My four siblings from my first adoptive family in Minnesota. I don't remember any of them, but do know their ages range from 42 years old to 52 years old. I was with this family from September 2, 1971 to December 1, 1972.
My last name with this family was Hansen. My full name was Kimberly Sue Hansen. The current ages of the parents today, 83 and 85.
In 2007, I did speak with the mother on the phone, the internet is an amazing tool. I never knew the parents' first names until 2006, quite by accident too. I thanked her and her husband, for they were the ones that were responsible for bringing me to the United States and I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for them. She agreed. I didn't mention the abuse, she was the abuser, but I did tell her that I didn't have any anger or resentment towards them. I let her know I was living a wonderful life with my own family today and how involved I was with Holt International and giving back. She told me she still had pictures of me and that she should send them to me, I told her that would be great. I never received them. I asked her about her husband, she said he was sitting right next to her and that he was fine. I asked her to please let him know I was doing great too. I asked her to then let my siblings know I was doing great if they ever thought about me and to give them my contact info if they ever wanted to contact me. That is when she told me their ages. A month after our conversation, I sent her a picture of my family with a note saying this was my greatest accomplishment. I never heard from her again. I didn't expect to.
But, I would like to meet my siblings. I have always wondered if they remembered me. I have a sibling that is the same age I am. Not sure which other siblings were adopted too, I know a few were domestically.
I attended Valley View Elementary School in Bloomington, Minnesota, which I don't remember either. I did make contact with my kindergarten teacher though! She doesn't remember me too clearly but does remember me being this little dark-haired little girl.
I think some people get the wrong impression of me doing this sort of search. I am not in anyway, disappointed with my life now and need to connect for the purpose of being complete. It's about giving peace of mind to others that maybe wondering if that little girl made it in life and is happy today. I don't live my life with regrets, I don't need anything more in my life, I have so much to be grateful for. It's about making connections, it's about making peace with my past, it's about giving peace to others, it's about forgiveness, it's about being grateful.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
No Trip to Korea..
I'm so bummed out, but not surprised. Not sure how I will feel later tho since I have been going on this trip every year since 2005. I will miss the babies, kids, adults, foster mothers, unwed mothers, and Holt-Korea staff. I just hope everyone will still have gifts to open without our team there. Please keep everyone in your prayers that they may enjoy a few new gifts this year.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Travelling Stories
When I travel, I usually travel by myself. I had to go to New Jersey over the weekend for Holt's Board of Directors annual meeting.
I tend to observe people a lot when I travel so here were my thoughts(sorry for those on FB, some of this maybe a repeat of what I wrote):
>Why do I check in online for my flight if I HAVE to use the kiosk at the ticket counter? Wasn't online checking invented to avoid having to go to the kiosk?
>Why is it that people have their cell phone ringers on LOUD? How annoying when they don't answer it on the first ring, or the second or even third ring...you can't hear your phone ringing?? Um, everyone else can!!
>So why do people talk loud when they are on their cell phones? Do I need to hear your business plans, your weekend plans, how drunk you got? Really people, do you not know the technology of cell phones and the ability for cell phones to pick up on your 'normal' speaking voice, your INDOOR voice?
Prior to my travel to New Jersey, I booked a shuttle from Newark to my hotel. I arrived in Newark early, but my shuttle pick up wasn't until an hour and 15 minutes later. So finally the shuttle arrives, you can't even understand the announcements when the time comes for the shuttle.
Pack in the luggage, pack in the people, I'm way in the back with two others, but it's not overstuffed like my experience in Cambodia. So the driver stopped, got out and ran into the airport again...where the heck is he? Driver comes back, stops again after a few feet of driving, goes back into the airport...comes back with one more passenger, she gets shotgun.
Onto the hotel, finally! Or so I thought. We have to drop off everyone else at their hotels along the way, oh joy! By the time I got to my hotel, it was close to 7:00pm, mind you, I arrived in Newark at 4:00pm...long wait and drive.
The hotel was huge, needed bread crumbs to find my way around. Got to my hotel room, freshened up and off to dinner with the rest of the board members. I had a committee meeting scheduled at 8:00pm. Nice fellowship at dinner and meeting went well. Now off to bed. I go to the hallway to my room...or so I thought. I wander up and down the hall looking for my room, where the heck is it? I've been walking around for at least 10 minutes, seemed like an eternity. Found out I was in the South wing, my room is in the North wing...I told you I needed bread crumbs to find my way! Ended up being a short night with not being able to fall asleep right away and waking up every hour.
Fast forward to my flight home Sunday morning. Reminded me of The Amazing Race...I decided to take the train with four other members rather than deal with the shuttle again. Our taxi was scheduled to pick us up at 4:45am. Of course, he's late. Didn't impact my flight, but a couple of others. Our ride, a town car, loaded up the luggage, three men in the back and me riding the hump in the front right next to the driver. Brought me back to being a kid again. The driver decides to bring us to the back of the train station thinking we could catch the train there...none of us had our tickets, how was that going to work? No access to the train this way...duh? The driver was quite the character tho, yes, typical Jersey man and I'm not stereotyping. He was interesting to listen to.
The man who punched our tickets, stereotyping again, but really...he was funny too. We all had a good time chatting with him everytime he came thru. I don't think I could do this type of commuting daily, but guess if I had to, I would. All of us went our separate ways once at the airport. I hope everyone got on their flights ok.
I got to my flight, barely ate the muffin I bought, I do this all the time, one would think I would stop buying them since I don't eat them. Boarded the plane. About time to depart, but here comes an announcement: "There is a small fuel leak, shouldn't be a big deal, will run the engines and will sometimes get this cleared up." What? A fuel leak isn't a big deal? Yeah, right...a few minutes later, another announcement saying it is a bigger deal and will need to get it checked out by mechanics but this isn't a United problem anymore so need to contract out for mechanics and see what they say. Really?? Not looking good. The verdict, need a part, the part isn't in Newark, of course! Flight is cancelled. Good thing the plane wasn't full, I got out very quickly and in line at the ticket counter. Planning ahead and called United as I stood in line. Booked a flight out to Denver, but needed my boarding passes printed out as that flight was boarding as I was waiting!
I made it on the flight to Denver. With changing flights, I was stuck in the middle seat. To my left was an elderly woman and to my right a gentleman. As we waited for take off, more passengers came on board. Two young ladies and a baby boy ended up sitting behind me and the elderly lady. About five minutes later, the elderly lady's seat was being hit from behind. She turned around and asked if her seat was going to be kicked the entire flight. The mother and companion were very young so responded very sarcastically to her. I thought to myself that this was going to be a very long flight. I asked the lady if she wanted to switch seats with me to avoid her seat being kicked the entire flight as the baby was right behind her. She didn't want to trade as she liked the window seat. Okay, was hoping for the best!
No further kicking...so now came snack time. The lady asked the flight attendant what was the snack, the not-so cheery flight attendant showed her the magazine of choices. I was telling the lady that she had to pay for any snack items. She was confused and dazed and when it came time to get the food, she declined any snacks. Then the drink cart came and the lady wanted a snack. So back to the first flight attendant, what was available, how much did it cost, she stated she had $20, I told her she had to pay by credit card only. She stated she didn't think she had a credit card...I was going to pay for it if she didn't but then found a visa gift card her daughter had given her. She also ordered white tea...never heard of that. So she finally got set and she was a happy camper.
Second round of drinks later into the flight and the lady ordered white tea again. The ever-so-cheery flight attendant gave her plain tea. I told the flight attendant the lady ordered white tea, got the milk, weird combination. Anyhoo, then the lady is shifting around holding her tea an spilling all over herself. I grabbed some more napkins off the cart to help. She continues to move around and continued to spill more tea, I asked her what she wanted and she was looking for her other half of her muffin. I held her tea for her so she could avoid spilling more since she was spilling onto me by now.
Our flight is coming to an end, finally, so now the lady is searching frantically for something. I again ask her what she is looking for. She is looking for her reading glasses. She is trying hard to pull her carry on bag from the floor, I help her with that. She searches frantically every nook and cranny. In the outside pocket, she pulls out a pair of scissors that are at least 6 1/2" long, I was wondering how she was able to get thru security with that. I know passengers can now carry scissors onto the plane, but this pair was pretty big. Anyway, she continued to look thru her fanny pack, her carry on again, her coat, her seat. I asked her questions about if she had them when she boarded. I continued to help her look thru her fanny pack again, her carry on(Ground Hog Day), then she got side tracked and was frantic about her luggage tag, she couldn't find it and thought her boarding pass was the luggage tag sticker. I showed her mine and she did find it, so I pulled the little square sticker off and stuck it onto her boarding pass so it could be found easier.
About to land, still no site of her glasses, but she continues to look. I told her I would look under all the seats when we landed. Sure enough, when I asked the girls behind us, her glasses were under her seat. So I help her get her jacket on, get her carry on bag, get her newspaper that she kept dropping and off we go. I sure hope she found her way to the luggage claim area!! I had to get some food for myself, hadn't eaten anything but the three bites of my muffin from early morning. I ordered my usual, a hamburger Happy Meal from Micky D's. Oh so tastey!
I made it home safely, my mom took care of getting my kids here and there. Of course, my hubby was out of town Sunday for the day visiting our oldest daughter, but I had everything and everyone covered. It's always good to be home!!!
I tend to observe people a lot when I travel so here were my thoughts(sorry for those on FB, some of this maybe a repeat of what I wrote):
>Why do I check in online for my flight if I HAVE to use the kiosk at the ticket counter? Wasn't online checking invented to avoid having to go to the kiosk?
>Why is it that people have their cell phone ringers on LOUD? How annoying when they don't answer it on the first ring, or the second or even third ring...you can't hear your phone ringing?? Um, everyone else can!!
>So why do people talk loud when they are on their cell phones? Do I need to hear your business plans, your weekend plans, how drunk you got? Really people, do you not know the technology of cell phones and the ability for cell phones to pick up on your 'normal' speaking voice, your INDOOR voice?
Prior to my travel to New Jersey, I booked a shuttle from Newark to my hotel. I arrived in Newark early, but my shuttle pick up wasn't until an hour and 15 minutes later. So finally the shuttle arrives, you can't even understand the announcements when the time comes for the shuttle.
Pack in the luggage, pack in the people, I'm way in the back with two others, but it's not overstuffed like my experience in Cambodia. So the driver stopped, got out and ran into the airport again...where the heck is he? Driver comes back, stops again after a few feet of driving, goes back into the airport...comes back with one more passenger, she gets shotgun.
Onto the hotel, finally! Or so I thought. We have to drop off everyone else at their hotels along the way, oh joy! By the time I got to my hotel, it was close to 7:00pm, mind you, I arrived in Newark at 4:00pm...long wait and drive.
The hotel was huge, needed bread crumbs to find my way around. Got to my hotel room, freshened up and off to dinner with the rest of the board members. I had a committee meeting scheduled at 8:00pm. Nice fellowship at dinner and meeting went well. Now off to bed. I go to the hallway to my room...or so I thought. I wander up and down the hall looking for my room, where the heck is it? I've been walking around for at least 10 minutes, seemed like an eternity. Found out I was in the South wing, my room is in the North wing...I told you I needed bread crumbs to find my way! Ended up being a short night with not being able to fall asleep right away and waking up every hour.
Fast forward to my flight home Sunday morning. Reminded me of The Amazing Race...I decided to take the train with four other members rather than deal with the shuttle again. Our taxi was scheduled to pick us up at 4:45am. Of course, he's late. Didn't impact my flight, but a couple of others. Our ride, a town car, loaded up the luggage, three men in the back and me riding the hump in the front right next to the driver. Brought me back to being a kid again. The driver decides to bring us to the back of the train station thinking we could catch the train there...none of us had our tickets, how was that going to work? No access to the train this way...duh? The driver was quite the character tho, yes, typical Jersey man and I'm not stereotyping. He was interesting to listen to.
The man who punched our tickets, stereotyping again, but really...he was funny too. We all had a good time chatting with him everytime he came thru. I don't think I could do this type of commuting daily, but guess if I had to, I would. All of us went our separate ways once at the airport. I hope everyone got on their flights ok.
I got to my flight, barely ate the muffin I bought, I do this all the time, one would think I would stop buying them since I don't eat them. Boarded the plane. About time to depart, but here comes an announcement: "There is a small fuel leak, shouldn't be a big deal, will run the engines and will sometimes get this cleared up." What? A fuel leak isn't a big deal? Yeah, right...a few minutes later, another announcement saying it is a bigger deal and will need to get it checked out by mechanics but this isn't a United problem anymore so need to contract out for mechanics and see what they say. Really?? Not looking good. The verdict, need a part, the part isn't in Newark, of course! Flight is cancelled. Good thing the plane wasn't full, I got out very quickly and in line at the ticket counter. Planning ahead and called United as I stood in line. Booked a flight out to Denver, but needed my boarding passes printed out as that flight was boarding as I was waiting!
I made it on the flight to Denver. With changing flights, I was stuck in the middle seat. To my left was an elderly woman and to my right a gentleman. As we waited for take off, more passengers came on board. Two young ladies and a baby boy ended up sitting behind me and the elderly lady. About five minutes later, the elderly lady's seat was being hit from behind. She turned around and asked if her seat was going to be kicked the entire flight. The mother and companion were very young so responded very sarcastically to her. I thought to myself that this was going to be a very long flight. I asked the lady if she wanted to switch seats with me to avoid her seat being kicked the entire flight as the baby was right behind her. She didn't want to trade as she liked the window seat. Okay, was hoping for the best!
No further kicking...so now came snack time. The lady asked the flight attendant what was the snack, the not-so cheery flight attendant showed her the magazine of choices. I was telling the lady that she had to pay for any snack items. She was confused and dazed and when it came time to get the food, she declined any snacks. Then the drink cart came and the lady wanted a snack. So back to the first flight attendant, what was available, how much did it cost, she stated she had $20, I told her she had to pay by credit card only. She stated she didn't think she had a credit card...I was going to pay for it if she didn't but then found a visa gift card her daughter had given her. She also ordered white tea...never heard of that. So she finally got set and she was a happy camper.
Second round of drinks later into the flight and the lady ordered white tea again. The ever-so-cheery flight attendant gave her plain tea. I told the flight attendant the lady ordered white tea, got the milk, weird combination. Anyhoo, then the lady is shifting around holding her tea an spilling all over herself. I grabbed some more napkins off the cart to help. She continues to move around and continued to spill more tea, I asked her what she wanted and she was looking for her other half of her muffin. I held her tea for her so she could avoid spilling more since she was spilling onto me by now.
Our flight is coming to an end, finally, so now the lady is searching frantically for something. I again ask her what she is looking for. She is looking for her reading glasses. She is trying hard to pull her carry on bag from the floor, I help her with that. She searches frantically every nook and cranny. In the outside pocket, she pulls out a pair of scissors that are at least 6 1/2" long, I was wondering how she was able to get thru security with that. I know passengers can now carry scissors onto the plane, but this pair was pretty big. Anyway, she continued to look thru her fanny pack, her carry on again, her coat, her seat. I asked her questions about if she had them when she boarded. I continued to help her look thru her fanny pack again, her carry on(Ground Hog Day), then she got side tracked and was frantic about her luggage tag, she couldn't find it and thought her boarding pass was the luggage tag sticker. I showed her mine and she did find it, so I pulled the little square sticker off and stuck it onto her boarding pass so it could be found easier.
About to land, still no site of her glasses, but she continues to look. I told her I would look under all the seats when we landed. Sure enough, when I asked the girls behind us, her glasses were under her seat. So I help her get her jacket on, get her carry on bag, get her newspaper that she kept dropping and off we go. I sure hope she found her way to the luggage claim area!! I had to get some food for myself, hadn't eaten anything but the three bites of my muffin from early morning. I ordered my usual, a hamburger Happy Meal from Micky D's. Oh so tastey!
I made it home safely, my mom took care of getting my kids here and there. Of course, my hubby was out of town Sunday for the day visiting our oldest daughter, but I had everything and everyone covered. It's always good to be home!!!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
It's Official...
I'm heading to Korea in December...AGAIN! Finalized the flights and now I need to prepare for travel, it's coming up really soon! Really, I wasn't going to go this year, but it's Christmas time and I love bringing Christmas to the children we serve at Holt.
I always feel so blessed I can travel like I do and this trip, it holds a very special place in my heart and it always will.
I always feel so blessed I can travel like I do and this trip, it holds a very special place in my heart and it always will.
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