Betty's Place

10/04/2021

Oquenis....my dear friend, remembering all the good times.

This is the story of another extraordinary family adopting these precious triplets who are 2 yrs old, born premature at 7 months with various health issues, including partial paralysis that is treatable. Their amazing and loving parents have 6 biological children, three adopted teens from Russia, and now the triplets, oh, and their two firstborns now married have two children each! Yes, they are loving parents to 11 and have 4 grandchildren...Cyndy home schools, Paul is in the army and will be deployed to Afghanistan for one year. The triplets are SOOOO cute, thriving so fast, they have learned to say, “Hello”, bask in their parents love, and I am so blessed and honored to have them here.

14/08/2018

youth lacrosse, boys and girls lacrosse, New Mexico lacrosse, Santa Fe Lacrosse, youth sports, high school lacrosse, new mexico lacrosse

06/03/2012

Hi Betty,

I have been thinking of you so much the past few days as you close the house. Such wonderful memories of that place for so many of us. I have been meaning to send you some pictures of our visit last June. I especially love the kids on the couch. I am attaching two of the teens that were with us last summer, and one from 1995 of the babies. It is wonderful to know that Marina (in the pink with lots of hair) and Becca (in the blue making a strange face) are now the closest of friends even though one lives in Minnesota and one lives in Toronto. It all started at Betty’s Place.

Also, Leah Capaldini (the big girl on the couch with babies) is now a college friend of Kara’s at Augsburg.

So many memories; so many lifelong friendships. I wanted to post these pictures for your website, but I have not crossed that technology threshold yet, so please feel free to pass this on.

Keep in touch Tia Betty. If you are heading to New York or Florida, I know we will be seeing you!

We love you !

Mary Lee & the Underberg Family

26/02/2012

Who would imagine that 27 years could fly by so quickly!

Seems like yesterday that my arms and the doors of Betty's Place flew opened to receive, love, advise, and care for so many hundreds of families. The walls tell the story!

Thank you all so much for being part of my life, I am so blessed. The residence was never a job for me, but rather another house where my family lived, and where I loved to be each and every day and night, hugging, kissing , feeding, burping, laughing, consoling, explaining, dancing and calming fears. Being your friends and part of your beginnings as a family gave me tremendous joy.

BETTY'S PLACE has come to a happy ending...but, Tia Betty isn’t ending! You are all part of my history also. I will always be here for you and yours. Rafa and I have closed one of the most special "chapters" of our life, and are thrilled with the new chapter that is about to open. Lot's of plans and a very bright future ahead, yes, we are coming closer to our children and YOU!

STAY TUNED!

PS: All the photos in our “WALL OF FAME” will come along with us, so that I can document them. I could never leave those memories behind. Thank you for your love, we feel the same about each and every one of you and your children.

25/02/2012

Who would imagine that 27 years could fly by so quickly!

Seems like yesterday that my arms and the doors of Betty's Place flew opened to receive, love, advise, and care for so many hundreds of families. The walls tell the story!

Thank you all so much for being part of my life, I am so blessed. The residence was never a job for me, but rather another house where my family lived, and where I loved to be each and every day and night, hugging, kissing , feeding, burping, laughing, consoling, explaining, dancing and calming fears. Being your friends and part of your beginnings as a family gave me tremendous joy.

BETTY'S PLACE has come to a happy ending...but, Tia Betty isn’t ending! You are all part of my history also. I will always be here for you and yours. Rafa and I have closed one of the most special "chapters" of our life, and are thrilled with the new chapter that is about to open. Lot's of plans and a very bright future ahead, yes, we are coming closer to our children and YOU!

STAY TUNED!

PS: All the photos in our “WALL OF FAME” will come along with us, so that I can document them. I could never leave those memories behind. Thank you for your love, we feel the same about each and every one of you and your children.

25/02/2012

Who would imagine that 27 years could fly by so quickly!

Seems like yesterday that my arms and the doors of Betty's Place flew opened to receive, love, advise, and care for so many hundreds of families. The walls tell the story!

Thank you all so much for being part of my life, I am so blessed. The residence was never a job for me, but rather another house where my family lived, and where I loved to be each and every day and night, hugging, kissing , feeding, burping, laughing, consoling, explaining, dancing and calming fears. Being your friends and part of your beginnings as a family gave me tremendous joy.

BETTY'S PLACE has come to a happy ending...but, Tia Betty isn’t ending! You are all part of my history also. I will always be here for you and yours. Rafa and I have closed one of the most special "chapters" of our life, and are thrilled with the new chapter that is about to open. Lot's of plans and a very bright future ahead, yes, we are coming closer to our children and YOU!

STAY TUNED!

PS: All the photos in our “WALL OF FAME” will come along with us, so that I can document them. I could never leave those memories behind. Thank you for your love, we feel the same about each and every one of you and your children.

Who would imagine that 27 years could fly by so quickly!

Seems like yesterday that my arms and the doors of Betty's Place flew opened to receive, love, advise, and care for so many hundreds of families. The walls tell the story!

Thank you all so much for being part of my life, I am so blessed. The residence was never a job for me, but rather another house where my family lived, and where I loved to be each and every day and night, hugging, kissing , feeding, burping, laughing, consoling, explaining, dancing and calming fears. Being your friends and part of your beginnings as a family gave me tremendous joy.

BETTY'S PLACE has come to a happy ending...but, Tia Betty isn’t ending! You are all part of my history also. I will always be here for you and yours. Rafa and I have closed one of the most special "chapters" of our life, and are thrilled with the new chapter that is about to open. Lot's of plans and a very bright future ahead, yes, we are coming closer to our children and YOU!

STAY TUNED!

PS: All the photos in our “WALL OF FAME” will come along with us, so that I can document them. I could never leave those memories behind. Thank you for your love, we feel the same about each and every one of you and your children.

24/12/2011

The streets are quiet, most Bogotanos are gone, no traffic, blue sunny skies continue. The fortunate are celebrating Christmas with family, friends and loved ones, and we pray for the not so fortunate to never give up hope of better days to come. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR FRIENDS,PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, AUNTS UNCLES, ALL THE CHILDREN AND BABIES THAT HAVE PASSED THRU BETTY'S PLACE!!!! We too are so thankful that you are all home united with your families and enjoying the true meaning of the holiday!

22/12/2011

Many of our fans may be familiar with the KidSave program or its concept, and for this reason I am sharing a part of Randi Thompson's KidSave newsletter, one that means a lot to Betty's Place, as we were so fortunate to meet Scott Placek thru BVS, and become a small part of the adoption of his boys, one by one he relentlessly forged ahead with their adoptions. Randi's dream of making adoptions possible for the older orphans, the forgotten ones, has become a successful reality. Thank you Randi, your dream was heard and hundreds of older children are celebrating this Holiday in loving homes with loving families. We at Betty's Place salute you....

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A Real Life Hero - Scott Placek Brings Pedro Home

Scott Placek, an attorney from Austin, Texas, received the first Kidsave Landrieu Champion for Kids Award on December 8th at the Kidsave Annual Holiday Dinner. The award, named for US Senator Mary Landrieu, a tireless fighter for families for children, is being given to Placek because of his heroic work adopting and reuniting three brothers whose parents were killed by Guerillas in the jungles of Colombia.

In December of 2001, in Guaybal, Colombia, Pablo Antonio Velasquez, was murdered by the Guerillas. He left behind his widow and four sons, Pablo, Pedro, Cristian and Robinson. Two months later his wife was killed and the boys moved to live with different relatives and friends. Eventually all the boys went into the care of the government, but in different cities. Their relationships to one another were unknown by the authorities.

Fast forward to 2005 -- Scott Placek is an attorney living in Texas. Cristian is selected to travel to Austin as part of Kidsave's Summer Miracles Program. Placek met Cristian and moved ahead to adopt him. Once Cristian was home, Placek learned that he still had three other brothers living in Colombia - Pedro, Robinson and Pablo. Placek hired an investigator to find the brothers.

Once located, Placek adopted Robinson. However, in the process of adopting Pedro, Placek found that the implementation of the Hague Treaty on Inter-Country Adoption made it impossible because Pedro exceeded the age of 16. So Scott undertook changing the law through passage of the Adoption Simplification Act and persisted in pushing the government to develop guidelines for implementation that would enable Pedro legal entry to the US. Pedro joined Scott's family in October of this year -- now he has his brothers back and a Dad who is committed to him. Pablo remains in Colombia. He is in college and working. Scott assists him as needed and the boys remain in close contact.

16/12/2011

Colombian Hot Chocolate...yummmmmm, the "real deal".
Comes in instant form now, so no more need for pot and wooden molino

This hot chocolate is popular all around Colombia, especially in Bogotá, the countries capital. Hot chocolate is a staple in almost every Colombian home. In my

16/12/2011

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/kWSACC4uqi3n8PYGLthf

BETTY´S PLACE, Okenis, Alicia, Ma. Elena, & Leidis wish you a FELIZ NAVIDAD & PROSPERO ANO. Thank you for your love, appreciation and loyalty!

12/12/2011

Sleepy Sleep
by Sue Stafford Kuligowski
(Written for Lauren in Dec. 2007 at Betty's Place in Bogota)

Sleepy Sleep

I know in time you won’t remember
All this time we’ve spent together—
Me and daddy rocking you by a string—
As you sat giggling in the Betty’s Place swing.

Refusing to sleep with all your might
Hoping to stay up all through the night
Your stubborn fists fight the air—
The sound of your voice is everywhere!

In the city close and distant—it’s right outside the window—
So many noises…so much to hear:
Delivery truck engines, whistles, muted car beeps,
Low talking, soft footsteps, and whispered “Sleepy sleep sleeps.”

Your eyes stare fierce
And sometimes close for a minute
Then open to check the space
To see if we are still in it.

Your tiny legs kick your blankey
In hopes of finding footing—
Your body squirms to sit upright—
When you think we aren’t looking.

So much energy you have, Lauren,
As we stare down at you—
You share a slight grin—
Perhaps an offer of a truce?

We wish you to rest now
So you can visit beautiful places—
Feel safe in the warmth of your surroundings
And think of friendly faces.

So sleep to dream…until the ‘morrow.
This is the time we need to borrow—
We’ll be together, I promise you—
Sleep to dream, my sweet, sweet child.