Editor's Note: Window on the Clearwater has joined the Wednesday's Child network to help spread the word about children that are waiting for families to give them the loving care that they need. Each Wednesday we will profile a different child. For more information about Wednesday's Child and how you can be involved check the web site at: http://www.idahowednesdayschild.org/.

Hannah & Daniel

Age: 11-8

The bond between siblings can be a remarkable strength in tough times. That's what has sustained Hannah and Daniel and continues to do so. Could you be the adaptable, inclusive family Hannah and Daniel need?

Hannah

"My name's Hannah. The thing you should know about my brother Daniel is he can be funny. He has a very good sense of humor. Sometimes we fight, but we love each other. We have a big brother, Andrew. He's nice. He always likes to watch TV with us. Like last night, he let me watch my favorite movie and he stayed with us until we went to sleep. Sometimes he likes to play games and he likes to tickle us and make us laugh."

Happy, creative, artistic, fun loving, impulsive, expressive and energetic are all words that describe Hannah. She can get shy or anxious at times and will avoid the person or situation that's worrying her. Once she becomes comfortable, she is ready and willing to be friendly, have fun and engage in conversation.

Hannah is learning to express her emotions in constructive ways, such as charting descriptions of all the emotions of people in her immediate vicinity. This helps with self-awareness and regulation, long before feelings overwhelm her.

Hannah is discovering the nuances of friendships. Impulsivity and attention are social and educational challenges that sometimes complicate her life, especially when role models are not nearby to show her or give prompts. Close supervision, fair rules and the reliable routine of organized parents are all crucial elements needed by Hannah in a family. She is learning that good choices bring good feelings and more of the fun that is so much a part of her personality. Her love of fun is definitely the way to her heart.

Daniel

"I'm Daniel. I like baseball and I like pitching. I can throw hard because I practice skipping stones. I can skip a rock clear across the lake! I'm learning Tae Kwon Do. It's really fun. I start with a white belt and I'll get a black one at the end, but not for a long time.

At school, I like PE and Music, because I like to be outside and I like to sing. When I get home from school I like to play with Nerf guns and my toys. And I play with my dog, Ukie. He is a Chiweenie. He's brown all over, except on his stomach. He sometimes plays fetch and he likes his belly rubbed. Sometimes he wants to sleep with me.

I love my grandma and grandpa. They're nice and they're never mean to me and I always get along with them and I always will love them no matter what. And I love my [older] brother Andrew. Sometimes he plays Donkey Kong battles and other games with me. And Hannah is nice and we play Kong battles together too. Sometimes she is mean to me, but I don't really care because I know she loves me and I love her. When we get mad I say I'm sorry and I give my sister a hug and we get over it.

The things I look forward to doing with a family are caring for them and loving them."

Daniel is a very happy, adventurous boy. He likes being the center of attention and makes friends easily. He enjoys school and does well there. At home, Daniel enjoys reading, playing board games and watching movies. He also needs and wants activities that plug into his active, outdoorsy interests. Those help him use his abundant supply of energy.

Daniel is smart and does quite well at school. He loves his family and siblings. He is well-liked by his friends at school, as well as his teachers.

The best way adoptive parents could bond with Daniel is to love his sister and keep him in contact with his older brother, Andrew and the paternal grandparents with whom he and his brother and sister have lived for some time. Your support of these relationships will be key in helping this boy bond with your family. It will put you high on his list of people he can trust.

Hannah and Daniel need a stable couple or single parent that will remain committed to them and pay close attention to individual needs. The adoption team will be looking for skilled, accepting, and flexible parents who understand how to enhance emotional healing.

Hannah and Daniel want to stay in close contact with their older brother and grandparents who live in the Boise, Idaho area. They also have another older brother in Oregon they are getting to know. Honoring these relationships will be crucial to how they see themselves and the possibilities of happiness within your family. Visits and invitations to be a part of family celebrations will help Hannah and Daniel accept the love they hope to feel in an adoptive home.

Portrait by Barb from Barb Bergeson Studio Gallery

To find out more about Hannah & Daniel, adoption or becoming a foster parent, email the Idaho CareLine (Please include your zip code and city.) or call 1-800-926-2588. You may be asked to provide this reference number: 30528.

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