Un Dia con Nuestros Abuelos Colombianos

We have been very spoiled with how busy all our Colombian friends are keeping us. I thought with the quiet hotel, John being gone, I would get a little stir crazy...not the case this week. So many loving, caring people giving our family more opportunities to see Bogota, and it's surrounding cities. It's been so good for our kids...and today, we were invited to go with our Abuelitos Colombianos "country club."

Abuelo Julio was in the Navy for many years, and this is a place their family often came. They still will periodically come for Sunday brunch and mass. It is much like a hotel/country club, with pools, tennis, park, mini golf...etc. Did I tell you our dear abuelitos are 86 and 81 years old...married 55 years with 6 children?! I just love them, and our kids do, too! I've learned more about what it was like raising a family in Colombia, life in the Navy, all their children living in the states and Canada, and even the heartache of having to sell their home because of a horrible incident that happened 5 years ago. Unfortunately, that is a very real issue in Colombia, Abuela Margarita still has tears talking about it. But, it is evident that their love for Bogota remains!

So, they picked us up in their fancy car. The kids very happy to have "space" in the back seat. Abuela drove (very interesting, in Bogota, their is a limit of days that you can drive your car...many only have 2-3 days a week that they can be on the road, I can't imagine...lots of carpooling for the kids to school.) The kids got a kick out of Abuela's lead foot. In the city their is a lot of stop and go, so, I was praying Caroline wasn't going to throw up all over their car. She looked very sick on the way there, so, I had them do lots of songs and rhymes to take her mind off it...whew...she made it! Abuela is a sharp woman and very youthful!

The kids had lots of fun in the morning swimming in the pool, they treated us all to a delicious lunch, played outside for an hour, and returned back with 4 very tired kids!

This weekend we are going to "lay low" catch up on school work, and hang out at the hotel...we have been on many adventures while John has been gone. What a blessing to make time go quickly, and allow our kids to see more of their birth land!

Tonight John is in Chicago getting ready for his dear friend, Bill VanTuinen's wedding! I'm so happy he could make it home for this, and I would have so loved to have been there!! He has stayed very busy at home, feeling very good about seeing our wonderful customers on Gun Lake, bidding out some work, and having great meals with our family! Thanks family for taking such good care of him!! He really needed this time to be home...being Mr. Mom 24/7 is not his thing...but, I have to say he has done a remarkable job, and I will be very happy to have him back on Tuesday night!

The courts also will reopen on Tuesday, January 12. Our Representative seems more optimistic this time around, but, I feel God has prepared me for either. We have a tentative return of January 27th, and regardless if we get Sentencia or not...John, Isabel, and Silas will return home on that date. If it happens sooner, we will all fly home together sooner. Typically, once Sentencia is given out, it takes 4-5 business days to accomplish all the paperwork...visas, US Embassy, US Doctor Visit, etc...Many have been asking if I'm missing home...as much as I LOVE home, I really don't get home sick. I realize this is probably our final adoption, and thinking about home to me is a waste time (and can quickly bring the kids down). This stay is totally in God's hands, so, why wouldn't I want to engage in the culture and people that are so near and dear to our family's heart...the minute I step foot on the airplane, you better believe my heart will be excited and anticipating all that the following weeks will hold with family and friends...I can remember flying into Atlanta, Georgia, when we adopted Isabel, wanting to kiss the ground, I wept...it felt so good to be in America! But, until then, my heart remains in Colombia, with my kids, and their most beautiful birth country!!!

Panaca Farm

Today we were treated by Katya and Isabel to a day on a very large farm! The drive was spectacular. We passed Jaime Duque Parque where we went when we adopted Silas. I couldn't believe that when we drove passed, our Isabel said, "Hey, there's Jaime Duque Parque!" I could not believe that she remembered this from when she was 2 1/2. This was one of our most "scenic" days yet in Colombia...and we had a true South American experience today!

Every where you go in Colombia there are Navidad scenes set up...the kids love seeing these, and have wondered why baby Jesus is missing...Tia Isabel tells us that they only put Baby Jesus in the Nativities on Christmas Eve to Christmas Day...

Ok...so our first stop was the "cerrdos"...I felt bad, but, I couldn't stop laughing. I hope this didn't offend anyone. I just have never seen so many people show up for a pig race...

...at the very end, they call the kids down to join in the fun, and race with the pigs...Isabel and Silas opted not to do this...

...the entertainment and singing was a blast...although my Spanish is minimal, I had a hoot watching Isabel and Silas take it all in with giggles...I'm thinking how in the world are they understanding all of this...it still amazes me, and I witness it every day...

So, the farm was not just pigs, cows, horses, dogs, birds...yes, the tour guide made us go see the worms...not such a big deal, until they started telling how good worms are for you, and that they cook with them in hamburgers and different meats...I felt myself gag...and then Isabel, being our adventurer, said, "Mom, I would totally eat that worm!" Ay...not one more hamburger for me in Colombia!!

The favorite area was the horses. I went down memory lane watching the "cowboys" barrel race their horses! The "carousel" at the farm was not as fancy as it is in the states...the kids got to ride burros! Caroline was totally freaked out, so, I had to walk with her around all the strunts to help her over come yet another fear...

The favorite were the pony rides. Not just those short pony rides you might get at the fair, in Colombia, they go for very long walks, Iwondered when the kids were going to return...they all had a blast on their ponies...

And, to top the day off, Tia Isabel took us to a little outdoor resturaunt outside of Panaca to let us experience some "real" Colombian food. Driving up to it, I was picturing the raw meat we saw hung on our way to Giradot...a bit uneasy about what we were going to eat, I did not want to offend anyone, and said yes to everything they were telling me to try...some of it was actually not that bad...but, I will be very surprised if I get through the next few days without that yucky stomach stuff...

Really it was a wonderful day experiencing more of Colombia...I still can't believe Tia Isabel and Katya treated us to something so special!

Mas Piojos!

Yesterday started off like any other day...Caroline has been so "programed" at the institution, not in a bad way, just very scheduled. She wakes up, comes to the side of my bed, gives me about a hundred kisses and "te amos"...and then "Mama, auydame por favor, necisito ir al bano!" Off, we go to the bathroom...a little "chee chee" (that's pee pee in Spanish)...a few giggles. She is ready to to get dressed, right down to her socks and shoes. Today, as most days, she picked to wear her red shoes...for some reason she has an obsession with these shoes...I've never seen anything like it, she thinks she's a "princesa" in them...so, I couldn't journal all these weeks in Bogota and forget the red shoes...

Silas also has an obsession in Bogota...I think if he and I went out every day, got some ice cream, and sat on the street bench watching the construction workers...he would be one content boy, 24/7! The day was going very good...

...I was feeling brave...the hotel food has not been that great since Juanita has been on vacation and I had been craving a Colombian Adoptive Family favorite all through this journey...so, I packed up all 4 kids and we went out to eat at the resturaunt. We managed to make it through with only one meltdown from Silas not liking his waffle, and wanting to go back outside and watch the construction workers...so, to all my fellow adoptive Colombian parents, this lunch was for you...

...ahh fresh "fresca!" The juices here are so gooood! But, we were getting a little tired of the Mango and Mora, so it was a real treat for us to have freshly squeezed strawberry jugo!

...we then ventured to the park...it was a great day...and then we returned back to the hotel with Dr. Clementcia waiting to check the kids "piojos"...ayyy...Caroline still had mucho piojos in her pello!! Everyone else clear...but, still needing to do the treatments...Below you see Silas and Marta having their head lice treatment. They obviously didn't mind...

Myself...well, let's just say "piojos" can mess with your head. The morning that I found many in Carolines bed I was totally grossed out. I think I "faked" it well..but, that whole day it took everything I had to have my precious girl hug and kiss me over and over and over again. My head has "itched" ever since, even though I only had a few juevos in my head that are gone. Totally a mind thing...so, when I heard they were still there, and realizing I snuggled with her during her nap...I knew I better do the "champuz" treatment, also. God so knew that I need this time. With all the kids sleeping, I ran the hot bath water (sounds better than it really is, the grande tub is rather yucky and old, but, I needed to relax,)...and for 30 minutes was "still" before my loving Father, resting in His presence...with John gone, having a quiet time has been almost non-existant, and this is not something I can do on my own strength. God revealed to me that I am full of "piojos" and yet He still comes to me, with open arms, loving me, just as I am...why is it that He needed to use these darn piojos to get my attention?! Because I had begun to do this thing called "motherhood" on my own, and it just doesn't work.

So, after a sweet time with my Loving Father...I combed out my head-no piojos...climbed into bed with Caroline, rubbed her head, and whispered Jesus' promises to her while she was sleeping.

Thank you Jesus for reminding me in a "quiet" moment that I am Yours and You are mine. I do not have to do this by myself. And thank you God for giving me peace of mind to snuggle with my precious girl, and love her the way You love her! She is your beautiful "princesa"...my prayer is that someday she will realize it's so much more than the "pretty" red shoes that makes her a "princess" of the King!

Oh Happy Adoption Day, Silas!!!!

It's hard to believe that 4 years ago today, our wonderful little boy, was placed in our arms...bringing to our family much joy and delight! Our journey to Silas was our "joy" journey...from the time I received his referral picture, to today, he, from the very beginning has made me smile...His charm and curly hair win the hearts of many even in Bogota, Colombia! Below is a photo that our dear friend's, the Charpentier's, took, of him while he was at Pisingos before we met!!

So, to celebrate, Liz and I took the kids to Divercity (the museum was closed, and this was a much better choice when thinking about what Silas would have wanted to do)!

Divercity is a "minature" city just for kids. From stores they could work in, to boats to ride, to pretending to be a vet (to a real dog), to a salon, stores, dentist office...you get the picture. We started off taking the kids to the bank to withdraw them some "cash" and "visa" cards. They could use this to go "shopping" or pretend to be somebody very important. Yikes, Caroline very excited to have so much "monero" in her hands!!

Silas' favorite...being a bombero...


Isabel enjoyed the experience, also...

I'm not kidding you, Silas, seriously thought he was putting out a real fire...real hose, with "fake fire...it was hilarious!

I could not have done this venture without Liz...she is going to make a wonderful preschool teacher someday! A huge blessing to me while John is home!

The kids also enjoyed riding in the mail truck...

And Marta, well, she preferred the balls and baby area. Below she is doing "uh oh!" She does not talk at all, but, is very animated!

...oh, and "So Big!"...I just love this little roly poly bundle...

All in all a great (tiring) day for everyone! I think we will all be in bed very early tonight!

Un Hermoso Dia!

We had another beautiful sunny day in Bogota. Not used to this, as our previous journeys had so much rain. It has been wonderful! We ventured to the park again. I was so blessed to have met a local pastor and his family. We ended up at the park for over 3 hours. They were an amazing family. The kids played so well, and it allowed us to have great conversation. It was evident that they have a passion about the gospel, and sharing Christ with others...highly educated. His dream to get his MDiv in the states, and her to teach...send their kids to a private christian school so that their kids can learn English in a small town...they love kids...ok, you can imagine what went through my mind...so I passed on the ZCS/El Puente school web site...and emailed our El Puente Coordinators...I know its seems far out there...I'm in the park, meet total strangers in Bogota of all places...and tell them to send their resume to our school?! I know, totally crazy...another God encounter that may have just been to bless my family for the afternoon...or something more...I might meet them at the park on Thursday with the kids to get to know them more, and when John returns we will venture to their church (a very large evangelical non-denom. church)...a blessed day at the park, and if you throw in 4 very happy kiddos, totally blue sky, mountains in the background...and ice cream...it doesn't get much better...

And this was all after I spent an hour with a very special Colombian foster family that lovingly raised Daniella Knibbe, my friend Gayle in EGR, MI, newly adopted daughter for the first 7 years of her life! Gayle, what a gift to have met them! The love, the joy, and grief when they talk about Daniella was over whelming. Tati had tears in his eyes almost the whole time he was here. Katya translated for us, so, I felt I got to know them quite well. They are lovely!!

So, another memorable day in Bogota, Colombia!!!

With Papa away 2 Four Year Olds begin to Play

Not to say Silas and Caroline's "Sibling Friendship" didn't begin in Giradot...but, with John gone, Silas has no choice but to play with his sisters.

We pondered sending him home with John given his earlier struggles. We thought it would make it much easier on me...I am so glad that he is here...bonding each day with all of his sisters. He is actually enjoying it!

Yesterday I pretended to be napping with Marta. I heard Caroline and Silas tip toe into the room. With quiet giggles I soon saw that they were getting out all the baby stuff for the dolls...diapers, wipes, lotion, powder, water, and more water...the room became a total mess, smelling very baby fresh, but, I couldn't interupt the sweet bonding that was taking place between the 2 of them. To precious!

Today Silas was very beside himself when I skyped John. I thought he is totally missing daddy...so, when I got off the phone, I asked him what his temper tantrum was about. He started sobbing and said, "Mom, I just want to play with Caroline, and she won't even give me a hug!" In these situations, where I need to communicate with Caroline, we sit by the computer and go to spanishdict.com. It translates sentences for me so we can understand eachother better. She began to cry when I told her what was going on with Silas. She thought he was so angry with her, and I could explain how much he loves her. She then went over to him, and you can see from the pictures what happened next! Amazing!

I had a wonderful day. Having Isabel Romero's 18 year old neice, Liz, babysit the kids for 4 hours. She came with all sorts of preschool materials and did "school" with the kids...it was great. I could leave knowing they were in great hands (because Juanita and Valeria are on vacation yet). So, Isabel and I went to the markets. I discovered a whole new street that I have never been. It was fun. She is a great "haggler." Getting me a few deals. We also had lunch together at an Italian Resturaunt. She has become more than our Representative to me this time around...but, a very dear woman, who I absolutely adore.

So, I am well rested, ready to tackle the week flying solo. I have Liz available to me if I need her a few days next week. We are going to hit the Children's Museum together with the kids on Tuesday. She is so amazing...and would love to come to the states. So, if any of you know of someone who needs a nanny, and would like their kids immersed in the Spanish Language, I will totally hook you up. I told Isabel Romero that I would advocate for her. Liz desires to help teach the poor kids in the barrios, her family here frowns on that...as working with preschoolers is like being a "maid." Oh, I would love this sweet girl to have oppurtunity in the states. My mind goes to our school, and wondering if she could train as an aide at El Puente while getting her degree and learning English?!!? Never know unless I put it out there!?!

P. S.

Caroline woke up this morning very excited, "No mas piojos, Mama!" The "itchies" are completely gone...and so is all the lice and eggs...Isabel and I had a few signs of eggs, but, nothing more...Silas and Marta did not get them. Isabel stayed up late one night checking my head thoroughly and combing it out...and I did the same. In some odd sort of a way, it was a sweet time for us, with lots of giggles, and fun talking about the "bugs." God continues to reveal more of himself to me, and often uses my very own kids, or crazy situations to do so!

Piojos

In English, that would be called "head lice." Ahh yes, the wonderful "bugs" were discovered yesterday in Caroline's hair at the kids salon. Poor thing was full of "piojos!" This is very common coming from an orphanage...but, I checked a few times and did not see anything. We think she had them return (as she had them several times at Pisingos) from the other kiddos staying at the hotel. It seems every older child we have come in contact with has had them. So, I'm glad we ventured to the salon for an over due haircut!

Isabel also needed a haircut. It was a very fun experience (other than the lice), as they received royal treatment with braids, lip gloss, balloons, and a sucker. She did not think Isabel had any "piojos." But, to play it safe, we had a prescription sent for all of us.

Silas was hilarious last night when I tucked him in bed...He put his arm out stopping me from giving him a kiss..."Mom do not come near me, no kisses or story tonight...I do NOT want those naughty bugs!"The medicine kicked in with Caroline last night as there were mucho piojos in her bed, and pajamas this morning...ugh! Poor thing struggled with the "itchies" through out the night. I too, discovered just a few piojos in my bed and Silas' bed...so, we are off to la tienda (store) to get some special shampoo for all of us...I think that will work, as the prescription drops were very strong that we took yesterday.

So, this New Years Day will be spent removing and checking for bugs in each other's hair...from little one...to me...Isabel is very excited about this! She continues to amaze me on this journey...