Recovery

We made it home late Sunday night from Honduras. My brother and nephew picked us up at the airport at 7:30 pm, but we had a major blow out on the freeway (at a very dangerous intersection) and had to call 911 because it got dark and we were unable to safely change the tire ourselves. WELCOME HOME! After picking up our dog, Osito (Spanish for little bear), at our friend's house ---thanks, Yvette---we got to the house at 11:15. Starving, mi corazon, Reyes, starts unpacking and warming up Honduran goodies. I guess I don't have the stomach of steel that my husband has because I got food poisoning. Nearly 48 hours later, my tummy is still rumbly and food sounds wretched. Back to work Monday and we are in another world. Today is our 11th anniversary. I am uploading pictures from Honduras while my exhausted hubby snores on the coach. We are still in recovery mode....Skyping has been great, but the sound doesn't always work. Having difficulty troubleshooting from here with our family, but we are trying the instant message (IM) feature when we can't hear each other. LOVING the sweet faces and the "I love you" in ASL (American Sign Language) from the kids on the video, though. It has been really hot there and they may be setting up the Intex inflatable pool really soon!!!

Beyond Blessed

We have been in Honduras for over a week...Mi Corazon, Reyes is exhausted, staying up way too late visiting, but I have been going to bed with the children at 9:30 to get up at 5:45 and help them get ready for school. We have had a great time and are trying not to be sad that we are returning to the U.S. on Sunday.

Quick Recap:
ARRIVAL: Thursday---Warm welcome (and yes, it is HOT here...93 and humid) at the airport and off to the house. Had fun introducing the children to the IPAD....they LOVE it! We realized that Reyes had left his cell phone on the airplane...lost forever =( But refused to let that upset us. Enjoyed candy and new clothes...but the IPAD was the BEST!

Friday---Discovered that the children have lice ...a HUGE problem in Honduras! Fortunately I was prepared with lice shampoos and lice combs. I even brought lice repellent shampoo for me. UGH! Practiced braiding in an effort to minimize access for the lice. We rented a vehicle because I told mi corazon, Reyes that I felt unsafe in the 1972 Toyota Corolla that we purchased for my mother-in-law last fall. I tried a new fruit called MaMe (not sure how to spell it...it is the size of a coconut/cantaloupe and grows on trees)...it was awesome! Tasted like a mix between a pineapple and a mango! YUM!

Saturday---Had a barbeque at our house! The box arrived from the U.S. with the computer that we sent to allow us to use SKYPE with our family!!!

Having a BLAST!

L

Sunday---We went to the beach in OMOA and had a wonderful time!!! It was absolutely gorgeous...warm, breezy and sunny! I had grilled lobster at the beachside cabana restaurant...fun day! (Saw boys selling iguanas for their meat along the side of the road and got a picture of it...will post sometime)

Reyes and His Mom with the New Refrigerator (Amor Mio)

Monday---Bought a refrigerator for my mother-in-law and a computer desk. I took the kids to the movies, by myself, and we saw John Carter (in English, with subtitles...weird movie!) Stopped at Pizza Hut on the way home and bought pizza--very yummy, actually!

Tuesday---Went to order cable internet...got cable in three rooms and cable internet (1 megabyte per second speed) for $40 a month! Not too bad!!! Had waffles for breakfast with nutella, pastelitos (little beef pies) for lunch and baleadas (bean and white cheese with sour cream tacos) for supper. Visited with many friends and had a great day.

Wednesday---not a good day! My mother in law passed out in the courtyard and was very sick all day. Internet installed and took kids to play video games in the mall...bought shoes for Jennifer.

Heading to School

Campo Casenave School

Thursday---WE HAD OUR HOME STUDY!!! Everything went very well....LONG DAY!!!

So, today is Friday...the kids wore casual clothes to school for gym...no uniforms and we made waffles again for breakfast. We are planning to go to the lake after school to fish and swim!

It has been an amazing trip! The kids are learning so much English and we have had so much fun packed into such a short period of time! Not looking forward to Sunday...AT ALL!!!


Thank you for your continued prayers....Dios les bendiga siempre!

Esperanza!

(Jesus said...) I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you! Matthew 17:20

Mateo 17: 20 Porque de cierto os digo, que si tuviereis fe como un grano de mostaza, direis a este monte: Pasate de aqui alla, y se pasara; y nada os sera imposible.

We have HOPE!!! Last year, over Spring Break, I traveled to Honduras, alone, to visit the children. On an outing to the mall, I met an American woman in the arcade. She had two beautiful Honduran children with her and I asked if she was adopting. As it turns out, they had been in the process of adopting for over 3 years and were using the same attorney that we are using. We had a wonderful time sharing our experiences and we had so much in common, even our birthday was the same---March 23rd! I truly felt the Lord sent me this blessing to encourage me that I am not alone on this journey...someone out there is on the same emotional roller coaster, but we both have our Father holding onto us with all of His might!

On Thursday, March 1st---after learning Wednesday that IHNFA was on strike again---our friends finalized the adoption of their son...more than four years in the process!!! The joy was overwhelming!!! God moved a MOUNTAIN...he made a way, where there seemed to be NO way! And, through her, I learned that this strike has ended. We have HOPE!

This Thursday, March 8th, mi Corazon, Reyes and I will travel to Honduras. It has been over three years since we visited together...we usually send one of us 1-2 times a year. There is still so much to do, but we are gradually marking through the list! I absolutely CAN NOT wait!!!

6 semanas mas....6 more weeks

We have had a busy month...not much news on the adoption front, but the potential for progress is on the horizon. In the meantime, we are completing our home study update for an extension at immigration. We have purchased our tickets to go to Honduras for Spring Break. We will be sending another box in three weeks, which means lots of shopping (not my favorite thing to do) and sorting.

The kids are doing well...they had a wonderful Christmas and they are enjoying their school break, which is like a U.S. Summer break...they are off Nov, Dec and Jan. They may resume in February, but the teachers are on strike....nothing new!

I am amazed how joyful mi corazon, Reyes and I have been...so anxious to get down to the kids! Fortunately, time is flying!

Thank you for your many prayers...te quiero mucho...we love you very much!

We are in His hands

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Why is it so hard to remember that we are always in His hands, no matter the circumstances? With Christmas fast approaching, having truly hoped to have the children home this month, so many dreams have been put on hold. We did not decorate the house at all...in fact, we haven't since beginning this adoption journey. I remember putting the Christmas things away in 2008 hoping to decorate the next time for our own children. And we wait...

God is working for our good in all of our circumstances. He always loves, always protects, always guides and always provides. He is always faithful and we can trust His master plan, but the Bible also says, in Romans 8:26 & 27...
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

This song is my Christmas gift to you...He has His hands on YOU!
(Not sure if the link is working...song is on You Tube ...Marvin Sapp He has His Hands on You)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIIwO53wsfw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Packing the Box

Today was Honduras box packing day....and, let me tell you...We know how to pack!!! The problem is, there is never enough room in one box to meet the need. Sometimes we send two boxes, but not this time. It costs $265.00 to send each box. The weight....about 500 lbs!!! This time, I spent weeks organizing what I had, just in case we ran out of space. Every shoe was filled...with toys, socks, underwear, toothbrushes, pens, pencils, crayons! Microwave popcorn bags fit nicely on the sides of the box. Little boy's t shirts make good filler between shoes. Most everything gets removed from it's packaging...so I cut the pictures off the boxes and slide those down the sides of the box, too! Doesn't every parent know that the box is the best part of the toy!!! We sent a Spanish speaking Buzz Lightyear!!! I kept begging mi corazon, Reyes to pack him, knowing that he had a awkward shape, not at all conducive to our box! Buzz got top of the box billing!!!

The worst part is seeing that big pile of left overs...lots of shoes, sandals and flip flops; Bibles, books and toys; shampoo, soap and vitamins; canned food, peanut butter and Nutella; towels, blankets and sheets; socks, underwear and bras; soccer balls, flashlights and batteries! Were we fair? Did we put the most needed things in the box? Does everyone have a new pair of shoes? Did we get the sizes right? Should we send another box?

Reyes proceeded to pack the leftovers in our suitcases, so we are ready for our call!!! And, if we don't get a call...well, we are planning our Spring Break 2012 trip regardless...woohoo! Thank you to our many friends, colleagues, neighbors, church and bio family members who so graciously provide donations for our boxes!!!

Gracias y Dios te bendiga siempre!!!

Kristin and Reyes and our friends and family in Honduras!!!

Be still...

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him...Psalms 37:7

"Any news on the adoption?" This is a question I hear several times a day and one for which I don't always have a quick and easy answer. How do you explain IHNFA? How do you explain an indefinite strike? Do I even have an answer? Do I really know anything? (The adoption is on hold...the kids are safe and in God's hands) How do you answer without bursting into tears? I never feel prepared! Many of my Honduran friends often say, "Si Dios quiere!" (If it's God's will) about everything and it is a phrase I have had to embrace, but I admit I have had resistance when I hear it.

Does that phrase, "Si Dios quiere" mean the timing isn't right at this moment....well, it is easier for me to understand a strike or a coup or an earthquake or even holiday shutdowns vs. mundane delays like being out of ink or someone not showing up for a document signing day after day after day, like happened with two families in October. What happens now? We wait....just like the coup...just like the earthquake...and the other delays. I am supposed to be learning something through this...and patience is a great reward, to be sure! And the fruit of the Spirit is...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control!

My new short and sweet response, "Please pray for us!"