~~~ Dear Friends & Family ~~~

*Please read~ especially if you're part of our church family or our close friends!

We are excited to be on the downhill stretch of bringing home our whole family! 

Brodie will come home with the boys & Kaylee July 6. They are SO excited to be coming back to America after 2 1/2 months in Haiti :). 

They have been SUCH troopers & have truly grown roots deep into Jesus & His Ways that are not our own. 

Kennady & I will stay here until we get visas for Kaleb & Khloe ~ then fly home as soon as we can!!!

As we get ready to transition home as a family of 8, we need YOUR help!!!

First of all, NAMES~ 

We started calling them Kaleb Jasse & Khloe Enna after we asked them (mostly Kaleb) what they would like to be called & he DEFINITELY loved having a "K" name like the big kids ;). But as the weeks went on, he asked us to call him just Kaleb. And he asked Khloe (in creole to make sure she understood) what she wanted to be called & she said Khloe (well, technically she said Klo-Klo but we're sticking with Khloe ;). So Kaleb & Khloe it is :)))

Secondly, PLEASE HELP US BY NOT HOLDING THEM OR PICKING THEM UP & PLEASE DO NOT OFFER THEM FOOD!!  

I know, I know ~ super hard!! Especially for those of you who have come on a missions trip & know them!! And once you see their overwhelming cuteness it will be even harder ;) 

But here's the deal ~ they've had SO many different care takers & right now that's all we are....a couple more care takers in their lives. Research shows that children who have had multiple nannies over the years have an extremely difficult time learning what it means to have ONE mom & ONE dad that will meet all their needs which greatly hinders true bonding & attachent. We see that right now......our kids will go to anyone who has food or will give them attention & not even hesitate to leave us for someone that they think may meet their needs at that moment. Khloe especially has a difficult time with this. She is so used to "charming" missionaries who visit for food & fighting to get attention that it's just what she does. Once true attachent takes place then you can love on them all you want ;). But for now we are asking for a quick hello, high-fives and little attention other than that. (Yes, that means if adorable Khloe reaches her little arms up & wants to be held we are asking you to redirect her to mommy or daddy to hold her or feed her or whatever it is she's wanting). Sorry!!!

Third ~ KAYLEE GRACE!! 

She's doing AMAZINGLY well and we are so proud of her!!! She has been so selfless & caring these last months (even with getting chikungunya virus & splitting her head open). She reminds me often if one or the other of them starts acting out, "mom, they just need to get their cries out like I did when I came home from China". She's their biggest cheerleader!!! 

She is VERY excited to get home & see all "her people" & the BEST thing you can do to help her is LOVE on her ~ plenty of hugs, extra attention (as mom & dad are giving much of our attention right now to our two newest) & praise for what an awesome big sister she is :)))

Lastly, please pray for us! Please pray that our transition to America is glorifying to Jesus & that it is smooth for Kaleb & Khloe (LOTS of new & over-stimulating things all around them!). 

We have been so blessed to have these months here & so much bonding has taken place but we will still be in a very simple, hunkered down time as a family trying to help our two adjust to all that is new :)))

Thank you for your understanding, love, support & prayers ~ we appreciate it more than you know!!! 

All our love, 

The Johanson Family