tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44062207780979147442024-03-12T19:22:15.156-07:00Whole Heart of ThanksI give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart. Psalm 138:1Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.comBlogger191125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-73859881363620179352015-09-08T13:32:00.000-07:002015-09-08T13:32:33.475-07:00The South Africa Oasis is NOW open!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The South Africa Oasis is now open!!</h2>
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It has taken a few months, but we have </div>
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found a place to live that</div>
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has an apartment for guests!</div>
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We have secured the location,</div>
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we have furnished it,</div>
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we have fixed it up,</div>
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and we are now ready</div>
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for God to bring</div>
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the weary,</div>
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the exhausted,</div>
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the hurting,</div>
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the burned out</div>
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Harvest Workers</div>
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that God </div>
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has determined </div>
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need to be here.</div>
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If that describes you or someone who is working overseas,</div>
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contact us at:</div>
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<a href="mailto:southafricaoasis@lifeimpactministries.net">southafricaoasis@lifeimpactministries.net</a></div>
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or submit a booking request at:</div>
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<a href="http://lifeimpactministries.net/book-an-oasis/?oasis=30" target="_blank">The South Africa Oasis Booking Request</a></div>
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<br />“That we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” </h2>
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Romans 1:12</h2>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-58791532240210935442015-05-21T07:11:00.001-07:002015-05-21T07:11:19.411-07:00Following where God leads...<div style="text-align: center;">
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It has been a wild ride so far... this following where God has asked us to go. </div>
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There are days we feel like this is fun and amazing! </div>
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There are days when we are weary and sad and want to go home. </div>
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But we don't have a home to go to. </div>
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It reminds me of Jesus, when he said he had nowhere to lay his head. </div>
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Luke 9:58</div>
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Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, </div>
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but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”</div>
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The days like these remind me that my home is in heaven. </div>
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My citizenship is neither in this country or my passport country. </div>
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My life is not my own,</div>
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but given to my Lord with a grateful heart </div>
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filled with love for what </div>
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He has done for me.</div>
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Pray with us that God would lead us </div>
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to the property He has prepared for us.</div>
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We are eager to prepare the Oasis for </div>
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weary pastors and missionaries and their families </div>
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to receive rest and encouragement </div>
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for their souls.</div>
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We certainly can relate to the need...</div>
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Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-81322095025937005412014-12-04T22:25:00.000-08:002014-12-04T22:25:14.346-08:00How does an Oasis work?<br />
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We are in the final stages of support raising so that we can go </div>
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on the field to do Missionary Care through a hosted Oasis.</div>
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Many people have asked us: </div>
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What is an Oasis? </div>
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How does this work?</div>
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What is missionary care? </div>
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Well, here's our answer to all three of those questions! </div>
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Once we land in Cape Town, we will rent a furnished apartment for the three months we are waiting for our container of household items to arrive. During that time, we will be looking for a property to rent for our Oasis. We envision a separate 2 bedroom guest cottage for the missionaries use. This type of property is relatively common in South Africa - it is called a "granny flat" since families often have their parents come to live with them. The photo above is of one such cottage that we viewed while we were on our scouting trip in 2012. <br /><br />Once our Oasis is up and running, we will host one missionary (and family) at a time. Before coming to our Oasis, they will fill out a questionnaire that will let us know what their needs are and how long they want to stay. We will host one family any amount of time from 2 days to 2 weeks. <br /><br />During their stay, if they are struggling in any area of life, we can offer them life coaching, biblical counseling, stress assessments, and a listening ear. Of course, things might go differently once we are there - but we envision formal interactions between us and the couple during the mornings, with afternoons free for rest and reflection, and additional interactions during several of the evenings. <br /><br />Our desire is to minister to the entire family. We will host times of fun and reflection for the kids of the family as well. Kids often desire to voice their thoughts, feelings, and struggles as well - and we want to be sensitive to the needs of the children, giving them exclusive time to talk. Julie is able to offer guidance and insight into homeschooling, as well as hosting a homeschool resource library for families to peruse.<br /><br />The Oasis will feature a lending library, a movie collection, puzzles, and lots of board games for families to enjoy. In short, we hope to offer weary families a safe place to spend a week resting, debriefing, seeking the Lord, and recapturing the passion that led them to their ministry! <br />
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If you would like to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of missionaries in Southern Africa - join our team!! <br />
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We would love to have you join us, once we are fully funded we will leave for the field! <br />
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<a href="https://lifeimpact.webconnex.com/vanheerden" target="_blank"><b>Click here to join our team! </b></a></div>
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Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-49310757457733515922014-10-27T16:57:00.000-07:002014-10-27T16:57:24.795-07:00Where in the world are the van Heerden's going?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wow! What a view!</div>
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We adopted Julia in 2012 and while we were there</div>
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we also did a survey trip for our Oasis.</div>
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We stayed in a most amazing apartment </div>
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with fabulous views...</div>
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I relax just looking at them again!</div>
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But...</div>
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being on the side of a mountain has distinct disadvantages</div>
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when traveling with children.</div>
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Safety railings are minimal and a tumble </div>
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off the steps is a three story drop</div>
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to concrete below...</div>
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NOT relaxing!</div>
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So, for our Oasis,</div>
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intended to give weary missionaries</div>
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relaxation and rest,</div>
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a mountain top experience</div>
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might not be the best.</div>
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So we looked at the surrounding area</div>
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we checked out properties in Strand</div>
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in Fish Hoek</div>
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in Hout Bay</div>
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in Simons' Town</div>
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and decided that a place on the ocean</div>
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in the valleys</div>
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on flat land</div>
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would be the best location for our Oasis!</div>
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So when we arrive</div>
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we will search out properties</div>
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in the greater Cape Town area</div>
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for our </div>
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South African Oasis!</div>
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Want to partner along with us?</div>
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<a href="https://lifeimpact.webconnex.com/vanheerden" target="_blank">Support the South African Oasis</a></div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-76776537336913757522014-10-23T09:39:00.000-07:002014-10-23T09:39:06.070-07:00Soon and very soon...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The South Africa Oasis</div>
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<a href="https://lifeimpact.webconnex.com/vanheerden" target="_blank">Support Us!</a></div>
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We are in the final stages of funding our ministry...</div>
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We will be relocating to Cape Town, South Africa </div>
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as God provides the full measure of our support</div>
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in the next two months!</div>
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Did you know that more than 6,000 missionaries</div>
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will quit and come home unnecessarily this year?</div>
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Missionaries and cross cultural ministry workers</div>
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face many stressors:</div>
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language barriers</div>
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cultural stress</div>
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conflict with coworkers</div>
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feeling inadequate</div>
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loneliness</div>
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needs of the children</div>
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are just a few...</div>
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We plan to provide missionary care</div>
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through biblical counseling </div>
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and </div>
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practical encouragement </div>
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for families - offering a place</div>
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for families to come to </div>
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rest, relax, and reconnect.</div>
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<a href="https://lifeimpact.webconnex.com/vanheerden" target="_blank">You can be a part of this!</a> </div>
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We need partners</div>
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folks just like you</div>
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who will</div>
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pray for us</div>
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and the families we will serve.</div>
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And offer monthly</div>
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financial support</div>
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just $5 or $10 monthly</div>
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will serve these families!</div>
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47% of missionaries leave their work</div>
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within the first 5 years!</div>
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Help us help them to stay on the field</div>
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ministering the Gospel to a needy world!</div>
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<a href="https://lifeimpact.webconnex.com/vanheerden" target="_blank">Financial Support</a></div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-75116166919249397052014-10-09T20:04:00.004-07:002014-10-09T20:04:34.646-07:00Growing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What a little love!</div>
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Hannes is doing well. </div>
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All of his birth defects have now been repaired!</div>
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He is growing...</div>
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from a toddler to a </div>
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little boy! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We are so grateful to all who have </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
followed our journey</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
prayed and donated </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to bring this little one home!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It is hard to think about what his life would be like</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
if we hadn't adopted him</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He was living in Lugansk</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and that part of Ukraine</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
has been under heavy fighting</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for a while now...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The orphanage has been evacuated</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the facilitator has fled</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The buildings have been bombed</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There is no water</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
no electricity</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
very little food</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I can't even imagine what it looks like</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
or what the people still living there</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
are dealing with.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My heart hurts for all the pain and despair...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I hug Hannes just a little bit tighter</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so very glad he is with us.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--C_6XLIjeFE/VDdIsBL6gzI/AAAAAAAABcc/7_ud7yAKt2Y/s1600/Hannes%2Bserious%2Bface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--C_6XLIjeFE/VDdIsBL6gzI/AAAAAAAABcc/7_ud7yAKt2Y/s1600/Hannes%2Bserious%2Bface.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There are two little ones that we met</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
while we were in Ukraine for </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hannes's adoption.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They were with Hannes and we saw them</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
every day</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for the five weeks we were there.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A little girl and her big brother.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She was around a year and her brother around 2.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They wrapped themselves around our hearts.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They have a family waiting to adopt them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The war has interrupted their plans</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and they have been waiting</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and waiting</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and waiting</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and they just got permission to travel to them</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in the place they have been evacuated to </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is a miracle!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Their mom will be flying to Ukraine this Saturday!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You can help!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
These two children are dear to our hearts</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
please click on this link and help them get home!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They have been in the midst of a war!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They deserve to come home to peace! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/72181/sponsorboyer-2">http://reecesrainbow.org/72181/sponsorboyer-2</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Wqld3NQHDg/VDdL81ZTzHI/AAAAAAAABco/wsHw6eATliQ/s1600/Charlie%2Band%2BLola.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-31489135107144018842014-08-19T15:11:00.003-07:002014-08-19T15:11:42.980-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c3L88RgAGeA/U_PJZ5s31QI/AAAAAAAABaI/3wdJv2rTBu0/s1600/photo%2Bhannes%2Bbeach%2B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c3L88RgAGeA/U_PJZ5s31QI/AAAAAAAABaI/3wdJv2rTBu0/s1600/photo%2Bhannes%2Bbeach%2B.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hannes had his fourth </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and final surgery </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
today </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to correct the last of his birth defects.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We are so grateful that </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we are able to give him </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the medical care that he needed.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Care that would have been difficult</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in his home country</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
especially now,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
since they are </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
at war.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We never take for granted</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the ease with which</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
life is lived here</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in the U.S.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And we are so grateful</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to God for His</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
provision to us</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
this little boy that we love so much! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xObyVF7srqI/U_PLdDP2lvI/AAAAAAAABag/GjTZYgj7hJY/s1600/IMG_0048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xObyVF7srqI/U_PLdDP2lvI/AAAAAAAABag/GjTZYgj7hJY/s1600/IMG_0048.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-5379946764573131812014-05-11T17:47:00.000-07:002014-05-11T17:47:46.388-07:00I love being a Mother...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ATi-WAqDJ0c/U3AOQuJxwkI/AAAAAAAABRw/SZsxa75JRTU/s1600/377685_10151161866808910_902634531_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ATi-WAqDJ0c/U3AOQuJxwkI/AAAAAAAABRw/SZsxa75JRTU/s1600/377685_10151161866808910_902634531_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nate - my oldest son with his son - Noah - age 5</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tWXNPS-V8Fo/U3AOBExiOxI/AAAAAAAABRg/1FeShJjUW4g/s1600/img_0058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tWXNPS-V8Fo/U3AOBExiOxI/AAAAAAAABRg/1FeShJjUW4g/s1600/img_0058.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lydia - my second child - with her child Jaxon - age 1 week</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2-EUXBIXtOQ/U3ANjkBHy3I/AAAAAAAABRY/DMWEpSedKBk/s1600/IMG_3906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2-EUXBIXtOQ/U3ANjkBHy3I/AAAAAAAABRY/DMWEpSedKBk/s1600/IMG_3906.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jacob - age 7</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xm98NGg86Ts/U3APJoygfmI/AAAAAAAABR0/s2CFFLRxrhs/s1600/IMG_3925-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xm98NGg86Ts/U3APJoygfmI/AAAAAAAABR0/s2CFFLRxrhs/s1600/IMG_3925-2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julia - age 6</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UEVIYrYAgw4/U3AOD0zCrFI/AAAAAAAABRo/xFwKN9Pia70/s1600/IMG_3935-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UEVIYrYAgw4/U3AOD0zCrFI/AAAAAAAABRo/xFwKN9Pia70/s1600/IMG_3935-2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannes - age 3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y-iQM-t1qwA/U3AP4e8M3fI/AAAAAAAABR8/qKFw0IZVNQQ/s1600/IMG_3879-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y-iQM-t1qwA/U3AP4e8M3fI/AAAAAAAABR8/qKFw0IZVNQQ/s1600/IMG_3879-2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent">I am so grateful this Mother's Day... </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent">Five
beautiful children </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent">and </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent">two amazing grandchildren. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent"> I am grateful to God
that He has blessed me so abundantly. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent">A big hug to Dianna and Jason </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent">for loving my two oldest children. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent"> And my everlasting thankfulness </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent">to
the two women </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent">who gave my two youngest children life. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent"> I do not
underestimate the pain you carry</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent">and </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent">it is a privilege beyond measure </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent">for
them to know me as mom.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent">Happy Mother's Day! </span></div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-35351304237730260312014-03-27T20:59:00.000-07:002014-03-27T20:59:21.922-07:00One Year Ago Today...<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We arrived home with Hannes...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C9wCnoYpLrc/UzTrTKtAwfI/AAAAAAAABMw/5NZqmskDJpw/s1600/photo-47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C9wCnoYpLrc/UzTrTKtAwfI/AAAAAAAABMw/5NZqmskDJpw/s1600/photo-47.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was the beginning of the rest of his life...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In the year since we have been </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
home with Hannes</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
he has had his congenital birth defects</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
corrected</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OBeN3kWgBDI/UzTs6vgCN5I/AAAAAAAABM8/lfahBX4fWnY/s1600/photo-41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OBeN3kWgBDI/UzTs6vgCN5I/AAAAAAAABM8/lfahBX4fWnY/s1600/photo-41.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
he is healthy now!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Healthy!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In his orphanage he was isolated in the infirmary</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
due to his heart defect</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
he spent most of his time in a crib...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
this was for his benefit, so that he wouldn't get sick</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
by being around the other children...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So he has spent this year</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
catching up</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
learning to laugh</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n3LdEP0cKmY/UzTtSinU2II/AAAAAAAABNE/9BzIOg6-DbA/s1600/laughing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n3LdEP0cKmY/UzTtSinU2II/AAAAAAAABNE/9BzIOg6-DbA/s1600/laughing.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
learning to play</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uVYeSG9DTKA/UzTtm88WFjI/AAAAAAAABNM/Ketnl2Hbn3Y/s1600/photo-119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uVYeSG9DTKA/UzTtm88WFjI/AAAAAAAABNM/Ketnl2Hbn3Y/s1600/photo-119.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
learning to eat</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SLzZCOCZUBY/UzTuGpS5--I/AAAAAAAABNU/eu1ui4P82iQ/s1600/smiling+hannes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SLzZCOCZUBY/UzTuGpS5--I/AAAAAAAABNU/eu1ui4P82iQ/s1600/smiling+hannes.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />living his life...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pX3zsKakH6g/UzTuvTZLFiI/AAAAAAAABNc/n29dCfQNyQ0/s1600/photo-224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pX3zsKakH6g/UzTuvTZLFiI/AAAAAAAABNc/n29dCfQNyQ0/s1600/photo-224.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Smiling...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHeYuQzFats/UzTuy947dFI/AAAAAAAABNk/JEQ9j7cxig0/s1600/photo-233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHeYuQzFats/UzTuy947dFI/AAAAAAAABNk/JEQ9j7cxig0/s1600/photo-233.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
one of the boys...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kZensH13SqA/UzTu7TJqy-I/AAAAAAAABNs/3BXYtfE6yKM/s1600/three+boys+on+sofa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kZensH13SqA/UzTu7TJqy-I/AAAAAAAABNs/3BXYtfE6yKM/s1600/three+boys+on+sofa.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Kissable...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hBl92CO0mhc/UzTvJGW6vgI/AAAAAAAABN0/iLx0p3hyhnI/s1600/photo-244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hBl92CO0mhc/UzTvJGW6vgI/AAAAAAAABN0/iLx0p3hyhnI/s1600/photo-244.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
messy...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--yNPvyU7dTc/UzTvPIgje9I/AAAAAAAABN8/6KVpzPEqDuM/s1600/photo-265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--yNPvyU7dTc/UzTvPIgje9I/AAAAAAAABN8/6KVpzPEqDuM/s1600/photo-265.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
out and about in the real world... </div>
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or busy at home...</div>
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being a brother...</div>
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exploring this world...</div>
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gaining skills...</div>
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water... swimming... LOVE...</div>
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playgrounds! sliding is fun! </div>
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Christmas with your sister</div>
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is fun!</div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AkaJAVVu5jA/UzTwYnxQ6UI/AAAAAAAABO8/BoBPJH0UD0k/s1600/photo-196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AkaJAVVu5jA/UzTwYnxQ6UI/AAAAAAAABO8/BoBPJH0UD0k/s1600/photo-196.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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It has been a wonderful year</div>
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Hannes!</div>
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We are so grateful you are in our lives...</div>
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Happy One Year home Hannes!!</div>
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Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-64837734621112537642014-03-17T20:23:00.002-07:002014-03-17T20:23:46.687-07:00Happy 3rd Birthday Hannes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Birthday Mr. Hannes!</div>
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You are 3 today...</div>
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Our little Ukrainian Leprechaun!! </div>
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<br /></div>
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Born on St. Patrick's Day </div>
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You have come a long way in the last year...</div>
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You didn't use to like touching anything remotely "icky"</div>
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and tonight you made a BIG mess with the </div>
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cake and frosting...</div>
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still wouldn't eat it,</div>
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but we are thinking maybe next year! </div>
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Last year Daddy was with you, </div>
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Mommy had gone home but was traveling back to you</div>
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This year we were all together </div>
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your first birthday at home!</div>
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We have LOVED this year with you Hannes</div>
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and we look forward to many, many more!!</div>
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-31080767444840710422014-03-14T17:35:00.000-07:002014-03-14T17:35:46.826-07:00Happy 6th Birthday Julia!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's hard to believe</div>
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that our princess is</div>
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six!</div>
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You are our </div>
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beautiful</div>
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joyfilled</div>
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full of life</div>
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little girl</div>
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and we are so glad</div>
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to have you</div>
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in our </div>
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family!</div>
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<br /></div>
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And for a special birthday surprise...</div>
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<br /></div>
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Captain America came to visit!</div>
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Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-6090305157224547512014-03-11T21:49:00.000-07:002014-03-11T21:52:48.629-07:00Happy Adoption Day Hannes Ruslan!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A year ago on March 6</div>
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a judge declared</div>
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that Hannes</div>
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was our son.</div>
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So much we have been through</div>
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this year -</div>
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Hannes has had open heart surgery</div>
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to repair his congenital heart defect</div>
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which turned out to be </div>
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just a bit more than we had anticipated...</div>
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Hannes has had many months of </div>
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Physical Therapy</div>
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Occupational Therapy</div>
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Feeding Therapy</div>
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Speech Therapy</div>
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Pediatric Cardiology appointments</div>
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Pediatric Urology appointments</div>
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Pediatric Dentist appointment...</div>
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</div>
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Urological surgery to correct a </div>
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congenital defect</div>
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which turned out to be </div>
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just a bit more than we had anticipated...</div>
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But through it all</div>
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he has grown -</div>
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5 inches</div>
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and</div>
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5 pounds -</div>
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</div>
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and he has</div>
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advanced a year in his </div>
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cognitive functions</div>
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</div>
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and he is slowly learning</div>
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what a family is</div>
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what love is</div>
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what security is</div>
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what fun is</div>
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exploring his world</div>
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exploring relationships</div>
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learning</div>
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growing</div>
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figuring out how to love...</div>
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</div>
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a year ago</div>
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he was an orphan</div>
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but this year</div>
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he is loved and cherished</div>
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a son</div>
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a brother</div>
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a nephew</div>
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a grandson</div>
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</div>
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he has a place in the world </div>
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he belongs</div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mpo_KlPomdo/Ux_mtsBz4kI/AAAAAAAABJ8/wNWRaU_SbPo/s1600/photo-239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mpo_KlPomdo/Ux_mtsBz4kI/AAAAAAAABJ8/wNWRaU_SbPo/s1600/photo-239.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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and we love him so! </div>
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<br />
Happy Adoption Day Hannes Ruslan! </div>
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</div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-9686349335387538872014-02-28T16:07:00.000-08:002014-03-11T21:53:04.849-07:00Happy Adoption Day Julia Babes!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Two Years!!</div>
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Two years ago today we adopted Julia!</div>
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Those two years have gone by fast!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Julia has grown!</div>
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</div>
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She wore a 2T when she came home</div>
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she is now in size girls size 6x!</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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She was a bit shy and wasn't sure what it meant to be in a family</div>
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today she is filled with joy and sass and loves being in a family</div>
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she is an older sister, a younger sister, and an aunt!</div>
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<br /></div>
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She is confident and learning</div>
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gaining control over her emotions </div>
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and her wiggles</div>
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long enough to color and learn </div>
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numbers and letters and sounds and all</div>
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she loves to have books read to her </div>
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</div>
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and </div>
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</div>
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as she grows she understands more and more</div>
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about the beginning of her life </div>
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and has questions </div>
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and tears</div>
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and anger</div>
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and sorrow</div>
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and longing</div>
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</div>
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It isn't easy</div>
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this redeeming a life</div>
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but God is with us</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
giving us what we need</div>
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when we need it</div>
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and we are filled with Joy!</div>
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</div>
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Happy Adoption Day</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Julia</div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We love you!!</div>
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</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lkeFklAZnyI/UxEjutb7qiI/AAAAAAAABJI/7zH41HZSW78/s1600/420377_2676247514407_631149890_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lkeFklAZnyI/UxEjutb7qiI/AAAAAAAABJI/7zH41HZSW78/s1600/420377_2676247514407_631149890_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The judge who granted our adoption holding Julia - February 28, 2012</td></tr>
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Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-86580624317636154992014-02-27T20:01:00.000-08:002014-02-27T20:01:56.993-08:00Eleven Months!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hannes has been home for 11 months now...</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lxA7I41XEbw/Uw_4NlrkDUI/AAAAAAAABIw/k7sVxyssl4k/s1600/photo-232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lxA7I41XEbw/Uw_4NlrkDUI/AAAAAAAABIw/k7sVxyssl4k/s1600/photo-232.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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Last year at this time we were still waiting for our court date. </div>
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We had met him on February 13</div>
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and we visited him </div>
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every day, </div>
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twice a day...</div>
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We were getting to know him</div>
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it was amazing </div>
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and fun</div>
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and hard,</div>
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very hard. </div>
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We weren't his parents yet</div>
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but we were going to be his parents</div>
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and that in-between was </div>
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fun and difficult.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yWl1n1zxf7U/Uw_4F6f5yLI/AAAAAAAABIg/vFXh41FVCyA/s1600/photo-233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yWl1n1zxf7U/Uw_4F6f5yLI/AAAAAAAABIg/vFXh41FVCyA/s1600/photo-233.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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And now, nearly a year has gone by...</div>
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He is blooming!</div>
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He seems to have exploded in his learning this last month.</div>
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He is playing much more purposefully with his toys</div>
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He recently began sitting still for a time</div>
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(we actually finished a meal at a restaurant!!) </div>
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He has learned that cuddles are nice and will come to get cuddles now</div>
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He gives hugs and kisses - in response to a request and a few times he has initiated it!</div>
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He will come when we call him (so he knows his name)</div>
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He will stop what he's doing if we say no</div>
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(well, he is 2, so most times he will listen)</div>
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He is beginning to prefer us to others</div>
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He interacts with his brother and sister - entering into their play</div>
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He has learned slowly, but steadily over the past 11 months</div>
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and we are so in love with him...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like Father, Like Son... </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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In one month, he will have been home for a year! </div>
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<br />What a year it has been...</div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-8654894913981561792014-02-11T10:40:00.000-08:002014-02-11T10:40:00.301-08:00Today and a year ago today....<div style="text-align: center;">
Today</div>
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we sit in the surgery waiting room</div>
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looking at our beautiful son as we wait</div>
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to fix the last of his congenital birth defects.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kaTNb00Z6_E/Uvpt40Zz3dI/AAAAAAAABHo/jsF0AwORKys/s1600/hannes+surgery+feb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kaTNb00Z6_E/Uvpt40Zz3dI/AAAAAAAABHo/jsF0AwORKys/s1600/hannes+surgery+feb.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
One year ago today</div>
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we were in Kiev, Ukraine</div>
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at the government office of adoptions.</div>
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We were officially matched with Hannes</div>
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we saw his file</div>
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heard his history</div>
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and got a list of his diagnosis's.</div>
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We were given official permission to visit him</div>
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and decide if we wanted to adopt him.</div>
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Today was the beginning of our journey </div>
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of love and new life</div>
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together.</div>
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</div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-61370718347972143502014-02-09T19:40:00.000-08:002014-02-09T19:40:22.465-08:00Take Two...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uzJ-Vj0MjaY/UvhHFzFT6cI/AAAAAAAABHQ/8lvlhk5JRXk/s1600/photo-225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uzJ-Vj0MjaY/UvhHFzFT6cI/AAAAAAAABHQ/8lvlhk5JRXk/s1600/photo-225.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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Sorta blurry, I know </div>
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but he's always moving around!</div>
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This little guy</div>
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is a bundle of </div>
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energy!</div>
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He goes non-stop from the moment</div>
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he gets up to the moment</div>
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he goes to bed...</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_zLYt70qLY/UvhG_ARU9XI/AAAAAAAABHE/HkXLJsdvlRE/s1600/photo-227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_zLYt70qLY/UvhG_ARU9XI/AAAAAAAABHE/HkXLJsdvlRE/s1600/photo-227.jpg" height="320" width="261" /></a></div>
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He loves life!</div>
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We love him!</div>
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We ask for your prayers again...</div>
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Hannes will be going into surgery again </div>
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on Tuesday</div>
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to repair a urological congenital birth defect.</div>
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This is the same surgery we attempted the week of Thanksgiving.</div>
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That surgery was halted</div>
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and we did some follow up testing.</div>
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Everything came back good</div>
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so we are going back</div>
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to do this again. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uD2HFJfH0MY/UvhHCEcpm9I/AAAAAAAABHM/L4q1iKjaZKc/s1600/photo-226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uD2HFJfH0MY/UvhHCEcpm9I/AAAAAAAABHM/L4q1iKjaZKc/s1600/photo-226.jpg" height="320" width="231" /></a></div>
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We will keep you posted!</div>
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Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-73255872630940164162014-01-27T21:50:00.000-08:002014-01-27T22:03:12.405-08:0010 months home!<div style="text-align: center;">
Today marks 10 months home </div>
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for Hannes!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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He has grown and changed...</div>
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grown in wisdom</div>
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and in stature</div>
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grown in our hearts</div>
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grown into a little boy who is</div>
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full of spunk</div>
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excited by life</div>
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loving the freedom to run</div>
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and play</div>
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he giggles and wiggles</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and has found his voice<br />
<br />
and his place - <br />
a precious and loved<br />
member of a family... </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vAj-ETc71Bo/UudEumqtJlI/AAAAAAAABGI/GN8eCDp6i2s/s1600/IMG_9423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vAj-ETc71Bo/UudEumqtJlI/AAAAAAAABGI/GN8eCDp6i2s/s1600/IMG_9423.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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He is a delight!</div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-78607435048341401882013-12-26T13:52:00.001-08:002013-12-26T13:53:18.387-08:00Amazing Grace...<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound<br />
That saved a wretch like me.<br />
I once was lost, but now am found,<br />
Was blind, but now I see.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Amazing... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the grace He gives...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the grace we need...</div>
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<br />
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given freely</div>
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to us...</div>
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<br /></div>
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and in return...</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
we can give grace </div>
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to others...</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
grace bringing joy...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
found in an unlikely place</div>
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with unlikely people</div>
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bringing unlikely news...</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we can celebrate...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
our joy overflows...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to Him</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to each other...</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fIzUZBgdbqA/Uryf6QTIZkI/AAAAAAAABDs/qfCHtBV49GU/s1600/IMG_9406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fIzUZBgdbqA/Uryf6QTIZkI/AAAAAAAABDs/qfCHtBV49GU/s320/IMG_9406.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Celebrating Him...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and the gifts He has given us... </div>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yaHPe53-TrY/UrygFzaNgHI/AAAAAAAABD8/O0En4M5FX2E/s1600/IMG_9373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yaHPe53-TrY/UrygFzaNgHI/AAAAAAAABD8/O0En4M5FX2E/s320/IMG_9373.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mWdCTaB72gs/UrygMcwBnMI/AAAAAAAABEE/JeSl2ALPrRk/s1600/IMG_9362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mWdCTaB72gs/UrygMcwBnMI/AAAAAAAABEE/JeSl2ALPrRk/s320/IMG_9362.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
gifts of love...</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sgahJDMKzzc/Uryh-p57QzI/AAAAAAAABEY/3p2I_estOQA/s1600/photo-200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sgahJDMKzzc/Uryh-p57QzI/AAAAAAAABEY/3p2I_estOQA/s320/photo-200.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
gifts of calm...</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MaH0OVv_l-Y/UryiJqHJhQI/AAAAAAAABEg/Ah_TlPxB-Pw/s1600/bouncyhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MaH0OVv_l-Y/UryiJqHJhQI/AAAAAAAABEg/Ah_TlPxB-Pw/s320/bouncyhouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
gifts of fun...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bFGNjGRfC5w/UryiY0VmOdI/AAAAAAAABEo/Ed5sxLeiYUI/s1600/julia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bFGNjGRfC5w/UryiY0VmOdI/AAAAAAAABEo/Ed5sxLeiYUI/s320/julia.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
gifts of beauty...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ED2Nxdysmjs/UryirGyG7XI/AAAAAAAABEw/7ok_svQBXzE/s1600/photo-197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ED2Nxdysmjs/UryirGyG7XI/AAAAAAAABEw/7ok_svQBXzE/s320/photo-197.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
gifts of new things bursting forth in a life...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2gLaad92VqI/UryjhuRyY-I/AAAAAAAABFA/J56t200_y2A/s1600/IMG_9384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2gLaad92VqI/UryjhuRyY-I/AAAAAAAABFA/J56t200_y2A/s320/IMG_9384.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
gifts of surprise...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We celebrate the amazing grace in our lives</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
once we were lost</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but now we are found... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
once we were blind</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but now we see...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we see what is most important of all...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gkR-KSp5KPI/UrykMzXa-mI/AAAAAAAABFI/3Lar4kd-tT8/s1600/photo-195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gkR-KSp5KPI/UrykMzXa-mI/AAAAAAAABFI/3Lar4kd-tT8/s320/photo-195.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He came...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He came for us...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and none of us are the same...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Amazing Grace.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Merry Christmas from our hearts </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to yours...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-42720427481605017852013-12-14T10:37:00.001-08:002013-12-14T10:50:30.200-08:00Eight and a half months home...<div style="text-align: center;">
We have come so far...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
since we left the orphanage</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
eight and a half months ago... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7BrlS2wu6yk/Uqym7nTGdeI/AAAAAAAABCk/EJJKO8MERII/s1600/Hannes+standing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7BrlS2wu6yk/Uqym7nTGdeI/AAAAAAAABCk/EJJKO8MERII/s320/Hannes+standing.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in 8 1/2 months...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He is growing, and changing,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0pOWmLQUTD0/Uqylo93UcbI/AAAAAAAABCM/nHxhG-hrBFA/s1600/photo-197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0pOWmLQUTD0/Uqylo93UcbI/AAAAAAAABCM/nHxhG-hrBFA/s320/photo-197.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and learning, and healing...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrmZBR6cxqg/Uqyll2kzmPI/AAAAAAAABCE/JTjcK4Sd_sw/s1600/photo-199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrmZBR6cxqg/Uqyll2kzmPI/AAAAAAAABCE/JTjcK4Sd_sw/s320/photo-199.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We are blessed beyond measure </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in the easy and in the hard...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nI__EZBqXLw/UqymJLMjBxI/AAAAAAAABCQ/uVbuf0RxuRM/s1600/photo-196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nI__EZBqXLw/UqymJLMjBxI/AAAAAAAABCQ/uVbuf0RxuRM/s320/photo-196.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He is our Christmas gift this year...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-52681828232133688632013-12-14T10:36:00.002-08:002013-12-14T10:36:42.221-08:00No surgery...<div style="text-align: center;">
Hannes went in to surgery,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but the surgeon halted the surgery</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and we need further tests and </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to consult with another doctor.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We have currently done some of the testing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and met with the consultant doctor.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And we are waiting for results.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please pray with us that the results of the </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
testing would be clear and give us a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
definitive way forward.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thank you!</div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-46276240695899374342013-11-20T17:42:00.001-08:002013-11-20T17:42:55.811-08:00Pre Op<div style="text-align: center;">
Hannes needs a urological surgery</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so we had our pre op visit </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
at Children's Hospital...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it went well, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with cute exam tables...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yq-QBfwCzmk/Uo1kNKDyKtI/AAAAAAAABAo/SpWhn7Qv2lU/s1600/photo-186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yq-QBfwCzmk/Uo1kNKDyKtI/AAAAAAAABAo/SpWhn7Qv2lU/s320/photo-186.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and the garden was decorated for Christmas...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lqfm7BIdX0M/Uo1ke1rAnWI/AAAAAAAABAw/N6Vf_MVSFGU/s1600/photo-192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lqfm7BIdX0M/Uo1ke1rAnWI/AAAAAAAABAw/N6Vf_MVSFGU/s320/photo-192.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qxzXrw4GSx8/Uo1kkKIi-nI/AAAAAAAABA8/rA6KM5RS0fo/s1600/photo-191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qxzXrw4GSx8/Uo1kkKIi-nI/AAAAAAAABA8/rA6KM5RS0fo/s320/photo-191.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C35BjmAbYdg/Uo1klmaUtoI/AAAAAAAABBA/OFlZGhjgV2A/s1600/photo-190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C35BjmAbYdg/Uo1klmaUtoI/AAAAAAAABBA/OFlZGhjgV2A/s320/photo-190.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please keep Hannes's surgery in your</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
prayers for next Tuesday...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-7539399195665431732013-11-06T22:46:00.001-08:002013-11-06T22:46:05.903-08:00Hannes's Adoption Video at OneTrueMedia.com<div><embed src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=128dd872df2dc5465f799b4"quality="high" scale="noscale" width="408" height="382" wmode="transparent" name="FLVPlayer" salign="LT" flashvars="&p=128dd872df2dc5465f799b4&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="margin:0px;font:12px/13px verdana,arial,sans-serif;line-height:20px;padding-bottom:15px;width:408px;text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt5" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;">Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!<br/><span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.onetruemedia.com</span></a></div></div>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-72494719731973844972013-11-03T11:17:00.000-08:002013-11-03T11:17:37.953-08:00Orphan Sunday<div style="text-align: center;">
Today is Orphan Sunday.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A Sunday set aside to think and talk about the Orphan.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It is estimated that there are 147 million children</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who are currently not being raised in a family</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of their own.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Maybe their parents are dead.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Maybe their parents have abandoned them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Maybe their parents have had them removed from their care.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But no matter how they arrived at the situation they are in,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
they currently are NOT in a permanent family.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Maybe they are in foster care.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Maybe they are in an orphanage.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Maybe they are living on the streets.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But each one matters to God.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And He has commanded His church to care for them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The widow and the orphans.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
147 million is a big number.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But each one of the children</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that each one of those numbers represents </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
have faces...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A face like Julia...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pcWtZT2a0go/UnaZ1jH8d6I/AAAAAAAAA_A/AQLNqRNtZoY/s1600/julia2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pcWtZT2a0go/UnaZ1jH8d6I/AAAAAAAAA_A/AQLNqRNtZoY/s320/julia2.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who was living in an orphanage.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A good one, but there was no one person to whom she belonged.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No one to listen to her fears, to tell her hopes and dreams to.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She had never had even a single visitor. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No one had ever come to see her.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UgSQFFXAJi4/Unaa9NZQROI/AAAAAAAAA_U/AQCyk8Dr18A/s1600/julie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UgSQFFXAJi4/Unaa9NZQROI/AAAAAAAAA_U/AQCyk8Dr18A/s200/julie.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And now she lives in a family who loves her.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She is full of joy!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eTgrK_ryWI8/UnaVXwe4cXI/AAAAAAAAA-o/qYnyn9s7Hjo/s1600/IMG_8671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eTgrK_ryWI8/UnaVXwe4cXI/AAAAAAAAA-o/qYnyn9s7Hjo/s320/IMG_8671.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Or a face like Hannes...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EhWdre1VEA8/UnaaYThcGeI/AAAAAAAAA_I/BLxgqVbk4Ms/s1600/Hannes+standing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EhWdre1VEA8/UnaaYThcGeI/AAAAAAAAA_I/BLxgqVbk4Ms/s320/Hannes+standing.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He was living in an orphanage...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
one in a difficult country</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
doing the best they could with the little they had...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He spent much of his life in a crib, this crib - one of several in the room...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K8sTgrBzXEI/UnaWspT8znI/AAAAAAAAA-0/_r2BKxDS_AU/s1600/IMG_4478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K8sTgrBzXEI/UnaWspT8znI/AAAAAAAAA-0/_r2BKxDS_AU/s320/IMG_4478.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And his record shows that he never had a single visitor.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No one ever came to see him. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But now...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d37ckIoTrfk/UnaWO_RshfI/AAAAAAAAA-w/A32smtqUyTk/s1600/DSCN0166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d37ckIoTrfk/UnaWO_RshfI/AAAAAAAAA-w/A32smtqUyTk/s320/DSCN0166.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
...now he has received the medical care he needed </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
and he is thriving in his family.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But these are just two of so many...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That we saw in just two of the many orphanages around the world...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We have seen them...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We have held them in our laps...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We have kissed their cheeks...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We have whispered love in their ears...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and then we left...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and they are still there... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And that really hurts my heart...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/64317/charlie-and-lola" target="_blank">Charlie and Lola</a> </div>
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We spent every day of 6 weeks with these two...</div>
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loving them,</div>
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smiling with them,</div>
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playing with them,</div>
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and then we left</div>
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and Lola cried.</div>
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I still hear her cry in my heart...</div>
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It isn't easy</div>
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It's costly</div>
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in more ways than just financial</div>
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Broken children are broken </div>
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and they hurt</div>
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and they carry that hurt inside them</div>
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because they are supposed to be loved</div>
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and they know that...</div>
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God knows that...</div>
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and He has told the church that they are to care</div>
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for widows and orphans</div>
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two groups of people that are </div>
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so vulnerable.</div>
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There is much you can do...</div>
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adopt</div>
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foster</div>
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give time to a foster child</div>
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give to a family who is fostering (high chair, carseat, clothes, treats)</div>
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give generously to an organization who directly works with an orphanage</div>
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sponsor a child</div>
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give to a family who is adopting</div>
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pray for the children and the families..</div>
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It is big</div>
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It is hard</div>
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But oh the joy!! </div>
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The joy that they bring!!</div>
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Let this Orphan Sunday be the day that you do something for an Orphan...</div>
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Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-2374346898632321032013-10-19T19:24:00.000-07:002013-10-19T19:24:13.967-07:00American Heritage Girls<div style="text-align: center;">
Julia has joined a girls club</div>
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somewhat like Girl Scouts</div>
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with a faith perspective</div>
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Recently she had her "joining" ceremony...</div>
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She has been having so much fun</div>
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in her very own "Girls Club".</div>
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Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406220778097914744.post-46672224540482797812013-10-16T23:16:00.000-07:002013-10-16T23:16:02.602-07:00My heart is full...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Can I just say</div>
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that my heart is full???</div>
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I love my family!!</div>
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Life is always busy</div>
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and sometimes difficult...</div>
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But when I look </div>
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at photos of the past month...</div>
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my heart is full of </div>
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joy</div>
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and </div>
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I am so thankful.</div>
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I really love </div>
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each and every one of my kids...</div>
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each one unique </div>
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and wonderfully and fearfully created...</div>
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and we all join together to create</div>
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this family that God has knit together</div>
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and given to me.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0kLISW8jLOc/Ul95Mjd6POI/AAAAAAAAA7A/NyVNRxGnNkI/s1600/natedi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0kLISW8jLOc/Ul95Mjd6POI/AAAAAAAAA7A/NyVNRxGnNkI/s320/natedi.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My firstborn, Nate and his girlfriend, Dianna.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wp0rp1uZemo/Ul96PJWmGtI/AAAAAAAAA8g/YK8ocLcwOW8/s1600/IMG_8607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wp0rp1uZemo/Ul96PJWmGtI/AAAAAAAAA8g/YK8ocLcwOW8/s320/IMG_8607.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My beautiful daughter Lydia and her husband Jason.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YptstiooyzE/Ul96BTgalTI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/uWDzf-kyVt8/s1600/IMG_8672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YptstiooyzE/Ul96BTgalTI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/uWDzf-kyVt8/s320/IMG_8672.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our third child, tenderhearted Jacob.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oFu7yo-y-Sg/Ul96b5cZ8PI/AAAAAAAAA8w/tO-TXPX7N00/s1600/IMG_8665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oFu7yo-y-Sg/Ul96b5cZ8PI/AAAAAAAAA8w/tO-TXPX7N00/s320/IMG_8665.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our fourth child, our Zulu princess Julia.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O6vJZZaQRG8/Ul96KuBC97I/AAAAAAAAA8Y/NxGtSmaSot8/s1600/IMG_8583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O6vJZZaQRG8/Ul96KuBC97I/AAAAAAAAA8Y/NxGtSmaSot8/s320/IMG_8583.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our fifth child, Hannes, whose name means God is Gracious - and that He is.</td></tr>
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Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13512365119831254389noreply@blogger.com0