New Beginnings

Well, this week has been exciting. I turned in my resignation at work; My last day will be April 8th. Eric and I have made the decision that it will be best if I can devote more time at home once we bring home our Colombian Jewels. I will continue to work on a part time basis, and once we see just what the needs are of our new additions we will determine what “part time” means. (how many hours, days or evenings, etc.) But until we travel I will continue to work at least 30 hours freelancing.

I turned in my notice on Tuesday and by yesterday I was feeling ready for the next chapter to begin. I enjoy my job, so turning in my resignation was bitter sweet. But in taking the step to cut back at work I found myself that much more anxious for the referral call. Again, I remind myself, all in God’s timing.

Also this week on our yahoo group someone shot out an email with loads of questions on behalf of all of us waiting to travel. The questions were aimed at those who have already been to Colombia and come home. Things like, advise on packing, what Spanish phrases would especially come in handy, what kinds of things did you take for the children etc. There have been some great responses and I started keeping a notebook of things to help me keep track and prepare. I have purchased a few things like sun block, bug spray, and a few other items, but really need to start making a list. So the yahoo sisters who have been so willing to take the time to help advise us have been invaluable.

As far as the books for orphans, we now have about 80 books. I am so excited. Along with the books we are also taking supplies for the orphanage. I was speaking to a friend about possibly getting donations of baby supplies (shampoo, lotion, powder) which are very expensive in Colombia and the very next day she called and told me she had three boxes of stuff to be donated. Baby supplies, over 50 toothbrushes, more than 20 tubes of toothpaste etc! Children’s Vision is sending me a list of their children’s names and ages. We hope to have enough donations to have the girl scouts make a goodie bag for each child. We are getting pencils, stickers, hair accessories, small balls, etc. This is so much fun. I am excited for Emi and Nate to have this experience and to visit the orphanage. I am trying to be careful and not put them on emotional overload while we are there, so we may only be able to spend one day, but none the less, they will make memories and will have a special place in their hearts for orphans, God’s children! Obviously we are going to make the orphanage trip before our Gotcha Day so we can focus our attention on our family once we are all together.

My adrenaline is pump’n…
Must be gett’n close!

No Word Yet

Have I mentioned lately just what great kids I have? I just got home from parent teacher conferences. The teachers had nothing but good to say about Emi and Nate. Which is always the case, but none the less, it’s so nice to hear it from the ones who see them 7 hours a day.

Emi is doing well despite the broken bones in her arm and the much anticipated travels and sibling addition. Her homeroom teacher mentioned that she has a lot going on with “growing up”, her arm and adoption, but continues to do very well. She is maintaining her good grades. Mostly A’s with a few B’s popping in every once in a while. She got her cast off yesterday and is now in a brace for 4 weeks. We go back in 5 mts to be sure the bones are growing. There is a 50% chance the bones in her wrist will not grow. I am confident that she will be in the 50% that the bones do grow again.

Nate’s teachers call him the ladies man. I was not sure how I felt about this at first but his homeroom teacher said he is so respectful of the girls, opens doors for them etc. Not just to his classmates, but for the lady teachers and staff too. What a Charmer! His teacher for his TAG (talented and gifted) classes spoke of him becoming quite the handsome little guy and very cautious of taking care of his buddy Rachel. They are the only two TAG kids in his school so he they are bussed to a near by school for his morning classes. She said he is always looking out for Rachel. She also said that she anticipates he may be able to take Freshman math as a 7th grader. He is in 5th grade right now doing 6th grade math and breezing through it.

Nate’s teachers both said that Nate will be in the middle of his work and suddenly have to comment about the adoption. He speaks at appropriate times but just has to speak his thoughts. Things like “I’m not sure when, but we are going to be traveling soon!” “I’m really excited to visit another country and I really want to learn more Spanish!” “Mom said the cops there are different than here and carry big fire arms.” Emi and Nate have not really had much to say at home lately so it was interesting to hear how much they talk about it at school. It really does amaze me how much they take in, think about and wonder about the adoption and us traveling.

I guess we are all getting anxious. Really really anxious!

Now on a few side notes:

As far as the books for the orphanage, we are up to 60 books and the orders are still coming in!!!!!!

A few more families from our agency and yahoo group have received referrals and are preparing to travel. It’s always so exciting to hear of others adventures and to be excited along with them.

Friday Eric and I are going to have our FBI fingerprints redone and on Monday I plan to have our doctor letter redone so when we get the call everything will be updated and ready to go. It will take a few weeks to get the letters back then send them for notary approval and then apostil led. When we get the call we don’t want to have these items hanging over our heads. Our OH Rep told us to wait until we got word, but we really feel like the Lord is telling us to go ahead and take care of it, so that’s just what I am going to do.

One last thing, I came across this quote that I absolutely love and wanted to share. "We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life. But those who make their journey home across time & miles, growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them, are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us by God's very own hands." ~Kristi Larson

I think I will just end the post with that…sigh…

Childrens Vision International

Well the last two weeks have been crazy, with my mind spinning. Am I ready to take on two more children? I don’t know enough Spanish! Are our children being briefed on the fact that they will be adopted and not returning to their birth parents? Are they in Bogota or another city? We must be getting close. March?

A few families are in Colombia right now and I so desire to be there too. I am beginning to prepare my heart, my emotions for what is about to come. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us.

On a side note, about he books for the orphanage in Colombia. We have had great response so far. Almost 30 books and just a week into the show! Holy Cow! Second, I now have more info on the orphanage we will be donating to. This will not be a place our children will be from, but a much deserving orphanage. If you don’t mind this being a bit lengthy I will explain.

I spoke to the Colombia Program Director from our agency about how to work out donating these books to an orphanage and if we could hand deliver them when we go or should we have them shipped. The shipping verses taking them with us will just depend on how many books we have to take. Will they all fit in our luggage? What city will we fly into, etc? However, in our conversation she gave me a name of this great Christian Orphanage that our agency supports. She gave me some info and I did some research. She also told us we were welcome to visit this orphanage at any point in time, once we are in Bogota. Even if our children are from a different city, we will spend the final week in Bogota. So going for a visit is no problem.

I have spoken to the director and can hear the sincerity in her. I wish I had millions to give. But here is the scoop. They are a non-profit, non-government organization whose purpose is to help the needy and homeless. They take in (as stated on their website) “children that live in boxes underneath bridges; children that not only endure birth defects, but are victims of neglect and abuse. Most children which we receive into our home suffer from chronic malnutrition, bronchitis, parasites, severe diarrhea, as well other intestinal diseases. They are children whose parents are drug addicts, prostitutes, delinquents or victims of war who were forced to leave their homeland and are unable to provide and care for them” They take children who have never been registered, no birth certificate, no record of being alive. These children have no hope with out this organization. These children can not be adopted because the government has no record of them as ever having being born.

Here is the story of one child they have taken in (as stated in their newsletter) “Little Jhon, 5 ½ months old, was an extremely sick baby. He slept in a pile of rags on the floor. His right lung was failing and thousands of parasites were buried deep under his skin. He cried so long and hard he developed a hernia. His whole body was full of infection. Drugs and neglect were part of his daily life. He lived like an animal in an abandoned building; no lights, no water, no windows, no doors and no hope. We immediately started health care. Every two hours we had to do different treatments. It took a month for him to be stabilized.”

Check out the website, your heart will be touched. http://www.childrensvision.org/

I personally can’t wait to meet these children in person. This orphanage is one of a kind. We pray God’s wisdom and guidance for the caretakers, health and peace for the children. The only problem I see if we go for a visit, is that I will not want to come home. I will want to stay and be a part of the lives of these hurting souls. Please, look at the website and pray for these children and the caretakers.

Hopefully, more adoption news for us to come soon!

Books for Orphans

I am so excited to tell you that I am having an Usborne Books Show so that I can get lots of FREE BOOKS, in Spanish, that we will be giving to an Orphanage in Colombia when we travel to adopt our two children this Spring! They have lots of books in Spanish, which is why I am having a book party. I would really appreciate it if you could visit my special show website to browse and perhaps order some books for your family- this will help me to get more free books to give to the orphans.

Any books you order will be shipped directly to you! You can also register to win $50 in FREE BOOKS while you are browsing- a winner is selected every month! If you do not want to order any books for yourself, but would like to purchase a book for the orphanage, you can purchase the books, but under the shipping address you can put my address. My address is 8041 Dry Fork Rd, Cleves OH 45002

Here is the information: You are invited to an Usborne Books e-Show to explore the world of Usborne Books. My friend who has set up the party has already given me $50 to spend on books in Spanish and discounting the books to half price. She also said she would double all of my points so that we could hopefully stock the orphanage with lots of new books for the children.

Usborne Books- the books kids love to read!

Hosted by: Beth Hollis

Place: www.ubah.com/HOS105697

When: Today thru 2/23/08 at 11:59 PM

If you prefer to not order on line, you can call me with your order, 513-237-3124

Everyone is welcome, so invite a friend.Thank you so much!I will be sure to keep you up to date with how many books we were able to purchase here on our blog.

Thank you Thank you Thank you!

Way to go Nate!

Nate was in the school spelling bee today and came in third out of his whole school. Way to go Nate!

I posted three of his words on our YouTube account. You can go to www.youtube.com/babshollis to see the other clips. Mom, I knew you would want to see him in action, so i really put the clips out there for you. Plus keep the youtube site handy because when we travel I hope to put some video clips of the kids out there for you to see.

I have such great kids, have I mentioned that lately?

Love to all of you!

Papi Makes Everything Better

(Daddy in Spanish is Papi)
As the photo shows, Emi is in a cast. She was ice skating at a friends birthday party and broke both growth plates in her wrist. I felt terrible for her when the doctor was poking on her. She was very brave, but no one makes her feel better than her papi. She saved him a special place on the top near her fingers for him to sign her cast.

Now for adoption news. The Colombian offices are officially back open today. I spoke to our agency late last week. I felt very encouraged that we will travel in the spring…sooner than later. There is another family who also requested two sibs ages 0-7 who just received their referral. They were approved mid October and received a referral just 3 months later, and the slow holiday time was during that three months. So our rep felt we would be hearing something soon. I immediately felt my head spinning with all that I need to do to prepare. I pulled out the travel guide and began to brush up on all we will need to do and what to expect. She also said that normally step one is that the paperwork is sent to a region and then step two is that the region will match us with 2 siblings. However, in our case we will skip step one. The next time we hear from Colombia, they will be telling us which children they have matched us with and which region we will be traveling to. There will be no waiting between step 1 and 2. So naturally we are very excited!

Adios for now…

Buddy Passes - Good News

I heard back from our agency about whether or not we could fly using our buddy passes that our dear friend gave to us. The agency said that it will be no problem. WhooHoo! They advise us to leave a few days early, just in case we run into trouble flying stand by, but that it’s really no problem. I was wanting to go a few days early anyway, just to allow Emi and Nate to acclimate to a foreign land. I want some time with just the two of them in Colombia before we introduce two new children to our family.

I realize now I may have confused some of you a tad bit by my verbage of “leaving early” so let me explain. Once we have been given a referral and we send our acceptance letter back to Colombia, the Colombian Government will assign us a “Gotcha Date”, the day we will meet our children. Generally you fly to Colombia a day or two before your “Gotcha Date”. But because we will be flying stand by with four of us on the way down, we will need to leave ourselves ample time incase we get bumped off of our flights.

I have complete peace about flying stand by. The tickets were given to us and however the flights work out will be fine with me. God has been in control of every detail so far, so why worry about our flights. I just can’t wait to get on the plane and go!