Merry Christmas!

Happy 13th Birthday Athulia!

We were able to sing Happy Birthday to Athulia today via Skype.  Hope you have a great day sweetheart.

Things People Say To Transracial Families

funny you tube....

My personal favorite was arguing with a lady at Target,
"They MUST be twins; they're wearing the same sweatshirt!"

Here come the walls....

Happy 11th Birthday Donalson!!

Dog in the classroom, digger in the driveway....

Schoolwork is really gonna suffer this week, but more bedrooms here we come!

Our paperwork is here...

Suppose we should change the name of the Blog to Daphna and Grace and Donalson and Athulia and Sam and Meg and Josh......

They are safe from the winds of Isaac.  Now pray for protection from disease.

The Song Sessions: "Not For A Moment" Vertical Church Band

Grace Turns 4!!

Happy Birthday Sunshine!

New Camping Friends

FFFWUMP -the giant bullfrog who landed on his face when he hopped

The Blandings Turtle

Chippy and the fuzzy red fire loving bug (in bottle)

NO MORE HIP BRACE DURING THE DAY!!!!!!!

Josh played his last baseball game Thursday night.  His team was 8-2-1.  A GREAT season!

Mr. President at the end of the ceremony with H.I.S. Home kids

The HIS HOME children at the ceremony at the mayor' s palace with the Haitian president, his wife, and the director of IBESR.  Can you spot a future VanBerkel in this picture?

One More Milestone

Family & Friend

The Hunt

Happy Easter

Sam is 13!

I thought having a teenager in the house would mean we were past buying large pieces of bright colored plastic. Guess I was wrong. Check out Megan's "Eye of Sauron" cake she made for the celebration.

Splash Bouncing on March 21!

Our Amazing Goose Dog

Look out Canada geese, Cali is back on duty...

A Good Wrestle

Donalson, Dana, Bruce & Sam

We met this cockroach's cousin in the airport. He was twice the size of this one.
Sam & Sedene

Van Berkel tent city

Good Friends

and then there was the bizarre...

Home

We are home safe, sound, and healthy.
I thought this trip would be much easier than my previous ones now that my daughters are not being left behind in Haiti. I thought I would fly home without the tears. Instead I find myself weeping for 136 kids who aren't being tucked in by their mommies tonight. Some have both biological and adoptive parent who want to be with them, but just can't be. Some are still just waiting. I saw 20 toddlers jumping up and down yelling MOMMA trying to get my attention. I had a young man pass me a note saying he loved me. I held a 13 pound little baby born with a deformed respiratory system fighting for every breath. I finally got to meet a young lady rescued from living alone in the tent camp. I've prayed for her for 1 1/2 years. She asked me to teach her to swim and we took a lap around the pool together. She told me my children are beautiful. We have only been home 3 hours and it is wonderful to have our family back together but....
I miss Haiti already.