tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10302227.post8258672899089411158..comments2023-03-23T07:28:52.593-06:00Comments on SwensenSays: Squatters' RightsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05883497926821516943noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10302227.post-48573150514714422782009-11-16T12:19:58.920-07:002009-11-16T12:19:58.920-07:00How do you do it all Em? I can't believe all ...How do you do it all Em? I can't believe all that you've been dealing with and especially on Charles' day. You and your story are inspiring. I love you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10302227.post-84769050227328473432009-10-24T09:43:34.951-06:002009-10-24T09:43:34.951-06:00Happy birthday, sweet Charles. Emily, your posts ...Happy birthday, sweet Charles. Emily, your posts are riveting. They're way better than a novel :) I'm so glad Char told me about them so I could catch up. Best of luck as you work out the last-minute details and make your way home. I so appreciate your honesty as you've shared so many things on your blog. I feel like I know your girls already :) Can't wait to meet them!Amy Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13767327241249058660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10302227.post-2939277066336714772009-10-24T08:46:28.500-06:002009-10-24T08:46:28.500-06:00What a ride. Thank you for keeping us posted and f...What a ride. Thank you for keeping us posted and for giving us so much information and insight. I believe we do feel like we already know your girls a little bit. We'll keep praying for things to finalize and for all the trips home to go as smoothly as possible. I hope after a long nap you'll find some energy to continue to write. We are all hooked on this new series you know.Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02983032414628219339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10302227.post-46888155006082836482009-10-24T00:38:31.297-06:002009-10-24T00:38:31.297-06:00Oh Em. My heart aches for you, yet I also stand i...Oh Em. My heart aches for you, yet I also stand in awe. You are amazing and your adventures and journeys through life never cease to inspire me. Happy Birthday sweet Charles. See you all soon and have confidence...your strong spirit and devotion chooses what is right. Much love and prayers.<br />RoxRoxeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08595120819780813333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10302227.post-73121288138818538712009-10-23T23:16:27.495-06:002009-10-23T23:16:27.495-06:00Oh Em and Steve, My heart is breaking that you are...Oh Em and Steve, My heart is breaking that you are not all coming home together. I do think that you are wise to come home with the children Emily. It will help them get back into the normal pattern of things at home and I think you need to be home about now. I know Steve will be fine with the girls. He is most capable and it will be nice for him to spend time with the girls since once he gets home I'm sure work will be crazy busy. I hope and pray that he will bring your two African beauties home soon. Wishing you all safe travels and a speedy return.Brookehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588642023533731552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10302227.post-61198637692464658332009-10-23T23:16:19.495-06:002009-10-23T23:16:19.495-06:00the intense panicked feeling in your writing has b...the intense panicked feeling in your writing has been replaced with a calm acceptance that this adoption will be finalized soon, just not on the timeline you had planned. good luck with everything. we will keep sending our thoughts and prayers your way until ALL of the Swensen family is safely tucked in at home in Bountiful.emilysouthershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01343429602135299389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10302227.post-86545187238251533212009-10-23T21:23:24.924-06:002009-10-23T21:23:24.924-06:00Again, that last comment was from me, not Michael....Again, that last comment was from me, not Michael. We are on our own adventure in NYC and DC the last few days and I've been logged on with his computer. Did you hear we had the same flight with your dad out to NYC?mricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12627087497931251628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10302227.post-41551859885351716872009-10-23T21:21:44.614-06:002009-10-23T21:21:44.614-06:00Good luck Steve. Happy Birthday Charles. Welcome H...Good luck Steve. Happy Birthday Charles. Welcome Home Emily, Jasper and Ruby. We already love you, Tinsae and Birhane.<br /><br />What a beautiful and inspiring family you all make.<br /><br />I'm sure you are looking forward to many things about being home. HOME-- where your new story will begin.mricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12627087497931251628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10302227.post-67773122117903714202009-10-23T21:20:57.122-06:002009-10-23T21:20:57.122-06:00I read your blog, I feel, with the same intensity ...I read your blog, I feel, with the same intensity as you write it. On stressful days, I read fast. Thankfully, this entry I seemed to read with a little sadness of course for Steve, but more relief as well. Even though we are not really in your shoes, our prayers and constant thoughts have been! You haven't forgotten Charles Birthday, you have allowed him to see his parents and siblings shine. Happy Birthday Charles! Steve, we hope that we will see you sooner than later back on US soil. Much Love, Jengarth brunerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16173720275262400510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10302227.post-68356862176154153522009-10-23T19:45:31.779-06:002009-10-23T19:45:31.779-06:00What an incredible experience you are giving to J ...What an incredible experience you are giving to J and R. Honestly. All of you - as hard and full of obstacles as it's been, I can tell that you are learning so much and seeing the world in a way that many of us never will. I know Heavenly Father is so aware of you and your little family.Corinnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741365928762676938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10302227.post-71933859537315106372009-10-23T19:34:57.881-06:002009-10-23T19:34:57.881-06:00Happy Birthday Charles! And to all the Steve Swe...Happy Birthday Charles! And to all the Steve Swensen family--see you all soon! Love, mommabeyssayhihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09367327895499969547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10302227.post-78902824716530298102009-10-23T19:22:01.025-06:002009-10-23T19:22:01.025-06:00I'm breathing a little sigh of relief. Sad th...I'm breathing a little sigh of relief. Sad that you're not all traveling together, but relieved that it still seems to be working out. I really think you should share your blog with the Ethiopia yahoo adoption groups. There is such a need for your brutal honesty and the adoption world is so small. I logged in to my China Special Needs group the other day and one mom was venting about the hardships of a boy who is seizing all the time and losing his functionality for good. The outpouring of love and understanding from other adoptive parents was amazing.<br />I too have looked forward to your blog every day and I can't wait to see you all...Steve...any way you and the girls can fly through New York?Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15928734560891085519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10302227.post-55782441429286923282009-10-23T18:42:21.766-06:002009-10-23T18:42:21.766-06:00I love your analogy of the roller coaster. I’ve o...I love your analogy of the roller coaster. I’ve often thought, while reading your posts, that you must feel like you are on a roller coaster, not knowing which way it will turn from moment to moment. I’ve also thought your blog has become like a really good book to me, I have to wait patiently for the next chapter each day. Thank you for writing in such detail this difficult journey. I am happy for you that it finally seems to be winding down.Jodihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04717118802026022434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10302227.post-78344928572611965002009-10-23T17:44:33.260-06:002009-10-23T17:44:33.260-06:00Emily and Steve, Your family is truely amazing. I ...Emily and Steve, Your family is truely amazing. I can't imagine this adventure you are living. This experience will be over soon enough and you and all 4 of your children will be home. How exciting is that? Time has a way of passing in a non stop fashion, that at times, only seems slow and at times rushing by. But it plods along at its non stop pace and things happen in the mean time. We're so excited to get you all home. You are in our prayers and in our hearts.Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13064961180051527517noreply@blogger.com