update from China

today Stevie sent us an update... here it is if you are interested




The Battle is the Lords!

Wow this truth has been something I am holding on to and what he is continually teaching me out here. Last week I shared with a friend some things that the Father is putting on my heart. I shared how a friend had told me that there was no use for theology in “work” here. Well I shared how maybe that was where the Father was leading me because of my love for teaching and theology. And he shared with me something I will never forget. He said that the Father did not bring me out here for me to accomplish some project, or to do something great; he brought me out here for me. Really? Is it about me? Has the Father done all this so that I will know him more. My friends continued to share with me that the Father can make the rocks cry out, if He wanted to, He would make it happen right now. But that’s not the point of me being here nor is it the point of any of us being here in some foreign country. My friends shared with me that He has brought me here to reveal himself to me in new ways, ways that I couldn't have seen Him move back home. He is pursuing me, not because I have done anything spectacular, not because I have done anything great or have the potential to bring thousands of people to know him, but He has brought me here to reveal himself to me so that I may love Him more. This was so overwhelming for me to know. He can do this on his own, He doesn’t need me, I am here to know him more. “The chief end of man is to glorify (the Father) and enjoy him forever” (Westminster Catechism). This is a truth I studied for the past 2 years with my mentor and we worked through how it is to be applied in my life. And it took me traveling thousands of miles for it to hit and sink down deeper into my heart.

The days all blend together out here so I think last week I visited a temple that brought the reality of paganism to life.
I watched both men and women bow before lifeless man made objects. It was very eerie walking into rooms set aside for worship and seeing how dark they were. People would just put money before these statues or spin wheels so the gods would hear their prayers. I have only heard of these practices before but seeing them firsthand was something I never will forget. Brandon Stoppe said something to me before I came out that I continue to remember “its weird being in a place where you look around and there are no believers.” Not one. I look around and see all these people who live in fear of the gods, hoping that they will be able to appease them with their offerings and sacrifices. There are even some people who will sprawl out on the ground and the return to a standing position with their hands raised in the air for miles to try to cover over their sins. It’s so sad to see these people so desperate for forgiveness but miss the sacrifice of the holy lamb.

I recently traveled to a province about 8 hours south of here to help a husband and wife move their shop and home. We listened to Michael W. Smith for about half the trip. (I have been waiting to say this since then) I, with a passion, dislike his music very much now and am thoroughly disappointed in everyone who enjoys listening to it (sorry Bishop). The guy isn't even good enough to write music that has substance so he plays covers at his concerts and or his songs just repeat the same phrase over and over again. "A New Hallelujah" I think thats the only phrase I heard him say that was his own, but I've definitely heard that one somewhere before. The trip was great though, we painted with paint that was so watered down that it seemed to not really stick or hold much color, we moved their furniture and products for the store and spent time eating and fellowshipping. I ate a yak burger, which was excellent, and for the first time in my life used a squatty potty. That was most definitely an experience. The countryside here is absolutely beautiful and the pictures I have taken seem to not even come close to portraying how amazing the earth He created is.

I have some excellent opportunities here to start being involved with. First: some of the parents here have asked that I would lead the youth group that the m’s do here. I think it will start next Saturday and I am so excited to get to know the students here and walk with them in their journey of discipleship. I also was asked to teach an English class here as well as take some of my roommate’s classes that he teaches. This could be such an awesome opportunity to make more connections with people here and see how I can be most effective here. Also some people who have businesses here are in need of graphic design stuff done for their companies so I may work with them if I have time in the week. So as you can see my schedule is very busy (as usual).

I continue to grow more in the language as well. I have learned how to shop and count and tell taxi drivers how to get to where I need to go. However, I often get lost while I am traveling by myself and for the past 3-4 appointments I have had show up 10-30 minutes late because I get on the wrong bus or just turned down the wrong street. I have also learned that this place was not created for tall people. My roommate jokes and says I am the tallest man in town. It has perks when I play basketball cause I dominate in the key. I don’t even jump and I can get every rebound so they all think I’m amazing. But I was traveling by bus the other day and when I got on, I found that I could not stand up straight, so I put my head through the vent so I could stand up straight. There were kids on the bus that were laughing at me. It happens a lot though, people act as if they have never seen a white person in their life when they see me. Sometimes kids point and laugh or parents just stare at me as I walk by. I just think its funny, I smile and say “Nee-hao.” I also can't see when my stop is coming up because I can't see out the widows cause they are too low. So I am always having to e that guy who runs to the back of the buss at the last second to get off. People love me here...The culture is so

different too. People light fireworks in front of their restaurant or store when its having a grand opening to attract customers. Last week I was helping a lady with her shop and they fireworks started going off. I took off and ran back into the shop because I was getting hit by flying trash and rocks. But it is fun here and I am learning to love these funny things.
Well friends and family, thanks for you continued time of talking to the Father for me. He is teaching me a lot, and doing good things in my heart. Send me e-mails, I love reading your encouraging words. Love you all and I will write soon again.

Grace and Peace
-stevie-

papas day

Growing up I was always a mommas girl. I loved going to the mall with my mom or sitting in her room while she got all dolled up for an evening out with my dad. We had so much in common: sports, tv shows, our love for clothes and anything in between, but looking back I've realized I wasn't just a mommas girl I was also a daddies girl.

I can remember crawling into my dads lap with the comfort of being safe practically leaking from his soul. My papa would look at me and say "Repeat after me boys are icky, I'm not dating until I am 40". Then thinking no man could ever take the place of this man in my life I would easily repeat his words. As I grew soon those conversations turned into ones where my dad would say, "Now remember if any boy ever hurts you I have a pickup, a shovel and a desert not too far away, no one would ever miss them". I would laugh at his statements but it would take me back to when I was a little girl knowing that my papa would forever protect me.

It wasn't uncommon to find dad making breakfast singing into a spatula or waking me up with a guitar in hand singing me back into reality. Many times my brothers and I would run from one room to the next where we would encounter our dad on the ground waiting for us to tackle him. As we grew we would run from one room to the next when we heard our code word "scatter" meaning papa bear is now awake hide because you are the ones that woke him!

These little moments along with the other memories I have created with my dad over the years have been amazing. I have realized how much I am loved by my papa and how much I love him. He is an amazing man and I would be lucky to meet and marry someone half as amazing as him. I am honored that I have a dad like him and thankful for a day in which we get to celebrate someone so important.

I love you papa happy fathers day!

skype

tonight i got to skype with my brother. though it made me realize just how much i miss him and want him home even more, it was great chatting with him and hearing how the Lord is using him.

Stevie i love and miss you and cant wait for your return home!

love

words cannot express how much I love my family

The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.

-- Thomas Jefferson

road trip

We have learned that with children planning isn't always necessary, sometimes those spur of the moment adventures are the ones that leave a lasting memory. Just yesterday my mom and I decided to take a mini road trip to lake havasu with the kids, so far our adventurous spirit has paid off... we'll see how everyone likes it with the 110 degree weather tomorrow ;-)

Summer

It is now official in the Hasemeyer home with every person that... SCHOOLS OUT FOR THE SUMMER!!!! Now that everyone is home let the fun begin.

a weekend of joy

You’ll never be sad if you remember all the good things that have happened to you. Karolina Grekov

go make disciples

After years of praying and months of planning this morning I bid my big brother farewell for the summer as he got on his flight to venture to China. Though the walls of our tear ducts threatened to break open I couldn't have been more proud than to see my brother walk up the stairs to catch his flight. He is living his life for the Lord and that is the most amazing thing to experience. He is a disciple of Christ going into the world to make disciples of all nations and one day I am sure he will hear the Lord say to him "Well done Stevie, my good and faithful servant!"

Please keep Stevie in your prayers these next months!

Mario

We finally beat Mario! After countless hours, a few cups of coffee and energy drinks, staying up until morning and many many laughs the game is defeated. Now it might sound stupid that 3 college students stay up all night to play this wii game, but let me tell you these have been some of my favorite times in the past couple months. Times where we laughed until we cried, yelled at each other for dying right before the finish line or bubbling at the wrong moments and hanging out with my family. I am glad we defeated it but I am sad it is over... I guess we need to find another game to defeat!

family blessings

Today I have been reminded of how blessed I truly am. My family is amazing but something I have noticed is that as we grow our distance does too; not necessarily in a bad way, just simply in a way of lifes course. We all attend different schools, have different hobbies and do different things, but we are a family and coming together is one of the greatest moments I now get to experience. Maybe its the corny jokes Joel tells, or its the dances I see my dad come up with, or maybe its the way I get to see Stevie interact with the kids, or the love I can see in my moms eyes. Maybe it's the way the kids swarming around us as though we are celebrities, or the fact that we no longer fit around the table. It could be the joy of a guitar coming out with a new song being played and kids dancing around the floor, or quiet possibly its the late nights playing mario or sitting in the family room drinking coffee and swapping stories, whatever the case may be as I grow these times of gathering are something I cant help but to look forward to.

With Stevie leaving in a couple of days for the next few months the reality of the entire family being together has hit me. In this last week we will experience this for the last time until August. When looking to this date joy bubbles up inside me as I already have a picture of Levi, Gabe, Isaac, Joshua, Gabby, Rosie, Jonah, Luke, Cheyenne, Elle, Jesse, Me, Joel and my mom and dad greeting Stevie as he comes home. The whole family together again with stories being told and memories being made... just as life should be.

I am truly blessed!

vacation

Vacations are an obsolete in the Hasemeyer household. It is rare to find us all gone for a day let alone a week or longer. When even the thought of a vacation crosses our mind instantly the realization of driving anywhere for hours with screaming children, or staying in 3 different hotel rooms with still not enough beds, or just the work that has to be accomplished making it not really a vacation at all, brings this idea of vacation a bitter dream rather than sweet one.

With that said vacation would be a perfect experience if we didn't have to drive too far, there was enough room and if it was an easy going adventure... and this past week thats exactly what vacation was. My family is blessed to be the owners of a timeshare in Carlsbad in which we are given the room once a year. It is right on the beach with a swimming pool and game room and surprisingly enough it's big enough to fit the whole family (with people sleeping on the ground of course!)

Just like any other day at home our days on vacation were eventful with glasses breaking, kids being taken to the emergency room and fights occurring, but that made for a week to remember. But just the idea of finally being on vacation made everything seem that much sweeter. As of now we are all home and back to the reality of waking put early and going to school or work.

This vacation was fun while it lasted... too bad it was only for a week!

Mothers Day

Like most holidays my family has our traditions and mothers day is no exception. About 8 years back my older brothers and I gathered up all the kids and the red wheel barrow and took the hike up the block to the corner flower nursery. After walking around and debating on which flower would be perfect we would finally agree load the rose bush into the wagon, roll it up to the register, pull out our saved cash, and head back down the street to home.

Though our traditions has slightly changed: instead of walking we now have to take a car a few miles away and instead of 5 children with different opinions there are now 11, but the rose bush for mothers day has continued. It is a great experience to see the kids do something for my mom because she does so much for us. The rose is a constant reminder of the love we have for my mom, it is a gift that keeps giving.

Mom we love you Happy Mothers Day!

tears to remember

today my mom showed me a letter from my sister and so the tears began to flow.

Rosie I miss and love you <3

Luke

Luke is a miracle child. He brought a lot of firsts into our home; first special needs, first dependent child, first child who was unable to run and swallow and first kid who looked nothing like the rest of us. We met Luke when we switched from Orange County Adoptions to San Bernardino Adoptions and after our first visit with him we instantly fell in love. He was a tiny five-year-old, weighing only 25lbs and was not able to much of anything besides sit in the house and watch television all day. The scars along his chest, the feeding tube, the inability to truly communicate and the difference in color was easily passed by when looking into his eyes and seeing the need that we can provide for this child. After many visits Luke was able to come home with us and just a few short months later he officially became Luke Elijah Hasemeyer.
Like I said Luke was the first special needs child that came into our home. Not only was he declared mentally retarded, because of his many surgeries including open heart, he never learned how to swallow which meant he was fed through an eating tube. Because of this Luke was not getting the nutrients he needed and not growing. but after a couple short months in the Hasemeyer home Luke began to eat. His first food was cheetoes and soon it turned to corndogs, a meal he feel in love with. Once he was able to get these foods down he moved on to other delicacies and finally began to grow.
Today is in the 8th grade and it is amazing to think back at where he began and where he could be. Because of his disabilities and color Luke was considered unadoptable. He would have been stuck in a medically fragile home his whole life where nothing would have been expected of him, he would have never learned to eat or run or read or be a normal boy. Now he has that opportunity and it is amazing to see him grow and know that he is a Hasemeyer!

Coming home...

Coming home should never be a surprise anymore, we now do not take a second thought when we are told another room is taken and another bed is filed. New family additions are a constant occurrence wether it be a dirty child or a fury animal, with this said I should not have been surprised but I was. When I walked in the blue doors of my home I was greeted by not one new dog but two!


Welcome to the family Betsy & Zelda! =D

breakfast and an early morning

This morning I was woken up at the crack of dawn to screaming children getting ready for school. Though most days I would be completely upset, today however I was not. Maybe it was the rays of sunshine streaming in through my window, or the the smiling faces of the ones I love greeting me back into reality, or possibly it was the freshly brewed coffee my little sister made me sitting on my nightstand filling the room with its delicious aroma. Whatever the case my be though this morning was an early morning it was a good one none the less. I have decided that today will be a good day.



"A leaf fluttered in through the window this morning, as if supported by the rays of the sun, a bird settled on the fire escape, joy in the task of coffee, joy accompanied me as I walked."
~Anais Nin

baseball the new family affair

Tonight was Joshua's first baseball game, so the family pilled in the big van and drove to the field. When I got there the game had just begun and Josh was out in center field with his knees bent and glove ready for action. There were only a couple times when the ball was hit in his direction, but the excitement happened when Josh stepped up to the plate. As he made the short walk from the dugout to home we had everyone looking in our direction and Joshua grinning from ear to ear. Even from the bleachers I could see the joy on Joshua's face knowing that his family was there to cheer him on. He stepped up to the plate and we all quieted to keep his concentration, the first ball was pitched Josh swung and missed and the second one went with the same result. Knowing his chances were limited we began to cheer even more hoping this would boost his confidence. Finally the third ball was pitched, Josh swung the bat with direct contact hitting the ball line drive down third base, it was a double! Cheers erupted from our side of the bleachers, I'm convinced they could hear us a mile away.

As Josh took his stance at second base he couldn't help but look at the family and smile, and I couldn't help but to feel amazingly proud. I looked at the people surrounding me and I was amazed how blessed I was. The moment felt so perfect it was as though I was in a movie... but even better than that is was real life. I have an amazing family and today I was reminded of how great they truly are.

the hike of life

...



The other day I decided to get the kids out of the house and give my mom a break, so the kids loaded up into the big van and I drove them down to Mt Rubidoux. The adventure started in the van, Jonah of course was the instigator of the kids crying and I knew from the beginning this was going to be a great idea! We made it to the mountain with only a few hits and cries and began our hike. Before being a third of the way to the top the fighting began. One kid would hit another who would retaliate and hit someone else who would come to me crying. I had bikers, runners, moms with strollers and anything in between staring at me with a look saying I was crazy for getting myself into this mess.

Like always though there were the fights, there were also the laughs and smiles. There were moments when we would stop to take pictures and look at the scenery. It was amazing to see God's glory not only in his nature but also in the lives that were surrounding me. This walk reminded me why my family does what we do. That like the hike in life there are going to be problems that occur and tears that are shed, but there is a destination to be met and memories to be made. Life is hard but that makes it worth living. I am reminded that because of the hard times the good times are much sweeter and the faces of these saved children continually remind me that.

We are hiking the mountain of life and though it is difficult I wouldn't change a second of it.

Jonah

Jonah is, well he's just Jonah. There is really no words to describe him. He is like no one else in the world. We met Jo when we would go visit Luke at the handicap home they both lived in before living with us. Jonah was about 2 years old and already had a story to tell. He was like most kids born in the system, addicted to drugs. On top of that his mother was homeless which ment she was not given the right prenatal care as well as she was an alcoholic. And so when she had Jonah she didn't want the burden and left him as an orphan in the hospital.

Over the years Jonah has had many open hear surgeries in which he died 3 times, he underwent anal surgery and must be given an enema every other night, he is on 4 different medications to make him somewhat bearable and he has to attend a special school. To say the least Jonah is the most difficult child in our home.

It's sad to think that if his mom would have just stopped drinking and doing drugs for 9 months he would be a normal boy living a normal life. That Jonah wouldn't be as angry and he would be a regular boy playing t-ball like the other kids hi age. Though Jonah is so difficult my hear is still full of unconditional love for him. Looking at his action and his life I am reminded that I am like Jonah. I am a sinful human just like him, but yet Christ loves me the same, and I am in love with him more.

Though I don't know why Jo was brought to our home or why he wasn't taken to be with the king one of those times he died I do know he has a bigger purpose. It seems that the hard times are over powering the easy ones now a days but it is a comfort to know that we are not the ones in control. And that fact along with love is enough to keep us going.

love and good byes

Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.

~Kahlil Gibran

owl of love

I opened my phone the other day to find a surprise text from my mother. Now those of you who know my mom know she is electronic illiterate. So when I opened the text to find that Gabby, my 9 year old sister was texting me, I was not surprised. My text read "krista it's gabby are you coming home today because i have a surprise for you". When I texted back asking what it was thinking this was some kind of corny joke my mom was playing on me Gabby replied "its a surprise you will see when you come ohm". I was still a little optimistic about the whole thing but because I was in need of laundry I decided to make the trip up the hill.

When I entered the house like always I was greeted by a swarm of children. I counted and each one was there to give me a hug... all but Gabby. I noticed when she realized it was me she ran to her room to get me my surprise! Seeing her walk out with the smile on her face I couldn't help but smile myself. She gave me my present which was a small owl neckless that looks like it will break at any moment, but now it is the most treasured piece of jewelry I own. I once had an owl neckless that I loved but when I went home for Christmas the children broke it. Gabby knew this so when she went to the store with my mom and saw this neckless hanging on the rack she picked it up, took it to the register, pulled out her wallet with change that she collected from the tooth fairy and purchased my newest accessory.

Through this small gesture I am reminded how little acts in life can make a persons day. Tonight I wore my new neckless and as it was hanging around my neck I thought of my sister and how loved I am. I always think about the impossibility of ever loving these kids more because my love is so great, but day by day they prove me wrong. Tonight I love them more than I did yesterday and tomorrow I am sure my love will be changed again.

Rosie & Gabby

Rosie and Gabby are the 2 little sister I always wanted. They are constantly there to help me and I can see in their actions that they look up to me. It is hard for me to think back to the times that we experienced with them in the beginning. They first came to live with us when Gabby was 3 months and Rosie was 2 years old. Though they were just babies they had been through more than most will ever encounter in a lifetime. Rosie already was struggling with reactive attachment dissorder and her heart was hard as a stone. She was full of anger and seemed to hate the world. While she was struggling with anger Gabby was too young to understand what was going on around her. She was a crying baby wanting food and love from anyone who was willing to give it to her.
When the girls went into the foster system they were almost starved to death. Rosie already was learning to take care of herself and not trust the people around her. She would steal food believing that her dinner would be the last meal she would see. We had the girls for a couple months and during this time the judge ordered the girls to go on visitations with their mom. We knew that the mom was still doing drugs but though we knew this the judge did not and ordered them back to the mom. They went to live with her and after another investigation Gabby and Rosie went back in the foster system, again starved and with cigaret burns on their bodies.
Today Rosie and Gabby are living with us and officially named Hasemeyer. They love life and both have very different personalities. Rosie can be found outside with Jonah her "buddy" searching for little trinkets. She loves collecting tinges and for years she wanted a medal detector for Christmas. Gabby can be found with Joel singing and enjoying life. She is a happy little girl and possibly the cutest one in the in her elementary school. Both girls are so photogenic and love the camera, I wouldn't be surprised if one day they ended up on the over of Sixteen Magazine.
Both of these girls are amazing sisters. I love having girls nights and busting out the nail polish and Pride and Prejudice. They are a amazing sisters and I am so blessed that they are apart of my life. I am excited to see what the Lord has planned for them in the future and how many lives they change because of the change we have created in their life. Gabby and Rosie are the sisters my parents couldn't conceive but the ones the Lord brought me.

Blessings

I was able to go home today to celebrate Joel's 21st birthday with the family. Though he doesn't officially turn 21 until February 10th we decided to celebrate before he moved back to college. During this time of fellowship I was again reminded of how the simplest things in life make it all worth living.

We started the night of with a delicious meal of Chipotle for the older kids and tostadas for the younger ones. For every birthday we go around the dinner table expressing why we love the birthday boy or girl and it is always so precious to hear the little kids express their love for us. After dinner we cleaned up and turned on the wii.

Though it is said that video games are a waste of money, I am now convinced that they are not. From this little electronic game I laughed harder than I have in weeks. We started of our game playing first with Mario Brothers then turned on the Band Hero. Watching the kids play their instruments and hearing them sing along brought a smile to my face. For this short amount of time they were all getting along and happy, there was not a care in the world. Life at that moment was simple and enjoyable. The time flew bye and soon enough it was time for bed. The tv was turned off, prayers were said and beds were filled with little bodies.

I caught a conversation between my mom and my brother where she was expressing how because it is the end of the month money is tight like usual. It caught me off guard thinking that after a night of excitement and laughter my parents could be under so much stress. It reaffirmed the idea that money is not the key to happiness. Though my family is struggling, and I would give anything to help my parents out, that is not where our source of joy comes from. Our joy comes from each other, from the love that we carry for one another. On nights like these I get on my knees and thank the Lord for His blessings, that He has given me such a family as this. I need to remember that the little that we do have is an abundant more than what I deserve, and that though my family doesn't have the riches we need or want here on earth we have each other which is far greater than what money can buy.

I am blessed beyond measures with an AMAZING family!

Breakfast

Growing up in a family of 16 you learn to take anything that is freely offered to you, so when we heard that Chick-fil-a was offering free breakfast this week we couldn't resist. Stevie and I woke up at 6am this morning and went to pick up the kids. I was so excited I felt like a kid going to Disneyland for the first time! The kids didn't know we were doing this so I walked into Rosie and Gabby's room while they were still asleep, jumped on there bed and told them to get ready for breakfast. The kids got dressed and we piled into the van.

While we were driving they wouldn't stop talking about anything and everything. We got to Chick-fil-a ordered our 7 free burrito's and a coffee to help me keep up the energized kids. We found our seats and the kids dug in. They enjoyed the food and I enjoyed the company.

It is times like these that I am reminded of how blessed I truly am. I have mentioned that life is hard... and it is but it is so worth it! If my parents weren't doing this then these 11 children would have no home, and no future and I am certain I would not be the person I am today. I would never have memories like these and I would not experience what it means to truly give. It is true when they say it is better to give than to receive!

Joshua

Joshua is the only child that we have gotten right out of the hospital. He came to live with us when he was only 8 days old as a 2 months premature at 4 lbs and addicted to heroine and methamphetamine's. I remember many nights where Josh would wake up screaming because his body was craving the drugs. It was horrible to sit there listening to the bloodcurdling screams coming from this tinny innocent baby.

Thinking back on the memories of Joshua when he was a baby I am now glad they are become more and more distant. Though it seems now that the road to adoption with Josh was easy, it was far from it! After having Josh for about a year his social worker decided to find a "more suitable" home for him, or in other words because he was a blond haired, blue eyed, white baby, families were lined up out the door to take him. Not wanting Josh to be taken away from the only family he has known my parents hired a lawyer and fought.

After months of court dates and fighting to keep a member of our family the judge ruled in our favor and an adoption date was set. Joshua officially became a Hasemeyer and was named Joshua Caleb.

Today it is evident that Joshua was exposed to drugs in utero because of his disabilities. He has to be on medications to help him think normally and calm down. But even though he has these problems he is no different than any other 8 year old boy. He loves going on adventures with his brothers and sisters as well as playing sports in the backyard.

Joshua has the kindest heart and constantly reminds us of the love he has. I love coming home or even leaving because I am only 1 of 2 girls that Josh will kiss. If I am saying bye to the family he will run up to me and say "kissy, kissy" and make me bend over to give him a hug and a kiss. I love Joshua with all my heart, he is a great kid and I am excited to see how the Lord is going to use him not only with friends but also with our family.

Gabe & Isaac

Though they are not the youngest Gabe and Isaac are the newest addition to our lovely family. After my dad switched his job to a social worker he would come home and tell my mom about a new child that went into the system. When my mom heard about this sibling set of 2 who were considered unadoptable we as a family began to pray and ask the Lord if it was His will for us to take them. Soon enough our family went from 14 to 16 and we all had two more little brothers.

Gabe is an adorable 5 year old who is all boy. He and Levi are best friends and while the other kids are still at school when the house randomly gets quiet you know to go looking for the little boys because they are getting themselves into trouble. Gabe knows exactly how to get to your heart... all he has to do is smile and you can't resist. He has a twinkle in his eye that lights up a room.

Issac is also a wonderful boy. I have noticed that over the year or so we have had him, he has grown from an angry little boy to a happy child who loves life. He has enjoyed going to school and becoming best friends with Joshua and Rosie. Last year he and Josh joined a little league baseball team and Issac showed that he was a natural at sports. Often times we catch him looking at himself in the mirror and we are reminded that when he grows up we'll have to keep an eye on him.

Because of the abuse that Gabe and Isaac encountered in their bio home and foster homes, they have many trust issues and are slightly behind in some areas. Because of this Gabe feels the need to be in control constantly, and the way he finds that control is through wetting his pants. He and Isaac both have learned that through crying their old foster parents would give them whatever they wanted; because of this habit they both have now adopted the name Cry Gabey and Cry-sic. But from much patients by my parents both boys have grown up and they are more bearable to live with, says my brothers and sisters.

It is amazing how time flies and that it took us a year to finalize their adoption, but in November of 2009 the court date was set and both boys officially became Hasemeyers. The day was full of joy knowing that these boys would forever be in our lives. It's exciting to think how our lives have changed because of them and knowing that it is only the beginning, that we have only had them for a few years and yet we are all so different. Life could not be imagined any other way and I am thankful for that. These boys bring a laughter to my life that no one else can and I am excited to see what the future years bring!

Levi

Levi is one of the cutest little boys you will meet. He is a personality that can make anyone laugh and a face that makes you want to do nothing more than hug and kiss him. Levi came to live with us 3 years ago after he had been living in a shelter home for a year. He was born with cleft palate as well as having the whole left side of his body deformed. Because of his deformities Levi was considered unadoptable and was left in a shelter home (which is supposed to be a temporary 90 day home)for a year.

After when my mom randomly visited Levi's current home she instantly feel in love with him. After much prayer and convincing my dad that one more child would be no different Levi was placed into our home. Instantly he fit in and all the kids loved having a new brother around, or for the little girls a new doll. :] We thought that everything would go smoothly considering the situation, but like all the other adoptions we hit a rough patch. Levi's social worker was not pleased with us because he got in trouble for leaving him in a shelter home for too long. He decided that because of this we should not be allowed to have Levi. After months of fighting we finally won and an adoption date was set. Levi is now named Levi David Hasemeyer and life would not be the same without him.

I am often told that you don't know true love until you have had your own children and experienced the love you get from them, but now I don't know if that is true. I can't imagine feeling a deeper love for then the way I feel it for Levi. I know there is a different kind of love I will someday feel for my husband and one that is different than the one i feel for my parents, but I love Levi as though he is my own. He brings a different joy and love to my life, just as all the kids do. Life is glorious when I go home and he comes running to me for a hug and a kiss at that moment there is no greater joy that can be felt.

the beginning

I decided to start blogging for the same reason most people do: to document my life so that others can read and understand me. I believe that we all have a story to tell... some may be more interesting to others, but I'll let you decide where mine falls. I'm hoping that through this my families story will be heard and accepted. My family is uniquely different than any other you will meet. I hope that through our story a different view on life will be surfaced... so let's start at the beginning...

Like I said I grew up in a not so typical family. Up until the age of eight my family was your average American blond haired, light eyed, five person family. I had two older brothers and two parents that loved each other, but in the second grade everything changed practically over night. After looking into foster care, getting licensed and moving into a bigger house we quickly went from a family of five to eight. Now eleven years later my home is packed full of children (fourteen to be exact), toys and many different personalities. The ages of children range from four to twenty-two and of course there is never a dull moment.

Living in a house full of people, many of whom have disabilities, life can be rough. None the less I wouldn't have it any other way. I know it seems like my parents are crazy, and to be honest I don't see how they are still sane but through God's grace they have put their own needs aside to help the orphans. Yes the house is loud and time-outs are a constant necessity, but this is the only way of life my family has known. Many times my brothers and sisters come home talking about a new school friend and express how weird it is that their family is all one color and none of them are adopted. :]

This life is simply the way we live and the sacrifices we have made. Now don't get me wrong sometimes it is hard and there are moments I catch myself wondering what life would be like if it was only my brothers and I but then remember that I would not be who I am today and I would never change a second.

I have been taught a valuable lesson over the years... that we are blessed to be a blessing.