june 4.  2015

waking up to this view was amazing!  i posted it in the last post, but seriously, the views are unbelievable.  since we went to bed about 8:45pm last night, we woke up about 7 and got going.  i showered in the outdoor shower that overlooks the village…sounds risk-ay, but it’s totally amazing being half out in nature. jarom found a small store in the village, and grabbed some cereal and powdered milk…the girls actually didn’t mind that.  we also got eggs from the local chickens.

we got ready, and the price’s hiked from their casa(a 20 minute hike) to our village.  we hiked down our mountain, and met with nathalie(our homeowner) who also has a small casa in the village.  she gave us a really great deal to rent that house for the 6 weeks, so we can have the village kids come there for us to do different schooling and fun activities with them.  total immersion for us and our kids, hanging with the village kids.  we’ll see how it goes, but we are excited to be able to interact with them more.  and doug will be able to show videos and teach the kids about taking care of their teeth.  while we were visiting with nathalie, the kids played in the large yard, playing badminton and other things.  luciano at one point needed a smaller stick, and ran and came back with his machete and just started chopping away, fixing what he needed to fix.  the girls were like-“oh, he just came back with a machete and started chopping stuff…it was so out of the ordinary to what we are used to, but it was hilarious!”

we stopped by hans’, saw some baby ducks, picked up a loaf of homemade bread, and headed to the docks to catch a boat to pana(20 minutes).  pana is the bigger town where there are banks, restaurants, and the grocery.  which is everything we needed.  we walked a lot through the town, ate a yummy meal, and grocery shopped.  it was awesome-they even had gluten free and “natural” products you can find in the u.s.  right outside when we were shopping-a small parade went by.  we also saw a girl making tortillas-which looked amazing.  we jumped back on the boat-and went to the price’s to hang out and check out their beautiful casa.  the kids played some soccer, we planned out our schedule, and relaxed for a bit.  since we are in the rainy season, we didn’t want to risk traveling in the downpour, but also didn’t want to pay for all of us to ride the boat again…so jarom and i and camden rode the boat with all our groceries, and the price’s and alex and madison and nadia hiked from their casa to ours…let me just say, i haven’t hiked it yet, but i know it isn’t super easy-so this is pretty impressive!  the kids in the village must hear when boats come to the dock, because three little boys, between the ages of 7-10, they look about 6 years old though, came, grabbed our boxes of groceries, threw them on their backs, and helped us all the way up to the house.  i guess it’s a good way to support the village and let the kids work for some money.

we had fun playing games during the rainstorm, ordered dinner from hans, and the price’s headed home.  we got ready for bed and watched a little of a movie.  everyone did so great-especially after having traveled for so long just yesterday.  luciano told cam he would teach her spanish if she taught him english.  he’s getting a little too comfortable with us because sometimes he laughs at us when we use the wrong words…he’s such a great kid.  jarom asked how much his machete cost…jarom is considering adding a machete to his carry-on.  luciano laughed and said, “why?”  like, that’s the weirdest question i’ve been asked.  funny.

june 2-3.  2015

we have decided, that just getting down to guatemala was an adventure all of it’s own!  from door to door, it was about 23 hours of travel!  our red eye flight from denver to florida was killer, and the five hour layover in florida was a bit rough-we all mostly tried to get some shut-eye.

we made it to guatemala city airport, and at first look, didn’t see our driver with our names written on a paper.  we worried for a minute, but then decided to just give him time, and then, there he was!  we stopped by walmart before taking the 3 hour drive to the highlands, and grabbed some food.   we got what was needed, and started the three hour drive through the very windy roads to the highlands, and down to our lake…lake atitlan.  torrential rain had started, because we are in the rainy season- and we were driving through it-it was a lot of fun.  once we reached panajachel, the major city on the lake, we unloaded the 9 pieces of luggage that both families had brought, paid the manager over the traveling arrangements, walked to the boat dock, and got us all in-in a covered boat which was awesome since it was still raining.  it was awe-inspiring…the huge mountains, volcanoes, and green water we tripped on in the boat for 20 minutes over to our little village, jaibalito.  olson’s were dropped off first, and the price’s dock was another minute away.  we could see our house lit up on the hill, lights glowing-just magnificent!  we stepped onto the dock, and luciano, the boy who works for the owner of our home, and 7 other kids, grabbed our luggage, threw it on their backs, and started the hike through the village and up to our home-all while it was still raining.  we see the mayan village for the first time, it is now dusk and there is a little light to see our way.  we make our way to the back of the village and continue through the rain forest, hiking and finding the 120 stone steps up a steep incline, to our home tucked away on the front of the face of the mountain.

meeting nathalie, the belgian homeowner and getting a tour was lovely.  we just love the home.  it’s perfect for us to stay and be close together, and simple.  the architecture is beautiful, the windows and views are awe-inspiring, and no dishwasher, in hopes my kids never complain about doing dishes again after this experience. we ordered dinner from hans-the german restaurant owner in the village, which came to about 100 quatzels, about $13 dollars-so pretty good deal.  plus, his homemade bread is absolutely delicious.  (we are allergic to gluten, and even completely gluten free at home, but we decided, when in rome, do as the romans do-so here we are.)  luciano, the 14 year old boy who works around the house and helps with anything we need, ran and got the food and brought it back up the hill to us-i think i need a luciano back home!

after a seamless, but long and tiring day, there came the hiccup.  since the lights had been on into the night for us to see up the walkway, it drew in about 100 moths, climbing under the sliding glass doors and making their way in.  then the spiders were visible, as big as 50 cent pieces-about 8 of them.  once we were able to get the kids settled down, and tell them it was ok to go outside to use the bathroom(it’s covered on top, but open on both ends-super cool-we finally made our way into bed after almost a whole day of travel.  then we hear this music and talking being blasted from a speaker from the village.  then  the continuous barking of many dogs was keeping us all up, along with the rooster crowing.  but we all finally fell asleep playing music in the house and masking the outside noises.  we wanted to get the full village experience, so we are.

we were just so grateful for safe travels and great friends to be on this adventure with, a lovely home, and a huge learning experience and learning curve on how to keep bugs out.   the price/olson kids were amazing the whole trip-just went along with whatever we were doing.  so awesome!

to sit atop our village and see these views are simply…unbelievable.

+++our girls are taking their own pic’s and posting on instagram…if you would like to follow, their names are:

traveling_gal16

happycam16

madison_e_olson13

may 25.  2015

i think the best things to expect when visiting a new place or country is to not expect anything.  we have read what to do to be safe-basic guidelines like not being flashy with jewelry, dress modestly, and don’t stay out after dark.  we know guatemala city is a very dangerous city, that’s why we hopefully won’t be there too long, as we plan on taking a shuttle from the airport with one stop at the walmart there to gather supplies for the orphanage and children, and then on to our home three hours away.  what will the food be like, will we get parasites(probably-i’m hoping for a good weight loss parasite-kidding of course), will we find the right place and people to help out, will we figure things out and start to jive with the locals, will we be able to really help and make a difference.  all these questions and more swirling in our minds.  i think that’s what makes part of the adventure so adventurous, the not-knowing.  if it were too predictable, than it wouldn’t be as fun.   hopefully we will be guided to where we need to be, and who we need to be with.  i’m not sure if others have ever felt this way, but there have been times where one has felt so desperate and in need, and one person somehow being there in your greatest time of need and helping and bringing comfort…we hope to be able to make that difference-even just for one person.   to change one life is our hope.

i also hope for a few things for selfish reasons…like not ever hearing my girls say they have nothing to wear, or there’s nothing to eat, or that they don’t like what we are eating(or at least hearing it less).  i hope they come back with a greater and wider perspective of what they are truly blessed with.   we aren’t sure what’s in store, we hope nobody gets kidnapped or killed-where we are staying should be pretty safe since it’s a touristy area, but we do hope for memories that will change our lives for the better.

as 50% of the population of guatemala is under the age of 15, and most kids don’t finish school past 6th grade because they have to start working to help support the family, i’m secretly hoping that we will be able to do some teaching in the schools or orphanages.  i know us being there for only 6 weeks won’t permanently help these children to get past the 6th grade, but you never know what one experience can do to help someone find a way to accomplish a goal.  if we can help out with some of our donations to also pay for some of their schooling so they can continue, how awesome would that be!

having friends going down to guatemala with us is going to make the experience so much more fun and enjoyable!   we are so glad  and grateful doug and jessica price and kids are in on this grand adventure with us-they will be with us for 3 weeks!  we have raised donations together, and look forward to being able to share these donations with the people and organizations down in guatemala.

(photos of children came from the eagle’s nest international organization site)-

http://www.eaglesnestint.org/childrens-home.html

– a home for children without a home- solola guatemala

may 23.  2015

we are excited, nervous, a bit scared, and then excited again.  guatemala is only 9 days away!  we are flying spirit airlines, for the reason that their tickets were a few hundred dollars less than everyone else’s…but that’s going to be an adventure in and of itself…we’ll be fined and billed for every little thing i’m sure.

the five hour flight, five hour layover, three hour connecting flight into guatemala city, and then the three hour van ride to lake atitlan where we will be living for six weeks will be a long day.  our girls have been amazing traveling in the past, but we’re sure it’ll be a huge adventure just getting there.

being inspired by the documentary, “living on one dollar,” we felt so strongly we needed to come to guatemala.  and even though these guys lived on one dollar a day showing how difficult and what a struggle life is in guatemala, and living in a hut with mud floors, camden turned to me and asked if we were going to live in a hut.  I reminded her how i don’t like to camp at all, and we will have a home to live in, and how lucky she is…and how lucky we all are.

we are excited for the adventure, and to be able to help out others, especially in the 4th poorest country in the world.  we hope to do good, and to change our minds and hearts to more of what’s really important in life-helping others.  it’s not money or things.  we hope our kids learn and remember this, so their lives will be grounded in more important things than the ways of the world.  our minds are filled with ideas of how to help out, and things to go see and do with our kids, and getting into the life and culture of living in south america.

the house we have rented is pretty cool!  the woman who owns it is from belgium-and you can see the european influence along with the south american influence.  it’s a quaint 2 bedroom-1 bathroom home-but i absolutely love the architecture.   it’s on a hill overlooking the ancient mayan village of jaibalito, and the views will be amazing.  it will be an adventure climbing up to it daily(i may have to borrow the mule to ride up), but it will be worth the views of the lake and the three volcanoes surrounding the lake.  it hopefully will be our own little refuge, and place to enjoy nature, peace, and the sounds from the village.  living on an acre and half, and having access to the owners garden of fresh fruit, veggies and herbs will hopefully be wonderful.  some comforts we will be grateful for.

may 3. 2015

being beekepers is something we have really enjoyed.  2014 was our first year having bees, and our harvest was plentiful with just one hive.  the raw, unfiltered honey with pollen in it is supposed to be one of nature’s most complete, nutritious superfoods in the world.  eating honey from our bees that we harvested was also very fulfilling.  the girls felt very proud of their work and learning about the process.

when we harvested last year, we either tramatized the bees too much, took too much honey and didn’t leave enough, or killed the queen during the process, because the hive left.  so this year we bought two hives, have two beehive boxes, and are hoping for great queens, since they dictate how the hive will run.  it’s so amazing learning about these great creatures, watching them in action, and seeing the honeycomb and honey come about from their hard work.  brilliant.

may 2.  2015

This kid amazes us every day. Madison didn’t breathe when she was born, was bagged and tubed, taken to another hospital, I didn’t even get to hold her. Open heart surgery at 7 days old, subsequent surgeries after that, PICU heart floor for 10 weeks, born without an immune system, inside the house for two years, feeding tube into her stomach for two years, speech-physical-occupational therapy daily, meds around the clock to keep her alive, 10 specialists, and she’s fought every second to be here on this earth. She does things her own way, has taught us there’s not one way for everyone, and reminds us to celebrate the differences we all have.

this year was supposed to be just a family party for madison too, but cam begged to throw her a surprise party.  cam said she would do the invites, food, decor, and i just had to take her out for the afternoon while they get ready for the party and while the guests arrive.  alex and i took madison out to see avengers, and came home to homemade pizza, a popcorn bar, decorations, and all the guests ready and hiding-madison was so happy and surprised!  it was a fun party!  and i didn’t have to do anything, which made it a nice break for me.  the girls played on the trampoline-which is always where the parties go, volleyball, swung on hammocks, rode the neighbors zipline, and then when it got dark, came in and played ghost in the graveyard in the basement.  ohhh, the screams!

madisons presents from sisters included a floating neckace, and jars of gum, and a vintage skirt-all of which she loved!  oh, and a butterfly mask nadia made and a loom bracelet of couse.  madison bought new shoes, a purse, and makeup with her birthday money-which is always top of her lists to shop for.  she is a shopper, never saving a dime:)

may 1.  2015

christian asked alex to mormon prom by leaving little notes with teachers to give her and in her locker, and at the end of the day, her lacrosse coach called her over after practice, and christian came over and gave her flowers and asked her to prom.  alex filled a box with starbursts with a cute reply and balloons and had christian carry it around school as her reply.  so fun.

let’s just say, 2 1/2 weeks to find a modest prom dress is no fun.  i scoured websites looking for a good deal on a dress, that’s modest, and that is in stock and doesn’t need tailoring, and it’s almost impossible.  almost.  but my determination continued, and after countless hours of alex and i pouring over pinterest and online websites, even looking in the mall, i found one online.  it even came a week before mo prom.

the day of prom, we got alex’s makeup done at the sephora near our house that had just opened for the first time that day-lucky!  found her converse next, got her nails done(which she paid for with her own money), went by the grocery and our friend happened to be working and made the boutonniere for free as a gift to alex, and we got home in time for alex to get her hair done, slide on her new dress, with a few minutes to spare.

watching christian walk down the walkway and see alex was so exciting.  they exchanged flowers, we took pics at the house, then met up with the group to take group pictures.  they headed off to dinner, the dance, and the after party playing games at a friends home.  i can’t believe my daughter is old enough for this, or that we are old enough this!  they looked so great-christian wore pink to match alex, including pink socks, and the converse they wore were the best part:)   totally vintage and adorable!

april 29.  2015

alex is very creative, very artistic, and very talented!  she helps with all our invites, her art projects in class are amazing, and she did an amazing graphic design project of her two friends, that she submitted for the school competition(lower right hand corner of the picture with all the art).  she came in 3rd in the graphic design category, which is awesome!  there are 3500 kids in her school-the competition is pretty fierce, but she holds her own for sure!  she is an amazing kid!

april 29.  2015

i can’t believe our little nadia is already 7!  when the time was close for nadia to be born, jarom was still traveling mon-friday.  we knew lynn was going to go into labor soon, so the girls and i drove to ohio and stayed with the in-laws in anticipation of the new arrival.  my health was horribly bad at the time, i could hardly get out of bed, but i made the trip by myself with the girls.  jarom flew in and met us in oho when nadia was born.  it’s a very stressful time to say the least-going through an adoption.  you never know if the birth mother is going to change her mind, that is always sitting in the back of your mind.  lds family services, who we went through for the adopton, usually pays for the birth mother to stay in the hospital an extra day, so when the 72 hours after the baby is born is up, they were in the hospital the whole time, and didn’t have an opportunity to take the baby home.  we were made aware, that the hospital wouldn’t allow the extra day, and we were worried.  then lynn told us she had breastfed the baby, and we thought for sure we weren’t getting her.  but the third day after nadia was born, we drove over and picked up our little nadia.  what a sweet blessing and miracle.  lynn had prayed and was told she needed to have the baby adopted, and she stuck to it.

jarom of course left after the weekend, and i was taking care of a newborn and three kids with horrible health on my own.  even though i was staying with my in-laws, for some reason, they never even bothered to offer to help hold the baby, feed or change the baby, help with the other kids, help me because i was so sick, nothing.  i was on my own.  let’s just say, being third class citizens with your in-laws is no picnic, but these sweet girls and jarom and i continue to live our lives, and try to give our kids the love and attention we miss out on.  we notice the holes in our lives, and are taking note to hopefully do better for our kids.  we know no one is perfect, especially us, but above all, we hope our kids will always feel loved and know that we are there for them.

six months after we had gotten nadia, we were blessed to finalize the adoption back in ohio.  yes, the in-laws didn’t even bother asking about coming with us, nor did they even bother congratulating us on the finalization of the adoption, all while we stayed in their home.  so sad for sure.  but we go on and create happiness within our own family.  we then sealed her to us in the d.c. temple, which was beautiful.  we continue to have an open adoption with lynn, and nadia gets to chat with her on christmas and birthdays-and gets gifts from lynn on those special occasions.

now nadia is seven, in 2nd-3rd-4th grade lessons, and is so very smart!  she memorized the living christ when she was 3.  she was reading at 3.  she has had 3 older sisters always loving and teaching her.   she is a delightful, bright, sassy, beautiful spirit, and we are so grateful to have her in our family.  it was completely inspired and meant to be!

nadia had a friend party last year, so this year was to be a family party.  she started planning a “tea party”, made thank you bags, planned games and what the food would be, and then asked if she could have this tea party on her birthday:)  see what i mean about smart!  so we agreed.  she loved all her gifts, and got roller skates from us, magic kit and dress up from lynn, dress from grandma, baton from alex, heart purse cam sewed for her, a mood necklace from madison, and a few things from friends.  cam helped with all the food, and played with the girls during the party.  i love having helpers!

HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY DEAR NADIA!

april. 2015

the yw fundraiser was hit!  camp this year is $125 per girl, and we have three girls going.  so we wanted to do as much as we could for the fundraiser.  cam and i made cinnamon rolls(all our food is gluten free), alex did van gogh cupcakes and offered a 2 hour photoshop class, madison knitted adorable hats, jarom offered computer consulting for 2 hours, and i offered a soldering class.  someone offered a bbq dinner, and it was bid on and won at $1400 dollars!  amazing and awesome!  i also loved that the girls had to put in some time to help with the fundraiser, and to help them continue to develop skills.  they did a great job!