FRANKLIN COUNTY, PA - There never seems to be a quiet moment in the Maurer household, and it was all foreign for 8-year-old Nathalie.
Julia and Matt Maurer adopted Nathalie from an orphanage in Haiti three years ago. It took two years before the paperwork was finalized. But before she could come home to them an earthquake hit.
"We were constantly wondering how she was doing," says Julia. "What her health was like. What she was doing that day."
"It was just a little," says Will Maurer, her brother. "Well a whole lot just really scary, because I was worried she wouldn't be able to make it here."
But shortly after she did. She has four siblings and has learned to speak English fluently.
"We get to watch her grow and develop," says Julia. "It's pretty neat."
Nathalie still remembers her life in Haiti and someday she says she'll go back to visit.
"She has an interest in Haiti," says Julia. "I think it'll be something we watch develop as she gets older, and we obviously would encourage that if she would want to."
Even though Nathalie is happy to be here she says it's still an adjustment.
"I thought it was really freezing," says Nathalie Maurer. "I went outside and wouldn't put my boots on."
Julia and Matt Maurer adopted Nathalie from an orphanage in Haiti three years ago. It took two years before the paperwork was finalized. But before she could come home to them an earthquake hit.
"We were constantly wondering how she was doing," says Julia. "What her health was like. What she was doing that day."
"It was just a little," says Will Maurer, her brother. "Well a whole lot just really scary, because I was worried she wouldn't be able to make it here."
But shortly after she did. She has four siblings and has learned to speak English fluently.
"We get to watch her grow and develop," says Julia. "It's pretty neat."
Nathalie still remembers her life in Haiti and someday she says she'll go back to visit.
"She has an interest in Haiti," says Julia. "I think it'll be something we watch develop as she gets older, and we obviously would encourage that if she would want to."
Even though Nathalie is happy to be here she says it's still an adjustment.
"I thought it was really freezing," says Nathalie Maurer. "I went outside and wouldn't put my boots on."
