Oh how the time melts by nowadays

Really, it seems like forever since I've gotten caught up on my blog entries about any of the eventful things happening in the Hefty household. There's so much to report, and with three more children into the mix, WOW, the time just melts away and the days roll in together. I'm hoping to sit long enough to write just a small portion of what's been happening in the last month.

Rick came home from work for 2 weeks of relaxation and much of his time was spent just enjoying the family. We didn't really do a lot of visiting friends. He had only one or two projects around the house, and the rest of the time was spent leisurely. It was good to have my husband home! Both Rick and I got a touch of the flu while he was here which wasn't so pleasant. It was the achy muscles and chest pain type flu which for days sort of mimicked heart attack symptoms. We were both on guard for days there and it was a little scary just to say the least.

The whole time Rick was away at work for that six weeks, his biggest fear was that the baby would not remember who he was. Even though we would talk every night and Rick would say hello to each child, all along Rick thought Luis being only a year old would not remember him. Well we're very happy to report that Luis remembered his daddy alright and was so excited to see him! He became Daddy's little boy during Rick's time home. And talk about spoiled rotten -- yes, his daddy did plenty of spoiling that little guy too! (But it's hard not to, I gotta admit -- he's just so darn cute but then I'm completely biased and blessed all at the same time!)

Probably the cutest thing that happened while Rick was here was when we were all saying prayers with the kids at night. We were all gathered around in the living room and Rick has Luis seated on his lap in the recliner. Well, that night the kids were doing the "Now I lay me down to sleep" prayer. About that time Luis began cooing and babbling his version of the prayer along with the other kids so naturally I just had to open my eyes and what a sightto see! There he was with his hands crossed too -- just adorable! And when we got to the "God Bless... Papi, and Mami...", the cute little guy starts saying DaDa, DaDa, DaDa. Those are sure the moments that last in one's mind and one's heart and now every night he says his prayers alongside with us (and only prays for his dad so far)! He's just a special little baby boy and we are so blessed with his arrival! Luis does such heartwarming stuff. He leaves us speechless at times with his amazing antics. He still does the "high five" to God where he'll turn his gaze towards heaven while lifting his hand in appreciation for what he's given whether it be his favorite food, or music, or toy. We first noticed him doing this during our 3rd week in Colombia and thought how very cool -- our little boy is praising God at 10 months old without any cues at all from us! It is truly an awesome sight!

When Rick left to go back to work, Luis was sure mad at me! I'm convinced by the looks he sometimes gives that Luis thinks I'm some mean old mom who stuffed his daddy into a little bitty cell phone. He picks up my cell phone all the time and hands it to me and says DaDa while inspecting every nook and cranny of the thing. I've even caught him banging it on the table all the while yelling, "DaDa!", probably thinking there might be some way to break him free. Ahhhh, he is inquisitive... I'm in for some fun years ahead, I just know it!

Mid-February was when Luis began crawling but hasn't started walking yet. He walks all around the furniture and pulls up just fine, but hasn't ventured out into the wide open spaces. From time to time I stand him up in the middle of the living room and then he freaks out realizing he's actually standing up! His confidence just isn't quite there yet, but I give it another few weeks and lookout! He'll be chasing the other kids around in no time flat. Right now he's so cute because Karen or Fabian will come up behind him and he'll begin screaming and break out into a run trying to get away from them, all the while gripping the furniture as he makes his getaway.

Okay, that's just a glimpse of some of the happenings in the past month. I hope to devote some time tomorrow to more things such as our Easter happenings and on how the other kids are progressing along. Their adjustments just amaze me from day to day! As I reminisce back on how far along they've come in just 4 short months time, it's just crazy how things have fallen into place so wonderfully. God is so good!!! I'm incredibly blessed with some wonderful, very smart, and well-behaved children!

Oops, I didn't realize that it was getting so late and need to get in bed. I'm bound and determined to be EARLY for church tomorrow!

More tomorrow. Thank you for checking in on our family! I hope to post a lot of pictures soon. The kids have changed so much and are due for haircuts really soon too! Even the little baby is due for his first haircut. His comb-over is resembling that of Donald Trump's... it's definitely time for a cut!! Okay, I'm babbling now.... G'night!

Translations I found online for Juanes song

After reading Wendi's comment where she said she didn't understand a word Juanes sang but sure enjoyed his voice, I felt compelled to find translations. Here are two translations I found in my hunt (I had actually copied them over to a document from well over a year ago) and each sort of carry on the same meaning, but it's really hard translating lyrics especially because the Spanish language carries such meaning, such passion! Anyways, here they are.

A Dios le pido
I ask of God

Por los dias que me quedan
For the days that I have left
y las noches que aun no llegan yo
And the night that have yet to arrive
A Dios le pido
Ask of God
Por los hijos de mis hijos y los hijos de tus hijos
For the kids of my kids and the kids of your kids
A Dios le pido
Ask of God
Que mi pueblo no derrame tanta sangre y se levante mi gente
That my people don’t shed so much blood and rise again
A Dios le pido
Ask of God
Que mi alma no descanse cuando de amarte se trate mi cielo
That my soul never rest when it comes to loving you my heaven
A Dios le pido
Ask of God
Un segundo mas de vida para darte y mi corazon entero entregarte
A second more of life to give you and my whole heart deliver to you
Un segundo mas de vida para darte y a tu lado para siempre yo quedarme
A second more of life to give you and by your side for ever be
Un segundo mas de vida yo a Dios le pido
A second more of life to give you I ask of God
Y que si me muero sea de amor
That if I die is because of love
Y si me enamoro sea de vos
That if I fall in love it would be with you
Y que de tu voz sea este corazon todos los dias a Dios le pido
And that of your voice this heart can be, every day I ask of God



Here is another translation of the lyrics of A Dios le Pido.


Que mis ojos se despierten con la luz de tu mirada yo a Dios le pido
That my eyes wake up every day with the light of your look, I ask to God
Que mi madre no se muera y que mi padre me recuerde a Dios le pido
That my mother will not die and that my dad remembers me, I ask to God
Que te quedes a mi lado y que mas nunca te me vayas mi vida a Dios le pido
That you stay by my side and that you never leave from my life, I ask to God
Que mi alma no descanse cuando de amarte se trate mi cielo a Dios le pido
That my soul never rests when it is about loving you my sky, I ask to God
Por los días que me quedan y las noches que aún no llegan yo a Dios le pido
For all the days that remain and the nights that haven’t arrived, I ask to God
Por los hijos de mis hijos y los hijos de tus hijos a Dios le pido
For the children of my children and the children of your children, I ask to God
Que mi pueblo no derrame tanta sangre y se levante mi gente a Dios le pido
That my country doesn’t spill so much blood and my people will rise, I ask to God
Que mi alma no descanse cuando de amarte se trate mi cielo a Dios le pido
That my soul never rests when it is about loving you my sky, I ask to God
Un segundo más de vida para darte y a tu lado para siempre yo quedarme
One more second of life to give you and to stay forever by your side
Un segundo más de vida para darte y mi corazón entero entregarte
One more second of life to give you and my entire heart to give you
Un segundo más de vida yo a Dios le pido
One more second of life, I ask to God
Y que si me muero sea de amor y si me enamoro sea de vos
And that if I die let it be for love and that if I fall in love let it be with you
y que de tu voz sea este corazón todos los días a Dios le pido
And that your voice will be this heart everyday, I ask to God
Y que si me muero sea de amor y si me enamoro sea de vos
And that if I die let it be for love and that if I fall love in love let it be with you
y que de tu voz sea este corazón todos los días a Dios le pido A Dios le pido
And that your voice will be this heart everyday, I ask to God, I ask to God

Juanes performance of A Dios le pido (I ask to God)

As performed in the PAZ SIN FRONTERAS (Peace Without Borders) concert on March 16, 2008, here's one of my favorite Juanes songs, A Dios le pido (I ask to God) The lyrics are so rich in this song and it touches my soul!
ENJOY!

PAZ SIN FRONTERAS, March 16, 2008

Concert in Cucuta: PAZ SIN FRONTERAS
March 16, 2008

What an exciting day for the people around Cucuta, Colombia! Today was the big day marking the huge concert at the bridge that serves as the border crossing between Colombia and Venezuela just outside of Cucuta, Colombia. Just a few weeks ago there was friction at this exact border, which set the concert project in motion. Juanes, a native Colombian, launched a free concert set to play at the border to bring musicians from all over the latin world together and entitled it appropriately “PAZ SIN FRONTERAS” (“Peace without borders”). Other musicians joining Juanes were Carlos Vives of Colombia, Ricardo Montaner of Venezuela, Juan Fernando Velazco of Ecuador, Juan Luis Guerra of Dominican Republic and Alejandro Sanz of Spain, and Miguel Bose of Spain.

Tens of thousands of people gathered in the dried up river bed below the bridge to take in the day’s events. What an event!

Shakira and Ricky Martin were some of the others who were contemplating performances in the event but chose not to. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe was planning to attend the concert, but at the urging of Juanes who wanted to keep the concert free from any politics, President Uribe then cancelled his plans to attend.

All I can say is Juanes, you absolutely rock and are truly a native son of Colombia and an ambassador for peace!!! And let it be known, if I ever get an opportunity to meet Juanes, you’re in for a huge hug for a good minute or two, so just be prepared! In the meantime, keep up the good work!

To Juanes and all the others performers, you have my respect, my admiration and are lifted up in my prayers for how inspired you are in your quest to bring peace. May you touch many souls and be richly blessed by your good deeds and services to mankind!

Tens of thousands of people gathered in the dried up river bed below the bridge to take in the day’s events and had a strong gathering from both Colombian and Venezuelan sides.

Our family was able to catch a glimpse of the concert on the Telemundo coverage and my kids thought it was so great to hear the reporter say, “Coming to you live from Cucuta, Colombia”, (in Spanish of course). They let out roars and jumped up and down for a few minutes -- they were so excited. A taste of their homeland, their hometown, just a little speck on the map of a town named Cucuta – I mean how awesome is that???

Signing off with a stream of Youtube’s performance of Juanes’ ever-popular crowd-pleaser, La Camisa Negra

Enjoy and Many Blessings!
Genece

Talk about a bad hair day

Here's some pictures of Luis from last month when I was nursing a few of my young'uns back to good health. These few tend to show off Luis Alejandro's little bubbly side. He's such a good-natured little happy guy even if mom continues to flash those darn photos. He does have no patience or desire for the flash on a camera (just as I did) but luckily it's not as phobic as I was. Of course, notably different since I also grew up in that age even before Magicubes were the big hit, when the going thing was the huge pop and flash of a ginormous flashbulb that left you blinded and seeing red dots for what seemed to be days! I absolutely despised cameras in my earlier years because of it, and being the first child (and the first grandchild) didn't help matters. I'd cringe at hearing of big family get-togethers just because I knew that translated to corny relatives chasing you around with big flashing bulbs in your face!! I'm sure any one of my relatives right now reading this are enjoying a good laugh just remembering how many fits I'd throw just at the mere sight of a camera! I would only consent to outdoor photos being taken because that meant no flashbulbs!!!!

Enjoy a few pictures and pray... pray specifically that I'm not doing harm to my son by too much photo flashing in his early years! I know firsthand how it could turn out for him... yikes!!!

The Unwanted Guest

Where has the time gone since my last post? Actually there's much to report and I hope through a few little posts to catch you up-to-date on our experiences lately. Recently we had an unwanted guest who just hung around our house, gorged himself on goodies day after day, left our dogs in a tizzy, and kept us awake all hours of the night for 3 nights in a row. The kids referred to him as Alexander and here's a picture of him during his first visit.

Only one time before they saw another moose which we were so lucky to see on their first night in Alaska, and only Fabian was awake to see it. The kids thought the moose was cool for the first day and would sit for hours watching out the window as Alexander grazed. Luckily he would venture off into the woods just long enough in the late afternoon for Marissa to go feed Buddy, our Alaska sled dog. I wouldn't let any of the other kids outside for those days for safety precautions. The kids are learning that animals in the wild are dangerous even if they look very mild-mannered. Fabian even remarked on how he wanted to hop on Alexander the moose's back and ride him like a horse. His dreams of being a cowboy are deeply inspired I'm afraid. I don't dare tell him that his crazy dad, Rick, in his renegade days also dreamed of riding on the back of a moose - a feat that he actually accomplished with success during his wild youthhood growing up in a quaint little Alaska town. There's no possible way we would share any of those wild endeavors Rick went through while growing up until the kids are in their adult years. There's just too many crazy tales to be shared! I'm mighty thankful Rick's changed his antics to live by God's ways and doesn't partake in pure craziness anymore. It's just utterly amazing how Rick lived through some of the things he's put himself through, much of which reach far beyond childhood pranks and acts. Heck, these stretch far into his adulthood years, but thankfully through all the nutso stuff, God's taken care of him and taught him a thing or two along the way. Clearly God has big plans for my husband and his testimony is still taking shape!

Alexander the Moose was a name chosen by Fabian, named after the treasured stuffed animals (a moose for each kid) we sent both Fabian and Karen along with other small gifts and our photo books to introduce ourselves as their new family just after we received the referral. Fabian named his stuffed moose Alexander and Karen named her stuffed moose Cookie. Both stuffed animals (Alexander and Cookie) were cuddled at night by their owners, until about the 2nd week in Cucuta when stuffed animal Cookie vanished. Karen was so distraught upon losing Cookie and found a bit of comfort cuddling with Cheetoh (a little cheetah stuffed animal Luis never took to). We figure Cookie got bundled up with the laundry that day and went off to the laundry never to be returned. Obviously Cookie must've wanted to stay in Cucuta. Upon arriving in Alaska, Karen had the chance to get another Cookie stuffed moose but she chose an eskimo-dressed doll instead... that figures. She does love her dolls.

All kids were given the opportunity to pick out a stuffed animal or whatever while there at Wal-mart in the souvenier aisle. Marissa chose an eskimo doll just a little larger in size than Karen's, and Fabian chose a little white cuddly polar bear. The baby even got a colorful little beanie baby of a moose. We had sent one exactly like this one to Luis with his little photo books and small gifts consisting of a baby blanket, a few bibs, a baby rattle, and a cute little onesie, but all items except the baby blanket and the onesie stayed with his foster mother. I even gave back the baby blanket Luis had been using to his foster mother at our "gotcha day". She appeared to be the nostalgic type as I am, and since it held his scent I thought she might find it soothing and a reminder to cling to through the years. She continued to hug me and tell me of how her prayers for the children were answered, and how she had prayed specifically for a good Christian family to raise them. Clearly she sure loved my baby boy and she and I couldn't hold back shedding our tears of joy during our precious few moments of meeting. Those two foster mothers sure worked wonders in the love and care for our children! I am so grateful for the impact they've made upon my children!

Our family coming together was and continues to be a heavenly union filled with pure love! Thank you Jesus for all you do -- mainly how you brought it all together. Lord, you clearly went before us to unite our family. You alone are worthy!

Signing off now because Luis is expected to wake up from a nap anytime now, but I'll pop in another picture of the unwanted guest, Alexander. While in Cucuta we learned they don't really have a spanish word for moose so it was referred to as "la reina".

So glad prayers were answered and the neighboring countries have settled their dispute with Colombia, which was really a touchy situation last week. Cucuta being a border city with Venezuela was very much impacted. When you think about it, while there we only saw 2 gasoline stations within the city of Cucuta of which have very few customers. I mean, why buy the extremely expensive gasoline from a Colombian station when you can get the street vendors selling gas by the roadside locally for a much lowered price (gas being brought across the border from Venezuela sold locally), or why not just drive across the border to Venezuela and fill up yourself for an even cheaper rate? That's what everyone seems to do there and so many of them plate their vehicles in Venezuela but live and work in Cucuta. A win-win situation which could turn ugly with enough tension to close the borders. It's easy to see how easily chaos could break out during mounting friction involving the closing the border of Colombia/Venezuela there. That town of one million people could easily be crippled in just days, especially since the town is nicknamed "the sprawling city" because of its vast area. Those with bicycles and horses might be okay but it would sure put a damper on transportation mighty fast. My prayers are that the people of Cucuta re-examine any vulnerabilities of their past dependencies. Lord I pray for you to raise up the people of Cucuta to be filled with wisdom and insight!

Blessings to you all,

Genece