Peter pan & tinker bell

We went to Disney last weekend and all of us loved it.

Daddy and Mommy cried during the parade …the ”dreams come true …”song was kind of meaningful to all of us … we also made it to Epcot Center and visited “Mexico” with some other friends. The mariachis were great … David and Julia danced away with the music and pretended to be playing instruments … It was a short trip, just to experiment how difficult it could be. It really was marvelous the kids behave so well if you take into consideration their age and the amount of time: from 10 am to 10 pm.

Yes, we are crazy! We are very consistent with their routine and I believe the routine is part of the success with the kids but like everything in life, it is good to be flexible and teach them flexibility because once in a while things do not fall into routines and scheduled planning activities, you know, sometimes Disney happens and you got to be ready for it.

Daddy's girl

I love to dress Julia up and then put something pretty in her hair. The problem is to keep the hair pieces on. We usually play the game of let's see who gets tired first: me putting it in or her taking it out. Well, my tactic now is to put it on and then give her something to distract her hands. This picture here is one of the hundreds of Brian's attempts to take a picture of Julia where she is looking at the camera, she is actually smiling and she has the hair piece on. As you can see, she is already trying to get her hands free so she can take it off.

I love to see Brian after Julia trying to take a picture of her, he chases her and she knows she is the center of attention; Julia particularly likes it when he pretends to be cookie monster and just kisses her.

Today, at breakfast time, Brian was whistling and Julia would follow the music pretending she was singing. By the expressions of her face, the movements of her hands and the passion of the voice, I would say she was singing opera! In the background of this picture, you see David with his favorite toy these days: a broom.

They both love our new patio. We decided to add some pavers to the back of the house to make a big terrace so that the kids could play easier, but then we realized we needed to fence it. The second picture shows the final result. We will enjoy this space for Thanksgiving (we live in South Florida) when the whole family on both sides will be here to celebrate and give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and the special gifts we have received this year.

David calls me "Máaama"

This started on our long trip to Charlotte: David started to get a little fussy, so I would reach back and started to rub his feet. Well, guess what? He loves it!
So now when we are in the car and papi is driving, he says, Máaama!! I look at him and he wiggles his feet … I start rubbing his foot and he puts his fingers in his mouth just like in this picture … Isn’t he cute!!!

At night when Brian and I are watching TV, I do the same, I wiggle my feet and Brian gives me a feet massage, I have done this for years and now is pay time for me!!

David’s favorite new word is “Por que?” and he also says it in English “Why?” it is so funny because he really does not speak sentences yet, but he would say “Máaama …” and then he starts this “pretend” talk and looks at me and says “Por que?”

A surprised visit to Grandpa and grandma – an update!

Hi everybody!

I am so sorry I have taken so long to write on our blog! I just realized how long it has been when we got the email reminding us to send our 3 month post placement reports!
We have finished the reports now and I am ready again to blog away!!!

It was more than a month ago, a Monday morning, we woke up with the news that Hurricane Ernesto was definitely coming to South Florida.
On the past, Brian and I just take it slow; we would get ready and sometimes make plans to leave the city. This year was different! Now we have David and Julia (besides our little dog Lola) to take care of.

I actually panicked and transmitted the panic to my husband. We rushed to the stores earlier than usual, bought so much food and water and still did not feel OK. So we decided to leave the city.

By 4PM that Monday, Brian and I took David, Julia and Lola on our minivan and traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina to visit grandma and grandpa Knowles!! An escape from the horrible hurricane coming our way. We slept the night at a hotel and the next day started again. Babies and dog behaved so well!! I was impressed.

On this trip we visited Vicky and Craig, we had a great time at grandpa and grandma Knowles and visited the Billy Graham Association to introduce our children to the dear people that prayed for them. So, let me tell you how it went:

In our way to Charlotte, I remembered that our good friends, Vicky and Craig, live in South Carolina and we would have to go by their city on our way to Charlotte, so we called her and she was so kind to change her plans for that afternoon, met us at an intersection and received us in her house.

What a great gift for us to be able to see them again. Vicky and Craig adopted a beautiful baby girl in Russia. We met them while they were on their last trip and we were on our first trip, so we have met her baby girl but they only knew David and Julia from pictures.
Their daughter is so beautiful and looks like she could be David’s cousin; she is also only 5 days younger than Julia: they are both walking great and getting into everything.

Grandpa and Grandma called us to hurry up to get to Charlotte for dinner. I can describe the feeling of being at their house. I could sense our children’s happiness and reminded me of the special times when I used to go to a little town in Colombia to visit my grandma Jadne.

We ate so well!!! Of course anyone that had the pleasure to eat Dick’s cooking, knows what I mean. Even his white rice tastes better than any other white rice I ever had.

Then on Thursday, we went to the Billy Graham association to introduce our children to Dick and Berenice’s friends and co-workers. What a humbling experience!! There were people coming from all over the place to meet David and Julia; these are people that were committed to pray for our adoption and we are so thankful for it. I just have to stop here and say, I believe in the power of prayer and adoption can be a very complicated process: so many things can go wrong! And we were adopting two, in two different orphanages! We were the witness of so many miracles on our way to adopting our children. That is why I would encourage any of you in the process to pray to God to bring to you prayer partners that will be committed to praying for your children and for you. I believe it is not so much so that God would “do” but that we would be able to trust and hope and wait as we get so many “worrying” news or possible scary scenarios and that we would keep the faith and do not quit right in the middle of the adoption process.

There were so many times I felt overwhelmed and second guessed if it was really God’s will to adopt Julia or David!!! I feel horrible to have to confess those feelings but I had them. Today, I am so thankful that (I believe because of prayer) we were somehow able to have the strength to take step by step and wait step by step and hope step by step, feeling the reality of the “out of our control” process but knowing that the Lord was in control and he knew where He was headed. I am so glad today because we are blessed to have David and Julia …

So, if you need a prayer partner to be available to pray for your adoption, let me know, I will commit to pray for you if you ask me. I have seen the power of it and I would love to be part of your adoption story!!!

After a great time at Dick and Berenice’s house, we decided to head back to Miami on Saturday and this time we did it in one day.

Julia and David love grandpa and grandma! They pretend to call them in the phone and blow kisses to them. They also love their “abuelita” or “abue” that is, my mother Carmen.

David's b-day pictures

David and grandpa in a loud moment.






David with grandpa, grandma, auntie and mommy


David trying to eat a piece of b-day cake

This was David's b-day cake, a fabulous presentation and design by auntie Brenda (here) and grandpa Knowles.

Updates

Grandpa Knowles was asking Brian if David had learned some new words, and Brian answered” Oh yes, he knows how to say carro, ya va, sucio, avion ..” to what grandpa Knowles said “What?”
My kids are learning Spanish faster than English! I speak to them in both languages since my mother and our helper only speak Spanish.

Last week untie Brenda came to visit just for the weekend and it was a blessing to have her here. Brenda helped us with the blood tests. This was our first time at the lab for blood tests and I was soooo nervous, Julia screamed and cried and she was just frustrated that we would hold her and she could not get away from my arms while they took the 5 tubes! of blood.
The nurses had to do both arms!!! When they did the second arm, I just closed my eyes and started praying on her ear … for me and for her. David experience was less traumatic, he cried but he was more cooperative with the whole process. The blood test results were back and the doctor says they are healthy! Praise the Lord!

We also translated the vaccination history for our children and took them to our pediatrician last week. We went to the doctor’s office on Thursday to give our kids the shots they were missing: 3 shots each! They screamed at the doctor’s office but they will not need any more shots until they are 4 years old. Because of the shots they had a little of a temperature and David’s leg got a little inflammation trough the weekend.

David and Julia love music! We turn the radio with some Salsa or meringue music on and they start dancing, it is so much fun to watch them and to dance with them. David uses his shoulders and his feet and Julia moves her head back and forth.
Yesterday after church, we stayed in the lobby for a while talking to my brother, niece, nephew, and sister in law and soon it was 1 PM; the Spanish service started. As soon as David heard the worship music he ran inside the sanctuary and just lost it dancing! He was happy and laughing as he danced … I had to pick him up and dance with him as I exited. My brother saw how David was so much into dancing and moving his shoulders at the rhythm of the music and he said “What a difference!”

David is still a little fearful, it seems that every week there is something that scares him, The first week we had him with us he was terrified of taking baths and of riding in a car, last week was the guys mowing the lawn and their machines. Julia seems a very confident and independent little girl, she is such a charmer. Whenever we get to a place she waves to everyone and says “hi” then she plays the shy game while she gives you the most intoxicating smile. They both are so ticklish, it is so much fun!

Looking at the written medical history I got translated this week, I just wonder if I should follow the advice there … they advise for a speech therapy’s for him and massages for Julia? Ok, so I know Julia does not need massages, but I am looking for suggestions on books for children exercise or stimulation: any ideas? Please let me know.

Edméia faleceu - my good friend died last night

Let's pray for her husband and her little baby girl Maria Eduarda.

Lord we remember Edméia with gladness of heart and thankful for her life and the moments we had together. We thank you for your salvation for we know that there is Hope for us your children even after death. We pray for Brazil, her husband and Maria Eduarda, her daughther, that your Holy Spirit would confort them in these dificult moments. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

This is the last email message I got from Edméia:

"Hoje de manhã tentei falar contigo Rebeca, no skype e não deu certo. Mas quero dizer que estou por aqui! Torcendo por vocês... sei que são momentos especiais de preparativos para a chegada dos bebês, e estou tão feliz! Quero dizer para vocês aproveitarem esse momento com muita alegria para que fique registrado em seu coração o presente que Deus está dando para vocês. Que esses preparativos sejam momentos de satisfação, alegria, sorrisos e muita, muita paz!"

Eo agradezco a Deus por la oportunidad que tuve de falar con Edméia cuarta feira, ella estaba muito feliz. Estou com muita tristeza y saudades.

His Love rules

I have lived moments of doubt, but found the knowledge of what was missing inside to believe.
I have discovered through pain the wisdom of living a humble life.I have experienced fear and found the strength to move on anyways.I have learned these all are but opportunities for growing, when we allow God to work on and through it all.

Doubt is sooooo much versus trust. I want to be always trusting of God’s love and goodness; I have experienced His love and goodness enough times already to not have even the word doubt in my vocabulary, but, it seems the problem is inside somewhere; I have found myself sometimes suspicious of His love and goodness …

Pain and suffering are very humbling tools, mostly when it is out of our control, and most of the time it is; I can’t thing of an occasion where I would not try to run away from pain and suffering if I could … but somehow the experience brings me back to the reminder of my frail humanity and that is humbling.

Fear is the most paralyzing experience I have had … it always try to sell me a way out even thought I feel I can not move anyways … still, knowing what God’s will is for me at the moment always gives me the strength to move towards it.

All through our adoption process we experienced all this emotions, doubt: will God really bring forward this miracle for us? Pain and suffering: we came to this journey through the pain of infertility but we also “lost” an adoption in Brazil. Fear: what if one of the 8 planes we have to take just crashes and we die trying to adopt … I know, there are so many other fear factors in this process that those some 8 or 10 plane rides are just normally ignored when writing our own adoption “fear list”

Today, I see God’s hand all over our adoption journey: His love, goodness, favor and grace. I have learned to see salvation as the ultimate adoption story and that is just wonderful … I am so glad that somehow doubt, pain and fear did not rule our decision when adopting our children and so thankful for the strength that God gave us through knowing that adoption is His will for our lives as a family.

Edmeia is much better and at Home - Thanks for your prayers!

Thanks so much for praying for Edmeia, Brazila and family ... Brazil worte to us and said that a miracle happened ... she was 50% better!!! Today, Edmeia is at Home with her family! What a miracle!

The doctors were talking abour death! and there was no hope ...

Thanks for your prayers!

We had a dedication service at our house with close friends and family.

Dick Linder, Brian's godfather, a retired missionary from Brazil and very good friends of grandpa and grandma Knowles, directed the wonderful service. I added these pictures here so you get an idea of the importance of this moment.

Very specials thanks to Tia Maria for Julia’s beautiful dress and also the cow that was specially branded for her … yes, Julia got a cow back in Colombia thanks to Tia Maria and a piece of beach land in a very isolated island in Brazil, thanks to grandpa and grandma Knowles: how to get Julia and David to see these two sites …. Well that we will have to figure out later …

Please, please, continue praying for our friends Brazil and Edmeia as I wrote in my last post(Please, read the post before this one, Thnaks!!!) Vicky, Suz and Caroline, if you could have your churches praying for our friends would be a great blessing!! Thanks in advance.

Prayer request in behalf of good friends

Prayer request in behalf of good friends


I have not blogged in a while and I have so much good stuff to write about. I told myself I have to write about our children’s first 4th of July (POW!!! Was David’s expression for the celebration) and the blessing of having grandpa, grandma and untie Brenda with us for a week bringing soooooo many good gifts: how wonderful it feels to be part of the Knowles family!; I did not understand until now, that David and Julia did not just got a mom and dad that love them dearly but a whoooooole, big and wonderful family that are just as excited with their arrival as we are. We also had a dedication service at our house with close friends and family and Dick Linder, Brian's godfather, a retired missionary from brazil, directed the wonderful service. I will add some pictures on a separate blog so you get an idea of the importance of this moment and will blog about it as soon as I can.

I would love to talk about the way Julia nd David just laugh and get so excited to see us when we come back home after a two hour errands, how they overcame their fear to baths, how well they eat, sleep all night long, and how busy life is these days, etc, etc, etc. but .....

we are just so overwhelmed with really bad news from our good friends in Brazil: As some of you know, Brian and I lead a group of couples in Brazil and one of our leader couples, Brazil and Edmeia, are going through a lot of pain. Edmeia and Brazil have a 6 month old girl that is just a blessing! But two days ago, Edmeia was taken to the hospital: her heart can not pump properly and her lungs got in trouble too. It seems that it all gets back to the pregnancy and the delivery: Her heart got a seizure during delivery and she has very few chances to live according to the doctors. I really wish I could be there right now …. We are so sad, we cry, we pray and we wish and hope that this sickness and health trouble has the purpose to glorify God by a miraculous healing … So I am writing this blog today to ask for prayer for my dear friends: Brazil , Edmeia, Maria Eduarda and their extended families.

We believe that God is a God of miracles .... we have seen it and taste it!!!! and we would love to see a miracle again in the lives of Brazil, Edmeia and Maria Eduarda ...
Please, join me in praying!!!!
Lord, we are trusting in your power, your love and your grace, amen.

Picture of the kids

I just added 2 posts one with Julia’s pictures and one with David – just scroll down from this post and you will see the two other posts. P.s. this is just an explanation so Grampa Knowles gets it :) Don’t feel bad Grampa, I just figured out how to add more than one picture at a time here! Oops!

Here we are all sharing a mango! Lola loves mangoes, so do I and the kids discovered the goodness of it just here! what a great family moment.



This picture shows the boys very patriotic watching the game while David finishes a banana.

mami julia y lola

This is my Julia.

Here is a picture of Julia with mami and Lola:

Feeding David ... from a bottle!

It is not the best picture of me, but … what am I saying? It is the best picture I got.

My boy let me feed him a bottle of oatmeal (Granma “abue” Carmen’s recepie)
He is wearing the official Brazil Soccer jersey and dad is proud.

We got home Last Tuesday

We got home Last Tuesday. Now the fun really starts!

We actually woke up at 4 am to take our first plane to Frankfurt (around 3 hours), the ride was great and the kids behave just fine, then, we had to take our flight from Frankfort to Miami (9 hours and 10 minutes): we hardly ate at all in the whole trip, David went to sleep in papi’s lap and Brian did not wanted to move, we did not wanted David awake and wanting to play during the plane ride. Julia was with me, slept 1 hour and the rest of the time we played, sang, etc. A flight attendant actually came over and told us that our kids behave very well, “there are so many kids crying and you can hardly hear yours” she added.

Well we were so tired, by the time we got to Miami it was some insane hour for us I think around 10 or 11 pm for our clocks. I thought we were going through immigration and they were going to look at my kids passports, hand a flag to us and say “Welcome David and Julia to the United States” but it was not like that, they took us to this room full of people, to wait for our turn … I started to get really tired and frustrated … there were at least 40 people before us there … you see anyone that comes in an is asking for political asylum, or have a green card process to finish at entrance, or any one that just look fishy to them, goes to this room!!

We prayed God would give us favor, and He did, we were out of there within an hour … then we did the walk towards the baggage claim area, I had Julia in a Hip Hammock, a back pack and David in a stroller while Brian took care of our luggage .. we got through the custom and I saw my sister Debbie and her husband Richard … and I cried like a little girl … I just could not believe we were finally home with our kids and that I did not have to worry so much anymore about some paper work missing that could hinder the adoption process … I just let it all out in a big, big cry and I am so glad Debbie was there she is so sweet and helpful.

Then the car seats .. first time in a car seat .. they behaved like .. “I knew it! This people are not as nice as they pretended for this last week” finally they calmed with cherrios! Thank God for Cherrios!!!

Then we got home, I was so glad to see my mother and my Lola; by the way, we taught David to say Lola when we were in the plane! It was so good to be home.

The last wee was hard; so many people had said to us “Life changes forever when you have kids” and I just could not believe how much!!!

We are in the adapting phase still, I got really sick with a cold and then I ate something and got a bad stomach problem, did not feel good at all for some 3 days. Today I am feeling better, have some more strength.

All my family cried when they met our children, they all see God’s miracle of adoption and I think it really paints a wonderful picture of all of us, and how God adopted us as children …

My mother has been a great help! She helps me with the meals, the naps, etc. but most of all her company and her prayers.

David’s 2nd birthday is tomorrow; and tomorrow also, will be two years my father passed away …. That still amazes me … David was born the day my father died.

Grandma and Grandpa Knowles are just counting the days .. they will be visiting for a week starting this Saturday, we are all waiting anxiously, they say they are coming by land since their van is full of gifts (Oh my!) Auntie Brenda will be here also, it will be great to have the family together for the 4th of July celebration; but most of all, we will be presenting our kids to the Lord this weekend .. just an official ceremony with family and very closed friends.

The kids are very happy, they smile a lot. Julia was the one that in the orphanage visits, the only emotion she showed was through tears .. she cried so much with me I was concerned!
Now, she is just Mommy’s girl, she wants me all the time, I am teaching her to stay some time by herself so I can get to do the ordinary things … but it feels so good that she loves to be with me … David learned to run to me while I open my arms and say in Spanish “David, come, run, run to mami” and he opens his arms and runs to me and hugs me … I think they are as happy as we are to be home!

Happy father’s day!!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!
This is Brian’s first father’s day and what a beautiful and blessed moment for all of us. Both children say Papa! David also tries to say “Gooool” and raises his arms with papi when watching the world cup games … We think he actually tried to say “Shuta” (Portuguese word for kicking a ball)

Here is a picture of the kids in bed with Papi Brian. I won’t be able to post pictures today, may be tomorrow since they charge by the hour here at the hotel and Brian was looking at his business email so I just got some few minutes .. and then is getting ready for lunch again.

Thanks a lot for all your comments they are welcome and appreciated!

Dear Heavenly father, we thank you for all your blessings, thank you for David and Julia, thank you for you provided for all of us a family. I am so overwhelmed with your goodness and I think I just have not yet comprehend the fullness of it. Thanks, in the name of Jesus, Amen.

David and Julia could have not chosen a better daddy! Brian you are wonderful and I thank God for bringing us together.

Our children

We are proud to present to you our children: David Mark Knowles and Julia Amanda Knowles. In this picture you will see them in their favorite activity: eating.
Hi Vicky, is funny that you are concerned Brian and I will be trying to go to fancy restaurants in Moscow with our two kids! you know us well! Yes, I know, it sounds just like something we would do, but surprisingly, we hardly get out of the hotel these days. My family will have a hard time to believe this also.

I keep saying it, but I am just not very talented at finding a different way to say it: thank you, thank you, thank you … thanks so much for your prayers and support … the best gift to give to a family in our process is just that: prayer and words of encouragement!

Good news: we are leaving Tuesday morning instead of Wednesday, Yes, What a miracle!!!

We are keeping the kids on their "old" schedule so that there are not too many changes for them: Brian and I get up at 7 am turn the lights on, take showers, get ready, pray together and then we open all the curtains and say good morning! Then, we change the diapers and get ready to go down for breakfast. We eat breakfast at the hotel – I still don’t know if I am feeding them right, I know David is overfed since we had already 3 very messy accidents that required an immediate bath and washing of clothes .. if you know what I mean. I told Brian today at breakfast: “thanks so much for your help” and he almost got upset! He said what do you mean by help? We are a team!!! I am blessed; and he is right this process requires a team.

Right now, Julia is taking her morning nap and Brian and David went downstairs for a little walk. We are having lunch and dinner at the hotel and we all take a nap around 2pm. The hotel has a play area were we take the kids after breakfast and after the naps. It sounds like just normal and easy when I write it, but, it is just our planned schedule, there is always a surprise and a little challenge to the experience.

David and Julia are a blessing and we are actually happy to stay a little longer to bound together in His Love and Provision.

p.s. I will post pictures on a different site and will let you know the address on the next post.

What’s making news around the world these days?

According to the weekly Moscow newspaper Element, the main people in the news were: The biggest star of the world cup, Brazilian soccer player Ronaldinho, is the poster boy for the Nike’s campaign “Jugo Bonito”; The Colombian singer Shakira will be singing at the closing ceremonies of the 2006 World Cup, her song “Hips don’t lie” became the “most played song in pop history” 9657 spins in one week; The American actors, Brad and Angelina, just released the photos of their baby girl Shiloh Nouvel Jolie –Pitt.


Cool news, right! Well in our world, there are also breaking news: As of Wednesday Brian and I are proud parents to two blessed children: David Mark Knowles and Julia Amanda Knowles!!!!

We are family ……. I got David n Julia with me!
We are family …….. come on everybody … Sing (with me)!

I will post photos on my next posts and will tell more details on the events for this week.

We are delayed on our immigration process because Monday was a holiday here and the court did not wanted to count Monday as part as the 10 mandatory wait period … and since today is Friday, and there is still some more paper work to do for the embassy, we will have to stay longer and will probably leave on Wednesday.

Thanks so much for your prayers and support!!

Brian and Rebeca K.

I went Bananas Over D on Friday

D knows we are here to take him home. The kids say ¨”Mama … D …”
They all are vocal about it (mostly the girls) except D, he just cries when he sees us come to the orphanage … he first smiles with great happiness and then it seems as if he remembers the car ride to the photo place and then he cries…
We asked his doctor if he has a favourite food, he said …. He eats it all! “what about bananas?” I asked, oh yes, he said, bananas, apples, everything. We took him outside and he stopped crying. Outside the orphanage as I hold him on my lap facing my heart, holding his Elmo book on one hand and his blue and white teddy bear on the other, I rocked him back and forth and sang a new song:

(Very slowly)
Quien es este ninno
De ojos tan tiernos
Quien es este ninno
Que me dio el Sennor

(Picking up pace)
Su nombre es:
David Mark Knowles
Si le dan una banana
Se la come en un sentar
Saborea una manzana
Se la come y pide mas.

On our way to the orphanage 3, the radio Jazz station was playing a Samba/rock “misturo Chiclets con bananas y Miami con Copacabana” the name of the song is “confusion”.

On Thursday when I sat next to D to have lunch, he gave me 2 kisses …Just had to say that!!! Brian is jealous … he is not the only cool boy with pretty eyes that get to kiss me anymore. Oh and yesterday, the girls at the orphanage gave little gifts, they came by with flowers they picked from the ground, D was kind of puzzled … so once he sat on the grass, he found the biggest branch and he handed it to me…isn’t that sweet!!!

I am in love!!!!!

Everything cleared up yesterday

Everything cleared up yesterday.

Thanks so much for your prayers!

We went to court on Tuesday and the judge did not rule. That is the most unsatisfying experience in this whole process. She said we had to wait for one paper, Brian and I could not figure out what this paper was … we left it in God’s hands and just did all the facilitator told us to do. Yesterday we got the confirmation that our papers are all in and that the Judge granted us favorably … This means we are not delayed in the process and we will probably be keep the schedule. We have the 10 day wait period for both of our kids which we will spend in Barcelona with our adoptive friends.

We will be back here on the 12th to do all the rest of the paper work.

Special thanks to Mom and dad Knowles and everybody at their department at Billy Graham for their Prayers. Thanks to mami for taking care of the house and Lola. Thanks to all our friends praying at church back home (Vicky and Craig, we know you are God sent) thanks to our blogger friends for your support and prayers.

D is terrified of cars, we took him to do the passport picture (2 minute drive) he almost dies of an anxiety attach, let’s see how he does in an airplane … for 16 hours!.

By the way, our luggage got in just fine!!!