THANKS SBP!

You gotta love getting goodies... especially when everyone is included. You were so sweet to think of the boys too! I loved it all THANK YOU!!! ( and wrapped so cute too)



AND I enjoy playing detective... there was no return on the box BUT there was a phone number scribbled on it... are you from South Carolina?

Just to get you excited...

I am the keeper of the LIST. My agency has a private forum for it's members and we can use it to talk, ask questions, vent, etc. I recently took on the role of keeping the running record of the who's and what's in PGN. It has really made me be able to track everyone and watch it closely. You see I counted last night. We are # 9 on the list of people in PGN... meaning that there are 9 people in front of us ( my agency only... not all Guate adoptions... I would guess that number in the hundreds or even thousands). And to take it a step further 4 people got out yesterday ( not of that 9 I mentioned earlier) So you see... if there are 2 more days of 4 people getting out that leaves me at the top of the list waiting to get out... and that is such a good feeling! Now we really are not seeing anyone get out before their 6 week mark, but a little birdie told me that we also are not seeing any kick outs (right now anyway) past the 4 week mark. If I can make it in until next Friday... then it just might be smooth sailing! OH PLEASE!!!!

What a year... and what I have learned.

Today marks one year... We signed our contract with our agency one year ago today. I faxed that baby back with smile on my face having no idea what the year had in store, but knowing that God had a plan for our family to grow through adoption. At that point, we had not told anyone... we thought we could keep a secret for a while. In fact, we thought we would keep the secret up until referral... but in this family... that just does not happen.
I have learned a lot in the past year, and I am exhausted with all the information. I have learned how to prepare a dossier (almost entirely 2 times because I used a family member as a notary), I have answered strange questions about my beliefs, my parenting and my relationships including my lifestyles and community events. I have taken parenting classes and learned a lot about parenting a child of a different ethnic culture, and bonding and attaching to a child who is grieving the loss of the only family she has known.I have learned that not only do I have to deal with my own emotions of this adoption roller coaster, I have to deal with how other people feel about my adoption and what their opinions are. I have learned about tears of joy as I sat in tears staring at a picture of a sweet tiny baby knowing that the child was one God selected to be our daughter. I have held her tiny little body knowing that I would only get to spend a few days with her and I would have to hand her back until a "process" could be completed. I have seen the phrases "daddy's girl" and "wrapped around your little finger" written across my husbands face.I have watched 3 little boys declare that a picture is their sister and have not a seconds hesitation.I have learned that shopping for girl stuff can get me into a heap of trouble, and a closet full of clothes. I have learned that people who only know you through the common ground of adoption can become the lifesaver you need when you are drowning in paperwork/ sadness/ anxiety/ excitement/ and fear. I have learned to put my desires aside and watch a child grow throughout infancy through medical reports and random photo ops. I have learned way too much about the politics in a foreign country ( probably more so than even my own). I have been scared to death on several occasions believing that my child might be in danger in her home country. I have seen a volcano up close and personal.I have watched my mom understand the love I felt the moment she met her. I have become airport customs savvy. I have made friends in another country and miss their kindness. I have learned what "giving it to God" means. I have read and learned more about prayer, and feel that my prayer life has grown and flourished because of this journey. When the hard times came I learned what it feels like to be carried by God's mighty hand. I have learned a lot about friendships, both moving and painful.I have memorized more Bible verses and can recall them when needed. I have learned that I am not the scardy cat I thought I was and became an official big girl going to Guatemala alone. I have learned that with God, I am stronger than I ever thought I could be. I have discovered that my heart knows a new level of love. I have discovered that I can do whatever it takes to complete this journey. I have discovered the meaning of "the years fly by but a day last forever". I have discovered a new me... a new husband... 3 new brothers... a NEW FAMILY!

AND SO MUCH MORE!!!!

OH THE JOY...

Of new childhood discoveries... like discovering how to blow a bubble!

If only...

I made this a long time ago in hopes to have been able to use it a long time ago... it is still early yet to hope for freedom from PGN but maybe if I post it early they will see it and let her out early ( Ha-right... that is what they do in Guate... spend thier days reading my blog)

I wish dreams would really come true...

Because last night I had a dream that I got the wonderful "Eliza is OUT" phone call this week. I dreamt that it came after her only being in 3 weeks ( and that is Wednesday). Now I know that does not really happen... but if I could will it to I would, because I just want her home so bad. I believe... I have got my mustard seed... and I believe... she is coming soon.

Wonder what she is dreaming about? I hope it is me or my voice... ( I did send a recording of all of us singing and talking and reading books to her)

New Pictures

Look at her! I am so glad she looks happy... she just does not look the same to me as when I have her. COME ON PGN...

Who's your agency

I am posting this on behalf of someone with my agency... if you are adopting from Guatemala and not using HAPS or For This Child, please send your agency this letter.

If you are ADOPTING FROM GUATEMALA and you are with an agency or facilitator that is not HAPS or For This Child, PLEASE EMAIL THE FOLLOWING LETTER TO YOUR AGENCY. If you are NOT ADOPTING but you have a blog, please POST THIS REQUEST ON YOUR BLOG.
*************************
Dear [agency-name],If your agency has a case in process that contains a Guatemala City cedula or birth-certificate that is missing the Civil Registry signature (usually the mayor’s signature), we have important information to share.




According to PGN, if your case has not yet received a previo for the missing signature, it will. The letter from the Civil Registry and/or the Mayor of Guatemala City is no longer sufficient to satisfy the previo. The four PGN assessors have made a joint decision that these unsigned documents MUST be signed. However, at this time there is NO ONE in Guatemala City with the authority to sign these documents!




We are Cheri xxxxxx and Erin xxxxxx, in the process of adopting Guatemalan babies through For This Child and HAPS, respectively. After many months working on this issue separately, our agencies are now collaborating to find a solution. They have discussed this with the PGN reviewers, Barrios, and the Mayor of GC directly. The conclusion is that the mayor does NOT have the authority to sign a document issued under another mayor’s tenure. Therefore, we must file an acta with a different branch of PGN that will require the Civil Registry of GC to 1) designate and authorize a person to sign these documents, and 2) order that person to do so.




The PGN reviewer on Erin’s case currently has 12 cases that have been kicked out for this reason. If all 8 reviewers have a similar number of cases, that means 80-100 cases are in this same predicament! We have been advised to find as many of these other cases as possible so that we can ALL file the acta together. We have strength in numbers.




If you have, or know of, a case that contains a Guatemala City cedula or birth-certificate that is missing the Civil Registry signature, please contact:
Karla Ordonez, with HAPS: cell 5555-3610, office 2332-9040Traci Orr, with For This Child: US #214-370-8436, traci@forthischild.org




Thank you for your time,Cheri and Erin

Coming down from the mountains...

We had a GREAT time with the Dodd family in Gatlinburg.( I did not include them in pics because I did not ask permission to) It was just what I needed to get away for a few days. The beauty around us was breathtaking.( Disclaimer: sorry for the full page of pics... I knew my family wanted to see a few)

We all enjoyed a little relaxation and fun.

And even let the boys enjoy the hot tub for a few minutes... they LOVED it!

The daddies and the big kids went way up into the mountains to see what they could see. I do not think they will soon forget it.




We also spent a good part of one day at the Ripley's Believe it or not Aquarium... WOW! Silas loved the fish!


There was also a BIG underground tunnel that you rode through. It housed all kinds of ocean life... including a few huge sharks that were inches away... check out their faces ( even daddy)




I know it is hard to tell... but this big guy was just on the other side of a piece of glass... CHILLS!



Baylor loves to take pictures and probably took the best picture of the day... how did he not get the reflections in the glass???


Our boys enjoyed a lot of other firsts... including riding on a track with go-carts and playing a round of Putt-putt.





Thanks for letting us crash your trip, Dodd family, we loved every minute of it!

Spring Break or BUST...

For the next few days, we are going here...


Where our main item of interest is this (Ripley's Believe it Or Not Aquarium)...


And our boys think that just because we are in the mountains and in the woods, we will see this ( which would be the highlight of their lives... and just might make me lose mine)

A little green fun...

Baylor's Kindergarten teacher evidently sent a letter to some Leprechauns so that they might come visit the classroom. They had no idea what mischief they might cause. They have been spending every available second (that the class is out of the room) causing mischief and fun. They swam in the potty and turned the water green. They left their footprints in the paint they spilled, they turned over chairs and moved all kinds of stuff around. The kids are all over it... and today they had to bring in their family fun project of a Leprechaun Trap... he is our glittery rendition

( Disclaimer: I was really not into this idea... but Baylor's teacher has made it a lot of fun and stressed the fact that they only came because she sent them a note and they they leave ( if they are not caught) on Friday- which helped ease the fears of my 4 year old)

The plan of the trap: The Leprechaun is attracted to the glittery thing, climbs up the ladder, sees the coins on the inside, gets so greedy he falls in after them and is stuck where he cannot climb out.

Surprise!

Well, I auctually got these surprise visit pictures yesterday. But it was after I blogged so I thought I would save them for today. The e-mail stated that Eliza is now eating cereal and veggies. That she likes her bath at 11AM and goes to bed at 10PM and still wakes at 3 AM, 5 AM and 8 AM. Oh sister... I cannot wait to get you on a Jones schedule. We go to bed early here... mom is in bed my 10 PM.



Well, I auctually got these yesterday. But it was after I blogged so I thought I would save them for today. The e-mail stated that Eliza is now eating cereal and veggies. That she likes her bath at 11AM and goes to bed at 10PM and still wakes at 3 AM, 5 AM and 8 AM. Oh sister... I cannot wait to get you on a Jones schedule. We go to bed early here... mom is in bed my 10 PM.

6 month Dr. visit

I was so excited to get some Dr. visit pictures this morning. My little monkey is up to 13 lbs. 4 oz. That just blows my mind... she is so tiny. That little outfit she is in is a 0-3 months and it is still a little big from the looks of it. I cannot wait to get my hands on her again. My heart is really aching for her today. I look at those pictures and I just long for her... and long to fix her hair, ummm... differently. We are ONE week into PGN today. That means in our house and hearts 5 more to go... that is what we are praying for...

I bring you... my little monkey girl

President Bush in Guatemala

Today George W. is in Guatemala. On his agenda, he plans to discuss adoption with the current President of Guatemala, Oscar Berger. I pray that George has knowledge and knows what to say to President Berger that will help things along and not hinder them. Prayer for you today, George W. ( OH... and George, if you get a chance could you just grab Eliza and bring her home to me... it would save me a lot of time and stress).

Nothing to say...

And probably will not have much to say... especially adoption related for the next 6 weeks... because I believe 6 weeks is all it is going to take, and will continue to believe it until someone of importance tells me otherwise...

So, here is a little something for fun...

Just to pass the time...

I am not going crazy... I just love these fun blogging things and thought it would be neat to watch my time tick away...


Free Countup Timers at WishAFriend.com

MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE

I wish I had the words to explain how this feels... perhaps this sums it up...

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." Romans 8:26

I ask you to PLEASE pray for us. PGN is currently taking 6-8 weeks assuming that there are no PREVIOS (kick-outs). I am praying with all my might that there are no previos and that we can hear the words you are OUT in 6 weeks ( the week of April 18th to be exact) Of course I would take it before then, but it does not happen often. We are getting so close... that I can feel it in my heart and in my bones.

FATHER GOD... WE PRAISE YOU FOR THIS!!!!

6 Months Old

Today, Eliza is 6 months old. When we started this, I was very hopeful she would be home by six months of age. It does make me a little sad, but I feel very fortunate to be moving forward again. We should be in PGN sometime this week. And although anything can happen... I am going to count my six weeks and PRAY!

Because he is 2 and he is cute!

My sweet Silas is 2 years old today. His life is going to change the most when Eliza comes home to be with us. He is a momma's boy and prefers just to have me sit still all day so that he can occupy my lap. He has a sweet, kind, and loving spirit... he is going to love being a big brother... he just does not know it yet. Happy Birthday my little man... I LOVE YOU!

This just in...