Father's Day

Since it was just Father's Day I decided to brag about my children's father. Joe is an awesome Dad and he enjoys being with his kids. Every Sunday if we are home he first fixes breakfast then he is either fishing, riding horses, or playing games with the kids. He has a smile on his face all the time even when he is angry, lecturing or sad. (Yes, it's difficult to determine unless you hear his voice.) He isn't afraid to help with them when he is home. He will even take Christina with him in the backpack while he is working outside because he wants to spend as much time with her as he can. He helps feed, bath and changes diapers for Christina. He is my substitue teacher when I am gone and he loves to teach. If there is a learning moment he will go into instant"lecture/teaching mode." We are very blessed to have him and thank God for him always.

Here are some pictures of Dad doing what he does best:

Listening to Christina explaining her day.

Riding Horses on Sunday.

Family of Six

A year ago yesterday we had left Guatemala City at 6 AM and then landed in Houston Texas. I remember thinking ,while we waited for our connecting flight to MN, "I can't wait to see my children all together for the first time and how will Christina adjust to MN". Well she has adjusted so well and the kids still fight over her. She had a rough summer last summer with outside allergies and milk allergies but this year she has been able to be outside with no allergies. She still has allergies to milk but our other three children had the same allergies so she fits in really well.

This morning I woke up and there she was standing in or should I say jumping in her crib, holding her arms out and smiling at me.

When I look back at the first time Anthony, Michael and Maria met Christina. It was so wonderful to see their excitement. As I took the blanket off the car seat I told them to calm down and be slow making movements toward her so she wouldn't be scared. Well Christina had her own ideas on meeting her siblings. She dove for Michael as soon as she was out. She wasn't going to meet anyone slowly. She wanted to be part of the family now. She still gets so excited when Anthony, Michael and Maria come through the door after doing chores. She does a happy dance and screams everytime. She also waits by the window until they come in.

We are so thankful to God for finding Christina for us and especially for Christina's birthmother for loving her so much to chose an adoption plan. She made the toughest decision a mother could make and for that we will always be thankful for her and we pray for her always. We would love for her to meet us and Christina someday. They say it may be impossible because of how the government is but "With God All Things Are Possible!!"

Pictures of Before and Now:

One Year Ago

One Year ago today, Christina Maria was placed in our arms. The day we had waited for and it finally was happening. I remember waking up that morning and still couldn't believe we were finally going to meet our little girl for the first time. When we received the call to come meet our daughter, I was so nervous, excited and scared. What if she didn't want to come to us, what if she had major grieving issues. We knew God had chosen Christina for us and he would be with us now. Joe had his hand on the door handle and then stopped. He then lead us in prayer before we went into the next room. What we saw when we entered was this beautiful little girl with big brown eyes. She was smaller than I thought she would be but oh so perfect. I wanted to pick her up and never let her go but I walked past the walker and sat on the couch next to the Foster Mother. We visited a little and then we all were quiet. I kept staring at Christina and Joe was getting teary-eyed. The foster mother asked if we would like to hold her and we said, "YES!!" She smiled at me and came right to me. I couldn't believe it. She was finally in my arms. She smelt so sweet and was all smiles. She didn't cry like I was expecting. After a while she realized Joe was sitting next to me and she kept smiling at him. I handed her to him and said, "Here is your Papa" Joe couldn't say anything after that. He just held her and smiled. We went over her eating habits etc... but I didn't remember anything. I am so glad the Adoption Agency Rep. was taking notes for us. We finally took pictures and then said good bye to the Foster family. It was so sad to see them go and to see them crying. We will forever be indepted to them for taking care of and loving Christina for 9.5 months. We went back to our hotel room and sat there playing with her and and talking to her. She definitely liked Joe the most. We finally looked at each other and said this is for real. She is finally OURS. It was so peaceful and we prayed again for the birthmother, foster family, Christina and our family at home. After an hour she fell asleep in my arms. It was so wonderful to be able to do that again. She was so warm and soft. I didn't want to lay her down. I then put her in her crib and then we just stood there staring at our little girl.

Tonight, I was rocking Christina to sleep and seeing those big brown eyes looking up at me and it brought me back to the first night I sang her to sleep. She still has her blanket, bottle and crosses her ankles while she falls asleep. I year has flown by and she has adjusted so well emotionally. She smiles all the time and those big brown eyes melt anyones heart. We are so blessed and continue to Praise God for the Miracle he has given us in Christina Maria Callens.

One year ago today:

Now:

Month of May

After Maria's First Communion. We had every weekend full. Our next event was Anthony and Tessa Perisek and Andrew and Jaye Turbes Wedding. It was a double wedding and was beautiful. Everything was so well planned. The couples were so happy. They both saved their first kiss ever, to be on the alter the day of their wedding. It was very moving to be part of this special day for them. They had a wedding dance which was Christina's first. All the kids had a lot of fun. On May 5th another Nelsen was added to the fold.

Logan Nelsen Fletcher was born to my baby sister and her husband Cary.

He weighed 7.5lbs and was 19.5 inches long.

Here is the handsome fella:

The kids were in a play written by one of our homeschool group's fathers and directed by him on May 10th. They had practice everyday for a week and then had the play. Joe even got a part in the play since he wasn't back to work yet. He was very nervous but did well. It was called the The mystery of Chateau CeZanne. Everyone did great. It was a wonderful play and thanks to many talented Mom's it the set and costumes were perfect.

Joe went back to work the 13th. It as sad to see him go but it's only for 6 months so we will make it through. He was promoted to Paver Operator, so if you see a handsome man driving a Duininck Bros. paver he is mine:) He is also the Low Boy driver which halls the equipement. Here is a picture of everyone in front of the Low Boy.

With Spring comes the setting of Chickens. And we have one mother who feels our chicken house is too crowded or not nice enough for her and decided to find a new home in our evergreen tree in our back yard.

Anthony, Michael and Maria had their piano recital and received their awards for the year. Michael received his first Gold Cup, Anthony received his third and Maria received her reward certificate for qualifying for the Honor's Concert at Northrop Auditorium.

We then had our first niece's wedding. Jessica and Luke were married on May 24th. It was a beautiful wedding and the dance was a lot of fun. The kids didn't want to leave. We had so much fun that I didn't take one picture. I am hoping someone will have pictures for us. The best part is we gained a nephew and a neighbor at the same time. They are living just south of Fred and Sandra's in a house they are building which is about two miles away.

Maria competed in the MMTA-Minnesota Music Teachers Association's piano competition and won so she was able to be one of 24 students to play on a grand piano at the Honors Concert on Sat. evening. She had to go to the Cities to practice twice in May and then we had dress rehearsal and practice Saturday morning. She was on cloud nine. She did a great job and the best part was when Joe showed up a half hour before we were to be at Northrop because he had to work. We were beginning to doubt he would make it. I was very glad because while we were driving to the concert it began to down pour and marble size hail began to fall.

Here is a picture of Maria before the concert.

At this time last year we were in a plane flying to Houston, TX to fly to Guatemala to bring home our little girl we had been waiting for, for 9 months. I remember being on the plane praying it would stay not crash, praying for our kids we left at thome and thinking what it would feel like to hold her for the first time. I didn't have a clue how wonderful it would feel.