Okay all you friends and family who have been following our "Blaske Blog" and are calling and emailing saying...."where are the posts?"
Below you will find a weeks worth of "posts'
I think that I will be able to "upload and download" once a week from here on out...
The Blaske Bunch is having so much FUN transitioning together that my computer time has been few and far between!
Trust me when I say that no post does not mean nothing is going on.....just having to much fun to STOP it all and get it out onto the blog.
It really is a NEW form of BUSY...(anyone else have a 5 year old boy who LOVES to go go go, or a daughter who is a sponge for ANYTHING you can teach her....all while your older kids are still doing life ....lessons, practices, school....and PLAYING with their new bro and sis)
We are seeing new things everyday, all while we are trying to set up a bit of "schedule" for all of us.
so, enjoy the pictures and I hope your heart is lifted up and you feel like PRASING the LORD after you read, cuz that is what we want to do....
GLORIFY HIM!!!
Blessings...one VERY BLESSED MOM OF 6!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Use Your Head!
Each week we (the Blaske Bunch) go to the soccer field to support the Lynden LYNCS boys soccer team. We are devoted fans...in the rain and COLD, we bring our blankets, gloves and warm coats and sit on the benches and listen to John do play by plays as the ball flies all over the field!
For those of you who know my son Brock...he lives soccer out loud every day 360 days a year. There is always a soccer ball in his car, as well as his cleats, and gear...so he can be READY to play at a moments notice.
When we got home soccer season had just started. High school soccer is...well...from this Mom's perspective...high contact....but there is NO gear or pads....I am learning to not gasp or hold my breath as guys run into eachother.
(of course there are rules and fouls and I understand them better and better each year, but it is still a bit hard for this mom to watch)
This day, Brocks team was playing the Lynden Lions. (public school vs private school...small town rivals) Both sides of the field are filled with guys Brock knows...kind of a FUN game for him and for us to watch.
Below.....score is tied 1 to 1.
What you see here is a corner kick sent right across the goal, and number 7, blue jersey (Brock)
USING HIS HEAD
to put the ball in for the winning GOAL!
Lynden Christian LYNCS 2, Lynden Lions 1!!!!
GO TEAM!!!
Here is Bock running to the FAN side of the side lines after the game, with the team...John running out to give him a High Five!
John thinks Brock is the Best!
For those of you who know my son Brock...he lives soccer out loud every day 360 days a year. There is always a soccer ball in his car, as well as his cleats, and gear...so he can be READY to play at a moments notice.
When we got home soccer season had just started. High school soccer is...well...from this Mom's perspective...high contact....but there is NO gear or pads....I am learning to not gasp or hold my breath as guys run into eachother.
(of course there are rules and fouls and I understand them better and better each year, but it is still a bit hard for this mom to watch)
This day, Brocks team was playing the Lynden Lions. (public school vs private school...small town rivals) Both sides of the field are filled with guys Brock knows...kind of a FUN game for him and for us to watch.
Below.....score is tied 1 to 1.
What you see here is a corner kick sent right across the goal, and number 7, blue jersey (Brock)
USING HIS HEAD
to put the ball in for the winning GOAL!
Lynden Christian LYNCS 2, Lynden Lions 1!!!!
GO TEAM!!!
Here is Bock running to the FAN side of the side lines after the game, with the team...John running out to give him a High Five!
John thinks Brock is the Best!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Bonding!
Can anyone say LAUGHTER!
From the moment we got into the car in Seattle to this very night...I can say we have NOT STOPPED laughing!
The joy level on our house has gone through the roof!
Play has a new meaning again. It has been a while since our "buckets" for "stations" have been dug into so deeply.
We have marbles, rescue heros, cars, blocks, puzzles, beads, paints, colors and cooking happening to NEW levels. There is just an excitment of all the new things. Maybe it won't last forever, but for now the Blaske Kids are FILLING my heart with delight!
Dave and I decided to keep the kids close to home to get some routine and daily life stuff set up for all of us. So far so good....it took a bit of time to see who was going to sweep, empty garbage, feed the cat, and get the one on one time with "mom", but it seems to be rolling along. We adjust as needed, change when things do not "fit" the ability of the child set to do the task...but overall...the eagerness to do things is there. John and Victoria are very hard workers and have set a new pace to the old things our boys have been doing for a while.
It is a race now in the morning to see who can "DRESS" their beds the BEST!!!
One of the things that has been great is MUSIC! Each day when it is station time, we crank the music and sing, dance and sing some more. Victoria is so excited to sing to the song of the "books of the Bible" that the kids are all the way through to "lamentations" (today however the kids said, "please not that CD today :O)"
Music seems to be the "beat" that we can set for our day...all types are played, but overall...it is just ON all the time!
Talk, play, laugh, dance, talk, read, work, laugh, dance....seems to be the way of bonding for the Blaske Bunch!
PRAISE you LORD for all you are doing in all of our hearts as we continue to walk each day seeking to please HIM!
From the moment we got into the car in Seattle to this very night...I can say we have NOT STOPPED laughing!
The joy level on our house has gone through the roof!
Play has a new meaning again. It has been a while since our "buckets" for "stations" have been dug into so deeply.
We have marbles, rescue heros, cars, blocks, puzzles, beads, paints, colors and cooking happening to NEW levels. There is just an excitment of all the new things. Maybe it won't last forever, but for now the Blaske Kids are FILLING my heart with delight!
Dave and I decided to keep the kids close to home to get some routine and daily life stuff set up for all of us. So far so good....it took a bit of time to see who was going to sweep, empty garbage, feed the cat, and get the one on one time with "mom", but it seems to be rolling along. We adjust as needed, change when things do not "fit" the ability of the child set to do the task...but overall...the eagerness to do things is there. John and Victoria are very hard workers and have set a new pace to the old things our boys have been doing for a while.
It is a race now in the morning to see who can "DRESS" their beds the BEST!!!
One of the things that has been great is MUSIC! Each day when it is station time, we crank the music and sing, dance and sing some more. Victoria is so excited to sing to the song of the "books of the Bible" that the kids are all the way through to "lamentations" (today however the kids said, "please not that CD today :O)"
Music seems to be the "beat" that we can set for our day...all types are played, but overall...it is just ON all the time!
Talk, play, laugh, dance, talk, read, work, laugh, dance....seems to be the way of bonding for the Blaske Bunch!
PRAISE you LORD for all you are doing in all of our hearts as we continue to walk each day seeking to please HIM!
More Easter Pictures
John....he was very content to find an egg, stop, open it, eat it and then look for another. But the time he had done that 2 or 3 times, most of the eggs were gone, but he was okay with it. We always know where John is...just listen for his giggle!
Victoria!!! She is sooooooo funny! She has not stopped laughing and making us laugh since the 14th! We learned some new things about her this past week....she is competitive. When she plays games, she plays to win, when she hunts egss, she does it with a PASSION, when she has a reward set before her for chores or school...she is out to GET IT!
It has been a big motivator to all in our house.
In the end....Sunday night...after Daddy had played dums for Friday night service, Sat service, and two services on Sunday, after stories, egg hunts, meals and great fellow ship at friends house, (more egg hunts) and TOFFEE (candy) galore...the picture says it all! Good NIGHT sleep tight!
Victoria!!! She is sooooooo funny! She has not stopped laughing and making us laugh since the 14th! We learned some new things about her this past week....she is competitive. When she plays games, she plays to win, when she hunts egss, she does it with a PASSION, when she has a reward set before her for chores or school...she is out to GET IT!
It has been a big motivator to all in our house.
In the end....Sunday night...after Daddy had played dums for Friday night service, Sat service, and two services on Sunday, after stories, egg hunts, meals and great fellow ship at friends house, (more egg hunts) and TOFFEE (candy) galore...the picture says it all! Good NIGHT sleep tight!
EASTER
Up From The GRAVE HE AROSE!
Easter!
This is a great day of celebration!
When I arrived at the Seattle airport on the 14th of March...someone exiting the plane said to the person next to them...."have a great Easter Next week"
I think I gasped out loud...
I guess in my time away in Ghana, it did not even cross my mind that Easter was soooooo close.
So with adjusting at home and getting into the swing of new family life...EASTER came quickly!
Dave and I again were blessed as we started to talk about Easter and prepare the kids, when we realized that they had GREAT deposits into them from their time at Beacon House. (Victoria has a memory like a computer...with no glitches :O)
We were able to go to an amazing Good Friday service and walk the kids through an interactive story of the life of Jesus...it was amazing to worship with them, pray and re-tell the story.
Below are some pictures of our Saturday church/community outreach Easter-Eggstravaganza!
Over 2,000 people came, heard the gospel, played games, ate candy, did an egg hunt and had a fun fun time!
John and Victoria did a great job, even in the crowd. Ashlie works at the church full time in the childrens ministry department....you can see her dancing and singing her heart out LOVING KIDS and LOVING JESUS!
Our weekend was a FULL one, but it was FULL of new and exciting things....Jesus is the ONLY one in ALL of history that died and rose AGAIN...for us! So you can imagine that we had a lot of fun celebrating HIM!
Easter!
This is a great day of celebration!
When I arrived at the Seattle airport on the 14th of March...someone exiting the plane said to the person next to them...."have a great Easter Next week"
I think I gasped out loud...
I guess in my time away in Ghana, it did not even cross my mind that Easter was soooooo close.
So with adjusting at home and getting into the swing of new family life...EASTER came quickly!
Dave and I again were blessed as we started to talk about Easter and prepare the kids, when we realized that they had GREAT deposits into them from their time at Beacon House. (Victoria has a memory like a computer...with no glitches :O)
We were able to go to an amazing Good Friday service and walk the kids through an interactive story of the life of Jesus...it was amazing to worship with them, pray and re-tell the story.
Below are some pictures of our Saturday church/community outreach Easter-Eggstravaganza!
Over 2,000 people came, heard the gospel, played games, ate candy, did an egg hunt and had a fun fun time!
John and Victoria did a great job, even in the crowd. Ashlie works at the church full time in the childrens ministry department....you can see her dancing and singing her heart out LOVING KIDS and LOVING JESUS!
Our weekend was a FULL one, but it was FULL of new and exciting things....Jesus is the ONLY one in ALL of history that died and rose AGAIN...for us! So you can imagine that we had a lot of fun celebrating HIM!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Burrrrr!
Can anyone say COLD?
I have spent he past few days just plain COLD!
I can not imagine how the kiddos feel!
Today we got to go see Big Brother Brock play in a school soccer game.
Kinda cute, because, when we were getting ready to go John said, "Is Brock going to play Ghana Black Stars?" (that would be cool, but no)
Today, I never checked to see what the real temperature was...but it was COLD....
Victoria looked out the window at the hills behind our house and delightfully noticed that the snow had fallen and left a distinct while line....where it was cold enough to snow. (still a bit higher than us, and much to her disappointment...not at our house)
So, you can imagine that standing OUTSIDE for a soccer game was going to be interesting.
The kids blew bubbles with other kids at the field, ran and ran and still had very cold hands.
Victoria told me on many occasions "Mum, my hands are paining me...I can not clap for Brock"
It was a fun COLD day!
They are doing a very good job at going with the flow.
While we are doing a few things here and there, we are finding that they really like the comfort of being home.
Each time the door opens and someone comes in or out (big kids to school...Daddy to work, Ash to work etc) the door, they say "where are we going?"
When I answer, "no where" they say "good"
They also ask each person that comes to our house, (the friend who is kindly bringing us dinner, or the man to repair the window...) "where do you sleep?"
"Do you sleep here?"
There seems to be a comfort knowing who sleeps here and who does not.
Taking Victoria somewhere with out John seems to not be the best idea for him at the moment....as he asks "is she going to sleep somewhere?" " is she coming back here?"
So....with all the adjustment, it seems very important to
1. stay together
2. know who is in each bed
3. go places, but come HOME and do what we do here...eat, play, bath, sleep....and do it all in a familiar schedule.
4. Let mom and dad do the "mom and dad" things....even though Ash, Brock and even Tan and Tris are capable...the kids seem to SEEK us out, if we are not the ones doing the routine stuff.
5. sing and dance at least 3 times a day...some planned and some spontaneous....MUSIC and worship seem to bind us ALL together.
For now, we can say we have not laughed so much for so long in a long time....the level of noise went up in our house, but so has the amount of pure laughter and joy!
I guess the great thing about being COLD is that we get to sit under cozy blankets (Victoria's favorite is the electric blanket) read, drink hot chocolate and get to know them better moment by moment!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Once Upon A Princess
Once upon a time there was a beautiful little girl whose love of life and all things wonderful SHONE out of her eyes like RAYS of sunlight.
She grew up playing with family and friends who deeply love her, let her eat mangos off the village mango tree, taught her how to wash, say please and thank-you, taught her how to pray, and much much more.
Like all princeses, there usually is a hard time in her life...no, she was not ever locked up in a castle, or made to do all the chores, or swept away by an evil witch....but sadness did enter her life.
Through it all she remained "joyfull" deep in her being. All who saw her would say "she is Delightful!"
One day a wonderful woman in a big SUV came to her village and asked the people if there was anyway she could assist the princess with her sadness.
They agreed that it would be best for the princess to have a chance to grow up in a place where she could become the BEST Princess she could be!
The princess got to live with the wonderful lady, who took her to meet lots of prince's and princesses who were alot like her.
At this new place she got to go to school, sing songs, learn LOTS and LOTS of Bible verses, learn how to do chores as a team, pray and so much much more!
A time came when the wonderful lady told the princess that she had found a very special place where she could grow up to be a Beautiful Woman and become the BEST Princess she could be.
So this delightful princess left the wonderful lady's house and traveled to a far far away place...where most things were new to her. Her heart was still full of Joy, but some concern about her prince and princess friends she was leaving behind in the land of Ghana. To help her, she chooses to pray for ALL of them ALL of the time.
Upon her arrival to her new land, one day after entering she went to a church. When she turned around...much to her delight, her eyes saw a WONDERFUL thing....1 prince and 3 princess's that she knew from her land of Ghana....SQUEALLS of DELIGHT, jumping and lots of hugging happened in a VERY good moment for her heart.
(maybe a small bit of sadness was starting to leave her heart)
To her surprise she found out that two of the princesses were having a GREAT CELEBRATION at their castles to celebrate their Birthdays...and could she come!
YES!!!
So off to the land of all things new....BIG fancy dresses, tights, shiny shoes, pink finger nails and crowns.....She was beautiful inside and OUT! She felt like a QUEEN!
As she entered the castle she was greeted by another wonderful lady who had received the two birthday princesses from the land of Ghana about 7 months before.
It was a reunion of great love and hugs!
The life of this princess is PRICELESS...beyond measure, her heart and love for people is amazing....she is all she WAS, all she is and wonderfully transforming into the BEST PRIINCESS she can be!!!
Lovely!
This new mommy and family are delighted to have the opportunity to see this princess BLOOM and continue to grow!
Our hearts are humbled by her hearts BEAUTY!!!
WE LOVE YOU PRINCESS VICTORIA!
She grew up playing with family and friends who deeply love her, let her eat mangos off the village mango tree, taught her how to wash, say please and thank-you, taught her how to pray, and much much more.
Like all princeses, there usually is a hard time in her life...no, she was not ever locked up in a castle, or made to do all the chores, or swept away by an evil witch....but sadness did enter her life.
Through it all she remained "joyfull" deep in her being. All who saw her would say "she is Delightful!"
One day a wonderful woman in a big SUV came to her village and asked the people if there was anyway she could assist the princess with her sadness.
They agreed that it would be best for the princess to have a chance to grow up in a place where she could become the BEST Princess she could be!
The princess got to live with the wonderful lady, who took her to meet lots of prince's and princesses who were alot like her.
At this new place she got to go to school, sing songs, learn LOTS and LOTS of Bible verses, learn how to do chores as a team, pray and so much much more!
A time came when the wonderful lady told the princess that she had found a very special place where she could grow up to be a Beautiful Woman and become the BEST Princess she could be.
So this delightful princess left the wonderful lady's house and traveled to a far far away place...where most things were new to her. Her heart was still full of Joy, but some concern about her prince and princess friends she was leaving behind in the land of Ghana. To help her, she chooses to pray for ALL of them ALL of the time.
Upon her arrival to her new land, one day after entering she went to a church. When she turned around...much to her delight, her eyes saw a WONDERFUL thing....1 prince and 3 princess's that she knew from her land of Ghana....SQUEALLS of DELIGHT, jumping and lots of hugging happened in a VERY good moment for her heart.
(maybe a small bit of sadness was starting to leave her heart)
To her surprise she found out that two of the princesses were having a GREAT CELEBRATION at their castles to celebrate their Birthdays...and could she come!
YES!!!
So off to the land of all things new....BIG fancy dresses, tights, shiny shoes, pink finger nails and crowns.....She was beautiful inside and OUT! She felt like a QUEEN!
As she entered the castle she was greeted by another wonderful lady who had received the two birthday princesses from the land of Ghana about 7 months before.
It was a reunion of great love and hugs!
The life of this princess is PRICELESS...beyond measure, her heart and love for people is amazing....she is all she WAS, all she is and wonderfully transforming into the BEST PRIINCESS she can be!!!
Lovely!
This new mommy and family are delighted to have the opportunity to see this princess BLOOM and continue to grow!
Our hearts are humbled by her hearts BEAUTY!!!
WE LOVE YOU PRINCESS VICTORIA!
If your happy and you know it........
If your happy and you know it, clap your hands, stomp our feet, do and African dance, fall on the floor laughing...or what ever feels best to do!
It is Tuesday and it is 6:41 and John is STILL asleep....YEAH!
I was awake at 4:00....couldn't sleep, waiting for him to awaken and NO...still he sleeps!
Title to this blog.....Happy and you know it....
Yesterday it was a series of events big and small that resulted in MANY forms of HAPPY!
The kids (all 6 of them) have had so many moments of just pure fun laughter, at tables,
outside, in play rooms.....with each other.
John thinks the boys are "THE BEST"...he finds things in the house that are new and before he will play with them or investigate, he goes and grabs one of them by the hand and says, "Come and LOOK" (which sounds like come and Luuk") as if they also have not seen what is inside the army man bucket!
We quickly realized that shoes the "tie" are not a good thing...not because they do not want to try to tie them...they both are really close to being able to do it, but becasue you have to loosen up the laces to get them off and on EACH time....our first day....total I am sure I spent over two hours (total in the day) helping them get shoes off and on. (to go in and out side etc) So, slip on and velcro here we come!
We ran into town to get shoes and a few things we realized that "oops, did not think about needing that" kind of stuff.
Dave and I decided to get the kids "one toy" that they could have as their own for their rooms, so they could have a "we gottcha day" celebration memory.
It was a series of such fun events we still are grinning from ear to ear.
We walked into the toy isle at Walmart, and the sound effects started right away..."ohhh, wow, Look look"
I expected that....
But
As Dave took John and I took VIctoria....the curtest thing happened.
We went to the baby-doll area.
She started to giggle...."oh mom, there are plenty"
Her eyes danced! (A few isles over I could hear John in his deep loud voice..."wow, wow...MUM come and Look!")
I put my hand on a baby in a round plactic stnd up bag, that had long hair, hair bows, clips, a hair dryer (that worked) and some outfits you could dress her in)
I told her..."look, you could plant (braid) this ones hair"
What happened next was the "happy and you know it .....do all three" moment!
She said, "Can I have this one?" I said, "yes" She said "oh mom, THANK YOU THANK YOU, started to giggle as she turned the bag around to look into it...
The giggles got louder, feet stomping started, hands went into the air and her beautiful African dance (one hand up, one on her tummy, feet stomping as she pivots in a circle) started to happen!
I HOPE the workers on the secrurity video LOVED it as much as me!
John picked "specs" (sunglasses...cute...to wear in our RAIN) and a small metal airplane, and a few matchbox cars. He would not let them go as we finished our shopping. He kept telling us....OPEN IT!
When we got home, I aksed Victoria is she wanted to take out her baby, she said "no"
" i will take her out tomorrow"
So she did....took all the ties and plastic off and promtly put it all back into the bag. I said, you shoudl PLAY with her. She said, "No, I will play with her tomorrow"
She has a plan...it seems to be one of the LONGEST enjoyment!
So, today the baby should come out of the bag....hee hee!
We are a bit tired, a bit giddy, a LOT disorganized, and HAPPY and JOYFUL...to the point where our faces are starting to HURT from the laughter!
Victoria has a special day today....look for pictures later!
It is Tuesday and it is 6:41 and John is STILL asleep....YEAH!
I was awake at 4:00....couldn't sleep, waiting for him to awaken and NO...still he sleeps!
Title to this blog.....Happy and you know it....
Yesterday it was a series of events big and small that resulted in MANY forms of HAPPY!
The kids (all 6 of them) have had so many moments of just pure fun laughter, at tables,
outside, in play rooms.....with each other.
John thinks the boys are "THE BEST"...he finds things in the house that are new and before he will play with them or investigate, he goes and grabs one of them by the hand and says, "Come and LOOK" (which sounds like come and Luuk") as if they also have not seen what is inside the army man bucket!
We quickly realized that shoes the "tie" are not a good thing...not because they do not want to try to tie them...they both are really close to being able to do it, but becasue you have to loosen up the laces to get them off and on EACH time....our first day....total I am sure I spent over two hours (total in the day) helping them get shoes off and on. (to go in and out side etc) So, slip on and velcro here we come!
We ran into town to get shoes and a few things we realized that "oops, did not think about needing that" kind of stuff.
Dave and I decided to get the kids "one toy" that they could have as their own for their rooms, so they could have a "we gottcha day" celebration memory.
It was a series of such fun events we still are grinning from ear to ear.
We walked into the toy isle at Walmart, and the sound effects started right away..."ohhh, wow, Look look"
I expected that....
But
As Dave took John and I took VIctoria....the curtest thing happened.
We went to the baby-doll area.
She started to giggle...."oh mom, there are plenty"
Her eyes danced! (A few isles over I could hear John in his deep loud voice..."wow, wow...MUM come and Look!")
I put my hand on a baby in a round plactic stnd up bag, that had long hair, hair bows, clips, a hair dryer (that worked) and some outfits you could dress her in)
I told her..."look, you could plant (braid) this ones hair"
What happened next was the "happy and you know it .....do all three" moment!
She said, "Can I have this one?" I said, "yes" She said "oh mom, THANK YOU THANK YOU, started to giggle as she turned the bag around to look into it...
The giggles got louder, feet stomping started, hands went into the air and her beautiful African dance (one hand up, one on her tummy, feet stomping as she pivots in a circle) started to happen!
I HOPE the workers on the secrurity video LOVED it as much as me!
John picked "specs" (sunglasses...cute...to wear in our RAIN) and a small metal airplane, and a few matchbox cars. He would not let them go as we finished our shopping. He kept telling us....OPEN IT!
When we got home, I aksed Victoria is she wanted to take out her baby, she said "no"
" i will take her out tomorrow"
So she did....took all the ties and plastic off and promtly put it all back into the bag. I said, you shoudl PLAY with her. She said, "No, I will play with her tomorrow"
She has a plan...it seems to be one of the LONGEST enjoyment!
So, today the baby should come out of the bag....hee hee!
We are a bit tired, a bit giddy, a LOT disorganized, and HAPPY and JOYFUL...to the point where our faces are starting to HURT from the laughter!
Victoria has a special day today....look for pictures later!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Home Again
Greetings friends and family....yes, it is Monday morning and I think I need to post....it has been a part of my everyday life and it feels good to do it again.
Today at 4:00 a.m. John gets up, "dresss" his bed and comes into my room and says "my stomach is empty" so off we go to get some food and start the morning. (I did however convince him to lay with me for one more hour until I could pry my eye lids open)
Psalm 92 vs 1-2 and 4
It is good to give THANKS to he Lord and to sing praises to Your name, O most High.
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.
For You Lord, have me GLAD through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands!
I guess I wanted to start out with those verses becasue that truly is how my heart is feeling! I asked the Lord EARLY on in this journey to refiine me and show me the places where I had not surrendered and to carry my by His strength and power, knowing i would get to moments that did not make sense, or moments where i did not think I could carry one....AND HE DID!!!
Was it easy...No, did I have to TRUST when things did not make sense in my head...YES, did I have to see that He may have a BIGGER picture than I could see....YES, did I see and do things that He put before me that no one else could of...YES, and YES and YES!
Would I do it again...YES....this part of the journey does not need to be repeated, but the opportunity to BE WITH GOD when you only have HIM...well I think that will re-play in my life over and over again if i am willing!
So, what does on mommy do with, two kids, an airport I have never been in, processing through a process (immigration) I have never navigated, and connections that were a bit unknown? You PRAY and give THANKS and DO IT! and guess what...AGAIN He meets you where you are and gives direction and adventure where my heart was willing to go!
COOL!
The kids did GREAT beyond GREAT!!!
ACCRA AIRPORT
FUNNIEST THINGS: to many people to count asking: "Are those your children?" I would answer "Yes" and they would reply "Are you sure?" *FUNNY!*
I got several questions froom workers like " I am good with kids, and can clean, could I go with you?"
INTERESTING THINGS:
My Visa had expired, and when I went in to renew it (Ghana Immigration) I paid a penalty got my receipt and then was told "come back in two weeks and you can have your passprot back" Ohhhh that was not going to work with me leaving in 6 days...so I took the risk to pay agian at the airport.
That is what I did, it took about 30 mins to sort through things, the officer was very intereseted in a letter I had from Romana (BH Director) and very kindly called her at 6:30 a.m. (THANKS ROMANA for answering even if you do not totally remember what you said What ever it was , it worked:)
The officer asked to talk to the kids:
Officer to Victoria "What is your name?" " Victoria BLASKE" (she says on her own, did not tell her to say that) Officer: "Where are you going?" "America" she says.
Officer: "Why are you going there?" Vic: "I have a family who wants to take care of me" OKAY.....TEARS from the mommy.....She in her tender heart had already worked this all out in her head and answered onher own....GOD YOU ARE WIHT HER!
Officer: Same questions for John, but when we got to the "why are you going to America?" John says "To SWIM" with a huge laugh!
LOVE HIM!!!
We arrrived at 4:45 a.m at the air port, we went through the process of "checking in with an adoption process" and arrived at the gate at 7:00.
It really is amazing to me that in each step of the process and each person who stopped us to ask questions, or pulled us aside to "investigate" set my heart in a place of "Okay....what would you have me do here?" and he provided in each situation!
Everything that happened set us up for position to speak of His goodness...even when it was tough!
SEEING THE AIRPLANE!
squeals of laughter came bounding out as the kids came to the gate to sit to wait to board..the airplane in ACCRA sits out away from the gate and you walk out to it and board from the ground! it looks HUGE, it is HUGE!
"Ohhhh Mom....it is PLENTY!!" look mom DELTA, it says DELTA! (we had been talking about Delta for many weeks and the reality of the plane sitting there was TO MUCH and Laughter was PLENTY!
BOARDING AND TAKE OFF!!
I wish I could of had my video camera on! To grasp the excitment of a take off and the emotions of going....finally going....was priceless! Maybe it was meant just for us, it will forever be in my heart, the memory of squeals, "oh mom, we will fall" or "the houses look like small small....like my BOX for clothes at Beacon House"
Food and head phones on the plane....they had a GREAT time drinking pop, listening to all the music stations on the earphones....DANCING in the seats to each new beat and TALKING AT SUPER LOUD VOICES because they could not hear how loud they were talking....the people in the plane were gracious and just smiled each time they ENJOYED at full TILT the whole experience!
JFK!
We made it throuhg our long flight....with MANY MANY trips to the bathroom, 4 movies, icecream and making friends with the attendants.
We exited the plane and were sent DOWN into a long cement hallway...belwo the airport.
"PASSPORT CHECK" the officers were all saying, I thought, okay...but th lady next to me said "I fly this flight ALL the time and I have never been sent down here."
Okay.....with in 30 mins we all ralized that it was for security as they had set up a sting for a drug bust....not alot of details, but it took 30 mis of my 2 hour lay over I had at JFK.
When you get to immigration you have two options of two lines, "Citizens and Non Citizens" I knew (from the family who had just done this process in Dec That i needed to go in the "citizen line because the kids had "immigrant Visa's"
Two planes dumped into immigration ...about 400 people.
In a series of conversations with officers(as I was put in the NON citizen line...) telling them, as I snaked around the the 12 lanes of roped lines, "I think I need to be OVER THERE" they opened the rope and said "please come this way" and put me int eh citizen line....last one in line (smile)
It was by that time 6:00. (landed at 5:15)...next flight boarding at 6:45 departing at 7:20
By 6:30 I made it to the window of the officer who got to do the job that I had been WAITING for my whole 7 weeks in Ghana....OPENING the ADOPTION envelope and being DONE with the miles and miles of PAPERWORK!
In my heart I was laughing as verses iin James bounced around in my head like my five yr old was bouncing around on the ground (his little body was navigating being awake at 1:00 his body clock time)
CONSIDER it ALL JOY Carrie, do not MISS this chance to PRAISE me, DO ALL things with out complaining....not just the things you understand...Do you trust me?
All these things were flying through my head and I anchored down in my heart and said "okay...Lord, Lets see what you have for us in this section of our journey....are we going to connect? Are we staying in NY for a night? Lets GO! lets WORK hard and see!
So we did, we got through the window, went into the office, had our interview and went to get our bags (that had already been pulled off and set aside due to the length of time) and set off to find out gate at 7;00...YEEE HAW!!!!!
Ever seen a mommy with two kids RUN through JFK? We laughed and cried, we got sweaty and laughed some more.
The gate number on our ticket was 16, when we got there, it said "Dallas" okay....
so off we went on another adventure...to gate 22 (you say, oh not to far...hee hee...it was a HIKE)
The best part of all of it was the FUN we had on the "moving walk-way"
All along the hallways are flat moving walkways...if you get on and RUN you MOVE!
That is what we did....however....not ever having seen a "moving walk=way" the kids approached with great caution....I popped them on with out a lot if discussion....
*remember the plane was boarding*
"okay guys, this is FUN, watch how FAST we can go...lets RUN! LAUGHING And LAUGHING they both RAn....Victoria looked up at me and said "I think I am afraid"
I said, " I think you are AMAZING!!!"
We got to the gate, were the last ones on...sat down and left 20 mins later....
So my hopes of showing the kids a Burger king bruger and fries and a Starbcuks for me faded as we pulled away from the gate.....but boy did we LIVE our verses in JAMES OUT LOUD and in COLOR!!!
ARRIVING!!
Cold cold cold....the kids spent the whole 5 hour flight COLD and asleep!
I got to watch HGTV...home make over shows for 5 hours...kinda fun...but no sleep as kids tossed and turned like jumping beans in the seats trying to get comfortable.
When we were getting off the plane the Pilot said to the kids "welcome HOME"
Do you want to sit in the cock-pit....YES!!!!
They were so kind and we had a good flight!
When we came around the corner we could see a MASS of people and SIGNS of WELCOME!!!
WELCOME HOME!
A WAVE of emotion shot through my heart as John and Victoria saw Dave first and took off running!
Can it be Lord....Can it Be?
Yes!
It was a 10 min exchange of unbelief filled with HUGE BELIEF and HOPE of the LOVE of God over our lives!!!!
The conversations and words spoken as we hugged and kissed, laughed and cried will FOREVER be set in our hearts as a memory of PRAISES to the one and ONLY GOD who could of DONE ALL OF THIS for His GLORY!
FAMILY.....the collection of hand made by God people set together to accomplish the purposes He ALONE has for them to accomplish while here on earth!
That is what we are!
LONG POST....but so was the journey....hee hee!
There are many "firsts " to post about...will do that soon, until then THANKS and PRAISE to all of you who are continuing to STAND by us in prayer and support!
*have not spell checked...no time with John here "living life" by my side...so just laugh at how my brain thinks and spells :O)
Today at 4:00 a.m. John gets up, "dresss" his bed and comes into my room and says "my stomach is empty" so off we go to get some food and start the morning. (I did however convince him to lay with me for one more hour until I could pry my eye lids open)
Psalm 92 vs 1-2 and 4
It is good to give THANKS to he Lord and to sing praises to Your name, O most High.
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.
For You Lord, have me GLAD through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands!
I guess I wanted to start out with those verses becasue that truly is how my heart is feeling! I asked the Lord EARLY on in this journey to refiine me and show me the places where I had not surrendered and to carry my by His strength and power, knowing i would get to moments that did not make sense, or moments where i did not think I could carry one....AND HE DID!!!
Was it easy...No, did I have to TRUST when things did not make sense in my head...YES, did I have to see that He may have a BIGGER picture than I could see....YES, did I see and do things that He put before me that no one else could of...YES, and YES and YES!
Would I do it again...YES....this part of the journey does not need to be repeated, but the opportunity to BE WITH GOD when you only have HIM...well I think that will re-play in my life over and over again if i am willing!
So, what does on mommy do with, two kids, an airport I have never been in, processing through a process (immigration) I have never navigated, and connections that were a bit unknown? You PRAY and give THANKS and DO IT! and guess what...AGAIN He meets you where you are and gives direction and adventure where my heart was willing to go!
COOL!
The kids did GREAT beyond GREAT!!!
ACCRA AIRPORT
FUNNIEST THINGS: to many people to count asking: "Are those your children?" I would answer "Yes" and they would reply "Are you sure?" *FUNNY!*
I got several questions froom workers like " I am good with kids, and can clean, could I go with you?"
INTERESTING THINGS:
My Visa had expired, and when I went in to renew it (Ghana Immigration) I paid a penalty got my receipt and then was told "come back in two weeks and you can have your passprot back" Ohhhh that was not going to work with me leaving in 6 days...so I took the risk to pay agian at the airport.
That is what I did, it took about 30 mins to sort through things, the officer was very intereseted in a letter I had from Romana (BH Director) and very kindly called her at 6:30 a.m. (THANKS ROMANA for answering even if you do not totally remember what you said
The officer asked to talk to the kids:
Officer to Victoria "What is your name?" " Victoria BLASKE" (she says on her own, did not tell her to say that) Officer: "Where are you going?" "America" she says.
Officer: "Why are you going there?" Vic: "I have a family who wants to take care of me" OKAY.....TEARS from the mommy.....She in her tender heart had already worked this all out in her head and answered onher own....GOD YOU ARE WIHT HER!
Officer: Same questions for John, but when we got to the "why are you going to America?" John says "To SWIM" with a huge laugh!
LOVE HIM!!!
We arrrived at 4:45 a.m at the air port, we went through the process of "checking in with an adoption process" and arrived at the gate at 7:00.
It really is amazing to me that in each step of the process and each person who stopped us to ask questions, or pulled us aside to "investigate" set my heart in a place of "Okay....what would you have me do here?" and he provided in each situation!
Everything that happened set us up for position to speak of His goodness...even when it was tough!
SEEING THE AIRPLANE!
squeals of laughter came bounding out as the kids came to the gate to sit to wait to board..the airplane in ACCRA sits out away from the gate and you walk out to it and board from the ground! it looks HUGE, it is HUGE!
"Ohhhh Mom....it is PLENTY!!" look mom DELTA, it says DELTA! (we had been talking about Delta for many weeks and the reality of the plane sitting there was TO MUCH and Laughter was PLENTY!
BOARDING AND TAKE OFF!!
I wish I could of had my video camera on! To grasp the excitment of a take off and the emotions of going....finally going....was priceless! Maybe it was meant just for us, it will forever be in my heart, the memory of squeals, "oh mom, we will fall" or "the houses look like small small....like my BOX for clothes at Beacon House"
Food and head phones on the plane....they had a GREAT time drinking pop, listening to all the music stations on the earphones....DANCING in the seats to each new beat and TALKING AT SUPER LOUD VOICES because they could not hear how loud they were talking....the people in the plane were gracious and just smiled each time they ENJOYED at full TILT the whole experience!
JFK!
We made it throuhg our long flight....with MANY MANY trips to the bathroom, 4 movies, icecream and making friends with the attendants.
We exited the plane and were sent DOWN into a long cement hallway...belwo the airport.
"PASSPORT CHECK" the officers were all saying, I thought, okay...but th lady next to me said "I fly this flight ALL the time and I have never been sent down here."
Okay.....with in 30 mins we all ralized that it was for security as they had set up a sting for a drug bust....not alot of details, but it took 30 mis of my 2 hour lay over I had at JFK.
When you get to immigration you have two options of two lines, "Citizens and Non Citizens" I knew (from the family who had just done this process in Dec That i needed to go in the "citizen line because the kids had "immigrant Visa's"
Two planes dumped into immigration ...about 400 people.
In a series of conversations with officers(as I was put in the NON citizen line...) telling them, as I snaked around the the 12 lanes of roped lines, "I think I need to be OVER THERE" they opened the rope and said "please come this way" and put me int eh citizen line....last one in line (smile)
It was by that time 6:00. (landed at 5:15)...next flight boarding at 6:45 departing at 7:20
By 6:30 I made it to the window of the officer who got to do the job that I had been WAITING for my whole 7 weeks in Ghana....OPENING the ADOPTION envelope and being DONE with the miles and miles of PAPERWORK!
In my heart I was laughing as verses iin James bounced around in my head like my five yr old was bouncing around on the ground (his little body was navigating being awake at 1:00 his body clock time)
CONSIDER it ALL JOY Carrie, do not MISS this chance to PRAISE me, DO ALL things with out complaining....not just the things you understand...Do you trust me?
All these things were flying through my head and I anchored down in my heart and said "okay...Lord, Lets see what you have for us in this section of our journey....are we going to connect? Are we staying in NY for a night? Lets GO! lets WORK hard and see!
So we did, we got through the window, went into the office, had our interview and went to get our bags (that had already been pulled off and set aside due to the length of time) and set off to find out gate at 7;00...YEEE HAW!!!!!
Ever seen a mommy with two kids RUN through JFK? We laughed and cried, we got sweaty and laughed some more.
The gate number on our ticket was 16, when we got there, it said "Dallas" okay....
so off we went on another adventure...to gate 22 (you say, oh not to far...hee hee...it was a HIKE)
The best part of all of it was the FUN we had on the "moving walk-way"
All along the hallways are flat moving walkways...if you get on and RUN you MOVE!
That is what we did....however....not ever having seen a "moving walk=way" the kids approached with great caution....I popped them on with out a lot if discussion....
*remember the plane was boarding*
"okay guys, this is FUN, watch how FAST we can go...lets RUN! LAUGHING And LAUGHING they both RAn....Victoria looked up at me and said "I think I am afraid"
I said, " I think you are AMAZING!!!"
We got to the gate, were the last ones on...sat down and left 20 mins later....
So my hopes of showing the kids a Burger king bruger and fries and a Starbcuks for me faded as we pulled away from the gate.....but boy did we LIVE our verses in JAMES OUT LOUD and in COLOR!!!
ARRIVING!!
Cold cold cold....the kids spent the whole 5 hour flight COLD and asleep!
I got to watch HGTV...home make over shows for 5 hours...kinda fun...but no sleep as kids tossed and turned like jumping beans in the seats trying to get comfortable.
When we were getting off the plane the Pilot said to the kids "welcome HOME"
Do you want to sit in the cock-pit....YES!!!!
They were so kind and we had a good flight!
When we came around the corner we could see a MASS of people and SIGNS of WELCOME!!!
WELCOME HOME!
A WAVE of emotion shot through my heart as John and Victoria saw Dave first and took off running!
Can it be Lord....Can it Be?
Yes!
It was a 10 min exchange of unbelief filled with HUGE BELIEF and HOPE of the LOVE of God over our lives!!!!
The conversations and words spoken as we hugged and kissed, laughed and cried will FOREVER be set in our hearts as a memory of PRAISES to the one and ONLY GOD who could of DONE ALL OF THIS for His GLORY!
FAMILY.....the collection of hand made by God people set together to accomplish the purposes He ALONE has for them to accomplish while here on earth!
That is what we are!
LONG POST....but so was the journey....hee hee!
There are many "firsts " to post about...will do that soon, until then THANKS and PRAISE to all of you who are continuing to STAND by us in prayer and support!
*have not spell checked...no time with John here "living life" by my side...so just laugh at how my brain thinks and spells :O)
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Arrival
Hello all,
yes, they made it safe and sound and are currently enjoying soft warm beds!
I thought I'd upload some pictures of their traveling and arrival in Seattle.
Hope you enjoy!
yes, they made it safe and sound and are currently enjoying soft warm beds!
I thought I'd upload some pictures of their traveling and arrival in Seattle.
Hope you enjoy!
HOME SAFE and COLD!
Hello Friends and Family!
Carrie and the two kiddos are home safe and sound and still sleeping!! I think Victoria and John had enough blankets last night to be warm in a frigid Alaskan winter :-).
Carrie I am sure will edit this blog later today or Sunday and share the fun and exciting trip and firsts that occurred on the way home.
It was a SUPER day and full of Gods Blessing! It is great to have them all home and to have EIGHT under one roof!
Dave
Carrie and the two kiddos are home safe and sound and still sleeping!! I think Victoria and John had enough blankets last night to be warm in a frigid Alaskan winter :-).
Carrie I am sure will edit this blog later today or Sunday and share the fun and exciting trip and firsts that occurred on the way home.
It was a SUPER day and full of Gods Blessing! It is great to have them all home and to have EIGHT under one roof!
Dave
Thursday, March 13, 2008
One More Day!! (from Lynden)
The excitement is growing in Lynden. Our hearts are filled with thanks to our Lord for ALL HE HAS DONE! He gave us friends that have stood in the gaps, He gave our 4 kids in Lynden amazying stories to tell themselves of how they have journeyed during this time of 7 weeks themselves without their mother at home.
I am a very proud Dad! Ashlie and Brock did super and navigated life tremendously without Mom and some of the time Dad too. With great friends being willing to stand in the gap and parent teenagers too they were well taken care of. They got to work, school, and took care of home too. Great Job Ash and Brock!!!
Tanner spent time with his cousins and learned alot from his Aunt and Uncle. He wouldn't trade the time for anything I am sure. Tristan spent time with great friends here in Lynden and being the youngest of the family did tremendous too!
Today I got a picture of how excited these 4 really are. Each of them in their own way is excited. Ashlie is smiling and giddy and shaking and saying they are almost here (Note she has been doing that for weeks though :0)! Brock is smiling and saying COOL they will be home tomorrow. Tanner is amayzed at God and how all the praying and stuff is coming to a climax and he can't wait to see them all tomorrow night! And Tristan well dear Tristan inspired me to write this note to you all as he has been relatively quiet, excited but not saying much...until today.
This morning in span of a couple hours he looked at me and said 4 or 5 times Dad ...ONE MORE DAY!!! Oh the joy that filled the air with those words. Words of excitement and thankfulness all at once. When I was driving out of the carport earlier he ran out to say goodbye and then as he was heading back in he said (yep you guessed it) Dad....ONE MORE DAY with a HUGE FRECKLE FILLED SMILE!!
Love It!
Sooo we are off to be as busy as possible until Friday night when we get to ALL EIGHT of us be together for the first time!
Praise God for ALL that HE HAS DONE!
Dave
I am a very proud Dad! Ashlie and Brock did super and navigated life tremendously without Mom and some of the time Dad too. With great friends being willing to stand in the gap and parent teenagers too they were well taken care of. They got to work, school, and took care of home too. Great Job Ash and Brock!!!
Tanner spent time with his cousins and learned alot from his Aunt and Uncle. He wouldn't trade the time for anything I am sure. Tristan spent time with great friends here in Lynden and being the youngest of the family did tremendous too!
Today I got a picture of how excited these 4 really are. Each of them in their own way is excited. Ashlie is smiling and giddy and shaking and saying they are almost here (Note she has been doing that for weeks though :0)! Brock is smiling and saying COOL they will be home tomorrow. Tanner is amayzed at God and how all the praying and stuff is coming to a climax and he can't wait to see them all tomorrow night! And Tristan well dear Tristan inspired me to write this note to you all as he has been relatively quiet, excited but not saying much...until today.
This morning in span of a couple hours he looked at me and said 4 or 5 times Dad ...ONE MORE DAY!!! Oh the joy that filled the air with those words. Words of excitement and thankfulness all at once. When I was driving out of the carport earlier he ran out to say goodbye and then as he was heading back in he said (yep you guessed it) Dad....ONE MORE DAY with a HUGE FRECKLE FILLED SMILE!!
Love It!
Sooo we are off to be as busy as possible until Friday night when we get to ALL EIGHT of us be together for the first time!
Praise God for ALL that HE HAS DONE!
Dave
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Funny Thoughts
This morning I woke up with a "blog" in mind...it was kind of funny as I lay there thinking of all the funny things I would post...yet NOT getting out of bed to do it.
(John seems to toss and turn all night and keep me awake...then sleeps HARD with out moving from 5:30 - 7:00, but I am at that point awake :O)
So, needless to say, I did not pop out of bed to "blog"
Today the power was off and on and off and on...leaving my shot at the computer random.
ANIMALS
Can you tell the difference between a crying baby and a goat tied up out side your window...in the middle of the night...I can now. They sound very much the same and it was a bit concerning for me to hear the "baby" cry all night.
Lizards, did you know that they are afraid of you, but when the want what you have they will raise their head and bounce it up and down to try to make you squrim...it works.
Also, cockroaches, the BIGGER they are the better....if you only see the BIG ones in the house that means that they are coming "in" for the food but live outside (where you want them to live) if you see the lttle ones inside then they have taken up a home in your kitchen...having babies. (YUCK!)
The free range chickens and goats all gather together for an EARLY meeting EACH DAY and freely talk to each other from about 4:30-6:00 a,m.....then they are quiet!
With the windows open, it is hard to NOT hear them!
Ants...hummm, how long does it take the ants to FIND any crumb you drop or leave on the counter...about 2 seconds, they must call their friends and let them know.."hey she is stirring something on the stove and I am sure she will take the spoon out and put it on the counter any second...COME NOW" so they do, you set the spoon down, pick it up to stir again...only to find that you did not look at the spoon first and you now have about 20 ants in your pan...FUN FUN!
Money
The taxi pulls up, you lean in and ask how much to "Beacon House" and they say 3,000
WHAT!!! oh, the currency has changed but MOST Ghanaians still talk in old currency...it is 3 Ghana Cedis (about 3 US dollars)
The price of a loaf of bread, 1,050 (1 Ghana cedi and 50 pesowis sp)
about $1.50 usd....
When you go to the bank to exchange USD into Cedis...you give the banker your $200dollars and they give you 200 ceids in one cedi bills (like one dollar bills)
OKAY...now I have this wad of money in my wallet that I can not even close...that is okay though because they will give you a little black plastic bag to carry your money in.
I thought this was very odd...until I realized hardly anyone has change for anything...not even a $3 cedi taxi ride...give the man a $5 cedi bill and he looks at you and says "small bill please"
Bad news is when the teller machine gives you all $10 cedi bills...YIKES what will I do with such a big bill. Even the nicer resorts we went to, when we order a soda by the pool and gave a $5 cedi bill...you could see all the staff gathering behind the bar, trying to see between the 6 of them if they could get us change.
Vendors
The sound of air coming out of a tire...sssssssss coming out of a man's mouth toward you is a "call" for you to look his way. (wants you to look at what he is selling)
The sound of small kisses over and over again is also a call from a vendor to have you look his way as you walk or drive by.
*lots of sounds, and kisses day after day, everywhere you go makes you kinda silly in the head...you learn to tune it out...even though you would not mind talking to some of the vendors....just a weird way of getting your attention.
I have already talked about the things you can by while sitting in traffic...I still think selling toilet paper on Front street and 17th would be perfect for me on my way home from drum lessons or school...Today I saw a tiolet seat and some excersize stuff..funny combo!
Sweat
Is it possible to have been here for 7 weeks and not remember a day that I was not sweaty?
Going through two shirts a day...no problem, well, I guess it makes more wash to do, which then makes you sweat even more.
Have not had a hot shower yet...really do not want one, but have figured out a new way to make hot water.
with the bucket shower method, you start with a small plastic bowl that you fill with water from the bucket, dump it over your head, it is COLD and refreshing, but as it runs down it picks up the HEAT from your body, and by the time the water is to your knees, it is HOT...so your feet are ALWAYS in hot water. Cool huh?
I told Dave before he left, on one of our walks, that I know when my body has hit critical mass in the heat dept...my eye lids sweat....yes they do.
I know this because I often close my eyes to let the air hit them while I walk....and it feels cooler. Funny but true.
Cute things the kids say
Fisrt of all most things spoken are at a LOUD very direct tone...not rude, just culture...so it takes a bit to realize that they are just talking to you, not shouting.
"Waaaah-tahh" = water, MANY times a day, Victoria or John will get about 2 inches from my face and say loudly. "Waaaah-tahh" (meaning they want some)
"when do we Take lunch" =what time are we eating
"Ohhhhh Sorry" = oh, sorry...for ANY time ANYONE trips, bumps a head, drops a spoon while cooking, basically any time anything unfortunate happens to anyone...could be me or could be the man at the bank who drops his paper..."ohhhh, sorry"
"you people" = a group of people....like "where are you people going today?"
"I finish all?" = Can I have what is left in the glass or the cup or the bowl. IF you offer them your cup to drink out of...they will ask if they can finish all..meaning..."do you want any more of this mom?"
"ahhh-hemmm" (with a nod of the head) = what we say when we agree like "yes or yeah, or sure, or yep....it just means I hear you and I agree.
"I should go and bath?" = is is time to go take a bath or shower (all they can do here is shower)
"I should go and sleep?" = do you want me to go and take a nap or get in bed for the night...(I like this question, because when i say "yes" they GO and they lay down and close their eyes!
"Plenty" = there is a lot of what ever it is. Like when we drove to the coast and we saw the ocean as we came around the corner, they said, "Oh mum, the water is PLENTY" or when my bowl of rice is a bit bigger than theirs..."mum, your rice is PlENTY" KInda cute.
"ummmm this is good papa" = this is the best of what ever it is...like a mango...the one they had the other day was not so good, the one they had this a.m...."oh mum, this mango is good papa"
"paining" = hurting. If the kids skin their knee, they will say "mum, my knee is Paining me" or my head is paining me or if a braid is to tight, it pains her.
"dressing" = getting the bed ready after a night of sleep...then getting yourself ready. Theses kids are AMAZING...they crack open their eyes, sit up, grap the sheet, perfectly fold it, straighten out the fitted sheet....it is tight and no wrinkles, then place the folded sheet on the pillow, dress their bodies, FOLD the jammies in perfect square and put the little square right below the pillow.
"mum, I have dressed my bed" (heaven forbid you then sit on the edge to put on your shoes....."ohhhhhh mum, you have spoiled it" = I have messed it up.
There are many many more cute things, wait until you meet them....you will soooo ENJOY it, they are delightful!!!
My time in Ghana has been a GIFT! I wanted to walk step by step with out a plan of my own...but be ready for all that GOd had...(it was hard at times....really hot and hard at times..) But He never left me, His strength FILLED me like I have never experienced. I learned A LOT about my self and the state of my heart...His Word has fed me day by day, His people...wow GOd has some amazing warriors in Africa doing His work...so blessed to have met them and been changed by being with them.
I am thankful for all the support and prayers everyone has sent to the Throne room on our families behalf....we FELT IT, we lived in FAVOR and BLESSING...THANK YOU!
SO I will wrap up this very long post...as it is my last one in GHANA (can you believe it) I get on the plane EARLY in the morning with two very excited kiddos.
Love and Blessings to ALL...
See you State Side!
(John seems to toss and turn all night and keep me awake...then sleeps HARD with out moving from 5:30 - 7:00, but I am at that point awake :O)
So, needless to say, I did not pop out of bed to "blog"
Today the power was off and on and off and on...leaving my shot at the computer random.
ANIMALS
Can you tell the difference between a crying baby and a goat tied up out side your window...in the middle of the night...I can now. They sound very much the same and it was a bit concerning for me to hear the "baby" cry all night.
Lizards, did you know that they are afraid of you, but when the want what you have they will raise their head and bounce it up and down to try to make you squrim...it works.
Also, cockroaches, the BIGGER they are the better....if you only see the BIG ones in the house that means that they are coming "in" for the food but live outside (where you want them to live) if you see the lttle ones inside then they have taken up a home in your kitchen...having babies. (YUCK!)
The free range chickens and goats all gather together for an EARLY meeting EACH DAY and freely talk to each other from about 4:30-6:00 a,m.....then they are quiet!
With the windows open, it is hard to NOT hear them!
Ants...hummm, how long does it take the ants to FIND any crumb you drop or leave on the counter...about 2 seconds, they must call their friends and let them know.."hey she is stirring something on the stove and I am sure she will take the spoon out and put it on the counter any second...COME NOW" so they do, you set the spoon down, pick it up to stir again...only to find that you did not look at the spoon first and you now have about 20 ants in your pan...FUN FUN!
Money
The taxi pulls up, you lean in and ask how much to "Beacon House" and they say 3,000
WHAT!!! oh, the currency has changed but MOST Ghanaians still talk in old currency...it is 3 Ghana Cedis (about 3 US dollars)
The price of a loaf of bread, 1,050 (1 Ghana cedi and 50 pesowis sp)
about $1.50 usd....
When you go to the bank to exchange USD into Cedis...you give the banker your $200dollars and they give you 200 ceids in one cedi bills (like one dollar bills)
OKAY...now I have this wad of money in my wallet that I can not even close...that is okay though because they will give you a little black plastic bag to carry your money in.
I thought this was very odd...until I realized hardly anyone has change for anything...not even a $3 cedi taxi ride...give the man a $5 cedi bill and he looks at you and says "small bill please"
Bad news is when the teller machine gives you all $10 cedi bills...YIKES what will I do with such a big bill. Even the nicer resorts we went to, when we order a soda by the pool and gave a $5 cedi bill...you could see all the staff gathering behind the bar, trying to see between the 6 of them if they could get us change.
Vendors
The sound of air coming out of a tire...sssssssss coming out of a man's mouth toward you is a "call" for you to look his way. (wants you to look at what he is selling)
The sound of small kisses over and over again is also a call from a vendor to have you look his way as you walk or drive by.
*lots of sounds, and kisses day after day, everywhere you go makes you kinda silly in the head...you learn to tune it out...even though you would not mind talking to some of the vendors....just a weird way of getting your attention.
I have already talked about the things you can by while sitting in traffic...I still think selling toilet paper on Front street and 17th would be perfect for me on my way home from drum lessons or school...Today I saw a tiolet seat and some excersize stuff..funny combo!
Sweat
Is it possible to have been here for 7 weeks and not remember a day that I was not sweaty?
Going through two shirts a day...no problem, well, I guess it makes more wash to do, which then makes you sweat even more.
Have not had a hot shower yet...really do not want one, but have figured out a new way to make hot water.
with the bucket shower method, you start with a small plastic bowl that you fill with water from the bucket, dump it over your head, it is COLD and refreshing, but as it runs down it picks up the HEAT from your body, and by the time the water is to your knees, it is HOT...so your feet are ALWAYS in hot water. Cool huh?
I told Dave before he left, on one of our walks, that I know when my body has hit critical mass in the heat dept...my eye lids sweat....yes they do.
I know this because I often close my eyes to let the air hit them while I walk....and it feels cooler. Funny but true.
Cute things the kids say
Fisrt of all most things spoken are at a LOUD very direct tone...not rude, just culture...so it takes a bit to realize that they are just talking to you, not shouting.
"Waaaah-tahh" = water, MANY times a day, Victoria or John will get about 2 inches from my face and say loudly. "Waaaah-tahh" (meaning they want some)
"when do we Take lunch" =what time are we eating
"Ohhhhh Sorry" = oh, sorry...for ANY time ANYONE trips, bumps a head, drops a spoon while cooking, basically any time anything unfortunate happens to anyone...could be me or could be the man at the bank who drops his paper..."ohhhh, sorry"
"you people" = a group of people....like "where are you people going today?"
"I finish all?" = Can I have what is left in the glass or the cup or the bowl. IF you offer them your cup to drink out of...they will ask if they can finish all..meaning..."do you want any more of this mom?"
"ahhh-hemmm" (with a nod of the head) = what we say when we agree like "yes or yeah, or sure, or yep....it just means I hear you and I agree.
"I should go and bath?" = is is time to go take a bath or shower (all they can do here is shower)
"I should go and sleep?" = do you want me to go and take a nap or get in bed for the night...(I like this question, because when i say "yes" they GO and they lay down and close their eyes!
"Plenty" = there is a lot of what ever it is. Like when we drove to the coast and we saw the ocean as we came around the corner, they said, "Oh mum, the water is PLENTY" or when my bowl of rice is a bit bigger than theirs..."mum, your rice is PlENTY" KInda cute.
"ummmm this is good papa" = this is the best of what ever it is...like a mango...the one they had the other day was not so good, the one they had this a.m...."oh mum, this mango is good papa"
"paining" = hurting. If the kids skin their knee, they will say "mum, my knee is Paining me" or my head is paining me or if a braid is to tight, it pains her.
"dressing" = getting the bed ready after a night of sleep...then getting yourself ready. Theses kids are AMAZING...they crack open their eyes, sit up, grap the sheet, perfectly fold it, straighten out the fitted sheet....it is tight and no wrinkles, then place the folded sheet on the pillow, dress their bodies, FOLD the jammies in perfect square and put the little square right below the pillow.
"mum, I have dressed my bed" (heaven forbid you then sit on the edge to put on your shoes....."ohhhhhh mum, you have spoiled it" = I have messed it up.
There are many many more cute things, wait until you meet them....you will soooo ENJOY it, they are delightful!!!
My time in Ghana has been a GIFT! I wanted to walk step by step with out a plan of my own...but be ready for all that GOd had...(it was hard at times....really hot and hard at times..) But He never left me, His strength FILLED me like I have never experienced. I learned A LOT about my self and the state of my heart...His Word has fed me day by day, His people...wow GOd has some amazing warriors in Africa doing His work...so blessed to have met them and been changed by being with them.
I am thankful for all the support and prayers everyone has sent to the Throne room on our families behalf....we FELT IT, we lived in FAVOR and BLESSING...THANK YOU!
SO I will wrap up this very long post...as it is my last one in GHANA (can you believe it) I get on the plane EARLY in the morning with two very excited kiddos.
Love and Blessings to ALL...
See you State Side!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Coming Home!!!!
I am in SHOCK!!!
This morning started with a very early "rise and shine" to get the kids fed, dressed and out the door by 7:10 a.m. to go to the Embassy!
We got there, got in (with an appointment letter) and SAT. It was an okay sitting time because we had such anticipation of what might happen.
By 10:00 I was called to the window and was able to submit my "visa application documents" then my file was put into the "cue" (or order of appointment)
2 hours later, and many trips to the bath room (that had self flushing toilets, and automatic sinks...Kids got a KICK out of those...not a lot of "potty" happened, but it was a good distraction )we got called to the window for our interview.
It took 45 mins. In the discussion and paper work stuff, we got to the questions about the Visa.
Amazed and EXCITED...we are getting our Visa on Thursday and flying back to the USA and my beautiful family and friends on FRIDAY!!!
Thank you to ALL of you who are continuing to stand with us as we finish our jourey in Ghana.
We started with a desire to walk in STEP with each STEP the Lord had for us and we get to finish the same way.
Some sadness today with the celebration....the D's approval is one day behind ours, so it makes departure times and dates a bit off of our schedule...I will let them tell their story. :O( The kids will miss traveling together, but God must have some things in store for both of our families with the Timing of departure.
We are looking forward to being home!
Today at the Embassy, Victoria reached over and put her fingers on my face "please mum, my hands are cold"
Boy is she going to be surprised when her hands will not just be cold for a few hours in the AC, but for DAYS!!!
So, we are spending our next few days, getting another "hair-do" for Victoria, re-packing, shifting rooms ONE last time, and spending ALOT of time PRAISING GOD for our ENTIRE time in GHANA....hard times as well as good times!
See you all SOON!
This morning started with a very early "rise and shine" to get the kids fed, dressed and out the door by 7:10 a.m. to go to the Embassy!
We got there, got in (with an appointment letter) and SAT. It was an okay sitting time because we had such anticipation of what might happen.
By 10:00 I was called to the window and was able to submit my "visa application documents" then my file was put into the "cue" (or order of appointment)
2 hours later, and many trips to the bath room (that had self flushing toilets, and automatic sinks...Kids got a KICK out of those...not a lot of "potty" happened, but it was a good distraction )we got called to the window for our interview.
It took 45 mins. In the discussion and paper work stuff, we got to the questions about the Visa.
Amazed and EXCITED...we are getting our Visa on Thursday and flying back to the USA and my beautiful family and friends on FRIDAY!!!
Thank you to ALL of you who are continuing to stand with us as we finish our jourey in Ghana.
We started with a desire to walk in STEP with each STEP the Lord had for us and we get to finish the same way.
Some sadness today with the celebration....the D's approval is one day behind ours, so it makes departure times and dates a bit off of our schedule...I will let them tell their story. :O( The kids will miss traveling together, but God must have some things in store for both of our families with the Timing of departure.
We are looking forward to being home!
Today at the Embassy, Victoria reached over and put her fingers on my face "please mum, my hands are cold"
Boy is she going to be surprised when her hands will not just be cold for a few hours in the AC, but for DAYS!!!
So, we are spending our next few days, getting another "hair-do" for Victoria, re-packing, shifting rooms ONE last time, and spending ALOT of time PRAISING GOD for our ENTIRE time in GHANA....hard times as well as good times!
See you all SOON!
Monday, March 10, 2008
APPROVED
Yes oh yes! the word APPROVED has once again come across my ears!
Today is Monday! Early this morning I woke up with a word on my heart of "Lord...is it time?"
I had a feeling of anxious tummy....like you have before you have to do public speaking. I went on with the morning until 11:00 when I called the DHS to see if our file was on the director's "radar"
She said, "your file is currently under review, but I will call you by the end of the work day to let you know if it is APPROVED or not"
****when is the end of the day...5:00
THe kids and I spent the day doing school stuff, playing and doing some laundry. After their nap I felt like I was suspended in space and time....needed to be busy, but there was nothing to do....wait...READ the WORD! So I did. I poured over the verses I LOVE and sang praises to God for all He has done. I really did not ask for anything afraid that in my desire to go home...I might ask a-miss. So we (Holy Spirit and I had a time of worship...while kids rode the scooter below.... I am sure GOd was just getting a kick out of my un-easy stomache as I was so excited that the approval may come today!)
At 4:50 my cell phone rings and it is a very joyous Romana....saying "Carrie, the Embassy just called my cell phone looking for you, they would not tell me why, but they left a direct contact number"
I quickly hung up, dialed, almost to fast....remember that they are only open until 5:00....A lady answered, I identified myself and she said, "yes, Mrs. Blaske, your I 600 has been approved, you may come in to apply for your VISA's"
Very calmly I said "THANK-YOU"
**** INSIDE I was BOUNCING around like a ping pong ball****
So, tomorrow a troop of D's and B's will be getting up at 6:30 to get ready and be at the Embassy by 7:30 a.m.!
Jim and I are assuming that his got done as well.....do not know what contact information the Embassy had for them...but nevertheless...we are all going to go in tomorrow!
HIP HIP HOORAY!
THe faithfulness of God is....well....FAITHFUL!
There is ALOT of emtotion in my heart as I type this! I think back to 7 seven years ago when Dave and I realized that we both had the same dream...the dream given to us by GOd Himself to love the orphan....wow, my heart races to think about where we were, where He has brought us and to where He is going to take us!
Hey my handsome husband...are you ready to have your wife and kids HOME???
BIG SMOOCHES!!!
Today is Monday! Early this morning I woke up with a word on my heart of "Lord...is it time?"
I had a feeling of anxious tummy....like you have before you have to do public speaking. I went on with the morning until 11:00 when I called the DHS to see if our file was on the director's "radar"
She said, "your file is currently under review, but I will call you by the end of the work day to let you know if it is APPROVED or not"
****when is the end of the day...5:00
THe kids and I spent the day doing school stuff, playing and doing some laundry. After their nap I felt like I was suspended in space and time....needed to be busy, but there was nothing to do....wait...READ the WORD! So I did. I poured over the verses I LOVE and sang praises to God for all He has done. I really did not ask for anything afraid that in my desire to go home...I might ask a-miss. So we (Holy Spirit and I had a time of worship...while kids rode the scooter below.... I am sure GOd was just getting a kick out of my un-easy stomache as I was so excited that the approval may come today!)
At 4:50 my cell phone rings and it is a very joyous Romana....saying "Carrie, the Embassy just called my cell phone looking for you, they would not tell me why, but they left a direct contact number"
I quickly hung up, dialed, almost to fast....remember that they are only open until 5:00....A lady answered, I identified myself and she said, "yes, Mrs. Blaske, your I 600 has been approved, you may come in to apply for your VISA's"
Very calmly I said "THANK-YOU"
**** INSIDE I was BOUNCING around like a ping pong ball****
So, tomorrow a troop of D's and B's will be getting up at 6:30 to get ready and be at the Embassy by 7:30 a.m.!
Jim and I are assuming that his got done as well.....do not know what contact information the Embassy had for them...but nevertheless...we are all going to go in tomorrow!
HIP HIP HOORAY!
THe faithfulness of God is....well....FAITHFUL!
There is ALOT of emtotion in my heart as I type this! I think back to 7 seven years ago when Dave and I realized that we both had the same dream...the dream given to us by GOd Himself to love the orphan....wow, my heart races to think about where we were, where He has brought us and to where He is going to take us!
Hey my handsome husband...are you ready to have your wife and kids HOME???
BIG SMOOCHES!!!
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Storm
While we were wrapping up our pool time with some fish and chips...we noticed that over the resort roof, the sky had become a very dark gray. It was not only gray, but it had BIG clouds...this was unusual for the sky I had seen in my time in Ghana.
We had the kids stop eating and watch the clouds.
It was unlike anything I had seen before. The clouds that were over land were moving toward the ocean..BUT there was a whole set of clouds (a bit higher) coming toward the land from the ocean. It seemed to be happening right above us, so it was amazing to watch these two systems mix and match and crash into eachother. The shapes and movements of the clouds, updrafts and colors reminded me of weather systems you see on National Geographic weather shows. VERY AWESOME!
***looking out over the ocean, a very clear line of the storm over the water...I do not know if you can see the formation of the billowy part of the clouds...but it was so detailed it made me feel very SMALL!!!*****
We walked out toward the beach/ocean, and it began to drizzle...the kids stepped under one of the cabana's and promptly told us that "we NEED to go" it sparked some interesting stories and ideas they have about rain. Some of the memories they have of rain in the village came out.....made me realize that me saying "it is okay that we are out here, I am with you" did not matter and I also felt like I was looked at like "You have no idea!" Really...I do not have an idea and it made me love these kids even more as they talked about thunder, rain and lots of water....they have seen things with Rain in Africa that I have not. I have not lived through a HUGE thunder storm in a mud hut....so as we wrapped up our storm watching, I found my heart drawn to the hearts of my kids and how very proud I am of them!
**** For as far as you could see down the coast, it was flashing lightening and swirrling with beautiful clouds.
***** this is the picture of the resort roof, when it first started....it was a great show of power and beauty!
When we walked back through the resort to go to the front to catch a taxi back to the guest house, it began to rain...kind of like when it rains in WA, but by the time we got through the building it was RAINING!!! so much so that the water was in sheets and cascading down the tile roof in huge sheets. (of course it was all brown water from all the dust that was on top of the roof)
THe streets had standing water in them....no puddle jumping here for me...the cement gutters that run all along everywhere in Ghana carry the "waste" water from buildings and is also on open type sewer for anyone passing by...if you know what I mean. These gutters filled and water was over the road....thoughts of making a splashing in the rain "memory" faded as we drove home.
As we got back to our guest house, it had stopped raining and everything was wet and felt fresh. Lightening still flashed through the sky...but the crashing storm seemed to be passing.
One of the benefits is tonight I do not need to turn on the AC to get to sleep. (usually set it for 2 hours on a timer so REST can actually happen)
The AC has a "room" temperature on the remote. Each day that I have been here it usually reads "30-32 degrees Celcius" Tonight after the rain it said "26" HIP HIP HOORAY!!!! THe kids actually fell asleep with top and bottom jammies on and the sheet!
It is late, the air is fresh and smells clean (no garbage burning next door, and no car exaugst in the air...so I am going to take advantage and get some sleep!
Tomorrow we hope to hear the news APPROVED I 600...come on in and apply for your visa...will keep you updated!
We had the kids stop eating and watch the clouds.
It was unlike anything I had seen before. The clouds that were over land were moving toward the ocean..BUT there was a whole set of clouds (a bit higher) coming toward the land from the ocean. It seemed to be happening right above us, so it was amazing to watch these two systems mix and match and crash into eachother. The shapes and movements of the clouds, updrafts and colors reminded me of weather systems you see on National Geographic weather shows. VERY AWESOME!
***looking out over the ocean, a very clear line of the storm over the water...I do not know if you can see the formation of the billowy part of the clouds...but it was so detailed it made me feel very SMALL!!!*****
We walked out toward the beach/ocean, and it began to drizzle...the kids stepped under one of the cabana's and promptly told us that "we NEED to go" it sparked some interesting stories and ideas they have about rain. Some of the memories they have of rain in the village came out.....made me realize that me saying "it is okay that we are out here, I am with you" did not matter and I also felt like I was looked at like "You have no idea!" Really...I do not have an idea and it made me love these kids even more as they talked about thunder, rain and lots of water....they have seen things with Rain in Africa that I have not. I have not lived through a HUGE thunder storm in a mud hut....so as we wrapped up our storm watching, I found my heart drawn to the hearts of my kids and how very proud I am of them!
**** For as far as you could see down the coast, it was flashing lightening and swirrling with beautiful clouds.
***** this is the picture of the resort roof, when it first started....it was a great show of power and beauty!
When we walked back through the resort to go to the front to catch a taxi back to the guest house, it began to rain...kind of like when it rains in WA, but by the time we got through the building it was RAINING!!! so much so that the water was in sheets and cascading down the tile roof in huge sheets. (of course it was all brown water from all the dust that was on top of the roof)
THe streets had standing water in them....no puddle jumping here for me...the cement gutters that run all along everywhere in Ghana carry the "waste" water from buildings and is also on open type sewer for anyone passing by...if you know what I mean. These gutters filled and water was over the road....thoughts of making a splashing in the rain "memory" faded as we drove home.
As we got back to our guest house, it had stopped raining and everything was wet and felt fresh. Lightening still flashed through the sky...but the crashing storm seemed to be passing.
One of the benefits is tonight I do not need to turn on the AC to get to sleep. (usually set it for 2 hours on a timer so REST can actually happen)
The AC has a "room" temperature on the remote. Each day that I have been here it usually reads "30-32 degrees Celcius" Tonight after the rain it said "26" HIP HIP HOORAY!!!! THe kids actually fell asleep with top and bottom jammies on and the sheet!
It is late, the air is fresh and smells clean (no garbage burning next door, and no car exaugst in the air...so I am going to take advantage and get some sleep!
Tomorrow we hope to hear the news APPROVED I 600...come on in and apply for your visa...will keep you updated!
La Palm
Ever stayed somewhere that they charge you $255.00 a night?...I have not, and still have not, but in Ghana this very nice "resort" on the beach of Accra has a "day rate" for the pool use.
It is a BEAUTIFUL PLACE!
Today after church, (which was AWESOME!!...sooo sorry you had to miss it Dave....it was just how you thought it might be...WORSHIP off the chart and songs that they sang "open the flood gates of Heaven, let it RAIN....with drums and they sang it about 15 times ...it was SWEET!)I joined in on the Sunday tradition of all the adopting families going to the pool for the whole day...to La Palm we went!
Mr D proved to be a CRAZY man in the pool....he flipped and tossed my kiddos over and over until John started to cry....(this is not a bad thing....it takes A lot for John to have ENOUGH of ANYTHING!) Jim spent lots of time with Jacob, Rachel, Sarah and VIctoria, teaching them how to swim across the pool with breathing....by the end of the day the kids were doing AMAZING! The kids had a lot of fun being able to have friends at the pool with them. They played games and really only rested for about a half an hour to eat a few "biscuits"
John is FULL TILT all the time! He is sooooo funny to watch in the pool! I have little toe print like bruises on my legs and little finger bruises on the insides of my arms where he used me like a diving board to push off of me to go head long into the water from any position! He is used to sleeping for a good solid two hours at nap time....did not get to do that, so by the end of our fun day....boy was he TIRED!
We got to have some good snuggle time for the last 40 mins of everyone else swimming, just John and Mom, under the umbrella under the towel, talking....priceless!
Victoria...what can I say about my sweet daughter! She is so fun to get to know. Today at the pool she said, "mum, come now, you need to meet my friend" SHe took me over to a lady who she new from playing t-ball at Beacon House. Yes, it was a friend of Romana's. We had a great chat. VIctoria is kind and friendly and very fun to watch in the pool. She plays with the kids, yet I often found her alone trying to perfect her skills of strokes or hand stands. She will try and try and try, until she thinks she has improved. It often consists of 1,000 calls of "mum watch me, mum watch me again, watch me now's"
Three cheers for Victoria! Hip Hip Hooray! I am proud to be her mom!
I was looking forward to a FUN day to kind of end our long week of waiting, and that is what we got! It was great....the only thing missing from making our day beyond great was that my hubby and kids were not here with me!
Family, Mom is Coming home soon! Counting the days!
Embassy...here we come! Approval...we are praying you "In and APPROVED" Visa, we are wanting to file....and Delta flight 167...boy do we want to board SOON!
GOd...we are PRAISING you all the way to the END, for your WORKS are marvelous and your LOVE perfect and Your timing is NEVER WRONG....
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Cooking/Cleaning
Cooking....hummm, this is a FUN thing!
Jim was on an errand and I offered to watch the girls so they could play, but what I did not expect was ALL the help I got when I started to get stuff out for dinner!
So, I turned on some worship music (nice and loud) and off to cooking we went!
Everyone got to do something, fry the onions, brown the minced meat (hamburger), butter the bread and help cut up the fruit salad.
All in all is was a successful evening, we just had to do a bit of teaching about "licking" the cooking spoons and also the edges of bowls to "taste" the new things.
I took the few pieces of fruit I had left and tossed the cut up pieces with yogart...boy was that a fun one..."what that is?" "Icecream on the fruit?" "ohhh, please let me taste, please please"
In the end I took a few spoons and gave them each a taste....what a HIT!
3 friends in the kitchen...cooking and washing (boy can these kids wash!!!)
When we sat down for dinner "Stroganaff" (sp) it was a good time of trying new things and trying to say the new words of the new foods.
Lots of giggles from the girls as they tried to expain back to me, how you have to hold the handle of the pan when you stir, how you should not lick the spoon each time you stir, and how you need to leave the lid on the rice while it is cooking or you will "spoil" it.
Each day it is so fun to work, play and laugh together....we are ALL looking forward to getting home and COOKING and CLEANING in our homes. I bought some Banku to take home (not cooked yet) so we can cook Ghana good together and they can giggle at me while I try to make it taste right. (
Friday, March 7, 2008
RAIN
This is the day the Daddy got on the plane :O(
We all got up and got him out by 7:00. THe kids and I made some breakfast and sat out on the patio to eat. All of us were a bit quiet...except for the random qusetions from John "will you leave mum?" (a few bites...) "will you leave me at Beacon House" ( a few more bites...) "is Brock coming here to see us" ( a few more bites..)
In the midst of the questions, a noise came that I had not heard in Africa before...the sound of RAIN hitting the metal roof and the cement.
We all stood up and watched the rain fall!
It was only for a few mins...but it was a moment of "refreshing"
The air smelled of rain, the kids talked about how in the North (where they are from....Victoria and the D's kids) the rain helps things to not be DRY.
It was like God gave a moment of "newness" to what was a sad morning!
We got the colors out at the table outside and sat to do some school.
With in a few mins, Victoria said, "please mum, it is cold today"
(okay it is 80 instead of 100...but OKAY!)
Yesterday when Dave and I packed she saw the "zip lock bag" packed with her "TRAVELING HOME CLOHTES" in it.
We took out the hooded zip up light weight jacket and put it on her. SHe promptly put her hood up and said "now I am not cold!"
(boy are they in for a SHOCK when it really is COLD!)
SO here is a picutre of my sweet darlings wearing their jackets in Africa...because it was "COLD" the day it rained in AFRICA!
We all got up and got him out by 7:00. THe kids and I made some breakfast and sat out on the patio to eat. All of us were a bit quiet...except for the random qusetions from John "will you leave mum?" (a few bites...) "will you leave me at Beacon House" ( a few more bites...) "is Brock coming here to see us" ( a few more bites..)
In the midst of the questions, a noise came that I had not heard in Africa before...the sound of RAIN hitting the metal roof and the cement.
We all stood up and watched the rain fall!
It was only for a few mins...but it was a moment of "refreshing"
The air smelled of rain, the kids talked about how in the North (where they are from....Victoria and the D's kids) the rain helps things to not be DRY.
It was like God gave a moment of "newness" to what was a sad morning!
We got the colors out at the table outside and sat to do some school.
With in a few mins, Victoria said, "please mum, it is cold today"
(okay it is 80 instead of 100...but OKAY!)
Yesterday when Dave and I packed she saw the "zip lock bag" packed with her "TRAVELING HOME CLOHTES" in it.
We took out the hooded zip up light weight jacket and put it on her. SHe promptly put her hood up and said "now I am not cold!"
(boy are they in for a SHOCK when it really is COLD!)
SO here is a picutre of my sweet darlings wearing their jackets in Africa...because it was "COLD" the day it rained in AFRICA!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Luggage
The room we are in is a BIG mess...as Dave and I are busy trying to send as much home with him as possible so I can manage the two kiddos by myself with as little luggage as possible.
Next to the desk were my two empty suticases, I was on the computer trying to skype Ash, and Dave was in the room packing.
John had been coloring on the floor next to me for a while, when we got up, climbed into the suitcase and realized he "fit" he shouted to Dave (in the room next door)
"Hey Dad, You can take ME!"
I started to laugh and he said agian " Take me, Dad, take me"
So Dave came in snapped these cute pics, then zipped him almost all the way in and began to wheel John all around the room and outside patio...SQUEALS and GIGGLES galore for as long as DAve carted him around!
HOw do you explain travel to America to a 5 yr old boy from Ghana? Each time we get into a taxi or arrive somewhere he will say "are we going to America? or is this America?"
Today we did get to talk to Ash on video skype...and the first thing John said to her was "are you in the air-o-plane?"
He knew she left, but thought she was still in the plane.
As we get Dave ready to go in the morning...it will be a sad time and a confusing time, but like always, God will protect the hearts of the kids and the MOMMY!
Daddy is going to America
Today is thursday...the day of packing and re-organizing and answering 100 questions about "planes" "suitcases" "Ashlie" "who is going and who is staying" etc....
For some reason last night and today seem to be the "most sticky and humid" but maybe it is just an "awareness" of some sad hearts that Daddy is leaving and the elements seem to bother us a bit more. (hummm)
This a.m. I read this Psalm...73
vs. 21....Thus my heart was grieved, and I was vexed in my mind. I was foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.
(this is the constant state of the reality of the "old man" in me....that has been made new, but boy do I need a reminder often)
vs. 23 NEVERTHELESS.....(don't you just love the "neverthelesses" in the word!)
I am continually with YOU;
You hold me by my right hand.
You will guide me with Your Counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besdie You.
My Flesh and my heart fail
(boy do they....)
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion FOREVER!
vs 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all YOUR works!
So as we continue to prepare for Dave to go back to America, we STAND on this word and know that we have had 6 weeks of seeing God's "NEVERTHELESSES and BUT GOD moments" even though our hearts fail at times and our strength may go weak!
PRAISES to HIM and HIM alone!
For some reason last night and today seem to be the "most sticky and humid" but maybe it is just an "awareness" of some sad hearts that Daddy is leaving and the elements seem to bother us a bit more. (hummm)
This a.m. I read this Psalm...73
vs. 21....Thus my heart was grieved, and I was vexed in my mind. I was foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.
(this is the constant state of the reality of the "old man" in me....that has been made new, but boy do I need a reminder often)
vs. 23 NEVERTHELESS.....(don't you just love the "neverthelesses" in the word!)
I am continually with YOU;
You hold me by my right hand.
You will guide me with Your Counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besdie You.
My Flesh and my heart fail
(boy do they....)
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion FOREVER!
vs 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all YOUR works!
So as we continue to prepare for Dave to go back to America, we STAND on this word and know that we have had 6 weeks of seeing God's "NEVERTHELESSES and BUT GOD moments" even though our hearts fail at times and our strength may go weak!
PRAISES to HIM and HIM alone!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Closing Prayer
Today we had the priviledge of going to Beacon House and having them pray for the kids. I know Carrie will blog about this from her perspective tomorrow but I wanted to get mine in too. :0)
*** it is Carrie here, I read my amazing husband's post...and while I do have 4 weeks of life and love for all those at Beacon House...Dave, my best friend, covering and love of my life, said what was in my heart about out night of good bye's at Beacon House...WAY TO GO Babe!!! I love living life with you!
I will upload some picutures of our night.
This is a tradition and as I sat I couldn't help but feel the emotion and heart of God as I looked at Victoria and John sit in the middle of all of the children at Beacon House and be blessed and prayed for. I know Victoria remembers doing this for others and I am sure it was special for her now and will be even more in the future. Each and every child prayed and then the wonderful house moms and care takers prayed, protection, guidance and blessing over us and the kids...these ladies are gifts from God!
They pour into all of these kids from where ever they have come from and whatever their condition and they pour and pour Gods Love and Instruction into them and we get to receive the fruits of their labor of love.
Mama Shelter, Sada, Vivian, Lydia, Evelyn, Dorcas (hope I haven't forgotten anyone) and of course Romana! Even in my short time around you I am grateful that God has used you mightily in the lives of John and Victoria and soo many others.
Thru the tears of joy the night ended and all of us went to our seperate beds but in my heart I am still praising and thanking God for each of you!
I am so glad that we will be able to frame the photographs of you with the kids and talk and pray for you when we tuck John and Victoria in bed.
Thank you for the wonderful gifts you have been to John and Victoria...I look forward to seeing you all again someday and looking back and laughing together and of course praising God for what He has done.
Dave (The Lucky Guy who married Carrie!!)
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Pictures
After a wild game of "Hide and Seek" tonight, led by the very brave "Auntie Trudy"
(another adopting mom here at the guest house where we are staying)
the kids are now fed and settled in.
Hide and seek was quite fun to watch....as John had never played and could not get the hang of "staying" in a spot until he was found. When he did, he kept laughing, so he gave himself away quickly.
The D kids and the B kids are all lined up on my bed watching "Jungle Book 2" on the DVD player.
Dave and Jim sit and chat, so I thought I would grab this moment to upload some pics for you all.
Each one takes about 4-7 mins....so lets see how many I can get before one of the kids need something from the room next door.
Ohhhhhh, note for the day.
Jim, Dave and I went to the book store today and got great curriculum books for the kids.
(the kids got to stay with Trudy and watch a movie, color and eat choc chip cookies that she braved making with measurment guessing and interesting ingred's...they worked and were a HIT!)
We found great books, like the kind they sell in the USA, but CHEAP!
Now John and Victoria have all the books they need to jump in when we get home.The ones we brought with us and the ones we got from Beacon House are almost done.
They will sit for hours and color and do the work books....excited to see that continue at home.
Then we went to the BAKERY...Yeah and Hip Hip Hooray! Jim and I bought Bagels..yes real bagels and muffins....Dave of course is not a "bread" person, so he got a good laugh at us.
We then walked back from there to our guest house....about 3-5 miles
(I am guessing, but it was a good long walk...addiing more sun and color to my WA body)
Being very hot and a bit tired, I decided to use my cherished bagels to make tuna sandwiches for dinner...deciding NOT to cook! They were very good!
So, that is a day in the life of a mom and two dads who are filling their time while the days go by.
Here are some pics for you!
Daddy and John...being Daddy and John!
John and Victoria on the path back to our room at the coast.
Even though they are not bio siblings, they really treat eachother very kindly and sibling "like". It is awesome to see how God is knitting them together.
FEET!
(just a cute pic with a lot of good memories to go with it!)
Blessings to all of you!
Movie is done and off to bed they all go!
(another adopting mom here at the guest house where we are staying)
the kids are now fed and settled in.
Hide and seek was quite fun to watch....as John had never played and could not get the hang of "staying" in a spot until he was found. When he did, he kept laughing, so he gave himself away quickly.
The D kids and the B kids are all lined up on my bed watching "Jungle Book 2" on the DVD player.
Dave and Jim sit and chat, so I thought I would grab this moment to upload some pics for you all.
Each one takes about 4-7 mins....so lets see how many I can get before one of the kids need something from the room next door.
Ohhhhhh, note for the day.
Jim, Dave and I went to the book store today and got great curriculum books for the kids.
(the kids got to stay with Trudy and watch a movie, color and eat choc chip cookies that she braved making with measurment guessing and interesting ingred's...they worked and were a HIT!)
We found great books, like the kind they sell in the USA, but CHEAP!
Now John and Victoria have all the books they need to jump in when we get home.The ones we brought with us and the ones we got from Beacon House are almost done.
They will sit for hours and color and do the work books....excited to see that continue at home.
Then we went to the BAKERY...Yeah and Hip Hip Hooray! Jim and I bought Bagels..yes real bagels and muffins....Dave of course is not a "bread" person, so he got a good laugh at us.
We then walked back from there to our guest house....about 3-5 miles
(I am guessing, but it was a good long walk...addiing more sun and color to my WA body
Being very hot and a bit tired, I decided to use my cherished bagels to make tuna sandwiches for dinner...deciding NOT to cook! They were very good!
So, that is a day in the life of a mom and two dads who are filling their time while the days go by.
Here are some pics for you!
Daddy and John...being Daddy and John!
John and Victoria on the path back to our room at the coast.
Even though they are not bio siblings, they really treat eachother very kindly and sibling "like". It is awesome to see how God is knitting them together.
FEET!
(just a cute pic with a lot of good memories to go with it!)
Blessings to all of you!
Movie is done and off to bed they all go!
Missing My Kids
Today....Today is Tuesday. Ghana is getting ready to celebrate It's Birthday...Independence Day!
We have been seeing jets fly over head, getting ready for the big day.
I sat out on the patio this a.m. and thought about how much fun it would be to have the Blaske Bunch all together here to ENJOY what Ghana has to offer! The people the places the food and of course the SUN SUN SUN!
I know it is hard for our kids to have soooooo many weeks go by with out their Mom, but I just wanted to take a moment to tell them HOW VERY PROUD I AM OF THEM for walking in the LIGHT of the LORD during this time of separation!
Kids, Daddy and I are BLESSED deeply by your willingness to sacrifice for God's purposes! Your reward is BIG and Deeper than you will know and it will come in a season you are not expecting!
We love you! We are counting the days until we can all sit and LAUGH around the dinner table, see who can burp the loudest, do the most push ups, play WII bowling (and see the mama WIN)trips in the car to go get Blizzards, late night talks on the end of our bed, tickles before bed, crazy moments trying to get out the door to church, and so much more!
Being yor parents DELIGHTS our hearts!
BIG SMOOCHES from us to you!
Dad will be home soon, and mom with kids to follow!
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE who are loving and supporting our kids while we are away....WE COULD NOT DO THIS WITH OUT YOU!!!
Monday, March 3, 2008
Fun in the SUN!
How do you try to put the events of four days of travel , sights and fun down in a blog? To top it off, how do you write about two very extraordinary children that you are getting to know while you go and do all of these fun things.
It is A LOT to get your brain around.
So, lets see if I can hit some of the high lights!
ELMINA CASTLE!
We toured the castle with a guide! It was a great homeschool moment...but really, as we toured it became more and more sad to stand on the very ground where there was such horrid abuse and lack of insight to the value of human life.
All around the ocean pounds, the fishing village is a bustle and the vendors sell their wares, but there in all It's HUGE white-ness stands this castle as a reminder of the history of the people of Africa!
COCONUT GROVE RESORT
Does this place look like a post card...well it is! Really, I have never been any where tropical with huts and lounge chairs and pool side service etc!
When we drove up, I felt like we had left the "real world" and entered into vacation land. The room was nice, with AC, the pools were clean and great, the food was served outside under the cabana huts with music playing and the Blaske's had a different kind of fun for a few days.
While we have been getting to know the kids each day, there is just something to say about "playing" and playing hard that brings out the best in everyone!
Our kids were in the water more hours than they were out!
We sunscreened EVERYONE and hit the pool or the beach....still Dave and I are a bit on the RED side! Stacey...you would be so proud... I sat pool side and enjoyed the SUN!
Victoria has proven to be a fish! While our time in Ghana with her has made us realize that she is alot like Ashlie....reading and drawing and a bit on the drama side of things (grin) she tends to not enjoy the "athletic" type of activities. But we found out that swimming is her thing.
John tends to try things at 100 mph...the pool was no different. After the first 10 mins in the pool we realized the level of the pool was lower due to the huge amounts of water John was ingesting! He laughs and giggles at EVERYTHING...the down side to this kind of happiness is that an open mouth in the pool ends up with lots of water in the nose and tummy! Dave and I both worked with him and by the middle of the first day, he had it all figured out and he was a WATER jumping, kicking, underwater crazy boy!
BEACH
Here is my very awesome husband on the beach with the kiddos!
The trip was a great time to bond and relax, laugh and enjoy some more "first's" (like John having ice cream...that was a fun thing!)
Cape Coast was different and beautiful, Coconut Grove Resort was a "Resort" and all in all....it is Ghana and we LOVED it ALL!
*internet is acting up....so I will try again tomorrow!
Until then....we love and miss everyone....although it is HOT and HUMID here, it is nice to not look so much like we live in WA .....red is better than white....can anyone say ALOE!
It is A LOT to get your brain around.
So, lets see if I can hit some of the high lights!
ELMINA CASTLE!
We toured the castle with a guide! It was a great homeschool moment...but really, as we toured it became more and more sad to stand on the very ground where there was such horrid abuse and lack of insight to the value of human life.
All around the ocean pounds, the fishing village is a bustle and the vendors sell their wares, but there in all It's HUGE white-ness stands this castle as a reminder of the history of the people of Africa!
COCONUT GROVE RESORT
Does this place look like a post card...well it is! Really, I have never been any where tropical with huts and lounge chairs and pool side service etc!
When we drove up, I felt like we had left the "real world" and entered into vacation land. The room was nice, with AC, the pools were clean and great, the food was served outside under the cabana huts with music playing and the Blaske's had a different kind of fun for a few days.
While we have been getting to know the kids each day, there is just something to say about "playing" and playing hard that brings out the best in everyone!
Our kids were in the water more hours than they were out!
We sunscreened EVERYONE and hit the pool or the beach....still Dave and I are a bit on the RED side! Stacey...you would be so proud... I sat pool side and enjoyed the SUN!
Victoria has proven to be a fish! While our time in Ghana with her has made us realize that she is alot like Ashlie....reading and drawing and a bit on the drama side of things (grin) she tends to not enjoy the "athletic" type of activities. But we found out that swimming is her thing.
John tends to try things at 100 mph...the pool was no different. After the first 10 mins in the pool we realized the level of the pool was lower due to the huge amounts of water John was ingesting! He laughs and giggles at EVERYTHING...the down side to this kind of happiness is that an open mouth in the pool ends up with lots of water in the nose and tummy! Dave and I both worked with him and by the middle of the first day, he had it all figured out and he was a WATER jumping, kicking, underwater crazy boy!
BEACH
Here is my very awesome husband on the beach with the kiddos!
The trip was a great time to bond and relax, laugh and enjoy some more "first's" (like John having ice cream...that was a fun thing!)
Cape Coast was different and beautiful, Coconut Grove Resort was a "Resort" and all in all....it is Ghana and we LOVED it ALL!
*internet is acting up....so I will try again tomorrow!
Until then....we love and miss everyone....although it is HOT and HUMID here, it is nice to not look so much like we live in WA .....red is better than white....can anyone say ALOE!
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