone came, can't dig a trench for new cable; put in temporary cable above ground. Yea! We have internet!

We notice some nasty, foul smell in the boys' room. Ben says the cat must have peed in the room. Cover it up with deodorizer. It will fade, he says. No, this is not a cat, I say. Boys don't complain, but sleep through the night.

Friday: City finally came after many more calls to the DEQ and Mayor. City did a few things to the pump, then the plumber returned. No charge. Unstopped pipes again. Said He felt something, maybe a toy, something blocking it. Would come back in a few days, if needed. Yes! Fixed at last...

Ben says take a shower. For some reason, I didn't listen. Everything was okay, until I let the water out, and the toilet started gurgling. Ran into the other bathroom, Yuck! "Stuff" in the tub! Help!

Put the boys down, and notice the rank smell again! Pick up laundry basket next to the bed, and realize the floor is soaked with sewage water. OMG! Yuck! My poor babies!

Saturday: Light at the end of the tunnel? Could it be? Soccer game, a great distraction! Called Plumber, left pleading message to come back. Praise the Lord! Jimbo (that's his name) came around 9 and left after we returned from the game. (over $400). Cause of the cloggage: about 12 inches of grease! Yuck! He says when the temps drop, grease hardens, it was like white rock! Yuck! Anyways, more confidence, feeling a little better, now the carpet must be addressed. Instead of just a foul smell in the boys' room, you can smell it as you open the door!

Tear out half the carpet in the boys' room, and mop & clean behind it and bathrooms... Go to Lowe's to price carpet & installation. Begin moving beds out of rooms. Ben plays a little Wii with the kids; everyone gets a nice bath!

After a very long, tiring, expensive week, we sit in our bed pondering what could have been the "God lesson" in all this? On the edge of losing it, frustrated and ready to break, at times we found ourselves laughing at one another... and the kids- they were great in all this! They flowed with it all. They are great adventurers! Even in all the poop, we're blessed beyond imagination. Sometimes, it's just hard to see it. Thank God, he sends people along our paths to help dig us out of the ruts and set us on our feet once again. And thank God for people like Jimbo, our plumber!

Next week, hopefully will not be so adventuresome.

P-U-WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Please pray for us! Our plumbing has been backed up for the past 3 days!!! It's miserable! My mom was taking a bath after the plumber had come and we thought it was fixed only to have feces come up out of the drain while she was in the bath!!! The city says get a plumber; the plumber says this is the city's responsibility (pump not working), and the city just don't want to do anything. So...we have contacted the state dpt of Environmental Quality. Maybe they will get something done. If not, mom is threatening to go to the tv station with it... and believe me---that will be something to watch! ha! But pray! It has been a trying time for all of us! Poor Ben... he is trying so hard!

Shh....

Going private! I've found out that there are people in my family that criticize my blog and call it a "bragging blog" or a "place to brag" about my kids, and then have other people read it only to relay messages to another, causing dissension. Crazy! I know! So, in an effort to not offend, or be offended, I've enabled the "invited readers" only option.

Time with Papaw, Kaleb & Chuck

As you can see, this vacation was packed with lots of family, friends, and fun, but it didn't stop at my dad's... We ventured further down the road to Homer, La, and visited with my Papaw. We went to Pizza Hut. From the picture, you can tell Diego was tired! Nana was sick and was unable to join us.

Our last stop was to visit my nephew, Kaleb, niece, Ainsley, and their father, Chuck. It was unfortunate that we didn't get to see Ainsley on this trip, but hope to see her soon. Didn't get a lot of good pics with Kaleb and the kids, but got a great shot of the kids with their Uncle Chuck. We hope that Kaleb and Ainsley will get to come visit here for a week or so during the summer or next holiday season.

Time with Grand-Papi & Mamie

After we ended our fun time with the Duewels', we were on the road again! Going through the Arkansas mountains, we finally made it to Grand-Papi's house! Grand-Papi is my father. The children love to go to his house even though it is "mucho" far. He has lots of neat things for the kids to do including: horse riding, go-carts, air hockey, and riding bikes down this massive hill. It was nice to see Dad interact with the kids. I wish I lived closer to my family. Daddy seemed so proud of each of the children. And, that blesses my heart!

Proverbs 27.17 ("Wii" had a blast!)

I am so thankful to those in the adoption community that God has networked our family with! We have been so blessed by so many, I will not name names because I would be sure to leave some out. Not only have we been connected with other adoptive families, but people who are just touched by the spirit of adoption, and we are blessed by that.

You will never know how much of an impact you have made on us and so many others. It is so refreshing to be genuine with others who are not critical, but understanding and empathic, especially when dealing with infertility, adoption sensitive issues, parenting, or even daily stresses and to be "filled" or be energized; we are grateful for friends.

The Happy Birthday Song!

Can you guess who this is?

Pool! Pool! Pool!

When we were in Kansas City, the kids got really excited to learn the hotel had a pool! Our children love getting in the water. They aren't swimmers yet, but I have no doubt with more "pool time" they would be. Now, the Duewel boys' on the other hand, are very impressive in the water! Lots of pics with this post!

The Daniels'

While we were in Branson, Rena's parents, the Daniels', joined us. On Sunday, Richard, Rena's father shared a word about "Love" pointing out Scripture, and then testifying of his own love relationship with his wife of 49 years (I believe?)... Catching us unaware, when he called his wife to stand by him, we grabbed our cameras... and this is what we heard (you may have to turn up your volume, and apologize for the fuzziness, I think my batt was about to die.)

Awe... Wasn't that so sweet? I got all "leaky!" I started clapping at the end, and Ben said I ruined the "moment." Sorry! It was so sweet, though. They were a neat couple, and they loved on our kids as much as their own grandchildren. We were blessed to share part of our time there with them!

Our Holiday Vacation

Whew!!! I'm not sure if I can get this in one post... but maybe a series?

Well, here goes for the first one! Ben and I had talked BC about doing a family vacation during the holidays and escaping the traditional ways of celebrating Christmas and do just family fun and games and rent a cabin. So, when Rena and Nate suggested we get together over the Holidays, we were game!

We talked about renting a cabin, but that didn't work out. However, Nate was able to get us the "hook up" and we were able to stay in a beautiful condo in Branson- which was probably even nicer than the Arkansas cabins we found. While in Branson, much of the city and touristy places had closed down for the season, but we were able to take the kids to Silver Dollar City for their very first roller coaster ride! (Thanks to the Duewels' season passes, we were able to get in free! What a blessing! Thank you!)

Bedtime was pretty cool... to see all our children lined up on the couch in matching pajamas smiling and giggling at one another! Rena read a book to them a few nights. She's a great storyteller. We ended with prayer. It was neat to see and hear the kids pray together.



We ended our journey with the Duewels' at a neat Restaurant in Kansas City that delivered the food by train. That was pretty cool! Diego loves trains. They gave the kids little hats. My children didn't pose with a pic with their hat, but must share this one of Erika!


After we went to SDC, we followed the Duewels' back to Kansas City. That was another great adventure! Nate and Rena had some more contacts there that helped us get a great deal on a "sweet" hotel room! The kids played in the pool one afternoon. When the kids went down at night, the adults would stay up and fellowship, and we even got in another great game of Cranium.

Girls vs. Boys. It was hilarious as Rena would try to mimic Tina Turner, and I am so not good at naming famous people or tunes! I tried to redeem myself at with the pictionary part! Ben gave an impression of Jim Carrey that we won't forget for a long time! It was a great time to share laughs. For the record: Boys won the first game in Branson, and Girls won in KC-- 1:1.



So, lots of fun in-between happened, but I'll let the later posts full of pics tell those stories!

(family pics coming soon!)

We left KC to go to Louisiana and visit my family. John Michael and his fam just left town so we missed them. We were able to see Grand-Papi and Mamie at one stop, then went on to visit Nana & Papaw, and then Kaleb & Chuck; Ainsley was at her grandmother's and we weren't able to see her, but plan on it next trip! Andrew would ask repeatedly, "Mami, can I hold Ainsley?" I had to remind him that Ainsley isn't a baby anymore. That she's three already! Of course, the kids had fun at the family's, but Mami and Papi are EXHAUSTED!

Happy New Year!

Philippians 3:13-14 "No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven."

2 Cor 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"