ConGRADuations Drew!

Drew has been so excited about his "congraduation"! On Friday he finally got to hear "Pomp & Circumstance" and receive that diploma!! He was unbelievably adorable during the whole thing. He & his class performed some songs and did little movements to them... Drew's movements weren't exactly LITTLE! He was SO animated!!! Life of the party, this child! He even broke out into spontaneous introductions of his class to the audience when he realized that the teacher hadn't done it. OY! We were very proud of him and all he's learned this year, however. And being self-confident is never a bad thing :) He has made some great friends and it's hard to believe next year he's a KINDERGARTENER!! Our little boy is growing up too quickly!

Carrie, your big brother was missing you at his graduation! We hope you come home before school starts so we can all have some time together!!! We pray you're on your way to us VERY soon!!

We got PA!!!

How many times now have I told you about something we needed and then had to write back immediately to tell you that the prayer request was just answered, practically at the same time of writing it??? (Did that sentence make an ounce of sense?)
ANYWAY... I just wrote this morning about praying for our PA. I really did not expect it for at least another week or two. But an afternoon check of email reveals that our prayer was answered today! We have our PA (PreApproval) from the US Embassy!!!! WHOOO HOOOO!!! Thank you, Jesus!!!
Now pray that we're already in PGN and have been recently kicked out because of no PA so that we can be resubmitted with it :)) This very well could be the case... we just have no idea where our case is at the moment!

"Always Serious"

That's what I learned about our little girl at 3:oo this morning when I woke up and went online....that she is always serious. If I was already unable to sleep, I certainly wasn't going to be able to after that news. We're such a goofy family... I think the news hit me hard!! But I am hopeful that she will be a happier child when she reaches our home! I believe that God is saving her for us and He is doing a work in her life the way He knows best. We know that foster moms don't always experience the true nature of our children... for whatever reason. Perhaps it's because even babies know who their REAL moms are... and they aren't complete until they reach home!!

I never had the chance to learn anything about Drew during the adoption process (other than that he was a really good sleeper). Sometimes I think it was for the best!! It's really hard to imagine who Carrie is, who she will be and how we'll all gel together as a family! God has a plan and He's brought us to her...... we'll continue to walk in faith and trust.

Well, here are a few of the 30 pictures that were emailed to me, taken just last night. There were two 30 second or less video clips that also came-- REALLY fast Spanish. I have NO idea what they were saying other than the "serious baby" part. No smiles, but some cute pictures! She is such a cutie even without a smile!! My heart swells when I look at her. She's starting to grow hair, enough to wear one of the clips we sent. She's also wearing the sweater and pants we sent. They were 9 mos. or 6-9 mos if I recall correctly... so she's still small! Hurray :) I have a closet full of 12 to 18 month clothes waiting for her!

PLEASE PRAY OUR BABY HOME!!!!! And pray for our PA to come SOON!

Today Is Mother's Day!

I just learned that today is Mother's Day in Guatemala! I had no idea, but now I feel so excited that I get TWO Mother's Days!!! (They may have a lot of holidays in Guatemala, but they sure don't know how to put them on weekends!)We're going out for dinner as a family tonight and that's just sheer coincidence :) I'm celebrating!!!

My little bumble... I'm sorry we're not together for this, your first Mother's Day. I cannot wait until NEXT year when I have both of my children home and we're a together family at last!

This photo is of me and Drewby - taken yesterday at his preschool. They had a Mother's Day mini-concert and brunch for us! It was sooooo cute! Drew did the little welcome before they sang! Dopey me had the video camera in the wrong mode, so I don't have as clear (or loud) a video as I would have liked. But it was precious!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all my girls and a special hug to all of you still waiting for your children to be home, too!!! Next year will be better :)

When High School is 20 Years Ago!!!

Okay, I can't seem to change the layout of these pictures!!! This is driving me crazy and I keep erasing the pictures on accident by trying to move them... but I can't pick just one!!! My friends all looked so fabulous (and thankfully we've all grown past the BIG NJ 80s hair!) and it was SO great to see them again after way too many years have passed!! I know several of you have been curious about how the night went and what I wore etc., etc. Well, you'll have to call me for details!! Some things you just don't want to write on your daughter's blog ;) The night was bordering on bizarre and my husband said next time he's coming with me. We'll leave it at that! While I'm glad that I went, I really wish that it was better attended! There were so many people that I wanted to re-connect with and hoped they'd be there. Most weren't! I hate losing touch like that.

Carrie, when you're graduating high school I'll be 56 years old! I still think I'm young until I consider that scary thought! But considering that several of my classmates are currently pregnant or have recently given birth... I'm not alone! What are we thinking!!!???!!

SOME News Is Better Than NO News!

Well, we finally... no, FINALLLLLY received a medical update for Carrie! While some of our friends get these lovely little notes about what their children are doing developmentally, etc. and a handful of photos. We got this, "April 26> Physically and mentally healthy including hearing and eye exam> No infectious contageous diseases. 17 lb 2 oz, length 67 cm> Head 41 cm ". C'est toute! But it's better than hearing nothing at all. At least I know she's seemingly healthy and is not 20 lbs yet! I may still have a chance at squeezing her into the 12-18 mos. clothes I have purchased so far :) Lord willing!

The other REALLY good news is that our agent is leaving for Guatemala on Friday and she is going to be seeing Carrie!! That means more pictures and most likely a video for us!!! HURRAY :)) I'll post'em as soon as I get'em!

Prayer Requests for May

Well, April brought us the good news on DNA testing and put us in Family Court in Guatemala. Other than that....we have NO news! We may already be out of court, but we have not been told so. We now await the mysterious PreApproval (or PA). Some families have been waiting over 60 days for this currently! Our clock started ticking when the American Embassy in Guatemala received the DNA test results... probably around April 9th or so. So, there could be quite a wait yet!
The other very important process is called PGN. It's the time where the Guatemalan system looks over all of our paperwork with a "fine-toothed comb" (in some cases an ultra fine comb!). We could get "kicked out" for any number of problems, some of which may be things WE have to fix and some may be issues with Carrie's stuff in G. IF we enter PGN WITHOUT having the PA.... well, then at some point they will have to kick us out and then we'll start it all over again when PA finally comes in!!!! The only good thing about starting PGN before PA is here is that if there are any other problems, maybe they'll find them early and we can work on getting those fixed!!
Let me just say... THANK YOU, GOD that this is YOUR issue and not mine! I don't think I'd ever be able to handle this all without You!
Let us all also say, THANK YOU FRIENDS for your prayers!!! We are really keeping it together by the strength of the Lord and we're calmly awaiting Carrie's home-coming! Even Drew is handling it all so well!!
Can you find our prayer requests and praises in that? I could enumerate if need be! I think you're all pretty smart, though!!! :) LOVE YOU!