I am not a fan of Speaking!

This is me and will be me for the next few days, On Sunday me and Dave will be speaking on our Adventure of Adopting and Bringing Home our sweet little kids. I know i should be well prepared for this talk since it is a close subject of my Heart and I know we as a parent group had so many Miracles with a few Unanswered prayers. But I will ether cry my way through it or have severe fear and clam up and not be able to speak. I am so grateful that they gave both me and Dave a talk together so when i shut down my hubby will be there to back me up. As we do come up on the Great day of Picking up our Kids I Think about the fun times and Adventures of things like going to a back alley to pay a judge with a Jc penny catalog ad glued to his official notebook, or the day some of are Hubby's and Kids had to dodge fruit and coke bottles from the passionate Haitian women on the streets in a old Toyota truck these times in Haiti on our Parent trips brought us together so when the time came we felt comfortable to lean on each other and to comfort each other and work together to bring the day that we could travel to Miami to hug and kiss our kids On the same continent!! I love each of you and hope we will stay friends so our kids can keep those friendships and Bonds of there country.

Day we will never foget

Tomorrow will mark the one year anniversary that a terrible Earthquake Hit Haiti. I sit here tonight thinking Wow One year ago tonight are kids went to sleep not knowing that there world would become even Harder then it was already. I remember on January 12 last year I was getting ready to make dinner and I turned on the TV when all of a sudden there was breaking news about Haiti. I hurried to call Dave to see if he had heard and he had and we where trying to think who could we call to find out where exactly the orphanage was. Then we found out the orphanage was right where the epic center was. Well I believe from that Moment to about Feb 3 was one stressful thing after another. I am so thankful for the Many blessings we received during these stressful day's that i will never forget. I hope everyone will take the moment of silence to remember those that did not survive and to remember those that are still in Haiti living in terrible conditions. Haiti still needs our Help!!

I think he can do Anything!!

Fabrice in Haiti in October 2009

We first met and had fabrice in our family when we traveled to Haiti in October 2009, we all ways had a conecction to him that me and dave could not eplain we just thought he was such an amazing young man that you could tell there was something special about him. In August we recieved a email from our adoption cordinator saying that the family that was adopting fabrice would no longer be adopting him, we had become a very close knit parent group that traveled toogether to Haiti to vist our kids so our adoption agengy was letting us know so when we traveled and did not see Fabrice we would know why. When we read this it just broke our heart because here this young man who probably dreamed about what his life was going to be like now again did not have a family. we thought of who could adopt him but then it came to both of us "HEY HE IS MEANT TO COME HOME TO US!" that is why we had such a connection with him. so we started the process. Fabrice is such a great young man he is all ways looking out for Dave parents it is the sweetest thing. He is so Happy that he has such a big family and extended family he can do I believe any kind of sport that he wants to. He is not afraid to try anything he has such great confidence in Himself. He is one sweet and very spiritual young man he all ways reminds people to go to church! Wow we just love him and we are so glad that we where able to add him to our family. we love you Fabrice you make us so proud!!

Being Thankful

During this time of the year when we are thinking about what we are thankful for, I have been thinking about how my three little ones all ways say "I Need water",which I am sure something they all ways did need and wanted. I remember when we would travel to Haiti when we got to the Airport in Florida getting ready to board the last plane on our way to Haiti we all would stock up on Water because this would be your last opportunity to get clean water until we made it to the Hotel. Now we hear about the cholera break out and all those news reports saying that all Haiti needs is clean water to help with this out break. That is easer said then done,and sometimes it makes me so mad.Then we all ways have people piping up come on Help the people here. I agree fully we need to help here but the people struggling in America have clean water. I hope people during this time can remember the simple things in life that we should be thankful for, My sweet little ones remind me all the time about the things we just take for granted. I am so Thankful that they are home safe and sound and we can enjoy the Holidays together.

Life can change so fast...

So This time last year I was so excited because we had 15 more days until we would be on our way to Haiti,little did we know that would be our last trip to visit the kids.

Now they are Home and I am saying to them Time to get up we need to get ready for school, Now we are going to there soccer games and watching them at dance practice. Plus we get to plan there Birthday party's and teach them all about Halloween and Thanksgiving and see there faces when the leaves are changing colors on the trees.

Something I thought would be awhile

I remember last summer when we had got back from Haiti I was sitting in the wave pool at seven peaks I was thinking how I could not wait to bring Yonelson and Nerlande to the pool to enjoy the slides and pools. (we had not learned about our future son Fabrice:)

 I would not have guessed just a year later I would be taking them and watching them splash around and be so Happy.
Yonelson did have fun.

The kids are adjusting Great!

http://connect2utah.com/news-story?nxd_id=89265

Let's cook

WOW can you believe that it has been 3 months that our sweet kids have been home.
We have been to ton's of doctors Appt. I have learned alot about bugs that live in Haiti.
It has been so fun to see how well each kid is adjusting and to learn what they love and like and what they do not like. They each are learning ton's of English,Fabrice is still Holding onto his Kreyol. Nerlande and Yonelson both love to cook and help with dinner wich is so fun.
Our older kids love playing and Jumping on the jumpoline with the little ones are family has really come together and it feels so right.
Today we woke up Bright and Earler to go on B98.7 to talk about our Yard sale coming up on Saturday and to have them meet Nerlande and yonelson and Fabrice. The radio sation has been so Helpful and supportive with the non-Profit and they where always calling us to give us Information about group's that had traveled to Port au price after the earthquake had hit, and we still where waiting on word about our kids. 
They are two really neat people and I feel very blessed to know them and call them our friend.

They Day they came home to there forever family

This time last week we where rushing to the Airport to catch the Red eye so we could get to Miaim to Add these two sweeties to our family. Our heart was half filled with joy to see Nerlande and Yonelson but sad because Fabrice had to stay back in Haitit while we tried to figure out where his file was. Nerlande was her little Shy self that also gave Her Papa the blink and a hit. But don't worry they have become friends.
Dave had to go help His house volunteer try to find Yonelson,but dave said it was so neat to walk into each cottage and see all the kids from the O.
They finally found Yonelson and I don't believe he has stopped smiling he is a totally differnt kid then the one in Haiti. It has been a whirl wind week and we can not believe they are Home for good.

They are coming Home!!!

 Here is our Update !

All,
We have a plane, we have a plane, we have a plane!!!!! Please stop and say a prayer of thanks.

A group that would prefer we don't mention their names has arranged a flight going into Haiti with humanitarian supplies. They have been given a slot to land on Thursday. They will unload their cargo. They will check off and load the kids. Then they are coming home to SALT LAKE CITY UTAH.

They have some doctors and nurses going down on the plane to return with the children to make sure everyone is getting everything they need as soon as possible. I told them, "They all look really healthy" and he said, 'Then they'll snuggle the children who are scared".

And then I cried a little bit more.

Chareyl is at the Embassy now. She will be there all day long picking up Humanitarian Paroles.  We will be notified as she gets each child's paperwork.

They're coming home, ladies and gentlemen! They're coming home!!

Looking back and looking forward

As I look back over the last 16 months of our adoption journey I am surprised at how naive I was about the world we live in. If you would have asked me before this started how well I understood the challenges the rest of the world faced I would have said that I thought I did and really meant it.

I had kept up to date on the world and been aware of the challenges other countries face and just how lucky my family is to live the life we do.

It only took a 20 minute drive through pre-earthquake Haiti to realize I knew nothing of life and the real struggles it can bring. In that short trip my perspective, world and heart changed forever. I have a strong belief and testimony that we are all brothers and sisters and that we had great love for each other before our time here on earth.

As I rode through those streets I couldn't get the thought out of my mind that these are my brothers and sisters. These are people that I know, people I care about, people I love and here they are living in situations I wouldn't allow an animal to exist in. My thoughts then drifted to my own kids and how I would feel if one of them ignored their brothers and sisters in the way I had allowed myself to neglect the family outside my very small circle. How would I feel if I saw them blessed with so much and looked away as their brother or sister died of starvation or thirst?

I would be devastated and that is with my very limited ability to love and understand in comparison to our Heavenly Fathers. I ache over the pain that I may have averted had I just looked and cared. When I think of the disappointment my Father in Heaven must have felt and will continue to feel as I struggle to use the blessings I have received to do his work and help all that I can.

I pray that I can keep my heart as open and focused on those who's needs are so overwhelmingly hard to endure and easy to correct as clean drinking water and a bit of food to eat. I realize I may never make even a scratch on the big picture of things but I hope I pray that I can end my life having thrown as many starfish back in the ocean as possible.

Dave

I have to reread to make sure I read it right....

I am in such shock that they will be Home soon What a week and a half full of emotion's. But even though we are so Happy there are still Sweet Babies that they have not been able to find so we are still praying  that we will hear good news about them very soon.   We need to keep praying for the country of Haiti that they will be able to get all the help that they need to become a great country.

WOW What a man!!

CNN's Gupta lone doctor on duty in Haiti

January 17, 2010

ASSOCIATED PRESS

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- After doctors and nurses from a Belgian medical team left a field hospital Friday night because of security concerns, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent, was the only doctor to help 25 earthquake victims, CNN said Saturday.
The network said Belgian Chief Coordinator Geert Gijs, a doctor who was at the hospital with 60 Belgian medical personnel, told CNN that he decided to pull the team out for the night.
Gupta stayed all night at the hospital with other CNN staffers, security personnel and at least one Haitian nurse who had refused to leave, CNN said.
"I've never been in a situation like this. This is quite ridiculous," Gupta said. He monitored patients' vital signs, gave them pain-killers, continued intravenous drips and stabilized three new patients in critical condition, CNN reported.
At 3:45 a.m., he posted a message on Twitter: "pulling all nighter at haiti field hosp. lots of work, but all patients stable. turned my crew into a crack med team tonight."

some Up-dates

Dear Hope families,
I wanted to share some good news with you today, I believe we need it right now to boost
Our spirits. First let me say that things are going well with negotiations with US and Haitian
Governments to bring your children home. Everyone involved wants the outcome to be good
And is looking out for the best interest of the children. It is imperative that you register your
Adoption with Joint council, once you have done this you should receive a confirmation email,
If you did not get a confirmation email, go back and do it again.
As you know we have confirmation that Harry is in an LDS church in PetionVille, all the children
Living in the orphanage with him were evacuated safely. The mounting concerns now are that
PetionVille is in the mountains and it has been difficult to get aid to them. Harry said that there
Is food to purchase and even gas for his truck, but he has no money. And because PetionVille is
In the mountains it has been difficult for rescue teams to get to them. Harry says that if he
Could get some gas in his car he could try to find Nadia and the foster kids. He would also
Be able to buy food and supplies, there is some available to purchase (although the prices are
Astronomical) but the banks are shut down and there is no way to get money.
I am happy to tell you that we have found a way to get money to Harry! We have a friend (via
Shannon Cox, haitianroots.com) who will be traveling to Haiti tomorrow with a special medical
Team put together by the LDS church. Dr. Jeremy Booth has agreed to take the money to
Harry. He is an ER doctor, speaks fluent Creole and loves the Haitian people. They have been
Trying to fly out for several days but because of flight restrictions but hope to fly out tomorrow.
The hope for the little angels team is out getting a substantial amount of cash right now to
Send with Dr. Booth. I know this money will be critical in helping to find and feed our children.
I want to tell each of you thank you, it is because of so many of you and your contributions
That the hope organization has funds to send down.
I will keep you posted, please pray that Dr. Booth is able to reach Harry with the funds!!
Your friend,
Chareyl
Please keep Haiti in your prayers and Me and Dave keep thinking how Busy Fabrice Must be trying to help all the kids. He was all ways looking out for them when we where at the Hotel.
Hopefully this next week we will hear lot's of good news,And have a little bit of peace until we get everyone Home,and know that our friends in Haiti are being taken care of.

Great News!!

Dear Haiti Families,
Here is the latest information out of Haiti in regards to adoptions, we have been given permission to pass this message on to you. I spent two hours on a conference call with joint council this afternoon and I can tell you that many branches of the government are involved with JCICS and everyone is doing all they possibly can to bring your children home. 

This is from a email we received from Chareyl our adoption cordinator Today. It is some great news it means we might be able to bring our kids home alot sooner, and they will not have to hopefully suffer anymore then they have too. we hope the Government can get this put into Action as soon as they can.

 We hope maybe after this weekend to know a little bit more about the children and the orphanage but I understand because Harry has not only our orphanage but several other ones plus he does have his own family and he has just lost his Mom and Sister in all of this. we hope everyone in Haiti that we know are not Hurting to bad and are as safe as they can be until they can get help to everyone in that country.

You are in our prayers and thoughts we love you all.

24 hours latter and still no news

It has been 40 hours and really no news all we can do is keep everyone in our prayers and thoughts and if we can we can send donations to organizations that are helping Haiti. I hope today is the day for news.

Please keep sending prayers out today

We still have no updates on our friends or family down in Haiti but we are keeping positive thoughts.  We wish we where there to hug them and tell them it will be ok, Our O was in the city where the Earthquake hit. For now all we can do is pray and keep positive thoughts for the country of Haiti.

Just what this poor country did not need

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- A strong earthquake hit the impoverished country of Haiti on Tuesday afternoon, where a hospital collapsed and people were screaming for help. Other buildings also were damaged.
The earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 and was centered about 14 miles west from the capital of Port-au-Prince, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
An Associated Press videographer saw the wrecked hospital in nearby Petionville, and a U.S. government official reported seeing houses that had tumbled into a ravine.
No further details on any casualties or other damage were immediately available.
"Everybody is just totally, totally freaked out and shaken," said Henry Bahn, a visiting official with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "The sky is just gray with dust."
Mr. Bahn said he was walking to his hotel room when the ground began to shake.
"I just held on and bounced across the wall," he said. "I just hear a tremendous amount of noise and shouting and screaming in the distance."
Mr. Bahn said there were rocks strewn all over the place and he saw a ravine where several homes had been built. "It's just full of collapsed walls and rubble and barbed wire," he said.

No News for Awhle

We will hear nothing on our Adoption until after the Holidays in Haiti they take off from now until after New year day.
We are In Vegas for the Las Vegas Bowl game supporting our fave college team BYU! but it is so cold so here our some Pictures that remind me of the Hot times with our friends in Haiti!

He loves a Beach ball

One thing we can not for get when we go visit are sweet yonelson in Haiti is a beach ball once he finds one he holds on to it and wants to take it where ever he can. We have learned that he is not a big fan of swimming but when the other kids get in there swimsuit he wants to put his on.
Once in awhile he will try to get in the water but he would much rather just kick his beach ball around the pool. Yonelson is such a sweet little guy and he has a real hard time when we have to leave. we cannot wait to get him home so he can kick his beach ball or soccer ball around our big backyard.