Independence Day

This week in September always brings lots of excitement to the kids. The 10th is kids day and the 15th Independence Day! There is lots of extra activities going for the kids around these dates.
The kids had there Independence Day parade today. We have been working for weeks to make sure the kids all had their costumes and uniforms all ready to a T. We got up at normal hour this morning and actually things went very smooth this morning. Between Dilicia, Christina and me we got the kids ready and out the door in time.

Above ~ Cindy and Nohemy representing the 18 departments of Honduras

 Maryuri ~ butterfly

 Jose and Fernando

 Red Cross ~ Daniela, Jackson and Ana were busy making sure everyone had water to drink

 Nature ~ 1st graders Lupe and Maryuri

 Antonio, Jose, and Fernando

 Katy ~ This little one has quite a stubborn little personality. She was suppose to be one of the Indians representing the 18 departments. Well she got mad and sad she would just go in her uniform. Her along with a handful more marched through the parade holding the letters spelling out HONDURAS!/

 Our big 6th grader Antonio

 After the parade was done the mayors office had a sandwich and drink for each one of the kids.
Lupe, Cindy and Maryuri were happy as their mom's also were there to see them march in the parade.
After getting home all of the kids from big to little fell asleep after chores were done. I think they were all tired from marching out in the hot sun! I think they will even sleep better tonight!

Happy Independence Day Honduras!!!

Babies

 The twins are growing and getting bigger every day. This month they will turn 10 months old. Hard to believe that their 1st birthday will be here before we know it.

Jouse (above) Olman (below)

 Josue (above)

Below Olman, Korbin, and Josue. Although Korbin and Josue were not happy about getting their pictures taken.

Feliz Dia del Nino

Today is a huge celebration here in Honduras! Pinatas, candy, cake, fried chicken, and no homework! Those were just part of the things that the kids got to do today for children's day! Most of them came home with lots of candy!
Today is a day to celebrate them!!! They loved every minute of it. The celebration will continue throught out the week as this weekend will they celebrate at church.
I got all of the kids together this afternoon and told them I needed a group pic. Everyone is here in the pic except (baby Josue, he was sleeping).
I know we all have something to learn from children. May we all have a child like spirit!!!
Happy Kid's Day!!!!!

Rosy

Rosy all ready to go celebrate ethnic day at her school today.

The kids were all divided up and had a certain ethnic groups that they had to do research on, bring a typical food to share with her classmates, and come dressed representing the ethnic group.

This will be a fun day for Rosy and I am sure she will learn a lot too.

Update finally...

It has been a long time since I have got an update out or just any news out period. Looked at my blog and saw that it has been a little over a month since I have even blogged.
Not much new here with the kids. The are in school and busy with their homework when they have class. There is still problems with strikes and lack of classes. Right now the kids are only receiving classes from 8 to 10 in the morning and then the rest of the time has been spend practicing for the big Independence parade next week. The kids are all pretty excited. We started getting their uniforms ready a few weeks ago as we wanted to make sure we had all that we needed for all for all of the kids before the big day. A few things were missing. We have purchased what we needed and a few people are letting us borrow things too.
I will try my best to get lots of pics and an update out after the parade next week.
We were struggling to keep everyone well and out of the hospital but it seems that we are finally well and doing well. Baby Josue was the last to be sick and was in the hospital for a week but seems to be doing much better now. It has been almost and month without him getting sick!
Adonis has ran away. This is just one of the many times that he has ran away. Although this time he did not come back. It breaks my heart. We have tried and tried but there must be something deeper going on. He is now back in the children's services IHNFA and waiting to be placed at another children's home which I hope will be able to help out and minister to his needs. He still weighs heavy on my heart.
The rains still continue which means we have had days that are cool.

I will promise to be a little better at updates and this whole blogging.

Benches

There have been lots of groups in and out of Casa this summer playing and loving on the kids and doing work projects here at Casa. Last Saturday a bench got built by the soccer field. Well because of time they only got on built. Monday the kids didn't have school and Bryan and Fernando wanted to get busy doing something. We thought of building another bench with the extra wood. So Denis was glad to jump in and help them build a bench. They were so proud of themselves when they were finished. We has planned on eating outside on the two new benches with all of the kids for lunch. Although the ladies made soup for lunch and that would make it a little hard for us to eat outside. Bryan and Fernando got upset. I told them since they had worked hard on the benches just the two of them could eat their lunch outside on the bench.

These two boys were so proud of their work that they had to try to them out. 

Lempira

 Every year July 20th marks the birthday of one of the heroes here in Honduras. He is Indian Lempira. The kids all celebrate by dressing up as Indians and doing culture stuff. We scrabbled around at the last minute this year and tried to find enough stuff for the kids. Here are a few pics of them dressed up as Indians.

above ~ Nohemy and Maryuri

 Reina, Maryuri, and Sisi

 Daniela

Daniela, Reina, Sisi, Jose, Katy, and Maryuri

Cindy

Happy Birthday Cindy!!! 

June 2012 Update

June 2012

There has been a lot of sickness. Aches, fevers, and colds this month. A good bit of us has been sick. Even Korbin and the other two babies.  We were starting to get worried about Korbin he had been sick with a cold for over 20 days. He was eating less as he did not feel well. Although I think he is finally feeling better along with the rest of us.

Started the month out with Cris getting chicken pox's. It was strange how we even came to find out that he had chicken pox's. He was having a hard time walkings and complaining that one of his knees really hurt. He was crying almost all night and keeping Mirian awake. We took him down to the Dr. and they did an X-ray to make sure nothing was broken as we complained he could not walk. Well after getting the results back that afternoon we realized he was breaking out with bumps all over that leg that hurt and that he had a fever. Sure enough chicken pox. We were a bit worried as everyone that lives in over in the CASA #2 is mostly under 6 years old. So we thought it might be a break out for the whole house. Including the babies and the one who takes care of them, Mirian. She said she has not had them yet. Although some how the rest of the kids managed not to get chicken pox.

The kids had the second week in June out of school. It is student week. So to celebrate they gave them a week without class but they did give some of them a load of homework to get through. A lot of it was just busy work and it was enough to make the kids want to run and hide and along with the staff. As we had to be diligent to remind them to do their homework.

The rains continue, almost every afternoon we are getting a good hard rain. We were still having drain problems and water getting into some of the dorms here. Mark Halberts group came out here to work and it seems after a good hard rain that we are dry! So thank you to that group for coming out here to work at CASA.

Dorian continues to work with groups. Which means early mornings and late nights. Korbin and I don't like him being gone all day. When he comes home at night I am ready for him to help me with Korbin.

Blessings~
Dorian, Karen, & Korbin Guido

6 years...

June 30th is a special day for us here at CDE. On June 30th, 2006 we took in our first kids here at CDE. We took 5 brothers to live here at CDE. What a journey it has been and how many things God has taught me through all of this. I pray that as CDE grows that we continue to put self aside long enough for it to be about HIM and HIS ways.
Excited to see what God will continue to do here with these children and this home. To think that this was just a dream 6 years ago and now to look back at the last 6 years and to see all God has done here.

happy birthday pamela

Pamela turned 15 years old today. Here in the hispanic culture for girls their 15th birthday is a huge thing (quincera). Several of us has asked her for months what he wants to do for her birthday and she never really gave us a straight answer. She did tell us she did not want the big 15th birthday party.
We gave her a small present and a card. As she opened up the card and read it tears rolled down her cheeks. She couldn't believe that some one could love her the way that we do. She is very special to Dorian and I. For the get go when she came here to live she has called us mom and dad.
I am so proud of the young lady she has become.
Nicole and Matt bought her a cake to share with all of the kids here. When celebrating birthdays here they celebrate by cracking eggs on their head. Why I have no clue? Anyways Denson one of Marc's interns got to break on her head.

Happy Happy Birthday Pamela!!!!

May Update 2012

The first week in may was a very challenging week for us. We thought it was one that was not ever going to end. When we say it rains it sure does pour! Issues with staff, kids, sickness and the like. It was for sure one of those moments when you want to throw your hands up in the air. It made me wonder if I am making a difference. Satan sure would love to steal my JOY! I know we are planting seeds and making a difference. I guess sometimes we don't see the effects of planting those seeds sometimes til years later. I hope that there are places in these kids that are being touched and changed. I hope that they can carry Jesus out of here and know they are someone above all else!

Antonio and Brayan both were in the hospital. Antonio was playing soccer and broke his tibia and had to have a rod put in his leg. He has done amazing and been such a trooper.
Brayan was having some severe pain in his back/hip and it was progressing so we took him to the emergency room. They decided they were going to keep him at the hospital to do some further testing. Luckily nothing was found.

Korbin is now 6 months old. Which  means we have started him on fruits and veggies.

Groups have started and Dorian and working with them when needed to help with building houses.

Uncle Brian came to visit Korbin!!

Blessings~
Dorian, Karen and Korbin Guido

Still alive

Sorry I have been out of touch with the world and for my lack of blogging. We have been without internet. Although this week we finally got it back.
The kids are all doing well. Right now they are out of school for the week. This week is student week. So they get a full week out of school. Although being out of school doesn't mean too much for them. The do get to sleep in an extra hour, but they still have lots of homework to do. The 4th graders have a ridiculous amount of homework to get done. Maryuri and Katy don't want to sit still for any length of time to get their homework done. They are slowly but surely getting it done. I feel like it is torture for them and the staff as we make them get their homework done. Hopefully before Monday gets here all the homework will be done.
Will be sure to get back to blogging soon!

6 months old!

I can't believe Korbin turned 6 months old!!! Oh how time flies. He is getting cuter every day and learning something new all of the time. I can't believe in 6 months we will be celebrating his 1st birthday.

Friendship Soccer Tournament

It isn't often that we have people from this country come and share and play with the kids. It is usually lots of groups from the states that come and play and love on the kids. Part of that is because we have to be so careful who we are allowed to come and visit and see the kids.

Well last fall a youth group from Tegucigalpa made connections here to our children's home through Teleton. Teleton is where our kids with special needs go to receive classes. 

Well last fall the kids and the adults really seem to hit it off. Last week we got a call that they would like to  come out and spend time with the kids again. I told them that would be fine but please just come and spend time with them no gifts. 

Sunday afternoon they arrived ready to play a friendship soccer tournament. The kids had lots of fun!!! They came prepared with pom poms for the ones on the side lines to cheer on the others. They switched out every 10 mins to a different team that got to play. When all was said and done they gave the medals. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place medals! The kids that didn't play all recieved 3rd place medals. Of course they weren't real medals but the kids still loved them. The next day several of them still had on their medals at devo and one of them I even noticed when I went to wake them up that morning had it around her neck.

After the awards ceremony they brought a little snack to share with all of the kids. They also sang a few songs for the kids. The neat thing is one of the young kids in the youth group is also deaf and they learned a song in sign language and got to share that with all of our kids. It was special for Rosy to be included!!!!

The kids are already for them to plan their next visit here to Casa!!!!

 Jackson cheering on the other teams!

The cutest cheerleader around!!! He was trying to be so serious!

1st Mother's Day

Mother's Day is such a big celebration here in Honduras. Since being here at Casa many have told me happy mother's day as I mother many of these children, but this year is truly was my 1st mother's day as I have Korbin this year. He already has brought so much joy to my life in the short months we have had him. I can't wait for the months and years to come and all of the memories. 

I just pray that God gives me love, patience, wisdom, and guidance as we raise Korbin. 

Here below are a few pictures from Sunday morning at church with the kids and their presentations they presented to all of the mothers.

Happy Mother's Day!!!!!

 Jose an Fernando the kings guards

 Sisi and Katy were the mothers in this skit. 

The kids sang together a few songs and then a few of the kids sang a few songs individually!

Twins

 Olman in his walker

Josue in his walker

The babies in the other house continue to seem to be growing and thriving. Terri decided last week to buy some walkers for them. Which was a great idea. They pass a lot of their time in their strollers or laying down. I would say 75% of the time they are on their backs. So it will be good for them to start building some strength in their back, neck, and legs. I am sure it will not be long before they are walking!!! They will be 6 months old next week.

Brayan

Brayan has been having pain in his lower back/hip. We really weren't too sure where the pain was coming from and either was he. He had said something to us about it on Tuesday that it was bothering him and that it hurt to take large steps and bend down. I told him to take Tylenol for the pain and if it got worse to let us know and we would go to the doctor. As I have said many times before with this many kids we don't go running to the doctor for everything. Otherwise we would be living at the Dr's offices.
Well after school on Thursday Brayan said the pain had gotten worse. So I took him down to the hospital here in Ojojona to see if they would run some tests. Well we went to the emergency room and after three doctors questioning him they decided they were going to hospitalize him to see if they could find out what exactly was wrong.
Well today he got to come home. He seems to be fine. They couldn't find anything and he seems like he is better than ever. He was outside this afternoon running and playing soccer.
So very thankful that is turned out to be nothing.

Antonio

Yesterday morning Antonio was playing soccer and fell and broke his tibia. It was a pretty bad break. After seeing the x-ray Marc knew before a doctor even saw him that he was going to have to have surgery it was a bad break. He has to have a metal rod put in from his knee down to his ankle. Marc took him in yesterday and stayed with him all day and spent the night with him. Marc and Antonio were both happy to be able to come home today. He was released from the hospital this morning.
All the staff and kids were concerned about Antonio and were happy to see him home. He will have a long road of recovery ahead.

Casa #2

 Pamela has really been a huge help over in the other house. She really has has to step up with a lot being expected of her. She is doing a great job working in the other house and helping out with the babies and the other kids. She had a hard time at first and wasn't so much pulling her weight at all in the other house. Although as time has went on she has really helped out a lot in the new house.
Mirian has done a great job taking care of her kids that house. She is a great person and we are blessed to hhave her work here at Casa de Esperanza.
There are still adjustments and such in the new house with so many little ones. Although Mirian is finally getting a good nights sleep. She has such a hard time being away from the babies when she goes home for a few days on her days off every other week.
Continue to keep the new kids in your prayers as they adjust.
Adonis is the oldest in this house and he has been with us over a year and he is still having a hard time adjusting and following rules. Pkease take the time to say a special prayer for Adonis!

Mud Fight

 The rain has started back up. In the afternoons we are getting a little bit of rain a couple times a week. Well last week one day some of the kids got into a water/mud fight with Dorian. He is just another one of the kids at times. Ornery!!!! One of the girls was wanting Dorian's attention well she sure enough got his attention. He covered her in mud and water. Her along with some of the other kids were sure to cover Dorian too in mud and get him wet. The two kids who got it the worst were Ana and Cindy. They loved every minute of playing in the mud. Although with 24 kids we don't let them hardly play in the water or mud. Makes a huge mess! Although the girls when they were done went around back and bathed in the pila and washed their clothes there too. Dorian even had to wash his clothes in the pila and bathe outside.
There is nothing like a little fun playing in the water and mud!!!

Above ~ Ana covered in mud

Below ~ Cindy tired to wash off but was still pretty dirty

Feb/March Update 2012

February/March 2012

After returning to Honduras at the end of January we were busy to begin February.  We needed to get back into the routine.  We continually adjusted to the schedule with the kids after arriving back here in Honduras. Trying to balance how to take care of Korbin and the kids at the same time was challenging. So far this has gone really smooth, a lot smoother than I ever imagined.  Korbin really seems to do well with the other kids. Even with all of them wanting to love on him and touch him.

The first of February we were busy getting the kids registered for school. Then making sure everyone had uniforms and school supplies. It is always a big task to make sure they all have their school supplies and uniforms complete for school. The kids all seem to be doing well so far with their studies. This year we have 16 kids in school. We have 13 in grade school, two in middle school, and one in kinder. We also have a preschool this year here at Casa. Nicole decided she would take on preschool this year. She has classes for the kids four mornings a week. We have 6 of our own kids in preschool and then Nicole has her daughter Haley in preschool.

Dorian has helped with three different college spring break groups so far.  Right now there are no more groups. The end of May and beginning of June will begin nonstop groups that he will be helping and working with throughout the summer.

The beginning of March brought rain. We are in our dry season right now. So to see our first rain was a breath of fresh air. Although bringing on the rain has brought many insects out. Right now we are dealing with crazy beetles.

Korbin continues to thrive. He is doing wonderful. Learning new things everyday. He turned 3 and 4 months old in February and March. The babies Olman and Josue also are thriving and finally doing better. Little by little they are both improving and growing.

A friend of ours Byron opened up a small cafe and offered Brayan a job. He is thrilled to have a job. He only has to work 4 days a week but he likes it so much he usually goes and works 6 to 7 days a week. He is very social and loves to interact with the customers. Byron said Brayan does an excellent job. We told Brayan as long as he has good behavior and as long as he continues to study and do his homework he can keep his job. He is so proud of his job. He has almost all of his money saved up. He is waiting to buy something big. We are so proud of Brayan and excited for this opportunity for him to work and learn lots of new skills.

After lots of contemplation and prayers we decided to purchase a vehicle. Crazy to think I have been here 6 years and not purchased a car. We usually use a Casa car. Although with having Korbin we wanted to have something that was ours and dependable. So we are very excited to finally have our own vehicle.

Thanks again to all of you who lift us in prayer and support us in so many ways!

Blessings~

Dorian, Karen & Korbin Guido

Coloring Easter Eggs

 My mom was here to visit for Easter and she had brought along a dye kit to color eggs. Well Korbin is tooo little to dye eggs so we had each of the kids color an egg on Easter. They got to decorate and write anything they wanted on their egg with a crayon and then they got to pick what color they wanted to dye their egg. We didn't think too far ahead of time and they kids had to use just plain old eggs. We were afraid they would break but everyone successful got their egg colored without it breaking. When they took all of their eggs back over to the kitchen they each wanted their own egg to take to their room. I can only imagine the mess they would have made. After the kids telling the ladies several days to not use their eggs they finallygot used to make some scrambled eggs.
I think this is the first time we have colored eggs with the kids. They all seemed to enjoy coloring their eggs. I am guessing this is something that they will want to do from now on every year.

Jackson and Jose with my mom coloring their eggs.

Maryuri coloring her egg

Jackson with his egg all finished

Antonio decorating his egg before it gets dyed.

Easter Egg Hunt

Happy Easter!!!!!

Casa de Esperanza Easter Egg Hunt!

 Lupe 

Sunday morning as the kids were getting ready for church they didn't realize that it was Easter Sunday. It seems here in Honduras it is the week leading up to Easter which is Holy week is the big week for everyone to celebrate and head to the beach. Well once the kids realized that it was Easter they all started asking me if that meant we were going to hid eggs. Well I hadn't planned on it or even got stuff to do an easter egg hunt. Ashley when she was here loved to do Easter egg hunts with the kids and many of them had remembered that. I told Antonio if he could go to the bodega and find the eggs then I would do it later that afternoon. Sure enough Antonio found the plastic eggs. I told the kids that I was not too sure that I would be able to get candy in them as I did not buy any. Well they were find with the idea and they said it was ok if they were empty but they just wanted me to hid the eggs.

I did end of finding all sorts of little things I had around my house to put in the eggs.

Yair really had no clue what was going on. I gave him a bag and told him lets go look for eggs but he was walking around clueless and not too sure what to think.

 The younger kids got to come out first and look for their eggs then after they were done we did the big kids. They were all so excited they could hardly stand it. Here they are all running and ready to go find their eggs.

 Nohemy 

 The older kids looking for their eggs. Nicole helped me hide the eggs and we couldn't remember were we put every egg. We were a few eggs short. Although this week the kids have found two of those lost eggs. Who knows if there is even more out there still.

Ana

Happy Birthday Katy

Happy Happy Birthday Miss Katy Lourdes! 

She turned 9 last Saturday. She is still so little but a handful for sure. Hard to believe she was 3 when she came here and how she has grown over the last 6 years.