First Time Ever...

I put in hair extensions for Joeliana.  She LOVES THEM.  It took a few days, but she should be good to go for a month or so.  I have never done this before, but her hair is SO prone to tangles that I decided to give this a try as a protective style.  
Because I know that you will ask, here is where I learned to do this.

Chained!!

(Isolation cell)

I have some precious friends that are in Uganda right now ministering to the people of that country.  I can’t even tell you how badly I wanted to go with them!!!  I miss Uganda.  It felt like a piece of me was there.  Oh how I miss the smells and the sounds; the red dirt and the precious children and people.
They visited a place I wish didn’t even exist, but it does; a children’s “correctional facility”, or a children’s prison.  You can read about it here and here.
Their post really says it all, so I want add to them.
But we must continue to be a voice for those that have no voice.
And pray for their justice and freedom...
"LORD God - send us and set the captives free.”

Remembering....

when I walked into an Ethiopian building and the 1st thing I saw was this little cutie in pink.  Then they handed him to me and said he was my new son!!!  He just looked at me, no smiles, no reaction...just looked and frowned a little....

I changed him into the outfit I had brought for him so that the orphanage could keep the clothes for another baby.  He never cried or fussed, just silently watched.

He remained quietly watchful for hours...never even made a peep, until...

we went to a restaurant to eat and I gave him some of my food.  He loved it and made a funny little happy sound.  The group that was with us laughed because my little guy was finally responding to something.  

And boy was he happy!  
It’s been a year since we came home....

And today I am remembering our love story!

Learning African Threading

My little African princesses are so beautiful and since the day that they have come home it has been a priority for me to learn to take care of their hair in the most natural and healthy way possible without destroying our budget.  It nearly killed me when one of my little princesses cut her hair last year!  However, it has come back beautifully and I wanted to try something new that I saw over at Nadine's GirlsLovesYourCurls.  It's called African Threading.  We have a Sally Beauty Supply here, so Steve stopped and bought me some black weaving thread and I was ready to go.  I started with Nadine's detangling and washing video's, and then began on the threading.


First, I love Nadine's YouTubes...she had a great sense of humor and she also explains what she is doing so well.


I also love the African threading because it is quicker and easier than micro-cornrows or box braids, yet I still feel that the girls hair is in a protective style.  I will be using this style more often and I would encourage any mother of a beautiful African daughter to give this a try.

And one more picture, just cuz she is so darn cute....love those eyes or what!!!!

Domestic Adoption

I said that I would answer the question “Why are you adopting internationally, instead adopting the children that need a home in your own country?”


So, I am going to go back a few years to get to today.  Steve and I always knew that we wanted a large family and that adoption would probably be apart of our story...though, we never knew how large apart!!!  When we heard about the little girls of China that were in orphanages waiting for a family, we knew that this was where the LORD was leading us. So, two years after the life-threatening pregnancy of our 3rd child, we added our small daughter from China.  We found out that boys were waiting in S. Korea and we knew that this was were the LORD was leading us. After Landon came home, we felt (again) that the LORD was leading us to waiting boys in Vietnam. At this point MANY trials and pains hit our family.  
As we walked through those difficult years, we also waited. We had put in paper work asking to adopt a child from an amazing organization in Tulsa, O.K.-Crisis Pregnancy Outreach.  Two years later we received a phone call that a birthmother had chosen our family to adopt her baby and she would be giving birth in the next few weeks. Much healing and growing had happened in our family and we were ready!  A few weeks later, before Christmas, Kalyn and I were flying to Tulsa, to meet our newest family member-a newborn baby boy.  It was amazing to go to the hospital and meet the birth mother, and then we waited (for what seemed like forever) for the nurses to bring “the baby”. I was so dying to meet him and so wanting the respect this young birthmother.  Finally, he was there!!! I was allowed to stay in a hospital room and able to begin mothering him immediately.  And I was able to continue to visit the birth mother and share the miracle of this new child. 
Corbin Samuel will turn 6 this Christmas.  And I can still say that experience was one of the most amazing times of my life. 
A few years later Steve and I felt that the LORD was taking us to Liberia, Africa, where over two years, 3 small children would be added to our family....children who were sick, close to death, starving, stuck in one of the longest African wars, living in refugee camps.  I always wanted to adopt again from the Crisis Pregnancy Outreach (and they NEED families!!!), and after bringing our children home from Africa we looked again into domestic adoptions and we found out that Colorado has a rule called “8 is Enough.”....meaning the state would not allow us to adopt domestically because of our family size and we could not even do foster care within our state now.  At one point, we had been able to do temporary foster care, however, our family size made that impossible now.  
After this, we found out that a door was opening for us to adopt from Ethiopia.  And now, precious Keshawn Lee is home.  Why, because he was on a waiting list, just needing his family to come. 
So, Steve and I continue to pray, as we do not feel that the LORD is through with adding to our family.  And though we never planned to adopt from so many different countries, I am continually amazed and thankful that the LORD had/has such an awesome journey for our family.  And I really am in awe of the fact that when I sit at my table, so many different nations are sitting there with me, but we aren’t strangers, we are family!!! Surely, this is only a small glimpse of Heaven with the Father of all Nations!!!!  I will always be grateful to a brave birthmother and the USA for my Corbin Samuel!!!

And I feel compelled to advocate for the boys at this point. We have been blessed with 5 daughters and I will always be thankful for that!!!!
However, most of our sons are home because they were waiting for one reason only - they were boys. So whether it is domestic or international, I ask you to consider the waiting boys in ANY country. Wow, are they precious!!!!

"Mom, Dad's Home-My Emotions"

I always know when Steve is home...no matter where I am at, Aiden comes yelling though the house "Mom, Dad's Home!!!"

Many times I just say "Yes, baby, Daddy is home." Usually, Steve has brought home groceries of some sort, and 3 year old Aiden loves to help bring in the bags...still yelling to anyone who missed the 1st announcement that daddy was home. 

However, occasionally, when I hear him yell this happy news, like today,...

...my own emotions get the best of me. The "mommy" in me feels sad for those years that he didn't have a daddy (or any family). It is difficult to explain...I guess the best way to explain it is a mourning for what my child missed those first months or years of their lives. Yes, of course, I am happy for what they have now, a home, a family.
However, they are MY children, and just like I would feel for my birth children, I feel a sadness, and a thankfulness, for what they have come through. Sometimes, I find myself saying to my newest little son, as he snuggles into my chest to rest and receive love, "It's nice to have a mommy, isn't it?" I'm not thinking how wonderful I am or anything, I FEELING emotions of gratefulness that HE has a mommy to snuggle him, because I love him so much and for 7 months he didn't have a mommy. When Kiana first came home from China, my parents came right away to meet their newest granddaughter. As I watched them loving on her, I had some of those same feelings..."She now has a Dandy and Gommy...a few days ago, she had no one!" My birth children always had all of these blessings and people that loved them, but my children home through adoption did not. Their stories started before we brought them home. And often those stories included loneliness, hunger, and fear. 
Of course we, as mothers, should and we do help our children heal from those early pains, but I guess I am realizing that we as the mothers should also realize and help our mother's hearts heal because we love them so, and WE HURT also for what they have come through. 
So, when my little man yells with all the happiness that his three year old body can hold that daddy is home, and I feel that familiar sadness and thankfulness, mourning and joy...
I am going to look into his eyes and say "Yes, baby, Your daddy is home."

My Little Ethiopian Man

A few weeks ago, we dedicated Keshawn at our church. Even though it was very cold outside, I wanted him dedicated in his Ethiopian outfit. Of course, I had to take a lot of pictures of my handsome little man!

I am so grateful that the LORD has given us this precious little one to raise, and love and protect...what a blessing to be his mother.

Ugandan Necklaces Again

Kalyn put up the post for me yesterday about the Ugandan necklaces that we have. I was in town ALL day with 6 little darlin's doing dentist appointments and errands. I think running around in town makes me more tired than cleaning the house. I was exhausted when I got home!!
Thank you to those who left comments about the necklaces. PLEASE, could you email me at 
shassoldt@msn.com...
with size (short or long) and basic color (orange, blue, black, green, purple...I think we have a pink or two).
When Kalyn and I went to Uganda on a mission trip last summer, we were humbled and grateful to get to work with and meet young boys who either lived on the streets/or still live on the streets of the capital of Uganda. We also met young women who have no hope for their future without school. These children have NO PARENTS to protect for or provide for them. It is literally children taking care of children.  Some of the older boys have been able to build a boys house outside of the capital for some of the other younger boys. They hand make these necklaces our of paper to help support themselves.

Also any money they make will help our precious friends in Uganda go to school, which is so important to help them stay off the streets.  School gives them hope for their future. So please, buy as many necklaces as you want...I have bought several for friends and family, so if you have birthdays coming up or need gifts to pass out these are great. As Kalyn wrote yesterday, we want so badly to help our friends that we will even pay the shipping/handling for you...so BUY UP and THANK YOU for helping us help them!

War Dance-Want to Borrow This?

I saw this documentary at another blog friends site (I'm sorry, I don't remember which one), and I knew that it was something Steve and I would want to show our older children and see ourselves.

The introduction begins "Set in war-ravaged Northern Uganda, the Oscar nominated War Dance will touch your heart with a real-life story about a group of children whose love of music brings joy, excitement and hope back into their poverty-stricken lives." 

We loved this documentary. It was very well done. I would recommend it to anyone interested in Africa and especially Uganda. Would anyone like to borrow it? If you would, we just ask to receive it back in a month so that we can share it with others.

Broken Hearted

Our son wrote something very precious and asked if my blog friends might like to read it....And, of course, I knew you would. He really shares in such an amazing way, what the LORD has laid on his own heart about the poor, the orphaned. 

 Broken Hearted - by Jace Hassoldt

There is so much sadness and pain in the world. Many have hardened themselves to it, and look with indifferent eyes upon the outcast, content to live in their spoiled suburbia lives. At times many of us, including myself, think that we almost have to develop an indifference towards the poverty and heartache around us, after all, there is so much of it in the world, so what can we do. We go through our lives, complaining because “how dare Wal-Mart be out of such and such” or “I can’t believe every copy of that movie is rented from Blockbusters!” In essence, we are 100%, over the top, out of control, immeasurably, spoiled, self centered, and enthralled with ourselves, our life, our cars, our toys.

I do not claim to be above any one else, I am just as self-focused as the majority of the people on this planet. Just the other day I found myself beyond angry, because I was stuck in traffic and going to be ten minutes late somewhere. How can I wake up in the morning, look at myself in the mirror, in my 3-bedroom apartment, walk down to my Dodge Charger sitting in the parking lot, and drive off to my full time job, and even begin to think of gripping about a single thing in my life.
We are called to be heartbroken for the things that break the Lords heart. If we can look around the world and see the pain and suffering, and still walk our daily lives untouched, then we are completely out of tune with God and with his heart. How can we see pictures of children, covered in dirt, barely wearing clothes, starving and dying, and yet we flip the TV channel, or turn the page in our magazine. We should be WEEPING at the sight of such things. We should have such an overflow of emotion that it humbles and breaks us where we stand. A child that did nothing, in no way deserved any of what life has handed him, who was born simply into a broken and shattered world. A child left on the streets, unloved, sick, hungry, abandoned, who may never even know what it is to feel the comfort of a hug. Think about it, to that child a hug would be a luxury. It would be the lone show of love and tenderness that child may ever receive.

Two years ago I traveled to Durban, South Africa, for a missions trip. While there we worked on an orphanage that was run by a pastor in the area. One day they got a call from the government saying there was a child that needed picked up. We drove into the middle of shantytown, and got to the lone building there, surrounded by barbed wire, and picked up a three year old boy that had been abandoned. As we got in the car he had the stare of a person that had seen a lifetime of pain. He wouldn’t touch you, wouldn’t smile, would laugh or play, he just sat; his only belonging the shirt, pants, and stuffed animal he had with him. Through the next week I held the boy every day at the orphanage, I played with him, walked with him, talked to him, and each day the smile on his face would grow just slightly. By the end of the trip he would not let me put him down. No matter where I went I would have to carry him with me. When it came time for us to leave I set him on the ground and tried to walk away, but he chased after me and began crying. He grabbed my leg, pulled on me, screamed, but I had no option. As I left I turned and looked back down the hill. In the middle of the yard stood this boy, he looked up at me, crying, and dropped to ground. Never in my life have I seen such heartache and sadness. That boy knew I was leaving and would never be back, and with me went the only love he had ever been shown in his life. To this day I can remember it like it was yesterday, and I can’t think about it without weeping.

I have gone on to long, and rambled I’m sure. So I will simply end with this, we should live each day broken hearted for those around us. And we should remember that even the smallest display of love could mean everything to a child

Ethiopia

I have had a few people ask which agency we used. Our agency was Celebrate Children Int.. We loved working with them and I would definitely recommend them to anyone. There are usually boys available to be matched quicker then girls.

I really didn't see that much of Ethiopia, however, what I saw was so pretty and the people are very nice. It was much cooler than I expected and it was the dry season.

I stayed at the New Flower Guest House and they were wonderful. They were so very helpful and I would stay there again without a second thought. There were other families staying there and it was so nice to meet these adoptive families.

Keshawn is starting his days at 4:00 am...hopefully we can began to stretch that out over the next few days. Corbin is feeling better every day and his chest is sounding clearer today.
I am still SOOO tired...I have trouble thinking clearly. I am so glad to be here with my family and we are taking it really slow and easy right now. Two children were still sick with the flu yesterday. I'm sure it will take a few more days for us to begin to feel normal.
Have a blessed Friday!

Meet Keshawn Lee Wodamo

Pretty Crazy

It seems pretty crazy to me...
here I stand with this handsome 20 year old...my oldest son;
and tomorrow I will leave to meet my youngest son who is just 9 months old.
All I can say is...
THE LORD HAS BEEN SO GOOD TO ME!
Thank you for your love and prayers as I leave tomorrow.

Amy's Blog Giveaway

Amy is doing a giveaway and guess what it is?

A beautiful necklace from one of my favorite places...Junk Posse - Oh, how I love her jewelry.

Tracy at Junk Posse created this brand new necklace and it is the big GIVEAWAY!

Its the Ethiopian Angel Wing necklace. ($80 value)

Artistic Tracy noticed that the country of Ethiopia is shaped like a wing... so she created this cute necklace!

So go visit Amy at Ethiopia or Bust to find out how to enter to win this beautiful necklace

Mama's comin' Keshawn!!

I leave on the 28th for Ethiopia! YEA...PRAISE THE LORD!
I'll be gone for one week.
I was so excited I couldn't focus on schooling today, which worked out because a dear friend of our family called last minute and came out to visit.
Now the fun part...going to the basement after lunch to pull out that precious box with baby boy clothes in it so I can wash them and get everything ready to bring Keshawn home.
I am excited to see Ethiopia also, and am praying that I can do some sight seeing if possible. I have also asked our agency if there is any work I can do at the orphanage while I am there.
Celebrating today as we are one step closer to holding our baby!
Please pray for us as we raise the last little bit of money that we need for travel. We have changed the Chip-In on the side to reflect what we need at this time. Thank you all for your prays, and love!

"Why Again?"

I've considered often how to answer that question? "Why are you adopting again!?
"It's my mission field" just doesn't really capture my complete heart.
"Because a little one is in need of a family and love..." leads to the inevitable response that we have to stop at some point. (My response...NOT YET!)
"We believe children are a blessing." True, however - lacking, but lacking what?
I was reading a book by A.B Simpson (an American Evangelist at the close of the 19th century) called Christ in the Tabernacle (great book by the way!). In speaking of the candelabra that was made for the Tabernacle (Ex. 25:31-40) he says "This light revealed the other objects in the Holy Place. It revealed to the priests the table covered with the showbread. The best thing about the light was that it revealed not itself but the bread."
Later Simpson writes "The candlestick did not have inherent light. It was only the bearer of the light; it only held the light, but the oil gave the light. And so you and I are not the light. Jesus Christ is our light, and we simply receive and give out Him."
Matthew 5:16 says "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to you Father who is in heaven."
So, my mind wonders back to "Why again are we adopting?"
It isn't easy. There has been pain and loss. Adopting is always a step of faith for both finances and the energy to mother my family well. There are broken things that need fixed, and days where I run out. There is a lot of work to do...but isn't that the point? "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." I have GOOD work to do. It's not about seeing my good works to see ME though. I want others to see Jesus - the Bread of Life and glorify the LORD.
And, I guess the way I see it, Jesus had an orphan ministry of the largest kind. "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." Gal. 4:4-5 (also Rom. 8:16-17). Jesus removed the "situation" that made me an orphan and brought me to my Heavenly Father and his own family.
"...remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." Eph. 2:12-13
These children are certainly without hope. They belong to no one... they are alone.
As we bring home one more child, we are bringing them near to the LORD and teaching them His love for them. No more are they without hope, they belonging to Him.

So why are we adopting again? I have good work to do; work that God has prepared for me to do; a perfect ministry for me.
And my prayer is that others will give glory to my Father who is in heaven.
Why again? The LORD loves me, the LORD loves you, the LORD loves them; and He has quite an adventure for us all. So let's go do some good work and rejoice.

Playsilks Available!!!!

We have silks!
We are selling play silks to help raise the last of the money that we need to bring Keshawn home.

The size and price is:

-play silks - 35 x 35 - $10.00 each
-tent silks - 55 x 108 - $35.00 each
Shipping and handling is
$2.50 for 3 silks and under
$3.00 for 4 and up

Some irregularities in your hand-dyed silk may occur. Any darker or lighter areas should not be seen as flaws, but as natural characteristics of hand-dyed silk.

I have one tent silk in light purple or I can custom dye another color if you wish.

You can email me at shassoldt@msn to place an order.

Thank you for helping us bring this little one home!

Hopeful, prayers please

We have heard that I tentatively will travel for a December 3rd embassy appointment. Please pray with us though...if we do not get this date we will have to wait till Dec. the 17th. We hope to hear news next week.

The Winner of the Basket!!

It is so fun to do a give away...I wish I could send every one of you something. And I loved your answers to the question. To be fair, I'll tell you what I do for rest and relaxation...time out in the LORD's beautiful outdoors (especially with my camera), but second is NAP, when needed!

And now the winner is... I know it is hard to see, but Jackie, it's YOU! I can't wait to send it to you!
Jackie, please contact me so that I can get your basket in the mail ASAP.
Thank you all for playing along with me. It has helped one more week pass as I wait to bring Keshawn home!