One step closer!

I am excited to say that our paperwork has moved to second legalization. What does that mean? More court stuff, but the most important is that we are one step closer! I know it sounds crazy, but every little thing matters in this crazy, roller coaster world of adoption. So today is a good day and in 3 weeks I will get to go and see her. God is good!

October update!

We finally got an update on Emmi. Last month due to the hurricanes we didn't get an update, so here it is. There has been absolutly no movement in our paperwork and we can't seem to figure out why, so start praying that we can get some answers and if there is anything we can do here. At the orphanage she is doing well; "sleeping is perfect", she is happy and plays with others well. She is sick right now with a cough and cold. But fortunately due to the donations of everyone, she is able to take some vitamin c and other medications. Thanks to all the people who have given in so many different ways.

On the homefront we continue navigate our way through life. Billy is enjoying his new job, but has to work a lot so he is missing us and we are very much missing him. Willy is working at Target part-time, taking a class at Whatcom Community College and 4 classes at Meridian High School. he is such a good student and is doing very well. He is currently on brake from baseball but it buffing up for the upcoming season. JJ is at Meridian High School full time and is doing awesome, he has adjusted from homeschool well. Wrestling is just around the corner and he is anticipating a tough season after winning first last year. Sierra is homeschooling and attending MP3 where I teach while she is in class. She loves it and has made some great friends. She is also loving dance, and is very good at it. Sierra and I joined a homeschool co-op this year, I love it! I wish I would have found it when the boys were little.

All of the kids were involved in a government class of some sort so we all learned a lot and became very knowledgeable about the government and politics. The elections became a family thing, and we all felt it helped us make educated decisions about he elections.

As for me, I continue to be the mom, wife and friend God has called me to be while continuing to seek Him daily through prayer and reading. One thing I have learned from the adoption so far is prayer, and the peace that can come from prayer. I am in so many different situations where really all I can do is pray. Also taking a dance class can be really fun and exercise!

So in less than a month Willy and I will head to Haiti and see Emmi, hopefully she will be better then. My prayer is that we will learn more about her case and have some great bonding time for us with Emmi and Willy and I. Of course safe travels. Have a blessed day!

Another Trip to visit Emmi in Haiti!

Due to the fact that our paperwork is taking forever, Willy and I are off to visit Emmi December 8-12. I am so excited! We got really cheap tickets, a gift from God. Speaking of gifts.......when we travel to Haiti we fill our suitcases to the max with donations and that is how the orphanage survives. Sending stuff there is not reliable at all. It costs a ton and you don't know if it will make it. So we have a list of stuff that is needed that our specific trip is trying to bring. If you are interested donating, you can pick up any of the things on the list and I would love to come and pick it up from you. It is amazing how each trip our bags are full because of the generous people in Whatcom County, you are amazing!

You can find the list of items needed at

chances4childrendonations.blogspot.com

We are on the December trip! Thanks so much for all your support to us and the children of Haiti. Children won't go hungry because of your love.

Happy 3rd Birthday Emmi!

Yesterday was Emmi's 3rd Birthday. It was a sad and happy day. We are so thankful she made it to celebrate her 3rd birthday, but are sad we didn't get to celebrate with her. Let's hope for next year. The last few trips have been canceled because of the hurricanes so we haven't been able to send her a little gift. I hoping for next month.I made a picture book of our family and pics with her to send along with some stickers(pronounced stickars by the kids at the Creche), and a pair of sun glasses. Pretty much everything you send is hers for a few minutes but then becomes community property. I wonder if she will be good at sharing or worse because of that?

We love you Emmi and can't wait for you to come home!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Haiti under water

Due to all the hurricanes Haiti is underwater. Here is an update as of September 12th.

Here is some of what Gina(one of the people who run Chances for Children, the organization who owns the Creche) wrote: “The white river since Tuesday night has flood the village. Access is impossible via vehicle only can get through with donkey. Lucien has been able to get some food and supplies to the crèche via donkey. The children are safe but stuck inside the compound. The village people are without food and drinking water.”

This is the latest update, September 18th.

Hi everyone! According to Gina, the river is still pretty flooded as it is raining quite a bit at night, so there hasn’t been much receding. The road to Lamardelle is still pretty inaccessible and travel has taken place by donkey when needed. They are hoping to get an electrician to the creche the survey the damage, but the roads have to improve before then. We will let you know if there’s anything that can be done, but for now, prayers and thoughts is all that we can do.

How crazy is this! We have no clue. When was the last time you saw someone travel by donkey?
Just to give you alittle perspective, the Creche is about a 40 minute drive from Port-au-Prince, the closest main city.

Life at the Hansens

This summer has gone by way too fast and has been pretty crazy around here. Billy started his new job at BP and pretty much was going to school for 10 weeks. He spent his time at work, studying or sleeping out of pure mental and physical exhaustion. So we didn't get to see much of him and he was missed, especially by his boys. They can relate as teenagers way better to their daddy than their momma, as hard as that is for me to accept. Both the boys were looking for jobs and just enjoying the non-schedule of school. They both played summer baseball and were on good teams this year, it was really fun. I wish the weather would have been better, wait did we even have summer yet?! I thought baseball was supposed to be played in the sun, with shorts on, not long underwear.

Sierra pretty much just hung out with me, went to ball games, and swam in Grandma's pool set up at our house. She did get the opportunity to go away for two night to dance camp and loved it, she is quite the dancer. The girl can move.

We did have 2 cars out of 3 drivers break down in one week, crazy. So we are still on the lookout for a new car for me. I have come to the conclusion that I just need a van, Billy hates vans. I just really need 7 seats, I love to be able to bring people with us. When our van broke down we had every seat filled, it is just my way. So we continue to find the perfect vehicle for the best price, know any good deals?

So now school has started and I have 2, yes 2, teenagers in High School. How crazy is that?! Maybe I just think I am still 27, no wait I am. So this year it is just Sierra and I at home doing the school thing. We do start MP3 in a few weeks and I am teaching 2 classes. Willy is doing Running Start at the Community College and Meridian High School and JJ is full time at the High School.

So it is fall and we are off and running, how about you?

Bad news and Good news.

Sorry I haven't posted for a while, we have been battling Internet and e-mail issues, but all is well now.

Okay for the bad news: Haiti was hit bad by hurricane Hanna and is pretty much under water. The Creche where Emmi lives is in northern Haiti and they are safe. They were able to get some supplies to prepare. It saddens my heart to see a country so in need and then to be devastated by this. I can't imagine how they will pull out of this. And on a selfish note, I'm pretty sure it will be hard for paperwork to be moving right now. Sometimes I feel so useless, and then I remember I am called to pray. God knows and He cares.

Here is a link to some video of Haiti
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7597420.stm

So now for the good news! It was really hard not having e-mail or internet because that is my lifeline to Emmi. That is how they pretty much communicate to us, so it was killing me especially with the hurricanes. Then I got this amazing e-mail. One of the moms who visited the Creche last month got some great video of her son and Emmi giggling. It made my month! Enjoy!
http://kobeloudince.blogspot.com/2008/08/video-that-makes-me-smile-every-time.html

Here at home we are back to school, lots of new schedules and changes. I will update on everything soon.

Thanks so much for all your prayers and support.