Are you....

Well it has been a rough two weeks,but we are getting through it. we had our family name drugged through the Mud,But we are still a strong family and I will stand by My MAN. It sucks that all people want to do is tear down people and not give that person a chance to tell there side of the story. They do not ever mention the good things that we tried to do,I guess its like when you are getting divorced or ending a relationship they only remember the crap not the good stuff. I am very proud of my man and I know all those who know us will no that none of the stuff that is been said is true. Plus the only thing that matters is when I STAND BEFORE GOD I KNOW THAT I AM A GOOD PERSON, WHO IS PROUD OF HER FAMILY AND HUSBAND!!!

We are so glad

Fabrice and his Best Friend Braxton

 Today last year was one of the most emotional day we woke up to yep the plane was still in Haiti and the pilot was not moving and Steven studarrd was going to get signatures hopefully. we where glued to the Internet just waiting for word,then we heard they where coming home but to where was  the next question? but before that we where so happy jumping up and down then the phone rang and we got word that Fabrice was not on the plane,"WHAT?" WHY?, Because somewhere some one lost his paper work and it did not get signed. so we had to hurry book flights to Miami
and dave was on the phone trying to figure out what we needed to do next,yes even at 1:00am we where catching our conacting flight and dave was on the phone with USCIS.
we where so happy to hug fabrice on Feb 2 when he made it to Miami.
Today i was watching you at JR.Jazz and you are just one athletic kid you can do anything once you put your mind to it. You make everyone smile there is just something about you!! I am also so Happy that you have made friends That are just like you they are sweet and love to play Sports. you have grown so much. I am so thankful that Heavenly father brought you to our family.

Because of a great Man!!

"From every mountainside, let freedom ring. When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands
Martin Luther King Jr:  I have a dream 1963

Thank you Dr. Martin Luther King Jr!!!! "Because of you we have a great family."

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!!

We have recieved the best gift already

On December 11 we received the best gift we became sealed to our three younger kids at the Salt lake temple,so we are now a family Forever,WOW.
It was such a beautiful day and we where blessed to have great friends and family there. I can not believe it was this soon I really believed that fabrice would be 12 before  he came Home to be sealed to us,and I remember thinking last year that maybe by this next summer that Yonelson and Nerlange would be home. So seeing them on Saturday was such a blessing and sometimes so unreal,Wow. Blessings sometimes come out of such Horrible things.

She is 6 and growing up so fast

On September 7th Nerlange had her first real Birthday,she was so excited for her Birthday but she was also overwhelmed. We had the family over and she loved all of her presents. we made Ice cream cake cupcakes,since she loves Ice cream cones.
The other night we where watching some of the video we took on are first trip to meet Nerlange and Yonelson. She seemed so little.
she is so sweet and I can not wait to see what a great girl she will grow up to be.

What have we been up too?

So It has been a while,April is a busy Month full of Birthday party's getting the boys to understand Baseball and having fun with the family.
The one thing I wish this month would do is figure out that it is spirng and to quite snowing, I am grateful for the Moistiure but I want some nice 70 degree weather.
Yonelson just loves Baseball practice with all his new friends he gets the biggest smile when he hits the ball and his coach tells him to RUN,RUN! All the parents just smile. It is one of the cutest things to see.
It has been so great to see how well the kids are doing.
They are so cute when they learn there cousins are coming over to visit they just love having such a big family all around to love them.
 I can not believe that on May 3 they will have been home 3 months,time is just flying by!

The Elmo Cake was Dave's Birthday cake:)
Love ya Dave

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

You Know...

YOU KNOW YOU'RE AN ADOPTIVE PARENT IF ...

1. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.

2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love & family.

3. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.

4. The fact that, if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child there would be no orphans in the world, is convicting to you.

5. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who've experienced the blessing of adoption.

6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about adopted child's "real" parents.

7. You've been "pregnant" with your adoptive child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth.(2 years!)

8. You had no idea how you'd afford to adopt, but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing He'd provide. (& He does!)

9. You've taken an airplane half-way around the world with a child you just met.

10. You believe God's heart's for adoption.

11. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart & family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.

12. You know what the word "Dossier" means & you can actually pronounce it correctly!

13. You've welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.

14. You shudder when people say your child's so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you're the blessed one to have him or her in your life.

Meet the new member of our family

What a great additon Fabrice will be to our Family! He has been so fun to get to know,He is such a sweet and great big Brother for Yonelson and Nerlande he jumps right in and helps them with cutting up there food or finding Yonelosn shoes.
When we first arrived he came right up and gave us a big hug!! We are so glad he is making the transtion very well we love him and we know how special he is:)
Just look at that smile....we love you so much Fabrice

Adding to our Forever Family

I can not wait for the October trip for two reasons first to see how all the kids are doing and to get to know Fabrice. we have decided to add Fabrice to our family we have all ways felt a strong connection with him which we never understood. we talked about him to our friends and family just as much as Yonelson and Nerlande. we are very excited for this and we fill he will make a great addition to the family!! we are just waiting for final confirmation from Chareyl and Haiti. but she doesn't see a problem.

we are so excited to get to know you much better and to spend time with you in October!!

UGH....This week has been

This week has been a hard one emotionally, I have been thinking about the kids alot and missing them. I hope all our phone calls and letter writing will at least get people to notice the system and see that it's not helping any one and these are people life's and something needs to change to speed up and get the kids home to a loving family.
well Hopefully we will hear when the upcoming trip is, We can not wait to hug the kids again and see that they are doing fine.
we miss you guys so much.

What a great family

We have been in Dayton Ohio for the past 3 days helping Dave's little Brother Promote his Clothing company he started when he came out of his coma he has always wanted to start one and when he had his accident we decide to help him so he could get some money to cover the medical bills. you should check out the cool website Dave's little sister did and the most touching video clip that Dave put together to help people realize the depth of Mikey's injury. so if you get a chance take a look at it . His little brother is such a amazing guy to have come along as far as he has. The website address is mikeaitken.com

Happy 24th of july to those in Utah

Happy 24Th of July ! Today is a big day in Utah it is the day the Pioneers arrived in the Utah Valley. so tonight we do fireworks with Dave's family to celebrate we hope all those that live in Utah had a safe and fun day celebrating!!

What is Madonna Thinking?

Everyone doing an adoption — whether domestic or international, rich or poor, famous or not — should follow the same set of requirements established by the United States and other countries who are signatories of the Hague Treaty. It fascinates me that we second guess the motivation of those who are personally unknown to us (i.e. celebrities)Iwonder why everyone thinks that they can figure out what Madonna is thinking. That most publications have alluded to Madonna’s willful violation of Malawi laws, contending that she defied the judges and the community in Malawi is shocking. Where is the proof? Why should anyone be judged about their motivation to create a family whether through adoption or the old-fashioned way — who cares? If you are a responsible parent, then it shouldn’t matter why you want to have a child.It amazes me that someone would argue that heritage and cultural identity is what matters most in a child’s life. To throw out all the thoughtfulness of developmental psychologists and pediatricians around the need for a child to grow up as part of a family is mind-boggling. And yet discussions online and in newspapers appear to be doing just that.There are 145 million orphans in the world and though they should all have families that is not an efficient or realistic approach. What we need is to rebuild communities and help families to grow and stay together so that there are no more orphans.

Everyone should stop whining and judging and instead help provide better lives for orphaned children. That doesn’t mean you have to adopt, let’s be innovative and creative in finding ways to end the dreadful inequities in the lives of women and children around the world.

Stop picking on Madonna and other celebrities. Instead focus your energy on solving the tragic problem of children living alone in the world.

Counting down to the mixed emotions trip

We are now counting down the days until we will be in Haiti with our kids. we where talking to the family about the upcoming trip and how it is getting exciting to be so close to leaving but how hard it is to go there and be with them then having to leave them there and try to come home go back to our normal life knowing in the back of your mind that they are there in the heat with somewhat good food that we will bring on this trip.but then there is the upcoming hurricanes season the disease that this nation has the life they live at the orphanage which is normal for them but you know what life they really should have as a kid.so it really is alot of emotions for a trip and to come home to.I feel very blessed to be going through it and to bring my two kids home that I know with all my heart are meant to be in our family its just alot some days to take in and really alot to come home after to think about and pray that they will be fine until we go back in a few months and do it all over again.But you guys are so worth it. We love you Yonelson and Nerlande!!

A Big Thank You!!

I would like to tell everyone who has helped me with the Yard sale that you guys are such a life saver with all of your advice and volunteering It has made this adventure great. I hope Saturday turns out to be a big success. I believe we have one of the best adoption parenting groups out there. I would like to let everyone know about one of our fellow moms fundraising  efforts. With Mothers day coming up here is a great idea and it will  help our little orphanage.

Great jewelry AND you help the kids. You can help us continue to raise

money towards our goal by:

1) Placing an order at www.liasophia.com/emilym and entering “Hope” as the hostess’s first name and selecting “Hope for Little Angels of Haiti” as the hostess. 30% of each sale will be donated.

2) Booking your own lia sophia show with me. (Emily's contact info is below)

3) Have a friend place an order or book a show.

Emily Mineer 435.251.9214 www.liasophia.com/emilym

A GREAT DAD AND HUSBAND!!

We are so proud of all that you do for us.
you are all ways working so hard for us and everyone in your company. you all ways look out for those that are in need. you are so smart and wonderful. you are a great role model for our kids. I love how you take care of your family and my family.
I love how when I am sad or down you are my knight and shinning armor.I love how you take time to talk to each of our kids and know what is going on in there life and if they are struggling with anything you help them work it out.I love how you tell them they can be anything they want to be and how you let them learn how they can make a difference in the world.
I love you so much and I am very proud that you are my Husband and a Wonderful dad to our kids!! We love you .....

Barbecue,A Haitian Tradition

With spring sort of being here and Summer just right around the corner I have been thinking of Barbecue time. I came up on this very Intersting fact...
The word barbecue comes from the Spanish translation of the native Haitian word barbacoa. It seems that the Spaniards, who arrived just a few years after Columbus landed in North America in 1492, found the Haitian natives roasting animal meat over a raised metal framework. A fire was built underneath, and the flames and smoke would rise and envelop the animal meat, giving it flavor.

Oddly enough, the same framework was used for sleeping because it was a means of protection against animals that might attack in the middle of the night.

The Haitian natives called this device a barbacoa. In typical fashion, the word was corrupted into barbecue, the name by which it is still used today.

We can not wait until Nerlande and Yonelson are home so we can have family Barbecues with them.

Family

With your companion, make it a family objective to all be together in the celestial kingdom. Strive to make your home a little bit of heaven on earth so that after this life is over, you may be able to say:

We are all here!

Father, mother, sister, brother,

All who hold each other dear.

Each chair is filled—

We’re all at home. . . .

We’re all—all here.
I love this saying and I hope we can hold on to our Love of each other.I can not wait until Yonelson and Nerlande are home and we can share all of our Family tradtions and sitting at the dinner table talking about each of our daily things!!