Parks, Parks, and More Parks

It was our last weekend as 6 in Bogota. The hotel continues to be quiet (come on Michigan families)! We have been very blessed by our Colombian friends. They have given of their time, their life stories, and shared in our experience!! If the hotel was full, we would never have had the many adventures that we've been on, we'd be to busy hanging out with all the families going on our own adventures. Don't get me wrong, we absolutley have incredible memories with our friends from the states that we have done this with in our previous adoptions...and have made lifelong friendships...but, with this being not only an adoption, but, also a "heritage" experience for Isabel and Silas...God knew that hanging out with our Colombian friends was just what we all needed! Katya, the owner of Paris, took us to an awesome park! We would never have discovered it on our own...one of very many things this woman has done for our family...

Silas has been very difficult these last couple of days. He is very homesick, tired of playing with only girls (that is the biggest bummer of our trip...there were no boys at the hotel...all the adoptive families have been adopting girls), his meltdowns very intense again...so, when Katya said she was taking us to an amusment type park, we were very happy to say yes...and as you can see...the cars were a big hit. It was very entertaining for John and I to watch Silas. His imagination is very big, as he had himself in a "Nascar" type race. He was in his glory!! It was a much needed break from all the "girly" stuff he has had to endure the last couple of weeks!

Caroline enjoyed it too...going to any park is her favorite thing to do...she asks every day if we can walk to the park...this park trumped them all!


Silas and Caroline still have some really rough moments, especially since John has been back...every once in a while you will find them enjoying each other...


Isabel is sad to leave Colombia...she and Camilla have had a wonderful time together...

Camilla is definitely the stronger personality...but, when we go to parks like these, Isabel is way more adventurous encouraging her to try new things...

It's fun to eat "real" Colombian food...it is typical for all the food to come on a large platter, and you just take what you want...lots of Carne (beef), Papas (potatoes,) Corn, and who knows what...

...we have really enjoyed Katya's hospitality at the hotel, but, even more, her graciousness to just hang out with us, and take us to places we would never have known about...

We also discovered a great (free) park and Museum for kids called Parque El Chico. We had a fun afternoon there too, until the rain came in...

John is going to miss snuggling and bonding with Marta, they have a strong connection, even though he is the much firmer one of the 2 of us with her...she is very stubborn...I will admit I'm pretty soft with her...she makes us both laugh!

I'm going to miss the kids running around the hotel after dinner doing their little songs and chants...Camilla the ring leader, has a lot of followers...

I have now begun to pack Isabel, Silas, and John up to leave on Wednesday. I am so happy that Silas is going to be home, he is beyond ready...and it will be good for Isabel to get back into the routine of life. Many have been wondering why we have not heard anything on our court case...actually our Representative has been very good keeping us informed...this is where we are...

We entered the courts on January 12 (because of the 4 week Holiday Shut down), that puts us 10 buiness days into the courts. The judge and Defender of Minors legally have 30 business days to review our case and sign (4x)...it could go much quicker, or not. We are known to be in a good court, so I don't anticipate the 4 stages will take the full 3o days...but, I also know I am in Colombia and anything can happen...

The bright side, Caroline and Marta have had to share me with Isabel and Silas for 8 weeks now...it will be very good for me to be able to key into just them before we head home to Michigan. It will also be good for Isabel and Silas to "settle" in to home before we all come home together. I have a feeling Isabel is going to be very tired being back at school the first week...and Silas and Caroline could use a little space from each other for a few days...John and I feel that the "intensity" of coming home will be cut in half by not all arriving at once...it is going to be a huge adjustment for all of us!!!

Ultimately God knows what is best, and has given me an unusual amount of peace with it all...there are a lot of MI families preparing to travel, and I look forward to seeing the Houseman family this weekend!

So, please pray for safe travels for John, Isabel and Silas on Wednesday...and ultimately that we all can be united again as a family of 6 in God's perfect timing and way! We made it almost 8 weeks! Wow!!! And our journey continues on...

Monseratte

Monseratte is the most famous peak in Bogota. This is a favorite for tourists and Bogotenos as it has incredible views of the city. Our kids really enjoyed taking the tram ride up...

...there is a church that is claimed to be the "place of miracles." That is why most every adoptive family end up making the trek up the mountain during their adoption in hopes that the miracle of "Sentencia" will take place. We obviously, just went because we wanted to show our kids how vast the city of Bogota is...

...the walk up to the church tells the story of Jesus' suffering and death on the cross...

...John again, my hero, pushing the stroller up the steep hike...

...once up, the kids took a break and enjoyed seeing "policia" and people watching on the steps...

...they all really enjoyed overlooking the city...

...Isabel the most intereted trying to figure out what hospital she was born in, where our hotel was, Pisingos, the park...

...both her and Silas freaked me out a few times looking over the edge...

...and Isabel doing what she does a lot..."dancing to her own beat"...off she went down some path, looking for another adventure...

...When she saw me, she said, "Come on Mom!" I opted to let her go on ahead by herself to see if she would really go down the steep rocks (and I wasn't up for this adventure)...sure enough...off she went...later on wanting to do it again...she begged Silas to come...he opted not to go...

Once we got Isabel back from her adventure, and out of the church (let me tell you, she soaks it all in, she just wanted to sit in a pew and listen to the Lord's prayer)...we then headed to the markets...the girls finding some cheap purses...

...had some lunch, made a wish in the wishing well...and back down the cable car...

another beautiful sunny, 70 degree day in Bogota!

More from the Barrio

I've had a few emails from Adoptive Colombia families with more questions regarding our visit to the barrio the other day...thought I would blog more instead of responding to all the emails.

We learned about Esperanza from the Knibbe family, who, also were able to visit with our Adoption Representative, Isabel Romero. So, we of course, asked if we could go visit. For many in the Adoption profession in Bogota, their jobs are so much bigger than their paycheck. They have a genuine concern for the children of Colombia and those living in poverty. There are several representatives that are encouraging their families to help Esperanza, that is how she has become known and helped among international families. In fact, we were prvileged to visit this barrio with the Danish Representative, Helena, and a wonderful family from Denmark. I have an even great respect and love for our Representatives, Isabel and Carmen...when you are doing "business" with them, of course, they have to act professional, but, we have seen a side to these beautiful caring women that we have not seen in previous adoptions...

How did our kids handle being there?! Isabel, again, taking it all in, very much understanding the reality of life here in Bogota. It was a great thing for her to experience...as she has the raw real pictures/smells in her mind...she will always have her birth family in her heart...I do not think that she will go through life "romantisizing or fantasizing" her birth story. She saw it, smelled it...and has a very deep understanding and gratitude as to why her birth mother made an adoption plan for her...from this experience, I think she has more love for her birthfamily, more love for us...and in her prayers every night, she is showing her gratitude to our loving Father for caring for her so very much...

For, our two 4 year olds, it was a very scary thing to experience. Silas, not showing fear, just expressing how badly he wanted to leave every 2 minutes...for Caroline, it was probably an all to familiar feeling, and she was very afraid being there...had I known the effects, I probably would have left her at the hotel with Valeria and Camilla...we had no idea what we were getting into when we left...so, of course, we went as a family. I am glad Silas was able to see it and smell it and walk it, even though he didn't like being there...I believe giving our kids reality, even at age 4 is a very good thing. Silas will remember this...and hopefully, Caroline on the other hand will soon forget this...

So, if you return to Bogota, and want to visit...it's worth asking...just no guarentee that you will be able to visit. I would encourage each of you in some small or big way to think of how you could gather donations (preschool supplies) or money to give to Esperazna...all of it will be used wisely and for God's glory. I would highly recommend bringing your kids of all ages, just not the ones you are adopting if they are a little older, and have a difficult life story (which, is probably all of them)...

So, hopefully I answered some of your questions...

I want to encourage each of you returning to adopt, to at least visit, take a taxi, and walk through a poor barrio...where we stay gives us all a "false" picture of what life could have been like for our kiddos...there is nothing more powerful than stepping foot into and touching the reality of it all.

Hope this helped! Email if you have more questions!

Esperanza's Casa

Today was even more sobering than our Pisingos tour. Today we walked a barrio where many of the children come from that enter the child's welfare system here in Bogota. We visited a village that makes their living "recycling." We see them on the busy streets of Bogota every day, in fact, the horse and carriage that I posted previously, could have belonged to a family that "recycles." It was a 30 minute van ride out of the city, which to me, blew me away that these people walk their "cart" or ride their horse and carriages into town, to pick up all the card board and junk...just to make a few pesos to feed their families...

... driving into this village gave us a very real picture of what many of Colombia's children coming into ICBF (children's welfare) came from...severe poverty...and where there is poverty there also is a lot of stealing to survive, abuse, neglect, alcohol and drug addiciton...Colombia has a crisis of this with so many older children in the system experiencing such a life. It is so easy to want to "romantisize" our children's birth stories...but, today, we had a raw picture, of what life could possibly have been like for each of them...we don't know for certain, but, we do know this is very real . . . and it was heart wrenching...

But, in the midst of heartache, poverty, and brokeness, there is this most amazing woman we met, named Esperanza. She has opened a house for children to teach, love, and care for, while their families are out trying to make a living "recycling" on the streets. This is a safe place for these children, and we could see the joy on their faces in being there. The town has great respect for her...and we learned nobody messes with Esperanza. One time she sent a dad to a local doctor, and he stole the doctor's computer and phone...when Esperanza found out, she was livid! She demanded he return it, and apoligize to the doctor...the dad could have wrote her off...but, sure enough, off he went back to the office, doing what she told him to do! Everything she does for the kids and the town (and let me tell you, she is one of them, poor, with very little) is all in the name of Jesus...and I wondered how can she run such a place?! After spending time with her, it's not her running the place...she is God's instrument...faithful, selfless, and full of His love for the people, especially the children, around her...

...the kids happy to be in the "Daycare" of Esperanza's house...for the most part it was clean, and neat...only smelling of strong urine and such from all the little ones...none had diapers, they just sit in their stench all day, because they are not old enough or trained to go to the potty...she does the best with what she has...Isabel and I thought this little one in the corner was a doll...laying all bundled up in one of 2 cribs that she has...I had to touch her face to make sure she was still breathing...

...she took us through some of the homes...here is a home that 3 families live in...this is their kitchen...

...and laundry...no clean water of course...coming from the river of sewage, or when it rains...from the dirt roads...


...to see the flies around, the uncooked chicken, the gross water, and dirty laudry was one thing...but, there are no words for the "smell" of poverty...none...

...in Bogota and surrounding cities it rains a ton...this family was happy that someone from Denmark donated $500 so that they could have a nice roof...but, as you can see, there are still holes in the openings...where rain can just pour in on a rainy day in the city...you can imagine the musty moldy smell we experienced while being in this home...and below this is considered a "palace" among the poor in this barrio where several families live together to pay the $200,000 pesos ($100) per month...

...and back to the kids...again, to see the faces...touch these faces, kiss these faces. . .

...this little girl drenched with urine...I couldn't help but put my arms around her and hug her for a short moment until we had to go...

...this little guy...looking lost...although this is all they know...to some, it is good, they are in a loving home, cared for by their parents, although they do not have much, they have the security of a loving family...but, for others, these children are victims of abuse, neglect, and a very difficult life...it does not seem fair...one thing to live in such a poverished surrounding...but, to see the bruised faces on some...again was too much to write about...

So, today, I am thanking God for Esperanza! Some, relating her to Mother Theresa. She has a heart of gold...and because of her faith...God has provided these kids with a safe, clean, shelter for at least 8 hours each day! It was so great to see all the donations from the uniforms, to the supplies, tables, food, that so many other caring families international and Colombian have offered to help out with! One poor woman's dream...trusting in one very BIG God..,and God bringing an army of His people to surround her and help her love and care for His most precious children!!!

We have to dream big friends and family!! And we must move in faith...even if it means jumping out of the boat, getting out of our comfortable life and getting our hands dirty...God has not promised this journey to be an easy one...but, He has promised to walk along side us wherever we go...God is with Esperanza! And she now has a whole village and support behind her!

Approaching 7 Weeks...

I realized in the taxi ride with Isabel, picking John up from the airport, that after 6 weeks, I still was not ready to come home. It felt so good to be picking John up, but, my heart was relieved that it was not us with our luggage in hand...listening to Isabel in the car, hearing how much she loves the big city, how much she has learned on this journey...was overwhelming to me, and I just said a prayer of thanks that God was giving our family 2 more weeks together in Bogota...

So, what have we been up to?! We actually haven't been up to a whole lot, it's the day to day...being "in it" that has been so rich and beautiful for me. Still it is not always easy, that has been part of the journey. When John was gone, I truly experiened the presence of the Holy Spirit like I have never had (your prayers have meant everything to me)...had family come to visit, it would have been fun, and wonderful, but, I would not have had to rely on my God each moment of everyday to get through the "grind" of being in a foreign land, trying to love and care for 4 kids, and experience the friendship of the wonderful people here happy to help. It was a great time for me...

Now John is back, and we are in a sense "relearning" how to parent together. We are wired very different, that is why it is so wonderful that we are doing this together! I love that we have uninteruppted time to "figure" things out, talk things through, as different issues arise with the kids. He can't just leave and go to work, we have to work through everything...and with 4 kids in the same room for almost 7 weeks, you can believe that issues arise. It is what it is...and right now, it is where God wants us! We have learned to not take each other so serious, and it is good that we can laugh about our difference...it is so good!! John is such an amazing dad, and to see him having to do it full-time for a few more weeks, has shown me how blessed I am to have him by my side on this journey...

The kids are well, the girls the most well...Caroline is slowly getting ready to come to the "states." She periodically will bring it up, as she will still bring Pisingos up in situations where she is feeling sad or things aren't going her way...but, every day she is trusting and feeling more secure with us. Since John has returned, she is much more affectionate towards him, and the bed time issue is completely not even an issue any more. 2 nights ago, I had tears in my eyes, walking into the room, seeing John snuggle with her, and her rubbing his face...so precious! We can't quite figure out why her and Silas have taken 2 steps backwards since John has returned...both wanting daddy's attention...

Silas is VERY ready to return home...Today at breakfast, John and I announced that they (him, Isabel, and Daddy) only have 1 more week left in Colombia...that we are going to make each day an adventure (even if it's just getting ice cream)... Silas instantly jumps up on his chair, does a little dance, and shouts "I'm going home! Woo Hoo!!!" Forget the the adventures...lets talk home! He and John are very much alike! They love home, like a nice plan for the day, and have a sensitive spirit...I love the boys in my life!!!


Isabel on the other hand...sat in her chair, had a big old frown on her face...clearly showing she is very content here. She just has had such a rich time, developed a sweet friendship with Camilla, and truly enjoys the big city of Bogota. She is so much like myself, enjoys the moment, and the little"adventures" we go on each day! I know she will be very happy to go home, she, like me, just won't think about it much until she is on the airplane...


The girls have a lot of fun after dinner at night...Isabel "sharing" her new friend very well with her little sister, Caroline. That is only if they are running around playing hide and seek. If it's playing dolls, house, or legos...well, let's just say that's another story...


John and I both discovered we would never have the patience to home school. So, glad that is not one of God's callings on our life...to all my home school friends...you are AMAZING!


Isabel likes going in the room we stayed in when we adopted her...she had the smallest little crib...we on the other hand, can't believe we survived in that little 10x10 room for 5 1/2 weeks...realizing we were covered in the grace of God...

Marta is SLOWLY eating a few more solids. Yesterday I fed her a Mango, and she ate most of it without spitting it out...

...but, her favorite...popcorn! Now, we know it is her stubborn personality with food...if she can eat popcorn with out choking...she must be able to eat more...every day we try...slowly very slowly she is coming around...

I (and Isabel) are going to miss the markets...it's a fun experience, even if you don't purchase anything. Walking around, smelling the food, listening to Latin Music...we really enjoy this...

We also enjoy the old architecture in Bogota...

...the walk to the markets is a peaceful, Colombian experience...artists on the streets selling their art, bands playing for a $$...

"Ciclovia" Sundays still remain my favorite...the kids really enjoy running on the streets...

Isabel gets a kick out of what people do to earn a $$...

John prefers hanging out at the parks watching a little "street futbol."

...this is typical in Bogota...seeing all sorts of new and very old cars on the streets, along with cows, and yes, many horse and carriage...

So, as we approach 7 weeks, I am so very grateful for yet another Colombian experience, with now our family of 6!! God has cared for us, protected us, and given us some rich time, not just going out on our "adventures" but, more importantly a rich time seeking His face on this journey...being a parent of 4 kids is very humbling...especially parenting two 4 year olds!

Many have asked, "How are you, really, Kristi?" Let's just say, I know I am here until God wants me to go home. I trust Him with my whole heart, and my prayer all along is that each one of our kids is here as long as God desires them to be...so, if that means that John, Isabel, and Silas need to travel home before the rest of us, than that is what it means. It is out of my hands, and I trust God completely. Would it be nice if we could all fly home together...absolutely! Is it God's will for us?! We won't know until next week...it's not looking that way, and I am ok with that. But, I also know that miracles can happen...I hold it loose!