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.