For those who have been praying hard 4 us, Jesus is faithful! Today we had no big meltdowns!! A first since we have been with the kids! Woohoo! Such a blessing after a night of minimal sleep. ☺ the kids love to be outside and are having fun playing with all their toys. Had sweet moments playing barbies with E, laughing over Shaun the Sheep video, having coffee on porch w j this am while kids jumped on trampoline at 7 am in their pjs!, and eating on the outside porch for lunch. Prayer requests: #1 ME continues to wake every hour w fear in the night and at naptime. #2 Sleep for whole night. #3 Joshua not to disengage now that we r home. #4 That j & I would bond to the kids (we would feel like they are ours and not just taking care of them). #5 j as he touches base w business contacts and begins to pursue investors again. #6 effective parenting strategies

Walking off elevator to friends and family

Funny story: think kids r impressed w my cooking here so far! In Peru, r stoves didn't work all the time and the ovens not at all. Food was half cooked or burned. There were no measuring cups/spoons so I guessed and was often wrong! Ha! So when the fried eggs were good for breakfast, E raised her eyebrows and nodded at me! Haha! We had chicken flat as for the big lunch meal and they had about 4 each and kept saying how good it was! Heehee! Think in Peru they were dismayed their new mom couldn't cook! 😉😄

At airport

Was so good to see friends and family at the airport!! We were exhausted but so happy 2 b home. The kids love the house and all their toys; they tore thru everything! Haha! Nighttime was not good. Most screaming and up a good part of the night. It was rough. Today the weather is amazing and the kids are playing outside on the trampoline, the sandbox, playhouse and having a great time. We r enjoying being outside too and relaxing a bit!

We're back! We had a safe trip yesterday and everything went smooth in Immigration. Here is a photo of us after immigration in Houston.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are on our way! Through several miracles and persistence we received the visas for the kids late today! We are sitting at the gate in Lima waiting on our flight to Houston! We will be back in Denver at 1:05 pm tomorrow!

Please join us in praising God for his grace, love and favor today. Without that we certainly would still be in Lima. And a special thanks to my mom who long ago taught me to be persistent because "all they can do is say 'no'!" Today they said no several times, but even so we kept knocking at the door until we got a yes! Praise God!

Please also pray for a safe and sleepy flight to Houston for the kids. And then on to Denver tomorrow. Our trip is almost over...but our journey is really just beginning. We are humbled and honored to partner with Jesus in the destinies of all 5 of our children!

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him." (Romans 15: 13) As you trust in Him...thinking about that phrase as I am in desperation for joy, for hope and peace in the midst of orphan spirit. Struggling to not get sucked into my own issues of abandonmt & anger. Searching & seeking for His face in the stare of hostile eyes, untrusting eyes. And I see myself there. Not trusting Him that this path is the best for us. Deperate to be grateful: for a husband who let me sleep in extra hours (2 kids up from 2am-4), a dinner with no defiance or screaming, watching the movie Bolt in Spanish as a treat w kids, anticipating going home, playing at a playground, seeing the ocean from r balcony, trying to make a cake in a toaster oven for tomorrow, running to starbucks tonight w jj for one last lucuma creme frap, texting with an amazing friend who has been where we are and has so much wisdom and who poured over me today the oil of jesus, my mom flooding me with verses to hold onto. Yes, as soon as gratitude begins, it overflows and the peace comes! Pls pray extra for us tomorrow to get r visas so we can leave on the 1am flight! Pray for this transition (another one 4 them) to be smooth and joyful (not all r happy to leave peru) and that the kids do well on the flight. We'll be confirming time and day on the blog when we know for sure when we come in. Thank u all❤

We have some exciting news to report: we have booked our air tickets home! We do not yet have the visas for the kids, but we booked the tickets on faith that we will receive them tomorrow at the US Embassy when we meet there at 11am. We know others that have received their visas on the same day and we have been in close contact with the Embassy so we know they are prepared for us.

Nevertheless, please join us in praying for a quick and smooth meeting tomorrow. Once we receive the visas, we'll be back to the apartment for a few hours and then to the airport. Our flight to Houston departs at 12:50 am on Tuesday morning! We go through customs and connect in Houston and then arrive in Denver at 1:05 pm this Tuesday, June 27. Our adoption agent says anyone is welcome to come and greet us and the kids at the airport. We will arrive at the normal arrival place since we already go through customs and immigration in Houston.

Thank you all for your continued partnership with us through prayer! We are so blessed to have some many faithful family and friends! Our adoption agent says our 31 days here is a record. Most families are in Peru for 2 more weeks! We know it is because of your faithfulness and God's grace.

The kids are really struggling today. Defiance, disobedience, hurting each other, hurting us. May be some of the anger phase coming out. We have spoken their true identities over them all day. Reminding them...and us... Who they really are. Wasn't really prepared 4 this level of me hurting, of getting heart hurt. Know it's not about me but their hurting but it's been a challenge today. Another level of what jesus must have felt. It's awful... To want that love and family to flow, to want the best for us, to know we could have so much fun together and be full of joy--and we turned Him away, the wounds on His heart showing on His back and face. I can't imagine...and i weep how I have hurt Him with my control and defiance. I have repented more in Peru than probably in my adult life! And He. Just. Keeps. Loving. Us. Just keeps being vulnerable to us, willing to be close, willing to be hurt again. It takes my breath away. It even challenges me on a level I am not always sure I can reach. I am purposely aligning myself 2 b grateful for this chance to enter into this part of His suffering. To see this different part He is wanting to show us. Please pray for strength & patience & love for these sometimes unloveables. Pray jj has "thick skin" and does not receive heart wounds by their attitude. Pray we can let things go ourselves so as to learn the lessons we need. Pray smoothness over the Embassy meeting and getting visas asap on Monday. Pray for sleep on the flight home (will be 1am in the morning when we take off from Lima) and calmness in the kids and for a smooth transition into our home - it's been hard on them to keep being uprooted over and over again as we switch aptmts. Can I repeat myself and say THANK YOU for responding, praying, encouraging, for saying and showing us we r not alone, for tracking with us so long, for being with us for the long haul & not just in Peru (real wk of bonding starts after we get home). YOU ARE LOVED! YOU HAVE BEEN SO INTEGRAL!❤❤

Sneaking a few!

Now this is a happy sight: Krispy Kreme Donuts!

We have had an exhausting but productive day. Lots of "hurry up and wait" but we have the kids IDs, passports, and I am picking up the medical reports at the doctor in just a minute. All the Spanish-English translations are complete. I have some forms to fill out online this weekend but otherwise we should have everything we need for the visa meeting with the US Embassy on Monday at 11:00am.

That will be our next prayer request is for that meeting to go smooth and quick. We are not allowed to bring anything other than papers with us to the Embassy. No bags, no phones, no DVD player, and nothing else for the kids! Finally, we need to know how long after the meeting to schedule our flight home. The Embassy says we should wait until we have the visa in hand to schedule but we would rather not do that! In any case, our return is getting closer. We are just days away!

We had r 21st anniversary today! Wanted it to be a bit different than it was but the kids had other plans...J is such an incredible man, strong & true & amazing to me. I could never do this without him! A wonderful husband and defender when the kids are nasty to me, thinking of what I need to survive this, going out tonight to grocery shop! A father of integrity and love, one who instructs and who sings praise songs over the kids at night. What a gift he is to me!!❤ we ended up down from the cliffs to throw rocks in the ocean with the kids. They got soaked but were happy and carried lots of rocks home as souvenirs! Ice cream this afternoon did not go so well but that's a whole 'nother story (as they say in the south!). Tonight is the first night in many days the T has not screamed most of the night. Yay! Maybe I can shower! Woohoo! Haha! Thank u again, all, for the amazing comments and encouragemt and prayers pouring r way-- others r encouraged by what u r saying too! I knew it was gonna b hard but was not prepared for the incredible nastiness they aim our way at times. That's been some of the hardest things and those things r what I blogged about letting go, about forgiving, and being careful not to say anything hurtful back in retaliation (taking the high road!). There are again good moments of a hand slipped in mine, of M.E. kissing me on the head and telling T not to disobey, of singing w j over them tonight, of the ocean breeze blowing, of a smile from E, and a thank u from jh for dinner, a kiss from j. I am choosing to focus on the beauty we are building deliberate piece on each slow deliberate piece! Pls pray for quick pprwk tomorrow (passports at 10-11) and dr again at 330. Looks like we may get to come home at the beginning of this next week like maybe Tues but will update you as we know! Love u!

Today has been pretty good! Most of the kids slept in a bit so we actually has quiet coffee! Woohoo! Walked around and played on a playground b4 going to the Embassy doctor. This went well; it was just a long time there and over naptime😕 will return friday to see if the TB skin tests reacted at all. They were not happy about the skin shot! Then dinner & bed. Jj & I were able to go out tonight together and get a few souvenirs and the best brownies ever! Haha! It was so great spending time w him and getting a few treats! Was able to get the peruvian manger scene I wanted and the tshirt jj wanted!☺yay! Prayer request for today: #1 we r being attacked in area of physical safety - kids and us choking, Jh getting kicked in face and nose bleeding from that. E fell bad on playground & hurt arm, kt sliced her entire thumb top to bottom from opening a can, it just goes on and that is just today! #2 that we get the id cards very quickly (need these now in order 2 get passprts, etc and there was a backlog already) #3 i may have some pinkeye type symptoms like j & jj were having earlier in trip and am doing all I can to prevent it #4 good long sleep 4 kids to be rejuvenated

Today was a harrowing experience as we were being questioned by the govmt adoption agency about our practices for discipline, some inconsistancies in the kids stories about living w us, etc. Some of this extra scrutiny stemmed from the recent abuse case with another family in the US that adopted from Peru. However, it took us by surprise as one more delay and attack. The outcome of it all was that we were able to sign and be done with this step! Woohoo, God! Thank u to all who were covering us in prayers! He answered! And in a huge way! Tomorrow is the Embassy dr appmt at noon. Prayer requests: patience, the kids 4 J & I, pprwk to go quickly, continual prayer 4 Joshua to find his place with siblings.

We applied for new ID cards for the kids today with their new names. One more step complete!

We had a good Father's Day yesterday. Kids were pretty good but still adjusting to the new apartment. We took them on a walk where we could see the ocean. Lima is set up on a cliff and that is where our apartment is. We will take a taxi down to the water later in the week.

Today we will start the process of collecting documents needed for them to immigrate to the US. Please pray for favor and quickness in each department that we visit.

Pls also pray we have thick skins. The kids have said hurtful things to all of us including jj. Pray he (and we) can let it go and love them again

The aptmt in Lima is nice! Loving the washer & hot water! We are close to the ocean cliffs and took a walk there yesterday for the kids to see the ocean for the first time. They wanted to play on the beach so we have to figure out how to get down to it from the cliffs! Maybe by taxi....Supposed to meet with the DGA (adoptn gov office) sometime today to sign more papers and tomorrow with the US Embassy to get other pprwk we need for the week. Successfully completed a supermarket run yesterday tho we were the talk of the store w Peruvians following us around to see what we buy! So silly! Met some girls there from Cleveland on medical missions (we were excited 2 hear english! Ha!) Kids are grieving hard for losses, especially E. Yesterday was not good but we survived. Bittersweet to think being in Lima before and how much things have changed in 3 weeks. Please pray all of us continue to live in the present and not yearn for familiar past. Think this will b key as we transition home too.

Praise God! Our flight was great and we landed safe in Lima! Thank you all for praying for us! The kids did great! There were kids crying on the flight but they weren't ours! Thought you would enjoy a photo of all of us before our flight! Since the adoption portion is complete we can start to post some photos. The sun was really bright in our eyes.

Jeffrey here. Not sure if we have said this or not but the children are officially ours now! The final resolution was written on Wednesday! As Kristine said, we now have birth certificates for each child that list us as their parents.

Our "final" stage of the process(and I put that in quotes because there are still many steps!) is to return to Lima to get the docs we need for the kids to immigrate to the US. Our flight is tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon and we would GREATLY appreciate your prayers for the flight to depart as scheduled. Sometimes Peruvian Airlines cancels flights if there are not enough people! We really really really need to be on that flight. The other options are to stay another night in Huancayo and/or a 9 hour drive down curvy mountain roads! We appreciate your agreement in prayer with us about the flight.

Next week will be busy in Lima. We have a government meeting to sign the post adoption documents, a meeting with the US Embassy, a required visit to the doctor for the kids and we have to get new ID cards, then Peruvian passports for the kids. All those lead up to our final visa application with the US Embassy. We are hoping to return to the US around June 27, but we'll know more next week.

We made it! Exhausted. 6 people in backseat of a taxi not fun! But got the certificates! One kid got carsick on way up winding mtn. We had a 45 min delay for construction at the top then got stopped by police checking r records 4 the kids. However, we did get what we needed pprwk wise and had excellent ceviche for lunch! Thank u 4 the prayers today! Tomorrow is T's bday and our afternoon flight to Lima!! Pls pray flt not cancelled (common) and kids r good☺The flight is about 30-45 minuted which is good on everyone. This is their 1st plane trip and E might be difficult. She is still struggling w never going back to orphanage so this will be more of a final thing for her. Was a bit of a pill today in defiance.

Please pray for good Internet connections in order to get the certificates quickly (it's why we r going so early - hoping 4 better connections), for the kids to be calm waiting around (bringing toys and videos), and that we don't forget anything we need to have! Thank u!

Today was more grief and acting out. Kids were up several times last night and so much was stirred up in spirit realm. Packs of dogs growling and barking outside, another band/festival thing, kids crying. Crazy! Had a good few moments w E just holding her and typing my thoughts out on Google Translate telling her we want her & love her and affirming her grief. It was good and for the last few hrs, has been back to her sweet self. She's been quite the devious terror today! Ha! Tomorrow is a crazy day starting at 530am with us leaving to get birth certificates with all 7 of us plus r lawyer & social wkr.

Then said Jesus, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34a KJV I think one of the hard things of parenting is the letting things go when your feelings are hurt. I feel sometimes that "hey, I have rights too! I have feelings too and this process is hard for me too!" It's that Self cropping up, the orphan in me that wants my own way, wants it easy ! Ha! A dear friend last night shared how even Jesus had to walk through the garden and crucifixion. That it's about Him being WITH us, not taking away the hard times. I slip into Him being a genie and want the perfection that we think is promised to us with Jesus but looking at his life in the Bible, it was messy, dirty, primitive, hard, bloody, hurtful. REAL. And so we are living Real! Ha! If I had a glass of Sweet Red, I'd toast all of u who are currently living your Real and encourage u that it's ok to live there, it's not permanent, and Jesus IS extra close if u continually look 4 Him. Sometimes it's just a flash like a laugh or a smile, a quick moment. Other times it's the sweetness of His lingering presence but He's faithful😍

Hello all! I don't even know how to write this post. It has been a day...the kids had a rough day of constant disobedience and ultimately deep grieving for the loss of the orphanage and the familiar. We battled, prayed, declared who they are, worshipped, and loved on them when they let us. It has been exhausting but praying that the plans of the enemy are defeated in the name of the Lord! Sweet moments came from the children we least expected: M.E. asking her brother to obey, T dancing and trying to sing praises & lift her hands with me, T wanting me at bedtime instead of E and keeping a death grip on my hand, speaking over a screaming M.E. at nap and telling her she is wanted. Jj has the pink eye like stuff today and has been a bit miserable. Don't think it's as bad as j had which I am grateful for. Continuing to declare joy over us and know that He who promised is faithful and will complete us in the end. Counting the days until Lima...

Jeffrey here again. We've turned a corner! Our trip is halfway complete! Our health is improving and we are making great strides with the kids. We've had moments of praying over several today very intensely and they have responded well. Please continue to pray for complete healing and no new issues.

Our "empathy" period is complete! We had a good visit this morning with the social worker and she is happy with their progress. She will file her report tomorrow. On the 14th we will get the Final Adoption Resolution, but we still have the "day of waiting" on the 15th. It was explained to us as the "speak now or forever hold your peace" idea at a wedding. You know, because 5 years isn't quite long enough to wait, so they need to add one more day!! ;) Anyway, I think our children will legally be ours on the 16th! That day, we will also race around Huancayo and get new birth certificates for everyone with our names as parents.

Please join us in praying that everything goes smoothly this week and especially the birth certificates. We are booking flights to return to Lima on June 17. Praise God! And I mean that very seriously!

We'll update you on the rest of the process in Lima later. Thanks again to each of you for your incredible prayer support and comments of encouragement on the blog. We truly could not have reached this point without you!

Loved j's post on kids so much wanted to add to it: E-LOVES to help me cook and keeps sneaking the food, is girly (wants hair done, nails done, loves to color & do dot to dot), mischievous, aggravates her brother on purpose! Jh-tough, determined to conquer something whether puzzle or monkeybars, but cries when doesn't get his way. ME-wants to b tough but is needy too, is the protector and organizer of all toys, eats everything in sight, likes to b squeezed and kissed and have her tummy rubbed! T-is a flirt☺,loves to snuggle, won't give in if she wants something, loves to greet others on the street when in my backpack, is obsessed w animals, likes to wear a stuffed animal on her back w material a la Peru. Love all of u!

A miracle tonight. En serio (seruously). The kids all went to bed WITH NO CRYING AT ALL! I can't believe it!!!! Never has happened before! Still can't believe it! Freaking out! Feel we made big leaps today with both young girls. Both spent lots of time in our laps, kissing & hugging and even wanted us & not E when hurt. HUGE! So excited! 😄 Answers to YOUR prayers rt here!! To those covering us today--thank u for all the encouragement! Wasn't able to get the tetanus shot 4 Jh. May try tomorrow tho the time is past to get it. J's eyes are beginning to clear up!
We are about halfway now!! (Woohoo and a happy dance!) Prayer requests: social worker comes tomorrow 930 hopefully 4 last time. Finding a good aptmt for Lima beginning next wkend. Continuing health. For flight to Lima to not b cancelled. Continued bonding.

Can it get crazier? YES! While on the same playground we have been at all week, Jh stepped on a rusty nail that went thru his shoe, sock, and foot. Unbelievable! J and Jh spent 3 hours waiting for a tetanus shot and still have to return tomorrow morning early for it because the person never showed up! J is also struggling with coughing and possibly pink eye symptoms, jj feeling low with slight fever, and me with a cold and trying to run the show! Ha! Friends, pls keep praying! The attack physically has been insane! Kept telling my guys that u r praying and it's seriously getting us thru! I'm forcing myself to record good moments here as my therapy session : pushing the girls on the swings, cooking a peruvian tuna dish for lunch with E, getting a tiny bit of wash done, snuggling w T for awhile this morning, having our kids say hi by video to my amazing and beautiful niece who graduated today (woohoo!), watching r kids try mac and cheese for the first time, coloring princess pages with the girls at the apt while j at hospital, giving them all a good night kiss. And so I give all of U a goodnight kiss and say to YOU that I love you! Te amo!

Celina was pleased w the progress we have made, the rules we've set, and the bonding but still wants to have another session on Monday morning. Thank u for praying. Trusting Jesus was honored in how we acted. Trying to separate the kids into different beds tonight. Celina doesn't want them together. It's going not too well! Ha! What a crazy life! Seems we have prayed more today than ever before and leaning on His strong arms. So so glad we have Him! So so amazed at His wisdom, strength, and purity! Found out there is alot of fear at night, sometimes perpetuated by the kids themselves saying there are things under bed, zombies, etc. Anointed them and broke off fear, replaced w peace and Presence of Jesus. Still planning to leave for Lima on 17th (also T's bday) so far. I will be ecstatic!! Hot showers! Electric stove! Washer!! Maybe even dishwasher! The ocean boardwalk! Chili's! Haha! Just kidding, but yes, there is one overlooking the ocean! ☺pls continue to pray for bonding! And for the upcoming flight around 17th (not cancelled & smooth for kids meaning no screaming)! Love u all! Hope u r sleeping well! Heehee!

Today has been hard. Do I start every post like this?! Ha! Kids wetting bed made everyone up all night. Constantly testing boundaries and if we r going to b consistent. A dear friend gave us a word about worshipping this morning and things coming into alignment and fresh anointing. We spent time watching a Hillsong video. Very much needed 4 our hearts and spirits. Feel we r making progress with Jh. Reminded him that God made him a good and obedient son & that's who he is. This has been a victory as its helped to remind him all day.☺yay! Asking jesus to correct any mistakes we are making with the kids. To help us to die to our emotions and be our front guard. To help us to react out of our spirit and do exactly what jesus would/did. J & i got a few minutes 2 pray these things in the kids room. J and I r still sick but better than yesterday! Thx for all the prayers! Claiming 100%! Social worker next after naps. Praying all will b well. Filling house w declaratns of peace and joy. Continuing 2 break off spirits of past trauma in kids and orphan mentality.

Jeffrey here. Tomorrow is the end of our 2nd week in Peru! We are actually getting reasonable close to half way though! We have so many things to be thankful for: safe flights and no lost luggage. Safe travel around the city. An apartment with a kitchen here in Huancayo. Good bonding with our kids.

There have been many challenges of course but we know they are making us look more like Jesus. Kristine has had some beautiful posts on the difficulties that we have faced. If you haven't read them all I encourage you to go back and do so.

Tonight I want to give a little insight into each of our new children .
E is a girl after my own heart: she loves spicy foods and mayonese on her hamburger! Actually, mayonese on everything but I digress. She is very smart.
Jt is all boy! He enjoys going full blast most of the time and loves to win all the time.
M likes to add some drama to the group and enjoys hanging out with T most of the time. She likes to keep things in order (doors closed that should be closed, etc.)
T has the most beautiful smile and captivating eyes. She likes to carry her stuffed animal on her back like is common in traditional Peruvian culture. She climbs on everything and doesn't seem to have any fear of heights.

Hope you enjoyed these short thoughts! Be blessed and please continue to pray for us. We are really looking forward to getting back to Lima in a week and to an apartment with more modern conveniences!

Update: social worker now at 3:00pm. We'll see how that works...😕

Today went pretty well despite j and I being sick! Pls pray healing in our throats, heads, and strength in our bodies. Went to grocery store today to try and shop for the rest of our time here (still around 9 days or so, so not that close). Littles actually napped (woohoo!) Then wrestling alligators...I mean showers for the kids! Ha! Praying they sleep all night. Social worker coming tomorrow at 10. Just honestly, giving it to jesus. We have bent over backward 4 her and still can't please. It's up 2 jesus now. Thank u 4 continued prayer. Love u all!❤

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18 NIV).

Raw & real...It's funny that when u think u have your life under control, it's when u dont. I thought my quick anger when defied or my flare of frustration in the face of acute disappmt was gone. But have been tested like never b4 & there it is. It must b because we don't feel like we need Jesus. It's all us. But I am pushed to my knees in exhaustion, in anger as I weep behind closed doors, on my knees as I hurt for Jj, for the continued grieving of the kids, for my lack of ability at times to be what I feel like I should be. We are being broken down into tiny pieces, shattered to be rewet and molded into something beautiful if we can just hold on. My mom reminded me that this time will be the hardest and that each day would be better. Pls pray we would love and yes, even cherish this hard time knowing Jesus knows that this was the best for each of us. Pray we will be the most amazing trainees He's ever seen and learn every single lesson He wants, that we would b called Faithful and Lovers of His Kids in the end. Thank u, friends & family, for being His Lifeline to us.

Kids up at 5am. One wet the bed so all were wet. Did wash too and kids helped me hang on line. At park playground this am to wear out. Tried nap with only the 2 littles and worked well. They r tired from playing. Jj is struggling today. We were both crying in the kitchen w the changes. So hard. I miss my time w him & he w me just being together. Promised him we'd made it happen. Crying again telling u. Already he is growing up just these 5 days. Pls pray peace and acceptance with joy over him. J is feeling sick too as well as a few of the kids. We need lots of stamina, health, and sleep tonight. Love u.😍

For those praying about the social worker visit, it went ok I think. She comes back Friday morning to talk w kids (pls pray it is final visit). Today was tough. If we were in a honeymoon period before, it ended. No nap did not help! Really testing us with constant disobedience to see if we will do anything or not. Trying to prioritize whats important & stay strong. Pls pray strength, wisdom to parent, patience, connecting w each kid & meeting their individual needs, continued breaking of unhealthy ties of little ones to E. Thank u 4 continued prayers!

One of r taxi drivers today was an amazing man who spoke a good bit of English (woohoo!) And was so sweet! Was excited about the kids (we don't often get a super positive reception as we cram 7 of us in) and worked in Craig, Colorado! Such a small world! Got to tell him about God when he asked about the kids. It was cool. Got his # and will try to use him more while we r here☺

Wow. Today was one of those wild days! Totally worn out...so much going on with each one. Dr appmt went ok. Kids were really wild there too. Whiney and orphan issues. Brought pb crackers but 2 threw them down and screamed cuz couldn't have whole package. A bit crazy! Haha! Did get meds for M.E. She is on an inhaler thing cuz lungs bad. She did so good for the 1st time! Yay! E has cold and feeling down and others r headed that way. Giving them vitamins, etc to head it off. Please pray for good health!! Also, social worker visits at 9 am tomorrow. Very important that kids r good. Jh had terrible day today so a bit nervous. Good parts: kisses from the little ones, being able to calm little ones when dr saw them, heart to google translate talk w E & J, singing praise songs to kids during naptime & really connecting w M.E. continue to pray for bonding as they are calling us what they did the orphanage workers more often (aunt & uncle). Thank u all! I crave yr advice, prayers, words of encouragement --I jump on every time and devour all your amazing words thank u for yr time to read this and love on us!❤

Grocery store went better than expected! My kids eat like crazy & were so excited to pick out fruit, etc. I did pass by the cookie aisle VERY quickly! We even did showers for most of us! Now, if only I had time to eat or wasn't too tired☺my admiration has skyrocketed 4 those of u who have been doing this!! I do miss speaking in English tho! Yay for Google translate when it works!! Pls pray for wisdom in discipline. Thank u!

Having girls nap in my rm while j with jh. Gonna try to goto grocery store after nap. Wish us luck! Explored our area on foot but ended up carrying most kids. 50+ extra pounds up 4 flights of stairs is no joke! At 11,000 ft! Ha! I will b in the best shape ever if it doesn't kill me 1st!☺

Hello everyone! Missing worship in church! Kids mostly slept better last night- thank u 4 praying!!!!! Only one screamer & shorter time! So thankful 4 travel dvd players! Ha! Going to try a playground again today and maybe grocery shopping. Tomorrow a dr makes a quick visit & signs papers. Tuesday is our first official visit from the social worker. We have to do 2. These r the important ones. Need lots of favor.

Not gonna lie...this is hard & we r exhausted! Pls pray the kids will sleep tonight. Last night hard. Lots of grief not being in orphanage beds. Screaming from being overtired & wanting the familiar. Not napping. We r holding 2 jesus like never before. Declaring, loving, trying to live in patience, praying, singing praise songs to get thru. Pls keep praying! For sleep, for grieving, for strength, health. Joshua is amazing: praying over kids, loving, teasing, calming them even when we cant. Pray for him too! Thank u.😍

Today!

Today is the day that we accepted custody of our new children! It was a bit stressful in the morning with meeting at the orphanage and very little time to ask lots of questions about our future kids!

The parting was bittersweet as there were many tears from the dear workers that have cared for our children as their own for more than 3 years. We found out that most of the workers are actually unpaid volunteers. To think they would extend such high level of care is amazing, especially in such conditions. We also found out that this is possibly the first adoption placement that this orphanage has ever participated in. Hard to see so many other kids who need a forever home and may not get one. Anybody else up for the challenge? 

The going-away party yesterday was beautiful!  Lots of fun, food and dancing. Joshua even led some of the dances! Our kids have many friends that they leave behind to join our family.

Today, we have spent time with the kids playing, going for a walk, eating, and trying to get them to sleep. With a big emphasis on "trying"!  Each day now we build relationship with the kids and consistency in their schedule. We will have 2 visits from the social worker and a doctor next week. 

Thank you all for your notes of encouragement and comments on our blog. We read each one and value them greatly in addition to your prayers!

It was too late for coffee but Joshua talked us into a Frappuccino this evening. Yes there IS a Starbucks in Huancayo!

A specific prayer request for tonight is sleeping all the way thru. This is our last night without extra kids and we have not been sleeping well. Thank u all!

Update

Yesterday was another good day with our new children! Took them to a park and then to lunch(chicken...lots and lots of chicken here!). We continue to build relationship with them and share fun moments together. At lunch, E tapped Kristine on the shoulder with a twinkle in her eye, pointed behind me and told me to "look". Then stole a french fry from my plate! Some jokes work in any language! 

 We grow in our spanish each day and we are teaching the kids some English as well. We are working hard to connect with each child individually as we spend time with all. We appreciate your prayers for that.

Today we are having a going away party at the orphanage so all the kids can celebrate with our 4. Tomorrow we need to sign some paperwork to receive custody of the kids and then we will spend time seeing the orphanage and learning about the kids daily schedules. Then we will take them to the small apartment we have rented and they will be with us from then on!

We will still be in Huancayo for 2 weeks to complete the adoption process. We expect to fly to Lima on June 17 to finish the immigration part of the process. There have been no delays yet, so we are still targeting a return to Denver in late June.