11 Months!

Happy 11/12ths, Baby!!

We cannot believe that in ONE short month (time does fly!) that our little angel will be ONE year old!!! We have had to accept the disappointing fact that she will not be able to celebrate her first birthday at home. It's hard to accept... but part of adoption is accepting hard facts, so it would seem!

We are still in PGN and waiting for the blessed day when we're done with that court. The US Embassy has now added another DNA test once the adoption is complete (but before the children can leave Guatemala) to prove that the child leaving the country is the same child that participated in the original DNA test with birthmother. EXHAUSTING!!! It will drag things out another week or two, hopefully not longer.

SO... even if we got out of PGN today (which would be impossible) there are still plenty o'hoops to jump through after that's done. Not to mention that we have to wait for Carrie's escort to be ready to go. We are assuming we'll have her home by Christmas.... but you know what happens when you assume ;)

PRAY!!!! Please!!!!

Newest Photos!

Our little girl is growing up! Her hair is growing, she has some teeth and she's obviously learning how to stand from the pictures we just received! Once again, she doesn't look very happy in most of the pictures... these are the best ones in the bunch. Still, I just wonder how I'll ever say "No" to those BIG brown eyes looking up at me!! She just might be able to walk all over me!!! Can't imagine what she'll get away with from Dan!!!!!

Getting new pictures is exciting and yet hard at the same time... it always seems to take me a couple of days to adjust to the "new Carrie"!! She changes so much each time!! In these pictures, she's just over 10 mos. old. I think she can pull lime green off rather well! (Even though I don't understand this outfit :) Maybe they're pajamas??)

Come home, Preciosa!!! We and so many others are praying you home SOON!!

When God Says, "No"

Well... it is certainly a shock to the system to learn that everything you THOUGHT was happening is not at all what IS happening! We were fervently praying for an August home-coming... putting those petitions before the Lord and waiting to see what He'd say. The answer is apparently, "No." Knowing He knows what is ultimately best for us.... it's okay, we're fine. But it's still hard news to realize that Carrie may very well not be home for her first birthday. We missed Drew's first birthday... life went on; his second birthday was a HUGE deal instead!! So, maybe it's best if we have it the same for both of our children.

Last night I went on "Chat" with the director of our agency and other families. While last week I was told by my agency that we were still in the last level of court ("PGN") and had never been "kicked out" (what they do to you when you have a document that needs fixing)... it was not true. We were kicked out for a problem with one of Carrie's documents somewhere along the way. It was apparently very hard to fix. We will be going back IN to PGN this Thursday. I thought we'd be OUT by Thursday.... but now we start the 8-9 week wait ALLL OVER again! Miracles certainly do happen, and maybe our stay this time will be shorter... but we could get kicked out again, in truth. Pray that is not the case!!!

My only good news? Today my agent will see Carrie and take new photos of her and video!!! The photos we should get within a day or two... the video will take longer. But I cannot wait to see her! Our last pics are from May 18... almost 3 months ago!!! I bet she's changed so much!!


Thanks for your prayers! Our only August prayer request is: GET US OUT OF PGN, LORD!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!