tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9586055112365448802024-03-05T01:44:53.953-08:00The Basten Family Adoption        Adopting two of God's little angels from Liberia<br><br>Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-30707352830952983772008-12-21T21:49:00.000-08:002008-12-21T22:11:41.838-08:00Happy Birthday Grandpa<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvjHEIll_aDqimiPNk1CeaRZhawRZX4QZTvC4yJEc7T0vp-gx-DtRxRQf65O_MatLFeVLPLf1ntZ-_2pCW9TH4ZfO58Tb0DhWGNh6e9ZK6OdPlKgEMyD4NiG4YSeGHHbHgoi_qhx-VWU/s1600-h/Helping+Mom+Make+Cookies.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282492543715182354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvjHEIll_aDqimiPNk1CeaRZhawRZX4QZTvC4yJEc7T0vp-gx-DtRxRQf65O_MatLFeVLPLf1ntZ-_2pCW9TH4ZfO58Tb0DhWGNh6e9ZK6OdPlKgEMyD4NiG4YSeGHHbHgoi_qhx-VWU/s400/Helping+Mom+Make+Cookies.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Helping Mom make cookies</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Today is my father's Birthday - Happy 68th Gramps! Here is a conversation Kim had with Josiah about this very fact.<br />"Why is today Grandpa's Birthday?" Josiah asked.<br />"Because this is the day Grandpa was born." Kim said.<br />"This is the day he was born?" Josiah asked.<br />"Yes" Kim said.<br />"Was he born in a stable?" asked Josiah.<br />Much laughter followed.... just a little Christmas/Birthday confusion.</span> </div><div align="left"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282490557016684930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiXAMksRtNGBN_ciRJmNTlL27gUv26y98GE5Xn_pxEOC9lJ9Vt4nddIMxNf0erSaAXtHYeEt2YBf772YQYyRL2VKiRMepVIONI_rvqmT91NwcjJ-EKAUdPAkoOveQP1phLbXXNwKxu4A/s400/Cutting+Down+the+Christmas+Tree.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span> <span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">Here we are with Grandpa cutting down our Christmas Tree</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282491500941960146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRBeFtZSPkRaKNxY3Z0dNyfH3fIjQuWbdjGtOpnBj-DOCqhTc_ZHNQ7eOp3suYvA7q8xIR7IpQy5U6V8suzrp8mY4u3_xX-QPZ9_UiRqWnrxZAQKoS9VOnqiFrPjsuC0azgr2QsQJr40/s400/Olivia+Cuts+Her+Hair.jpg" border="0" /></span> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Olivia decided to cut her bangs off with a scissors recently</span></p></div>Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-53784686740590954262008-12-16T07:27:00.000-08:002008-12-16T08:11:06.498-08:00Where has all the time gone<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_f4HvAMrBZJfc6e2BxIB_Ivt1pLCslreWc0lxoSW84-QhSOoxaCEG0Rf1Cxav0GwUfJBZ3qVi4l-141x9BU6mNQbqjzXtT3V8KZJ1bb8Wvqe2cDAkrr58WyGv6h8yU1RsvI8J8flkUxQ/s1600-h/PumpkinPicking.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280421090750959058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 384px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_f4HvAMrBZJfc6e2BxIB_Ivt1pLCslreWc0lxoSW84-QhSOoxaCEG0Rf1Cxav0GwUfJBZ3qVi4l-141x9BU6mNQbqjzXtT3V8KZJ1bb8Wvqe2cDAkrr58WyGv6h8yU1RsvI8J8flkUxQ/s400/PumpkinPicking.JPG" border="0" /></a>I can't believe it's been 6 months since my last post... WOW! But I referred to my blog in my Christmas letter, so I thought I'd better get things up to date. So much has happened in that time so I guess I'll just start with today. We sent Olivia in to wake up Josiah for school. Joshia attends preschool Tuesday and Thursday and Olivia M-W-F. So Olivia comes out crying because Josiah wacked her. Oh so typical in the Basten household. So I dropped Josiah off before I went to work, and as we typically do, we race from the van to the front door of school and Josiah won - again! So Josiah took off his coat and gloves and one of the little boys from his class came out and said "hi" to Josiah, and grabbed his hand, and the two of them walked back into class holding hands as I walked away saying "I love you". He has come so far.<br /><br />Both of them have adjusted to the point where we can leave them with babysitters or they can go by Grandma and Grandpas by themselves and there's no trauma in our separation. Gabriella has progressed to where she can be comforted by anyone in the family rather than being Kim's little shadow. It's been an amazing year. Last year at this time, we were just coming to terms with not being able to bring them home in 2007. I can't even remember what our quiet house used to be like :). But we wouldn't want it any other way. Just so very thankful to be where we are... Til next time.<br /><br /><br /><div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280413264063478866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7X_CiV70RUkMjxSaZNk75oRj_Amb1Ijj5gulOyIzr4Ok28Uu0tLSQG061JJ2NtsLhBWzef1aRfjYFN65f37pZ-w4LeztSoTXzDp4n5xp64JDSf34OntBrmYa7Ubb_aniZKwGlMUiUhs/s400/Gabriella+and+Josiah+-+Halloween.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Enjoy this picture of Josiah and Gabriella dressed up for Halloween</span></p></div>Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-36479203752469386612008-06-26T19:59:00.000-07:002008-06-26T21:48:44.410-07:00Summer Fun (Finally...)<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We took a trip to Minneapolis St Paul Int'l Airport yesterday to welcome home Teddy Redman to America. Julie was in Liberia back in March in hopes of picking up Teddy while I was picking up Gabriella and our friendship grew from our time together there. Kim and Julie were friends before I went to Liberia, but Liberia was the first time I met her. She showed me the ropes in Liberia and helped me see more of Liberia than I would have on my own. Since that trip we visited with them in Stratford when Hamilton was up, and so i've gotten to know Scott as well and the rest of the family. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Anyways, after many, many setbacks, they were finally able to bring Teddy home yesterday. We were so excited for them, that we just had make the trip to Minnesota and celebrate - and we were so glad we did. Another couple, the Joyces, met at the airport too. We met Mike and Pat Joyce in Brussels on our way to get Josiah. Unfortunately our trip was cut short that time and we never really got to know them as well as we had liked. We also never got to see their beautiful children. So they were kind and generous and invited us all back to their home for some pizza. Their son Kevin is 3 and was in the same orphanage as Josiah. So it was so sweet to see their reunion and how excited they were to see each other. They were wrestling and hugging and having a blast. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Tomorrow is Joshua's 12th Birthday, so he had a friend spend the day and the weather was finally nice (87 and mostly sunny) so we took advantage of it and got the jetskis out for the first time this year. So Josiah and Gabriella expierence their first jetski ride. We had a lot of fun, and the water felt great. But the fact that Joshua is 12, means Kim and I are definitely getting old. I remember everything about his delivery and early months - each of those precious stages - rolling over, crawling, first tooth, but it seems like it's been a blur since then. But we rejoice in how the Lord has blessed us through Joshua. </span><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hbYh7DYbY2edHkq3mh8a9em2uD1JAtEoFQYdDZ3O-Qe52gw7Pmk5JcNN0KmkWV59luLq9W5C2R1d0yplOr4VP15nFiAhS5u5Ey7lgNpbHBWX05cf8ToK7L7bHmHNsdAYWIwiwz-1MWU/s1600-h/57.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216402090650193666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hbYh7DYbY2edHkq3mh8a9em2uD1JAtEoFQYdDZ3O-Qe52gw7Pmk5JcNN0KmkWV59luLq9W5C2R1d0yplOr4VP15nFiAhS5u5Ey7lgNpbHBWX05cf8ToK7L7bHmHNsdAYWIwiwz-1MWU/s400/57.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Josiah with his buddy Kevin Joyce</span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6MkXGlkUrjuy75YTBIclEzfWeTDuuNA7HykW1Ycmk4c2mL_oogh0MLlE0CENThTixUZ9zcMC5mxVU-e5o19uRwee58YoaqqH5T9QktgRjjPegtx8L2Duyhomu1bJShlYd98HBbsnsWI/s1600-h/55.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216398077011421538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6MkXGlkUrjuy75YTBIclEzfWeTDuuNA7HykW1Ycmk4c2mL_oogh0MLlE0CENThTixUZ9zcMC5mxVU-e5o19uRwee58YoaqqH5T9QktgRjjPegtx8L2Duyhomu1bJShlYd98HBbsnsWI/s400/55.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Action shot of Gabriella and Olivia playing at the Joyces</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vSg9jIVsKQcnwZphM96WVdzvKwFZXNoFfncvCc04hNsVAXNNU9DxX00OjnIgIXMbDmbXa25K6Va3sU9Z0_BgC_nuxwFGc9Sfr1lmVehC5rvKCLmymNTvn34fhtbZJNgEfXcplLTrMnc/s1600-h/56.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216398079416871842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vSg9jIVsKQcnwZphM96WVdzvKwFZXNoFfncvCc04hNsVAXNNU9DxX00OjnIgIXMbDmbXa25K6Va3sU9Z0_BgC_nuxwFGc9Sfr1lmVehC5rvKCLmymNTvn34fhtbZJNgEfXcplLTrMnc/s400/56.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Olivia ready to jetski</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iBnRZzcXPo3L5ifarzUCOQHYf3108ooMh03xHUgGv4xwxDKk3K3ehz_4XkAVo0Q85dcrBr0NX-PBaUFaPUmGT2z945UgcPgiy2pXAMqgNfxMEmgx8DZyz-2zwBF1TBcoXykH1UD2Tps/s1600-h/50.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216397708357149522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iBnRZzcXPo3L5ifarzUCOQHYf3108ooMh03xHUgGv4xwxDKk3K3ehz_4XkAVo0Q85dcrBr0NX-PBaUFaPUmGT2z945UgcPgiy2pXAMqgNfxMEmgx8DZyz-2zwBF1TBcoXykH1UD2Tps/s400/50.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Caleb snuck this one of me working - all work and no play makes dad a crabby patty<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBc0GfLlIn1XbT51295wffwIn8fMQQqgeE-SBbRh9F1zQb41j-x7jlgxTm923NBOD4AKNyToev-pPzJJcvH1-p00hyphenhyphenrRtSEthtNfp4k9SQe9iEwUDfd5ZOMnMxoVYp-j0Y9P7KM55On0k/s1600-h/51.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216397721171855314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBc0GfLlIn1XbT51295wffwIn8fMQQqgeE-SBbRh9F1zQb41j-x7jlgxTm923NBOD4AKNyToev-pPzJJcvH1-p00hyphenhyphenrRtSEthtNfp4k9SQe9iEwUDfd5ZOMnMxoVYp-j0Y9P7KM55On0k/s400/51.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Gabriella has been with us 3 months already - so Kim was getting some post placement pictures</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96gokLO4hveBrV5zzNij3jGEr_bYurbv8m7xCGaZSCuGpbAc57c0B-sVZkmMIF4oiTLOLrZ9H9gqXIBCeFjiszw9j1fwBYi134OQvhoAdUgQ8Ytkd3Ypavkf4LU5_kc5nD4VD5IpSua8/s1600-h/52.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216397729381190130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96gokLO4hveBrV5zzNij3jGEr_bYurbv8m7xCGaZSCuGpbAc57c0B-sVZkmMIF4oiTLOLrZ9H9gqXIBCeFjiszw9j1fwBYi134OQvhoAdUgQ8Ytkd3Ypavkf4LU5_kc5nD4VD5IpSua8/s400/52.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Look at me - I'm swinging</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlEVK0BFMoWWuLNhLTNo1ZES2DP3or4NsAMeEBlmQyYunFqCj48xfnDWgxTO9_uP5y7uFT3cOCYla5GRodVoS-TsVni78rzZzdDjbriTcq6mMDYVSZjfLPektcGKpq5MupB20ErqTaU4/s1600-h/53.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216397738631659250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlEVK0BFMoWWuLNhLTNo1ZES2DP3or4NsAMeEBlmQyYunFqCj48xfnDWgxTO9_uP5y7uFT3cOCYla5GRodVoS-TsVni78rzZzdDjbriTcq6mMDYVSZjfLPektcGKpq5MupB20ErqTaU4/s400/53.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Some of the Redmans, Joyces, and Bastens<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHz8GZgRsaXaciYH5-VlvVjp9fxpUEKD-uLoZw75L_0jTO5SsYYTLkbqK1vbdxW6HkV8RIFRpJypwWZK2WzrX1IAMP0sK1p0DIUYAaV2ogbI8RR8i6J8trZAuyJehPApEReWi-JR6GWok/s1600-h/54.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216397748794118946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHz8GZgRsaXaciYH5-VlvVjp9fxpUEKD-uLoZw75L_0jTO5SsYYTLkbqK1vbdxW6HkV8RIFRpJypwWZK2WzrX1IAMP0sK1p0DIUYAaV2ogbI8RR8i6J8trZAuyJehPApEReWi-JR6GWok/s400/54.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Teddy on the floor in the airport opening some gifts</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVt5RXyPpZOPLXibbFnFdkrFWdwxBmyrhME8nLefVfcHeL0d4cIW4e8dgW96jW8y5hDVyXNCf_qQ3F0TNO70julkTmE_6ahoI3v999CizASSpgf0Cp-agVrCyZfSF4TeomTtXKn8GPmw/s1600-h/45.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216396976204926578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVt5RXyPpZOPLXibbFnFdkrFWdwxBmyrhME8nLefVfcHeL0d4cIW4e8dgW96jW8y5hDVyXNCf_qQ3F0TNO70julkTmE_6ahoI3v999CizASSpgf0Cp-agVrCyZfSF4TeomTtXKn8GPmw/s400/45.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Gabriella enjoying Shawano Lake</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKe0JxfImGtb4XcFByRzyvQALG_voSi3AREMBdF0UBJv3PO6alTJW8wwl2ROv7ou4R9YNQtUQbbzAfqDlMQrjFBn09GVgSXwdX8gHrYbRfXrEHkkByCgxehUdFicfpY2N0oiq1h_1Y_to/s1600-h/46.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216396982436936914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKe0JxfImGtb4XcFByRzyvQALG_voSi3AREMBdF0UBJv3PO6alTJW8wwl2ROv7ou4R9YNQtUQbbzAfqDlMQrjFBn09GVgSXwdX8gHrYbRfXrEHkkByCgxehUdFicfpY2N0oiq1h_1Y_to/s400/46.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ready for a tube ride</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_URd5RQ1Dp5C7GoL5S7zoF499xMKITg5FByfwCuvx-_gUZJGei6Rr1r58u1FvVhxUSb8CK4GG83g_LH8cI3MJDF2roalaHQuWxId1WRnY2E1xMhiWBhCTudpjFnNXvJkUkmY81DXBeQ/s1600-h/47.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216396988371567538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_URd5RQ1Dp5C7GoL5S7zoF499xMKITg5FByfwCuvx-_gUZJGei6Rr1r58u1FvVhxUSb8CK4GG83g_LH8cI3MJDF2roalaHQuWxId1WRnY2E1xMhiWBhCTudpjFnNXvJkUkmY81DXBeQ/s400/47.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Can't wait til I can drive this</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9DXWYSX3oZn10-XNvwVicTaendFQ0vQlJ4c-hrlO4f1eNURlF6a3WROhVxYqkP1hr8a1E7UHtsRBvI5A4f_5b6GhZSKFKGStbKdtAGcm0TvxdC7BRkTlrEkQ4QsJEe6Jmfh4MmwrWQw/s1600-h/48.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216396993478567730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9DXWYSX3oZn10-XNvwVicTaendFQ0vQlJ4c-hrlO4f1eNURlF6a3WROhVxYqkP1hr8a1E7UHtsRBvI5A4f_5b6GhZSKFKGStbKdtAGcm0TvxdC7BRkTlrEkQ4QsJEe6Jmfh4MmwrWQw/s400/48.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Joshua the birthday boy</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAa1R_tm8t8zyLITS8GRR6eFBYN6Uzt4bTDH3X6LOKkA2ELDZi7IUZSQPljAKVgcf9T3FsbWQ8bSUOzVXlK716lw2Ic9XjPcbf7gI_sk0qjuIKz93GklM8qr0zZlyydKhpEZDSeYB0Vc/s1600-h/49.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216396998166746578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAa1R_tm8t8zyLITS8GRR6eFBYN6Uzt4bTDH3X6LOKkA2ELDZi7IUZSQPljAKVgcf9T3FsbWQ8bSUOzVXlK716lw2Ic9XjPcbf7gI_sk0qjuIKz93GklM8qr0zZlyydKhpEZDSeYB0Vc/s400/49.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The 3 youngest playing on the jetski</span><br /><br /><div></div></div></div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwFte6Vw7Wi5Ygn8EF0IOkWeLKXXorz-HQgJ78KfXFk80wgDDTlu6n05pUfLq-r3gyfvATiNZgESZWfEGOr5Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyj-ggWxpEK0J8MY3__ORq3uxO9D6HVbRfh6z6lNhwqSVGYd7pMY1DPUBiIRopzgpt5w3BsSZX2xfyO3p3KoQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-86530876692330984562008-06-23T08:09:00.000-07:002008-06-23T08:54:30.129-07:00It's Officially Summer<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Unfortunately someone forgot to tell the weather. We are still anxiously awaiting a warm day where we can try out the jetskis for the first time. In the meantime, the kids started swimming lessons last week. Josiah loves the water, even though he's usually shivering and the chlorine bleaches his skin. Joshua is in level 5, Elizabeth and Caleb in level 4, Olivia in level 1, and Josiah is in beginner. But they are all doing great. Olivia is definitely the bravest of her age group, and loves jumping off the diving board. Meanwhile Gabriella, forced to watch each day, keeps getting closer and closer to the water. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">This weekend we attended a birthday party with very good friends that have "adopted" us into their family. And the cool part for the kids, is that there were 6 adopted children at the party. 3 sisters from this family have adopted, so their were three from Ethiopia, one from China, and two from Liberia. It was a great time of playing and getting wet.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Julie Redman, who I spent a week with in Liberia, and have visited once since being back, has been back in Liberia for a third time in order to bring Teddy home. It's been a long road for them, so we are anxiously awaiting the news that both of them boarded the plane.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wIL8z5zG1Y1oAl5FSctU1-tjf0rUKPhZSveUUaGxfs4GBAL5FEGhLpDe4OQgaa4XfoV9i_iAfGSqvZBy42HXXeG6-nkfcJYVldxiHSTnGWV4QojuP1T5sSwHhGG3gwi4LCqhgzzYJ4Y/s1600-h/41.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215100432389509170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wIL8z5zG1Y1oAl5FSctU1-tjf0rUKPhZSveUUaGxfs4GBAL5FEGhLpDe4OQgaa4XfoV9i_iAfGSqvZBy42HXXeG6-nkfcJYVldxiHSTnGWV4QojuP1T5sSwHhGG3gwi4LCqhgzzYJ4Y/s400/41.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Gabriella and Caleb</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEu_1TH7MHLMHTgzhCX3iOMTe9YszJGBIvhHdVEYrQVSbgLPjdnOL1cX8w3R9cRbBAyCDCsI_kbm_MYk5SdhXcYlv0vIi4fEMq0OEyRataARaeKgZstdz4jj8JaQ6AP1AgzsqSvjset4/s1600-h/42.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215100435202267730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEu_1TH7MHLMHTgzhCX3iOMTe9YszJGBIvhHdVEYrQVSbgLPjdnOL1cX8w3R9cRbBAyCDCsI_kbm_MYk5SdhXcYlv0vIi4fEMq0OEyRataARaeKgZstdz4jj8JaQ6AP1AgzsqSvjset4/s400/42.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Gabriella being her cute self</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4-wvBthuAiqj0jZL7qA5wTQDEnFRjCIN7Ip-N497kWEdMMx_4z-y6WvwDMt6zA_97vcu-Qze93yB1_Kz6Z4100nRIplLlX36UA2cs5kyWmXcrwz0H9Gr0GG850yuLuKx0W318kHtl7M/s1600-h/43.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215100437849025522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4-wvBthuAiqj0jZL7qA5wTQDEnFRjCIN7Ip-N497kWEdMMx_4z-y6WvwDMt6zA_97vcu-Qze93yB1_Kz6Z4100nRIplLlX36UA2cs5kyWmXcrwz0H9Gr0GG850yuLuKx0W318kHtl7M/s400/43.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Elizabeth and Gabriella snuggling</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgylZYg86_Zh_tPMF-GGqw_fX2N8i9Z5hJ6emmAkNUw5wlhZ-koWGKgoOPHHmNSMOAJR6eZZI_Qt_h0VHr4uChzsjtl5oE8DhtbGWDsg-hhRAh_cGD0JhLyYrv6l4iDxSUHnAUd3Jjuis/s1600-h/44.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215100441163519426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgylZYg86_Zh_tPMF-GGqw_fX2N8i9Z5hJ6emmAkNUw5wlhZ-koWGKgoOPHHmNSMOAJR6eZZI_Qt_h0VHr4uChzsjtl5oE8DhtbGWDsg-hhRAh_cGD0JhLyYrv6l4iDxSUHnAUd3Jjuis/s400/44.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Joshua with his summer hair cut and summer atire.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSh2HpqdnGODaXW7U57B3jxuNEJrkupYujNt5L8LgQjs3Ue1nRGRjP-OEiMmaEHOO6AY_DblJ6apxf1UBLd-L6ZYPBU_AWsco8I4TsIlvlAYvuOj_Tikzf_s7drzGOuEiKZs1ZnSOn-b4/s1600-h/36.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215100087267942930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSh2HpqdnGODaXW7U57B3jxuNEJrkupYujNt5L8LgQjs3Ue1nRGRjP-OEiMmaEHOO6AY_DblJ6apxf1UBLd-L6ZYPBU_AWsco8I4TsIlvlAYvuOj_Tikzf_s7drzGOuEiKZs1ZnSOn-b4/s400/36.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Olivia with Gabriella showing off her braided hair that mom worked so hard on</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9sHU19J-zkw_jPCV96zIUEaFixjNOe5fIIlyoYtUqVUjs8MSJRnO0uzdde-P79K3pX1GpE8ZJIXWT3KzSeZMil0ndwXENN9usbjbM6DCzlmvTppxL64_fyhv4lDLToWNx5AnNj3vWE4/s1600-h/37.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215100096966102578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9sHU19J-zkw_jPCV96zIUEaFixjNOe5fIIlyoYtUqVUjs8MSJRnO0uzdde-P79K3pX1GpE8ZJIXWT3KzSeZMil0ndwXENN9usbjbM6DCzlmvTppxL64_fyhv4lDLToWNx5AnNj3vWE4/s400/37.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Josiah smelling the flowers</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPqlxiKxhUxWD8YPW_53azHnEcn8RXiI4eVkxCFRLd4nCAGVfGNLTGeCDiD-G6ybBNauROGNgMMXLJQ21XkO9emIwAB1EdT_s_TNrPEV5YPKN4gndw8y1pHR-f9h0q29RnPWFZlSclBA/s1600-h/38.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215100100997864514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPqlxiKxhUxWD8YPW_53azHnEcn8RXiI4eVkxCFRLd4nCAGVfGNLTGeCDiD-G6ybBNauROGNgMMXLJQ21XkO9emIwAB1EdT_s_TNrPEV5YPKN4gndw8y1pHR-f9h0q29RnPWFZlSclBA/s400/38.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Helping dad water the flowers</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8Lr7Q5PtuwO5uFglI26HulgH5tQxud2FP_9j2NbU-9nWC4uiAWCXx-1BLi8-_xCsfhWxuUldsOW1tzGRlk25jUWhgJmzgUwm99yZIWB-W9UObGtCzVP-dCKxdwnyB5Lm_G5h9tMr1QQ/s1600-h/39.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215100104980816098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8Lr7Q5PtuwO5uFglI26HulgH5tQxud2FP_9j2NbU-9nWC4uiAWCXx-1BLi8-_xCsfhWxuUldsOW1tzGRlk25jUWhgJmzgUwm99yZIWB-W9UObGtCzVP-dCKxdwnyB5Lm_G5h9tMr1QQ/s400/39.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> What a cutie - I dread those dating years<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gH-XiG9DDGl5rpUCZrTNzx3JSoGMu7a572FGz9dxiFdz1490qCHew7rfY0JYM8uSIv9nYITEWDjiaxnJ08Aus68xr1ndcOf56nhZ82WxoTfQSVa1abVyrKEds0NPCuaz5CTaKbuMerE/s1600-h/40.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215100112640890690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gH-XiG9DDGl5rpUCZrTNzx3JSoGMu7a572FGz9dxiFdz1490qCHew7rfY0JYM8uSIv9nYITEWDjiaxnJ08Aus68xr1ndcOf56nhZ82WxoTfQSVa1abVyrKEds0NPCuaz5CTaKbuMerE/s400/40.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Another hairstyle courtesy of mom</span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxGB3iKh5R04FTc9XyWOaIRD6wIzZkwaQo9PDnS-kCY1BX2kEdrxym2PnJdaWjjTtbxl-cM33bxVn1C5kdVcw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxjYk3wfsnAZxdW62gcj_nIxQbhUs6q0mHMI-t9bXPfW4stcUF1KbwsK2a9rzJ9IZ7ynmRLNXgbsjT_VSIZUw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-33235902183525666012008-06-16T06:03:00.000-07:002008-06-16T06:17:19.595-07:00Hope you had a great Father's Day<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Just wanted to post quick that the local newspaper featured an article in the Sunday paper about our adoption. It was a privilege to share our story and hopefully get others thinking about adoption. If you're interested, you can read the story on-line: </span><a href="http://www.shawanoleader.com/articles/2008/06/15/news/news3.txt"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Basten Family to celebrate Father's Day with two more kids</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. Also here's a couple more pictures of our "cuties".</span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCzvPrC-xfXpcWimqb2mAbtPnQWEfbEDevBf-16dl9uCeLBpd3UcD7Sn0Js5i4jHVtCgpJbXVllU9ZSeO25kWXR2JMnngLBreWASpPTImWrOSIos8xwMZfXUj0RXU6wwJDM28Bb03vxk/s1600-h/31.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212465508740739938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCzvPrC-xfXpcWimqb2mAbtPnQWEfbEDevBf-16dl9uCeLBpd3UcD7Sn0Js5i4jHVtCgpJbXVllU9ZSeO25kWXR2JMnngLBreWASpPTImWrOSIos8xwMZfXUj0RXU6wwJDM28Bb03vxk/s400/31.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">being silly with diapers on our heads</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5APbHDj1xKcImSzPXu5HHY9pl4xEZjFJN4AwGp46AaGQrrUzdygy7pxhFEs6KYcWHFswYi2NjjYdgFlSqlYkwsv2pdj5mm_HSoJ5osBfV_JqdnbDHcBoOOT-rFBrvNDeRZxB7R2jL3Sg/s1600-h/32.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212465524303477330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5APbHDj1xKcImSzPXu5HHY9pl4xEZjFJN4AwGp46AaGQrrUzdygy7pxhFEs6KYcWHFswYi2NjjYdgFlSqlYkwsv2pdj5mm_HSoJ5osBfV_JqdnbDHcBoOOT-rFBrvNDeRZxB7R2jL3Sg/s400/32.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">i know - i'm cute</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifp2qDvKiM6G27QPuyJaXrYpkTvZ-conVL9ocD2kN7y5blt1gkcVf_4kgunwa2GbTB7v0J5WFK7wBk8V0Yz94YwgO49Q_bkP9F6YI2KDtxHS-yXm7tJvHivioHpqdOk5B-O3u69kANPwM/s1600-h/33.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212465546696326802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifp2qDvKiM6G27QPuyJaXrYpkTvZ-conVL9ocD2kN7y5blt1gkcVf_4kgunwa2GbTB7v0J5WFK7wBk8V0Yz94YwgO49Q_bkP9F6YI2KDtxHS-yXm7tJvHivioHpqdOk5B-O3u69kANPwM/s400/33.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Seeing what it would be like to be the "big" sister with one of my cousins</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNw9xvI_adk0M_6QDq7wToAKk79xP8tRPH0Nj0aAX6tPHP4Ora2i8BBTaaagM_EU1vfF-V00T1KQ5KIL3eSQ1MzMysJh5ghmljQaMJW1Tuv51K4f-wffXBs264p00YgR69E0B0pNG9IR0/s1600-h/34.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212465558369672946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNw9xvI_adk0M_6QDq7wToAKk79xP8tRPH0Nj0aAX6tPHP4Ora2i8BBTaaagM_EU1vfF-V00T1KQ5KIL3eSQ1MzMysJh5ghmljQaMJW1Tuv51K4f-wffXBs264p00YgR69E0B0pNG9IR0/s400/34.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Playing with my pony substituting a fireman's hat for a cowboy hat<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2In5cCMhvLgmGZMr5tTcrKbOBjgXU9gAG4ihGRDfuWn5elPT3aaiOxTMThK6hcx8A0wUjttM1BF-gGF107E6sGe6oAVi4MRS6T0Q09TbQT3KYoMXr2nxMbARWp0ct3Vf6_F73SoMItYw/s1600-h/35.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212465560629641698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2In5cCMhvLgmGZMr5tTcrKbOBjgXU9gAG4ihGRDfuWn5elPT3aaiOxTMThK6hcx8A0wUjttM1BF-gGF107E6sGe6oAVi4MRS6T0Q09TbQT3KYoMXr2nxMbARWp0ct3Vf6_F73SoMItYw/s400/35.jpg" border="0" /></a> cute and cuddly in my pajamas</div>Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-50679137878811076272008-06-11T11:37:00.000-07:002008-06-11T12:05:40.727-07:00Introducing for the first time...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHwLJcI5K5DRPFPHPNlYqnPSSmsRXoL6x_DjjQnVF1Q8qWBNMNy0WaN0hb2wM3DVOvnvdbWP_C4s4cUECOoA_v3orKeZTMAdMq-i_lQXPu8zmCLOBmhL9rlXd7hLF5dHkaqSZVlIgMwA/s1600-h/25.jpg"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We were in court this morning to readopt Josiah and Gabriella as our children. So I'd like to introduce to you for the first time <strong>Josiah Thomas Boimah Basten</strong> and <strong>Gabriella Kimberly Basten </strong>as our legal children and citizens of the U.S. My parents joined us in court to witness the proceeding. Then we went out for lunch after to celebrate. </span><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pCppb9gSNlGQeuWvHo93U8rLb4UwwSM7O6-Xmoh2dH8ArZEcjiiKbn57j9-oOx_OO9MsyoJpxfXdwkXyJTYBqSrraWaCO-gUYUb6tELrYRTd8iaQRuyBN-bYpOZCtwkibj212H0vV6s/s1600-h/26.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210697719705556514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pCppb9gSNlGQeuWvHo93U8rLb4UwwSM7O6-Xmoh2dH8ArZEcjiiKbn57j9-oOx_OO9MsyoJpxfXdwkXyJTYBqSrraWaCO-gUYUb6tELrYRTd8iaQRuyBN-bYpOZCtwkibj212H0vV6s/s400/26.jpg" border="0" /></a> With the judge after the court order for their name change.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKAIyK-e0u5eD_80LmmR8Iw0vXqDi0N2YgZJHZxSv_37YhCtwQ_L4rlJ3XZTikQyLJQoUvx2lF6n6l3q_BtkHWBPU57RUNaZNd0YYYMDYNsIuRJcrUhydLG0CljiQMPT6VCDxFa98HaU/s1600-h/27.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210697733314301602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKAIyK-e0u5eD_80LmmR8Iw0vXqDi0N2YgZJHZxSv_37YhCtwQ_L4rlJ3XZTikQyLJQoUvx2lF6n6l3q_BtkHWBPU57RUNaZNd0YYYMDYNsIuRJcrUhydLG0CljiQMPT6VCDxFa98HaU/s400/27.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">With Grandma and Grandpa Basten</span></p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkvZg2iKDLWbWwk-MlxHOFMmcTPEcwcl26651HW984zv3L6miQR5CjgNf0l3pSjHVDANul6oe8ERWBHlstp203-EOO8lKSTkiStoYKUekkJcjeendcDg2OtZLZKpRUp0Mmd27P8-4bz0/s1600-h/28.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210697740557341090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkvZg2iKDLWbWwk-MlxHOFMmcTPEcwcl26651HW984zv3L6miQR5CjgNf0l3pSjHVDANul6oe8ERWBHlstp203-EOO8lKSTkiStoYKUekkJcjeendcDg2OtZLZKpRUp0Mmd27P8-4bz0/s400/28.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a></p>The whole Basten family<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBaSK_Ia2Kl51aYcj1WZaYzON6iOdGvBy8PO6SCRYB9MhyphenhypheniVumjDYu6xZhskcKz4rWQCm35uU9jl6FyAEi2kMtqS1llrsvo9pVeGN5H2otyfDTG5RK_P1ytpsq67CYFFSkU2AHeJ1rOA/s1600-h/29.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210697744195510498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBaSK_Ia2Kl51aYcj1WZaYzON6iOdGvBy8PO6SCRYB9MhyphenhypheniVumjDYu6xZhskcKz4rWQCm35uU9jl6FyAEi2kMtqS1llrsvo9pVeGN5H2otyfDTG5RK_P1ytpsq67CYFFSkU2AHeJ1rOA/s400/29.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This is typical Josiah style - full of energy and moving so much even the camera couldn't catch him still.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcJpySUUsseAaTPI56WN2AlE5Dbdrc3j1eDyRvk6OQI9jFLcNIztv2bkV7lZjJGKdQ0tBkAMJxrWBGK1lXK3fjBdSQPGJDcX2sXN3NTtcnZehhezSVuVGXBfxL-kghGPjFSdFWicI5ag/s1600-h/30.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210697752858100930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcJpySUUsseAaTPI56WN2AlE5Dbdrc3j1eDyRvk6OQI9jFLcNIztv2bkV7lZjJGKdQ0tBkAMJxrWBGK1lXK3fjBdSQPGJDcX2sXN3NTtcnZehhezSVuVGXBfxL-kghGPjFSdFWicI5ag/s400/30.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">With suckers and balloons from Grandma and Grandpa</span>Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-32395701430413062432008-06-08T22:32:00.001-07:002008-06-08T22:56:16.447-07:00Another Post - So SoonNothing new from Basten Family. Summer vacation has officially started. We attended a graduation party on Saturday at a VFW and Josiah learned a valuable life lesson: "Don't throw rocks". He broke a basement window of a neighboring house. So that was exciting for a moment. And we've been trying to help Josiah and Gabriella get rid of Giardiasis - a parasite disease. So they are on their third dose of anti-biotics. And today out of the blue, Gabriella starts crying, and we can't figure out why but discover her pants need to be changed. And it's the first time she's had solid stool since we've had her. And we finally put two and two together that it either hurts coming out or she's afraid because it's different then she's ever experienced. She cryed again spontaeously and again a dirty diaper. We found it a bit humorous, but we rejoiced in solid pooh. Other than that, thought we share some more pictures.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3hd7btYnAXTCXfbsNVEKhJGusERwqU7gbXkf5jOjFgl36gzfLwqeI2j0X46o781ZY0aTeKH2FF5G9e-4IxZ_-g6ujvtLOITO0vnSAU9O47eIU2RylVGOQWNzKR1Hod0svwONaTDCULo/s1600-h/18.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209754073505990290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3hd7btYnAXTCXfbsNVEKhJGusERwqU7gbXkf5jOjFgl36gzfLwqeI2j0X46o781ZY0aTeKH2FF5G9e-4IxZ_-g6ujvtLOITO0vnSAU9O47eIU2RylVGOQWNzKR1Hod0svwONaTDCULo/s400/18.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The girls with their pajamas "hiked up"</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5h6zxFxd1Snjc4siyFp2fBwi-zxZnKg9TXYBSjPWK9ELAABoWZbbs_Yln1O7OK0N7FxIInj5bfov8MOSGHsSvBmuJKVQhptZXUpeNSuThBxE3FZht-ogOgsm5Q3w2imWDmF_38-eoykE/s1600-h/19.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209754092986728866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5h6zxFxd1Snjc4siyFp2fBwi-zxZnKg9TXYBSjPWK9ELAABoWZbbs_Yln1O7OK0N7FxIInj5bfov8MOSGHsSvBmuJKVQhptZXUpeNSuThBxE3FZht-ogOgsm5Q3w2imWDmF_38-eoykE/s400/19.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Olivia and Gabriella fixing their hair</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yw4rN5uyaBbRZGjlYAPPEI5EHlkaAWOaNfBh6MgRp-RVHOOS04kk0desuz0S1tR6t6Nl6t9zS69r6blNdb351WpgpQj9fY5vpjDN_NsolWQwSH_lsyNeDH73DUPClKzWlVZTXWbC5YA/s1600-h/20.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209754100462066738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yw4rN5uyaBbRZGjlYAPPEI5EHlkaAWOaNfBh6MgRp-RVHOOS04kk0desuz0S1tR6t6Nl6t9zS69r6blNdb351WpgpQj9fY5vpjDN_NsolWQwSH_lsyNeDH73DUPClKzWlVZTXWbC5YA/s400/20.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Olivia playing horse with Josiah playing cowboy</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfbrE8egciDhDsVvSHHWAHknWDUq5m4q41IxsCQbs3EqBrGRo7QaTVSR03vwN7Q__EPfELZ87UW2nul5Jj4vFb3ehBkpgExQwqI79NhIQCGBQqTR0LfPB-an1pHgv8TbyINvKeKSa2cs/s1600-h/21.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209753693479935842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfbrE8egciDhDsVvSHHWAHknWDUq5m4q41IxsCQbs3EqBrGRo7QaTVSR03vwN7Q__EPfELZ87UW2nul5Jj4vFb3ehBkpgExQwqI79NhIQCGBQqTR0LfPB-an1pHgv8TbyINvKeKSa2cs/s400/21.jpg" border="0" /></a> Elizabeth showing off her new "do"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHp8KNNS60qUGgNfLURMOhv_DxSjFZO_Nj0z3W3A1uP4I5KJdF8htWQ5HNjiHPi3SnTkVP-8PdBcwlwc_GUuJTBobG67wVrbMYTHLKiXkl0UTtC78QPfZhdfP0lS-tQ6Xa-Za_sHWhQI/s1600-h/22.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209753702791781522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHp8KNNS60qUGgNfLURMOhv_DxSjFZO_Nj0z3W3A1uP4I5KJdF8htWQ5HNjiHPi3SnTkVP-8PdBcwlwc_GUuJTBobG67wVrbMYTHLKiXkl0UTtC78QPfZhdfP0lS-tQ6Xa-Za_sHWhQI/s400/22.jpg" border="0" /></a> Riding a toy 4 wheeler at Aunt Miriam's<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUP26splb2vTld_jsvs-EPUxvHxIUvmcB5KSjPwOHJ3w64MIJh-QxPnUngl0OTr0_K5V1TkEva9oTqLqkYpAOoja3furQWeVfkY2VLlsv-4iibwwWkmOWpf5sQ_HjCvsy_8pSTXp7QkCQ/s1600-h/23.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209753709130355394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUP26splb2vTld_jsvs-EPUxvHxIUvmcB5KSjPwOHJ3w64MIJh-QxPnUngl0OTr0_K5V1TkEva9oTqLqkYpAOoja3furQWeVfkY2VLlsv-4iibwwWkmOWpf5sQ_HjCvsy_8pSTXp7QkCQ/s400/23.jpg" border="0" /></a> Close-up of Josiah<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGQJ5Tv1s6auppMLfnJx6nQufMOPYgsf64vPQeViZr4QwzT_xPOrECEEL8NHt8HBdYRz1j9PvTWkxFSLE6s4FT-6Dvm6C9dhnUEasEyiUDb9-FzDN6ciRnjSbvwsgLWDrLQcGcV47RY0/s1600-h/24.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209753713464778242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGQJ5Tv1s6auppMLfnJx6nQufMOPYgsf64vPQeViZr4QwzT_xPOrECEEL8NHt8HBdYRz1j9PvTWkxFSLE6s4FT-6Dvm6C9dhnUEasEyiUDb9-FzDN6ciRnjSbvwsgLWDrLQcGcV47RY0/s400/24.jpg" border="0" /></a> Being boistrous<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilnK7TKhsh0FqRz7ZmdaznS0LO1_OS-UjKTaFIggXe6YXYsiDdJaYQsHlwdCVy88sk24NgK5oYEirkpA7ylW1-OrACnPF7WaGFTeMfK8pV_s8r1Mw6iwm1ef_bxjhmyO4li_NicX7Ppik/s1600-h/25.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209753723285595058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilnK7TKhsh0FqRz7ZmdaznS0LO1_OS-UjKTaFIggXe6YXYsiDdJaYQsHlwdCVy88sk24NgK5oYEirkpA7ylW1-OrACnPF7WaGFTeMfK8pV_s8r1Mw6iwm1ef_bxjhmyO4li_NicX7Ppik/s400/25.jpg" border="0" /></a> Gabriella sitting in the doll carrier on Olivia's bike<br /><div> </div><br /></div>Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-60122623377833347102008-06-04T19:00:00.000-07:002008-06-04T19:59:39.305-07:00Hello - Anybody Out There?After a 2 month absence, I've finally gotten back to the blog with an update. Things are going very, very well, and we are enjoying our family tremendously. We are extremely blessed and thankful to be at this point. All our children have been adjusting so well to all the changes and the progress of everyone has been amazing. Tomorrow is the last day of school, so come Friday, Kim will be more exhausted, and more in need of a break from the kids. But we have a plan to provide structure and eliminate some of the chaos. The kids will be in swimming lessons for 4 weeks which will help. But things are extremely busy! My business is doing well, which has added to the busy-ness, which is why it's been so difficult to sit down and blog. But my sincerest appologies to those of you who have faithfully checked, only to find the same old post. I'll try to recap the last 2 months briefly in pictures.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAu_m9OBKgRXVpTiM9Rip_uk003x57fZROZ8Qr7-bMUcDx9gwpeNwBF5P8NBzqdp1fzp4I9quS1RD2aQFjeBP1QRmtVZX9dHXQqF-qaHAer0rhTdQOqQpQ04h0imTodwa5g0nNRVJe9SE/s1600-h/01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208223666644733666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAu_m9OBKgRXVpTiM9Rip_uk003x57fZROZ8Qr7-bMUcDx9gwpeNwBF5P8NBzqdp1fzp4I9quS1RD2aQFjeBP1QRmtVZX9dHXQqF-qaHAer0rhTdQOqQpQ04h0imTodwa5g0nNRVJe9SE/s400/01.jpg" border="0" /></a>Showing off our pearly whites</div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQAHwGNVvhvAiWmRKSInIU1hiXKst4JtoYLM02IXgI00KXfJokdX3jlmRPscX1JwKeyZWzNustxbCh8il8QfgZhM91ZglNfdOxeaxdkF6jhNxSg6SeVNkSnIRt71iRll_CZ-0zctr7EQ/s1600-h/02.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208223675468337714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQAHwGNVvhvAiWmRKSInIU1hiXKst4JtoYLM02IXgI00KXfJokdX3jlmRPscX1JwKeyZWzNustxbCh8il8QfgZhM91ZglNfdOxeaxdkF6jhNxSg6SeVNkSnIRt71iRll_CZ-0zctr7EQ/s400/02.jpg" border="0" /></a> Bath time is so much fun!</div><div align="center"><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Jgm2vCOgSG3_6f9Xt2U1zDuJ7_jTxQvUNEXT6GUEi7UfijI7yYeyurIXFXpRqqnfZyT872hS0N32MnJprNjYuzNsFhgiekDmH72rc-eF_JVMHEqfOsgisoH5LmemkatxvVIYpyJpl-g/s1600-h/03.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208223045523595970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Jgm2vCOgSG3_6f9Xt2U1zDuJ7_jTxQvUNEXT6GUEi7UfijI7yYeyurIXFXpRqqnfZyT872hS0N32MnJprNjYuzNsFhgiekDmH72rc-eF_JVMHEqfOsgisoH5LmemkatxvVIYpyJpl-g/s400/03.jpg" border="0" /></a>Sleeping Angel<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUt7k8r9I7mC6BN890TiVPGtpPuEcQDxpY1KnP9Mvb-QJo3FmziJ0sZnuuMHmDhC9Qz4hREKDvWA6hP4iDJbona6Cvm117EY662U5A9oiAPnuHe2_HUvqpRp_L2b3nBzuKLf6RMd7Ne4/s1600-h/04.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208223053306199986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUt7k8r9I7mC6BN890TiVPGtpPuEcQDxpY1KnP9Mvb-QJo3FmziJ0sZnuuMHmDhC9Qz4hREKDvWA6hP4iDJbona6Cvm117EY662U5A9oiAPnuHe2_HUvqpRp_L2b3nBzuKLf6RMd7Ne4/s400/04.jpg" border="0" /></a> Holding hands in our car seats</div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvc2CxfLLbCWXJk_1TV28jXFdHiofTr3a_S2ttQyr5oLZi6sht2YQoNWKMUV0W6ir3txOwBP6q7xCW1mcEwtlomP5Kt9c2S6AevCYVH5H60KLdia9x-hI6LYQOnflMakgVYmfirtGKxS8/s1600-h/05.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208223065429301218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvc2CxfLLbCWXJk_1TV28jXFdHiofTr3a_S2ttQyr5oLZi6sht2YQoNWKMUV0W6ir3txOwBP6q7xCW1mcEwtlomP5Kt9c2S6AevCYVH5H60KLdia9x-hI6LYQOnflMakgVYmfirtGKxS8/s400/05.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG97T3cRZ4SFuab3n0ZPJ7Llo772Fx-iZ2n6DG7rmuu09ipxGzdmGJDWtDoGxvDmY3F-lN0klquCletT39bwIvG1o5yvh8SvjLCzt676Afbzo0L27iAwnNo-1Bv1OWO51UyKcv8fr92NE/s1600-h/06.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208223073512220562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG97T3cRZ4SFuab3n0ZPJ7Llo772Fx-iZ2n6DG7rmuu09ipxGzdmGJDWtDoGxvDmY3F-lN0klquCletT39bwIvG1o5yvh8SvjLCzt676Afbzo0L27iAwnNo-1Bv1OWO51UyKcv8fr92NE/s400/06.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcJwwEbWO-U2ZLSgNXVJmYfUVbJH5_qb5nFVqkFaA1ifTNR-B1SK_aLR64zELmseGGS_OTcGa6Fx7BLk-e69pq4vkAhWR-_caFzWryMZZ4vzfT5wtlw28awEBAssIA9ldwQXbteIds9U/s1600-h/07.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208223083795836402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcJwwEbWO-U2ZLSgNXVJmYfUVbJH5_qb5nFVqkFaA1ifTNR-B1SK_aLR64zELmseGGS_OTcGa6Fx7BLk-e69pq4vkAhWR-_caFzWryMZZ4vzfT5wtlw28awEBAssIA9ldwQXbteIds9U/s400/07.jpg" border="0" /></a>Posing with Grandma Maly<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRmThXf8MU204FwqaQgFSZwXmdn9Wo5f93ZDnDxSMnxGRo7TO-7H4Qt8vEoarhm3P6AzGSDvAthZVF6-pkwlcE_6VNzseGUq8wlmebY9elU9SFAAnJaEDp_yupt7UX2TkUHnzfo-Cl7M/s1600-h/08.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208221347252020338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRmThXf8MU204FwqaQgFSZwXmdn9Wo5f93ZDnDxSMnxGRo7TO-7H4Qt8vEoarhm3P6AzGSDvAthZVF6-pkwlcE_6VNzseGUq8wlmebY9elU9SFAAnJaEDp_yupt7UX2TkUHnzfo-Cl7M/s400/08.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGX1LRshZtXA4XCbnb9BGZpOUvVTOb6pThfsXxlVzNna5MmhgfgBguoDV-OcSdnHsHEBeVu559PJ4fa0zFZloF9K5ZlOZlhtnow5g8u-YipwmZ5HUGc43Gfzt_9kwmZCfD8Lqp2ChsjE/s1600-h/09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208221377455979874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGX1LRshZtXA4XCbnb9BGZpOUvVTOb6pThfsXxlVzNna5MmhgfgBguoDV-OcSdnHsHEBeVu559PJ4fa0zFZloF9K5ZlOZlhtnow5g8u-YipwmZ5HUGc43Gfzt_9kwmZCfD8Lqp2ChsjE/s400/09.jpg" border="0" /></a> The whole Basten Family<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeoqmVPZde8sDkLmoIIJc8GAJbiVJZ3V3wRVVBf4ZEPIKY0EEKdCrPUVq-85eTb-1l_j8iDoLVVcAgaQErPJyW8Z9t2Gm6imZx5kR-GHgKlG5Rq5BkhR0xnTfHfiXiAZHh_imLDSMH34/s1600-h/10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208221399262983970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeoqmVPZde8sDkLmoIIJc8GAJbiVJZ3V3wRVVBf4ZEPIKY0EEKdCrPUVq-85eTb-1l_j8iDoLVVcAgaQErPJyW8Z9t2Gm6imZx5kR-GHgKlG5Rq5BkhR0xnTfHfiXiAZHh_imLDSMH34/s400/10.jpg" border="0" /></a>On the shore of the Wolf River in Shawano watching the migration of Sturgeon</div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKw59xw6CLqpr_YAxhZcAT68CcwSO2tppSKSG8sfuRloiy1bB8QTtFuuDXUZar-Q4tYD0ipjU4roHM8UEZy8yvbX0qv9sW8zGjLgM6l9OnELEWIzqjuP-jFqKNJVYVKxhoQ9vV6sM4wA/s1600-h/11.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208221419011145666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKw59xw6CLqpr_YAxhZcAT68CcwSO2tppSKSG8sfuRloiy1bB8QTtFuuDXUZar-Q4tYD0ipjU4roHM8UEZy8yvbX0qv9sW8zGjLgM6l9OnELEWIzqjuP-jFqKNJVYVKxhoQ9vV6sM4wA/s400/11.jpg" border="0" /></a> Joshua showing off his new glasses</div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXABvcqFvK0aIclwPwHA5HpmXEW-57_Jz64DOTN_ae5QGUoH2YFEEWb9_RnsNgFxYER_4aprnXs2PJu1kAfzqA8Zq2Qrjiz8YqXfrEipEq-1SZ2NgQoznaDlP4sNbInluXbxclFiFcgQA/s1600-h/12.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208221447385037954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXABvcqFvK0aIclwPwHA5HpmXEW-57_Jz64DOTN_ae5QGUoH2YFEEWb9_RnsNgFxYER_4aprnXs2PJu1kAfzqA8Zq2Qrjiz8YqXfrEipEq-1SZ2NgQoznaDlP4sNbInluXbxclFiFcgQA/s400/12.jpg" border="0" /></a>6 kids has made me a little crazy<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6U4Ujwbf38OmKJzgl4EvXu3ceL4BRl5U1SMN45H8olLhra7Bet_SMwmqCe6Y1v2aSPQLOKELkyqMhC-yJEJty19dikKurYr174JlQvX2YK8rL3RtcVdH-b-zuhHAZwmoGBJRvzHPS7Z4/s1600-h/13.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208220625512211906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6U4Ujwbf38OmKJzgl4EvXu3ceL4BRl5U1SMN45H8olLhra7Bet_SMwmqCe6Y1v2aSPQLOKELkyqMhC-yJEJty19dikKurYr174JlQvX2YK8rL3RtcVdH-b-zuhHAZwmoGBJRvzHPS7Z4/s400/13.jpg" border="0" /></a>Love will make you do this<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSaW3wO2HcdyFTz-bE-Mh6BS02cJh-SsnByzdvSDyh4IZsM6A-_E1nSMOD513GgptG9xjABbOhn5A9ksDi1u2IxvufsQHnZwbHGH3_yKyV8LIMl12rd87Rv9SaFVt38bnIQkaxgdTUaM/s1600-h/14.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208220632424435266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSaW3wO2HcdyFTz-bE-Mh6BS02cJh-SsnByzdvSDyh4IZsM6A-_E1nSMOD513GgptG9xjABbOhn5A9ksDi1u2IxvufsQHnZwbHGH3_yKyV8LIMl12rd87Rv9SaFVt38bnIQkaxgdTUaM/s400/14.jpg" border="0" /></a> Posing with our Great Aunt Miriam (Kim's dad's sister) We visited family over Memorial Day weekend in Richland Center in the soutwest part of the state.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4p7jrRGGK3TGU_82D0tmBOgq3hKPPpKg3La0h2C90q7PvGOtsfIjNKn5n-wxdFvjWmIYvKYWVM15MTaKSBV3oxfA2sXaGOvOHnFmwWQDe9TodPX_YJjjzFN1_fTvpsFHzMt828_HMXAE/s1600-h/15.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208220643821802306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4p7jrRGGK3TGU_82D0tmBOgq3hKPPpKg3La0h2C90q7PvGOtsfIjNKn5n-wxdFvjWmIYvKYWVM15MTaKSBV3oxfA2sXaGOvOHnFmwWQDe9TodPX_YJjjzFN1_fTvpsFHzMt828_HMXAE/s400/15.jpg" border="0" /></a>End of School Year field trips meant we visited the NEW Zoo more than once. Here Joshua is feeding one of the giraffes named Hodari</p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbxAC18xV419hre_gmdGm3B4-V6qlBqVXKduBHRW0O5PA5hqkOLBcUeb1JwdXD7M32qRcS9AS9CBtwN3Exlhv_wQXFrQeznk0bgVYMtBRzEjI40uJ88fEGz18TrRvMN2xYjHEtNoc9HM/s1600-h/16.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208220657287051458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbxAC18xV419hre_gmdGm3B4-V6qlBqVXKduBHRW0O5PA5hqkOLBcUeb1JwdXD7M32qRcS9AS9CBtwN3Exlhv_wQXFrQeznk0bgVYMtBRzEjI40uJ88fEGz18TrRvMN2xYjHEtNoc9HM/s400/16.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>The before picture</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSTbZBAm0uczjJLNChjFUQwuMX8u65KfRh3HUMqpOYKw38_wZARtODO-DvsYhlAWSCWPLkp9ZALTfr0ceKVr8_oQft5ba0EeFC42qoNgddY3FLhBPnnL-Otm_ieQhWSFZaVTQ3DHJMTw/s1600-h/17.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208220663719180626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSTbZBAm0uczjJLNChjFUQwuMX8u65KfRh3HUMqpOYKw38_wZARtODO-DvsYhlAWSCWPLkp9ZALTfr0ceKVr8_oQft5ba0EeFC42qoNgddY3FLhBPnnL-Otm_ieQhWSFZaVTQ3DHJMTw/s400/17.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p align="center">Elizabeth got her hair cut so that she could donate her hair to <a href="http://www.locksoflove.org/">Locks of Love</a></p>Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-66254726359748633512008-04-04T14:58:00.001-07:002008-04-05T06:57:28.409-07:00Exhausted<div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I was very afraid of Emma (our dog) the first day. Now I'm not afraid anymore.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TsqL-a_HCE3dKEr37AgESltMu00cdFfMjoqnSvzD2oup2cFUG0ucD4LW24XTx3sCTgBeBIbSYv-klUel65q8mJCXDT73E3ZfLOWpay8xxHSOM4QUKxhTt6EwAr1aIjT5sITEmAsyo3I/s1600-h/DSC01844.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185513893522280546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TsqL-a_HCE3dKEr37AgESltMu00cdFfMjoqnSvzD2oup2cFUG0ucD4LW24XTx3sCTgBeBIbSYv-klUel65q8mJCXDT73E3ZfLOWpay8xxHSOM4QUKxhTt6EwAr1aIjT5sITEmAsyo3I/s400/DSC01844.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">This is my big sister Olivia. She always wants to hold me and pick me up and she doesn't understand that I don't like that "all" the time.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2moOzmH5B0_1BxwAr7iYmXCkLiTftqBzgtPDE0Km7vw3Kr1tCFP2lQegfT_TXvNzGkU60IFnswZmo_uDYxAZ6drrGAPsVnwckqs3ogRG24tZJmbzGnU-kZgu0-Lr5cePYgkrDnHPuAA/s1600-h/DSC01849.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185513803327967314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2moOzmH5B0_1BxwAr7iYmXCkLiTftqBzgtPDE0Km7vw3Kr1tCFP2lQegfT_TXvNzGkU60IFnswZmo_uDYxAZ6drrGAPsVnwckqs3ogRG24tZJmbzGnU-kZgu0-Lr5cePYgkrDnHPuAA/s400/DSC01849.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Joshua, Josiah and Gabriella</span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASlMVo5zTzmsWvOHbOTvlpnIKjy9rKC7aXI9BmRIEcR-EyWT8tavQEocMn1Ens9feYqJXz5Opoc4iHV9Ra-08zIfBSg6A4idNxADRmUFTOUPXa9NuYOCP_3IREsVcRm7yu5Cml_9futI/s1600-h/DSC01876.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185513468320518194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASlMVo5zTzmsWvOHbOTvlpnIKjy9rKC7aXI9BmRIEcR-EyWT8tavQEocMn1Ens9feYqJXz5Opoc4iHV9Ra-08zIfBSg6A4idNxADRmUFTOUPXa9NuYOCP_3IREsVcRm7yu5Cml_9futI/s400/DSC01876.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> Me showing off my "Daddy's Girl" outfit</span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlDmapYMHOESHD50jBjEyd9_SC3ktNj5E5iWJ38pbM1rLCsGIXRf0nWVKCh-HO5ITBaA5h8y1mYYFwj3dkZ5JVIVtVJlXT1PYn4vQo3aLimnTLX0KqoOHoxkkvb-PW61Hkgehj4c4Fts/s1600-h/DSC01872.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185513210622480418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlDmapYMHOESHD50jBjEyd9_SC3ktNj5E5iWJ38pbM1rLCsGIXRf0nWVKCh-HO5ITBaA5h8y1mYYFwj3dkZ5JVIVtVJlXT1PYn4vQo3aLimnTLX0KqoOHoxkkvb-PW61Hkgehj4c4Fts/s400/DSC01872.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="font-family:verdana;">We are quite fashionable</span></span> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-yScCB8HxY3zh4Xgbs2PyyNoJpIYEAGD1d1ZEWDwCpinykITVJOseMFDCWSEO3w6vni9Y7T-LoXtPdZ5xsFp8lWlfI3gMwKoEfnpRSKvLGwSqRIEywlD6ttVujI2xpjQ-UpQHUF87kk/s1600-h/DSC01857.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185513060298625042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-yScCB8HxY3zh4Xgbs2PyyNoJpIYEAGD1d1ZEWDwCpinykITVJOseMFDCWSEO3w6vni9Y7T-LoXtPdZ5xsFp8lWlfI3gMwKoEfnpRSKvLGwSqRIEywlD6ttVujI2xpjQ-UpQHUF87kk/s400/DSC01857.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div align="left">Well it's be a challenging week, but a very rewarding week. I've been very tired and still recovering from the trip and the time difference. After having been gone for 12 days, everyone "needed" me. Throw on top of that the fact the Olivia and Joshua contracted strep throat and Gabriella having an ear infection, and Josiah just getting over the flu, there were even more "needs" then normal. So quite often it was chaotic at our house. I'm sure if you were a fly on the wall you'd be going "these guys are way in over their head". But there has been a lot of laughter amid the tears and unmet needs. Kim's mentally drained by the challenges they present, and tired from the extra laundry and cooking and such. Gabriella is a much more picky eater than Josiah, so she sometimes feels like a short order cook trying to get something she will eat. She's a big rice fan, so we've experimented with much more rice dishes than we ever have in our life. She also likes oatmeal and most hot cereals. So it's not that she's not eating, but she turns her nose up even at cookies and ice cream and all those other treats. So that will take some adjusting. We have her on Soy milk and she likes that, so she's getting plenty of vitamins and all that jazz. Other than that, it's been difficult working full time this week. Only worked about half to 2/3rds time - just trying to meet the demands of our growing family and catching up with the kids. So we are tired - but very, very thankful to be where we are. It seemed like a long and difficult road at times, but we are truly blessed with both Josiah and Gabriella. They are both wonderful children and truly love them.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">It's been neat to see Josiah and Gabriella interact. They hold hands often in the van, because their carseats are next to each other. Gabriella is opening up more and talking more. She's not afraid of the car seat or Emma, and she even get's jealous of Josiah and wants to be wherever he is if it involves Kim or I. Gabriella has attached to Kim, but has also attached to Joshua and Elizabeth a little, so more time will solidify the transition, but she certainly trusts Kim to meet her needs and has even cried for Kim when she wants her. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I think of Liberia often and think back to what I was doing a week ago, and where I was and the people I saw and met. I'm thankful for that time I had and look forward to going back someday with our children. Thanks again to all who encouraged and followed our progress. So many times I felt you prayed us through those difficulties, and we couldn't have done it without you. It was both humbling and encouraging. We look forward to sharing our children with you very soon.</div></div></div><br /></div>Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-20470482914943154852008-03-31T10:39:00.000-07:002008-03-31T10:43:16.268-07:00We're Home<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3f7RhQ81QrWiXaSweQr7gd1RZNc8QE9qCACv3CccIeS4Y9XKlfJeoKuA5Q3LL_xE8Ydre_HGCqsqhALg7llJXowg_ueOt86jJ_ss7qOUcoyp57QCVqfOiWvKhy1sJ4Jn200FhoxzE18/s1600-h/DSC01831.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183962721174711810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3f7RhQ81QrWiXaSweQr7gd1RZNc8QE9qCACv3CccIeS4Y9XKlfJeoKuA5Q3LL_xE8Ydre_HGCqsqhALg7llJXowg_ueOt86jJ_ss7qOUcoyp57QCVqfOiWvKhy1sJ4Jn200FhoxzE18/s400/DSC01831.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Sorry it took so long to say this - but made it home safely Saturday Night to O'Hare Airport in Chicago. Everything about the trip home went well. But obviously trying to catch up on sleep and overcome jet lag. It was so good to see everyone and to be back with our baby girl. I will post again soon.</div>Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-1013816160261438552008-03-29T00:55:00.000-07:002008-03-29T01:19:42.395-07:00Made it to Brussels (for the final time)Well Gabriella and I are in Brussels waiting for our connection. But my adoption journey would not be complete without one more stress-filled situation. Buster from AoH picked me up around 6:15 for my 9:30 flight. It's about an hour drive and we got there around 7:15. Buster gave me my documents for the necessary clearances and said he would be outside if there were any problems. Well I get through security and proceed to the ticketing counter and the attendant asks for my final destination. And I explain Brussels, and that I had two itinerarys and that I would be going from Brussels to Amsterdam on another airlines. He informed me "no you won't" because Gabriella would need a Visa to enter Amsterdam because she's a Liberian citizen. American citizens don't need one, but Liberians do, so my hopes to save money using my Frequent Flier miles back fired. So I proceeded to the Brussels airlines office which is outside the terminal, all the time leaving my luggage in the terminal (wondering whos going to walk off with it). There was nothing the Brussels airlines attendant could do. So I proceed to go out in the parking lot, and someone calls Buster for me, while I have another guy get me a $5 Lonestar cellphone card. Fortunately I had asked Julie to leave me her phone, which is really Lauries. Anyways, I proceed to call Golden Rule and get a new itinerary. But even with the new itinerary, the Brussels travel agent could not print out my boarding passes. Well three $5 cards later, and several phone calls to Golden rule and 3 hours, I finally had my tickets and still had all my luggage. The only saving grace was that the flight coming in was delayed otherwise I would have never made it. And because the flight was delayed, had not the agent questioned my itinerary, I would have missed connection toAmerstam or had I made it, i would have been stuck there. We did not get on the plane and take off until 12:40am and Gabriella was up this whole time. She had some meltdown moments (who wouldn't) but we managed to get through it. But I found out she can get awefully sassy with no sleep. I began to really worry about the flight. I prayed for an empty seat next to me (because she was still on a lap ticket on the first leg) and that there would be a kind person next to me - and God answered both those prayers. And my last prayer would be that she would sleep. Amazingly enough, she fell asleep as we were taxing just before we took off. She woke up once and cried while we were eating dinner and i had to take a walk down the aisle, but 2 minutes and she was back asleep and slept the entire flight. She's being a little fiesty as I type here because she's still tired and i'm ignoring her, but we should make it to Chicago by 6:30 tonight where Kim will pick me up and we'll stay at her mom's in Milwaukee. So thanks for all the prayers, looking forward to being on American soil very soon with my little princess.Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-29677009649907055432008-03-28T04:39:00.000-07:002008-03-28T04:49:04.426-07:00All Smiles - I'm Heading Home<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPbFKdYe-fe9iopRpca9BMPUUOA_8YZpSpOxeXlcoa2wTNddn6bl_uIZFothea82RawVjMXGTesY2mmxJaO5TfDHoPFCZq5Q6YRog7FZ2Et3c3Wzod9Jj00yc7sxAGe-vdsFn_iOb_cA/s1600-h/094.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182757944193478130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPbFKdYe-fe9iopRpca9BMPUUOA_8YZpSpOxeXlcoa2wTNddn6bl_uIZFothea82RawVjMXGTesY2mmxJaO5TfDHoPFCZq5Q6YRog7FZ2Et3c3Wzod9Jj00yc7sxAGe-vdsFn_iOb_cA/s400/094.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwYKq2ZIEyspaIgd9M2LyOCj3_ZHuBwo96fFBvw_KlJaUoQOoRSUTxHd5AvdHWxQuByxrkEwZb-jEadqJyPKKZwlrNW7XMUggAro-HuwJjiF69sxWMO2nVHexDhivUzH7IvBdSKf1AZg/s1600-h/098.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182757445977271778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwYKq2ZIEyspaIgd9M2LyOCj3_ZHuBwo96fFBvw_KlJaUoQOoRSUTxHd5AvdHWxQuByxrkEwZb-jEadqJyPKKZwlrNW7XMUggAro-HuwJjiF69sxWMO2nVHexDhivUzH7IvBdSKf1AZg/s400/098.JPG" border="0" /></a> I haven't heard otherwise so assuming I will be boarding the 9:30 flight tonight. I'm packed and ready to go. I'd appreciate your prayers for the whole trip. Gabriella is very "fiesty" today. Very determined and quick to express her displeasure anytime things aren't going her way. So I expect the 30 hr travel time to feel more like 60. But this too shall pass - can't wait to get home!</div>Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-29391383267531240352008-03-26T03:33:00.000-07:002008-03-26T03:50:37.684-07:00Good NewsI received Notification that my DNA confirmation arrived at the DHL facility this morning and is already with the courier and should arrive at the Embassy today. I received the notification while Chris was doing paperwork with Christian Lindsay. So I informed him and he will follow-up on it. Also although I didn't meet with Alma yesterday (thought I had to), I met with one of the other employees of the Embassy and according to Chris, since I signed all the papers yesterday, that I do not need to go back to the Embassy. He will just pick up the Visa when it's ready. We'll see how it all plays out, but I should be able to fly out Friday.Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-43867721750232503892008-03-25T17:48:00.000-07:002008-03-26T00:49:12.920-07:00Liberian Time<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykvzNXaF__YAgSNgVwqfvnrwiBuYelv79FnnK6h1UrxkJ8zUpN-GrPKnRWCjIIzvmHXmU1bwA9XC27dcqlGtjbu2VAlsKZz-ygdIxZK3QS1PAEdermaJlmXb5BnerziSWW8JlJrtjYfw/s1600-h/077.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181953393739722162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykvzNXaF__YAgSNgVwqfvnrwiBuYelv79FnnK6h1UrxkJ8zUpN-GrPKnRWCjIIzvmHXmU1bwA9XC27dcqlGtjbu2VAlsKZz-ygdIxZK3QS1PAEdermaJlmXb5BnerziSWW8JlJrtjYfw/s400/077.JPG" border="0" /></a>Before the Embassy Appointment<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpBEmcdtcq5AMmbURRc2TVtvAcV0OSnfc3LQCcDyDwZdNBWuhIUWGCRhj15lYSB5Tv-Zynq7kHhp7yKW-ZF7UNZUSlJnDQ-Cpyb5qMiGc-mJnMvYmSks441suVFgD55_qTM76ePJJMUY/s1600-h/078.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181953110271880610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpBEmcdtcq5AMmbURRc2TVtvAcV0OSnfc3LQCcDyDwZdNBWuhIUWGCRhj15lYSB5Tv-Zynq7kHhp7yKW-ZF7UNZUSlJnDQ-Cpyb5qMiGc-mJnMvYmSks441suVFgD55_qTM76ePJJMUY/s400/078.JPG" border="0" /></a> After the Embassy Appointment<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181953651437759938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZolIGXab2yEsisvLs_9gZgc_j63cJ01n1R2Pw40Szhld3D-x5l4QoKVwC8DuH0p9DZK6xC0rZySwHzzH4BHI8WZJLOkAqpWhokSyRvbXb5EHelJzDgU6MUuyuqog7uaFe6BDTt7W4Xvw/s400/081.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Time works different here. The wonderful people of Liberia have learned not to worry too much about tomorrow or even the next hour. I've come from a country where we dream about our kids going to college before they are even out of the womb. We worry about retirement and whether we have a rock solid portfolio when we are 40. I've come from a country where 'things' can be fixed when broken or can be replaced with a new 'thing'. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Liberia barely has an education system, they have no retirement plan, and if you get to be 40, you are not at mid-life you are old. They've learn to make due with whatever is available. If it's broke and you can't fix it you better learn to live without it because chances are there is no store to buy another or even if there was, you probably won't have the money to afford it. Life's priorities are different here. We both have the same basic needs - a job, food, shelter and a good education for our kids. But those very basics are attained with much difficulty here. So as a result, Liberian Time is very much controlled by taxis that breakdown, meetings that are not on schedule, by electricity not coming on at certain times, by loveds ones ill by a various many diseases, by gasoline running out at the gas station, or your own vehicle choking on watered down gas. So things just get done in a Liberian minute.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I've had time to evaluate my situation a little more, and I'm doing much better. The selfish part of me wants to be home with my wife and kids and to just be "done" with the adoption. But from day one, this adoption has never been about me. And so I've been trying to really see what God is trying to teach me through all of this. The obvious is that nothing is under my control but everything is under His. But there are others like learning true dependence on God, and not psuedo dependence of what I can accomplish in the name of God. And there will be more that I'm still trying to process.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">So I tried to focus on the positive and see good in what has happened. Today was an absolute great day with Gabriella. She is really starting to open up with me. She's "jibber-jabbering" much more. Some words I think I make out and others I may just be inferring. But I enjoyed reading books with here and eating cheerios. She's certainly letting me kiss her cheeks and head more, and to touch her arms and legs and feet. We have a routine with nap and bedtime now that I really love about the day. I stand up holding her as I rock back and forth with her head on my shoulders. After a few minutes of that and a song or two, I lay down with her on my belly and her head still on my shoulder as I gently caress her untill she falls asleep. I love this precious girl and she's worth everything it costs.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">So I took a gamble and rescheduled my flights for Friday night. The Embassy is going to try to fax a letterhead document to the DNA lab, and hopefully they will accept that and get it back to the Embassy today. If that happens then I would be able to go back to the Embassy on Thursday and get the necessary clearances by Friday, fly out Friday night and be home Saturday night. If that doesn't happen, then I'm stuck waiting on DHL, which means new Embassy appointment next Tuesday and flying home next Wednesday. So I'll be praying to for God's mercy in working that out.</span><br /></div></div>Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-80653479189679172752008-03-25T10:07:00.000-07:002008-03-25T10:22:27.949-07:00An Unplanned Extension in LiberiaWell unfortunately thanks to DHL and a number of other circumstances to numerous to mention, I am not leaving Liberia tomorrow. I so want to be home, but now is not that time. First I went to the Embassy this morning and waited for over an hour, only to be told to come back at 2 - that Alma (the US Consulate) was not in. Meanwhile Julies friend Mark (and now mine) went to the DHL office to see what's up. He was informed that the DNA results will not be here until Friday. So I returned at 2 and waiting another hour fifteen only to find out they didn't even know I was there. So I finally get in, and Alma would not meet with me. They would not accept my electronic copy of the DNA, and also 2 new clearances required to leave the country with Gabriella had not been received. So I'm hanging out here for as long as it takes - not happy about that but nothing I can do. I'm now in the process of trying to reschedule flights and all that. I have so much more to share, but I may have to wait to post that until I get back. I have a lot of frustrations, and now is not the time. Thanks for praying!Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-82454188521760125782008-03-23T17:11:00.001-07:002008-03-23T17:18:25.376-07:00Quick DNA UpdateI just happened to check out the DHL tracking of our DNA. The last update I gave on Friday it was in Brussels. Yesterday it made it to Lagos, Nigeria, and from there it went to Libreville, Gabon. Today it left there and made it to Douala, Cameroon which according to DHL at 11:51 Sunday evening "Shipment arrived at incorrect facility. Sent to correct destination.". There is still plenty of time to get it here, but it's like de ja vu all over again. If you think of it, please pray for this final step to be completed without a hitch. Thanks much!Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-65264038406303901932008-03-23T13:53:00.000-07:002008-03-23T17:20:08.613-07:00He Is Risen<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgY4Y4emiINCByki2NKsyxoCZhQRQMzglCFpElKBHxRER5-4n1HoqZWvRQ1SZFUx8_y-13N01Bm6Yjtyi6KLUSNdRBOimSRVw4lYk9qMIgNXpAgxAm6oEJiKnXaGw4cTdqwTnjHVBS3s0/s1600-h/042.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181053550846569874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgY4Y4emiINCByki2NKsyxoCZhQRQMzglCFpElKBHxRER5-4n1HoqZWvRQ1SZFUx8_y-13N01Bm6Yjtyi6KLUSNdRBOimSRVw4lYk9qMIgNXpAgxAm6oEJiKnXaGw4cTdqwTnjHVBS3s0/s400/042.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOKV2snY-bVSFqM-hysM_DKSIg7DF8n1D12lNzwTjQKHVC4NabMfcgD8FSxbk9Gn3fgkD8RGLu1mZ509W5yKR661Bk1zNvdLU_kLwGO9raSUjz3WpZkdALa3LX9jv-tyE5HWryqssu30/s1600-h/045.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181053134234742146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOKV2snY-bVSFqM-hysM_DKSIg7DF8n1D12lNzwTjQKHVC4NabMfcgD8FSxbk9Gn3fgkD8RGLu1mZ509W5yKR661Bk1zNvdLU_kLwGO9raSUjz3WpZkdALa3LX9jv-tyE5HWryqssu30/s400/045.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5I_IE8iLykAevzHsTKVe5JiMs7EESTS3x35J1dgq3dx4Hv3uxGkzWZ_ZusDs6AQEjILt3eTiJuAHFsNKydYlmgtMoT8wrRwl9lvDmWYI8bO5caXGj5t4HtUti1wv96RcIc57tCmyrcJU/s1600-h/046.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181052743392718194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5I_IE8iLykAevzHsTKVe5JiMs7EESTS3x35J1dgq3dx4Hv3uxGkzWZ_ZusDs6AQEjILt3eTiJuAHFsNKydYlmgtMoT8wrRwl9lvDmWYI8bO5caXGj5t4HtUti1wv96RcIc57tCmyrcJU/s400/046.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoSflE_fzpQT8r1tFXTrqHsCq2rUuJAQleKYfEqSs7MuOE5mBtGzFd8leV-20tFPJoE2xn-aauE01VXF_JY9S998sn6uYKBaV8dukjiayE_UDjpsl9XJzm9dHfpBiC8Q_hrKPJydG2Qo/s1600-h/038.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181052335370825058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoSflE_fzpQT8r1tFXTrqHsCq2rUuJAQleKYfEqSs7MuOE5mBtGzFd8leV-20tFPJoE2xn-aauE01VXF_JY9S998sn6uYKBaV8dukjiayE_UDjpsl9XJzm9dHfpBiC8Q_hrKPJydG2Qo/s400/038.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1CpE0svfpEe0ayu44bnnD3XB-7lLQOy5KfJ1bjrs6QX2YUU5kvydI2lGhebJHZCZSuzqhMBQYT7g6neV_0gHRR0YdnQ0pZhLvG8sFpAq_YWqJbCf3QJNFjrcp5nKGxLHrILQMBczrMs/s1600-h/034.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181052026133179730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1CpE0svfpEe0ayu44bnnD3XB-7lLQOy5KfJ1bjrs6QX2YUU5kvydI2lGhebJHZCZSuzqhMBQYT7g6neV_0gHRR0YdnQ0pZhLvG8sFpAq_YWqJbCf3QJNFjrcp5nKGxLHrILQMBczrMs/s400/034.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Those are the most important three words in all of creation. All other religions are just that – religions, and what they worship a dead god. But that first Easter proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is the Son of God, and t.hat we serve the one true living God. And the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that can work in you and me if we will only call upon the name of Jesus and be saved. The cool part about celebrating Easter in Liberia, is that Christ is the true melting pot, because we all serve one Lord and Savior, and he defies economic boundaries and racial boundaries and language boundaries and geographical boundaries. I celebrated the Risen King with my brothers and sisters at First Church in New Kru Town (African Christian Fellowship Int’l). Even though in song I did not know the Kru language I took part in the universal language of worship. I hope your Easter was filled with wonderful worship.</span></div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><div><br />Other than that didn’t do anything else today except sweat. It felt especially hot today (about 95 with 80% humidity). I also daydreamed about being back home. Thanks to my mom, Easter is a wonderful culinary experience at my parents. My mother is a wonderful cook (Kim is too) and she goes all out on Easter. There is a wide variety of fresh bakery – caramel rolls, pecan rolls, Norwegian kringle, decorated cut-out sugar cookies, polish sausage, scrambled egg dish, French toast sticks, ham, decorated boiled eggs, fresh homemade rolls, and I’m sure I’m forgetting something. So I was feeling a little jealous over my peanut butter and jelly for lunch and rice and butter beans for supper. But I know I ate much better than a lot of Liberians today.</div><div><br />Gabriella is doing great. I feel very blessed. She still hasn’t said many words. She seems to open up more with Teddy (Julie Redman’s son) but still is quite cautious with me. We played with cheerios and the cheerio book and played some fisher price which was progress. But she got mad enough at me today where she hit me. Teddy was trying to be nice and gave her a piece of hard candy, but I was afraid she might choke on it, so I wouldn’t let her have it and she was extremely mad at me. Also putting her down for her nap took some work today. But overall she’s a great eater, and very easy going, and I know the rest of those things will come with time.</div><div><br />Only 3 more days in Liberia. I meet with Chris to do the paperwork for the embassy tomorrow, and I’m having a local school girl do Gabriella’s hair. Also I’m heading to the markets tomorrow to get the long list of things Kim requested I get, including a drum and some outfits for future birthdays. </span></div><div></div></div></div></div>Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-54282593191425118902008-03-22T18:12:00.000-07:002008-03-22T18:37:53.613-07:00It's In The Bag<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dlkZ36Y2QqABafASiW-qkd9XReY_2uGWKN2vb-WeaecUcGIFW9wy8YC5QbHsTUFxAsfXHMOH_P4vYxwzzPqGWV9oG6l_uXjTpXP4KiOpn0yU8So8OaVr0LskUfcsCcwKDjrekojnCN0/s1600-h/023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180743046185905474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dlkZ36Y2QqABafASiW-qkd9XReY_2uGWKN2vb-WeaecUcGIFW9wy8YC5QbHsTUFxAsfXHMOH_P4vYxwzzPqGWV9oG6l_uXjTpXP4KiOpn0yU8So8OaVr0LskUfcsCcwKDjrekojnCN0/s400/023.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuXLwmNph_vtvoq7cJEjhCN9FgXkD6ELw0mojwoGMEwPnJuyREbZpnih_ND4ryVgJZjizn16Il-SgrHXRAlouvhLgWA6yrjVWsA9YiHQVIVSf1fie2SvidLe2rYzgCciA8GzUqtNNtTs/s1600-h/026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180742646753946930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuXLwmNph_vtvoq7cJEjhCN9FgXkD6ELw0mojwoGMEwPnJuyREbZpnih_ND4ryVgJZjizn16Il-SgrHXRAlouvhLgWA6yrjVWsA9YiHQVIVSf1fie2SvidLe2rYzgCciA8GzUqtNNtTs/s400/026.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7ceqpOg5bLXaU5CrkvBTL8e2lhqmF2PV4xkw2FhX_GsfCfCvzE4TXW4m9y3LAvf2XgLaVa-vyFiglo07yAgbJzIMvvvhWfCV3c8N6LutB7XqxCgEW9bB6336lP1PMXZKis_rq7WZ-7o/s1600-h/025.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180742264501857570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7ceqpOg5bLXaU5CrkvBTL8e2lhqmF2PV4xkw2FhX_GsfCfCvzE4TXW4m9y3LAvf2XgLaVa-vyFiglo07yAgbJzIMvvvhWfCV3c8N6LutB7XqxCgEW9bB6336lP1PMXZKis_rq7WZ-7o/s400/025.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZVHRVeFSQtyIg4d6BUOYBQDvf4wfhLKdknzqdOI6Vx1mFodhYFV2Qs20n1duUubwCqfZ2RdfJlCPuG1es1TDcxwBknoTgvERenzesAqoPeIdn2O7Tqw4PopDUbtuAseRV1m_xT0Uv5I/s1600-h/030.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180741847890029842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZVHRVeFSQtyIg4d6BUOYBQDvf4wfhLKdknzqdOI6Vx1mFodhYFV2Qs20n1duUubwCqfZ2RdfJlCPuG1es1TDcxwBknoTgvERenzesAqoPeIdn2O7Tqw4PopDUbtuAseRV1m_xT0Uv5I/s400/030.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2MMVXPgNnl1NUBkumvTlcnXIvNKTMOCQqqYAAgvOidU2GU-F8Oy-OX7KSRo3HWsCVOfxKsFREGVNuOTl4XSioVWZv6B4XRq33lXakgtDKJhYyonWr6zq0fWe0i-1nhX5Z_eG3mlJYkU/s1600-h/029.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180741452753038594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2MMVXPgNnl1NUBkumvTlcnXIvNKTMOCQqqYAAgvOidU2GU-F8Oy-OX7KSRo3HWsCVOfxKsFREGVNuOTl4XSioVWZv6B4XRq33lXakgtDKJhYyonWr6zq0fWe0i-1nhX5Z_eG3mlJYkU/s400/029.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Today we scheduled a trip to Cooper Beach. We got there and we were the only people there except 2 guys under another thatched umbrella beach hut. I set my bag down and immediately Claudia Felando warned me that I needed to keep all my things at the center of the hut or they will be stolen. The beach is about a 20 foot slope to the water based on the differing levels of the tide. They had some awesome waves that were taller than me, and Gabriella was petrified of the ocean (as the picture shows). The water was a little cool and with the waves being so strong, we didn’t stay there long. Maybe 30 minutes. The 2 guys I did not trust though so I stayed up near the top near our hut. Occassionally one of them would walk buy but they’d return to their hut about 30 or 40 feet from ours. Anyways we decided to go to the lagoon which is shallow and warm (like bath water). And I grabbed my camera out of my bag and was taking pictures of the kids in the water. Maybe had my back to the hut for one minute. And I walked back up to the hut to put my camera away and my bag was gone. I experienced the Liberian Entrepreneurial Spirit first hand. They saw a business opportunity and seized it. The bad news: they got $50 US (about $3050 LD) a cell phone (worth $100 US plus $12 in minutes), 4 packs of Juicy Fruit, all my baby wipes, my only bottle of Aveno lotion for Gabriella, 2 diapers, a baseball cap, a dress of Gabriellas, and her Elmo phone. I of course was upset, but I still was able to pray for them. Normally the Felando's bring a dog to guard things becaus most Liberians are afraid of dogs, but didn't this time. The good news is, I had my passport in there yesterday and actually more money yesterday, but felt led this morning to remove them. And I had just grabbed the camera, which after my passport, is probably my most prized possession right now. And I was not harmed nor my daughter, and everything is replaceable. I of course thought nasty thoughts about praying a curse on them or wishing bad things but ultimately I know the biblical principals of being destitute and how that can lead to stealing and all sorts of things. To be too rich or too poor are both bad. Anyways, I’ve been able to laugh about it several times and forgiven them for what they did. I’m waiting for my bag to show up in one of the markets. If I see it, I’ll buy it back.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br>On the way back I saw the orphanage for the first time. Because of the uncertain future of Liberian adoptions (they are supposed to announce something in a week), all the orphanages have been combined into one facility. So was able to quickly meet Gabriella’s and Josiah’s nannies. Everyone that I met at the orphanage was pleasant and helpful and wonderful servants. Also a good sign was when Gabriella’s nanny held out her hands to her, Gabriella didn’t want to leave me. But she did eventually and of course when it was time to leave, she didn’t want to leave the nanny. But I felt good about the first part anyways.</span> <div><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Went to a market and ordered matching handmade batik shirts for me and Josiah and dresses for Kim and Gabriella. They are all chocolate brown and gold batiks with a Christian message. A really neat Liberian explained the message behind each work.</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Other than that, I went to a Liberian restaurant this afternoon and had dry rice with fish (with the head and eyes and teeth in tact) and some hot spicy pepper, eggplant and oil (the dark stuff). It tasted good and Gabriella loved it, but made my nose water. The best part about the whole thing was 2 cold cokes. One thing I miss with being in Liberia is cold drinks. Typically the water is warm, and don’t have milk, and so soda was a real treat. As I’ve mention before, electricity is off from 3:30 – 6:30pm Mon, Tues, Thur and Fri. On Wed it’s off from 3:30 – 12:30am. On Saturday though, the electricity is off from 6:30am – 12:30am Sunday. And Sunday it’s off from 6:30am – 6:30pm. So Refrigeration of food doesn’t work to well without electricity. So everyone has some sort of generator or backup power supply. At the guest house we have some florescent lights that work on the backup power - but no fans and no refrigerators. We did figure out how to get internet though because the internet is wireless off of the cell towers. So anyways I savored my cold cokes.</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Two other funny things about our stay at the guest house. Our neighbors own exactly 3 CDs – Celine Dion, Kenny Rogers, and Don Williams. So every night we hear the same CDs playing – could be worse I guess. Also each night a tiny little mouse begins work traveling from somewhere in the living to the somewhere in the kitchen. Must be how he gets his midnight snack.</span></div></div></div></div></div>Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-40525208448619303472008-03-21T15:42:00.001-07:002008-03-21T17:26:14.722-07:00Good Friday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzTeVhlUcYsJPAcRu4YggwyztVLerYKVh9mun_twFYLJGtlDJFyMP1iFm-wgMIXeUJs0jdCawVJvU13uOFdQuSlytNWdgI3Vp_j7-_9AYYSYhdBO3TBbV_HXNQXvj5VazIHGLEhqoSGg/s1600-h/012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180329741483011266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzTeVhlUcYsJPAcRu4YggwyztVLerYKVh9mun_twFYLJGtlDJFyMP1iFm-wgMIXeUJs0jdCawVJvU13uOFdQuSlytNWdgI3Vp_j7-_9AYYSYhdBO3TBbV_HXNQXvj5VazIHGLEhqoSGg/s400/012.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh519lI9fMJejwnhjPIvANScTUvRDVpNLyc_T6vm1tTIQYIvIsNWPgiYquhRsFxwyS5HBj05-6H2h5Brq6OiUOxP2q0zivFN8GYVaJHNo43eaeLc-YGrnqzS-GbIVKpXd9VIr7Ap0oxMi4/s1600-h/011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180329458015169714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh519lI9fMJejwnhjPIvANScTUvRDVpNLyc_T6vm1tTIQYIvIsNWPgiYquhRsFxwyS5HBj05-6H2h5Brq6OiUOxP2q0zivFN8GYVaJHNo43eaeLc-YGrnqzS-GbIVKpXd9VIr7Ap0oxMi4/s400/011.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180329982001179858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnG3X3Eb0XdiZQafX3tGPMuuR7XMb3u3oDAQz-LVByfAuMg7lul_e5zvd1pKE58ihYrg2tFPm0IGlWCQ2oppqjtlpIwbT2812P6iOga6o_2t3McUdDHruVSwqJw0OBeKQsjkm4X-F9M8/s400/015.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180330467332484322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnOVNN-Iw7Sh9up4_vEo6UugMbtH7MTpkxWGhbHm8_xhPYcC1kypl5zYWaV9QfNFoeShIwsRMecd3oL5o8MWaO143pa_Bkd_w3UFSnm0dM4wdLHUWPLwbDbpBNYrG4TIvFkX6XmIVm_g/s400/016.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180331021383265522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9x1eI7kWDi0npT5HM1STS5eRfVLYLaus2Ec5Tp8U2NBvh8F39eUPYTAC9P-RJMLPwjkpoMeth8OfEIxJhvhxjxZlTgGBvScpaMSTj406sLSMD865fLjDSkgnNLefi7h0BlYTQj6TT-_c/s400/021.JPG" border="0" /></div>Today I went to New Kru Town for Good Friday service at Julie Redman's friend Mark Nimley's church. It was an awesome experience. But I have to confess, I was fearful traveling into New Kru Town. It's the most poverty I have ever seen. I think my fear is based solely on the unknown. Fear that someone will jump me and rob me. I was confessing that with David Felando and he said he experienced the same thing the first trip here. Every Liberian I have met have been wonderful. So we travel about 45 minutes by taxi to get to new Kru town and when I arrive and get out of the taxi, Gabriella starts crying hysterically. I don't know if it stirred a memory in her or what but she was genuinely afraid. But after about 3 minutes she calmed down. We arrived at church ( a one room church with about 10 rows of pews) at about 11:15. They were having a time of teaching - like sunday school. Service started at noon. Fortunately I'm getting back in the hang of this infant thing, but i brought a couple diapers, toys, and a change of clothes. Gabriella's first poop was in church, when we were all on our knees in prayer. Since everyone's head was bowed, I just changed her right there on the pew. The pews are wooden, but only 2/3 wide as what I'm used to in the states. My butt kept getting numb on them. Julie experienced the same thing. I'm used to having room to slouch. But I was asked and gave the opening prayer/invocation for Good Friday service. So that was a privelege. They were very welcoming at the church. Mark and his mother both attend the church. Church lasted until 2:30.<br /><br />As I looked outside occasionally during church, i noticed these children ages 6-8 carrying 6 foot timbers. Not sure if it was for play or for a home, but this one little 6 yr old was balancing one on her head and dragging one in her arms. Then I saw another boy come by with just a t-shirt on and another in just his birthday suit. Just outside the church was the well - a busy place as each family was drawing their water. The other thing I noticed is that even though Liberia is a dusty dirty place, these women had on these beautiful white (I mean the whitest white) outfits and hats or headdresses. Most of the ladies in the choir had flip flops or sandals on, but each one’s toe nails were painted. For how poor, they were all dressed so nice. And then when it came time for offering, everyone gave. And as I observed, I probably gave the most monetarily, but like the woman who gave two mites, I know that each of them was probably giving sacrificially out of their need, while I was giving out of my abundance. The only thing different than the states, is it’s quite common to make change out of the offering plate. Do that in the states and people will think your robbing the church.<br /><br />After church we headed to Rock Hill. The pictures above are the children from Rock Hill. I started by taking a picture of two, and soon the kids came running. They loved having their picture taken. And especially after I showed them the back of the camera and they could see their picture, they all wanted their picture taken. They were all so beautiful. We took a walk with Pastor Charles as we toured the whole town and got to see the new church they are building as well as Pastor Charles house. A couple serving with Spirit Liberia is helping to get a well built there. I just loved the children and could have taken anyone of them home. Rock hill is a very difficult place to see. My worse day is nothing compared to the work they do pounding and mining for rock. The top workers just make pennies per day (20 to 40 cents I think) if they can sell their rocks. I saw a group of teenage girls walk through carrying big boulders on their head and then someone else breaks them into smaller and smaller rocks. I saw another part where they burn tires – so this thick black highly toxic smoke – to heat up the rock to make it easier to break out of the earth. It’s a tough tough life is all I know.<br /><br />This evening I got a scare. I layed down with Gabriella at 7:30 to put her to bed. She did not want to lay down. Meanwhile I had a headache and so I did want to lay down. I was falling asleep faster than her. I opened my eyes to see her asleep sitting up. So I layed her down next to me and I fell back asleep. I wake up about 10 and she’s gone. Didn’t think anything of it so I go out by Julie and ask her if she has my daughter and she asks “are you serious?” and I said “She’s missing”. So I run back in the bed room and her she was tangled in the mosquito netting asleep on the floor under the bed. Don’t know if she fell out or crawled out or what. But I put her back in bed without waking up and that’s where she is now.<br /><br />Well there is no electricity on the weekends, so the next update will be on Monday. Have a great Easter!Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-37572553618624587462008-03-20T16:11:00.000-07:002008-03-20T16:46:14.501-07:00So Many Firsts<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllgXpuP-bbq85AJgUSWsQmqKirUDTj_ebBNhuP9NKCC4J96MKNIhwMVFXgMBBy17UPIchW2D5thpdqLUU1aUrzjCZencnjo3LFNAzEgCkBWlZjlzquBCwUJGOYCyWvFWkOQRiDvDK-bE/s1600-h/Me+and+Gabriella+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179974247039921314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllgXpuP-bbq85AJgUSWsQmqKirUDTj_ebBNhuP9NKCC4J96MKNIhwMVFXgMBBy17UPIchW2D5thpdqLUU1aUrzjCZencnjo3LFNAzEgCkBWlZjlzquBCwUJGOYCyWvFWkOQRiDvDK-bE/s400/Me+and+Gabriella+2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRnvo1pRhzOQNdrvXRbpnB7t0nq5gxGeTk8l_m6kFiGL_PvrEsVFChq1h2QlViLI-O5-Q-XVNJmjWMp3ieUels0eYhPEGSr8aESPw9puwVysc2klMYczOCV3CUVAiDbK-Uj8ZCfK1xhs/s1600-h/Gabriella.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179973954982145170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRnvo1pRhzOQNdrvXRbpnB7t0nq5gxGeTk8l_m6kFiGL_PvrEsVFChq1h2QlViLI-O5-Q-XVNJmjWMp3ieUels0eYhPEGSr8aESPw9puwVysc2klMYczOCV3CUVAiDbK-Uj8ZCfK1xhs/s400/Gabriella.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I had the priviledge of changing the first diaper, feeding her the first meal, giving her the first bath, and putting her to bed for the first time. All things that I wish so much that Kim could have enjoyed with me. She cried throughout the whole bath (the only real noise she's made) but didn't mind at all as I lotioned her up and put a onesie on her for bed. My favorite part was putting her to bed. I was standing up and rocking back and forth and she was obviously tired so I laid her down and she didn't object. We laid and her foot was touching my thigh. And she kept moving it back and forth. And periodically opened her eyes and in the darkness looked at me with those big brown eyes and said "your not going to leave me are you?". Even though I did need to make some calls, e-mail some pictures and blog, but I looked back at her and assured with a smile "No Gabriella, your daddy's never gonna leave you". And I gently stroked her legs as she peacefully fell asleep. I just took in the moment of her heart beating next to mine, and in an instant, it erased months of struggle and frustration. I love this little girl even though I still don't know her and am so thankful to finally be at this point.</div></div>Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-14941226513000449222008-03-20T12:05:00.000-07:002008-03-20T16:49:50.451-07:00I have my daughter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGVgUUKHaVoXKEzzseGUk3ExamEtgUfnuO5YHyF7k50M8mKt-a1_STQ3dYthnb8BN4_u5L7H-cZw_9iquVHaQ0-Cskae9M6JFzD-UjObLu1yoFRJ-I3Qe9cKfNQSV6vcIlXKVxxr0rhA/s1600-h/Me+and+Gabriella.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179908207622777954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGVgUUKHaVoXKEzzseGUk3ExamEtgUfnuO5YHyF7k50M8mKt-a1_STQ3dYthnb8BN4_u5L7H-cZw_9iquVHaQ0-Cskae9M6JFzD-UjObLu1yoFRJ-I3Qe9cKfNQSV6vcIlXKVxxr0rhA/s400/Me+and+Gabriella.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I took a trip to downtown Monrovia today to ride along with our Missionary hosts the Felandos. They had to run to a supermarket and hardware store. So I took my camera and took it all in. My first impressions were it is very congested. Every stop your car is surrounded with street vendors of every sorts: ties, floor standing fans, pillows, newspapers, gum, water, chocolate, nuts, plantains. The most interesting vendor I saw was a man pushing a wheelbarrel full of snails in the shell the size of rats. I have to get a picture those so you can see what I mean. Though very congested, its very orderly and civil. Driving in Monrovia is an art. It's a combination of being aggressive with the gas pedal, brake and horn. It's certainly not for the faint of heart. Occasionally you'll have a police officer directing traffic, but there are no street lights.<br /><br />When we got downtown to the supermarket, it was a very nice supermarket in "Liberian" terms. They have guards on the outside of it, so it's very much of a status symbol to walk inside. I felt very much like a rich spoiled American, when there were amputees sitting just outside the door begging for food. They sell dog food and cat litter inside and outside there are thousands who don't have their basic needs met. They even sold Fruit Cake fruit. Not sure what demand there is in Liberia, but we only see in the states around Christmas time. So after shopping I took $5 US and got $305 LD (Liberian Dollars) from a corner exchange rate booth. It's not the Bank of Liberia, but it worked for me. When I was in the Brussels airport I stopped in a shop to buy a pair of sunglasses (because I don't own a pair) and the first pair was $107 EU (approx $160 US). So I said no thank you. So right after I exchanged my money, a sunglasses street vendor approached me. $150 LD (about $2.50 US) so of course I bought them. Only to be told I was ripped off by Julie's Liberian friend Mark. There was also a street vendor selling smoked fish for $10 LD (approx .17 cents) and ground Cassava root (instead of rice because it's thicker and leaves your stomach more satisfied) which was also $10LD. David bought lunch for several of them, and then everywhere we stopped I gave out $20 LD. So I was able to bless two amputees and all the others were children. Every place we stopped I gave money. And how much did I actually give - $2.50. That's not even a happy meal or another menu item at fast food. Yet everyone of them thought I was giving them $100US.<br /><br />There was this young boy who came up to us and asked if he could come with us. It broke my heart. David asked where his mother was and he said at home resting. But the poor boy chased after us for at least 1 mile and half through the slow congested downtown traffic. I finally gave him some money and we gave him part of our lunch. There was also this very skinny mother with her child who stopped us before the supermarket. We didn't have anything at that time. But she found us again at a different intersection and Claudia gave her some food and I gave her some money. The poverty is so great - and we are so blessed.<br /><br />The only other excitement was the Presidential motorcade came right in front of the guest house. So from my 2nd story balcony I watched and there were only 2 cops leading and 4 black SUVs and Hummers formed a diamond around the presidential vehicle which was also the same. So in one day I've gotten closer to their president then I ever have in 40 years of living in the US.<br /><br />Lastly I picked up my daughter today. Of course she's absolutely beautiful. She hasn't said "boo" yet. But she has rubbed my face and pulled the hair sticking through the neck line on my shirt. I knew she was getting tired so I was going to try and lay down with her in my bedroom. But when I attempted to crawl through the mosquito netting, she began crying hysterically. So I came back out and she was falling asleep sitting up and Julie asked if she could rock her and so that's where she is. So we'll she how she does tonight but I'll work through it. Just glad to be to this place. Made every tear, every frustration, every anxious moment worth it. I'm blessed to be a part of her life. But this world is filled with so many children who don't have this chance.<br /><br />For dinner tonight we ate traditional Liberian. It is a traditional butter rice, with water greens with red palm oil and then cut up fresh mango. Water greens are like potato greens - green leafy part from sweet potatoes shredded - but these are supposedly better and a staple in Liberian diet) It was wonderful! I got a chance to feed Gabriella for the first time. She was eating well and all of sudden she clamped up and didn't want anymore. Turns out she wanted a drink. Then she would eat some more. Then all of sudden she had had enough and spit the last spoonful out. So evidently she's a woman who knows what she want.<br /><br />P.S. We have a DHL tracking number for the DNA results and they shipped out yesterday and and left New York this morning, so I don't see a problem with them arriving in time for the Embassy appointment on Tuesday. Also I head to the AoH office tomorrow to do my paperwork and will be able to visit the orphanage tomorrow.</div>Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-6475995863727991522008-03-20T02:52:00.000-07:002008-03-20T12:01:21.869-07:00Greetings from LiberiaWell I arrived safely last night around 6:35 (1:35 CST). Everything went smoothly traveling over here... just a long trip. I slept some on the Liberian leg of the trip, so I felt ok, probably a little excited to be here too. The airport is completely different then the last time we were here. Much more "modernized" - but still somewhat chaotic. Got my luggage and proceeded to go outside only to find noone with that friendly "AoH" sign waiting for me. I had no phone and no number to call - so not exactly the situation I was hoping for. There were mobs of people behind barracades with a few uniformed men keeping order. So i certainly didn't want to cross that line looking for anyone. So someone asked who I was looking for and asked for a number, while another guy went looking for them. I had forgot that Kim gave me a number of Julie Redmans friend Mark, so the only numbers I had were the 2 from the AoH website that I put on my Liberian visa application. So he called one, I got an answer and they said they would try to get someone over to the airport, but just then the other man returned to say he had found them. So that was the extent of my excitement. The drive to the guest house seemed like it took an hour and fifteen. Just looked around and took in everything.<br /><br />Got to the Shepherd's house around 8:15. Met David Felando (my missionary host), Julie Redman, Mark Nimely, and Teddy (Julie's son). They were all very welcoming and great to meet and see. The electricity was out when I arrived so no fans and no internet. So i borrowed Julie's phone for a 2 minute call to Kim to let her know I made it. I visited for a while, took a much needed shower and headed to bed by 9:15.<br /><br />By 2am I was wide awake. So I got up, tried the internet again, and no luck. So I figured I might as well get some work done on the computer. Around 3am the dogs started barking and man walked right past the windows of our second story flat. It was the night watchment. The AoH compounds are all "gated communities" and they have 24/7 watchmen the "guard" the place. So I met the night watchment. Anyways I worked for 3 hours until 5am before I forced myself to go back to bed. Slept another 4 hours so I'm feeling very refreshed. Today they are going to bring Gabriella over so very much looking forward to that. We are going to head to some local markets today and are trying to plan a trip to the beach tomorrow or sometime while i'm here. Met Claudia Felando and a couple of the Liberian's who help at the guest house.<br /><br />Other than that AoH sent me the DHL tracking number for the DNA and it should arrive in Liberia Monday. I will pray to that end. Looking forward to sharing much more of my experience of the next couple days.Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-74859007415765624482008-03-19T01:50:00.000-07:002008-03-19T01:52:40.465-07:00Hello from BrusselsI've made it safely to Brussels. I've been traveling for 16.5 hours so far if you count the time I left my house. My flight to Monrovia leaves in 2 hours and it's a 7 hour flight. Very much looking forward to sleeping tonight.Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-23743845646824703262008-03-18T08:43:00.000-07:002008-03-18T09:02:13.016-07:00I'm On My WayAll praise and glory be to My Lord who is able to do so much more than we could ever ask!<br /><br />I just got the call from AoH. And although the lab does not have the hardcopy in their possession, they do know the results and <strong>Gabriella and her mother are a MATCH</strong>. The lab should have the results this afternoon, and if they get them shipped DHL today, the embassy will receive them Friday. If they ship them tomorrow, the embassy should have them Monday. In either case it will be before I need them on Tuesday. AoH will e-mail the tracking number when they have it and e-mail the official results when they have it, so that I have a copy should they not get the hardcopy in time. But everything is a GO and I'm gearing up for the long trip.<br /><br />We appreciate you all so much. I can't tell you how difficult a week it has been. Wanting to trust, trying to be at peace, but feeling so much anxiety and frustration. So I've struggled with doubt and know that your prayers have held us up during this time. THANKS AGAIN!Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-958605511236544880.post-43943175182256175752008-03-18T08:25:00.000-07:002008-03-18T08:26:21.548-07:00Still No DNA Results YetAoH has been in contact with the Lab, and they are trying to locate the hardcopy of the results. Not sure what that means if they have in their building but can't find it to sign off, or if they are still in transit from some place or what. But we are still waiting - thanks for waiting with us...Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07326314176159123870noreply@blogger.com0