DELAYS....GOODBYES...FAITH

Kevin and the boys three weeks are up,  but the paperwork is not ready.  So we say are goodbyes and send the boys on home.

We continue to trust in the Lord and have faith that God will work this out in his time.

We continue to be  blessed by those around us on a daily basis, in thought, prayers, advice, and actions.  We confinue to be amazed.

The boys are ready to head home, after being so sick they lost some of there adventuresomeness.  They are so longing for some Wisconsin!! (Milk, cheese, beef, and don't forget work)

Ecuadorian Adventures!

Well our adventures have continued as we wait for the legal end of our being here to go through....

We have been doing a lot of walking.... a lot of walking... we went to the Artisan Market and everyone enjoyed buying their souvenirs! They learned how to barter and learned that Ecuadorians do not like to make change and most do not even have any change. How do sell things like this? I will never know!

Another day we headed off to Plaza Grande and to see the Presidents Palace. This was very exciting for Alejandra and she commenced to telling us all about Correa.

Aaron got his boots all shined up!

O but wait...we have to wait a couple of hours to go into the palace so we decided to head up the street...

Destination: the Basilica

We decided to just head up to the top and check out the heights!

A little scared....

It's a hole in the wall!

Its a long way up....

Inside the clock!

Now to walk the plank....

Proof! They went up to the top! Well not quite the top...but far enough!

I love the view from the top!

 It is defiantly a long way up!

So we stopped for some refreshments, headed back down the hill and made it to the presidents palace, through inspection and (Brianna) breathed a sigh of relief!

 Never were there such devoted sisters!

A daddy and his girl!

more sisters!

The table settings

And the dining table...that seats 80 people.

Harmony is enjoying seeing and learning about her little sisters homeland.

Our Ecuador girl!

We were all a little wore out and sun burnt after our long day....

"Fiesta"

Monday was the day planned for Alejandra's  goodbye party.  Here at home with three very sick men we thought it would be better to postpone, we found out that was not possible.  So with zip loc bags in hand we round up two taxis and prayed for the best.  We brought the men to rest in the upstairs apartment.

We headed down to the toddler house to get the party started.

Showing mami her bed.

Waiting for the signal to start the party

Having fun with all her friends for one last time.

Helping all her friends to their seats.

Getting everything set up, while Miss A says her last goodbyes.

Giving her friendly advice to each one.

Everyone is so loving and caring ... a very emotional day.

Giving each tia a special gift and thank you for all the love and care that they each gave.

Gracias Tia's

With all the goodbyes said and thank you's passed out, we quietly make our leave trying to keep all emotions in check,  we thank the Lord for a very special day.

Now it is time to pick up the men and tuck them all back in bed... but first a taxi ride.

Prayer....

So that you may know specific needs to pray for....

We know that many of you are praying and we are so humbled and grateful for your love and support to us! We are experiencing the mercies of Gods protection! We have experienced two earthquakes and many, many tremors and many of us witnessed a horrendous pedestrian vs car accident. Along with many other experiences that are foreign to us but everyday life to those living here. We are so grateful and thankful to the God that loves and is watching over us and we know there is no better place to be then right where God has placed us.

This first week was our official bonding time with Alejandra that went rather rapidly but she is adjusting and fitting in so well with our family! I love seeing how God is changing our family to make room and a place for a new little someone that comes with a different language, culture and life. God is giving a special grace during this special time.

We moved to an apartment that we will be staying in for the duration of our time here. It is on the 4th floor so some are experiencing anxiety about this and the earth quakes. There has been two significant earthquakes since we arrived the first cause a quarry to collapse and killed 3 people and a small child that was crushed under falling bags of rice. We never imagined we would be in a place where we expected the earth to shake beneath us at any moment. But even in this God is gracious, allowing us to trust Him more.

Tomorrow is Alejandra's goodbye party, pray that is would be a sweet and good time for her, the tias and the other children. She is very excited about it!

Dad, Aaron and Micah have been not feeling a bit sick yesterday and today so please pray that it will soon pass so they can be up and going again.

There is nothing that we can do for the legal process until next week, so this week will be a week of exploration, (which can be hair raising, pray I don't go gray :). We are hoping the legal process will go quickly enough that dad and some of the children may return home in two weeks.

Brianna (yes me) will be starting online classes tomorrow! Yah, super exciting in a foreign country that doesn't always have the best of internet connections (in my experience)...and helping my family around the city. But I know that God will be with me every step of the way! My Spanish class will help with my ever growing vocabulary, glad to say my Spanish has never been better! Thank you Natasha and Alejandra!

Please continue in prayer on behalf of our little girl, she is facing so many new things and we know that God's grace is sufficient for all of these. Also that Mom and Dad will have wisdom in the face of challenges.

Thank you all, and know that we are praying for you. God be with you.

First day together!

Our first official day together!
Now that she is officially living with us we no longer have to stick with a strict schedule and go with the Psychologist, first mom and dad met with our adoption coordinator to learn the process then so we decided to go off and experience the Equator and some Ecuadorian Cuisine....

On the Equator!!

Dad balanced the egg!

walking the line....

testing their strength

The eager helpers!

Checking our the volcano crater and laughing at our driver/tourguide.

Gearing up to try this cuisine!

There have to be sisters!

Some of us were eager to try the cuy but others were not so eager but by the time we left everyone had tried it and ok not everyone liked it but most did. Our driver cleaned up all the plates!

Dad had to clean up the head.

Defiantly sisters at heart!

Checking out the monument.

We went up inside the monument and this was the view from the top.....

A favorite hangout spot for all!

This is the house we called home for our first week in Ecuador!

We even have a little laundry spot! 

After a very busy week we took the advantage of resting after this! We have now moved to a new house in an apartment building that is more in the middle of the city so we are able to walk to many places, parks and shops. Some of us took a bus ride and have gotten to see many things that are part of Ecuador its been very exciting and Alejandra is adjusting so well to everything that is happening around her. Her nervousness and anxiousness has subsided considerably and with assurance is able to handle things very well! We are so thankful and praising God for His love and watch care over us this week.