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.