Things Julia and David Love to eat

David and Julia would stop eating their meal if they see the following items in the table:

Tomatoes,
Avocados,
Cucumber,
Radishes,

They also love onions, and their favorite salad is the caprese salad with tomatoes and cheese.

Here is a proof look at all the asparagus, they ate the whole bunch before papi was done with the meat.

We are so happy that our kids love veggies!

David y Julia singing

I am just a proud mom of future artist:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mImFF8nUwtU

Check it out.

Rebeca Knowles shares stage with Yuri (rebeca who?)

I was invited to a Christian event this Saturday titled “a pause in eternity”

I am thrilled to be part of the program next to the Mexican “Diva” Yuri .. can you believe that?
I will be singing one of my songs and sharing my adoption experience with around 500 Latin women. What a privilege!!!

Please pray for me as this is a great opportunity to change some erroneous views on adoption and encourage the Latin community to understand the power of God’s love in adoption.

David's B-Day Party

We celebrated on Sunday with a group of friends and family; tia Raque, cesar and Gabi were missed as well as grandpa and granma who were celebrating their 40th year aniversary!!;
so here are the pictures: Look at what happens when mami is not looking!

David looks like giving thanks to God for his new gift.

Having fun with friends.

Brian and I were at the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast

June 15, 2007, 1:00:00 PM
President Bush on Friday said, "I thank you for the chance to come to the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast. Appreciate the opportunity to be with Hispanic American pastors and priests and community leaders and faith based activists from all over the United States. I thank you for coming, and thanks for having me come. I appreciate your leadership, I appreciate your compassion, and I thank you for your abiding faith in the power of prayer. One of the reasons that America leads the world is that we've always welcomed people who are determined to embrace our democracy and stand for freedom."
20070615.pod.a.mp3

Hillary was also there. She was great. This trip to Washington DC gave me a bigger appreciation for the people that serves us. It is not an easy task.

This was the first time Brian and I were apart from David and Julia and I have to confess I had some moments I just wanted to run to the airport to come home.

But I think it was a good experience for all of us; today, when we were finally together, we were very greatful to be together. It is now one year together as a family and I want to praise the Lord for His Goodness toward all of us.

We celebrated our one year together at an argentinean restaurant - it felt like a dinner on a honeymoon trip - the beuty of relationships based on commitment, of choosing to love and allow another to love you.

Our Adoption Biography on ConexionUSA magazine

Check out the article that ConnexionUSA magazine wrote about our adoption journey.
Click or copy and paste the following address and you’ll see part of the article:
http://www.lanueva883fm.com/cnxusa-temp/mayo2007/biografia.php

June 14th will be our first year with David and Julia and we will celebrate our “Gotcha” day.

My first mother’s day as a mother

My first mother’s day as a mother myself was extremely exiting.

I started the day with a great breakfast in bed. My husband created a brunch experience for the two of us and we ate at our balcony while our children were still in bed. He prepared beautiful eggs with vanilla French toast made out of croissants, decorated with few sautéed spinach leaves and some kiwi pieces. He also brought some blackberries, my favorite fruit, and Mimosas! And of course my regular morning latte. Isn’t he amazing!!!

Then, I took a shower and he got the kids ready. When I left the bathroom David and Julia were waiting for me with flowers in their hands and sang: “Happy to you, mami, happy to you Mami, Happy to you Mami Mami, happy to you mami.”

Bravo!!

Happy B-day baby Julia

Julia and Mami in Church.

Today, I am officially the mother of two two-year old children! Today is Julia’s B-day. I love my Julia; she is a Joy to have. Happy B-day baby!

We had a great party on Saturday and have so many pictures but my computer crashed so I have to wait to publish them.

Auntie B came to visit for the occasion and we had around 15 children attending the party. It was a little overwhelming for both, David and Julia, but they had fun.

Julia really enjoyed the whole experience.

My first b-day with the kids!

Last year on my b-day I was very sad. Brian and I have just returned from Brazil empty handed after having a really bad experience and one that was also in a way an eye opener. This year, just one year later from that day I felt there was no hope, I celebrated my b-day with Brian and our two children.
At lunch time, I received a phone call from a stranger, someone, I never met before, she was asking me about adoption. I found myself remembering the whole experience. That was the best gift I could have received: I was forced to look back and thank God for His goodness as I gave account on how our adoption story unfolded, and at the same time I was used by Him to bring some light of hope to another family in the process of adopting. Thank you Jesus!!

I am Back!

The time has passed by so quick at our home – we had a major event for the ministry and had guest from Brazil for a while – Christmas was my last post - almost 4 months ago – One important thing stayed home from last Christmas: I took one of my favorites Christmas songs and made it into a lullaby for our children. It goes like this:

Mommy did you know that your baby girl was going to come from Russia?
Mommy did you know that your baby girl was going to be named Julia?
Did you know that your baby girl would be your greatest joy?
And the precious child you are holding is a gift from above ….?
Mommy did you know?

Mommy did you know that your baby boy was going to come from Russia?
Mommy did you know that your baby boy was going to be named David?
Did you know that your baby boy would be your greatest joy?
And the precious child you are holding is a gift from above ….?
Mommy did you know?

Knowles Christmas Message

This Christmas is so special for us as a family because as we are for the first time celebrating together with our children David and Julia, we are reminded that a Child was born and given to bring hope into the hearts and lives of the hopeless. These four hopeless people found each other and found hope this year.

Jesus, our wonderful hope, comes to accomplish in our lives what man cannot.

The Child of Hope is Jesus!
May the New Year be filled with Christmas Hope!!

Christmas Brunch Moments

We celebrated Christmas at our house early this year with my side of the family – We prepared a brunch - main course was Rainbow trout .. sounds fancy right? well in small towns in Colombia, people eat fish for breakfast, so we went with it and we had Yuca and Suero ... for the Colombians reading they know it is not fancy anymore but very home cooking ... Also we had fruit and cookies and made from scratch blueberry muffins and mimosas and hot chocolate - We used to go to a restaurant in Minneapolis called Kinkaids and the Sunday Brunch was expectacular - they had the best blueberry muffins - Brian's were the best!
These are some of the pictures from the party:
The kids really enjoyed the whole event! Julia even had a cookie - and she is not into sweets.

Her first sweet food she actually liked was a chocolate/sugra christmas cookie we got after church 2 sundays ago and her second cookie was just last Saturday as you see in this picture - we are all eating sweets, even Lola.
David got a guitar for Christmas - he loved it!
Here we are trying to get lola into her new outfit - That was her Christmas gift.
Julia was very curious with all the gifts.
Bellow there is a great Christmas moment - Just before opening presents:

DJ Pablo’s music will be playing in our New Year's Party.

I just added a link on the side bar of the blog that was created by my nephew and it is so clever!

If you are interested in knowing a little bit more about music from my city Barranquilla, just click on the link also found on the side bar: www.quillacity.com/emisora.htm
This is like a Radio station that plays music from Barranquilla.

Pablo promised me to create a link for me with the songs from my CD to add also here so you can just click and listen .. no need for shipping and handling. That is so cool!!

David and Julia Love dancing. I am going to see what I can do to have DJ Pablo’s music playing for our New Years party.

Gracias Pablo!

Gabi first B-Day

On Decempber 2nd 2006, David saw Elmo "Live" for the first time at my niece's B-day party and he loved him!!!

Brian and I were really busy just trying to keep up with our two active toddlers on a Sesame street theme party. They loved the singing the dancing, the ice cream cones and of course, Elmo.

Julia is learning the meaning of the expression "Fashion first" It was a little hot outside but we kept the whole outfit the entire party! She is Mama's girl.

The B-day girl was beautiful, like always .. my dear niece is also my goddaughter so this was a very special celebration for us. My sister made this cheese breads that were amazing!! It was nice to enjoy with all our nieces, nephews and our friends kids!

Christmas Moments

David saw Santa … I think he heard of him before somewhere, he calls him "Santee". This was the same expression he had when he saw Elmo "Live" at his prima’s B-day party … I will post the B-day party pictures later.
Lola loves Christmas … she was born December 24th 2001 so every Christmas Eve she thinks we are celebrating her birthday.

Still behind

Just a diary note with the highlights about our Thanksgiving celebration:
1. Tia Brenda Came to visit David and Julia and stay with us the whole week. What a blessing!! She brought the kids each a t-shirt from Australia – is that cool or what!

2. My mom came from Colombia just a week before thanksgiving.

3. Then Grandma and Grandpa came on Thanksgiving Day. David, Julia, papi y mami went to the airport to get them. We came home and started cooking. Tia Brenda prepared a wonderful stuffing corn bread with sausages, leeks and cranberries. It was very “gourmet” and delicious: the talk of the dinner. My sister Raquel prepared one turkey and Brian prepared the other one. Food was great!!!

4. We had my side of the family and Brian’s side of the family at our house for this Thanksgiving but we also had my sister in laws mom and dad and my brother in law side of the family also, so that was great.

5. The kids kept their schedule and were awake to enjoy the party and the guests

6. we had Cathy with us so she played the piano and we sang together praise hymns – my sister Raquel and I cried while holding our little girls and singing “Great is thy faithfulness”

7. We had guest over in our house all the way to midnight.

I have to say that this was the best Thanksgiving we ever had.

I had to post a before and after moment in pictures of Julia.

Before and after picture of Julia and Papi.

Papi was the first man Julia ever saw in her entire life until she was close to one year old and now she loves to dance with him at home.

Papi sings this song: “someday your Prince will come …” and Julia gives her hand to papi to position herself for dancing and she pretends she is singing with him. I think is good Brian is practicing for Julia’s “big day” this early, but knowing him, when the “day” comes, he won’t be able to sing the song … he will probably just cry … just like grandpa.

Julia has a great personality. She loves to sing and dance. At night, after I give her the bottle, she knows is time for singing lullabies, so she starts imitating my singing to get me started. It is such a precious moment. Then she puts her two fingers in her mouth telling me she is ready for her own bed.

I can believe that Julia’s referral description was: “shy and quiet girl” that is so not my Julia anymore. You should see her when we are in public, at church, the Latin restaurant, etc. she comes in and says “hi” to every person she sees … and smiles as she was a personality saluting … and she is not quiet either she can hardly say 20 words but she knows how to have a discussion and make herself understood and of course she pretends of having this long conversations at the table with whoever wants to listen.

Julia used to say only Paapa and not mama, but 2 days ago as we were in the car coming back home from David’s school, I said: “Julia say: we are Home” and she said “OMMM” so then I said: “Julia if you can say Ommmm, you can say mmmammma” then she said: Mmaammaa!!!! I am so proud of her! Is like she got it and now she says it a lot!

Happy Late Thanksgiving to everyone!

Before and after pictures of David and Mami.














I can’t believe it is already December 1st. wow! I will try to write more post today about our Thanksgiving 2006 before we start talking Christ-mas!

So this is my first update on the last few weeks, at least I am taking pictures so I can remember some of this important moments:

David started calling me Mami just before Thanksgiving!! That is much sweeter than Maaama! Even though Maaama is great! I am so thankful to God for that gift.

I can see David growing to love me more in the last month and also yielding in a very welcoming way to my acts of affection. Two nights ago, while I was singing to him the usual made up songs I have for them, he told me “Mami, mami: amo” Amo means love in Spanish and that is a very much used word on the songs I sing to both of them night. He actually takes my cheeks and looks very close to my face and starts talking stuff like little “secrets” I can’t understand what he says most of the time, but I pretend I do and I just go on with the conversation: he loves to talk! Those are great moments.

He is so active, in his Learning Center, they say he is the one that has the most fun on the playground but the one that falls the most. He is definitely the one that eats the most in his class and then he asks for “more plis”

My mom and I attended David’s Thanksgiving celebration at school and it was wonderful. I asked my mom to take a picture of me with David and then I realized it was pretty much the same picture I took in Moscow on our second trip. I cried when I saw myself kneeling down next to David at the table … but this time I was next to my own son!!!

Just a little bit about me

Brian and I have been a little sick lately. Actually I was not supposed to carry heavy stuff and Brian was not supposed to drive, so, I was driving us around and he was doing all the lifting …today I am feeling much better and tomorrow, we will go to a follow up visit for Brian.

Just a little bit about me …. I got my first invitation to sing at a women breakfast coming up in our church on the first Saturday of December!!! so, I am thinking of the best way to share our adoption story and inspire others to adopt or at least shine some redemption light on the subject.
Yes, Last year in November, God gave me the blessing to finish a CD project. These are a collection of songs I have written and was waiting to put together, well, last year we were able to finish this project, but right in the middle of our adoption process, so now, a year later, I am thinking in ways to do some marketing for it, mainly because there is a Christmas song I wrote and would be great to share with others. 8 of the 10 songs in the CD are in Spanish, but I would love to share it with you my blog friends, just send me an email and ask for it rifka_segebre@yahoo.com I’ll send you a copy.

Continuing with the Adoption Month subject, I found from Kim that this week Family Life is dedicating their broadcast to adoption.

“You can go to the sites and find out what radio station near you will carry these broadcasts. If you click on their broadcast schedules, you can get more information about the speakers and their topic.”http://www.voiceoftheorphan.org/display.asp?page=Broadcast

I actually listened to today’s broadcast from Family life and found it very inspiring, I passed the information about Voice of the Orphan ministry to some Pastor from our church and I hope to see some results from it.

Most of all, it really had made me think about the ministry to the orphan and our place as a family on it. We also work with a ministry for couples in Brazil www.reachingoutnet.org and I have asked the question this week about what should we be doing there also. We might not be the most knowledgeable on the subject but definitely committed to the cause.

November - National Adoption Month

What ideas can we still put into place to take advantage of this National celebration? Just blog me or email me with some. I am still thinking.

President George W. Bush proclamation:
"I call upon all Americans to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities to honor adoptive families and to participate in efforts to find permanent homes for waiting children."

Episodes of "Sesame Street" this month will address the topic of adoption as part of National Adoption Month in the United States. Check Sesame Street on PBS Nov. 6 and 7, where the "Sesame Street" gang gets a new edition when the character Gina adopts a baby boy from Guatemala named Marco. I watched it yesterday and it was great, we were having dinner and Brian could not handle it, he started crying, well, I did too. The program seeks to explain what it means to adopt and how it impacts parents and those closest to them.

I just found out that there is a long list of all of the special days celebrated in November 2006, something for everybody; besides being the National Adoption Month my ultimate favorite, here are some other interesting celebrations:
American Heritage Month
Child Safety and Protection Month
Drum Month
Good Nutrition Month
Hunger Awareness Month
Latin American Month
Peanut Butter Lover's Month
National Georgia Pecan Month
Family Stories Month
National Family Literacy Month
National Sleep Comfort Month
International Creative Child and Adult Month
National Raisin Bread Month
Real Jewelry Month
I Am So Thankful Month

and my ultimate favorite by the way of the tittle:
Anything Can Happen Month: I hope for Good things happening this month specially for those who still wait ... here: in America; and there: someplace in the world!

I guess there is even daily events such as my favorite for today:
November 7, 2006: National Bittersweet Chocolate With Almonds Day

and
The most important one today:

Don't forget to Vote!!