Lorenzen Livin' ~ Joyful Chaos

Ironing it out...

2008-09-10T09:09:00.005-06:00

If you've read my last post you'll have a better understanding of the significance of this one. God is definitely working out the kinks for me!
The last month has been pretty intense with change. About a month ago, I began praying about what to do with Kojo and Nyenna for school. We love homeschooling, but what I began to realize is that I just do not have the resources, energy, and knowledge to teach them right now. I really felt they needed some very specific English as a second language stuff(because they are older). Liberians do speak a 'form' of English...but in reality they have no foundation in American English, what so ever. I felt like this would be key for their future in life over all and in education. We are SO blessed that just blocks away is an IB World school with an incredible international program (which means diversity!). I think they have about 70 international kids, and are staffed to handle kids just like N & K. When first contacting them over a month ago...I wasn't aware of the huge blessing and favor that God had waiting for us.
A week before school started, we had ELA teachers come to our house and spend a couple of hours getting to know us. They then spent time with N & K at the school the week before it started just to get them introduced to everything. I've been working hard advocating on their behalf. Mainly because they are international students, but they are also children that have NEVER had 1 day of schooling their whole life(and they come with some unique adoption issues to be sensitive to). I am shocked at the hearts of the staff and school district over all. Many, if not almost all of my meetings with staff, have included very real and open conversations with lots of tears flowing(from everyone) for Nyenna and Kojo. Both are doing beautifully! They are exhausted...but slowly adjusting to the stimulation of even simple things like, remembering where your classroom is. I have a meeting next week with all the ELA people, Nyenna's teacher and the head school district people, to start narrowing down a modified learning schedule for her. I'm so grateful for this community that is totally favoring us and reaching out in love, to invest in these little lives. We are feeling really loved by it all.

2nd Kink getting ironed out...I'm getting help from my own personal chef! Christin(known to many as Boots, or by our children,Auntie Booty:) She has so generously offered to help me with feeding my family. She is an amazing chef. Her gift and job is to cook good food for lots of people and she does it well! Basically she is putting together a month-ish long menu...that we will work on and then we'll be breaking it all down into shopping and then she's offered to help me cook all the yummy things that my family will consume. We've known her now for years, and she's well aware of what she is getting into and basically is giving herself to me in this way for as long as it takes for me to "get it together".
These 2 things are BIG for me...in fact they may just save my life!

In some others areas...it's safe to say I'm still reeling and just making it through another day. Mostly, I'm happy my kids are learning in a loving environment and my people will EAT.

Confessions of an Adoptive Mom:

2008-09-05T14:39:00.010-06:00

That just may, someday, be the title of a collaborative adoption book!

In this house there is stack of books, close to a mile high(we live just N. of Denver...the mile high city:) Anyway, those books are full of advice, expectations, issues, joys, and heart aches pertaining to adoption process and adoption. I think I have read close to ever word in that stack. First off, all these books DO NOT contain those topics in relation to adopting African children. For sure, most DO NOT pertain
to adoption of multiple children at one time.(or spread over 10 mn. in our case) Lucky for me, I've got women close to me that are on this same road, and we can hash it all out, in love.
Disclaimer: Those of you that know me personally, KNOW I have no time or room...to "beat around the bush". I love honesty and I'm an open heart. I have a hard time being in situations where I can't be real in an honest and loving way.Needless to say, I've learned there are some people that know what to do with me. Then there's those that glaze over...because I put myself out there pretty easily. This is just "my" journey. My heart has no intention of dishonoring our children, adoption, or you. I'm only putting this out there because I've thought...I wish someone would have been raw and real with me and told me these things. Everyone has a different story. But I've talked with many of you and with others "out there"...that have said,"I'm in the same place, and I wish I knew others were too or I wish I would of known this was a possibility." I felt totally prepared to meet the needs of my adjusting adopted children. I was totally unprepared in knowing what my adjustment needs would look like? So I'll try to keep it short and save the rest of the words for 'The Book'.

Short back round of our story. We worked hard, fought the fight, fund raised, fought, fought, and fought for our children and the money to bring them home, for almost 3 years. We hit just about every hurdle and snag and then some...that you can encounter with International Adoptions. We lived and breathed these children in their absence. We were usually seconds from tears at any given moment and we grew to know ourselves and God in way we wouldn't know other wise. The battle was real and intense. I'm feeling it again, as we have families close to us that are now in that place. I'm watching them, praying for them, truly bearing the pain of their hearts, and crying out on their behalf and their children's behalf. Having them so close to us, has brought upon much of my revelation. Those labor pains have not left me.

After 2 years of adoption process we were so blessed to bring home Kojo. However, we were still fighting for his cousins, Nyenna & Titus. Adjustment with Kojo, required adjusting for sure, BUT it was doable. There was just one of him, and much of our energy could focus on and meet his needs. Even in the midst of focusing intensely on the adoptions of N & T. Me, as a mom, could still home school, manage our finances, keep up on the house, be a taxi, prepare 3 good meals a day, feel like I had enough of myself and my love to go around and have my time and keep my mind. See, doable. I'm not knocking anyone here when I say...It is totally different when you adopt more than one child and bring them all into your family at once(especially with adopting older children). Whether it be 2 or 12 kids...it's just different. I can only say this, because it's my experience. By NO means am I saying those of you that have adopted one younger child are exempt from what I've been in...or that you're not doing enough. I commend you and you are a hero!
I've had the unique opportunity to do both. Adopt one child and then 10 months later experience bringing home 2 children(one considered older when it comes to adoption) and being able to compare the 2 situations.
Things looked a little like this...Laurie in survival mode. Crawling, fighting, bleeding, broken, and willing to do anything to get these kids where I knew they were supposed to be. With us. Then, they came home. Things looked a little like this...Laurie elated, but still just surviving each day.
Things I didn't know I would have to deal with...
Kojo regressing basically back, 9 ish months. He went back in language...grieving again more regularly, his eating habits regressed and on top of it, problems with him giving up his status as Kojo "King", in the literal sense. This surprised us all.

The noise level. OK I'm not a complete idiot and I realize that more children equals more noise. I think most of you that have more than 1 Liberian child, can relate pretty closely to this. There is normal child noise levels(i'm around many other large families)...and then there's the noise level of children that have come from an orphanage, probably where at lot of the time they have to interact loudly, just because there was so many of them. Honestly, the noise became unbearable for me. Example...Titus and Nyenna 6 inches from each other(in the kitchen) and you can hear every word he's saying if you were are on the opposite side of the house on another level. I'm not kidding. ALL and any communication was at level 10. yes we've had their ears checked...and Kojo is the only one that has questionable hearing issues.

Food issues: I wasn't sure what to expect with this...these issues are waaay evident with Nyenna(to some degree exist with K & T too). She could be anywhere between the age of 7 or 9? So, she has lived the longest, with little to no food. I came to the place where I literally could not have them in the kitchen with me when I was preparing food. The minute I turned my back any food within reach would be consumed. I couldn't cut or chop food in a place where little hands could reach, because they would appear from nowhere to get to the food and I have literally almost cut fingers.(non-intentionally of course). Meals were consisting of at least 2 adult size portions and them wanting more. N was very sweet, carrying all of our plates to the sink at dinner's end. When I watched more closely, I realized she would secretly shove any food left on the plates into her mouth.(on top of what she had eaten at dinner). After each meal she would ask specifically what we were eating for the next meal. I would tell her...then she would ask to see the food (all ingredients) and wanted to know when it would happen, exactly. OK, with this being an isolated thing, it's no big deal...BUT remember I was in survival mode. In my mind(my- we have plenty of food, American, never been without -mind) I found it exhausting! Trying to have my meals(3) planned so specifically for her those first few weeks and on top of it showing her the next meal when I hadn't even cleaned up 'that' meal. But I felt like it was important for her to be reassured of that and obviously it was a part of her adjustment...AND apparently MINE. Things have changed. But it only has happened over time (6 months) and with consistency.

I can do nothing well. This creates big internal stress for me. Somewhere in life, I have believed the lie...If you can't do something well, you shouldn't be doing it at all. By letting this marinate in my heart over the years, the result is usually... me being totally paralyzed in fear of failure. I've dealt with this in the past, but clearly it has popped up again.
What things can't I do well?
Keeping up with the house. Think, if 7 people leave out just 1 pair of shoes...yep 14 shoes, out. If an area is clean, that's where everyone moves to, when you have to clean a different area. Then your left with chasing the last mess, and NEVER having things where they should be. A simple thing like never having boys before. Um why didn't anyone tell me they miss the toilet? That they pee on the walls, around the toilet, on the toilet, through the toilet(when you make them sit down). MY GOSH, what in the world? More than doubling the amount of children you have, will more than double the amount of laundry you do.DUH right. Well who considers this when they are up all night for weeks, trying to just speak to a Consular at the US Embassy in Liberia. Yeah I wasn't thinking...wow, Laurie you better be prepared to have your ears bleed from kid volume, or you should have 3 meals a day in mind and ready to be prepared, because this is very important to your Liberian daughter. Or Laurie you should be prepared to do 45 loads of laundry a day(slight exaggeration). And in the midst of that, you'll need to be on top of your game, because you'll be comforting 3 very precious and confused children, that are with strangers and in a strange place and are having to be told NO, and learn boundaries and test boundaries etc. All the while...you continue doing your "other life". Health Insurance, your own business, doctor appointments, health issues, paying your bills(yeah believe it or not, this has even become challenging), maintaining your bio-kids(who in the midst of this became teenagers, and you have NO idea how to parent them) managing your home, having a plan for just the next day...Oh and Laurie you need to be prepared to not be able to DO ANYTHING WELL...ANYTHING! Yep I just didn't go there in the midst of the fight and so I found myself reeling a bit over it all once I started living there.
There's more but I think I'll save it.
My advice...for what it's worth?
Any of you adopting children, especially those of you adopting more than one child, older children, and even just African children(not that they are harder or worse, there just isn't anything 'out there' really yet, preparing us parents for those specific kids)...surround yourself with people that you KNOW love you, NO MATTER WHAT. I don't mean masses of people. I mean one or preferably two people that you can be completely honest with and show who you really are at your worst and it be OK with them. And they still love you, and they don't try to give you answers or advice or fix you...but they are willing to walk through it with you and go to God with you, on your behalf. If I didn't have those 2 people...I'm not sure where I'd be...but it would not be a good place, I know that much. Maybe some people can go through things like this and maintain themselves with out these types of relationships. Me personally, NO WAY. I believe God designed us to truly carry one another's burdens, and to do it in love without judging each other, and do it to the end. Affirming the truth of who we are to each other and calling that potential out of the people that are this close to us. I would also suggest having these people 'in place' so to speak, before your children come home. If you don't already have them, be praying that God will bring them and that He will show you who they are.
Being honest here. My "2 people" have watched me "lose it" over and over and over again. They tell me they still love me...they even 'still' tell me, that they see Jesus in me. Even at my worst places. Because of their faithfulness to me I'm starting to believe them;)

What would I change?

NOTHING. period. Well.... except, maybe a book that I could of read...giving me practical advice on what to expect after bringing home more than 1 African child...not just covering their adjustments...but also what I might have been facing myself.

The truth:
Nyenna, Kojo, and Titus are unbelievable children. They are wonderful and lovely. I am not worthy to be their mother. I truly mean that. I ask God daily why He has chosen me for such a great and honoring place in their lives. I am overwhelmed and moved every time I think of the incredible responsibility I have over them. I pray that in spite of who I am and my sin that they will know Jesus' love and that they will know HIM. They (like Kiah & Cierra) are a powerful testimony to God's glory and His undying goodness and love. I wouldn't want life any other way.

I'm just a girl that in every one of my days, usually more than once...

I'm lost then found...only because of Amazing Grace.

good nights:

2008-08-25T20:47:00.002-06:00

Our 'good nights' consist of books, prayers, what we're most thankful for from the day, and each 'little' gets their own secret(from mom). I know, sounds like an ordeal. But it can happen pretty smoothly now a days.

Kojo's prayer tonight: " God help all the people that don't have brown children, to get them."

So all you people who are thinking about adopting "brown children, as Kojo says"
Kojo is praying for you!
And if you aren't thinking about it, Kojo is praying for you!

Nyenna gave me the sweetest treat tonight...
My secret from her "Mama I love you, you're so beautiful, thank you for sending for me"
Awwwwww....yes sweaty eyes.

Yeah-

2008-08-16T11:15:00.002-06:00

The fog is lifting...seein' more clear...a new rhythm has almost been established. I see can the light that is coming! For now our family will be relaxing in a nice big hotel suite...

Just some summer fun....

2008-07-25T08:53:00.007-06:00

Days are melting together...we're enjoying summer...and each other. Kids are playing hard...Dono's working his behindy off...Laurie's needing and receiving lots of amazin' grace.
Plan to do some writing. I've had a few fellow and potential adoptive parents request that I write more about "the adoption adjustment stuff". I've got lots in my head and heart, but can't find the time. Been writing follow up stuff for each of the grants we received. Which translates into a lot of computer time, already.
Soooo, just throwin' out some pictures. in no particular order.
Nyenna July 4th

N & Titus first time to the pool

Kiah Cierra, and our "other children"
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Laurie and her favorite 15 yr. old and favorite almost 13 yr. old

This was exciting...neighbors house on fire, N T K were in AWE over the fire truck and personally meeting the firemen

Pool time with Grammy Poppie
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Kojo's transformer Birthday

T's first train ride

Lee Martinez Farm

Historical Museum

Goodbye love to Grammy

Goodbye love to Poppie

Time with Cousins

Yesterday's words...

2008-07-01T10:06:00.002-06:00

The best things I heard yesterday...

TITUS: While having my face gripped in both of his little hands...gazing into my eyes, as they glaze over...lips puckered in expectation he says
"I LOVE YOU, MY SWEET WOMAN"...then kiss.
This is not an unusual statement made by this 3 year old 'OOZING' with love and affections. If Dono is present it typically begins the debate of 'who's sweet woman I really am'. Then it will end with Titus whispering in my ear..."I will marry you!"
(big sigh)

NYENNA: Lights out...said our prayers, and now each of us pick the best thing from our day, so we can thank God for that.
N says, "Thank you God, for my Grammy and Popie...that you gave them plenty of money so they could visit and stay with us." This was followed by, "please provide for us to go and visit them on Your birthday." (um- yeah Christmas;)

KOJO: Kojo rarely goes here but when he does I literally feel joy raise up in my heart. He can laugh, but when he "REALLY" laughs it's the best. Yesterday, I got the laugh. His full, perfect lips split so far apart in the form of a smile that they appear to be on the verge of taring. Then those little, pearly, baby teeth make a full and unashamed appearance...then GUMS...followed up by a laugh that could I listen to over and over again. When he's at his peak...it's almost like you expect his little "inter being" to pop out of his mouth and say, "HEY it's me, Kojo's inter being...let me outta here!"

BEEN AWHILE.....

2008-06-16T08:17:00.011-06:00

I haven't posted in a long time. Summer must be in full swing. This is the season I desperately wait for, here in Colorado. We have about 5 1/2 months of beautiful weather...the rest of the year I'm not overly fond of, but I can deal. So once spring kicks in we pretty much don't mess around, just get right down to living out those 5 1/2 months to there very fullest!
We've done too much to post about, so I'll just add some pictures here and a couple little things...once everything slows down for us, I'll post an update on how the kids are adjusting. I also have a list of people I'll still be highlighting, you know in our "world changers" series;)

Last week....

In this picture there are 4 moms. Jennifer, Katie, myself, and Amanda. 1 1/2 years ago these 4 moms met at a park...with them totaled 8 biological children and 1 Liberian(Jennifer's daughter had come home).

This time the scene was a little different! Because a total of 8 MORE children have now been added to the mix! 7 from Liberia and 1 from Ethiopia. What a beautiful sight we are all together! 4 moms, 17 children...
How do we survive?

Uh-huh....caffeine
ALL of our children enjoyed the afternoon together...I love these moms and I love these kids...it's sooo great to look at each one of them, and remember the endless prayers and cries for them to come home to their families. GOD IS GOOD!

This weekend we built this beautiful bamboo fence. If you've never seen this before, it's a great alternative to killing more trees;) Bamboo can grow at an amazing rate and it's very durable...building a fence- go green, hug a tree.(little inside joke here)

Not only did I marry handsome, but I also married "handy"

Couple random pics.
Daisy stops to smell the flowers:

Little cutie pie

Well for now...I'll be going back to....
Cleaning things that are dirty-
Feeding people that are hungry-
Planting things that are beautiful-
Loving and enjoying those around me-
And intermittently picking up a guitar or a book.

Peace and love to you all!
Happy Summer

Just a band-aid

2008-05-28T09:03:00.007-06:00

I borrowed the following from my friend's blog...it is so eloquently put that I thought why put it in my own words.

"It is easy to sink into the bliss of being an adoptive parent - but it is important to always remember that the bliss comes at great expense - often the heartbreak of a birth parent left without options, or the hopelessness of a child's prospects in their broken birth country, or the death-knell of an incurable disease, or the ramifications of poverty on a small life.

Adoption is not the answer - it is a band-aid and it is absolutely necessary, but something needs to be done about the problems - poverty, disease, war, racism, economic disparity - that leave children in this chasm.

It is imperative that those of us who walk down this road vow to always engage ourselves in solving the bigger problems - the very problems that brought our children home to us. Find an organization that is addressing these problems and send your money, give your time, advocate on their behalf."

Many people have made comments to us like, " These kids are so lucky..." "Aren't they so thankful that they are here with you?" "They must be grateful for all that they 'have' here."
I know these statements are totally not premeditated and are just said "off the cuff". I used to respond to them, but now have realized, people do mean well, they just don't understand. And that's OK.

The truth is years ago our social worker told us we were the "last and worst option for our adopted children" I heard this and really believed it, but had not yet lived it.
When your children come home and they openly grieve the loss of SO much, when they do not attach and love you the way you fantasized as quickly as you thought, when they act like how we are living is not good enough, when they stare straight through you like they are cutting glass, when each day you hear less and less of their "accent and language", and it's crossing over into American English...when your kids beg for food from 'their' country. When you hear their prayers each night, asking Jesus to please provide for their families and friends in Liberia...that they would have water to drink, work for the next day, and plenty of food to eat, you then really start to "feel like the band-aid"
Now that I'm saturated in that living....I feel FAR from being their 'savior'. In fact it's quite opposite. My heart aches for them. My heart aches for their loss. The loss and sacrifice of their families. Living in that realization is quite humbling.

On the flip side, we all need band aids at some time in our life. What an honor it is that God has chosen to make our family just the way He has. Truly, our children's loss is our gain. How selfish I feel in even saying that. But it's flat out truth. We have our lifetime to live together, and so I know God's plan is to turn their loss into their gain as well...it may just take some time.

"How lucky we are that they are here with us." "How wonderful it is that we live the way we do, and can bring them into that."
"We are so grateful they are here with us!"

I can say that with confidence, whether our adopted children feel the same way or not, this is "my truth". I can only pray that, one day, it will be the truth for them as well.

above excerpt from a non-profit "From HIV to Home" (my friend Jennifer) go there to read more!

5 days ~ 5 parties/ tornado

2008-05-27T09:37:00.010-06:00

Feeling worked would be an understatement. However, we looooove all of you people that we got to party with over the last 5 nights! We'll see a lot of you again this weekend;)

Benefit~ was a blast! We had so much fun and had a good turn out. I think we are friends with some of the most generous and compassionate people alive! Over $1,600 came in for Ruth!!!!! This is so amazing, this money will be a huge help to her and her family.
Our Africans wearing their fine Liberian clothes, in Ruth's honor!

Love this man!

Balloon fun!

Happy Birthday Osobie!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIKI!

Proof that God is real! Ever look at how beautiful your children are, and think "How in the world did that happen?" We do everyday...

PLEASE REMEMBER THESE FAMILIES IN YOUR PRAYERS! CAN YOU IMAGINE YOUR LIFE LOOKING LIKE THIS? THIS IS A TOWN JUST SOUTH EAST OF FORT COLLINS, HERE IN COLORADO. TORNADO!

BE THERE!

2008-05-21T08:21:00.005-06:00

If you live in N. CO. don't miss this benefit concert. ALL funds donated will be going to Ruth and her family. Please take time to read more about Ruth here.
If you can't make it on Friday, you can still donate to Ruth. Email us and we will tell you how....donolulu@gmail.com
SEE YOU THERE!

Time Flies: part 4

2008-05-12T13:53:00.005-06:00

One year ago, yesterday( Mother's Day), I had the most bazaar Mother's Day, one I will never forget. I boarded a plane with my new son, whom I only had known for a few days. That same day, I left my new daughter and son in Liberia. I also had my 2 daughters here in America, celebrating Mother's Day with their Auntie. All in all I was thrilled to be leaving Liberia with Kojo on Mother's Day. A memory I will never forget!

Kojo on the way to the airport. He wasn't upset, just on the verge of falling a sleep.

Kojo in America, meeting his new sisters...

Time Flies: part 3

2008-05-09T08:45:00.004-06:00

One year ago, Donovan and I and Kojo went to the US Embassy, in Liberia to get Kojo's exit visa.

If you are a fellow adoptive parent you know how important this day was, especially in Liberia.

This is Kojo and his friend Rose. Rose was going home with her Papa, who came to pick her up this same week. Here's K & R before the Embassy visit.
Obviously the appointment was a success!

Time Flies: part 2

2008-05-07T08:36:00.007-06:00

One year ago today, Donovan & I finished up our paperwork after breakfast, in Liberia. We then went to Acres of Hope and met Kojo for the first time. We were shocked at how incredibly tiny he was. He was terrified...just shaking. But he was more beautiful in person than I ever imagined. We then went into the orphanage where we were greeted with singing, drumming, and dancing. D & I scanned the room full of children looking for Nyanpu(we had just accepted her and Titus' referral 4 months prior). I couldn't find her anywhere...finally I saw a girl wearing a blue dress, she had it up on her face just wiping away her tears. D & I waived for her to come to us. Drums beating, Liberian children singing at the top of their lungs, some beginning to dance, Nyanpu briskly walking across the room to get to us. All of us looking at one another and weeping. It was very clear that this celebration was not for her. The celebration continued, Kojo went and danced with the friends while clutching his photo album we had made for him and sent to him.

After spending some time there, with Nyanpu, we had to say our first goodbye to her. We hopped back into the car taking Kojo with us, with the echo of her wailing as we drove down to the baby house where Titus was living. The little ones were eating when we arrived. So D & I walked in and scanned the room. After seeing Osobie and Fatu(our friend Jeff & Katie's kids) we finally see this little cutie, leave his lunch and come to me. I picked him up and literally he melted into my arms. He wouldn't eat the rest of his food and only wanted me to hold him for the rest of our time together.

We spent quite awhile there, playing with Titus, Fatu, Osobie, and of course Kojo. This was the day we had prayed for, for 15 years. To pick up the 4 year old African boy, God had laid on our hearts when D & I were dating! One of the most surreal moments of our lives. Then came the goodbyes. Osobie & Fatu asking..."I go wit you?" Titus wailing and off we go, to the guest house with Kojo.
I never anticipated that my heart could feel such joy, and such sadness all at the same time. We were not prepared for this. None the less we knew God would work all things together for good!

This is one of my first and favorite memories of meeting Kojo. This is his first night with us. HE LOVES all things electronic. So he found the head lamp and wore it all night, and then D showed him a pooh bear movie on the ipod. This was Kojo for about 1 hour while D and I got ready for bed.

Time flies!

2008-05-06T13:34:00.003-06:00

One year ago today, Donovan and I landed in Liberia for the first time. Laurie was well rested....a little help from Lunesta, and SN Brussels offers free wine. Donovan is a much better traveler, so he was the guy enjoying the flights with the drooling, catatonic, wife;)
Hard to believe it's been a year!!

World Changers Vol. 2

2008-05-04T17:12:00.006-06:00

MEET MY FRIEND JULIE!!!!

Julie is a fellow adoptive parent. Adopting from Liberia. I met Julie months ago and feel to some degree we have heart connection. She was there through out our ordeal with the end of our adoption process for Nyenna and Titus...and then some things with her case, came up that to some degree we could relate to. Julie has spent a lot of time in Liberia and there are a lot of reasons why she is a world changer. She has made friends with a wonderful Liberian man named Mark. I personally met him and spent time with him. Julie's family has made a choice to invest in Mark's life. He is truly like a family member to them. I have personally seen the love and respect that he holds for her and her family. As well as the love and commitment Julie holds for him. Their personal and relational investment is and will change Mark's life. It was so sweet to see this in person while I was in Liberia with Julie.
Julie went to Liberia just days after I arrived to see and "hopefully" bring home her son Teddy, that they had adopted. Once Julie was there some issues surfaced that would end up preventing her from traveling home with him. She stayed in Liberia for the first round of DNA testing which failed to confirm the relative that came forward. While there she found the relative that she believed could relinquish rights legally to Teddy. This led to another round of DNA testing! She was already in Liberia for 5 weeks with Teddy and could not afford to stay there another month while the next round of DNA was tested. So she left, WITHOUT her son! I know the heart break of leaving your child in Liberia and wondering if they will actually come home or not(by the way this is the second time Julie had to leave Teddy in Liberia). Can I tell you first hand, that this is the WORST feeling and hardest thing to do as a parent. Especially, after they have met you and know that you are "intending" to be their forever Ma or Pa.
In the last week GOOD NEWS has surfaced for Julie, her family, and for Teddy. The DNA test came back positive and she will now be able to go back to Liberia, and legally bring home Teddy!!! THANK GOD!
I've kinda figured out one thing about world changers.....they all need HELP. They are the people that are doing BIG things that require much and it usually turns out to be more than they can do on there own. THIS IS WHERE WE COME IN. Julie's family lived without their mom and wife for 5 weeks, her husband sacrificed much of his income that month, the cost of a 5 week trip to Liberia is thousands of dollars, and the cost of TWO Dna tests also goes into the thousands. AND then she boarded a plane and left Liberia without her son!
What now? Julie has to return to Liberia for Teddy...She needs our help people! Please join us in helping put together our dollars to get her there and back. If 6,000 of you donate just $1....that's $6,000. And I happen to know that wont even cover their expenses. Please consider helping the REDMAN family and Teddy...to be untied together forever.
Go here to donate through pay pal.

Their blog...redman family life

Julie and Teddy together the last week of February!

US with Mark, Julie and Teddy

Sponsor kids!

2008-04-29T13:51:00.002-06:00

Hey peeps...there are 48 children left, at Rapha School, that need to be sponsored. You can donate right here on the donation button to the right. The goal for April was to raise $ for Ruth for a well, and that happened so quickly the funds are now carrying over to sponsor children to go to school. Your $17 will GO A LONG WAY!
Thanks~

BEAUTIFUL LORENZEN GIRLS!

2008-04-24T17:20:00.002-06:00

M'Kay yep she fits right in with this family!

World Changers and GREAT Need! Vol.1

2008-04-18T08:16:00.011-06:00

Here's my first post about some of our friends that have influenced us, first towards Jesus and then also to reach out to the world. I'm combining 2 plus adding in a very special woman we don't know personally, but she has been in our hearts for years now. The reason this is "3 in one" is because they have all overlapped, intertwined, and crossed over.
First many of you know our friends Jeff and Katie. If you've followed along at all with our journey or blog, you'll know they are dear close friends of ours. We've known them for many years now. They have always carried a heavy heart for Africa and have been active in working, serving, and 'sharing the love' particularly in Uganda. They've been there many times for extended periods. And have built some great relationships there with some amazing people. They recently brought home 2 children from Liberia, after a fierce battle for them! In the past 8 months Jeff has spent 4 in Uganda working and researching the plague. They carry countless stories of God's faithfulness and love with them, in regards to their time and friendships in Uganda. I realize I can't make this as long as it should be, so if you'd like to read more about J&K and our personal friendship check out the post on them.
Jeff & Katie have a dear friend in Uganda, Ruth. They have known her for years now and have partnered with her in love, prayer, and friendship. She is an extraordinary woman sacrificing and laying down her life, for the sake of others. (more on Ruth below)
Jeff Katie Fatu & Osobie

Second I'd like to highlight my friend Brandi. I have NO idea how Brandi does what she does? Where she gets the time, energy or ideas. She is literally ALL OVER THE MAP. Her heart is huge and she is a "follow through-er". When she says she's going to do something, it gets done, period. Brandi recently brought home her little Liberian baby, Davis. She is not only an adoptive mommmy but a "World Changer". In 2 months she has raised enough money to supply 2 African communities each with a well. Which means clean drinking water for a lot of people in desperate need. She has joined the cause in assisting Ruth in Uganda along with J & K. They're raising money for 120 of Ruth's students to have school uniforms and school tuition paid. Brandi has a goal to provide a well for an "in need community" each month. Not single handedly, but she has this Jedi night power, that gets people on board and then things happen. In humility, she gives God all the glory, for all things!

Brandi and Davis
HERE'S THE CROSS OVER:
RUTH
Ruth is an extraordinary Ugandan woman. Jeff & Katie have known her for over 5yrs. now. She is in danger of shutting down her 11-year ministry to orphans, due to the lack of funds. She is the founder of Bethesda International in Jinja, an independent indigenous Non- Government Organization, with the goal of supporting vulnerable children, the poorest of the poor.
Bethesda provides orphans with hope and future by placing them in foster families. Bethesda also empowers the foster families to be able to provide for these children and their families.
Ruth founded the first library in Jinja. She established Rapha Community Primary School, which cares for and educates 264 children. Bethesda is in process in starting self-sustaining projects on the farmland adjacent to the school. Ruth dreams of expanding this ministry to areas of Sudan, Botswana, and the Congo.

Ruth has given her all to her family, community, city and country. Every day they battle not having enough to eat. They struggle to pay the bills of their own house and struggle to pay the rent for the orphanage. Their living situation is horrible!! Ruth has sickle cell anemia, which has landed her in the hospital too often. Her husband and daughters have asthma. The bills and school fees for hundreds of children is almost impossible to fund.
Ruth, her husband and their staff at Bethesda are some of the most genuine, honest, faithful and selfless people. They live their lives for one purpose...God's kingdom. They follow Jesus and live serving the poor and vulnerable children in their country.
*Right now, they are in serious need. Ruth is to the point of possibly shutting down areas of Bethesda International because of her inability to raise the funds necessary to feed, clothe, and educate the children. That means 200 orphans, with no family, and nowhere to go. It means shutting down a school where 270 children are being educated, encouraged and are fed one decent meal per day. It means a woman having to walk away from 11 years of hard work and her dream of seeing all her children grow old, know Jesus and change the face of Africa.

Last night Ruth sent an email to Katie. Here’s an excerpt of that.
~Another bad news is that we might lose our house and
money we have deposited on it. The owners are inneed
of money and cant wait any longer. Our money is
paining me ($10000) that we had deposited on this
house. They have given us until the 19th/ 4. Katie we
know this is our house and God has kept them at bar
for since last year so we believe that God will come
through for us again again. There is some people who
are will ing to led us some money but their interest
%is very high. Our prayer is that we could get
something like half the money or all without interest
and pay back in a years time. We are trying to put
something together but it is hard.

It is a hard time for us. Continue praying for us.

Love
Ruth~

WHAT TO DO:
The amazing thing is that Brandi and her well projects, raised enough money in 2 days to provide a well to the Rapha School Community! Because this community is the focus project for April, Brandi and the Borchert’s have decided to carry over fund raising for 120 students. Basically, we ALL have the opportunity to help. You can donate right here, right now (donation button to the right). Uniforms are $7 and tuition is $10. With a $17 donation you can cover 1 student.

However in light of this recent plea from Ruth, I’m requesting that people seriously pray for Ruth. It is obvious that she is in desperate need of funds to just pay for their home. This is an immediate need.

As a family our hearts have been stirred to join in and help Ruth. We have a scheduled a benefit concert with all proceeds going to her financial needs. Unfortunately, we can't put it togther any sooner than May 23rd. We are trusting God to provide the resources she needs in order to care for herself, her family and all of these children. While we are still anxious to see her immediate needs met.

PLEASE HELP HER! JOIN IN! BE INFLUENCED ~ INFLUENCE OTHERS! GIVE OF YOURSELVES~ YOUR RESOURCES~ YOUR PRAYERS ~NOW! TODAY!

RUTH AND AUTHOR MUGA

"Christians filled with authenticity, commitment, and generosity of Jesus would be the most spectacular sign in the history of the human race. The call of Jesus is revolutionary. If we implemented it, we would change the world in a few months."
The Signature of Jesus"
~Brennan Manning

Bethesda International
Borchert's Blog
Brandi's blog

Met the Cousins!

2008-04-17T09:17:00.004-06:00

Last week Nyenna and Titus met 7 of their 8 cousins (on Laurie's side). They are all so sweet you would have never believed there were 12 kids in our little house!

So Cute...Kojo and Elijah are the same age, and Titus and Samuel are the same age.

Givin' the love to baby Levi~

2008-04-15T10:14:00.000-06:00

AWWWWWWWW!

I'M BACK!!!!!! Seriously

2008-04-10T15:56:00.005-06:00

Where did I go? Long story...I'm gonna try and give you the condensed version. I didn't physically leave. Just pretty much "checked out". I've been spending a lot of time in prayer lately and wondering why I "feel" so different. First of all, I'm back doing the things I love. Writing, reading, and researching. These are my narcissistic pleasures. I love other things of course, but I feel like those particular areas were "cut off" somewhere in our crazy life. I feel like I've woken up and am now living 'my' life again. Many people have asked, how hard it's been to add 3 children to our family in 10 months, and if I'm just exhausted and overwhelmed? I answer with "Not so much", I feel like I can live and breathe again. For those that are not aware I thought I'd do a quick re-cap of how we got here...I'll try to spare unnecessary details, even though I personally am a lover of the details...I'm not talking levels of detail loving like say, Jason Vaughn. But I could give him a run for his money!
5 (ish) years ago....to now,

*Dono pastoring full time, Laurie start working to "supplement" income(why does that always happen with Pastors?)
*Kiah and Cierra get enrolled in local Charter school.(no longer home schooling)
*Laurie begins praying about returning to school to pursue nursing career.
*L goes back to school while also working, becomes CNA, name is on waiting list to start RN program.
*Instead of pursuing CNA jobs, figures she can make more money, working less hours at current job.(plus she LOVED what she was doing!)
*Leading from God- to SIMPLIFY our lives. A lot happened to get to this, but like I said, I'm sparing the details.
*After much prayer, we decide to sell our house, and start giving our things away, to people that needed them. Planned to live in our friends basement apartment(which was sweet!) We felt God was preparing us for the "next stage" in life and what ever it was required us to get a grip on our lifestyle, finances, and family life. We had NO idea what was coming?
*The week we sold our house, L's parents bought a second home, one block from the "friend's basement" we were to live in. We would live in their 2nd home, care for it, LOVE IT, pay for it, and when they were ready to retire, we would move on.
*Began praying that God would draw us close to His heart, asking Him to surround us with people that were looking for Jesus, finding him, and doing what He was doing...so that those people would directly influence our lives and hearts. We prayed to be surrounded with "World Changers" and that God would make us those people too!
*Laurie, secretly began to cry out to God for another child...asking God specifically for a son...either through 'natural causes', or adoption.
Within 2 months through a series of events, we became aware of Liberian adoptions and the huge need there for adoptive parents.
*L prayed that God would confirm the direction of adoption through Donovan, That the decision would be clear coming from him.
*Within that week, L was awakened by D getting into bed and laying down, he was crying. His words were,"We have to do this" L-"do what?" D-"Adopt our son from Liberia"...God had spoken to D in a very personal way, with a long list of personal confirmations.
*Begin pursuit of KOJO! We had not $1 towards this journey, but were trusting the one who told us to do it.
*3 months later, Donovan- unemployed. Hmmm. Job change/ all a very big deal.
*Start fund raising for adoption and doing all the necessary "stuff".
*Through much deliberation and prayer we agree that with a "new child" on the way, L would not continue in nursing school and would focus on what was ahead.
*Through various ways money raised for Kojo's adoption things finalized and we begin waiting to travel.
* L remembers Kojo's 2 cousins in Liberia, that still had not been placed in a family. She secretly begins praying that they would be given a family soon, or that God would make a way for them to join Kojo in "this family".
*Spontaneous email arrives from orphanage director, asking if we had ever considered adopting them, or knew of anyone who would?
*Dono cried, and said we will do whatever we can to adopt them, until God completely shuts the door.(by the way L never influenced this,by talking about it to D & only told a few people that she was even praying for this!)
*Start of $1 Adoption...God provides funds for adoption of Nyenna and Titus.
*Laurie quits working, Kiah and Cierra go back to home schooling.
*Trip to Liberia, Kojo home (met N&T)
*Living life adjusting, then feeling strongly we need to start advocating for our children in Liberia. A number of things led to this as there were many bumps ahead of us.
*Began seriously advocating for them from Nov. 2007 until they came home March 1st, 2008...
Now... well see what I mean- I'M BACK.

Some people would/have say or said, we thrive on change, we can't live unless we are dysfunctional and desperate, we love to live in drama, we are attention seekers, we're dreamers, we sabotage our own lives etc. (honestly, to some degree, maybe some of that is true:)?
I say...each one of these BIG changes has come with much prayer and fasting, much consideration and meditation, and the list of things we've said NO to is just as long...but these are the things we've said yes to. It is truly GOD, doing what we've asked. Removing things in our life, that make up "our little Lorenzen Kingdom" and then aligning those areas under HIS kingdom. We welcome this...each day has its' decisions, when we ask ourselves will X,Y,Z...build our Kingdom or is it to build HIS?

So I've decided to highlight those people that God has surrounded us with...you know the "World Changers". So about every week I'll be writing about one of our friends and what God is doing with them and then link you to that. I'll also keep updating with pictures and updates of our lives. But with 20,000 visits to this blog in just the last 6 months, I figure we live a life surrounded by people that inspire us...Hey, maybe they'll inspire you? They are everyday people doing and living extraordinary lives...
Stay tuned for our first post on some friends we know you'll love and be inspired by!

Stuck on Good Friday

2008-04-03T12:29:00.012-06:00

Burdens and body
fastened to a tree
Crowned with humble majesty

A King's love
pledged in blood
In darkness shining beauty

Mocked for lovin'
Mocked for dyin'

His heart consuming
pain and grief
While pouring
mercy and peace

Sweet is His love
Sweet is His love

A mysterious sacrifice,
Death now clothed in Life

A life, lived to the end,
only to begin again

Peace kisses righteousness,
The marriage of love and faithfulness

Life bestowed generously
Grace given to the lowly

Abounding in love To all,
That call~
His name

Sweet is His love
Sweet is His love

So sweet is His love, for me

~Me

Easy to please:

2008-04-03T08:57:00.004-06:00

I love how easy it has been to please our Liberians in the food department. Last 2 dinners sounded like this...
Kids smacking away on Spicy sausage Jambalaya~
T & N saying ,"MMMMM, mama THANK YOU fo' makin' di ri'(rice) soooooo sweet!" (Liberians say sweet, meaning Yummy, delicious, MMM,MMM,good!)

Eating Spaghetti with garlicy meat sauce~
"MMMMM, mama THANK YOU fo' makin' di mac-O-ron-ee so so sweet!"

I now have them convinced that dessert is Fresh fruit...pineapple, mango, grapes whatever we've got...They also LUV peperoncinis so much. If I ask who wants some, I can expect to be hit with a wall of cheers.

Afternoon in Liberia:

2008-03-31T18:53:00.016-06:00

If you've been to Liberia, or are planning to go you've probably heard of a place called "Rock Hill". I'm sure like most small communities in Africa would, it has had a profound effect on me, personally. This is a pretty poor area of Liberia. The amazing part, is that the actual land the community is on, is unbelievably gorgeous. You could almost imagine a "Pacific Palisades" or "Laguna Niguel" community living upon the rich beauty of this land. Green, luscious and views people in America would pay millions to wake up to. The reality of these people living here is about a million miles removed, from that image.
First of all these people have NO clean drinking water. We arrived in 2 vehicles...in our vehicle alone we had 3- 2 liter bottles filled with ice, cold, CLEAN, drinking water. Anytime we got in the car, we could chug down a cool refreshing drink.
The only place to get clean drinking water is FAR away, or these guys push a cart of clean water into the community.

Rock Hill gets it's name, because it's a community of people that literally crush rock. The men (and some stronger women) retrieve the larger rocks(boulder-ish) and then the women and children crush them down to be smaller...and then sell them.

We're talking women like 9 months pregnant crushing rock. They would deliver their babies, and go right back to work the next day. Children of all ages would also be crushing rock.

Now these people could work an entire day (entire meaning sun up to sun down) and only make anywhere between 40 cents to a dollar, depending on the amount of rock that they sold that day. Can you imagine trying to feed your family on that income? Well maybe your family, or possibly more people than your family. There is hope for some of these people, as there are some children attending a local school and not all of the community people are rock crushers...but for those that are, THIS IS THEIR LIFE.
We walked down the main road just when school let out. It was so fun to be holding hands and exchanging smiles with these beautiful kids. I loved talking with them and walking through the place they call home. Their only dirty and tattered school uniform clothes were topped off with sparkling eyes filled with hope.

Hope for their future. One that included a basic education...and now thanks to my friend Brandi CLEAN DRINKING WATER! She has raised enough money to have a well built right there in Rock Hill.

click to enlarge this picture...at the far end of the road you'll see one man pushing in a cart of water. He passed by us and this picture does NO justice to his situation what so ever! First of all Liberia is HOT. This guy was dripping with sweat and working hard to get this cart up a huge hill.
Think about how easy it is for us to have clean water to drink. In Colorado some can and will drink just straight up water from the faucet. We filter it and go through about 2 gallons a day. Used only for drinking. Then think about the consequences to not having clean water. Not only that but these people are living in HEAT and they need drinking water. Trust me, I probably drank almost a gallon a day while there and only 'tinkled' about 2-3 times a day. The rest went to sweat...flat out and a lot of it!
I'm so proud of Brandi for seeing this very simple, practical, and doable need and then going after it! Because of her(and all of the people that donated) these children will soon have CLEAN WATER to drink!

Read more about her vision to provide wells to a number of communities like Rock Hill.

"Well project summary" on the left hand side of her blog.
I love my friends!

MORE ON ROCK HILL

(Julie: you'll notice that I didn't include that awesome picture I have of you at Rock Hill:) I think I'll save it for a more opportune time! speaking of water) You can thank me now!

Kojo- Funny

2008-03-27T09:33:00.003-06:00

The other day we were playing at the park. Instead of "easter" baskets, the "littles" got sand buckets and shovels, filled with the traditional goodies. So the buckets have to go with us everywhere. The buckets were left at the park (alone) while all kids ran wild on the play ground. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a mommy and her 2 small kids going over to play with them. I waited to see the reaction of our kids. Kojo of course was the first to investigate. I was impressed...He said,"it looks like you're having fun playing with our buckets." Then told them it was OK for them to use them. That always makes a mommy proud.
Next I hear the Mom say to her children, "We will have to give these buckets back, they are special because the Easter bunny brought them."
I then hear Kojo question, " What, who is the Easter Bunny? My dad work so hard to buy us presents, for Easter...Mama & Papa gave them to us."
This poor woman had no idea how to react. So I went over and told her, this was their first Easter in America. They have never been exposed to the "Commercial American Easter", and they have only celebrated it for what it really is.
Honestly, it brought a little joy to my heart to know my 3, 5 & 7 year old were not the least bit confused as to what we were celebrating on Sunday...there was no questions like, "Do bunnies lay eggs?" "Why is there a huge bunny, leaving eggs everywhere?" Why doesn't the chicken bring eggs, to your basket?" These are all the questions we got from the girls.
We'll see how things are for next Easter?

2008-03-25T09:38:00.005-06:00

Happy Easter from the Lorenzen 5

70 degrees~

Check these people out...these are people I'm thinking about today and praying for! They inspire me! Make time to read about them.
Read about Ruth in Uganda
Then read about my dear friend Julie in Liberia...she is "stuck" there fighting for her son Teddy to come home.
She has been there since the week I was there picking up N & T!! And she has a family here in America, missing her!

PLEASE PRAY FOR RUTH & JULIE

Good Friday Hmmmmm... (long, sorry)

2008-03-22T09:05:00.011-06:00

Two of my favorite things...3 yr. old feet in Liberian sand, and Guinness

To some degree I feel like the week I spent in Liberia has vanished. We've lived for so long, just trying to get over the next hurdle. Then the kids came home and I feel like I've only had time to process it all in tiny little increments. I've wanted to post more about my trip and about returning to Liberia...but I'm still trying to put it all together. I've had 2 experiences where I've touched on processing the sweet goodness of life right now.
As far as bringing N & T home my bottom line desire was to have them buckled up next to me, on the plane, leaving Liberia.
#1 My last memories of Liberia, this trip...
We were the last of 5 families to be processed at the airport when leaving. 7 children had already gone through. I really did expect some resistance. We got held up at immigration. The man that would "let us through" was questioning the where abouts of Dono. Saying that if he was the head of our house hold, he should be coming for the children. So I responded with, " Yes he is the head of the house, and is at home working very hard taking care of the house hold, while I came for the children." So he took his time looking over the same paperwork over and over and finally let us through. We then enter the "waiting room" filled with tons of people all waitng for the same flight. Flight begins to board...All these people are shoved through double doors, then are randomly chosen to go through "security check". Airport officers standing there next to a wood table, either letting you walk out to the plane or saying they will check you. So here's Kelly and I with both children and all carry on items, purses, jackets, etc. We come to the officers, one says 'go on through' after looking at us, and the other says "I'll check them". The one waving us through, says....really(shaking his head)? Using a tone that sounded like, I can't believe you're doing that!. So we have to put everything down, then the woman officer says put down the child(Titus). Titus at this point has a death grip on my entire body...he has never had an experience like this (the airport, security, chaos of people, looking at a gigantic airplane that we're trying to get on, etc) So, I ask "Do I have to put him down?" and the woman reaches over and literally takes him from my arms. Then hands him off to another officer. This completely ticked me off! Of course, he began to cry...why? because his little mind is probably thinking these police are taking me from my new ma. I took him back as quickly as possible and grabbed my things and booked it out to that plane.
On the plane getting situated, Titus resists the seat belt (has never worn one), so I'm thinking what will distract him so I can buckle him up? Found head phones, put them on him, turned up music, and he sat dancing and head bobbing while I buckled him up. Nyenna was great all through out. Then it happened...the plane taking off from the ground, leaving Liberia(big sigh)...I looked to my left...Kelly and I 'book ends' of our row, with N & T in bewteen and wide eyed at the fact we were going to fly, waaaay up!
A deep deep flood of emotion emerged. I could have rolled up in the fetal position on the floor right there and wept. I tried hard to contain myself...but the reality of God's sweet promises, in that moment was more than I could bare.
Thank you Jesus...You have done this...You have been faithful...The brilliance of your glory, is more than I deserve... at this very moment. You have done the impossible! The exchange... my heart hearing the words.... "I have made you for this moment. Not only this moment, but many more like these. Stay close to my heart, and you will be where I am."
Me- This is where I want to be! ( Close to His heart)
#2 Good Friday-
I have visited the detailed account of Good Friday a little more thoroughly this year. All 3 Liberians really had no idea what it was. So we talked everyday for about a week leading up to it. We read G/Fri.- Easter books and focused on that part of scripture. And so Good Friday came. All 3 were so excited. Titus would say,"I will clap for Jesus!" During the service there was an extended time of worship. Thankful for time to focus in on the fullness of God's presence. Seeing my beautiful, sweet, oldest, daughter standing next to her daddy...on stage, playing guitar, with other musicians and worshipping- My row- Cierra holding Nyenna, Titus in my arms, Kojo wrapped around our dear friend (who also had the joy of bringing home Liberians in the past 6 months). And singing-
Thank you for the Cross
Thank you for the Cross
Thank you for the Cross
MY FRIEND!
The determination and passion of the cross that has made me who I am, today... it can not be expressed in words, only in tears. Marinating in the reality of the ridiculous, committed, and deep love that Jesus displayed on the cross for us...hmmmm- I could no longer stand. Over the last 4 years I have grown to know Him in a new way. And it all comes back to this place...THE CROSS.
My overwhelming moment was interrupted with a continuous lip smacking noise. I looked down to find Titus' lips puckered up and about an inch from mine...then came the simple pleasure of repeated smooches, from this little miracle!
The valley in between these peak moments is filled with everyday glories...too many to list and too many for them to go unrecognized.

This says it all! Pic. Taken at Rock Hill (coming soon: more on Rock Hill)

Spring Snow:

2008-03-18T12:24:00.002-06:00

The things I love about Spring snow...Yep you heard it, I used the word "love" in the same sentence as the word "snow". Hard to believe I know. Only because we're talking snow in the Spring. First of all it's been so warm the days before the snow came... so we can get about 4 inches, and within the late afternoon hours of the next day, it's melted and now water! BEAUTIFUL! Also Spring snow packs really nicely into snow balls, snow men, and whatever else you want make out of it. There's No ice scraping off of windows, the roads are just wet, and virtually no shoveling, because it melts so quickly. And if you get the kids out in the morning they have fun & exhausting play in the wet snow. Which equals a nice looonnnngg afternoon nap. All works for me!

Pictures: and Randomness

2008-03-15T19:35:00.008-06:00

Reunited and it feels so good! Finally, Laurie home with Nyenna & Titus, and Jeff home with "the Family". A long time comin'

Today, I attempted "to do" Nyenna's hair for the first time. Here are some pictures of that...I have to say it's not too bad, considering a "white Ma's" first try. A white Ma that wishes she was black, and already knew how to make her African daughter's hair beautiful. I guess we have time to learn...Thankful for that!

Nyenna and Fatu together at last!

CiCi-B

Brother and Sister

Before this picture was taken I heard the words, "Get me the camera...immediately!" said One Papa Dono

Our 3 babies "toting" their 3 babies

Computer in the shop....

2008-03-12T09:56:00.004-06:00

I've been wanting to post some pictures, but the computer that has all of the pictures on it is in the shop. In this week we've had alot of firsts. Some for Nyenna and Titus and some for us as well. I forgot how overwhelming everything is for these little ones new to America. I had promised Kiah and Cierra that if they did well with me gone, in Liberia, I'd save some $ and take them and we could start their summer shopping. So I asked where they wanted to go, naturally "the mall" :) My last choice! Anyway it was Saturday and Dono had been at work all week and wanted to be with family. So we decided to "all" come along. Shopping with 5 kids (2 new to America, one dying for undivided attention/ due to compromised attention, and 2 teenage girls "on a mission") This was "our first". They were all great really, but it was entertaining to say the least. My favorite part of the day was when we were in a store called "Buckle". You've probably heard of it Dono and I have assumed we are too old for such a "cool store", until this happened....
Kiah was on a mission for a nice Cowboy shirt. If you know our family we've been cowboy shirt fans for about 10 years now...back when Dono and I started collecting "vintage ones". We"ve seen them come and go in the "fashion world" so Kiah was not having an easy time finding one. This pretty much sets the stage....
Kiah trying on shirts...I'm outside the dessing room, holding Titus, Trying to keep Kojo from going into random people's dressing rooms, and telling Nyenna to stay with our stuff and not move.
Enter sales girl....she has to be about 16 and VERY forward(working on commission I'm sure)

Buckle girl- "Hey, oh my Gaaaawww are you guys like going out tonight?" (talking to me and Kiah)
I look at her like, "it's 5:30 on Saturday night and I'm with my husband and 5 children at the mall....I AM OUT TONIGHT!"
Kiah just stares at her with a blank look...."like she needed an interpreter"
Buckle girl"So like what are you looking for?"
Me: "she's just looking for a cowboy shirt, looks like you don't have many for girls..so we are buying fromt he boys and will have it tailored"
Buckle Girl: "Oh I'll see what I can find" (of course)
Buckle Girl: relentlessly starts throwing non-cowboy shirts over the dressing room door to Kiah. Kiah and I are rolling at this point...
Buckle Girl then turns to me: "Oh my gosh, are you guys like totally sisters?"
Me: Blank stare: With 3 Liberians hanging off of me- "Ummm no I'm the mom:)
Buckle Girl: OOOOHHHH Myyyyy GGGGaawwww, that's like so crazy, I totally love shopping with my mom, how fun."

I took it as a compliment...even considering the one it came from:)

The weather here has been awesome! We went to the park by our house on Monday...then yesterday we went to a different park that was new to all of us. On the way N & T kept asking "What place we going?" I would say to a different park. They seriously could not believe that there was more than one park here. They kept saying, "There plenty places for small children to play in America!!!!!" That just amazed me- I know there are many needs in Africa, but what would it be like to put in "play places" for kids? It made me think of the org. that has a merry-go-round as the pump for the well....I lovethat idea...think of all the movement that happens at a play ground and what that energy could be used for?
Got my wheels turnin'.

JOYFUL SURVIVAL!

2008-03-06T12:24:00.003-07:00

Alright it seems like it's been weeks since N & T came home...It's only been 5 days. Nyenna is feeling MUCH better. Eating, smiling, even dancing, singing, and opening up more to everyone else. Titus, well this kid is unbelievable. Just now while cooking lunch I felt these little hands rubbing my stomach as far as his hands would reach up from the standing position, and then I hear, " I Luv Mama". We call him Dreamy Mc drunken sailor. Why...well first of all when he looks into your eyes, it's as if he's saying, "You're the only one for me, the only one that matters, and I adore you!"(hence Dreamy) Then his head is a little heavy for his tiny body, so he tends to walk a bit like a drunken sailor :)
Ok so where does the survival part come in.....yesterday, N was being discipline. While we were still working things out, Kojo did something that earned some discipline (he's used to the system so he recovered quickly), I then finished with N and Titus then needed to be disciplined. In Liberia tantrums would last up to 2 hours...N even held out on apologizing to me for over 12 HOURS! We are seeing drastic improvement. I got an "I'm sorry" from her in 45 minutes....Titus took about 30. THIS IS HUGE!

Kojo is being a great big brother...inspite of being De-throned!
What am I singing today?

"All I need is food and creative LOVE!"

Will add some new pics. soon!

YES 5!!

2008-03-02T08:09:00.008-07:00

Added some pictures below:

We're home! There were so many times over earlier years, when I thought I was done adding children to our family. This morning I can't hold back the tears as the glory of our now, 5 children, fills our home! Clearly God was not done adding children to our family. I'm so grateful He opened us up to this journey. I'm exhausted...the trip was looongg, longer than I remember from before. Nyenna puked on me on the plane and then again in the food court in Chicago. Boy we were a sight:) Kelly was my saving right hand helper! She helped me, saved me, and was my constant reminder of finding the humor in the times off high emotional tension! I LOVE HER! I'll write more later....

For now I'll share the words God has given me for Nyenna, Titus, and Kojo. For Kiah and Cierra in the time close to birth or right there after God gave me words for them, too. These words for N T & K have been in my heart for a year and now have been been put to paper/in this case computer!

Dear Nyenna, Titus & Kojo

I have called you mine
From the start of time-

I walk the path that my Redeemer led
Mingled pain and love, this heart bled

This mother's longing for your life with me
it's now become a gospel reality

It's living in you
It's living in me

The Redeemer's love
The Redeemer's blood
His death and life that makes us free

Once again, my heart sings

Over & Over
REDEMPTION BRINGS...

The glory of
His redeeming love
Has been made true
through the lives of you

The love of my heart
To my arms you deliver
Living Mercy received
From the Reigning Redeemer

And so it seems now life together starts
With HOPE & FUTURE
Pouring from our Savior's heart

Our lives now bound by His love
As He has called us by name

AND AGAIN AND AGAIN
REDEMPTION REIGNS!

The sea that we're above
could not surpass the love
That awaits you...
In the arms of friends and family new

All I have for Him, to bring
Is my gratitude, in offering

Thankful for where we've been
Thankful for where we'll go...
Grateful for Divine Mercies that we now know

To ALL Glory be the KING!
Maker of you
Maker of me

ALL GLORY TO OUR KING OF KINGS

FOREVER
REDEMPTION RINGS!

Some pics-

Day at the beach

Me & Kelly

Going to the Embassy...looking fine!

Nyenna getting her hair done.

Going to Church

Heading to the airport!

Leaving Liberia

2008-02-29T05:51:00.002-07:00

In just about 8 hours we should be leaving Liberia . There is a yummy fish soup brewing up in here and it smells sooooo good! The kids are doing great. I'm praying for an uneventful return home. Titus has already today had a good hour and half tantrum! This is not something I want to be dealing with on a plane...we'll see? :)Had a great dinner last night on the beach after spending all day there! Over all it's been a wonderful time here. Liberia has come along a way in the last 10 months since we were her last. The progress is obvious and so great to see.
So we're off- Thank you again for your prayers...it truly has carried us this far and I have felt them all this week! I can feel the flood of emotion building....you know the one that will release when the plane we're on leaves Liberia. I'm already breathing a little bit deeper!
Love you all!

VISAS VISAS VISA!!!!!!!!! YEEEEEEEHAAAAA

2008-02-26T07:47:00.002-07:00

Laurie called this morning and said that Alma issued the visas and was sooooo nice. this was THE BIG one. she said it was bittersweet as it was such nice and pleasant
10 minutes and felt that all of this JUNK we have gone through for "ten" minutes. so they are set to come home on Saturday.

the lorenzen 5 soon to be 7

2008-02-25T09:55:00.002-07:00

hey everyone!
this is Kiah
just thought i would update all of you guys on whats going on in the Lorenzen family!
okay my mom has picked up Nyenna and Titus!!!!yes they are both very happy and doing well!
we have talk to them a few times on the phone Titus is deff. a talker!and a cuddly little guy!
Nyenna is very shy and is very organized and very cute!!!!haha
we think my mom will be going to the embassy either today(Monday)or in the next two days.WE do know that there plane will be arriving on Saturday and will be flying home with the kids as well as she will be flying home with Jeff Borchert.It will be a big reunion with everyone and we are hoping to take a fifteen passenger down there so we can all drive home together!
this is all we really know as of this moment,we will be updating more over the coming week.
Thank you guys for all of your support and prayers through this long and tough journey
these kids will be coming home soon,and there will be new additions to our family!
keep us in your prayers
thank so much
love
~kiah~

Round 2!

2008-02-20T20:42:00.002-07:00

Alright- Here I go! At 6:30 am I'll be leaving to go to the airport. I have peace, just a little anxious. What is the bottom line? My true longing?...to be on an airplane with Nyenna and Titus buckled up and us "leaving" Liberia. My visa appointment is scheduled for Feb 26th, Tuesday. If you remember please pray on this day specifically. Liberia is 7 hours ahead of us (here in Co.) But really it all comes down to me receiving visas for both of them. That's it. Not much stands in our way at this point...We just pray that is the way it will stay!
I will desperately miss my very best friend. He will be hard at work...working hard and taking care of our family! I don't think we've ever been separated for this long in over 16 years!

CHEERS!!!!...to being in Liberia on Friday night! I'll update or Dono will according to internet access, etc.
I'm off:)

3 days!

2008-02-18T08:08:00.002-07:00

3 DAYS AND COUNTING! I'm leaving Thursday morning for Liberia! In all honesty, I've lived in denial that I will ever return to Liberia...I have a lot to do in these next 3 days. Please pray as I have a deep, deep rooted issue of anxiety, just the thought of going back to the Chicago airport makes me ill. Will post more later:)

Birthday Fun!

2008-02-17T13:18:00.004-07:00

Happy Birthday Katie!

We were so blessed by Jeff's topless presences! For those of you who don't know Katie's man, Jeff is in Uganda doing the scientist rat trapping plague stuff! It's a 2 month deal and he so graciously left us with this pillow case. WE MISS YOU JEFFERY!

Jeff suckin' down Katie's Birthday Marg...

Dono and I before the festivies...

2008-02-15T08:55:00.002-07:00

DNA results have officially arrived at the Embassy in Liberia! Guess who's leaving?

DNA

2008-02-13T08:27:00.002-07:00

The DNA results sat in New York yesterday, most of the day. I can only assume that there were weather issues! It also didn't actually get picked up from the Lab until Monday/ not Friday like we'd thought:( Sooooo it's now in Brussels. Praying that it's journey through several African countries is efficient and timely. MMMKay yeah I realize that last sentence is a total oxymoron! Hey Africa has surprised us in the past, praying this will be another "one of those"!

LEVI

2008-02-10T20:27:00.000-07:00

This week we had a precious boy added to our family. After a 3 minute emergency c-section we welcome LEVI to the world!!!! Thank you God, for Auntie Shelly's life(my sis), and the life of my TINY nephew, LEVI! Today Levi weighed in at just over 4 lbs. If you look at the picture, his entire hand is literally just a bit bigger than my sister's finger nail! He is healthy for such a little guy and eating like a mad man!
Kojo and new cousin...the "smallest baby he has ever seen!"

Uncle Dono with baby Levi

DONE

2008-02-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

DNA test is done! It's all good...and the Lab sent out the certified results to the Embassy in Liberia on Friday. It should arrive next Wednesday or Thursday...Can't wait to have that confirmation!!!!!!!!!

I'm Weird

2008-02-07T09:25:00.000-07:00

OK so my friends Brandi & Chris tagged me to post 5 things that make me weird. I have always considered myself a some what "normal" person...until I asked Donovan if there were any 'obvious weird' things about me. I thought he'd at least have to think about it! He just laughed and contributed a few to the list. So here goes...Julie, hope you still want to hang with me in Liberia, after this:)

1. I love laughing...in fact I've been known to laugh hysterically even in my sleep. I can remember something funny from weeks, months, or years ago and literally come unglued with uncontrollable laughter, like it just happened. I'm talking laying on the floor, tears steaming down my cheeks, belly and chest aching, rolling laughter. More times than not, I'm the only one laughing this hard.

2. I love watching people fall. Like the spontaneous, 'hope NO one was watching falls'. Some find this really mean...as I think the best falls occur due to ice. If I'm the one that fell, I'm upset because I didn't really get to see it. This usually leads me into #1...uncontrolled laughter.

3. I order all coffee or chai drinks with extra foam. I'm obsessed with those drinks topped off with a perfect layer of foam. About 1.5-2 inches and THICK...not bubbly. This is a rare occasion as I've found not all Barists have mastered the "foaming art". Then I get upset, because I feel like when I pay $4 for coffee, the foam should be perfect!

4. When it comes to myself, I'm incredibly cheap. I will literally shop in a store for 2 hours and come out with nothing. I can have an item that is under $20(because I will rarely spend more than that on any 1 item) in my cart for like an hour, and I just keep mulling over whether or not "it's worth it"? And then I will usually put it back.

5. I CANNOT get into a bed that has not been made. Even if it means me quickly 'making', straightening, arranging the sheets, pillows whatever... right before hopping in. I'll even do this with someone already in the bed. I'll just make sure "my section" is just the way I want it.

Alright so there you have it! A small window into Laurie's weirdness. This has all got me thinking. I'm not feeling so "normal" after all. The list in my mind continues to grow but I think this is a reasonable "public start" :)
I'd like to see what 5 things make my friends Katie, Julie R., Charity, Jocelyn, and Kami weird! So, let's have it girls.

Arrived!

2008-02-06T08:22:00.000-07:00

The DNA samples have arrived at the lab!!!!!! Thank God. It should take about 72 hours from this point to get the certified results in the mail, to send to the Embassy in Liberia. Big step closer! Finally...
The Lab says they hope to send the results Friday, but at the latest they will mail them out Monday. It will take approx. 5 business days to get to the Embassy.
PRAYING!

Break from DNA Drama:

2008-02-02T10:10:00.000-07:00

THINGS THAT FILL MY HEART WITH JOY AND WARM FUZZIES!

Kojo reunited with his best friend from Liberia! Their embrace started standing up, and then ended with them hugging on the floor!

My "baby angel" CICI

My first "Baby Angel"

Dancing w/ Liberians

My MEN!

My last Name:

KiKI sportin' her grill:

A little Rain Play:

Me Ma and Me KiKi

This guy!

Bein' with my chick

My other chick perfecting the fine art of "The Worm"

Kojo having 'spendies' with his friend Osobie...and Osobie sleeping on his Papa:

CAFFEINE!

Oh other joyful things:
The sound of D & K playing guitar and singing...ringing through the house.

&
Free beer tasting @ New Belgium.
Nerds & Double chins. (I am one and can rock a mean one)

DONE!

2008-01-31T09:43:00.000-07:00

Got word the DNA collection is DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!! It will be sent out via DHL. Please be praying for the journey to the U.S. that it will be taking through the mail. Hoping to get a tracking number?

THANK YOU FOR PRAYING WITH AND FOR US! A STEP CLOSER TO THIS BEING FINISHED. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO'VE SENT ENCOURAGEMENT, PRAYERS, SCRIPTURE AND LOVE!

WE NEED IT!
WE FEEL IT!
WE DIG IT!
WE LOVE IT!

Psalm 86- Thank you Bryan!

2008-01-30T09:56:00.001-07:00

I'd like to say I'm shocked....however nothing shocks me anymore, only breaks my heart at a deeper level! The Dr. was supposedly in surgery and couldn't do the DNA collection today. Also there is still no Birth certificate for Mama, they were banking on using her voter registration card as ID? Total joke! We know that B/certificates are issued in a day there, so we have NO idea what is going on?
I did get a scheduled final visa interview for the end of the month, then inquired about tix for that time...they will cost about $1,100 more than the time before I was going to travel.
Our hopelessness and despair continues to turn into faith, that God will do this.

So there you have it!

2008-01-29T11:54:00.000-07:00

Update: The DNA collection for kids and Mama McGill is scheduled to happen tomorrow. We'll see. Also I'm trying to re-schedule my exit visa interview for a later date as the DNA results WILL NOT be to the Embassy in time for the 14th:( I haven't heard back from the Embassy to confirm my date...
Our prayer has turned to...God we can only ask and pray that it is within your will and plan for Nyenna and Titus to come home...period.
Learning a lot right now, going to places inside our hearts we didn't know existed. Relying on and gaining a new understanding of our Living God's sovereignty. Learning that NOTHING can thwart His plan...not even us and our plan. We've heard these words, read them, prayed them, sang them...we have them plastered all over our home. Now we are living it and being transformed by it! Our weary hearts and souls are finding peace and comfort in the ONE who loves us, rescues us, and holds our future. We are laid out in our Heavenly Father's arms. Trusting that HE has given his son and thru Jesus our broken, cracked open hearts will be healed. Our hearts in many ways have been grieving, dying and bleeding...we await and anticipate the LIFE that will come the life that is promised. It's been a long dark hour...Jesus we ask and wait for the light and life that only YOU can bring!

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

2008-01-24T12:24:00.000-07:00

OK are you ready for this? Today the AOH staff took birth mom and both children to the clinic for the DNA Appointment. The clinic proceeded to ask the B/mom if they could see her birth certificate. First of all NO ONE in Liberia "just has" a birth certificate. So he refused to take the samples until she has one!!! If they apply for one tomorrow they could have one by Monday...so I have to work on scheduling ANOTHER fricken DNA appointment through the Embassy, for next week! Naturally we are the "first" case this has happened to, because normally the b/mom and children would just be taken to the Embassy and the DNA sample would be done there. Now we get to be charged $300 for a DNA procedure to take place in a clinic and it will be OVER 3 weeks for our kit to just be sitting in Liberia. Most families 'complete' this process in 3 weeks. WHAT THE? SERIOUSLY!
Tonight I'll be back to my old life of staying up all hours of the night trying to talk with the Embassy and explain the situation and schedule another appointment. I am in hell! We are so done...We are so tired of swimming through MUD to get finished here.
Please pray for us...at this point we need lots of mercy...we need some wisdom...SOMEONE THROW US A BONE!

PAID:

2008-01-23T08:51:00.000-07:00

The DNA appointment is officially confirmed and set for tomorrow. Payment has been made by AOH staff in Liberia. Praise God! Now lets be praying for this appointment to actually take place tomorrow with NO problems.

Getting Somewhere:

2008-01-22T08:16:00.000-07:00

Added info since first post: 30 minutes before the Embassy closed today, we received an email stating that the Dr. and clinic in which the DNA collection is scheduled to take place at, is requesting pre-payment for the collection and DHL fee for them to send it back to the US. They want payment tomorrow in order for the test to happen Thursday as scheduled! When I received the email I immediately called the Embassy and tried figuring this out. Basically the clinic is going to charge $100 US DOLLARS per person to collect DNA (this is swabbing the cheeks). Then the $80 DHL fee. Just a side note the US charges a $60 DNA collection fee for as many people as needed in that appointment. Can you believe this fee? Anyway just another detail that we need prayer over. Please pray that the staff gets to clinic tomorrow to make payment on our behalf and then of course that they make it to the actual appointment on Thursday.
THANKS!

WE HAVE A SCHEDULED DNA APPOINTMENT FOR THURSDAY JANUARY 24TH.
IN ORDER FOR US TO MAKE IT TO THE FEB. 14TH FINAL VISA INTERVIEW, THIS APPOINTMENT CAN'T BE MISSED OR RESCHEDULED! PLEASE PRAY WITH US THAT THE STAFF IN LIBERIA WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS APPOINTMENT WITH BOTH CHILDREN AND BIRTH MOTHER.

THE EMBASSY WILL NO LONGER ISSUE VISAS WITH DNA RESULTS SENT VIA EMAIL.(naturally this starts with our case). WE HAVE SO MUCH MAILING TIME NOW TO CONSIDER...DNA SENT BACK TO THE LAB IN THE US. 48 HOURS UNTIL RESULTS. THEN ORIGINAL CERTIFIED RESULTS MAILED BACK TO THE EMBASSY, ALL BEFORE FEBRUARY 14TH!!!!!

WE ARE PRAYING LITERALLY FOR A SEAMLESS PROCESS HERE, TO FINISH THINGS UP. THIS OF COURSE MEANS WE ARE ASKING FOR A MIRACLE!

WE LOVE ALL OF THE SUPPORT, LOVE, AND PRAYERS YOU'VE ALL OFFERED US! WE COULD NOT DO ANY OF THIS WITHOUT YOU!

Update:

2008-01-19T10:34:00.000-07:00

We had a couple of Friday miracles. Woke up to an email response from the Embassy. It didn't really make sense and didn't answer anything that we were inquiring about. So I thought Hmmmm, maybe I'll give it a try and get thru to talk to someone. I sat down with my last 20 minutes on my calling card, and said God " I'll try 4 times, if I'm supposed to talk to someone please make a way." First try, I got thru and ended up having a very helpful conversation with a different visa officer(miracle #1). He actually went so far to write down all my questions and our phone number. He said, he didn't want to keep me on the phone and he would call me back once he talked with the other Consular that was familiar with our case. He called back in 15 minutes!!! I was shocked. Anyway, he said they could schedule the DNA collection appointment for the next week. I then discussed how long everything should take in order for us to be finished. It's a little up in air because we are at the mercy of mailing everything back and forth, and it is imperative that the appointment happen and everyone make it there next week. So I went on to discuss the possibility of scheduling a final visa appointment...he was reluctant to encourage that, until I told about the fact that we already have done a DNA test and know the results. His 1st response was, "How did you do that?" Even though he thought it was nice of us to do that to not cause any hold up in the Embassy, he said unfortunately they would not be able to accept those results. Which we already knew.
So our conversation ended with him telling me if I wanted to email him regarding an appointment for the final interview, that he would look at the schedule, but probably wouldn't have anything available until late Feb. or March. I expressed how disappointing that would be considering our case had been with the Embassy since December 6th. He concurred.
I had not even emailed the Consular, and then an hour later received an email from him, stating that he had put us on the schedule for my final visa interview for Feb. 14th(miracle #2). Of course depending on whether or not the DNA stuff was finished. Here's what I find encouraging. He scheduled this himself and so I feel to some degree he is giving himself a deadline, too? The crazy thing is we have tickets on hold for this very week already and I have been praying for a final visa interview for Feb. 14th. The officer and I never discussed any potential dates, in fact he had told me late Feb. early March.
Prayer Requests:

* For the DNA appointment to be scheduled first thing Tues. morning and for it to actually happen!

* for NO interruption or hold ups with the mail.

* For clear and good communication between us, the Embassy, and the agency staff in Liberia.

* That God would show us where we need to concentrate our efforts and energy. We feel like we still have a battle ahead of us and we have so little left in us for the fight.

THANKS EVERYBODY! We see a little light here!

PRAY PLEASE:

2008-01-17T11:12:00.000-07:00

Peeps we need your prayers. Long story- to the point. We need to pray that the Embassy will get confirmation/verification that our DNA kit is at "the clinic". Ok so some of this is a little ambiguous...not unusual for Liberia. The Embassy is becoming more and more familiar with who we are, our names, and our needs. This is a good thing, at this point everything helps(we hope?) I will contact the man I've been talking with tomorrow. He is supposedly going to get in touch with this clinic to find out our status. If this doesn't happen, I'm praying that I personally can get the phone number of the clinic and follow up myself. Also we are requesting the staff in Liberia to try and find any contact info that I can use, to try and track this down. Once it is "verified" then we can proceed with the appointment. You want to hear something funny? The actual kit was mailed to the Embassy. Then they supposedly get it to the clinic? Well wouldn't that be verification that the kit is ready for testing? Seriously- What the????
PLEASE PRAY: that this verification would be clear to the Embassy, and that God would provide a way for that to happen. At this point we will do whatever we can to find out...and we will exhaust every single avenue. We're asking God to make a way here. Please join with us:)

Remember this little cutie?
This is the photo I looked at for 2 hours last night while calling the Embassy. If this isn't a driving force, then I don't know what is?

HELP!!!!!

2008-01-15T08:42:00.000-07:00

Can I say how sick I am of dialing my calling card number and the US Embassy(Liberia) number? It actually could be my part time job. I have gotten through 3 separate times. First the Consular was in a meeting with everyone else that could possibly help me. 2nd time they said to call back at 2:00 because she was in an interview(this was 20 minutes after the Embassy opened so 1:20am our time). So I started calling back at 1:00 this afternoon (Liberia time) Got through at 2:00 and the Consular was supposedly "still out for lunch". Hmmmmm. So this man decided that he would like to try and help me:) I thought well, maybe he can at least confirm that our DNA test kit was actually at the Embassy. So he proceeded with a series of questions...and then asked those same questions again. He then said,"Can you call me back in 10 minutes". Are you kidding me? So I told him that it takes at least 60 minutes of me calling before I can get through to the Embassy. So he asks for my phone number and says, "I will call you back, in 10 minutes (maybe he meant 10 days and I misunderstood) and tell you if I can locate your DNA test kit." 25 minutes and No! Guss has not called me back...SURPRISED? So I begin calling AGAIN. 30 minutes later I get through to guess who? Guss. He recognizes my voice right away and says, " Oh yes, Oh yes, I tried calling you back and got an answering service." I said, "really that is my home number and there is no answering service." So I ask what number did you call? He reads me the number and the last number should be'9' he says '8'. So he says,"Yes, I must have called this wrong number." Riiiiigghhhhttt.
So he says,"Can you give me the tracking number of your package?" I did. Then I ask,"Is Consular Gurski back from lunch yet(it's now been 1.5 hours, since he said she had not come back yet)?" No. No she is not back yet and I will try to get this all cleared up. I told him,"that there is nothing to clear up, I'd like to speak with the Consular, that I am not trying to open a new case, but that our case has been with her and the Embassy now since December 6th and I had other questions for her that he could not answer." Guss says, "Let me try to find the DNA test kit, and I will let Consular Alma know your name and number and she will call you back when she 'comes in'." Then he says,"I will call you back and I say well I will call you back, too." I know this may be shocking, but Guss has not called me back. The Embassy closes today in 45 minutes and I have been calling for 1 hour and 15 minutes to try to get back through to "see just what Guss has found." To no Avail!

This is how far I've gotten in 1 evening spending close to 4 hours calling over and over and over. This time does not include the other nights I've been up for hours trying to "get through". Every time they have picked up the phone, I think "oopsie" they probably made a mistake and didn't really mean to answer.

So there you have it folks! Our tax dollars hard at work! Many would say what do you expect,"This is Africa." I say, yes it is Africa, however, it is the US Embassy and they are there to serve US citizens. Very discouraging!

Please pray with us that we can actually get some response from the Consular either via email or I can get through to her and speak with her. Acres of Hope staff is within miles of the embassy, and they go there frequently. We have yet to hear if they have requested a specific DNA Appointment or not? It makes the most sense to me that they would have better communication access than I'm having? Who knows?

We are trusting God and asking for Him to clear this up. For now my part time job/night shift has come to an end...I will call the Embassy a few more times before they close...who knows maybe I'll get to talk to Guss again?

Charles Taylor

2008-01-13T14:11:00.000-07:00

The invisible trial of the Lord of War Published:Jan 13, 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TALES OF HORROR: Charles Taylor in court at the re-opening of his trial on Monday Picture: AP Taylor — brazenly sporting solid gold cuff links, ring and watch — calmly jots messages in red ink on green post-it notes for his legal team, while chewing peppermint gum. At one point, he blows a kiss to his daughter through the bullet-proof glass partition, as she chuckles about how much weight he’s lost in jail

ROWAN PHILP: The Hague Charles Taylor faces war-crimes charges in an empty court THERE are no mobs at the trial of the Lord of War, no victims raising their amputated limbs in anger and no gasps from the gallery as witnesses describe scenes of utter depravity. Instead the war crimes trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor — billed as the event to finally strike fear into the hearts of Africa’s strongmen presidents — takes place in a quiet, sterile, glass-encased courtroom . Among the few witnesses to the trial of a man held responsible for 250 000 deaths, as well as hundreds of thousands of rapes and mutilations, are two dozen school children on a field trip from south Florida. Seated in the dock, the 59- year-old “super-warlord” does not have the hounded look of Saddam Hussein or Slobodan Milosevic, fellow heads of state recently tried for similarly grotesque crimes against humanity. In the sterile environs of the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands, it’s easy to forget that Taylor is the man who is accused of murdering at least two close friends in 2003, and ordering whole villages razed, just in case one among them would one day be called to testify against him. Held in The Hague — for fear that it would trigger mass unrest in Sierra Leone — the Special Court for Sierra Leone is a world away from the crumbling walls, poverty and limbless masses of post-war Freetown. But it is here, this week, that prosecutors set out a stunning claim that, if successfully proven, will rewrite west- African history: that Sierra Leone did not, in fact, have a civil war, but, instead, was the victim of the biggest, bloodiest robbery of all time — instigated by a single man: Taylor. Chief prosecutor Stephen Rapp tells the court that Taylor’s plan — formed while being trained by Muammar Gaddafi in 1986 — “was to take over political and physical control of Sierra Leone in order to exploit its abundant natural resources”. Taylor is said to have looted an estimated R3-billion as a result of the conflict in Sierra Leone. The court hears that Taylor, who has never set foot in Sierra Leone, carried out his brazen plan by directing rebel forces in the neighbouring country, and controlling the civilian population through the sexual enslavement of women and butchering of people. A Baptist lay preacher, Taylor is reportedly being held in the same prison cell where Milosevic stayed — and died — during his war crimes trial in 2006. However, unlike the circus that surrounded Milosevic, Taylor’s trial could easily be overlooked. “I am amazed that no one in Holland seems to be talking about this; that there are even so few African faces here to see this,” says Anna-Maria Carrera, a student from Ecuador studying in The Hague. “ It’s dramatic being here. I mean: did you see Taylor wearing all of that gold in court, when he is accused of stealing it? It’s like he wants to shock the world … but the world isn’t noticing.” Barward Johnson, one of just four civil society activists from Sierra Leone and Liberia attending the trial, said victims’ families were too poor and too weary to make the trip. Added Johnson: “Even for me, and despite all the allegations, it is humiliating to see my former president on trial like this.” Johnson said other than a billboard in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, reading “Charles Taylor is Innocent”, being defaced three times recently, public interest in the country was “only moderate”. Meanwhile, over the border, only a small group gathers in Freetown’s court buildings each day to watch a live feed of the proceedings. Taylor initially escaped arrest and prosecution in 2003 when three fellow African leaders, including President Thabo Mbeki, intervened to shield him from international warrants. But now Taylor is facing 11 counts of crimes against humanity, war crimes and the recruitment of child soldiers. This week prosecutors kicked off the anticipated eight month- trial with an account by Alex Temba Teh, 47, the sole survivor of a 1998 massacre . After describing how 101 fellow villagers were machine- gunned to death — and then had their heads chopped off by children as young as 10 from “Small Boy Units” — the softly spoken reverend told of the pitiless murder of a child: “I saw some other [boy soldiers] coming closer to me with another small boy, and the boy was crying; screaming. At first they put his right arm on a log and amputated it at the wrist with a machete. The boy was screaming and shouting and asking: ‘What have I done?’ “They took the left arm … and sliced it off. They took the left leg and put it on the same log and sliced it off at the ankle. At last they took the right leg and cut it off. They threw him into a toilet pit.” A video was also played, showing a woman who had been sexually assaulted with a stick by rebels; men enslaved on captured diamond fields and a miner who had his arms cut off before having to watch his family burnt to death. Introducing the video, prosecutor Mohamed Bangura said: “ If we are distressed watching and hearing an account of an amputation; of a sexual assault… we can image the terror of the people at the time.”

2008-01-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

Hurdle #2 is seemingly a little more difficult. We believe the fact that a DNA test kit can be simply delivered to the US Embassy in Liberia, that in and of itself is a miracle. We are now waiting for miracle #2 to materialize. Getting an appointment for the DNA Collection. This includes bringing in all people to be tested, having a panel physician from the Embassy show up and have an officer there to monitor the collection. This may sound like your everyday appointment, and Hey what's the big deal? Well, in Liberia this could classify as a big deal. Having all of these people in the same places at the same time, with no interruptions, not so easy. I am emailing the Consular like crazy, have been up on mornings starting at 5am trying to call. And have heard nothing. I'm just trying to get this thing on the schedule! The staff in Liberia inquired about making an appointment, apparently the Consular's response was...sometime next week?
Please pray for God to make a way through this and that it would be done quickly. We know it's possible(other families have done it) we also know the Consular there is completely overloaded with work. We are at the mercy of the Consular at this point. However, we know that Our God is ultimately in control of all of this. Our faith and trust is in HIM and HIM only. We know that He is not over looking the details of this situation, but He in fact is orchestrating them. We are in complete submission to His will and pray that it would come to. He loves us...He loves Nyenna and Titus, what comes is best for us all. We will continue to fill Heaven with our prayers!

DNA: Hurdle #1

2008-01-08T11:19:00.000-07:00

DNA collection kit has successfully made it to the US Embassy in Liberia. Please pray with us for a scheduled DNA collection appointment, that is kept and completed in a timely manner!
Praying for it to be done by Friday? We'll see!!

2008-01-04T09:20:00.001-07:00

Look at our beautiful girl!!!

KENYA:

2008-01-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a blog of someone living in Kenya...follow what's happening and PRAY!
CLICK HERE:

It's on its way...

2008-01-03T08:21:00.000-07:00

The DNA (kit) is on its way to The US Embassy in Liberia. We are praying for a quick arrival (3-5 business days) and no interruptions in its journey! Once it arrives a DNA collection appointment will be made, then they send it back to the (US lab), and then test results (which we are already know) will be done in 48 hours. Sounds so quick and easy, but oh don't be fooled...it's not over until those results come through, between here and there, there's a lot of things that could create bumps. So please pray with us, that this will be finished in a timely and accurate manner.

Later, I'll post more pictures etc. from our last week, had lots of fun!

Round One:

2007-12-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

Round One of DNA testing is DONE!!! And Guess who will be coming home?

We have done things a little differently than other families in this position. In order for Nyenna and Titus to be issued visas to the US, we had to prove thru DNA testing that the person relinquishing rights to them was in fact their birth mother. This obviously done thru DNA testing. We chose to do a private DNA test first before involving the US Consular and Embassy. The reason we did this, is because at this point we did not feel that we could bare the weight of waiting for these test results to come thru the Embassy(this would have taken over a month, during the Holidays and does cost waaaay more than a private test). We were also not overly confident that this woman was their Birth mom. We have a picture of her, but it is not clear and it didn't give us the confidence we needed.
You may be asking "Why would anyone lie about being the Birth parent of a child that is being adopted?"
Liberia is NOTHING like America. It is so hard to imagine a non-birth parent acting like they are one...but it does happen, for many reasons. Africans do not really have a complete understanding of adoption. Some feel like they will be in trouble and then ask a friend or relative to take their children "in" for them and act like they're parent/grand parent etc. Culturally Africans could leave their children for up to a year or maybe even longer...to go find work and then their children are left with a friend/relative. Say friend/relative can no longer care for the child during that time...they could take that child "in(to an orphanage)" and act as the birth parent. Then the actual birth parent comes back and their children are gone and have been adopted (Can you imagine?) With the very long civil war fought in Liberia thousands of people were displaced and separated due to unimaginable conditions. This too contributes to many problems with children living with their actual birth parent/s. Or both parents have died and then the story has to be proven and closest relative giving up rights to the child. Apparently there has been cases in which mothers have come to the US Embassy in Liberia looking for their children. While their kids were in the care of someone else(very normal in Africa), the person caring for them could no longer provide and took them to an orphanage. They were adopted to the another family and now birth mom is looking for and wanting her children! This is something I will be confirming with the Consular there when I meet with her. The Dna testing also cuts back on actual child trafficking.
In reality we want nothing more than to have Nyenna and Titus in our family. However we have always prayed for the truth and have always wanted nothing less than a legal adoption. This would mean if they had any surviving parents, there was always a chance the US Embassy would request DNA proof of that. And they did (for us anyway).

We are now thrilled and relieved to have received the results of our private DNA test. The woman we have always believed to be their natural mama, has been confirmed. And we can now proceed with the Visa process. This will include another DNA test through the Embassy(basically the same one we did, but we will pay a few hundred more $$ for a stamp that says this one is official). After the Consular receives the results, I am free to travel and have the final visa meeting with her.

We are praying about the date of Feb. 9th.(leaving). This would give well over a month to complete everything...with plenty of room for missed appointments etc. Also the Consular is out of Liberia until Jan. 30th.

Please join us in coming before our Heavenly Father with some of these prayers, praises, and petitions.....

*Praying that I will recover most of the money from my first trip to Liberia/Chicago. Still have not heard what the Airlines will do with that?

*Praying for favor with all the grants we applied for...have made it to the 2nd round with a couple, but haven't heard anything!

*Praying for a quick turn around for our Embassy DNA testing...and the money it will cost to run it (close to $1000).

* Asking God for direction on the timing(date) of when I should travel to Liberia.

*PRAYING FOR NYENNA AND TITUS! That God would be protecting them, sending people to show His love to them, that their hearts would not be anxious or worried about coming home, but they would have confidence in me returning to "carry them to America".

Praising God for revealing the truth, this DNA test is really the only way we would have known for sure.

Thanks everybody! We love you and are so thankful for the support, love, and prayers we've received. We actually see the LIGHT now and the end is growing near. We could not have made it this far without you!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2007-12-26T09:09:00.001-07:00

Just thought I'd lighten the mood here a bit with some fun Holiday pictures! Our life right now just is what it is, but hey, we still have fun. In light of everything; what a joy it is to celebrate our dear Savior's birth! It is only because of Him...we can live in peace, joy, love, and even survive our troubles with an undying faith in HIM and HIM alone!!

This is what I look like when our dryer catches on fire:)

Father Christmas and His Lady Friend, paid a little visit to the family!

Liberian LOVE

Kojo's 1st time ice skating!

Kiah & Cierra on Christmas Eve

Some Christmas morning fun!

"THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU, HE WILL TAKE GREAT DELIGHT IN YOU, HE WILL QUIET YOU WITH HIS LOVE, HE WILL REJOICE OVER YOU WITH SINGING."
Zeph. 3:17

T'is the Season!

2007-12-21T07:58:00.001-07:00

I'm going to do my very best to NOT make this post sound whiny, complainy, and desperate...Maybe ya'll will find some humor in it...or maybe you'll just say "My Life is looking pretty good!"
Please pray for us, when you read the recap of our month and what's ahead you'll understand why:)

December:
*Donovan's tools get stolen AGAIN! (second time since July). Lucky us it was only the most expensive tools he has and the ones he had just replaced. Just so you know the precious person who did this had to go through 3 locks, know combinations, and more than likely works with him!!!

*Donovan's car broke down, replace radiator.

*Laurie buys tickets for her and kids to come home from Liberia. Gets turned around in Chicago, due to DNA test requested by US Embassy. Total loss, $1,000.

*Next day, already somewhat broken dryer, bursts into flames!!!

*1 week later, Donovan receives paycheck with very confusing discrepancies, hundreds of dollars just 'not there'. Don't ya love being self-employed?

*Just found out the required DNA testing with the US Embassy will cost roughly $1,100.(We just spent $245, on our private test in order to know exactly what we are dealing with before it goes thru the embassy)

* OH YEAH! IT"S ALSO CHRISTMAS! PRICELESS

I have to say that in between each of these bigger issues, there have been sprinkles of unbelievable things that have happened literally everyday! I now immediately burst into tears, or just laugh out loud when these things happen.

PLEASE NOTE:
We have received so many encouraging words from many of you! We are grateful and love each and every one of you! Many have said, "You must be doing something right? For all of this to be happening at once." or some have said,"It could always get worse!"
We are now close to believing that we are not doing anything right...and Yes we are counting our blessings and know it could get worse, and honestly almost expect it to(sorry that's just the honest truth!)

Today, I will make my way to TOYS R US so Kojo can go spend his "BIG MONEY"(he calls it) Grammy & Popie were so sweet to send the girls Christmas money(they never want gifts, just cash) and they decided to share it with Kojo. Apparently, the money in his piggy bank (around $9) is little money...the money the girls gave him is BIG MONEY($30). Maybe he's just made to be on game shows???
I woke up to..."Mama, please take me to that one BIG store, I will spend my Big Money!" First blessing of the day:)

I will not be sending out Christmas cards...Sorry everybody! We will send out a letter and photo to you all, once our entire family is together and united! Pray this happens sooner than later!

We need you!

2007-12-14T08:10:00.000-07:00

It's safe to say we need you! We need your prayers! If it sounds like begging, well I am. It's been a tough week , as days have passed, having to look at the calendar and see the day my final visa interview was scheduled for come and go...and to be thinking what I would be doing in Liberia right now. I've really tried to steer away from this but it's been hard. We believe that God has said,"To pray for Nyenna and Titus, like we never have before." That the battle is literally there, in prayer. It's embarrassing to admit after following Jesus for over half of my life, and to say I'm wrestling with my faith. I guess not really "my faith" over all...but there have been times, where I've said to Jesus, "Just when I feel like I know you, something else comes up and I say, do I know you at all?"
So the other day when I was in the shower, (by the way if you know Donovan and I, God has made this shower a place where He has told each of us very specific things, that have changed the course of lives), I had a prayer time that went like this....

God: "Laurie, do you believe that I am who I say I am?"
God: "Do you not have my word and promises, a testimony, and the truth?"
Me: "I'm in the dark here, if You are the light, You're going to have to bring it to
me."
God: "How special Laurie, to think that this is only about you" (OUCH)
Me: "Then what God, what do YOU want to do."
Then the list began....
I want you & your children to know My promises, and know that I am the TRUTH. And for the people that come and go out of your home to know My truth and promises. Wait and see... I will reveal Myself and My faithfulness in this.
He then gave me a picture of the inside of our home littered with His promises. Promises straight from His word.
God then showed me..."If any one of these are false then clearly I have lied, and am not who I say I am."

SOOOOO...What's happening in the Lorenzen home? Everyday the girls, Kojo, and I have a time to read God's word and pray. We now are on a hunt...Hunting, searching, and seeking out the promises that God has for us in HIS word. So each day we write down at least 1 promise, and then we decide on a place in the house to "stick it". We will add at least one promise a day until Nyenna and Titus come home. This is the only way we could figure out, how to physically surround ourselves with the words that remind us of "Who God really is".
Kiah and Cierra were then concerned with our entire house being covered in God's promises(exactly what I'm imagining) and asked, "what will we do after God brings N&T home?" Then the idea surfaced...we will make a book. We will write of all that God has promised us and then write of all He's done! I LOVED this idea! I have to say that it is such a joy to see my children working out their own faith in God.

KOJO: This child has come home with knowledge of Jesus way beyond his years. He has dramatically acted out EVERY detail of Jesus' death and resurrection. Which all of it was accurate. I answer questions all day long about stories in the bible. For seven months now, his attention has not left the fact that God has raised Jesus from the grave.
Here's the hard part. Yesterday, Kojo...was weeping, sobbing, and couldn't compose himself to talk. I just held him and prayed. He finally said, "That his heart inside was hurting because Nyenna and Titus are not coming home." He then said,"Mama, I tell Jesus- "I beg you("please" in Liberian English) Jesus bring them home, and Mama they are not home."
It's so hard to imagine that God is even stretching the faith of this 5 y/o boy, who has already been through so much. I can only think, that there is a special plan for Kojo's future and that these experiences will help mold and shape him for that time.
This is my prayer for all 7 of us.

PS: My bag for Liberia is still packed. It's all summer clothes and clothes for Nyenna and Titus. So it's not too crazy to leave it packed:) These are the words that are laying on this suitcase...

Isaiah 55:8,9
"FOR MY THOUGHTS ARE NOT YOUR THOUGHTS, NOR ARE YOUR WAYS MY WAYS", SAYS THE LORD.
"FOR AS THE HEAVENS ARE HIGHER THAN THE EARTH, SO ARE MY WAYS HIGHER THAN YOUR WAYS, AND MY THOUGHTS THAN YOUR THOUGHTS."

We are not putting these words over my packed suitcase, because we believe there is some kind of magic in it...but because each time any of us look at it, we can remember that God is in control here, and He sees the bigger picture, our view is very limited. It reminds us of WHO HE says HE IS!

I'm Home: Without Nyenna & Titus

2007-12-09T21:12:00.000-07:00

Sorry friends and family, I haven't yet brought myself to update the blog. Last Thursday looked a little like this....
Leave for airport 3:30 am. Arrive at airport 5:00 am. Flight to Chicago leaves at 7:00 am. arrives in Chicago ummm 10:00 am. Plan to spend well a good 6 hours there in Chicago airport, because our flight was not due to leave to Brussels Belgium until 4:30 pm. Call office of AOH to see how the 1st visa appointment went. (This appointment was scheduled for Monday, but was missed and then took place on Thurs. the same day I was scheduled to leave). 12:00 received call back from office with the news that the embassy is requesting DNA from the woman that relinquished rights( over a year ago) to Nyenna and Titus. This is when the public break down starts to hit! This means it could be 6 or more weeks until our kids could come home. Throw in Holidays, a 2 week vacation for the Consular at the Embassy and DNA testing and not really knowing how that will all turn out?
The following 6 hours consisted of looking, waiting, and pleading for our bags to be pulled and delivered to us. Also booking a flight home to Denver. 6:15 ish leave Chicago to turn around and go home! Not really sure at this point what time we even ended up back in Denver....all I know is it was the day from HELL! I held so much emotion in side to just make it home, that by the time I sat down in the car, I was unglued. Sobbing and weeping. My poor kids...they just sat there with tears streaming out and Donovan could only turn up the music louder, in order to drown out my weeping. Before they picked me up Kojo refused to go to the airport, because he knew that Nyenna & Titus weren't with me.
Please pray for and with us. We are so DONE! We have No idea what God is doing here? But all we have is Him. We have nothing else but to trust in His faithfulness. We are asking for His mercy and need it in ways now that we never needed it before. We can only believe that HE loves Nyenna and Titus more than we do and that they are HIS. Please join us in "praying our children home". It's going to be a bittersweet Christmas this year. Kojo is HOME! We were expecting Nyenna & Titus as well. We were wrong:(
Thank you for your support and prayers!

2007-12-05T08:27:00.000-07:00

Please pray-
I'm heading to the airport at 3:30 am(Thurs)! Pray for good weather and that we make all of our connections.
Also pray for our first visa interview. It will take place while I'm in the air! The soonest I could know the out come is during our layover in Chicago. This is the interview that will determine the approval of visas for both our kids. Yes, I'm hyperventilating, mainly because it would have been nice to know this before I leave. But what can ya do? When there is only 1 flight left, that will get me to Liberia in time for the final visa appointment.
Will do our best to update!

FuFu & Soup:

2007-12-05T07:18:00.000-07:00

Oh I almost forgot....last weekend we also had a FUFU & SOUP SLUMBER PARTY! What is FuFu?
Fu Fu, is a staple food of West and Central Africa. It is a thick paste or porridge usually made by boiling starchy root vegetables in water and pounding with a large mortar and pestle until the desired consistency is reached.

Our friends Jeff, Katie, Fatu and Osobie all came over on Saturday night. The night included dancing and singing to Kojo's favorite song, FuFu & Soup (by DJ Palm Butta). Alot of fun chaos. And of course the ever so popular dinner...FuFu and Soup. Enjoyed by all!

We noticed that Fatu & Osobie had a differing FuFu eating technique than Kojo. They took the ball of FuFu and threw right into the soup (dumpling style) where as Kojo would break off pieces roll them in a ball and then dip those in the soup. Maybe their families in Liberia ate it like this?

IN 7 MONTHS!

2007-12-04T07:29:00.000-07:00

When I land in Liberia, it will be 7 months almost to the day since we landed to bring home Kojo. In 7 months...that's 2 trips to Liberia and 3 kids total. However, Nyenna and Titus are not home yet. I will only be breathing deeper, when they are buckled up in their airplane seats and we are taking off.
I'm leaving Denver Dec. 6th with a travel mate (not Donovan) and arriving in Liberia the 7th. There has been some confusion and some issues with our first visa appointment. The issue is that it hasn't/didn't happen. It's now supposed to take place on Thursday? I will know once I'm in Liberia. If it doesn't my visa appointment next Mon. will look a little different than I expected. At this point we just need prayer. A quick list of things we are giving to God, if you'd like join in with us in asking for His will and hand in all of this here's the low-down...
Praying :
* For safe protected travel
* For Donovan, Kiah , Cierra, and Kojo here at home
* For my time apart from Kojo (he had his first melt down yesterday, while helping me pack, he just kept saying, "I will miss you sooooo much") Please pray that God will give him an understanding and peace that I WILL BE COMING BACK TO HIM.
* That God's will be done with the embassy appointments and visas. We continue to pray for favor with the consular, and pray that God will really just be working on behalf of Nyenna and Titus.(Appointment Dec. 10th)
* Please pray for Kelly and I and our stay there.
* And lastly a safe return with both our children!

I'm hoping to see a little more of Liberia this time around. When we were there in May it was hard to be enthusiastic about being there. I know it sounds so dramatic...we were thrilled to meet and bring home Kojo. However, the entire time we were there it was really just a constant reminder of how we were going to leave Nyenna and Titus behind, for an unknown amount of time. It became too much for us to emotionally bare. And it did effect our over all trip. I'm praying this trip will be blanketed with JOY!

Ok so some important things happened last week, aside from the travel planning portion. Donovan and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary!!!!! You heard right 15 YEARS! We are still tilting our heads over that. It has gone by so quickly!
The day after our anniversary our "baby" TITUS turned 3 years old!
Here he is....

PRAY PLEASE!

2007-11-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

The last week has been a roller coast. We are stressed, ridden with anxiety, and yet hopeful and praying for the strength and direction to move on. At the beginning of last week we had completed paperwork, passports, and decided it was time to schedule our visa appointments. For those that don't know we will need 2. We really wanted to have the first one done before I got on a plane to leave for Liberia. This 1st interview will determine whether or not we will have problems getting visas for Nyenna and Titus. So it's important to know the out come! I scheduled everything in hopes that our paperwork could be delivered this Thurs(tomorrow). This was the plan, until we figured out that Thurs. is a Liberian holiday...Embassy closed. Which means no paperwork getting delivered. Our 1st interview is scheduled for Monday. So case file needs to be at the embassy before then. Well to some degree I think we have this figured out? And our paperwork will be able to make it there. However, the one thing that is still up in the air is whether or not the birth father has a death certificate in the file. And if so is it accurate? We need to find this out before our case file goes to the Embassy.
It's all confusing and crazy. Could you please just be praying?
I have a flight booked to leave December 6th. We need miracles here. I feel like this is all going to work out. It's hard to figure out all the details, but I'm preparing like I'm leaving!
Please pray- That we will get info on our questions some time tomorrow.
That we can get our paperwork and 1st interview in/done before December
6th.
And then of course the obvious...preparing to leave, preparing to bring
our kids home, $$$$, knowing Christmas is around the corner, and finally
we still need $$$ for my travel. We were sooooo blessed to receive a
check, for lot's of money this last week. We are so thankful for that!!
We're still waiting to hear from grants? so who knows?

Thank you all peoples- I have a feeling the end is near, however it feels like it may be a battle ahead!! We are relying totally on God and are committed to follow HIS lead.

HERE'S SOME PICTURES OF THE TIME AUNTIE KATIE SPENT WITH NYENNA AND TITUS!

Yep-

2007-11-23T18:07:00.000-07:00

Our paperwork is done and looking good. This is a relief. We'll learn more on Monday where we stand with our process. There are quite a few families hoping and praying for the same thing we are...Bringing home kids by the end of the year! There's only so much room at the guest house and the staff there can only accommodate so many families and there appointments. Hoping for the best whatever that looks like:)

FIRST SNOW! COLORADO'S (2007 winter) and KOJO'S EVER!!!

GIRLS GOT NEW HAIR...14 & 12 going on 25! (yikes)

Lil' update:

2007-11-19T14:12:00.001-07:00

Word is that our new and improved file/paperwork, is now on an airplane with Patty, returning from Liberia. Once in the US we will receive our copies. Please be praying with us about this. We need to get through this part in order to move forward...and moving forward is sounding REALLY good right now!
We'll know for sure on Wednesday.
Thanks for praying, everybody!

GOOD NEWS!

2007-11-16T13:00:00.000-07:00

Got word that Nyenna and Titus BOTH have their passports. Now just waiting for some fixes on our paperwork and then we'll make visa appointments. Please pray that our paperwork with be corrected quickly and able to be scanned and emailed for our review. This is all we are waiting on at this point!!! PRAY PRAY PRAY!

Bunch of stuff...

2007-11-15T20:19:00.000-07:00

This past year there was a very special person taking care of all of our children. Titus and Nyenna have clearly spent more time with her than Kojo, but he loves her just as much. Melodie worked at Acres of Hope with the children. She sent all of the families updates and pictures of their kids. The week we spent in Liberia, we witnessed first hand her endless love and attention for these kids. She was our comfort, when it came time to leave both Titus and Nyenna in Liberia. Just knowing she would be there with them. Melodie has since moved on and no longer works at Acres of Hope.
Awhile back we received an e-mail from her with pictures. She told us how she loved all of the children, and there were some children that she had grown especially close to. With permission, she took Nyenna and her friend Naomi home with her for the evening of her birthday. Melodie gave them their first BUBBLE BATH. And she was kind enough to send us the pictures of that. Now I'm not sure about posting pictures of adorable 6/7 yr. old girls in a bubble bath on the internet...MmmmKay- So I'll keep that special memory private;) However, here's a picture of the girls with Melodie...they are not smiling, because this was right before they left to go back to the orphanage.:(

Nyenna is in the pink.

We're so grateful that Melodie took the time to make this memory with our girl. It did make our hearts break, because we know that she has had so many special people leave her life this year. I know Auntie Melodie was one of them.

UPDATE: I don't have much to offer on an adoption update. Can I please just ask for you to pray for us. With out details, well we just need prayer. Pray for both passports and that our kids would come home soon. They have been there way too long and we are still trying to figure out why they are 'still' there. However, we know and trust that God who loves them more than we ever could, will bring them home in just the right time.

FINALLY TOGETHER AGAIN!!!!

Kojo and Osobie hand in hand!

Cierra out numbered 3 to 1

We are all so thrilled that Fatu and Osobie are home! Kojo talks about them everyday and loves visiting his Liberian friends;)

Kojo OR Weed?

2007-11-10T09:08:00.000-07:00

That is question...
In six months Kojo has grown 3 1/2 inches. He's gained 7 lbs. He came home in a solid size 3T and wearing a size 10 shoe. He has almost completely by-passed size 4T(which he wore for about 1 month) and is moving to 5T/ 5-6. He now wears size 12 1/2 shoes.
And is about the same size as Nyenna.(his 7 yr. old sister, still in Liberia.)

I asked him how he has grown so big...
Kojo attributes it to-

1. "Eat-in my Bite-a-mins."
2. "Take-in my Medicine."
3. "Eat-in PLEN-TEE uh food!!!"

His new favorite song is "FUFU AND SOUP" by DJ Palm Butta (Liberian)
I'll mess with the whole music/play list on the blog thing and see if I can get it on here...you will roll when you hear this...especially if you have little Li-Br'ians at home.

By the way- He cannot understand why we call it a Christmas tree. He calls it a "Jesus tree". After all if we have one to celebrate the birth of Jesus- then we would call it a "Jesus tree".

He also informed us this morning during Saturday morning bed talk...that he thinks it would be a good idea to mix up Liberia and America together. To mix aalllll up.
This came from last night...we were driving down town and Christmas lights adorned every street and tree...he would literally gasp for air and say,"it sooo beautiful!" Then he started in about how he thinks a little America should be in Liberia.

OK Where were we?

2007-11-07T08:10:00.000-07:00

Here we are....approaching mid-November. Life has been a little weird as we've been on our personal adoption adventure and then jumped off ours and hopped on to ride with our friends on theirs. So we feel to some degree we have been swallowed. However, we continue to celebrate that our friends and their kids are coming home! So, we re-focus.
Back to our process. I haven't updated much regarding where we are with everything. This is why- If you've followed along with us over the last year you probably remember a time of...oh I don't know...MONTHS, of posts regarding passports(Kojo's) in Liberia. We felt so strung along...and everyday their was a new change, a new hope, a new let down. Packed bags that mocked us for over 4 months! I just couldn't bring myself to that place again so incredibly soon. Reality...we're so there, in it again.
We saw a dim light at the end of the tunnel this month. But we have been tightly guarded and didn't put but an ounce of hope in that little light.
Basically we have been told that Nyenpu & Titus should have their passports by the end of this week. YAY. This doesn't mean the same thing it did when we got Kojo's passport. It is a step complete...something to rejoice over for sure!
However, with the new Consular at the Embassy, getting their visas is where it will be tricky. Now also very time consuming. Before we can travel she will review their case then she will interview the person who relinquished rights to them. Then she will determine if they are approved for visas or not. It was once that happened...families could travel within about 2 weeks. Well Nyenna and Titus' "visa- interview" was scheduled for Nov. 15th. You saw the operative word "WAS". The embassy has changed their rules...She will now only allow each orphanage to have 1 family processed per week. Acres of Hope was processing 2-3...What will this do? Well considering there is over 100 families working with Acres of Hope alone...and there is only 52 weeks in a year...scary! We are grateful to be at the VERY end of our process...however the pipeline just got smaller and more compressed! We have no idea what this means for us, or our waiting kids...they have already been in AOH for over 1 year and Kojo has begun to melt-down about every other day for his brother and sister to come home. That dim light just shrunk to pin-hole size. I have refused to pack bags...and up until today, refused to even believe or post that their interview would happen Nov. 15th. So here I am...I really just wanted to bring you all up to date in order to pray for us.
WE ARE WEARY! WE ARE DISAPPOINTED! We know everyone has their story, and they are important. But when we accepted Nyenna and Titus' referral we were told that the adoption would be expedited(hurried along), because Kojo and them would be separated. It is not in 'their' best to have to go through that separation long term. They are so young and have been through so much already. Needless to say by the time we actually bring them home, it could be close to a year from the time we said YES. At this point I guess the focus is just "getting" them home...no matter what that looks like. Thanks for praying with us and all of you who are encouraging us...our walk is slowing, but we are still walking!

Kojo's 6 month Post Placement report is coming up. This is where we write a report on how he's doing and send pictures to Liberia...we are under the impression that the birth families actually can come and get these. Kojo made a bracelet for his Liberian Mama and his Liberian Grandma to throw in with his pictures. He was proud!

Brother and Sister playing in the leaves!

IF YOU'VE MADE IT THIS FAR...GO TO LINKS SECTIONS AND CHECK OUT THE MAIN OFFICIAL $1 ADOPTION WEB SITE!!

Shadow Ninja!

2007-11-01T19:29:00.001-06:00

Kojo was a Ninja for Halloween. Well really he's been a Shadow Ninja for the last 4 days! When he takes off his costume he says,"Look mom, now I Kojo again."
Here's Kojo and his Power Ranger friend (Jace). This was before the Main Event! Kojo thinks Trick or Treat is absolutely hilarious. He would laugh and laugh over the whole thing. And then would say "Dis is really fun!"

This is what almost every one of my evenings looks like...

He ALWAYS cooks dinner with me. First, he pulls his stool over to the prep zone(island) and then once the cooking gets going...I can barely get in on it!

While cooking I hear...."MMMMMM- Dat look deeeeelicious!!!"
"Oh Mama, I will be eat-en dis all day long!" Then-
"Yumme', yumme', dears a par-te' in my tum-me'". (While rubbing his tummmy!)

Just a little window into my world...with our adorable boy:)

Cat's Outta the bag!!!!

2007-10-31T08:31:00.001-06:00

THEY'RE COMING HOME!!

We are overjoyed that Fatu & Osobie are coming home! Kojo is so excited to have his Liberian friends 'coming to America'. He was dancing around the room yesterday with his hands raised up yelling...YAAAAAAAY!!! and then he'd stop and play his drum. Then he asked if Auntie Katie would bring home Nyenna and Titus, too? :( Even though they are still in Liberia we are celebrating the JOY of having Osobie and Fatu home with Jeff & Katie!!
If you'd like to be 'brought up to date' on their story...read our post titled "OUR FRIENDS" or go to the links section to the right and click on Borchert Blog.

PRAISE GOD!!!!

2007-10-30T17:53:00.000-06:00

OH, today is a wonderful day!! We are rejoicing...dancing...yelling...screaming...and crying tears of pure JOY! Bet you all want to know why? Well I'm sorry to say my lips are sealed until further notice:) Soon you will all be rejoicing with us!!

SORRY! But I can't spill the beans...or steal the thunder. God is so good!

SAY YES!

2007-10-26T09:29:00.000-06:00

Something I've learned over the years...When we surround ourself with people that say "YES" to the things of God, we actually benefit from those people. WHY? Not only do those people see modern day miracles, but we get to see them too! When we join together in relationship and community, we see God through one another. When we each say "YES" to things that are too big and too difficult, we know that we are entering into the place where only God can do what needs to be done. It's a fine line. To put yourself "out there" and to fully trust Him, without stepping back into our own understanding and our own strength. I'm not talking about laziness, and reckless abandonment to foolish things...I'm talking reckless abandonment to the things heavy on the heart of God. We have many close friends living in this lifestyle...we have seen them follow Jesus into the impossible. They have come out blessed beyond imagination. We've watched their hearts and character be transformed before our very eyes. Because they have said YES, we have seen God and His huge heart!! We love these people, we love that we can be in their lives! Jesus offers abundant LIFE...not just when we die...but now, today. What does that look like? I think it looks different for all of us...I personally receive it in many ways. However, I've seen it the clearest when we've come to the end of ourselves and cried out for God to do what only He can do! To that, I SAY YES! How about you?

If you'd like to see a glimpse of God's heart please go to my friend Charity's blog.
I LOVE this story! (Read the:News- Charity's Home post)

I've come across this quote for the last couple of weeks...It still has not left my heart or my mind...

I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done." - Hudson Taylor

It's Lifted:

2007-10-24T10:20:00.000-06:00

Kojo has been home for 5 months. I'm happy to admit "the fog" has lifted. You might be asking what "FOG". I'm not sure if every mommy that brings home an adopted child experiences this, but I can say with clarity now that I have definitely experienced that FOG. I didn't even realize I was living in it until it began to clear at about 3 months. The FOG consists of, living in basic survival. Just day to day. I'd have bills stacked a mile high to pay, 40 loads of laundry I could never get done, having everyone fed (especially a decent dinner) was a major accomplishment, doing and paying taxes on the last and final day of our extension, trying to complete and mail about 6 grant applications, Dr. appointments, home schooling, shopping and meal planning, and continuing to 'prepare' for 2 more children to come home. Oh and a lot of phone calls to return, for those of you haven't received those, thanks for the grace you've given me, I'm working on that! The overlapping of adoptions, has been harder and more intense than we expected. I finally feel like I can actually accomplish things again. That overwhelming feeling has either left or I'm doing a job of ignoring it. Typically I'm known to be a very "tidy" person. I love knowing things have a place, and that they are "in" that place. I have had to seriously let this go. God, knew that this adjustment would happen with just bringing Kojo home. He's so good to me to subtly change my environment and expectations. He knew all along that 3 children would be coming into our family...He orchestrated it this way, to protect me from totally flipping out! For those of you who "know" me let me describe our house right now. Dog hair, cat hair, dust, dirt clothes/ clean clothes, toys, books, dirty dishes, toys all over the front and back yard(no haven't even done any fall clean up), all bikes have at least 1 flat tire...no beds are made. Need I say more...and I'm not hyperventilating! Hard to believe- I KNOW!!!
Learning to focus on the things that matter. Not that I'm totally loosen it, but I'm learning to give myself time. Time and grace for this new life and the life to come. We will figure it out and get it all down. Getting Nyenna and Titus will be a BIG part of this. It's hard to look ahead and know that the FOG may return in just a couple of months along with our kids. The good thing will be that we will NOT be overlapping another adoption with them coming home. There's such a huge investment of time, emotions, resources, planning and preparing when you're in the process... it will be a relief for us all to be shifting that investment directly into each other! I'm feeling more and more ready for this!

PLEASE PRAY!!!!! Laurie has her parents and brother(with fiance')in San Diego. They are safe. Continue to pray for the weather and fires, and that God would protect their property!

I NEVER THOUGHT...

2007-10-18T22:06:00.000-06:00

Never ever did I think I would say, "I miss Liberia." But I do. There may be a number of contributing factors. For one...my friend Katie is there right now. I wish I could be there with her, supporting her efforts in "getting" her children home. For two... Kojo is in a phase where he is constantly reminding me of things in Liberia. "Mom, in Liberia there is NO play toys. In Liberia at my house I sleep on the floor.(Which was dirt) In Liberia there is NO snow. In Liberia, there is no baths." Then he would go on to remind me that he is now in America, and how these specific things are different. Lastly, I think I miss Liberia because I desperately want to go there and "carry" Nyenna and Titus home, to America. We are weary. We are ready for this part of our adoption journey to be over. There's still lots to do. Preparation with the house, clothes, and the biggy $$$$ for traveling. In our hearts though, we know that these things really don't have to be "ready". I could bring them home tomorrow and be content with just figuring things out. I wanted to post some pictures of Liberia. Kojo and I looked at all of our photos a couple of days ago. My how he's changed! He was this little round body with 4 sticks and a BIG smile. That has changed, well except for the smile:)

This was the wall of the new kitchen under construction at the Sheppard's house. They were preparing the wall surface, with a pressure washer. This is how the day ended.

This is the Sheppard's house where we stayed. Our room was down stairs, the first 2 windows to the right of the car.

This is where Titus is living right now.

Some more random Liberia pictures...I'll spare you the commentary:)

OH YEAH- My 2 Favorites in Liberia!!

We're still here...

2007-10-12T19:52:00.000-06:00

I haven't posted much lately on the adoption front. The truth is there is not a lot to share. We did receive thorough reports with a couple of pictures of Nyenna and Titus. This was so great. We are waiting for our paperwork to arrive in the US, and are hoping that will be in the next 1-2 weeks? We are really getting to the place of being ready for them to come home. It's been a long continuous journey of adoption, and all that goes along with it. We really have no idea where things are at right now. We are assuming at this point that their passports have been submitted. In actuality we have no idea. Their adoption has been finalized for 2.5 months. We are hoping to find out when their passports were actually applied for. This will at least give us some idea of where things are. We are not assuming they will be home before the end of the year...in fact we are counting that.
KOJO: He's been home for 5 months(Saturday the 14th). He is a completely different child then when we arrived in May. The changes are so huge but subtle enough for us to not really notice, until we step back and analyze. We have never seen a boy laugh harder or eat more. He talks about Nyenna and Titus everyday. And he's become more comfortable with testing his big sisters. Favorite food- Pizza(pee-zah). Favorite shoes-converse. Favorite drink-still water(he does beg for beer and insists it's for small children...NOT!)
Most significant change...He is sleeping through the night. What I mean by this is he is not screaming in his sleep, randomly, all night long. There were times when he would scream for either Donovan or I every 20-30 minutes. This was when he was sleeping literally inches from me in his "side bed". When I would comfort him, it was clear he was still asleep. When we would talk about it in the morning, he'd say he was scared? Dono and I are both enjoying the benefits of this new stage!

Please continue praying for our friends "The Borcherts" (see post "OUR FRIENDS"). We are believing that their kids WILL come home. They continue to need all of our love and support.

Below are some wonderful new pictures of Nyenna and Titus!!!!!!!!!

Nyenna has changed so much since our 1st referral picture(taken last Sept.) She gets more and more beautiful as time goes on. We love her hair like this! With a trim and the right hair product this girl could go "all natural"!!

We've decided that Titus is just "ridiculous cute"! Can't wait for us to be able to love on them both :)

Kojo's 1st Wedding-

2007-10-05T11:19:00.000-06:00

Here's Kojo and his little "Sweetie" Katie! Kojo had a lot of questions regarding American weddings. First of all he asked, " What does married mean?" After the discussion he said,"One person all day long(meaning forever), I don't want to be married!" "I want 2!"
Looks like we have a little training and in-stilling to do with this little guy:)

Aren't they a cute couple?

Yay! NYENNA!!!

2007-10-01T09:48:00.000-06:00

Today Nyenna turns 7! Well this is the birthday we have for her so far...Kojo had 3 separate dates. Soooo for now we say Nyenna is 7 today!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR LITTLE SWEETIE!!!!

Nyenna and her friend Joyce...picture is about 4 months old, she has teeth now:)

Our friends!

2007-09-26T13:49:00.000-06:00

This post is long over due... Most of you adopting families know the situation with our friends Jeff & Katie Borchert. I have not posted anything regarding their situation yet, mainly because I just wasn't sure what to put out here? It seemed that things twisted and turned and we knew all information was sensitive. So we want to take some time to tell you a little story about our friends. Famously known as Auntie Katie & Uncle Jeff!

Along time ago(well, 5 or 6 years), in a place far far away(well, Loveland Co.) our new friends Jeff & Katie came over for dinner. For some reason when they arrived we were on the computer looking into adopting children from Sierra Leone. Then we all gathered around the screen, as they said they had always wanted to adopt from Africa as well. We carried on with our evening. I remember conversations of how we felt so blessed to have met each other and how our hearts were so much a like.( Even though Jeff didn't really like Donovan initially, he came around:)
Sometimes months would pass in between our times together, but we could always pick up where we left off. We had tons of grace for one another, understanding that our lives were equally as busy. Then our luck changed! We moved, and now live within miles of Jeff & Katie. This gave us a new opportunity at increasing our time together.
In the summer of 2005, we "went public" with our pursuit to adopt from Liberia. No one was more excited than Jeff and Katie. They were preparing for a lengthy trip to Uganda and we met, to connect before they left. We encouraged one another, gave big hugs, and didn't see Jeff & Katie for over 3 months.
Once they returned home they asked if we could commit to praying together weekly...for our adoption and for their future in Africa. We were so grateful to have friends offer to do this. So for the past year and a half we have met together almost weekly...eating,drinking,playing,crying,laughing, and praying together. The summer of 2006, they told us that they were also going to adopt from Acres of Hope. We were over joyed...to think we would be in this together and our children would be together before they came home. To think years prior to this we were having dinner and joking about how someday we will all have our African children home.
Our time arrived to go to Liberia to pick up Kojo. Jeff & Katie's adoption was well underway and we knew we would have the opportunity to meet their children. We all prayed together before Dono and I left...all I could do was cry. Thinking here we are going to pick up our son 1/2 way around the world and we are going to meet our dear friends children. All I could say to God was..."God what have you done? How have you done this?"

And so we went to Liberia and spent a wonderful afternoon with Kojo, Titus, Fatu & Osobie. We could see that God had made these kids to be Jeff & Katie's. When we walked into the orphanage all the kids were eating. We stood there scanning the room for Titus. Then we see this little hand waving in the air to get our attention. It was Osobie...he was waving us down like he'd known us for ever. It was so sweet. That day I sat there with my arms full of Liberians...ours and the Borchert's. All I could say was "God what have you done?" amazed at His great blessings in all our lives!
Time went on and it was getting closer to when Jeff & Katie would be leaving to pick up Fatu & Osobie. The dates were not concrete, but then again they still haven't solidified. The very week they were planning to leave, we received many calls of possible bad news unfolding. The bottom line, the US embassy would not approve visas for their children to come home to the US. Devastating news! We rallied our community of friends together and got on our knees, crying out to God, on behalf of Fatu & Osobie. Where do they go from here? What to do next? These are their children and we all know what's ahead of them if they remain in Liberia.
We have witnessed our friends in unbearable heart break. It has wrecked us! So for now our 4 Liberians are still in Liberia...together.

Our friends are walking a rough road right now. Please join us in praying, loving, and encouraging them. We believe that Fatu & Osobie will come home. What does that look like? How will it happen?

Jeff went to Liberia last week, to continue the fight for their children. What a sight to see this Daddy's arms full of his Liberian son and daughter. We've also seen God manifest a deep, deep "Mommy love" into Fatu & Osobie's Mama(Katie).
It's brought many questions into our hearts and minds. We are wrestling with our own faith attempting to process the reality of it all. And yet we are inspired by the deep, committed, and passionate faith of our hurting friends. It's hard to imagine that in this time we should be bearing their burdens and yet they are inspiring us to trust God in ways we haven't before.
About 3 years ago, we committed to surround ourselves with people that inspire us to be better. Better parents, better friends, better husband and wife, better followers of Jesus. Truly this is the case when we find ourselves surrounded by Jeff & Katie!!

JEFF & KATIE: We see Jesus in you. Thank you for being lovers of the TRUTH. Thank you for following your heart and God to pursue Fatu & Osobie. Our hearts break when your hearts break...Our hearts rejoice when your hearts rejoice. Thank you for being people of integrity. THANK YOU for loving us, even at our worst!

This is not THE END of the story...there are many chapters still ahead. What an honor it is for us to "make history" with you and to pursue the future!

I'm Bragging!

2007-09-19T09:35:00.000-06:00

Yesterday...I received a pretty special gift!
Kojo said, "Mama I have a secret for you."
I bend down and give him my ear.
Kojo says, "You uh goo(d) Mommy."

This was so sweet! He's just learning to praise other people for good things. So he's giving it freely now. He'll throw out a "Good Job", to Donovan if he sees him throwing rocks...followed by "You uh goo(d) rock thrower." I love seeing this in him!

Kojo's Revelation:

2007-09-17T09:13:00.000-06:00

Last night Donovan, myself and Kojo rode bikes to our downtown area for a little dinner. Well, fall is creeping in and now when the sun goes down the temperature does begin to drop. To like 60-65ish:) So after dinner we took a ride around town and stopped to look as some houses Donovan has been working on. Dono and I got off our bikes...and Kojo just sat there,covered with a blanket, wearing a hat, in the bike tote.(He calls it the back seat bike!) He looked at us and said clear as day..."White people like it cold!?" The inflection of his voice would indicate an exclamation, as well as a question.

Movie Recommendation:

2007-09-16T09:40:00.000-06:00

OK I know I posted this flick earlier in the year, but it came out on DVD in August. We finally watched it! Everyone should see this movie. Kojo kind of watched it with us...he was in his world of 500 match box cars spread over the living room. Every now and then we would hear his belly roll, dirty-old man laugh ooz out! There was a part where the African men stepped onto the escalators and they were having a hard time on it. Kojo laughed so hard, and then we reminded him of his first escalator ride and he laughed even harder:) The one thing we got from this movie....These men thought the answer for them was to go to America and they had no idea what to expect. Once they had lived here for a long time they began to feel very lonely. Missing the community and relationships they had in Africa. The movie would flash back and forth in order to show comparison. We learned that these men had literally nothing. In the midst of their poverty(in Africa) they were RICH. Rich beyond any American. They lived in the wealth of true community. The wealth of deep committed relationships. It was a common thread with the men that this was a serious loss when they came to America, a loss they weren't expecting. There is also some pretty fun parts too! Here's the trailer below.

God Grew Tired of Us Trailer

2007-09-16T09:39:00.001-06:00

A Few New Pics.

2007-09-10T15:25:00.001-06:00

TITUS:

Titus and Melodie:looking at a picture of Kojo and Papa:)

Nyenna singing:

1 Year:

2007-09-04T08:54:00.000-06:00

One year ago today we heard Kojo King's name for the first time. We awoke to a frantic "first day" of school morning. I listened to my messages and at 6:30 Am Donna called to tell us they had a possible referral for us. Kojo King. At the time he was thought to be 3(he is now 5:) We knew the minute we heard his name he was ours. With coffee in hand, backpacks in tote, and kid hands full of brown sack lunches we all stopped on the way out of the door...and prayed. I normally would cry every first day of school. I've since then gone back to homeschooling Cierra & Kiah. But when they walked into school that day, I cried for them(Mainly because when they went to school for 8 hours a day, I would miss them. I really enjoy & like being WITH them. The first day of school always left a mark in my heart) But this day last year was marked with the ache of watching my girls grow older and start another new year, and driving away with the excitement of actually talking to Donna about our new son! That evening we received his picture. Kojo is our first adopted child and I still can't really explain what it was like to look at his picture for the first time. For weeks to come, his picture was the screen saver on the computer and we would place the computer at the table, so he would eat meals with us.
This is also the day one year ago, when we first heard Nyenpu and Titus' name. In my conversation with Donna about Kojo, she explained to me that he was there with 3 of his cousins, 2 of them were siblings. She asked if we knew anyone close to us that would consider adopting them, so the children could all stay close together. My exact words..."Donna, I wish we could adopt them, but at this time we are so stretched in just completing Kojo's adoption, I don't see any way for this to be possible."HA- here we are! At the time our close friends Jeff & Katie Borchert were interested in finding out more about Nyenpu and Titus. They called Donna and received their pictures. We met J&K for Sushi on Donovan's birthday and they surprised us with printed pictures of Kojo's cousins.(and went on to say they would pray about whether or not to adopt them!) Looking back-what a special day it was for Donovan to receive pictures of his son & daughter on his birthday, even though he didn't know it at the time. J&K spent a month in Africa, working and praying about whether or not Nyenpu & Titus were their kids. They came home and said they really believed they were not. So I began praying for their parents. Who turned out to be us! What a journey!
What a joy it has been to add Kojo to our family! He has made some distinct turns in the last couple of weeks. He now loves us freely. Hugs, I love you's, a few kisses, and lots of affection. He actually spent 2 nights in a row sleeping in his own room!! This is a very big deal! Grammy & Popie delivered his new bed from IKEA! We put it all up on Saturday. Of course the assembly began with a "We are building the bunk bed, song and dance." Courtesy of Kojo! He slept the next two nights there. Then yesterday he had a pretty stimulating day and fell asleep in our room, so we let him
stay there.
It's just so hard to believe that it's been a year, since this landmark day in our life!
First picture of Kojo!

First picture of Titus!

First picture of Nyenpu/Nyenna!!!

"What a long strange trip its been"

2007-09-03T10:25:00.000-06:00

The other evening I (Donovan) was thinking about how adoption has become such a life style for us and why that is and it hit me. From the time we started on this journey
to now has been 2 yrs and 6 months and when we finally get Titus and Nyenna it could be 3yrs. I am just in trip out mode thinking when we started this journey I would not have thought it would be a 3yr process or would I have thought we would have 5 kids...God is a Trippy dude but I would not have had it any other way. The patience,humility,sorrow and pain have made us a stronger family and God has shown me I am NOT in control. sure I knew that but I think God needs to give me a visual aid as a reminder sometimes. this is not a woe is me moment i just think that it is a testament to learning that sometimes
things just don't always go the way YOU want them or think it is supposed to and for me that is a big big lesson. I pray that God will continue to work in us as well as you all to make us rely WHOLLY on him. Wow God you weird me out.

1st Time:

2007-08-30T08:09:00.000-06:00

The other day was the first time Kojo has expressed serious sorrow over Nyenna and Titus. In Liberia I think he was terrified and didn't feel safe enough to express anything. There, he was stuck with two strangers(us) and it was very intense. Spending time with his brother and sister...saying goodbye and hearing them wailing, then driving off with his "new parents" that were weeping. Then seeing us again sobbing on the airplane as we left Liberia. All of those times we told him that we were crying for Nyenna and Titus. He would just stare at us.
So once we were home many emotions started oozing out. It feels like he has come so far, just in missing Liberia, grieving his losses, and expressing himself. But he was yet to even shed a tear over Nyenna & Titus.(as far as we knew).
Then the other day...I had a really bad day. He saw that I was crying as I was working away. I really was just feeling overwhelmed(I wont bore you with a glimpse into our life right now, but some of you know what's up) Anyway, he came over to me so concerned.
Kojo " Mama, you crying?"
ME "yes I am"
Kojo " Why you cry?"
Me " I'm alright, Mama is just sad about somethings"
Kojo "Why you cry" (he was not satisfied with my answer)
So we went back and forth for some time ...You cry..yes I'm alright...and again.
Then he casually crawled into my lap. Looked up and said
"You crying for Nyenna & Titus?"
Me: "Well yes, I am sad and want Nyenna & Titus home."(now this was not the only reason for my tears but at the time I thought he will understand this and I'll go with that.)
A few minutes later, he turned and buried his face in my chest and began sobbing HARD. Just holding me tight and wailing. This took me off guard, because it seemed to come from nowhere. So I let him cry all over me and then as he settled down asked him if he could tell me why he was crying.
Kojo "I cry for Nyenna & Titus,too"
Me "Do you miss them?"
Kojo "When will they be coming home?"
Me "Do you miss them and want them to come home?"
Kojo Crying..."yep" (he's heard some many Americans say YEP...he doesn't say Yes much
unless we correct him, it's kinda funny:)

Just when we get a report that Nyenna is doing better with the current situation...Us here, her and Titus there. Then Kojo comes to a place of really wanting his Brother and sister home! I have not seen him cry this hard for anything. And he can put it out there better than most kids I've seen.

Fun week

2007-08-27T09:40:00.000-06:00

Last week was a fun week. Grammy & Popie were here for a visit. Had lots of fun with them. Kojo loves them both and was very excited to "give them" his room for the week. He's pretty excited because they delivered Kojo and Titus' bunkbeds, along with the bedding that he picked out from IKEA. We are not blessed in the "we have an IKEA store" area.(there isn't one in this state!) So thank God Grammy and Popie went to IKEA in San Diego and came here with all the goods!
Last Weds. we went to see Afri~tendo. They are an awesome singing, drumming, and dancing group from Uganda. We saw them last year, and then this May Kojo saw them the week he came home. They performed at our church on Weds. It was so refreshing and cute to see Kojo sporting his Liberian shirt and dancing like crazy. When we ate dinner with these new Ugandan friends....Kojo kept putting his arm up to theirs and saying,"You like me, you brown!"
The highlight for Donovan and I was the 3 separate conversations, that we had with three separate Ugandan men. First, they thanked us for adopting Kojo. They gave us their "blessing", and expressed their thanks over and over, for our love for African children. One of them told us that his prayer for us...is that God would provide above and beyond, for us and these kids. That more people would have a heart for these very needy children. And that he was so thankful that we chose to put our investment into these children's lives...verses more and more things. His exact words..."You will have joy and fulfillment in life, because of this investment. I have met so many Americans, they have EVERYTHING, and drive around in their BIG BIG Hummers(his exact words), However I have yet to see any of those people with God's Peace and Joy. You will see and have God's Peace and Joy because you are loving and caring for His children."
Hearing this from an African man was so special to us. Dono and I both had tears in our eyes and thanked him (each of them) for their kind words of encouragement and for their affirmation and blessing. It was humbling to say the least.
It was even better to see one of them sweep Kojo up into his arms, while saying, "Come here my brother." Kojo had a grin from ear to ear!

Makes Us Happy!!

2007-08-18T22:10:00.000-06:00

We received an update from Melodie about Nyenna and Titus. It is such good news. Each night we pray for both of them with Kojo. We specifically ask God, to bring joy to Nyenna's heart. To bring her peace and ease her worry and anxiety. And that she would be excited to come home, instead of being so sad that she isn't home. This just brought tears to my eyes to read!
UPDATE:
Nyenpu is doing wonderfully. This month there has been a marked change in her attitude and she is now secure, loving, and her usual happy self. She Knows where she's going, but she's now okay waiting to get there.
Titus is doing well as well. I've noticed that he is "scary" smart. He's usually sweet and wants to please people but sometimes his attitude gets the best of him. Yesterday I was showing some children their albums for the first time. It was late so I couldn't bring out all the kid's albums. Of course all the kids wanted to see, but it doesn¹t work to have 19 kids surrounding me and 2 kids as I show them their albums and tearfully share the pictures of their forever families. So I asked Titus to help push the crowd back. He looked me straight in the eye and said as clear as can be
"I'm not going to help you since you didn't give me my OWN album to look at." What kind of 2 year old thinks things through like that and actually says it!? Yikes. Oh, and he wants you to get him "shiny" shoes (light up sneakers).

Nyenna and Melodie

Cutie Pie Titus

Little Get Away:

2007-08-15T08:02:00.000-06:00

Last weekend we were so blessed to "get away". It was short and sweet...but none the less we were gone. One of my Mom-in-Laws, family, has a small cabin in Estes Park, Co. We stayed there for Kojo's first trip to the "Mountains". Most people who visit there the first time, say it's one of the most beautiful places they've been. It is. We're just callused, because we've been there so many times...We'd say the same thing about the beaches of Fiji:) Here's some photos.

Kojo showing us his big muscles!

I Love this picture! Cierra, Kojo, Kiah

Papa Please tote me.

After our 2 hour hike.

Getting a GRIP-

2007-08-11T20:08:00.000-06:00

Sorry- this is long...I needed a place to "process".

Ok this visa thing has just basically...well, sucked! Here's the thing. We are surrounded by families that are currently adopting from Liberia(Acres of Hope in particular) and I'm doing everything in my power to separate my emotions from the facts here. We are soooo emotionally involved. First of all, we have touched, hugged, smelled, and heard the voices of our children that are still in Liberia. We have dear friends who are ready for their children to come home NOW(The Borcherts). OK we met their kids, spent lots of time with them, and we see them(Jeff & Katie) every week usually more that once a week. Kojo is dying for Fatu and Osobie to come home(along with his now brother and sis...Nyenna and Titus). The emotions of watching Jeff & Katie so close to picking up their kids and the emotion of knowing Nyenna and Titus may be waiting longer, due to this new visa policy...is close to unbearable! I feel like I'm trying hard not to "spin out" here, too much. So I haven't been writing my letters(to the US Gov. just yet). I want to know the facts, I want to know what is policy and what is 'possibility'...what is in place currently and what is speculated hear say. I'm a lover of the truth(the bottom line) and I really just need that.

SOOOOO, I began to ask myself..."Is the Us Government acting in the best interest of all Liberian children?" Here's where it has gotten really hard for me.
I don't have all the links...but if you just start searching Child Trafficking/Liberia...you will be astounded. I have spent the last hour reading articles about this very subject. I'm a mess....in tears...Here's the thing...we are living in our "adopting from Acres of Hope, snow globe". We are so thankful that we are adopting and working with an upstanding, and transparent orphanage and adoption agency. What I've found is that I think the US may be implementing something that is really intended to protect Liberian children. However, we are the small percentage of people that are involved with an orphanage that is for the children of Liberia, and for those children having a legitimate future and hope with a legit family. We know where our adoption fees are going...we know that AOH is following all Liberian laws. It sounds like a large number of adoptions happening in Liberia, could possibly be not as promising or legitimate. We saw a bit of this while in Liberia. From what we understand and were told, Liberian people for the most part do not understand adoption. We were told that when most Liberians see a Liberian child with "white adults" they just assume it is child trafficking. What I've found is there may actually be a lot more bad than good, happening. Adoption is a wonderful thing, however many have capitalized on it as a business...recruiting children and basically selling them. This is horrifying and repulsive. But REAL. The number of visas issued for adopted children in Liberia has doubled in the last year. This is great, but what percentage of those have been visas for child trafficking? Who knows? So I'm torn.

Why am I torn...because I believe my children along with many others deserve to be home with their forever families, as soon as possible. However, I'm for any policy, that would save children from being trafficked for sex, labor, or cash. The reality is, that the process has to be examined closely and accurately in order to STOP the bad. I'm all the sudden feeling like a trader. Here's the thing if Nyenna and Titus will be in Liberia, at Acres of Hope, receiving food, shelter, clothing, medical care, love, safety, and life...for a few extra months, so that just maybe one, even one child, may be saved from the future of what child trafficking brings...in the bigger picture, I'd have to say, OK. Why? Because I know what their future holds. As far as coming home to this family, with love, security, education, health care, their brother and sisters. This is the case for our kids, because they are in transition, recovering from severe malnutrition...we don't know of any other serious medical issues they may have. For those people adopting special needs children...I am out raged! These children need to be in the U.S. NOW (like yesterday!). Seriously, the medical care available to these children is not satisfactory and they deserve the chance to LIVE, literally! Who would be Child Trafficking a special needs child? I know that sounds horrible, but it's true. These children are shunned from society and are seen to have no worth in an African country(This is obviously not the TRUTH or the case in the U. S. but in a country of poverty and desperation, their mind set is a lot different). I guess what I'm saying is, I want to advocate for a speedy process for the children of Acres of Hope, in particular, the children with life threatening special needs. I of course will be advocating for my children as well, as I want them home so desperately...

I know we are serving a BIG GOD who is still doing miracles....I'm looking at one of them right now. My Liberian boy sitting in my living room watching Madagascar, with not a fear or care in the world:)
My heart is broken for a country that has endured unthinkable, unimaginable, unbelievable atrocities...through the devastation of years of a bloody civil war and tragic displacement. I cannot even imagine or put my mind around the things that these people or children have seen and experienced.

Where I'm at?
I will be writing to our Gov. people. Letting them know what this hold up means for our children, that are legitimately(and lawfully) adopted and now ours. And the fact that Acres of Hope has never had a charge against them and they are the only orphanage that accepts special needs children. I am also FOR child trafficking being STOPPED on every level possible.
OK_ I know this is soooooo long. I'm sorry, I just needed a place to process. Here's what the current policy is..found on the State Department web-site newly updated this month.
After the petition has been filed, the consular section requires at least three weeks to conduct a mandatory I-604, Determination on Child for Adoption. Due to security concerns, consular staff is unable to conduct I-604 interviews in outlying areas of the country. In those cases, the birth parent(s) relinquishing parental custody will be requested to come to the Embassy for a personal interview with a consular officer. Birth parents relinquishing parental custody who live within the Monrovia city area, may also be requested to come in for a personal interview. Furthermore, DNA testing will be required for all cases in which consular staff cannot determine parentage by an interview.

Adoption service providers may drop off documents pertaining to adoptions on Thursday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. without an appointment.

Will this prolong things and cause a huge "back up"? Absolutely! Is this really an attempt to "shut down" Liberian adoptions'? I'm not so sure. Is it an attempt to make sure parents are relinquishing theirs rights to a child, based on the reality of what we know adoption to be? Possibly. Does this Visa woman have a personal vendetta against Liberian children being adopted? Or is she just implementing the policy the U.S. has instated to protect children that are being trafficked? I'm not sure...

All I know is that I will fight to the end (whatever the end is) to get my children home. I love them, I miss them, and I want them right here with me.

Right now? I have to go and wrap my arms around my little Liberian boy!

PRAY!

2007-08-08T09:29:00.000-06:00

Now What?

Many of you probably remember the agonizing wait we had for Kojo’s passport. It took a really long time (5 months). So here we are 4 short months later again, waiting for passports. The good news, passports are being issued A LOT quicker. In fact since Kojo’s passport no one has waited over 3 months and some have received passports as quickly as 2 1/2 weeks! Clearly passports are no longer the problem. Here’s the problem...
The US embassy (YES I SAID U.S.) has implemented a new structure of how adopted children can receive visas, to leave the country. In the past the appointments for children could be any day during business hours.(that makes sense). The new way, is that ALL adopted children visa appointments can only happen during a short window of time, every Thursday. This is not just Acres of Hope...but all agencies. Can you imagine the bottle neck of visas that is happening right now? PLEASE PRAY!
This means that even special needs children are having to wait...it means that the Acres of Hope orphanage is at capacity and literally is having to turn away children in desperate need. See when you adopt one child, you are really helping 2. By adopting the one, you take them home and open a bed and space for another. As long as visas are not getting processed in a timely manner, this will not happen, and children will be turned away.

It’s hard to believe that our battle is now with the US Government!
Needless to say our Congressmen / woman, Senators, and Representatives, will be bombarded with a call to change this. Not because we are all desperate parents...well we are, but we are parents advocating for our children, being their voice, when they don’t have one. This is really about the well being of our kids.

FROM 3 TO 5

2007-08-02T10:00:00.001-06:00

They are officially ours!!!!!!!! Proudly introducing...

NYENNA MCGILL LORENZEN!

TITUS MCGILL LORENZEN!

GUESS WHAT I GOT?

2007-07-30T19:12:00.000-06:00

I have received 3.....YES I said THREE, kisses in the last 2 days(if you've done the math, you know that equals 2 in one day) from those lovely lips you see here.
If you've followed along Kojo's journey or if you know him...He has become pretty fond of receiving kisses, however to actually participate in becoming the 'giver' of kisses...not so much. I got 2 on the cheeks...and the other was what I call "a graze kiss" on the hip, as he was passing it by, while I picked him up. That still counts:)