We're home!

It's Sunday morning...1:25 a.m. and I'm beat! After a couple hours sleep, it has has been a long day. I traveled with the wild child and McKenna...excuse me, I mean "my sweet Cintia" and McKenna. Exhausting! McKenna is a trooper! She tolerates the meanness very well (not that it would change anything if she didn't tolerate it). Eventually, we will get a hold on the hitting and pinching...eventually the spitting...and the sassy mouth...well that one will take a while!

Our visa is a one year multi-entry visa expiring mid October 2010 (that was our ticket out of Guatemala). Her visa entry stamp (her ticket for how long she can stay in the country without filing an extension or leaving the country and re-entering for a new date stamp took a little work. The guy at immigration could only give 6 months...his supervisor could only give 6 months...and dang it...I did not want to have to file upteen thousand pages of paperwork and pay $300 for an extension. Soooooo...I was given the option of doing an appeal to the higher ups. So the girls and I went in the room with other folks who either didn't keep their immigration record clean or were begging for something like us. The guy who got our paperwork asked anther guy who said it had to go higher up. Finally, a very nice older gentleman said, "She's only 3 years old...no problem....give her 12 months. If you need longer, file an extension. " Apparently if she had been school age, it might have been different. Anyway....all went well.

I am going to bed. Kenny should be here in another hour. I have lots to share from the last couple of days with some great pictures but it will have to wait until later.

Blessings to you all!
April

We are coming home Saturday!

We have been approved for a visa! Thanks to good paperwork and working completely within the legal system of Guatemala, we were approved without any problems. We know that God took care of this just like He has everything else. He is the one that provided the paperwork! We pick it up on Friday at 11:00! God is never late, rarely early, but always on time!

Today's visit with McKenna's family was wonderful. Unfortunately, her half brother found work for a few days and took it because they needed the money so he did not get to come. But we did see Norma, Veronica, and baby Bertita! The baby was absolutely adorable and muy gordita! That means chubby. We spent several hours together, and then they left to head back to their town. Veronica, McKenna's half sister, began to cry as they left and went to kiss McKenna on the cheek. She was always stand-offish and sort of angry before. Her personality was always very different...as if she didn't trust us. Today things were different. I am sure her tears were happiness for McKenna and sadness of not being with her more...of sadness that their life is so much harder than ours and that she wishes Berta would have that kind of life...but mostly I think she was touched to know we care so much about them. When you suffer the hardships that they must endure to just survive, knowing someone loves you and cares about you changes your life completely. I have watched this family transform through these years. We have helped them along the way (not so much as to ruin their lives by too much interference and help) but by providing medical care and small amounts of money to just help them survive. We now sponsor them through Asofamilia (a charity to help birth families) so that they have nutritional support, healthcare, education, 4 visits a year from staff, and a way to communicate with us. Well today, full circle 7 years later, we sat and swooned over this beautiful baby who carries nothing genetic in our family nor anything that would tie her to us other than the precious gift that was given to us 7 years ago in our precious McKenna. Now we love this baby like she is part of our family....it is an amazing God given gift of adoption! I know some people like to keep adoptions closed but I cannot imagine not loving this precious family that is part of us now!

By the way, Norma (McKenna's birthmom) loved on McKenna the entire time...just like I do, stroking her hair and pampering her. McKenna had burned her hand earlier (every finger has blisters) so she had ice bags for pain relief. Norma would keep ice in them for her even emptying her glass into the bag. And the hair....oh my goodness...anyone who knows McKenna knows that she loves her long hair and refuses to cut it (even a trim sets her into a crying fit). Norma took her hair clip out and there it was hanging to her waist....long, beautiful black hair. Again, look what we would be missing if they weren't a part of our lives! Norma is very intelligent and is an incredible mother and grandmother. She would swoop her grandaughter onto her back, tie her on, and in minutes the baby was sleeping. She is really an amazing woman. My worry for Cintia is that she doesn't have this same legacy. I pray God gives her something equally as special so that she doesn't feel jealous of McKenna for this gift in her life.

Enjoy the pictures...Cintia posed for the cross-eyed picture when I asked her to do what she did for her visa photo session. Of course, she obliged! I couldn't resist sharing it. I told Kenny that we should have taken one like that to the embassy so she would look like there was something really wrong with her instead of picture perfect like she is! What a hoot! The other picture is obviously Berta (or Bertita as her Abuela (grandma Norma) calls her). She was named after McKenna's maternal grandmother who died before McKenna was born.

We offer many prayers of thanksgiving (especially after Kenny almost hit another motorcycle today...but thankfully his backseat driver yelled out in time!) and for everyone who has prayed for us along this journey!

Many Blessings to you all!

April

A laugh to remember!

I haven’t laughed that much in a very long time! Honestly, I almost wet my pants (although I can’t believe I just put that on this blog). Tears were streaming from almost every person in the Quick Photo of downtown Antigua! One picture was all we needed and every time the lady tried to snap the picture, Cintia went “Cheeeeeeeeeze!!!” with her eyes squinted shut and held the “pose” for longer than we could keep a straight face. She would frame her face with her hands then do something equally silly like pucker her lips while squinting her eyes. Then we would say, “Cintia, you have to open your eyes!” So she would cross her eyes on purpose at which point no one could keep from laughing which reverted her to “Cheeeeeeeeeze!” again. We then tried to tell her not to smile at all….so she would cross her eyes and stick her tongue out. Oh my goodness…it took at least 10 minutes and 2 different cameras (why the lady thought that would help I’ll never know) to get one little visa picture. We could have won America’s Funniest Home Videos had we caught it on film…that is unless we were disqualified for being in Guatemala…not quite sure how that works. Unfortunately, we did not have the video camera. The little Mayan family sitting there waiting for their pictures were cracking up just like us! Cintia is a stinker!

On the visa front, we never got the call or email about our appointment time tomorrow. Sooooooo, we are showing up. I'll update tomorrow with the news of who is making it home on Saturday...all of us or just Kenny. We shall see! We have a full day planned with a visit from McKenna's birth family. She is very excited! We will take pictures of her with her brand new niece and post them soon.

Keep those prayers going!

Blessings to you all!
April

To market, to market.....to buy a?????

Cintia sang this all through the streets of Antigua today. We went to the local mercado of Antigua and spent some dineros on some "stuffo!" We had a much needed day out and about.

Our favorite pediatrician and friend faxed our letter to the embassy this morning. We have our "Let our baby go!" letter to the embassy from Cintia's former pediatrician in Guatemala who saw her last Thursday. We have our letter saying we will pay for everything involving Cintia. And last but not least...honestly the most important piece of the puzzle...twe have the legal resolution from Cintia's judge or letter in this case...to the consulate...saying "Let these people take Cintia and go home!" We shot off a long detailed email to the embassy....to the one in charge of "Letting our baby go!" and hopefully will hear from him tomorrow with a time for our visa appointment on Wednesday. If we get one after he reads every little tidbit of the truth of the ENTIRE situation...we held nothing back here....we should get to "Take our baby home!" He knows it all...our wishes to go home until August...our intentions including the future adoption of our baby....our desire to sponsor Cintia ourselves without any organization involved...and our desire to do everything within the legal system of Guatemala and the US so that when all is said and done, Cintia's future is secure. Pray! Pray! Pray! I know this mountain is one that God can move. I really believe He already has....

Please pray for safe travels for McKenna's birthfamily tomorrow as they travel to the city with a new baby in tow. Pray for protection of the many sweet families here in Guatemala. When you see a motorcycle with 3 people...mom & dad with newborn baby sandwiched in between with no helmets for any of them....you get a new perspective for the dangers people here encounter. Truly I witnessed the above...while I was sitting outside a hospital where Kenny had just taken a 26 yr. old (who looked 16) that had colided with our vehicle (which Kenny was driving) only minutes earlier. This is the "incident" I mentioned earlier, and to say the least, it was unnerving for Kenny. Yet, in the end, the only damage done was fixable...a little damage to the car door and a few contusions for Minor who was a nice little guy who chooses to drive by the traffic laws of Guatemala (whoever gets there first or passes without getting hit wins!). Kenny was stopped & giving a left signal and was just starting to turn when Minor decided to pass on the inside (yes...they do that here whether it is legal or not), and he ran smack dab into the drivers door and spilled onto the cobblestone street. He hurt his leg and was in quite a bit of pain...but thankfully did not break any bones. The police did not haul Kenny off since they were not called. People here seldom call the police especially in something like this. We took him in our car to a hospital...thankfully, I remembered a private hospital that was decent and close by. He said it cost too much & he would go somewhere less expensive. We said no...we will pay. Three x-rays, bandages, pain medicine, and prescriptions for $100.....not bad, huh? Kenny did read the x-rays himself to make sure nothing was broken. Praise God, nothing was! When I saw the newborn baby sandwiched between 2 people on a motorcycle a few minutes later, I was so thankful this accident was so minor for Minor! A baby...holy cow...wouldn't have survived the fall on the cobblestone! Never take for granted the traffic laws we have in the US and the fact that they are enforced....they are there to protect us!

Blessings to you all!
April

Life is an adventure!

Unless you have spent lots of time in a 3rd world country, you may never know how much of an adventure daily life can be. I have soooooo many stories from when we lived here before, but truthfully thought we would make it out pretty easily this time. That was not to be the case!

This time, Kenny got to first hand have "ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS" where you just want to blink your eyes or tap your heels together 3 times and be back home in an instant. "Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore!!!" I have to let him recover before posting it...mentally recover that is....but boy is it a good story! God is good all the time so I will give you this much...it could have been much worse and everything that happened is fixable. It is just a reminder that things happen and God is there protecting us as we go. Kenny said this, "I know things always happen for a reason, but I'm gonna have to wait for God to show me why this happened...because I just can't see it yet."

One thing is for sure, being out of the city reminds us that we are not in Kansas anymore (or in our case Tennessee) and we have a lot of preparing to do before next August. This country is full of beautiful, intelligent people who have so much to teach us...but we have yo learn to communicate better or we will be missing out! Being in a hotel in the city does not show you Guatemala...it spoils you to being pampered and appreciated. Step out on your own and it is a whole new world! We have so much to relearn and even more to learn brand new!

Cintia & McKenna just went swimming in the "kiddy cat pool" as Cintia called it. She is now waiting for a "pee pee & J" sandwich so I better go fix her one. I picked up Peter Pan peanut butter (I was too cheap to spend the extra for my favorite...Jif) and I bought some local brand fresa jam...strawberry....Yummy! I also went to a bakery for fresh bread so we are gonna eat in our room without the room service that Princessa McKenna has grown to love like her Mama. Kenny thinks it is hilarious but we both love to have room service....staying in and eating in comfort. Kenny likes to go out...he is definitely a go out kind of guy...since birth I think his mom told me. But today, we eat in for a lot less money and will enjoy it just as much.

More later!

Blessings to you all!
April

Update...visa????

Well, we bought the phone card (yes, that is what you have to do) and called the number on the card. Kenny made the call because truthfully he has more clout than me and has to return to work...in the middle of a pandemic in the US, surely it increased our chances of a quick appointment. We are all scheduled to fly home next Saturday because my initial guesstimation when asked what the absolute earliest possible date could be, I said with miracles at every step the soonest would be Friday or Saturday. Friday, the embassy is only open a half day but it is still a half day so we decided to have a return scheduled for Saturday.

The call went like this: "Kenny: blah, blah, blah (all of Cintia's passport & visa info) Immigration folks: Oct. 29 Kenny: Ugh! We really need an earlier appointment because...." Immigration: Okay, the earliest we have is Oct. 22. So...Kenny called the embassy directly and talked with the person in charge, explaining everything briefly. We were given a date of this Wed. at a time to be given on Tuesday after they review an email from us with more details. (Monday is Columbus Day and the embassy is closed.) So....we should get an interview Wednesday and a visa (if approved) by Thursday...but more than likely it will be ready on Friday. Just in time! God is always on time, never late, and rarely early! None of this guarentees a visa but we will lay it all down there truthfully, openly, and honestly with our intentions known and God will provide a visa if He intends for us to have one. Right now, it looks like our chances are good.

I've gotta go pack...we leave for Antigua in 5 hours and we haven't done anything to get ready to go. I may have trouble updating from Antigua but will do my best. We are excited to leave the city and get back into the culture of Guatemala.

One more thing....Great news for McKenna! Her birthmother, half-sister, half-brother, and brand new niece are coming to the city on Tuesday for a visit with us. McKenna has never met her half-brother (and has only met her birthmother and sister once). She of course has never met her 2 month old niece. She can't wait and neither can we! They arrive late on Tuesday (takes around 9 hours to get here by bus) so we will see them on Wednesday.

Blessings to you all!
April

The day after...

Today will be a full day of getting paperwork and application fees and phone cards to call for a visa appointment. Our biggest hump will be getting an expedited appointment. It could take weeks, months, ????? so we may have to pull some strings to get an expedited appointment. It should be doable considering the pandemic at home and a doctor abroad (to which the US has a massive shortage of). Anyway, we are tackling the paperwork knowing God will work this out too.

After talking to Kenny who had the privilege of hearing the resolution from the judge (since I was busy comforting Cintia who woke up just at the right moment), we were one step from moving the kids to Guatemala in 2 weeks to start the adoption now. That is what the judge wanted to give us (which was a huge gift to be offered). She said it was the law that Cintia be here during the process. We know that God's timing is perfect and we do not second guess the delay we now face in the process. That delay gives us 10 months to prepare, for the kids to finish school & sports for the year, for us to gather adoption documents and residency documents, for us to find a place to live, and actually move at the best possible time (after school is out and summer swim is over...which means a lot to our kids). Kenny has high hopes of completing some big tasks at work and adding staff which may allow him to spend more time with us Guatemala. A big thing for me is that a dear friend who is on furlow (whom I will LOVE spending time with and who will help me with getting settled in (buying appliances, furniture, decorating...) will be back in Guatemala in June. She and her husband, Bob, and daughter, Bethany, are AMG missionaries who have already been here for 5 years. It is just a huge relief to know they will be here. She will fill a big whole in my life when I leave my sister, Deborah (although we share no family blood...we are spiritual sisters), in Tennessee. God supplies all of our needs and I feel so relieved to know I will have Robin here when we arrive. I have many Guatemalan friends that are here too & I cherish every single one of them. Kenny is getting to know them too and they will provide a good bridge from Tennessee to Guatemala for our family.

The first picture above was yesterday morning as we left for court. Both girls looked beautiful and cheerful. Little Miss Sunshine had on a dress that she picked out herself last Spring. She saw it and said, "Oh Mommy it's gor-gu-wus!" Needless to say, I bought it. It really makes her look like sunshine to me. The second picture is of Cintia and "Lela." Cintia wanted nothing to do with Lela until hours after she arrived...then I coaxed her into some pictures. She said, "Mommy, I don't know her." She was young when Lela had her so it is understandable...but it was sad nevertheless. Lela did not mind and was very happy for Cintia's new life. Her husband came too and was equally excited to see Cintia. It was obvious how much love they both have for her. They took many pictures.
Many blessings!
April

Praise God!

Sorry this has taken a while...but we just got in from a very busy day of court. The judge truly gave us everything we asked for, until we hit a little snag....adoptibility. The PGN attorney would not give on doing an investigation into the birthmother's whereabouts. The judge wanted to declare her adoptable, send her case to the Central Authority, allow us to foster her in Guatemala, and begin the adoption process now with the Central Authority's approval. That was not to be.

This is what she was able to do: First of all, we have custody of Cintia. We have been given permission to bring her back to the US for medical treatment. We are to return with her on August 10, 2010 for her final abandonment hearing. Unless the birth family shows up, we will have the certificate of adoptibility and our case will be presented to the Central Authority. They should after all of the time we have had Cintia (at that point it will have been 2 and a half years) should not want to disrupt her life and would allow us to be matched with Cintia. At that point, the adoption will begin. Right now, it cannot because she is still unadoptable in the eyes of the law. This is probably a technicality and we expect to be granted adoptibility on Aug. 10, 2010.

We will have to move to Guatemala with Cintia for the adoption to start. Next Aug., the Hayman family will move to Guatemala. The good news is that we have plenty of time to prepare. It will also be for a more definite time period. The adoption will still take (once we are registered in Aug. or Sept.) at least 6 months.

We are praising God for what He has done for us and Cintia. Today was the hardest day that I can remember. I sat there and cried just like Lela (Cintia's foster mother) did at the last hearing. Queitly, the tears streamed. I tried so hard to hold them in but they simply would not stop. I cried tears of fear...then tears of joy knowing my baby girl was safe and sound in my arms and would remain there.

By the way, the social worker was in total support of all petitions and shook her head yes and smiled as the judge read her resolution. When the PGN attorney chimed in with her problem with adoptibility, the social work shook her head no and frowned. Our judge did all that she could....even my attorney thinks highly of her now. She had every intention when we walked into court to give Cintia her chance at happiness. She did....it may take longer than any of us anticipated...but we are still together as a family. The kids can finish school this year. We can plan for the move......under one condition.....we need a visa!

We are working hard to get everything together for her visa application. We must call in some favors and prepare some documents but prayerfully, we can do it quickly. Pray for mercy at the embassy!

Words cannot express our gratitude for all your prayers and support!

Blessed beyond measure,
April

12 hours and counting...

We just got the girls settled in bed and are heading that way soon. Although it is hard to put into words, we are scared, excited, nervous, and peaceful all at the same time. Scared of the obvious, excited to see what God is going to do and what He has in store for our family, nervous about the words that we will say before the court as well as the words of others involved in our case, and peaceful because God is able to do all things and we believe that He is at work now and will be with us in that courtroom tomorrow.

A quick meeting with the attorney tonight left us feeling prepared for what will happen in the morning. I have an advantage in understanding how the case will flow because I was there in March 2008. This will be new to Kenny. After all testamonies and statements are given, the attorney's part will be to close the case and present our petitions. The petitions will read sort of like this: 1. Cintia's human rights were violated when she was left sick without any option for medical care when her birthmother abandoned her 3 years ago. Her human rights were also violated when she was denied the right to a family because her birthmother abandoned her. We ask that the court issue a certificate of adoptibility to give her back the rights to which she was deprived. 2. We ask that the court declare Dr. & Mrs. Hayman as her substitute family until such a time as the Central Authority can process an adoption for Cintia. 3. We ask that the Haymans be allowed to take Cintia back to the US to continue her medical care...however, if it is found that this court does not want Cintia to leave Guatemala City, we ask that the Haymans be allowed to remain here with her.

Then a PGN attorney will give his/her recommendation to the court. The social worker will do the same. Then the judge will give her resolution. The judge does not have to listen to the attorney or social worker but their opinion should sway her's.

If we win all of the petitions, we will go straight to the embassy to start the visa process. Last time, that was the step that almost stopped us in our tracks. Again, God will pave the way if we are meant to bring her home. If not, we start house hunting.

Please pray for God's protection and provision for Cintia. Pray we walk out of that court with Cintia in our arms and that God reveals His plan for our family. Pray that if the path ahead of us includes more unknowns and more waiting that we will continue to walk in faith...patiently...as He makes His path known to us. We want to trust and obey. May we represent Christ in all that we say and do and may all of the glory of Cintia's story be His and His alone.

Thank you for praying for us. We feel lifted up and protected in every way!

April

24 hours and we are on our way!

Today will be a tough day...but a good day. I never want to wish time away...especially in a circumstance like this, but it is time to get this behind us. Waiting is tough and I know tomorrow will be the hardest thing we have faced to date. Yet in spite of the obvious fears we have, we are ready to face the battle and watch God work in big ways. We fully believe that He will see us through this and we will emerge victorious with Cintia. Kenny nor I feel worried about the details. I really feel the details will look like another mountain to climb, but hey....God has been making a mountain climber out of me during these last 2 years so I am ready to climb Mt. Everest if need be. So we ready ourselves with all the necessary equipment....God's word, prayer, Christian attorneys, and a God who is able!

Sitting in a hotel room weighs on your spirit so it will be much better to get out amoungst the people next week. We will be in Antigua, our old hometown during McKenna's adoption, starting on Saturday. We will have to commute the hour into the city for appointments and meetings. The good thing for us is that we are so at home there and love to be amoung the people. Antigua is a big melting pot of Mayan artisans, market people, locals, and tourists. The needs of the country's peoplecan be clearly seen in many faces there. Living conditions are left behind in their own villages so you have to leave Antigua to see that, but the people are the same. We love Guatemala because of the people. Amazing how God can place a love for a people group in your heart where serving God by serving them fulfills you in a way like no other. I know all of you who have done mission work understand what I am saying.

Please pray for strength and comfort for us all...especially McKenna. She finally realized last night what could happen as the 3 of us girls were snuggled up on the couch. (Of course wild girl Cintia was sleeping in my arms and seemed very angelic at the time.) I looked down in my lap to see tears streaming down McKenna's face. She looked up at me and said, "Mommy, I don't want them to take Cintia away...." Kenny & I ached for her! I wiped her tears and answered that God is not going to let that happen..He has heard her prayers. That may not have been the right thing to say but I had to relieve her fears and I fully believe that He won't let that happen. I don't know how He is going to do all of this but I know that He will. I explained that if they took her to an orphanage we will go with her until we can get it all worked out. She shook her head in agreement. After she finally stopped crying, I asked her if giving up gymnastics, diving, and school would be worth it for Cintia, and she answered yes with more enthusiasm than I have seen before. I guess it is the reality up close that confirmed it for her. All of the kids are willing to move for her, but the younger one's say yes with an additional phrase that they would really rather stay home. Last night, McKenna could have cared less about staying home. She simply wanted reassurance that she could keep her baby sister.

Please keep the prayers going heavenward!
April

Meeting with attorney

We just finished our meeting with the attorney who is representing Cintia. It began at 5:30 Guatemalan time or 7:30 EST. It is now 7:06 here or 9:06 at home. Grandparents...I am not late with this information. He just walked out the door....sorry for the delay.

The meeting was long and detailed. Kenny & I have homework before another meeting tomorrow night. We are to complete a "resume" of sorts detailing everything Cintia has gone through...where she came from medically....where she is now...and where she needs to go. He is not thrilled with our court nor our judge and would file a complaint except for the fact that it would delay us further. A request for a hearing filed in January wasn't answered until August for example. Sooooo, we have no idea where this is going. The judge has the ability to grant the "adoptibility" certificate but may delay awaiting another notification by PGN. Our attorney submitted a request to the judge to ask for family notification for Cintia. Either she did it by phone or she did not do it because there is no resolution (paper answer) in Cintia's file. Regardless, the judge can still override that and simply declare that Cintia's right to a family was violated by her birth mother who left her 3 years ago and has not contacted the court regarding her whereabouts or well-being . She could then deem her adoptable to give her back her right to a family. Prayerfully, that will happen, but it is really anybody's guess at this point. He is pushing to get the judge to agree to let Cintia come back with us to Tennessee. He is pretty confident (his words were "it doesn't require much intelligence to know that Cintia is in the best hands possible") that we will get to keep Cintia...where we can keep her is the question. That makes me feel better but worries me too. We expressed that the most important part is that Cintia stay with us. Going back with her would be great but not something worth losing her over. The adoption at some point is another huge hurdle but one that we can clear in time. Getting a visa....well, if we get that far, we will really be praying for another miracle. One step at a time...worrying about today since tomorrow has enough trouble of its own. Anyway...we meet with our attorney again tomorrow evening...the update will be late again.

Please keep praying for protection of Cintia. She has no idea what is going on now thankfully. She is quite happy now that she believes she wasn't left behind (the infamous Guatemala trip included her). She doesn't know what she has to face in less than 48 hours. Pray for mercy from Judge Angelica Tellez Hernandez. Pray for open and shut adoptibility. Pray for Cintia to stay in our arms and out of harms way while the rest of the story works itself out.

Keep praying!
April

Monday evening

We will be meeting with our attorneys tomorrow. Hopefully, that will prepare us for what to expect. They will get to meet wild woman...I mean Cintia...and know who they working for. I also spoke with my friend, Marisol, who told me that Miriam, Cintia's foster mom, called her. She received her notification from court and is very nervous about it. Marisol tried to reassure her but the courts down here can be very unkind so frankly I don't blame her. She is 50ish years old and I am sure dealing with the courts is nerve wrecking to say the least. She has done nothing wrong nor have we. Her mind is probably thinking that they were trying to say we pulled something illegal...which we did not. She has not been in the court nor talked with them since the March 30, 2008 hearing. We have and we know that we have been 100% compliant and they agree that we have. However, I would feel better and so would Kenny if she met with our attorneys before Thursday morning to prepare her for the what if's.

I'll let everyone know how it goes. For now, I will end with a funny thing Cintia just did. Thankfully, the man did not speak English. She strolled pass a gentleman in a suit a few minutes ago and said..."Oooooohhhh! He's cute! That man is so cute!" She's full of herself!

The pictures above: the top cheezy picture is from the hotel yesterday afternoon, the next two are from the night before we left, and the last is from last week. We had a quick...last minute (literally last minute) joint birthday party & going away party for Cintia, Mamaw, & Jose. We celebrated Cintia's 3rd birthday which is next Thursday (the 15th) and Mamaw's 87th (which was Sept 30th) as well as Jose's home going the night before we left. Please don't be offended if you weren't invited. It was literally a last minute thought and a good way to phase over Jose to go home. He spent the night with us since we were leaving at 3:00 a.m.

Blessings to all!

April

Good morning!

We are rested and well fed...the hotel food is amazing! The coffee or cafe con leche is the best! Both of our ninitas enjoyed cafe as well. Cintia dipped her watermelon & pineapple in it. She loved it!

We will wait to hear from our attorneys to know how the next few days will progress. Originally, today was to be spent signing in at the embassy. Now it is no longer required. They have simplified the process knowing that the visa card left at the airport shows we boarded the plane and her passport stamped by Guatemala immigration once we landed show that she arrived at the border. That is proof enough.

We feel well armed and relaxed knowing that God has this all taken care of. While working on Perspectives homework (a mission's class we are taking at church through AMG) this morning, we read William Carey's "Enquiry" which was a pamplet he wrote which helped begin the Protestant mission movement just over 200 years ago. His motto really hit home for us. "Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God." Knowing that God placed Cintia with us and knowing that He fully intends for us to be her family, we started this fight knowing that only He could join her legally with our family. Though it seems impossible under the current situation in Guatemalan adoptions...though it seems to be risking Cintia's life and well being to bring her back and "turn her over"...we know that we are walking into the court room armed for battle and that the Creator of the universe can surely win this battle. I will admit, however, when I we had landing in Guatemala yesterday and we were walking towards immigration to have our passports stamped showing we are here and that she is back, my thoughts went quickly to plan B (which by the way I know to be my plan.... not God's otherwise we would be in another country by now). That plan has gone through my mind in more scenarios than you can imagine. This scenario played like this. "Okay...it's done. She is here. The US goverment will be happy. The Guatemalan government will be too but unfortunately now know that she is here. However, I do have her passport. There are open borders with 3 or 4 other countries in Central Amerca. We could just move on with her to one of the others and chances are no one would come looking for her or us for that matter." Then I snapped out of it. We know after months and months of praying and seeking God on this situation that we have to let Him do this His way...and this is the way He has guided.

"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given unto you." God will be victorious. He will win this battle for Cintia...in His perfect timing. As someone told us before and we have learned through this process, God is always on time....never late but rarely early. We pray for a simple victory in this but we have not been promised one. This may just be a new beginning for a long fight in our journey to Cintia. If that is the case, we can't wait to see what adventure God has in store for our family during the process. We sure would love a quick victory though and are praying that it is quick and mighty...purely miraculous no doubt but wouldn't it be amazing!

I want to update about Jose and his reunion with his family. I know that many of you have prayed for him and have financially given to make his miracle a reality. It is very humbling for us to have shared time with this young Mayan family. I will share it in a seperate post later today or tomorrow. Please pray for Jose and his family today...they are on a chicken bus traveling 9 hours back to their village. We miss Jose already! Pray for the Smiths who have poured their lives into him for 13 months...I know they miss him beyond words. I told Kenny that I felt like we just sent a piece of our family away....but thankfully, Jose carries a piece of all of our hearts with him as well as a family and God who will love and protect him.

Blessings to all!
April

We're here...we're safe...we're exhausted!

With 45 minutes of sleep in the last 36+hours, we are going to bed. It is 6:10 here and we are calling it a night. I will update tomorrow.

For now...goodnight!
April

Today is the day!!!

We leave in less than 2 hours! I'm exhausted but glad the packing is almost done. I will do a mental inventory as we load the last pieces of luggage and leave at 3:00 a.m. As long as we have Cintia, McKenna, & Jose....we'll be okay.

I will update from Guatemala in a few hours after Jose has his reunion with his mom & dad. He is doing great so far and seems very excited.

Thanks for the prayers...they are giving us strength and courage. Honestly, I feel a renewed strength and fully believe that we will walk out of that court room with Cintia. I don't know where we will be walking...to house hunt or to the embassy to beg for a visa...but that part that really doesn't matter...as long as we have her.

Blessings to all!
April

4 days...

I have to start packing!!!! Our schedule is so full with sports and school that for the life of me I can't stay home long enough to do it! Kenny has been gone every day since last Thursday and his first day home is Friday. It will get done one way or the other, and amazingly, I am not even stressed about it. As my grandmother says, "It is what it is. " Speaking of my grandmother, she is 87 years young today. I am so proud of her. She kicked cancer in the tail between 85 & 86...can't wait to see what she is going to do at 87! She hasn't felt well the last couple of days and Kenny thought she needed to go to the ER. We had them stop here last night so Kenny could go along, and after a quick checkup from Doc Kenny, she went back home and will follow up today. Please pray for her. She is very special in my life and in so many others. We need her strong and healthy!

We are so blessed to have so many friends and family praying for us. God has sent His own host of angels on earth to help Cintia get this far in her journey. She has people helping her who have never laid eyes on her but have their hearts wrapped all around her. We are so thankful for all of you!

The girls and I are flying Delta while Kenny is flying on American Airlines with a very special young man...Jose. Jose (pictured above at the airport with his Dad in August 2008) left Guatemala as a very scared little boy who had a long adventure ahead of him. After 13 months in the US, he has tackled medical care and surgery, learned English, learned to read & write & do math, and has grown into a big boy who is now 6 years old (bottom photo taken last week...doesn't he look like his dad?). He is going home to reunite with his family after 13 months away, and we have the privilege to tag along! He is very excited! Please pray for a smooth transition back home as it will be an adjustment having becoming "Amercanized" during his stay here. Pray for the Smiths who have been his family in Chattanooga as they adjust in his absence. Jose will need to return in a few months for one more surgery to remove the remaining vascular malformation from his neck. Please pray for that provision.

Blessings to you all!

April

6 days until we leave

This post may be a little bit all over the place but I thought I would share some of my thoughts and feelings as the countdown continues.

My everyday posts have now happened every other day...the good news in that is that life is moving on....in spite of our circumstances...in spite of this mountain before us....we are able to just carry on. The Prince of Peace is at work in our hearts in spite of our weakness to fall back into trying to "think" it all through. Right now, I have to constantly surrender my weakness. For so long, I felt such peace knowing that God has this all worked out and that our girl will be staying right where she belongs. Now that the time has come to walk the final hours, it feels as if I can't take another step in that direction. I want to run the other way...tears flow at the thought of what could happen...and yet at the same time I can't wait to see this course through. How my heart aches at the thought of surrendering my baby to the court...why should I have to do that....she is our daughter and we love her to the ends of the earth and back...why would our judge not just tell us what she is going to do so that we could prepare or be ready to fight another battle? The only answer we have is that God wants us to walk in faith and wait for Him to do His work. He wants us to trust Him completely with everything we have...even something more valuable than all of our earthly possessions....our daughter. He is after all her Creator and has had this plan for her since the beginning of time. I know that He will not forsake her...nor harm her...and I know that He will fight and win any battle it takes to do just that. Nothing I can do will be better than what He can do...so why does my heart ache at the thought of what we could face? Why do I want to DO SOMETHING to fix it!!! That is my weakness...that is my flesh...that is my heart as a mother...and that is how He made me. He gave me a passion for children...He gave me a passion for orphans...He gave me the gift of His mercy and a desire to show mercy to those less fortunate particularly those who have no voice to speak for themselves. He knew that I would do what He asked me to do in this situation....and He also knew that I would need Him to finish the task when I could go no further. None of this is taking Him by surprise. So we will watch Him move this mountain and praise Him through the storm....personally I am praying He blows this mountain off the face of the earth and takes our breath away!

Several years ago, God gave me a life verse or actually several verses that remind me in every circumstance to fix my eyes on Jesus. God gives us what we need to face every trial and I know that in these verses He has given me the drive to persevere. I know He has entrusted a precious gift to our family and He will give us everything we need to run this race and finish the course.

Hebrews 12-1-3 Let us run with perseverance this race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Thank you all for praying for Cintia and our family!
April

8 Days....

Yesterday's post never happened. I simply landed exhausted in the recliner at 10:00 last night, scooped up the wild child as she ran by because my eyes would not stay open and I couldn't trust her running around the house, and we both fell asleep until 1:30 in the morning. Cintia actually woke me up then so we headed off to bed. By the time we were both in our jammies and teeth were brushed, she was ready to go to sleep and I was wide awake. It seems that the closer we get the harder it is to sleep. Most nights I wake up in the early morning (normally 3:00) and everything happening just weighs on my heart and mind. Then....it is time to get up just as I doze back off. The culmination of weeks upon weeks of this has been exhausting. Cintia, who has always been a great sleeper, has been restless too and cries out in the night. If (and that is a big if) she is in her bed, I say, "It's okay. Mommy & Daddy are right here." She says, "Get me out!" to which I say that "it's still nighttime....I'll get you when it's morning time." So what does she say when she wakes up in the morning? "What time is it?" You better not say 8:00 or any other number...you best say "morning time" or "nighttime" otherwise she screams! "Nooooooooooo!!! I said what time is it?" Once she knows it is morning time, she smiles.

I have word that one of the notifications has been officially made. The others probably have too. That means the hearing should go on as planned. Without the notifications, they could postpone. I am glad to know that will not likely happen.

We will leave next Saturday evening or at 2:00 in the morning on Sunday to catch our flights. Kenny is escorting our little friend Jose on American Airlines and the girls and I are flying Delta. Jose had major surgery to remove a large mass from his face. It was doubtful he would heal enough to go home next Sunday but things have drastically improved so Jose will probably see his family for the first time in 13 months. What a blessing it will be to see their reunion!

Thanks so much for checking on us. I better go because my little sassafrass is getting very sassy! Imagine that!

Blessings!
April

10 days...

Today, Kenny left on a weekend retreat/meeting to Isle of Palms...AKA the beach. I love the beach and had every intention of going along. However, McKenna's gymnastics has taken me out of town for the last 2 weekends and this is my last weekend home before we leave 4 of our children for at least 2 weeks....I just couldn't do it. So instead, I stayed home and Cintia & I took two kids to soccer tryouts and one to cheer a middle school football game and just now got home.

Poor Cintia was having so much fun, but between the bouncing back and forth she needed a diaper change. Somewhere between the back there and back here mode, she went pee pee one too many times in her diaper. Bless her sweet heart, she doesn't know until she literally fills the car seat. If you hear, "Mommy I pee" you can bet it is down to her ankles because she doesn't feel it until it is. So somewhere between tonight and in the morning I have to strip her carseat again to be ready to bounce back and forth again tomorrow. She is such a trooper. She just goes with the flow...and flows with the goes...whichever the case may be!

Today has been a good day. Cintia must be feeling something because she is becoming more and more clingy. Try this on for tugging at your heart....she bit Payton last night for fun and was put to bed since she had skipped her nap and was beyond reason. When she wouldn't stop screaming, I tried to talk to her and she sobbed and said, "Are you going to weave me?" I told her "Never... Mommy will never leave you Cintia." It didn't stop...she kept saying it. "Will Dada leave me?" "No Cintia, never, Dada will never leave you." "My Casey not leave me either?" And down the line... It hurt my heart and Dada's too. This is not the first time and it seems to happening more and more. Before long, she was in my arms snuggled up to rocky baby instead of going to bed for being naughty. We are always consistant with her because her behavior can be very bad if her boundaries are not enforced. But in this instance, I needed to hold her as much as she needed to hold me. Yesterday morning out of the blue she said, "Mommy, can I go wiv in Guatemawa?" I said (a little shocked) "If I live there, you can too, but what if Mommy goes to live in Africa?" "Can I go wiv in Afwica?" I told her anywhere we go, she goes too. There is no doubt in my mind that she knows something. She knows we are going to Guatemala. She knows she is from Guatemala (at least in words to say that she is...whether she understands what it means or not), and she definitely wants to go with us. Truth is that like every 3 year old I know...home to her is where Mommy & Daddy are...she just does not want to get left behind. No worries sweet girl...we won't leave you behind. Dada & Mommy will do whatever it takes to may sure you are never left again.

Taking one day at a time,
April

11 days...

So much to do...so much to process...so much to surrender moment by moment to God...my head is spinning and my heart...well it just does everything at once. Without faith, I could not stand, walk, or breathe...but with it, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

I will try to post daily from this point forward. Our sweet McKenna has flu (yes...more than likely swine flu) and has had fever over 104. God is good and has brought her through like a trooper. We are all on Tamiflu and hopefully this will be over with soon. God answered my prayer of protecting us from swine flu in Guatemala where access to good medical care would be hard to find by giving it to us before we left. I am grateful for that.

Please continue to pray for mountains to move and God to work as only He can. We have absolutely no fear or worry about moving our family if needed...so God's will for where we are for the next few months or years needs to be whatever is His perfect will. As I have said before, His will is His will...nothing we can do will change it, but I know that He desires us to join Him in what He is doing. I know He is here, in all of this, even at this moment He is working. We join Him as we pray that the biggest mountain before us which is the custody of our daughter will be melted like wax and that we will emerge victorious with her in our arms and that all of the glory will be His...not ours. We continue to cry out to God for mercy and intervention in regards to Cintia, yet we do not ask for the details. God will reveal those details when He is ready. Please direct prayers in that direction. I know it is hard for family and friends to think that we may have to leave our home and go....but if God wants us to go, we are going. Oh what a joy it would be to serve Him fulltime in a country full of people we love...sharing the story of His love for them! I have been asked many times how we can just up and move our family. My answer is, "How could we not?" God planted Cintia in our family for a reason. We did not ask nor plan for her. She was truly His surprise gift to our family. He knew since the beginning of time that she would be right here right now. None of this is taking Him by surprise. We rest in that and believe with all of our hearts that if God wants us to follow Him to Guatemala or anywhere else we are ready to go. When God says "follow me," He doesn't say "Follow me if you want...and oh, by the way, you can take everything and everyone you love with you." I believe the Bible is very clear that when He calls, we are to drop everything and follow Him. Saying no means disobeying Him...and we choose to walk in complete obedience with Him. If God chooses to bring us home (this is for you grandparents out there), He will do just that...bring us home. If He chooses for us to stay, we will do just that and we will rejoice in it.

Thank you for praying with us,
April

Psalm 97

The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side.His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles.The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.

Here it comes...

Personally, there has never been a time when I sought the Lord's will with everything I have that Satan did not make his presence known. I knew it must be coming but I just didn't feel it until now. I felt surrounded by peace with a confidence in God's plan to bring Cintia into our family. I felt surrendered to the wherever, whenever, and didn't feel anything regarding the "if" portion because I knew God had it all worked out.

Yesterday, we received an email from our attorney identifying the list of parties notified to attend Cintia's hearing. One of those people I did not want there but don't have bad feelings about being there....just simply don't understand the purpose of it. The person in my mind that is very alarming is someone I treasure...someone who saved Cintia and loved her almost like we do...her first foster mom, Miriam. Miriam is middle aged and was known as "Lela" to Cintia. That is short for abuela which means grandmother. She is a wonderful lady and on our list of who to see while we are there. Having said that, I have no idea why they are bringing her to this hearing. I am sure she is equally stunned. Cintia does not remember her from pictures and has never said her name...so in effect she will be a Spanish speaking stranger to Cintia. She hasn't seen her in just over a year and a half. My concern initially was that the judge is up to something...finding someone else to care for Cintia other than us. It doesn't matter who that person is, it would devastate Cintia...not to mention us. I am trying hard not to think about the dangers (medically and physically...the area in the city where they live is very dangerous and right on a busy street). I am trying hard not to think about the risk from living in that house knowing that Cintia will dart out in front of a car or be murdered like so many are. I am praying that is not what the judge has in mind but I really have no idea. I have asked for explanations from our attorney but have yet to hear back from him.

I know that worry is not from God and shows lack of faith on my part. This morning it began to fester and grow until I found myself angry at God for taking her away after he so clearly gave her to us....all without Him actually doing it yet. I quickly realized that there is only one who would cause me to be angry at God, someone that I love beyond measure. What could Satan gain from either the worry of or the event itself? He could drive a wedge between me and God....THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! I began to rebuke him directly....and the weight and anger began to lift almost immediately. Spiritual warfare is so very real....and I knew at that moment that this is going to be a battle to the finish...a battle that only God can win. And you know what? He will.

Please keep praying. We leave in 2 1/2 weeks, and I know that it is going to be a stressful time. I am resting in the fact that God loves us... and that He loves Cintia more than we ever could. I also rest in His will. I pray that His will is for Cintia to stay with us. However, His will is His will...not our will. Regardless of what makes sense, God will use this to bring glory to Himself. Pray for our strength and faith as He does it.

Blessings!
April

We have a signed resolution!

Thanks to everyone who prayed...as of yesterday, we have a signed resolution from our judge with an official court date of Oct. 8 at 9:00 a.m. (11:00 EST or 10: 00 for you Mississippi folks). Several notifications have to be made by the court "to all parties involved" before that date. Our attorney is suppose to check on Monday to see if they have all been notified. I think what he is talking about is the PGN attorney and social worker who will have to be at the hearing. They make official recommendations at the end of the hearing and then the judge will close with her official resolution. I have no idea if family notifications are included in that "notification" category. Hopefully, our attorney can clarify these details next week.

I know that God doesn't need us to do His will...He will do it no matter what. But I am so grateful that He desires us to join Him in what He is doing and makes clear to us that He hears our prayers. We have been waiting a looooong time for that resolution to be signed. Bringing it specifically to Him in prayer....He answered with a clear voice letting us know He is there doing what only He can do.

I will update as things continue to unfold. Time is flying by. Hard to believe that we will fly to Guatemala in 3 weeks from tomorrow. Continue to pray for the notifications of all involved in this hearing...that this is a final definitive hearing...and regardless of the "where" and "how", we are given custody of Cintia. Most of all pray that God will receive all of the glory. Everything about Cintia shouts "only God could have done it." Pray that everyone involved in her case will witness her miracle and know that God is responsible for it all.

Blessings to all,
April

I don't have any news...but I do have pictures!

Maybe tomorrow we'll hear from our attorney??? Maybe not...if history repeats. News very rarely is on time, never early, and almost always late if it's coming from Guatemala.

I wanted to share McKenna's first day of school (ever) from back in August. I forgot my camera in a rush to get out of the door but a friend took these two pictures and sent them to me. One is with me and the other is with her teacher, Mrs. Galyon.

Hope you enjoy!

April

New Prayer Request

Our attorney responded to an email I sent him asking for an update on our case. He said that Judge Angelica (her first name....very fitting for a potential angel in Cintia's life...just like Dr. Angel) has NOT signed the resolution for our official court date. Her court official (who is an angel by the way....you would love her!!) says not to worry that October 8 is the date and the hearing will happen. She told him to come back Thursday. The problem is that notifications cannot be made until the official resolution is signed.

What are notifications? They are ads in the newspaper or radio that report Cintia as an abandoned child. Any family member wishing to lay claim to her would be advised to come forward or said child would be legally abandoned through the minor's court....no one could come later and say..."oops...I want her back." Our attorneys will put out notifications as will PGN (sort of like DA's office here but this one is specifically for minor's court...each court has their own PGN). Chances are that if no one has looked for her in 3 years...no one will. If they do, they have to convince the judge they can take care of her and her needs. Chances are they would not want her once they knew of her problems anyway.

Our potential problem seems very big although we trust that God has His hand on all of it. Directing some focused prayer towards this situation would be very appreciated. This is the problem: will the notifications happen in time so that Cintia's hearing will be a definitive abandonment hearing? That means that the hearing can deem her legally abandoned on Oct. 8 which in turn deems her legally adoptable. Don't get too excited...that doesn't mean that we can just adopt her straight away. Adoptions are closed and the new law keeps us from choosing our child. Fortunately, once we get her case registered, it is very indicated that we will be chosen for Cintia although nothing will be official until she is legally adoptable (in other words...no one will sign a document stating such a fact on a child that is unadoptable...which Cintia is right now). If the notifications are not done in time or they have to run longer than the 4 weeks we have until the hearing, Cintia's hearing will not be definitive and she will have to have another hearing after the notifications are complete. Key point: can anyone count the number of months we have waited for this hearing? At last count, they were booking cases in March 2010 and that was back in May. We have waited 7-9 months for this hearing to be "worked-in." I don't know if Cintia would be allowed to leave with us while this proceeds in her absence or whether this answers the question of our residence for the coming months. I don't know anything really. I think the judge can give us temporary custody of Cintia at the first hearing the same as she can if it is a final or definitive hearing. Ugh!!! I have asked these questions to our attorney and when I have some answers I will share them. For now, pray for Judge Angelica...that she will show mercy and expediency for Cintia. That she will sign the paper she has every intention of signing (I know she plans to sign it....she told me the date of the hearing herself on my trip in May). Pray that the notifications aren't delayed as is typical of EVERYTHING IN GUATEMALA! Pray that they are simple, short, and complete. Pray for one hearing...final...definitive...deeming our daughter adoptable at last! It seems very strange to everyone I explain this to...that a 3 year old (she will be 3 just 7 days after the hearing) who was abandoned as a tiny baby isn't obviously abandoned after 3 years...why not sign the stinking papers! For everything there is a process...in Guatemala, every process is a looooooooooong process.

I'll update once I hear from our attorney.

Blessings to all!
April

A Kiss From Me To You...

I cut several inches off of Cintia's hair today and just had to snap some pictures. No worries...her hair is still just below her shoulders. I personally like her hair shorter...suits her face and personality. However, she is adorable in pigtails and ponytails so I didn't want to take off too much. She was a swiftly moving target despite 2 packs of Scooby Doo gummies or "gumitas" in Spanich and big brother Trey trying desperately to tame her. Her bob hairstyle is a little wiggly and may have to be straightened out. Unfortunately, no one can hit a moving target and she never stops moving.

She is still as cute as a bug and growing up. She is one and a half months from turning 3. No signs of controlling bodily functions yet. She is very smart and understands so much but her body just does not appear ready or able to yet. After her birthday, we will begin a rigourous schedule for total bowel training unless we see her gain control herself. Unfortunately, the bladder control may be spinal cord or nerve related and we will just have to wait and see if she improves. She is now showing some developmental delay but I am not sure how significant it is. She has her checkup next month and I will know more then. She doesn't know any of her colors yet, but she seems to understand counting a little...like 1, 2, & 3. Normally by 3, she loses focus, but hey, one and two works for me. The other day she kept saying the wrong color when pointing to shapes and called something purple that wasn't (she never gets one right). So I showed her something purple and she said, "No, that's Barney." So she at least matched the color with something that she new was the same. She seems to have some sensory issues. Her frequent meltdowns and violence (hair pulling, pinching, spitting, biting, and hitting) appear to happen when she is overly stimulated. Now that the kids are in school, I notice an amazing difference when the house is quiet. She is a different little girl. She misses the kids but enjoys the attention she is getting. She is becoming more and more loving not only verbally but physically. She often hugs and lays her head down on me and gets as close as she can telling me she loves me. She could not cuddle when we got her a year and a half ago so we have come a long way baby! She could not stand to be held close when she first came her (she had to face out when you held her...now she craves it at times. I try to hold her and cradle her like a baby as often as she allows me to so that she can experience the things she missed. She loves to rub my skin and kiss me. Kenny and I took her to lunch last week and she grabbed her daddy around the neck and said "I wuv you Dada" and while holding his neck in a headlock she pulled me into her with the other arm and kissed me saying "I wuv you Mommy" never letting go of either one of us. Lunch...20 bucks, gasoline to get there, 30 bucks, this moment with Cintia....PRICELESS!

Today, little miss princess welcomed her siblings home from school upon awakening from a short nap in the car like this: "Hey Casey! How was school today?" (Casey answers good) She replies "Your school was good. Hey Chase!" Hey Cintia! (Chase answered.) "How was school today?" She went right down the line until everyone in the car filled her in. She is saying exactly what I always say to them. It was too cute!

More later!
April

Two guys & many gulls on the seashore!

When we should be packing....

We take a step onto our deck to watch the dolphins play when out of nowhere...

A bunch of gulls come flying into attack my two big boys and two little gulls...I mean girls....

"I think it's the french fries we are feeding them Mommy!"

More After Party Pictures...what happens after the dreaded photo shoot!

A little swimmin' with our clothes on...

(better than with our clothes off....isn't it?)

A little frisby with Daddy as the sun goes down.....

We're going home tomorrow. Hopefully I will remember to post some pictures of the sharks my big & little shark catchers caught!

Blessings!

April

Welcome to our Photo Shoot

Looks like an angel.....

Look at those lashes!

Beautiful girl!

Beautiful young lady!

Handsome young man!

At least one photo of Casey where he isn't acting silly!

Soon to be 16!

They love each other when they aren't fighting!

Finally....the after party!!!!

Tia McKenna

McKenna is officially an aunt! Tia is Spanish for aunt. Her niece was born via c-section weighing in at a whopping 7.14 pounds! That is like someone here having a 9 pound baby in case you are wondering. Babies of tiny Mayan women are usually no more than 6 pounds. McKenna supposedly weighed 6 pounds at birth (NOT!!!!). We were with her at her 3 week birthday and she could not have been more than 5 and some ounces. At her 2 month check-up, she was just over 6 pounds and that is with the good formula she had. This is a very good birth weight for Veronica's baby. It gives the baby lots of cushion for weight loss...just in case.

Blessings!
April

Rest for the Weary

Cintia is better but still not back to her old self. She is not sleeping or eating well...which means we aren't either...at least sleeping well that is. We are still enjoying the vacation...short lived but a good break from reality of schedules and the eminent trip to Guatemala. It is only 2 months away and we have so much to do before then.



Next week, we have cheerleading camp for Payton, gymnastics for 3 days @ 3 hrs/day for McKenna, dentist appointments for all 6 kids, orthodontist records that includes x-rays and impressions for Payton and Casey, orientation for Payton, Chase, & McKenna (my baby is going to school at SBA and I am going to cry) on Friday, and orientation for Casey on Friday. Trey also has driving school all 5 days. Kenny works every day or has meetings all day...and I am tired just typing it. Somewhere in there I have to get Trey signed up for a full load at Chattanooga State and chase an almost 3 year old during every moment she is awake. The following week, school starts. The next week Trey turns 16 (and I am definitely gonna cry for that) and he is having a pool party. That is just a taste of August and then there is September. Suddenly a simple yet complex life in Guatemala free from our schedule doesn't seem quite so bad, does it?



Anyway, for now I will leave with a late update from Guatemala. I think I mentioned that we had news from our attorneys in June. Due to the sports schedule from down under, I could not find time to update then but here goes now. Apparently, our attorneys spoke with the central authority (the government agency in Guatemala that is in charge of adoptions...this is the Guatemalan government not the US). They were quick to tell me that nothing is in writing but they were surprised by the vocal approval they are receiving. Several folks in the organization told our attorneys that they are very aware of Cintia and her situation. They know she is with us and they also know of her general problems. They actually want her to stay in the US and not return to Guatemala during the process. Upon being informed that the judge will not rule on her abandonment until she is back in the country and also that her visa is expiring, they mentioned talking to the judge to see if she would change her mind. It is a mute point for us because we have to return and sign her out of the visa program she came out under. However, this is a very positive response for Cintia...they are concerned about her and want to help us. They also said that Cintia's adoption should go straight through. She is a special needs case and one that they do not have the means to care for appropriately. Her best interests are to be with us and her physicians. We don't know the how's or the how long's but it is a positive step to know we are probably going to be able to proceed with her adoption after her abandonment hearing. Hague Treaty (which is what suspended adoptions in Guatemala to start with) has a hole in it. That hole is for special needs. Cintia and all her issues will qualify her to go through that hole. We just don't know how to get through it yet. Praise God He does! He knows exactly what it will take and how long it will take. So we praise Him for a positive piece of information that eases our minds and renews our faith. It is amazing that during every valley His light is shining...giving us hope and renewing our strength. He constantly reassures us that we are not in this alone...He is leading, guiding, and providing all that we need.



Blessings!

April

Our Future Rockstar

We are at the beach on vacation and having a great time. Cintia got very sick yesterday. She swam in the ocean and in the pool...so we thought she was just tired. For those of you who don't know Cintia, she does not wear out...she just gets wilder & crazier with a big splash of mean mixed in...except this time. Well yesterday, she could hardly walk by the afternoon. She lay down on Odie's bed in the floor and fell asleep. She woke up and tried to walk in the kitchen. She looked like she was drunk and could not walk in a straight line. Her nuerological deficit was multiplied ten fold and she could only stagger....again we thought she was tuckered out. She had swam (as much as a toddler can swim) underwater wide-eyed with an open mouth smile the whole time she was under. She would go from the steps to me then back to the steps and drank half the pool I'm sure. Anyway, we sat down to dinner in a resteraunt later that evening (Boss's Oysters). She went to take a bite of a cracker and started spilling (pure juice or water). It kept coming. When I picked her up, she was hot as a fire cracker. Good thing for us, she doesn't get whiney when she is sick. She has gone through enough in her little life that a fever and vomitting doesn't upset her...she has taken it well. She has alternated Tylenol and Advil today and spent 3 or more hours on the beach. This video was taken on the way to eat dinner this evening. She didn't eat much but didn't spill either. Praise God for small blessings!

Blessings!

April

Make me cake Cintia! (2nd update today)

What started out with grass in a plastic bowl with a new toy mixer, turned into a resourceful little girl who has never made mud pies before. However, with the remnants of a dirty x-firepit spot at the campground, Cintia set out to make me a cake. Her response..."Hand me dat paper napkin Mama" while she smeared the dirt a little more. Enjoy my clean-up nightmare!