3 Weeks down........

.........3 more to go!

I'm already sad.... I don't want to leave!!

I know I still have three weeks.

So I'm going to enjoy every moment of it and learn as much Spanish as I can before I have to go back home!

Mindo....

It has been so enjoyable and wonderful to show my family around Quito and show them the places and people that mean so much to me....

Admittedly they have not been as excited as I am about some things...like buses...they have all but refused to ride on them....and the food....after being terribly sick for 3 days my dad and brothers are very scared to eat anything (though I can't entirely blame them...).

Although admittedly it is far different to be here with an entire family than when it was just me to worry about....I have 6 people that don't know a lick of Spanish, don't know there way around the city at all and don't know anything about living here (though they all are catching on quite quickly!) and one little one that doesn't understand all the rest and is trying to adjust to living in a new family and then there is me....the one who relied on other people, to get me around and speak Spanish for me in sticky situations....but now its just me....(but I also have some amazing friends who have been very helpful with directions and advice, I am very thankful!).

So I wanted to give my family another Ecuadorian experience, which included getting up early, getting to the bus station, buying tickets and getting 8 people safely on the bus and headed two hours out into the country....At first I thought it was a great idea, but the evening before as I planned out every detail...I started to think maybe not...could I really do this safely with my Spanish skills? Well at 2 in the morning apparently my mind decided not...because I didn't sleep a wink after that...morning finally came...and we all set out the door...for the adventure of a life time!! Or so they tell me....

Well we flagged two taxis I gave directions and prayed we would end up at the same bus terminal...Perfect! We landed in the same spot at almost the same time and I was the only one that got ripped off...the bus was just getting ready to pull out and amazingly enough it had 8 spots left to fill!! Chance? I think not! We set off and true Ecuadorian style...the bus was stopping...people were selling...people were moody....baby's were fussing....we seen a car on it's side....almost seen another accident on a narrow mountain road.... and ya they pretty much got it all wrapped up in one bus trip!

We arrived had no problem bought our return tickets and I was just praising the Lord! We were in the county, it smelled good, looked good and everyone enjoyed our day in Mindo!

It is a beautiful and unique place! I wrote down all the suggestions so first off we headed for a hostel where we could watch some birds....

 It was beautiful, peaceful and relaxing! The owner has over 100 different kinds of birds that go there to eat. The air was filled with birds!

This little beauty enjoyed the birds too!

After enjoying the relaxing atmosphere we headed off to explore the rest of the town!

 Heading off to go canopying!

Here is Harmony coming in a for a landing!

Here comes Hope!

Aaron having a hanging good time!

Micah more than enjoyed the mountains and the cows he spotted!

There goes a butterfly....

 and here comes super women!

Taking a break from the treks up the mountain!

 The whole crew!

We are getting our exercise in at all the parks! Ok, well I needed it after stopping to get a world famous Mindo brownie! Ok, well maybe not world famous, but they are amazing!

And here is our ride home! I forgot how comforting it could feel to have a bus under you after a long day! We made it to the bus terminal and two taxi's were waiting there.....we made it home safe and sound and soooo grateful!

It was a wonderful day and I think it will be a day my family will always remember.....

Ecuador

I can't believe how coming back to Ecuador literally felt like going home...I know I only lived here for three short months!And my Spanish is not very good....but minor details right? Well I guess when compared to the perfect will of God....YES!! At the sight of Ecuadorians I nearly flipped, I was so excited, and seeing some of their customs and normality's make me even more excited to go back and share all of these experiences with my family.

I'm here, and I love it! All the things that seemed so strange to me seen so normal. I had forgotten how much I love this language, the people and this country. It's amazing to share this with my family. The taxi and bus rides, the friendliness of the people, the Spanish language, the empanada's, the cheese bread, the mountains, the sights, the sounds....ok well most of them!

Some things I had forgotten about...like throwing the toilet paper in the garbage or how hard it is to go grocery shopping sometimes or how much people stare or how cold the nights are...ok nothing else coming to mind at the present....

I know that I already love this country more than ever! If only I could speak more Spanish! Well I'm working on it. But I was quite amazed when I was able to flag the taxi, have a successful shopping trip and get dropped off right at the door of our house! :) Natasha I cannot say thank you enough! Thank you for putting up with me and thank you for your translating advice! I'm putting it to good use. I have to say my Spanish vocabulary is rapidly growing... having a Spanish speaker in the house is defiantly helping! I love it!

Even the uneven sidewalks, the one hour (it seemed that long, I think it was only like 30-45 min.) that it took for us to get taxi's to come to our door to pick up the sick family members, the translators, the people asking for a different amount of change or telling us they have change then they run off to find someone else that does....they all remind me where I am and its funny how the things that use to bother me, I know just expect and don't get bothered by it at all! It's an adventure...take the ride...I was a little nervous when moms card got stuck in the ATM machine....but God provided, we found help and moms card came out and I sighed with relief!

One fortunate thing about people finding our your Spanish is not so good is pretending not to understand the all to friendly taxi drivers questions...a ya lo siento..."shrug shoulders"....smile.... :)

Loving these babies!

Last time I was in Ecuador, I was only here to play with children...(not officially) but in reality that is what I mostly did. I loved it! I have found there was hardly a more important job I could do! But this time it is different I am here for my sister's adoption. There are other jobs and things I must do but I have had a couple chances (and hopefully will have a couple more) to play with the few children that I know that are still at the orphanage and meet all the new ones! I have to grab all the pictures I can because they are so precious to me and to a few other people I know that will want to see them! It feels so amazing to be back and spend time with them, to see how they have grown and progressed yet still see their shining personality's and how each one would benefit from being in a family. It is still just as tempting to scoop them all up and take them home! I know that adoption is expensive, I know its hard, I know they won't be "your own"...but honestly the more excuses you can come up with the more I know that you really don't understand....please look at these faces...remember these faces....and know that there are million's more just like them....but most of them are worse off...

I love these children because they deserve it!

I love these children because they changed my life!

I love these children because they cause me to see the world through different eyes.

I love these children because God loves them and requires us love them.

Open you eyes and love them too!

This little guy has grown up so much! Natasha and I were there when he and his sister were brought in. He still loves hugs and kisses and is the sweetest little boy I've ever known!

This little boy still lights up the world with his smile! He is amazing and his accomplishments are no small feat!

This doll was just a preemie when I last seen her and she has grown up and developed remarkably!

This little one found a friend!

He loved my dad!

These tias never cease to amaze me! It's amazing to see them again and how they are still caring for and loving His children. 

This little guy is now over 2 years old and he has changed so much! God is intervening on his behalf and I hope that soon he and his two siblings can have a family together!

On Saturday morning a couple of us went to the baby house early to help feed and dress babies, it felt like I had never left! Of course only two children are still there but the needs are the same and the love that they need and receive is the same....God bless these hard working tias!

Harmony's first attempt at feeding a baby and she did very well!

I'm not sure if Dad enjoyed them more or if they enjoyed dad more but either way the tias enjoyed Dad helping give bottles to the baby's.

This little guy was a little upset to be left out of the mix.

Hopey sure enjoyed playing with all of the children!

This little doll stole my heart very quickly and easily....and people think it's hard to stay single....they don't know what they are missing out on!

Yep, as usually the naughty one is in the crib.....

So many girls in one place!

More bottles....

more toys...

This little guy has improved so much through hard work and therapy! It makes me want to hold him and just cry...but he would rather play and be happy!

More babies than he has arms for!

Of course we had to dress all the pretty little girls.......

This one was just a preemie last time I seen her! Now she is going to take my sister's place in the toddler house.

Well I guess we did our job well! All tuckered out....

Sometimes joy is found in the most unthought of places....so remember these faces....don't just see their pain....because they just see themselves as children.....but see the happiness and joy that they are....then see the need....not pity.....pity is worthless....but needs can be met...

will you remember me?