Rahel

This from my mother. Shawn Cooper is my brother. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Brian and I are in the process of bringing home our 6th adopted child from Africa. And we need your help.Rahel is 15.
She lives in Ethiopia.
She has waited a very long time.
She has seen her friends come into the children's home, stay for a period of time, and then leave for their new home. She wishes them well, and smiles for them, and then cries because she has been left behind one more time. Rahel has gone through this scenario many many times. She longs for a family. She needs a family, and as Dave Thomas says, every child deserves a family. She asks the families who come for other children, "Nobody has picked me, will you come back?"
Rahel's parents are dead. As with many children in Ethiopia she has been orphaned by the affects of aids and HIV related diseases that have caused the death of her parents. She has been alone for 5 years. Her uncle took her to the children's home and left her there. Probably one of the reasons she has waited so long is that she was already considered an older child when she arrived. Younger children find homes more easily than the older children.
Please help us bring Rahel home. Most of the work is done and most of the expense has been covered, but we still need to pay for the expense of traveling to Ethiopia to do the final paperwork and also pay for her ticket home. Time is running short for Rahel. To help us Shawn is running a four STATE 45 mile marathon to bring attention to Rahel's situation. If it is possible, any size donation will make a difference. Your help is appreciated. We have learned through our experiences with the children we have brought home so far that adoption changes the world for these kids. They are grateful, helpful, and anxious to see their friends and others helped. All of them talk about becoming doctors like Shawn to go back to Africa and "help the children". Please visit Shawn's blog to see his progress training for his 45 mile run. www.rahel.humanrunnerproject.com You will find a link there to make a donation to sponsor Shawn's run to bring Rahel home. Or if you prefer you can mail a donation to Hansen Adoption Fund9201 Old Country WayEvansville, IN 47720 You can also visit Rahel's blog at www.ahomeforrahel.blogspot.com Thank you for your time. Thank you for helping if you can. Barbara & Brian Hansen

I'll be the greatest fanof your life

Often I can't help it, I have to write. It may not even be to make a point but to put into words what keeps twisting inside my mind. Sort it out on paper, if you will. But papers have long been gone..blogging for 10 years! Man I feel old. Life has been exactly the way it should be. Mundane scattered among the precious moments.

Music has been current outlet. The energy is bouncing off of everyone in the room. Small venue's are, by far, my favorite. With that said.. I am very much looking forward to taking Rielly to her first "real concert" AND the best part is it is an artist I enjoy. Rielly cares about 2 things. Books & Taylor Swift and on May 1st she will get to feel the magic of a concert of that magnitude.

David-Michael has decided he would rather not hear at this time. Because of how the situation occurred I think the timing is not right for him. He said he would like to talk about it again in a couple years.We will follow his lead.

MiKaela is 13... but she is a good kid. I work more lately and she knows how to pick up what needs to be done with out having to be asked. Now if we could get the other kids on that same mindset. MiKaela is on the scholar bowl team and wears lime green skinny jeans. She is honor roll. She is a bold young woman.

How lucky and I and how terribly boring this has turned out to be.

With that said obviously I am in a place where words are in pictures and music. or not... And can I say.. I love my husband. This Valentine's Day he took me to see Edwin McCain. The man that sings our song. Our first dance as husband and wife. When we are in the car and it comes on we call each other. I can't tell you how many voice mails I have of that song playing through a radio. Text messages of lyrics from the song. The lyrics are so familiar it is like saying my address. The beginning notes of the song stop me (and steal my breath) & no matter what is happening or where I am I just feel.. love. I love when it comes on in the car and he grabs my hand and kisses it. Every time. I love this man so much I am sure my heart will burst. I look at him sometimes and wonder how it can possibly make sense that this small town girl and the "big city" boy met across the country. And I knew. It's a sense of recognition. It was right.. so much so at times I was afraid of it..could not believe it.. but so quickly love stomped out any fears I had. We balance each other out in so many aspects it weaves the bonds tighter. Before him I would hear people talk of wanting to shout it from the roof tops and roll my eyes. Now I get it.. happiness is so terrific it has to be shared. I am aware of how wonderful it is. My family makes me feel alive. I am home. Life is good. Times may be tougher and may even get tougher but it is going to be Okay because we are Team Kaplan. We always make it happen. So yes, I am in love. We are sneaking up on 11 years and every day I sink further into love..and when I look to my side he is right there. Everytime.

Kaplan's visit the London's in Charlotte, NC

For a girl who loves to write I don't seem to do it as much as I should or would like to.

We went to Charlotte to visit our dearest friends Troy & Mia. Here is our vacation in pictures. Again... Rielly had not seen snow in so many years she didn't remember what it looked like... my little Florida child!!!!

MiKaela loves any kid that is not her little sister.. =) This is the beautiful Carlie Jewel.